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When this week’s guest Jen McNutt laced up her figure skates and got back on the ice after a 26-year hiatus, her goal was to try to get back to where she used to be–hitting double jumps on the ice. Perimenopause had other ideas. Jen found herself struggling with fatigue, weakness, poor recovery, and sliding self-confidence. Then she found our community and all the advice for active, performance-minded menopausal women, and everything turned around. Now at 48, she’s not only gotten her double jumps back, but she’s also considering taking on some triples, because as she says, “I'm not the athlete I used to be. I’m the athlete I am now. And there’s potential to take this further.” We talk all about how she found her power and confidence on the ice and much more.Jen McNutt grew up in Calgary, Alberta where she was very active in figure skating, gymnastics, snowboarding, hiking, and running. She completed her Masters in Physiotherapy at the University of Alberta in 2009, after which she moved to Nelson, BC to start a career and family. Jen is committed to enhancing the overall physical health, fitness, and quality of life of her clients through one-on-one, individualized physical therapy programs focused on clients’ goals. She is a life-long learner and continues to expand her knowledge base, including pursuing education in pelvic floor therapy. Jen also does canine physiotherapy. When not working, Jen loves to spend time hiking with her family and dogs, trail running, figure skating, snowboarding, and discovering all the beauty the Kootenays have to offer.Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.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/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL 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

Fine artist and cyclist Lisa Congdon was not prepared for the impact menopause was going to have on her body or the extent to which those changes would cause a drop in her athletic performance. So, she dug into all the resources she could find for athletic menopausal women and, at the then age of 54, went back to the drawing board, making changes in her diet, training, and lifestyle to help her be the best menopausal athlete she could be. Now at age 55, she’s crushing those goals. Lisa has recently had the best race of her career, beating her previous time on the same course by 22 minutes, and is putting more power into her pedals than ever before. We talk all about how she did it and how our old, ingrained behaviors, like dieting to be a certain size, can prevent us from reaching our fullest potential. Lisa Congdon an internationally known fine artist, illustrator, and writer. She makes art for clients around the globe, including Target, Amazon, Google, Schwinn, REI, and MoMA, among many others. She is the author of ten books, including Art Inc: The Essential Guide to Building Your Career as an Artist and Find your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic. Lisa is self-taught and didn’t achieve momentum in her career until she was nearly 40 years old. In March of 2021, she was named “One of the 50 Most Inspiring People and Companies According to Industry Creatives” published by AdWeek. When she's not making art, you can find her on her bike. She lives and works in Portland, Oregon. You can learn more about her and her work at lisacongdon.comResourcesLisa’s race report Instagram report hereSign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.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/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL 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

Remember being told you should start dieting if you could “pinch an inch” around your midsection? (Thanks Special K cereal ads…) Growing up, our bellies were often made a point of shame as they were poked, pinched, and otherwise derided. For many, that shame gets deeper in the menopause transition. That urge to suck it in and suck it up when our body image suffers has damaged more than our psyches (though that’s bad enough!). It’s damaged our relationship with our bodies–and even our breath, which is not only the very essence of life, but also one of our greatest tools for relaxation and recovery, and for helping manage the challenges of menopause. This week, we sit down with Jill Miller, author of Body by Breath and go deep into the power of breath, the emotional and physical (hello, tight muscles) factors that can constrict our breathing, and, of course, how we can fully access our breath to optimize our health and performance. Jill Miller, C-IAYT, ERYT, is the co-founder of Tune Up Fitness Worldwide and creator of the self-care fitness formats Yoga Tune Up® and The Roll Model® Method. With more than 30 years of study in anatomy and movement, she is a pioneer in forging relevant links between the worlds of fitness, yoga, massage, athletics, and pain management. She has trained thousands of movement educators, clinicians, and manual therapists to incorporate her paradigm-shifting self-care fitness programming into athletic and medical facility programs internationally. As the creator of some of the world’s best mobility tools, she has crafted original programs for 24 Hour Fitness, Equinox, YogaWorks, and numerous professional sports teams. She and her team of 500+ trainers help you to live better in your body with an emphasis on proprioception, mobility, breath mechanics, and recovery. You can learn more about her, her books, and her work at tuneupfitness.comResources: Body by Breath book hereCoregeous (and other self-massage balls) hereSign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.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/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL 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

When life gets hard, many of us channel our inner Dory, put our heads down, and “Just keep swimming.” Nobody, but nobody, embodies this ethos more than this week’s guest ultraendurance swimmer Sarah Thomas. In Sarah’s 40 years on this planet, she has endured chemo, radiation, and surgery for aggressive breast cancer, a traumatic ectopic pregnancy, and the challenges of cancer-related medical menopause. She has also smashed preconceived notions of what is possible, becoming the first person to complete a four-way crossing of the English Channel in 54 hours and 10 minutes just one year after completing her cancer treatments. We talk all about her journey through the difficult, murky waters of medical menopause and her ability to literally swim for days despite the challenges and adversity she’s faced in her life.Sarah Thomas is an ultra-marathon swimmer who holds the current world record for the longest continuous (unassisted, non-wetsuit) swim done in current-neutral conditions. That record-breaking swim covered 104.6 miles over 67 hours and was completed in Lake Champlain (USA) in August of 2017. Shortly after completing this swim, Sarah, then 35, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer that demanded equally aggressive treatments. Through it all, Sarah never gave up on her dream of doing a swim that most people thought was impossible, a four-way crossing of the English Channel, which she completed one year after finishing cancer treatments. Recently, Sarah became the first person in history to complete a two-way crossing of the North Channel, 21 hours and 46 minutes in freezing water, peppered with giant jellyfish. You can learn more about her and follow her blog at sarahthomasswims.com.Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.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/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL 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

Now that menopause is mainstream news, interest in hormone therapy is exploding. And so is the confusion and controversy surrounding it, as menopausal hormone therapy (aka hormone replacement therapy), which is undeniably a game changer for millions, has also become a massive business. Some practitioners are reportedly prescribing “megadoses” of estrogen–in some cases twice or even 3 or 4 times the maximum licensed dose, causing myriad medical societies to sound the alarm. Meanwhile, researchers are working overtime to catch up to provide clarity on what hormone therapy does, what it doesn’t do, who it benefits most, and for how long. This week we dig into it all with our favorite hormone doc, Dr. Carla DiGirolamo. Carla DiGirolamo, MD, PhD, 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 is a MedFit Care provider and provides weekly workouts and medical updates at her Substack Athletic Aging. She has most recently become an Endocrine Consultant for Wild Health. Resources:The Daily Mail article on high doses of HRT here  The Joint BMS, FSRH, RCGP, RCOG, SFE and RCN Safety Alert here Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.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/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp 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

Midlife and menopause can do a number on our sexual selves. Our bodies are changing. We can feel more anxious and less self-confident. After years of taking care of others, we can lose sight of ourselves. Sex might be the last thing on our minds. If that makes you sad, take heart. It doesn’t have to be that way. You can find body–and sexual–confidence with age. And it starts with self-love, which as this week’s guest Lou Featherstone explains doesn’t just mean a fuzzy appreciation of yourself. It means masturbation–literally getting back in touch with what makes you feel good sexually, which in turn can make you feel calmer, happier, and more self-confident. Plus, it’s good for vaginal health. Lou recently toured the US in a vintage Bluebird bus spreading sex positivity as well as busting myths about midlife and menopause along the way. We talk all about that journey and much more.Lou Featherstone is a 50-something mom on a mission to help women of all ages be completely confident in themselves, encouraging them to fall back in love with themselves and rediscover what it truly means to feel sexy, no matter their age. As the self-described founding member of the Zero F*cks Club, she is helping others grow old disgracefully! From drag shows to pole dancing, from radio shows to keynote speeches, she’s been showing others that menopause and aging aren't all doom and gloom. You can learn more about her and her work at www.luinluland.com/Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.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/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL 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

What does it mean to be fit? Deadlifting your body weight? Running a 10K? Doing an Ironman? Most of our notions about fitness spotlight the big thing we want to do while glossing over all the smaller, equally important, but less “sexy” stuff like joint mobility, breathing practices, balance, and nutrition it takes to get you there strong and injury-free. Kind of like wanting to climb Mount Everest without spending any time at Base Camp. This week’s guest, Juliet Starrett, co-author of the new book Built to Move is all about the Base Camp, especially in midlife and menopause. We dive into Juliet’s personal story (including a hippo attack!) as well as the vital signs and foundations menopausal women need to tune into so they can be strong, able, and pain-free for the rest of their active lives.  Juliet Starrett is an entrepreneur, attorney, author, and podcaster. She is the former co-founder and CEO of San Francisco CrossFit, one of the first 50 CrossFit affiliates. Juliet is the co-author of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Deskbound and co-host of The Ready State Podcast. Before turning her attention to The Ready State and San Francisco CrossFit full time, Juliet was a professional whitewater paddler, winning 3 World Championship and 5 National titles. Her latest book, co-authored with her husband and mobility pioneer, Dr. Kelly Starrett is Built to Move: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully. You can learn more about her, The Ready State, and Built to Move at thereadystate.com ResourcesBuilt to Move: thereadystate.com/product/built-to-move/Juliet’s blog on preparing for menopause: thereadystate.com/blogs/how-i-am-preparing-for-menopause/Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.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/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL 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

2022 Ultraman World Championship winner and new course record setter Dede Griesbauer will be the first to tell you, age is definitely more than “just a number.” It’s real, and the training, recovery practices, and dedication it takes to accomplish such feats at 52 is radically different than it is at 32 or even 42. But it’s possible, and you should not put an expiration date on your dreams, because with hard work and smart training they can come true. We talk all about what it takes to conquer 320 miles (515 km) of swimming, biking, and running around the Big Island of Hawaii, how she’s experiencing the menopause transition, and much more.Along with her latest achievement, longtime professional triathlete Dede Griesbauer is a 3-time Ironman Champion, 2-time 70.3 Champion, and a 12-hour Time Trial World Champion. Dede is also a part of the Ironman live commentary team, providing color commentary and race analysis for Ironman races around the world, to fans via Facebook Watch and Outside TV. You can learn more about her and her amazing feats at dedegriesbauer.com.  Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.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/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL 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

Whether we’re trying to make muscle, perform our best, or avoid the dreaded GI distress during long endurance events, women in and beyond the menopause transition have special needs. But the sports nutrition and supplement landscape is rife with conflicting and confusing information. This week we cut through the noise with scientist, exercise physiologist, and sports nutritionist Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan. We dive into protein, carbohydrates, essential amino acids, fasted training, macronutrient usage during phases of the menstrual cycle and during the menopause transition, creatine, sports supplements, and a whole lot more! Abbie Smith-Ryan, Ph.D., CSCS*D, FNSCA, FACSM, FISSN is Professor of Exercise Physiology, Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Director of the Applied Physiology Laboratory, and Co-Director of the Human Performance Center in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. You can learn more about her and her work at www.asmithryan.com Resources:Creatine Supplementation in Women’s Health: A Lifespan PerspectiveActive Women Across the Lifespan: Nutritional Ingredients to Support Health and WellnessSign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.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/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL 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

Sarah-Jane Nichols is a BMX cycling legend. The Hall of Famer was a 7-time British Champion, 4-time European Champion, and a World Champion as a teen in 1986. Now, at age 52, 34 years after retiring from the sport, Nichols is back on her bike despite being in the throes of extremely challenging perimenopausal symptoms. In fact, Nichols is returning to the sport in part because of the physical and emotional challenges she’s experienced during the menopause transition. We talk all about her history with traditionally male sports, how menopause just about knocked her down for the count, and how she’s getting back on her feet to gun for another BMX British National Championship.Along with being an avid BMXer, Sarah-Jane Nichols is a black belt in Shotokan Karate. She played ice hockey for 35 years during which time she represented Great Britain and the England ladies, playing in Ukraine and France. Sarah-Jane also had a role in a TV Show called Ice Warriors, where she played Taaraz the Renegade. You can learn more about her at the British BMX Hall of Fame website and the BBC feature on her return to BMX.Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feistymedia.ac-page.com/feisty-40-sign-up-pageLearn More and Register for our Feisty 40+ Strong Retreat: https://www.womensperformance.com/strongretreat Learn More and Register for our 2026 Tucson Bike Camp: https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/camp Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099 Support our Partners:Phosis: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://www.phosis.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/ Nutrisense: Go to nutrisense.io/hitplay and use code: HITPLAY to get 30% offWahoo KICKR RUN: Use the code FEISTY to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/maTzL 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