Perimenopause and burnout often hit at the same time, and when they do, it can feel like something is off but you’re not quite sure what. Cait Donovan talks with wellness expert Adrien Cotton about the confusion so many women face in midlife. Adrien shares how years of high-pressure work and unresolved health issues led her into what she calls a “perimenopause prison,” and how she eventually found her way out by learning to understand her body on a deeper level.

How do you tell the difference between burnout and hormonal shifts? Why do symptoms like headaches, sleep issues, and mood swings so often get brushed aside? Adrien offers clarity without oversimplifying and reminds us why it matters to track our cycles, lift heavy things, and rethink the stories we’ve been told about our bodies.

Adrien doesn’t promise a quick fix. She offers tools, context, and the encouragement to pay closer attention. She also shares how her program, Master Menopause Now, helps women approach this phase with more knowledge and less shame. If you’ve been feeling off and haven’t been able to explain why, this episode will help you start making sense of the changes and remind you that you’re not alone in them.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Welcome to FRIED. The Burnout Podcast

02:21 Adrien Cotton’s Burnout and Perimenopause Story

05:18 Debunking Common Myths About Perimenopause

06:06 Why Tracking Your Cycle Matters

08:00 Early Signs of Hormonal Shifts

12:12 Weight Gain, Insulin Resistance, and Sleep Disruption

18:08 Symptoms of Late Perimenopause

23:18 Distinguishing Burnout from Perimenopause

24:52 How Menopause Specialists Can Help

32:22 The Power of Commitment in Health Changes

37:02 Rethinking Diet Culture and Food Relationships

42:13 Strength Training as a Tool for Resilience

48:38 Life and Relief After Menopause

Links

Connect with Adrien:

https://adriencotton.com/

https://adriencotton.com/master-menopause-now/

Use the coupon code FRIED25 for a special discount only for FRIED listeners!

https://www.instagram.com/adrienmcotton/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriencotton/

https://adriencotton.com/newsletter/

Connect with Cait:

Cait Donovan is a keynote speaker, author, and host of FRIED: The Burnout Podcast, specializing in burnout, mis/match, and sustainable performance at work. She partners with corporate leaders, teams, and professional associations through keynotes, workshops, and leadership sessions that treat burnout as data, not failure, to help organizations reduce burnout without blame or shame and build healthier, high performing cultures.

To bring Cait to your organization or event, book an inquiry call here: https://bit.ly/bookcait

Learn more about Cait’s speaking work: https://www.caitdonovan.com/speaking

Short on time? Watch this 3-min video: https://bit.ly/caitdreel2025

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm