#207: Keely Johnson & Jessie Cavanaugh - Cortisol Awakening Response Research: Arjuna Natural's Upcoming Shoden Study Explained

Episode #207 of the PricePlow Podcast brings together Keely Johnson, VP of Sales and Marketing at Arjuna Natural, and Dr. Jessie Cavanaugh of Nutraceuticals Research Institute for a deep dive into cortisol science and ashwagandha research methodology. Jessie, a Harvard Medical School Clinical Scholars Training Program alumna, just completed what she describes as the first botanical study ever to use timestamped cortisol awakening response (CAR) measurements. The subject: Shoden ashwagandha at 60mg, in a three-arm trial with Shoden, Shoden-R, and placebo.

Also joining for her podcast debut is Victoria Johnson, registered nurse and familiar face from the PricePlow Instagram channel, who brings a hands-on clinical angle to the conversation.

The episode covers what separates quality nutraceutical research from noise, why cortisol balance matters far more than cortisol suppression, and where Shoden is headed: into beverages, pre-workouts, and potentially women’s multivitamins. If you caught Keely on Episode #171 covering the Shoden revolution, this is the scientific sequel.

Before diving in, subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform and sign up for Arjuna Natural news alerts on PricePlow so you’ll know the moment the CAR study publishes.

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/cortisol-awakening-response-shoden-207

Video: Shoden Cortisol Awakening Response Research with Jessie Cavanaugh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEDJdOv4B14

Detailed Show Notes: Keely Johnson, Jessie Cavanaugh, and Victoria Johnson on Cortisol, Stress, and Shoden

(0:00) – Introductions
(1:45) – Jessie Cavanaugh’s Background
(3:00) – What Makes Good Nutraceutical Research
(5:30) – Recruiting the Right Study Population
(7:00) – Acute vs. Chronic Stress
(11:15) – Cortisol: Beyond “The Stress Hormone”
(13:45) – The Cortisol Awakening Response
(18:00) – Study Protocol & Lifestyle Controls
(20:00) – The Three-Arm Shoden Study
(23:30) – Decentralized Studies & Participant Compliance
(27:15) – Study Outcomes & the Blunted Cortisol Surge
(31:00) – Formulating with Shoden: Beyond Calm
(34:00) – Shoden-R in Functional Beverages
(37:00) – Cortisol Balance, Testosterone & Consistency
(40:30) – Sleep Hygiene, Shift Work & Daily Habits
(44:30) – What’s Next: Menopause Research, Publication & The Book

Where to Follow and Learn More

Connect with the Guests

LinkedIn: Keely Johnson – VP of Sales and Marketing, Arjuna Natural
LinkedIn: Jessie Cavanaugh – Founder, Nutraceuticals Research Institute
Instagram: @primovictoria_rn – Victoria Johnson, RN and PricePlow Instagram team
Arjuna Natural
Nutraceuticals Research Institute

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