unPAUSED with Dr. Mary Claire Haver

In part two, Dr. Mary Claire Haver and breast oncologist Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky shift to breast cancer risk, prevention, and early detection: dense breasts, family history myths (only 5–10% of breast cancers are hereditary), risk assessment from age 25, who needs genetic testing, and why previvors in surgical menopause can use hormone therapy without raising their breast cancer risk. Plus life after treatment — bone density, chemo brain, heart health, fear of recurrence, and body image after mastectomy.Guest links:Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (Website) https://interludecancerstories.com/Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/drteplinsky/Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (Substack) https://drteplinsky.substack.com/Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (TikTok) https://www.tiktok.com/@drteplinskyDr. Eleonora Teplinsky (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/drteplinsky/Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleonora-teplinsky-md-fasco-220aa02Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/@drteplinskyDr. Eleonora Teplinsky (X) https://x.com/drteplinskyINTERLUDE: Cancer Stories with Dr. Teplinsky (Apple Podcasts) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interlude-cancer-stories-with-dr-teplinsky/id1451816690Living Beyond Breast Cancer https://www.lbbc.org/Books:“Beyond the Pink: Navigating Life, Health, and Breast Cancer,” by Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/dr-eleonora-teplinsky-m-d/beyond-the-pink/9781538777145/“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book“The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKBZ4K1ZNever miss an episode—sign up for The ‘Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletterMedical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The ‘Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with breast oncologist Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, author of Beyond the Pink, to take on the dogma that women with breast cancer — or a family history of it — can never take estrogen. They cover why estrogen does not cause breast cancer, who is and isn’t a candidate for hormones, the script for a dismissive appointment, vaginal estrogen and DHEA for survivors, and the NCCN’s shift on testosterone from “contraindicated” to “use with caution.”Guest links:Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (Website) https://interludecancerstories.com/Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/drteplinsky/Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (Substack) https://drteplinsky.substack.com/Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (TikTok) https://www.tiktok.com/@drteplinskyDr. Eleonora Teplinsky (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/drteplinsky/Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleonora-teplinsky-md-fasco-220aa02Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/@drteplinskyDr. Eleonora Teplinsky (X) https://x.com/drteplinskyINTERLUDE: Cancer Stories with Dr. Teplinsky (Apple Podcasts) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interlude-cancer-stories-with-dr-teplinsky/id1451816690Living Beyond Breast Cancer https://www.lbbc.org/Books:“Beyond the Pink,” by Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/dr-eleonora-teplinsky-m-d/beyond-the-pink/9781538777145“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book“The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKBZ4K1ZNever miss an episode—sign up for The ‘Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletterMedical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The ‘Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with board certified pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Sara Reardon, known on social media as The Vagina Whisperer — and this time it’s the toolkit: what you can actually do, starting today, to protect and rebuild your pelvic floor. They begin with pessaries, the internal support devices so few women are offered, why getting one fitted properly is harder than it should be, and the over-the-counter silicone supports that let women run, lift, and travel leak-free while they strengthen. From there they get into the everyday habits that quietly weaken the pelvic floor: pushing when you pee, straining on the toilet, scrolling past the five-minute mark, and holding your breath while lifting — plus hemorrhoids, what healthy stool should look like, and why a simple toilet stool changes everything.They then take a deeper dive into genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), why nearly three quarters of women with symptoms never mention them to a clinician, and why hormones alone aren’t enough — you lose urinary sphincter strength every year after age 35, so the muscle training has to happen too. Dr. Reardon covers keeping vaginal tissue healthy with or without a partner, what vaginismus is and why “just relax” fails, the woman who endured ten years of searing pain — and surgery to remove her labia — when the real culprit was a compressed pudendal nerve, the $5 billion vaginal rejuvenation industry, her five free daily pelvic floor habits, and the message she wants every woman to hear: it’s never too late, with patients in their 80s and 90s still getting better.Guest links:Dr. Sara Reardon (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/the.vagina.whisperer/Dr. Sara Reardon / The Vagina Whisperer (Website) https://thevagwhisperer.com/NOLA Pelvic Health (Website) https://www.nolapelvichealth.com/The V-Hive App (The Vagina Whisperer) https://thevagwhisperer.com/membership/Books:“Floored: A Woman’s Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage,” by Dr. Sara Reardon https://thevagwhisperer.com/floored/“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book“The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKBZ4K1ZNever miss an episode—sign up for The ‘Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletterMedical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The ‘Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Sara Reardon, board-certified pelvic floor physical therapist, founder of The Vagina Whisperer, and author of Floored, to talk about the muscles 68% of postmenopausal women say no one ever taught them they had. Nearly 1 in 3 women lives with a pelvic floor disorder — urinary leakage, prolapse, pain with sex — and the US spends over $20 billion a year managing it rather than fixing it, while women are offered a device, surgery, or “just live with it.” Dr. Reardon explains why leaking isn’t just part of being a woman, why diapers aren’t your destiny, and why these symptoms are treatable at every age.Dr. Reardon walks through what happens at a pelvic floor PT appointment (you can self-refer in every US state, covered by insurance), why over 50% of women do Kegels incorrectly — and why Kegels alone were never the answer — the difference between a weak and a too-tight pelvic floor, and stress vs. urge incontinence. They dig into night-time bathroom trips and the fall-and-fracture risk nobody connects to them, why vaginal estrogen should be prescribed proactively — including the study showing it cut recurrent UTIs from 5.9 infections per patient-year to 0.5 — the truth about prolapse (half of women over 50 have some degree of it), what to ask before consenting to any prolapse repair, and the vaginal mesh scandal. Framed throughout by Mary Claire’s own mother’s story: three failed incontinence surgeries, decades of leaking, and the hip fracture after which she never walked again.Guest links:Dr. Sara Reardon / The Vagina Whisperer (Website) https://www.thevagwhisperer.com/Dr. Sara Reardon (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/the.vagina.whisperer/Books:“Floored: A Woman’s Guide to Pelvic Floor Health at Every Age and Stage,” by Dr. Sara Reardon https://www.thevagwhisperer.com/floored“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book“The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKBZ4K1ZNever miss an episode—sign up for The ‘Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletterMedical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The ‘Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.

In this episode of unPAUSED, pulled from the archive because it’s one worth hearing again, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Rachel Rubin, board-certified urologist, nationally recognized expert in sexual medicine, assistant clinical professor of urology at Georgetown University, and a lead advocate behind the 2025 American Urological Association guidelines on genitourinary syndrome of menopause. The conversation starts with the number that explains everything: three training programs in the last three years even acknowledge women’s sexual health — men have more than 27. The reason your doctor doesn’t know how to talk to you about libido, arousal, orgasm, or pain is that no one ever taught them.Dr. Rubin delivers the anatomy lesson medicine skipped — why the clitoris and penis are the same tissue, why the cervix is triply innervated despite being taught as nerve-free, and why “my orgasm changed after my hysterectomy” is biology, not psychology. They cover why sex should never hurt and pain always deserves a diagnosis, the vulvar vestibule tissue most doctors were never taught to examine, the hormone changes that start in your 30s — not at menopause — and the case Dr. Rubin has built her career on: vaginal estrogen and DHEA prevent more than half of UTIs and could save Medicare an estimated $6–22 billion a year. Plus the medications that quietly affect sexual function, the two FDA-approved drugs for low libido most women have never heard of, and the five hormone options every woman deserves to know are on her menu.Guest links:Dr. Rachel Rubin (Website) https://www.rachelrubinmd.com/Dr. Rachel Rubin (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/drrachelrubin/Dr. Rachel Rubin (X) https://x.com/drrachelrubinBooks:“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book“The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKBZ4K1ZNever miss an episode—sign up for The ‘Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletterMedical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The ‘Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with entrepreneur Mark Cuban, cofounder of the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, to unpack the estrogen patch shortage and why so many women in perimenopause and menopause struggle to find and afford hormone therapy. Holding up her own patch, Dr. Haver asks the question her patients keep asking: why is this so hard to get? Mark explains why the shortage hit so hard — patches require specialized manufacturing that pills don't, demand surged after the black box warning was removed, and supply couldn't keep up — plus how Cost Plus Drugs has worked to buy every patch manufacturers can produce, and who gets served first when a generic drug runs short.Then they take apart how drug prices are really set: how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) decide what your insurance covers, how rebates drive list prices higher, and why a handful of conglomerates now own the insurer, the pharmacy, the PBM, and the physician practice all at once. They compare what a generic estradiol patch costs to make against what many women pay at retail, cover Dr. Haver's case for vaginal estrogen as one of the most affordable treatments in menopause care, why there's still no FDA-approved testosterone for women, how untreated symptoms push women out of the workforce, and the playbook for lowering your prescription costs — from 90-day supplies to comparing cash prices with your copay.Guest links:Mark Cuban Companies https://markcubancompanies.com/Cost Plus Drug Company https://www.costplusdrugs.com/Mark Cuban (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/mcuban/Mark Cuban (X) https://x.com/mcubanBooks:"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKBZ4K1ZArticles:Menopausal Hormone Therapy Use Among Postmenopausal Women (JAMA) https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2823976

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Pamela Brown, CNN anchor and chief investigative correspondent, and host of the network's new women's health streaming series Body Language by CNN — born from an experience Pamela nearly kept hidden. In the same year she lost her mother, while covering the White House, she was blindsided by postpartum OCD: intrusive thoughts that grew louder and scarier, hidden from everyone — including her husband — while she reported live on air. Dismissed when she flagged the highest score on a postpartum screening form, she finally found her own diagnosis through an article online, and turned the experience into an eight-part series covering perimenopause, GLP-1s, egg freezing, PCOS, thyroid disease, the fourth trimester, and Alzheimer's.Pamela and Dr. Haver dig into what the series uncovered: why intrusive thoughts are not psychosis — and why that distinction matters so much for new mothers — with Dr. Haver sharing her own postpartum intrusive thoughts as a young resident, and what the Andrea Yates case changed for her generation of OB-GYNs. They cover the "GLP-1 babies" boom and why fertility rises on these medications, the GPS protocol (GLP-1, protein, strength training), the telemedicine revolution in menopause care and its limits, the FDA hearing on testosterone for women — including both women's own experience using it — the estrogen patch shortage and the letter-writing campaign that forced the FDA to respond, and why Dr. Haver believes vaginal estrogen could prevent half of UTIs in older women, along with the falls and fractures that follow. The episode closes with why the postpartum system fails mothers — one six-week appointment — and what needs to change.Guest links:Pamela Brown (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/pamelabrowncnn/Pamela Brown (X) https://x.com/PamelaBrownCNNPamela Brown at CNN https://www.cnn.com/profiles/pamela-brown-profileBody Language by CNN https://www.cnn.com/videos/title-2600886Books:"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z

In this episode of unPAUSED, recorded on location at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Trisha Pasricha, neurogastroenterologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and author of the new book You've Been Pooping All Wrong. Women in perimenopause and menopause who describe bloating, new constipation, or digestion that suddenly feels unfamiliar are often told it's stress or age — Dr. Pasricha explains the real biology, starting with the estrogen receptors inside the gut's own nervous system, and makes the case for treating the gut as a second brain rather than plumbing. She breaks down why IBS affects women about twice as often as men, and why women with gut pain are so often told it's all in their heads — in her words, it's not the stress causing the symptoms, it's the symptoms causing the stress.They cover the less obvious causes of bloating — including pelvic floor dysfunction — accidental bowel leakage after menopause and how it's treated, the link between smartphones in the bathroom and hemorrhoids, what to expect from GLP-1s, and why women treating iron deficiency can often take oral iron every other day to ease constipation. Then it's the serious part: the four colorectal cancer red flags women should stop normalizing, which stool colors need attention, why colonoscopy is the only screening option that prevents colorectal cancer, and why new bloating after menopause should always be evaluated. The practical takeaways include daily fiber targets, the case for psyllium and fermented foods, why ramping up fiber slowly prevents gas and bloating, a realistic approach to cutting ultra-processed foods — and the habit Dr. Pasricha asks of her own patients: look at your stool every day, because knowing what's normal for you is how you notice when something changes.Guest links:Dr. Trisha Pasricha (Website) https://www.trishapasricha.com/Dr. Trisha Pasricha (BIDMC Gut-Brain Institute) https://research.bidmc.org/gut-brain/people/team-member-1Dr. Trisha Pasricha (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/trishapasrichamd/Dr. Trisha Pasricha (TikTok) https://www.tiktok.com/@drtrishapasrichaGut Checker (Substack) https://gutchecker.substack.com/Ask a Doctor (Washington Post) https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/trisha-pasricha/Books:"You've Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy," by Dr. Trisha Pasricha https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/776380/youve-been-pooping-all-wrong-by-trisha-pasricha-md-mph/"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Erica Kelly, board-certified dermatologist, Clinical Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and founder and director of UTMB's Cosmetic Dermatology Division and this time it's the practical half: sunscreen, routines, treatments, and hair. Dr. Kelly settles the questions filling everyone's feed — chemical vs. mineral sunscreen, whether the endocrine-disruption fears are backed by evidence, why some filters are banned in the US but not Europe — and explains why the best sunscreen is simply the one you'll actually wear, every day, including the spots everyone forgets: scalp, ears, and lower lip. Mary Claire also shares her own recent diagnosis: a squamous cell carcinoma on her nose — which Dr. Kelly removed.Guest links:- Dr. Erica Kelly at UTMB Health Aesthetics https://utmbhealth.com/aesthetics/about/erica-kelly- Dr. Erica Kelly (UTMB Health) https://doctors.utmbhealth.com/profile/005428Recommended Books:- "The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book- "The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z00:00:00 – Mineral vs chemical sunscreen00:02:16 – Are sunscreens endocrine disrupting?00:04:56 – Do you need sunscreen every day?00:06:28 – The ideal morning and evening skincare routine00:07:19 – What a dermatologist actually uses on her skin00:10:17 – Supplements and the evidence for collagen00:12:43 – When professional skin treatments make sense00:13:22 – The four approaches to cosmetic treatment00:15:02 – How menopause changes lasers and Botox00:17:01 – How to choose a safe cosmetic provider00:19:18 – When to start Botox00:22:22 – Menopause changes across the whole body00:24:49 – Diet, sleep and skin aging00:27:02 – Does red light therapy work?00:28:25 – What actually helps menopausal hair loss00:32:16 – The number one thing to do for your skin00:32:46 – Drugstore skincare Dr. Kelly recommendsNever miss an episode—sign up for The 'Pause Life Newsletter:https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletter Medical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The 'Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Erica Kelly, board-certified dermatologist, Clinical Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and founder and director of UTMB's Cosmetic Dermatology Division — and the first physician who ever connected the dots for Mary Claire between estrogen, collagen, and what happens to women's skin in midlife. Dr. Kelly explains why so many women feel their skin change almost overnight in their 40s and 50s — the sudden dryness, sensitivity, sagging, easy bruising, and acne all at once — and the mechanism behind it: women lose around 30% of their skin's collagen in the first five years after menopause, while estrogen receptors throughout the skin lose the hormone that kept the barrier, moisture, and elasticity working. Dr. Kelly walks through what's really happening layer by layer — why skin gets rough and pores dilate, why moisturisers you've used for years suddenly cause reactions, why acne and wrinkles show up together, the truth behind itchy ears, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea — and the "your face has gotten too small for your skin" anatomy of midlife sagging. Then it's the evidence: what the research actually shows about systemic hormone therapy and skin aging, her deep dive into topical estrogen creams (including why she uses estriol on the face and how long results take), and the skincare ingredients worth your money — why retinoids and sunscreen are "light years ahead of everything else," plus the honest verdict on hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide, vitamin C, exfoliating acids, peptides, and growth factors. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Guest links: Dr. Erica Kelly at UTMB Health Aesthetics https://utmbhealth.com/aesthetics/about/erica-kelly Dr. Erica Kelly (UTMB Health) https://doctors.utmbhealth.com/profile/005428 Books: "The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book "The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z Never miss an episode—sign up for The 'Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletter Medical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The 'Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, board-certified family physician, founder of the Institute for Muscle-Centric Medicine, and bestselling author of Forever Strong — this time with the practical roadmap for building muscle in your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. Dr. Lyon explains why your first meal of the day matters most and why 30–50 grams of protein at that meal can change your body composition on its own. She breaks down anabolic resistance — why the diet and training that worked at 20 stops working at 58 — and the research showing it's reversible: women over 60 got no muscle response from 15 grams of protein, but at 30 grams responded just like 20-year-olds.They get specific: what a 50-gram breakfast looks like, why two eggs won't stimulate aging muscle, how essential amino acids and creatine fill the gap, why the protein RDA is a floor rather than a target, the truth about red meat and saturated fat, the honest state of the evidence on hormones and muscle, and Dr. Lyon's warning about GLP-1 medications and accelerated sarcopenia. Plus: why progressive overload should really be progressive stimulus, where a woman who has never lifted should start, and why getting bulky isn't the risk — becoming frail is.Guest links:Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (Website) https://drgabriellelyon.com/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/drgabriellelyonBooks:"Forever Strong," by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4VSDWQ2"The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK," by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL32CJ81"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKBZ4K1ZFor full show notes, please visit: [BIT.LY LINK]Never miss an episode—sign up for The 'Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletterMedical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The 'Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, board-certified family physician, founder of the Institute for Muscle-Centric Medicine, and bestselling author of Forever Strong, to explain why skeletal muscle — not body fat — determines how well women age. Dr. Lyon shares the case that changed her career: a patient in her mid-fifties who had done everything she was told — dieting, cardio, the food pyramid — yet showed signs of accelerated brain aging. The problem wasn't her fat. It was her muscle.Dr. Lyon explains why muscle is the body's largest site for glucose disposal — meaning low muscle mass can cause insulin resistance and prediabetes even in lean women — and why muscle quality, not just quantity, drives the metabolic dysfunction usually blamed on obesity, yet still isn't measured in routine care. She and Dr. Haver dig into why 60–70 grams of protein a day isn't enough to protect muscle through perimenopause and menopause and why women should aim for closer to 100 grams alongside resistance training, how sedentary muscle lowers your carbohydrate tolerance before blood sugar and insulin become dysregulated, and the myokines — including BDNF — released when muscle contracts that support brain health, metabolism, and long-term independence. Dr. Lyon's takeaway: resistance training and adequate protein are the two things women actually control as they age, and no hormone therapy can make up for them if they're missing.Guest links:Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (Website) https://drgabriellelyon.com/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gabrielle-lyon-00175a1a8/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/drgabriellelyonThe Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show (Apple Podcasts) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-gabrielle-lyon-show/id1622316426Books:"Forever Strong: A New, Science-Based Strategy for Aging Well," by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Strong-Science-Based-Strategy-Aging/dp/B0C4VSDWQ2"The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK: A Six-Week, Science-Based Plan to Sharpen Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Get Healthy at Any Age," by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon https://www.amazon.com/Forever-StrongTM-PLAYBOOK-Science-Based-Strengthen/dp/B0FL32CJ81"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z

In this solo episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver tells the truth about hair loss in women over 40 — a medical condition with real, identifiable causes, not a vanity complaint to be dismissed as stress or aging. She breaks down the biology of the hair growth cycle and the hormonal mechanism driving midlife thinning: as estrogen declines, androgens like DHT take over at the follicle, shrinking it with every cycle. She walks through the five most common causes of hair loss in midlife women — female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium (including the dramatic shedding triggered by illness, surgery, stress, and rapid weight loss on GLP-1 medications), iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, and nutrient deficiencies and medications — plus the red flags, like bald patches, a receding hairline, or scalp scarring, that need a dermatologist immediately.Dr. Haver then details exactly how to advocate for yourself: the full lab workup to request (and why ferritin must be checked even when standard blood counts look normal), what to bring to your appointment, and the treatment options that actually work — from correcting deficiencies first, to topical and oral minoxidil, finasteride, spironolactone, PRP, microneedling, and laser therapy. She gives the honest answer on whether hormone therapy treats hair loss, which supplements have real evidence behind them, why biotin is unlikely to help without a true deficiency, and shares her own experience with both female pattern hair loss and a post-illness shed. The episode closes with a practical five-step action plan for documenting your hair loss, requesting the right tests, and getting the workup you deserve — because your hair is a vital sign.Resources:Download the FREE Midlife Hair Loss Guide https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-midlife-hair-loss-guideDr. Mary Claire Haver (Substack) https://drmaryclairehaver.substack.com/Books:"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Melinda French Gates, philanthropist and founder of Pivotal, to talk about her call for a "menopause revolution" — including the $215 million in new funding for women's health she announced in her New York Times essay, bringing her total investment in women's health to more than $600 million in two years. Melinda opens with the numbers driving her urgency: nearly one in three women over forty has menopause symptoms severe enough to disrupt her life, only about one in four gets treated, fewer than a third of OB-GYN training programs teach menopause at all, and just five cents of every dollar spent on medical research goes to women's health.Melinda shares her own story — how, despite what she calls unbelievable privilege and access to the best health care in the world, it took three doctors to get the right care for her symptoms, and how chronic insomnia and brain fog left her doubting herself walking into meetings with world leaders and CEOs. She and Dr. Haver trace how the Women's Health Initiative halted research, education, and hormone therapy almost overnight, why the health care system was built for men's bodies by default, the racial disparities leaving women of color to suffer most with the least treatment, and the new research she's funding through Wellcome Leap into women-specific heart disease and microvascular diagnostics. The episode closes with Melinda's concrete advice for every woman who wants change: advocate for yourself at the doctor's office, educate your friends with credible information, contact your representatives, and vote — because midlife shouldn't be an off-ramp, but one of the most vibrant chapters of a woman's life.Guest links:Melinda French Gates (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/@melindagatesMelinda French Gates (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/melindafrenchgates/Melinda French Gates (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/melindagates/Melinda French Gates (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindagates/Melinda French Gates (X) https://x.com/melindagatesPivotal https://www.pivotal.com/founderMoment of Lift Books https://www.momentoflift.com/Melinda French Gates at the Gates Foundation https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/leadership/melinda-french-gatesBooks:"The Next Day," by Melinda French Gates https://www.melindafrenchgates.com/"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Mohit Khera, board-certified urologist and Professor of Urology at Baylor College of Medicine, where he holds the F. Brantley Scott Chair in Urology, to tell women the truth about testosterone — the hormone women actually make more of than estrogen, yet still cannot access in a single FDA-approved formulation.Dr. Khera explains why testosterone is one of the most biologically active hormones in the female body, with receptors in the brain, heart, bone, muscle, and genitalia, and why the research to prove its full benefits for women has simply never been funded. He walks through what low testosterone really looks like, how to get tested properly, why women with low libido are so often handed an SSRI that makes things worse, the truth about pellets, creams, and injections, which side effects are reversible and which are not, and the red flags to watch for when looking for a prescriber. He also shares why sexual dysfunction is a couple's disease, what he calls the "hormonally dangerous decade," and the one intervention he's found that makes women feel even better than hormones.Guest links:Dr. Mohit Khera (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/drmohitkhera/Dr. Mohit Khera (X) https://twitter.com/DrMohitKheraDr. Mohit Khera (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmohitkhera/Dr. Mohit Khera (Website) https://drmohitkhera.com/Dr. Mohit Khera at Baylor College of Medicine https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/mohit-khera-24469Books:"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z

This episode of unPAUSED was recorded live at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles in front of an audience gathered to talk about perimenopause, menopause, hormones, sex, brain health, and bone health. Dr. Mary Claire Haver is joined on stage by Dr. Rena Malik, a board certified urologist, pelvic medicine specialist, and sexual health expert, for a wide ranging conversation about what is actually happening in women's bodies during the menopause transition, and what every woman navigating midlife health should know.The conversation moves through the zone of chaos that is perimenopause, the hormonal unpredictability behind mood changes, sleep disruption, brain fog, and rising inflammation. Dr. Haver traces how estrogen loss drives increases in cholesterol, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk, and explains why the fastest rate of bone loss happens in perimenopause, two years before a woman's final period, making a bone density baseline in your forties, not your sixties, the smarter move against osteoporosis later in life.Guest links:The ‘Pause LifeDr. Mary Claire Haver (Instagram)Dr. Mary Claire Haver (Facebook)Dr. Mary Claire Haver (YouTube)Dr. Mary Claire Haver (Substack)unPAUSED (Apple Podcasts)Books“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women's Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives -- Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer,” by Dr. Avrum BlumingFor full show notes, please click here.

What if weak bones and muscle loss aren't just "normal aging" but the result of decades of misinformation? In this episode double board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright joins Dr. Mary Claire Haver to shatter the myth that frailty, fractures, and decline are inevitable for women in midlife.Dr. Wright explains why women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in just five years after menopause—and more importantly, what we can do to prevent it. She reveals how stress, inadequate nutrition, and neglecting strength training and hormonal health create the very outcomes we've been taught to accept as unavoidable.From the "musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause" that affects 70-80% of women (yet most doctors never discuss) to the science of building bones through strategic lifting, Dr. Wright provides the blueprint for aging with power instead of resignation.Guest links:Dr. Vonda WrightDr. Vonda Wright (Instagram)BooksUnbreakable: A Women's Guide To Aging With Power, by Dr. Vonda WrightYounger in 8 Weeks, by Dr. Vonda WrightFitness After 40: Your Strong Body at 40, 50, 60, and Beyond, by Dr. Vonda WrightGuide to THRIVE: 4 Steps to Body, Brains and Bliss, by Dr. Vonda WrightMasterful Care of the Aging Athlete: A Clinical Guide, by Dr. Vonda WrightRaising a Healthy Youth Athlete, by Dr. Vonda WrightFor full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Lucy McBride, a Harvard and Johns Hopkins trained primary care physician and author of the new book Beyond the Prescription: A Doctor's Guide to Taking Charge of Your Health. Dr. McBride has spent twenty five years watching patients bounce between a rushed medical system and a wellness industry.The conversation opens with a hard truth about modern healthcare: doctors interrupt patients within eleven seconds of them speaking, and fifteen minute appointments leave almost no room to understand the whole person behind the diagnosis codes. Dr. McBride explains why this happened, how insurance incentives reward volume over conversation, and why trust and rapport, not just lab values, are the real birthplace of health. She and Dr. Haver share stories from their own practices, including patients who were given thousands of dollars in tests but never asked a single question about their actual lives.Guest links:Dr. Lucy McBrideDr. Lucy McBride (Instagram)Dr. Lucy McBride (LinkedIn)Dr. Lucy McBride (X)Dr. Lucy McBride (YouTube)Dr. Lucy McBride (Ackerly McBride Group)Beyond the Prescription (Apple Podcasts)Are You Okay? By Dr. Lucy McBride (Substack)Books“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The New Menopause,"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“Beyond the Prescription: A Doctor's Guide to Taking Charge of Your Health,”by Dr. Lucy McBrideFor full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Kristen Holmes, Vice President of Performance Science at Whoop and author of the new book Aligned, moving from the science of circadian rhythm into a practical recovery plan a woman can start using tonight.Dr. Holmes lays out a realistic strength and cardio prescription for women who only have thirty minutes a day, and explains how sleep governs the release of growth hormone and the capacity to build and preserve muscle as we age. She introduces the idea of alignment over willpower, framing consistent habits as infrastructure built around what someone actually values rather than a matter of discipline, and connects that back to the four core psychological needs, purpose, autonomy, self efficacy, and connection, that predict anxiety and sleep quality.The conversation turns to wearables, including what to look for in a tracker, the pitfalls of obsessing over data, and simple, no cost markers like a regular menstrual cycle, resting heart rate, energy, and mood that anyone can track without one. Dr. Holmes and Dr. Haver also cover how alcohol and marijuana affect sleep architecture, when a sedative can help short term versus when it becomes a long term problem, and which supplements, like magnesium, actually have data behind them for sleep and anxiety.The episode closes with a rapid fire round on melatonin, mouth taping, cold plunging, weighted blankets, red light therapy, chronotypes, and napping, followed by the two changes Dr. Holmes would tell a woman to make first if she wants better sleep and recovery starting tonight.Guest links:Dr. Kristen Holmes (Instagram)Dr. Kristen Holmes, PhD (LinkedIn)The Line with Dr. Kristen Holmes (Apple Podcasts)Books“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The New Menopause,"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“Aligned: The Data-driven Guide to Performance, Recovery, and Human Potential,”by Kristen HolmesFor full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Kristen Holmes, Vice President of Performance Science at Whoop and author of the new book Aligned, to unpack why sleep and circadian rhythm matter as much as hormones when it comes to the symptoms women feel in perimenopause and menopause.Dr. Holmes explains the concept of circadian amplitude, the contrast between activity and rest, light and dark, and fed and fasted states that keeps every system in the body running on time, and why women with lower amplitude tend to report more frequent and more severe symptoms. She walks through why morning light exposure is one of the most powerful and underused tools available, how getting outside within the first part of the day sets the timing for melatonin release that night, and why a window is not a substitute for actual daylight.The conversation moves into meal timing, including why the body is more insulin sensitive earlier in the day and how consolidating calories into a shorter window can support better sleep and metabolic health. Dr. Holmes also covers where movement fits, including the specific role of zone two training in recovery, why late night intense exercise can work against sleep, and how alcohol affects women differently than men at the same dose.Dr. Holmes and Dr. Haver also dig into what actually drives a 3am wake up, tracing it back to progesterone, GABA signaling, and the loss of hormonal stability that comes with perimenopause, and why sedatives can mask the problem without improving sleep architecture. The conversation ends with a look at the data connecting circadian misalignment to shift work, mental health, and long term health risk, and what a woman can start doing tonight to build back that rhythm.Guest links:Dr. Kristen Holmes (Instagram)Dr. Kristen Holmes, PhD (LinkedIn)The Line with Dr. Kristen Holmes (Apple Podcasts)Books“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The New Menopause,"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“Aligned: The Data-driven Guide to Performance, Recovery, and Human Potential,”by Kristen HolmesFor full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Sasha Hamdani, a board certified psychiatrist and ADHD clinical expert who wrote Self-Care for People with ADHD and the forthcoming Too Sensitive, moving from diagnosis into what to actually do once ADHD and perimenopause or menopause start colliding.Dr. Hamdani explains how ADHD symptoms and medication effectiveness shift across the menstrual cycle, tracing the pattern back to the drop in estrogen and rise in progesterone that hits right before a period, and walks through where nonstimulant medication options fit for women who want an alternative to stimulants. She lays out her version of a menopause toolkit, prioritizing sleep, exercise, and nutrition ahead of any prescription, and explains why psychiatrists have reprioritized sleep given new data on how stimulant medication works in the brain.The conversation moves through nutrition and appetite regulation, the role GLP1 medications can play in quieting food noise, and a candid look at which supplements, including omega 3, ferritin, and magnesium, actually have data behind them versus which are marketed with none. Dr. Hamdani connects circadian rhythm and delayed melatonin onset to the sleep struggles common in ADHD, and explains why morning light exposure functions almost like a switch for the brain.Guest links:Sasha Hamdani, MD Sasha Hamdani, MD (Facebook)Sasha Hamdani, MD (YouTube)Sasha Hamdani, MD (Instagram)Sasha Hamdani, MD (TikTok)Sasha Hamdani (LinkedIn)Books“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply,” by Dr. Sasha Hamdani“Self Care For People With ADHD,” by Dr. Sasha HamdaniFor full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Sasha Hamdani, a board certified psychiatrist, ADHD clinical expert, and author of the forthcoming book Too Sensitive, for the first half of a two part conversation on why so many women are discovering ADHD for the first time during perimenopause and menopause.Dr. Hamdani reframes ADHD as a regulation issue rather than a simple attention deficit, and explains why perimenopause does not create the condition but instead unmasks it, as the estrogen scaffolding that lets women mask and compensate for a lifetime starts to fall away. She and Dr. Haver walk through how ADHD tends to present differently in women, often as the inattentive, easily overlooked type rather than the hyperactive presentation the diagnostic criteria were built around, and why that gap has left generations of high achieving women undiagnosed.The conversation moves into the biology behind the brain fog so many women describe in perimenopause, tracing the connection between declining estrogen and dopamine and what that does to memory, focus, and executive function. Dr. Hamdani and Dr. Haver also discuss where hormone therapy fits, including estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, and how each one can help or complicate cognitive symptoms depending on the person. They also cover how a proper ADHD assessment works during perimenopause and how stimulant and nonstimulant medication options differ.Guest links:Sasha Hamdani, MD Sasha Hamdani, MD (Facebook)Sasha Hamdani, MD (YouTube)Sasha Hamdani, MD (Instagram)Sasha Hamdani, MD (TikTok)Sasha Hamdani (LinkedIn)Books“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“Too Sensitive: Rejection, Resilience, and the Science of Feeling Deeply,” by Dr. Sasha Hamdani“Self Care For People With ADHD,” by Dr. Sasha HamdaniFor full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver delivers a solo masterclass on the lab work every woman in perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause should understand and request from her doctor. Dr. Haver explains why standard annual labs, built for a general population, routinely miss the specific hormonal, metabolic, cardiovascular, and bone related changes that happen during the menopause transition, and she walks through seven categories of testing that give a far more complete picture of a woman's health.She starts with an advanced lipid panel, explaining why LDL alone is not enough and why ApoB, Lp(a), and small dense LDL particles matter for women whose cardiovascular risk shifts as estrogen declines. She covers fasting glucose and fasting insulin together, showing how the HOMA IR score can reveal insulin resistance long before a diabetes diagnosis. She addresses bone health in depth, arguing that waiting until age 65 for a baseline DEXA scan is far too late given how much bone density can be lost in the years surrounding menopause, and she details safe vitamin D supplementation ranges and optimal target levels.Guest links:The ‘Pause LifeDr. Mary Claire Haver (Instagram)Dr. Mary Claire Haver (YouTube)The Pause Life by Dr. Mary Claire Haver (Facebook)The Menopause Quiz (The Pause Life)The Menopause Empowerment Guide (The Pause Life)Lab Test Checklist (The Pause Life)  Clinicians List (The Pause Life)Books“The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again,” by Dr. Mary Claire HaverFor full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver talks with Dr. Jennifer Garrison, a neuroscientist and entrepreneur, about why the ovary should never have been labeled a purely reproductive organ. Dr. Garrison explains that ovaries function like a second brain in the body, sending and receiving chemical signals to nearly every tissue system including the heart, bones, brain, immune system, and metabolism. She walks through her research on the hypothalamus and the brain ovary signaling network, describing how inflammation in this part of the brain may be one of the earliest drivers of aging across the whole body.The conversation covers why the ovary ages roughly two and a half times faster than the rest of the body, a gap that helps explain the health span difference between women and men. Dr. Garrison and Dr. Haver discuss how poor ovarian function shows up across a woman's life, not only at menopause, contributing to conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, early menopause, depression, metabolic disease, and autoimmune disease. They also unpack why autoimmune conditions rise sharply after menopause and why women's immune systems respond differently to viruses than men's.Guest links:Jennifer Garrison, PhD (LinkedIn)Jennifer Garrison (X)Jennifer Garrison (Bluesky)Jennifer Garrison (X Prize)Jennifer Garrison (The Institute)Books“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire HaverFor full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist Dr. Stacy Sims, moving from what does not work to what actually does for women in perimenopause and menopause. They cover why strength training, not endless cardio, is one of the most powerful tools women have for protecting muscle, bone, and brain health at midlife, and Dr. Sims walks through exactly how to structure a 20 minute strength session for maximum benefit.The conversation turns to creatine, including why women between 18 and 65 see some of the strongest benefits for brain and heart health, proper dosing, and why timing and mixing matter for bioavailability. Dr. Sims and Dr. Haver also discuss why distance runners can still develop osteoporosis despite years of training, and how chronic under fueling and calcium loss play a role.Guest links:Dr. Stacy SimsDr. Stacy Sims (Facebook)Dr. Stacy Sims (YouTube)Dr. Stacy Sims (Instagram)Stacy T. Sims, PhD (LinkedIn)Dr. Stacy Sims NewsletterDr. Stacy Sims Microlearning CourseBooks“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond,” by Dr. Stacy Sims“ROAR: How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Unique Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong, Lean Body for Life,” by Dr. Stacy Sims

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist Dr. Stacy Sims to unpack why so much fitness and diet advice built on male physiology leaves women confused about why the scale will not move, and why weight loss can feel so much harder for women than for men on the exact same plan. Dr. Sims, author of Roar and Next Level, a former professional cyclist who has taught and coached at Stanford, breaks down why women following the same diet and training program as their male partners often end up tired and stuck rather than leaner and fitter. The conversation covers the biological reasons women conserve fat in a calorie deficit, how female circadian rhythm differs from male circadian rhythm, and why eating within an hour of waking helps regulate cortisol and appetite hormones like ghrelin and peptide YY. Dr. Sims explains why fasted workouts can backfire for women, why front loading calories earlier in the day supports better metabolic outcomes, and why time restricted eating works with a woman's biology in ways that intermittent fasting often does not. Guest links: Dr. Stacy Sims Dr. Stacy Sims (Facebook) Dr. Stacy Sims (YouTube) Dr. Stacy Sims (Instagram) Stacy T. Sims, PhD (LinkedIn) Dr. Stacy Sims Newsletter Dr. Stacy Sims Microlearning Course Books “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond,” by Dr. Stacy Sims “ROAR: How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Unique Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong, Lean Body for Life,” by Dr. Stacy Sims

Guest links Karen Tang, MD (Instagram) Karen Tang, MD (Facebook) Karen Tang, MD (YouTube) Karen Tang, MD (LinkedIn) Karen Tang, MD (TikTok) GynoMight with Karen Tang, MD (Substack) Thrive Gynecology Books “It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told),” by Dr. Karen Tang “The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For a list of full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Karen Tang, a board certified gynecologist and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon, and author of It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health But Were Never Told. This is part one of a two part conversation. Together they take on a question that most women entering perimenopause have never been given the tools to answer: what happens to the gynecologic conditions you have been managing for years when your hormones start to shift? Dr. Tang opens with endometriosis, dismantling two of the most persistent myths in gynecology: that it goes away after menopause, and that it is cured by pregnancy or hysterectomy. She explains what endometriosis actually is, why it so often goes undiagnosed for an average of seven years, why imaging studies frequently miss it, and what the full range of treatment options looks like for perimenopausal women dealing with painful periods, pelvic pain, and chronic inflammation, including when surgery is the right next step. Guest links Karen Tang, MD (Instagram) Karen Tang, MD (Facebook) Karen Tang, MD (YouTube) Karen Tang, MD (LinkedIn) Karen Tang, MD (TikTok) GynoMight with Karen Tang, MD (Substack) Thrive Gynecology Books “It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told),” by Dr. Karen Tang “The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Amy Shah, a physician trained in internal medicine and immunology with a nutrition background from Cornell, and author of the new book Hormone Havoc. Dr. Haver and Dr. Shah begin the conversation with the gut-hormone-brain connection, explaining how 40% of estrogen is recirculated through the gut, how the estrobolome, the collection of gut bacteria responsible for metabolizing estrogen, determines how much the body retains, and why declining estrogen in perimenopause and menopause triggers a cascade that loosens the tight junctions meant to keep food particles, toxins, and viruses from entering the bloodstream. This leaky gut drives inflammation that accelerates every symptom women are already experiencing, from weight gain and mood changes to sleep disruption and brain health decline. The gut-brain axis, the constant two-way communication between the gut and the brain, means that what is happening in the gut is directly shaping cognitive function, motivation, and emotional resilience in menopause. She also covers how 95% of serotonin is made in the gut, why chronic inflammation reroutes tryptophan away from serotonin and melatonin, and what that means for mood, sleep, and appetite in midlife. Guest links: Dr. Amy Shah (Instagram) Dr. Amy Shah (TikTok) Dr. Amy Shah Save Yourself With Dr. Amy Shah (Apple Podcasts) Books: “Hormone Havoc: A Science-Backed Protocol for Perimenopause and Menopause: Sleep Better. Think Better. Feel Better,” by Dr. Amy Shah

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Sue Varma, a board certified psychiatrist, distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and author of Practical Optimism. They open by taking on a question that sits at the intersection of psychiatry and menopause medicine: why do some women thrive through the most difficult biological transition of their lives, and what can the rest of us learn from them? Early in the conversation, Dr. Varma shares a finding that reframes everything: only 25% of people are born optimistic, and there is actually a gene for it. The other 75% have to learn it. Dr. Varma explains why optimism is not toxic positivity, what practical optimism actually means, and why both extreme optimists and extreme pessimists end up paralyzed into inaction in different ways. She also addresses what happens when depression, anxiety, and brain fog layer on top of the hormonal changes of menopause and perimenopause, and why so many women are being undertreated as a result. Guest links: Dr. Sue Varma (Instagram) Dr. Sue Varma (Facebook) Dr. Sue Varma (LinkedIn) Dr. Sue Varma  Books: “Practical Optimism,” by Dr. Sue Varma “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “Joyspan,” by Dr. Kerry Burnight “The Relaxation Response,” by Dr. Herbert Benson For full show notes, please click here.

In this solo episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver answers one of the most asked questions she receives: what hormones do you actually take, and why? Rather than a general overview of menopause hormone therapy, this is a fully transparent, clinically grounded walk through her personal protocol, including every formulation she uses, why she chose it, and what the FDA-approved alternatives are for women whose needs or circumstances differ. Dr. Haver opens with systemic estrogen, explaining why she uses a transdermal patch as her primary delivery method, why she added a small dose of oral estradiol for bone protection after finding her serum levels were not reaching the threshold needed to preserve bone density, and why she believes routine estradiol level testing should become standard of care even though current guidelines do not yet reflect the latest absorption data. She walks through the key FDA-approved transdermal and oral estrogen options, including patches, gels, sprays, and oral formulations, covering the differences in delivery, cost, clotting risk, and SHBG implications. For full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Natalie Crawford, double board certified obstetrician, gynecologist, and reproductive endocrinologist, and author of The Fertility Formula. In part two of this conversation, Dr. Crawford gets specific about the forces working against our hormones every day, chronic stress, disrupted sleep, inflammatory food, and the endocrine disrupting chemicals most women have never been warned about. She explains how cortisol triggers insulin resistance, how insulin resistance drives inflammation and ovarian dysfunction, and why resistance training and building skeletal muscle is one of the most direct interventions a woman can make at any age, including perimenopause. On sleep, she makes the case that it is the single most under addressed factor she sees clinically, explaining how FSH and LH are released in the early morning hours and why disrupted sleep directly interferes with ovulation, estrogen, and progesterone production. The conversation also covers anti-inflammatory nutrition and gut health, the difference between unscented and fragrance-free, why forever chemicals and phthalates are disrupting the hormone system from inside most women's homes, birth control timing and uterine lining recovery, and what egg freezing actually is and is not, and who it is most likely to benefit. Guest links Natalie Crawford, MD Natalie Crawford, MD (Instagram) Natalie Crawford, MD (TikTok) Natalie Crawford, MD (Facebook) Natalie Crawford, MD (YouTube) Natalie Crawford, MD (LinkedIn) Books “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The Fertility Formula,” by Dr. Natalie Crawford

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Natalie Crawford, a double board certified obstetrician, gynecologist, and reproductive endocrinologist, and author of the new book The Fertility Formula. Both physicians open by sharing their own fertility journeys, including pregnancy losses and dismissal from the medical system, before turning to the science that most women are never given access to. Dr. Crawford challenges one of the most persistent myths in women's health: that the biological clock is about running out of eggs. It is not. It is about egg quality, and those are completely different problems with completely different solutions. She explains how inflammation damages the chromosomes and mitochondria inside eggs, how chronic inflammation can actually deplete the ovarian reserve by penetrating the ovarian vault, and why the standard message to women, hurry up or give up, is not supported by the science. Guest links Natalie Crawford, MD Natalie Crawford, MD (Instagram) Natalie Crawford, MD (TikTok) Natalie Crawford, MD (Threads) Natalie Crawford, MD (Facebook) Natalie Crawford, MD (YouTube) Natalie Crawford, MD (LinkedIn) Books “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The Fertility Formula,” by Dr. Natalie Crawford

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Michelle Gordon, a board certified obesity medicine physician and diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, with surgical fellowships from the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. Through her practice Thrive Span Medical, she works with midlife women across 39 states whose metabolic and hormonal symptoms have been dismissed as normal aging. Dr. Gordon opens by dismantling the calories in, calories out framework, not as a vague wellness talking point but on a physiological level. She explains why biology determines the burn rate, why fat oxidation drops by 32% in perimenopause, why visceral fat accumulation accelerates when estrogen declines, and why insulin resistance and leptin resistance make it nearly impossible for midlife women to lose weight through willpower alone. She also covers how sleep deprivation compounds all of it, creating a cycle of cravings, brain fog, and weight gain that most women are navigating without any clinical support. Guest links: Michelle E. Gordon, DO (LinkedIn) Dr. Michelle Gordon (Instagram) Dr. Gordon, Obesity Medicine (Substack) Dr. Michelle Gordon (Facebook) Dr. Michelle Gordon Dr. Michelle Gordon (TikTok) Dr. Michelle Gordon Dr. Michelle Gordon (YouTube) Books: “The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire HaverWeightless: A Doctor's Guide to GLP-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve,” by Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen For full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Hillary McBride, a psychologist, researcher, and author whose work focuses on women's lived experience of embodiment across the lifespan, and particularly what happens during the perimenopausal and menopausal transition. She brings a feminist, biopsychosocial lens to the work, looking at the intersection of biology and culture and how the stories we are handed about aging as women can shape what we actually feel, right down to measurable health outcomes. Dr. McBride opens by naming what the research literature has gotten wrong. Women's voices have been largely absent from the empirical conversation about perimenopause and menopause, and what women are actually saying when asked about their experience is strikingly different from what the medical literature reflects. They are describing not just difficulty but clarity, not just loss but a deepening sense of self, not just symptoms but a portal. Guest links: Hillary L. McBride  Hillary L. McBride (Instagram) Hillary McBride (Facebook) Hillary McBride (X) Books: Hillary L. McBride For full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Tony Youn, board certified plastic surgeon, bestselling author of Younger for Life, and the most followed plastic surgeon on social media. In part two of this conversation, Dr. Youn moves from skincare into devices, lifestyle, and the bigger picture of how women can think about aging and anti-aging without getting swept up in the extremes. Dr. Youn walks through the most commonly asked about in-office treatments, explaining what each one actually does and where the limitations are. He covers IPL for hyperpigmentation and sun damage, fractional CO2 lasers and how they differ from older more aggressive approaches, chemical peels and how depth determines results, and radiofrequency microneedling including what it can realistically achieve and where it falls short. He also addresses at-home devices, covering red light therapy and what the studies actually show about collagen and elastin, and what to look for in a dermal stamper. Guest links: Anthony Youn, MD Tony Youn, MD (Instagram) Doctor Youn (TikTok) Dr. Anthony Youn (Facebook) Doctor Youn (YouTube) The Doctor Youn Show (Apple Podcasts) Books “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“Younger for Life: Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity, Nutrition and Self-Care for a Youthful Life,” by Anthony Youn ⁠"Playing God"⁠ by Anthony Youn ⁠"The Age Fix" ⁠by Anthony Youn ⁠"In Stitches"⁠ by Anthony Youn For full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Tony Youn, a board certified plastic surgeon nationally recognized as one of the top plastic surgeons in the United States, bestselling author of Younger for Life, and the most followed plastic surgeon on social media with more than five million YouTube subscribers and eight million TikTok followers. In part one of this two part conversation, they take on a question that sits at the intersection of hormones and skin health that most doctors have never connected for their patients: what estrogen is actually doing to the skin, and what women can do about it. Dr. Youn opens with a statistic that women lose 30% of the thickness of their collagen in the first five years after menopause, and then continue losing collagen at twice the rate of men for every year that follows. He explains exactly why this happens, how estrogen interacts with the fibroblasts that produce collagen and elastin, what declining estrogen does to hyaluronic acid and skin hydration, and why women are not imagining it when their skincare suddenly stops working. Guest links: Anthony Youn, MD Tony Youn, MD (Instagram) Doctor Youn (TikTok) Dr. Anthony Youn (Facebook) Doctor Youn (YouTube) The Doctor Youn Show (Apple Podcasts) Books “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“Younger for Life: Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity, Nutrition and Self-Care for a Youthful Life,” by Anthony Youn "Playing God" by Anthony Youn "The Age Fix" by Anthony Youn "In Stitches" by Anthony Youn

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver answers your most asked questions about hormone therapy, menopause symptoms, and how to advocate for yourself when your doctor doesn't have answers. She walks through who actually qualifies for HRT, what the real contraindications are versus conditions that simply require a different delivery method, and how to think about continuing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone therapy after 60. Dr. Haver explains the estrogen patch absorption problem, with research showing that up to 20 percent of women on transdermal therapy never reach physiologic estradiol levels regardless of dose. She breaks down SHBG, the protein that can bind your hormones and render them inactive even when your numbers look adequate on paper, and walks through what optimal estradiol levels look like for bone density and osteoporosis prevention specifically. Books: “The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan: Help Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis and Arthritis,” by Jocelyn Wittstein“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver Resources: Women’s Health Initiative Estradiol (University of Rochester Medical Center) Meet Dr. Heather Hirsch Alloy Health Midi Health Menopause Quiz Lab Test Checklist Blueprint to close the women's health gap For full show notes, please click here.

In this bonus episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver is joined by Dr. Zachary Rubin, double board certified allergist and immunologist and New York Times bestselling author of All About Allergies, to dig into the connection between histamine, mast cells, and women's hormonal health. Dr. Rubin breaks down what mast cells are, how histamine works across multiple organ systems, and why women are disproportionately affected by mast cell related conditions including mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). The two dig into the estrogen and histamine connection, why perimenopause can trigger or worsen symptoms like anxiety, brain fog, and histamine intolerance, and what MCAS actually is and how it is diagnosed. Dr. Rubin also addresses the viral H1 and H2 blocker combination that has been circulating online, explaining the real science behind why it may be helping some women with PMDD, endometriosis, and perimenopausal symptoms, while being honest about what we still do not know. They also cover quercetin, DAO supplements, low histamine diets, and how to think about self experimentation safely. If you have been wondering whether histamine could be a piece of your hormonal health puzzle, this conversation is a great place to start.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Tami Rowen, an obstetrician, gynecologist, and leading gynecologic surgeon at the University of California San Francisco, and an internationally recognized expert in sexual health and sexual medicine. Together they get precise about some of the most misunderstood terrain in women's health: estrogen, progesterone, progestins, and testosterone for women, what they actually do in the body, how the confusion around them began, and what becomes possible for women when care is evidence-based and not fear-based. Dr. Rowen opens with something most women have never been told: that contraceptive estrogen and menopausal estrogen are fundamentally different molecules with different goals, different mechanisms, and different effects on the body. She walks through why ethinyl estradiol, the synthetic estrogen in most birth control pills, binds to the estrogen receptor 300 times more strongly than natural estradiol, why that matters for everything from blood clotting to testosterone levels to bone density, and why modern contraception is still valuable and worth defending even as we get more precise about how it works. Guest links: Dr. Tami Rowen (UCSF Health) Dr. Tami Rowen (ISSWSH)Dr. Tami Rowen (Instagram)

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Kim and Penn Holderness, the husband and wife content creators behind the widely popular Holderness Family, bestselling authors, and winners of The Amazing Race Season 33. Together they built an audience of millions by finding the humor in real life, and in this conversation they turn that same lens on perimenopause, ADHD, marriage, and the particular chaos of midlife. Kim opens up about the perimenopausal symptoms that arrived before she had any name for them: the anxiety that made everything feel like being chased by a bear, the panic attacks triggered by nothing she could identify, and the growing sense that something was fundamentally wrong with her. She describes walking out of her doctor's office with no treatment after being told her symptoms were normal, the financial reality of having to seek out a functional medicine doctor to finally get the estrogen and progesterone support she needed, and the combination of hormonal and psychiatric care that eventually helped her feel like herself again. She also speaks with real honesty about her postpartum anxiety, perimenopause and depression, and her OCD diagnosis, and how all of it left her desperate for a voice that would simply say: this is hard. Guest links: The Holderness Family  The Holderness Family (Instagram) The Holderness Family - Music (YouTube) The Holderness Family - Comedy (YouTube) The Holderness Family (Facebook) The Holderness Family (Substack) The Holderness Family (TikTok) Laugh Lines with Kim & Penn Holderness (Apple Podcasts) PC’s Playbook Podcast (YouTube) Books: “ADHD Is Awesome,” by Penn and Kim Holderness “Everybody Fights,” by Penn and Kim Holderness

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Kelly Casperson, urologist, author, and host of the podcast "You Are Not Broken." Part 2 goes deep on testosterone therapy for women, the most misunderstood hormone in women's health, and covers the full range of what it actually does in the female body, why every woman will experience declining levels over time, and why there are still zero FDA approved testosterone products for women while men have more than a dozen. Dr. Casperson opens with the basics: ovaries make testosterone, the hormone pathway runs one way from cholesterol through progesterone to testosterone to estradiol, and women in normal cycling years carry four times more testosterone than estrogen in their bodies. She explains where testosterone receptors are found, which is everywhere from the brain to bone to muscle to the clitoris to the tear ducts, and why reducing testosterone in women to a libido drug misses the full picture entirely. Guest links: Kelly Casperson, MD Kelly Casperson (Instagram) Kelly Casperson (YouTube) You Are Not Broken (Apple Podcasts) Books: “You Are Not Broken,” by Kelly Casperson, MD "The Menopause Moment," by Kelly Casperson, MD  “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female," by Alfred Kinsey

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Kelly Casperson, a urologist, author, and host of the podcast “You Are Not Broken”. Dr. Casperson trained in a specialty that treats both men and women, which gave her an early and clear view of the gender gap in sexual healthcare. That disparity became the driving force behind her work, her two books You Are Not Broken and The Menopause Moment, and her clinic, the Casperson Clinic. Together they cover the full landscape of what women were never taught, what medicine has missed, and what actually works for female sexual health, libido, desire, and sexual dysfunction in midlife. The conversation gets straight to what most women were never told: that the orgasm gap between heterosexual men and women has not improved in decades, and that the silence around female sexual health has never been about a lack of science. It has been about a lack of priority. Guest links: Kelly Casperson, MD Kelly Casperson (Instagram) Kelly Casperson (YouTube) You Are Not Broken (Apple Podcasts) Books: “Sexual Behavior in the Human Female,” by Alfred Kinsey “You Are Not Broken,” by Kelly Casperson, MD

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, a board-certified OB-GYN, integrative medicine expert, and author with nearly 30 years of clinical experience, including training in Ayurvedic medicine spanning almost two decades. Dr. Gilberg-Lenz is the Chief Clinical Officer of Monarch, a membership-based healthcare practice built to restore what modern medicine has nearly eliminated: time, relationship, and trust between women and their clinicians. Dr. Haver and Dr. Gilberg-Lenz open with a question that sits at the heart of women's midlife health: why does the current healthcare system consistently fail to see women clearly? Dr. Gilberg-Lenz explains why the system is not built for humans but for shareholders, reimbursement structures, and productivity metrics that reward procedures over listening. She breaks down the difference between burnout and moral injury, why physicians are leaving traditional medicine in record numbers, and what it actually costs women when their doctors are structurally prevented from knowing them. The conversation traces how the 1910 Flexner Report reshaped American medicine, shutting down Black medical colleges, eliminating part-time schools where women trained, and marginalizing plant-based and indigenous healing traditions in ways that still define clinical practice today. Guest links: Dr. Suzanne Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz (Instagram) Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz (YouTube) Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz (LinkedIn) Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz (Facebook)Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz (X) Books: “Menopause Bootcamp: Optimize Your Health, Empower Your Self, and Flourish as You Age,” by Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz “The Myth of Aging: A Prescription for Emotional and Physical Well-Being,” by Dr. Arnold Gilberg “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPaused, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Kerry Burnight, a gerontologist and national leader in aging research who spent 18 years teaching geriatric medicine at the University of California Irvine School of Medicine and is the author of Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half. Dr. Burnight brings a framework that is especially relevant for women navigating menopause and midlife: the key to good longevity is not how long you live. It is how much you love the life you are living. Dr. Haver and Dr. Burnight begin with the concept of joyspan itself, a term Dr. Burnight coined to name the missing piece between lifespan and healthspan. Drawing on the American Psychological Association's definition of joy as wellbeing and life satisfaction, they explore why joy is not a luxury add-on to healthy aging but a measurable, cultivatable vital sign. Dr. Burnight explains the distinction between joy and happiness, why happiness is circumstantial while joy is an inside job, and how Viktor Frankl's research on finding meaning under extreme suffering forms the scientific and philosophical foundation of her framework. They also discuss Yale University research showing that aging beliefs alone can impact longevity by up to seven and a half years, influence inflammation levels, and affect disease expression, making the way women think about getting older one of the most powerful health interventions available. Guest links: Dr. Kerry Burnight Dr. Kerry Burnight (Instagram) Dr. Kerry Burnight (LinkedIn) Books:“Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half,” by Dr. Kerry Burnight “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of “unPAUSED,” Dr. Mary Claire Haver answers the questions she gets asked most, sitting down solo to address what perimenopause actually is, why it starts in the brain before it ever shows up in bloodwork, and why so many women experiencing anxiety, brain fog, broken sleep, and unexplained weight gain are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or handed prescriptions for symptoms that have a hormonal root. Perimenopause is not a waiting room. It is its own distinct biological phase, a seven to ten year hormonal transition that begins long before periods stop and touches every organ system in the body. And yet most women are never taught to recognize it. Dr. Haver breaks down the hormonal chaos of perimenopause, revealing why estrogen does not simply decline but surges and crashes erratically as the brain floods the ovaries with luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in a desperate attempt to produce more, and why a single blood draw will almost never tell the full story. She answers the metabolic questions she hears constantly, explaining how visceral fat can double or triple during the transition with no changes in diet or exercise, why LDL cholesterol rises an average of 20%, and how cardiovascular risk, insulin resistance, bone density loss, and inflammation are all woven into the same story medicine has largely failed to tell women. Guest links: The 'Pause Wellness The ‘Pause Life Dr. Mary Claire Haver (Instagram) Dr. Mary Claire Haver (YouTube) Books: “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver "The New Menopause" by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “Weightless: A Doctor's Guide to GLP-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve,” by Rocio Salas-Whalen

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Lisa Mosconi, neuroscientist and associate professor of neuroscience in neurology and radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Mosconi directs the Alzheimer's Prevention Program, including the NIH-funded Women's Brain Initiative and the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic, and was recently named director of the $50 million Program in Women's Health, Cutting Alzheimer's Risk Through Endocrinology. She is also the author of the bestselling book The Menopause Brain. Dr. Mosconi and Dr. Haver go deeper into why brain fog, memory lapses, and cognitive changes in midlife are not just frustrating. They are biologically significant, and for some women, they may signal an inflection point for Alzheimer's risk. The conversation covers the statistics women are rarely given starting at age 45, a woman has twice the risk of Alzheimer's as a man of the same age. Women are also twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression, three times more likely to develop an autoimmune disorder affecting the brain, four times more likely to suffer from migraines, and more likely to be killed by a stroke after menopause. Guest links: Lisa Mosconi Lisa Mosconi (Instagram) Lisa Mosconi (Facebook)Lisa Mosconi Bio (LEAP)Books: “The Menopause Brain: New Science Empowers Women to Navigate the Pivotal Transition with Knowledge and Confidence,” by Lisa Mosconi “The XX Brain: The Groundbreaking Science Empowering Women to Maximize Cognitive Health and Prevent Alzheimer's Disease,” by Lisa Mosconi “Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power,” by Lisa Mosconi “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Lisa Mosconi, a neuroscientist and associate professor of neuroscience in neurology and radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Mosconi directs the Alzheimer's Prevention Program, including the NIH-funded Women's Brain Initiative and the Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic, and was recently named director of the $50 million Program in Women's Health, Cutting Alzheimer's Risk Through Endocrinology. She is also the author of the bestselling book The Menopause Brain. This conversation is about prevention. Dr. Mosconi has spent decades building the science that shows Alzheimer's risk in women is neither inevitable nor untreatable and that the choices women make in midlife around hormones, sleep, and nutrition have a direct, and measurable, impact on the brain's long-term health.  Together, they explore why two thirds of all Alzheimer's patients are women and what role menopause plays in that disparity. Dr. Mosconi explains the difference between the rare genetic mutations that directly cause Alzheimer's, found in roughly 2% of patients, and the risk factors that shape outcomes for the other 98%, including the distinction between early and late onset disease and between sporadic and familial Alzheimer's. Both share their own family histories with dementia and what that means for their personal risk. Guest links: Lisa Mosconi Lisa Mosconi (Instagram) Lisa Mosconi (Facebook) Lisa Mosconi Bio (LEAP) Books: “The Menopause Brain: New Science Empowers Women to Navigate the Pivotal Transition with Knowledge and Confidence,” by Lisa Mosconi “The XX Brain: The Groundbreaking Science Empowering Women to Maximize Cognitive Health and Prevent Alzheimer's Disease,” by Lisa Mosconi“Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power,” by Lisa Mosconi “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

Poor sleep during perimenopause and menopause isn't just exhausting—it's linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk, depression, anxiety, weight gain, cognitive decline, and reduced quality of life. Yet for decades, women's sleep complaints have been minimized, dismissed, or blamed on just getting older. In this episode, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with board-certified sleep medicine specialist Dr. Andrea Matsumura to unpack what's really happening to women's sleep during the menopause transition and what we can actually do about it. Dr. Matsumura completed her medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and her internal medicine residency in Portland, Oregon before returning to Oregon Health & Science University for a fellowship in sleep medicine, where she discovered the critical connection between women's hormones and sleep disorders. Guest links: Dr. Andrea Matsumura (Instagram) Dr. Andrea Matsumura (Facebook) Dr. Andrea Matsumura (LinkedIn) Dr. Andrea Matsumura  The D.R.E.A.M. Sleep Method: A Midlife Woman’s Guide to Restoring Rest Articles Worldwide estimation of restless legs syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence in the general adult population (Journal of Sleep Research) Association Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies (Medicina) Why sleep apnea deserves priority in public health: a call to action (European Journal of Public Health) Poor Quality Control of Over-the-Counter Melatonin: What They Say Is Often Not What You Get (Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine) Quantity of Melatonin and CBD in Melatonin Gummies Sold in the US (JAMA) Sleep disorders impact hormonal regulation: unravelling the relationship among sleep disorders, hormones and metabolic diseases (Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome) Comorbid Insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (COMISA): Current Concepts of Patient Management (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health) Chronobiological perspectives: Association between meal timing and sleep quality (PLOS One) Effects of red light on sleep inertia (Nature and Science of Sleep) Other Resources Seven or more hours of sleep per night: A health necessity for adults (American Academy of Sleep Medicine) The D.R.E.A.M Sleep Essentials Sleep Goddess Archetype Quiz American Academy of Sleep Medicine “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

From her groundbreaking televised colonoscopy to her breast cancer journey, Katie Couric has turned personal experience into powerful advocacy for the health issues medicine has overlooked. This week on unPaused, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Katie Couric, award-winning journalist, founder of Katie Couric Media, co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer, and author of the New York Times bestseller Going There. Katie spent 15 years co-hosting the Today Show, served as the first solo female anchor of CBS Evening News, and has interviewed nearly every president, world leader and cultural voice of the last four decades. Together, they explore Katie's journey from growing up in Arlington, Virginia, where her parents instilled the importance of education and financial independence, to breaking barriers in network news while navigating profound personal loss. Katie opens up about losing her husband Jay to stage four colon cancer when her daughters were six and two, how that tragedy launched her into cancer advocacy, and why she made the decision to have a colonoscopy on live television — a moment that changed screening rates across America and took the stigma out of a life-saving procedure. Guest links: Katie Couric Media Katie Couric (Instagram) Katie Couric (TikTok) Katie Couric (Facebook) Katie Couric Media (Instagram) Katie Couric (YouTube) Katie Couric (X) Katie Couric (LinkedIn) Katie Couric (Substack) Next Question with Katie Couric (Apple Podcasts) Books:"The Feminine Mistake: Are We Giving Up Too Much?," by Leslie Bennetts “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver

Most women go through decades of marriage, menopause and midlife without ever having an honest conversation with a doctor about their sex life. Not because they don't want one — but because most physicians were never trained to have it. This week on unPaused, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. James Simon, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at George Washington University, board-certified OB-GYN, reproductive endocrinologist, and certified sexual counselor with more than 800 published papers in menopause and sexual medicine. Dr. Simon is a past president of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH) and one of the most published clinicians in modern menopause care. Dr. Simon has spent his career treating what most doctors never address — the full picture of how sex, desire, pain and intimacy change for both women and men as they age. He treats couples together, and what he has witnessed across thousands of relationships is that the problems are rarely one person's fault, rarely unsolvable, and almost always rooted in something nobody warned them about. Guest links: James Simon (IntimMedicine Specialists) James Simon (Instagram) James Simon (YouTube) Articles: What if the Women’s Health Initiative had used transdermal estradiol and oral progesterone instead? (Menopause) Erectile Dysfunction (StatPearls) Should we be prescribing testosterone to perimenopausal and menopausal women? A guide to prescribing testosterone for women in primary care (British Journal of General Practice) The Benefits and Harms of Systemic Testosterone Therapy in Postmenopausal Women With Normal Adrenal Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism) Other Resources: Women’s Health Initiative The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement (NAMS) International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISWSH)  FDA panel rejects testosterone patch for women on safety grounds (The BMJ) The Saga of Testosterone for Menopausal Women at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (The Journal of Sexual Medicine) Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) Books:“Restore Yourself: A Woman's Guide to Reviving her Sexual Desire and Passion for Life,” by James Simon and Victoria Houston “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

This week on unPaused, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Naomi Watts, Academy Award nominated actress, entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author of Dare I Say It. Naomi's career spans decades in Hollywood, from her breakthrough role in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive to recent work with directors like Ryan Murphy and Lena Dunham. After receiving a shocking early menopause diagnosis at 36 while struggling with fertility, Naomi spent years navigating untreated symptoms in silence before becoming an unexpected advocate for millions of women facing midlife transitions. In 2021, she founded Stripes Beauty, a menopause focused skincare and wellness brand built on community, education, and celebrating womens earned wisdom rather than promising to reverse time. In this conversation, Dr. Haver and Naomi explore the reality of growing up across continents after losing her father at eight years old, the decade long struggle to break into Hollywood, and the moment at 30 when her acting career finally launched. Naomi opens up about the devastating news from her doctor that she was approaching menopause at 36, the desperate fertility journey that followed including traveling to China for herbal remedies and extreme dietary changes, and the perimenopause symptoms she dismissed as allergies or stress in her late twenties including night sweats, migraines, brain fog, and sleep disruption. Guest links: Naomi Watts (Instagram) Naomi Watts (IMDB) Stripes Beauty Other Resources Davina McCall (Instagram) Stacy London (Instagram) Dr. Jen Gunter Books “Inconceivable, 20th Anniversary Edition: A Woman's Triumph over Despair and Statistics,” by Julia Indichova “Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause,” by Naomi Watts“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver

This week on unPaused, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Cindy Eckert, founder and CEO of Sprout Pharmaceuticals and creator of Addyi, the first FDA approved treatment for low libido in women. Cindy is a pharmaceutical entrepreneur who began her career at Merck before founding her first company in 2007, focusing on undermarketed FDA approved products. After successfully building and selling a male sexual health company, she became the only woman running a sexual health company and witnessed firsthand the stark contrast between how medicine treats male versus female sexual dysfunction. Her journey to bring Addyi to market became a cultural battle about whether women's sexual desire matters, leading to two FDA rejections, public hearings, and ultimately a historic approval in 2015 after a six year fight. In this conversation, Dr. Haver and Cindy explore how Addyi works differently from Viagra, targeting brain chemistry and desire rather than blood flow and arousal. Cindy explains that Addyi is a mood drug originally developed for depression that showed an unexpected effect on female libido during clinical trials. The medication works on neurotransmitters in the brain, building over approximately eight weeks to restore spontaneous thoughts, fantasies, and desire in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder or HSDD. She walks through the massive clinical trial requirements, including 13,000 patients compared to Viagra's 4,000, and the three things they had to prove with statistical significance versus placebo: increased interest in sex, more satisfying sexual experiences, and decreased distress from the condition. ADDYI, flibanserin, is for women <65 with low sexual desire disorder who have not had problems with low sexual desire in the past, and who have low sexual desire that is troubling to them no matter the type of sexual activity, situation, or sexual partner. The low sexual desire is not due to a medical or mental health problem, problems in the relationship or medicine or other drug use. ADDYI is not for men or to enhance sexual performance. Your risk of severe low blood pressure and fainting is increased if you drink 1-2 standard alcoholic drinks close in time to your ADDYI dose. Wait at least 2 hours after one to two drinks before taking ADDYI at bedtime and skip your dose if you drink three or more drinks that evening. If you take certain prescription, OTC or herbal medications, or have liver problems, the risk of low blood pressure and fainting increases and you should not take ADDYI.   Do not take if you are allergic to any of ADDYI’s ingredients. Sometimes serious sleepiness can occur. Common side effects include dizziness, nausea, tiredness, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep and dry mouth. See PI and Boxed Warning at addyi.com/piGuest links: Cindy Eckert  Cindy Eckert (Instagram) Recommended Books: “Mars and Venus in the Bedroom: A Guide to Lasting Romance and Passion,” by John Gray “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver Articles: Women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder compared to normal females: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study (Neuroscience) Sexual Dysfunction Induced by Antidepressants—A Pharmacovigilance Study Using Data from VigiBaseTM (Pharmaceuticals) Enhancing Sexual Health for Cancer Survivors (Symptom Science And Palliative Care) Flibanserin Approval: Facts or Feelings? (Sexual Medicine) Clinical trial evidence supporting FDA approval of novel therapeutic agents, 2005-2012 (JAMA) Other Resources: Addyi What is Patient-Focused Drug Development? International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH) FDA Expands Approval of Flibanserin for Postmenopausal Women’s Sexual Health (Drug Topics) A Pill for Sexual Desire Reaches a New Group of Women (TIME Magazine)Drug Trials Snapshots Summary Report 2024 (FDA) For full show notes, please clic ...

An estimated 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer's dementia. The part that should alarm every woman listening is this: almost two thirds of them are women. In this episode, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with neurophysiologist and Alzheimer's researcher Dr. Louisa Nicola to unpack what's really happening to women's brains during perimenopause and menopause and what we can do about it. Louisa Nicola is a neurophysiologist, human performance coach, and founder of Neuro Athletics, a consulting firm that works with elite athletes and high-level professionals to optimize brain health and performance. A former world class triathlete, she transitioned into neuroscience and earned her Master of Medicine in neurophysiology from the University of Sydney. Dr. Nicola is currently pursuing her doctorate studying the effects of resistance exercise on brain health. She focuses on optimizing brain function and longevity, particularly in women, through sleep, nutrition, and exercise interventions. Dr. Nicola reveals how Alzheimer's disease doesn't suddenly appear at 70 but starts quietly in our thirties and forties, building up over a 30-year progression. She explains what's happening in the brain as amyloid beta proteins and tau tangles accumulate, why the hippocampus is the first area to go, and the critical role that sleep plays in clearing these proteins through the glymphatic system. The conversation explores why women are more predisposed to tau protein accumulation than men and how estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin inhibit the enzyme that causes tau proteins to become hyperphosphorylated and toxic. Dr. Nicola explains the connection between declining estrogen during perimenopause and increased Alzheimer's risk, including how estrogen helps mediate glucose metabolism in the brain, supports synaptic connections, and why the loss of this hormonal scaffolding leaves women vulnerable to cognitive decline. Guest links: Louisa Nicola (Instagram) Louisa Nicola (Facebook) Louisa Nicola, MMed, PhD(c) (LinkedIn) Louisa Nicola (YouTube) Louisa Nicola (X) Neuro Athletics The Neuro Experience Podcast (Apple Podcasts) The Brain Code Books“Joyspan,” by Dr. Kerry Burnight“The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

In this episode Dr. Mary Claire Haver is joined by Dr. Rachel Rubin, a board-certified urologist and nationally recognized expert in sexual medicine, fellowship trained in both female and male sexual health. As assistant clinical professor of urology at Georgetown University and former education chair of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, she brings unique insight into the stark disparities in how sexual dysfunction is treated across genders. Dr. Rubin founded the Sexual Medicine Research Team, and her advocacy work has been instrumental in changing FDA labeling on hormone therapy and advancing the American Urological Association Guidelines on genital urinary syndrome of menopause. During the conversation, Dr. Haver and Dr. Rubin explore the intersection of menopause, hormones and women's sexual health, revealing why most doctors, including OB-GYNs, receive virtually no training in sexual health despite sexual dysfunction affecting millions of women. Dr. Rubin explains how men's sexual health benefits from 27 fellowship programs while women's sexual health has only three, and why erectile dysfunction research receives billions while female orgasm research gets nothing from the NIH. She breaks down the complete anatomy of the clitoris that most medical professionals never learned, explaining why understanding this matters for surgical outcomes, pleasure, and treating conditions like vulvar vestibule pain that affects penetration, tampon use, and pelvic exams. Dr. Rubin discusses how the vulvar vestibule, the hormone sensitive tissue surrounding the urethra, becomes a source of pain for many women during perimenopause, on birth control pills, or postpartum due to low estrogen and testosterone. Guest links: Dr. Rachel Rubin (Instagram) Dr. Rachel Rubin (YouTube) Dr. Rachel Rubin (Website) Dr. Rachel Rubin (LinkedIn) Dr. Rachel Rubin (Facebook) Dr. Rachel Rubin (X) Books “Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage Hardcover,” by Rachel E. Gross “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver Articles Sexual function after hysterectomy according to surgical indication: a prospective cohort study (Sexual Health) The human cervix: Comprehensive review of innervation and clinical significance (Clinical Anatomy) Brain activation during vaginocervical self-stimulation and orgasm in women with complete spinal cord injury: fMRI evidence of mediation by the vagus nerves (Brain Research) The Impact of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Erectile Function: Friend or Foe? (Biomolecules) Effect of Saw Palmetto Extract on Erectile Dysfunction and Libido in Patients with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Because of Benign Prostatic Obstruction (International Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal Plants) “Not feeling like myself” in perimenopause — what does it mean? Observations from the Women Living Better survey (Menopause) Updates on Therapeutic Alternatives for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Managements (Journal of Menopausal Medicine) Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Cardiovascular Diseases in Women With Vasomotor Symptoms: A Secondary Analysis of the Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Clinical Trials (JAMA Internal Medicine)

In this continuation of their conversation, Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein and Dr. Mary Claire Haver shift from understanding why menopause affects bones and joints to what actually works for building stronger bones and preventing fractures. If you've been told your bone density is declining, or you're worried about falls and fractures, this episode delivers the practical protocols you need. Dr. Wittstein is a practicing orthopedic surgeon, researcher, and associate professor at Duke University specializing in sports medicine and the female athlete across the lifespan. She's also a former collegiate gymnast and mother of five. Her research focuses on frozen shoulder, ACL injuries in female athletes, and the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause. As president of the Forum for Women in Sports Medicine, Dr. Wittstein is changing how we understand the intersection of hormones, movement, and independence in women's bodies. They tackle the questions women ask most. How much exercise is enough? What types build bone? Is jumping necessary? They discuss the LIFT More trial and EFOPS trial, research showing women in structured exercise programs had fifty percent reduction in fracture risk, even as bone density eventually declined. This reveals something crucial: preventing fractures goes beyond bone density numbers alone. Guest links: Jocelyn Ross Wittstein, MD (Duke Health) Jocelyn Wittstein, MD (Instagram) Duke Female Athlete Program Milken Institute Women’s Health Initiative Books:“The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan: Help Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis and Arthritis,” by Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein and Sydney Nitzkorski, MS, RD “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver

If you've ever struggled to put on a bra, reach behind your back, or lift your arm without searing pain in your shoulder, you're not alone. Frozen shoulder strikes women in midlife at alarming rates, yet for decades, medicine dismissed it as a mystery condition with no known cause. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein saw what others missed: her patients with frozen shoulder were almost all women between forty and sixty, experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. What she discovered is changing how we understand the impact of declining estrogen on women's joints, bones, and muscles. Dr. Wittstein is a practicing orthopedic surgeon, researcher, and associate professor at Duke University, specializing in sports medicine and the female athlete across the lifespan. She's also a former collegiate gymnast and mother of five. Her research focuses on frozen shoulder, ACL injuries in female athletes, and the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause. As president of the Forum for Women in Sports Medicine, Dr. Wittstein is changing how we understand the intersection of hormones, movement, and independence in women's bodies. In this conversation, Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Wittstein explore how declining estrogen during perimenopause and menopause impacts joints, bones, muscles, and connective tissue. They discuss why frozen shoulder disproportionately affects women in midlife, with some Asian cultures having their own term for it that translates to fifty year shoulder. Dr. Wittstein explains the critical window for treatment, why early intervention can be transformative, and how hormone replacement therapy may prevent it, with preliminary data suggesting women using systemic estradiol have half the risk of developing frozen shoulder. She shares why physical therapy during the inflammatory phase can worsen it and how to recognize the early warning signs. Guest links: Jocelyn Ross Wittstein, MD (Duke Health) Jocelyn Wittstein, MD (Instagram) Duke Female Athlete Program Milken Institute Women’s Health Initiative Books“The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan: Help Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis and Arthritis,” by Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein and Sydney Nitzkorski, MS, RD “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

Award-winning British television creator Sally Wainwright joins Dr. Mary Claire Haver to discuss her groundbreaking new BBC series Riot Women, a drama about five midlife women who form a punk rock band while navigating menopause, aging parents, and the complexities of life after 50. Sally, the creative force behind acclaimed series including Happy Valley, Gentlemen Jack, and Last Tango in Halifax, shares how her own experience with perimenopause and menopause inspired the show and why she calls this life stage "identity theft." The conversation explores Sally's journey from bus driver to one of British television's most celebrated showrunners, her commitment to portraying authentic female characters who carry grief, desire, sexuality, rage, and resilience in bodies that reflect actual lived experience, and how brain fog, joylessness, and depression led her to finally try hormone replacement therapy after initially believing outdated myths about breast cancer risk, and how that decision transformed her wellbeing. Dr. Haver and Sally discuss the critical importance of naming menopause symptoms, from the devastating loss of motivation and confidence that can accompany hormonal changes to the sandwich generation pressures of dementia care for aging parents while raising teenagers. The episode examines why female stories, particularly those featuring women over 50, face funding challenges in entertainment, how male writers have historically constructed female characters through the male gaze, and why Sally believes women are more heroic and emotionally articulate than men. They explore the revolutionary aspects of Riot Women, including its honest portrayal of sexual health, libido changes, medical gaslighting, and the transformative power of HRT, rarely if ever depicted on screen with such nuance and optimism. Sally discusses audience response to the series, including an unprecedented volume of thank-you letters to the BBC from viewers who felt seen for the first time, men's surprising embrace of the show despite its focus on female experience, and a handful of critics who complained about the absence of "nice men" despite the show's ensemble of complex, flawed characters of all genders. This conversation offers validation for anyone navigating the physical and emotional challenges of perimenopause and menopause, inspiration for creative midlife reinvention, and hope that entertainment is finally beginning to tell the truth about women's lives with the honesty, ferocity, humor, tenderness, and rage they deserve. Guest links: Sally Wainwright (Instagram) Sally Wainwright (IMDB) Articles Menopausal Hormone Therapy and the Breast: A Review of Clinical Studies (Breast Care) Anhedonia: A Concept Analysis (Archives of Psychiatric Nursing) Other Resources Primary Ovarian Insufficiency in Adolescents and Young Women (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) Riot Women (BBC) Clips from Riot Women: 251105_RiotWomen_Ep1_Clip_Satisfaction_Bug.mp4 251105_RiotWomen_Ep1_Clip_WithAttitude_Bug.mp4 251105_RiotWomen_Ep1_Clip_RiotWomen_Bug.mp4 251105_RiotWomen_Ep1_Clip_OneMenopausalWomanToAnother_Bug.mp4 251105_RiotWomen_Ep1_Clip_ForTheRefugees_Bug.mp4 Books: “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen is a board certified oncologist at NYU Langone Health, co-director of the Mignoni Women's Health Collaborative, and author of the groundbreaking book “All In Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women’s Bodies and Why It Matters Today”. In this powerful conversation about medical gaslighting and women's healthcare, she and Dr. Mary Claire Haver trace the deep roots of medical misogyny and reveal why the healthcare system still dismisses women's symptoms today. Dr. Comen shares the story of a breast cancer patient on her deathbed who, hours from death, apologized for sweating during a hug. It's a moment that captures what nearly every woman experiences in a doctor's office, the reflexive apology for being in a normal human body. Whether it's apologizing for leg hair in stirrups or hiding underwear during an exam, women have internalized tremendous shame about their bodies. Dr. Comen explains this isn't random. It's the legacy of a medical system built by men who dismissed women's pain and symptoms as hysteria, neurosis, or anxiety. Through meticulous research into medical history, Dr. Comen reveals how this medical gaslighting became embedded in healthcare. She discusses William Osler, one of cardiology's founding fathers, who described women's chest pain as "neurotic angina" and wrote that "these women do not die." Yet heart disease is the number one killer of women. She explains how women are twice as likely to call an ambulance for their husband's heart attack than for themselves, and when they do seek help for chest pain, they're far more likely to be misdiagnosed with a panic attack instead of receiving proper cardiac care. Dr. Haver and Dr. Comen discuss the systemic healthcare gaps across medical specialties: why 80% of autoimmune diseases affect women yet it's not considered a women's health field, why female specific surgeries are reimbursed at significantly lower rates than comparable male procedures, why Alzheimer's disease is twice as common in women but received almost no research funding, and how the legacy of dismissing women's sexual health continues in breast cancer and oncology care today. They explore bizarre historical medical fears like "bicycle face," the myth that women would become ugly and infertile from exercise, and how plastic surgery evolved to make women "marriage material" rather than serve their actual health needs. Despite the sobering history of medical misogyny, this conversation ends with hope. Dr. Comen shares why she's optimistic about the cultural shift happening in women's healthcare now, the importance of women advocating for themselves in medical settings, and how the next generation doesn't have to wait for menopause to stop apologizing and start demanding better healthcare. Guest links: Dr. Elizabeth Comen Dr. Elizabeth Comen (Instagram) Dr. Elizabeth Comen (LinkedIn) Dr. Elizabeth Comen, MD (NYU) Books “All in Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women’s Bodies and Why It Matters Today,” by Dr. Elizabeth Comen “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver“The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

Dr. Mary Claire Haver breaks down everything you need to know about perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause in this solo episode, answering critical questions about hormones, symptoms, and treatment with the medical expertise and personal experience that's made her a trusted voice for millions of women. Most women don't realize perimenopause can begin at 35-36 years old, a full seven to ten years before periods stop. Dr. Haver explains why the first signs are often brain-related: fog, anxiety, feeling like "something's not right," rather than physical changes. Menopause itself is just one day (one year after your last period), but postmenopause represents 30-50 years of life without ovarian hormones. Understanding these three phases changes everything about how women can navigate this transition. In this episode, Dr. Haver answers questions like: What is menopause and when does it really start? Why am I gaining weight around my middle even though my diet hasn't changed? Why am I suddenly experiencing anxiety and depression? What changes happen to the vagina and bladder? What are my hormone therapy options? And what about testosterone, do I need it? With estrogen receptors mapped throughout the body, Dr. Haver reveals how declining hormones affect nearly every system. She lists over 40 potential symptoms beyond hot flashes: frozen shoulder, elevated cholesterol, insulin resistance, joint pain, kidney stones, even heightened hearing. Understanding the biology of how your hypothalamus frantically signals ovaries that can't respond explains why menopause impacts so much more than your cycle. She also explains why visceral belly fat triples during this transition regardless of diet and exercise changes, and what that means for long-term health. Dr. Haver shares a revealing statistic: only 8% of OB-GYN residents feel competent treating menopause, and 77% receive zero menopause training. She explains what doctors should know but often don't: hormone therapy as first-line treatment for mental health changes in perimenopause, prophylactic vaginal estrogen for all perimenopausal women (considered safe even for many breast cancer patients), no mandatory stop date for hormone therapy when benefits outweigh risks, and affordable bioidentical options that exist beyond expensive pellets. This episode arms you with knowledge to find menopause-educated clinicians, recognize quality care, and demand treatment that actually works. As Dr. Haver emphasizes throughout the episode, no woman should suffer unnecessarily when safe, effective options exist. Guest links: Mary Claire Wellness The ‘Pause Life Dr. Mary Claire Haver (Instagram) Dr. Mary Claire Haver (YouTube) Books “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver Other Resources The Menopause Society The Women’s Health Initiative Dr. Kelly Casperson Dr. Corinne Menn Books: “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

Divorce rates for people over 50 have doubled since the 1990s, and women are initiating the majority of them. What's really driving this shift? In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with family law attorney and broadcaster Jenny Hutt to discuss the facts, finances, and fallout of midlife divorce. Jenny Hutt is a family law attorney specializing in divorce and mediation in New York, and she spent two decades as a broadcaster on SiriusXM. She's one of Dr. Haver's earliest supporters, and she brings both personal experience and professional insight to this conversation about a controversial topic relating to women's health: the connection between menopause and divorce. Dr. Haver and Jenny start with the facts: the statistics behind gray divorce, why women are initiating most of them, and what's really happening beyond the oversimplification of "dry vagina" causing divorces. They discuss feeling unsupported, undervalued, and reaching a breaking point after years of caregiving. They also dive into finances: what every woman should know about her money whether she's thinking about divorce or not, the three things to do if you're considering divorce, the difference between mediation and legal representation, how to protect inheritance, and the details around a postnuptial agreement. They also address the financial reality that women's household income drops 41% on average after divorce compared to 23% for men. Finally, they explore the fallout: the stress on the sandwich generation of caring for aging parents while raising children, how trauma strains marriages, rebuilding identity after a long marriage, the shame women feel, and why the other side of divorce can bring unexpected peace and freedom. Guest links: Jennifer Hutt  Just Jenny Podcast (Apple Podcasts) Jennifer Koppleman Hutt (Wisselman Harounian Family Law) Jenny Hutt (e-mail) Jenny Hutt (Instagram) Other Resources U.S. Divorce Rates Down, Marriage Rates Stagnant From 2012-2022 (U.S. Census Bureau) Women More Likely Than Men to Initiate Divorces, But Not Non-Marital Breakups (American Sociological Association) Books“The Galveston Diet: The Doctor-Developed, Patient-Proven Plan to Burn Fat and Tame Your Hormonal Symptoms,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

What happens when a news anchor loses her words on live television and discovers it's not stress, but menopause? Emmy Award-winning journalist Tamsen Fadal joins Dr. Mary Claire Haver to share why she walked away from her dream job in pursuit of changing the conversation around women's health, the powerful story behind her New York Times bestselling book How to Menopause, and her groundbreaking PBS documentary The M Factor. Tamsen spent 30 years in broadcast journalism without saying the word "menopause" on air—not once. Then perimenopause hit. Brain fog made her skip words on the teleprompter. A hot flash so severe during a live newscast left her sweating and pale, eventually forcing her off the set entirely. Despite erratic bleeding, insomnia, and mounting symptoms, doctor after doctor missed the diagnosis. But once she understood what was happening, she couldn't stop talking about it. She co-produced The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause with three other women, self-funding the documentary after she was told there was no audience. The trailer went viral. PBS picked it up. Over 1,000 community screenings followed in 43 countries. Dr. Haver and Tamsen reflect on meeting at their first menopause conference, the moment they both realized how little training doctors receive, and why this work feels like a calling. Guest links: Tamsen Fadal The Tamsen Show “The (M) Factor” Documentary Tamsen Fadal (Facebook) Tamsen Fadal (YouTube) Tamsen Fadal (LinkedIn) Tamsen Fadal (Instagram) Tamsen Fadal (TikTok) Books “How to Menopause,” by Tamsen Fadal “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The Galveston Diet,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The Wisdom of Menopause,” by Dr. Christiane Northrup “The Menopause Manifesto,” by Dr. Jen Gunter “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver This episode covers: Why many women are prescribed antidepressants for hot flashes instead of hormone therapy Growing up with a mother who suffered through surgical menopause in silence The fear of HRT and what finally changed Tamsen's mind Writing a book publishers said had "no audience" and then hitting the New York Times bestseller list Why the Women's Health Initiative headlines continue to harm women decades later Walking away from a 30-year career as a primetime news anchor to focus on menopause advocacy The "shelf life" for women in journalism and ageism in media Her new documentary Before the Pause focusing on perimenopause Why millennials are approaching menopause differently than Gen X Finding community, purpose, and a second act in midlife Articles The North American Menopause Society recommendations for clinical care of midlife women (Menopause)The Estrogen Dilemma (Time Magazine) For full show notes, please click here.

In our last episode of unPAUSED, we began a conversation with Dr. Lauren Streicher about orgasm, sexual function, and why these topics are still so taboo. Because there was so much to talk about, we decided to make this a two part episode. So today, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues this conversation. Dr. Streicher is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the host of Dr. Streicher's Inside Information Podcast, and the creator of Come Again, a 30 episode audio series on sexuality and sexual function. She's been at the forefront of sexual medicine for decades, pushing conversations forward that most clinicians still avoid. In this episode, we're diving into why vibrators work when nothing else does and what the research shows about vibration versus other types of stimulation. Dr. Streicher explains non-hormonal arousal creams, CBD oil for the clitoris, and whether these products actually help. We discuss the role of neurotransmitters in orgasm and walk through the FDA-approved libido drugs Addyi and Vyleesi, including why testosterone is often the preferred option for women and why pellets are problematic. Dr. Streicher breaks down the orgasm gap between men and women and explains why it actually narrows with age. She walks us through her clinical approach when a patient comes in struggling with orgasm, why pain must always be addressed first, and how to find a sexual medicine expert. We also talk about what gives her hope for the future of this field and why not every woman needs to have an orgasm for sex to be pleasurable and successful. Guest links: Dr. Streicher Dr. Streicher (Instagram) Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information: Menopause, Midlife, and More (Apple Podcasts) Lauren Streicher - Faculty Profile (Northwestern Medicine) Dr. Streicher (YouTube) Subscribe to COME AGAIN: Sexuality and Orgasm DrStreicher.com/comeagain Use code UNPAUSED20  for 20% off (This code expires Dec 23)  Dr. Streicher's  Podcast Dr. Streicher’s  Inside Information: Menopause, Midlife and More DrStreicher’s Substack https://drstreicher.substack.com/ Gyne Hacks! (Including how to How to Get a Hands-free Free Vulvar View) Books: “Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina,” by Dr. Lauren Streicher “Hot Flash Hell-A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat (Dr. Streicher's Inside Information),” by Dr. Lauren Streicher “The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy: Advice from a Gynecologist on Your Choices Before, During, and After Surgery,” by Dr. Lauren Streicher “Sex Rx: Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever,” by Dr. Lauren Streicher “She Comes First: The Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman,” by Dr. Ian Kerner“The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

What happens to your orgasm after menopause? It's something nearly half of women experience changes with in midlife, but so few are talking about it. In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Lauren Streicher to discuss exactly what changes to orgasm, libido, and sex, why it happens, and what you need to know if you're struggling. Dr. Streicher is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the host of Dr. Streicher's Inside Information Podcast, and the creator of Come Again, a 30 episode audio series on sexuality and sexual function. She's a senior researcher at the Kinsey Institute and one of the true pioneers of sexual medicine, helping to define and legitimize a specialty that for decades simply didn't exist. Dr. Haver and Dr. Streicher start with the basics: what an orgasm actually is, the anatomy of the clitoris, and why most women cannot have an orgasm from penetrative sex alone. Dr. Streicher explains vaginal orgasms, cervical orgasms, the G spot, and the historical research of Princess Marie Bonaparte, who measured the distance between the clitoris and vaginal opening in 240 women in an effort to understand why she couldn't orgasm during intercourse. They discuss what happens to orgasm and sex post menopause, including the role of blood flow, nerve health, clitoral atrophy, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and medications, especially SSRIs that can affect both libido and orgasm. Dr. Streicher walks through how genitourinary syndrome of menopause affects the clitoris, why the pelvic floor matters for orgasm, and why so many women have never even seen their own anatomy. They also talk about anorgasmia, the inability to have an orgasm, both primary and acquired, and why this is almost never discussed in medical training. Guest links: Dr. Streicher Dr. Streicher (Instagram) Dr. Streicher: Menopause: The Inside Info (Substack) Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information: Menopause, Midlife, and More (Apple Podcasts) COME AGAIN Lauren Streicher - Faculty Profile (Northwestern Medicine) Dr. Streicher (YouTube) Subscribe to COME AGAIN: Sexuality and Orgasm DrStreicher.com/comeagain Use code UNPAUSED20  for 20% off (This code expires Dec 23)  Dr. Streicher's  Podcast Dr. Streicher’s  Inside Information: Menopause, Midlife and More DrStreicher’s Substack https://drstreicher.substack.com/ Gyne Hacks! (Including how to How to Get a Hands-free Free Vulvar View) Books: “Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina,” by Dr. Lauren Streicher “Hot Flash Hell-A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat (Dr. Streicher's Inside Information),” by Dr. Lauren Streicher “The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy: Advice from a Gynecologist on Your Choices Before, During, and After Surgery,” by Dr. Lauren Streicher “Sex Rx: Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever,” by Dr. Lauren Streicher “She Comes First: The Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman,” by Dr. Ian Kerner “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

Dr. Sharon Malone has spent decades fighting for women to get the healthcare they deserve, and she's not slowing down. As Chief Medical Advisor at Alloy Women's Health, host of "The Second Opinion" podcast, and author of the New York Times bestseller "Grown Woman Talk," Dr. Malone joins Dr. Mary Claire Haver in this episode to talk about reshaping how we think about menopause, aging, and women's health advocacy. For too long, women have been told to accept suffering as normal. Hot flashes, brain fog, joint pain, sleep problems, the complete unraveling of quality of life during perimenopause and menopause? Dr. Malone talks about being done with that narrative. In this conversation, she explains how the medical system has systematically failed women, from keeping them out of research studies to applying male-centric data to female bodies, from dismissing their menopause symptoms to perpetuating dangerous myths about estrogen and hormone therapy that have left an entire generation undertreated. She breaks down the Women's Health Initiative, the deeply flawed study that scared women away from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). She explains exactly what went wrong, why the study enrolled women who were too old to answer the questions it claimed to address, and why doctors are still getting it wrong today, decades after the original findings were walked back. The cost? A generation of women suffering unnecessarily while billions in research dollars went elsewhere. Dr. Malone also tackles the intersection of gender and racial bias in medicine, explaining why your zip code matters more than your genetic code when it comes to health outcomes. From her own journey navigating medical school as a Black woman in the 1980s to losing her mother to cancer at just 12, she points out the healthcare disparities from both sides of the exam table. At 66, Dr. Malone is proof that midlife isn't about decline. It's about stepping into your power. And she shares a clear message, that women have accepted suffering for far too long, and it's time to demand better. Guest links: Dr. Sharon Malone Dr. Sharon Malone (Alloy) Dr. Sharon Malone (Instagram) Dr. Sharon Malone (X/Twitter) Dr. Sharon Malone (Threads) Dr. Sharon Malone (Facebook) Dr. Sharon Malone (Alloy/YouTube) Dr. Sharon Malone (LinkedIn) The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon Books “Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy,” by Dr. Sharon Malone“The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

In this episode, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Corinne Menn to tackle one of the most common questions in women's health: "Can I take estrogen?" As a board-certified OB-GYN, certified menopause practitioner, and 24-year breast cancer survivor, Dr. Menn brings both professional expertise and lived experience to this conversation about who can take hormone therapy, who can't, and what's changed in recent years. Dr. Menn's own story provides powerful context for this discussion. At just 28 years old, during her second year of medical residency, she discovered a lump in her breast just one week before learning her mother had recurrent ovarian cancer. Within days of her mother's sudden death, Dr. Menn received her own devastating diagnosis: breast cancer. What followed was a grueling journey through mastectomy, chemotherapy, and induced menopause while simultaneously completing one of medicine's most demanding training programs. Throughout this conversation, Dr. Menn shares the profound gaps in survivorship care that she experienced firsthand and continues to witness in her patients today. The medical system, she explains, is focused on treating cancer but often fails to prepare women for the marathon of side effects that follow, particularly the devastating impact of estrogen deprivation on sexual health, mental health, bone density, and cardiovascular risk. Guest links: Dr. Corinne Menn Dr. Corinne Menn (Instagram) Dr. Corinne Menn (Facebook) Dr. Corinne Menn (Alloy Health) Dr. Corinne Menn (LinkedIn) Dr. Corinne Menn (TikTok) Dr. Corinne Menn (YouTube) Dr. Corinne Menn (Substack) Dr. Corinne Menn (Young Survival Coalition) Books “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “You Are Not Broken: Stop ‘Should-ing’ All Over Your Sex Life,” by Dr. Kelly Casperson ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver This episode explores: -Why family history of breast cancer is NOT a contraindication to HRT -The truth about Factor V Leiden, fibroids, endometriosis, and migraines: what really excludes you from hormone therapy -The concept of "weird Barbie" and why perfect candidates don't exist -How the medical system is focused on treating cancer but often fails to prepare women for the marathon of side effects that follow, particularly the devastating impact of estrogen deprivation on sexual health, mental health, bone density, and cardiovascular risk -How women with BRCA mutations (previvors) can protect themselves from ovarian cancer while managing hormone loss -Why vaginal estrogen should be considered essential for breast cancer survivors -The critical safety difference between oral and transdermal estrogen -Non-hormonal options for managing hot flashes and night sweats -Why one in eight women lose ovarian function before natural menopause -The importance of updated genetic testing if you were tested before 2013-2014 -The profound gaps in survivorship care and why 89% of breast cancer survivors feel their menopausal care is inadequate -How addressing menopausal symptoms helps women stay adherent to life-saving cancer treatments and maintain quality of life. -What comprehensive, individualized care should look like for every woman For full show notes, please click here.

What does it look like to begin again at 62 and thrive? Beauty industry pioneer Bobbi Brown joins Dr. Mary Claire Haver for an intimate conversation about her new memoir Still Bobbi, building Jones Road Beauty in her sixties, leaving behind the company that bore her name for 25 years, and redefining what success, purpose, and aging mean in the second half of life. Bobbi Brown revolutionized the beauty industry with her "no makeup makeup" philosophy in the 1990s, sold her company to Estée Lauder, and spent decades as creative director before exiting in her late fifties. But instead of retiring, she launched Jones Road Beauty at 62 during a pandemic, proving that passion and entrepreneurship don't disappear with age, they evolve. In this personal conversation, Bobbi shares her journey from Chicago to building a global beauty empire, the emotional reality of leaving the company with her name on it, and why she refuses to use the term "anti-aging." She opens up about growing up with a mother who struggled with mental illness, losing her brother to HIV, and how weighted vest training and strength over skinny became her midlife mantras. Dr. Haver and Bobbi connect over shared experiences of menopause, hormone therapy, and the relentless pressure of being a founder. They discuss what it means to perform when exhausted, learning to say no, and why the maintenance phase of any transformation whether weight loss or career pivot is often the hardest part. Bobbi's memoir Still Bobbi is a story of resilience, grit, and determination for anyone who thought their best work was behind them. Guest links: Jones Road Beauty Bobbi Brown (Instagram) Bobbi Brown (Threads) Bobbi Brown (TikTok) Bobbi Brown (LinkedIn) Bobbi Brown (Facebook) Bobbi Brown (Website) Jones Road Beauty (Instagram)Jones Road Beauty (Facebook) Articles High-Impact Mechanical Loading Increases Bone Material Strength in Postmenopausal Women-A 3-Month Intervention Study (Journal of Bone and Mineral Research) Other Resources Institute for Integrative Nutrition Miracle Balm (Jones Road Beauty) Bobbi Brown Teaches Makeup and Beauty (Masterclass) Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge (Hulu) American College of Culinary Medicine The Bobbi Kit 5.0 (Jones Road Beauty) “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

What happens after you lose the weight? Few are focused on this important question about GLP-1 medications. In Part 2 of this conversation on GLP-1s and Midlife Metabolism, triple Board-certified in Obesity Medicine; fellowship-trained in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen continues her discussion with Dr. Mary Claire Haver, going deeper into what happens after weight loss including the physical and emotional changes no one prepares you for, and what the future of these medications looks like. Dr. Salas-Whalen, founder of New York Endocrinology and author of the upcoming book Weightless, tackles the questions women are actually asking: How do I know if I'm getting good care? What about compounding pharmacies? Will I need therapy? And what comes next in obesity medication? The conversation addresses the psychological shifts that happen when you reach your goal weight for the first time in your life. Dr. Salas-Whalen shares what she's learned from following patients long-term and why the maintenance phase is actually the most important part of treatment. Dr. Salas-Whalen also addresses the cost and accessibility crisis around Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, the environmental impact of single-use injection pens, and why direct-from-manufacturer vials (like Eli Lilly's Zepbound vials) are making treatment more affordable. She shares her standard of care for obesity treatment and explains exactly what questions to ask before starting GLP-1 therapy. For women experiencing perimenopause and menopause weight gain, this episode provides useful information about what to expect beyond initial weight loss, how to maintain results long-term, and why proper medical supervision with body composition monitoring is essential for protecting muscle mass and metabolic health. Guest links: Meet Your Endocrinologist - Dr. Salas-Whalen (NY Endocrinology)Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen (Instagram) Books: “Weightless: A Doctor's Guide to GLP-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve” by Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

Are GLP-1 medications a game-changer for women in midlife—or just another quick fix? In this conversation, triple Board-certified in Obesity Medicine; fellowship-trained in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen joins Dr. Mary Claire Haver to cut through the hype and share what women really need to know about Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and the science behind sustainable weight loss. Dr. Salas-Whalen, founder of New York Endocrinology and author of the upcoming book Weightless, explains why GLP-1 receptor agonists represent a fundamental shift in how we understand and treat obesity—not as a willpower problem, but as a chronic medical condition with biological drivers including hormones, genetics, and metabolism. For women navigating perimenopause and menopause, the conversation gets even more specific. Dr. Salas-Whalen breaks down why estrogen decline drives fat redistribution to the abdomen, increases visceral fat, and makes it nearly impossible to lose weight using the same strategies that worked before. She reveals how GLP-1 medications can address the metabolic changes of midlife while protecting what matters most: muscle mass. Dr. Salas-Whalen shares her clinical experience treating thousands of patients and addresses the viral misinformation circulating online. She explains why obesity is a transgenerational disease influenced by genetics, environment, food accessibility, and even childhood trauma—not personal failure. Guest links: Meet Your Endocrinologist - Dr. Salas-Whalen (NY Endocrinology) Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen (Instagram) Books “Weightless: A Doctor's Guide to GLP-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve” by Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver Articles Loss of Visceral Fat is Associated with a Reduction in Inflammatory Status in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome (Molecular Nutrition and Food Research) Increased visceral fat and decreased energy expenditure during the menopausal transition (International Journal of Obesity) Sex-specific body fat distribution predicts cardiovascular ageing (European Heart Journal) Association between metabolic healthy obesity and female infertility: the national health and nutrition examination survey, 2013–2020 (BMC Public Health) The discovery and development of GLP-1 based drugs that have revolutionized the treatment of obesity (PNAS) Skeletal Muscle as Endocrine Organ (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology) Preserving Healthy Muscle during Weight Loss (Advances in Nutrition) 32nd European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) (S. Karger AG, Basel) Association of Obesity With COVID-19 Severity and Mortality: An Updated Systemic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression (Frontiers in Endocrinology) Adverse Events Related to Tirzepatide (Journal of the Endocrine Society) Weight loss response to semaglutide in postmenopausal women with and without hormone therapy use (Menopause) Clinical development times for innovative drugs (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery) The dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist tirzepatide: a novel cardiometabolic therapeutic prospect (Cardiovascular Diabetology) Dose-dependent pancreatitis risk associated with GLP-1 agonists (Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders) Mortality from type 2 diabetes mellitus across municipalities in Mexico (Arch Public Health) The association between age of menopause and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Nutrition & Metabolism) Obesity in Infertile Women, a Cross-Sectional Study of the United States Using NSFG 2011-2019 (Reproductive Sciences) Bisphenol A and the Risk of Obesity a Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis of the Epidemiological Evidence (Dose-Response) For full show notes, please click here.

What if weak bones and muscle loss aren't just "normal aging" but the result of decades of misinformation? In this episode double board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vonda Wright joins Dr. Mary Claire Haver to shatter the myth that frailty, fractures, and decline are inevitable for women in midlife. Dr. Wright explains why women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in just five years after menopause—and more importantly, what we can do to prevent it. She reveals how stress, inadequate nutrition, and neglecting strength training and hormonal health create the very outcomes we've been taught to accept as unavoidable. From the "musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause" that affects 70-80% of women (yet most doctors never discuss) to the science of building bones through strategic lifting, Dr. Wright provides the blueprint for aging with power instead of resignation. This episode also covers: -Why your bones are master communicators affecting your brain, metabolism, and more -The real story behind frozen shoulder and why it happens to women in perimenopause -How to lift weights for longevity -Why many women are diagnosed with osteoporosis only after they break something, when it's already too late -How estrogen loss drives chronic inflammation -Why nutrition, specifically foods that are rich in calcium, are better than calcium supplements to help strengthen bones Dr. Wright also shares her personal journey through perimenopause as an athlete and surgeon, and why she wrote her latest New York Times bestselling book Unbreakable. Guest links: Dr. Vonda Wright Dr. Vonda Wright (Instagram) Articles Longitudinal changes in bone mineral density during perimenopausal transition: the Vietnam Osteoporosis Study (Osteoporosis International) Osteoporosis Due to Hormone Imbalance: An Overview of the Effects of Estrogen Deficiency and Glucocorticoid Overuse on Bone Turnover (International Journal of Molecular Sciences) The musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause (Climacteric) Bone remodeling: an operational process ensuring survival and bone mechanical competence (Bone Research) Biological basis of bone strength: anatomy, physiology and measurement (J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact) Stem Cells for the Regeneration of Tendon and Ligament: A Perspective (International Journal of Stem Cells) Peak bone mineral density in Vietnamese women (Archives of Osteoporosis) Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis (Age and Ageing) Sarcopenia (The Lancet) The Conceptual Definition of Sarcopenia: Delphi Consensus from the Global Leadership Initiative in Sarcopenia (GLIS) (Age and Ageing) Sarcopenia definition, diagnosis and treatment: consensus is growing (Age and Ageing) Poster 188: Is Hormone Replacing Therapy Associated with Reduced Risk of Adhesive Capsulitis in Menopausal Women? A Single Center Analysis (Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine) A Narrative Review of Adhesive Capsulitis with Diabetes (Journal of Clinical Medicine) Women, men, and osteoarthritis (Arthritis Care and Research) Gender differences in health: results from SHARE, ELSA and HRS (European Journal of Public Health) The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society (Menopause) The peri-menopause in a woman’s life: a systemic inflammatory phase that enables later neurodegenerative disease (Journal of Neuroinflammation) Vitamin D-Mediated Regulation of Intestinal Calcium Absorption (Nutrients) Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in women (Post Reproductive Health) mpacts of protein quantity and distribution on body composition (Frontiers in Nutrition) “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

What if your hot flashes are actually warning signs about your cardiovascular health? Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with research cardiologist Dr. Jayne Morgan to talk about the intersection of menopause and heart disease. Dr. Morgan explains why women present with different heart attack symptoms than men, how menopause accelerates cardiovascular risk, and why the medical system still isn't recognizing the connection. You'll learn what hot flashes reveal about stroke and heart disease risk, how arterial stiffening and blood pressure changes happen during the menopause transition, and why hormone therapy started early may be protective for your heart. Dr. Morgan shares which lab tests women should be getting, when to start screening for cardiovascular disease, and what lifestyle changes actually make a difference. She also discusses the role of statins, GLP-1s, and why research done primarily on men has led to treatments that may harm women. This conversation covers what every woman needs to know about protecting her heart through midlife and beyond. Guest links: Dr. Jayne Morgan (Instagram) Dr. Jayne Morgan (YouTube) Dr. Jayne Morgan (TikTok) Healthy Her Series (AIB Network) Jayne Morgan, MD (LinkedIn) Articles Improving Cardiovascular Clinical Competencies for the Menopausal Transition: A Focus on Cardiometabolic Health in Midlife (JACC Advances) Beta-blockers did not reduce cardiovascular events in selected heart attack patients in the REBOOT trial (European Society of Cardiology) Guidelines in Action: New Considerations for Primary Prevention of Stroke Related to Premature and Early Menopause (Stroke/American Heart Association) Risk of Cardiovascular Disease by Hysterectomy Status, With and Without Oophorectomy: The Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study (Circulation/American Heart Association) Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Implications for Timing of Early Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (Circulation/American Heart Association) Emerging role of GLP-1 agonists in cardio-metabolic therapy - Focus on Semaglutide (American Heart Journal Plus: Cardiology Research and Practice) Other Resources Breast Cancer Foundation (Susan G. Komen) Dr. Stacy Sims (Dr. Stacy Sims - About) Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease (NIH) Cardiac Biomarkers (NIH) Framingham Risk Score for Hard Coronary Heart Disease Gates Foundation Announces Catalytic Funding to Spark New Era of Women-Centered Research and Innovation (Gates Foundation) Advancing Postpartum Systems of Care Initiative (American Heart Association) Prevention (World Heart Federation) Assessing the Impact of Lipoprotein (a) Lowering With Pelacarsen (TQJ230) on Major Cardiovascular Events in Patients With CVD (Lp(a)HORIZON) (Clinicaltrials.gov)Sleep Disorders and Heart Health (American Heart Association) “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

From selling jewelry in Tennessee living rooms to headlining arenas across America, Leanne Morgan's path to success took 25 years, and it's a story every woman in midlife needs to hear. The comedian and actress sits down with Dr. Mary Claire Haver for a funny and deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to thrive after 50. Leanne shares how severe perimenopause symptoms nearly derailed everything, why one nurse practitioner became her lifesaver, and how going viral in her fifties changed the trajectory of her entire career. She also shares her sleep hacks for touring, why she refuses to stop talking about menopause and testosterone on stage, what she tells her daughters about taking care of their bodies, and why relationships, not retirement, are the secret to a vibrant, joyful healthspan. From her Netflix sitcom to her sold-out tours to presenting at the Emmys, Leanne's journey is proof that your best work, your biggest breakthroughs, and your most joyful years can happen in your fifties and beyond. If you've ever felt invisible, exhausted, or like you've missed your window, this conversation will remind you it's never too late. Guest links: Leanne Morgan Leanne Morgan (Facebook) Leanne Morgan (Twitter/X) Leanne Morgan (Instagram) Leanne Morgan (YouTube) Leanne Morgan (TikTok) Leanne Morgan: I’m Every Woman (Netflix) Leanne (Netflix) Books“What in the World?!: A Southern Woman's Guide to Laughing at Life's Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings,” By Leanne Morgan “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver For full show notes, please click here.

What if the biggest health study in history got it wrong and millions of women paid the price? In this premiere episode of “unPAUSED," Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Avrum Bluming, medical oncologist and former senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute, and Dr. Carol Tavris, social psychologist and co-authors of the life-changing book: Estrogen Matters. In this conversation, they dismantle the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study that terrified an entire generation of women away from hormone therapy and reveal why the fear was based on misinterpreted data, flawed conclusions, and a refusal to correct the record. You'll learn why estrogen actually decreases breast cancer risk, how heart disease kills seven times more women than breast cancer, and why the "lowest dose of estrogen for the shortest time" advice has no scientific backing. This conversation will inform you and empower you to demand better from your own healthcare provider.   If you've ever been told hormone therapy is too dangerous, that your symptoms are "just aging," or that you need to accept suffering in silence, this episode of “unPAUSED” is for you. Dr. Haver, Dr. Bluming, and Dr. Tavris give you the science, the tools, and the truth you need to hear including a free informed consent form and quality of life questionnaire you can bring to your doctor's office today.   Guest links: Estrogen Matters Estrogen Matters (Instagram) Articles Long-Term (≥5-Year) Remission and Survival After Treatment With Ciltacabtagene Autoleucel in CARTITUDE-1 Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (Journal of Clinical Oncology) Early Exposure to Medicine Inspired Committed Careers in Cancer Care (Yale School of Medicine) Estrogen and cognitive functioning in women: lessons we have learned (Behavioral Neuroscience) Uncertainty about Postmenopausal Estrogen — Time for Action, Not Debate (New England Journal of Medicine) Estrogens for Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: Putting the Brakes on the Bandwagon (Circulation) Effects of estrogen plus progestin on health-related quality of life (New England Journal of Medicine) Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer: What is the Evidence from Randomized Trials? (Climacteric) Breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy: collaborative reanalysis of data from 51 epidemiological studies of 52,705 women with breast cancer and 108,411 women without breast cancer. Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer (Lancet) Lung Cancer Mortality Higher in Women Who Used Combination Hormone Therapy (JAMA) Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate and Risk of Meningioma in the US (JAMA Neurology) The Mortality Toll of Estrogen Avoidance: An Analysis of Excess Deaths Among Hysterectomized Women Aged 50 to 59 Years (American Journal of Public Health) “The New Perimenopause,”⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver ⁠"The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver Other Resources Survival Rates for Breast Cancer (American Cancer Society) Eric P. Winer elected ASCO President for term starting in June 2022 (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) ASCO Past Presidents (American Society of Clinical Oncology) ASCO Overview (American Society of Clinical Oncology) Eric Winer, MD (Yale School of Medicine) About WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) The Facts about Women and Heart Disease (American Heart Association) The Million Women Study (Oxford Population Health) The Million Women Study: design and characteristics of the study population (Breast Cancer Research) Philip Sarrel (LinkedIn) QofL Questionnaire Informed Consent Form. No Prior Breast Cancer. How Do you Feel Books “Estrogen Matters,” by Dr. Carol Tavris and Dr. Avrum Bluming“Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me),” by Dr. Carol Tavris and Dr. Elliot Aronson For full show notes, please click here.

Welcome to unPAUSED, the podcast where bold, unfiltered conversations take place about what it really takes for women to thrive in the second half of life. Every week, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Certified Menopause Practitioner, and #1 New York Times best-selling author, tackles the conversations women actually need to hear. Dr. Haver sits down with a variety of medical experts, CEOs, and risk-takers to discuss everything that matters, from hormones and identity to financial power, relationships, and the tools needed to build the life you want. unPAUSED is about reclaiming your healthspan—not just the number of years you live, but the number of years you live well. Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes of unPAUSED starting October 21st. Subscribe now so you don't miss it.