What if the missing piece in your health story isn’t willpower, it’s evidence and language? We welcome award-winning journalist Meghan Rabbitt, author of The New Rules of Women’s Health, for a candid, practical, and uplifting tour of the health span—from puberty and pelvic pain to perimenopause, hormone therapy, and post-menopause strength. Together, we unpack why “women aren’t small men” is more than a slogan; it’s a research mandate that changes diagnostics, dosing, and daily care.

Meghan shares how a lifetime of “tough it out” messaging trains many of us to rationalize symptoms and aim for an A+ at the doctor’s office, even when we’re suffering. Her own turning point—dismissing heavy bleeding until an ultrasound revealed fibroids—leads to a clear playbook for self-advocacy: track symptoms, ask direct questions, understand options, and choose clinicians who speak fluent menopause and practice shared decision-making. We get specific about hormone therapy and why timing, route, and personal risk matter more than recycled fear, plus how to navigate the social-media swirl without falling for bad advice.

The conversation also moves beyond the clinic to culture and work. We talk openly about clitoral anatomy, vaginal estrogen, dense breasts, and the joy of breaking taboos in public spaces, because daylight accelerates change. Then we take on the workplace, where menopause support still lags in policies and empathy. Simple steps—manager training, cool quiet spaces, flexible scheduling, and benefits that cover evidence-based care—can keep experienced talent thriving.

Meghan’s book functions like a narrative reference you can return to for credible, actionable guidance. Share chapters with partners and teens to build a common language around tests, choices, and emotions. If you’re ready to replace confusion with clarity and judgment with wonder, this conversation offers tools you can use today. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more women find evidence-based support. Your story deserves respect—and great care.

Meghan Rabbitt is an award-winning journalist and author of The New Rules of Women’s Health: Your Guide to Thriving at Every Age. She specializes in writing about women’s health and wellness, and her work has appeared in many national publications, including Women’s Health, Oprah Daily, Prevention, Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, and more. She’s known for translating complex medical and scientific topics into clear, actionable information—and for telling stories that help readers better understand their bodies, their health, and themselves.

Website: https://newrulesofwomenshealth.com/

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
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Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The quiet hours can change a life. We sit down with author and artist Laing Rikkers to trace how dawn writing, long walks, and a sudden loss opened a doorway from grief to growth—and how nature’s language can help you name what’s changing in midlife. Laing’s book, Morning Leaves, began as private morning pages for her children during lockdown and grew into a vivid map of becoming: palms bent by relentless wind, a black-eyed Susan fighting through concrete, a cactus guarding a soft core. These images mirror the real work many of us face now—shedding old identities, listening more closely, and choosing what truly matters when the noise falls away.

We talk about the awkward courage of trying on a new self when your past role still fits others’ expectations. After years in private equity, sharing poems and botanical art felt risky, but encouragement, a wise publisher, and a steady trail of “breadcrumbs” kept her moving. Lang reframes grief as a practice that can lead to joy—not sparkly happiness, but a grounded alignment with values and integrity. The second edition of Morning Leaves expands the lens beyond bereavement to cultural and environmental loss, adds new art and a poem, and includes an epilogue reflecting on five years of transformation.

Along the way, we lean into simple practices that make space for clarity: morning pages before the inner critic wakes up, walking in nature until an image meets your mood, and following small curiosities back to play. We also explore service as a source of meaning—supporting food security and end-of-life caregivers—and how radical self-care sustains expression and impact. If midlife feels like a cliff edge, consider this your nudge: crack the concrete, grow wild, bloom bright, and listen carefully. Press play, share this with a friend who needs courage today, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.

Laing Rikkers is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and executive coach whose personal journey through grief inspired her book Morning Leaves (Red Hen Press), now in its second edition. Drawing on creativity, nature, and simple daily rituals, Laing offers a practical and

compassionate guide to navigating grief and life’s many transitions. Whether facing personal loss, burnout, or major change, her heartfelt insights and actionable tools help people find resilience, meaning, and joy—even in the darkest seasons.

Website: www.laingrikkers.com

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

What if menopause isn’t the end of something—but the beginning of your clearest, most powerful self? We sit down with Dr. Mindy Pelz—best-selling author of Age Like a Girl—to explore how declining estrogen rewires the brain and why that shift can upgrade focus, confidence, and purpose. Instead of treating symptoms like flaws, Mindy shows how depression, rage, anxiety, and brain fog are signals pointing to a life that needs new boundaries, better fuel, and deeper connection.

We unpack estrogen’s “girl gang” of neurochemicals—dopamine, serotonin, GABA, oxytocin, melatonin, BDNF—and what to do as they dip. Expect practical, doable tools: short daily fasts (13–15 hours) to feed your brain ketones and clear mental fog, novelty and learning to revive dopamine, sleep rhythms to support calm, and community that actually feels nourishing. Mindy shares her own story of stepping away to rebuild from a mental health crash, and how choosing herself ended people pleasing and restored her energy.

We also dig into the grandmother hypothesis and how post-reproductive women historically powered survival with leadership, stamina, and social cohesion. That evolutionary lens flips the script on ageism: a post-menopausal brain is built for focus and mentorship. One billion women are moving through this stage right now—imagine the cultural change if more of us claimed that power. You’ll leave with a new frame for symptoms, a plan for your next chapter, and permission to ask, without apology: What do I want?

If this conversation sparks something, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Tell us: what will you stop saying yes to so you can say yes to yourself?

Dr. Mindy Pelz is a New York Times bestselling author, visionary educator, and trailblazer in the field of women’s health and hormone science. With over two decades of experience, she’s built a global movement to help women understand the power of their bodies at every stage of life. Her bestselling books, including Fast Like a Girl, The Menopause Reset, and her newest release Eat Like a Girl, have helped millions of women use fasting, nutrition, and lifestyle shifts to balance hormones, boost energy, and take back control of their health.

Her upcoming book, Age Like a Girl, redefines what it means to grow older as a woman. Rooted in the latest science and rich in personal story, the book challenges outdated narratives about menopause and aging offering instead a roadmap for awakening. Dr. Mindy shows women how to use the neurochemical shifts of midlife as a launchpad for purpose, leadership, and bold reinvention.

Dr. Mindy’s Resetter Podcast consistently ranks among Apple’s top U.S. science shows, withguests ranging from LeAnn Rimes and Rachel Hollis to Dr. Rangan Chatterjee. Her YouTube channel has surpassed 110 million views, and her teachings have reached hundreds of thousands through workshops, online programs, and live events.

She holds a Doctorate of Chiropractic and a background in functional nutrition, and she brings both science and heart to everything she does. Based in San Jose, CA, she leads a team committed to helping women worldwide become the healthiest, most powerful version of themselves. Dr. Mindy believes this is not the time for women to get quieter, it’s the time to get stronger, clearer, and more connected to who they truly are. Aging isn’t a decline. It’s an evolution.

Website: https://www.drmindypelz.com/

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Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, ra

Tired of hearing that retirement means retreat? We sit down with Lustre co-founders Erica Baird and Karen Wagner to flip that script and show how midlife can be a launchpad for purpose, community, and power. They walked away from high-profile careers, hit the same identity shock so many of us feel, and built a modern space where women design what comes next with confidence and style.

We dig into the big shifts that happen when the calendar clears and the title disappears, and why a yes-first mindset can turn uncertainty into momentum. Erica and Karen share a practical framework to treat reinvention like real work: audit what lit you up, map the skills you still want to use, and craft a plan that fits a 20 to 30 year runway. We talk about building community on purpose, especially for introverts who want depth over noise, and we offer simple scripts to answer “What are you doing now?” with clarity and pride.

Ageism shows up in subtle and loud ways, so we name it and counter it with visibility, advocacy, and action. You’ll hear how Lustre’s platform connects thousands of women through thoughtful content, interactive expert sessions on health, money, and longevity, a weekly news briefing, and a member directory that sparks real-world meetups. The stories will move you: a marketer who returned to playwriting and made it to Broadway, a finance executive who chased a lifelong dream to fly and now circles the globe.

If you’ve been standing in that cold hallway between what ended and what’s next, this conversation hands you the handle: say yes, find your people, and let purpose steer the next chapter. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this reframe, and leave a review to help more women retire with attitude.

Erica Baird is a retired lawyer with a career spanning four decades. She was the first woman partner in the General Counsel’s Office of her then Big 6 accounting firm, working in the US and abroad on some of the major financial issues of the day. Erica is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and New York University School of Law. Erica has a daughter and lives with her husband in New York City.

Karen E. Wagner was the first woman litigation partner at her global law firm in New York City. She practiced law for forty years, litigating cases involving domestic and international debt, sovereign rights and insolvency. After she retired, she co-founded Lustre, a platform advocating for retired professional women. Karen graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and New York University School of Law. Karen is married, has two wonderful children and lives in New York with her husband.

Website: https://lustre.net

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Start with the lived experience, not the label. We sit down with gender-affirming menopause educator and advocate Lasara Firefox Allen to reframe menopause as a human transition that deserves respect, nuance, and choices. From the first hot flash to postmenopausal clarity, we map the terrain for trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people who are too often erased by narrow clinical language and outdated protocols.

Lasara shares how dysphoria and euphoria can shape the menopause arc, why “hormones have no gender,” and how surgical or chemical menopause intersects with identity and safety. We break down what affirming care looks like in real clinics: pronouns honored, intake forms that fit, and treatment menus that don’t force people into boxes. You’ll hear the tough realities—erratic bleeding for transmasculine folks in unsafe environments, GSM that worsens on testosterone without local estrogen, and the data on late ADHD and autism diagnoses—paired with clear, actionable guidance.

We dive into hormone strategy with a practical lens, exploring when high-dose testosterone, physiologic-dose estradiol, and micronized progesterone make sense, and why prior side effects with birth control don’t predict menopausal HRT outcomes. We cover workplace disclosure, accommodations that reduce risk, and the hidden burden of eating disorders in the trans community. Access matters, so we point to resources you can use now, including Planned Parenthood and FOLX telehealth, plus training pathways for providers who want to deliver competent, compassionate care.

This conversation is about more than symptoms; it’s about agency. Menopause can surface grief—about fertility, identity, and change—while opening real space for post-traumatic growth. If you’re seeking care that fits who you are, or you’re a clinician ready to do better, you’ll leave with language, tools, and a roadmap. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find affirming menopause care.

Lasara Firefox Allen (they/them/theirs / Mx.) is a gender-affirming menopause educator, coach, writer, and advocate committed to uplifting genderqueer, trans, and queer-bodied folks navigating perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. With a foundation in social work and lived experience in midlife transition, Lasara centers marginalized voices and reclaims menopause beyond binary narratives.

Website: https://www.genderqueermenopause.com/

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Menopause doesn’t clock out when we clock in—and ignoring that truth is costing organizations billions while pushing experienced talent to the margins. We sit down with Rachel Hughes of Alloy Women’s Health to unpack how symptoms like brain fog, sleep disruption, and hot flashes intersect with deadlines, shifts, and team dynamics. Through relatable stories and clear data, we map the ripple effects of untreated menopause—from presenteeism to turnover—and show why treating it as a workplace issue is both a moral imperative and a competitive advantage.

We break the cycle of silence with a practical playbook leaders can use right away. Think health transition policies, manager training that encourages empathy over awkwardness, flexible scheduling for heavy symptom phases, and small environmental tweaks that bring real relief. We also make the case for pairing culture change with clinical access. Many women are excellent candidates for menopause hormone therapy, yet uptake remains low due to misinformation and barriers to care. When evidence-based treatment meets psychologically safe workplaces, confidence returns and careers stay on track.

You’ll learn how to translate culture into metrics by listening first: run baseline surveys, track absenteeism and retention, and refine programming based on what employees actually need. We share low- and no-cost steps for organizations without big budgets, plus resources for individuals ready to seek help. Along the way, we highlight the role men can play as allies and managers, and why leadership is more about tone than title. The result is a roadmap that turns intention into implementation—and proves that when people feel seen as whole humans, performance and loyalty rise together.

If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more teams replace stigma with support and turn midlife into a season of strength.

Website: www.myalloy.com

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Menopause isn’t experienced equally—and the differences are too big to ignore. We sit down with Dr. Kudzai Dombo, OB-GYN and Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Alloy Health, to explore why Black women often face earlier menopause, longer and more severe symptoms, and far less access to effective treatment. Drawing on the SWAN study’s decades of data, we connect dots between evidence, everyday experiences, and the systems that shape both.

Dr. Dombo shares her own perimenopause story—misdiagnosis, expense, and relief once hormones were recognized as the driver—and uses it to illuminate the barriers many women meet: clinician bias, gaps in menopause training, insurance hurdles, and historic medical mistrust. We talk through the shocking 0.5% hormone therapy usage among Black women, why that number reflects more than preference, and how to navigate choices from bioidentical hormones to nonhormonal options. The message is clear: treatment should be personalized, iterative, and explained in simple terms that empower informed consent.

We also zoom out to where health meets work. Symptoms can derail sleep, focus, memory, and confidence—undercutting performance, promotions, and pay. We outline practical steps employers can take now: flexible scheduling for sleep disruption, breathable uniforms, localized temperature control, paid time for medical care, and benefits that cover evidence-based menopause treatment with follow-up. Finally, we highlight the power of community support groups that replace isolation with knowledge, self-advocacy, and a sense of “not just me.”

Don’t normalize suffering. If your care stalls, bring the latest guidelines, ask for options, or change providers. If this conversation resonated, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find evidence-based, equitable menopause care.

Dr. Kudzai Dombo is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, and currently serves as the Director of Advocacy and Outreach and Prescribing Physician at Alloy.She combines deep clinical experience with a commitment to health equity, focusing especially on the midlife health of Black women.

Website: www.myalloy.com

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Menopause shouldn’t feel like a mystery you have to solve alone. We sit down with Dr. Corinne Menn—board‑certified OB‑GYN, certified menopause practitioner, and cancer survivor—to clear the fog around estrogen, perimenopause, and modern, evidence‑based care. From the infamous Women’s Health Initiative to today’s safer formulations and smarter timing, we separate risk from rumor and show how context—age, route, dose, and goals—changes the story.

We dig into the “window of opportunity” for menopausal hormone therapy, why transdermal estradiol and micronized progesterone matter, and how treatment decisions shift if you’re 5, 10, or 15 years past your final period. We also spotlight what rarely makes headlines: genitourinary syndrome of menopause, recurrent UTIs, and why low‑dose vaginal estrogen (and vaginal DHEA) can be transformative for comfort, sexual health, and even infection‑related hospitalizations. Perimenopause gets its due as a real, treatable transition with anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, and irregular bleeding—symptoms that too often get fragmented into referrals instead of addressed at the hormonal root.

You’ll leave with practical steps to advocate for yourself: how to prep a focused appointment, what to ask about dosing and delivery, and when to seek a menopause specialist or reputable telehealth. We connect the dots between symptom relief now and longevity later—bone density, cardiovascular health, cognitive function—and make the case for lifestyle medicine you can actually live with: strength training, sleep, nutrition, and thoughtful alcohol habits. If you’ve wondered whether estrogen is “dangerous,” whether you’re “too late” to start, or whether vaginal estrogen is only about sex, this conversation reframes the entire landscape with clarity and compassion.

If this helped you feel more informed, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review—your voice helps more women find evidence‑based menopause care.

www.myalloy.com

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.