Energized with Dr. Mariza

By Dr. Mariza SnyderMedicine Alternative Health Health & Fitness

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Energized with Dr. Mariza episodes

November 12790: The 3-Minute Exercise Hack I'm Using to Burn Fat and Boost Mental Energy in Perimenopause
Wanna know the ONE thing that’s made a profound and positive shift in my mental energy?
In this episode, I’ll be sharing my top longevity hack that’s EASY for any woman in midlife to implement.
I know there’s no one busier than a midlife woman. From careers to caregiving, household responsibilities, and MORE… all while we deal with the emotional and physical whirlwind of menopausal hormonal changes.
And along with navigating the chaos of our day-to-day, these declining hormones lead to us losing bone mass, metabolic resilience, and mitochondrial function.
But the beautiful thing about combating these changes in midlife?
You don’t have to rearrange your schedule!
Seriously, this simple exercise hack is a complete game changer for me and my health, and I can’t wait to share it with you here!

IN THIS EPISODE
Navigating midlife hormonal changes and a busy schedule

My top tip for easily boosting your energy WITHOUT burnout

The benefits of quick exercise on your overall health

Prioritizing consistency over intensity

The research and science behind short bursts of exercise

My favorite kinds of “exercise snacks” and how you can easily incorporate them into your routine!
QUOTES
“Midlife is the most critical time to move our bodies. This is when our metabolism starts to slow, and our insulin sensitivity declines. We begin to lose precious muscle mass at a relatively steady rate.”
“The ultimate longevity hack is moving our body as much as possible throughout the day, not just the one big workout.”
“Honestly, nowhere is off limits for intentionally building my life around movement.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now

DrMariza.com
http://drmariza.com

Check out my other podcasts
https://drmariza.com/podcast/

Connect with me on Instagram

RELATED EPISODES
638: Unlocking Mobility, Strong Bone, and Healthy Joints in Midlife with Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein

#617: The Number One Longevity Hack Everyone Should Be Doing

#552: The Midlife Muscle Crisis: Why Maintaining Muscle Is Necessary For Fat Loss, Strength and Longevity with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

#546: How to Stay Lean, Energized and Strong By Working With Your Physiology, Not Against It with Dr. Stacy Sims

#616: Jump-Start Your Metabolism and Put Your Body into a Thermogenic Fat-Burning State with Stu Schaefer
34 min
November 10789: How to Menopause: The Symptoms, Relationships, and Health Decisions No One Prepared Us For with Tamsen Fadal
What happens when the career you’ve done confidently for decades suddenly feels harder because your brain no longer seems to cooperate?
For Tamsen Fadal, perimenopause didn’t arrive with a clear announcement. She felt off, blamed herself, tried to work harder, and kept assuming the symptoms would eventually pass.
Then brain fog began affecting her work as a television journalist.
She would look at a word on the teleprompter and suddenly be unable to say it. A job that once felt almost automatic began creating anxiety and chipping away at her confidence.
In this conversation, Tamsen and Dr. Mariza talk openly about HRT, sleep, self-blame, changing capacity, relationships, career reinvention, and what happens when midlife puts your entire life up for review.
Tamsen also shares the practices that now help her feel grounded and strong, including prioritizing sleep, walking outside, stepping away from devices, cooking more at home, protecting time with loved ones, and giving herself far more grace.
Her message to women entering this transition is simple:
You are not alone, you deserve support, and the next season can be extraordinary.

TAMSEN FADAL
Tamsen Fadal is an award-winning journalist, author, menopause advocate, and host of The Tamsen Show.
After experiencing her own confusing and disruptive transition through perimenopause, Tamsen began using her journalism background to investigate the menopause experience and help women access clearer information and more practical support.
She is also the author of the New York Times bestseller How to Menopause and has become a leading voice in changing the cultural conversation around women, aging, and midlife.

IN THIS EPISODE
The moment Tamsen realized something deeper was happening with her health
How brain fog began affecting her work and confidence on television
Why women so often blame themselves before recognizing perimenopause
The changes that helped Tamsen feel better, including HRT, magnesium, movement, and sleep
How she learned to give herself grace when her capacity started changing
Why relationships, friendships, work, and identity often come up for review in midlife
How Tamsen rebuilt her relationship with herself after divorce
Why she left traditional journalism to make menopause one of the biggest stories of her career
The non-negotiables helping her feel strong, clear, and confident in menopause

QUOTES
“It took away a lot of my confidence.”
“I couldn’t cheat the system anymore.”
“I got to know who I am.”
“You’re not crazy, you’re not alone, and this next season’s gonna be amazing.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
For connection & meaningful reads, join my book club, The Soulful Shelf:
https://drmariza.com/bookclub

Grab the How to Menopause Book by Tamsen Fadal
https://www.tamsenfadal.com/book-how-to-menopause

Tamsen Fadal Podcast
https://www.tamsenfadal.com/podcast

Tamsen Fadal Website
https://www.tamsenfadal.com/

Tamsen Fadal Instagram

RELATED EPISODES
785: We Were Warned About Hot Flashes. Nobody Prepared Us for the Rest of Perimenopause

769: Is It Perimenopause or Something Else? How to Finally Connect the Dots with Dr. Mariza

744: The Midlife Brain Reset: How to Protect Your Memory, Focus, and Mental Sharpness Starting Now

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause
34 min
November 05788: Embracing Womanhood, Cultivating Deep Connection and Nourishing Your Body to Metabolically Thrive with Dr. Mindy Pelz
How often do you think about the connection between what you eat and how you feel—not just in the moment, but the next day, or even years down the line?
As women, especially in midlife, our relationship with food and our bodies is constantly evolving.
But what if you could harness that evolution to feel better than ever?
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Mindy Pelz, best-selling author of Eat Like a Girl, as we uncover the secrets to transforming your relationship with food so that it works for you—not against you.
Dr. Mindy shares her personal journey with fasting, emotional eating, and how she learned to truly nourish her body in midlife for lasting energy, metabolic flexibility, and vibrant health.
Together, we break down the myths about "eating perfectly.”
And why SO many women unknowingly sabotage their metabolism.
You’ll walk away with simple, powerful strategies that you can start using today to finally break free from that cycle—for good.
Tune in if you’re ready to enjoy every bite while unlocking better energy, hormones, and resilience!

IN THIS EPISODE
How fasting and metabolic flexibility can shift your relationship with food and your body

Why blood sugar is more important than counting calories for hormonal and metabolic health

How to support your gut microbiome (or “tummy friends”) and why it’s critical for cravings and energy

What to do when you hit an afternoon slump, and how to avoid relying on snacks or sugar

The role of emotional eating and how to recognize when food is being used as comfort

Using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to personalize your food choices and regain control of your health

Simple swaps and habits that can transform how you feel day to day

QUOTES
"Your blood sugar is the ultimate biomarker of your cellular energy and metabolism. Regulating it changes everything—from your hormones to your mental clarity."
"We’ve all done things like grabbing a snack to ‘push through’ the afternoon slump, but there are better ways to reset your energy—movement, hydration, or just a quick 10-minute walk."
"When we stop treating food as the enemy and start understanding what our body needs, we begin to thrive, even in midlife."
"Women’s bodies are always evolving. Learning to nourish yourself based on your current needs is how we cultivate true energy and resilience."

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution
http://drmariza.com/book

Dr. Mindy Pelz’s new book: Eat Like a Girl
https://amzn.to/3YhhkF9

Dr. Mindy Pelz’s website

LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolyte Drink Mix – Dr. Mariza’s favorite way to stay hydrated, energized, and balanced
http://drinklmnt.com/DrMarizaSnyder

RELATED EPISODES
595: How to Master Your Metabolism and Reverse Cellular Aging in Midlife + My Best Tips to Thrive with Dr. Mariza

#551: How to Know if You Have a Sluggish Metabolism and How It Impacts Your Weight, Hormones, and Cellular Energy

#601: The Food You Eat Will Impact Your Menopause Journey + Foods to Ease Menopause and Promote Longevity with Dr. Federica Amati
1 hr 1 min
November 03787: Are You Abandoning Yourself to Keep Everyone Else Happy? With Hilary Silver
You’re dependable. Capable. Successful. The one everyone calls because they know you’ll handle it.
But somewhere along the way, did you learn to leave yourself behind?
In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with former couples therapist and women’s identity coach Hilary Silver to explore self-abandonment: the subtle ways women silence their needs, overfunction, people-please, carry everyone else’s load, and become whoever they believe they need to be to keep the peace.
They unpack why these patterns often begin long before adulthood, how they become intertwined with identity and self-worth, and why simply taking a vacation, delegating, or setting a few boundaries may not create lasting change if the underlying beliefs remain intact.
Hilary shares how women can begin questioning the “I have to” and “I should” stories running their lives, consciously choose a different identity, reclaim their time, and stop measuring their worth by how much they can carry.
Because midlife may be the moment you finally ask:
What do I actually want?

HILARY SILVER
Hilary Silver is a former couples therapist, coach, and founder of Ready for Love and Ready for More.
Her work focuses on helping high-achieving women transform their relationship with themselves, identify the beliefs and patterns driving overfunctioning and self-abandonment, and consciously create a life that reflects who they actually want to become.
In this conversation, Hilary brings more than two decades of experience working with women and relationships to a deeper discussion about identity, boundaries, self-worth, and putting yourself back at the center of your own life.

IN THIS EPISODE
What self-abandonment actually looks like in everyday life
Why people-pleasing and shape-shifting often begin in childhood
How high-achieving women can tie their worth to being indispensable
Why boundaries and delegation alone may not change deeply rooted patterns
How identity drives overfunctioning, rushing, and constantly carrying the load
Why midlife can become a powerful moment for questioning what you’re no longer willing to carry
How to challenge beliefs that feel like facts but may simply be old conditioning
Why Hilary reframes repetition as devotion rather than discipline
The question that can help you start putting yourself back at the center of your life

QUOTES
“Our beliefs are not fact.”
“It’s not vigilance and discipline, it’s devotion.”
“Doing nothing is doing something.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now
https://drmariza.com/trial

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your MitoQ Order
https://www.mitoq.com/energized%C2%A0

Hilary Silver Website
https://hilarysilver.com/

Hilary Silver Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1739660144

Hilary Silver Instagram

Hilary Silver Facebook

Hilary Silver Youtube

RELATED EPISODES
777: What We Know Now: The Midlife Lessons No One Taught Us with Jenn Pike

760: The Mindset Shift That Helps You Stop Feeling Stuck with Dr. Rachel Goldman

699: Managing Anxiety and Identity in Midlife + Why You Need Community More Than Supplements with Rosie Acosta

170: Saying NO to People Pleasing and Establishing Effective Boundaries with Amy Smith
51 min
October 29786: Doing Everything Right for Your Hormones but Still Feel Terrible? Here’s What You’re Missing with Jessica Kane Berman
You’re eating more protein, taking your supplements, prioritizing sleep, working out, and managing your stress. Maybe you’ve even started HRT. And yet you’re still exhausted, your brain feels foggy, and none of it is making the difference you hoped for.
In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with Jessica Kane Berman, Co-Owner and Chief Brand Officer of BodyBio, to look past your hormone levels to the cells those hormones are trying to reach.
Jessica explains that hormones are messengers, and their message lands on the cell membrane. When that membrane is disrupted, even the right hormones, or the right HRT, can fall flat. And as women head toward menopause, they lose some of their ability to make the phospholipids that build those membranes from food.
They unpack what “leaky cells” are and how microplastics, heavy metals, and environmental toxins get inside, why the brain and the lining of the gut both depend on phosphatidylcholine (PC), and why so few women get enough phospholipids from their diet.
They also explore why fish oil may not be the answer it’s sold as, why a supplement’s quality and form decide whether it ever reaches your cells, the simple foundation Jessica would start with, and how the liver and bile flow fit in. Dr. Mariza also shares why BodyBio has been part of her own protocol since back-to-back concussions left her fighting to get her brain back.
Listen now to learn what your cells may be missing, and how to build a foundation that helps everything else you do for your hormones actually work.

JESSICA KANE BERMAN
Jessica Kane Berman is Co-Owner and Chief Brand Officer of BodyBio, the third-generation, family-owned cellular health company founded by her grandfather, Ed Kane. She leads BodyBio’s brand strategy, education, and global growth, translating the science of cell membranes, phospholipids, and mitochondrial health into practical steps people can use to feel their best.
BodyBio’s approach starts at the cell membrane, with phospholipids, essential fatty acids, and minerals that support how cells communicate, make energy, and clear toxins. Its products are trusted by more than 40,000 healthcare providers across the U.S. and U.K., and the company supports ongoing clinical research with institutions including the NIH.
In this conversation, Jessica shares her own hormonal history, from polycystic ovaries and being told she’d need Clomid and metformin to get pregnant, to three healthy babies and the shift she felt after her last pregnancy, and why she now looks at her hormones and her cells together.

IN THIS EPISODE
Why the health of your cells matters as much as your hormone levels
How a hormone’s message lands on the cell membrane, and why a disrupted membrane can leave HRT falling flat
Why women lose some of their ability to make phospholipids from food as they head toward menopause
What “leaky cells” are, and how microplastics, heavy metals, and environmental toxins get in
Why phosphatidylcholine (PC) matters for brain health, mom brain, and the lining of your gut
Why fish oil may not be giving your cells the fats they need, and better ways to get DHA
How a supplement’s quality and form decide whether it ever reaches your cells
The foundation Jessica would start with: healthy fats, minerals, and B vitamins
How the liver, bile flow, and TUDCA help your body process hormones and clear toxins
QUOTES
“Hormones are messengers, essentially. And the message lands on the cell membrane.”
“Everything ties back into how it functions on a cellular level.”
“They’re not supplements. These are essential nutrients that we need.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Use code DRMARIZA for 20% off BodyBio Hormone Essentials: The Hormone Health Stack
https://bodybio.com/DRMARIZA
Find inspiration, connection, and meaningful reads. Join the Book Club now!
https://drmariza.com/bookclub
BodyBio Website
https://bodybio.com/
Jessica Kane Berman Instagram
BodyBio Instagram
BodyBio TikTok
BodyBio Facebook

RELATED EPISODES
779: How Did We Get Hormones So Wrong? The HRT Story Every Woman Should Know with Dr. Louise Newson

755: What If Your Body Isn’t Broken, Just Undernourished? The Missing Link Between Nutrients, Hormones & Energy with Ryan Woodburry

750: The Underlying Cellular Cause of Midlife Fatigue, Brain Fog & Low Motivation with Andrew Salzman

736: Why Women Over 40 Feel So Drained (The Mineral Deficiency No One Talks About) with Caroline Alan
51 min
October 27785: We Were Warned About Hot Flashes. Nobody Prepared Us for the Rest Of Perimenopause
If you've started to feel blindsided [and totally frustrated!] by energy crashes, brain fog, or mood swings in midlife, you're not alone.
But here’s what no one’s talking about… this isn’t something to ignore or just power through. Perimenopause in midlife is a MASSIVE transition.
And the choices you make right NOW will determine your health for the next 40+ years.
In this episode, I’m sharing some science-backed strategies straight from my new book, The Perimenopause Revolution, to help you reclaim your energy, feel more like yourself again, and confidently navigate this powerful midlife transition.
We’re diving into the surprising connections between your current symptoms and your long-term health, why consistency matters more than perfection, and how to future-proof your body with smart, supportive habits.
Don't let another day go by accepting less than you deserve. Listen here for all my tips and join the thousands of women who are already transforming their midlife experience with my perimenopause Freebies!

IN THIS EPISODE
The drastic changes we go through during perimenopause

The knowledge gap in women’s health research

How your choices now impact the quality of the rest of your life

How your hormones can bottom out during perimenopause

Essential biomarkers to monitor in perimenopause and beyond

Non-negotiable lifestyle strategies for optimal health

How to Pre-order The Menopause Revolution book and get tons of FREE bonuses!

QUOTES
“Once you understand what's happening in your body during this profound transition… You can transform perimenopause from something that happens to you to something you navigate with power, knowledge, and most importantly, the right support.”
“8 out of 10 of the most common perimenopausal symptoms are brain-related. We're talking sleep issues, brain fog, rage, mood swings, irritability, night sweats, zero stress tolerance, mental fatigue, anxiety, hot flashes…”
“It's everything you need to get the results that you deserve. Perimenopause isn't the beginning of your decline. It's your wake-up call to step into the most vibrant, confident, unapologetic version of yourself for the next 40+ years.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution
http://drmariza.com/book

Thriving in Perimenopause FREE Survival Guide
https://go.drmariza.com/lp/perimenopause-survival-guide/

Melani Sanders We Do No Care Club on TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/melani-sanders-we-do-not-care

Dr. Mariza on Facebook

RELATED EPISODES
#648: This Changes Everything: The Perimenopause Revolution Every Woman Needs Now

#646: The Number One Exercise Hack I’m Doing Daily In Peri To Burn Fat, Build Lean Muscle and Boost Energy & Mental Clarity

#576: How to Build Bone, Muscle, Tendon, and Metabolic Resilience in Perimenopause and Menopause with Dr. Vonda Wright
43 min
October 22784: How to Feel Like Yourself Again When Life Won't Let Up, Or Slow Down with Mona Sharma
What happens when the version of you who could always push harder suddenly isn’t available anymore?
For Mona Sharma, perimenopause arrived in a way she never expected. After navigating mold exposure, long COVID, gut issues, disrupted sleep, hair loss, and an experience with testosterone pellet therapy, an unexpected frozen shoulder became one of the clues that made her finally consider declining estrogen and perimenopause.
But this conversation goes much deeper than hormones.
Mona and Dr. Mariza explore the emotional reckoning that can happen when your old capacity changes, the routines that once worked stop working, and the high-functioning woman you’ve known for decades starts asking for a completely different way of living.
They talk about HRT, stress, gut health, morning rituals, embodiment, intuition, sisterhood, aging, self-criticism, and the grief that can come with letting go of an earlier version of yourself.
Most importantly, Mona reframes perimenopause as a metamorphosis: a season that asks for more grace, deeper self-trust, and the courage to come home to the body you’re in now.

MONA SHARMA
Mona Sharma is a nutritionist, wellness practitioner, entrepreneur, and host of the Rooted in Wellness podcast.
Her approach blends nutrition and lifestyle practices with mindfulness, embodiment, Eastern traditions, and a deeply personalized approach to healing.
In this conversation, Mona shares her own experience navigating perimenopause while raising children, growing businesses, supporting aging parents, healing her gut, managing significant stress, and learning how to listen to a body that no longer responds the way it once did.

IN THIS EPISODE
The unexpected symptoms that first made Mona realize she might be in perimenopause
What her experience with testosterone pellet therapy taught her about individualized hormone care
Why HRT is not a cookie-cutter solution and may require patience, experimentation, and self-awareness
How chronic stress and gut health can complicate the way you feel during perimenopause
Why protecting one grounding ritual can matter more than creating a perfect wellness routine
How to approach prevention from possibility and purpose instead of fear
Why embodiment and intuition can become powerful tools when your mind feels scattered or overwhelmed
The grief of letting go of the high-capacity woman you used to be
How perimenopause can become a rite of passage into deeper wisdom, self-trust, and a new identity

QUOTES
“Finding the practice or the ritual every day that brings you home to your body is key.”
“This transition is metamorphosis.”
“It’s okay to drift, it’s part of life, but you always have to remember how to anchor yourself home in your body.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now
https://drmariza.com/trial

Mona Sharma Website
https://www.monasharma.com/

Rooted in Wellness Podcast
https://www.monasharma.com/podcast

Join Rooted Academy with Mona Sharma
https://www.monasharma.com/rooted-academy

Mona Sharma Instagram

RELATED EPISODES
777: What We Know Now: The Midlife Lessons No One Taught Us with Jenn Pike

776: What Changes When Your Body Can’t Keep Pushing Like It Used To? with Dr. Taz Bhatia

774: Training for Your Grandma Self: How to Build a Body That Lasts with Dr. Stephanie Estima

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause
54 min
October 20783: Why Your Vaginal Health Changes After 40 (And What You're Missing) with Wendy Strgar
Recurring UTIs. Vaginal dryness. Burning. Painful sex. BV that comes back again and again.
So many women are dealing with these symptoms, especially during perimenopause and menopause, yet vaginal health remains one of the least discussed areas of women’s healthcare.
In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with Good Clean Love founder Wendy Strgar for a candid conversation about the vaginal microbiome, what can disrupt it, and why declining estrogen can leave vaginal and urinary tissues more vulnerable to dryness, irritation, pain, and recurrent symptoms.
Wendy shares how her own experience with painful sex and severe irritation after pelvic surgery led her to begin investigating the ingredients in common personal care products and eventually build Good Clean Love.
They unpack the importance of vaginal pH, protective bacteria, the vaginal epithelial barrier, and why simply treating every recurrence as another yeast infection or prescribing the same medication repeatedly may not address what is actually happening.
They also explore what happens as estrogen declines, why symptoms can become especially severe after cancer treatment or chemical menopause, and why women deserve better language, education, testing, treatment options, and clinicians willing to take vaginal pain seriously.
Because vaginal discomfort, recurrent infections, painful sex, and dryness should never simply be dismissed as the inevitable price of getting older.

WENDY STRGAR
Wendy Strgar is the founder of Good Clean Love, a women’s intimate and vaginal health company that grew out of her own search for products she could comfortably use after experiencing significant pain and irritation following childbirth and pelvic surgery.
Over the years, Wendy has focused her work on vaginal microbiome health, product formulation, education, clinical research, and expanding access to vaginal healthcare.
In this conversation, she shares what she has learned from working with researchers, clinicians, and women struggling with chronic vaginal symptoms and why she believes vaginal microbiome health deserves a much larger role in women’s healthcare.

IN THIS EPISODE
How Wendy’s own experience with painful sex and irritation led to the creation of Good Clean Love
Why the vaginal microbiome deserves the same attention we increasingly give the gut microbiome
How declining estrogen can contribute to dryness, irritation, pain, and changes in vaginal and urinary health
Why recurrent BV, yeast symptoms, and UTIs may require a deeper look at what organisms are actually present
The role vaginal pH and the epithelial barrier play in maintaining a healthy vaginal environment
Why some personal lubricants and vaginal products may aggravate already-sensitive tissue
What women should know about vaginal changes during perimenopause, postpartum, and chemical menopause
Why recurrent symptoms deserve more than another round of the same treatment
How better language, testing, and access to knowledgeable clinicians could transform vaginal healthcare
QUOTES
“The problem is that you need to create the environment for that healthy bacteria to survive.”
“We like to say restore and maintain.”
“Quality of life after you go through something like that, we deserve that.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Find inspiration, connection, and meaningful reads. Join the Book Club now!
https://drmariza.com/bookclub

Use code DRMARIZA and get 10% off on your Womeness Order
https://www.womaness.com/DRMARIZA

Improve your Vaginal Health: Subscribe to Wendy Strgar Substack
https://wendystrgar.substack.com/

Good Clean Clinical Care
goodcleanclinicalcare.com?ref=MARIZA
Use code MARIZA for 20% off
Good Clean Love
https://goodcleanlove.com/MARIZA
Use code MARIZA for 15% off

Good Clean Love Instagram

Wendy Strgar Instagram

RELATED EPISODES
779: How Did We Get Hormones So Wrong? The HRT Story Every Woman Should Know with Dr. Louise Newson

769: Is It Perimenopause or Something Else? How to Finally Connect the Dots with Dr. Mariza

661: When “Normal” Isn’t Normal: How to Be Heard (and Taken Seriously) at the Doctor’s Office

572: How to Know You Are in Perimenopause Including the 40+ Symptoms Associated with Declining Hormones
1 hr 1 min
October 15782: Your Eyes Are Fine. So Why Is Your Brain So Exhausted? with Dr. Bryce Appelbaum
Have you ever gotten to the end of a long day on your computer and felt like your brain was simply done?
Your eyes are tired. You can’t focus. Light feels irritating. Reading takes more effort. Maybe you even start avoiding your phone because you cannot look at another screen.
Most of us assume that means our eyesight is getting worse.
But in this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with neuro-optometrist Dr. Bryce Appelbaum to explain why eyesight and vision are not the same thing.
Eyesight describes how clearly you see. Vision involves how your brain receives, filters, processes, coordinates, and responds to the information coming through your eyes. And when that eye-brain connection isn’t functioning efficiently, symptoms can show up as headaches, motion sickness, dizziness, trouble focusing, sensory overload, brain fatigue, and even ADHD-like behaviors.
Dr. Bryce also explains why screens place such unusual demands on the visual system, why functional vision issues can become more noticeable during midlife, and how concussion and other brain injuries can disrupt vision even when standard eye exams look normal.
The encouraging part?
The brain remains adaptable.
Through targeted vision training and the right evaluation, Dr. Bryce explains that the eye-brain connection can often be retrained and strengthened at almost any age.

DR. BRYCE APPELBAUM
Dr. Bryce Appelbaum is a neuro-optometrist specializing in vision performance and helping people improve how their eyes, brain, and body work together.
His work focuses on functional vision, visual processing, traumatic brain injury, concussion recovery, learning challenges, screen-related visual stress, and vision performance training.
In this conversation, Dr. Bryce explains why a traditional eye exam may miss important functional vision problems and why improving vision can involve far more than simply changing a glasses or contact lens prescription.

IN THIS EPISODE
Why eyesight and vision are two very different things

How functional vision problems can cause brain fog, headaches, motion sickness, and sensory overload

Why visual processing problems can sometimes look like ADHD

How changing hormones and screen exposure can increase visual strain in midlife

Why screen time places unusual demands on the eye-brain connection

The childhood signs that may point to an undiagnosed functional vision problem

Why concussion and traumatic brain injury can affect vision even when eyesight appears normal

How vision performance training uses neuroplasticity to retrain the brain

Practical ways to reduce screen strain and support healthier visual development

QUOTES
“Any brain at any age has the opportunity to be trained and rewired.”
“There’s neuroplasticity for vision at every age.”
“If we’re testing, we’re not guessing.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now
https://drmariza.com/trial
Get $200 off ScreenFit™ with code DRMARIZA: https://checkout.screenfit.com/screenfit-vision-foundations/?coupon=DRMARIZA
Get 10% off Digital Performance Lenses™ and more in the MyVisionFirst™ Shop with code DRMARIZA: https://shop.myvisionfirst.com/discount/DRMARIZA
Try ScreenFit™ for free: https://www.screenfit.com/preview
Take the free online vision assessment: https://www.myvisionfirst.com/quiz
Get the free guide, 5 Steps to Better Vision: https://www.screenfit.com/5-proven-secrets-to-relieve-eye-strain
Learn more about MyVisionFirst™: https://www.myvisionfirst.com
Learn more about ScreenFit™: https://www.screenfit.com
Follow Dr. Bryce Appelbaum on Instagram and YouTube: @drbryceappelbaum

RELATED EPISODES
744: The Midlife Brain Reset: How to Protect Your Memory, Focus, and Mental Sharpness Starting Now

668: Your Brain on Perimenopause: The Hidden Neurological Transition No One Warns You About

728: Why Brain Fog Isn’t Random: The Hormone Shift Behind It

769: Is It Perimenopause or Something Else? How to Finally Connect the Dots with Dr. Mariza
56 min
October 13781: What If It’s Not Anxiety, Burnout, or “Just Your Hormones”? The Hidden Signs of ADHD in Women with Dr. Jolene Brighten
What if the brain fog, overwhelm, time blindness, racing thoughts, and shorter emotional fuse showing up in your 40s aren’t just perimenopause?
For many women, ADHD has been hiding in plain sight for decades.
In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with women’s hormone expert and author Dr. Jolene Brighten to unpack why ADHD looks so different in women, why so many girls learn to mask their symptoms, and why changing estrogen levels during perimenopause can make those coping strategies suddenly stop working.
Dr. Brighten explains how ADHD in women may look less like the stereotypical hyperactive child and more like people-pleasing, perfectionism, constantly running mental lists, interrupting because you’re afraid you’ll forget your thought, chronic overwhelm, and appearing completely put together while internally struggling.
They also dive into the fascinating overlap between ADHD, perimenopause, PMDD, sleep, mitochondrial function, glucose metabolism, neuroinflammation, and emotional regulation.
And perhaps most importantly, they discuss what women can actually do: how movement can support brain energy, why sleep matters so much for the ADHD brain, how to build habits that work with your executive function instead of against it, and exactly how to advocate for a proper evaluation when your concerns are dismissed.
Because if your brain suddenly feels harder to manage in midlife, there may be more going on than “just hormones.”

DR. JOLENE BRIGHTEN
Dr. Jolene Brighten is a board-certified naturopathic endocrinologist, women’s hormone expert, educator, and bestselling author whose work focuses on helping women better understand the relationship between their hormones, brain, and overall health.
Her newest book, ADHD and Women: A Guide to Optimizing Your Hormones and Thriving with ADHD, explores how female hormones can influence ADHD symptoms throughout puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause.
In this conversation, Dr. Brighten brings both clinical expertise and personal experience to the complicated intersection of ADHD, hormonal transitions, PMDD, emotional regulation, sleep, and women finally receiving answers after decades of believing they simply needed to try harder.

IN THIS EPISODE
Why ADHD in women can hide behind people-pleasing, perfectionism, and looking “high-functioning”
How declining estrogen in perimenopause can make masking ADHD symptoms much harder
Why girls with ADHD are often diagnosed with anxiety or depression instead
The connection between ADHD, mitochondrial function, brain glucose metabolism, and neuroinflammation
Why movement can temporarily improve focus and cognitive performance in the ADHD brain
How sleep disruption can compound brain fog, emotional dysregulation, and ADHD symptoms
Why ADHD and PMDD so often overlap and may worsen during perimenopause
How hormones may influence impulsivity, mood, executive function, and premenstrual ADHD symptoms
What to track and say to your doctor if you suspect ADHD but keep getting dismissed

QUOTES
“Build pleasure into your day.”
“It is not just a hormone story.”
“High functioning is the label that society puts on women so that they can feel comfortable asking for more from her.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Stop surviving and start thriving! Join the Midlife on Fire Collective and get 30 days free:
https://drmariza.com/trial

Join my brand-new Substack: for the woman everyone depends on who is wondering why everything feels harder in midlife:
https://drmariza.substack.com/

ADHD and Women by Dr. Jolene Brighten:
https://amzn.to/4zxqcq0

Dr. Jolene Brighten Website
https://drbrighten.com/

Dr. Jolene Brighten Substack:
https://drbrighten.substack.com/

Dr. Jolene Brighten Instagram

RELATED EPISODES
769: Is It Perimenopause or Something Else? How to Finally Connect the Dots with Dr. Mariza

763: Why So Many High-Functing and Achieving Women Miss the Signs of Hormone Imbalance with Anastasia Sartan

744: The Midlife Brain Reset: How to Protect Your Memory, Focus, and Mental Sharpness Starting Now

661: When “Normal” Isn’t Normal: How to Be Heard (and Taken Seriously) at the Doctor’s Office
1 hr 3 min

About Energized with Dr. Mariza

From the publisher's feed

Energized host and bestselling author Dr. Mariza Snyder puts the power back in your hands so that you can age powerfully and live life to the fullest. Get ready to navigate your hormone and metabolic journey with wisdom and grace throughout your forties and beyond.