The Hotflash inc podcast

This podcast originally ran on 17 July 2025In this deep-dive episode, independent researcher and Energy Balance Podcast host Jay Feldman walks Hotflash inc founder Ann Marie McQueen through his bioenergetic approach to health, exploring how modern life disrupts our energy systems and misleads us around hormones.Jay explains why perimenopause symptoms aren’t necessarily signs of estrogen deficiency, what progesterone’s underrated role is, and how metabolism, stress, and gut health all converge to influence the midlife transition.His work has been instrumental in helping Ann Marie connect the dots between her own thyroid, gut health, fatty liver, and hormonal changes. If you’re curious, overwhelmed, or stuck between conflicting advice – this one’s for you.Highlights:Why the mainstream medical model didn’t cut it for JayHow energy production impacts reproductive hormonesThe cultural lie of “eat less, move more”Seed oils, PUFAs and what they’re doing to your metabolismSunscreens, toenail polish, and endocrine disruptionWhy low estrogen blood levels don’t tell the whole storyWhat your liver and gut have to do with your hormonesWhy estrogen replacement might be a band-aid, not a solutionGuest bioJay Feldman is a health coach, independent researcher, and the host of the Energy Balance Podcast. With a background in neuroscience and exercise physiology, he takes a bioenergetic approach to health that focuses on restoring cellular energy and dismantling modern myths around nutrition, metabolism, and hormones. Jay’s personal mission is to help people heal by reconnecting them with their bodies and understanding how modern life throws off our internal systems.Work with Jay & explore moreWebsite: jayfeldmanwellness.comFree Guide: jayfeldmanwellness.com/guidePodcast: The Energy Balance PodcastJoin the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashincListen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | SubstackSee hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Unlocking the Hidden Layers or Menopause: Trauma, Hypnosis, and Inner Work with Sally GarozzoJoin host Ann Marie McQueen as she delves into the transformative journey of menopause with Sally Garozzo, a clinical hypnotherapist and podcast host. Sally specializes in menopause, complex trauma, and the long-term impact of early life stress. She works with women who sense that menopause is more than just a hormonal disruption, helping them understand it as an identity and emotional recalibration. Sally hosts The Menopause Mindset Podcast and offers individual and group sessions to support women during midlife and beyond.Highlights:01:02 - The sense that menopause is more than just hormones02:25 - Understanding menopause as a catalyst for emotional sensitivity04:36 - The limitations of traditional medical paradigms for complex stories06:54 - The metaphor of menopause as a tide revealing buried issues09:20 - The impact of childhood and family dynamics on menopause12:02 - The mind-body connection and how perspective influences symptoms17:41 - Personal stories of anxiety, panic, and recognition of trauma24:05 - The science of hypnosis: focus, suggestion, and energy work31:20 - Skills training for mind and body—neurobics and perspective shifts42:48 - How trauma and nervous system dysregulation amplify menopausal challenges44:50 - Words of hope: deep work, attunement, and community supportResources & Links:Marisa Peer - Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT)Connect with Sally Garrozzo:InstagramWebsiteDisclaimer: This episode emphasizes that menopause is not just a hormonal event but a profound inner transition. Healing involves understanding, acknowledging, and working through emotional wounds with compassion, practical tools, and expert guidance. This episode is for information and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice; always seek out an expert for proper medical treatment. Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashincListen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | SubstackSee hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Send a textThis podcast originally ran on July 10th, 2025In this episode of the Hotflash inc podcast, host and founder Ann Marie McQueen sits down with Dr Lara Briden – a naturopath, women’s health speaker, and author of Period Repair Manual, Hormone Repair Manual, and Metabolism Repair for Women. Together, they unpack some of the buzziest and most confusing midlife health trends: from hormone therapy + GLP-1 combos to supplement overwhelm, vaginal estrogen, and the sudden concern over labia shrinkage.Dr Briden brings a refreshing and deeply grounded perspective to the conversation, challenging common narratives and reminding us of the biological brilliance of the female body – especially in midlife.Highlights:The overhyped narrative about hormone therapy and GLP-1sWhat GLP-1 medications really do, and why they’re fascinating to Dr. BridenSupplements as a security blanket, and why Ann Marie and her friends are rethinking themTaking a “supplement holiday” – what it is and why it helpsThe connection between GLP-1s and gut healthWhat happens when you go off hormone therapy or GLP-1s?A naturopath’s minimalist supplement travel kitVaginal changes in menopause: what’s real, what’s clickbaitThe difference in how men vs women are told to view their bodies as they ageVaginal estrogen and the truth about genitourinary syndrome of menopauseThe bizarre labia shrinkage trend and the pressure of “perfect” body partsWhy menopause is not a mistake of evolution – it’s a featureThe danger of over-identifying with health labels“Wear it lightly” – a powerful reframe from Dr. BridenThe trend of diagnosing yourself through InstagramNot everyone suffers in perimenopause – and that’s okayConnect with Dr. Lara Briden:Website: www.larabriden.comInstagram: @larabridenX: @larabridenBooks: Available wherever books are sold, including Bookshop.org, Amazon, and Pan MacmillanJoin the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Send a textThis podcast originally ran on December 12th, 2025In this episode, Ann Marie speaks with Dr Gary Elkins, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University and director of the Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory, in Waco, Texas. Dr. Elkins is the leading researcher in the field of clinical hypnosis for menopause, with more than 25 years of experience and more 100 peer-reviewed publications.He joins Hotflash inc to explore the groundbreaking science behind hypnosis for hot flashes, its surprising effectiveness (up to 70% reduction!), how it works in the brain, why it matters for breast cancer survivors, and how hypnosis may also support sleep, stress, and other midlife symptoms. They also discuss Evia, the self-hypnosis app built on Dr. Elkins’ research, and the critical importance of hjaving non-pharmaceutical options for symptom relief.HighlightsHow hypnosis became part of NAMS (now The Menopause Society) guidelinesResearch showing hypnosis reduces hot flashes by 70%What hypnosis is and what it definitely isn’t What happens in the brain during hypnosis The “triple fallacy” and misunderstanding physical symptoms Comparing hypnosis to hormone therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) How hypnosis helps improve sleep and calm anxiety Why hot flashes are a physiological issue, not a psychological one What to expect: when and how hypnosis starts to work The power of daily practice and support from others Addressing misconceptions about hypnotizability and intelligence What the research says about empathy, creativity and hypnosis The mind-body connection and the experiential system How hypnosis taps into the subconscious (without the woo) Dr. Elkins on consulting for the Evia app and why it matters Future research: hypnosis for sleep and psychedelic states without drugsGuest Info – Dr. Gary Elkins Website: www.garyelkins.org Book: Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: What You Need to Know Handbook: Handbook of Medical and Psychological Hypnosis•• Evia App: https://www.eviamenopause.comJoin the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Send a textIn this episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, journalist Ann Marie McQueen interviews Dr Sarah McKay, Oxford-educated neuroscientist, author of The Female Brain Book, and founder of the Neuroscience Academy.This is a powerful, nuanced conversation about what we know, what we don’t, and what’s being exaggerated online. Grounding, clarifying and deeply reassuring.If you’ve been worried about your brain in midlife, this episode is for you. The Hotflash inc Summit All Access Pass https://summit.hotflashinc.com/hotflash-inc-summit-all-access-passComing Soon: The Hot Truth About Hormone Therapy https://hotflashinc.comThank you to our sponsor: Phosis – Use code HOTFLASHINC for 15% off https://phosis.comFounded by Susan Campbell, Phosis is clinically proven, exceptionally clean skincare created specifically for dry, perimenopausal skin.What we explored this episode:07:15 – Cognitive load, smartphones & the myth of “midlife decline” 18:40 – Brain restructuring during menopause: adaptation vs degeneration 27:30 – “The brain eats itself” – what the mouse study actually showed 39:10 – Dementia risk: incidence vs prevalence explained clearly 44:30 – Absolute vs relative risk 58:20 – Hormone sensitivity, the pill & depression researchMemorable quote: “We absolutely must report absolute risk.”Fact check:Dr. Pauline M. Maki leads NIH-funded research on women’s cognitive/mental health and how sex hormones and reproductive transitions affect well-being.Dr Susan R. Davis is an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow (since 2007) and Director of the Women’s Health Research Program at Monash University (School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine).TGA = Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, the government regulator for medicines, medical devices, and biologicals.Connect with our guest:Website: https://drsarahmckay.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahmckayJoin the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Send a textIn this episode of The Hotflash inc Podcast, journalist Ann Marie McQueen interviews Dr. Kirsten Smith, ND, a naturopathic doctor and certified menopause practitioner practicing between Ontario and Costa Rica. Together, they grapple with the exploding conversation around menopause hormone therapy – what’s grounded in evidence, what’s being overstated, and what gets lost when urgency turns into dogma.This is a candid, nuanced look at the current “meno-rush” – where hormone therapy is hailed as life-saving by some, dismissed by others, and increasingly positioned all around as the only solution. Dr. Smith brings 17 years of clinical experience blending conventional diagnostics with holistic medicine, offering what she calls a third path: thoughtful, individualized care rooted in both science and lived reality.If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the polarization – this conversation is for you.The Hotflash inc Summit All Access Pass https://summit.hotflashinc.com/hotflash-inc-summit-all-access-passComing Soon: The Hot Truth About Hormone Therapy (get on the list!) https://hotflashinc.comThank you to our gold sponsor from the Hotflash inc Summit, Phosis and its founder Susan Campbell. Phosis creates clinically proven, exceptionally clean skincare formulated specifically for dry, sensitive hormonal skin. Use code HOTFLASHINC for 15% off Phosis.comWhat we explored this episode:00:00 – Why menopause hormone therapy has become so polarized07:45 – The “meno-rush”: how Instagram accelerated the hormone conversation12:10 – Pharmaceutical influence and the pendulum swing from neglect to hype18:45 – Who hormone therapy doesn’t work for (and why that matters)23:20 – The pathology problem: when everything gets blamed on perimenopause28:10 – Speed culture, nervous systems, and why true healing takes timeMemorable quote: “We’ve gone from ignoring menopause to hyper-medicalizing it – and neither extreme serves women.”Where to follow Dr. Kirsten SmithIG @drkirstensmithndFacebook drkirstensmithnd Linked In drkirstensmithndJoin the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Send a textIn this episode of The Hotflash inc Podcast, journalist Ann Marie McQueen speaks with Bonnie Wisener, registered holistic nutritionist, digestive health expert, and founder of Shift Nutrition and Wellness, about why gut issues so often flare in perimenopause and menopause.Together, they explore the powerful (and often missed) links between hormones, the nervous system, IBS, food restriction, and midlife stress – and what actually helps when digestion starts to unravel.This is a grounded, practical conversation for anyone dealing with bloating, constipation, IBS, food fear, or the sense that their gut has suddenly “turned” in midlife.The Hotflash Inc Summit All Access Pass https://summit.hotflashinc.com/hotflash-inc-summit-all-access-passComing Soon: The Hot Truth About Hormone Therapy https://hotflashinc.comThank you to our Hotflash inc Summit sponsorPhosis – Clean, clinically proven skincare for hormonal skin Use code HOTFLASHINC for 15% off at https://phosis.comWhat we explored this episode00:00 – Why gut symptoms spike in perimenopause06:20 – IBS as a gut–brain disorder, not a food problem13:45 – Why restriction and elimination diets backfire20:30 – Nervous system regulation as digestive medicine29:10 – Protein, fiber, blood sugar, and midlife digestion38:40 – Supplements, probiotics, and what actually helpsMemorable quote: “Digestive issues in menopause aren’t separate problems – they’re different expressions of the same system shift.”Resources mentionedNerva App (by Mindset Health): https://nervaibs.comProbio Chart: https://www.probiochart.comConnect with our guestWebsite: https://shiftnutritionandwellness.com/ Instagram: @shiftnutritionandwellnessJoin the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Send a textIn this episode of The Hotflash inc Podcast, journalist Ann Marie McQueen interviews Heather Mills  – entrepreneur, vegan food innovator, and founder of No Bloat, a Monash-certified low-FODMAP meal range designed for people living with gut sensitivities.They talk gut chaos, menopause changes, stress, food science, and what it looks like to reinvent yourself (again) in midlife – by listening closely to your body and building what you wish existed.The Hotflash Inc Summit All Access Passhttps://summit.hotflashinc.com/hotflash-inc-summit-all-access-pass Coming Soon: The Hot Truth About Hormone Therapyhttps://hotflashinc.comWhat we explored in this episode 00:04 – From chronic gut crisis to building No Bloat (and why it took years)00:09 – Low-FODMAP basics: why garlic and onion wreck so many people00:22 – Stress + the gut: why you can bloat even on “perfect” food00:27 – Heather's midlife body changes: hot sweats, mood shifts, and the “rib cage expansion” moment00:33 – Menopause care frustrations: hormone testing, HRT debates, and UK context00:50 – Reinvention in midlife: stop people-pleasing and reclaim your lifeMemorable quote:“You really are what you digest.”Connect with our guest:Heather Mills (official site): https://heathermills.orgNo Bloat (website): https://nobloat.com/about/Instagram (Heather): https://www.instagram.com/heathermillsofficial/Instagram (No Bloat): https://www.instagram.com/nobloatuk/LinkedIn (Heather): https://uk.linkedin.com/in/msheathermillsJoin the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Send a textIn this episode of The Hotflash inc Podcast, journalist Ann Marie McQueen interviews Kristeen Pollock,a a Scotland-based fitness coach, speaker, and podcast host who is helping women finally break free from toxic exercise culture and reclaim their relationship with food, movement, and themselves.Kristeen gets real about what it was like to live inside the exhausting loop of dieting, restriction, and chasing “perfection” – and what changed. Together they explore the emotional rollercoaster of perimenopause, learning to actually rest, dealing with body image shifts, and how to find your way back to freedom in midlife.The Hotflash Inc Summit All Access Pass https://summit.hotflashinc.com/hotflash-inc-summit-all-access-passThank you to our Hotflash inc Summit gold sponsor: MenoLabs – Use code HOTFLASH for 20% off https://menolabs.comWhat we explored this episode: 00:06 – Why the fitness industry is toxic and out of touch 00:11 – Body image, disordered eating, and midlife triggers 00:16 – From binge eating to food freedom + exposure therapy 00:22 – Letting go of control + emotional release in perimenopause 00:30 – Doing less, resting more, and embracing the shiftMemorable quote:"If you can’t do it for 10 years, don’t do it for one day." – Kristeen PollockConnect with our guest:Website: https://kpfitandwell.co/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpingfit/Podcast: Keeping it RealLinkedIn: Kristeen PollockJoin the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Send a textAm I neurodivergent?In this episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, host and journalist Ann Marie McQueen sits down with Skylar Liberty Rose – a meditation guide, pro-aging advocate, and ceremony creator – to explore the layered intersection of neurodivergence and perimenopause. The two friends share a candid, nuanced conversation about realizing they may be neurodivergent later in life, how that connects with the hormonal shifts of midlife, and what it means to drop the mask and fully show up. Sponsored: Thank you to MenoLabs for being a gold sponsor of the first-ever Hotflash inc Summit. Their science-backed probiotics, including the bestselling MenoFit, are designed to support women through perimenopause and menopause. Right now, you can get 20% off with code HOTFLASH20 at menolabs.com.Highlights:5:30 – Growing up with sensory sensitivities but having no language for it8:00 – The misunderstanding and shame around being an introvert10:00 – Coping with alcohol, masking, and perfectionism11:30 – Perimenopause as “the great unveiling” of truth13:00 – Losing the ability to mask in midlife14:00 – The collapse of executive functioning in perimenopause16:00 – What it feels like to remove long-held coping tools17:00 – Navigating social situations without alcohol21:00 – The relief of realizing you’re neurodivergent22:00 – Pursuing (or not) a formal diagnosis25:30 – On external validation and trusting yourselfSkylar Liberty Rose Website: skylarlibertyrose.comSkylar offers personalized guided meditations and custom ceremonies to support women in midlife and beyond. Her work focuses on embracing aging, dismantling anti-aging narratives, and honoring the major (and often invisible) thresholds of life.Rate, share and go deeperIf you enjoyed this episode, please give it a review, drop a comment, and share it with someone who might benefit — and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show.Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information