PodcastsHealth & WellnessEveryday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

Everyday Wellness™
Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+
Latest episode

709 episodes

  • Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

    Ep. 601 “Why High-Functioning Women Stay Stuck” – The Nervous System Patterns Keeping You in Survival Mode with Dr. Nicole LePera

    03/06/2026 | 1h 2 mins.
    I am delighted to reconnect with Dr. Nicole LePera today. Trained in clinical psychology, she is a holistic psychologist whose work explores the interconnections among the mind, body, and soul, incorporating holistic lifestyle and psychological wellness practices. She has written multiple New York Times bestselling books, most recently Reparenting the Inner Child.

    In today’s conversation, we unpack what the inner child really means from a clinical perspective. We explore how understanding your childhood wounds intellectually differs from truly re-parenting yourself at the nervous system level, and how perimenopause and menopause influence the way we view the world. We look at ACE scores and the biology of childhood adversity, how ACE scores measure what happened to us, but fail to measure resilience, protective factors, or the capacity for healing. We examine how reactive parents shape our nervous system, and how that shows up as hypervigilance, emotional scanning, and self-erasure, and how the fawn response can lead to chronic people-pleasing, relentless accommodation, and an inability to say no. We also cover how epigenetics and lifestyles influence behavioral patterns, critical parenting, stress addiction, gut-brain dysregulation, and the disruptive effects of vagal tone gadgets.

    This is truly one of those must-listen conversations! I love Dr. LePera’s grounded and practical approach to helping people work through their childhood experiences and advocate for themselves.

    IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


    How childhood wounds become stored in the nervous system rather than just the mind


    Why understanding your dysfunctional habits intellectually will not change the emotional patterns that drive them


    How perimenopause and menopause can magnify unresolved emotional patterns


    What ACE scores measure and what they fail to capture


    How reactive parenting can lead to hypervigilance and emotional scanning, even in safe environments


    Dr. LePera describes the fawn response and explains how children learn to over-accommodate others, suppress their own needs, and avoid conflict.


    How chronic stress becomes a learned response, and how stress responses can be passed across generations  


    How chronic stress and a dysregulated nervous system can influence gut function and microbiome balance


    Why it’s essential to return your attention to your body in the present moment to begin healing

    Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


    Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


    Check out Cynthia’s website.


    Submit your questions to [email protected] 


    Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 


    Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.


    Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


    The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

    Connect with Dr. Nicole LePera


    Website


    Social media platforms: @The Holistic Psychologist 


    Self Healers Circle (Membership community)

    Purchase a copy of Dr. Pera’s latest book, Reparenting the Inner Child.
  • Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

    BONUS: Break Free: Proven Steps To Get Rid Of Stubborn Belly Fat with Cynthia Thurlow, NP

    01/06/2026 | 44 mins.
    Today, I am excited to welcome you to the eagerly awaited third installment of Ask Me Anything! 

    In this episode, I shine a spotlight on a universal challenge that affects the lives of countless women over 35 as I delve into the heart of the problems of weight-loss resistance, plateaus, and the notorious belly fat that seems to cling for dear life. 

    The flood of questions that keep pouring in speaks volumes and is a testament to the exasperation we all feel! Join me on a journey to navigate that landscape, unravel the mysteries, confront misconceptions, and uncover strategies to overcome, decode, and dismantle the common issue of shedding those unwanted, stubborn pounds!

    I urge all of you, particularly those older than 35, to know you are not alone in your struggle! Stay tuned for the treasure trove of insights that awaits!

    IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:


    Why should you know what your fasting insulin is? 


    The importance of stress management


    Helpful supplements for those who have had their gallbladders removed


    How to deal with cravings and weight gain during the week before your period


    The first thing to work on if you are struggling with plateaus or weight loss resistance


    The importance of mitigating stress


    Managing your macronutrients


    The loss of muscle as we get older


    Physical activity and weight loss


    How important is body set weight? 


    How trauma impacts weight loss resistance

    Connect with Cynthia Thurlow


    Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


    Check out Cynthia’s website.


    Submit your questions to [email protected] 


    Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 


    Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.


    Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


    The Midlife Pause Supplement Line
  • Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

    Ep. 600 “Breaking the ‘Limbic Lock’”– Why Your Brain Stalls in Healing and How to Fix It with Dr. Eboni Cornish |Menopause, Perimenopause, Brain Health

    30/05/2026 | 58 mins.
    I’m delighted to connect with Dr. Eboni Cornish today. She is the Associate Medical Director of Amen Clinics and President of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, specializing in complex chronic illness with expertise in brain health, Lyme disease, autoimmune conditions, mold exposure, gut dysfunction, and women’s midlife health.

    In our conversation, we explore how perimenopause and menopause affect the brain, as well as the roles of genetics and epigenetics. Dr. Cornish explains limbic lock, SPECT imaging, the impact of tick-borne illnesses, and co-infections, and how brain health issues can influence mental health. We also dive into the role of mold in testing, the gut-brain-immune-hormone axis, vagal tone, the estrobolome, leptin, the MTHFR mutation, and how Dr. Cornish prefers to have it tested and treated in her patients.

    Stay tuned for an insightful and wide-ranging conversation on brain health and women’s midlife wellness.

    IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


    Why women may experience brain fog, forgetfulness, and cognitive slowing as estrogen declines


    How declining estrogen could make the brain more vulnerable to toxins, infections, and leaky brain


    How disrupted sleep, poor nutrition, and lack of oxygen (from issues like sleep apnea) can negatively affect cognition and brain health


    The value of continuing to learn and staying socially connected to support your cognitive health as you age


    How genetics can help to identify women who may be at higher risk for cognitive decline later in life.


    What limbic lock means


    How toxin overload, mold, Lyme disease, and co-infections, and unresolved stress can create a state of limbic lock 


    How SPECT imaging helps to explain why some people fail to improve despite multiple treatments


    The benefits of progesterone for supporting relaxation and improving sleep during perimenopause


    How declining estrogen and gut dysbiosis during perimenopause can affect the gut-brain axis

    Bio: Dr. Eboni Cornish

    Dr. Eboni Cornish is the Associate Medical Director of Amen Clinics and President of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. She specializes in complex chronic illness, with expertise in brain health, Lyme disease, autoimmune conditions, mold toxicity, gut dysfunction, and women’s midlife health.

    Known for her NeuroLongevity framework, Dr. Cornish takes a root-cause, brain-first approach to helping patients optimize cognitive resilience, hormone balance, and long-term wellness.

    Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


    Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


    Check out Cynthia’s website.


    Submit your questions to [email protected] 


    Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 


    Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.


    Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book.


    The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

    Connect with Dr. Eboni Cornish


    Amen Clinics


    On her website


    Instagram
  • Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

    Ep. 599 “Why You’re Getting More Infections in Midlife – The Microbiome Shift No One Talks About | Menopause, Perimenopause and Immune Health

    28/05/2026 | 21 mins.
    Welcome to the latest Midlife Minute.

    I’ve been getting many questions about viruses, bacterial vaginosis, and recurrent infections. So, today, I’m stepping a little outside our usual topics to explore how changes in the gut microbiome can directly influence the vaginal microbiome.

    Join me as I clarify what actually happens in the body during perimenopause and menopause, and explain why those shifts matter more than most women realize.

    IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


    Three changes that occur simultaneously during perimenopause and menopause, and how those changes increase our susceptibility to viruses like herpes.


    Why declining estrogen weakens the vaginal microbiome


    How gut microbiome changes in midlife affect the ability to recycle estrogen via the estrobolome


    Why the gut barrier becomes less stable and more permeable during perimenopause and menopause, and how that can trigger immune responses and low-grade inflammation


    How hormonal fluctuations can trigger viral outbreaks and increase the likelihood of shingles


    What research shows about hormone replacement therapy and lower rates and recurrence of severe herpes simplex infections


    Why bacterial vaginosis is becoming more common in midlife


    How to balance and support the gut and vaginal microbiome in midlife

    Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


    Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


    Check out Cynthia’s website.


    Submit your questions to [email protected]


    Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 


    Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!


    Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book


    The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

    Links:

    1. Menopausal shift on women’s health and microbial niches

    2. The Effect of Menopause on the Innate Anti-Viral Activity of Cervicovaginal Lavage

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4519412/ 

    3. Spotlight on the Gut Microbiome in Menopause: Current Insights

    4. Shingles and Menopause: Is There a Connection?

    5. The Impact of Hormonal Replacement Therapy on Herpes Simplex Infection and Gingival Health in Post-Menopausal Women 

    6. The Menopause Transition, Vaginal Health, and Your Vaginal Microbiome

    7. Probiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Postmenopausal Vaginal Infections: Review Article

    8. G. vaginalis increases HSV-2 infection by decreasing vaginal barrier integrity and increasing inflammation in vivo

    9. Association between Acquisition of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in Women and Bacterial Vaginosis 

    10. Recalcitrance of bacterial vaginosis among HSV-2 seropositive women
  • Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

    Ep. 598 “Your Labs Say You’re Fine!” – Why Women’s Symptoms Get Dismissed in Perimenopause with Dr. Julia Haffner | Menopause, Perimenopause, Fascia Health

    27/05/2026 | 58 mins.
    I am thrilled to connect with Dr. Julia Haffner today. She’s a European-trained medical doctor who has worked in internal medicine, geriatrics, family practice, chronic pain therapy, esthetics, and hair transplant surgery, where she continuously saw patients struggling with symptoms their bodies were desperately trying to communicate, yet testing failed to provide answers.

    Today, we explore where stress lives in the body and why midlife can feel so different for women. We discuss the connection between postpartum experiences and perimenopausal symptoms, the nervous system’s relationship with fascia as a sensory organ, and how fascia responds to our personal experiences. We also examine trauma as highly bio-individual, lifestyle changes to support the nervous system during midlife, and how perimenopause impacts our adrenals. Dr. Haffner shares how she prefers to advocate for patients within the medical system, and talks about her app, which is free and available for listeners. We also cover how social media and technology influence our stress levels, Dr. Haffner’s meridian-related energetic facelift, and how our emotions connect to our bodies. 

    Stay tuned for today’s fascinating and insightful conversation with the delightful Dr. Julia Haffner, who also has a book coming out late this year.

    IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:


    The similarity between postpartum low-estrogen and perimenopausal symptoms


    How doctors often focus only on measurable lab data while overlooking nervous system dysregulation and chronic stress


    Dr. Haffner describes fascia as a sensory organ


    How Dr. Haffner learned to recognize patterns of tension, stress, emotional overwhelm, and physical trauma within the fascia


    Why trauma is not limited only to major events like war or abuse 


    Why women tend to become more sensitive to stress, relationships, and environmental pressures as their estrogen declines


    The value of gentler workouts in midlife to support stress reduction and nervous system regulation without increasing cortisol


    Why years of chronic stress can leave women feeling depleted during perimenopause 


    How constant scrolling can contribute to low-grade stress within the body


    Dr. Haffner introduces her menopause symptom tracking app

    Bio: Dr. Julia Haffner

    Dr. Julia Haffner is a European-trained medical doctor who worked across internal medicine, geriatrics, family practice, chronic pain therapy, aesthetic medicine, and hair transplant surgery — and kept seeing the same thing: bodies crying out for help that no test could hear.

    Life took her to Italy with her second daughter, where she discovered the ability to feel into any part of the body and sense what's stored there — a memory, a grief, a fear still frozen in the fascia decades later.

    What most people call limiting beliefs or self-doubt isn't a mind problem. It's stored in the body. In the tissue. In the fascia. And it stays there until someone helps it release.

    Over 1,000 remote sessions later: cancer in remission, chronic pain dissolved, self-doubt cleared from the body, the spark returning. She is the creator of the Energetic Facelift. Her message: You are your own best doctor.

    Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  


    Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn


    Check out Cynthia’s website.


    Submit your questions to [email protected] 


    Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. 


    Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut.


    Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book.


    The Midlife Pause Supplement Line

    Connect with Dr. Julia Haffner

    On her website

    Dr. Haffner’s book, The State Before the Bite: Secrets of the Secret, will be released in late 2026
More Health & Wellness podcasts
About Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+
Looking for the latest strategies for dealing with menopause, hormones and midlife health issues? You're in the right place! Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, host of the Everyday Wellness podcast, author and international speaker, with over 15 million views for her second TEDx talk (Intermittent Fasting: Transformational Technique). With over 25 years experience in health and wellness, Cynthia is a globally recognized expert in perimenopause/menopause and intermittent fasting, and has been featured on ABC, FOX5, KTLA, CW, Medium, Entrepreneur, and The Megyn Kelly Show. Her mission is to help empower women to live their most optimal lives in perimenopause and beyond.
Podcast website

Listen to Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+, Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features
Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+: Podcasts in Family