The Dusty Muffins

What happens when a serial entrepreneur turns her own perimenopause chaos into a mission to help millions of women? You get MenoWell—and one of the most inspiring conversations on The Dusty Muffins yet. Join our expert trio—Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan (MD, MSCP), Dr. Christine Hart Kress (DNP, MSCP), and Dr. Rebbecca Hertel (DO, MSCP)—as they sit down with Julie Gordon White, founder and CEO of MenoWell, TEDx speaker, and award-winning entrepreneur, for a raw, hilarious, and deeply actionable conversation about thriving through "The Pause."
Julie watched herself and her friends suffer in silence as midlife symptoms and weight gain chipped away at their confidence—and then she decided to do something about it. In this episode, you'll discover:
🌱 From Kitchen Experiments to Oprah Daily: How Julie created delicious, plant-based, high-fiber protein bars specifically formulated for menopausal bodies—and landed on Oprah's Best Menopause Products list.
🥗 Why Fiber is Your New Best Friend: The critical role of gut health, fiber, and probiotics in balancing hormones, boosting mood, and fighting the "menopause middle."
🧠 Beyond the Prescription Pad: Why traditional medical approaches often fall short for menopausal women—and how to become your own best advocate for holistic care.
⚡ Work With Your Rhythms, Not Against Them: Practical strategies for optimizing your day based on your natural energy patterns for better productivity, emotional resilience, and focus.
🌿 Adaptogens & Ancient Wisdom: How ingredients like maca can support your body alongside modern lifestyle tweaks—and why food-first approaches matter.
🤝 The Power of Community: The MenoLounge and why finding your people (and expert guidance) is essential to rewriting the menopause story from one of suffering to thriving.
Tune in for an episode that proves menopause isn't an ending—it's a new beginning. If you're tired of feeling like yourself is slipping away, Julie's story is your permission slip to reclaim your vitality, your confidence, and your zest for life.
The Dusty Muffins:
📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedustymuffins
🔗 Linktree → https://linktr.ee/thedustymuffins
Hosts:
👩⚕️ Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan → https://www.instagram.com/portlandmenopausedoc
👩⚕️ Dr. Rebbecca Hertel → https://www.instagram.com/drrebbeccaherteldo
👩⚕️ Dr. Christine Hart Kress → https://www.instagram.com/christinehartkress_dnp
Guest – Julie Gordon White:
📸 Instagram → @juliegordonwhite
🌐 Website → https://www.mymenowell.com
Disclaimer: The Dusty Muffins are doctors, but they're not YOUR doctors. This is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Always consult your own healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.

What if your menopause symptoms weren't just "part of aging" but your body's way of asking for a smarter, more personalized approach? In this transformative episode of The Dusty Muffins, our expert trio—Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan (MD, MSCP), Dr. Christine Hart Kress (DNP, MSCP), and Dr. Rebbecca Hertel (DO, MSCP)—sit down with hormone specialist, nurse midwife, and founder of Aurelia Health Emily Sadri for a deep dive into what truly personalized midlife care looks like.
Emily brings her unique perspective from over a decade in conventional medicine to her current functional, hormones-first approach—and the result is a masterclass in treating the whole woman, not just the symptoms. In this episode, you'll discover:
🧬 Physiologic Hormone Therapy (PHRT): What it means to work with your body's natural rhythms rather than overriding them, and how this approach differs from traditional hormone therapy.
📊 The Power of Precision Testing: How Dutch testing and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) reveal the hidden patterns behind fatigue, anxiety, and weight changes—giving you actionable data instead of guesswork.
🔄 Dosing That Makes Sense: Why timing your hormone therapy to mirror your body's natural peaks (including testing on days 12 and 21 of your cycle) can normalize bleeding, improve metabolism, and transform how you feel.
💊 Beyond Birth Control Pills: A nuanced conversation about hormonal interventions, when they serve women's health, and when it's time to investigate root causes rather than masking symptoms.
👩‍👧 Hormone Therapy & Fertility: Surprising insights on how physiologic dosing can actually support ovulation and ovarian health—even for women still navigating their reproductive years.
🤝 The Relationship Factor: Why volume-driven, assembly-line healthcare fails women, and how relationship-based, collaborative care models lead to better outcomes and empowered patients.
🌱 Symptoms Are Never "Just Aging": Emily's powerful philosophy that your body is always communicating—and learning to listen is the first step to reclaiming your vitality.
Tune in for an episode that redefines what's possible in midlife care. Because you deserve more than symptom-chasing—you deserve a partner who helps you uncover what your body's been trying to tell you all along.
The Dusty Muffins:
📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedustymuffins
🔗 Linktree → https://linktr.ee/thedustymuffins
Hosts:
👩⚕️ Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan → https://www.instagram.com/portlandmenopausedoc
👩⚕️ Dr. Rebbecca Hertel → https://www.instagram.com/drrebbeccaherteldo
👩⚕️ Dr. Christine Hart Kress → https://www.instagram.com/christinehartkress_dnp
Guest – Emily Sadri:
📸 Personal Instagram → @emilysadri_np
📸 Practice Instagram → @aureliawomenshealth
🌐 Website → https://aureliahealth.com Disclaimer: The Dusty Muffins are doctors, but they're not YOUR doctors. This is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Always consult your own healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.

What happens when a retail pharmacist decides to dedicate her career exclusively to women navigating menopause? You get a masterclass in midlife health that bridges the gap between medication management and whole-person wellness. In this illuminating episode of The Dusty Muffins, our expert trio—Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan (MD, MSCP), Dr. Christine Hart Kress (DNP, MSCP), and Dr. Rebbecca Hertel (DO, MSCP)—sit down with women's health coach and pharmacist Victoria Byrd (RPH) for a deep dive into the pharmacological, lifestyle, and emotional dimensions of menopause.
Victoria brings her unique lens as both a medication expert and a coach to a conversation that covers everything from prescription logistics to nervous system regulation. In this episode, you'll discover:
💊 The Pharmacist's Perspective: Victoria's journey from traditional retail pharmacy to specialized menopause coaching—and why she saw a critical gap in how women are supported through midlife.
🧠 Menopause as a Pharmacological Transition: Understanding the science behind hormone therapy, debunking persistent myths, and why timing and individualization matter more than a one-size-fits-all approach.
🔄 Compounded vs. FDA-Approved Hormones: A clear-eyed breakdown of the debate, including what patients need to know about quality, consistency, and regulation.
🌿 The Supplement Stack for Midlife: Victoria's top recommendations for evidence-based supplements—including magnesium, vitamin D, and creatine—and how to use them mindfully alongside other therapies.
🧘 Beyond the Prescription: Why stress management and nervous system regulation (through breathing, meditation, and even music) are non-negotiable for hormonal balance, and practical strategies to incorporate them into daily life.
🤝 Building Your Care Team: How improved patient-provider communication and collaborative care models—including expanded pharmacist scope of practice—can transform menopause management.
Tune in for an episode that marries the science of pharmacology with the art of coaching, giving you a comprehensive roadmap to mastering midlife on your own terms.
Social Media Links:
The Dusty Muffins:
📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedustymuffins
🔗 Linktree → https://linktr.ee/thedustymuffins
Hosts:
👩⚕️ Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan → https://www.instagram.com/portlandmenopausedoc
👩⚕️ Dr. Rebbecca Hertel → https://www.instagram.com/drrebbeccaherteldo
👩⚕️ Dr. Christine Hart Kress → https://www.instagram.com/christinehartkress_dnp
Guest – Victoria Byrd:
📸 Instagram → @msvictoriabyrd
🌐 Website → https://www.womenmasteringmidlife.com
Podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-mastering-midlife/id1744079059
Disclaimer: The Dusty Muffins are doctors, but they're not YOUR doctors. This is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Always consult your own healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.

What if the key to navigating menopause with more energy, clarity, and vitality was living inside you all along? In this fascinating and game-changing episode of The Dusty Muffins, our expert trio—Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan (MD, MSCP), Dr. Christine Hart Kress (DNP, MSCP), and Dr. Rebbecca Hertel (DO, MSCP)—sit down with Cynthia Thurlow (NP), CEO and host of the Everyday Wellness Podcast, and author her new book The Menopause Gut, to explore the profound link between your gut microbiome and your menopause experience.
This isn't just about digestion—it's about how the trillions of organisms in your gut influence everything from your mood to your bones. Cynthia brings her deep expertise to a conversation that will transform how you think about midlife health. In this episode, you'll discover:
🦠 The Microbiome-Menopause Axis: How your gut health directly impacts hormonal balance, metabolism, and the severity of menopause symptoms like brain fog and weight gain.
🌾 Fiber: Your Unsung Hero: The critical role fiber plays in estrogen metabolism—and why most women aren't getting nearly enough to support healthy hormonal transitions.
👶 The Origins of Your Microbiome: How delivery method and breastfeeding shape lifelong gut health, and what that means for women navigating midlife.
🧪 To Test or Not to Test: The truth about gut microbiome testing—what it can reveal, when it's clinically relevant, and how to use that information effectively.
🚰 Leaky Gut & Autoimmunity: The connection between intestinal permeability and the rising rates of autoimmune conditions in women, plus actionable steps to protect yourself.
Tune in for an episode that connects the dots between your gut, your hormones, and your overall well-being. It's time to listen to your body—from the inside out.
The Dusty Muffins:
📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedustymuffins
🔗 Linktree → https://linktr.ee/thedustymuffins
Hosts:
👩⚕️ Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan → https://www.instagram.com/portlandmenopausedoc
👩⚕️ Dr. Rebbecca Hertel → https://www.instagram.com/drrebbeccaherteldo
👩⚕️ Dr. Christine Hart Kress → https://www.instagram.com/christinehartkress_dnp
Cynthia’s Book:
The Menopause Gut explains why so many women hit midlife feeling like their bodies suddenly stopped cooperating, despite doing “all the right things.” This conversation connects gut health to hormones, inflammation, and aging in a way that removes shame, self-blame, and confusion, and replaces it with clarity and relief. Cynthia tailors each conversation to meet your audience exactly where they are.
Guest – Cynthia Thurlow:
📸 Instagram → @cynthia_thurlow_
🌐 Website → https://themenopausegut.com
🔗 Substack → https://www.liinks.co/cynthiathurlow
🧪 Home Testing Partner → https://www.viome.com
Disclaimer: The Dusty Muffins are doctors, but they're not YOUR doctors. This is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Always consult your own healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.

What does it mean to truly feel safe in a medical setting? In this powerful and deeply important episode of The Dusty Muffins, our expert trio - Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan (MD, MSCP), Dr. Christine Hart Kress (DNP, MSCP), and Dr. Rebbecca Hertel (DO, MSCP) - are joined by women's health specialist Dr. Heather Quaile for a crucial conversation about trauma-informed care, patient advocacy, and the unseen realities of clinical practice.
This episode bridges the gap between clinician and patient, offering eye-opening insights that will transform how you think about healthcare encounters - and how clinicians can do better. In this episode, you'll discover:
🩺 The Exam Room as Sanctuary: What trauma-informed care actually looks like in practice and why every pelvic exam should prioritize patient safety and autonomy above all else.
🚨 Red Flags in Plain Sight: Critical signs of human trafficking that can present in clinical settings - and how healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to intervene and support vulnerable patients.
🗣️ The Power of Permission: Simple yet transformative best practices for sensitive exams, from explaining every step before it happens to creating an environment where "no" is always an option.
🛡️ Advocacy Beyond the Script: How patients can communicate their needs and boundaries effectively, and how clinicians can listen - really listen - to build trust.
💡 Healing Through Awareness: Why understanding trauma isn't just about avoiding harm but about creating opportunities for empowerment and healing within the healthcare system.
Tune in for an episode that is as educational as it is essential. Whether you're a clinician looking to level up your practice or a patient seeking to navigate care with confidence, this conversation will change the way you see the exam room.
Social Media Links:
The Dusty Muffins:
📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedustymuffins
🔗 Linktree → https://linktr.ee/thedustymuffins
Hosts:
👩⚕️ Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan → https://www.instagram.com/portlandmenopausedoc
👩⚕️ Dr. Rebbecca Hertel → https://www.instagram.com/drrebbeccaherteldo
👩⚕️ Dr. Christine Hart Kress → https://www.instagram.com/christinehartkress_dnp
Guest & Important Notes – Dr. Heather Quaile:
📸 Instagram → @drquailenp
🌐 Clenician Training Website → https://theqspot.net
🌐 Website → https://theshowcenter.com
‼️24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline: 1(888) 373-7888‼️
Disclaimer: The Dusty Muffins are doctors, but they're not YOUR doctors. This is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Always consult your own healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.