The Menopause Disruptor Podcast

Today's episode features Dr. Sara Tariq, an internal medicine physician at Northern Virginia Family Practice with over two decades of clinical experience.

Dr. Tariq is a dedicated advocate for systemic transformation within healthcare, passionately addressing inequities and fostering cultural shifts through relationship-centered care.

Dr. Tariq discusses the challenges of navigating midlife weight gain, body image, and the stories behind our eating habits. She shares her countless experiences coaching clients through starting on Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications, like Ozempic and Wegovy, to tackle increased stubborn weight that can occur in the menopause transition. These medications, initially developed for type 2 diabetes, are now being used to help non-diabetic women manage weight through appetite regulation and improved satiety.

We uncover the misconceptions and stigma surrounding GLP-1s, the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies, and the critical role of mental health and mindset in a patient's health journey.

Key Takeaways:

• GLP-1s are evidence-based tools, not quick fixes, and should be used under professional guidance.
• Each woman’s journey is unique. Coaches and providers should listen, empathize, and support women’s agency and choices.
• The power in shifting from a “skinny” to a “strong” mindset and embracing resistance training, self-compassion, and self-advocacy.

Resources:

•  GLP1 Cheat Sheet (Source: GGS Academy) 

Contact:

• Dr. Tariq’s clinic at Northern Virginia Family Practice  and on Instagram  @drsaratariqnvfp

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team. 

Connect with Mary: 

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

In this episode, host Mary breaks down the misconception that menopause is merely about hot flashes and mood swings, and emphasizes the importance of bone, brain, and heart health during this life phase. The role of estrogen goes far beyond reproductive health, and its decline can have serious physiological impacts if left unchecked.

Drawing on insights from prominent researchers and authors such as Dr. Lisa Mosconi, Dr. Avrum Bluming, and Dr. Stacy Sims, this episode explores strategies including heavy resistance training, sprint interval training, and a Mediterranean-style diet to effectively manage hormonal shifts.

Mary also introduces Menopause Intelligence—an online learning experience designed to empower women through education and self-advocacy—along with a free workbook offering practical guidance on fitness, nutrition, and stress management.

Resources:

• Maximize Heart Health Through Nutrition with Michelle Routhenstein, Episode 43
• The Hidden Impact of Modern Wheat and the Microbiome on Women’s Health with Dr. William Davis, Episode 77
• Estrogen Matters by Dr. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris 
• The Menopause Brain by Dr. Lisa Monsconi 
• Next Level by Dr. Stacy Sims

Sign up for a free resource: The Midlife Belly Fat Reset: A 7-Day Gut–Hormone–Workout Plan. 

In this plan, you’ll receive gut-friendly, hormone-balancing nutrition insights, a powerful heavy resistance training strategy, and simple stress-reset rituals you can do in under 10 minutes a day to support the gut–brain axis. Start shifting belly fat at the root cause by working with your body, not against it. 

Sign up today: https://subscribepage.io/bellyfatreset.

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team. 

Connect with Mary: 

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

In this episode, Mary is joined by Sarah Ham, a Mammography Supervisor, Medical Radiography Technologist, and Yoga Teacher with more than two decades of experience in women’s breast health.

Originally from the Comox Valley, Sarah moved to Burnaby after high school to attend the Medical Radiography Technology program at BCIT, graduating in 1999. She went on to gain extensive clinical experience at Burnaby Hospital, Brooke Radiology, and Mount St. Joseph Hospital, where she completed her specialized training in mammography. After two years working in the Lower Mainland, Sarah returned to the Comox Valley in 2001, where she continues to support women’s breast health in her community.

In this conversation, Sarah draws on both her professional expertise and personal insights to demystify mammograms and breast imaging. She explains the importance of early screening, outlines the different imaging modalities available, and addresses common fears and misconceptions that often prevent women from accessing care.

Sarah also shares her personal journey through loss and healing, and reflects on the powerful role yoga has played in supporting her physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

This episode encourages listeners to take a proactive approach to their health by becoming informed, advocating for themselves, and replacing fear with education.

Resources:

• For listeners residing in British Columbia, Canada, learn more about breast screening here: https://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/breast
• Find Sarah and her yoga studio offerings on Instagram @HensDenYoga 

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team. 

Connect with Mary: 

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

In this episode, Mary welcomes Hannah Hembree Bell, an award-winning Austin family law attorney, mom of four, and founder and CEO of one of the fastest-growing family law firms in the United States, Hembree Bell Law.

Hannah shares her deeply personal journey of losing custody and financial ground in her own divorce. She transformed those hard-won lessons into a national community helping women prepare wisely for one of life's most disruptive transitions.

Hannah delivers raw, practical wisdom about preparing strategically, protecting yourself legally and emotionally. Her message is clear: you don't have to live a life that sucks, and hope is not a strategy—action is.

Key Points Covered:

•  Menopause, a catalyst or the cause: A look at research, surveys and statistics.
• Cost-Benefit Analysis of Leaving vs. Staying: Using the "scale of justice" metaphor.
• The Derivative Identity Trap: How women define themselves through relationships rather than core characteristics (brave, strong, kind, generous). 
• The Gray Divorce phenomenon: Women often spend 5-10 years considering divorce before taking action.
• Don't Act from Activation: Critical advice to check hormone levels, thyroid function, and overall health before making permanent decisions.

Connect

• Hembree Bell Law Firm: https://hembrebell.com 
• Follow Hannah on social media: @HannahHembreeBell (Instagram, TikTok)
• My Confident Divorce Framework (FREE course): https://myconfidentdivorce.com 

Resources:

• Support and Solutions for Thriving Beyond Divorce https://sasforwomen.com/menopause-and-divorce/
• Family Law Menopause Project: https://menopause-support-for-partners.co.uk/2023/03/15/this-survey-looked-at-the-impact-of-menopause-on-separation-and-divorce/
• Menopause Matters: The Impact of  Menopause on Marriages: https://menopausematter.org/the-impact-of-menopause-on-marriages-navigating-challenges-and-preventing-divorce/

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team. 

Connect with Mary: 

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

In this episode, Mary is joined by Katie Beecher, a medical and spiritual intuitive, licensed professional counselor, and internationally recognized healer whose transformative work bridges science, intuition, and lived experience.

Katie shares her powerful journey from battling a life-threatening eating disorder at age 16 to becoming a celebrated healer with over 35 years of experience. The conversation explores how she discovered her unique gift of creating detailed intuitive readings and soul paintings using only a person's name and age—a skill she describes as both natural and learnable.

This episode dives deep into the intersection of menopause, spirituality, and holistic healing. Katie challenges conventional approaches to women's health, advocating for root-cause healing that honors the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of midlife transformation. At 60, she's not just talking about vitality—she's living it as a two-time national champion pole and aerial athlete who started training just six years ago.

Key Takeaways:

• How medical intuition supports midlife health

• Jungian psychology: How it taught Katie to befriend her disorder, communicate with her body, and discover the messages behind symptoms,

• Reframing perimenopause and menopause as the time to shed societal expectations, set boundaries, establish self-love, and reclaim authentic power rather than merely surviving symptoms.

• Highly Sensitive beings and empaths have a superpower

• Hormone Therapy Advocacy: Katie's personal experience with bioidentical hormones (estrogen, testosterone, DHEA) have empowered her to advocate for symptom-based, quality-of-life treatment.

• Practical guidance on connecting with your intuition, spiritual guides, and inner wisdom.

• How beloved pets mirror our emotional and physical states, often taking on our pain to protect us, and what their illnesses can teach us about ourselves.

Connect:

• Heal From Within: A Guide to Intuitive Wellness by Katie Beecher—available wherever books are sold (workbook format recommended for visual aids and exercises)

• Katie Beecher's website for intuitive readings: https://katiebeecher.com

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team. 

Connect with Mary: 

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

In this groundbreaking episode of the Menopause Disruptor Podcast, host Mary Lee welcomes Dr. Betsy Greenleaf—the first woman in the United States to become board certified in urogynecology. Triple board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, and procedural medicine and aesthetics, Dr. Greenleaf is a true pioneer challenging outdated narratives in women's health.

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Greenleaf shares her journey from studying the sports page alongside surgery textbooks to founding the International Pause Institute and the Pelvic Floor Store. This conversation dives deep into the gut-vagina-bladder connection, the commercialization of menopause (yes, menopause toothpaste exists), and why 90% of medical conditions are caused or worsened by poor gut microbiome health.

From the vaginal mesh crisis to her "find your bikini moment" philosophy, Dr. Greenleaf delivers practical wisdom on pelvic prolapse, GSM (genitourinary syndrome of menopause), why KY Jelly is terrible for vaginal health, and how one dose of Cipro can disrupt your gut microbiome for an entire year. She also reveals her secret hack: testosterone cream around the eyes for dry eye relief.

Key Takeaways

• 90% of medical conditions caused or worsened by poor gut microbiome
• 50% of women experience pelvic prolapse (bladder, uterus, rectum dropping)
• 90% of serotonin made in the gut—mood issues may be microbiome-related and 80% of immune system made in the gut
• UTI-antibiotic-UTI cycle disrupts gut and perpetuates infections
• Vaginal mesh crisis parallels current menopause commercialization fears
• Sexual stimulation maintains pelvic blood flow

Resources:

• GSM Fact Sheet
• Women’s Pelvic Meditation: https://femversity.com/pelvicmediation-sign-up

Connect:

• The International Pause Institute:   https://pauseinstitute.com
• The Pelvic Floor Store: https://pelvicfloorstore.com Use the code Disruptor  for 10% discount
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/drbetsygreenleafspeaks/

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team. 

Connect with Mary: 

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

In this Season 3 kick-off, Mary sits down with Elizabeth Katzman, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN) and founder of Strong Choices, to unpack the long-term impact of birth control on women’s health, the concept of “the pill hangover,” and holistic strategies for thriving through perimenopause and menopause.

Elizabeth shares her personal journey from attorney to FDN, and how her own family’s health challenges led her to question conventional wisdom around women’s health, antibiotics, and hormonal interventions. Together, Mary and Elizabeth discuss:

• What is “the pill hangover” and how can it affect women decades after stopping birth control?
• The critical connection between gut health, hormone balance, and bone strength
• Why supporting your liver and gut is essential for hormone detox and overall well-being
• Practical hacks for managing menopause symptoms, including vaginal estrogen in the ear 
• The importance of advocating for yourself with healthcare providers and building a supportive care team
• How to educate and empower the next generation to make informed choices about hormonal health
• Insights from Elizabeth’s upcoming book, “Sexy Bones,” and her approach to strength training for bone density

Elizabeth also shares actionable advice for mothers of teens, women considering or coming off birth control, and anyone navigating the midlife transition. Plus, learn why variety in probiotics and fermented foods matters, and how small daily choices can make a big difference.

Connect with Elizabeth Katzman

• Website: strongchoices.com
• Instagram: @strongchoices1

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team. 

Connect with Mary: 

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

Season 2 finale we kick off with a replay, a visit back to my first guest interview, the inaugral episode featuring Shannon Donahoe-Simpson.

Shannon is a cancer survivor and lifelong people pleaser who embarked on a transformative journey of radical self-acceptance, self-love, and self-responsibility.  Her story highlights how she connected the dots between her trauma, health, and lifelong habits to find healing. Over time, she evolved out of her past projects geared around nutrition and youth empowerment into becoming a highly-sought after TEDx speaker and heart-centered facilitator.

Her transformation led to profound personal changes, including the end of her marriage, and a deepened commitment to helping others through her ongoing social media series Toolbox Tuesday and hosting women's circles, retreats, and empowerment gatherings. 

Emphasizing the importance of speaking one's truth, Shannon encourages listeners to live authentically and prioritize self-care. This episode embodies the themes of rebirth, transformation, and infinite potential, symbolically released as episode 88 in in 2025, a nine year - the number that symbolizes master transformation.  
Connect:

• Shannon's journey and offerings online at shannondonohoesimpson.com, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn

References:

• Toolbox Tuesdays
• Watch her inspirational TEDx talk
• Read her story in The Collective Magazine
• Book mentioned: When the Body Says No by ⁠Dr. Gabor Maté (not an affiliate link)

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team. 

Connect with Mary: 

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

Today, we welcome Dr. Michelle Cromwell, founder of Sœur du Sol, for a deep and inspiring conversation about disrupting the menopause narrative around traditional and holistic medicine to support symptoms. 

Dr. Michelle is a former C-suite executive and vice president in higher education, with over 18 years of experience as a professor, administrator, and leader. She holds a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution and has taught research methods and sociology, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to her work.

Dr. Michelle’s journey is marked by her transition from academia and corporate leadership to the healing arts. While building her career, she quietly practiced complementary medicine—becoming a yoga instructor, Reiki master teacher, and student of traditional herbalism, inspired by her father, an engineer and herbalist. Her calling became undeniable after a transformative experience in a course on cosmic herbalism and medical astrology, which led her to leave her executive role and fully embrace her identity as a healer.

She has since traveled to Benin, West Africa, to learn directly from traditional healers, deepening her expertise in West African herbs and holistic wellness. Dr. Michelle’s work now bridges science, spirit, and heritage healthcare, empowering women—especially those in high-achieving and leadership roles—to reclaim their autonomy and well-being during menopause.

Key Topics 

• Science Meets Spirit: Integrating medical astrology, traditional medicine, and scientific rigor in women’s health.
• West African Herbal Wisdom: Firsthand learning from traditional healers and developing proprietary herbal blends.
• Empowering Women: Addressing the challenges women face in menopause, especially in corporate environments.
• Herbal Tea: Dr. Michelle's unique herbal blend for brain fog and sleep, rooted in ancestral knowledge.
• Bridging Healthcare Gaps: Advocating for partnerships between conventional and complementary practitioners, and the deep mistrust as a result of the Women's Health Initiative that commenced in early 1990s and abrubtly halted in 2002. 

Connect with Dr. Michelle Cromwell

• Website: Sœur du Sol
• LinkedIn: C Michelle Cromwell
• Instagram: @thedrmichelle

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team. 

Connect with Mary: 

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

In this episode, Mary sits down with Dr. Amy Day, a leading naturopathic doctor specializing in perimenopausal and menopausal health. Dr. Day shares her journey into the field, her passion for empowering women with education, and her commitment to providing holistic, individualized care.

Key Topics Discussed

• Understanding Perimenopause: Dr. Day explains the often-overlooked transition of perimenopause, highlighting the lack of education and awareness that many women face. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing hormonal changes and seeking support early.
• Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT): The conversation covers what BHRT is, its history, and how it can be safely and effectively used as part of a broader approach to women’s health. Dr. Day addresses common misconceptions and the need for individualized treatment plans.
• Holistic and Lifestyle Approaches: Beyond hormones, Dr. Day discusses the critical role of stress resilience, adrenal health, nutrition, and lifestyle adjustments. She advocates for self-care and viewing this life stage as an opportunity for growth and well-being.
• Virtual Care and Community: Dr. Day describes her virtual practice, licensed in California, and the resources available through her online community at womensvitalitycenter.com.

Connect:

•  Dr. Amy Day’s  Perimenopause 101 mini-course, clinic and online community website:  womensvitalitycenter.com

Resources:

• Article: Medicalization of Menopause, Emme Elle Coaching 

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Hen's Den Yoga
A serene and cozy home studio nestled in the Comox Valley offering a variety of wellness classes.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Meet the host, Mary, a certified Menopause Doula, GGS Coaching Specialist, and corporate educator, helping forward-thinking organizations foster a menopause-friendly workplace. Visit https://emmeellecoaching.com/menopauseatwork

Turn your menopause transition into a transformation with the Menopause Intelligence Course (MQ), an 8-module, self-paced learning experience, empowering you to take agency over your health and make informed decisions with your healthcare team. 

Connect with Mary: 

• Instagram @menopausedisruptorpodcast
• LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/maryhelenlee/

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.