Women Mastering Midlife

In this must-listen episode of Women Mastering Midlife, host Victoria Byrd sits down with Dr. Lisa Moore, DPT, to unpack the often-overlooked topic of bone health in perimenopause and menopause. Together, they explore the critical connection between estrogen and osteoporosis, the surprising risks of low BMI, and why midlife is the perfect time to start strength training—not just to build muscle, but to protect your bones, prevent fractures, and maintain your independence for decades to come.

Dr. Moore shares her personal and professional journey into bone health and cancer rehab, revealing how her own osteopenia diagnosis shifted the course of her career. She delivers actionable insights on:

• Why osteoporosis is a silent disease and how to know if you're at risk

• What osteopenia really means (and why it's your wake-up call)

• The powerful role estrogen plays in bone remodeling and collagen production

• Why "strong and stable" matters more than "small and skinny" in midlife

• The truth about weighted vests, DEXA scans, and the real exercise prescription for your bones

• Her go-to formula: protein-forward nutrition, anti-inflammatory eating, sleep as medicine, and functional movement

• The evidence-based strength training approach that actually improves bone density even if you're a beginner
  

If you're a midlife woman who wants to stay active, vibrant, and fracture-free for the long haul, this episode is your essential guide to taking charge of your bone health starting now.

Links & Resources: Dr. Lisa Moore, DPT – Learn more at www.drlisamooredpt.com

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

📲 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going: If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

💬 Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let’s grow stronger together.

🎧 Listen & subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Want more support for your midlife transition?

Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community or schedule a 1:1 Clarity Session with Victoria at www.msvictoriabyrd.com

Join the Conversation

Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides 

Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife  and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  

Find more information on our website: www.msvictoriabyrd.com 

Join the Community! www.msvictoriabyrd.com/community 

Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses

Subscribe & Review  

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more women navigating midlife with strength and resilience.  

Disclaimer  

This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  

Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

Your thyroid may be small, but it plays a mighty role in your midlife health. From energy and mood to metabolism, hair, skin, and even heart health; this butterfly-shaped gland has an outsized influence on how you feel day to day. Yet for many women, thyroid issues are often dismissed as just “getting older” or blamed on perimenopause and menopause.

In this episode of Women Mastering Midlife, Victoria sits down with Dr. Rashmi Roy, the highest-volume thyroid surgeon in the world and a national leader in thyroid cancer awareness. Together, they break down what every midlife woman needs to know about her thyroid and how to protect it.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What the thyroid is, where it’s located, and why it’s “small but mighty” for your overall health

• How thyroid symptoms like weight changes, fatigue, or hair loss are often mistaken for menopause or aging

• Why thyroid cancer is one of the fastest-growing cancers in women, especially ages 30–50

• Why routine blood work may not reveal thyroid cancer and the importance of ultrasounds

• The simple two-minute neck check you can do at home to catch thyroid problems early https://www.thyroidcancer.com/selfcheck

• How Hashimoto’s disease impacts women, and when surgery may be life-changing

• Lifestyle, diet, and supplement strategies that support thyroid health, including gluten-free and anti-inflammatory approaches

• Why every woman should consider a baseline thyroid ultrasound by age 30
  

Dr. Roy also shares her #NeckCheck Challenge, a movement to empower women to take control of their thyroid health and spread awareness through simple, practical self-care.

If you want a tutorial of how to perform a neck check, Dr. Roy has one available on her YouTube channel

If you’ve ever wondered whether your symptoms are menopause, thyroid, or something more—you won’t want to miss this essential conversation.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Follow Dr. Rashmi Roy on Instagram TikTok and YouTube  for her #NeckCheck Challenge

• Learn more about the Clayman Thyroid Center in Tampa, Florida

• Book a discovery call with Victoria: www.msvictoriabyrd.com
  

📲 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

💬 Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let’s grow stronger together.

🎧 Listen & subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Want more support for your midlife transition? Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community or schedule a 1:1 Clarity Session with Victoria at www.msvictoriabyrd.com

Join the Conversation

Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides 

Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife  and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  

Find more information on our website: www.msvictoriabyrd.com 

Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses

Subscribe & Review  

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more women navigating midlife with strength and resilience.  

Disclaimer  

This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  

Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

In this heartfelt episode of Women Mastering Midlife, host Victoria Byrd welcomes fertility and life coach Abbe Feder, founder of InCircle Fertility and host of the Women's Wellness with Abbe Feder podcast. Together, they explore the deeply emotional and often invisible journey of infertility, IVF, midlife motherhood, and the identity shifts that come with them.

From the raw reality of eight IVF rounds and an ectopic pregnancy to navigating grief, isolation, and the societal pressure to stay silent, Abbe shares how she transformed pain into purpose. She now helps other women advocate for themselves through infertility, loss, and pregnancy after trauma with a deep understanding of the gaps in our healthcare system and the emotional toll of being unheard.

This episode dives into:

• Abbe's personal story of infertility, IVF, and ultimately, the birth of her twins

• How women are conditioned to not “bother” their doctors and why that must change

• The emotional cost of fertility struggles in a motherhood-focused culture

• What pregnancy after infertility really feels like

• The identity shift from "infertile woman" to motherhood—and the guilt that can come with it

• Why social media is both a gift and a trigger in the fertility journey

• How Abbe is supporting women today through coaching, advocacy, and real talk
  

This is a must-listen for any woman navigating fertility, midlife identity, or looking to support others through it with more empathy and honesty.

Connect with Abbe Feder:

🔗 Website: www.incirclefertility.com

📸 Instagram: @incirclefertility

🎙 Podcast: Women's Wellness with Abbe Feder

📧 DM her on Instagram or book a consult via her website

📲 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

💬 Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let’s grow stronger together.

🎧 Listen & subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Want more support for your midlife transition? Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community or schedule a 1:1 Clarity Session with Victoria at www.msvictoriabyrd.com

Ready to join the Macronutrients 101 Course? We begin October 6th. Register here: bit.ly/Macros101WMM

Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides 

Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife  and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  

Find more information on our website: www.msvictoriabyrd.com 

Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses

Subscribe & Review  

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more women navigating midlife with strength and resilience.  

Disclaimer  

This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  

Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

In this soul-stirring episode of Women Mastering Midlife, I sit down with transformational speaker, spiritual teacher, and author Elaine Glass to discuss the profound healing power of getting quiet. Elaine shares the story behind her book Get Quiet, how a chance encounter with a labyrinth changed her life, and why silence is the missing ingredient so many midlife women are seeking.

We explore how stress, over-productivity, and people-pleasing keep us disconnected from our bodies and truth and how reconnecting to that stillness helps us reclaim our power. Elaine walks us through the seven energetic paths in her book, each tied to a part of the body, and how we can use this framework to release emotional and physical blocks, regulate our nervous systems, and return to ourselves.

Whether you're going through a transition like divorce, empty-nesting, or simply feeling lost in the chaos, this episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and realign. Elaine and I also dive into:

• Why rest is rebellious (and necessary)

• Using the labyrinth as a tool for transformation

• Letting go of guilt around peace and joy

• How boundary-setting is an act of self-love

• The connection between stress, inflammation, and midlife health

• Why getting away from your environment may be the catalyst you need

• How childhood clues may reveal your purpose today
  

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or ready for a shift—this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

 Get Quiet is available in print and Audible, with a unique body-based meditation at the end of each chapter to support your healing.

 Listen now and take your first step toward peace and purpose.

📌 Resources & Links:

• Connect with Elaine Glass 

• Purchase Get Quiet on Amazon

• Learn more about retreats and 1:1 work with Elaine

📲 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

💬 Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let’s grow stronger together.

🎧 Listen & subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Want more support for your midlife transition? Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community or schedule a 1:1 Clarity Session with Victoria at www.msvictoriabyrd.com

Join the Conversation

Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides 

Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife  and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  

Find more information on our website: www.msvictoriabyrd.com 

Join the Community! www.msvictoriabyrd.com/community 

Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses

Subscribe & Review  

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more women navigating midlife with strength and resilience.  

Disclaimer  

This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  

Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.  

In this powerful episode of Women Mastering Midlife, Victoria Byrd sits down with Dr. Nadine Macaluso; licensed marriage and family therapist, trauma bonding and narcissistic abuse expert, and author of the memoir Run Like Hell: A Therapist’s Guide to Recognizing, Escaping, and Healing from Trauma Bonds. You may recognize her as the former wife of the infamous “Wolf of Wall Street,” but today, Nadine is rewriting the narrative by helping women recognize the red flags of coercive control, reclaim their sense of self, and heal from emotional trauma.

Together, Victoria and Nadine explore:

• What trauma bonding really is and how it differs from general relationship toxicity

• The subtle signs of narcissistic abuse and coercive control

• Why smart, accomplished women often fall into these relationships

• The healing process: rebuilding self-trust, confidence, and identity

• Why people-pleasing and boundary-blurring are red flags we shouldn’t ignore

• How women can create emotionally safe, calm relationships—especially in midlife
  

Dr. Nadine also shares her journey from fashion designer to psychotherapist, her reflections on the Wolf of Wall Street movie, and why writing Run Like Hell was more than a memoir; it was a roadmap to healing for women worldwide. She discusses the importance of therapy, emotional intelligence in midlife, and her thriving Surthriver™️ Community that offers affordable, expert-led healing support.

Whether you’re recovering from a trauma bond, exploring a new relationship in midlife, or learning to trust yourself again, this episode offers hope, validation, and a clear path forward.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• 📖 Get a free chapter of Run Like Hell

• 💻 Join the Surthriver Community: Dr. Nadine’s online support group for healing and empowerment

• ✅ Download the Pathological Lover Checklist at Dr. Nadine's website
  

About Dr. Nadine Macaluso: Dr. Nadine Macaluso is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a doctorate in somatic psychotherapy. Drawing from her own lived experience and clinical expertise, she specializes in helping women recognize trauma bonds, escape narcissistic abuse, and rebuild safe and empowered lives. She is the author of Run Like Hell and the founder of the Surthriver™ Community.

📲 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

💬 Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let’s grow stronger together.

🎧 Listen & subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Want more support for your midlife transition? Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community or schedule a 1:1 Clarity Session with Victoria at www.msvictoriabyrd.com

Join the Conversation

Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides 

Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife  and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  

Find more information on our website: www.msvictoriabyrd.com 

Join the Community! www.msvictoriabyrd.com/community 

Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses

Subscribe & Review  

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more women navigating midlife with strength and resilience.  

Disclaimer  

This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  

Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

Is pellet hormone therapy safe? Why isn’t it FDA-approved? And why is there so much controversy surrounding it?

In this episode of Women Mastering Midlife, Victoria Byrd, RPh, dives deep into the nuances of pellet hormone therapy with Christine Farrell, MSN, FNP-C- an integrative hormone specialist with over 20 years of experience. Christine shares her clinical insights and personal journey with hormone replacement, explains the science and safety behind pellets, and clears up misconceptions that often spark online debate.

You’ll learn:

• What pellet hormone therapy actually is and how it works

• The differences between testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone in pellet form

• Why pellets aren’t included in current Menopause Society guidelines (and what that really means)

• The risks of overprescribing and why proper training matters

• How Christine determines if pellets are right for a patient (hint: it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution)

• The truth about testosterone therapy and women’s libido

• Why lifestyle, stress, sleep, and movement must be considered alongside hormones

Christine emphasizes that pellets are a powerful tool, but only in the right hands and with the right patient. If you’re pellet-curious or trying to navigate hormone therapy options, this is the balanced, evidence-informed conversation you need.

About Today’s Guest:

Christine Farrell, MSN, FNP-C, is a hormone health expert and founder of Bioidentical Wellness in Westlake Village, CA. She blends conventional and integrative medicine to provide personalized hormone care for men and women. Christine is an Associate Clinical Professor at UCLA and a member of the Menopause Society, International Menopause Society, and other global organizations. She is certified in Vitapel hormone implant therapy and is a sought-after speaker and educator in the menopause space.

Connect with Christine Farrell:

🔗 Website: https://bioidenticalwellness.com

📍 Clinic: Bioidentical Wellness, Westlake Village, CA

📱 Instagram: @bioidenticalwellness

Want more support for your midlife transition?

Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community or schedule a 1:1 Clarity Session with Victoria at www.msvictoriabyrd.com

Join the Conversation

Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides 

Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife  and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  

Find more information on our website: www.msvictoriabyrd.com 

Join the Community! www.msvictoriabyrd.com/community 

Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses

Subscribe & Review  

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more women navigating midlife with strength and resilience.  

Disclaimer  

This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  

Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

Are you waking up at 3 a.m. and can’t fall back asleep? Tossing, turning, and wondering if it’s your hormones or just aging? In this essential episode of Women Mastering Midlife, host Victoria Byrd talks with Dr. Andrea Matsumura, a board-certified sleep medicine physician, internist, and Menopause Society-certified practitioner, about the unique sleep struggles women face in perimenopause and menopause and how to actually fix them.

Dr. Matsumura breaks down the misunderstood relationship between estrogen, progesterone, and melatonin, and shares why women are vastly underdiagnosed when it comes to sleep apnea. She introduces her D.R.E.A.M. Sleep Method, a holistic framework to uncover root causes of sleep disruption in women, including hormonal shifts, anxiety, nighttime routines, and undetected sleep disorders.

We dive into:

• Why estrogen is essential for temperature regulation and sleep quality

• The truth about melatonin (and why it’s not just for jet lag)

• How to take melatonin for best results, especially in midlife

• Why women are misdiagnosed or ignored when it comes to sleep apnea

• Sleep apnea without snoring-  what you need to know

• How to advocate for better care if you're told to “just take a sleeping pill”

• Prescription sleep aids vs. root cause solutions

• The D.R.E.A.M. Sleep Method™ explained

• Why wearable sleep trackers can reveal helpful patterns even if they’re not diagnostic

• What sleeping like a goddess actually looks like

Dr. Matsumura and Victoria discuss why midlife sleep issues are not just normal aging—and why high-quality sleep is foundational for your health span, not just your lifespan.

🔗 Resources & Connect with Dr. Matsumura:

Website: https://www.sleepgoddessmd.com

Instagram: @sleepgoddessmd

Take the Sleep Goddess Quiz  to find your archetype

Interested in Dr. Matsumura’s patient offerings or consulting? Visit her site for more.

Want more support for your midlife transition? Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community or schedule a 1:1 Clarity Session with Victoria at www.msvictoriabyrd.com

Join the Conversation

Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides 

Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife  and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  

Find more information on our website: www.msvictoriabyrd.com 

Join the Community! www.msvictoriabyrd.com/community 

Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses

Subscribe & Review  

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more women navigating midlife with strength and resilience.  

Disclaimer  

This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  

Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.  

In this spirited and insightful episode, Victoria Byrd welcomes the powerhouse trio behind The Dusty Muffins podcast: Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan, Dr. Rebbecca Hertel, and Dr. Christine Hart Kress. These certified menopause practitioners—and self-declared “Menno Besties”—share their journey from training and clinical collaboration to launching one of the most refreshing, no-holds-barred podcasts in the menopause space.

Together, they tackle:

• The origin of their hilarious and unforgettable podcast name

• What they wish every woman—and every provider—knew about perimenopause and menopause care

• Why even “mild” hot flashes could be a red flag for brain and heart health

• The connection between vasomotor symptoms and increased risk for cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis

• The challenges women face getting prescriptions filled due to outdated pharmacy education and systemic hurdles

• The case for collaborative, ego-free care across specialties—especially for midlife women

• Their approach to hormone therapy, patient advocacy, and building business and friendship together
  

You'll laugh, nod along, and probably rethink how hot flashes show up in your own life (spoiler: they might not look how you think). Whether you're a patient, pharmacist, or provider, this episode is packed with validation, education, and real-talk about why women deserve better.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• The Dusty Muffins Podcast

• The SWAN Study (Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation)

• Dr. Rebecca Thurston’s research on hot flashes and brain changes

• HRT myths and how to empower informed choices

• SNL’s “Dusty Muffin” skit with Betty White (yep, it's real—and worth watching)
  

🔗 Connect with the Dusty Muffins:

🎧 Listen to The Dusty Muffins: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dusty-muffins/id1799704881 

📸 Follow them on Instagram: @portlandmenopausedoc 

@thedustymuffins @christinehartkress_dnp @drrebbeccaherteldo

🌐 Learn more about their work: https://www.christinehartkressdnp.com/

https://osteopathicmidlifehealth.com/

 https://portlandmenopausedoc.com/

Want more support for your midlife transition? Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community or schedule a 1:1 Clarity Session with Victoria at www.msvictoriabyrd.com

Join the Conversation

Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides 

Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife  and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  

Find more information on our website: www.msvictoriabyrd.com 

Join the Community! www.msvictoriabyrd.com/community 

Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses

Subscribe & Review  

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more women navigating midlife with strength and resilience.  

Disclaimer  

This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  

Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

In this electrifying episode of Women Mastering Midlife, Victoria Byrd sits down with filmmaker, photographer, and punk rock truth-teller Alicia J. Rose, the force behind the upcoming documentary Menopunks. What starts as a conversation about the personal and political impacts of hormone therapy quickly evolves into a raw, radical takedown of the broken systems that have failed women for decades.

Alicia shares the origin story behind Menopunks: a grassroots movement born from her own hormone journey and frustration over the decades-long misinformation surrounding HRT.

Together, she and Victoria dig into:

• The shocking truth behind the WHI study and its long-term consequences
  

• How Gen X rage may finally turn the tide in menopause advocacy
  

• Why hormonal optimization is a feminist issue
  

• The impact of estrogen on brain health, creativity, and longevity
  

• How the system gaslights women into silence and suffering
  

• Why artists, not just doctors, might be the messengers midlife women finally trust
  

This episode is a call to arms. It's emotional, unapologetic, and unapologetically sweaty. You’ll walk away informed, outraged, and fired up to reclaim your health, your story, and your power.

Resources & Links:

• 🎬 Learn more and support the Menopunks movement: https://www.menopunks.com
  

• 📸 Follow Alicia on Instagram: @aliciajrose
  

• 👕 Buy the merch, support the film: Menopunks Merch
  

• 📚 Recommended reading: Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris

Key Quotes:

“We don’t need more products. We need the truth—and a hell of a lot more rage.”

“What happens if all women were hormonally optimized? Everything.”

“HRT didn’t just change my symptoms, it gave me my creativity and power back.”

Want more support for your midlife transition? Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community or schedule a 1:1 Clarity Session with Victoria at www.msvictoriabyrd.com

Join the Conversation

Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides 

Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife  and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  

Find more information on our website: www.msvictoriabyrd.com 

Join the Community! www.msvictoriabyrd.com/community 

Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses

Subscribe & Review  

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more women navigating midlife with strength and resilience.  

Disclaimer  

This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  

Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast. 

In this episode of Women Mastering Midlife, host Victoria Byrd sits down with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple- exercise scientist, researcher, and truth-teller in the crowded world of wellness advice for a powerful, no-nonsense conversation about fitness, fat loss, protein, hormones, and everything in between for midlife women.

Dr. Colenso-Semple helps demystify the noise around social media trends and wellness fads. Together, they explore evidence-based strategies for building muscle after 40, bust the myth that cardio is “bad,” and clarify the real science behind weighted vests, intermittent fasting, protein intake, and cortisol.

Whether you're frustrated by conflicting advice, overwhelmed by online "hacks," or simply wondering what actually works for women in perimenopause and menopause, this episode will give you practical, research-backed insights without the gimmicks.

What We Cover:

• Why women can build muscle in midlife (yes, even in their 80s!)

• The truth about strength training, cardio, and walking with weighted vests

• Cortisol myths and how real stress, not hormones alone, affects weight

• Calorie deficits, diet quality, and why "calories in vs. calories out" still matters

• Protein goals made simple: what's realistic, what’s overkill, and how to hit your needs

• The deal with intermittent fasting and fasted workouts

• What to know before filling your cabinet with supplements

• The dangers of oversimplified hormone therapy messaging on social media

• Why nuance matters in science communication and how to spot red flags online
  

One big takeaway? The basics still work. No magic pills, no quick fixes—just consistent habits, realistic expectations, and informed choices.

🔗 Follow Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple on Instagram: @drlaurencs1

Want more support for your midlife transition? Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community or schedule a 1:1 Clarity Session with Victoria at www.msvictoriabyrd.com

Join the Conversation

Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides 

Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife  and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  

Find more information on our website: www.msvictoriabyrd.com 

Join the Community! www.msvictoriabyrd.com/community 

Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses

Subscribe & Review  

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more women navigating midlife with strength and resilience.  

Disclaimer  

This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  

Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.