Menopause can scramble your mood, planning, memory, and appetite cues, especially if you’re living with ADHD. My guest this week is Diana Reid, RD and we dive into how shifting estrogen affects dopamine in the brain and why that can make meal planning feel impossible, grocery stores overwhelming, and evenings vulnerable to emotional hunger and snacking. Together, we map the hidden steps that turn “what’s for dinner?” into a 30-step project and show how to lower the cognitive load ...

Midlife brain fog and overwhelm aren’t signs of falling apart. It’s really just your biology getting louder. Dr. Jen Wolkin, a Harvard-trained neuropsychologist, explains how perimenopause can reveal ADHD that’s been there all along and why compassion, not willpower, brings clarity. We unpack how estrogen shifts dopamine and norepinephrine, why hormone swings magnify time blindness and emotional reactivity, and how perfectionism and people-pleasing crumble under midlife’s mental load. You’ll ...

The words “diet and exercise” often feel like a trap door into diet culture and the diet mentality. Given that the theme for this year's World Menopause Day is lifestyle medicine, I wanted to explore lifestyle medicine through a behavior-first lens and share compassionate, doable choices that actually fit your life. Starting with real stories—a cholesterol scare that triggered a Google spiral and a breast cancer survivor who felt she “failed” exercise—we'll explore why language carries weight...

Isn’t it wild that you can do everything “right”-be the devoted mom, caregiver, spouse, or friend, and yet still feel like you’ve lost touch with the “real” you? That’s where our conversation with writer, speaker, and coach Jen Butler begins. It’s a candid look at how midlife cracks open our default scripts around food, alcohol, and identity, and how choosing peace can be much more fulfilling than trying to take up less space in the world. Jen shares her early entry into diet culture, t...

Feeling lost in a sea of conflicting advice about autoimmune disease? It can be especially tricky during perimenopause and menopause when hormones throw everything off. Dr. Alison Danby, a naturopathic doctor who specializes in autoimmune health, is here to break it all down with clear, science-backed guidance that feels like a sigh of relief. What you won’t hear is any ideas about cutting out gluten, dairy, or sugar, or following strict AIP protocols. Dr. Danby explains why those extreme die...

“How could I, an educated scientist married to a doctor, not know this was happening to me?” At 45, Béatrice Séguin was floored to realize she was already in menopause, after years of missing the signs. In this honest and energetic story session, Béatrice shares how that wake-up call turned her into a menopause advocate and led to her podcast This Time of the Month (TTOM). We talk about why so many women are caught off guard, how old research still shapes today’s care, and the new pressure to...

Ever walk into a room and instantly forget why you’re there? Or struggle to find words you know are on the tip of your tongue? I have good news for you! You’re not losing your mind. Your brain is simply changing. In this episode, neuroscientist Dr. Sarah McKay reveals what’s really behind midlife “brain fog” and why it’s part of a powerful transformation. From hot flashes and sleep struggles to surprising cognitive strengths we gain in menopause, she shares what’s happening inside the b...

This week’s episode is extra special for TWO reasons! For one, we are kicking off Season 6, and my sister Friedel is interviewing me! We’re diving into my new book, Eat to Thrive During Menopause, and why I felt called to write it after my own surprising start to perimenopause at 37. Instead of talking about what to cut out, I share why I focus on what to add, such as fiber, phytoestrogens, and carbs that actually satisfy. We also bust some common menopause myths and talk about how intuitive ...

What if menopause wasn’t something to endure, but something to embrace? After asking my Instagram community about the unexpected gifts of midlife, their answers revealed just how liberating this season can be. From deeper friendships and renewed creativity to freedom from dieting and people-pleasing, their stories echoed a powerful shift, and one rooted in self-awareness, strength, and permission to live more authentically. These insights inspired my new book, Eat to Thrive During Menopause, ...

In this story session, April MacKinnon, founder of Anointment Natural Skin Care, opens up about nearly a decade of navigating perimenopause. From the early waves of anxiety and disrupted sleep to the surprising strength she found through resistance training, she shares her very relatable experience. You'll learn: How anxiety showed up early in perimenopause and how April found ways to manage itWhy resistance training helped more than other methodsWhat it means to reconnect with your bod...

What did you think of this episode? Send me a text message and let me know! Have you ever hesitated to open up with other women because you feared judgment, competition, or being labeled as “too much”? If this hits home, I’ve got good news: you are not the problem. In this episode, author and comedian Tova Leigh shares stories from her new book Good Girls Gossip and explains why reclaiming gossip, as deep, truth-sharing connection among women, is revolutionary. We talk about letti...

What did you think of this episode? Send me a text message and let me know! In this episode, I sat down to chat with our very own Joyful Movement Coordinator in the Midlife Feast. At 49, Christine received an ADHD diagnosis after years of masking. She shares how perimenopause brought long-overlooked symptoms into focus. We unpack how midlife hormonal shifts can amplify ADHD traits and why rigid fitness plans rarely work for neurodivergent brains. As a movement coach, Christine offers a refres...

What did you think of this episode? Send me a text message and let me know! If you’ve ever felt guilty for not finishing your plate, even if you’re full, and you’re not 100% sure why, you might be a member of the Clean Plate Club. In this episode, I invited registered dietitian Emily Sucher to explore how messages from childhood are still impacting our food decisions today. Whether you grew up hearing about starving children or just hate the idea of wasting food, this conversation offers a fr...

What did you think of this episode? Send me a text message and let me know! In this solo Q&A episode, I am tackling some of the most recent questions shared with me about the sneaky ways diet culture creeps in, what protein adequacy really looks like (especially for plant-based eaters), and whether collagen is fact or hype. If you want to get your questions answered in the future, submit them here! Links Mentioned The Substack Article Mentioned: Read it here Try the Midlife Mornin...

What did you think of this episode? Send me a text message and let me know! Our bodies change in midlife and menopause, and many times in ways that feel confusing or frustrating. But what if those changes aren’t a problem to fix, but an invitation to reconnect with ourselves? In this conversation, Dr. Charlotte Ord, psychologist and body image expert shares a refreshing take on body appreciation. It’s not about pretending to love every wrinkle or roll. It’s about noticing what your body does ...

What did you think of this episode? Send me a text message and let me know! Standing in your closet thinking, "Nothing fits anymore?" It’s not the best feeling, but can I let you in on something? You don’t have to hold onto your “lose weight wardrobe”. In this encouraging conversation, stylist Dacy Gillespie helps us reframe how we think about style in midlife, especially when our bodies, styles, and preferences have changed. Together, we explore why comfort isn’t “giving up,” how style can h...

What did you think of this episode? Send me a text message and let me know! In this episode, I get to bring you a very special guest, someone whose work has transformed my whole practice, and who has been helping people heal their relationship with food and their bodies through intuitive eating for three decades! In this conversation, Intuitive Eating co-founder Evelyn Tribole shares why this compassionate, research-backed framework is more relevant than ever—especially during menopause...

What did you think of this episode? Send me a text message and let me know! Feeling hungry all the time? Or do you feel like fullness just doesn’t land the way it used to? You’re not imagining things—and it’s not about discipline either. Hormonal changes in menopause can change how you experience hunger, and that can be disorienting. In this episode, we answer a listener’s honest question about feeling constantly hungry, and explore how biology, behavior, and hormones all intersect. We break ...

What did you think of this episode? Send me a text message and let me know! Why are we SO drained in midlife? Dr. Sarah Vandeboncoeur returns to unpack the exhaustion so many women feel—not just from perimenopause, but from decades of overgiving. Most of us enter this phase already running on empty, juggling work, family, and endless to-dos. Add hormonal shifts, and let’s be honest- something has to give. That irritability and bone-deep fatigue? They’re signals, not flaws. We break down the "...

What did you think of this episode? Send me a text message and let me know! Feeling uninspired with your go-to menu lately? Chef Andrea Buckett is here to bring the joy back to your kitchen. With 20 years of experience, she shares her refreshingly simple approach to food—because cooking should be fun, not stressful! Andrea’s five-ingredient meals, pantry hacks, and creative condiment tips (wait until you hear what mustard can do for salmon!) will help you break free from boring weeknight dinn...