Women Talking Frankly
Ep 76: What’s Happening Under The Surface: Neurotransmitters & Our Mental Health - with Tamara Owen, RN, MS, PMHNP
Tamara Owen, RN, MS, PMHNP, is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, educator, and creator of The 8 Areas Method: The Framework for Creating a Life Well-Lived . With more than 30 years of experience, she helps people understand how brain chemistry, daily habits, relationships, environment, and the other areas of health work together. Her work combines science, lived experience, and practical tools to help people better understand themselves, make meaningful change, and learn what it takes to feel their best. Here’s a sampler of what you will learn when you listen to this fascinating interview! - What exactly a neurotransmitter (NT) is and why they are important - The main players and what each neurotransmitter does - The most common symptoms when our NT’s are out of sync - How NT’s are related to our hormone levels - How to accurately test NT levels - How NT testing and treatment can help improve mental health and well being - What Tamara’s treatment plan includes Tamara's Current Favorite Books: - The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz A classic she returns to again and again. Its simple principles can change the way we think about ourselves, our relationships, and the assumptions we carry through life. - How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist by Andrew Newberg, MD, and Mark Robert Waldman A fascinating exploration of the relationship between spiritual practices and the brain, and how practices such as meditation and prayer may influence stress, emotional wellbeing, compassion, and connection. - Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Anna Lembke, MD A compelling exploration of the brain's reward system and what can happen when we're surrounded by constant sources of stimulation and pleasure. Dr. Lembke makes a powerful case for balance, connection, and becoming more intentional about what we consume. - The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt An important examination of how smartphones, social media, and changing childhood experiences are affecting young people, along with practical ideas for creating healthier conditions for kids. - The Bulletproof Diet by Dave Asprey A wide-ranging look at the relationship between food and how we feel, including energy, focus, sleep, and brain fog. It offers plenty of ideas that may make you think differently about what you eat and how it affects how you function day to day. SPECIAL OFFERS FOR WOMEN TALKING FRANKLY LISTENERS $100 Off Brain Chemistry Testing Tamara offers comprehensive brain chemistry testing that uses neurotransmitter and genetic testing to help uncover more information about what may be happening beneath the surface, and inform a more personalized approach to mental health and well-being. Women Talking Frankly listeners can receive $100 off Tamara’s Brain Chemistry Testing package with code FRANKLYBRAIN100 . Learn more and get started at: tamaraowen.com/brain-chemistry-testing $100 Off The 8 Areas Method The 8 Areas Method: The Framework for Creating a Life Well-Lived is Tamara’s 10-week live group program for people who have done a lot of living and are ready to stop guessing, understand what’s really going on in their health and life, and learn how the eight areas work together to shape how they feel, function, and live. The Fall 2026 program runs October 6–December 8 , with live sessions on Tuesdays from 5:00–7:00 PM Pacific / 8:00–10:00 PM Eastern . Women Talking Frankly listeners can receive $100 off enrollment with code FRANKLY100 . Tamara’s website: https://www.tamaraowen.com/ Connect w/ Kyle & Candace: Candace Burch: YourHormoneBalance.com info@yourhormonebalance.com Kyle McAvoy: kylebmcavoy@gmail.com
