The Sex You Want: Hormones, Communication & Female Agency with Dr. Maria Sophocles
Dr. Maria Sophocles examines the “bedroom gap,” the disparity in sexual expectations and challenges between men and women in midlife. In this episode, she explains how menopausal hormonal changes, together with psychological and cultural pressures, affect women’s sexual agency. Many women internalize norms that prioritize a partner’s needs over their own, leading to shame about reduced libido. This conversation is a call to action for women to prioritize their sexual health and engage in honest dialogue to support healthier, more fulfilling relationships.Episode Overview (timestamps are approximate):(0:00) Intro/Teaser(5:00) The Bedroom Gap(10:00) Hormones & The Neiman Marcus to IKEA Transition(14:00) Systemic Estrogen vs. Vaginal & The Cancer Fear(23:00) Hormone Therapy & The Healthy User Bias(26:00) Non-Hormonal Options(32:00) Sex After a Heart Attack(40:00) Sex Span as Health Span(42:00) Why Women Think Sex Is For Men(49:00) Where to Learn About Sex(55:00) How to Talk to Your Partner(1:10:00) Redefining Sex at Any Age(1:13:00) After Party with Dr. StephanieResources mentioned can be found at https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep456We couldn’t do it without our sponsors:KENETIK - You think carefully about how you fuel your body but are you fueling your brain? Learn more about Kenetik and try it for yourself by going to https://drinkkenetik.com/BETTER and use code BETTER for 15% off your purchase.MUSE - Train your nervous system with feedback, the same way you’d train muscles with resistance. If you are ready to unlock your brain's potential, go to https://choosemuse.com/BETTER or use code BETTER at checkout to get started.COZY EARTH - Cozy Earth helps you feel better by keeping your temperature perfect overnight to facilitate deep restorative sleep. Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BETTER for up to 20% off.PIQUE LIFE - If you want to redefine your evening ritual and still feel like yourself the next day, you can get 10% off for life. Yes, for life at https://piquelife.com/better ****************************P.S. When you're ready, here are two ways Dr. Stephanie can help you:Subscribe: The Mini Pause — My weekly newsletter packed with the most actionable, evidence-based tools for women 40+ to thrive in midlife.Build Muscle: LIFT — My progressive strength training program designed for women in midlife. Form-focused, joint-friendly, and built for real results. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Breast Health Masterclass: Pain, Lumps & Cancer Screening with Dr. Ebuoma
Ready for the breast health conversation nobody's having? Harvard-trained breast radiologist Dr. Lilian Ebuoma gives a masterclass that covers everything from why your daughter might be developing breast buds at 7 (spoiler: it's not just you) to the real deal on mammograms, dense breasts, and that one lifestyle change that drops breast cancer risk by 25%. Whether you're navigating perimenopause, worried about lumps, confused about nipple discharge colours (yes, there's a rainbow), or just want to understand your breasts better—this episode gives you the knowledge and confidence to advocate for yourself. Plus, Dr. Lilian shares the one question that transforms patient care and builds trust across cultural divides. If you own breasts or care about someone who does, press play. Episode Overview (timestamps are approximate): (0:00) Intro/Teaser (4:00) Breast Development (12:00) Breast Pain: Cyclical vs Non-Cyclical (16:00) Lumps & Self-Exams (27:00) Nipple Discharge (33:00) Mastitis (38:00) Dense Breasts & Mammography Myths (41:00) Compression, Radiation & Mammograms (54:00) Lifestyle as Prevention (58:00) Finding Joy in Movement (1:05:00) Building Trust Across Cultural Divides (1:09:00) “What Are You Afraid Of?” (1:11:00) The After-Party with Dr. Stephanie Resources mentioned in this episode can be found at: https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep455 We couldn’t do it without our sponsors BON CHARGE - Achieve glowing skin, gain more energy, and uplevel your recovery practice with a suite of red light products. Get 15% off at https://boncharge.com/better with code BETTER. JUST THRIVE HEALTH - Take the Just Thrive FEEL BETTER challenge today, and save 20% on your first order. Go to https://justthrivehealth.com/better and use the code BETTER to see the difference for yourself or get a full product refund, no questions asked. TIMELINE - As perimenopausal women, we know we are in a fight against time to preserve our muscle strength and endurance, plus our recovery needs are greater. That's why you save 20% at https://timelinenutrition.com/better with code BETTER. COZY EARTH - Cozy Earth helps you feel better by keeping your temperature perfect overnight to facilitate deep restorative sleep. Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BETTER for up to 20% off. AG1 - Subscribe today to get a 1-month supply of AG Omega-3 with your first AG1 order! You’ll also get their Welcome Kit with everything you need to get you started. Get it now at https://drinkag1.com/stephanie. ****************************P.S. When you're ready, here are two ways Dr. Stephanie can help you:Subscribe: The Mini Pause — My weekly newsletter packed with the most actionable, evidence-based tools for women 40+ to thrive in midlife.Build Muscle: LIFT — My progressive strength training program designed for women in midlife. Form-focused, joint-friendly, and built for real results. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Bone Loss Confusion Explained (& How to Repair Weak Bones) with Dr. Doug Lucas
Dr. Doug Lucas, a double board-certified orthopedic surgeon and osteoporosis specialist, who dives into the secrets of maintaining optimal bone health. In this episode, you will discover why bone health is vital for women of all ages and learn actionable tips to build and maintain strong bones from your teens to your golden years. Brace yourself for intriguing insights, such as the surprising benefits of prunes as an independent intervention for osteoporosis! This episode is a comprehensive guide to nurturing your bones through diet, exercise, and hormonal balance.Episode Overview [Timestamps are approximate]:(0:00) Introduction(4:00) Why Women Get Osteoporosis in Their 40s(11:00) The Chronic Dieting Problem & Under-Eating Epidemic(17:00) Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & Bone Density(23:00) Hormones Explained(34:00) Nutrition for Bone Health(43:00) The Boron Secret & Prunes for Bone Density(47:00) Exercise That Hurts Your Bones(55:00) How to Lift Weights for Bone Health(1:04:00) Weighted Vests, GLP-1s & Bone Medications(1:23:00) The After-Party with Dr. StephanieResources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep454We couldn’t do it without our sponsors:TROSCRIPTIONS - There’s a completely new way to optimize your health. Give it a try at https://troscriptions.com/BETTER or enter BETTER at checkout for 10% off your first order.PIQUE LIFE - If you want to redefine your evening ritual and still feel like yourself the next day, you can get 10% off for life. Yes, for life at https://piquelife.com/betterYOUNG GOOSE - Youth Serum & Youth Moisturizer from Young Goose is designed to support NAD⁺-dependent cellular pathways in the skin. Go to https://younggoose.com/better and use code BETTER for 10% off your first purchaseLIFT - If you want muscle for longevity, clarity, and confidence—come LIFT with me. Head over to https://drstephanieestima.com/lift and join today.QUALIA NAD+ - Boost energy, DNA health, and cellular protection. Save 15% at https://qualialife.com/better with code BETTER. ****************************P.S. When you're ready, here are two ways Dr. Stephanie can help you:Subscribe: The Mini Pause — My weekly newsletter packed with the most actionable, evidence-based tools for women 40+ to thrive in midlife.Build Muscle: LIFT — My progressive strength training program designed for women in midlife. Form-focused, joint-friendly, and built for real results. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Menopause is a Hormone Deficiency (And You Deserve Better) with Dr. Felice Gersh
"Estrogen is not a hormone; it's a family of hormones,” says Dr. Felice Gersh. “You can't say fat does this or fat does that—you have to say which fat. The same with estrogen.” That’s right, she is back to challenge the conventional "lowest dose for the shortest time" approach to menopausal hormone therapy, explore why menopause creates a default pro-inflammatory state, how different estrogens activate different receptors, and why understanding these distinctions matters for cardiovascular health, bone density, brain function, immune response, and metabolic health.Episode Overview (timestamps are approximate):(0:00) Intro/Teaser(2:00) Welcome to an Estrogen Masterclass(6:00) The Estrogen Family: E1, E2, E3, E4 Explained(15:00) Alpha vs. Beta Receptors & Why It Matters(27:00) Menopause, Inflammation & Gut Health(33:00) Menopause as a Hormone Deficiency State(45:00) Why the Women’s Health Initiative Got It Wrong(59:00) When to Start Hormone Therapy (Age 35?)(1:13:00) Bioidentical vs. Synthetic Hormones(1:22:00) Vaginal Estrogen: Canary in the Coal Mine(1:32:00) BiEst & Topical Estrogen for Skin(1:40:00) After Party: Dr. Stephanie’s TakeawaysResources mentioned in this episode can be found at: https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep453We are grateful to our sponsors:KENETIK - You think carefully about how you fuel your body but are you fueling your brain? Learn more about Kenetik and try it for yourself by going to https://drinkkenetik.com/BETTER and use code BETTER for 15% off your purchase.TIMELINE - A new year means a new gym membership - but you can’t out-train low energy; it starts deeper than that. So grab 35% off your one-month subscription of Mitopure Gummies at https://Timeline.com/BETTER35 while the offer lasts.BIOPTIMIZERS - Your digestion can take a hit in midlife, but you don't have to suffer. Learn how enzymes can help at https://bioptimizers.com/better and use code BETTER to get 10% off your order.ONESKIN - Harness the power of peptides for fuller hair and glowing skin. Save 15% at https://oneskin.co/better with code BETTER. ****************************P.S. When you're ready, here are two ways Dr. Stephanie can help you:Subscribe: The Mini Pause — My weekly newsletter packed with the most actionable, evidence-based tools for women 40+ to thrive in midlife.Build Muscle: LIFT — My progressive strength training program designed for women in midlife. Form-focused, joint-friendly, and built for real results. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Heart Disease, Autoimmunity, & the Clitoris: What Medicine Got Wrong with Meghan Rabbitt
Award-winning health journalist Meghan Rabbitt discusses her groundbreaking book, "The New Rules of Women's Health.” This conversation tackles what's broken in women's healthcare—from outdated anatomical terminology named after "pale, male, and stale" doctors to the dangerous myth that women are just "small men." They explore why heart disease (not breast cancer) is women's #1 killer, the clitoris as more than just a "button," autoimmune disease surges in midlife, and why menopause deserves better PR.Episode Overview (timestamps are approximate):(0:00) Cold Open: What’s Broken in Women’s Health(4:00) The Problem with “Bikini Medicine”(7:00) Why Language Matters: Renaming Our Body Parts(13:00) The Cow Clitoris Scandal & Female Anatomy(22:00) Heart Disease: Women’s Real #1 Killer(27:00) Autoimmune Disease Surge in Midlife(34:00) Normalizing Suffering(42:00) How to Use This Book with Your Doctor(47:00) The Upsides of Menopause(51:00) After Party: Dr. Stephanie’s Final ThoughtsResources mentioned in this episode can be found at https://drstephanieestima.com/podcasts/ep452We couldn’t do it without our sponsors:JUST THRIVE HEALTH - Take the Just Thrive FEEL BETTER challenge today, and save 20% on your first order. Go to https://justthrivehealth.com/better and use the code BETTER to see the difference for yourself or get a full product refund, no questions asked.MIMIO - You can get cellular renewal, anti-inflammatory effects, and longevity benefits while STILL eating enough protein, lifting heavy, and not tanking your hormones. Go to https://mimiohealth.com/better and use code ESTIMA at checkout to save 20% on your first order of Mimio Biomimetic Cell Care.PIQUE - Designed to deeply hydrate, enhance skin elasticity & firmness and support sustained energy—exactly what we need during this stage of life. Start your daily ritual today with 20% off for life—plus a free gift to elevate your routine. Head to https://piquelife.com/drestima.TIMELINE - A new year means a new gym membership - but you can’t out-train low energy; it starts deeper than that. So grab 35% off your one-month subscription of Mitopure Gummies at https://Timeline.com/BETTER35 while the offer lasts. ****************************P.S. When you're ready, here are two ways Dr. Stephanie can help you:Subscribe: The Mini Pause — My weekly newsletter packed with the most actionable, evidence-based tools for women 40+ to thrive in midlife.Build Muscle: LIFT — My progressive strength training program designed for women in midlife. Form-focused, joint-friendly, and built for real results. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.