Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo

One year ago, Dr. Omolayo Famuyide sat down with me to talk about why menopause is not the same for all of us. In the menoverse, a year is an eternity. Since then, the U.S. FDA has stripped most of the 20 year old black box warning off hormone therapy, a major new review has weighed in on hormones and dementia, Health Canada has authorized a new nonhormonal option for hot flashes, and social media has served up a fresh wave of miracle cures and scare stories.

So Dr. Famuyide is back for Menopause 2026: a clear, evidence based reset on what menopause actually is, what the science now says, and what it still doesn't. We go myth by myth, from "hormones cause cancer" to "hormones prevent dementia," and we tackle the question too many doctors still can't answer: why do women of colour often go through menopause earlier, longer and harder, and why are they still less likely to be treated?

If you're 40 or over, love someone who is, or treat women who are, this is your refresher course.

In this episode we cover

• What menopause and perimenopause really are, and why most women are in the transition years before they realize it
• What has changed in the last year: the FDA label change, what it means (and doesn't mean) for Canadian women, and new non-hormonal treatments
• What hasn't changed: who is a good candidate for hormone therapy and why timing still matters
• True or false: can hormone therapy prevent heart disease or dementia?
• The misinformation still bamboozling women on social media, in supplement aisles and, yes, sometimes in the doctor's office
• Menopause in women of colour: earlier onset, longer lasting hot flashes, higher heart disease risk, and the research and care gaps behind it
• How to walk into your next appointment prepared, and why this stage can be your power up, not your power down

About Dr. Omolayo Famuyide

Dr. Omolayo Famuyide is a menopause doctor practicing in Winnipeg, Manitoba and one of the few menopause specialists in Canada who understands no two people will through this transition the same way. She first joined the podcast for Episode 61, "Why Menopause Is Not the Same for All of Us."

Find her on Instagram at @layocentre and @dr.famuyidemd, and at layocentre.com.

Listen, watch and join us

New audio episodes drop every Thursday. Full video episodes live on Substack, where paid subscribers also get Substack Live aftershows and first access to Aging Powerfully LIVE events. Find it here.

If this episode helped you, share it with one woman who needs it. That's how we change the conversation.

This episode is for education and information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk to your own health care provider about your health.

Tech and Audio producer: Drew Garner 

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this is one conversation every woman needs to hear.

One in eight Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Chances are, it has already touched someone you love. But how much do we really know about where breast cancer stands in Canada today?

In this episode, I sit down with two powerhouse voices in the breast cancer community. MJ DeCoteau founded Rethink Breast Cancer in 2001 after losing her mother to metastatic breast cancer when MJ was just 22, and she has spent more than two decades championing young people, those living with metastatic breast cancer, and communities that have been historically underserved. And Dr. Christine Brezden-Masley, a medical oncologist and researcher, joins us to break down the science, the treatments, and what's coming next.

Together, we cover:

• What breast cancer actually is, and the different types every woman should understand.

• Whether diagnoses are increasing in Canada, and what's behind the numbers.

• The risk factors we can and can't control.

• The latest breakthroughs in treatment.

• Whether access to care is improving, and for whom it still isn't.

• What survivorship really looks like, long after treatment ends.

• Why breast cancer in younger women is different, from diagnosis to treatment to life after cancer.

• How menopause, hormones and breast cancer intersect

• What the future holds for breast cancer diagnostics, treatment and survivorship.

• And what's next for Rethink Breast Cancer.

Whether you're a survivor, a caregiver, or simply want to be informed and empowered about your own health, this episode will leave you knowing more, and ready to advocate for yourself and the women you love.

Resources

Rethink Breast Cancer: rethinkbreastcancer.com

Follow Rethink on Instagram: @rethinkbreastcancer

Canadian Cancer Society: cancer.ca

New episodes of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo drop every Thursday on all your favourite podcast platforms. Watch the full video conversation on my Substack: www.melissagrelo.substack.com

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

She Doesn't Care About Your Excuses (And That's Why We Love Her)

October is Menopause Awareness Month! Welcome to it! 

Fair warning: this episode comes with a swear jar, and Beth Feraco filled it before we hit the ten minute mark.

Beth is the personal trainer who built a following of 1.3 million people across social media by doing something wildly radical in the wellness world: telling the truth. No filters, no fluff, no gentle whispers about "honouring your journey." Beth is brash, raw, hilarious, and allergic to nonsense, and midlife women can't get enough of her. Honestly? Same.

In this conversation, we get into:

• Her mantra, "We can do hard things," and why it's the pep talk every woman in the menopause transition actually needs (not the one we've been getting).

• Why Beth refuses to let influencers cast menopausal women as victims, and how that narrative keeps us stuck on the couch instead of under a barbell.

• Her takedown of viral wellness claims, including the internet's current obsession with the idea that cortisol spikes are the enemy of women everywhere. Spoiler: Beth has thoughts. Loud ones.

• The real pillars of aging powerfully, and what we SHOULD be focusing on instead of the latest trend in our feed.

• How to finally flip the switch ON and turn it UP on strength training, because lifting heavy things is not optional anymore, ladies. It's the whole game.

If you've ever rolled your eyes at a wellness reel, felt talked down to about your own body, or needed someone to lovingly kick your butt into gear, this one's for you.

Listen on all your favourite podcast platforms, and watch the full video conversation on my Substack: www.melissagrelo.substack.com

Find Beth online at @bethferacofitness (just don't follow her if you're easily offended).

Tech and Audio producer: Drew Garner 

After 18 years with Bell Media and 13 years co-hosting and moderating CTV's The Social, a show I conceived and pitched to the network over 15 years ago, I am stepping into my next chapter. In this Season 4 debut, I set aside the usual expert interviews to sit down with you, the audience, and talk directly about what's happened, what's next, and why I'm choosing to build this next chapter on my own terms.

This is a departure from the show's usual focus on evidence-based women's health, and that's the point. Before diving back into the science, research, and conversations that built this podcast, I wanted to catch you up, in my own words, on the biggest transition of my career.

In this episode:

• Why I am moving on from The Social and Bell Media after nearly two decades
• What it means to go from host to full-time media entrepreneur
• The real story behind building Aging Powerfully from a passion project into my primary focus
• What listeners can expect from Season 4 and beyond
• Why this next chapter is being built on my own terms, in her own way
• Explain how Substack is the new hub for all things Aging Powerfully
• Announcement of first Substack live aftershow guest to air Friday

A programming note:

The audio version of Aging Powerfully drops every Thursday, right where you already listen.

And there's something new this season. Video podcasts are now available on Substack, the new hub for all things Aging Powerfully. Watch full video episodes, get bonus content, and go deeper with the community shaping this next chapter.

Thank you for being here for this one. It means more than you know.

Season 3 of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo is a wrap — and before we head into our spring and summer hiatus, we are doing something we have never done before. A full season recap. Every episode. Every guest. Every headline you need to carry with you.

Twenty-six episodes. Some of the most brilliant scientists, physicians, researchers, and storytellers in Canada and beyond. Conversations about menopause, brain health, sleep, heart health, sexual desire, cancer, endometriosis, friendship, grief, dementia, skin, strength, and what it actually means to age powerfully on your own terms.

In this episode, Melissa recaps every single episode of Season 3 in order — the biggest takeaways, the moments that stopped her cold, and the guests she will never forget. Whether you have listened to every episode or you are just discovering this show, this is your roadmap to one of the most comprehensive libraries of women's midlife health content in Canada.

This season featured:

Dr. Jen Gunter on hormone therapy misinformation and the MAHA movement. Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple and Dr. Stuart Phillips on why building muscle is the most important thing you can do as you age. A solo episode from the Canadian Menopause Society Scientific Conference. Dr. Omolayo Famuyide on why menopause is not the same for all of us. Kara Murray making us laugh through the hot flashes. Dr. Shafeena Premji on non-hormonal treatments. Dr. Sasha High on weight, menopause, and weight loss drugs. Dr. Miriam Kirmayer on the power of friendship in midlife. Dr. Stephanie Faubion, Medical Director of The Menopause Society, on the latest FDA developments. Pattie Lovett-Reid on the "When I Die" folder. Dr. Liisa Galea on Alzheimer's and the menopausal brain. Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden on her mother's journey with Alzheimer's. Canadian icon Jann Arden on dementia and the long goodbye. A deeply personal episode with Melissa's parents, Frank and Claire Grelo, on shingles. Dr. Lillian Siu and Dr. Miyo Yamashita on cancer research and care in Canada. Dr. Lori Brotto on women's desire and libido. Dr. Kaajal Abrol on pregnancy and perimenopause at the same time. Dr. Tara Sedlak on midlife women's heart health. Dr. Marjorie Dixon on PCOS, fibroids, and perimenopause. Dr. Colleen Carney on why women cannot sleep — and what actually works. Dr. Nicholas Leyland on endometriosis. Dr. Ariane Ouellet-Decoste and Linda Franco on the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. Dr. Pauline Maki busting 25 menopause brain myths. And Dr. Lisa Kellett on your summer skin survival guide.

Melissa also looks ahead to Season 4 — and she wants to hear from you. Peptides. The estrogen shortage. Testosterone for women. Advocacy for billing code reform and mandatory menopause assessments at 35 and 40. What do you want covered? Tell her.

And while the podcast is on hiatus for the spring and summer — go back. The library is deep, the science does not expire, and there is something in these episodes for every stage of your journey.

Keep an eye on Instagram @melissagrelo for upcoming events across Canada — including Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo LIVE in Calgary on May 16th, 2026.

Tickets available now. Come be in the room.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Canada MedLaser.

Canada MedLaser is one of Canada's leading medical aesthetics companies — offering advanced, science-backed treatments to help you look and feel your best at every age. From laser skin resurfacing and body contouring to injectables and skin rejuvenation, Canada MedLaser combines cutting-edge technology with medical expertise to deliver real, lasting results.

Because aging powerfully means investing in yourself — inside and out.

Visit www.canadamedlaser.ca to learn more and book your consultation.

A NOTE OF GRATITUDE

Season 3 does not happen without two people who work incredibly hard behind the scenes and deserve to be recognized publicly and loudly.

To Beverly Furer — my business manager, my behind-the-scenes anchor, and the person who handles all the official, important, complicated things that make this podcast a real, functioning business. Beverly, you make it possible for me to show up and do what I love. I am so grateful for you.

And to Drew Garner — my tech and audio producer, who has been with me since Day 1 of this podcast and has never missed a week. Drew, you make this show sound the way it does — clean, professional, and worthy of the guests and the audience it serves. Every single week, without fail. That kind of consistency and dedication is rare and I do not take it for granted for a single second.

This show is a team effort. And I am so lucky to have this team.

Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo is produced for women navigating midlife with curiosity, humour, and zero tolerance for being dismissed. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with every woman in your life who deserves better information about her own health.

Season 4 is coming. Stay tuned.

Your sunscreen is probably not working as well as you think it is. And that sun damage you've been accumulating? There is actually a lot you can do about it.

Canada's leading dermatologist Dr. Lisa Kellett is back on Aging Powerfully — and this time we are talking spring and summer skin. Everything you need to know before the heat hits, and everything you can do if the damage is already done.

In this episode we cover how the skin actually changes when the seasons shift — and why that shift is more significant for women in perimenopause and menopause than most of us realize. We get into the sunscreen conversation properly: SPF numbers, mineral versus chemical, how much we should actually be applying versus how much most of us use, and the spots we consistently miss. We talk about building a spring and summer routine that works — retinol, Vitamin C, exfoliants, and what to do with them when the sun gets intense.

Dr. Kellett walks us through what pollution and years of sun exposure are quietly doing to our skin, how to recognize when something needs medical attention, and what treatments are genuinely worth investing in at 40-plus — from lasers and microneedling to radiofrequency, chemical peels, and injectables. We also talk about what lifestyle factors — sleep, stress, alcohol, diet — are showing up on your face whether you like it or not.

This is the episode you save, share with your friends, and listen to before you buy another SPF product.

About Dr. Lisa Kellett

Dr. Lisa Kellett is a board-certified dermatologist in both Canada and the United States, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, and one of the most trusted voices in Canadian dermatology. She is the founder of DLK on Avenue in Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood and was named one of Toronto's Top Doctors for 2024.

Connect with Dr. Lisa Kellett and DLK on Avenue

Website - dlkonavenue.com 

Instagram - DLK on Avenue: @dlkonavenue

Instagram - Dr. Kellett: @askdrkellett

Phone - 416-440-2597 

Address - Clear Clinical - 108 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2H3 

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo

Episode supported by:

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY, MAY 16, 2026!

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com 

Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo is produced for women navigating midlife with curiosity, humour, and zero tolerance for being dismissed. Subscribe wherever you listen.

Brain fog. Word-finding trouble. Walking into a room and having no idea why. If you're in perimenopause or menopause, you know the feeling — and you've probably wondered: is this real, is it permanent, and should I be worried?

In this latest episode, Melissa speaks with one of the world's leading researchers on menopause and the brain, Dr. Pauline Maki — Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology — to separate myth from medicine and bust 25 menopause brain myths wide open.

We cover what's actually happening inside your brain during the transition, why estrogen matters far beyond your reproductive system, and whether what you're experiencing is permanent damage or something far more temporary. We get into hot flashes as a neurological signal, the hormone therapy confusion that has scared women away from care for decades, and what the science actually says about dementia risk.

We close on what you can do right now — and how to reframe this entire transition as something other than loss.

Menopause is not a cognitive collapse. It is a neurological transition. And you deserve accurate information, not fear.

About Dr. Pauline Maki (Instagram: @pauline.maki)

Dr. Pauline Maki is a Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she serves as Director of Women's Mental Health Research and Senior Director of Research at the Center for Research on Women and Gender. University of Illinois College of Medicine She is Past President of the North American Menopause Society and a recognized authority on how hormonal changes and menopause symptoms affect cognition, mood, and brain function in midlife women. Psychology With over 175 published research papers, her work has shaped clinical practice guidelines for the North American Menopause Society, the International Menopause Society, and beyond. University of Illinois College of Medicine Her current NIH-funded research is examining the relationship between hot flashes and memory deficits, ischemic brain lesions, and functional changes in the brain at rest University of Illinois at Chicago — work that is redefining how we understand and treat the menopause brain.

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo

Episode supported by:

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY, MAY 16, 2026!

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com 

Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo is produced for women navigating midlife with curiosity, humour, and zero tolerance for being dismissed. Subscribe wherever you listen.

What if the most powerful prescription for how you age isn't in a pill bottle — it's in how you live?

In this episode, we're diving deep into Lifestyle Medicine — the evidence-based science of using the six pillars of health (how we eat, move, sleep, manage stress, connect with others, and avoid harmful habits) as medicine itself. The research is remarkable, and the implications for women navigating midlife and the menopause transition are profound.

On the show this week are two exceptional women at the forefront of evidence-based women's health care in Canada:

Dr. Ariane Ouellet-Decoste is a Canadian-trained physician with nearly two decades of experience spanning emergency care, preventative medicine, and women's health. After 15 years in emergency medicine in Quebec and the UK, she transitioned her focus to preventative and lifestyle medicine, training with The Menopause Society, the British Menopause Society, and the Canadian Menopause Society. She also holds a postgraduate certificate in Nutrition Science from Stanford School of Medicine, and currently serves as Medical Director at Coral — a virtual women's health clinic specializing in menopause care.

Linda Franco, RN is Director of Patient Care at Coral Health, with over 13 years of clinical experience — including 8 years in emergency medicine. At just 20, she became the youngest Assistant Head Nurse at the Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal. Trained in menopause and hormone therapy through the Canadian Menopause Society, Linda holds certifications in menopause, nutrition, fitness, and holistic health, and designs care pathways that put women at the centre of their health journey.

Together, they bring clinical depth, real-world experience, and a genuine passion for helping women thrive — not just survive — through every stage of life.

In this episode, we cover:

• What Lifestyle Medicine actually is
• The 3 core principles and 6 pillars of Lifestyle Medicine and why they matter 
• How to start using lifestyle as medicine — today

Whether you're just beginning to think about your health differently, or you're deep in the work of optimizing how you feel and age — this one's for you.

RESOURCES & LINKS: Coral Health

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo

Episode supported by:

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY, MAY 16, 2026!

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com 

If you’ve ever been told that debilitating period pain is “normal,” this episode is for you.

Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated conditions in women’s health. It can impact fertility, work, relationships, mental health, and overall quality of life — often for years before a diagnosis is made.

Today, I sit down with one of Canada’s leading experts in women’s health, Dr. Nicholas Leyland, to cut through the myths, the confusion, and the medical gaslighting with clear, evidence-based answers.

Dr. Leyland is a renowned gynecologic surgeon, researcher, educator, and incoming President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC). With decades of experience treating complex gynecologic conditions, he offers trusted insight into what endometriosis really is, how it’s treated, and how women can advocate for the care they deserve.

• What endometriosis actually is — and why it hurts so much
• The most common (and often overlooked) symptoms
• Who is at risk and how many Canadians are affected
• Why diagnosis is often delayed for years
• Treatment options: medications, surgery, and what actually works
• Whether endometriosis is a lifelong condition
• Fertility considerations
• Barriers to getting proper care in Canada
• Midlife, menopause, and hormone therapy considerations
• Health-care inequities affecting women
• How to advocate for yourself at medical appointments
• Rapid-fire myths and misconceptions

• Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC): sogc.org
• The Endometriosis Network Canada: endometriosisnetwork.com
• Talk to your primary care provider if you suspect endometriosis

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner 

Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY! 

May 16, 2026, Hotel Arts, Calgary, Alberta

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com 

This special double episode drops in recognition of World Sleep Day — March 13th.

Are you exhausted but wide awake at night? Melissa sits down with sleep expert Dr. Colleen Carney to unpack why sleep gets harder as we age, what actually works to fix it, and why so much of what we think we know about sleep is wrong. With a special focus on women in perimenopause, midlife, and menopause — this one is packed with real answers.

• Insomnia vs. occasional poor sleep — how to tell the difference
• Sleep stages, how much you actually need, and why quality matters
• How hormones, stress, and anxiety disrupt sleep in midlife
• Why sleep apnea is so often missed in women
• Sleep's critical role in heart health, brain health, mood, and metabolism
• Sleep medications, CBT-I, and what the science actually supports
• Common sleep myths — busted

Dr. Colleen Carney is a licensed clinical psychologist, Professor of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University, and one of the world's leading experts in insomnia and CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia). Her research has shaped international clinical guidelines for treating sleep disorders.

• Canadian Sleep Society
• National Sleep Foundation
• Sleep Foundation: sleepfoundation.org

Always speak with a qualified health-care provider about sleep concerns or treatment options.

Learn more at https://www.starbucks.ca/menu/drinks/protein-beverages

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner 

Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)