Anxiety, brain fog, low mood, loss of confidence, and feeling “not like yourself” are some of the most common, and most misunderstood symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.
In this episode of All About You, Dr. Shauna Watts is joined by leading menopause experts to unpack the real science behind hormones, mental health, brain function, libido, bone health, and longevity, and why so many women are being misdiagnosed, dismissed, or under-treated during midlife.

This conversation cuts through fear-based messaging and outdated medical myths to explain what’s actually happening in the female brain and body, when hormone therapy helps, when it doesn’t, and what every woman deserves to know before making decisions about her health.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Understand why anxiety and depression spike in perimenopause and why hormones, not SSRIs, are often the correct first-line treatment
• Explain how estrogen stabilises the brain and why hormonal fluctuations drive mood changes and brain fog
• Separate fact from fear around menopause hormone therapy (MHT/HRT)
• Learn when SSRIs may be appropriate — and when they’re not
• Understand the role of testosterone in female libido, muscle, mood, and confidence
• Protect your bones, muscles, brain, and cardiovascular health long-term
• Bust common myths about vaginal estrogen safety, including in breast cancer survivors
• Make informed decisions about hormones at any age
• Reframe menopause as a powerful life transition, not a decline

Resources Mentioned

• Estrogen Matters — Avrum Bluming & Carol Tavris
• The New Menopause — Dr. Mary Claire Haver
• You Are Not Broken — Dr. Kelly Casperson
• Research on vaginal estrogen safety in breast cancer survivors
• Emerging data on estrogen, Alzheimer’s risk, and brain health

Follow Dr Mary Claire Haver

https://www.instagram.com/drmaryclaire/
Dr Kelly Casperson

https://www.instagram.com/kellycaspersonmd/

Dr Vonda Wright

https://www.instagram.com/drvondawright/

Gina Jeffreys

https://www.instagram.com/gina_jeffreys/

Dr Shauna Watts

https://www.instagram.com/dr.shaunawatts/

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:41 - About the Host

00:00:54 - Part Two: Menopause Mashup

00:01:50 - Understanding Menopause and Mental Health

00:03:16 - Brain Fog and Cognitive Decline

00:04:19 - Hopes for Future Medical Training

00:06:15 - Misconceptions about Menopause

00:07:20 - Testosterone and Menopause

00:10:56 - Vaginal Hormones and Menopause

00:14:30 - Audience Questions

00:15:16 - Menopause and Evolution

00:17:18 - Hormones and Osteoporosis

00:19:23 - Hormone Replacement in Older Age

00:20:41 - Hormone Replacement and Breast Cancer

00:26:06 - Vaginal Estrogen Sensitivity

00:27:42 - Risks of Not Going on HRT

00:31:16 - Recommended Resources for Menopause Literacy

00:32:43 - Rediscover You Program Advertisement

00:33:28 - Addressing Women Who Can't or Don't Want to Take HRT

00:37:10 - Building Muscle for Better Health

00:41:12 - The Importance of Optimizing Sleep

00:45:17 - The Role of Nutrition in Menopause

00:45:38 - Importance of Nutrition and Dietary Choices

00:49:07 - Alcohol Consumption and Menopause

00:52:48 - Social Interaction and Menopause

00:54:52 - Medical Help for Menopause Symptoms

00:55:38 - Final Thoughts and Encouragement

00:56:47 - The Importance of Seeking Help and Sharing Experiences

00:57:22 - Empowerment and Confidence in Menopause 

Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

In this conversation, we break down what actually changes during midlife from muscle loss and visceral fat gain to sleep disruption, libido changes, and brain fog, and why “eat less and move more” stops working. We cover what science says works, what’s a waste of time, and how women can take back control of their health with the right training, nutrition, and hormone support.

This is not about quick fixes. It’s about understanding your physiology and working with it.

In this episode, we cover:

• Strength training after 35 is mandatory, not optional, if you want to keep muscle, bone density, and metabolic health.

• Visceral belly fat increases during menopause by default, but it can be managed with the right training, nutrition, and hormone support.

• Most women under-eat protein, accelerating muscle loss, frailty, and long-term health decline.

• Hormone therapy is not a weight-loss solution, but it improves sleep, energy, and how well lifestyle changes work.

• Creatine combined with resistance training is one of the most effective and underused tools for midlife women.

• Sleep is the force multiplier for appetite regulation, mood, and consistency.

If you’re navigating perimenopause or menopause and feel like your body suddenly stopped playing by the rules, this episode is essential listening.

For more resources:

Dr Mary Claire Haver: https://www.instagram.com/drmaryclaire/

Dr Rachel Rubin: https://www.instagram.com/drrachelrubin/

Dr Kelly Casperson: https://www.instagram.com/kellycaspersonmd/

Dr Shauna Watts: https://www.instagram.com/dr.shaunawatts/

Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:

Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

00:00:00 – Why Midlife Health Needs a Reset

00:01:02 – What This Episode Will Change

00:01:54 – Muscle Loss After 35

00:02:24 – Why Belly Fat Increases

00:05:24 – Protein Needs in Midlife

00:06:55 – Eating for Muscle and Metabolism

00:09:18 – Supplements That Actually Matter

00:11:18 – Creatine for Women

00:12:48 – Lifting With Osteopenia or Osteoporosis

00:13:49 – Why Women Stop Vaginal Hormones

00:17:04 – Vaginal Estrogen vs DHEA

00:20:13 – Genital Urinary Syndrome Explained

00:21:56 – Why Testosterone Matters for Women

00:24:55 – “I Feel Like Myself Again”

00:27:17 – Access to Hormone Therapy

00:33:58 – Vaginal Estrogen Safety Myths

00:39:34 – Sex and Desire in Midlife

00:44:50 – Testosterone and Libido

00:49:38 – When Hormones Start Working

00:54:48 – Sleep Changes Everything

* Visceral fat

* Belly fat menopause

* Protein for women

* Strength training for women

* Creatine for women

* Testosterone for women

* Estrogen therapy

* Vaginal estrogen

* Vaginal DHEA

* Genital urinary syndrome of menopause

* Osteoporosis prevention

* Bone density women

* Sleep and menopause

* Brain fog menopause

What happens when a woman whose career depends on confidence and words suddenly loses both? For journalist Shelly Horton, perimenopause didn’t arrive with hot flushes at first. It showed up as anxiety, heart palpitations, crushing self-doubt, and moments of forgetting simple words at work.

In this deeply honest episode, Dr Shauna Watts speaks with Shelly about her journey through perimenopause-related depression, being dismissed by doctors, and the quiet suffering of high-functioning women in midlife. Shelly shares how the right diagnosis, support, and hormone treatment helped her find herself again and why she’s now using her voice to make sure other women don’t feel invisible.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Understand how perimenopause can present as anxiety and depression

• Recognise why high-functioning women are often missed or dismissed

• Learn how hormonal changes affect confidence, cognition, and mood

• Understand the role of HRT in perimenopausal depression

• Recognise warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored

• Learn why advocacy, for yourself and others, matters

• Understand how shame and silence keep women unwell

This episode is for women who feel dismissed, disconnected, or quietly struggling in the midlife yearss. Shelly’s story sheds light on how hormonal change affects mental health and how proper support can help.

For more resources from Shelly Horton:

Follow her on Instagram or purchase her book ‘I’m Your Peri-Godmother’.

Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:

Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts

https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

00:00 – When Perimenopause Steals Your Confidence

00:08 – Shelly Horton’s Perimenopause Wake-Up Call

00:53 – Welcome to All About You with Dr Shauna Watts

01:10 – “I Didn’t Recognise Myself”: Losing Confidence in Midlife

02:24 – Early Perimenopause Symptoms Doctors Miss

07:46 – Perimenopause, Anxiety & Depression

10:56 – Getting the Right Diagnosis Changed Everything

14:32 – What Depression Really Feels Like

15:20 – Tracking Symptoms & Withdrawing from Life

16:29 – High-Functioning Depression at Work

17:28 – Why Women Hide Mental Health Struggles

19:24 – Fear, Myths & Starting HRT

20:45 – Dark Thoughts & Breakthrough Depression

23:26 – Finding a Psychiatrist Who Understands Hormones

26:32 – Extreme Heavy Bleeding in Perimenopause

28:37 – A Health Crisis That Forced Change

30:34 – Strength Training & Rebuilding Her Body

31:50 – Body Image, Aging & Self-Trust

35:46 – Going Public with Her Perimenopause Story

40:13 – Vaginal Dryness & Intimate Symptoms

42:17 – Invisibility, Anger & Female Empowerment

48:04 – Writing a Book to Change the Conversation

01:01:38 – A Message for Women Who Feel Lost

* perimenopause depression

* perimenopause mental health

* Shelly Horton menopause

* high functioning depression women

* menopause anxiety and mood

* hormonal depression in midlife

* HRT and mental health

* perimenopause symptoms women

* being dismissed by doctors women

* menopause advocacy Australia

* women’s mental health midlife

* hormone replacement therapy HRT

* menopause stigma

* losing confidence in perimenopause

Many women are left navigating menopause with fear, confusion or very little support, especially when cancer or early menopause is part of their story. This episode brings clarity to some of the most misunderstood areas of midlife health, from surgical menopause and abrupt hormone loss to the challenges older women face when they were never offered HRT in the first place.

Dr Corinne Menn, OB-GYN, menopause specialist and breast cancer survivor, joins me to explain what the evidence really shows about hormones, why vaginal estrogen is safe for almost everyone, how polypharmacy affects women as they age, and what has finally changed in the way hormone therapy is being discussed.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Understand why early and surgical menopause cause more abrupt, severe symptoms and mental health effects

• Learn how lack of pre-operative counselling leads to preventable suffering

• Recognise why vaginal estrogen is safe for almost everyone, including cancer survivors

• Explore why women in their 60s–70s are returning to discuss HRT after decades of missed care

• Understand the role of shared decision-making for late-starters

• Learn how polypharmacy, SSRIs, and sedatives impact bone, brain, and sexual health

• Explore how HRT affects cholesterol, cardiovascular risk, and bone density

• Understand the implications of the FDA’s removal of the estrogen black-box warning

If you’ve ever been told to “just cope,” felt dismissed because of your cancer history, or wondered whether hormones were still an option for you, this episode brings clarity, nuance, and evidence-based reassurance.

For more resources from Dr Corinne Menn:

Visit her website: https://www.drmenn.com/

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmennobgyn/?hl=en

Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:

Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts

https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

00:00:00 – Why Hormone Safety Is Being Re-Examined

00:01:14 – Meet Dr Corinne Menn

00:01:54 – What Makes Early Menopause Different

00:04:06 – HRT for Women in Their 60s and 70s

00:10:00 – Understanding HRT Risks and Benefits

00:11:03 – Polypharmacy vs Hormone Therapy

00:14:10 – Menopause, Cholesterol & Heart Health

00:16:36 – Rediscover You Program (Sponsor)

00:17:21 – FDA Removes Estrogen Black Box Warning

00:24:51 – How FDA Changes Impact Doctors

00:25:40 – What the New Label Actually Means

00:27:17 – Key Updates to Estrogen Labeling

00:29:13 – How Women on HRT Should Be Monitored

00:30:07 – Do You Need Hormone Level Testing?

00:34:33 – Managing Symptoms & Side Effects

00:35:14 – Testosterone Use After Breast Cancer

00:37:19 – Evidence on HRT After Breast Cancer

00:40:40 – Why Menopause Advocacy Matters

00:42:03 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways

* vaginal estrogen safety

* FDA black box estrogen

* menopause after cancer

* surgical menopause symptoms

* early menopause risks

* hormone therapy after breast cancer

* HRT for women over 60

* polypharmacy in menopause

* SSRI risks bone health

* cholesterol changes menopause

* HRT cardiovascular benefits

* osteoporosis prevention estrogen

* Dr Corinne Menn interview

* menopause specialist podcast

* All About You Dr Shauna Watts

Have you ever been told, “You can never have hormones again” because of a breast cancer diagnosis, and felt terrified to even ask a follow-up question? This episode is for every woman who’s been left in limbo between cancer care and menopause care, wondering what’s actually safe and what’s fear and old data talking.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr Corinne Menn, a board-certified OB/GYN, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner and breast cancer survivor who went through treatment-induced menopause in her early 20s. Drawing on both her clinical expertise and lived experience, Corinne unpacks how breast cancer became so tightly (and often inaccurately) linked to HRT, what “estrogen receptor positive” really means, and why so many survivors are excluded from nuanced conversations about hormones and long-term health.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How one study and its miscommunication sparked decades of fear around HRT and breast cancer

• What “estrogen receptor positive” actually means, and why it doesn’t prove estrogen caused your cancer

• Why short-term HRT cannot biologically create a breast cancer that develops over the years

• The difference between baseline breast cancer risk, family history, and what HRT truly changes

• How synthetic progestins, body-identical progesterone, and estrogen-only therapy differ in safety data

• Practical steps to prepare for appointments, track symptoms, and advocate for vaginal or systemic hormones

If you’ve ever felt scared, confused, or dismissed when asking about hormones after breast cancer, this episode offers clarity, comfort, and evidence you can trust, helping you understand real risk, navigate safer options, and feel more empowered in your care.

For more resources from Dr Corinne Menn:

Visit her website: https://www.drmenn.com/

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmennobgyn/?hl=en


Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:

Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts

https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

00:00 – Introduction & Why Hormones Feel Confusing

00:37 – How HRT Became Fear-Based

01:10 – Meet Dr Corinne Menn

02:10 – Corinne’s Cancer & Early Menopause

04:15 – How HRT Got Linked to Breast Cancer

07:09 – What ER+ Really Means

10:44 – Family History & True Risk

11:22 – How HRT Affects Risk

15:12 – What WHI Actually Showed

16:32 – Why Balanced Risk Matters

17:26 – Modifiable vs Fixed Risk Factors

20:55 – Synthetic vs Body-Identical Hormones

23:44 – Hormone Absorption Explained

25:39 – Transdermal vs Oral Hormones

30:17 – Benefits & Limits of Progesterone

32:54 – Early Menopause & HRT Needs

38:16 – Challenges for Survivors

41:52 – Local vs Systemic Hormones

45:24 – Vaginal Estrogen Safety

48:56 – Advocating for Yourself

* HRT after breast cancer

* estrogen receptor positive explained

* vaginal estrogen breast cancer survivors

* Dr Corinne Menn interview

* menopause after chemotherapy

* surgical menopause HRT dosing

* premature menopause health risks

* bioidentical vs synthetic hormones

* breast cancer family history risk

* modifiable breast cancer risk factors

* menopause and cancer support

* hormone therapy WHI study

* progesterone and breast density

* advocating for vaginal estrogen

* women’s health podcast midlife

What if taking a break from alcohol was not about losing something, but finally feeling like yourself again? For many midlife women, the nightly glass feels comforting, yet the anxiety, poor sleep and low mood often reveal a different story.

In this episode, Sarah Rusbatch shares the science and lived experience behind reducing or removing alcohol. From better sleep and calmer moods to clearer thinking and stronger relationships, she explains the changes thousands of women notice when they step out of gray area drinking.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why 30 days can completely shift your sleep, mood and energy

• How dopamine and GABA rebalance after drinking stops

• Why alcohol often intensifies perimenopause symptoms

• Tools for managing cravings and avoiding cross addictions

• How to navigate social pressure without losing confidence

• What loved ones can do that truly helps

• How gut health and serotonin change when alcohol is removed

• Why life often becomes calmer, brighter and more connected

If you have ever wondered whether alcohol affects your mood, hormones, energy or sense of self, this episode offers compassion, clarity and real hope for change.

Join the Weightless in Perimenopause & Beyond Live Event on December 2https://shaunas-menopause-glow.lovable.app

For more resources from Sarah Rusbatch:

Follow Sarah on Instagram, visit her website and download her free guide “100 Things To Do Instead of Drinking” here.

Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:

Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts

https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

00:00:00 – Why Women Reevaluate Drinking

00:01:25 – Sarah Rusbatch and Her Work

00:02:03 – How to Cut Back on Alcohol

00:04:16 – Alcohol Free Socialising Tips

00:05:44 – Handling Slips and Setbacks

00:06:44 – The Truth About Moderate Drinking

00:09:33 – Supporting Someone Cutting Back

00:11:01 – Barriers to Drinking Less

00:12:08 – Alcohol and Relationship Dynamics

00:13:15 – When to Seek Professional Help

00:15:31 – First Weeks Alcohol Free

00:19:33 – Alcohol Hormones and Menopause

00:20:22 – Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk

00:26:01 – Alcohol or Perimenopause

00:27:21 – Alcohol and Dopamine Changes

00:29:40 – Cross Addiction Strategies

00:30:19 – Filling the Space Alcohol Leaves

00:31:24 – Navigating Unsupportive Friends

00:32:23 – Friendship Shifts When You Drink Less

00:33:50 – Alcohol and True Calm

00:34:46 – How Alcohol Affects Sleep

00:36:08 – Life Satisfaction After Drinking Less

00:40:15 – Managing Social Anxiety Without Alcohol

00:42:30 – Rebuilding Identity Beyond Drinking

* Gray area drinking

* Stop drinking midlife

* Alcohol and perimenopause

* Alcohol anxiety women

* Dopamine reset alcohol

* Alcohol and sleep problems

* Quit drinking support

* Sarah Rusbatch

* Dr Shauna Watts

* Alcohol free lifestyle

* Midlife health

* Gut health and alcohol

* Perimenopause symptoms

* HRT and alcohol

* Women and alcohol use

Once your child turns 18, control disappears but the fear, guilt and 3am “what ifs” don’t, especially when they’re gaming all night, drinking too much, not working or shutting you out. In this episode, parent coach Kim Muench joins me to unpack how to support young adults who are “lost in place”, stuck on the sofa, stuck in anxiety or stuck in risky behaviour and what actually helps: clear boundaries, honest conversations and doing your own emotional work so you’re leading, not pleading.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why control ends at 18 but your influence doesn’t and how to use it well

• How to understand and support a “lost in place” young adult who won’t launch

• The 4 Cs (clarity, calm, confidence, consistency) that shift stuck family patterns

• Ways to talk about money, gaming, alcohol and drugs without screaming… or enabling

• How to stop helicopter parenting your 20-something and become a safe place to land

• Practical boundaries when you’re scared they’ll end up homeless or worse

• Why emotional blackmail (“after everything I’ve done for you…”) destroys connection

• How to live with estrangement, work on yourself, and leave the door open to repair

If you’re facing a young adult who won’t launch, keeps circling home, or has cut you off, this episode gives you clear language, practical tools and the “4 Cs” to shift stuck dynamics plus validation for the grief and hope that come with this stage of parenting.

Join the Weightless in Perimenopause & Beyond Live Event on December 2

https://shaunas-menopause-glow.lovable.app

For more from Kim Muench:

Website: Parent Coach for Parents of Emerging Adult and Adult Children

Facebook: Real Life Parent Guide

Instagram: Kim Muench (@kimmuenchparentcoach) • Instagram profile

TikTok: Kim Muench on TikTok

Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

00:00:00 – Introduction: Parenting After 18

00:00:25 – What Parenting Young Adults Really Looks Like

00:00:41 – Meet Parent Coach Kim Muench

00:02:09 – Understanding “Failure to Launch”

00:03:09 – Helping a Young Adult Who’s “Lost in Place”

00:05:21 – The Four Cs for Stuck Young Adults

00:07:58 – Mental Health Red Flags in Young Adults

00:09:25 – How Parental Anxiety Impacts Adult Children

00:11:30 – Helicopter Parenting Fallout in the 20s

00:12:14 – Shifting from Fixer to Supportive Guide

00:13:10 – Respecting Differences Between Your Children

00:16:20 – Emotional Blackmail and Broken Connection

00:19:43 – Setting Financial Boundaries with Adult Children

00:21:54 – Technology, Screens and Young Adult Behaviour

00:24:24 – Partnering with Young Adults on Solutions

00:25:15 – Today’s Pressures on 18–30-Year-Olds

00:26:52 – Handling Aggression and Safety Concerns

00:28:52 – Alcohol and Risky Behaviour Conversations

00:32:03 – Young Adult Brain Development Explained

00:33:15 – Estrangement: Coping and Leaving the Door Open

00:40:58 – How to Connect with Kim Muench

00:41:36 – Key Takeaways for Parenting Young Adults

* parenting young adults

* failure to launch adult child

* adult child living at home

* boundaries with adult children

* parents enabling addiction

* gaming addiction young adults

* estranged from adult child

* helicopter parenting 20 somethings

* mental health and parenting

* multigenerational living boundaries

* setting financial boundaries kids

* influence not control parenting

* Kim Muench parent coach

* All About You podcast

* Dr Shauna Watts parenting

What happens when a woman who has spent her life on stage and on air suddenly doesn’t feel like herself? Hot, foggy, flat, and not sure why? In this intimate conversation, Australian country music trailblazer and radio host Gina Jeffreys opens up about the symptoms that blindsided her, the grief she carried, and the turning points that helped her find her spark again.

Gina takes us from brutal period pain on tour, through years of infertility and loss, to surgical menopause and a long, confusing aftermath with little guidance. We explore the lesser-talked-about signs, from skin sensitivity to sleep disruption, as well as the strain on relationships, work, and identity, and the practical supports that finally made a difference.

Join the Weightless in Perimenopause & Beyond Live Event on December 2

https://shaunas-menopause-glow.lovable.app

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Understand how perimenopause affects your whole body, from skin and sleep to mood and memory.

• Learn why surgical menopause can feel unpredictable and how to track what’s really changing.

• Recognise the emotional load of grief, rage, and relationship strain, and ways to ease it with support.

• Explore treatment options, including estrogen, vaginal therapies, and when testosterone can help.

• Get practical tips for intimacy, pelvic-floor health, and better sleep (even at 4:30 a.m.).

• Use gratitude, counselling, and community to rebuild confidence and rediscover yourself.

If you’ve ever thought, “Is this just me?” it’s not. You’ll hear the real story behind rage in the car park, crying in the school office, stepping back from the spotlight, and learning there is help: hormones, pelvic-floor physio, sleep and intimacy solutions, and a mindset shift toward gratitude. Gina leaves us with hope, agency, and a joyful reminder that midlife can be a beginning.

Learn more about the 16 week Rediscover You program here:

https://youbydrshaunawatts.com.au/16-week-rediscover-you-menopause-program/

For more from Gina Jeffrey’s you can follow her on Instagram or catch her hosting Breakfast with Matty, weekdays from 6am - 9am on Star 104.5.

Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:

Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts

https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

00:00 – Gina Jeffreys’ Story

00:00:45 – From Country Star to Midlife Shift

00:01:09 – Menopause Begins: First Signs

00:01:27 – Symptoms, Confusion & Finding Help

00:02:34 – The Struggles Behind the Spotlight

00:06:35 – Hot Flushes, Pain & Physical Change

00:06:57 – Emotional Turmoil & Unexpected Rage

00:08:38 – Car Park Rage & Crying Spells Explained

00:11:56 – Impact on Work, Marriage & Self-Esteem

00:13:24 – Coping Through Songwriting & Creativity

00:16:03 – IVF, Loss & Relationship Strain

00:24:22 – Public Scrutiny, Weight & Confidence

00:27:38 – Health Reset & Body Confidence Returns

00:30:07 – Facing Gym Fear & Finding Strength

00:35:29 – Pelvic Floor Physio That Changed Everything

00:41:31 – Hormone Therapy: Finding the Right Mix

00:45:12 – Testosterone Therapy & Renewed Libido

00:46:28 – Brain Fog Battles & Clarity Returns

00:49:33 – DEXA Scan & Hidden Fat Insights

00:55:59 – Menopause Weight Loss Journey

01:01:49 – Cutting Back Alcohol & Feeling Better

01:08:35 – Gina’s Top Tips & Menopause Advice

01:12:02 – Future Plans & Life After Menopause

* Menopause brain fog

* Surgical menopause story

* Perimenopause symptoms

* Menopause skin changes

* Testosterone in women

* Vaginal estrogen dryness

* Pelvic floor physiotherapy

* Menopause sleep problems

* Midlife relationships

* Rage and irritability menopause

* Rediscover You

* Sex after menopause

We’ve all told ourselves a glass of wine helps us unwind, but what if it’s actually wrecking your rest? Alcohol sedates you, but it doesn’t restore you.

In this eye-opening moment, Sarah Rusbatch explains why wine disrupts REM sleep, raises cortisol, and leaves women feeling constantly “just tired.” Even one drink can hijack your brain’s ability to process emotions overnight, and that exhaustion adds up.

Join the Weightless in Perimenopause & Beyond Live Event on December 2
https://shaunas-menopause-glow.lovable.app

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What “grey area drinking” really means, and why most women who struggle don’t identify as alcoholic

• How stress, boredom, and loneliness drive drinking in midlife

• The neuroscience of habit and emotional regulation behind alcohol use

• Why alcohol has been sold as “self-care” and how to rewrite that story

• Practical steps to reduce or stop drinking without shame

• How to rebuild social confidence and friendships alcohol-free

• The impact of alcohol on sleep, hormones, and midlife health

• Why compassion, not willpower, is the key to real change

If you often wake up exhausted, wired, or low in mood, this episode will help you understand the science behind it, and how to reclaim real, restorative sleep without the nightly glass.

Learn more about the 16 week Rediscover You program here

For more resources from Sarah Rusbatch:

Follow Sarah on Instagram, visit her website and download her free guide “100 Things To Do Instead of Drinking” here.

Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:

Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts

https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

00:00 – Why Women Turn to Wine

01:14 – Meet Sarah Rusbatch

02:18 – When Drinking Stopped Working

03:33 – How Alcohol Shapes Women’s Lives

08:08 – Becoming a Grey Area Drinking Coach

08:56 – Alcohol’s Hidden Impact on Health

13:09 – Wine, Friendship & Connection

15:00 – The Emotions Behind Drinking

16:52 – Stress, Loneliness & Midlife

19:24 – What We Learn from Parents’ Drinking

21:56 – Why Wine Isn’t Self-Care

25:26 – Gender Roles, Pressure & Overload

30:05 – What Is Grey Area Drinking?

30:30 – Are You a Grey Area Drinker?

31:42 – Early Signs You’re in the Grey Zone

32:36 – Alcohol, Sleep & Mood

34:46 – The Science of Stress & Wine

35:43 – Alcohol’s Effect on Skin

37:39 – Sedation Isn’t Sleep

43:35 – Binge Drinking & Health

44:48 – Life After Alcohol

* Grey area drinking women

* Alcohol free midlife

* Stop drinking without rehab

* Women and wine culture

* Alcohol and menopause

* Emotional drinking habits

* Sarah Rusbatch Beyond Booze

* How to drink less

* Alcohol and anxiety

* Midlife wellness podcast

* Quit-lit for women

* Alcohol self-care myth

* Female friendship and wine

* Perimenopause and alcohol

* Dr Shauna Watts interview

Hot flushes, brain fog, painful intimacy—these symptoms are tough enough in menopause, but after cancer they can feel overwhelming. What happens when treatment triggers menopause overnight and the system isn’t set up to help you cope?

In this honest and empowering conversation, Dr Shauna Watts talks with Dani Binnington—cancer survivor, author, and founder of Menopause and Cancer—about the realities of life after treatment. Together they explore the myths around HRT safety, the silence surrounding sexual health, and the small steps that can restore confidence and control.

Join the Weightless in Perimenopause & Beyond Live Event on December 2
https://shaunas-menopause-glow.lovable.app

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why menopause after cancer can be harder than the cancer itself
• How treatment-induced menopause impacts hormones and identity
• The truth about HRT safety and current evidence
• Why vaginal estrogen can be life-changing and often safe
• How to approach doctors about hormone and non-hormone options
• The lifestyle shifts that make recovery easier
• Why community and advocacy matter for survivorship

Whether you’re a survivor, a health professional, or someone supporting a loved one, this episode offers evidence, empathy, and hope—reminding every woman that she deserves to feel well again.

For more from Dani Binnington:Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/dani_binnington/

Podcast: https://menopauseandcancer.org/podcast/

You can find also more resources from Menopause and Cancer:

Website: https://menopauseandcancer.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menopause_and_cancer/

Follow Dr Shauna and the podcast on social:

Podcast Website: ⁠www.allaboutyoupod.com⁠.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts https://www.instagram.com/drshaunawattsgpLinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-watts-a903a5247

Disclaimer: This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it do not constitute medical, health care or other professional advice. Information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.

00:00 – Welcome & Why This Topic Matters

00:36 – Understanding Menopause After Cancer

01:10 – Dani Binnington’s Personal Cancer Journey

01:41 – What the Community Survey Reveals

02:30 – The Hidden Gap in Cancer Care

03:32 – Creating the Menopause & Cancer Podcast

04:15 – Founding the Menopause & Cancer Organisation

05:38 – Why Open Conversations Are Essential

06:38 – Launching World Menopause & Cancer Day

09:20 – How Menopause Symptoms Impact Recovery

11:08 – Hormone Therapy: What Women Need to Know

11:42 – The Importance of Patient-Centred Care

15:11 – Myths About Menopause After Breast Cancer

17:28 – Why Personalised Care Matters Most

24:53 – Facing Fears Around Hormone Therapy

25:32 – The Struggle to Access HRT Support

29:34 – What Evidence Says About HRT Safety

30:27 – HRT Risks and Breast Cancer Facts

31:33 – Menopause, Intimacy & Relationships After Cancer

32:17 – Community Stories & Coping Strategies

35:53 – Exploring Alternative Therapies & Self-Care

39:00 – Key Takeaways & Closing Reflections

* Menopause after cancer* HRT after breast cancer* Dani Binnington interview* Menopause and Cancer community* Vaginal estrogen safety* Endocrine therapy side effects* Hormone replacement therapy myths* Sexual health after cancer* Cancer survivorship support* Early menopause after chemotherapy* Menopause symptoms and intimacy* Dr Shauna Watts podcast* Navigating Menopause After Cancer book* Oncology menopause care* Women’s health after cancer