Emotional Fitness shouldn’t take 15 years

In this solo episode, Ann Marie shares a deeply personal story from her years in breaking news journalism and how unprocessed trauma shaped her internal world well into midlife. She explores why perimenopause can surface long-buried emotional patterns – and why traditional approaches often fall short. This is a conversation about awareness, nervous system reality, and finding a more complete path forward.

Highlights

• The TV character that mirrored my internal reality
• The moment at a crash scene I’ll never forget-
• What adrenaline does in trauma – and what happens after
• The coping patterns I didn’t understand at the time
• Why I thought something was wrong with me
• “How long have you been like this?” – the question that shifted everything
• How perimenopause cracked open deeper self-inquiry
• The “messy beach” and what hormones reveal
• Why emotional fitness might be the missing piece

🔥 Need help right now?

Grab my free Fix It Fast Perimenopause List for quick, practical non-hormonal relief options, and get on the waitlist for The Hot Truth About Hormone Therapy, a clear + comprehensive guide to understanding the entire landscape of options and empowering you to make your best decision.

🌿 Join us for the Emotional Fitness Retreat

Transform Perimenopause into Power

Wilson4Q x Hotflash inc

Menla Mountain Resort, New York

June 4-7 2026

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Connect with Hotflash inc

TikTok: @hotflashinc.menopause

Instagram: @hotflashinc

X: @hotflashinc

YOUTUBE @hotflashinc

Facebook: @hotflashinc

Linked in: Ann Marie McQueen

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your treatment, supplements, or lifestyle.

Naturopathic doctor and menopause specialist Dr. Kirsten Smith unpacks why perimenopause and menopause symptoms can feel so intense, where hormone therapy helps, where it gets overpromised, how stress, lifestyle, blood sugar and inflammation shape the experience, and why midlife often becomes a reckoning we aren't ready for.

Highlights

05:47 – Why midlife demands radical responsibility

08:46 – The deeper root cause: self-worth, self-criticism, and women’s relationship with themselves

11:10 – Menopause as sovereignty: freedom, boundaries, and becoming more yourself

16:41 – Hormone confusion on Instagram, soy panic, and how nutrition advice gets distorted

23:19 – GLP-1s, blood sugar, inflammation, and why this conversation is much bigger than weight loss

33:59 – Dr Smith’s own frozen shoulder experience, hormone therapy, and what this reveals about oversimplified menopause messaging

43:02 – Why hormone therapy can be valuable without being a cure-all

Fact check: 3 studies referenced

Cleaning at home and at work in relation to lung function decline and airway obstruction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. doi:10.1164/rccm.201706-1311OC; Oxalate (dys)metabolism: Person-to-person variability, kidney and cardiometabolic toxicity. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14091719 MGLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: current evidence. doi:10.1097/GCO.0000000000001015

Connect with our guest

Website: drsmithnd.com

Instagram: @drkirstensmithnd

🔥 Need help right now? Grab my free Fix It Fast Perimenopause List for quick, practical non-hormonal relief options, and get on the waitlist for The Hot Truth About Hormone Therapy , a clear + comprehensive guide to understanding the entire landscape of options and empowering you to make your best decision.

Connect with Hotflash inc

TikTok: @hotflashinc.menopause

Instagram: @hotflashinc

X: @hotflashinc

YOUTUBE @hotflashinc

Facebook: @hotflashinc

Linked in: Ann Marie McQueen

Disclaimer This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your treatment, supplements, or lifestyle.

This podcast originally ran on 17 July 2025

In 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 Jay
How energy production impacts reproductive hormones
The cultural lie of “eat less, move more”
Seed oils, PUFAs and what they’re doing to your metabolism
Sunscreens, toenail polish, and endocrine disruption
Why low estrogen blood levels don’t tell the whole story
What your liver and gut have to do with your hormones
Why estrogen replacement might be a band-aid, not a solution

Guest bio
Jay 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 more

• Website: jayfeldmanwellness.com
• Free Guide: jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide
• Podcast: The Energy Balance Podcast

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | Substack

See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Unlocking the Hidden Layers or Menopause: Trauma, Hypnosis, and Inner Work with Sally Garozzo

Join 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 hormones
• 02:25 - Understanding menopause as a catalyst for emotional sensitivity
• 04:36 - The limitations of traditional medical paradigms for complex stories
• 06:54 - The metaphor of menopause as a tide revealing buried issues
• 09:20 - The impact of childhood and family dynamics on menopause
• 12:02 - The mind-body connection and how perspective influences symptoms
• 17:41 - Personal stories of anxiety, panic, and recognition of trauma
• 24:05 - The science of hypnosis: focus, suggestion, and energy work
• 31:20 - Skills training for mind and body—neurobics and perspective shifts
• 42:48 - How trauma and nervous system dysregulation amplify menopausal challenges
• 44:50 - Words of hope: deep work, attunement, and community support

Resources & Links:

• Marisa Peer - Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT)

Connect with Sally Garrozzo:

• Instagram
• Website

Disclaimer: 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.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | Substack

See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

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Joe Sealey is a former UK footballer who is married to UK businesswoman Nicole, and they are both cast members of The Real Housewives of Cheshire. He's also comforting and cracking men and women alike up with his ongoing commentary on living with a woman in menopause. Joe jokes a lot, but he also gets serious about the challenges and changes experienced during Nicole's perimenopause and menopause, the importance of communication between partners, and how the couple navigates their journey together. Joe also offers some solid menopause tips for men and women alike.

Find Joe on:
TikTok @Joe_Sealey
Instagram @JoeSealey

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

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In this solo episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, host and founder Ann Marie McQueen dives into the rising conversation around ADHD and perimenopause. Drawing from personal experience, research, and lived insight, Ann Marie explores how midlife hormone shifts may intersect with neurodivergence – and how confusing, frustrating and illuminating that process can be. This episode is a candid, powerful reflection on mental health, executive function and how being a woman in midlife calls for compassion and curiosity.

Thank you to our sponsor, Timeline Nutrition – makers of Mitopure™, the first clinically tested Urolithin A supplement that supports cellular energy and muscle strength. Visit www.timeline.com and use the code HOTFLASH for 20% off your first order.

Highlights

• Ann Marie reflects on the constant battle to get information right in a world full of misinformation.
• The emerging connection between perimenopause, ADHD, and hormonal changes.
• Research shows ADHD traits can intensify menopausal symptoms—even in undiagnosed women.
• Ann Marie shares her own experience recognizing lifelong ADHD tendencies.
• Sensory sensitivity, rejection sensitivity, and how they show up in midlife.
• Why she hasn’t pursued an official diagnosis – and how nervous system healing has helped.
• The pain of not being taken seriously when you open up about neurodivergence.
• Testosterone’s overlooked role in executive function and how HRT may help.
• Why a holistic approach is essential for navigating neurodivergence in midlife.
• The power of being seen and heard – how a simple conversation at work changed everything.

This podcast is hosted by Ann Marie McQueen, journalist and founder of Hotflash inc, the world’s only reader-supported, research-based platform covering all aspects of menopause and midlife. With more than 30 years in journalism, Ann Marie provides evidence-based content, expert interviews, and deeply personal conversations to help women around the world navigate this pivotal life stage.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit – and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show. To get the latest research and real talk on perimenopause, menopause, and midlife straight to your inbox, subscribe to the Hotflash inc newsletter at hotflashinc.com.

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

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In this special solo episode, Ann Marie McQueen shares reader letters, explores the journey of trusting yourself with hormone therapy, and reflects on a touching encounter with a tiny bird that left a lasting impression.

From listener messages that validate the power of open conversations about menopause to deep thoughts on aging, self-trust, and the emotional rollercoaster of hormone therapy, this episode is a candid, heartfelt exploration of what it means to navigate midlife with awareness and resilience.

Highlights from this episode:

• Why text messages from listeners matter – and how you can send one, too.
• A reader’s hormone therapy struggles – and why sometimes, stepping off the estrogen merry-go-round is the right decision.
• The fear of aging and how Ann Marie reframed her mindset about turning 55.
• The obsession with longevity and health hacks – and why some conversations in this space feel exhausting.
• A surreal experience with birds
• An honest take on learning to say “I don’t like it” – and why that’s an underrated midlife skill.

Quote from this episode:
"Sometimes you can do something, and sometimes you can't. The real wisdom is in knowing the difference."

Sponsored by Mitopure: This episode is brought to you by Mitopure, the purest form of Urolithin A, designed to support cellular energy and longevity. Visit timeline.com/HOTFLASH for 10% off your order.

The Hotflash inc Podcast is:
One of the Top 60 Menopause Podcasts
In the top 3% percentile on Listen Notes
#1 on Goodpods’ Top 10 Women’s Health Podcasts list

Disclaimer

The information shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any health decisions, especially regarding hormone therapy or new treatments. Full disclaimer at the end of the episode.

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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In this episode of the Hotflash inc podcast, host and founder Ann Marie McQueen takes you into a whole new realm of possibility: decentralized science, or DeSci. Joining her is Mack Stachowiak, a physicist, software architect and healthcare innovator who is pioneering the integration of blockchain, AI, and Web3 into healthcare as co-founder of Axon DAO.

You might be thinking, “why are you talking about this?” – and we get it. Crypto and blockchain can feel like a foreign language. But this conversation reveals how decentralized science could completely change the game when it comes to the lack of menopause and midlife research – by putting data ownership and funding power into the hands of individuals and communities.

Mack shares how Axon DAO’s platform allows people to share and monetize their health data (ethically and consensually), explains how voice biomarkers can detect hormone fluctuations, and shares mulitple menopause-specific projects he wants to launch right now – but needs the right researchers and community to do it.

This episode is for anyone tired of waiting for “more data” – and ready to build the systems we need now.

Episode highlights:

1:30 – What is decentralized science (DeSci) and why should we care?

3:10 – Why most people – including doctors – don’t even know DeSci exists

6:45 – How blockchain-backed tokens fund research in a faster, fairer way

12:00 – Why Axon DAO gives users full control over their health data

14:15 – How scientists can build research platforms using Axon DAO

18:55 – Using sleep data to support menopausal women

20:00 – How voice analysis can detect stress, PTSD, and even vagus nerve dysfunction

26:30 – How Mack’s team is handling data privacy and regulatory compliance

28:20 – Upcoming projects on Alzheimer’s, medical cannabis, and psilocybin microdosing

33:00 – The enormous gap in menopause research – and how DeSci can close it

35:10 – Voice-based hormone and hot flash tracking: already here

37:45 – Mack’s open invitation to women researchers and citizen scientists

40:30 – Why you should own your data and share it on your own terms

44:30 – Health optimization as a cultural shift: empowerment through ownership

46:15 – One medical device that could change the game – if it wasn’t siloed

48:00 – How community and open access can transform women’s health research

50:30 – “You don’t need to understand crypto – just use your email and get started”

Connect with Mack and Axon DAO:

A Plus Voice research program:

https://aplusvoice.io

X: https://twitter.com/axondao

IG: https://www.instagram.com/axondao/

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack

See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information