Women Talking Frankly

The conversation around healthy aging is evolving in exciting ways! In this interview, WTF talks with longevity physician, Dr. Jennifer Timmons, MD, founder & medical director of Timmons Wellness, a concierge medical practice focused on helping people stay vibrant, energetic, and independent as they age. Dr. Timmons is especially interested in menopause and aging over time.  

Here’s a sampling of our eye-opening discussion about how lifestyle, nutrition, hormones, and daily habits work together to shape long-term health: 

- What is HEALTH SPAN - not just adding years to life, but adding life to those years?

- Are the health behaviors of people living in global Blue Zones still the gold standard for longevity, and what does it really mean to age well?

- What is the best way to eat for metabolic health, including how much protein we should be eating each day?

- What are the best forms of exercise for living longer and stronger?

- How essential is 7–8 hours of sleep to health span - and can short sleepers or those who rely on sleep medications still achieve longevity?

- Which lifestyle changes make the biggest impact on health span?

- Which supplements and therapies have the strongest evidence-based support for longevity, and why are peptides all the rage?

- What are the biggest risks to long-term health - and the top 3 things to focus on in the next year to improve quality of life and increase the odds of living longer?

Resources:

Visit Dr. Timmons at https://timmonswellnessmd.com/ 

Magnesium Options (sleep, recovery, nervous system support): BIOoptimizers

Find Dr. Jennifer Timmons--Timmons Wellness on us.fullscript.com

- Fullscript is an online supplement marketplace where you can get trusted brands and 10% retail price. Check out the supplement bundles she lists, particularly the “Female Hormone Health” bundle or the “Foundational Health” bundle. 

Connect w/ Kyle & Candace:

Candace Burch:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YourHormoneBalance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Kyle McAvoy:

⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Too often, we live by the mindset of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” - especially when it comes to our health. But waiting for symptoms can come with serious consequences. Join Kyle & Candace this week for another one-on-one conversation as they unpack the silent threat of hypertension, share practical blood sugar hacks, and more.

They dive into hypertension:

- How to screen for hypertension (high blood pressure), a major silent health risk

- Why the guidelines changed from >140/90 to >130/80 in 2017 - and why many people may be at risk without knowing it

- Updated 2025 guidance now aims for <120/80 when possible

- The risks of untreated hypertension

- How to prevent it through lifestyle changes

- Foods that help - it's not just about sodium

- Treatment options to consider

They also cover:

- Good carbs to GREAT carbs: How to create resistant starches to lower blood sugar impact from foods like potatoes, grains, and legumes

- Glucose-lowering hacks: Including how apple cider vinegar before meals may help blood sugar response

- Mother’s Day is coming: let’s remember to honor ALL friends who mother others, whether it be children, pets, favorite organizations or even their friends. And DON'T FORGET TO MOTHER YOURSELF!! Make the lifestyle changes that you know you need to do so that you can achieve longevity and a fuller health and lifespan.

See you in May for our next episode with a longevity expert, then in June where our guest will share how to eat healthfully without being “on a diet.”

Thank you for listening & don’t forget to review our podcast and send us suggestions for future episodes!

Connect w/ Kyle & Candace:

Candace Burch:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YourHormoneBalance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kyle McAvoy:

⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Kyle & Candace sit down with Toni Filipone, international grief expert, author, speaker, and the founder of Master Grief. Toni is a leader in personal development, working alongside Tony Robbins for over three decades. Today she teaches people in over 82 countries how to understand grief, manage emotions, and rebuild their lives.

During this inspiring conversation with Toni, she shares her own personal story of grief when three years ago, she lost her partner to suicide. Alongside this touching story, she shares her expert insights and advice, some of which include:

- Why anxiety prescriptions and talk therapy are more mainstream, but grief is different

- A walk through the facets of grief, what it looks like, & how to cope

- How loss can shatter your identity - not just when someone dies, but any unwanted loss

- Grieving everyday traumas - how to cope with all the bad news out there

- Why we don’t like talking about death or loss

- How do you grieve?

- Confessions of a grief expert

- Changing how the world understands grief

Recommended Books:

In the Trenches: A Coach's Walk Through Grief by Toni Filipone

Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief by David Kessler

Connect w/ Toni:

Website: https://mastergrief.com/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tiktoktoni75

Past Speaking: Media Reel

Connect w/ Kyle & Candace: 

Candace Burch: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠YourHormoneBalance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 

Kyle McAvoy: 

⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

This week, Kyle and Candace leap into the breach and explain their decision to pull a previously recorded episode with the CEO and Medical director of a high end medi-spa consortium. 

Early into the interview, we found ourselves at odds with our guests, whose approach to hormone therapy sounded more about what’s good for business than what’s best for patients. The unfortunate reality is that many of these medi-spas that women are flocking to for a quick hormone fix are offering one-size-fits all hormone treatments without first testing hormone levels! It is our experience that prescribing without testing is just not good enough. Nor is it safe. We call it what it is - Bad practice.

So, in good faith we are steering away from what does not serve women and in the direction of education and informed, SAFE hormone care. To that end we’ve put together WTF’s Key Questions to Ask when embarking on any course of hormone therapy: 

1. What are the symptoms of hormone imbalance?

2. What are the best resources to help me find a reputable hormone provider?

3. What are some things that I can read to educate myself?

4. What are the questions that I should have ready to ask the provider to make sure he/she is a good fit? [REMEMBER: the provider works for YOU, not vice versa: the relationship should be collaborative; you should feel HEARD not talked down to]

5. What information should I bring with me to my first appointment?

6. What type of hormone testing should I expect to have done (blood, saliva, dried urine)?

7. What is the process I can expect to go through?

8. How long could it take to get hormones balanced, and to  ‘feel like myself’ again’?

9. Typical monthly costs of treatment? (Take insurance? HSA?)

10. What are the risks/benefits of treatment?

11. What are the risks of NOT pursuing hormone balance?

Find a Hormone Savvy Provider:

Institute of Functional Medicine

ZRT Lab, Find a Provider

The ZRT Blog

Dr. Aviva Romm blog

Books We Recommend:

Hormone Intelligence by Dr. Aviva Romm

A holistic guide to understanding and balancing hormones at any age.

Before the Change: Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause by Ann Louise Gittleman

Covers stress, sex hormones, thyroid, and cortisol—useful baseline for women across the hormonal spectrum.

Is This Normal? by Dr. Jolene Brighten

Answers to common questions about sexual wellness and hormonal health.

The Hormone Cure by Dr. Sara Gottfried

Covers stress, sex hormones, thyroid, and cortisol—useful for women across the hormonal spectrum.

WomanCode by Alisa Vitti

Introduces cycle syncing for hormonal balance and fertility.

In the FLO by Alisa Vitti

Focuses on optimizing productivity and energy through cycle syncing.

Connect w/ Kyle & Candace: 

Candace Burch: 

⁠⁠⁠YourHormoneBalance.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Kyle McAvoy: 

[email protected]⁠ 

Join us for a special bonus episode as Kyle and Candace dig into a plethora of topics that women are wondering about!

~ Quick recap of our Valentine’s Day podcast on women and libido + important takeaways

~ How social connection keeps emerging as a pivotal factor in longevity and healthspan

~ Some of the hosts' favorite podcasts that they’re listening to

~ How to keep our brains healthy as we age: Think ‘be SWEET to your brain’

S = Sleep

W = Water

E = Exercise (physical, mental, social)

E = Eat healthy diet

T = Time: this takes time

Keeping your brain healthy is a lifelong endeavor!

READ: Brainwaves: How does a brain stay healthy?

~ Do women really need more sleep than men? Or are other factors at play here? 

READ: Do Women Need More Sleep Than Men?

~ An overlooked RX for happiness: take the “Creativity Challenge”. You don’t need to be an artist to be artistic. What are some of the ways that you can be more creative? 

READ: An Overlooked Prescription for Happiness

~ Favorite new TV show: the Riot Women on Britbox. The show follows a group of peri and post menopausal women in the UK who join together and form a punk rock band. It’s funny & kind, you’ll laugh out loud and shed a few tears - don’t miss this one!

READ: ‘Riot Women’ Review: Women of a Certain Rage

~ Favorite recipes: remember ‘Zoodles’? Kyle talks about fun ways to incorporate them into your weekly meal planning.

RECIPE: Zucchini ‘Pasta’

Connect w/ Kyle & Candace: 

Candace Burch:

⁠⁠⁠YourHormoneBalance.com⁠⁠⁠ 

⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Kyle McAvoy: ⁠

[email protected]⁠

Low libido is one of the most common concerns women experience — and one of the least openly discussed. In this episode of Women Talking Frankly, Holistic Consultant Pharmacist Susan Merenstein reframes libido as a health signal, not a personal failure. 

Susan explains how desire is shaped by hormones, brain chemistry, muscle and metabolic health, circulation, diet, medications, anatomy, and lifestyle. This conversation replaces shame with understanding and offers a clear, science-based framework women can actually use. 

Here’s a sampling of the talking points we tackle: 

- Key hormones that matter most for libido 

- The Good Libido checklist 

- Our sexual anatomy 

- The female brain and desire 

- The “hugging hormone,” Oxytocin  

- Do women need testosterone?

- Does stress suppress desire?

- Why sugar and simple carbs are libido blockers 

- Foods that support sexual health 

- Why self-pleasure is not just an indulgence, but good for your sexual health 

- The skinny on vibrators 

- GLP’s and low libido 

- Supplements and bioidentical hormones for libido support  

To read the full article and revisit the concepts discussed in our interview, visit VitalHealthPharmacist.com

Shop & Learn: 

https://www.LabNaturals.com 

Join their newsletter for wellness tips & updates:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/2hMdfFh 

Contact: Susan Merenstein, RPh

Holistic Consultant Pharmacist

P: 412-586-4678

Connect w/ Kyle & Candace: 

Candace Burch: 

⁠⁠YourHormoneBalance.com⁠⁠ 

⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ 

Kyle McAvoy: 

[email protected]

Sit down with Kyle & Candace for their yearly catch-up episode: “out with the old, in with the new”. This episode is chock full of important health information, plus Kyle & Candace share tips with you to make 2026 a better and brighter year.

Topics include:

- The FDA removed the Black Box warning on hormones: This is GREAT but it is not a green light. Continue to proceed with caution & care. Insist on getting your hormones tested + work with a reputable provider.

- Advice on how to find a great provider to help you navigate your way through hormonal challenges no matter what stage you are in.

- What Joy-Span is & why we want to know about this. Listen to this clip from Karry Burnight, professor of geriatric medicine at UC Irvine Medical.

- The book making the rounds of MANY women’s book clubs: In the Country of Old by Susan Abel Lieberman; a wonderful & honest look at some of the challenges & joys of aging.

- How to consume alcohol with more intention + some of their favorite strategies (& products) to do so. The author of Christmas at River Cottage, Lucy Brazier, calls her days sans alcohol AFDs (alcohol free days) - brilliant! Kyle loves DeSoi (Haute Margarita is a new favorite) and Still/Spark (Golden Hour)

Articles that frankly either drove us crazy or inspired us:

The Perimenopause Whisperer Network: Women are desperately seeking information and care. You are not alone in thinking this!

Learn about the 9 things that YOU can do to improve your mental health from the HAPPINESS department at UCLA (and the National Institute of PLAY: WTF???)

Our Favorites:

Books:

Women Rowing North: Mary Pipher offers a timely examination of the cultural and developmental issues women face as they age

French Women Don’t Get Fat, The Secret of Eating for Pleasure - unlocking the simple secrets of this “French paradox” - how they enjoy food while staying slim and healthy - Mireille Guiliano gives us a charming, inspiring take on health and eating for our times. Check out her website as well!

Between Two Kingdoms - New York Times calls it “a deeply moving memoir of illness and recovery that traces one young woman’s journey from diagnosis to remission to re-entry into ‘normal’ life”.

Shows: 

Riot Women - British drama about 5 middle-aged women who form a punk band to shake up their lives & end up reclaiming their voices, confidence, and sense of power along the way.

All Things Great and Small - British period drama about a young veterinary surgeon who moves to the Yorkshire Dales in the 30s to work with an eccentric vet, following his heartwarming and often humorous experiences treating animals and connecting with the local community.

Somebody Somewhere - American comedy-drama about a woman who returns to her Kansas hometown after her sister’s death and, while struggling with loss and identity, finds connection, community, and a voice through friendships and singing.

Studies: 

- Benefits of Rowing https://www.self.com/story/benefits-of-rowing 

- Large international research published late in 2025 found no significant association between menopause HRT and dementia risk.

- Research published in 2025 indicated no increased cardiovascular disease risk in younger postmenopausal women using HRT, while risks were seen in older age ranges—informing guideline nuance.

- A study presented at the Endocrine Society showed that combining menopausal HRT with obesity medication (like tirzepatide) may enhance weight loss and metabolic outcomes in postmenopausal women—highlighting interplay between hormonal changes and obesity risk.

Revisit these WTF Episodes: 

WTF Episode 62: Hormone Therapy After the FDA Black Box Removal: What Safe Appropriate Use Really Means and Why Women Deserve Better!

WTF Episode 51: Don’t Underestimate Progesterone!: Our Most Popular Episode of 2025!

Connect w/ Kyle & Candace:

Candace Burch:

⁠YourHormoneBalance.com⁠ ⁠

⁠[email protected]

Kyle McAvoy:

[email protected]

You’ll Be So Glad You Listened to This Episode!

When the FDA pulled the long-standing black box warning that said hormone therapy was dangerous, the headlines exploded! Just like that the FDA has done an about face and we are now told that hormones are safe when used appropriately. This is good news, but is it a green light for any and all hormone use?

Join us inside our conversation with Susan Merenstein, RPh, a Holistic Consultant Pharmacist with decades of specialized expertise in hormone balance, women’s wellness, and individualized, physiology-based care, as we make sense of how we got here and where HRT is heading:

- Why the FDA slapped a black box warning on HRT in the first place

- What most people don’t know about the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI): how the landmark clinical trial of HRT use led to millions of women being pulled off hormones overnight

- The real findings of the WHI and how the key culprits got lost in translation

- The 7 crucial words in the FDA’s new message: Hormone therapy is safe when appropriately used - what it means and what it does not mean

- The FDA emphasis on individualized, appropriate use is exactly what physiology-based, bioidentical hormone therapy has always been about!

- All hormones are not equal: why bioidentical plant-based versions are better and safer

- No going back to one size fits all: why hormone testing is essential to hormone prescribing according to need

- The elephant in the room: the lack of menopause hormone savvy providers

- The truth about overdosing of hormones, particularly testosterone

- Why the suggestion that hormone therapy is best limited to women under 60 is outdated

- The longevity benefits of hormone restoration in women over 65 and beyond

- How women can find a hormone provider who knows their stuff

Connect with Susan:

Murray Avenue Apothecary & LabNaturals, Inc.

Website: http://www.vitalhealthpharmacist.com/

Read Susan’s blog on the FDA Black Box warning removal: https://vitalhealthpharmacist.com/blog/2025/11/hormone-therapy-after-the-fda-black-box-removal/

Subscribe to her newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/gTxG2ev/maa 

Connect w/ Kyle & Candace:

Candace Burch:

⁠YourHormoneBalance.com⁠

⁠[email protected]⁠

Kyle McAvoy:

[email protected]

The importance of what you’re feeling is not all in your head, most symptoms women in perimenopause & menopause experience are down to unaddressed hormone imbalances. You do not need to be referred to a psychiatrist!

This month we are joined by Kenna Stevenson, MD & David Zava, PhD discussing topics such as:

- The Bioidentical Hormone Restoration model of care (BHRT)

- The landmark CHOIICE study that followed women ages 35-70 over 3 years looking at hemostatic, immune, inflammatory, Cardiovascular & quality of life outcomes

- Findings from the CHOIICE study: Women get symptom relief & do better at every level when their hormone levels are restored & balanced (those in highest stress groups saw the biggest improvements!)

- Why it all begins with non-invasive saliva testing to detect imbalances of the ‘Big 5 Hormones’: Progesterone, E2, DHEA, T + Cortisol

- Why the standard blood draw is not helpful in evaluating hormone levels

- Debunking the myth that transdermal/topical progesterone does not protect against overgrowth of the uterine lining

- Why rubbing topical hormone cream into the skin very effectively raises hormones to healthy levels, that are NOT trackable in blood tests but are in saliva

- How Progesterone used at bedtime induces calming of the brain + helps you achieve REM sleep

- Keeping the brain healthy with hormone restoration; neuroprotective effects of balanced hormones

- Cardiovascular disease: the leading cause of death among women worldwide + how hormones in balance protect against it

- Why transdermal/topical use of hormone is the way to go = lower to no risk of forming blood clots, even in women with a history of stroke

- Why physiologic levels of estrogen and progesterone are perfect for the postmenopausal woman to help keep us young, protect our skin, our heart, our brains

- Why Estradiol, the master female hormone is called the 'angel of life'

- Why mother nature created progesterone to work in concert w/ estrogen

- The power of creativity, handwork, drawing, painting, knitting, beadwork etc. to reduce stress hormones & lift the spirit

- Estriol's favorable effects for protecting against breast cancer tumors, UTIs & skin health

- Hormone balancing is all about the science + should be about data not dollars + should be about standing on a foundation of truth, science not selling. “Men who refuse to change their thinking is like standing water breeding reptiles of the mind.” – William Blake

- Safety of bioidentical hormones for post-menopausal women 65+

Resources:

- Kenna’s current research: The Dream Study – Calling All Women 50+!  I have funding from the Dream Science Foundation to study dreams & sleep in postmenopausal women aged 50+ - if interested in participation please send an email to www.doctorkenna.com

- Dr. Zava’s published research: https://www.zrtlab.com/research/published-articles/ Ongoing, collaborative research projects include but not limited to: Brain Health, Autism, ADD, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), etc. www.zrtlab.com

- The CHOIICE Study: effects of compounded bioidentical transdermal hormone therapy on hemostatic, inflammatory, immune factors; cardiovascular biomarkers; quality-of-life measures; and health outcomes in perimenopausal & postmenopausal women. Kenna Stephenson , Pierre F Neuenschwander, Anna K Kurdowska

- Addressing the Missing Links in Cardiovascular Aging Elliot Dinetz, Claudia Zeballos-Palacios, Claudia A Martinez Dove Press 

"Percutaneous progesterone delivery via cream or gel application in postmenopausal women: Du JY, Sanchez P, Kim L, Azen CG, Zava DT, Stanczyk FZ. Menopause 2013; 20(11):1169-1175. See article abstract

- What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer, How Hormone Balance Can Help Save Your Life -Dr. John Lee, M.D., David Zava, Ph.D.

- Awakening Athena & The Gospel of Women’s Health -Kenna Stevenson, M.D.

Connect w/ Kyle & Candace:

Candace Burch:

YourHormoneBalance.com

[email protected]

Kyle McAvoy:

[email protected]

Join your hosts, Kyle McAvoy, N.P. and Candace Burch, Health Educator, as we sit down with the founder of the women’s fashion company Argentwork. Back in 2015, Sali was working in the world of hi-tech when she came across an article that stated that women, more than men, were judged on their appearance. At that time, men were wearing hoodies and tee shirts and moving up in their companies while women in the same field were struggling with how to get the same recognition.

This was just the catalyst that Sali needed to quit her job and create an apparel company designed for women to build confidence as they dressed for work, as well as gender equity in many types of work environments.

From their website:

Attitude, Meet Ambition

Through confident clothes and an inspiring community, Argent is creating a movement that’s all about self expression in and out of the workplace, versatility as a power move, and radical equality when it comes to paychecks, pockets, and everything in between.

We all face challenges in our everyday lives and as women, we know we still have a ways to go in the workplace in terms of recognition and financial compensation. Listen in as Sali describes her own journey as a young professional woman and mother. She started her company before the COVID pandemic and faced multiple challenges as she and her team navigated their way through this unexpected obstacle. Despite her role as CEO and mother of two children, she has maintained her focus on staying balanced. Consistent exercise and finding time for pauses are two of her key strategies in this area.

Her goal is to help other women learn how to use fashion in a way that helps them feel powerful and confident in all kinds of situations. With a focus on fit, high quality fabrics, functionality and sustainability, Argentwork is working to create a community of like-minded women who can support one another.

Sali also shared a powerful collaboration with Supermajority and their iconic Hot Pink Suits, a campaign reminding women that we are the super majority and highlighting the importance of voting. You can read more about it in The New York Times. 

CONNECT WITH SALI:

Presently, the best way to learn more is through their website: ww.argentwork.com. They offer stylists as well as consignment to help you find your personal style. Use the code WTF15 for a 15% discount!

There are 3 brick and mortar stores as well: 2 in NYC and one in DC. Stay tuned for more possibilities by following them on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok.

Connect with Kyle & Candace:

Candace Burch:

YourHormoneBalance.com 

[email protected] 

Kyle McAvoy:

[email protected]