If you've spent any time on social media looking for honest conversations about perimenopause and menopause, chances are you've come across today's guest.

Jen Brown, better known as @Jenopause_Midlife on both Instagram and Tik Tok, is the founder of Jenopause Midlife, a women's health education and advocacy platform dedicated to bringing honesty, support, and empowerment to the midlife experience. With her signature warmth, humor, and authenticity, Jen has become a trusted voice for thousands of women who are searching for answers—and finally feeling seen.

After spending more than 30 years in high-performance advertising sales, Jen found herself experiencing a whirlwind of physical and emotional symptoms that multiple doctors couldn't explain. After countless appointments with physicians and specialists, she finally learned she was in perimenopause. Later, receiving an ADHD diagnosis brought even more clarity, helping her understand challenges she had unknowingly navigated for much of her life.

Rather than accepting the lack of education and support so many women receive, Jen decided to do something about it. She became a certified menopause coach and launched Jenopause Midlife to educate, validate, and advocate for women who deserve better care. Today, she helps women navigate midlife with confidence, teaches them how to find knowledgeable providers, and encourages the kind of open conversations that women haven't been taught to have.

Her message has clearly resonated. Jen has built a community of more than 23,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, has appeared on numerous podcasts, speaks at events around the country, and was even cast in a New York City play after being discovered on TikTok.

Beyond her advocacy work, Jen serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater New York and is deeply involved in fundraising and community service. She splits her time between New York City and the Jersey Shore with her husband.

After recording this conversation, Jen and I finally had the chance to meet in person in New York City, and I can honestly say she is every bit as wonderful offline as she is online. We had the best time together, and she truly feels like the sister I never had. She is just as kind, funny, authentic, and menopause-educated in person as she is on social media, and that authenticity is exactly why so many women trust her.

In today's conversation, we talk about what it feels like to be dismissed by the medical system, the overlap between ADHD and perimenopause, the incredible power of social media to build real friendships and community, and why no woman should have to navigate midlife feeling alone.

Please welcome my friend, Jen Brown, and be sure to follow her on all the social platforms!

xoxo,

Heather

My guest today is Michelle Gelband, a sexual health expert with two master's degrees who is dedicated to transforming women's health through innovation, collaboration, and evidence-based care.

In this episode, we talk about Michelle's journey into sexual health, what inspired her to dedicate her career to this often-overlooked field, and how her own endometriosis diagnosis exposed the frustrating gaps in women's healthcare. Like so many women, Michelle experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to find knowledgeable providers, trustworthy information, and meaningful support.

That experience became the catalyst for creating Openly Health—a platform designed to make sexual healthcare more accessible, accurate, and connected.

Openly Health brings together vetted sexual health providers who specialize in conditions and life stages including endometriosis, PCOS, pelvic pain, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, sexual dysfunction, intimacy concerns, hormones, and overall sexual wellness. Rather than relying on endless internet searches, users can connect with trusted experts, access evidence-based education, discover products tailored to their needs, and participate in an anonymous community where questions can be asked without fear or judgment.

We also discuss why collaboration among healthcare providers is so important, the future of virtual sexual healthcare, and Michelle's vision for making it easier for people to find the right care at every stage of life.

Whether you're navigating an endometriosis diagnosis, struggling with menopause, or simply looking for reliable sexual health information, this conversation is filled with practical insights and hope for the future of women's healthcare.

Please follow Michelle @michellegelband and @openlyhealth. She welcomes any questions you might have! Or if you would like to collaborate with her.

And please visit the Openly Health Website https://www.openlyhealth.io/

Can GLP-1 Medications Change the Future of Bulimia Treatment?

For more than 20 years, Paige Gordon lived with bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. She tried therapy, antidepressants, nutrition counseling, psychiatry, and even inpatient treatment. Nothing stopped the relentless cycle—or the constant "food noise" that consumed her every waking moment.

Then she heard someone say Ozempic could quiet those obsessive thoughts.

What happened next changed her life.

Just this past week, The Wall Street Journal featured Paige's remarkable story, highlighting not only her experience but also the growing scientific interest in whether GLP-1 medications could become an important treatment option for some people with bulimia and binge-eating disorder. While these medications are not FDA-approved for eating disorders and much more research is needed, early studies—and the experiences of some physicians treating these conditions—suggest they may dramatically reduce bingeing and the obsessive thoughts around food in certain patients.

So today, I wanted to highlight the conversation (more details than the WSJ!) that I had with Paige several months ago, so you can learn more about her experience with Bulimia and the incredible research she's currently engaging in with doctors and scientists.

This isn't a conversation about a miracle drug. It's a conversation about hope, science, and finally asking whether we've been looking at eating disorders the wrong way all along.

Please note: Paige's experience is her own. GLP-1 medications are not currently approved to treat bulimia nervosa, and experts emphasize that more high-quality clinical trials are needed. These medications may not help everyone and should only be used under appropriate medical supervision.

There are moments in life that completely change the direction of your story. For today's guest, those moments came in rapid succession—a BRCA1 diagnosis, the loss of both parents, preventative cancer surgeries, and surgical menopause at just 43 years old.

Instead of allowing those experiences to define her, Victoria Barber transformed them into a mission to ensure other women never have to navigate midlife feeling confused, unsupported, or alone.

Victoria is the founder of KŌNENKI Wellness, a women's wellbeing brand dedicated to changing the experience of perimenopause, menopause, and midlife through education, nervous system regulation, and compassionate support. Blending modern science with Eastern wellness practices, she helps women understand what's happening in their bodies while giving them practical tools to navigate stress, overwhelm, and the many transitions of midlife.

This conversation goes far beyond hormones. We talk about grief, trauma, resilience, surgical menopause, the nervous system, and why slowing down may be one of the most powerful things we can do for our health.

I think you're going to walk away from this episode feeling seen, supported, and with a few new tools you can start using today. Please share this episode with every woman in your life!

 Social Media:  (website still WIP)

Connect on Instagram: @konenkiwellness

https://www.instagram.com/konenkiwellness

Free Support Tool:

KŌNENKI Reset — Instant Calm

A free 6-minute nervous system reset for moments when life feels too loud.

Created to support women navigating stress, overwhelm, racing thoughts, emotional exhaustion, and the intensity of midlife, this guided practice helps you pause, breathe, soften the noise, and gently return to yourself.

Press play whenever you need a moment of calm.

https://soundcloud.com/konenkiwellness/konenki-reset_instant

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, "Why doesn't my skin respond the way it used to?" If you're in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you're definitely not alone.

Today's guest, Danielle Ruess, knows that feeling firsthand.

After spending more than 26 years leading marketing in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and technology industries, Danielle never imagined she'd become the founder of a skincare company. But when her own skin began changing in her early 40s and the products she trusted stopped working, she did what many of us wish we knew how to do—she started asking questions.

That journey led her to collaborate with dermatologists, estheticians, functional medicine physicians, and cosmetic chemists to better understand what happens to our skin as we age. What she discovered challenged much of what we've been told about skincare.

Today, Danielle is the founder and CEO of Eonian Skincare, a company focused not on "anti-aging," but on supporting healthy, resilient skin through clean, science-backed formulations designed specifically for maturing skin. Her mission is simple: cut through the marketing hype, strengthen the skin barrier, and help people feel confident in the skin they're in.

In this episode, we're talking about what really changes in our skin as hormones shift, why more products don't necessarily mean better results, the truth about ingredients, and how skincare fits into the much bigger conversation of healthy aging and longevity.

If you've ever wondered whether your skincare routine is actually helping, or hurting, you won't want to miss this conversation.

I hope you enjoy this FUN and informative chat with Danielle Ruess!

You can find Eonian on their official website (don't forget to sign up for their loyalty program! It's FREE and you get points just for purchasing!):

eonianskincare.com

And be sure to follow Eonian on instagram @eonian_skincare

When I sat down with Dr. Jordan Emont, I thought we would jump right into menopause, hormones, and women's health. Instead, we started somewhere I wasn't expecting at all: insurance. And honestly? It ended up being one of the most fascinating parts of our conversation.

We talked about the complexities of our healthcare system, the hurdles both patients and physicians face, and why getting the care you need isn't always as straightforward as it should be. Dr. Emont offers a unique perspective as a board-certified OB/GYN and menopause specialist who sees firsthand how insurance decisions can impact patient care and access to treatment.

From there, our conversation expanded into menopause, hormone therapy, and the importance of individualized care. We discussed what women need to know to advocate for themselves, ask better questions, and make informed decisions about their health.

We also dove into one of the biggest topics women are talking about right now—the ongoing estrogen patch shortages. Dr. Emont shared alternative options, including estrogen injections and the use of oral estradiol vaginally, a method that may help some women improve absorption while bypassing the liver.

What I loved most about this conversation is that it wasn't just about hormones. It was about understanding the system, understanding your options, and understanding that you deserve answers.

So whether you're struggling to get the treatment you need, wondering if your hormones are optimized, or simply looking to learn more about the ever-evolving world of menopause care, this episode is for you.

THANK YOU to Dr. Jordan Emont! It was such a pleasure to finally meet you. I am incredibly grateful not only for the time you spent with me on this podcast but for the countless hours you spend educating women online. Your willingness to show up, answer questions, and help women navigate menopause and healthcare is making a huge impact. I learned so much from our conversation, and I know our listeners will too!

Follow Dr. Emont @drjordanemont

Check out his Substack: drjordanemont.substack.com

Visit his website: www.drjordanemont.com

Did you know that endometriosis has been found in embryos? That's right. Endometriosis doesn't suddenly begin with a woman's first period—it can be present long before symptoms ever appear. Yet despite affecting millions of women, it still takes an average of 7 to 10 years to receive a diagnosis. For many women, that's years of pain, confusion, dismissal, and being told their symptoms are "normal."

This week on Sharing Out Loud, I'm joined by Greg Miles, PhD, Founder and CEO of Milestone Gyno-mics, an innovative women's health startup working to change that reality.

Greg is a bioinformatics PhD with more than a decade of experience in genomics, artificial intelligence, and diagnostics. His career has been built around one core belief: early detection changes lives. That conviction began after losing both of his grandparents to leukemia. There were warning signs, but technological limitations and limited access to early detection meant their diseases weren't caught in time.

Years later, that mission became deeply personal again when someone close to him spent more than 12 years suffering from chronic pain before finally receiving an endometriosis diagnosis. Like so many women, she was misdiagnosed, dismissed, and gaslit before getting answers.

Today, Greg is applying the same principles of early detection that have transformed cancer care to women's health. Through Milestone Gyno-mics, he and his team are developing a non-invasive blood test designed to diagnose endometriosis in 10 days—not 10 years.

In this conversation, we discuss the diagnostic delays that continue to plague endometriosis care, the impact those delays have on women's lives, and how emerging technologies like AI may finally help close the gap. Most importantly, we talk about why women deserve to be heard, believed, and given answers sooner.

If you've ever struggled to get a diagnosis, know someone living with endometriosis, or are passionate about improving women's healthcare, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Let's start saying the quiet parts out loud.

Want to connect with Greg for more information or to become a research participant? Email him at [email protected], visit the MilestoneGX website: https://www.milestonegx.com/, or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-miles/

Did you know that endometriosis has been found in embryos? Yes, you read that correctly. Endometriosis doesn’t suddenly begin when a girl gets her first period — research suggests it can start developing long before that. This is not simply a “woman’s disease.” It is a female disease that can impact girls and women across their entire lifespan.

In this episode of Sharing Out Loud, I sit down with Nicole Notar, founder of Endo Excision For All, for a conversation every woman, and quite honestly, every human, needs to hear. Nicole shares her deeply personal journey through the pain, dismissal, and medical gaslighting that so many women with endometriosis experience, often for years before receiving proper care.

 In our conversation, we unpack the harsh realities of living with chronic pain, navigating a healthcare system that frequently minimizes female suffering, and the dangerous pattern of women being told their symptoms are “just anxiety,” “stress,” or “all in their head.” Women (and young girls!) with endometriosis do not need to be dismissed, handed antidepressants, or sent for psych evaluations when they are living with very real physical disease and pain. They deserve to be heard, properly evaluated, and given access to evidence-based care. 

Through advocacy, awareness, and community support, Endo Excision For All is helping women get the care they desperately need and deserve. Any donations are so appreciated and go directly toward helping women access proper treatment and reclaim their lives.

This episode is raw, emotional, validating, and empowering — a reminder that women deserve to be heard, believed, and properly treated. Whether you live with endometriosis yourself, love someone who does, or simply care about the future of women’s healthcare, this is a conversation that will stay with you long after it ends.

Questions? Need guidance with surgery or finding a doctor that specializes in Endo and Excision Surgery? Visit https://endoexcisionforall.org/ or send a message via their Instagram page @endoexcisionforall. Nicole is there for any woman who needs guidance.

Thank you, Nicole, for sharing your time with me and for all you are doing❤️.

xoxo,

Heather

Today’s conversation takes us into history—but not the kind you learned from a textbook.

I sat down with author Briana Gervat, whose book There Will Come Soft Rains: A Journey Along the Western Front explores the emotional, physical, and human landscapes left behind by war.

This isn’t just a story about the past—it’s about what lingers. The silence, the memory, the weight of places that have seen more than most of us can imagine.

Briana brings a powerful lens to this journey, blending history with reflection and asking the kind of questions that don’t always have easy answers.

This episode is about remembrance, perspective, and what it really means to walk through history—and feel it.

In addition to There Will Come Soft Rains, Briana has written 2 other books: Once I Was A Pilgrim, Mosaic, and a children's book called The Once Brave Boy, all of which can be found on Amazon.

Where can you find Briana? Well, her Instagram account was hacked and removed, and she has been unable to retrieve it (terrible to see so many of her photos and memories shared there). For now, if you would like to connect with her, please email Briana at [email protected].

Thank you for listening, and please help spread the word about this episode and all episodes!

P.S. If anyone has an "in" with Reese Witherspoon, this is a perfect book for her book club!

xoxo,

Heather

Today, I’m joined by Charlotte—the Dependency Doula—whose work is rooted in something far deeper than professional training.

Her journey began as a pregnant woman in active addiction, navigating recovery while facing judgment, fear, and systems that didn’t always listen.

Through determination and self-advocacy, she rebuilt her life—and now uses that experience to stand beside other women doing the same.

From high-risk maternity cases to family advocacy, Charlotte helps women find their voice in moments where it matters most.

This is a conversation about resilience, truth, and why women deserve better—every single time.

And whether you’re seeking help or looking for advocacy training in this area, reach out to Charlotte—her new vitual training program just launched! It is perfect for Doulas, Midwives, Medical staff, and even loved ones of those struggling with addiction. 

You can find Charlotte on Instagram @thedependencydoula

And on her website https://thedependencydoula.com/