Join us for a special episode as we celebrate the Sweaty Pillow Podcast's one-year anniversary! We're diving deep into our biggest "aha" moments and transformative takeaways from a year of candid conversations with doctors, experts, and incredible women navigating menopause. Hosted by our very own dynamic duo, we’re recapping the key insights that have reshaped our own journeys and those of our community.

This episode is more than just a recap – it's a raw, honest look at the realities of perimenopause and menopause. We're sharing our personal experiences with everything from diet and weight changes (hello, vegan to pescatarian!) to the game-changing impact of HRT and gut health. We're unpacking the myths and truths surrounding hormone replacement therapy, the importance of advocating for your health, and the surprising power of simple skincare.

We're also tackling the often-overlooked pillars of wellbeing: sleep and the impact of alcohol. Discover how we’ve adjusted our lifestyles, embraced new routines, and found practical solutions to thrive during this transformative phase.

This episode is for anyone seeking real, relatable advice and a supportive community during their menopause journey. We see you, we hear you, and we are you. Let’s continue this adventure together.

Join The Sweaty Pillow Community here

Connect with The Sweaty Pillow on Instagram @thesweatypillow

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Connect with Lara Smith @laralusome

***The Sweaty Pillow Podcast provides general information only and is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional for any medical concerns. Information shared is not a substitute for professional medical guidance.***

This episode, originally released in November 2024, resonates deeply with our listeners and remains central to The Sweaty Pillow's mission: To challenge outdated narratives and reclaim the conversation around menopause.

After the episode, join the conversation in our supportive online community at thesweatypillow.com, and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to support the show!

Stay in touch...

Connect with The Sweaty Pillow on Instagram @thesweatypillow

Connect with Lara Smith on Instagram @laralusome

Find us on TikTok @the.sweaty.pillow

Join the Community here

Connect with Tamsen on Instagram @tamsenfadal

Check out her website here

Find her new book How to Menopause on Amazon here

The Sweaty Pillow Podcast provides general information only and is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional for any medical concerns. Information shared is not a substitute for professional medical guidance

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Happy New Year! If weight loss is a resolution you set for yourself this year, this episode is for you.

Cindy Topel, a Menopause and Weight Loss Specialist and founder of The Menopause Path, returns for a second episode on The Sweaty Pillow to share her wisdom on weight loss during menopause.

Cindy discusses her three non-negotiables in nutrition, how she eats to maintain her weight, and her exact workout routine. Lara goes into detail about how she implemented Cindy's tips from her first episode and saw changes in just two weeks.

If you haven't listened to the first episode with Cindy, listen here

If you are interested in weight loss coaching with Cindy, apply here

Download her FREE guide here

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The Sweaty Pillow Podcast provides general information only and is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional for any medical concerns. Information shared is not a substitute for professional medical guidance

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Cindy Topel is a certified menopause specialist and weight loss coach.

After a lifelong battle with weight and a challenging struggle with menopause symptoms, she transformed her health by losing 27 pounds and keeping it off for over two years. Additionally, she has successfully reduced or eliminated her menopause symptoms. And now, Cindy joins The Sweaty Pillow to share exactly how she did it.

Cindy breaks down the importance of gut health for weight management, the role of diet and exercise, and the impacts of stress and sleep on the symptoms of menopause. She dives into how inflammation causes menopause belly, and how you can combat it with protein, fiber, and fermented foods.

Connect with Cindy on Instagram @menopausepath

Check out her website here

Join The Sweaty Pillow Community here

Connect with The Sweaty Pillow on Instagram @thesweatypillow

Find us on TikTok @the.sweaty.pillow

Connect with Lara Smith @laralusome

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This episode covers it all. Lara is joined by Dr. Rebbecca Hertel, a board-certified osteopathic family medicine physician and menopause expert. Their conversation goes everywhere, discussing the complexities of menopause and its symptoms. Lara and Rebbecca explore the taboo subject of sex during menopause, why more women get divorced at this age, and how to navigate it with a family. Dr. Hertel offers expert advice on maintaining a fulfilling sex life, starting an HRT regimen, and tips for improving sleep quality and reducing stress.

Thank you Dr. Rebbecca for sharing your incredible insights.

Connect with Dr. Rebbecca on Instagram @rebbeccaherteldo

Connect with Dr. Rebbecca on TikTok @rebbeccaherteldo

Check out her website here

Join The Sweaty Pillow Community here

Connect with The Sweaty Pillow on Instagram @thesweatypillow

Find us on TikTok @the.sweaty.pillow

Connect with Lara Smith @laralusome

The Sweaty Pillow Podcast provides general information only and is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional for any medical concerns. Information shared is not a substitute for professional medical guidance.

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Tamsen Fadal is, above all, a storyteller. She started her career as a journalist, winning 13 Emmys and multiple Military Media Awards. Then, one day, she caught herself stumbling through the words on the teleprompter and then collapsing on the newsroom floor. Tamsen was in menopause and needed answers.

Tamsen went searching and found a glaring lack of understanding and support for menopausal women. After interviewing numerous doctors, she had only begun to scratch the surface of menopause. Seeing the deep need for knowledge, Tamsen began to share her discoveries on TikTok, and millions of women are tuning in.

In this episode of The Sweaty Pillow, Tamsen shares her inspiring journey from journalist to menopause activist. She discusses the hard truths she's learned, her experiences with love and relationships after divorce, and the behind-the-scenes work that went into creating The M Factor and her latest book, How to Menopause.

Connect with Tamsen on Instagram @tamsenfadal

Check out her website here

Preorder How To Menopause here

Watch The M Factor here

Join The Sweaty Pillow Community here

Connect with The Sweaty Pillow on Instagram @thesweatypillow

Find us on TikTok @the.sweaty.pillow

Connect with Lara Smith @laralusome

The Sweaty Pillow Podcast provides general information only and is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional for any medical concerns. Information shared is not a substitute for professional medical guidance

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In the second episode of this two-part series, Lara is joined by returning guest, Abida Dhukai. Abida is a Nurse Practitioner at Science and Humans and is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, from which she has her PhD. Abida has also been facilitating TSP host Lara’s HRT journey. In this episode, Abida and Lara discuss Lara’s personalized HRT protocol and how it addresses a host of symptoms .

This episode goes deep into Lara’s bloodwork and Abida shares the formula that took Lara’s numbers from low to very healthy.

Whether you’re considering HRT, or simply curious about its potential, this episode offers a firsthand account of its transformative power and valuable insights from a leading women’s health specialist.

Connect with Abida on Instagram @sciencenhumans

Check out her website here

Join The Sweaty Pillow Community here

Connect with The Sweaty Pillow on Instagram @thesweatypillow

Find us on TikTok @the.sweaty.pillow

Connect with Lara Smith on Instagram @laralusome

The Sweaty Pillow Podcast provides general information only and is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional for any medical concerns. Information shared is not a substitute for professional medical guidance.

FULL VIDEO EPISODE AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE

In the first episode of this two-part series, Lara is joined by returning guest, Abida Dhukai. Abida is a Nurse Practitioner at Science and Humans and is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, from which she has her PhD. Abida has also been facilitating TSP host Lara’s HRT journey. In this episode, Abida and Lara discuss the impact of the WHI study on women’s health, why bio-identical hormones are important, and the transformative power of HRT, as Lara has seen for herself.

This episode goes deep into Lara’s bloodwork and Abida shares the formula that took Lara’s numbers from low to very healthy.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in menopause, hormone therapy, and women's health as Abida may change your understanding of women's health and menopause.

Connect with Abida on Instagram @sciencenhumans

Check out her website here

Join The Sweaty Pillow Community here

Connect with The Sweaty Pillow on Instagram @thesweatypillow

Find us on TikTok @the.sweaty.pillow

Connect with Lara Smith on Instagram @laralusome

The Sweaty Pillow Podcast provides general information only and is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional for any medical concerns. Information shared is not a substitute for professional medical guidance

Did you know October, is Menopause Awareness Month? In honor of Menopause Month, we are bringing back your favorite episode "The New Menopause with Dr. Mary Claire Haver."

This episode, originally released in May, continues to deeply resonate with our listeners and our mission: To challenge outdated narratives and reclaim the conversation around menopause.

So, sit back and get ready to feel heard and empowered as we explore the changing landscape of menopause with THE menopause expert, Dr. Mary Claire Haver.

After the episode, join the conversation in our supportive online community at thesweatypillow.com, and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to support the show!

Stay in touch...

Connect with The Sweaty Pillow on Instagram @thesweatypillow

Connect with Lara Smith on Instagram @laralusome

Find us on TikTok @the.sweaty.pillow

Join the Community here

Connect with Dr. Mary Claire Haver on Instagram @drmaryclaire

Check out her website here

Find her new book The New Menopause on Amazon here

The Sweaty Pillow Podcast provides general information only and is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional for any medical concerns. Information shared is not a substitute for professional medical guidance.

FULL VIDEO EPISODE AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE

In this episode, Lara sits down with Dr. Sarah Berry, the Chief Scientist at Zoe, to talk about how the menopausal transition affects your metabolism. Dr. Berry explains how blood sugar and triglycerides levels can differ with the foods we eat, and when we eat them and dives into nutritional best practices during perimenopause and beyond.

You can check out Dr. Berry's work at Zoe here and connect with her on Instagram @drsarahberry

You can listen to Dr. Berry on the ZOE Science & Nutrition podcast here

Connect with The Sweaty Pillow on Instagram @thesweatypilllow, on TikTok @the.sweaty.pillow, and join the community here

Connect with Lara Smith on Instagram @laralusome

Thank you for listening! Please rate, review, and subscribe to support the show!

The Sweaty Pillow Podcast provides general information only and is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional for any medical concerns. Information shared is not a substitute for professional medical guidance.