In this episode of Women’s Health, Interrupted, we’re joined by Dr. Robert-Paul Juster, a researcher who has done a deep dive into how sexual orientation can influence the stress and the brain. We explore allostatic load—the cumulative physiological wear and tear associated with chronic stress—and the pioneering work of Bruce McEwen that helped shape the field. We unpack cortisol, why it has gotten a bad reputation, and what stress hormones can tell us about health. We also explore how sex, gender, and sexual orientation shape stress physiology, including research on sexual and gender minority populations, structural stigma, and how the environment we live in can affect health. From differences across age and sexual orientation to the biology of coming out, we ask: who carries the greatest physiological burden of stress, and how might that affect mental health?