Episode Description:

What happens when a scientist with two decades of pharmaceutical research experience realizes she doesn't understand what's happening to her own body? Dr. Isabelle Raymond joins us to discuss her journey from studying sleep medicine and neurotoxins to becoming the Head of Clinical and Medical Affairs at Nutrafol—and why it took until 2020 for any brand to study menopausal women's hair loss. This conversation reveals the shocking gaps in women's health research, why having women designing studies matters so much, and how Isabelle's bringing both scientific rigor and personal experience to research that actually serves women's bodies.

What You'll Learn:

• Why menopausal and perimenopausal hair thinning happen to so many women
• How Isabelle's designing studies around the outcomes that actually matter to women
• Why clinical trials historically excluded women
• How estrogen receptors on every organ in your body explain why menopause affects everything
• How supplement research is conducted
• Why so little time has been historically spent on training doctors in menopause

Time Stamps:

[00:00] Introduction and Aransas's personal hair shedding story

[02:30] Isabelle's background

[07:00] The career pivot from pharmaceutical research to Nutrafol

[11:45] Why women weren't included in clinical trials—and why that needs to change

[17:30] The moment Isabelle realized she was going through perimenopause on camera

[22:15] Why almost no doctors receive adequate training in menopause care

[26:00] How estrogen receptors throughout your body explain perimenopause symptoms

[31:40] Brain fog, the word-finding difficulties, and normalizing these experiences at work

[38:20] Why Nutrafol was the first to study menopausal women specifically

[42:00] The power of knowledge

[48:15] How Isabelle takes care of herself while taking care of everyone else

[52:30] Becoming a spokesperson and front woman after a career in the background

Key Takeaways:

✨ Women's health has been understudied because hormonal fluctuations made research more complicated—but "complicated" doesn't mean "impossible" or "not worth doing"

✨ You have estrogen receptors on every organ in your body (including your hair), which is why perimenopause and menopause affect so much more than just your reproductive system

✨ The medical system's gaps aren't your fault—but you can advocate for yourself by asking questions and seeking providers who take your concerns seriously

✨ Brain fog, hair changes, mood shifts, and the feeling that your body no longer works the way it used to are all legitimate symptoms worth addressing

✨ When women with scientific expertise bring their lived experiences into their research, they design studies that actually answer the questions women are asking

✨ Self-care isn't optional—it's essential infrastructure for doing good work in the world

Resource Links:

• Nutrafol: The number one dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement brand, built on science and a whole-body approach
• The Menopause Edit: Nutrafol’s first-ever magazine dedicated to redefining the conversation around menopause, full of data and information about women’s health through midlife and beyond
• Nutrafol’s Menopausal Study: The first hair brand supplement to study menopausal women with hair thinning specifically
• Use code UPLIFTERS at nutrafol.com for a special discount

Guest Bio:

Dr. Isabelle Raymond is an author, scientific leader, and biomedical expert with a PhD in biomedical science. She currently serves as the head of Clinical and Medical Affairs at Nutrafol, the number one dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement brand. With expertise spanning neuroscience, cardiovascular health, neurology, dermatology, and aesthetics, Isabelle brings rigorous scientific methodology to the wellness space—with a particular focus on research that serves women through all life stages. She's been instrumental in designing Nutrafol's groundbreaking studies on menopausal women's hair health and advocates for bringing women's lived experiences into clinical research design.

Host Bio:

Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach, researcher, and host of The Uplifters Podcast. For over two decades, she's conducted behavioral research and design for companies like Disney, Best Buy, and Weight Watchers. She brings a researcher's eye and a coach's heart to conversations about how women build courage, navigate transitions, and create meaningful impact. Currently working on her book Courage Capital, Aransas is passionate about validating women's experiences and helping them recognize the bravery they demonstrate every single day.

Connect with Aransas:

• Instagram: @aransas_savas | @the_uplifters_podcast
• TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast
• Facebook: Aransas
• Website: theuplifterspodcast.com
• YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast
• LinkedIn: Aransas Savas

Keywords: women's health research, menopause, perimenopause, hair thinning, clinical trials, pharmaceutical research, Nutrafol, brain fog, estrogen receptors, women in science, biomedical research, career transitions, wellness, beauty industry, scientific methodology, women's bodies, hormonal changes, midlife women, health advocacy, representation in research, whole-body health