Okay… we're going there!

Sex, desire, intimacy and our relationship with our bodies aren't always the easiest things to talk about- but they are a really important part of women's health.

In this episode of The Healthy Menopause Podcast, I’m joined by Jo Brown, integrative sexologist, embodiment teacher and counsellor, to have a very open conversation about what can happen to our sexuality and intimacy through perimenopause and menopause.

We talk about the difference between libido, desire and intimacy, the role of the nervous system, feeling connected to your body, vaginal changes, pain or discomfort during sex, and how relationships can be affected when one or both partners are navigating change.

Jo brings more than 35 years of experience, three postgraduate qualifications including a Professional Master’s in Clinical Sexology, and a fascinating blend of psychology, yoga, meditation, nervous system regulation and embodied practice.

But what I really loved about this conversation was that it wasn't about “fixing” women.

It was about understanding ourselves, reconnecting with our bodies and giving ourselves permission to explore what intimacy and pleasure might look like in this stage of life.

And yes… we definitely went there....

Don't forget to connect with Jo to learn more about the work she does:

instagram: JoBrownMojo
Facebook: Jo Brown Integrative Sexologist
www.jobrownmojo.com

Is the advice to “eat less and exercise more” leaving you frustrated in perimenopause?

In this episode of The Healthy Menopause Podcast, I’m joined by Angelique Clark, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Nutritionist and Accredited Exercise Physiologist, with more than 20 years of clinical experience.

We’re unpacking what actually happens to muscle, metabolism and body composition during perimenopause, and why the strategies that may have worked in your 20s and 30s don't always make sense in midlife.

We talk about nutrition, protein, strength training, metabolic health and why constantly trying to eat less or exercise more may not be the answer.

Ange brings together her expertise in both nutrition and exercise physiology to help women move away from quick fixes and towards a more sustainable approach to their health.

If you're tired of chasing the number on the scales and want to understand how to fuel your body, protect your muscle and support your metabolic health through perimenopause, this conversation is for you.

You can connect with Ange here: @angeliqueclark_nutrition

Learn more about her work here: https://www.angeliqueclark.com.au/

And if you would like to connect with me, I'd love to have a chat with you about how I can support you on your midlife health journey, by supporting muscle, bone and metabolic health through evidence based strategies, without the overwhelm💜

Book a Discovery Call

@menopause_exercisephys

Melanie White is an Executive Coach, Performance Strategist (PCC), and Certified Menopause Practitioner who is passionate about helping high-performing women and the organisations that rely on them thrive through midlife and beyond.

As the CEO and Co-Founder of Sage Women's Health, Melanie works at the intersection of women's health, leadership, and workplace wellbeing. She partners with organisations to develop menopause-informed workplace strategies, leadership capability, and healthier cultures that enable experienced women to stay well, stay engaged, and continue contributing at the peak of their careers.

Melanie is also a consultant with The Outperformer, a Sydney-based management consultancy specialising in strategy, leadership, culture, and organisational change. Her work challenges organisations to view menopause not simply as a health issue, but as a strategic workforce issue one that impacts talent retention, leadership pipelines, productivity, and long-term business success.

Through her coaching and consulting, Mel is helping redefine what sustainable performance looks like in midlife, empowering women to lead with confidence while supporting organisations to build workplaces where experienced women don't just survive, they flourish.

You can learn more about the work Mel does with Sage Women's Health HERE

And if you would like to connect with me, I'd love to have a chat with you about how I can support you on your midlife health journey, with absolute confidence and clarity 💜

Book a Discovery Call

@menopause_exercisephys

Join pharmacist, nutritionist and Certified Menopause Practitioner Sarah Gray and I, as we unpack the signs of perimenopause, the truth about supplements, and how nutrition, lifestyle and hormone therapy can work together to support women through midlife.

Sarah Gray is one of Australia's only dual-qualified Pharmacist Nutritionists and a Certified Menopause Practitioner. She is the founder of The Nutrition Pharmacist and author of It's Not You, It's Perimenopause, helping women cut through the confusion of midlife health with practical, evidence-based advice.

Drawing on her unique expertise in both pharmacy and nutrition, Sarah specialises in supporting women through perimenopause and menopause by translating complex science into simple, actionable strategies. Her approach combines nutrition, lifestyle medicine, supplements and, where appropriate, hormone therapy, empowering women to create personalised plans that work for their individual symptoms, goals and health history.

Her mission is simple: to ensure women have access to trusted, evidence-based information so they can make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing during midlife and beyond.

You can connect with Sarah on Instagram: the_nutrition_pharmacist

and you can pick up her new Book "It's Not You, It's Perimenopause" HERE

And if you would like to connect with me, I'd love to have a chat with you about how I can support you on your midlife health journey, with absolute confidence and clarity 💜

Book a Discovery Call

@menopause_exercisephys

Why does weight suddenly seem to increase during perimenopause and menopause, even when nothing has changed?

It's one of the most common and frustrating questions women ask during midlife, and in this episode of The Healthy Menopause Podcast, I'm joined by Dr Angela Kwong to unpack the science behind weight change, metabolic health, body composition, and the growing conversation around GLP-1 medications.

Dr Angela Kwong is a General Practitioner with a special interest in obesity management, metabolic health, and women's health. She is the founder of Enlighten Me, a medically supervised digital weight management program, and the NSW State Lead for the RACGP Specific Interests Group in Obesity Management.

Together, we explore why the old advice of "eat less and exercise more" often falls short during menopause, what is actually happening physiologically, and how women can take a more informed and compassionate approach to their health.

We also dive into one of the biggest health topics of recent years, GLP-1 medications. How do they work? Who might benefit from them? And why is preserving muscle mass just as important as losing body fat?

• Why weight and body composition often change during perimenopause and menopause
• The hormonal and metabolic changes happening beneath the surface
• Why traditional dieting advice doesn't always work in midlife
• The difference between weight loss and improving metabolic health
• How GLP-1 medications work and who they may be suitable for
• Why resistance training and adequate protein are essential for preserving muscle during weight loss
• Common misconceptions about menopause, metabolism, and obesity
• Practical strategies women can start implementing to support long-term health

This episode is a reminder that menopause is about far more than the number on the scales.

It's about understanding your changing physiology, protecting muscle, supporting metabolic health, and making informed decisions that help you feel stronger and healthier for years to come.

www.enlightenme.com.au

@drangelakwong

If you're ready to take a more evidence-based approach to your own perimenopause journey, download my free guide:

5 Simple Evidence-Based Habits to Support Muscle, Bone & Metabolic Health During Menopause

Or, if you'd like personalised support, book a discovery call to learn more about The Perimenopause Reset and how we can work together to support your long-term health.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Healthy Menopause Podcast and leave a review, it helps more women find these important conversations.

This episode marks an exciting new chapter for The Healthy Menopause Podcast.

For years, my work has focused on supporting women through perimenopause, menopause and midlife health- helping women understand their bodies, build strength, improve their health and feel empowered through this important stage of life.

But over time, one thing became increasingly clear:

Women's health does not exist in isolation from the environments we live and work in.

The workplace plays a significant role in women's health experiences, yet many organisations and leaders still feel unsure about how to support women through the health transitions they may experience throughout their careers.

In this special episode, I introduce my new initiative: Women's Health at Work™ a framework designed to help organisations better understand women's health across the workforce lifecycle and equip leaders with the knowledge, confidence and tools to have more supportive conversations.

Together, we'll explore why women's health is not simply a wellbeing issue, but a workforce issue.

We'll discuss:
✨ Why supporting women's health matters for organisations
✨ The health transitions women experience throughout their working lives
✨ Why leaders often want to help but don't know where to start
✨ How workplaces can create cultures where women feel supported, understood and able to thrive

This episode represents the next evolution of my work- bringing together more than 20 years of experience in exercise physiology, workplace rehabilitation, corporate wellbeing and women's health.

Because supporting women isn't just about helping individuals.

It's about creating healthier workplaces where women can continue to contribute, lead and thrive.

If you're a leader, HR professional, People & Culture specialist or workplace wellbeing professional, this conversation is for you.

Want to learn more about how i can support your organisation? Read more HERE

Saba is an Iranian-Australian Accredited Exercise Physiologist based in Brisbane. She has a unique professional journey, transitioning from engineering into exercise physiology after returning to university as a mature-age student to pursue work more closely aligned with her passion for health and helping others.

She now supports older adults to improve strength, balance, mobility, and confidence, while also building her passion project focused on women’s health, menopause, pain management, and healthy ageing. Saba is deeply passionate about helping women better understand their bodies, feel empowered through movement, and navigate midlife with greater confidence and support.

As part of the Iranian diaspora, Saba also brings a deeply personal perspective on how long-term crisis, uncertainty, and collective trauma can impact physical and mental health, particularly for women balancing the demands of midlife while carrying additional emotional burdens.

You can follow Saba on instagram @women.aging.strong and learn more about her work here.

And if you would like to connect with me, I'd love to have a chat with you about how I can support you on your midlife health journey, with absolute confidence and clarity, because babes like you are my absolute favourite to work with 💗

Book a Discovery Call

@menopause_exercisephys

What if midlife wasn't a crisis, but an awakening?

In this inspiring conversation, I welcome Kersten Stengel back to the podcast to explore the powerful phases of womanhood, the Maiden, Mother, Wild Woman and Crone- and how these archetypes can help us better understand the transitions of midlife.

Together, we discuss why so many women experience a profound shift during this stage of life, often feeling called to reconnect with themselves, redefine their identity and step into a deeper sense of purpose, wisdom and personal power.

Kersten shares insights from ancient wisdom traditions and explains how midlife can be a powerful invitation to release old expectations, trust your intuition and embrace the next chapter with confidence.

🌿 The four phases of womanhood and what they represent

🌿 The emergence of the Wild Woman in midlife

🌿 Reclaiming your voice, identity and inner wisdom

🌿 Why the Crone archetype deserves a rebrand

🌿 Ancient wisdom for modern women

🌿 How to navigate midlife with greater confidence and self-trust

If you've been questioning who you are beyond your roles and responsibilities, or feeling called toward something more, this episode is for you.

If you enjoyed this conversation, please share it with a friend and leave a review. Your support helps us continue bringing important conversations about women's health, growth and transformation to more women.

You can connect with Kersten on Instagram or LinkedIn.

And if you would like to connect with me- I'd love to have a chat with you about how I can support you on your midlife health journey, with absolute confidence and clarity, because babes like you are my absolute favourite to work with 💗

Book a Discovery Call

Today's guest brings a really unique perspective to the menopause conversation because she represents the next generation of doctors and researchers who are helping to shape the future of women's health.

Joining me today is Ashima Elsa Philip, a final-year medical student currently living in Mauritius.

Alongside her medical studies, Ashima developed an interest in medical research during her second year of medical school. What began as a research poster presentation on exercise and perimenopausal symptoms quickly evolved into a larger project, ultimately resulting in a published systematic review exploring the impact of exercise on perimenopausal syndrome.

What I find particularly inspiring is that Ashima undertook this work while still early in her medical training. At a stage when many healthcare professionals receive very little exposure to menopause care, she chose to explore a topic that affects millions of women worldwide.

Today we're going to talk about her research, what she learned about the role of exercise in supporting women during perimenopause, how this project has shaped her perspective on women's health, and why menopause education is something future doctors need greater exposure to.

You can read the full research article here: Impact of Exercise on Perimenopausal Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

You can connect with Ash on LinkedIn Ashima Elsa Philip Instagram @irselsa_ash

And if you are interested in finding out more about working with me through Perimenopause Reset follow this LINK to learn more.

A little different from my usual menopause content...

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of speaking on a panel at a major Brisbane organisation's International Women's Day 2026 event.

In this short snippet, I share why I am so passionate about improving healthcare outcomes for women, advocating for better support in the workplace, and challenging some of the long-standing gaps that continue to exist in women's health research and education.

I also share the story of the woman who inspired me from a young age, my grandmother, Clio- a courageous and resilient woman whose strength, determination, and willingness to stand up for what mattered helped shape the person I am today.

As an Exercise Physiologist specialising in perimenopause and menopause, these conversations are about far more than symptoms. They are about ensuring women have access to the knowledge, support, and healthcare they deserve throughout every stage of life.

I hope you enjoy this small glimpse into a topic that means so much to me. 💜

You can connect with me here:

Instagram @menopause_exercisephys

LinkedIn @clioaustin

Learn more about working with me inside The Perimenopause Reset