The MenoPosse Show

It's our Halloween episode, and y'all, it's a spooky one: true stories of women around our age who got locked in 1800s asylums for being too angry, too outspoken, or too inconvenient.

Dannielle brings us Rosina Bulwer-Lytton, who called out her famous husband in public and was declared insane two weeks later. Then Krissy takes us to Illinois, where a minister's wife spent three years committed and came out ready to change the law.

Plus "climacteric insanity," a real diagnosis for menopause. Spooky indeed.

Show notes and links: https://themenoposse.show/ep31/

Content note: This episode includes discussion of a criminal trial involving the deaths of children, and of suicide. If you're struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US).

Therapist Brittany Milstead is back, and y'all, PCOS has a new name. We dig into what that means in perimenopause, testosterone for women, and why music might be the mental health tool you're not using.

We also talk about the Lindsay Clancy trial and what it says about how women's postpartum mental health gets handled.

Plus a breast MRI that looked nothing like the video, and The MenoPosse Show's official pro-nap stance.

Show notes and links: https://themenoposse.show/ep30/

It’s been a minute, and life has definitely been life-ing. In Episode 29, Carrie, Krissy, and Dannielle talk about moving, caregiving, aging parents, mental health, and the ongoing chaos of menopause and midlife. Carrie and Krissy are settling into Colorado, while Dannielle shares a difficult experience advocating for her mother-in-law’s care and the relief of seeing things improve. The conversation turns to the sandwich generation, menopause and mental health, and what it takes to find your way back to a healthier baseline. Plus, Fine Wine Time brings complaints about cracked windshields, expensive white rugs, and people who apparently don't believe in answering emails.

This week we didn’t really set out with a plan. We set out with a question: “So… what’s new?” and somehow ended up covering hormone shortages, stroke awareness, pharmacy adventures, PCOS getting a new name, viral menopause advice, naps, allergies, and a few solid moments of “wait, are we turning into our parents?”

We check back in on Chris’s stroke story from our Firepit Episode and talk about what actually matters when it comes to recognizing stroke symptoms (yes, including the BE FAST acronym everyone should know). We also vent a little about the ongoing estrogen patch shortage and the special kind of chaos that is trying to refill a prescription in 2026.

Somewhere in there, we clarify a little confusion about “menoposse” (we are not a medical group!), and just generally do what we do best: talk it out, laugh at ourselves, and try to make sense of midlife in real time.

This episode is a little different because we were all in the same place, gathered around the firepit at Dannielle’s house.

Carrie, Dannielle, and Krissy were joined by Elena, Chris, and Rebecca for a backyard conversation about menopause, grief, health scares, friendship, and the people who help us make it through the hard parts.

We talk about losing parents, Chris’s stroke and recovery, chosen family, letting go of old roles and expectations, and asking the very midlife question: what matters now?

It’s honest, tender, funny, a little smoky, and very MenoPosse.

A note from us: This episode includes discussion of parent loss, stroke, mental health, grief, birth control, blood clots, and menopause. We are not medical professionals, so please talk with your healthcare provider about your own health questions.

Scott Dormar returns for Part 2 of our Manopause conversation. In Episode 25 we talked about TRT and men’s hormones. This time, we shift to clean eating, inflammation, and how midlife health changes can lead you to rethink what’s on your plate.

Scott shares how he moved from strict keto to a more sustainable low-carb, clean-eating lifestyle, along with what “clean” means to him, reading labels, avoiding additives, and choosing simpler ingredients. We also talk about the real-life side of eating this way, from family gatherings to eating out, and finding a balance that feels sustainable.

The conversation also touches on inflammation, IBS, hypoglycemia, and how different bodies respond differently to carbs and processed foods. Tl;dr? It’s not about a single right answer, it’s about paying attention and finding what works for you.

In this episode, we’re talking about something we don’t hear nearly enough about, men’s hormones in midlife.

We’re joined by Dannielle’s brother, Scott, who shares his experience with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). What started as frustrating changes in focus and energy turned into a deeper look at how men’s hormones shift with age and what it actually takes to manage them.

We get into what TRT looks like in real life, including testing, ongoing monitoring, and figuring out what works for your body. Scott also shares some unexpected moments from his journey and what he’s learned along the way.

It’s a conversation that highlights just how much overlap there is between men’s and women’s hormone experiences, from brain fog to joint pain to the challenge of finding good care.

Waking up stiff, achy, and wondering what happened overnight? You’re not alone.

In this episode we’re talking about menopausal “morning stiffies.” Not those stiffies—the kind where your hips, back, and joints feel like they locked up while you were sleeping and it takes a minute (or ten) to get moving.

We talk about why this happens, including hormonal changes—especially declining estrogen (a topic we somehow manage to talk about almost every episode). Turns out estrogen plays a role in inflammation, joint health, muscles, and even how we experience pain.

We also compare notes on what might help ease the stiffness:

• stretching and gentle movement
• walking and strength training
• paying attention to inflammation triggers like alcohol and diet
• small habits that help your body wake up a little easier

As always, we’re just three friends sharing what we’re learning as we go.

If you’ve ever woken up feeling like your body aged 20 years overnight, this one’s for you.

Happy (very belated) New Year! The Posse is back. After a few months of real life doing what it does best, we’re finally back behind the mics to catch up, reset, and find our rhythm again. This is a low-key check-in as we recalibrate, reflect, and get ready for what’s next. Thanks for sticking with us. We’re really glad you’re here.

Therapist Brittany Milstead joins the Posse to talk about what happens when ADHD meets perimenopause and menopause. We dig into how hormones shape our brain chemistry, why focus and emotional regulation can feel so different in midlife, and how play and creativity keep us grounded. We even swap stories about estrogen patches (plus one very important Q-tip PSA). It’s honest, funny, and full of “oh, that’s me too” moments.