Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast today. I really appreciate you being part of our growing community.

And thank you Naomi for such a truly interesting and informative conversation. It was packed with information and here the top 5 takeways I would love to share with you:

1) When I read her substack about the menopause industrial complex, I knew I needed to interview Naomi on the podcast. She describes the MIC as the array of products, services and ads that are targeted at middle aged women who are going through perimenopause, menopause and post menopause.

2) It’s a system thing, not just a woman thing. The system includes a severe lack of menopause training and education in our medical systems. This needs to change and it should not come down to women having to do their own research in order to tell their doctors (if they are lucky enough to actually have a provider). It’s a structural challenge.

3) Women are still impacted by the nasty symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, regardless of the lack of information and support from the medical field, so this creates the confluence between social media (and the algorithm) where women can share their symptoms and commiserate and the MIC which targets their products and services at these women. So yay, our power is being acknowledged as a consumer sector, but at the risk of being targeted in a very ruthless way. Naomi underscores the importance of research and skeptism when you are looking into the different supplements and finding a healthcare professional with menopause training and experience.

4) We can use the power of our consumer sector to change the system. There needs to be public education to counter all the misinformation, more education of medical providers, and better advice and guidance to women navigating the new world of perimenopause and menopause.

5) We need to learn how to embrace aging with grace and beauty, and in so doing, resist the targeting by the MIC. Think of celebrities like Jamie Lee Curtis, Paulina Porizkova, Helen Mirren, Gillian Anderson.

Links:

The Gender Nerd | Substack

Naomi Darom | LinkedIn

Desiderata: Original Text

Jamie Lee Curtis Says Turning 60 Made Her Realize I 'Have No Time to Waste on Toxic People'

Helen Mirren Opens Up About Embracing Aging at 80 - Parade

Paulina Porizkova on Aging and Being ‘Terrified’ of Wrinkles

Lesson of Worth - Gillian Anderson

Wow!!

Trust me, there are WAY more than 5 takeaways from today’s chat, but here are my top 5 takeways:

Mindfulness – it’s a combination of training our attention, focusing said attention on one target in a very particular way. It’s doing that with kindness and without judgement. It’s a way of being in the present moment.

Mindful sex – When we bring the concept of mindfulness and bring it to sexuality. I don’t know about you, but I can remember how I felt when I first heard that. I was intrigued and needed to read on!

Sexual concerns can be really prevalent during the menopause transition – so basically perimenopause and menopause. With vaginal dryness, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, low desire, a huge amount of changes in body image and emotions – there is a direct bearing on sexual function. And guess what? The vasomotor symptoms and even cognitive symptoms get better over time, but the sexual symptoms continue to persist over time.

This is super important – a lack of desire is common. You are not alone! Women can have pain during sex because of vaginal dryness because of the decline in estrogen – the vaginal tissue can be more prone to tearing. And that can be painful. And when something causes pain, it’s just not something we are inclined to want to do.

Not really a takeway, but I wanted to share this – I really enjoyed the book. I found it interesting, easy to access, relatable and helpful. For me, it’s a must read and I am looking forward to getting that workbook!

The bottom line – there is a serious lack of research into women’s health – and when Dr. Brotto said that 2025 was the first time that menopause was included in the curriculum for medical students, I was gob smacked. How is this even possible?

The conversation was so rich and I very much appreciate Dr. Brotto for sharing her time with us.

Links:

Dr. Lori Brotto

Instagram

Lori Brotto | LinkedIn

Thank you so much for spending your time with Lisa and me today. And Lisa, thank you for sharing your insight, knowledge and compassion. We really appreciate you!

This was a huge show with so much helpful information, but here are just some of the takeways I am getting from the chat with Lisa:

1. Redirection in your career for any reason – including something medical – does not have to be the end. It can be a wonderful opportunity to nurture another part of yourself – and to ultimately help others nurture themselves
2. Everyone’s perimenopausal and menopause journey is unique to themselves. For Lisa, it did not start with hot flashes and mood swings. It started with a nagging toothache.
3. Research and talking to other women helped Lisa determine what was causing all the difference symptoms she was experiencing. It was what she heard – that women were thinking about ending their lives because they were not being heard that changed everything for her.
4. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are doing enough, that we are enough.
5. Nutrition and gut health are the drivers of many physical and emotional symptoms during perimenopause and menopause.
6. As women, sometimes we forget the importance of getting the right nutrients and making sure we are actually eating throughout the day.
7. There is also a relationship between what we eat and our mental health.
8. Food is just food – it is neither good or bad.
9. The importance of eating mindfully, not under stress. If that piece of chocolate or cup of ice cream is going to bring you joy, eat it. But think about it first. Figure out what you can do during your day in order to be able to enjoy the treat guilt-free. And then, when you are eating this treat, do it mindfully. Appreciate the taste, the way it feels in your mouth, the way it smells. Notice these things. Take the time.
10. Take time for yourself. We can’t be all go, go, go all the time. Women give to others all the time – we need to give time to ourselves. To calm down, to breathe.
11. Perimenopausal and menopausal women do not live in a bubble – we have partners, families, colleagues – we need to be understanding of each other and ourselves.

Links:

linkedin.com/in/lisafeveck

menomorphosisrd@gmail.com

Facebook

Lisa Feveck's Substack | Lisa Your Menopause Dietitian | Substack

(1) Instagram

STOP Eating These 11 Vegetables After 40 They’re Making You Fatter!

1. No two women experience the same perimenopausal or menopausal journey. What works for your sister or your friend may not necessarily work for you. It’s important to listen, to read and to talk and share.
2. Friends, we need to see our doctors during this time of our lives. Hopefully you will have a doctor that will understand the very real changes and challenges you may be dealing with.
3. For Chandan, discovering aromatherapy was a game changer. She felt crushed, and through self-care and aromatherapy, she found herself again.
4. One thing that really stuck with me during the chat was when Chandan said that she knew what was going on, but she was not ready to accept it.
5. Although there are many cultural differences when it comes to the menopausal journey throughout the world, I think it is fair to say that until very, very recently menopause the world over was a taboo topic.
6. We need to come forward and have these kinds of conversations. Women need to know what to do when it happens. Girls and boys need to be educated about the menopausal journey.
7. Chandan’s Siya Wellness is a commitment to helping others as they navigate the mayhem of middle age.

Many thanks Chandan for coming onto the podcast and really talking with us.

Siya Wellness

Chandan Rathaur | LinkedIn

What is Ayurveda? A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Principles, Doshas & Healing

A big thank you to Dr. Paschal for sharing her knowledge, experience and wisdom with us. Here are some nuggets I am taking away from our conversation.  

To Dr. Paschal, HRT is simply giving back the body the hormones (most often we speak of estrogen) that stop being produced with menopause. 

Dr. Paschal’s thirst for knowledge was a critical catalyst throughout her career. It compelled her to keep training, get more certifications and developing her professional experience.  She saw that some women were still feeling badly, even while taking the hormones, she wanted to see just why the hormones themselves weren’t enough.  She focused on the importance of taking a holistic approach to the perimenopause and menopausal journey. 

She saw that not only were women not getting the optimum dose of hormones they required, but they were also not being counselled in a holistic manner.

Dr. Paschal is not just talking to individual women, she is training and sharing her knowledge and experience with service providers. 

The optimal window for people to start taking HRT is within 10 years of starting menopause. The medical community says that during those 10 years without estrogen therapy, your blood vessels have slightly changed, the elasticity has changed. And then when you add back in estrogen therapy after 10 years without it, especially after 20 years without, it can cause an increase, a slight increased risk of cardiovascular events. So potentially a heart attack.

Taking hormones can also help improve cognitive decline – so helps decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.  

Conducting a risk vs benefit analysis is an important exercise for women trying to decide what path they want to travel during menopause. 

The bottom line is that a decline in estrogen increases women’s risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and certain cancers. The risk of breast cancer drastically increases after menopause.

Dr. Paschal believes that women who are 18 need to understand their menstrual cycle. They need tounderstand how stress plays a part in their progesterone production, and how their fertility is affected by their hormones, how their diet and their exercise and their lifestyle factors all affect fertility, which then affects perimenopause and menopause

Women need to have this conversation sooner so that women don’t miss the optimal 10-year window to start hormone therapy.

The importance of sleep, stress, exercise, learning to say no, diet.

Fruits, vegetables and grains. And fiber – lots and lots of fiber! And protein – protein is hugely important for a healthy diet and life. 

And as part of exercise – you need to be lifting weights. Heavy lifting. 

Lifestyle is a critical component of a healthy life. And when you are perimenopausal, that is the time to learn these things and put them into practice. 

That is the time to do a deep dive into the different options that are available for you  on your menopausal transition. 

Links:

Heather Rae Paschal, PharmD, ABAAHP | LinkedIn

Home | Seaside Pharmacy Consulting

Revelation Pharma | Revelation Pharma Home Page

Thank you for spending your time with us, and Justin, thank you so much for coming on to the podcast and sharing your book and your support for people and women on the menopausal journey.

Like you said, many times middle-aged women are ignored and overlooked. There is not enough research done to support us during this crazy time in our lives, and your compassion and understanding goes a very long way.

From this middle-aged woman’s perspective, this book is absolutely full of important information presented in an entertaining and thought-provoking way. You said this book was the why for your Rebalance Health products – the menomints, manmints and mellomints to help people navigate through the overwhelm of our stressful lives.

To come up with only a few takeaways is a big ask, but here goes:

1. We need to become more mindful of the way we use technology
2. We need to respect the natural endings (and beginnings) of our days and nights
3. Sleep is non-negotiable. We need it to replenish our hormones so we can stay sharp – for the next day and for the rest of our lives
4. When you wake up in the middle of the night, DO NOT reach for your device.
5. We need to truly connect with people, not just mindlessly scroll through life
6. Create an effective sleep hygiene routine

You know I loved the book, and I loved having this conversation. Thank you so much Justin!

Links:

Stress Nation Book by Justin Hai

Balance Hormones Naturally with Rebalance Health™ Supplements

Clinically Proven Natural Supplement for Menopause Hot Flashes: 80% Reduction in Hot Flashes

Justin H. | LinkedIn

Thank you so much for spending your time with us! Thank you so much Loreto - here are my top takeaways from our chat:

People are born creative, and creativity is not just writing or painting. We need to stop telling ourselves we are not creative. We are naturally creative.

Creativity shows up in the most untraditional of places – like financial planning or paddle boarding.

Women need to spend time alone with their thoughts and ask themselves what they really want out of life. What makes them tick?

We are unique people, we aren’t cookie cutters – and sometimes our careers don’t fit with our personalities – this is an opportunity to change careers

How can women be creative at this time in their lives? It’s the perfect time – kids are leaving home, you have more time for yourself – more time to be creative.

Financial planners are some of the most creative people out there.

For Loreto, she has found the humour of this time of life that she translate into her work of creating greeting cards and post cards women can be shared by women and the people who love them.

She is proud of the perimenopausal journal she has created, and I am definitely looking forward to the next one – Married Life. 

Loreto expresses her creativity through her gardening – and a newfound lack of censorship.

At this point, at this time, she doesn’t care – she advises women to let the shackles go and ask themselves what’s the worst that can happen?

She highlights the importance of letting go that sense of control and restraint that many of us have – and if things don’t work out like you would like them to, just turn the page. And that is kind of a metaphor for this age and stage, women are turning the page, we are not the same person we were. 

The gift of having a supportive partner.

Be kind to yourself & change your language

We need to be able to laugh at this time of our lives.

Sit down, put a 20 minute timer on your phone and make an exhaustive list of all the things you think you may like to do – archery, ball room dancing, cooking, etc.

Try it out. You won't be excellent at it, but you will get better. Or maybe not. It does not matter. You can always turn the page.

A positive aspect of menopause is the realization that we are on the other side of the hill. We need to ask ourselves what else do we want to accomplish and how else do we want to enjoy life. Menopause can act as a catalyst.

And to be thankful for the abundance of positive things in our lives

Things you want to do – better get on it. Don’t be afraid to look into the mirror and see what’s really there.

Need to develop self-awareness – it is a skill.

Links:

(2) Loreto Cheyne | LinkedIn

Sassy Greetings | Printed Greeting Cards | Canada

HOME | Lola Design

Creativity in Menopause: It's Time! – Women’s Health Network

Thank you so much for spending your time with us. It really means a lot to me. And a big thank you to Edi Pasalis for sharing her thoughts, reflections, guidance and compassion with us.

The episode was so rich, it was hard to narrow down the takeways, but here are some important points I am taking with me:

Edi considers menopause a developmental era which can definitely be full of mayhem, and looks at it through the lens of personal and leadership development.

She sees menopause as the end of the youthful operating system transitioning to the wise elder operating system which is rooted in compassion.

One of the reasons that menopause creates mayhem is because it is the confluence between the youthful and elder ways of walking in the world. But maybe menopause is an invitation to change the strategies we have been using throughout our lives and embrace a new way of walking in the world

In fact, Edi suggests that menopause is akin to the same kind of developmental era akin to adolescence. Just as adolescence is a time of profound growth and transformation at every level – physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. A part of the menopausal transition is saying good bye to the person who we have been up until this point in our lives. We grieve for the things we used to do but can no longer do. We grieve for the loss of our exterior physical beauty and fundamentally, the ability to bear children. Even if you never wanted to be a mother yourself, you can still grieve this transition in your life.

Women are also losing value in the eyes of society

Just as in puberty, hormones are the drivers of this transformation and in fact the world middlescence has been coined to describe this time of life.

Grief can be accompanied by rage and anger when women finally see how we have bought into the story of what it means to be a good woman, and how we may have suppressed ourselves

The grief can also include coming to terms with regret of what we have done to ourselves in our younger years.

We also grieve when we start losing people, characters in our lives.

We need to learn how to truly feel grief – not just stay busy or get over it. Emotions are energy and that if we allow them to move through us, then that brings in new energy and new opportunities for love.

We need practices/spaces in our lives where we can really deeply feel and hold ourselves in our grief, be seen and witnessed and support in our grief. We need letting go rituals and rituals of grief – such a lighting a candler, writer your grief on paper and then burn that paper or dig a hole and speak all your grief into the earth and et her hold your grief. And there are many resources for grief rituals as simple as light a candle, write your grief on a paper, and then burn the paper or dig a hole and, speak all of your grief into the earth and let her hold your grief.

The menopause transformation is a deepening capacity to meet grief and all our emotions more fully.

Edi’s hope for all women going through menopause is that we become more friendly with ourselves.

There are many, many reason to grieve during the menopausal transition – but maybe by meeting the suffering and honouring it we are able to grow into the wise, compassionate women we want to become.

Links:

Edi Pasalis | LinkedIn

Tackling Taboo Topics: A Review of the Three Ms in Working Women’s Lives - Alicia A. Grandey, Allison S. Gabriel, Eden B. King, 2020

https://edipasalis.com

MIDDLESCENCE definition | Cambridge English Dictionary

Here are my top takeways:

Darlene created the group after going through a lot of challenges herself and feeling unsupported at work. She is a trailblazer and after taking medical leave and conducting a ton of research, she wanted to create a group that would help build a sense of community, that would empower and support her daughter and other younger members of the public service and that would provide evidence-based resources to the members.

She chose the name My Menopause at Work because it speaks to the personal journey that is each person’s menopausal journey within the workplace.

Darlene really appreciates the support she received from Lynne Lamarche who was the group’s executive sponsor, something she cited as essential for anyone wanting to create their own group at their own workplace. She cites improved retention, increased productivity, and engagement for reasons to create a My Menopause at Work group.

It is an inclusive group, and gender diverse folks and allies are welcome to join. The group is focused on supporting everyone, and although the majority of the close to 1,800 members are part of the public service, in fact, anyone can become a member. Darlene also gave a shout out to Diane, a UK- based member of the group.

The group meets virtually on Teams on the second Thursday of every month from 12 pm to 1 pm EST.

They welcome knowledgeable and passionate experts on menopause, and Darlene conducts a lot of due diligence in identifying speakers who can share evidence-based information and resources with the members.

If someone is interested in creating their own My Menopause at Work group, she suggests supporting your business case by using reports and statistics such as the Menopause Foundation of Canada’s report, Menopause and Work in Canada (which actually features the group My Menopause at Work).

Darlene also shared that women over 40 make up one quarter of our workforce, and it is estimated that the unmanaged symptoms of menopause cost the economy $3.5 billion per year. This represents a huge opportunity for employers to provide support for what is a universal experience. 

The bottom line is that women aged 40 plus are a valuable resource employers simply cannot afford to lose.

Big thanks to Darlene for joining us on the podcast, and thank you for everything you are doing for so many other people.

Thank you for sharing this time with us, and remember to please share the podcast with someone you think would appreciate joining the community.

Looking forward to next month’s podcast when we will be tackling the topic of menopause and grief. Get ready for a fabulous conversation with the amazing Edi Pasalis, another inspiring menopause leader. Until then, let’s take a pause together.

Resources:

Darlene Mulcahey | LinkedIn

Darlene: Menopause Champion and Changemaker - The Menopause Foundation of Canada

Menopause in the Workplace with Darlene Mulcahey - CPHR NL

My Menopause at Work : Upcoming events / Ma ménopause au travail : Prochains événements | LinkedIn

My takeaways from our conversation:

Autistic and neurodivergent women and non-binary folks experience a more amplified and intense perimenopause and menopause transition. It’s like the wheels start falling off the cart, and there can be a lack of early diagnosis. So not only are you dealing with the challenges of perimenopause, you could be given a diagnosis of autism. And interestingly this can happen during an autism diagnosis of their sons. They notice – hey, this is how I was when I was his age and that gets the ball rolling in order to get their own diagnosis.  It is typically young boys who are diagnosed with autism while their sisters are ignored.

Often times the medical system misses diagnosing autism in young girls until a potential meltdown during puberty.

People report a lack of accessible and relevant information about perimenopause and menopause, and there is also an absence of diverse perspectives.

There can be a struggle for well-being when you are dealing with the intersectionality – joblessness, poverty, general aging.

Another relevant factor is getting stuck in the medical system – and dealing with clinicians who are not well-educated and may not listen – or may be perceived to be not listening. There can be a mistrust and avoidance of the medical system. The communication challenges can make it more difficult to ask for and receive help, and there is a lack ongoing support and continuity of care. As Christine said, people can be left in the lurch.

In fact, some people actually choose to go it alone as they feel different and experience stigma and social isolation. They opt not to seek support.

But, we also talked about this time in life being a catalyst for healthy change. It provides people with the opportunity to develop a positive self-identity, to truly learn how to accept oneself and adopt an attitude and strategy of self-care.

And of course, not having one’s monthly period is a pretty big (and I would say one of the best) parts of menopause. Perimenopause is a different story because you are dealing with all of the other ridiculousness PLUS still getting your period. Not fun.

This time also gives people the chance to find services and supports – and for changes like lowering the temperature at work places. Small things can make a huge difference when you are dealing with hot flashes, and not sleeping well and for many people, parenting their children and navigating the challenges and pain of watching your parents getting older.

Christine cautioned autistic and neurodivergent women and non-binary people when it comes to making life-changing decisions during this time of life. She cited brain fog, anxiety and sensory loads as important factors that can negatively influence decision-making and lead to potentially challenging situations in the future.

Resources:

Shared Stories, Shared Experiences: International Research on Autism and Menopause

https://linktr.ee/christineajenkins

Autistic people face additional menopause challenges | BPSThe Psychologist, January/February 2024 | BPS

(5) Christine A Jenkins | LinkedIn

• Women’s voices not only need to be heard but paid attention to.
• Madeline and her team are listening and taking note and sharing the feedback they are receiving
• Everyone needs be at the table to discuss the realities of women experiencing perimenopause and menopause at the workplace – men, partners, leadership
• It is important to understand this change in order to be understanding of it. This is just one way our bodies will be changing and we need to learn to reflect on what our bodies are asking us to reconsider what we are asking of them
• We are forced into a new relationship with our bodies –
• It is a shift – painful because we don’t like to let go of parts of ourselves who have served us well in our lives to this point
• Madeline wants to make women feel less alone and hear the voice of others
• There is a lack of culture about this phase of life in a woman’s life – but it is coming!!
• Share tools and strategies that other people are using and they may help other people – to help women know they don’t have to suffer – there are resources and tools and to help
• Women in perimenopause and menopause are bringing so much value to the labour market – it’s about talent retention – when women don’t feel supported, they leave the company or the labour market before they want to – some tips Madeline would like to offer leadership:

1. Don’t try and control bodies
2. The importance of flexibility in scheduling etc.
3. Give resources – do your benefits cover HRT? Do your employees have access to supports?
4. Do your employees have a safe environment to talk about their struggles?

• This is not an ending, but a beginning – listen to your body – seek the resources that will support you through whatever means –
• Research indicates the changes that happen in the brain and other bodily changes are consistent with things that happen when you go through puberty and pregnancy.
• It is so destructive because it is threatening to our identity as women and workers – but there are leadership opportunities that come out of menopause
• This is the time that you leave things behind, but when you do that, it leaves you lighter for new things and growth
• We may not be able to change what is happening to our bodies, but we can absolutely change what we say to ourselves. And we can be part of a movement that sees the possibility and promise, transformation and growth this time of life can bring.

Links:

The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter

The (Peri)menopause Project website  

Madeline Toubiana on LinkedIn

A big thanks to Joanne for sharing her menopause expertise with us today.

Here’s what I am taking away for our chat:

It’s good to be able to let go of our younger self with grace and no judgement

Sleep, nutrition, activity, exercise, energy, self-awareness, weight training and adventurous mindset are crucial for a healthy midlife and menopause.

Thank you Joanne for these tips – much appreciated!

Links:

Joanne Savoie Malone – LinkedIn profile

(Peri)Menopause Project | Home

10 Menopause Care Tips: How to Take Care of Yourself During Menopause

12 Essential Self-Care Practices for Thriving During Menopause -

It's a safe place to talk all things menopause (and perimenopause), midlife and the craziness that comes with all of this.

Join me as I chat with women who are truly experts in the field. If you are like me and looking for information about menopause and mental health, diet, activity, sleep, exercise - the list goes on - please take a listen.

And just in keeping with the theme, the podcast will be released once a month.

Let's take a pause on the 25th of every month!