The Private Parts of Wellness

How do you want to be remembered? How do you want to live? How do you want to age lustfully?

We need to speak about death, not because we are aging but because we are old enough to be intimately touched by the transition of death. Agelust is about living fearlessly, and that is even in death.

"Why do people linger? ... Every person is here to learn something, do something, or teach something." Even at the end.

This episode is all about being the witness of this transition with Melissa Wentland Moreno FNP-bc DNP CURN

Rethinking Alcohol: Exploring Sobriety and Non-Alcoholic Alternatives Below

Dive into the complexities of alcohol consumption in our latest podcast episode. Spoiler alert: it's not good for you, period. From its depressive effects to disrupting sleep patterns and being recognized as a poison by your body, the downsides are clear. But what about the allure of bars and social settings? Non-alcoholic bars are popping up in NYC, reflecting a growing trend.

Struggling to give up booze? We've got you covered with some essential reads:

While AA has been a traditional support option since the 30s, the landscape is evolving. (Fun fact psychedelics were supposed to be a part of the sober journey.) Explore alternatives like Tempest Sobriety School, Loosid, Hello Sunday Morning, Soberocity, or Club Soda. If you need immediate support, the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration Helpline is available at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Why talk about herpes in a show about aging? Because it’s so common! You DEFINITELY know someone with a cold sore, if that someone isn't you.

According to the WHO “An estimated 3.7 billion people under age 50 (67%) globally have herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, the main cause of oral  herpes.” 

Then, what does this mean for those of us already in our 50s and beyond, those understanding their Agelust through expanding their experience, maybe divorce, or dating?

The question is how can we even reframe herpes as a gift, one not offered or asked for, but rather one that helps to bring one closer to one's body, to their nervous system. 

With this 'gift', Courtney Brame has taken it and turned it into a positive impact on the world. 

Courtney W. Brame is a sexual and mental health advocate for people struggling with their positive herpes status. Diagnosed with the virus himself in 2013, he stumbled through the stigma from all sides, including communication with health care providers, potential sexual partners, family, friends, and most importantly — his relationship with himself. This was brought to light in 2017 when Courtney began researching herpes groups, only to find others struggling with their diagnosis to the point of expressing suicide ideation. This led to the weekly interviews on his podcast, Something Positive for Positive People, which is now a 501c3 nonprofit organization that offers donation-based mentorship, and community, along with free support resources for people navigating all aspects of herpes stigma. 

To work with Courtney Brame check out Something Positive for Positive People and support the work of SPFPP

Mark your calendar for May 23, 2024, for the virtual SPFPP Conference. 

Please like follow, share, and leave a review on all of the podcast platforms. 

You can also follow me on IG @agelust.co or check out www.agelust.co

Check out  Terri Warren’s Updated Herpes Handbook 

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus

www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes-detailed.htm

A LITTLE MORE INFO: Herpes has been around for millions of years, humans gave it to the Neanderthals along with stomach ulcers. Moderna is working on a vaccine and you can be part of their trial. Think of that next time you hear "Tale as old as time" from Beauty & the Beast.

Moderna Vaccine for HSV trial . 

Do you know the 5 stages of grief? Chances are that if you are going through menopause you are also experiencing the stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Calm down, not everyone feels grief but a lot of us do. Just like other transitions, rites of passage, they are best navigated with a guide, whether an Auntie, a community, or a doula. 

Grace Veras Sealy is one of those guides. Grace is a Women's Holistic Health Coach (IIN), Perinatal Consultant, Doula, and Educator. She is a Menopause Health Guide at Elektra Health, a digital health company that provides evidence-based virtual care, education, and peer support for women navigating the 10-year menopause transition and beyond.

Grace helps people figure out how to take the pressure off in the best ways for you. 

Topics include:

**Stigma Around Menopause:**

- Discussion about menopause in certain cultures, like the Dominican Republic, is taboo due to societal stigma around aging and women's health.

- Openly discussing menopause and age is considered uncommon and often met with surprise or discomfort.

**Misinformation and Varying Perceptions:**

- Within families, experiences with menopause differ; some members don't remember much about their menopausal phase, while others deny being in perimenopause despite experiencing classic symptoms.

- Limited reliance on hormone panels is noted, as they provide only a current hormonal snapshot and may not accurately reflect past or future menopausal changes.

**Debunking Misconceptions:**

- Grace aims to educate individuals that various symptoms experienced, like sleep disturbances, mood swings, weight changes, and hair loss, could be interconnected and indicative of menopause, regardless of age or current hormonal status.

- Encourages a shift in perception about menopause, advocating for open discussion and education to dispel misconceptions and promote better understanding.

Solutions for Menopause:

- **Menopause Doula:** Grace highlights the role of a menopause doula, offering holistic, non-medical support through personalized guidance, supplement recommendations, lifestyle adjustments, and emotional support during the menopausal transition.

- **Electra Health Services:** Electra Health provides a membership-based platform offering learning modules, continuous information updates, community interaction, and guidance from menopause guides. The service includes consultations with clinicians (currently out-of-pocket cost, aiming for insurance coverage in the future).

**Cultural Stigma and Menopause:**

- **Dominican Perspective:** Grace, being Dominican, acknowledges the cultural stigma surrounding menopause specifically in DR. She emphasizes the importance of addressing this stigma within Latin American and Spanish-speaking cultures.

Have an experience with a menopause doula, or online menopause platform share it with me via my DMs or email at [email protected]. 

Check out Elektra Health’s- Guide to Menopause gives you the low down on everything from stages of menopause to symptoms and what you can do about them.

For a copy of Grace’s guide, you can contact her at ⁠[email protected]⁠, join 

Elektra Health or send me a DM @agelust.co on IG. 

Agelust is all about breaking from the shoulds and giving ourselves PERMISSION to grow and exist as our full selves. Dr. Bianca Laureano has been hold space for folks to do that for clise to 2 decades.

Dr. Bianca I Laureano is an award-wining educator, curriculum writer, facilitator, and sexologist. She is a Foundress of the Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WOCSHN), The LatiNegrxs Project, ANTE UP! Virtual Freedom Professional Development School for Justice Workers, and hosts LatinoSexuality.com. She has written several curricula that focus on communities of color: What’s the REAL DEAL about Love and Solidarity? (2015) and Communication MixTape: Speak On It Vol 1. (2017) and wrote the sexual and reproductive justice discussion guide for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene published in 2018. Bianca has been on the board of CLAGS, the LGBTQ Center at CUNY, The Black Girl Project, and  SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. She resides in Oakland, CA. She is the Lead Educator for the Netflix film Crip Camp (2020) and led the efforts to create a curriculum that is rooted in disability justice practice, self-determination, and social-emotional learning competences! She will receive an honorary PhD for her work of justice, equity, and inclusion in the US sexuality field May 2020.  Her book, an anthology in collaboration with sexuality professionals in North America, The People’s Book of Human Sexuality: Expanding the Sexology Archive was released July 2023. 

@latinegrasexologist

For the book The People’s Book of Human Sexuality: Expanding the Sexology Archive⁠ use code CNS10 for an additional 10% off the 20% sale until 12/17/2023.

And for a copy of the transcript please email [email protected] write BL transcript in the subject.

Just a little intro: What is Agelust about?

In January 2022 a group of women came together for what turned out to be 1 year of sharing and learning about menopause. This group was the Mistresses of the Menopausal Mind. We would meet 2x a month. ! first meeting of the month was all about community building, laughing, bitching, and teaching perimenopause who was the Madam. The second meeting would be learning from an Expert Mistress. Topics included Human Design, Sex toys, relationships, scarcity, beauty, Low-Pressure Fitness, psychedelics, and of course the science of the menopausal journey.

With the permission of the mistresses and the experts, I am sharing this experience with you.

This episode features Damaris Maria Grossmann, an Integrative Family Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP). She has over 18 years of experience in the medical field, with most of those years in nursing. She is passionate about mindful life investment and integrative health and has years of experience in the military, trauma, rehabilitation, community health, and acute pediatric care. She is a US Navy Veteran who served in the Global War on Terrorism for almost six years and received a Navy Achievement Medal. Dr. Grossmann is a Board Certified Holistic Nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner. She studies integrative health to incorporate and facilitate her practices of holistic modalities, such as yoga therapy, meditation, and breathing, with patient care. She is a compassionate and driven nurse leader who is here to help you find a mindful way each and every day to achieve optimal wellness. She is currently continuing her studies in Functional Medicine Certification completed in 2024. Dr. Grossmann is a valuable asset to the healthcare community. She is a skilled and experienced practitioner who is passionate about helping her patients achieve optimal health. She is also a strong advocate for integrative health and mindfulness, and she is committed to helping her patients find ways to incorporate these practices into their lives.

To reach Damaris you can follow her on IG @mindfullyintegrative

Telehealth-P-732-355-3469 for people in NY, NJ, CA, FL, De

Email: [email protected]

https://mindfullyintegrative.com/

Thanks for listening.