Wellness & Growth Journeys

In the Caribbean, menopause is something women whisper about if they say it out loud at all. Patrice Rolle went through surgical menopause with no warning, no local specialists, and a doctor who told her she'd be fine.

In this episode of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, I sit down with Patrice Rolle, founder of Menolux Health & Wellness in Nassau, executive menopause coach, CBT practitioner for menopausal symptoms, and author of Your Menopause Roadmap.

After a hysterectomy for aggressive endometriosis and fibroids, Patrice went from running seven miles a day to barely leaving her couch, then found that the first treatment she was offered wasn't safe for her. She rebuilt her health, sold her insurance agency, and set out to build the menopause support the Bahamas didn't have.

This is a conversation about surgical menopause, stigma, workplaces that aren't ready, and what it takes to start the conversation in a region where it's only just beginning.

In this episode:

→ Surgical menopause: what nobody prepared her for

→ Why oral estrogen wasn't safe for her and what happened next

→ The stigma of ageing, and what one date revealed about it

→ Early signs Caribbean women most often brush off

→ The meeting she walked out of, and what estrogen had to do with it

→ What a menopause-informed workplace actually looks like

→ Why insurers and national health systems should be paying attention

→ Elevate Her: bringing the menopause conversation to Nassau

→ The one thing to do this week if you don't feel like yourself

DISCLAIMER: This episode is for general educational and informational purposes only and reflects the guest's experiences and perspectives. Patrice Rolle is a menopause coach and CBT practitioner, not a medical doctor. This conversation is not medical advice and should not replace individual medical assessment or treatment. Menopause symptoms and treatment options vary from person to person. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about your symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options before making changes to your healthcare plan.

🌺 Elevate Her Menopause & Wellness Bahamas Thursday 15 October 2026, 6:30 pm · Fusion Superplex, Nassau. A screening of The M Factor, a menopause panel, the launch of a new menopause programme in The Bahamas, and the first look at the Elevate Her conference coming in 2027. (This evening is sold out! Congratulations, Patrice.)

📚 Connect with Patrice Rolle

Menolux Health & Wellness: menoluxhealthandwellness.com

Book: Your Menopause Roadmap available on Amazon

🤝 Work with Mialisa

Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com ·

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mialisa-garnes

If this episode made you think of someone, send it to her.

HRT or no HRT? The menopause conversation can feel incredibly polarised, with women often being told that hormone replacement therapy is either the answer to everything or something to avoid altogether.

But what if the better question is: What does this particular woman need?

In this episode of Wellness & Growth Journeys, I sit down with Renée Crichlow, founder of REAC Fitness in Barbados, to have a nuanced conversation about perimenopause, menopause, HRT, nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, pelvic floor health, and the unique cultural context surrounding menopause for Caribbean women.

Renée shares why she doesn't see herself as either "pro-HRT" or "anti-HRT," and why women should consider their individual history, symptoms, and circumstances when discussing treatment options with their healthcare providers.

Our conversation also explores why so many women focus on weight gain during midlife, the importance of protein and resistance training, how stress and sleep can affect wellbeing, and why small sustainable changes may be more realistic than trying to overhaul everything at once.

And importantly, Renée brings a Barbadian and Caribbean perspective to a menopause conversation that is often dominated by US and UK voices.

✅ The HRT debate: do you really need it? ✅ HRT, symptoms and individual needs ✅ Menopause weight gain and nutrition ✅ Protein, fibre and the "eat less, move more" mindset ✅ Resistance training, sleep and stress ✅ Pelvic floor health in menopause ✅ Why small, sustainable changes matter ✅ Menopause and cultural attitudes in the Caribbean ✅ Creating more relevant menopause conversations for Caribbean women ✅ Renée's advice for women in their 40s and 50s

Important: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. HRT and other menopause treatments are individual decisions that should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional who can consider your medical history, symptoms, risks, and circumstances.

Renée Critchlow is the founder of REAC Fitness in Barbados. She has a master's degree in public health from the University of West London and more than 12 years of experience across exercise programming, nutrition, coaching, pelvic floor rehabilitation, and lifestyle coaching for women. Her public health dissertation focused on perimenopause in the workplace.

REAC Fitness on

Instagram: @reacfitness, as well as her

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/reneecrichlow

Wellness & Growth Journeys explores women's health, wellness, personal growth, and the conversations that help women live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Subscribe for more conversations with healthcare professionals, wellness experts, and women challenging the way we think about health.

Work with Mia

Free Patient Experience Gap Report for clinic owners: wellnessgrowthagency.com/gap-report

Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mialisa-garnes

What if perimenopause is affecting more than your symptoms? What if it's affecting your career, income, relationships, and quality of life?

In this episode of Wellness & Growth Journeys, I sit down with Dr. Maria Zalazar, physician, founder, and medical director of MZ Medical, to explore the hidden impact of perimenopause and menopause on women's health, work, and economic wellbeing.

Dr. Zalazar explains why the conversation around menopause needs to move beyond hot flashes and why symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, brain fog, irritability, low mood, and anxiety can go unrecognised for years.

We also discuss the "menopause penalty" and research examining how menopause can affect women's earnings, career progression, and participation in the workforce.

✨ The menopause penalty and its impact on women's careers and income

✨ Why perimenopause symptoms like fatigue, brain fog and sleep problems can go unrecognised

✨ Why menopause is about more than hot flashes

✨ The challenges women face getting diagnosed and treated

✨ How menopause can affect work, relationships and quality of life

✨ What healthcare providers and workplaces can do differently

✨ How women can advocate for better care

Dr. Zalazar also shares an important message for women who recognise themselves in this conversation: don't wait for hot flashes or for menopause to be "official" before paying attention to what is changing in your health, work and relationships.

If you're experiencing changes in your energy, sleep, mood, concentration or overall wellbeing, this conversation may help you recognise that those changes deserve attention.

For healthcare practitioners: This episode also explores how the patient experience can be improved, from recognising symptoms earlier to creating more comprehensive and evidence-based menopause care.

Dr. Maria Zalazar is a physician, founder, and medical director of MZ Medical, a digital women's health platform based in London. Her clinical focus includes perimenopause, menopause, endometriosis, and metabolic and hormonal conditions affecting women.

She also writes about women's midlife health through her Women's Health in Midlife newsletter.

Connect with Dr. Maria

Website: mz-medical.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-maria-zalazar

Instagram: @drmariazalazar

Wellness & Growth Journeys explores women's health, wellness, personal growth, and the conversations that help women live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Subscribe for more conversations with healthcare professionals, wellness experts, and women challenging the way we think about health.

Work with Mia

Free Patient Experience Gap Report for clinic owners: wellnessgrowthagency.com/gap-report

Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mialisa-garnes

This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your individual symptoms and treatment options.

Menopause care should not depend on your income, insurance status, or where you live.

In this episode of Wellness & Growth Journeys, I sit down with Dr. Peggy Margetson, board-certified women's health nurse practitioner and founder and CEO of Trust Women's Healthcare, for an honest conversation about the gaps in women's healthcare and what better menopause care can look like.

We discuss why so many women struggle to get appropriate care during perimenopause and menopause, including the barriers created by cost, insurance coverage, provider education, and access to hormone therapy.

Dr. Peggy also explains why symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, mood changes, irregular periods, and irritability should not automatically be dismissed as "just perimenopause." A proper evaluation matters because other health conditions can produce similar symptoms.

We explore✨

✔️ The gaps in menopause care and why access can depend on income and insurance

✔️ Why hormone therapy remains underused and the barriers women face

✔️ PCOS/PMOS and what happens during the transition into perimenopause

✔️ Why symptoms shouldn't automatically be dismissed as perimenopause

✔️ Mood changes, irritability, sleep issues, and other overlooked symptoms

✔️ Understanding hormone therapy risks, benefits, and alternatives

✔️ The importance of listening, education, and shared decision-making

✔️ Why finding a provider who listens can change the experience of menopause care

About Dr. Peggy Margetson

Dr. Peggy Margetson is a Board Certified Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and the Founder and CEO of Trust Women's Healthcare, with locations in Brooklyn and Deer Park. With over a decade of experience, she is dedicated to providing compassionate, culturally competent, and personalised care across women's health, including preventive GYN care, menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and sexual medicine.

Connect with Dr. Peggy

Website: https://trustwomenshealthcare.com

The Menopause Connect Webinar: https://themenopauseconnection.eventbrite.com/

Instagram: @drpeggynyc

Wellness & Growth Journeys explores women's health, wellness, personal growth, and the conversations that help women live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Subscribe for more conversations with healthcare professionals, wellness experts, and women challenging the way we think about health.

Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wellness-growth-journeys/id1761928681

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/653PlFZ7LxJvZNf0Nh6crj

Work with Mia

Free Patient Experience Gap Report for clinic owners: wellnessgrowthagency.com/gap-report

Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mialisa-garnes

Why don't I want sex anymore? For many women, changes in sexual desire during perimenopause and menopause can feel confusing and frustrating.

In this episode of Wellness & Growth Journeys, I sit down with Dr. Janet Williams, a board-certified OBGYN, physician, hypnotherapist, coach, and author of Why Don't I Like Sex Anymore?, to explore what can really be behind changes in libido after 40.

Dr. Janet brings more than 20 years of experience in women's health and now helps women navigate perimenopause, menopause, sexual wellness, and pleasure through her work with Good Groove. She explains why sexual desire is biopsychosocial, shaped by biology, psychology, relationships, stress, mental load, and the environment around us.

We explore why desire can change during midlife and what women and healthcare professionals should understand about pleasure, menopause care, and personalised support.

✨ Why libido can change during perimenopause and menopause

✨ The role of hormones, stress, mental load, relationships and the nervous system

✨ Spontaneous vs. responsive desire and the orgasm gap

✨ How clinical hypnosis may support women experiencing menopause symptoms

✨ Hormone therapy, personalised care and knowing when to seek another opinion

✨ Why women can feel dismissed when seeking menopause care

✨ The connection between menopause, brain fog, mood and leadership

✨ How women can begin reconnecting with pleasure after 40

Dr. Janet Williams is a board-certified OBGYN, physician, hypnotherapist, coach, and author of Why Don't I Like Sex Anymore? She helps women over 40 navigate perimenopause and menopause, revive pleasure, and reconnect with their sexuality.

She founded Good Groove, combining her medical background with coaching and clinical hypnosis to support women through this stage of life.

Website: goodgroove.com

Instagram: @goodgrooveco

Free Book: https://goodgroove.com/book

Wellness & Growth Journeys explores women's health, wellness, personal growth, and the conversations that help women live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Subscribe for more conversations with healthcare professionals, wellness experts, and women challenging the way we think about health.

Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wellness-growth-journeys/id1761928681

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/653PlFZ7LxJvZNf0Nh6crj

Work with Mia

Free Patient Experience Gap Report for clinic owners: wellnessgrowthagency.com/gap-report

Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mialisa-garnes

What happens when you know something is wrong with your body but your doctor tells you everything is "normal"?

For many women navigating perimenopause, this is a frustrating reality.

In this episode of Wellness & Growth Journeys, I sit down with Dr. Shona Kambarami, an obstetrician and gynecologist with 15 years of experience across three continents, to talk about medical dismissal, perimenopause, women's health, and learning to advocate for yourself.

Dr. Kambarami shares her own experience of spending two years seeking answers for symptoms that ultimately involved autoimmune disease, thyroid issues, and perimenopause. Despite being a doctor herself, she admits she became her own "first dismissal," downplaying her symptoms and convincing herself she simply needed to push through.

The conversation explores why women can struggle to get taken seriously, why perimenopause can be difficult to identify through standard testing, and how women can walk into a short GP appointment better prepared.

✨Why women's symptoms are so often dismissed, especially during perimenopause

✨Why women can become their own first dismissal

✨How to advocate for yourself in a short doctor's appointment

✨Why "normal" test results don't always mean you feel well

✨How to prepare your body for menopause

✨The impact of menopause on relationships, work, and everyday life

✨Why believing your body matters

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation?

You know your body. And if something doesn't feel right, you're allowed to take that seriously.

Medical Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views and experiences shared by guests are their own and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical care. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your individual health concerns.

If this conversation resonates with you, share it with another woman who needs to hear it.

Website: shonakambarami.com

The MoM Overlap™ : momoverlap.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shona-kambarami-b756a3404/

Work with Mia

Free Patient Experience Gap Report for clinic owners: wellnessgrowthagency.com/gap-report

Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mialisa-garnes

For many women, perimenopause and menopause are still surrounded by silence, cultural expectations, misinformation, and frustrating gaps in healthcare.

In this episode of the Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast, host Mialisa Garnes sits down with Dr. Ban El-Karaguli, a board-certified OB-GYN, menopause specialist, and functional medicine practitioner, for an honest conversation about what women actually need during this transition.

Dr. Ban shares why so many women are told their symptoms are simply "part of aging," why hormone replacement therapy (HRT) isn't necessarily the complete answer, and how functional medicine can complement traditional menopause care.

They also explore the cultural expectations that can encourage women to silently endure symptoms, particularly within Middle Eastern and other culturally conservative communities.

→ Common perimenopause and menopause symptoms women are often told to simply tolerate

→ HRT and menopause care. Who may benefit and why it isn't the whole answer

→ Functional medicine and looking beyond hormones to sleep, nutrition, stress, and metabolic health

→ Culture and healthcare. How cultural beliefs can shape how women experience and seek menopause care

→ Telehealth and self-advocacy. Getting better support when traditional appointments fall short

→ Quality of life in menopause and why women don't have to suffer in silence

One of Dr. Ban's most important messages is simple:

"You are not lazy. You're not imagining it, and you're not supposed to suffer."

Menopause is not the end of life. It can be the beginning of a new era, and women deserve the information, support, and care they need to navigate it.

Learn more about Flourish & Bloom Functional Wellness with Dr. Ban and explore her virtual functional health services and discovery calls through the links provided in the episode show notes.

Instagram: @flourishandbloomwithdrban

Wellness & Growth Journeys explores women's health, wellness, personal growth, and the conversations that help women live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Subscribe for more conversations with healthcare professionals, wellness experts, and women challenging the way we think about health.

Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wellness-growth-journeys/id1761928681

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/653PlFZ7LxJvZNf0Nh6crj

Work with Mia

Free Patient Experience Gap Report for clinic owners: wellnessgrowthagency.com/gap-report

Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mialisa-garnes

#Menopause #Perimenopause #WomensHealth #HRT #HormoneReplacementTherapy #FunctionalMedicine #MenopauseSymptoms #MidlifeWomen #WomensWellness

Why do so many women start feeling 'off' in their late 30s and early 40s, long before anyone mentions menopause?

In this episode of the Wellness and Growth Journeys Podcast, host Mialisa Garnes sits down with Dr. India Presley-Boyd, a lifestyle-focused women's health provider, to unpack the small daily habits that shape long-term hormonal health, and why the 35-45 window matters more than most women realize.

Dr. India explains how sleep, stress, cortisol, and even the order you eat your food affect your hormones and energy, why 'normal' labs can still miss what's really going on, and when it's time to see a hormone specialist rather than push through.

In this episode:

→ What lifestyle-focused medicine actually looks like

→ Why the order you eat food (fiber and protein before carbs) matters

→ Sleep, stress, and cortisol as hidden drivers of how you feel

→ Why perimenopause can start in your 30s

→ Why 'normal' labs aren't always normal

→ When anxiety and depression are actually hormonal

→ When to see a hormone specialist instead of your PCP

Connect with Dr. India Presley-Boyd

Instagram: @wanderlustconciergehc

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/india-presley-boyd-dnp-msn-agpcnp-c-a983759b

Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wellness-growth-journeys/id1761928681

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/653PlFZ7LxJvZNf0Nh6crj

Work with Mia

Free Patient Experience Gap Report for clinic owners: wellnessgrowthagency.com/gap-report

Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mialisa-garnes

#Perimenopause #Menopause #MidlifeWomen #WomensHealth #HormoneHealth #LifestyleMedicine #BloodSugar #WellnessAndGrowthJourneys

Have you ever left a doctor's appointment feeling like your weight was the only thing anyone wanted to talk about, while the symptoms actually wrecking your days got waved away?

In this episode of the Wellness and Growth Journeys Podcast, host Mialisa Garnes sits down with Dr. Naomi Busch, MD, a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner and founder of Seattle Menopause Medicine, whose practice does something radical in its simplicity: it focuses on your symptoms and your diagnosis, not your size.

Dr. Naomi explains what weight-inclusive, evidence-informed menopause care actually looks like inside the exam room, how she uses a menopause symptom checklist, the truth about estrogen and hormone therapy, and why every woman deserves to be heard and to advocate for what she needs.

In this episode:

→ Why Naomi's office walks past the scale

→ What weight-inclusive, evidence-informed care means

→ The menopause symptom checklist every woman should know

→ 'I don't feel like myself'; decoding what's really happening

→ The truth about estrogen and hormone therapy

→ Busting the menopause myths flooding social media

→ How to advocate for the care you need

Connect with Dr. Naomi Busch

Website: https://www.seattlemenopause.com/

Instagram: @seattlemenopausedoc

Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wellness-growth-journeys/id1761928681

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/653PlFZ7LxJvZNf0Nh6crj

Work with Mia

Free Patient Experience Gap Report for clinic owners: wellnessgrowthagency.com/gap-report

Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mialisa-garnes

What happens when the doctor who writes the prescriptions suddenly becomes the patient who needs one? In this episode of the Wellness and Growth Journeys Podcast, host Mialisa Garnes sits down with Dr. Nikki Ramskill, a UK women's health GP and menopause specialist who was diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency at 36, and delivered that diagnosis so poorly by another clinician that it changed how she practices forever.

Dr. Nikki explains what premature ovarian insufficiency actually is, how it differs from perimenopause, the symptoms women are told to ignore, the one blood test that matters (FSH), and exactly how to prepare for and advocate for yourself in a short appointment. This one is for the woman who has been told she's too young to feel this way, and for the practitioners who want to do better.

In this episode:

→ How Nikki's own POI diagnosis was delivered (and why it was so wrong)

→ What premature ovarian insufficiency actually is

→ The symptoms women under 40 are told to ignore

→ POI vs perimenopause: how to tell the difference

→ The FSH blood test and why it matters

→ What actually happens when you start HRT

→ How to prepare for a specialist appointment

→ Why women aren't listened to, and what to do about it

Connect with Dr. Nikki Ramskill

Clinic: The Female Health Doctor Clinic (Nottingham, UK) — thefemalehealthdoctor.com

Instagram: @femalehealthdoc

Wellness & Growth Journeys Podcast

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wellness-growth-journeys/id1761928681

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/653PlFZ7LxJvZNf0Nh6crj

Work with Mia

Free Patient Experience Gap Report for clinic owners: wellnessgrowthagency.com/gap-report

Website: wellnessgrowthagency.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mialisa-garnes

If this conversation helped you feel seen, send it to one woman in your life who needs to hear it.

#Perimenopause #PrematureOvarianInsufficiency #POI #Menopause #Hormones #HormoneHealth #WomensHealth #HRT #WellnessAndGrowthJourneys