Hit Play Not Pause

People will often accuse a woman who is changing things in her life at 50 of having a midlife crisis. It’s quite the opposite, according to this week’s guest, two-time Olympian, Jennifer Stoute. It’s midlife clarity. Stoute, who also played Rebel the Gladiator on the hit show Gladiators has done her share of evaluating and re-evaluating her personal, professional, and active life as she’s transitioned through menopause and midlife. This week she talks about what she’s learned and where she’s landed on gray hair, hormone therapy, and the power of being your authentic self. She also shares her thoughts on the challenges Black women face in menopause and how women can help mitigate the disparities in menopausal care.Jennifer Stoute is a two-time Olympian, bronze medalist sprinter, model, and business owner. She represented Great Britain at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, where she won a bronze medal in the 4x400 meter relay. She also appeared as Rebel on the hit TV show Gladiators from 1996 to 1999. She is the co-owner of the global sports management business Astra Partners. You can follow her at instagram.com/gorgeousfifties/Resources:Study on endometrial polyps: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2050312119848247Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

In many ways, health care is actually sick care. We are enormously grateful for physicians who can address pathology and treat disease. But often the emphasis is on surviving, not thriving. That’s where Lifestyle Medicine comes in. It’s a system of health care that leans in on the power of social connections, personal psychology, exercise, nourishment, and more to prevent disease and optimize health. This week’s guest, Dr. Michelle Tollefson is a Lifestyle Medicine expert and OB/GYN helping women use the pillars of Lifestyle Medicine to thrive through menopause. This week, she lays out the details and shares how she used Lifestyle Medicine to thrive through 16 rounds of chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, removal of her ovaries, and several reconstructive surgeries following a diagnosis of stage 2, grade 3 breast cancer when she was just 42. Michelle Tollefson, MD, is a Lifestyle Medicine expert and obstetrician-gynecologist. She is a pioneer in women’s health and Lifestyle Medicine and a professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She is currently on the executive boards of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and PAVING the Path to Wellness. She edited the textbook Improving Women’s Health Across the Lifespan and wrote PAVING a Woman’s Path through Menopause and Beyond. Dr. Tollefson was one of the first physicians ever trained as a wellness coach. She is an international speaker, women’s health consultant, mother to three kids, and a breast cancer survivor/thriver.Resources:PAVING a Woman’s Path through Menopause and BeyondHer cancer journey: https://365health.org/blog/breast-cancer-awareness-month-following-one-womans-journey/Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

We’ve been led to believe weight is a simple equation: energy in versus energy out, which implies it’s all in our control. We’re in charge. We just need the right diet, exercise, and willpower. And while nutrition and physical activity matter a lot, and some maintain their weight through those means, others feel like their bodies have a mind of their own, which is actually true, as this week’s guest, obesity medicine scientist, educator, and policy maker Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford explains. That’s because the central nervous system, which is governed by the brain, ultimately regulates weight. We dive deep into all the factors that influence how much fat we store, where menopause comes in, and what having a healthy weight really means. It’s all a whole lot more complicated than we’ve been led to believe. Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP, FTOS is an obesity medicine physician scientist, educator, and policy maker at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She is a national and international sought-after expert in obesity medicine who bridges the intersection of medicine, public health, policy, and disparities. In 2022, The National Academy of Medicine named her a Scholar in Diagnostic Excellence. You can learn more about her and her work at harvard.edu/faculty-staff/fatima-cody-stanfordSupport our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

We’re back! And we’re kicking off the New Year with the perfect introspective conversation with former pro athlete turned entrepreneur and life adventurer, Nicole DeBoom. Nicole recently turned 50 and is in the thick of perimenopause, which for her has manifested in brain fog, night sweats, body composition changes, and more. She’s also recently had spinal fusion for spondylolisthesis, a spinal condition that causes instability and slips in the vertebrae in the spinal column, which is as awful as it sounds, all while navigating her perimenopause journey. We have a deep, wide-sweeping conversation about all of it, including her internal debate about hormone therapy, how our identities evolve during this time of life, and much more. A world-class swimmer as a teen, Nicole turned pro as a triathlete in 1999 and won Ironman Wisconsin in 2004 wearing a prototype of the first-ever running skirt. Three days later she incorporated Skirt Sports Inc, which she sold in 2020 before launching her new company Aesop, where she records interviews with people to create audio memories for loved ones. She also has a podcast, including a menopause series, called Run This World. You can learn more about her, her enterprises, and her life’s journey at www.nicoledeboom.com Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

Since we started this podcast, many women have gone from being afraid to take hormone therapy to being afraid not to take hormone therapy, as some in the menopause field are saying that menopause is really a “hormone deficiency” and we can’t age well without it. This week we dive in on what hormone therapy is; what it can do (especially for performance and health); what it can’t do, and what we’re still learning about all of it with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo.Carla is a Double Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Obstetrician/Gynecologist specializing in infertility and menopausal medicine. She is also a Crossfit Level 1 trainer, Certified Nutrition Coach, and member of CrossFit Health. She runs an online personal training and nutrition coaching business, FitforLifeMD, specializing in the care of women in all age groups, but with a special interest in the comprehensive care of peri/postmenopausal women. She also writes a regular blog on Athletic Aging. Carla has the distinction of being the only repeat (and now threepeat!) guest on Hit Play Not Pause.Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

The good news: we are finally talking about menopause! The not so good news: we still have a long way to go, especially in the realm of research, says this week’s guest Dr. Stephanie Faubion, who is on the tip of the spear leading the way forward as the Medical Director of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). When it comes to dealing with menopause openly in our culture, especially in the workplace, Dr. Faubion believes we are where we were with pregnancy 30 years ago. And she has some ideas on how we can all help accelerate progress and bring our doctors and culture up to speed. Along with her role as Medical Director of NAMS, Dr. Faubion is Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and Director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health. Her expertise is in women’s health, clinical research, education, and clinical practice. You can learn more about her and her work at mayo.edu.Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

Dr. Google is often our first stop when we want to understand a symptom we’re experiencing and find out what we can do about it. But the internet is a bottomless well of information–and disinformation. Even when we dig into actual research studies, the conclusions aren’t always reliable or consistent, which is why it’s hard to get a straight answer on complex issues like hormone therapy. It can be frustrating and confusing, but there are ways you can evaluate the information you find to determine how much confidence to put into any given conclusion, which is where this week’s guest biostatistician Leslie McClure, PhD, comes in. Leslie explains how to do your own research and how to assess the information you find, including what makes a good study, causation versus correlation, features of information you can trust, and much more. Leslie also talks about her own menopause experience, which started when she was 39 and has continued for 9 years and how it has impacted her own training and fitness. Leslie is the Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health, where she works with other scientists to help them better formulate, design, analyze, and present their science. She is currently the Director of the Coordinating Center for the Diabetes LEAD Network, and the Director of the Data Coordinating Center for the Connecting the Dots: Autism Center of Excellence. Dr. McClure is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association, the Society for Clinical Trials, and of the American Heart Association.Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

At age 42, off-road triathlete Deanna McCurdy was crushing it, including clocking the fastest female amateur time at XTERRA National Championships, and was ready to turn pro when—perimenopause. Out of the blue, her performance tanked and she found herself in tears through a key race. Deanna, who’s also a mom of a special needs daughter, was forced to rest, research, reset, and make some training and lifestyle changes. It worked and she roared back to racing as a pro by age 45, winning XTERRA Fruita and getting second at XTERRA Quebec. But those ups were followed by more hormonally-driven downs, as she became plagued by symptoms including aches and injuries, sleepless nights, and headaches earlier this year as she was preparing for Breck Epic, a six-day mountain bike stage race. With the help of hormone therapy, she got back on track and crushed the race. This week she shares that journey and how, though the path is still rocky, and training isn’t perfect, she has found the tools she needs to navigate this challenging time. Deanna McCurdy is a USAT Level I and USAC Level II certified coach. She is also the founder and head coach of Team Miles for Smiles-Wings to Fly Racing. Miles for Smiles is a training team created to help raise funds for the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (F.A.S.T.), a not-for-profit whose sole purpose is to fund research, and ultimately a cure for, Angelman Syndrome (AS). USA Triathlon awarded Deanna Off-road Triathlete of the Year honors in 2017, 2018, and 2021. You can learn more about her and F.A.S.T. at cureangelman.org/fast-athletes and her USA Triathlon blog.Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

Women have been taught incontinence is our destiny–that we should just accept it and wear pads. Pelvic floor issues like prolapse are often normalized–we should just stop running, jumping, and lifting heavy sh*t. This week’s guest The Vagina Coach, Kim Vopni, is having none of it, and she dives into all the therapies and tools available to help remedy prolapse, incontinence, and other pelvic floor issues so you can continue doing the activities you love. And she should know, Kim has dealt with her share of pelvic floor issues, including experiencing a stage 2 uterine prolapse, which she ultimately resolved through a series of special pelvic floor exercises. Kim is the founder of Pelvienne Wellness Inc - a company offering pelvic health programs, products, and coaching for women in pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause. Kim also certifies other fitness and movement professionals to work with women with core and pelvic floor challenges through her Core Confidence Specialist Certification and Pre/Postnatal Fitness Specialist Certification. She is the author of the best selling book, Your Pelvic Floor. She also runs Buff Muff Challenges to help women learn and get in the habit of training their pelvic floor. You can find her on-line at www.vaginacoach.com and on social media @vaginacoach.Support our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy

Ultrarunner Kamm Prongay is clear: she did not sign up for the Menopause 200. Her ovaries did. And when they did, she eventually found herself on the start line, unable to run. Kamm has been chronicling her journey through menopause in a series of essays in Ultrarunner.com, including one titled the Menopause 200, in which she shares her anxiety, brain fog, drenching night sweats, and ultimately performance decline and lack of drive to do the sport she loved. And this week, she shares that journey with us, as well as how she turned it around to regain her mojo, tame her symptoms, and get back on the trails.Kamm Prongay is a writer, ultrarunner, and veterinarian whose essays intertwine science, nature, people, and place. A child of the South, raised in the Pacific Northwest, Kamm spent time at sea as a Naval Surface Warfare Officer before coming ashore to pursue veterinary school, clinical practice, teaching, and research. She has contributed to four books, along with essays published in scientific journals and UltraRunning magazine. When not running or supporting trail races, Kamm lives with her wife, Liz, and two curious cats in Portland, Oregon.ResourcesThe Menopause 200, and Kamm’s other essays at ultrarunning.comSupport our Partners:Hettas: Use code FEISTY20 for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/ Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/ Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-page Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacy