The Hotflash inc podcast

Send a textI'm a journalist critical thinking my way through my own perimenopause.In searching for good information, balance and context for myself, the Substack I publish on the subject, various social media accounts, and the interviews and solo episodes I do on this podcast, sometimes I just get floored at the things I see and hear on social media and in traditional media about menopause. The reality is, I interview doctors all the time and they are knowledgeable and doing good work and passionate and all over the world, and they are also all over the place  on the basics, and have loads of blind spots. But you wouldn't know that to look at social media. The research is scant, considering half of women go through peri/menopause, and I just don't think as a journalist and a researcher there is room for this much certainty. Hence, this episode. As always: listen to the disclaimer at the end: this is not health advice. Among the things I talk about here: • the promise of HRT for prevention of dementia and cardiovascular disease vs the literature • doctors menopause gurus on social media • what 'medical gaslighting' actually is vs what people on social media are saying it is • the missing conversation about autoimmune disorders vis-a-vis peri/menopause• my own ongoing issues accessing hormone therapy from doctors in the Middle East • the importance of going beyond menopause as an explanation for why more women experience dementia (and a host of other issues) than men• asking why people get bejiggity about progesterone• scary, uninformed yet appealing-to-the-masses influencers• going from raising awareness about perimenopause to terrifying women – and is that better?• an argument for the low and slow approach• questioning the narrative that this isn't supposed to be happeningStudies referenced: Global consensus testosterone position statementJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and MetabolismHRT for symptoms or prevention of dementia and cardiovascular diseaseMenopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society 2022Circulation, the Journal of the American Heart Association 2023Alzheimers.org.UK Progestogens + breast cancer risk Plos Journal 2023Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 2008Join 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 textKate Deering is a San Diego-based personal trainer, holistic nutritionist and author of the ground-breaking book How to Heal Your Metabolism. Kate has some no-nonsense guidance for healing broken metabolisms and how to make the transition through menopause as easy as possible by drawing on the pro-metabolic approach to nutrition. That involves learning to understand your body and giving it the fuel it needs to function properly. She explains why menopause symptoms, and slow metabolism, can both come as a result of over-exercising, eating too little and putting yourself under too much stress in earlier life, and dispels popular myths such as the idea that eating carbs will make you put on weight. I watched a friend of mine transform in her 40s by doing this, and I’ve done it myself and felt the difference. Her take is that throwing hormones and supplements at the symptoms of menopause was never going to be an effective solution. Instead, her take is that we need to learn to look at healing any underlying issues, and and nurture and heal our body so that it can go through the process feeling healthy and strong.Kate and I spoke last year as part of the first Menopause Shift Summit and I found her way of approaching this so helpful I wanted you to hear it. Highlights: Why she doesn’t blame slowing metabolism on ageWhat’s going on when perimenopause catches up with youWhat the bio-energetic, pro-metabolic way of eating looks likePro-metabolic eating, organ meats and shellfishGut and digestive issues and peri/menopauseWhy orange juice and dairy aren’t on this particular sh*t list “Anti-metabolic” foods, however, areThe issue with supplementsHow to square intermittent fasting with pro-metabolic eating (hint: you don’t)Where you can find Kate: Web: KateDeering.comIG: @katedeeringfitnessJoin 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 textToday I unleash an update on my own epic perimenopause experience, which began sometime in my early 40s, wreaked all sorts of havoc, and continues to this day – aged 52, looking ahead to turning 53. I cover a lot here, so buckle up!• A little about my early years and what led to Hotflash inc• A taster of some of the symptoms I've dealt with• What's going on with me now, physically and emotionally• What my new gynecologist has to say about all of it• A focus on my forgetfullness• The crying, with a guest appearance by my American friend Lizzie Bermudez• Why my perimenopause is like a video game, and where I feel I'm at in the levels• How I'm turning into a recluse, but I know it's temporary• My lengthy recounting of a night in Paris where I got mugged by a gang of teenagers and dealt with a hideously drunk Englishman – all in one night• A list of things I've been crying about• What's going on with my vagina • The sensory stuff• My love for Wise Power and authors Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer, founders of Red School, which is a book I opened at just the right time • How I'm resting, puttering and snudging 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

Send a textLynette Sheppard is such an important voice in the menopause space because she has such depth of experience and context for this conversation. The former nurse/manager, artist, speaker, advocate and more has, for 17 years now, been the author of The Menopause Goddess Blog. She started it, and gathered a group of 15 women around her, when "the change" started and  "really whooped her upside the head". Lynette beautifully straddles the space between allopathic and naturopathic worlds, and so she's right there in the moderate middle and has some really great insight about how to pull from both of them in these overloaded, binary times we live in.  She's also on the other side of this transition and has some really key words for those of us wondering if we will ever make it and if we do, whether it will be better than this. Highlights: • Why you should feel good about taking HRT • The difference in approaches between allopathic and naturopathic medicine • Why the medical establishment is so stubborn • Why perimenopause is no time to make any sudden moves • What happens when you get past the horror of the symptoms • Why you need your own a group of goddessess • How men seem to change as they get older (menopause)• Why she thinks lifestyle changes might matter most • Some really useful relationship and sex life advice• Why you need to be kinder and gentler to yourself, now more than ever• Why you need your own Menopause Goddess circleWhere you can find Lynette:Web: Menopause Goddess Blog 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

Send a text Are you sick of spending money in menopause? According to a report from the Female Founders Fund women in North America spend an average of US$2,000 finding solutions. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Today I share many of the tips and tricks I’ve learned to feel better now from the evidence, from experts I’ve interviewed and from my own experience. This audio from the session I held in January with Hotflash inc Substack subscribers. I hope you enjoy it. Highlights:Dealing with ANTSWhen to take a break from your phone and whySuggestions for the daily nervous system resets you needWhy you need to feel your feelingsLearning from Lucky Girl TikTokFinding good leadersAir qualityTips for combatting insulin resistance You need minerals!The missing fascia linkWhere to strength train and stretch for freeWhy you need even 2 minutes of morning lightMy special middle-of-the-night sleep rescue remedyWant to become a Substack subscriber and get access to 27+ years of journalism experience tackling this major life transition? Use this link to get 20 percent off to my paid membership. Or just get the free version.  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

Send a textGerianne DiPiano is chairman and CEO of FemmePharma, which produces among other things a range of solutions for women going through menopause. That includes personal lubricants and moisturizers, and hot flash and sleep remedies. Geri has had a three-decade career in women's health, working at the top levels of the pharmaceutical industry as well as founding her own companies. She has amazing stories to tell about the business of menopause, about the science behind hormone therapy and various products. We talk about everything from clinical trials to letting your hair go gray. Highlights:• Hormones sure, but women need options for individual symptoms • The problem with a lot of vaginal moisturizers and hormone therapies • How we are conditioned to take hormones and what might be the problem with that• There are risks to hormone therapy – don’t let anyone tell you there’s not • Why you need to fact check influencers, doctors on social media + your own doctor (PubMed is a great place to start)• What we’ve finally figured out about women – and how to use that power • We’ve finally reached a North American menopause revolution – and what needs to follow • A peek inside her experience as one of the only women inside Big pharma at the C-suite level• How the traditionally male-dominated Big Pharma continues to impact women’s health care today• The anecdote you have to hear about the possibility of a testosterone patch from Geri’s former career • The one big thing pharmaceutical companies need to do in developing products for women safely • Her peri/menopause experience + philosophy • Becoming a certified silver sisterWhere to find FemmePharma and Mia Vita: Web: FemmePharma.comInstagram: @FemmePharmaJoin 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 textDr. Rachel S. Rubin is one of the most important voices on social media, advocating for women’s sexual health. Her frank manner and deep educational background – she is that rare combination of board-certified urologist and sexual medicine specialist and one of only a handful of physicians with fellowship training in sexual medicine for all genders – makes her uniquely positioned to talk about the range of issues we can face during the perimenopause transition. She’s also education chair for the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health and associate editor for the journal Sexual Medicine Reviews. Dr. Rubin completed her medical education at Tufts University, her urology training at Georgetown University, and her sexual medicine fellowship training with Dr. Irwin Goldstein in San Diego. We spoke at the Menopause Shift Summit. Highlights:How the push for ‘natural’ hurts our sexual and urinary healthWhy urinary tract issues are directly linked to menopauseThe conversation around women’s sexual health needs to focus on biology too, not just psychosocial factorsWhy your sexual health takes a village Hormone therapy is THE solution for genitourinary syndrome of menopauseBreaking down the different kinds of vaginal hormone therapy: estrogen, DHEA and testosteroneAll about testosterone: pellets, systemic and vaginalOrgasm problems and what we can do about themFocusing on joy and pleasure, not penetrationHollywood’s sex problemKegels and apps and lasers Where to find Rachel: Web: RachelRubinMD.comInstagram: @drrachelrubinTwitter: @drrachelrubinJoin 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 textBrooke Faught is a nurse practitioner and director of the Women's Institute for Sexual Health, a division of Urology Associates in Nashville, Tennessee. She knows a lot about testosterone and women’s sexual health because she uses it in her practice every day. I first came across Brooke when she presented her research and experience during the North American Menopause Society 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting, and then spoke to her again in 2022 for an update on advances in treatment and guidance. Although Brooke uses a range of hormones to help women get back to their full sexual function and desire in peri/menopause, our conversation focuses on testosterone because it is so often overlooked. We talked all about why testosterone can be so effective for a range of symptoms, why the research is catching up to practice, and how women can talk to their doctors about it. Highlights: Why testosterone is just as important in womenWhat role it playsHow it’s prescribed and used and what forms it comes inWhat it can helpThe range of sexual issues connected to perimenopause that women aren’t always made aware of What the research says The importance of testingHow the hormone receptor system works Estrogen and testosterone used togetherRisks and side effects Testosterone pellets – and why some people use themThe International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, ISSWSHWhy your sexual enjoyment is worth the time and effort  Where to find Brooke: IG: @brookefaught_sexmedWeb: WishNashville.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 textAnn Garnier is CEO and founder of Lisa Health, the US company that launched an app for menopause called Midday in conjunction with Mayo Clinic. Ann has been a senior technology executive in the healthcare space her entire career, and it just so happens that when she started Lisa Health, she was also going through perimenopause. The Midday app is on the cutting edge: soon it will be able to detect and predict hot flashes and other symptoms, and recommend remedies and solutions.Highlights: How her own menopause experience fuelled this technologyHer drive to keep GenX women involved in the technology conversationHow deep tech and data science can help us understand menopause – and predict hot flashes and other symptoms The problem with most symptom trackersWhere they get their evidence-based guidanceThe important conversations we need to be having – and the control we need to be giving upStaking our claim for “more” – fine is not good enoughWhy someone needs to make a red wine that perimenopausal women can drink without getting hot flashes Her dream researchWhere to find Ann:Web: Midday.healthInstagram: @midday.healthTwitter: @MiddayHealthFacebook: @MiddayHealth 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

Send a textAnn Marie is back with a solo episode, her last of the year. Get ready as she makes sense of a crazy year she's still trying to make sense of, and looks at taking that wisdom forward, so maybe you can make a little sense of where you are headed too. Highlights: • Why our bodies and brains work overtime to keep us safe – and why we need to recognize it when they do •  It’s not all perimenopause• We've got to move what we can and lift heavy things • Duh: hormone therapy is a really good way to deal with perimenopause symptoms • Big pharma is working overtime on us – and no one is watching • Why how we talk about menopause is important • Have you thought about choline? Here's why you might want to• Everyone needs to learn this: Progestin and progesterone are not the same thing • If you want to get to know yourself, quit drinking and eating crap• If you feel called to do something, just do it and find out why later• “Low and slow” for the winJoin the Hotflash Inc perimenoposse:Web: hotflashinc.comTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincTwitter: @hotflashincEpisode website: HotflashincSee hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy informationJoin 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