The Natalie Tysdal Podcast

Feeling overloaded by conflicting health advice or worried about what might be happening inside your body as you move through midlife? Wondering if there's a way to get clear answers about cancer and chronic disease risks before symptoms start? This episode explores what a preventive MRI cancer screening can (and cannot) tell you, and how new technology is giving women more agency in their preventive health decisions.
Today, journalist Natalie Tysdal sits down with Dr. Danna Chung, Chief Medical Officer at Ezra, to discuss the realities of proactive cancer screening with advanced MRI imaging. If you crave practical, evidence-driven insights about early detection and managing your health risks as you age, this conversation offers needed perspective, without hype or sensationalism. Dr. Chung's commitment to making screening more accessible stems from her own experience as a parent and physician navigating cancer in her family, making her a thoughtful guide through both the data and the emotions of screening.
What you'll learn:
• What MRI scans can detect, including early signs of cancer in up to 13 organs, as well as early indicators of chronic diseases like fatty liver and heart risk
• How artificial intelligence is being used to improve the clarity, speed, and affordability of MRI-based cancer screening
• Who can benefit from these screenings, how the process works, and what to expect—especially if you have fears about MRI or worries about "too much information"
• The real limitations of MRI scans, including which cancers they're best at finding and which traditional screenings (like mammograms or colonoscopies) you still need
• How annual health tracking empowers you to catch changes early and make informed decisions, not just for you but for those who depend on you
Midlife is a season of valued responsibilities and sometimes-invisible health shifts. Practical, nuanced information can be empowering, especially when it is free from hype and fear. This episode is here to offer solid answers and calm, trustworthy context so you can make preventive choices that fit your real life and priorities.
USE CODE NATALIET100 for $100 off an Ezra scan.
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🎙️ Listen now and take the next step toward feeling your best.
📅 New episodes drop every Monday—subscribe for weekly conversations that support women in midlife.
DISCLAIMER:
Natalie Tysdal is a health journalist, not a licensed medical professional. The information in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Gut symptoms are common, but that does not mean they are normal.
In this episode, Natalie talks with gut health expert Josh Dech about the digestive issues so many women brush off, including bloating, constipation, diarrhea, belly pain, urgency, and that nagging feeling that something is not right. Josh shares the deeply personal story that led him into gut health, including his mother's serious bowel issues and his own struggle with severe digestive symptoms, anxiety, and health breakdown.
Together, Natalie and Josh unpack why so many gut problems are dismissed, why "normal" is not the same as optimal, and how diet, toxins, stress, sleep, environment, and lifestyle may all play a role in gut health. Josh also explains why he believes many people need to look deeper than a diagnosis and start asking what may be driving their symptoms.
This conversation is honest, direct, and practical. It is not about panic. It is about paying attention to your body, asking better questions, and taking small steps toward better health.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Why constipation, bloating, and belly pain should not be ignored
The difference between "common" and "normal" gut symptoms
Josh's personal story with severe gut health issues
How toxins, microbes, and deficiencies may affect digestion
Simple ways to reduce toxic load in your food, home, and daily life
Why lifestyle basics like sleep, stress, sunlight, and clean food matter
How to start thinking about root causes instead of only symptom control
Learn more about Josh Dech at gutsolution.ca.
For more conversations on women's health, wellness, and how to cut through the noise, visit NatalieTysdal.com.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk with your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health plan.

Navigating the hormonal shifts and life transitions of midlife can feel overwhelming—and sometimes isolating. How can women reframe menopause and perimenopause as more than a medical issue, and why does understanding your body's signals now matter for your next chapters? This episode brings clarity, context, and practical tools for women seeking real answers about hormone health and how to thrive through midlife changes.
Journalist Natalie Tysdal welcomes Bria Gad, hormone and perimenopause expert and host of the Period Whisperer podcast. Bria's approach cuts through confusion and stigma, offering perspective rooted in lived experience and current science—not hype. Together, they dig beyond symptoms and lab work, exploring how perimenopause can be reframed as a powerful wake-up call for self-care and prioritizing what matters most.
What you'll learn:
How to understand the "energy supply and demand" of perimenopause and what your symptoms are really telling you
Which functional lab tests (like the Dutch hormone test and GI map) can offer new clarity about your hormonal health
Practical steps for balancing hormones, including movement, nutrition, and prioritizing sleep—and why joy matters more than you think
The real-world connection between stress, hormonal shifts, and midlife transitions with family, work, and relationships
Busting myths about menopause: why this isn't just about hormones, and what actually works to support your body and mind
Midlife brings complexity, but also opportunity. This conversation is for any woman questioning the changes she feels, seeking validation, and craving grounded information about hormone health. No hype—just real perspectives that empower you to look at your body with compassion and make decisions you trust.
Links & resources:
https://www.natalietysdal.com
https://www.instagram.com/ntysdal
https://www.tiktok.com/@ntysdal
https://www.facebook.com/NatalieTysdal
🎙️ Listen now and take the next step toward feeling your best.
📅 New episodes drop every Monday—subscribe for weekly conversations that support women in midlife.
DISCLAIMER:
Natalie Tysdal is a health journalist, not a licensed medical professional. The information in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Struggling to focus, feeling scattered, or questioning whether your busy mind is the result of modern life—or something deeper? Many women in midlife find themselves juggling roles, tasks, and shifting hormones, only to discover their search for focus isn't just about "trying harder." What if what you're experiencing has a name, and more importantly—solutions rooted in both self-awareness and compassion? This episode explores how ADHD and our nervous system intersect with midlife realities, and how understanding dopamine, distraction, and emotional regulation can illuminate a new path to clarity.
Focus and attention can become elusive for women navigating perimenopause, changing family dynamics, and the relentless demands of our connected world. Journalist and trusted voice Natalie Tysdal invites guest Theresa Lear Levine, a mother of four and expert working with women around ADHD, to candidly share how a diagnosis (or even the suspicion of one) can spark self-understanding. Together, they unpack the genetics and environmental factors influencing attention, and share the simple shifts that can help reclaim presence and peace—even if you've never been formally diagnosed.
What you'll learn:
Why ADHD and attention challenges often surface or intensify in midlife
How dopamine, multitasking, and device habits affect our wellbeing—and what you can do about it
Tips for creating focus when willpower and discipline alone fall short
How environmental tweaks (not just mindset shifts) make a real difference day-to-day
The importance of self-compassion and working with, not against, your unique brain
This episode offers validation and fresh insight for every woman who's ever felt at odds with her own mind. Whether you're seeking better focus, a sense of calm, or reassurance that you're not alone, you'll walk away with grounded strategies and the clarity to move forward gently.
Guest website: https://theresalearlevine.com
https://www.natalietysdal.com
https://www.instagram.com/ntysdal
https://www.tiktok.com/@ntysdal
https://www.facebook.com/NatalieTysdal
🎙️ Listen now and take the next step toward feeling your best.
📅 New episodes drop every Monday—subscribe for weekly conversations that support women in midlife.
DISCLAIMER:
Natalie Tysdal is a health journalist, not a licensed medical professional. The information in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

You know your own body best so why do so many midlife women brush off signs like exhaustion, brain fog, sleep changes, and subtle shifts in mood? When does "it's just stress or hormones" stop being wisdom and start being neglect? This candid conversation names the 10 most common health signals women shouldn't ignore and why tuning in to your body is smart, not overreacting. Keyword: midlife women health.
Too often, women in midlife normalize symptoms that can signal real changes mentally, physically, or emotionally. Breaking the pattern of self-dismissal, veteran journalist Natalie Tysdal shares what she's learned covering women's health and living it herself. These are not rare or dramatic symptoms most are everyday signs that get minimized, even as they quietly shape daily life. Beyond offering a simple checklist, this episode guides you through why noticing, asking questions, and naming patterns can be a turning point for your well-being and self-advocacy.
What you'll learn:
10 symptoms midlife women should never brush off—including sleep disruption, brain fog, cycle changes, and more
How stress, hormones, and lifestyle can interact to shape energy, focus, and resilience
Why self-blame and "soldiering on" are so common—and so unhelpful
What your gut, mood, and changes in strength or weight may be trying to tell you
Clear, compassionate language for bringing these concerns into conversation with your healthcare provider
So many women quietly carry a mental list of "it's probably nothing" concerns often putting themselves last in the process. This episode offers validation and pragmatic perspective for every woman who's wondered if she's just overreacting, or if it's time to pay attention. This is a calm, supportive space to trust your instincts and make your own health a priority—no hype, just real context for real life.
Links & Resources:
https://www.natalietysdal.com
https://www.instagram.com/ntysdal
https://www.tiktok.com/@ntysdal
https://www.facebook.com/NatalieTysdal
 Listen now and take the next step toward feeling your best.
 New episodes drop every Monday—subscribe for weekly conversations that support women in midlife.
DISCLAIMER:
Natalie Tysdal is a health journalist, not a licensed medical professional. The information in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.