Why do so many women hit midlife doing "everything right" — eating well, exercising, succeeding professionally, yet still feel exhausted, irritable, gaining weight, and unlike themselves? In this episode, Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan and Dr. Leslie Sanchez-Goettler dismantle the menopause information gap and reframe menopause not as a breakdown, but as a powerful biological recalibration. From sleep disruption and anxiety to weight changes and feeling dismissed in medical settings, this conversation offers clarity, evidence-based solutions, and hope, along with a roadmap for owning your next chapter.
Key Takeaways To Listen For
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Why estrogen decline changes metabolism, sleep, mood, and fat distribution, and why old strategies stop working in midlife.
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How progesterone loss shows up as anxiety, irritability, palpitations, and disrupted sleep before classic hot flashes.
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Why many women are misdiagnosed or dismissed, and how the lack of menopause education in medical training plays a major role.
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The difference between weight loss and body composition, and why preserving muscle is critical during menopause.
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How menopause represents a neurological and hormonal restructuring — a transition into a new, more empowered phase of life.
"If we all were taught all of this in our training, and women were taught this from their parents as they were growing up, we'd all be so much better prepared to deal with this, and it would make doctors' lives and jobs so much easier too." - Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan
"We can't just keep trying to do the same old thing that used to work. We need to find a new solution that works for menopause." - Dr. Leslie Sanchez-Goettler
About Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan: Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan, MD, MSCP, is a board-certified family physician and Menopause Society–certified clinician specializing in midlife women's health. Trained in Ireland and the U.S., she brings a broad clinical background and a holistic, evidence-based approach to menopause care. She is the founder of Portland Menopause Doc, a telemedicine practice serving women in Oregon and Washington, and co-founder of the Portland Menopause Collective. A national speaker and educator, Dr. O'Sullivan also co-hosts The Dusty Muffins podcast and shares menopause education through her active Instagram platform.
About Dr. Leslie Sanchez-Goettler: Dr. Leslie Sanchez-Goettler, MD, is the founder and medical director of RadianceMD, where she provides shame-free, holistic weight loss care focused on menopause and midlife metabolic health. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, blending evidence-based treatment with a deeply personalized approach. She also founded the Oregon Physician Women's Group, a 1,900-member community dedicated to supporting and empowering women physicians.
Connect with Dr. Aoife O'Sullivan, MD MSCP:
Website: https://portlandmenopausedoc.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portlandmenopausedoc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aoife-o-sullivan-46b9251/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJuPavdygwiDSFrpcg1lfpX9OYtB5elO2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558224849958
Connect with Dr. Leslie Sanchez-Goettler, MD:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radiancemdtransform/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiancemd_org/
M/Power, formerly The Portland Menopause Collective:
Website: https://mpowercollective.com/#about-section
SHIFT Happens Retreat Information: https://mpowercollective.com/shift2026/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m.powercollective/%20
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