Sit down with Kyle & Candace for their yearly catch-up episode: “out with the old, in with the new”. This episode is chock full of important health information, plus Kyle & Candace share tips with you to make 2026 a better and brighter year.

Topics include:

- The FDA removed the Black Box warning on hormones: This is GREAT but it is not a green light. Continue to proceed with caution & care. Insist on getting your hormones tested + work with a reputable provider.

- Advice on how to find a great provider to help you navigate your way through hormonal challenges no matter what stage you are in.

- What Joy-Span is & why we want to know about this. Listen to this clip from Karry Burnight, professor of geriatric medicine at UC Irvine Medical.

- The book making the rounds of MANY women’s book clubs: In the Country of Old by Susan Abel Lieberman; a wonderful & honest look at some of the challenges & joys of aging.

- How to consume alcohol with more intention + some of their favorite strategies (& products) to do so. The author of Christmas at River Cottage, Lucy Brazier, calls her days sans alcohol AFDs (alcohol free days) - brilliant! Kyle loves DeSoi (Haute Margarita is a new favorite) and Still/Spark (Golden Hour)

Articles that frankly either drove us crazy or inspired us:

The Perimenopause Whisperer Network: Women are desperately seeking information and care. You are not alone in thinking this!

Learn about the 9 things that YOU can do to improve your mental health from the HAPPINESS department at UCLA (and the National Institute of PLAY: WTF???)

Our Favorites:

Books:

Women Rowing North: Mary Pipher offers a timely examination of the cultural and developmental issues women face as they age

French Women Don’t Get Fat, The Secret of Eating for Pleasure - unlocking the simple secrets of this “French paradox” - how they enjoy food while staying slim and healthy - Mireille Guiliano gives us a charming, inspiring take on health and eating for our times. Check out her website as well!

Between Two Kingdoms - New York Times calls it “a deeply moving memoir of illness and recovery that traces one young woman’s journey from diagnosis to remission to re-entry into ‘normal’ life”.

Shows: 

Riot Women - British drama about 5 middle-aged women who form a punk band to shake up their lives & end up reclaiming their voices, confidence, and sense of power along the way.

All Things Great and Small - British period drama about a young veterinary surgeon who moves to the Yorkshire Dales in the 30s to work with an eccentric vet, following his heartwarming and often humorous experiences treating animals and connecting with the local community.

Somebody Somewhere - American comedy-drama about a woman who returns to her Kansas hometown after her sister’s death and, while struggling with loss and identity, finds connection, community, and a voice through friendships and singing.

Studies: 

- Benefits of Rowing https://www.self.com/story/benefits-of-rowing 

- Large international research published late in 2025 found no significant association between menopause HRT and dementia risk.

- Research published in 2025 indicated no increased cardiovascular disease risk in younger postmenopausal women using HRT, while risks were seen in older age ranges—informing guideline nuance.

- A study presented at the Endocrine Society showed that combining menopausal HRT with obesity medication (like tirzepatide) may enhance weight loss and metabolic outcomes in postmenopausal women—highlighting interplay between hormonal changes and obesity risk.

Revisit these WTF Episodes: 

WTF Episode 62: Hormone Therapy After the FDA Black Box Removal: What Safe Appropriate Use Really Means and Why Women Deserve Better!

WTF Episode 51: Don’t Underestimate Progesterone!: Our Most Popular Episode of 2025!

Connect w/ Kyle & Candace:

Candace Burch:

⁠YourHormoneBalance.com⁠ ⁠

⁠[email protected]

Kyle McAvoy:

[email protected]