Social media is flooded with nutrition advice that changes faster than your perimenopause symptoms. Every influencer has a different magic bullet - from eliminating entire food groups to expensive supplements that promise to "balance your hormones." The noise is overwhelming, especially when you're already struggling with brain fog, weight gain, and exhaustion, only to be told the answer is just eating more protein and moving your body more.

Meet Christie Chapman, a menopause wellness coach who experienced early menopause at 38 and turned her crisis into her calling. Christie believes in keeping nutrition simple with her "30-30-30" approach and has helped hundreds of women feel strong and vital again without restrictive diets or expensive supplements.

In this refreshingly practical conversation, Christie shares some simple tips you need to learn how to fuel this new perimenopausal version of yourself.

In This Episode 

• Why menopause is an inflammatory state - and what that means for your approach to food 
• Christie’s "30-30-30" framework that takes the guesswork out of nutrition
• Why carbs aren't the enemy (and which ones actually help you sleep better) 
• Practical meal prep strategies that don't require hours in the kitchen 
• How to build sustainable habits to support yourself in perimenopause

Christie reminds us that while perimenopause can feel overwhelming, it's actually your body's wake-up call to make some important changes. And here's the revolutionary part: it's simple, but not necessarily easy - and that's exactly why it works.

You're going to live a long time, and you deserve to feel strong and vital for all of it.

This podcast is brought to you by Coral, a virtual clinic designed for women in midlife. They provide personalized, evidence-based care that supports every woman’s unique journey—whether you’re in perimenopause, menopause, or the years beyond. Use code TIP5 for 5% off at coral.ca.

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Christie Chapman is a Certified Women's Wellness Coach, Certified Yoga Instructor, food blogger, and menopause enthusiast who has guided hundreds of women through the transformative journey of perimenopause and menopause. With her unique blend of nutritional expertise, movement wisdom, and deep understanding of midlife transitions, Christie helps women reclaim their bodies, navigate their emotions, and rediscover their vision for this powerful life stage.

 Amazing Recipes and Links for this episode

• Crunchy Granola Clusters
• Sheet Pan Sausage Gnocchi with Crispy Kale
• Autumn Harvest Chicken and Veggie Bowl
• Christie Chapman on Instagram

When it comes to topics fueling debates in the menopause world right now, testosterone is the ultimate lightning rod. In this episode, we dive deep into the often misunderstood world of testosterone for women with Coral's Medical Director, Dr. Ariane Ouellet-Decoste and Coral Co-Founder and CEO, Fiona Lake Waslander.

With so much conflicting advice out there, it's hard to know who to trust. How do you weigh the potential risks and benefits of treatments, lifestyle changes, or even the option to do nothing at all? This conversation with Dr. Ariane and Fiona is a brilliant example of what it looks like to understand the facts and embrace the nuance when it comes to navigating the menopausal transition. They provide a much-needed masterclass on the science behind testosterone therapy, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health.

In This Episode:

• The role of testosterone throughout a woman's lifespan
• Potential benefits & risks of testosterone therapy
• Importance of individualized dosing & monitoring
• What the research really says about testosterone for libido & beyond
• Why expert guidance is non-negotiable for women using testosterone.
• Testosterone 101: From gels to creams & everything in between
• Acne, hair growth & other side effects to watch for
• Optimizing your hormonal health through lifestyle shifts
• Coral's integrative approach to perimenopausal care
• Why ongoing follow-up is non-negotiable

If you're curious about whether testosterone could be right for you, this episode is a must-listen. 

This podcast is brought to you by Coral, a virtual clinic designed for women in midlife. They provide personalized, evidence-based care that supports every woman’s unique journey—whether you’re in perimenopause, menopause, or the years beyond. Use code TIP5 for 5% off at coral.ca.

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Fiona Lake Waslander, CEO + Cofounder, Coral

Fiona Lake Waslander is a three-time founder and seasoned tech leader with over 20 years of experience building and scaling customer-centric products across North America. She co-founded Coral to address a major gap in women’s healthcare—accessible, evidence-based menopause care for women in Canada. As CEO, Fiona leads Coral’s mission to ensure it delivers the best health outcomes and evidence-based support for women in midlife. Under her leadership, Coral empowers women to take control of their health, and feel their best through the menopause transition and beyond. Fiona is a passionate advocate for women, recognizing that supporting hormonal health is essential to living with confidence at every stage of life.

Dr. Ariane Ouellete-Decoste (MD), Medical Director, Coral

Dr. Ariane Ouellet-Decoste is a Canadian-trained physician with nearly two decades of clinical experience spanning emergency care, preventative medicine, and women’s health. Her expertise bridges traditional medical practice and evidence-based innovative approaches, with a strong focus on menopause, cardiometabolic health, and lifestyle-driven care. After nearly 15 years practicing emergency medicine in Quebec and the UK, Dr. Ouellet-Decoste transitioned her focus to preventative and lifestyle medicine. She has since trained extensively in women’s health—including advanced courses from The Menopause Society, The British Menopause Society and The Canadian Menopause Society—and holds a postgraduate certificate in Nutrition Science from Stanford School of Medicine. Her approach is rooted in applying the latest medical and nutritional science to support women through midlife transitions, including perimenopause and menopause. Currently, Dr. Ouellet-Decoste serves as Medical Director at Coral, a virtual women’s health clinic specializing in menopause care. She is responsible for the medical quality and regulatory compliance of all clinical protocols, guiding Coral’s care team and clinical programs across Canada.

 Links for this episode

• coral.ca
• coral on Instagram

In this mind-blowing conversation, Dr. Daiana Castleman discusses the critical aspects of heart health for women navigating menopause. The discussion covers the importance of understanding cholesterol levels, the role of statins in managing heart health, and the unique cardiovascular risks women face. Dr. Castleman emphasizes the significance of prevention, regular testing, and lifestyle changes while also addressing the complexities surrounding hormone therapy and its impact on heart health. The conversation aims to empower women with knowledge and actionable insights to take charge of their cardiovascular health.

In This Episode:

• Prevention is key for heart health in women.
• Understanding cholesterol levels is crucial for cardiovascular risk assessment.
• Statins can be a necessary tool for managing cholesterol.
• Menopause significantly impacts heart health and cholesterol levels.
• Regular testing for cholesterol and other markers is essential.
• Lifestyle changes can improve cholesterol but may not be enough for everyone.
• Women often face unique cardiovascular risks that need to be addressed.
• Hormone therapy has mixed evidence regarding its effectiveness for heart health.
• Shared decision-making with healthcare providers is vital for treatment plans.
• Ethnicity and pregnancy history can influence cardiovascular risk.

This podcast is brought to you by Coral, a virtual clinic designed for women in midlife. They provide personalized, evidence-based care that supports every woman’s unique journey—whether you’re in perimenopause, menopause, or the years beyond. Use code TIP5 for 5% off at coral.ca.

• Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.
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Links for this episode

daianacastleman.com

Lume Women + Health

Dr. Daiana Castleman on Instagram

Framingham Risk Score

Running on autopilot? Constantly giving to everyone else while neglecting your own needs? Feeling disconnected from yourself? Welcome to our world! And unfortunately, the place where so many of us live. 

Until now.

Meet Dr. Kristine Laderoute, a clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience who's made it her mission to help women create space for themselves in their lives. Her approach goes beyond traditional therapy - she's a proponent of depth therapy and self-connection who believes that true healing happens when we learn to show up for ourselves.

In this transformative conversation, Dr. Laderoute reveals why the self-care industry has it backwards and shares the simple but profound practices that can help you reconnect with yourself, even in the chaos of midlife.

Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or just vaguely discontent without knowing why, this episode offers practical tools and a fresh perspective on what it really means to show up and take care of yourself.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why making space for yourself isn't selfish, rather it's essential
• The difference between being "selfish" and "appropriately self-focused" 
• How to break free from autopilot self-sacrificing behavior 
• The power of self-compassionate language (and why you should start sentences with "of course")
• How to set boundaries that respect both yourself and others 
• Why disconnection from yourself leads to that mysterious midlife discontent 
• The connection between stockpiled emotions and physical health symptoms 
• How to show up for yourself like you would for your best friend

Dr. Laderoute reminds us that you don't need a spa day or expensive retreat to make space for yourself - you need just 30 seconds, a few conscious breaths, and the revolutionary act of turning your attention inward.

Now is the time to show up for yourself.

This podcast is brought to you by Coral, a virtual clinic designed for women in midlife. They provide personalized, evidence-based care that supports every woman’s unique journey—whether you’re in perimenopause, menopause, or the years beyond. Use code TIP5 for 5% off at coral.ca.

• Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Instagram
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Dr. Kristine Laderoute is a dedicated clinical psychologist and lifelong proponent of mental wellness. She has over 15 years of experience helping people with a broad range of mental health concerns using her diverse skill set. She completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at York University and underwent training spanning various therapeutic approaches and clinical settings, including The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto General Hospital, North York General Hospital, the York University Counseling Centre, and private practices. In both her own private practice and her role at Lume Women + Health, she is driven by a desire to help people improve their lives through self-connection. She is especially passionate about creating space for women to feel seen, heard, and freed-up from emotional burden, as well as helping them to create space for themselves in their lives.

 Links for this episode

• drkristineladeroute.com 
• Dr. Kristine on Instagram
• lume women+health

Dealing with crippling uncontrollable rage, anxiety, and crushing depression? Feeling like you're completely falling apart and your doctor's solution is to just ‘manage your stress’? Not sure if what you're experiencing is depression, perimenopause, or something else entirely?

You're not losing your mind, you're not broken, and you're definitely not alone.

Consider this startling statistic from the SWAN study: a woman’s risk of experiencing depression in the menopause transition is 59% if she has a previous history of depression, and 28% for those without a history of depression. Those are some big numbers. And most women, and their doctors, are unaware of this risk.

Meet Dr. Ariel Dalfen, a psychiatrist who spent 12 years running the largest women's mental health program in Ontario – where she became frustrated watching women suffer unnecessarily. As CEO and Co-founder of BRIA, a revolutionary virtual clinic, Dr. Dalfen and her Co-founder Dr. Bev Young have created the one-stop shop women desperately need: comprehensive, individualized mental health and hormone care that actually works.

In This Episode 

• Why some women's brains are "hormonally sensitive" and how to identify if you're one of them 
• The critical questions about your reproductive history that can predict your perimenopause experience 
• How to distinguish between perimenopause symptoms, depression, and PMDD 
• Why tracking your cycles gives healthcare providers game-changing data 
• The non-negotiables for mental health survival in midlife 
• How BRIA's team-based approach stops women from falling through the cracks 
• The stigma that’s keeping women silent about their struggles
• Dr. Dalfen’s new "Menopause Mental Health Certification" program

If you've been suffering alone or thinking this is just how midlife feels, this conversation will change everything. Dr. Dalfen will show you there's so much more than just surviving – and how to start thriving.

• Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.
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Dr. Ariel Dalfen is a psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience treating women across reproductive life stages: from those trying to conceive, those who are pregnant and postpartum through to the perimenopause/menopause population.  She ran the largest women's mental health program in Ontario at Mount Sinai Hospital for 12 years and started the first of its kind province-wide women’s mental health telemedicine program in 2014.

In 2022, Dr. Dalfen co-founded and became the CEO of BRIA (www.betterbria.com) - a virtual care platform for women with mental health issues across reproductive life stages.

After completing her undergraduate degree at Princeton University, she attended McMaster University medical school, and then completed her specialty training in psychiatry at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Dalfen's research area explored technology innovations in women's mental health and she has published in academic medical journals.

She lectures for medical and public audiences on various topics related to women’s health and has been a medical contributor for many media outlets, from television to podcasts. In 2008, she published a book, When Baby Brings the Blues: Solutions for Postpartum Depression. This book is highly regarded and utilized by both healthcare providers and the general public.

Links for this episode

www.betterbria.com

BRIA on Instagram

In the second part of this incredible episode with Master’s level clinician and eating disorder specialist, we dive even deeper into how disordered eating shows up in ways we never expected – especially during the hormonal chaos of midlife.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why "clean eating" (clinically called orthorexia) is becoming increasingly problematic
• The deeper psychological roots beneath our food and body struggles
• How to model healthy eating behaviors for your children without passing on your own issues
• That freedom from these patterns is absolutely possible, no matter how long you've been stuck

We live in a culture that normalizes disordered eating. Luckily Kyla is here to show us what true food freedom actually looks like.

• Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Instagram
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Facebook

Kyla Fox has established herself as a visionary and innovator, when it comes to re-framing the way Canadians think about and treat eating disorders. As someone who struggled herself with an eating disorder, Fox identified care gaps and fundamental flaws in the treatment and recovery approach. Kyla is a Master’s level clinician with degrees from both the University of Toronto in the Master’s of Social Work program as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Women’s Studies. Kyla is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers and is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She is also a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders and the National Eating Disorders Association. With such deep and varied experience in the field, Kyla is regularly called on by Canada’s top media outlets as a special commentator on a broad list of topics, including eating disorders, self-esteem, women’s health, body image, pregnancy and body confidence and more. For more information please visit www.kylafoxcentre.com.

Links for this episode

Instagram: @KylaFoxRecovery

Facebook: @KylaFoxCentre

Twitter: @KylaFoxCentre

The Centre

In the second part of this incredible episode with Master’s level clinician and eating disorder specialist, we dive even deeper into how disordered eating shows up in ways we never expected – especially during the hormonal chaos of midlife.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why "clean eating" (clinically called orthorexia) is becoming increasingly problematic
• The deeper psychological roots beneath our food and body struggles
• How to model healthy eating behaviors for your children without passing on your own issues
• That freedom from these patterns is absolutely possible, no matter how long you've been stuck

We live in a culture that normalizes disordered eating. Luckily Kyla is here to show us what true food freedom actually looks like.

• Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Instagram
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Facebook

Kyla Fox has established herself as a visionary and innovator, when it comes to re-framing the way Canadians think about and treat eating disorders. As someone who struggled herself with an eating disorder, Fox identified care gaps and fundamental flaws in the treatment and recovery approach. Kyla is a Master’s level clinician with degrees from both the University of Toronto in the Master’s of Social Work program as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Women’s Studies. Kyla is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers and is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She is also a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders and the National Eating Disorders Association. With such deep and varied experience in the field, Kyla is regularly called on by Canada’s top media outlets as a special commentator on a broad list of topics, including eating disorders, self-esteem, women’s health, body image, pregnancy and body confidence and more. For more information please visit www.kylafoxcentre.com.

Links for this episode

Instagram: @KylaFoxRecovery

Facebook: @KylaFoxCentre

Twitter: @KylaFoxCentre

The Centre

Think eating disorders only affect teenagers? Think again. What if we told you that the food rules, exercise obsessions, and body struggles you're experiencing during perimenopause might actually be disordered eating in disguise?

Meet Kyla Fox, a Master's level clinician and eating disorder specialist who's spent 20 years revolutionizing treatment approaches. After her own struggle with an eating disorder, Kyla identified critical gaps in traditional recovery methods and founded an innovative treatment center that's helping thousands of women break free from patterns they didn't even realize they had.

From the woman who exercises for hours after eating to the one sneaking food when her partner's away (Michelle, I see you!), Kyla reveals how disordered eating shows up in ways we never expected – especially during the hormonal chaos of midlife.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The difference between eating disorders and disordered eating 
• Why perimenopause often triggers or amplifies disordered eating patterns
• The three core symptoms of disordered eating: binge, purge, and restrict
• Why exercise is actually the most common form of purging behavior

We live in a culture that normalizes disordered eating. Luckily, Kyla is here to show us what true food freedom actually looks like.

• Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Instagram
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Facebook

Kyla Fox has established herself as a visionary and innovator, when it comes to re-framing the way Canadians think about and treat eating disorders. As someone who struggled herself with an eating disorder, Fox identified care gaps and fundamental flaws in the treatment and recovery approach. Kyla is a Master’s level clinician with degrees from both the University of Toronto in the Master’s of Social Work program as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Women’s Studies. Kyla is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers and is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She is also a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders and the National Eating Disorders Association. With such deep and varied experience in the field, Kyla is regularly called on by Canada’s top media outlets as a special commentator on a broad list of topics, including eating disorders, self-esteem, women’s health, body image, pregnancy and body confidence and more.

For more information please visit www.kylafoxcentre.com.

Links for this episode

Instagram: @KylaFoxRecovery

Facebook: @KylaFoxCentre

Twitter: @KylaFoxCentre

The Centre

We learned so much in Season 2 from so many incredible experts, here are just a few of the mic drop moments that every woman deserves to know:

• Giving your body what it needs to function optimally and lose weight with Gina Livy.
• You DO NOT need testing to be prescribed MHT with Dr. Jen Zelovitzky.
• Understanding the increased risks we all need to manage in perimenopause with Dr. Sarah Shaw.
• Skidding into menopause with Dr. Kirsten Smith, ND and what it takes to stop the skid.
• The clip we needed to hear 10 years ago: It’s not burnout, it’s perimenopause with Janet Ko, Co-founder of The Menopause Foundation of Canada.
• Perimenopause is not a synonym for suffering with ‘the’ Menopause Chick, Shirley Weir.
• Learn what a shame bomb is and how to diffuse it with Dr. Justine Corry.

Thank you for listening and letting us be part of your journey.

This podcast is brought to you by IRIS. Daily care products made with clean ingredients for hydrated vulvas and vaginas. Use code TIP20 for 20% off at lovemyIRIS.com.

• Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Instagram
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Facebook

 Links for this episode

Gina Livy Instagram

The Livy Method

Dr. Jen Zelovitzsky Instagram

Medcan Women’s Health

Lume on Instagram

Lume Women + Health Clinic

Dr. Kirsten Smith, ND Instagram

Work with Dr. Kirsten Smith, ND

Menopause Foundation of Canada Instagram

Menopause Foundation of Canada Website

Shirley Weir Instagram

Menopause Chicks Website

Dr. Justine Corry Instagram

Dr. Justine Corry Website

 What Would Dr. Premji Do?

Before menopause was having a moment, before celebrities were talking about it, before it was cool - Dr. Shafeena Premji was already deep in the trenches helping women navigate perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.

As one of Canada's earliest certified menopause practitioners (2015) and a board member of the Canadian Menopause Society, she's seen it all. Thousands of patients. Every symptom combination. Every misconception. Every treatment - success and failure. This isn't theoretical knowledge - this is a decade of real women, real problems, and real solutions.

In This Episode 

• The biggest misconceptions she's debunked after seeing thousands of patients 
• How her approach has evolved from 2015 to now - and what she wishes she'd known earlier
• What your mother’s perimenopause and menopause experience might help you predict
• Why "biology beats chronology" when it comes to hormone therapy decisions
• Her personal strength training transformation and how it changed how she counsels patients
• Plus, a sneak peak into the revolutionary women’s clinic she's building

This podcast is brought to you by IRIS. Daily care products made with clean ingredients for hydrated vulva and vaginas. Use code TIP20 for 20% off at lovemyIRIS.com.

• Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Instagram
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Dr. Shafeena Premji

Dr. Shafeena Premji is a nationally recognized family physician and menopause care leader dedicated to advancing women's health through compassionate, evidence-based, and individualized care. With over a decade of experience, she has built an impactful career as the Founder and Medical Director of three women’s health–focused clinics, including her most recent one, "Milestone – Menopause Centre of Southern Alberta", a visionary center created to provide comprehensive, community-based menopause care rooted in validation, education, and empowerment.

A Certified Menopause Society Practitioner since 2015 and a Board Member of the Canadian Menopause Society since 2020, Dr. Premji is committed to reshaping how menopause is understood, treated, and experienced in Canada. She also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the Menopause Foundation of Canada, where she contributes to national advocacy, policy development, and public education.

Links for this episode

Mahogany Medical Clinic

Dr. Shafeena Premji on Instagram

Dr. Shafeena Premji on LinkedIn

Canadian Menopause Society