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Welcome to The Menopause Disruptor Podcast, I’m your host, Mary Lee, a compassionate Menopause Doula and Licensed Menopause Champion in partnership with The Menopause Expert Group.
My mission is to challenge outdated narratives around menopause. The menopausal transition is a natural phase of life that deserves to be embraced, not stigmatized.
Reflecting on my own encounters with the lack gap in female hormonal health and leaning in on my experience in science communication and public relations practitioner, I decided the time is now to rewrite the script and bring truth and reliable resources to the forefront.
In each episode, I tackle taboo topics and disrupt the status quo on how we think, act, and treat menopause - peri to post. Join me in these informative conversations, either alone or with credible guest experts, as I dive into real, raw, and relatable discussions surrounding the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of aging.
It’s time to reclaim our voices and advocate for our health with confidence.
Midlife should be the best life, and it will be!
100 Episodes
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Today, we delve into the critical topic of sleep during perimenopause and menopause with Dr. Carleara Weiss, a renowned sleep scientist and advisor for Aeroflow Sleep. Dr. Weiss, who hold a PhD and Master's of Science and Nursing, and a nationally recognized sleep scientist, discusses the significant impact of hormonal changes on women’s sleep patterns. She emphasises how sleep apnea, often underdiagnosed in women, affects overall health, including increasing risks for cardiovascular disease,...
Today, we welcome Dana Culp, a doctor of nursing practice, founder of Thrive Midlife Medicine, and a certified menopause expert, for a candid and empowering conversation about navigating the complexities of perimenopause and menopause. Dana shares her personal journey from critical care medicine to becoming a passionate advocate for women’s midlife health after her own symptoms were repeatedly dismissed by healthcare providers. Dana explains the foundational pillars of midlife wellness and sh...
In this episode, Mary sits down with Colette Courtion, CEO and founder of Joylux, to explore one of the most overlooked—and misunderstood—parts of the menopause journey: intimate wellness. They unpack the persistent menopause knowledge gap in healthcare, where many primary care providers receive minimal formal training in menopause, leaving women dismissed or told their symptoms are simply something to endure. Colette shares how her rapid transition from motherhood to menopause exposed this g...
In this episode, Mary sits down with a young visionary entrepreneur Chelsea Jambo. She is the CEO and Founder of OURBody, a Canadian wellness brand built on a mission to make hormone support taste great, work gently, and fit real life. Chelsea has created an organic herbal blend of teas uniquely crafted to bring comfort and support to women through various hormonal phases. Her entreprenurial journey was ignited by a personal experience of medical dismissal and gaslighting. She rev...
In this episode, Mary sits down with Jennifer Gularson, certified physician assistant and functional medicine practitioner, to explore what women truly need during midlife—and why the current healthcare system often falls short. Together, they unpack hormone therapy across the lifespan, including estrogen, progesterone, and the often-overlooked role of testosterone for women, as well as the growing use of peptides and GLP-1 agonists for weight management. Jennifer explains why symptom-based c...
In this episode, Mary delves into the nuances of exercise for women during menopause and perimenopause. Mary discusses the physiology of exercise she learned as a student of Dr. Stacy Sims (Menopause 2.0), emphasizing the importance of both heavy lifting and high volume workouts for muscle growth, metabolic health, and overall resilience. This episode covers why and how exercise should be adapted for midlife bodies, examining the benefits and differences between high intensity and...
In this solo podcast episode, Mary closes out 2025 and welcomes in 2026 through reflections on numerology and Chinese astrology. This final episode of the year offers another guided meditation in the Goddess Series. Highlighting the significance of the universal year one and the year of the horse, the episode encourages women to reflect on their past nine years, trust their instincts, and embrace new beginnings with courage and wisdom. The guided meditation focuses on integrating body wisdom ...
Today's episode features Dr. Sara Tariq, an internal medicine physician at Northern Virginia Family Practice with over two decades of clinical experience. Dr. Tariq is a dedicated advocate for systemic transformation within healthcare, passionately addressing inequities and fostering cultural shifts through relationship-centered care. Dr. Tariq discusses the challenges of navigating midlife weight gain, body image, and the stories behind our eating habits. She shares her countless experiences...
In this episode, host Mary breaks down the misconception that menopause is merely about hot flashes and mood swings, and emphasizes the importance of bone, brain, and heart health during this life phase. The role of estrogen goes far beyond reproductive health, and its decline can have serious physiological impacts if left unchecked. Drawing on insights from prominent researchers and authors such as Dr. Lisa Mosconi, Dr. Avrum Bluming, and Dr. Stacy Sims, this episode explores strategies incl...
In this episode, Mary is joined by Sarah Ham, a Mammography Supervisor, Medical Radiography Technologist, and Yoga Teacher with more than two decades of experience in women’s breast health. Originally from the Comox Valley, Sarah moved to Burnaby after high school to attend the Medical Radiography Technology program at BCIT, graduating in 1999. She went on to gain extensive clinical experience at Burnaby Hospital, Brooke Radiology, and Mount St. Joseph Hospital, where she completed her specia...
In this episode, Mary welcomes Hannah Hembree Bell, an award-winning Austin family law attorney, mom of four, and founder and CEO of one of the fastest-growing family law firms in the United States, Hembree Bell Law. Hannah shares her deeply personal journey of losing custody and financial ground in her own divorce. She transformed those hard-won lessons into a national community helping women prepare wisely for one of life's most disruptive transitions. Hannah delivers raw, practical wisdom ...
In this episode, Mary is joined by Katie Beecher, a medical and spiritual intuitive, licensed professional counselor, and internationally recognized healer whose transformative work bridges science, intuition, and lived experience. Katie shares her powerful journey from battling a life-threatening eating disorder at age 16 to becoming a celebrated healer with over 35 years of experience. The conversation explores how she discovered her unique gift of creating detailed intuitive readings and s...
In this groundbreaking episode of the Menopause Disruptor Podcast, host Mary Lee welcomes Dr. Betsy Greenleaf—the first woman in the United States to become board certified in urogynecology. Triple board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, and procedural medicine and aesthetics, Dr. Greenleaf is a true pioneer challenging outdated narratives in women's health. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Greenleaf shares her journey from studyin...
In this Season 3 kick-off, Mary sits down with Elizabeth Katzman, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN) and founder of Strong Choices, to unpack the long-term impact of birth control on women’s health, the concept of “the pill hangover,” and holistic strategies for thriving through perimenopause and menopause. Elizabeth shares her personal journey from attorney to FDN, and how her own family’s health challenges led her to question conventional wisdom around women’s health, antibi...
Season 2 finale we kick off with a replay, a visit back to my first guest interview, the inaugral episode featuring Shannon Donahoe-Simpson. Shannon is a cancer survivor and lifelong people pleaser who embarked on a transformative journey of radical self-acceptance, self-love, and self-responsibility. Her story highlights how she connected the dots between her trauma, health, and lifelong habits to find healing. Over time, she evolved out of her past projects geared around nutrition and...
Today, we welcome Dr. Michelle Cromwell, founder of Sœur du Sol, for a deep and inspiring conversation about disrupting the menopause narrative around traditional and holistic medicine to support symptoms. Dr. Michelle is a former C-suite executive and vice president in higher education, with over 18 years of experience as a professor, administrator, and leader. She holds a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution and has taught research methods and sociology, bringing a multidisciplinar...
In this episode, Mary sits down with Dr. Amy Day, a leading naturopathic doctor specializing in perimenopausal and menopausal health. Dr. Day shares her journey into the field, her passion for empowering women with education, and her commitment to providing holistic, individualized care. Key Topics Discussed Understanding Perimenopause: Dr. Day explains the often-overlooked transition of perimenopause, highlighting the lack of education and awareness that many women face. She emphasizes the i...
In this episode of the Menopause Disruptor Podcast, host Mary delves deep into the intricate link between stress, gut health, and visceral belly fat as experienced during menopause. Mary explains how chronic stress impacts gut microbiota, inflammation, and fat storage, and highlights the gut-brain axis's role in this process. She leans into the experts in the field include Dr. Tara Swart and Dr. Stacy Sims to explain why stress and a hormone-changing woman's body responds to stress and ...
In this episode, Mary is joined by Dr. Aleece Fosnight a medical advisor at Aeroflow Urology and a board-certified physician assistant specializing in sexual medicine, women's health, and urology, who brings crucial insights about pelvic floor health and the safety of vaginal estrogen therapy. Bottom Line Up Front: Urinary incontinence is common but not normal—it's treatable at any age. Vaginal estradiol is safe and effective, with virtually no contraindications, yet misinformation continues ...
In this transformative episode, Mary is joined by Bronwyn Schweigerdt, a licensed psychotherapist and anger expert who brings a revolutionary perspective to understanding emotions during menopause. Bottom Line Up Front: Anger isn't the enemy—it's vital information that can guide you toward healing, especially during menopause when suppressed emotions from childhood resurface as your inner child demands attention and nurturing. The conversation explores how menopause symptoms may actually be y...
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