The Menopause Disruptor Podcast

In this episode of the Menopause Disruptor Podcast, host Mary delves deep into the intricate link between stress, gut health, and visceral belly fat as experienced during menopause. 

Mary explains how chronic stress impacts gut microbiota, inflammation, and fat storage, and highlights the gut-brain axis's role in this process. She leans into the experts in the field include Dr. Tara Swart and Dr. Stacy Sims to explain why stress and a hormone-changing woman's body responds to stress and fat stores, emphasizing the value of sprint intervals and heavy resistance training over steady cardio to manage cortisol levels and improve body composition. 

Mary offers actionable advice on gut-friendly nutrition and stress-regulating practices that she shares with several clients that she has coached which can help you mitigate belly fat. 

Resources:

• Dr. Tara Swart
• Dr. Stacy Sims
• 5 Clinically Proven Remedies to Tackle Gut Heath Issues
• How to make L.Crispatus Yogurt

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

In this plan, you will get gut-friendly, hormone-balancing nutrition secrets, a powerful heavy resistance training strategy, and simple stress-reset rituals you can do in under 10 minutes a day to nurture the gut-brain axis. Start shifting belly fat at the root cause and 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 Dr. Aleece Fosnight a medical advisor at Aeroflow Urology and a board-certified physician assistant specializing in sexual medicine, women's health, and urology, who brings crucial insights about pelvic floor health and the safety of vaginal estrogen therapy.

Bottom Line Up Front: Urinary incontinence is common but not normal—it's treatable at any age. Vaginal estradiol is safe and effective, with virtually no contraindications, yet misinformation continues to prevent women from accessing this life-changing therapy that can reduce UTIs by over 50%.

The conversation tackles the widespread misconceptions surrounding pelvic floor health and vaginal estrogen therapy. Dr. Fosnight reveals how the healthcare system spends over a billion dollars annually on recurrent UTIs—many of which could be prevented with proper treatment. She emphasizes that systemic hormone therapy doesn't reach genital urinary tissues effectively, making local vaginal estrogen essential for optimal health during and after menopause.

Dr. Fosnight also demonstrates how proper pelvic floor assessment should be standard care, explaining her trauma-informed approach to examinations and why every postpartum woman should receive pelvic floor therapy—a practice already standard in Europe that dramatically reduces long-term complications.

Connect with Dr. Aleece Fosnight: 

• Website: fosnightcenter.com and aeroflowurology.com
• Instagram  @fosnightcenter and @sexmedpa 

Resources:

• American Urology Association Guidelines on Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (April 2025) 
• GSM Guidelines Summary Cheat Sheet

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 transformative episode, Mary is joined by Bronwyn Schweigerdt, a licensed psychotherapist and anger expert who brings a revolutionary perspective to understanding emotions during menopause.

Bottom Line Up Front: Anger isn't the enemy—it's vital information that can guide you toward healing, especially during menopause when suppressed emotions from childhood resurface as your inner child demands attention and nurturing.

The conversation explores how menopause symptoms may actually be your inner child trying to wake you up, literally demanding that you stop betraying yourself and start nurturing your authentic needs. Bronwyn reveals how suppressed anger, particularly from adverse childhood experiences, manifests as physical illness and mental health challenges, and provides practical tools for transforming your relationship with these powerful emotions.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn to view anger as vital information that something needs attention, wanting to move us toward healthy boundaries and assertiveness.
• Discover why menopause symptoms may be our inner child's wake-up call to finally prioritize self-nurturing over people-pleasing.Understand how shame severs your connection to your inner child and intuition. 
• Understand how alexithymia (keeping emotions inside) literally makes us sick, contributing to autoimmune disorders, depression, and anxiety. Learn healthy ways to channel anger through boundaries and assertive communication.
• Use of visualization exercises toconnect with and nurture our younger self, helping to address the root sources of shame, guilt, and suppressed rage that surface during menopause.
• Learn to move beyond surface-level self-care to authentic self-nurturing—which may mean ending toxic relationships, setting firm boundaries, or making major life changes that honor your authentic needs.

Resources:

• Angry at the Right Things Podcast with Bronwyn Schweigerdt 
• Connect with Bronwyn on Instagram 
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle (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.

In this second episode of the Goddess Journey Meditation Series the focus is on reconnecting with oneself amidst the busyness of life.

Join host, Mary as she explores the importance of setting boundaries and practicing self-love, using meditation as a tool to nurture and protect one's energy. Inspired by the Archangel Fire Oracle cards and the divine feminine energy of Shekinah, the Archangel know as the Divine Mother, listeners are guided through a soothing meditation to release burdens, affirm their self-worth, and establish meaningful boundaries. 

The meditation includes powerful affirmations to reinforce inner strength and prioritizing personal well-being, and learning to say yes to your soul and no to the external noise that does not serve you.

00:01 Welcome and Introduction

00:33 The Importance of Self-Care

01:21 Setting Boundaries

01:52 Oracle Cards and Divine Feminine Energy

03:10 Guided Meditation

06:17 Affirmations for Empowerment

09:35 Closing and Final Thoughts

Thank Mia J., for being my Shekinah this week. Your divine timing was impeccable and your message so apropos 💫

Resource:

• Archangle Alchemy Healing: The Celestial Science in the Vibration of the Universe, Alexandra Wenman (not an affiliate link)

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 Sheri Jay, a specialized life coach who transforms the lives of neurodivergent individuals through her unique blend of neuroscience expertise and lived experience. Drawing from her own journey with brain injury, anxiety, and invisible disability, Sheri has developed innovative coaching methods that help clients embrace their strengths and thrive authentically.

The conversation explores the profound intersection of neurodivergence and menopause, revealing how hormonal changes can unmask previously hidden traits like ADHD and autism in women. Sheri discusses the challenges of late diagnosis, the exhausting process of masking, and how menopause often becomes "the great reveal" when coping mechanisms no longer work. She shares her compassionate approach to navigate this complex landscape with tools that build confidence, overcome imposter syndrome and perfectionism, and create new neural pathways.

Sheri's remarkable journey from high-powered corporate executive to passionate advocate began with a life-changing stroke and brain injury that left her disabled for years. Rather than accepting limitations, she used neuroscience principles to create new neural pathways, eventually founding a coaching practice that serves everyone from athletes to executives. Her story demonstrates the power of resilience and the importance of embracing what makes us uniquely capable.

Connect:

• Sheri Jay's website and coaching services: sherijay.ca
• Instagram: @sherijaycoaching
• YouTube Channel: @sherijaycoaching

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.

Join host Mary for the unveiling of a new meditation series, the Goddess Journey Meditation.

Recognizing the impact of stress on menopausal women and the importance of shifting from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic nervous system for healing, this series will be featured often alongside the regular guest interviews.

In this introduction to the series, Mary discusses the concept of rewiring the brain through simple breathwork and gratitude practices, inspired by an interview on the Mel Robbins Podcast with the late Dr. Jim Doty, neuroscientist and bestselling author. The episode emphasizes the 'ABCs' of meditation—an exercise where listeners focus on gratitude to promote a calm and rejuvenated mindset.

Whether listeners are new to meditation, returning to the practice, or seasoned practitioners, this series is for everyone. It can be done in the morning for the best results or anytime during the day to escape mental noise and return to the heart zone, where healing and manifesting happen.

Resources:

• #1 Neurosurgeon: How to Manifest Anything You Want & Unlock the Unlimited Power of Your Mind, Mel Robbins Podcast (not an affiliate link)
• Into the Magic Shop, Dr. Jim Doty, MD.  

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.

GET YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD - - - Power Up with Protein: A Menopause Guide for Strength, Health & Longevity

                                    ********************************************

In this episode, host Mary Lee explores the fasting mimicking diet with Renee Fitton, Director of Education and Healthcare Sales at ProLon. The conversations delves into the science behind mimicking the benefits of a water-only fast while still consuming food, backed by over 25 years of research and 40 clinical trials. 

Renee will discuss crucial aspects of nutrition, fasting, and how these methods can aid women in navigating menopause, enhancing metabolic health, and reducing biological age. She shares insights on appropriate protein intake, weight training, and the impact of a balanced diet on overall well-being. 

Listeners also learn about the structured support available for those undertaking the fasting mimicking diet and its transformative effects on both muscle preservation and skin rejuvenation.

Key Points:

• Discover the difference in fasting mimicking diet from conventional fasting programs 
• Learn about true fat loss, not muscle
• Understand the role of protein in menopause - how much is too much and what is not enough
• The importance of muscle and weight training
• Brain fuel: glucose vs. ketones
• Tackling fasting challenges
• Caloric intake and activity levels during fasting
• Coffee and fasting: what you need to know
• Skin health improvements that happen quickly with fasting

Resources & Support:

• Visit ProLonLife.com to learn more about the fasting mimicking diet, its supportive community groups and expert guidance.
• Find Renee on Instagram at fittonnutrition

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, Mary welcomes Dr. Sarah Daccarett, a revolutionary hormone and anti-aging expert who is boldly disrupting outdated norms around hormonal wellness. A former pathologist turned trailblazing biohacker, Dr. Sarah shares her incredible journey from her own postpartum struggles to creating Inner Balance, an innovative virtual clinic where personalized bioidentical hormones are transforming lives.

This conversation uncovers how hormones are the secret weapon for mental clarity, emotional resilience, and vibrant longevity, not just for women in menopause, but for all ages of women fighting autoimmunity, fatigue, brain fog, and so much more. Dr. Sarah reveals how the medical industry has been misinforming women for decades, creating a devastating gap between the treatment for men versus women.

From tackling dangerous misconceptions about estrogen to sharing powerful strategies for biohacking your hormones, this episode challenges everything you thought you knew about women's healthcare. Dr. Sarah's groundbreaking approach puts control back into the hands of women, advocating for early intervention and personalized bioidentical hormone therapy as the foundation of any successful longevity regimen.

Key Points Covered:

 Key Topics:  

• Closing the gender gap in hormonal treatment
• Redefining menopause as tissue aging, not just fertility loss
• Biohacking for women under 40 with PCOS, endometriosis, and postpartum issues
• Hormones' role in mental clarity, brain health, and longevity
• Addressing autoimmunity and immune regulation with hormones
• Challenging misinformation about estrogen and advocating for early intervention
• The importance of working with specialized anti-aging practitioners

Connect with Dr. Sarah:

• Inner Balance Clinic: www.innerbalance.com
• Use code "Dr Sarah Podcast" for $50 off your first month
• Social Media: @SarahDraMD and @InnerBalanceMD

Resources:

• Six-month hormone optimization journey with money-back guarantee
• HSA/FSA receipts provided for treatments
• Referral program offering free months for sharing with friends Available in 44 US states (expanding to 50)

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 Dr. William Davis, cardiologist and New York Times best selling author of Wheat Belly. 

The conversations examines how modern wheat and microbiome disruptions influence women's health, from reproductive issues to menopause symptoms. Dr. Davis founder of Infinite Health, shares insights on how genetic changes in wheat, antibiotic use, and environmental toxins contribute to chronic health problems and discusses simple, cost-effective strategies to restore gut and vaginal microbes for optimal health.

Key Points Covered:  

• Modern Wheat: Genetic modifications produce peptides that stimulate appetite contributing to obesity, autoimmune diseases, and systemic inflammation. Eliminating wheat, grains, and sugar can improve conditions like endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), while addressing nutrient deficiencies for hormonal balance.
• Microbiome & Women's Health: Disruption from antibiotics and pesticides impacts pregnancy and menopause. Restoring beneficial microbes can reduce symptoms, and support overall well-being.
• Probiotics: Fermenting human microbes creates potent, affordable probiotics to significantly boost gut and vaginal health. DIY probiotic yogurt  is an easy solution.
• SIBO & Endotoxemia: Overgrowth of fecal microbes in the small intestine causes systemic inflammation, affecting hormones, weight, and chronic disease risk. Restoring good microbes can eradicate SIBO and reduce toxic effects.
• Holistic Women's Health: Microbial restoration and nutrition are key tools in aging gracefully and preventing disease.

Resources:  

• Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis
• Super Gut and Super Body (forthcoming Winter 2025)
• Recipes, blog, and details regarding the Microbiome Master Class can be found at Dr. Davis Infinite Health

Let us know if you're liking the show!

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, host Mary Lee is joined by Dr. Shana Johnston, a family physician with over 25 years experience, to discuss the importance of investing in oneself for personal growth and holistic well-being.

Dr. Johnston has a vast medical  background practicing in diverse settings, from rural towns to urban hospitals. Her journey has always been driven by a passion for holistic health and healing, blending traditional medicine with innovative, outside-the-box approaches. After years in a high-pressure, volume-based system, she experienced burnout and took time to prioritize her own health, which inspired her to focus on supporting women wisely through life's many transitions.

The conversation explores societal stigma surrounding menopause and the limitations of the current healthcare system in effectively serving women. Dr. Johnston shares her own transition from family medicine to building community-based support for women, emphasizing holistic approaches particularly around nurturing energy and well-being.

Today, Dr. Johnston is developing programs to empower women to embrace their most authentic selves. She created "Connecting in Community" and its online counterpart, "Reclaiming Our Power, Reclaiming Ourselves," which foster healing and connection. After navigating her own challenging menopause experience, she developed "Coming Home to Ourselves at Midlife" and launched the group medical visit "Menopause, Let’s Talk About It."

Connect:

• Dr. Johnston's courses  & offerings at her website
• Find on Instagram & Facebook

Resources:

• The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav (not an affiliate link)
• Not Your Mother's Menopause, host Dr. Fiona Lovely

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.