All About You With Dr Shauna Watts

Start 2026 With Clarity, Not Extreme ResolutionsA new year doesn’t have to mean doing more, it means knowing where to focus.In this special expert mash-up episode, Dr. Shauna Watts brings together trusted voices in cardiology, menopause medicine, alcohol coaching, and longevity to answer one critical question:What actually protects your long-term health during perimenopause and menopause?From heart disease and bone loss to alcohol, hormones, sexual health, and strength training, this episode delivers clear, evidence-based guidance to help you step into 2026 informed, capable, and confident in your health decisions.🎧 Featuring insights from:* Dr. Tom Ford (Cardiology)* Dr. Alison Mooney (Menopause GP)* Sarah Rusbatch (Alcohol & Menopause Coach)* Dr. Amy Killen (Regenerative & Longevity Medicine)In this episode, you’ll learn how to:* Protect your heart health during menopause with realistic lifestyle changes that actually reduce risk* Understand osteoporosis and bone loss, and why early screening matters more than you think* Choose the right types of exercise for cardiovascular health, bone strength, and longevity* Understand how alcohol impacts hormones, sleep, mood, and breast cancer risk during midlife* Improve sexual health and intimacy as you age by supporting blood flow, hormones, and nervous system health* Build muscle and balance to prevent frailty, fractures, and loss of independence later in lifeFollow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a524700:00:00 - Introduction00:00:37 - Understanding Your Body During Midlife00:01:54 - Lifestyle Changes for Heart Health00:03:43 - Supplements and Heart Health00:05:57 - The Impact of Smoking on Heart Health00:07:41 - Alcohol and Heart Health00:09:50 - Emotional Impact of Heart Disease00:12:16 - Osteoporosis and Menopause00:13:23 - Detecting Osteoporosis00:15:15 - Understanding Osteoporosis Screening00:16:08 - Identifying High Risk Groups for Osteoporosis00:17:57 - Preventing and Managing Osteoporosis00:18:52 - Promoting Bone Health from a Young Age00:20:16 - The Role of Alcohol in Bone Health00:20:41 - Rediscover You Program Advertisement00:21:26 - Addressing Alcohol and Hormone Imbalances00:23:38 - Understanding the Impact of Alcohol on Perimenopause Symptoms00:26:46 - The Overlap Between Perimenopause Symptoms and Alcohol Consumption00:28:03 - Addressing Cross Addiction and Boredom After Alcohol Withdrawal00:28:12 - Rebalancing the Brain's Reward Pathways After Alcohol Withdrawal00:30:27 - Exercise and Dopamine Replacement After Alcohol Withdrawal00:31:30 - Understanding Sexual Longevity00:32:31 - Lifestyle Factors Impacting Sexual Wellness00:33:29 - Stress and Its Impact on Heart Health00:34:46 - Risks of Extreme Exercise00:36:01 - Risks of Bodybuilding and Steroid Use00:37:48 - Dietary Interventions for Heart Health00:40:00 - Strength Training and Bone Health00:41:15 - Importance of Balance for Bone Health00:42:45 - Preventing Frailty and Maintaining Independence00:43:44 - The Role of Health Professionals in Preventing Osteoporosis* menopause health* menopause and heart health* menopause and osteoporosis* perimenopause health* women’s health midlife* healthy aging for women* menopause lifestyle changes* bone density menopause* alcohol and menopause* heart disease risk women* strength training menopause* sexual health after menopause* longevity for women* hormone therapy menopause* osteopenia osteoporosis womenDisclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

For decades, millions of women were told hormone therapy was dangerous, or were told nothing at all. In this episode of All About You, GP Dr. Shauna Watts sits down with urologist, author, and menopause educator Dr. Kelly Casperson to unpack what modern science actually says about menopause, hormone therapy, and aging. If you’re in your 50s, 60s, or 70s and were told it was “too late” for hormones—this conversation may change everything.In this conversation, you’ll learn how to:Understand why an entire generation of women missed out on hormone therapySeparate outdated fear-based messaging from current menopause scienceKnow whether hormone therapy can still help after age 60 or 70Learn what the timing hypothesis really means (and what it doesn’t)Understand the role of testosterone in women’s energy, mood, motivation, and libidoAdvocate for yourself in medical conversations with clarity and confidenceHave a question for Dr. Shauna? Leave a voice note via the link in the show notes, you may hear it answered in a future episode.https://www.allaboutyoupod.comResources & ReferencesThe Menopause Moment – Dr. Kelly Caspersonhttps://kellycaspersonmd.com/the-menopause-moment-book/You Are Not Broken - Dr Kelly Casperson https://kellycaspersonmd.com/you-are-not-broken-book/The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/science/womens-health-initiative-whiMenopause Society Guidelines (2022)https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/press-release/ht-position-statement-release.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.comFollow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠https://www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.If this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a woman who was never given the full story about menopause.00:00 – Menopause misinformation: how women were failed by outdated science01:00 – Welcome to All About You + why this conversation matters now02:00 – Dr Kelly Casperson on women’s suffering and why she does this work03:30 – The Boomer generation: menopause without support or hormones05:10 – The biggest hormone myths still holding women back10:30 – Can older women still benefit from hormone therapy?13:55 – Dr Shaunas 16 Week Program14:40 – Why menopause and hormone myths persist in medicine18:00 – Hormones and cancer: separating fear from evidence22:40 – Why the word “hormones” causes so much confusion27:30 – Testosterone in women: what it actually does31:20 – Testosterone myths: libido, hair loss, and fear-based advice36:30 – How testosterone supports energy, mood, and motivation40:10 – Why hormones matter for the brain and long-term health43:50 – Final takeaways: what every woman deserves to know about menopausemenopause hormone therapyHRT after menopausestarting HRT later in lifemenopause mythshormone therapy safetytestosterone for womenmenopause after 60women’s hormones agingis it too late to start HRTmenopause hormone mythsvaginal estrogen safetytestosterone benefits for womenmenopause brain fog hormonesmenopause bone health hormoneshormone therapy cancer mythsmenopause treatment options evidence based

Anxiety, brain fog, low mood, loss of confidence, and feeling “not like yourself” are some of the most common, and most misunderstood symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.In this episode of All About You, Dr. Shauna Watts is joined by leading menopause experts to unpack the real science behind hormones, mental health, brain function, libido, bone health, and longevity, and why so many women are being misdiagnosed, dismissed, or under-treated during midlife.This conversation cuts through fear-based messaging and outdated medical myths to explain what’s actually happening in the female brain and body, when hormone therapy helps, when it doesn’t, and what every woman deserves to know before making decisions about her health.In this episode, you’ll learn how to:Understand why anxiety and depression spike in perimenopause and why hormones, not SSRIs, are often the correct first-line treatmentExplain how estrogen stabilises the brain and why hormonal fluctuations drive mood changes and brain fogSeparate fact from fear around menopause hormone therapy (MHT/HRT)Learn when SSRIs may be appropriate — and when they’re notUnderstand the role of testosterone in female libido, muscle, mood, and confidenceProtect your bones, muscles, brain, and cardiovascular health long-termBust common myths about vaginal estrogen safety, including in breast cancer survivorsMake informed decisions about hormones at any ageReframe menopause as a powerful life transition, not a declineResources MentionedEstrogen Matters — Avrum Bluming & Carol TavrisThe New Menopause — Dr. Mary Claire HaverYou Are Not Broken — Dr. Kelly CaspersonResearch on vaginal estrogen safety in breast cancer survivorsEmerging data on estrogen, Alzheimer’s risk, and brain healthFollow Dr Mary Claire Haverhttps://www.instagram.com/drmaryclaire/Dr Kelly Caspersonhttps://www.instagram.com/kellycaspersonmd/Dr Vonda Wrighthttps://www.instagram.com/drvondawright/ Gina Jeffreyshttps://www.instagram.com/gina_jeffreys/ Dr Shauna Wattshttps://www.instagram.com/dr.shaunawatts/00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:41 - About the Host00:00:54 - Part Two: Menopause Mashup00:01:50 - Understanding Menopause and Mental Health00:03:16 - Brain Fog and Cognitive Decline00:04:19 - Hopes for Future Medical Training00:06:15 - Misconceptions about Menopause00:07:20 - Testosterone and Menopause00:10:56 - Vaginal Hormones and Menopause00:14:30 - Audience Questions00:15:16 - Menopause and Evolution00:17:18 - Hormones and Osteoporosis00:19:23 - Hormone Replacement in Older Age00:20:41 - Hormone Replacement and Breast Cancer00:26:06 - Vaginal Estrogen Sensitivity00:27:42 - Risks of Not Going on HRT00:31:16 - Recommended Resources for Menopause Literacy00:32:43 - Rediscover You Program Advertisement00:33:28 - Addressing Women Who Can't or Don't Want to Take HRT00:37:10 - Building Muscle for Better Health00:41:12 - The Importance of Optimizing Sleep00:45:17 - The Role of Nutrition in Menopause00:45:38 - Importance of Nutrition and Dietary Choices00:49:07 - Alcohol Consumption and Menopause00:52:48 - Social Interaction and Menopause00:54:52 - Medical Help for Menopause Symptoms00:55:38 - Final Thoughts and Encouragement00:56:47 - The Importance of Seeking Help and Sharing Experiences00:57:22 - Empowerment and Confidence in Menopause Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

In this conversation, we break down what actually changes during midlife from muscle loss and visceral fat gain to sleep disruption, libido changes, and brain fog, and why “eat less and move more” stops working. We cover what science says works, what’s a waste of time, and how women can take back control of their health with the right training, nutrition, and hormone support.This is not about quick fixes. It’s about understanding your physiology and working with it.In this episode, we cover:• Strength training after 35 is mandatory, not optional, if you want to keep muscle, bone density, and metabolic health.• Visceral belly fat increases during menopause by default, but it can be managed with the right training, nutrition, and hormone support.• Most women under-eat protein, accelerating muscle loss, frailty, and long-term health decline.• Hormone therapy is not a weight-loss solution, but it improves sleep, energy, and how well lifestyle changes work.• Creatine combined with resistance training is one of the most effective and underused tools for midlife women.• Sleep is the force multiplier for appetite regulation, mood, and consistency.If you’re navigating perimenopause or menopause and feel like your body suddenly stopped playing by the rules, this episode is essential listening.For more resources:Dr Mary Claire Haver: https://www.instagram.com/drmaryclaire/Dr Rachel Rubin: https://www.instagram.com/drrachelrubin/Dr Kelly Casperson: https://www.instagram.com/kellycaspersonmd/Dr Shauna Watts: https://www.instagram.com/dr.shaunawatts/Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.00:00:00 – Why Midlife Health Needs a Reset00:01:02 – What This Episode Will Change00:01:54 – Muscle Loss After 3500:02:24 – Why Belly Fat Increases00:05:24 – Protein Needs in Midlife00:06:55 – Eating for Muscle and Metabolism00:09:18 – Supplements That Actually Matter00:11:18 – Creatine for Women00:12:48 – Lifting With Osteopenia or Osteoporosis00:13:49 – Why Women Stop Vaginal Hormones00:17:04 – Vaginal Estrogen vs DHEA00:20:13 – Genital Urinary Syndrome Explained00:21:56 – Why Testosterone Matters for Women00:24:55 – “I Feel Like Myself Again”00:27:17 – Access to Hormone Therapy00:33:58 – Vaginal Estrogen Safety Myths00:39:34 – Sex and Desire in Midlife00:44:50 – Testosterone and Libido00:49:38 – When Hormones Start Working00:54:48 – Sleep Changes Everything* Visceral fat* Belly fat menopause* Protein for women* Strength training for women* Creatine for women* Testosterone for women* Estrogen therapy* Vaginal estrogen* Vaginal DHEA* Genital urinary syndrome of menopause* Osteoporosis prevention* Bone density women* Sleep and menopause* Brain fog menopause

What happens when a woman whose career depends on confidence and words suddenly loses both? For journalist Shelly Horton, perimenopause didn’t arrive with hot flushes at first. It showed up as anxiety, heart palpitations, crushing self-doubt, and moments of forgetting simple words at work.In this deeply honest episode, Dr Shauna Watts speaks with Shelly about her journey through perimenopause-related depression, being dismissed by doctors, and the quiet suffering of high-functioning women in midlife. Shelly shares how the right diagnosis, support, and hormone treatment helped her find herself again and why she’s now using her voice to make sure other women don’t feel invisible.In this episode, you’ll learn:• Understand how perimenopause can present as anxiety and depression• Recognise why high-functioning women are often missed or dismissed• Learn how hormonal changes affect confidence, cognition, and mood• Understand the role of HRT in perimenopausal depression• Recognise warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored• Learn why advocacy, for yourself and others, matters• Understand how shame and silence keep women unwellThis episode is for women who feel dismissed, disconnected, or quietly struggling in the midlife yearss. Shelly’s story sheds light on how hormonal change affects mental health and how proper support can help.For more resources from Shelly Horton:Follow her on Instagram or purchase her book ‘I’m Your Peri-Godmother’.Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.00:00 – When Perimenopause Steals Your Confidence00:08 – Shelly Horton’s Perimenopause Wake-Up Call00:53 – Welcome to All About You with Dr Shauna Watts01:10 – “I Didn’t Recognise Myself”: Losing Confidence in Midlife02:24 – Early Perimenopause Symptoms Doctors Miss07:46 – Perimenopause, Anxiety & Depression10:56 – Getting the Right Diagnosis Changed Everything14:32 – What Depression Really Feels Like15:20 – Tracking Symptoms & Withdrawing from Life16:29 – High-Functioning Depression at Work17:28 – Why Women Hide Mental Health Struggles19:24 – Fear, Myths & Starting HRT20:45 – Dark Thoughts & Breakthrough Depression23:26 – Finding a Psychiatrist Who Understands Hormones26:32 – Extreme Heavy Bleeding in Perimenopause28:37 – A Health Crisis That Forced Change30:34 – Strength Training & Rebuilding Her Body31:50 – Body Image, Aging & Self-Trust35:46 – Going Public with Her Perimenopause Story40:13 – Vaginal Dryness & Intimate Symptoms42:17 – Invisibility, Anger & Female Empowerment48:04 – Writing a Book to Change the Conversation01:01:38 – A Message for Women Who Feel Lost* perimenopause depression* perimenopause mental health* Shelly Horton menopause* high functioning depression women* menopause anxiety and mood* hormonal depression in midlife* HRT and mental health* perimenopause symptoms women* being dismissed by doctors women* menopause advocacy Australia* women’s mental health midlife* hormone replacement therapy HRT* menopause stigma* losing confidence in perimenopause