Today, Melanie and registered dietitian and coach Amanda Mannes explore midlife nutrition challenges and how women's dietary needs evolve during this pivotal life stage. They discuss the impact of stress and sleep on overall health, with Amanda sharing a candid account of weight gain during a stressful period - even while eating clean - to remind us that non-food factors can influence the scale. The conversation dives into practical nutrition, including protein needs for midlife women (Amanda suggests about 1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight) and easy swaps like high-protein yogurt, pairing carbohydrates with protein to stabilise blood sugar and curb cravings, and a quick look at cholesterol management with plant sterols. They also highlight a crucial strategy: making one effective dietary change at a time to build sustainable, lasting habits.

Connect with Amanda here: https://www.amandamannes.com.au/

Learn more about protein intake in midlife & menopause here: https://www.sagewomenshealth.com/menopause/weight-gain-loss/prioritising-protein-drop-size-menopause

Learn more about cholesterol management here: https://www.sagewomenshealth.com/menopause/cholesterol-and-menopause

Australia is facing an ongoing HRT patches shortage, leaving many women asking: Are HRT patches available in Australia? In this episode of The Sage Women Podcast, we speak with Johanna Wicks and Raisa Montero from Lorai Health, the Australian women’s health startup working to solve the hormone replacement therapy patch shortage.

For more than 20 years, only three HRT patches have been available in Australia - contributing to repeated supply disruptions. Combined with PBS pricing pressures and global pharmaceutical market dynamics, Australian women navigating menopause and perimenopause have been left without reliable access to essential treatment. Lorai Health is developing a two-generation innovation strategy: A faster-to-market patch using advanced medical materials, followed by next-generation materials and adhesives designed specifically for women.

In this conversation, we explore:

- Why HRT patches are in short supply in Australia

- The impact on menopause and perimenopause care

- Cost and access challenges

- The difference between continuous and combined HRT patches

- The funding barriers female founders face in women’s health

- How broader access to HRT could translate into billions of dollars of savings, in preventable age-related healthcare challenges.

If you’re searching for answers about HRT patches in Australia, menopause treatment options, or the future of women’s health innovation, this episode delivers clarity and hope.

Visit Lorai Health: loraihealth.com

Support Lorai with a donation: loraihealth.com/donate

Follow in Instagram: instagram.com/loraihealth

Follow on Substack: The Patch Report: thepatchreport.substack.com

What happens when ADHD meets perimenopause — and no one’s talking about it? In this honest, empowering episode of Sage Women, host Melanie White is joined by executive coaches Simone Outteridge, Lisa Allen, and Tara Blanchy to unpack the unique experience of women navigating ADHD in midlife — often without a diagnosis, a roadmap, or the language to explain what’s going on.

Drawing on their coaching practice and personal stories, these women explore:

✅ The symptom overlap between ADHD and menopause

✅ Why so many midlife women are misdiagnosed — or missed entirely

✅ How masking and perfectionism drain energy and self-worth

✅ Practical, brain-based strategies for executive function and focus

✅ Tools for embracing change, owning your story, and building a new narrative

From digital tools and mindset shifts to the power of self-compassion, this episode is a must-listen for women navigating neurodiversity, hormonal transitions, and the complex demands of midlife.

Midlife isn’t the end - it’s a chance to rewire, reframe and rise.

Listen to the Fog and the Fury Podcast series here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ6K1-HJt3_0K875N6jCtCQ

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4FzOJ6xIJofH5ogcWXrwED