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This podcast originally ran on March 26th, 2025

In this episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, GenX journalist Ann Marie McQueen sits down with Dr Deena Emera, an evolutionary geneticist, senior scientist at the Buck Institute’s Buck Center for Healthy Aging in Women, and author of A Brief History of the Female Body: An Evolutionary Look at How and Why the Female Form Came to Be.

Dr Emera’s research focuses on the genetic basis of reproductive longevity in mammals, and in this fascinating discussion, she breaks down the evolution of menopause, why female bodies age the way they do, and what modern science is uncovering about ovarian health and longevity.

If you’ve ever wondered why menopause exists, how it evolved, and whether science will ever be able to delay or even prevent it, this episode is for you.

Highlights:

• Understanding evolutionary biology (it's not boring, promise)
• The evolutionary mystery of menopause
• What animals do go through menopause?
• Why all women didn't used to die at 50 (and what actually happened)
• How modern life has changed menopause
• Why Dr Emera needs bowhead whale ovaries
• Can we really end menopause?
• The truth about the Grandmother Hypothesis

Quote:

"Menopause itself isn’t surprising – if you live long enough, you will run out of eggs. What’s unique about humans is that we have such a long post-reproductive life stage. That’s the real mystery we need to solve." – Dr Deena Emera

Where to find Dr Emera:

• Instagram: @deenaemera
• LinkedIn: Deena Emera
• Buy her book: A Brief History of the Female Body – Available on Amazon

The Hotflash inc Podcast is:
One of the Top 60 Menopause Podcasts
In the top 3% percentile on Listen Notes
#1 on Goodpods’ Top 10 Women’s Health Podcasts list

This episode was originally sponsored by  Timeline Nutrition. Mitopure supports cellular energy and longevity. Visit https://shop.timeline.com/HOTFLASHINC where you can still grab 20% off with code HOTFLASHINC

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Web: hotflashinc.com
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X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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This podcast originally ran on July 10, 2024

In this episode Florida orthopedic sports medicine surgeon Dr Vonda Wright published a review paper Climacteric, the journal of the International Menopause Society, introducing Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause. The paper has been shared widely across social media, and this interview with Dr Wright is an edited version from last year diving into Dr Wright’s efforts to create awareness of this constellation of muscle and joint problems experienced during perimenopause. 

This is an issue close to Dr Wright’s heart: it was the first thing she went though in perimenopause. 

Listen in as she explains why MSM is her mission, just what happens to our bones and muscles as we get older, and delves into the need for proper diagnosis and preventive measures such as exercise and diet, and the importance of estrogen in maintaining bone health. 

Highlights:

• 1:33 Why she’s back
• 2:45 Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause
• 3:46 Personal experiences and reflections
• 4:09 Understanding bone health
• 12:22 The importance of mobility
• 22:15 Diet and supplements for bone health
• 26:58 Hormone therapy and long-term health
• 31:05 Her words of hope 

Connect with Dr Vonda Wright

• Website: drvondawright 
• Instagram: drvondawright
• TikTok: drvondawright 

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Host bio:
This episode is hosted by Ann Marie McQueen, journalist and founder of Hotflash Inc – the world’s only reader-supported, research-based platform covering all aspects of menopause and midlife. A Canadian-made, UAE-based journalist with 30 years of experience, Ann Marie launched Hotflash Inc to help women find evidence, expert insight, and honest conversations that reflect the full spectrum of the midlife experience. Through her newsletter, podcast, social channels, events, and upcoming course Your Perimenopause Game Plan, she’s building a global community rooted in truth, curiosity, and empowerment.

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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This podcast originally ran on July 4, 2024

Hotflash inc – the platform designed to find the true truth in perimenopause, menopause and beyond – makes a return to the podcast world this week! 

In the first episode back journalist and host Ann Marie McQueen interviews Lara Briden, an expert in women's health and author of the new book The Metabolism Reset.

They discuss the complexity of this entire subject, insulin resistance, the impact of modern diets, and the importance of understanding how our bodies respond to different types of food and exercise. 

Briden, a naturopathic doctor and author of period repair manual and hormone repair manual, shares her valuable and moderate insights on achieving metabolic health through tailored approaches, emphasizing gentler methods and the importance of addressing underlying health issues like gut health and autoimmunity. 

This episode aims to help listeners understand and manage their metabolic health effectively during the menopause transition.

Highlights:

• 00:48 Introducing Midi Health
• 01:21 Lara Briden's Influence and new book
• 02:04 Conversation with Lara Briden
• 03:31 Understanding Metabolic Health
• 05:42 The Role of Hunger and Satiety
• 14:50 Impact of Modern Food Environment
• 21:30 Debate on Vegetable Oils
• 28:06 Navigating Food Allergies in Restaurants
• 28:27 Understanding Metabolic Endotoxemia
• 28:47 Gut Health and Metabolic Health Connection
• 29:54 Patient Stories: Gut Health and Insulin Resistance
• 34:52 Exploring Insulin Resistance
• 37:27 Signs and Diagnosis of Insulin Resistance
• 40:30 Treatment Approaches for Insulin Resistance
• 43:20 Perimenopause and Insulin Resistance
• 43:34 The Importance of Movement and Protein
• 49:29 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Connect with Dr. Lara Briden:

• Website: www.larabriden.com
• Instagram: @larabriden
• X: @larabriden
• Books: Available wherever books are sold, including Bookshop.org, Amazon, and Pan Macmillan

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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In this episode of the Hotflash inc podcast, host and founder Ann Marie McQueen takes you into a whole new realm of possibility: decentralized science, or DeSci. Joining her is Mack Stachowiak, a physicist, software architect and healthcare innovator who is pioneering the integration of blockchain, AI, and Web3 into healthcare as co-founder of Axon DAO.

You might be thinking, “why are you talking about this?” – and we get it. Crypto and blockchain can feel like a foreign language. But this conversation reveals how decentralized science could completely change the game when it comes to the lack of menopause and midlife research – by putting data ownership and funding power into the hands of individuals and communities.

Mack shares how Axon DAO’s platform allows people to share and monetize their health data (ethically and consensually), explains how voice biomarkers can detect hormone fluctuations, and shares mulitple menopause-specific projects he wants to launch right now – but needs the right researchers and community to do it.

This episode is for anyone tired of waiting for “more data” – and ready to build the systems we need now.

Episode highlights:

1:30 – What is decentralized science (DeSci) and why should we care?

3:10 – Why most people – including doctors – don’t even know DeSci exists

6:45 – How blockchain-backed tokens fund research in a faster, fairer way

12:00 – Why Axon DAO gives users full control over their health data

14:15 – How scientists can build research platforms using Axon DAO

18:55 – Using sleep data to support menopausal women

20:00 – How voice analysis can detect stress, PTSD, and even vagus nerve dysfunction

26:30 – How Mack’s team is handling data privacy and regulatory compliance

28:20 – Upcoming projects on Alzheimer’s, medical cannabis, and psilocybin microdosing

33:00 – The enormous gap in menopause research – and how DeSci can close it

35:10 – Voice-based hormone and hot flash tracking: already here

37:45 – Mack’s open invitation to women researchers and citizen scientists

40:30 – Why you should own your data and share it on your own terms

44:30 – Health optimization as a cultural shift: empowerment through ownership

46:15 – One medical device that could change the game – if it wasn’t siloed

48:00 – How community and open access can transform women’s health research

50:30 – “You don’t need to understand crypto – just use your email and get started”

Connect with Mack and Axon DAO:

A Plus Voice research program: 

https://aplusvoice.io

X: https://twitter.com/axondao

IG: https://www.instagram.com/axondao/

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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In this powerful solo episode, Hotflash inc founder and host Ann Marie McQueen reflects on the five-year journey of building the platform, from launching her first newsletter in 2020 to preparing for the first Hotflash inc Summit and her first product launch – a much-needed tool to help women navigate the hormone therapy maze.

Ann Marie opens up about how far the conversation has come, how far it still has to go, and what she’s learned through thousands of hours of research, interviews, and real-life experience. She unpacks the polarizing hormone therapy space – from the self-proclaimed “thought leaders” to the quiet majority of women who are still confused, cautious, or feeling pushed in every direction.

Plus, a deeply relatable share from a harpist and UAE changemaker Shelley Frost, founder of The Fridge Entertainment, who talks about her turning point with hormone therapy after years of struggling with sleep and overwhelm.

This is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt stuck between extremes when it comes to midlife, hormones, and who to trust.

Highlights:

• The story behind launching the first Hotflash Inc newsletter in 2020
• The content-is-product philosophy 
• Ann Marie’s early fear of using the words “menopause” or “perimenopause”
• What has (and hasn’t) changed in five years
• Why the hormonal transition isn’t the problem – it reveals deeper issues
• Hormone therapy doesn’t always prevent disease, and the research is nuanced
• The middle path between estrogen fear and hormone therapy evangelism
• Women can’t just "get it together" – trauma and real-life responsibilities are at play
• Messaging trends and repeated doctor scripts that look a lot like PR
• The supplement smear campaign: is it manufactured?
• Shelley Frost shares her transformation after starting hormone therapy
• Real messages from women who can’t tolerate MHT – and feel pressured to keep trying
• Behind the scenes: doctors admit they’re worried about the current messaging
• Physiologic dosing and why it’s so controversial
• The full hormone therapy belief system spectrum, mapped out
• The confusing (and dangerous) mix-up between progesterone and progestin
• Ann Marie’s first product: a tool to help women figure out HRT for themselves
• What’s coming next: the Hotflash Inc Summit, the course, the book
• A reminder that midlife is about remembering who’s really calling the shots

Shoutout to our sponsor MenoLabs – makers of MenoFit, a science-backed probiotic designed to relieve symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats while supporting overall wellness. Hotflash Inc listeners get 20% off with code HOTFLASH20 at menolabs.com.

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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In this deep-dive episode, independent researcher and Energy Balance Podcast host Jay Feldman walks Hotflash inc founder Ann Marie McQueen through his bioenergetic approach to health, exploring how modern life disrupts our energy systems and misleads us around hormones.

Jay explains why perimenopause symptoms aren’t necessarily signs of estrogen deficiency, what progesterone’s underrated role is, and how metabolism, stress, and gut health all converge to influence the midlife transition.His work has been instrumental in helping Ann Marie connect the dots between her own thyroid, gut health, fatty liver, and hormonal changes. If you're curious, overwhelmed, or stuck between conflicting advice – this one’s for you.

Highlights:

Why the mainstream medical model didn’t cut it for Jay
How energy production impacts reproductive hormones
The cultural lie of “eat less, move more”
Seed oils, PUFAs and what they’re doing to your metabolism
Sunscreens, toenail polish, and endocrine disruption
Why low estrogen blood levels don’t tell the whole story
What your liver and gut have to do with your hormones
Why estrogen replacement might be a band-aid, not a solution
Progesterone as the overlooked hero hormone
A breakdown of the research around hormone therapy and prevention
What’s missing from the Women’s Health Initiative findings
The testosterone-for-everyone trend: risks and realities
Small shifts that support your hormones naturally
How the carrot salad really works
Alcohol, slow motility, gut health and estrogen clearance
The liver support and herbal options that actually help
A loving reminder: there is no magic pill

Special thanks to our sponsor MenoLabs
Get 20% off science-backed support for perimenopause and menopause at menolabs.com using code HOTFLASH20

Guest bio
Jay Feldman is a health coach, independent researcher, and the host of the Energy Balance Podcast. With a background in neuroscience and exercise physiology, he takes a bioenergetic approach to health that focuses on restoring cellular energy and dismantling modern myths around nutrition, metabolism, and hormones. Jay’s personal mission is to help people heal by reconnecting them with their bodies and understanding how modern life throws off our internal systems. 

Work with Jay & explore more

• Website: jayfeldmanwellness.com
• Free Guide: jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide
• Podcast: The Energy Balance Podcast 

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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In this episode of the Hotflash inc podcast, host and founder Ann Marie McQueen sits down with Dr Lara Briden – a naturopath, women’s health speaker, and author of Period Repair Manual, Hormone Repair Manual, and Metabolism Repair for Women. Together, they unpack some of the buzziest and most confusing midlife health trends: from hormone therapy + GLP-1 combos to supplement overwhelm, vaginal estrogen, and the sudden concern over labia shrinkage.

Dr Briden brings a refreshing and deeply grounded perspective to the conversation, challenging common narratives and reminding us of the biological brilliance of the female body – especially in midlife.

Highlights:

• The overhyped narrative about hormone therapy and GLP-1s
• What GLP-1 medications really do, and why they’re fascinating to Dr. Briden
• Supplements as a security blanket, and why Ann Marie and her friends are rethinking them
• Taking a “supplement holiday” – what it is and why it helps
• The connection between GLP-1s and gut health
• What happens when you go off hormone therapy or GLP-1s?
•  A naturopath’s minimalist supplement travel kit
• Vaginal changes in menopause: what’s real, what’s clickbait
• The difference in how men vs women are told to view their bodies as they age
• Vaginal estrogen and the truth about genitourinary syndrome of menopause
• The bizarre labia shrinkage trend and the pressure of “perfect” body parts
• Why menopause is not a mistake of evolution – it’s a feature
• The danger of over-identifying with health labels
• “Wear it lightly” – a powerful reframe from Dr. Briden
• The trend of diagnosing yourself through Instagram
• Not everyone suffers in perimenopause – and that’s okay

Sponsor: Shoutout to our sponsor MenoLabs – makers of MenoFit, a science-backed probiotic designed to relieve hot flashes, night sweats and more. Hotflash Inc listeners get 20% off with the code HOTFLASHINC20.

Connect with Dr. Lara Briden:

• Website: www.larabriden.com
• Instagram: @larabriden
• X: @larabriden
• Books: Available wherever books are sold, including Bookshop.org, Amazon, and Pan Macmillan

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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In this episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, founder and host Ann Marie McQueen talks with serial entrepreneur Carin Luna-Ostaseski – creator of Hot or Just Me?, a comprehensive online platform supporting women through perimenopause and menopause.

Carin’s path from successful whiskey founder to menopause advocate is anything but ordinary. After launching the first American woman and Hispanic-created Scotch whisky (SIA), and pioneering a grant program for underserved entrepreneurs, she found herself navigating hot flashes, anxiety, insomnia and more. Rather than suffer silently, she launched a new venture focused on offering trusted products, expert advice, and a supportive community for other women going through the same.

They talk candidly about hormonal sensitivity, the pressure to take HRT, entrepreneurial lessons, how to optimize sleep (even if your partner snores like a bear) and the most helpful (and unhelpful) products in the menopause space. If you'd like to check out Carin's marketplace Hot or Just Me? use our exclusive discount code for Hotflash inc listeners, HFINC, here for 25 percent off.  

Episode highlights:

• Carin’s journey from tech and whisky to menopause advocacy
• How her own symptoms inspired Hot or Just Me?
• How she selects products for the site and what she avoids
• Her top-selling tools for cooling, comfort, and sexual wellness
• Why she’s cautious about one-size-fits-all supplements
• Thoughts on the “menopause gold rush” and consumer choice
• Why she isn’t on hormone therapy and how that’s played out
• Navigating hormonal sensitivity and IVF struggles
• The nuance around HRT pressure and platform responsibility
• Non-hormonal solutions that work for her (starting with sleep!)
• Caffeine and alcohol hacks that actually help

Sponsor shoutout: Has your doctor told you that you're too young for perimenopause, but you just don’t feel like yourself? You’re not alone – perimenopause can start earlier than you think. That’s why MenoLabs is here, to support you with a range of products and the information you need to confidently speak up and get the care you deserve. They also offer science-backed solutions like their best-seller, MenoFit, a probiotic designed to help relieve symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats and more – all while supporting your overall health and wellness. Visit menolabs.com and get 20% off your order using code: HOTFLASH20

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Relevant links:

• Website → https://hotorjustme.com
• IG → @hotorjustme
• Find a certified menopause practitioner →

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

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This week’s solo episode is all about supplements – the good, the bad, and the potentially dangerous. I open up about my own rocky road with pills, powders, and tinctures, including the time I returned a popular fat burner in the early 2000s and, more recently, when I accidentally took five times the recommended dose of desiccated thyroid.

This episode is both a cautionary tale and an invitation to slow down, listen to your body, and ask what you really need – beyond the bottle. If you’ve been gagging on supplements, feeling unwell despite taking “all the right things,” or questioning what’s working and what’s not, this is for you.

Episode highlights:

• That time I levitated from a fat burner (and returned it in a rage)
• How Ephedra was banned after high-profile deaths
• What early sensitivity to supplements taught me (and didn’t)
• When supplements become a security blanket
• The Maca incident that triggered spotting and emotional chaos
• “Why didn’t you rest?” – the question that (started to) change everything
• Genetic testing, fatigue and falling back into old patterns
• Stage 2 hypertension and a terrifying headache
• The wakeup call 
• Supplements vs. food – what we’re getting wrong
• What symptoms are really telling you
• A call to self-kindness and slowing down

Sponsor shoutout:

Has your doctor told you that you’re too young for perimenopause, but you know you just don’t feel like yourself? You’re not alone – perimenopause can start earlier than you think. That’s why MenoLabs is here, to support you with a range of products and the information you need to confidently speak up and get the care you deserve. They also offer science-backed products like their best-seller, MenoFit, a probiotic designed to help relieve symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats and more – all while supporting your overall health and wellness. Don’t settle for less during this season of your life. Visit Menolabs.com and get the support you need today. Hotflash inc listeners get 20% off with code: HOTFLASH20

Now for the small print: This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Call to action:

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with someone who might need it. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss what’s coming next, we’ve got incredible guests and stories on the way.

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

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In this episode of the Hot Flash inc Podcast, host Annemarie McQueen sits down with Dr Stuart Phillips, a professor of Kinesiology at McMaster University, to explore the intricacies of exercise, aging, and nutrition, particularly focusing on the impact of these factors during perimenopause and menopause. They discuss common societal pressures and misinformation women face around exercise and health during midlife, emphasizing the importance of consistent and practical workout routines. Dr Phillips debunks myths about hormone therapy, estrogen, and muscle health, and offers evidence-based recommendations for maintaining physical function and overall well-being. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that sheds light on the real science behind muscle health, the benefits of physical activity, and practical advice for women navigating this challenging life stage.

Topics Covered:

• Menopause and exercise challenges
• Starting the conversation with Dr Phillips
• The importance of consistency in exercise
• Social media’s impact on fitness advice
• Debunking the heavy-lifting myth
• Progressive overload explained
• Balancing exercise and life
• The benefits of muscle health
• The importance of health span and physical mobility
• Bone health: hormone therapy vs. activity
• Exercise and mental health benefits
• Hormone therapy and muscle mass: the evidence
• Fascia and connective tissue: the overlooked components
• Inactivity and its impact on aging
• Supplements: creatine, protein, and more
• Weight-loss drugs and muscle loss concerns
• Longevity and lifestyle: a balanced perspective
• Advice for women in perimenopause

Where to find Dr Stuart Phillips

X: @mackinprof
Instagram: @mackinprof
LinkedIn @stuartphillips
Facebook: SMPPh.D 

Sponsor shoutout: Has your doctor told you that you’re too young for peri/menopause, but you know you just don’t feel like yourself? You’re not alone – perimenopause can start earlier than you think. That’s why MenoLabs is here, to support you with a range of products and the information you need to confidently speak up and get the care you deserve. They also offer science-backed solutions like their best-seller, MenoFit, a probiotic designed to help relieve symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats and more – all while supporting your overall health and wellness. Don’t settle for less during this season of your life. Visit Menolabs.com and get the support you need today! Hotflash inc listeners get 20% off with code: HOTFLASH20

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack

See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information