Mind Over Midlife: Brain Health Tips for Midlife with Therese Huston, PhD (Episode 227)

Hit Play Not Pause

May 21, 2025 68 mins

About

As estrogen drops, our midlife brains go through a lot of changes. The activity in our dopamine network declines, which can leave us going from highly motivated to “meh.” We can experience bigger cortisol spikes and have elevated levels of the stress hormone longer. We can end up feeling constantly stressed out and in a doom spiral we can’t quite escape. And it doesn’t exactly help that many of us are also firmly entrenched in the most demanding period of our lives. This week’s guest, cognitive neuroscientist Therese Huston, PhD, is coming to the rescue with a host of simple–and quick–ways to boost our dopamine, keep cortisol in check, and help our midlife brains be their best.

Therese Huston, PhD, is a cognitive neuroscientist at Seattle University and the author of four books. She’s always asking, “How can we remove the pesky obstacles that get in the way of smart people?” Her latest book, Sharp:  14 Simple Ways to Improve Your Life with Brain Science, offers science-backed actionable strategies, many of which take 5 minutes or less, to help you make the most of the brain you’ve got.  Therese received her MS and PhD in cognitive psychology from Carnegie Mellon University.  She completed a prestigious post-doc in cognitive neuroscience at the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition and earned a degree in Organizational Leadership at Oxford University.  She frequently gives talks and runs workshops for organizations like Microsoft, Amazon, Morgan Stanley, Strava, and the Cleveland Clinic.  She also loves a good 5K, especially when the rain takes a pause in her hometown of Seattle. You can learn more about her, her work, and her books at www.theresehuston.com.

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Information

Episode

247

Date

May 21, 2025

Length

68 mins
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    The New York Times recently called Ozempic a “new match for menopausal weight gain”. But is it? These drugs can be a godsend for those who need them. But there’s a lot we need to understand. How do they work? How well do they work? Who benefits from them? What are their risks? What impact […]

  • Women Need Earlier Perimenopausal Care with Nina Coslov (Episode 160)

    Most women don’t expect menopause symptoms to start until age 50. Neither do many of their healthcare providers. That’s a problem because, as this week’s guest Nina Coslov’s research shows, women can actually start experiencing symptoms associated with menopause during their late reproductive years before their periods become noticeably irregular and they’re officially in perimenopause. […]

  • I Am I Can I Will I Do in Menopause with Christine D’Ercole (Episode 159)

    As we roll into a brand new year filled with goals and aspirations, this week’s guest, fan-favorite Peloton Cycling instructor Christine D’Ercole would like to remind us that we are bigger than a smaller pair of pants, and the most powerful thing anyone can say to us is what we say to ourselves, and we […]

  • REBROADCAST – Mastering Your Menopause Mindset with Cara Bradley

    This episode originally dropped on May 24, 2023. I’m too old. Nothing works for me. My best days are behind me. I just have to live with (fill in the blank). I’ll never feel better. When we’re really going through it, it can be easy to slip into a personal cave of limiting beliefs that […]

  • REBROADCAST – Built to Move with Juliet Starrett

    This episode originally dropped on April 5, 2023. What does it mean to be fit? Deadlifting your body weight? Running a 10K? Doing an Ironman? Most of our notions about fitness spotlight the big thing we want to do while glossing over all the smaller, equally important, but less “sexy” stuff like joint mobility, breathing […]

  • Getting Up to Speed on Menopause Research (or the Lack Thereof!) with Christine Yu (Episode 158)

    As active women, we’re so used to our bodies being considered “other” or “less than” in health and fitness media, we barely notice it. Our bouncing breasts are a problem. Our wide hips are a problem. Our periods, boy oh boy, big problem. And when we hit perimenopause and menopause? Well, until very recently nobody […]

  • Save Your Menopausal Skeleton with Kristi DeSapri, MD (Episode 157)

    Women generally talk about what they see and feel during menopause. Symptoms like hot flashes, joint pain, and vaginal dryness grab our attention while our bone density silently slips away. Women can lose up to 20% of their spinal bone mass through the menopause transition. Thirty-five to 50 percent of women have low bone mass […]

  • Taming the Hormonal Perimonster with Sasha Gollish (Episode 156)

    A few years ago, elite Canadian runner Sasha Gollish started experiencing some symptoms that had her wondering what the hell was up with her body—crime scene (or as she called them firehose) periods, strange memory lapses, times in races when her legs were flailing and her muscles were not responding the way they typically would […]

  • Ditching Destructive Menopause Diet & Fitness Narratives with Meredith Root (Episode 155)

    Women in menopause get a lot of nutrition and fitness advice. Some of it is sound. Some less so. Quite a bit of it is downright predatory. That is why the best nutrition and fitness advice for menopausal women is often not about grams of protein or hours of exercise, but rather a hard look […]

  • Spiritual Fitness in Midlife & Menopause with Anne Alexander (Episode 154)

    We exercise and train for hours each week (and sometimes each day) to build our physical fitness. We work on our mental toughness. But how much time do we devote to our spiritual fitness? To exercising our soul? For many of us it’s not so much. And we can suffer for it, getting lost, sad, […]

  • Your Questions Answered with Selene Yeager (Episode 153)

    Tummy tucks, insomnia, hormonal headaches, training post breast cancer, anxiety-calming supplements…you had some questions! And we have some answers! This week we dig back into the Speakpipe voicemail box and address your questions regarding menopause-related concerns and performance with host Selene Yeager. We are not medical professionals, of course, so this is not a substitute […]

  • What to Know About Fasting Through and Beyond the Menopause Transition with Dr. Erin Faules, DO (Episode 152)

    Fasting is often recommended as a solution to the metabolic health and weight management challenges menopausal women face. And while it can be an effective health tool when done properly, there are numerous pitfalls that active women can encounter when layering the stress of fuel restriction on top of other stress in their lives. This […]

  • The Power of Play & Parkour During Menopause with Penny Szentkuti & Rachel Gray (Episode 151)

    When we reach menopause and midlife, we’re sometimes leery of trying new things. We don’t want to embarrass ourselves. We feel afraid. We don’t want to get hurt. Whether hormonal, societal, or a blend of both, we can easily succumb to the urge to stay on the sidelines. But the real magic happens when you […]

  • What Happens to Muscle During Menopause with Sam Moore, MS, CSCS (Episode 150)

    Millions of women will tell you they feel like their muscle disappeared overnight once they hit the menopause transition. It may not technically happen in a 24 hour period, but muscle tissue really does slip away quickly over the perimenopause period. That’s a problem because muscle is our metabolic engine and helps us live, play, […]

  • Faster After 40, 50 and Beyond: Live from VinFast Ironman World Championship (Episode 149)

    We’ve been fed a narrative that you can’t get faster after a certain age. We used to say 40. Definitely not after 50. Could you possibly get faster after 60? This week’s guests say, “Why not?” When it comes to women in midlife and menopause, we’re more active than ever. We also know more, have […]

  • Unlock Your Menopause Type with Heather Hirsch, MD (Episode 148)

    Menopause is not a monolith. We all experience this stage of life differently and require unique care. So this week we sat down with Dr. Heather Hirsch, author of Unlock Your Menopause Type to talk about the six basic types she sees in her practice, including premature, sudden, full-throttle, mind-altering, seemingly never-ending, and silent and […]

  • Smashing World Records During Perimenopause with Camille Herron (Episode 147)

    Ultra running sensation Camille Herron is currently smashing world records, including a new woman’s 48 hour running world record set earlier this year where she logged a whopping 435 kilometers (270.5 miles) around a 400-meter track(!), which also made her the first female athlete to surpass a Men’s American record, all while managing the hormonal […]

  • Diving to Incredible Depths During Menopause with Nina McGowan (Episode 146)

    Nina McGowan didn’t begin freediving until she was in her late 40s and sliding into the menopause transition. With the help of her background in meditation, yoga, dance, the arts, and eventually hormone therapy, she’s reached depths she would have only dreamed imaginable, setting multiple Irish National Records as well as securing a World Record […]

  • The New Rules of Menopause with Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA (Episode 145)

    The conversation around menopause is moving at lightspeed these days, with a wave of misinformation following quickly in its wake. So this week we sat down with the medical director of The Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society), Dr. Stephanie Faubion, author of The New Rules of Menopause to catch up on where […]

  • Post Menopocalypse with Amanda Thebe (Episode 144)

    Amanda Thebe was so frustrated by her two-year odyssey to find out what was behind her bone-crushing fatigue, vertigo, incontinence, rage, migraines, depression, and other symptoms that were outright derailing her life (spoiler: it was perimenopause), she wrote what would become an Amazon best-selling book, Menopocalypse: How I Learned to Thrive During Menopause and How […]

  • Creating a Positive Menopause Vision with Diesta Goldsmith (Episode 143)

    Menopause is all over mainstream media these days. But too many women are still missing the message that they don’t have to needlessly suffer, especially Black women who on average go into menopause earlier and have worse symptoms such as hot flashes, depression and sleep disturbances than White women, but are less likely to receive […]

  • What Menopausal Women Need to Know About Cortisol with Carla DiGirolamo, MD, PhD (Episode 142)

    Of all our hormones, cortisol might be the most misunderstood and maligned. We’re told this stress hormone is the culprit behind excess belly fat, high blood sugar, accelerated aging, and a host of menopausal and midlife woes. Menopausal and midlife women sometimes are afraid to exercise too much because they’ve been told it will raise […]

  • A Peek Behind the Coaching Process with Marni Sumbal, MS, RD, CSSD (Episode 141)

    At this point, you may have been doing your sport for a decade, maybe two…or more. It’s easy to fall into a rut or lose your spark. The hormonal changes that come with the menopause transition also can make training more challenging and put a dent in your motivation. Trying a new challenge and/or working […]

  • Defying Invisibility and Ageism with Joan Swain (Episode 140)

    When we’re in our 20s and 30s, we see ourselves everywhere in sports marketing and branding. Then, somewhere along the way, we vanish, as though women past 40 or 50 don’t run, ride, hit the weights, or live active, vibrant lives. This week’s guest, Velocio Cycling Apparel ambassador Joan Swain, is on a mission to […]

  • Crushing CrossFit Goals During Menopause with Leka Fineman (Episode 139)

    CrossFit Games athlete Leka Fineman didn’t start the sport until she was 40. She learned to walk on her hands at age 50. Now at 56, she is competing in her fifth CrossFit Games competition as this episode airs. And she’s done it all while going through the menopause transition. We talk all about how […]

  • Managing Menopause-Related Anxiety with Dr. Clare Spencer (Episode 138)

    Whether it’s waking up at 2 a.m. with feelings of impending doom, fighting off a sudden freakout about driving on the freeway, or becoming paralyzed on a tricky trail you’ve ridden, hiked, or climbed dozens of times before, anxiety can hit seemingly out of nowhere during the menopause transition. In fact, because it can be […]

  • REBROADCAST – Sex Solutions with Dr. Lauren Streicher

    *Note – This episode originally dropped on January 27, 2021* Time for “the talk.” Seriously, we get sex ed when we go through puberty to know what to expect. But then we hit the other end of the hormonal spectrum and…crickets. Loss of libido and painful sex are real issues during menopausal years and, all […]

  • REBROADCAST – Save Your Sleep with Sleep Evangelist, Sophie Bostock

    *Note – This episode originally dropped on February 24, 2021* Menopause and midlife can send dueling wrecking balls straight into your sleep architecture, leaving you tossing and turning unable to get to sleep, waking up with racing thoughts at 3 a.m., and generally depriving you of the rest and regeneration you need. This week’s guest, […]

  • Join the Menopause Resistance with Sandra Bueckert (Episode 137)

    Sandra Bueckert started bodybuilding when she was just 16. Now, 40 years later, she’s still in the strength and fitness game, but she’s made a few changes. Sure, she still wants to look her best, but that’s no longer her driving force. These days she’s training to be part of the resistance—specifically to defy what […]

  • How to Harness Your Hormones with Dr. Nicky Keay (Episode 136)

    Hormones bring your DNA to life. They drive your training adaptations, help build muscle and bone, modulate your immune system, and much, much more. As peri and postmenopausal women we often focus on estrogen and progesterone (and maybe testosterone), but others like human growth hormone, vitamin D, and cortisol deserve our attention, too. And though […]

  • Personalized Medicine for Menopause with Julie Foucher, MD (Episode 135)

    Healthcare as we know it (especially in the U.S.) is mostly sickcare. Instead of working with us to keep us healthy, it treats us when we’re on the verge of disease or are outright unwell. There’s a growing movement to change that approach, which would be especially beneficial for menopausal women, who are at a […]

  • Balance is Not a Weakness with Baz Moffat (Episode 134)

    Menopause and midlife don’t mean giving up on our big goals. We can run marathons. We can do Ironman triathlons. We can compete at CrossFit. We just need to do things differently now. We need to respect balanced training that includes equal amounts of effort and restoration and to respect that a balanced life is […]

  • The Power of a Fresh Start with Tonya Oxendine (Episode 133)

    Past trauma can lead to a difficult menopause transition with more severe symptoms. Making matters worse, severe menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and difficulty sleeping can also heighten existing post-traumatic stress symptoms for women who have suffered trauma. Female veterans are especially at risk for both, and this week’s guest Tonya Oxendine, Warrior Speak […]

  • Your Questions Answered! (Episode 132)

    Pelvic floor injuries, body image woes, race day nerves, declining running times, newfound emotional flare ups, preventing injury…you had questions! And we have answers. This week we dig into the Speakpipe voicemail box and address your questions and concerns regarding menopause and performance with host Selene Yeager. Along with being the host of the Hit […]

  • Mastering Your Menopause Mindset with Cara Bradley (Episode 131)

    I’m too old. Nothing works for me. My best days are behind me. I just have to live with (fill in the blank). I’ll never feel better. When we’re really going through it, it can be easy to slip into a personal cave of limiting beliefs that can conspire to keep us there in the […]

  • Putting Menopause on Ice with Jen McNutt (Episode 130)

    When this week’s guest Jen McNutt laced up her figure skates and got back on the ice after a 26-year hiatus, her goal was to try to get back to where she used to be–hitting double jumps on the ice. Perimenopause had other ideas. Jen found herself struggling with fatigue, weakness, poor recovery, and sliding […]

  • The Art of Menopause Performance with Lisa Congdon (Episode 129)

    Fine artist and cyclist Lisa Congdon was not prepared for the impact menopause was going to have on her body or the extent to which those changes would cause a drop in her athletic performance. So, she dug into all the resources she could find for athletic menopausal women and, at the then age of […]

  • Breathe Your Way to Better Menopausal Health with Jill Miller (Episode 128)

    Remember being told you should start dieting if you could “pinch an inch” around your midsection? (Thanks Special K cereal ads…) Growing up, our bellies were often made a point of shame as they were poked, pinched, and otherwise derided. For many, that shame gets deeper in the menopause transition. That urge to suck it […]

  • Just Keep Swimming with Sarah Thomas (Episode 127)

    When life gets hard, many of us channel our inner Dory, put our heads down, and “Just keep swimming.” Nobody, but nobody, embodies this ethos more than this week’s guest ultraendurance swimmer Sarah Thomas. In Sarah’s 40 years on this planet, she has endured chemo, radiation, and surgery for aggressive breast cancer, a traumatic ectopic […]

  • Hormone Therapy: Where We Are & Where We’re Going with Carla DiGirolamo, MD, PhD (Episode 126)

    Now that menopause is mainstream news, interest in hormone therapy is exploding. And so is the confusion and controversy surrounding it, as menopausal hormone therapy (aka hormone replacement therapy), which is undeniably a game changer for millions, has also become a massive business. Some practitioners are reportedly prescribing “megadoses” of estrogen–in some cases twice or […]

  • Midlife, Menopause & Masturbation with Lou Featherstone (Episode 125)

    Midlife and menopause can do a number on our sexual selves. Our bodies are changing. We can feel more anxious and less self-confident. After years of taking care of others, we can lose sight of ourselves. Sex might be the last thing on our minds. If that makes you sad, take heart. It doesn’t have […]

  • Built to Move with Juliet Starrett (Episode 124)

    What does it mean to be fit? Deadlifting your body weight? Running a 10K? Doing an Ironman? Most of our notions about fitness spotlight the big thing we want to do while glossing over all the smaller, equally important, but less “sexy” stuff like joint mobility, breathing practices, balance, and nutrition it takes to get […]

  • No Expiration Dates with Dede Griesbauer (Episode 123)

    2022 Ultraman World Championship winner and new course record setter Dede Griesbauer will be the first to tell you, age is definitely more than “just a number.” It’s real, and the training, recovery practices, and dedication it takes to accomplish such feats at 52 is radically different than it is at 32 or even 42. […]

  • Sports Nutrition & Supplements – What Menopausal Women Really Need with Abbie Smith-Ryan, PhD (Episode 122)

    Whether we’re trying to make muscle, perform our best, or avoid the dreaded GI distress during long endurance events, women in and beyond the menopause transition have special needs. But the sports nutrition and supplement landscape is rife with conflicting and confusing information. This week we cut through the noise with scientist, exercise physiologist, and […]

  • It’s Never Too Late to Get Back in the Game with Sarah-Jane Nichols (Episode 121)

    Sarah-Jane Nichols is a BMX cycling legend. The Hall of Famer was a 7-time British Champion, 4-time European Champion, and a World Champion as a teen in 1986. Now, at age 52, 34 years after retiring from the sport, Nichols is back on her bike despite being in the throes of extremely challenging perimenopausal symptoms. […]

  • Why Equal Opportunity is No Longer Enough – An International Women's Day Discussion – Women's Performance

    What does equity mean in sport? Yes, it’s women being included, but it’s also resources for racing moms, supporting the inclusion of Black folks in historically white sports, having size-inclusive athletic gear, and SO much more. Feisty Media welcomes a panel of women with intersectional identities to celebrate International Women’s Day and discuss why equal […]

  • Is it Underfueling? Or is it Perimenopause? with Pat Spencer (Episode 120)

    Pat Spencer couldn’t help but think she’d be faster if she were lighter. After all, that’s what everyone in endurance sports tells you. But instead of gaining speed, Pat went from being a competitive age group triathlete to not being able to do any endurance sports because of a profound case of Relative Energy Deficiency […]

  • Your Best Days Are Ahead of You with Anabelle Broadbent (Episode 119)

    Record-holding runner Anabelle Broadbent thought she’d blow right through menopause…until erratic, uber-heavy periods, body composition changes, anxiety, and a major drop in speed told her menopause had other ideas. As a scientist, she did what she knows best: research and problem-solving. And last year, at age 55, she was awarded the 2022 USATF GOLD Phidippides […]

  • Dragons & Gems: Finding Inner Safety During Menopause with Dr. Nerina Ramlakhan (Episode 118)

    Past trauma–big or small–and daily stress can take a toll on the nervous system, and many of us spend our days largely in a state of fight or flight. When we hit menopause, our nervous system becomes even more nervous, and life, along with everything that happened up until that point rises to the surface […]

  • Powerlifting is Menopausal Medicine with Michelle Carlson (Episode 117)

    Many women start exercising to lose weight–to get smaller and chase a number on the scale. This week’s guest powerlifter Michelle Carlson is no stranger to those goals. She took up running in her early 30s and in her own words “spent a ridiculous number of years chasing the number on the scale and living […]

  • Dying to Be Enough with Kristin DiDomenico (Episode 116)

    Do you struggle with feeling you’re not enough? Fit enough? Successful enough? Lean enough? Enough, enough, enough. By the time we reach menopause, many of us have spent years, even decades, of our lives chasing enough. And, as this week’s guest, coach, trainer, and athlete Kristin DiDomenico knows, that relentless pursuit of perfection can take […]

  • Finding Midlife Clarity with Jennifer Stoute (Episode 115)

    People will often accuse a woman who is changing things in her life at 50 of having a midlife crisis. It’s quite the opposite, according to this week’s guest, two-time Olympian, Jennifer Stoute. It’s midlife clarity. Stoute, who also played Rebel the Gladiator on the hit show Gladiators has done her share of evaluating and […]

  • PAVING a Woman’s Path through Menopause and Beyond with Michelle Tollefson, MD (Episode 114)

    In many ways, health care is actually sick care. We are enormously grateful for physicians who can address pathology and treat disease. But often the emphasis is on surviving, not thriving. That’s where Lifestyle Medicine comes in. It’s a system of health care that leans in on the power of social connections, personal psychology, exercise, […]

  • What You Need to Know About Weight In Menopause and Beyond with Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA (Episode 113)

    We’ve been led to believe weight is a simple equation: energy in versus energy out, which implies it’s all in our control. We’re in charge. We just need the right diet, exercise, and willpower. And while nutrition and physical activity matter a lot, and some maintain their weight through those means, others feel like their […]

  • Transformation in Menopause: Who Do You Want to Be Now? with Nicole DeBoom (Episode 112))

    We’re back! And we’re kicking off the New Year with the perfect introspective conversation with former pro athlete turned entrepreneur and life adventurer, Nicole DeBoom. Nicole recently turned 50 and is in the thick of perimenopause, which for her has manifested in brain fog, night sweats, body composition changes, and more. She’s also recently had […]

  • REBROADCAST: Do You Need Hormone Therapy? with Carla DiGirolamo, M.D., Ph.D.

    Since we started this podcast, many women have gone from being afraid to take hormone therapy to being afraid not to take hormone therapy, as some in the menopause field are saying that menopause is really a “hormone deficiency” and we can’t age well without it. This week we dive in on what hormone therapy […]

  • REBROADCAST: The State of Menopause with Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, Medical Director of NAMS

    The good news: we are finally talking about menopause! The not so good news: we still have a long way to go, especially in the realm of research, says this week’s guest Dr. Stephanie Faubion, who is on the tip of the spear leading the way forward as the Medical Director of The North American […]

  • How to Research Your Menopause with Leslie McClure, PhD (Episode 111)

    Dr. Google is often our first stop when we want to understand a symptom we’re experiencing and find out what we can do about it. But the internet is a bottomless well of information–and disinformation. Even when we dig into actual research studies, the conclusions aren’t always reliable or consistent, which is why it’s hard […]

  • Navigating the Rocky Road of Perimenopause with Deanna McCurdy (Episode 110)

    At age 42, off-road triathlete Deanna McCurdy was crushing it, including clocking the fastest female amateur time at XTERRA National Championships, and was ready to turn pro when—perimenopause. Out of the blue, her performance tanked and she found herself in tears through a key race. Deanna, who’s also a mom of a special needs daughter, […]

  • Get a Buff Muff with The Vagina Coach, Kim Vopni (Episode 109)

    Women have been taught incontinence is our destiny–that we should just accept it and wear pads. Pelvic floor issues like prolapse are often normalized–we should just stop running, jumping, and lifting heavy sh*t. This week’s guest The Vagina Coach, Kim Vopni, is having none of it, and she dives into all the therapies and tools […]

  • The Menopause 200 – An Ultrarunner’s Game Plan for Thriving Through Menopause with Kamm Prongay (Episode 108)

    Ultrarunner Kamm Prongay is clear: she did not sign up for the Menopause 200. Her ovaries did. And when they did, she eventually found herself on the start line, unable to run. Kamm has been chronicling her journey through menopause in a series of essays in Ultrarunner.com, including one titled the Menopause 200, in which […]

  • Find Your Menopause Five – The Power of Human Connection in Menopause with Zora Benhamou (Episode 107)

    More than diet, exercise, the money in your bank account, your cholesterol levels, or even your genes, it’s your relationships that matter most when it comes to being happier and healthier in midlife and into old age. That’s important because midlife and menopause are inextricably intertwined, and how we experience one impacts how we experience […]

  • Women Who FKT with Teri Smith and Dana Katz (Episode 106)

    Want to challenge yourself without the pressure that comes with traditional competition? Feel like trying something new that won’t have you comparing your former self to your current self? This week’s guests Teri Smith and Dana Katz suggest trying an FKT, or fastest known time, a challenge where you run, hike, or in some cases […]

  • Healthy, Pain-free Joints Through Menopause. How Regenerative Medicine Can Help (Episode 105)

    Nothing stops you in your tracks like chronic pain and nagging, seemingly endless injuries, both of which can become more common during the menopause transition and beyond. The sports medicine world is brimming with cutting-edge, regenerative medicine treatments promising relief, but it can be hard to cut through the marketing jargon to figure out what […]

  • Surfing the Turbulent Waters of Midlife and Menopause with Lisa Alfano (Episode 104)

    Body image issues. Wrecked sleep. Struggling with slowing down. Midlife and menopause can send us into some seriously turbulent waters. This week’s guest, Lisa Alfano, manages to keep from going under by riding the waves–literally. Lisa is a surfer and triathlete who has married her passions in her business Tri2Surf, a community for women ages […]

  • Less Fuel, More Problems. Why Menopausal Athletes Need to Eat More with Heidi Skolnik (Episode 103)

    Eat less. How many times have you seen and heard that message? As a generation that grew up steeped in diet culture, most of us have it deeply internalized…often to our detriment. Underfueling among active women is extremely common and puts us at risk for low energy availability (LEA), which can lead to relative energy […]

  • Breast Health During Menopause with Amy Comander, MD (Episode 102)

    October is breast cancer awareness month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. That’s especially important for women in the menopause transition and beyond because the risk of breast cancer rises with age. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 55 and older. This week we sat down […]

  • The State of Menopause with Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, Medical Director of NAMS (Episode 101)

    The good news: we are finally talking about menopause! The not so good news: we still have a long way to go, especially in the realm of research, says this week’s guest Dr. Stephanie Faubion, who is on the tip of the spear leading the way forward as the Medical Director of The North American […]

  • The Power of You (Episode 100)

    We are celebrating our 100th episode…and the fact that we have surpassed one million downloads in just two years’ time! Our community is growing by leaps and bounds and you’re the reason why. So this week, we are also celebrating YOU!  Host Selene Yeager sits down with Hit Play Not Pause producer Carrie Barrett to […]

  • Acupuncture for Managing Menopausal Symptoms with Michelle Hay (Episode 99)

    Bloating, hot flashes, night sweats, disrupted sleep, irritability, restlessness, brain fog…this week’s guest Michelle Hay treats them all, as well as the stress that can exacerbate them, with acupuncture. This week’s show is all about this Traditional Chinese Medicine practice, how it works, what to expect, and the specific benefits for menopausal women. Michelle P. […]

  • Less Pain, More Joy & Better Movement in Menopause with Petra Fisher (Episode 98)

    Most of us, even if we’re very active, are not moving our bodies the way nature designed them to move. We exercise plenty. We also sit plenty. We wear shoes that don’t help keep our feet strong or our posture properly aligned. That can set the stage for aches, pains, and injuries, especially during this […]

  • Crushing CrossFit During Menopause with Shawna Norton (Episode 97)

    Heavy lifting, HIIT training, and explosive exercises like plyometrics do a menopausal body good. So, CrossFit can be the perfect workout for women in this stage of life…provided they scale it to their needs. That’s because CrossFit also has elements that may not work with our physiology and can leave us feeling tired and beat […]

  • Harnessing the Masters Mindset with Ashling Smith (Episode 96)

    What would happen if you tossed out all your premenopausal notions about how you are “supposed to” eat and train for your best performance and tried some new tricks to work with your changing physiology? If you’re like this week’s guest, you might just win a gold medal. Ashling Smith is a runner from Ireland […]

  • The ABCs of MHT with Heather Hirsch, MD (Episode 95)

    How do you know if menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is for you? What should you expect if you start hormone therapy? How long does it take to work? What should you do if you don’t feel like it’s working? We dive into the ABCs of starting MHT this week with menopause doctor Heather Hirsch, MD. […]

  • Saving Your Heart with Martha Gulati, MD (Episode 94)

    The only thing women tend to do better than men after having a heart attack is die. That’s a sobering mic drop. It’s also a fact and one that this week’s guest Dr. Martha Gulati is making her life’s work to change. We dive into the special heart disease risk factors women, especially menopausal women […]

  • Innovations that are Making Menopause Better with Alyssa Dweck, MD (Episode 93)

    From femtech apps to menopause telehealth, tracking rings to cooling bracelets, and even cryotech surgical services designed to prolong ovarian function, menopause is having a moment in innovation and enterprise. This week we dig into it with Alyssa Dweck, MD, FACOG, who is an avid runner as well as a consultant, key opinion leader (KOL), […]

  • The Challenges of Surgical and Early Menopause with Corinne Menn, MD (Episode 92)

    One in eight women will have their ovaries removed before the natural age of menopause. Five percent of women naturally go through early menopause between the ages of 40 and 45, and 1 percent experience premature menopause before age 40. That’s a lot of women. And a large percentage of these women are not getting […]

  • You Deserve to Get Good Sleep with Andrea Matsumura, MD (Episode 91)

    Women have traditionally been ignored in sleep medicine (shocking, we know). That means our sleep issues can be misunderstood and misdiagnosed, especially during menopause when sleep disruptions rise. This week we investigate how hormones and menopausal symptoms impact sleep, as well as dive into sleep issues like sleep apnea (which shows up differently in women), […]

  • IX: Turning up the Volume with Joan Cronan

    Hit Play Not Pause is on a quick summer break during the weeks of July 18th and 25th, 2022. While we’re out, we are excited to share two episodes from Feisty Media’s excellent limited Title IX series. Not to pick favorites, but here at Feisty – this is definitely a favorite. With almost 50 years […]

  • IX: Changing the Game with Wendy Mink

    Hit Play Not Pause is on a quick summer break during the weeks of July 18th and 25th, 2022. While we’re out, we are excited to share two episodes from Feisty Media’s excellent limited Title IX series. This week, Haley Chura – co-host of Ironwomen – interviews the renowned Wendy Mink. Wendy is a professor […]

  • Muscle and Ligament Strength in Menopause with Kathryn Ackerman, MD, MPH (Episode 90)

    If you’re feeling more injury prone, you’re not alone. Many women who have led active, athletic lives without a lot of injuries and “itises” suddenly find themselves sidelined more often during the menopause transition. Fluctuating and declining hormone levels directly impact your musculoskeletal system, as do your lifelong movement patterns, exercise habits, recovery practices, and […]

  • Menopause Lessons from the Mountains with Jeannette McGill (Episode 89)

    Women often stop going to the high mountains when they reach menopause. The reasons why–hot flashes, unpredictable periods, anxiety, and fear, to name a few–will resonate with all of us, whether or not we ever step foot above sea level. This week’s guest, high altitude mountaineer Jeannette McGill is currently navigating the menopause transition herself […]

  • The Obstacle is Her Way with Laura McElduff (Episode 88)

    The menopause transition can throw a lot of obstacles in your path. Training for and participating in obstacle course races can help you overcome them both physically and mentally, as you lift heavy loads, strengthen your grip, and hone your mental toughness and problem-solving skills. Plus, it’s super fun, says this week’s guest, obstacle course […]

  • Better Brain Health with Louisa Nicola (Episode 87)

    As active women, we train our strength and our endurance. But we don’t clean that barbell, we don’t cross that finish line, we literally don’t accomplish anything in life without first having the mental ability that comes from our brain. And as we age, our brains become vulnerable to decline. They physically change during the […]

  • Oh, Baby! with Liz Carlson (Episode 86)

    As women are living longer, pursuing higher education, and chasing athletic goals well into midlife, the decision if, when, or even how to have a baby has become increasingly complex, because the old formula of graduate, get married, have kids just doesn’t work the way it used to. So this week’s guest, Liz Carlson, created […]

  • Hot Flashes, Cold Plunges & Pushing the Limits in Perimenopause with George Gilbert (Episode 85)

    Breaking a sweat is generally a good thing–a sign of healthy exertion–unless you’re working out in temperatures more suited to penguins than people. In those conditions, it can quickly lead to hypothermia, frostbite…or worse. So how does a perimenopausal woman (hello, hot flashes) make a 1,130 kilometer trek across Antarctica while pulling a 175-pound sled? […]

  • Build a Better Body Image Toolbox with Maria Luque, PhD (Episode 84)

    The menopause transition can leave a minefield of body image issues in its wake. Some research shows that as few as 12 percent of us are satisfied with our bodies at this time of life. That’s a problem, as poor body image is also linked to mental health issues like depression. We can’t wave a […]

  • Menopause Watts with Karen Duff (Episode 83)

    Hot flashes. Sleepless nights. Mood swings. Divorce. The challenges of menopause and midlife came raining down on this week’s guest, Karen Duff, just a few years after she’d taken up mountain biking and was ascending the ranks quickly with her sights set on world-class competitions. She shares how she persevered through training, racing, and community […]

  • Vaginas, Vulvas, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse with Kathleen Connell, MD (Episode 82)

    Your pelvis changes during menopause–inside and out. The vaginal and vulvar tissues become thinner; the pH and microbiome in your vagina can shift; and the scaffolding that supports your pelvic organs can weaken, increasing your risk for pelvic organ prolapse. There’s help for all of that, so you can continue running, riding, lifting, having sex, […]

  • Next Level Menopause with Dr. Stacy Sims (Episode 81)

    Menopause is not the end of the line. It is not a “deficiency.” It’s a transition to the next phase of your life–a phase that can be positive, empowering, and powerful. But first, we need to understand what menopause really is; what is happening hormonally during this time, and how it is affecting literally every […]

  • Massage in Menopause – Finding a Safe Space with Rosemarie Rotenberger (Episode 80)

    Your muscles and connective tissues can get “stickier” and feel stiffer during the menopause transition, and you can find yourself with more aches and pains and niggles than you had before. Massage therapy can help with that. But the benefits don’t end with your muscles. Massage is also good for the menopausal mind. It activates […]

  • How to Start Lifting Heavy Sh*t & More with Kerry Ann Madden (Episode 79)

    We know lifting heavy, doing plyometrics, and adding intensity to our routines help us stay strong and powerful as our bodies change during the menopause transition. But where do we start? What if we can’t jump? How do we lift heavy if we don’t have heavy weights? Longtime trainer and now one of the leaders […]

  • Do You Need Hormone Therapy? with Carla DiGirolamo, M.D., Ph.D. (Episode 78)

    In the year and a half since we started this podcast, many women have gone from being afraid to take hormone therapy to being afraid not to take hormone therapy, as some in the menopause field are saying that menopause is really a “hormone deficiency” and we can’t age well without it. This week we […]

  • Rewilding Menopause with Kirsten Lewis (Episode 77)

    Kirsten Lewis, at the age of 57, just ran her fastest 5K time–post-menopause, less than two years after she was ready to hang up her racing shoes and walk away from it all while in the throes of the menopause transition. She credits feeling stronger, happier, more grounded, and winning her age group in recent […]

  • Keto, Fasting, Food Phobia & the Un-Dieting of Menopause with Jenn Salib Huber, RD, ND (Episode 76)

    If you’re a woman, someone somewhere has a diet to sell you. If you’re a menopausal woman, that diet is likely to paint carbs as the root of all your woes–and the elimination or restriction of them as your midlife salvation. This week we sat down with dietitian and “undiet” advocate Jenn Salib Huber, RD, […]

  • Why You Need Barbell Medicine with Cassi Niemann (Episode 75)

    Whether you’re training for a tri, into CrossFit, or just want to be strong for life, barbells are the most effective way to get full-body strong in very little time. Barbell lifting also builds bone and muscle, improves stability and mobility, and makes you feel like a complete badass. This week we talk all about […]

  • The Eyes Have It with Christine Begley, OD (Episode 74)

    Need glasses for the first time in your life? Contacts suddenly feel too tight? Are your eyes dry and itchy? Menopause and midlife can usher in a cascade of vision and eye health changes. Thankfully there are many ways you can sharpen your sight and keep your eyes healthy (and more comfortable!). We dig into […]

  • The Joy of Rowing with Sarah Fuhrmann (Episode 73)

    Dim the lights. Pour a drink. Light some candles. And get ready to…row! Yep, row. Indoor rowing can be an exercise in meditation, says this week’s guest and rowing aficionado, Sarah Fuhrmann. It also uses 86 percent of your muscles and can be an ass-kicking workout when you want it to be. This week we […]

  • Save Your Teeth with Dr. Julie Gallagher (Episode 72)

    Even if you brush, floss, and get regular dental check-ups, if you’re like many athletes—especially those in the menopause transition—you may still struggle with tooth decay and oral health woes. That’s because both athletics and hormone decline can lead to conditions that set the stage for dental disease and mouth discomfort, both of which can […]

  • All About Blood Sugar with Molly Downey, RDN (Episode 71)

    Anyone who’s ever hit the wall at mile 19 of a marathon or fizzled out on a Fran at CrossFit, knows how important glucose (aka sugar) is for energy–both mentally and physically. As women in the menopause transition, we also know that managing generally healthy blood sugar levels can be more challenging as we can […]

  • You Belong with Elizabeth Allen (Episode 70)

    We all want to belong. That desire can increase during the menopause transition, when having a community to share experiences with helps us feel less alone. But making those connections isn’t always easy, especially when culture doesn’t include you. This week’s guest, long time athlete Elizabeth Allen, who identifies as a Black, plus-sized GenXer (who […]

  • You Are More than Your Body with Kaisa Keranen (Episode 69)

    For far too long, many of us have defined ourselves (or worse our self worth) by the size of our thighs and the circumference of our waistline, setting ourselves up for a lifelong battle with our bodies and an underlying discontent with who we are based upon a largely unattainable “ideal.” That can get worse […]

  • March to Your Own Drummer with Jennifer Maxwell (Episode 68)

    Sometimes life sidelines us, knocking us off the path we thought we’d be on forever, or at least for the foreseeable future. Menopause can certainly trip us up. But so can many other random, sometimes terrible, events we never saw coming. And sometimes we end up contending with all of it. This week’s guest, Jennifer […]

  • Meet the Menoparkers with Gina Ransom (Episode 67)

    What do you do when menopause turns you into a nearly unrecognizable version of yourself? If you’re Gina Ransom, you pore through every resource you can find, advocate for yourself and others in the same situation, and form a community so you all can keep on kicking ass.  Gina is a lifelong fitness professional who […]

  • No Limits with Leah Goldstein (Episode 66)

    It’s easy to look at the barriers we face and think, “I can’t.” Leah Goldstein is here this week to show you, you can. Leah won the Race Across America (RAAM) outright last year at age 52, beating the next closest man by 17 hours. But that barely scratches the surface of her myriad accomplishments […]

  • When Trauma Meets Menopause with Athena Farias (Episode 65)

    Running is a coping mechanism for many trauma survivors. You lace up and put one foot in front of the other for solace and escape. But what happens when you hit menopause and the demons start to catch up? This week’s guest, coach and endurance athlete Athena Farias talks about all that and more this […]

  • Self Acceptance & the Love of the Game with Julie Dunkle (Episode 64)

    Menopause can be a wet blanket for competitive athletes. How do you keep showing up to start lines when you’re managing hot flashes, heat intolerance, poor sleep, and watching peers walk away from the sport? This week’s guest has some answers. A lifelong athlete and self proclaimed triathlon addict, Julie Dunkle, now in her mid […]

  • Overcoming Obstacles with Julie Angel, Ph.D. (Episode 63)

    Most of us–even the most active among us–are limited in how well we move. Sure we can run or ride a bike or lift heavy sh*t, but can we balance on a beam or jump over fallen logs? Can we move with strength and fluidity in every direction? Can we go over, under, and through […]

  • *REBROADCAST* Let’s Talk About Sex with Kelly Casperson, MD (Episode 50)

    Your brain is your largest–and arguably your most important–sex organ. It’s also the most overlooked, especially during the menopausal transition when we spend a whole lot of time talking about our vaginas (which are important, too, of course!). This week’s guest Kelly Casperson, MD, talks about all of it in a show that drives home […]

  • *REBROADCAST* Estrogen Matters with Avrum Bluming, MD & Carol Tavris, PhD (Episode 41)

    Hormone therapy for menopause is rife with confusion, fear, misunderstanding, and outright misinformation. Even doctors, who are often relying on long debunked research, can be at a loss to help women make educated choices for their health, well-being, and performance during this time. This week’s guests, Drs. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris, authors of Estrogen […]

  • Can’t Stop. Won’t Stop. with Melanie McQuaid (Episode 62)

    Longevity in sport takes determination, curiosity, and the ability to adapt to what your mind and body needs as time goes on. That’s the embodiment of professional triathlete, mountain bike racer, coach, and 5x world champion Melanie McQuaid, who continues to kick ass through the menopause transition, placing 3rd at Ironman Chattanooga and 10th at […]

  • "Lifequakes," Identity Crises & Finding Solid Ground with Lisa Hesse (Episode 61)

    “Who am I now?” That’s an identity crisis many of us face during the menopausal transition, especially if we end up taking a step back from our primary sport or activity to figure out what we want from athletics in this next phase of life. This week’s guest, life and wellness coach Lisa Hesse, helps […]

  • Adventures in Menopause with Jeannie Wall (Episode 60)

    “Menopause Is Hell. It Also Made Me a Better Climber.” That’s the title of a feature article written in Outside magazine by this week’s guest and legendary outdoor sport athlete Jeannie Wall. We dig into what that piece is all about and address topics of fear, anxiety, rage, hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and the […]

  • Staying On Top of the Symptoms with Catriona Courtney (Episode 59)

    Joint pain, hot flashes, night sweats, crushing fatigue. Menopause can usher in a host of symptoms that make daily life challenging, let alone daily life on top of training and racing as a recreational athlete, being a mom, and managing a business. But with knowledge, practice, and patience, it can be done. This week’s guest, […]

  • Talking Testosterone with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo (Episode 58)

    Women make testosterone. It works in concert with estrogen and progesterone to maintain healthy muscles and bones and fires up your sex drive and helps protect your brain. Yet there are no FDA approved testosterone products for women and “T” is not included in standard menopausal hormone therapy. So women are left to their own […]

  • High Performance Nutrition with Lauren Antonucci, RDN (Episode 57)

    Our performance nutrition needs change during the menopause transition. Few know that better than women who both teach it and live it as athletes and sports dietitians, like this week’s guest ​​Lauren Antonucci, RDN, CSSD, author of High-Performance Nutrition for Masters Athletes. Along with being a sports nutritionist, Lauren is a runner, an Ironman athlete, […]

  • Feet First with Dr. Karen Langone (Episode 56)

    Bunions and bone spurs and heel pain, oh my! Foot pain in all shapes and forms is extremely common and becomes more so as we enter the menopause transition and our estrogen declines, taking our collagen production with it, which impacts the dozens of joints and tendons in our feet. That’s important because our feet […]

  • Leaks, Lockdowns & Magic Wands with Amy Hill Fife, MPT (Episode 55)

    As active women we know all about our muscles. We know the sets and reps to work our shoulders, glutes, and core. We’re proficient in using dumbbells, kettlebells, and squat racks. But when it comes to training our pelvic floor, we know one word: Kegels. That’s not enough. In fact, if our pelvic floor is […]

  • Enter the Dragon Boat with Chris Head and Connie Flesuras (Episode 54)

    Never underestimate the power of menopausal women. Their years of experience and deep well of physical and mental strength uniquely positions them to move mountains–or at least a fully loaded dragon boat weighing more than a ton. This week’s guests Chris Head, a newbie dragon boat racer with the Dragon Divas, a team of Breast […]

  • All About Your Bones with Dr. Marci Goolsby & Dr. Alana Serota (Episode 53)

    As a woman you can lose up to 20% of your bone density during the five to seven years following menopause. Given the fact that we hit peak bone density by age 30, we can’t go back in time and build more, but we can take steps right now to hang onto what we have […]

  • Selene Yeager on Becoming the Face of Menopause with guest host Tania Dalton (Episode 52)

    Happy birthday to Hit Play Not Pause! As a special gift, past guest, personal trainer, and healthy ageing coach Tania Dalton turns the tables and interviews host Selene Yeager for a 1 year anniversary bonus edition of the podcast. The two dive deep into Selene’s background as an accidental athlete turned professional level cyclist as […]

  • Just Getting Started with Mari Holden (Episode 51)

    Whether we run, ride, swim, or practice martial arts, at some point we can feel like we’re nearing the end of the line with how far we can go. That’s especially true when menopause and midlife put us in a Malachi crunch. But maybe what feels like an endpoint is really the starting point of […]

  • Let’s Talk About Sex with Kelly Casperson, MD (Episode 50)

    Your brain is your largest–and arguably your most important–sex organ. It’s also the most overlooked, especially during the menopausal transition when we spend a whole lot of time talking about our vaginas (which are important, too, of course!). This week’s guest Kelly Casperson, MD, talks about all of it in a show that drives home […]

  • Wisdom From the Back of the Pack with Adina O’Neill (Episode 49)

    Races are about more than winning. Competing is about more than podium spots or fastest times. Races are about personal bests and striving to be your best, whether that’s first place or 571st place. In fact, the person who comes in last may have overcome more, learned more, and grown more from the event than […]

  • Behind the ‘Gram with Nicole Sin Quee (Episode 48)

    Following menopausal athletes on Instagram can be inspiring. But if we’re honest, it can also be deflating. You see the podium smiles and the highlights of their lives, which can leave you feeling alone in your own struggles. That’s why it’s so wonderful when one of these athletes like this week’s guest, multisport athlete Nicole […]

  • Balancing Training with the Changes with Lenita Anthony (Episode 47)

    Juggling training by itself is hard. Juggling training along with real life obligations is even harder. Add the physical and psychological changes that come with menopause and midlife? Oh boy. Better call Cirque du Soleil for some tips. Or you can call a lifelong athlete, veteran coach, and exercise physiologist like this week’s guest, Lenita […]

  • When Cancer Enters the Equation with Dr. Corinne Menn (Episode 46)

    Medical menopause can be intense. If you’re a cancer survivor, you may have multiple rounds with menopause. You may go through premature menopause or have menopause symptoms related to chemotherapy and/or other drug treatments and then go through it again either naturally or should you need surgery or other treatments later on. It can all […]

  • Raise the Floor & Break the Ceiling with Tracey Jacobs (Episode 45)

    As women we hear a lot about “breaking the ceiling,” whether it’s the glass one that has hovered over us for so long or the self imposed one that we sometimes put overhead, limiting our potential. Well if you want to crack that ceiling, it helps to raise the floor—elevate the platform from which you’re […]

  • ​​Weighty Matters with Diana Reid, MPH, RDN (Episode 44)

    We often talk about menopause as puberty in reverse. Remember puberty? You sprouted breasts and grew hips and maybe got curvier all the way around. Nobody ever said to you, “What have you done?” You were obviously going through this very natural process. When those hormones reverse course, your body also starts changing. Only now, […]

  • Calm Your Mind with Dr. Alisha Brosse (Episode 43)

    Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and other psychological practices come up a lot on this show as ways we can quell anxiety, manage menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, and get some quality sleep during this time of life. But what exactly is it? How do you do it? How does it work? We […]

  • Let Your Lifestyle Be Your Medicine with Dr. Melissa Sundermann (Episode 42)

    Let food be thy medicine, they say. But don’t stop there. Let exercise and stress management and sleep and friendships and your whole lifestyle be thy medicine, too. That’s the basic tenet of the type of Lifestyle Medicine this week’s guest, Dr. Melissa Sundermann practices. It’s grounded in research showing how we live our lives […]

  • Estrogen Matters with Avrum Bluming, MD & Carol Tavris, PhD (Episode 41)

    Hormone therapy for menopause is rife with confusion, fear, misunderstanding, and outright misinformation. Even doctors, who are often relying on long debunked research, can be at a loss to help women make educated choices for their health, well-being, and performance during this time. This week’s guests, Drs. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris, authors of Estrogen […]

  • ​​Trust the Process with Libbey Sheldon (Episode 40)

    This show is all about working with your changing physiology to optimize performance. This week’s guest, Masters 50-54 Cyclocross World Champion and Masters 50-54 XC and Masters 50-54 Marathon Mountain Bike National Champion, Libbey Sheldon embodies that ethos as well as anyone we know. After struggling with mountain bike stage racing in 2013, Libbey went […]

  • **REBROADCAST** Stop the Leaks with Chloë Murdock, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS (Episode 6)

    Everyone needs a little summer break, even podcast hosts! So this week we are re-posting this excellent episode with physical therapist Chloe Murdock from fall 2020. Enjoy! It happens. You sneeze, cough, or laugh…and leak. Or you can barely get your key in the door without wetting yourself. It’s common, but not normal…or necessary. This […]

  • The Thyroid Menopause Connection with Ingrid Anderson, RD (Episode 39)

    60 percent of people with thyroid disease go undiagnosed. And if you’re a menopausal woman, you may be mistaking thyroid disease symptoms for menopause symptoms—and suffering from both. The North American Menopause Society calls the thyroid a “touchy gland,” as it becomes imbalanced in about 1 in 8 women. And when it does, it can […]

  • This is Your Brain on Menopause with Dr. Sarah McKay (Episode 38)

    Recent research using brain imaging analysis shows our brains physically change during perimenopause. So our brains are clearly—sometimes substantially—impacted by our hormones. But those hormones are part of a larger chorus that includes nature, nurture, culture, society, lifestyle, and our thoughts and emotions, which can have a profound impact on how we experience the changes […]

  • Kick Ass with Kettlebells with Andrea Du Cane (Episode 37)

    If you’re looking for just one piece of equipment that can help you get strong and fit AF, look no further than kettlebells. If you’re looking for one woman who can tell you everything you want to know about kettlebell training and why it’s the ideal training tool for menopausal women, look no further than […]

  • It’s Not Time to Slow Down with Vonda Wright, MD (Episode 36)

    “Maybe it’s time to slow down.” That’s the message menopausal women often get from their friends, family, and yes, even physicians when they have joint pain and nagging injuries like Achilles tendonitis or “menopause arthritis” that are preventing them from running, riding, and hitting the weights without pain. This week’s guest, active aging expert Vonda […]

  • The Menopause Manifesto with Dr. Jen Gunter (Episode 35)

    Why is there so much misinformation about menopause? What really helps? What doesn’t? What the heck are “bioidentical hormones”? And why do we go through menopause anyway? We dig into all this and much, much more this week with none other than renowned (and oh, so feisty) OB/GYN and pain medicine physician, Dr. Jen Gunter, […]

  • Unwell Women with Elinor Cleghorn, Ph. D. (Episode 34)

    Ever wonder how we got here? How is it that in 2021 billions of women are still largely in the dark about menopause? That many of us still feel kind of ashamed to talk about it? This week’s guest, historian Elinor Cleghorn, Ph.D., author of Unwell Women: Misdiagnosis and Myth in a Man-Made World tells […]

  • Find Your Personal Peak with Julie Young (Episode 33)

    What can you do today to make yourself better tomorrow? The best answer to that question is based on you and you alone. Not what other women are doing. Not what you think you should be doing. Not what you used to do. But what you need to do—how to learn and improve—today based on […]

  • CrossFit Rx with Carla DiGirolamo, M.D. (Episode 32)

    Ask your doctor about the benefits of high intensity exercise, lifting heavy sh*t, and adaptogens and you may just get a shrug (or worse a patronizing smile). Ask your coach or trainer about medicine and…well, don’t ask your coach or trainer about medicine because that’s not their job. What’s left is a giant chasm where […]

  • Rolling with The Change with Cheryl Osborne (Episode 31)

    Your big goals don’t have to change with “The Change,” but your training, nutrition, and mindset sure do. This week, long time road and track cyclist Cheryl Osborne, 55, shares how she’s chasing a gold medal and championship jersey at the USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships this fall. Her strategy includes a healthy dose […]

  • Train Smart & Avoid Injury with Claire Callaghan B.Pty MSc (Episode 30)

    It’s hard to chase big goals and live your best life when you’re getting sidelined by injuries, which is a struggle many women face during the menopause transition. Research is only beginning to uncover how our sex hormones keep our muscles and connective tissues healthy and resilient and how the menopausal transition can increase the […]

  • Fine Tune Your Fueling with Dina Griffin, RDN (Episode 29)

    Does your diet make you feel good? How’s your energy? Are you performing and recovering well? How do you really feel? If we’re honest, many of us don’t even really know. Spending so many years on the high carb, low carb, no carb, low fat, high fat, keto, paleo, intermittent fasting Merry-Go-Round, it can be […]

  • Life Starts Now with Tania Dalton (Episode 28)

    How many times have you pushed back a big goal until you got “fitter” or “leaner”? How many times have you looked at an exciting challenge and thought, “That’s not for me.”? Tania Dalton spent most of her pre-menopausal life battling with body image issues, disordered eating, and crises of confidence, which kept her on […]

  • Guts & Glory with Stasi Kasianchuk, RDN (Episode 27)

    Gut health means more than just good digestion—though that’s certainly an important part of it! Your gut microbiome also impacts your overall health, body composition, and athletic performance. It’s also changing all the time and the menopausal transition definitely alters it…and not necessarily for the better. That’s why it’s especially important to build a diverse, […]

  • Reach New Heights with Nancy Feagin and Maggie Odette (Episode 26)

    The hormonal havoc of menopause can leave us with higher anxiety, less muscle, and a decline in power—all things that are unhelpful for sport in general, but especially if you’re scaling a vertical rock formation a dizzying distance from the ground. This week’s guests, Nancy Feagin and Maggie Odette, both badass rock climbers in their […]

  • Screw Diet Culture with Intuitive Eating’s Evelyn Tribole, RDN (Episode 25)

    Diets do not work. More than 30 years of diet culture has proven that point. Yet, we’re still bombarded day in and day out with books, websites, and fitspo pros promising rapid weight loss and making everyone feel bad about their bodies. Menopausal women are currently a popular target for many of these quick fixes […]

  • Keep Your Active Heart Healthy with Dr. Tamanna Singh (Episode 24)

    Everyone knows chest pain is a symptom of heart trouble. What too many people still don’t know is that women are more likely than men to experience other symptoms like nausea or vomiting, unexplained shortness of breath, profound inexplicable fatigue, jaw or back pain, or no symptoms at all. American Heart Association data from two […]

  • Ease Your Aches & Pains with The Ready State’s Dr. Kelly Starrett (Episode 23)

    Tight hips, achy knees, weak glutes, grouchy back, stiff ankles…the list of aches, pains, and niggles that pop up seemingly out of nowhere can feel overwhelming, especially once we hit the menopausal transition and our hormones aren’t keeping our muscles and connective tissues as resilient and supple as they once were. This week’s guest, Dr. […]

  • Healing Moves with Yoga Therapist Carol Krucoff (Episode 22)

    Yoga is more than something you do–that one or two classes a week where you attempt a full pigeon pose. It’s a way you live–a strengthening of the tether that connects your mind, body, and soul. Practiced daily, it can improve every aspect of your physical and mental well being, especially when you need that […]

  • Stoke Your Motivation with Dr. Lisa Lewis (Episode 21)

    Dragging yourself through the motions more often than not these days? You’re not alone. The brain chemistry changes that occur during menopausal years can cause your mojo, motivation, and mental game to go MIA. But don’t despair. This week’s guest, psychologist Dr. Lisa Lewis is here to help you get your groove back. Spoiler alert: […]

  • Save Your Sleep with Sleep Evangelist Dr. Sophie Bostock (Episode 20)

    Menopause and midlife can send dueling wrecking balls straight into your sleep architecture, leaving you tossing and turning unable to get to sleep, waking up with racing thoughts at 3 a.m., and generally depriving you of the rest and regeneration you need. This week’s guest, Dr. Sophie Bostock, the sleep scientist—and self-proclaimed sleep evangelist—is here […]

  • Become a Fat Burning Machine with Gale Bernhardt (Episode 19)

    As active women, we use carbs to fuel our training and racing. But there’s a limit to how many are good for our health (as well as performance), especially as we hit menopause and become more insulin resistant. This week’s guest, coach Gale Bernhardt has been on a mission to help her athletes dial in […]

  • Strong Starts in the Mind with Lisbeth Darsh (Episode 18)

    What keeps you going when the curtains start to fall at mile 19 of a marathon? How do you get up and charge again 3 days into a 6 day stage race? What makes the difference between picking up a kettlebell or a bottle of wine at the end of a long, hard, tiring day? […]

  • Going Big & Staying Balanced with Lynda Rowan (Episode 17)

    Chasing big athletic goals can supercharge your life. But how do you chase and accomplish those goals without dropping the ball on everything else, especially as you’re also trying to navigate all the changes that menopause and midlife can bring? This week’s guest, long time endurance athlete and coach Lynda Rowan is here to help. […]

  • Sex Solutions with Dr. Lauren Streicher (Episode 16)

    Time for “the talk.” Seriously, we get sex ed when we go through puberty to know what to expect. But then we hit the other end of the hormonal spectrum and…crickets. Loss of libido and painful sex are real issues during menopausal years and, all too often, women suffer in silence. Issues like vaginal dryness […]

  • Breaking Down Body Image & Eating Disorders with Dr. Christy Greenleaf (Episode 15)

    The words we say to ourselves. The way we look at ourselves. The way we fuel, or often don’t fuel, ourselves. They’re a product of so many things–culture, society, ingrained images and messages. And too often they hurt our health, performance, and general well being. Exercising, playing sports, and being active can help, but they […]

  • Overcoming the Mental Agony of Injury with Heidi Armstrong (Episode 14)

    Injuries don’t just hurt physically. They can rock you emotionally, as they keep you away from the activity you love, isolate you from your training buddies, and do a number on your self image, especially as we get into our menopausal years and injuries can pop up with increasing frequency. Your doctor or PT help […]

  • Time to Shine with Kacy Duke (Episode 13)

    Ready to create your menopause adventure? Yes, adventure. Now is the time to shine, says this week’s guest, wellness coach and fitness trainer Kacy Duke, who teaches people how to use the right mindset, motivation, and movement to reach their goals. Named one of New York City’s best trainers, Kacy has been the personal trainer […]

  • **REBROADCAST** Joy Goals with Kristen Dieffenbach (Episode 9)

    Missing your usual mojo and motivation? Wrestling with body image issues? Want a little help setting meaningful goals that go beyond how fast you can run a 5K? You are not alone! This week, exercise scientist and mental performance expert Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach addresses these topics and more as we take a deep dive into […]

  • **REBROADCAST** Happy Vaginas with Dr. Mary Jane Minkin (Episode 4)

    Mary Jane is clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale University School of Medicine. She has been a North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner (NCMP) since 2002, and has been in private practice in New Haven, Connecticut for more than 35 years. Mary Jane has won myriad […]

  • Resilience To Go The Distance with Magda Boulet(Episode 12)

    Recovery, resilience, and injury resistance gets harder as we get older. The harder and longer you go, the harder and longer the recovery process can be. This week’s guest, legendary ultra runner Magda Boulet knows all about what it takes to stay resilient and recover well even after the longest, hardest challenges. Since turning 45, […]

  • Plant Power with Leslie Bonci (Episode 11)

    Studies show women following a plant-based diet have fewer night sweats and hot flashes during menopause. So this week Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN, owner of Active Eating Advice digs into the powers, and occasional pitfalls, of a plant-based diet: what it means and what foods to include for optimum muscle, bone, and hormonal […]

  • Inject Badass with Dr. Pam Peeke (Episode 10)

    Past trauma can lead to more severe symptoms and a more challenging menopause journey. This week, stress and resiliency expert Pamela Peeke, M.D., M.P.H., explains how stress and trauma can change our DNA and drag us down mentally and physically, especially at midlife. She also serves up a whole lot of hope and no B.S. […]

  • Joy Goals with Kristen Dieffenbach (Episode 9)

    Missing your usual mojo and motivation? Wrestling with body image issues? Want a little help setting meaningful goals that go beyond how fast you can run a 5K? You are not alone! This week, exercise scientist and mental performance expert Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach addresses these topics and more as we take a deep dive into […]

  • Eat Carbs! with Hillary Wright, MEd, RDN & Elizabeth Ward, MS, RDN (Episode 8)

    Low fat. High protein. Low carb. No carb. This week’s guests and authors of The Menopause Diet Plan, Hillary Wright and Elizabeth Ward, have seen diet trends come and go and come around again. And they know what works. Spoiler alert: Yes, you can – and should – eat carbs. We get into why, as […]

  • Rise Above the Menopocalypse with Amanda Thebe (Episode 7)

    Depression, anxiety, bone-crushing fatigue, incontinence, heart palpitations, migraines. What the hell is going on? Shockingly, your family doctor may not know it’s menopause. And you’ll end up feeling like you’re losing your mind like this week’s guest Amanda Thebe, author of Menopocalypse: How I Learned to Thrive During Menopause and How You Can Too. Amanda […]

  • Stop the Leaks with Chloë Murdock, DPT (Episode 6)

    It happens. You sneeze, cough, or laugh…and leak. Or you can barely get your key in the door without wetting yourself. It’s common, but not normal…or necessary. This week, pelvic floor specialist Chloë Murdock, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS offers solutions to the incontinence that can happen during menopause. And, spoiler alert, there’s more to fixing […]

  • Never Wonder "What If" with Cherie Gruenfeld (Episode 5)

    Thirty four years ago, at the age of 42, Cherie Gruenfeld went from lying in bed eating sticky buns and watching the LA Marathon to buying running shoes and a book on how to run a marathon the very next day. She wanted to know what she was capable of. At 76 years old, after […]

  • Happy Vaginas with Dr. Mary Jane Minkin (Episode 4)

    Heavy periods, hot flashes, vaginal pain, debilitating full body achiness, we’ve got a hit parade of menopausal symptoms, and more importantly, solutions this week with guest Mary Jane Minkin, M.D. Mary Jane is clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale University School of Medicine. She has been a […]

  • Hit Your Next PR with Erin Carson (Episode 3)

    It’s easy to beat yourself up (and down) with strength training. That’s not Erin Carson’s game. As the strength trainer for endurance athletes like 3x Ironman World Champion Mirinda Carfrae, Erin’s approach is building her athlete’s up to be not just strong, but also energetic, nimble, and fast. She dishes out plenty of thoughts on […]

  • Breaking Down the Science with Dr. Stacy Sims (Episode 1)

    What is happening?! You’ll find out as Selene Yeager talks all things menopause with Dr. Stacy Sims, exercise physiologist, nutrition scientist and the brains behind the women’s training and nutrition book ROAR. The show dives deep on symptoms and solutions, including specific fueling and training techniques and adaptogens that can help women maintain muscle, energy, […]

  • Never Retire with Rebecca Rusch (Episode 2)

    Traditionally athletes in their 40s (and certainly their 50s) are supposed to retire and find something else to do. Not seven-time world champion Rebecca Rusch, who didn’t even start racing professionally as a mountain biker until age 38, and proceeded to rack up national and world victories, win Leadville 100 four times, DK200 three times, […]

  • Hit Play Not Pause Trailer

    Welcome to the Hit Play Not Pause Podcast, a Feisty Menopause podcast for active, performance-minded women who aren’t willing to put their best years behind them. It’s time to break the silence and get past the stigma of what you can accomplish as an active woman in your 40’s, 50’s and beyond. We’ll talk about […]

  • Symptoms of Breast Cancer (YouTube Video #389)

    Symptoms of Breast Cancer In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Barbara 'Menopause' Taylor reveals a surprising truth—most breast cancers have no early symptoms. She debunks common myths, especially the widespread belief that breast pain signals cancer, and explains the difference between signs and symptoms. Learn why relying on symptoms alone can be dangerous, and how early […]

  • Sherri Dindal – Being The Real Slim Sherri and new beginnings in Midlife & Menopause

    Many of you will know The Real Slim Sherri from Instagram and TikTok – she is well known for her no- holds barred, unfiltered truths around growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, midlife, life as a Gen X woman and menopause.  I have loved her page ever since I discovered it and so was […]

  • What Stem Cell Therapy Taught Me About Recovery, Mindset, and Reinventing Downtime

    In today’s episode, I share my personal experience with stem cell therapy—and the unexpected lessons that came from being forced to slow down. Whether you’re choosing a procedure like stem cell therapy or suddenly dealing with an injury or illness, time off from your normal routine isn’t just inconvenient — it’s a major mental and […]

  • 193 Can Color Heal You? Dr. Deanna Minich Thinks So 🎨🧠🌿

    Forget everything you thought you knew about nutrition. This episode gets wildly colorful—literally. Dr. Deanna Minich joins Sally to decode how COLOR—yes, actual colors—can shift your health, your hormones, and even your mood. From purple carrots to chlorophyll, this convo goes deep on how to nourish your body and your energy. We’re talking:✨ Yellow for […]

  • Ep #152: Overcoming Gender Barriers in a Male-Dominated Industry with Captain Reyné O’Shaughnessy

    In this episode, Andrea Donsky, nutritionist, published menopause researcher, menopause educator, and co-founder of WeAreMorphus.com, talks to Captain Reyné O’Shaughnessy. She is a veteran commercial airline pilot with over 34 years at a Fortune 50 carrier and more than 10,000 heavy-jet flight hours, including being among the first women qualified on the Boeing 747. She's […]

  • 219 How to Support Your Mental Health and Stop Menopause Weight Gain

    Menopause is a natural part of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. I’ve experienced the exhaustion, the thinning hair, the mood swings—and the confusion that comes when you feel like your body is changing faster than you can keep up. In this episode, I’m sharing my personal journey with menopause and the lessons I’ve […]

  • S4 Ep178: Mid-life Nutrition: Tips and Tricks From a Dietician with Dr. Alexandra Filingeri

    Any mid-life woman knows that once you hit your 40s, 50s, or 60s, things will not go well if you eat the same way you did when you were 20. But it’s confusing to know what to eat, and how much to eat, without downloading multiple APPs and carrying around a calculator  My guest, Alexandra […]

  • 164: Emotional Eating in Menopause – The Psychology Behind the Cravings

    Do you get cravings for the foods that make your soul feel fuzzy but your body feel icky? In this episode, Adele explains the psychology behind those cravings, how to make steps away from those cravings and how to be more mindful with your eating. Check out Adele’s FREE symptom assessment here: https://adelejohnstoncoaching.com/free-copy-of-our-symptom-assessment/ Adele is […]

  • Thursday Thoughts – Writing a Book

    This week on Thursday Thoughts, Lucy and I dive into a juicy conversation all about her brand new book Shiny Happy Singles — or Thrive Solo if you're tuning in from the US. We chat about the inspiration behind the book, what it really means to thrive on your own, and why this message is […]

  • From Midlife Crisis to Midlife Chrysalis: Chip Conley’s Roadmap to Reinvention

    In this episode of Hello Menopause, Stacy talks with entrepreneur, author, and Modern Elder Academy founder Chip Conley about what it really means to navigate midlife. Drawing from his own experience with prostate cancer and hormone therapy, Chip shares what it felt like to go through “male menopause” and how that informed his vision for […]

  • Bladder Issues in Menopause – The Hidden Bacteria You Need to Know

    If bladder issues in menopause are keeping you from jumping for bone density or for jumping for joy. Or if laughing and sneezing or a need to consider hydration needs against access to a bathroom are real life and every day concerns you… we’ve got you today.  Bladder issues in menopause don’t need to keep […]

  • Ep 176 -Restoring Blood Flow for Brain, Heart and Hormonal Health with Cathy Eason

    In this week’s episode,  Dr. Fiona Lovely speaks with Cathy Eason, a certified holistic nutritionist and clinical educator, about nitric oxide (NO), often called the “miracle molecule” for its vital role in blood flow and thus, overall health.  We talk about the groundbreaking findings from a pilot study on nitric oxide’s impact on women’s sexual […]

  • Ep 481: The 5,000-Year-Old Secret to Stopping Emotional Eating

    I’m showing you how ancient Buddhist wisdom can help you break the cycle of emotional eating with more awareness, compassion, and ease—just like I teach my clients. Get the full show notes and information here: https://drdebbutler.com/481

  • #129: 7 Essential Habits to Move Through Menopause with More Ease

    Midlife doesn’t have to be a crisis — it can be a genuine metamorphosis. In this episode, I’m not talking about just surviving menopause.I’m talking about moving through it with more ease, clarity, and actual calm. You’ll hear a segment from a training I recently ran, where I shared seven essential habits that helped me […]

  • 13 – HRT after 60: myths, facts and finding your own path with Ann Newson

    In this week’s episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by her mother, Ann Newson, for a candid and deeply insightful conversation about HRT after 60, as requested by some ofour viewers.  Together, Dr Louise and Ann address the persistent fears around breast cancer and HRT, revisiting data from the controversial 2002 WHI study. They also explore the […]

  • Grading and Staging of Breast Cancer (YouTube Video #388)

    Grading & Staging Breast Cancer – Know the Hidden Dangers In this episode, Dr. Barbara 'Menopause' Taylor breaks down the critical differences between grading and staging breast cancer—and exposes the hidden dangers that often leave patients confused or misinformed. Learn how cancer cell "grades" reflect aggressiveness, how "stages" indicate spread, and why stage 0 (carcinoma […]

Hit Play Not Pause

Perimenopause and menopause hit active women differently. We have a different lifestyle and different goals. And we know our bodies. Whether you run and hike or do CrossFit and ski (or a little of everything!), you’ve had a way of eating and exercising that worked…until the menopause transition, when it all goes out the window […]

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