Wellness, Wine & WTF

This episode is the one I hoped I would never have to record, but it is also the one my heart insisted on sharing. I talk through my mom’s Alzheimer’s journey, how it shaped my life, and why it still influences the choices I make every single day. It is emotional, honest, and very real, so thank you for letting me bring you into this part of my world.

I also dig into what Alzheimer’s actually is, the early signs families often miss, what caregiving really feels like, and the small daily habits that can support long term brain health. If this conversation brings up memories of someone you love, I hope it helps you feel a little less alone and a lot more supported.

Highlights:

(01:38) Why recording this episode felt almost impossible

(04:22) The moment Melissa realized the earliest signs in her mom were more than aging

(07:55) Personal stories that show what mild and moderate dementia really look like

(10:48) The emotional reality of caregiving and the weight of ambiguous grief

(13:40) Practical habits that support brain health and may reduce risk

(17:52) How Forget Me Not Alz was born and ways listeners can get involved

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In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Lea Wood, nurse practitioner and regenerative medicine expert, to talk about the one topic most people avoid but everyone’s curious about - sexual wellness. 

We explore how sex impacts physical and emotional health, why hormones matter more than you think, and how treatments like the O Shot and P Shot are changing lives (and relationships). 

From hormone myths to hilarious WTF moments, this chat is informative, candid, and refreshingly real. Grab your Limoncello and get ready to rethink what it means to feel truly well - body, mind, and bedroom included.

Here are the highlights:

How sex supports your heart and happiness (03:00)

Why better sex means better sleep (06:10)

Breaking myths around menopause and desire (08:10)

The O Shot, P Shot, and everything in between (16:45)

Fitness, food, and the sex–circulation connection (28:20)

How to find a doctor who gets it (32:45)

Connect with Lea -Instagram: @leawoodnp

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Today’s episode is thought provoking. 

I’m chatting with Dr Jeff Farrah - a chiropractor and nurse practitioner who’s spent nearly two decades helping people feel their best through hormone optimization, medical weight loss and longevity. 

We talk about what it really means to live well for longer - from diet and exercise to recovery, brain health and peptides. 

Expect honest insights, a few lightbulb moments, and maybe a rethink about how you approach your own wellness routine.

Highlights:

(04:32) Creatine isn’t just for muscles, it’s for brain health

(16:45) The simple truth about diet and living longer

(38:10) Why walking daily might be your best medicine

(54:02) The secret power of recovery and rest

Find out more: 

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Ever wondered if your supplement stash is actually helping or just making your pee expensive?

In this episode, I’m cutting through the confusion about vitamins and supplements, sharing what really works, what’s worth your money, and what’s just hype.

From magnesium and creatine to fish oil and B12, I break down the real science behind the bottles — all while sharing a few laugh-out-loud “WTF” supplement moments. If you’ve ever stood in the vitamin aisle feeling completely lost, this episode will help you feel confident about what your body actually needs and what to leave on the shelf.

Here are the Highlights:

03:10 – Why supplements matter more than you think

05:50 – The truth about quality and what’s worth buying

10:00 – The Big Five vitamins every woman should know

17:30 – The hormone helpers you might be missing

21:45 – Are you overdoing it with supplements?

26:30 – My hilarious WTF moments with gummies and powders

29:00 – The final word: food first, supplements second

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr Carlo Reyes to explore how spiritual longevity medicine, preventative health, and hormone therapy can completely change the way we age. 

We talk about why perimenopause is the most overlooked stage in women’s health, how BHRT works beyond just easing symptoms, and why addressing the root cause matters more than masking it. This isn’t just about hormones, it’s about building a foundation for energy, clarity, and joy well into the future.

We also get real about the myths that keep women from seeking treatment, how menopause often gets mislabeled as a midlife crisis, and why relationships can feel the strain during this phase of life. Dr Reyes shares practical, science-backed advice with a holistic perspective that blends medicine, mindfulness, and spirit. 

If you’ve ever wondered what aging with vitality truly looks like, this conversation will open your eyes.

Here are the highlights

Why Dr Reyes left the ER for integrative medicine (05:00)

The first signs your hormones might be shifting (10:00)

Sleep struggles and what’s really behind them (14:18)

Perimenopause, identity shifts, and divorce (26:27)

The truth about “midlife crisis” (28:04)

Redefining yourself without losing yourself (31:45)

Empowerment versus fear as we age (45:53)

Connect with Dr. Reyes

Website: https://www.oneness.clinic/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneness_clinic/

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Let’s get real about something so many women quietly deal with but rarely talk about, even with their partners or doctors - painful sex. 

In this episode, I share why changes during perimenopause and menopause can lead to discomfort, UTIs, and low desire, and what we can actually do about it. 

From probiotics to hormone therapy, and my go-to choice of pellet therapy, I break down the options, share what works, and even sprinkle in some hilarious, unforgettable wisdom from my mom. 

This conversation is equal parts practical, honest, and just a little outrageous.

Here are the highlights:

Why sex can become painful as estrogen drops (01:15)

The role of probiotics and gut health down there (03:10)

Hormone therapy options - patches, injectables, creams, and pellets (05:00)

Why pellet therapy is my favourite choice (06:45)

WTF mom moments you won’t believe (10:04)

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On today’s episode, we’re talking about Crohn’s disease with someone very close to me, Elizabeth Sciarra

I’ve known her since she was five, and she’s sharing her story of being diagnosed as a teenager, the challenges she faced, and how she’s managed to build such a full, happy life while living with an autoimmune condition. 

It’s honest, eye-opening, and at times even funny - the kind of chat that reminds us why it’s so important to advocate for our own health.

Highlights:

(05:12) What Crohn’s really is

(17:40) Learning to be your own best advocate

(28:15) The realities of living with daily symptoms

(41:02) How probiotics and supplements changed everything

(43:10) Our funniest (and most awkward) WTF moments

Connect with ELizabeth:

Elizabeth's Instagram: @lizvannostrand

Elizabeth’s Tiktok: @thatssolizzie

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Dating over 50, menopause, low energy, high anxiety… we went there.

In this episode, Melissa sits down with her friend Dolvett Quince for an honest chat about hormones, libido, self-care, and what really changes in your body and relationships as you age. From BHRT to breathing techniques, they share what works, what doesn’t, and why laughter still belongs at the table.

It’s personal, it’s refreshing, and it’s full of advice that women (and men) over 50 need but rarely hear. Expect talk about dating apps, energy fixes, intimacy, and why gratitude and “forcing happy” can shift everything.

01:26 – The symptoms women don’t want to admit but all feel

02:51 – BHRT explained: what it is and why it matters

08:45 – Real talk on dating apps and why fun has to come first

12:00 – Panic attacks, breathing techniques, and coping with divorce

16:39 – Force happy: practical ways to shift your mood fast

17:25 – Gratitude and perspective when life feels heavy

Connect with Dolvett:

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Melissa and her daughter Alexandra mix up their signature mojitos while getting real about women’s health at every stage of life.

From teenage cramps that knock you sideways, to fertility struggles, PCOS, PMDD, and the rollercoaster of menopause, nothing is off the table. They share honest experiences, what’s helped, and why conversations about hormones matter just as much as the cocktail in your glass.

Expect laughs, a few eye-openers, and practical tips, along with a big reminder that women deserve better education, support, and solutions when it comes to their health.

Here are the Highlights:

01:30 Alexandra’s business Sip and Stack.

06:30 The reality of PCOS and late diagnoses.

08:40 PMDD, mood swings, and the stigma of meds

15:40 The mojito magic trick.

19:30 Supplements that actually make a difference.

26:00 Educating men on women’s health.

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What if the things you’ve been told about weight, stress, and hormones are only part of the story? In this episode, Melissa is joined by Dr. Renee Young, a naturopathic doctor who doesn’t sugar-coat the science or shame women for how they manage their health. They get into GLP-1 meds, PCOS, stress, and why your body isn’t "failing" you.

Whether you’re on medication, thinking about it, or sick of the judgement, this chat will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and a little less alone. Oh, and yes, Sour Patch Kids are part of the conversation. Obviously.

06:08 – GLP-1s 101: what you actually need to know

14:11 – The moment her patient burst into tears over PCOS

28:09 – You’re injecting weekly and still struggling? Here’s what might be missing

36:13 – Microdosing, lifestyle tweaks, and small changes that stack

45:12 – Stress is not just “feeling busy” – here’s what it’s really doing to you

54:02 – Botox, GLP-1s, judgement, and doing what works for you

59:01 – No shame, just facts – and a reminder you’re not broken

Connect with Dr. Renee Young below

Website: https://youngwellnesscenter.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/young_wellness_center/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youngnaturopathicwellnesscenter/# 

Dr.Renee Young’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_reneeyoung/ 

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