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Even if you brush, floss, and get regular dental check-ups, if you’re like many athletes—especially those in the menopause transition—you may still struggle with tooth decay and oral health woes. That’s because both athletics and hormone decline can lead to conditions that set the stage for dental disease and mouth discomfort, both of which can put a damper on your performance (and your pocketbook). This week, we help save your smile with dental health expert and avid triathlete Dr. Julie Gallagher.Julie Gallagher, Ph.D., is an honorary research fellow at University College London, based at the Eastman Dental Institute Centre for Oral Health and Performance. Julie worked in clinical dental practice for more than 30 years before pursuing her interest in epidemiology and sport and embarking on a Ph.D. in 2014. Her Ph.D. project investigated oral health and its impact on performance of elite athletes. She was awarded her PhD in March 2020. She is looking forward to participating at Ironman Italy in September 2022 following its postponement from 2020. You can read more about her work and sports dentistry in the November 2021 British Dental Journal.Support our Partners: Eternal - Get 15% off their services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.coMidi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdrSign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/Join us at Feisty Fest September 18-20, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Learn More about our 2026 Feisty Events, including Bike Camps and Cycling Trips: https://feisty.co/events/Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopauseHit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099

Anyone who’s ever hit the wall at mile 19 of a marathon or fizzled out on a Fran at CrossFit, knows how important glucose (aka sugar) is for energy–both mentally and physically. As women in the menopause transition, we also know that managing generally healthy blood sugar levels can be more challenging as we can become more carbohydrate sensitive and insulin resistant as our hormones decline. This week, we dive into how to eat your carbs and manage your blood sugar, too with Molly Downey, RDN, LDN. Molly is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist (LDN) who specializes in glucose control, metabolism and weight loss. She graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington and currently works as a nutrition manager at Nutrisense, a health technology company which leverages continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) as a way to optimize diet, health and overall wellbeing.Support our Partners: Eternal - Get 15% off their services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.coMidi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdrSign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/Join us at Feisty Fest September 18-20, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Learn More about our 2026 Feisty Events, including Bike Camps and Cycling Trips: https://feisty.co/events/Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopauseHit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099

We all want to belong. That desire can increase during the menopause transition, when having a community to share experiences with helps us feel less alone. But making those connections isn’t always easy, especially when culture doesn’t include you. This week’s guest, long time athlete Elizabeth Allen, who identifies as a Black, plus-sized GenXer (who is also now firmly in the menopause transition) knows all about that.Elizabeth was recently honored as a “Change Maker in Cycling” by Stamina Racing Collective for helping change the cycling and larger outdoor industry to be more inclusive and welcoming to People of Color. We dive into that, as well as how women of different races experience menopause. Along with being the Associate Director of Organizational Development, Training, and Culture for the Valley Youth House for vulnerable, abused, and homeless youth, Elizabeth is a social media content creator specializing in outdoor activities and social media takeovers for gravel cycling events. She shares her outdoor adventures at Turtle Wandering on YouTube and Instagram. Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/Join us at Feisty Fest September 18-20, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Learn More about our 2026 Feisty Events, including Bike Camps and Cycling Trips: https://feisty.co/events/Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopauseHit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099Support our Partners: Eternal - Get 15% off their services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.coMidi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

For far too long, many of us have defined ourselves (or worse our self worth) by the size of our thighs and the circumference of our waistline, setting ourselves up for a lifelong battle with our bodies and an underlying discontent with who we are based upon a largely unattainable “ideal.” That can get worse during the menopause transition when our body shape starts to shift. This week’s guest, Kaisa Keranen, AKA KaisaFit, is on a mission to change that. As she says: “What I look like does not define who I am as a woman and what I’m doing in this world.” Amen to that and all the wisdom she dishes out this week.Kaisa is a longtime athlete and has a Masters in Exercise Science, Sports Performance and Injury Prevention. She is the owner of KaisaFit, and ​​has built a community of over 1 million people on Instagram. She has been featured in digital magazines including Vogue, Shape, SELF, Harper's Bazaar, Oxygen, and ESPNW. Kaisa was named by Greatist as one of the most influential people in health and fitness in 2015, the same year she was asked by Michelle Obama to be one of the go-to trainers for her “Let’s Move” digital campaign. You can find Kaisa on social media as KaisaFit where she educates, motivates, and empowers people to #JustMove.**Support the Podcast**InsideTracker: 20% off at insidetracker.com/feistyNuun Hydration: 30% off at nuunlife.com  with the code HITPLAY Previnex: 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Bonafide: 20% off your first purchase when you subscribe to any product with code HITPLAY at https://hellobonafide.com/Nutrisense: Use code "hitplay" at nutrisense.io/hitplay for $30 off any subscription to the CGM program

Sometimes life sidelines us, knocking us off the path we thought we’d be on forever, or at least for the foreseeable future. Menopause can certainly trip us up. But so can many other random, sometimes terrible, events we never saw coming. And sometimes we end up contending with all of it. This week’s guest, Jennifer Maxwell, knows all about that and talks about how she has maintained her athleticism, passion, and profession while raising six kids after losing her husband unexpectedly. Jennifer is a nutritionist, food scientist, and the co-founder of the original energy bar, PowerBar along with her late husband Brian. She is currently the CEO and founder of JAM Foods, the maker of JAMBAR energy bars. She is also a competitive runner, the mother of six children, and an accomplished drummer who performs in two San Francisco Bay Area bands. You can learn more about her and her work with JAM Foods at jambar.com. **Support the Podcast**InsideTracker: 20% off at insidetracker.com/feistyNuun Hydration: 30% off at nuunlife.com  with the code HITPLAY Previnex: 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Bonafide: 20% off your first purchase when you subscribe to any product with code HITPLAY at https://hellobonafide.com/Nutrisense: Use code "hitplay" at nutrisense.io/hitplay for $30 off any subscription to the CGM program

What do you do when menopause turns you into a nearly unrecognizable version of yourself? If you’re Gina Ransom, you pore through every resource you can find, advocate for yourself and others in the same situation, and form a community so you all can keep on kicking ass. Gina is a lifelong fitness professional who was blindsided by depression, anxiety, anger, as well as a host of physical symptoms despite “doing everything right.” Eventually she managed to find help, and maybe most importantly she formed a community: The Menoparkers, which is a private Facebook group for menopausal women who do Street Parking—a home strength workout program for people with limited time, space, or equipment. Gina is also a mom of four and a grandmother to one. And she plans to keep on kicking ass for a long time to come. You can learn all about Street Parking at streetparking.com and more about Gina at her member profile here. **Support the Podcast**InsideTracker: 20% off at insidetracker.com/feistyNuun Hydration: 30% off at nuunlife.com  with the code HITPLAY Previnex: 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Bonafide: 20% off your first purchase when you subscribe to any product with code HITPLAY at https://hellobonafide.com/Nutrisense: Use code "HITPLAY" at nutrisense.io/hitplay for $30 off any subscription to the CGM program

It’s easy to look at the barriers we face and think, “I can’t.” Leah Goldstein is here this week to show you, you can. Leah won the Race Across America (RAAM) outright last year at age 52, beating the next closest man by 17 hours. But that barely scratches the surface of her myriad accomplishments and the indomitable spirit that we dive into on the show this week.Leah was the World Kickboxing Champion by age 17. Shortly thereafter, she enlisted in the Israeli Military and became one of the few female instructors of the elite Commando division, specializing in Krav Maga. She later transitioned into Special Forces where she helped combat terrorism and violent crime. At age 30, she became a professional cyclist, and a few years later came back from one of the most horrific crashes in pro cycling history. Her memoir is aptly titled No Limits. You can get a copy and learn more about her remarkable life at leahgoldstein.com/**Support the Podcast**InsideTracker: 25% off at insidetracker.com/feistyNuun Hydration: 30% off at nuunlife.com  with the code HITPLAY Previnex: 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Bonafide: 20% off your first purchase when you subscribe to any product with code HITPLAY at https://hellobonafide.com/Nutrisense: Use code "HITPLAY" at nutrisense.io/hitplay for $30 off any subscription to the CGM program

Running is a coping mechanism for many trauma survivors. You lace up and put one foot in front of the other for solace and escape. But what happens when you hit menopause and the demons start to catch up? This week’s guest, coach and endurance athlete Athena Farias talks about all that and more this week as she unpacks how the symptoms she’s facing during the menopause transition are magnified by the trauma of her past.Athena is an RRCA Level 2 Certified Running Coach, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Performance Enhancement Specialist, and a Masters in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. She’s an alumni of Dr. Stacy Sims’ Menopause for Athletes and Women Are Not Small Men courses. And she’s a badass athlete in her own right, completing 16 marathons, including 5 Boston qualifiers, 7 ultras, countless half marathons and numerous obstacle races, including many podium finishes. You can find her at MarathonTrainingAcademy.com. **Support the Podcast**InsideTracker: 25% off at insidetracker.com/feistyNuun Hydration: 30% off at nuunlife.com  with the code HITPLAY Previnex: 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Bonafide: 20% off your first purchase when you subscribe to any product with code HITPLAY at https://hellobonafide.com/Nutrisense: Use code "HITPLAY" at nutrisense.io/hitplay for $30 off any subscription to the CGM program

Menopause can be a wet blanket for competitive athletes. How do you keep showing up to start lines when you’re managing hot flashes, heat intolerance, poor sleep, and watching peers walk away from the sport? This week’s guest has some answers. A lifelong athlete and self proclaimed triathlon addict, Julie Dunkle, now in her mid 50s, has had to navigate a number of physical and emotional challenges related to menopause, but has found a way to maintain her love of the sport and keep her competitive fire burning hot. Julie is a 16x time Ironman finisher, with 7 Kona Qualifications and over 25 70.3 finishes. She is a USAT Triathlon coach, Newton Running Coach, USA Masters Swim Coach, and Training Peaks Level 2 coach. She is the Co-Founder of NYX Endurance, a Global Endurance Coaching Company that believes there is no progress without perseverance and no light without some darkness. You can follow NYX Endurance on Instagram and Facebook and check out their services at https://nyxendurance.com/**Support the Podcast**InsideTracker: 25% off at insidetracker.com/feistyNuun Hydration: 30% off at nuunlife.com  with the code HITPLAY Previnex: 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Bonafide: 20% off your first purchase when you subscribe to any product with code HITPLAY at https://hellobonafide.com/Nutrisense: Use code "HITPLAY" at nutrisense.io/hitplay for $30 off any subscription to the CGM program

Most of us–even the most active among us–are limited in how well we move. Sure we can run or ride a bike or lift heavy sh*t, but can we balance on a beam or jump over fallen logs? Can we move with strength and fluidity in every direction? Can we go over, under, and through obstacles with ease? Unless we practice, the answer is likely no. This week’s guest, Dr. Julie Angel, who has completed the world's first parkour themed Ph.D., is on a mission to change that. She focuses on helping midlife women break free from the negative cycle of extreme workouts, diets, anxiety, and injuries to find sustainable strength and balance in life. By making women 360 degrees strong, she helps them learn the art and methodology of overcoming obstacles–and not just the physical hurdle in front of you, but all the stuff that’s deep inside.Julie is a movement coach, artist, award winning filmmaker and author. She uses movement snacks, strong resting, positive aging, and tools from parkour, natural movement, animal flow, original strength, the oxygen advantage, and many more methodologies to help people connect to and create a strong body and strong mind. You can learn more about her at https://julieangel.com/ and get a free sample of her movement courses at https://www.courses.see-do.com/course/movemore/**Support the Podcast**InsideTracker: 25% off at insidetracker.com/feistyNuun Hydration: 30% off at nuunlife.com  with the code HITPLAY Previnex: 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Bonafide: 20% off your first purchase when you subscribe to any product with code HITPLAY at https://hellobonafide.com/Nutrisense: Use code "HITPLAY" at https://www.nutrisense.io/hitplay for $30 off any subscription to the CGM program