
Menopause Mastery
Welcome to Menopause Mastery with Dr. Betty Murray. This show is for women in the second season of life, the season of menopause, who are ready for more: health - vitality - passion - and purpose!
Join host, Dr. Betty Murray (part geek, part magician, and your new medical bestie with a dash of sass), as she takes complex science and makes it easier to integrate into daily life. Nutrition, hormones, functional medicine, and a wellness lifestyle are only the tip of the conversation. Join the journey to uncover your deepest desires, harness your physical and mental health, and peel back the layers to know exactly what you want out of life.
Let’s make this season the best ever!
Latest episodes

Nov 23, 2022 • 29min
Menopause Mastery: The Gut, Your Mindset & Feeling Better with Jackie Bowker
You’re about to be promoted. It’s time to be the CEO of your own health! This week, Betty speaks with Jackie Bowker—medical intuitive, functional nutritionist, and CEO of the Global Feel Better Institute. Dedicated to helping people feel better so they can fulfill their full potential, she wants every person she works with to take full control of their own health. In this episode, Jackie will authentically share her health story of hitting rock bottom, and how she healed her body to become the healthy woman she is today. She’ll also tell some personal client stories, giving you living testaments that you can heal from the inside out. Then, she’ll teach you everything you need to know about gut health and the microbiome. You’ll discover that the gut is connected to many other parts of the body and that by healing the gut, you can start to feel stronger as a whole. Finally, you’ll hear all about the subconscious mind and how it controls your reality. By being aware of your thoughts, you have the power to reprogram your subconscious mind. Listening to Jackie, you’ll feel empowered to take ownership of your health and claim the life you deserve! Key Topics/Takeaways: Jackie shares her personal health story. Why Jackie’s approach is different than other nutritionists. The power of thought and the subconscious mind. Inflammatory foods to avoid. Symptoms of an unbalanced microbiome. Gut health and the microbiome. Jackie’s top 3 tips to take control of your health. Where to Find the Guest: FeelBetterInstitute.com Listen to the Feel Better Now Podcast @jackiebowker Memorable Quotes: “Until you go leap over this and work on the inside, the stuff that you can't see, you're always gonna have that next level that you don't get to.” (10:52, Betty) “Awareness is the first step to change.” (11:19, Jackie) “If you're thinking the same thoughts you thought yesterday, you're effectively living in the past.” (11:45, Jackie) “We are run by our bacteria and we are more bacteria than we are DNA.” (13:21, Jackie) “The gut and the brain were one organ, one grew up and one grew down.” [15:20, Jackie) “We all wanna get to a place where we know our worth, that we know we are limitless, that we know we deserve all the beautiful things.” (22:40, Jackie) Website Living Well Dallas Hormone Reset Betty Murray Socials Facebook Instagram

Nov 16, 2022 • 6min
Menopause Mastery: A Pivot
Welcome to the first episode of Menopause Mastery—a show for women just like you who are ready for more health, vitality, passion, living life with a purpose. In this introduction episode, Betty explains why she changed the name of her podcast from This Functional Life to Menopause Mastery and what you’ll hear on the show. Luckily for you, much of it will actually be the same! Menopause is often seen as a dreaded time that women just need to get through. But Betty is here to help you see it in a new way. This episode will challenge your view of what women in menopause can achieve. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that women in menopausal time statistically have the greatest impact on society. You too can make an impact while feeling good at the same time! Key Topics/Takeaways: Why Betty changed the podcast name. What you’re going to hear on this show. What a functional life means. Reasons the ages around menopause can be your best. Betty’s mission for you. Memorable Quotes: “There's a transition that happens as these hormones shift and we become more centered and we become more of who we really are.” (4:01, Betty) “I wanna help you really get into who you wanna be and how you wanna live. And I want you to live it fully.” (4:31, Betty) Website Living Well Dallas Hormone Reset Betty Murray Socials Facebook Instagram

Nov 16, 2022 • 4min
Menopause Mastery: Trailer
Welcome to Menopause Mastery. This show is for women in the second season of life, the season of menopause, who are ready for more; health - vitality - passion - purpose! Join host, Betty Murray (part geek, part magician, and your new medical bestie with a dash of sass), as she takes complex science and makes it easier to integrate into daily life. Nutrition, hormones, functional medicine, and a wellness lifestyle are only the tip of the conversation. Join the journey to uncover your deepest desires, harness your physical and mental health, and peel back the layers to know exactly what you want out of life. Let’s make this season the best ever!

Oct 26, 2022 • 22min
Menopause Mastery: Estrogen - Friend or Foe
When it comes to estrogen, there’s a lot of inaccuracy going around. If you’re under 50 or haven’t gone through menopause, you have estrogen. It gives you clear skin, a strong libido, a clear brain, and a strong bone density. But once you go through menopause, does estrogen turn on you? The idea that estrogen is bad after menopause is an oversimplification. In this episode, Betty will bust all the estrogen myths and give you the truth. Taking you through the 3 types of estrogen, you’ll learn how it works on a biological level and why it’s important to have appropriate levels. Then, she’ll teach you the connection between estrogen and breast cancer. After listening, estrogen will stop being so scary! Key Topics/Takeaways: The 3 types of estrogen. Where estrogen is made. The connection between menopause and estrogen. Estrogen and breast cancer. Estrogen and bone health. Symptoms of low estrogen. Testosterone in women. Memorable Quotes: “At the end of the day, if it was all about just having too much estrogen, every 20-year-old and every pregnant woman on the planet would have breast cancer.” (9:07, Betty) “There's a lot of discussion about testosterone being a male hormone, and women have testosterone too. And actually, women and men make close to equal amounts of testosterone and estradiol.” (10:42, Betty) “Our three estrogens are neither friend nor foe.” (14:30, Betty) Website Living Well Dallas Hormone Reset Betty Murray Socials Facebook Instagram

Oct 19, 2022 • 40min
Menopause Mastery: Rewiring Your Brain for Happiness with Dr. Loretta Breuning
Ready to bring out your inner mammal? Dr. Loretta Breuning is the founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and the author of Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, & Endorphin Levels. A former professor at California State University, she has dedicated her second career to teaching people how to manage their happy brain chemicals. It turns out that we have a lot more in common with mammals in the wild than you may think. In fact, you can boost your happiness by learning how serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins, and cortisol work in nature. This week, you’ll learn all about your brain chemistry and what we have in common with animals. You’ll discover how your behavior adapted and will get easy tips to rewire your brain to experience increased pleasure. If you struggle with any type of emotional or mental health issue, Dr. Breuning will provide you with a new and unique take on your biochemistry! Key Topics/Takeaways: Why Dr. Breuning went into this field. Ways we are similar to the animal kingdom. The reason it’s so hard for humans to be happy. How neurotransmitters are made and what triggers them. Ways oxytocin can be developed in negative ways. Why you should avoid negative media. How childhood experiences shape our reality. Tools to rewire the brain. Where to Find the Guest: InnerMammalInstitute.org @inner.mammal.inst Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, & Endorphin Levels Memorable Quotes: “If you look at the statistics, we actually leave our greatest mark over 50.” (4:45, Betty) “Our brain is not designed to be happy all the time. It's designed to promote survival, and the happy brain chemicals evolve to reward you for behaviors that promote survival in that immediate moment.” (5:38, Dr. Breuning) “Serotonin is your brain signal that it's safe to assert. And of course, we want that feeling, but we don't have it every minute because it's not safe to assert every minute. So we need to be realistic about the real job of these chemicals.” (16:42, Dr. Breuning) “We are all navigating the world with the pathways we built before age eight and during puberty.” (21:31, Dr. Breuning) “The brain learns from rewards and pain, and so every experience of rewards biases you to look for that reward, and every experience of pain biases you to fear that kind of pain.” (23:24, Dr. Breuning) Website Living Well Dallas Hormone Reset Betty Murray Socials Facebook Instagram

Oct 12, 2022 • 58min
Menopause Mastery: Could Your Breast Implants Be Making You Sick? with Dr. Robert Whitfield
The FDA seems to gatekeep the idea that breast implant illness exists. But the fact is, it’s more common than you might think! Dr. Robert Whitfield is a natural plastic surgeon and one of the foremost experts on breast cancer illness. Renowned for his expertise and research, he comes to the show to share the truth about breast implant illness. Betty and Dr. Whitfield discuss breast implant illness, what it is, and the symptoms to look out for. You’ll also hear Dr. Whitfield’s unique take on breast reconstruction and how might be able to avoid implants in the first place. He’ll take you through his Holistic Accelerated Recovery Program (HARP), explaining how he sets patients up for success pre-surgery. Through using his holistic methods, you can recover more quickly. If you have breast implants or are thinking about getting them, this episode will help you have the best possible outcome! Key Topics/Takeaways: How Dr. Whitfield got into medicine and plastic surgery. Dr. Whitfield tells personal client success stories. Functional genomics and breast implant illness. Symptoms of breast implant illness. Difference between textured and non textured breast implants. Dr. Whitfield takes you through his holistic recovery program. Why the pre-surgery planning process is so important. Alternatives to breast implants. Where to Find the Guest: DrRobertWhitfield.com BreastImplantIllnessExpert.com Listen to Dr. Whitfield’s Podcast @drrobertwhitfield Memorable Quotes: “You try to treat everybody like they're family and take care of them the best you can.” (11:47, Dr. Whitfield) “I think it's frightening that we don't know more about this and that if you go out and look at the FDA, they're sort of sidestepping the idea that breast implant illness really exists and that it's just this very rare, rare thing.” (20:19, Betty) “Traditionally surgeons try to get everything set up so they do the safest possible operations, but really when we're talking about people that have lots of inflammation, you really wanna reduce the inflammation prior to surgery in as many ways possible as you can.” (36:48, Dr. Whitfield) “Food is your fuel for recovery. If you can't eat, you can't recover.” (38:41, Dr. Whitfield) “You miss a hundred percent of the questions you don't ask.” (40:20, Dr. Whitfield) Website Living Well Dallas Hormone Reset Betty Murray Socials Facebook Instagram

Oct 5, 2022 • 25min
Menopause Mastery: Genetics & Autoimmunity - How to Understand Genetic Risk for Autoimmunity
This week, Betty dives back into autoimmunity and talks about the genetic component around it. She will walk you through the genes and mutations that are associated with autoimmunity. You’ll learn that although genetics do play a role, they don’t necessarily determine that you will develop an autoimmune condition. Betty will teach you how mutations occur in the genes and what you can do with that information. Information is power, and this information can address the root causes and avoid autoimmunity in the first place. It’s time to pull back the veil and learn what’s happening behind the scenes in your body! Key Topics/Takeaways: How mutations occur in genes. Betty walks you through the combination of genes that are associated with autoimmunity. An overview of HLAs. Genes that cause a loss of function. How specific ethnic groups are affected by autoimmune conditions. Why it’s important to know what genes have a role in autoimmunity. What you can do with your genetic information. Memorable Quotes: “Our genes are our instruction manuals.” (2:46, Betty) “Most autoimmune diseases arise from a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, that then disrupt the immune system's ability to distinguish self from other.” (7:20, Betty) “I believe knowledge is power, and so when we do have an opportunity to know at least some of our genetics, I think it's valuable” (17:57, Betty) “In order to really affect the genes you have to affect the fire that's turning him on.” (20:32, Betty) Website Living Well Dallas Hormone Reset Betty Murray Socials Facebook Instagram

Sep 28, 2022 • 38min
Menopause Mastery: Infections and Autoimmunity - A Double-Edged Sword
Today, Betty will continue to guide you through the root causes of autoimmunity. It turns out that if you have an autoimmune condition, a virus or parasitic infection might be the cause. In this episode, you’ll hear the role of infections and parasites in autoimmunity. Then, you’ll get tips and tools to make your immune system healthy. You might be surprised to discover that viruses, bacteria, and parasites aren’t all bad. You’ll learn that infections are actually the driving force that helps the immune system learn. There is an amount of exposure to bacteria, viruses, and parasites that our immune system needs to go through for it to intelligently figure out how and when to fight back. After listening, you’ll look at infections in a whole new way. In fact, they could stop being so scary! Key Topics/Takeaways: The hygiene hypothesis. What you need to know about bacteria. Cross-reactivity. Biofilms. Why humans need exposure to viruses early on. Parasites. How to make your immune system healthy. Memorable Quotes: “Infections in some ways help our immune system learn.” (3:57, Betty) “Our immune system is like a bunch of teenage boys without oversight.” (5:09, Betty) “We need early exposure, particularly when we're young, probably with really robust immune systems, to a host of infections to help the body learn what is the difference between self and others.” (22:50, Betty) “In some cases, parasites can be protective against autoimmunity.” (25:35, Betty) “There is an amount of exposure to bacteria, viruses, and probably parasites that our immune system needs to go through for it to intelligently learn how to fight back and when to fight back and with what.” (30:09, Betty) Website Living Well Dallas Hormone Reset Betty Murray Socials Facebook Instagram

Sep 21, 2022 • 36min
Menopause Mastery: What's Stress Got To Do With It? The Role of Stress in Autoimmunity
Hustle culture is on the rise, and with it comes stress and burnout. It’s time to learn a new way. Today, Betty talks all about stress and its impact on the body. Stress is an underestimated trigger for disease and should be taken very seriously. By listening, you’ll learn what stress really is and what causes it. Then, Betty will explore the connection between stress and autoimmunity. It turns out that stress is a huge contributor to the development of autoimmune conditions! Many people want to release stress, but they refuse to make any lasting lifestyle changes. Betty is here to say that this problem won’t get better on its own and there’s no better time than the present to start avoiding it. Get ready, because relief is coming! Key Topics/Takeaways: The definition of stress. How stress negatively affects physical, psychological, and emotional health. The relationship between stress and autoimmunity. Ways the stress response system becomes activated. The biology behind autoimmunity. Why you should take stress seriously. Memorable Quotes: “Stress is both physical, psychological, and emotional.” (3:51, Betty) “Stress is a big contributor to the actual onset and also the flaring of the immune system.” (6:39, Betty) “It's a significant problem when we have a lot of chronic stress because it's gonna cause dysregulation of these immune cells and how they respond to any, any incoming pathogen.” (23:18, Betty) “We are not designed to live in a prolonged, protracted chronic stress response. We are not designed to constantly be pushing the envelope to almost fight or flight.” (27:08, Betty) “The take-home message is stress is really important, and it is one of the biggest things that probably induce autoimmunity.” (28:05, Betty) “You've gotta find ways to find coping mechanisms to help you work with the life that you live because often we have to get well in an environment that very well makes us sick.” (30:54, Betty) Website Living Well Dallas Hormone Reset Betty Murray Socials Facebook Instagram

Sep 14, 2022 • 39min
Menopause Mastery: Toxic Overload - Environmental Toxins & Autoimmunity
With the increase in chemicals and environmental toxins, autoimmunity has become an epidemic. The fact is, the chemicals we’ve added to our environment since industrialization are incredibly toxic. In this episode, Betty talks about the connection between environmental toxins and autoimmunity. She’ll explain why chemicals are the leading cause of chronic illness and diseases, and their specific role in the immune system. Then, she’ll give you easy tips and lifestyle changes to reduce your exposure to toxins and your chance of developing an autoimmune condition. It’s almost impossible to get away from toxins, but you can reduce your overall chemical load within your environment. After listening, you’ll know how to do just that! Key Topics/Takeaways: The research around environmental toxins and autoimmunity. How exposure to environmental toxins causes autoimmunity. Endocrine disruptors. How chemicals affect DNA. Antioxidants and toxins. How toxins modify proteins in the body and promote dysregulation of the cells. Tips for avoiding chemical exposures. How to remove toxins from your water. Memorable Quotes: “When we look at autoimmunity, it is a greater epidemic today than just cardiovascular disease, which gets billions of dollars every year and is heavily funded.” (2:09, Betty) “Chemical exposures absolutely have correlation to the onset of autoimmune conditions.” (5:31, Betty) “Environmental chemicals have the ability to impact the mechanism of managing your DNA.” (11:54, Betty) “Chemicals have not only been found to flare up autoimmunity, but they also have the potential to develop autoimmunity.” (20:30, Betty) “I believe it really is the food toxicants and the environmental toxicants that are a heavy driver of the epigenetic risk to those that have the genetic risk for autoimmunity.” (30:52, Betty) “These toxins do exist and you can't really get away from them. And ultimately our goal should be to reduce the overall chemical load within our environment.” (36:28, Betty) Website Living Well Dallas Hormone Reset Betty Murray Socials Facebook Instagram