The Hotflash inc podcast

Send us a textIn this episode, Ann Marie McQueen speaks with globally recognized strategist Dr Lydia Kostopoulos, whose work spans emerging technology, national security, and macrotrends. But it’s her deep interest in human performance and healthy aging that brings her into the perimenopause conversation.Lydia shares her experience preparing for this life phase with intention, data, and strategy – including a military-style “perimenopause game plan”. Through her Project N of 1 series and personal research, she’s built a unique, highly organized approach to symptom tracking, risk assessment, and hormone therapy prep – while emphasizing emotional and psychological resilience.What we cover:• Why Lydia created her Perimenopause Game Plan series as part of Project N of 1• Her strategic approach to tracking symptoms, health data, and preparing for hormone therapy• Insights from interviewing women across generations, disciplines, and cultures• Why mental and emotional health are critical pillars of healthy agingQuote:“If you don’t know you have choices, then you never had a choice.” – Dr Lydia KostopoulosResources & Links:Perimenopause Game Plan YouTube PlaylistDr Lydia Kostopoulos on LinkedInInstagram: @hilydiakX @lkcyberEpisode sponsor: Thanks to Menolabs for sponsoring this episode. Perimenopause can start earlier than you think. That’s why Menolabs is here to support you with trusted information and science-backed products like MenoFit, a probiotic designed to help relieve symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and more, all while supporting your overall wellness. Use code HOTFLASH20 for 20% off at menolabs.com *This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who’s navigating big transitions. Leave a review, subscribe, and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram at @hotflashinc for daily inspiration and support in midlife and beyond.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 us a textAre psychedelics a missing key to personal transformation in midlife?This week, I speak with Rob Grover and Gary Logan, the founders of The Journeymen Collective, a luxury guided psilocybin retreat company based in the mountains outside Vancouver, BC. These two have helped entrepreneurs, performers, couples—and yes, many women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and midlife transitions—use guided mushroom journeys to reconnect to themselves and release emotional burdens that therapy, medication, or self-help books haven’t resolved.We talk grief, depression, anxiety, the inner critic, and how to tap into the body’s sacred intelligence when everything feels disconnected. Rob and Gary explain the difference between “tripping” and undergoing a true guided journey, and why that distinction matters so deeply for healing and growth.Highlights: “Most people who find us have done the therapy, read the books, tried the biohacking—and still feel stuck.”– Rob Grover“This isn’t about escaping—it’s about meeting yourself more deeply than ever before.” – Gary LoganHow grief led both Rob and Gary to their first journeys with magic mushrooms—and why it changed everything.Why psilocybin is not a shortcut or magic bullet, but a profound reset for the nervous system.The science, spirituality, and deep preparation that goes into their luxury retreats.Why talk therapy for 10 years often gets outpaced by 4 days of immersive guided work.A frank and beautiful discussion about anger, sadness, menopause symptoms—and how they’re often calls to listen to the body, not suppress it.Links + resources:Learn more: The Journeymen CollectiveFollow Rob and Gary on Instagram and LinkedInMentioned: Red School: Menstruality EducationResearch: MAPS – Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic StudiesUse code HOTFLASH20 for 20% off at MenoLabs.comEpisode sponsor: Thanks to Menolabs for sponsoring this episode. Use code HOTFLASH20 for 20% off at menolabs.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

Join Jennifer Jefferies, a seasoned Australian naturopath known for her vibrant approach to health, as she discusses thriving through menopause. She debunks the myth that menopause is a disaster, emphasizing that adrenal burnout often lies at its core. Jen shares her ‘bare-ass minimum’ wellness plan, including the power of fun, early bedtimes, and eating close to nature. Discover why it’s essential to reclaim your health wisdom and navigate this life stage with joy and balance instead of fear.

Send us a textThis podcast originally ran on July 11, 2024In this episode, host and midlife and menopause journalist Ann Marie McQueen speaks with iconic American model Kim Alexis.They explore Kim's extensive career when she dominated the modeling industry. They talk about what it was like to appear on over 500 magazine – sometimes all of them at once – and cover her journey through competitive sports, her faith, clean living, marriage and menopause.Kim shares personal stories about her transition into menopause, her choice to use hormone therapy – and the controversial delivery method of pellets – and how she navigates various health claims and misinformation prevalent in the social media age.They also discuss the impact of environmental disruptors on health and, possibly, menopause, the evolving standards of beauty and self-image in aging, and the importance of self-care, self-inquiry, adaptation and outreach in midlife.Highlights:02:32 Kim Alexis on Social Media and Going Viral03:01 Natural Beauty and Aging Gracefully06:06 The Modeling Industry Then and Now10:54 Health, Fitness, and Post-Modeling Career12:30 Navigating Nutrition and Wellness Trends21:13 Adapting to Life's Changes21:19 Skincare from the Inside Out22:32 Personal Skincare Routines23:45 Hormonal Shifts and Menopause28:33 Hormone Therapy Controversy33:21 Emotional and Soul Searching36:49 Finding Love Later in Life39:02 Advice for Reinventing Yourself42:40 Future Plans and Giving BackJoin 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 us a textThis podcast originally ran on August 1, 2024You may have been hearing a lot about testosterone lately – what it is, why we need it, why we can’t get it… I’ve gone to Melbourne, Australia to ask an expert in women’s hormones across our lifespan, and one of the few people who has studied testosterone in-depth.Professor Susan Davis is a clinician researcher, consulting endocrinologist and head of the Monash University Women’s Health Research Program in Melbourne.She is going to help us to tackle the current confusion – and hype – over testosterone, armed with what she knows best: the evidence. We talk about it all: the evidence, benefits, and potential misconceptions about testosterone supplementation for women, especially during menopause and perimenopause; the difficulty in measuring testosterone accurately, the placebo effect, risks and benefits of different hormone therapies, including testosterone pellets and creams, and the critical importance of credible sources of information. Professor Davis also highlights her extensive research, including studies on the cardiovascular effects of low testosterone and the physiological impacts on women's health.Highlights:03:38 Testosterone's role in a women's hormone structure06:35 Challenges in measuring testosterone19:50 Testosterone and cardiovascular health30:02 The misleading promises of testosterone therapy32:55 The controversy surrounding pellets36:17 Breast cancer risks and hormone therapy40:15 Testosterone for menopausal symptoms42:12 The role of DHEA in hormone therapy44:49 The impact of birth control pills46:26 Navigating hormone therapy and misinformation50:50 Current research and future directions53:33 The Influence of social media on health information56:10 Conclusion and credible resourcesJoin 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 us a textThis podcast originally ran on October 15, 2024.Hotflash inc founder and host Ann Marie McQueen sits down with Dr Leigh Erin Connealy, a leading figure in integrative medicine, known for her unique approach in combining conventional and alternative treatments in addressing chronic illnesses and cancer. Dr Connealy is the founder of the Center for New Medicine and the Cancer Center for Healing in Irvine, California and author of two books: The Cancer Revolution and the Be Perfectly Healthy. She is also co-founder of leading hormone brand, Raena Health.She talks about why so many people are getting cancer, how to make chemotherapy more effective and less lethal, why prevention needs to be the focus. For Dr Connealy, the question we need to be asking: what is going on with your terrain, and why is it making cancer? Everything from the food we eat to the chemicals we surround ourselves with to the emotional work we aren’t doing is causing this. And find out what she thinks our number one risk is – why and what we can do about it. (It’s probably not what you are thinking)Dr Connealy wants us all to know that in most cases, cancer is 10 years in the making. She has really good guidance for women considering hormone therapy, explaining the differences in synthetic hormones and the importance of the “orchestra”, including progesterone and pregnanalone, and more than one kind of estrogen. She explains why there is no one solution that fits all women – even though that’s what mainstream medicine wants us to believe – and gives guidance on the particular cocktail, with tweaks, that she likes to prescribe. She also gives her take on whether hormone therapy prevents cancer – its worth listening to the end just to hear what she has to say about that – and addresses that ongoing fear women have, which is weighing our fear of breast cancer risk when considering hormone therapy.Dr Connealy is recognized for her personalized, holistic approach. This episode is nothing short of a masterclass on how to get our inner house in order.Highlights:01:56 The importance of personalized medicine02:07 The rise of chronic diseases03:09 The need for preventive healthcare04:44 Challenges in cancer treatment13:08 The importance of self-care14:40 The impact of EMFs on health28:12 The power of essential oils28:46 Reprogramming the mind with EVOX29:41 Healing affirmations and subconscious reprogramming33:37 The importance of sleep and water purification34:14 Nourishing rour body with proper nutrition35:01 The role of exercise and movement35:47 Detoxification and cleasing methods38:42 Understanding hormonal health and therapy39:23 Personal experiences with hormonal treatments46:10 The importance of individualized hormonal careJoin 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 us a textThis podcast originally ran on October 21, 2023.This week we get down to basics, and basics are exactly what we need in this confusing world right now. This is THE podcast to listen to if you are confused about all things to do with taking hormone therapy.Dr Vikram Sinai Talaulikar is a specialist in reproductive medicine at University College London Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust and an associate professor in Women’s Health at the University College London. He graduated in medicine in India in 2003 and completed a postgraduate degree in obstetrics and gynecology in 2007. He is a certified menopause specialist by the British Menopause Society, a menopause trainer and he is constantly educating others on this transition as well, via online webinars, events and through social media. He is also part of the trio who established the Menopause Research Education Fund, alongside medical journalist Fiona Clarke and groundbreaking menopause campaigner Diane Danzebrink.Highlights of our discussion: Hormone therapy (HT) 101WHI: good, bad and what we can learn from it 20 years onEstrogen in the pill vs estrogen in HT All the kinds of estrogen and what they are used for strogen too ethinyl estradiolEstrone, Estriol, Estradiol, and Estetrol.17 beta estradiolGetting to the bottom of body simila, body identical and bioidentical – and why that varies from country to country Pharmaceutical company produced HT vs compounding pharmacy versionsthe big “Catch-22” with compounding pharmacies that keeps their bioidentical hormones out of official recommendationsthe pill, HRT and breast cancer riskwhy problems with the pill don’t get flagged and HRT does Evidence over estrogen and breast cancer risk (and randomized trials versus observational data)What’s what: progesterone, progestin and progestogens (how they work and which one carries a slight risk for breast cancer)how long you really need to take HRT to see if it’s workingwhy HT works for some people and not othersDr Talaulikar’s favourite non-hormonal treatmentsWhere to find Dr Talaulikar:X: @VikramSinai Web: Menopause Clinic LondonMenopause Research and Education FundJoin 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 us a textThis is a replay of Episode 129, originally aired on 16 November 2024.In this solo episode, Hotflash inc podcast host and founder Ann Marie McQueen writes down all the questions she has about hormone therapy (and what we hear about hormone therapy).This is a long time coming: she's been researching perimenopause, menopause, and women's midlife health for 5+ years now.Settle in. And if you have any questions of your own, use that handy text message feature and send them our way.The Hotflash inc Podcast is:One of the Top 60 Menopause PodcastsIn the top 3% percentile on Listen Notes#1 on Goodpods’ Top 10 Women’s Health Podcasts listJoin the Conversation:Tag us on Instagram @hotflashinc and tell us your biggest takeaway from today’s episode!Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, supplements, or treatment plan. Opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hotflash incJoin 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 us a textIn this episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, GenX journalist Ann Marie McQueen sits down with Dr Deena Emera, an evolutionary geneticist, senior scientist at the Buck Institute’s Buck Center for Healthy Aging in Women, and author of A Brief History of the Female Body: An Evolutionary Look at How and Why the Female Form Came to Be.Dr Emera’s research focuses on the genetic basis of reproductive longevity in mammals, and in this fascinating discussion, she breaks down the evolution of menopause, why female bodies age the way they do, and what modern science is uncovering about ovarian health and longevity.If you’ve ever wondered why menopause exists, how it evolved, and whether science will ever be able to delay or even prevent it, this episode is for you.Highlights: Understanding evolutionary biology (it's not boring, promise)The evolutionary mystery of menopauseWhat animals do go through menopause?Why all women didn't used to die at 50 (and what actually happened)How modern life has changed menopauseWhy Dr Emera needs bowhead whale ovariesCan we really end menopause?The truth about the Grandmother HypothesisQuote:"Menopause itself isn’t surprising – if you live long enough, you will run out of eggs. What’s unique about humans is that we have such a long post-reproductive life stage. That’s the real mystery we need to solve." – Dr Deena EmeraWhere to find Dr Emera:Instagram: @deenaemeraLinkedIn: Deena EmeraBuy her book: A Brief History of the Female Body – Available on AmazonThank you to our sponsor Timeline Nutrition Mitopure supports cellular energy and longevity—now available with a 10% discount! Visit timeline.com/HOTFLASH and use the code HOTFLASH to claim your offer!DisclaimerThis podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any health-related decisions.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 us a textIn this episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, host Ann Marie McQueen sits down with fellow journalist and midlife advocate, Tamsen Fadal. A veteran Emmy Award-winning news anchor, Tamsen has transformed her career into a powerful force for women in midlife. From creating the groundbreaking PBS documentary The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause to her upcoming book How To Menopause (out March 2025), Tamsen is on a mission to change the conversation around menopause, confidence and aging.Connect with Tamsen Fadal:Website: www.tamsenfadal.comIG: @tamsenfadalTikTok: @tamsenfadalYouTube: Tamsen FadalThe M Factor Documentary: Watch hereThanks to our sponsor Timeline Nutrition Mitopure supports cellular energy and longevity—now available with a 10% discount! Visit timeline.com/HOTFLASH and use the code HOTFLASH to claim your offer!From The M Factor team: This partial statement is in response to Hotflash inc's request for comment in light of recent reports and fact-checking of the film by ob-gyn Dr Jen Gunter and published on her platform, The Vagenda. The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause” documentary earned continuing medical education (CME) Accreditation. On October 17, 2024 the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) hosted a 90-minute live webinar offering continuing medical education (CME) credit for healthcare providers. The event featured the documentary “The (M) Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause,” which was followed by a moderated discussion with menopause experts Dr. Stephanie Faubion, Mayo Clinic and The Menopause Society and Dr. Wen Shen, Johns Hopkins Medical,  moderated by FSMB board members and one of the film producers. Due to the limited capacity FSMB had for live registrations, CME credit was extended to those on the waitlist who accessed the recorded webinar online. After the live event, FSMB provided access to the recorded webinar for a limited period, and that window closed as scheduled. Accreditation remains intact for all participants, whether live or virtual. The FSMB CME webinar and accreditation concluded on November 21, 2024. We stand by our film and the medical doctors who shared their expertise with us. We recognize that others have different viewpoints.  We respect them all and we look forward to working together to help women live longer healthier lives.  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