Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast

Originally published March 2021. Resharing in honor of Perimenopause Awareness Month.

Dr. Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and author of the bestselling books Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual. She has more than 20 years’ experience in women’s health and currently has a consulting room in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone - and period-related health problems.

In this episode, Dr Briden covers:

• Stages of perimenopause and menopause
• Truths about HRT and why they are no longer called that
• Symptoms women tend to fear and solutions for each
• Why women can and should embrace this stage of life

Resources:

• Period Repair Manual
• Hormone Repair Manual

• Resources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter

• Fempower Health's Menopause Resources

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Longevity isn’t just about living longer — it’s about living better.

In this episode of Fempower Health, host Georgie Kovacs sits down with Roma van der Walt, a sports scientist, women’s health strategist, and CEO of Vitelle, to unpack what longevity really means for women.

Roma explains why the biohacking trend often overlooks female physiology, how wearables misinterpret women’s health data, and why prevention must go beyond annual checkups and symptom management. Together, they discuss AI’s role in women’s health, how clinicians can better support patients, and why building an integrated health intelligence infrastructure is the future of personalized care.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Am I doing enough to stay healthy as I age?”
• “Why do wearables and trackers confuse me more than they help?”
• “How can I trust AI with my health data?”

…this episode is for you.

• What is the difference between lifespan vs. healthspan, and why does it matter for women?
• How does the current longevity conversation overlook women’s unique physiology?
• Are wearables and fitness trackers accurate for women, or do they misinterpret the data?
• What are the four pillars of longevity every woman should focus on?
• How can AI and health intelligence infrastructure improve women’s healthcare?
• Why is prevention more important than biohacking for long-term women’s health?
• How can clinicians better support women navigating fragmented healthcare systems?
• What supplements and lifestyle factors can impact women’s biomarkers unexpectedly?
• How can women make sense of biometrics, wearables, and lab results without feeling overwhelmed?
• What role should personalized healthcare play in improving women’s outcomes?

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

About Roma van der Walt

Roma van der Walt is pioneering a new era of women's health. As a sports scientist and the founder of Vitelle, she's working on turning complex biological data into actionable insights for female longevity and performance.

Her work sits at the intersection of sports science and the power of system design to address that the field of female health has been historically underserved. Roma’s mission is to close the persistent gap in how female physiology is supported across lifespan and high-performance settings. She does this by designing tools that unify fragmented data, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to provide personalized, precise care.

An outspoken advocate for data equity and better representation of diverse female voices, Roma's vision extends to ensuring that scientific research and digital tools accurately reflect the needs of all women. Her cross-disciplinary career, which includes work with the UN and collaborations with leading institutions like Monash University, has given her a unique perspective on how to innovate in health technology. Her work has been recognized by Women’s Health Magazine and other media outlets, where she speaks on the future of female performance and the next era of personalized care.

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Originally Released October 2021

Dr. Mindy Pelz, D.C speaks about how women should incorporate intermittent fasting based on where they are in their cycle and over their life span of reproductive years, perimenopause, and menopause. 

Dr Mindy is a best selling author, keynote speaker, nutrition and functional medicine expert who has spent over two decades helping thousands of people successfully reclaim their health. 

In this episode, Dr Mindy covers:

• What is intermittent fasting, and how does it promote fat-burning and metabolic switching?
• How do blood sugar stabilization and dietary changes support a successful fasting transition?
• What is “dirty fasting,” and why is it counterproductive to health goals?
• How can women map fasting schedules to their menstrual cycles?
• What are the specific intermittent fasting strategies for women in perimenopause or post-menopause?
• What is the role of ketones in brain health, and should women consider exogenous ketones?
• How does intermittent fasting impact conditions like obesity, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders?
• What does “n of one” mean, and how can women customize fasting for their unique health needs?
• How can women use nutrition, mindfulness, and fasting to balance hormones during life transitions?
• Why are women hormonally driven to share health discoveries, and how does this influence health trends?

Referenced in the podcast & related episodes:

• Resources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter

• The Menopause Reset by Dr Mindy Pelz
• Hormone Repair Manual by Dr Lara Briden
• New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Article on the Science Behind Intermittent Fasting

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

Guest Bio

Dr. Mindy Pelz, D.C is a best selling author, keynote speaker, nutrition and functional medicine expert who has spent over two decades helping thousands of people successfully reclaim their health. She is a recognized leader in the alternative health field and a pioneer in the fasting movement, teaching the principles of a fasting lifestyle, diet variation, detox, hormones, and more. Her popular YouTube channel combines the latest science with practical lifestyle tools every person can use to reset their health. She is the host of one of the leading science podcasts, The Resetter Podcast, and the author of three best-selling books; The Menopause Reset, The Reset Factor, and The Reset Kitchen. 

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

TikTok banned my anatomy quiz. The reason? I showed an anatomically correct clitoris model and asked people to guess what it was. No explicit words. No graphic content. Just science.

This is exactly why Saundra Pelletier, CEO of Evofem Biosciences, launched #SayVaginaMonth —a movement to fight censorship, challenge stigma, and normalize medically accurate conversations about women’s bodies.

• Why female anatomy gets censored while male terms don’t
• How stigma in language leads to silence in the exam room
• Why even doctors avoid sexual health—and how to change that
• Why naming body parts correctly is critical for safety, consent & care
• What you can do to join #SayVaginaMonth and push back against bans

If we can’t say vagina or clitoris without fear of being banned, how can we expect healthcare, policy, or research to serve women properly? Words shape awareness. Awareness shapes care. Silence keeps us in the shadows.

• Connect with Saundra Pelletier on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

With new conversations on longevity coming up, I wanted to bring back this interview so you can revisit (or hear for the first time) the key insights that are still shaping how we think about women and aging.

Originally Published October 2023

The ovaries play a key role in overall health, not just reproduction. More scientific findings are revealing that the ovaries even influence mood, behavior, and longevity. In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Garrison from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging explains the intricate relationship between the brain and reproductive organs. She covers topics including the science of aging, the “hypothalamus pituitary gonadal axis”, menopause and health, hormone replacement therapy, and the importance of understanding ovarian function.

Dr. Jennifer Garrison is a PhD scientist and the head of a research lab at the Buck Institute, an independent institute dedicated to studying aging as a risk factor for diseases. Listen as Dr. Garrison explores how age is the primary risk factor for most chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. 

Discussed in this episode:

• How the brain controls female physiology, including reproductive function
• Early menopause and POI/POF 
• Menopause and how it relates to overall health 
• The fascinating story women’s ovaries can tell us about aging 
• Understanding hormones as messengers in the body
• The impact of diet and exercise on aging and fertility 
• How understanding the aging process can help target and treat age-related diseases
• Hormone replacement therapy for hormonal imbalances during aging
• Physical and emotional symptoms associated with periods, motherhood, and menopause

Related to this episode:

• Related episodes: Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) and Menopause | Dr. Mandy Leonhardt
• Related episode: Women’s Health and the Ovulation Cycle | Dr. Jerilynn Prior
• Dr. Garrison’s Lab at Buck Institute: www.buckinstitute.org/lab/garrison-lab 
• Dr. Jennifer Garrison on Twitter and LinkedIn 
• Find Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity and Equality (GCRLE) on Twitter,  Instagram, and LinkedIn

• Resources and episodes on Breaking Taboos

• Recommended Books on Hormones and Menstrual Health

• Resources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

In this episode, Georgie Kovacs, founder of Fempower Health, unpacks the recent FDA hearing on SSRI use during pregnancy—an emotionally charged and complex conversation that brought together OB-GYNs, psychiatrists, pharmacologists, and advocates.

Drawing on over 25 years in healthcare consulting and six years interviewing global women's health leaders, Georgie offers a balanced, deeply informed analysis of the real conversation that took place—beyond the headlines and controversy.

This wasn’t just a debate about antidepressants in pregnancy. It was a wider reckoning with how we define mental health, how we treat it, and the pressures facing clinicians and patients in a fragmented system. From risk-benefit tradeoffs and informed consent to how “depression” is diagnosed and operationalized, this episode explores what was said, what was missing, and what we need next.

Whether you're a woman seeking clarity or a clinician striving to provide the best care, this episode breaks it all down.

• What actually happened at the FDA panel on SSRIs and pregnancy?
• Are SSRIs overprescribed—or unfairly stigmatized—during pregnancy?
• Is "depression" too broad of a diagnosis?
• How do mental health diagnoses affect treatment decisions for pregnant women?
• Why is informed consent inconsistent in SSRI prescribing?
• What are the long-term risks of untreated maternal depression?
• Are OB-GYNs expected to manage too much—including mental health?
• How does limited access to psychiatrists shape treatment options?
• What does better mental healthcare look like during pregnancy?
• Should we rethink how we integrate psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle care?

• OB-GYNs treating pregnant patients on SSRIs
• Psychiatrists both prescribing and deprescribing antidepressants
• Academic researchers investigating serotonin’s effects on fetal development
• Advocacy leaders spotlighting systemic barriers to mental health care

• FDA Hearing: https://www.fda.gov/patients/fda-expert-panels/fda-expert-panel-selective-serotonin-reuptake-inhibitors-ssris-and-pregnancy-07212025
• ACOG Response to FDA Hearing: https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2025/07/statement-on-benefit-of-access-to-ssris-during-pregnancy
• Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Statement https://www.smfm.org/news/smfm-statement-on-ssris-and-pregnancy
• Regulatory Focus Responds: https://www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2025/7/fda-panel-debates-label-change-on-ssri-use-during
• STAT News Responds: https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/25/ssri-drugs-fda-review-panel-antidepressants-pregnancy/
• National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry (NCRP) Responds: https://ncrptraining.org/press-release-ncrp-responds-to-fda-panel-on-ssri-use-in-pregnancy/

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

It's Fibroid Awareness Month and this is an important topic to have front and center in your listening feed!

Originally Published April 2025

Uterine fibroids affect up to 80% of women by age 50, yet most are not given the full range of treatment options. In this episode, I speak with leading fibroid experts—including minimally invasive surgeons, interventional radiologists, and advocates—to unpack the medical, financial, and structural reasons why hysterectomy is so often pushed as the default solution.

Whether you’re trying to preserve fertility, manage chronic pain, or simply want to know what questions to ask at your next appointment, this episode is a must-listen.

• What uterine fibroids are and who they affect most
• The different types of fibroid treatment (UFE, myomectomy, hormonal therapy, hysterectomy)
• Why UFE is still underutilized despite being a first-line treatment
• How reimbursement structures impact the care women receive
• How to prepare for your appointment and advocate for yourself
• What a true multidisciplinary care model looks like
• The connection between fibroid care and larger women’s health equity issues

• Dr. Jessica Opoku-Anane – Minimally Invasive GYN Surgeon, Columbia
• Dr. Marc Schiffman – Co-Executive Director, Weill Cornell Medicine Fibroid Center
• Tanika Gray Valbrun – Founder, The White Dress Project and fibroid awareness advocate

• Ask about all options before agreeing to surgery
• Consider seeing a center that includes interventional radiologists and minimally invasive surgeons
• Your experience and symptoms are valid—even if you’ve been told “it’s normal”
• Tracking your symptoms before appointments helps you get better care
• Insurance coverage and doctor training gaps often limit what gets recommended

Resources:

• What Your Doctor Might Not be Telling You about Fibroid Treatment: https://fempowerhealth.beehiiv.com/p/uterine-fibroids-treatment-options-beyond-hysterectomy
• Hysterectomy Unveiled: What your Doctors Don't Always Tell You: https://fempowerhealth.beehiiv.com/p/hysterectomy-informed-consent-womens-health

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

The FDA finally held a hearing on menopause—and it was long overdue. Georgie Kovacs breaks down the powerful expert testimony, the systemic failures, and why this matters for every woman navigating midlife care.

In this grounded recap, you’ll learn:

• Why the FDA’s black box warning on vaginal estrogen may be misleading
• The difference between systemic and local hormone absorption—and why it matters
• How testosterone access for women remains limited despite clear clinical need
• What experts like Dr. James Simon, Dr. Heather Hirsch, and Dr. Rachel Rubin said that might change the game
• One big thing missing: progesterone. Should women with a uterus be taking it?

Resources Mentioned:

• Watch the full FDA hearing on menopause
• Georgie’s YouTube Recap

• Resources and episodes on Perimenopause & Menopause and sign up for the Perimenopause and Menopause newsletter

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Your body is talking to itself all the time — through your gut, brain, and hormones. This week, we trace how these hidden threads shape health, pain, mental focus, and even policy momentum for menopause and endometriosis.

New research shows your gut microbiome may hold “signatures” for chronic pain conditions — but personalized treatment isn’t there yet. What does an anti-inflammatory diet or SCFAs mean now?

Evidence supports the “hunter in a farmer’s world” idea: ADHD traits once helped our ancestors survive. So how do we design schools, workplaces, and mental health care to match that reality — especially for women affected by PMDD?

More than 15 states have introduced menopause bills this year — plus the NextGen Now initiative is training thousands of providers. But funding and policy only help if they reach real people.

When we silo gut health, neurodiversity, and hormones, people pay the price in misdiagnosis and costly, fragmented care. This episode shows why connecting these threads matters for patients — and for anyone shaping the system.

• A patient, advocate, or startup founder working to make healthcare more whole
• Navigating ADHD, chronic pain, or hormonal shifts
• Curious about the intersection of science, policy, and real-world care

• Read the newsletter The Threads We Keep Missing
• Listen to my interview with Dr. Caroline Mitchell on the Vaginal Microbiome
• Listen to my interview with Dr. Allie Sharma on Mental Health and Menopause
• Read about the $24 billion menopause opportunity
• Explore Fempower Health’s ADHD resources

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**

Why do so many women feel dismissed in healthcare — even when they see good doctors? The problem isn’t always the people — it’s the cultural stories we’ve told about what “matters.”

Inspired by sports journalist Kate Fagan’s TED Radio Hour insight on women’s sports, Georgie draws a powerful parallel to women’s health: when we don’t tell clear stories or define the stakes, we leave research gaps, funding gaps, and entire conditions misunderstood.

In just 10 minutes, you’ll hear:

• What Kate Fagan’s quote reveals about collective blind spots
• How endometriosis, PMDD, and IUD pain show this in action
• Why better stories are the first step to better funding, research, and care
• How this idea applies far beyond women’s health, to any overlooked issue

• Have ever felt unseen in a doctor’s office
• Work in healthcare, research, or policy and want better insights
• Want to understand the link between storytelling and system change

• Listen to the TED Radio Hour episode with Kate Fagan
• Read the full companion article: What We Don’t See, We Don’t Solve

1. Help others discover Fempower Health:

Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.

2. Stay connected:

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.

Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.

**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024**

**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**

**May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**