Sex and desire can change in midlife in ways that feel sudden, personal, and isolating. We wanted to pull this topic out of the shadows and put real language around what is actually happening in your body, your brain, and your life. Our guest, Dr. Sarah Berg, is a board-certified OBGYN and certified menopause practitioner known for a direct, honest approach, and she helps us replace shame with clarity.

We dig into why menopause libido changes are rarely “just hormones.” Dr. Berg breaks down the biology that can make sex uncomfortable including vaginal dryness, tissue changes, pH shifts, and urinary symptoms that raise UTI risk or create fear of leakage. We define genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) in plain terms, explain why it affects the vulva, vagina, urethra, and bladder, and talk through how painful sex can create a lasting pain-tension cycle that takes time to unwind. You will also hear why pelvic floor physical therapy can be a game changer for both function and pleasure, and what to expect if you book an evaluation.

We also get practical about treatment options and expectations. Dr. Berg explains where vaginal estrogen fits, why it is different from systemic hormone therapy, and why it matters for comfort and UTI prevention. We cover testosterone as a possible tool for carefully selected cases, plus the real first step many women skip: bringing it up with your clinician and asking for time to address sexual health properly. If you are carrying the mental load, running on no sleep, or caring for everyone but yourself, we talk about that too because desire does not thrive in survival mode.

Dr. Sarah Berg is a board-certified OB-GYN and Certified Menopause Practitioner who spent over a decade caring for women across all life stages. After seeing too many women feel dismissed or confused in midlife, she made it her mission to change that through education.

She is the founder of Selfority, a science-based women’s health education platform designed to make menopause information accessible, engaging, and empowering. Dr. Berg writes for Katie Couric Media, Parents.com, and Unbiased Science, and is a national speaker known for her honest, direct, and slightly “spicy” approach to women’s health.

Her work helps women better understand their bodies, advocate for their care, and feel confident navigating the menopause transition.

Website: https://www.selfority.com/

Let’s Talk Menopause Menoposium/ Boston: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-menopause-live-boston-ma-tickets

www.letstalkmenopause.org

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Menopause can feel like you woke up in a different brain, but what if the real story is that your brain has always worked this way and hormones are simply turning up the volume? We sit down with leadership coach and R.E.A.L Women founder Chellie Adler to talk about the often-missed link between perimenopause, menopause, and neurodivergence, especially ADHD in women and autism in women who were never identified in childhood.

We dig into what happens when estrogen shifts disrupt dopamine regulation and executive functioning, why your carefully built “scaffolding” of coping tools can suddenly collapse, and how that can show up as distractibility, emotional reactivity, sensory overload, and the infamous string of “side quests” that derails the day. Chellie also explains why many women finally recognize the pattern when their kids get evaluated, and how to think about screening tools like the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) as a starting point rather than a diagnosis.

From there, we zoom out to the workplace: masking fatigue, burnout, and why so many experienced midlife women leave roles they’re actually great at. We talk practical supports for individuals (qualified evaluation, therapy with ADHD/autism training, medication options, executive function support, and how hormone therapy may help some women) and concrete accommodations employers can make, from lighting and temperature to benefits and culture.

If this conversation hits home, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review so more women can find the support and language they’ve been missing. What’s one change that would make your workday easier right now?

Chellie is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who specializes in supporting women navigating ADHD and AuDHD, particularly those who have spent years feeling overlooked or misunderstood while appearing “fine” on the outside. Her work focuses on helping women better understand their brains through a neurodivergent-affirming lens so they feel validated, empowered, and supported.

At Everlasting Wellness LLC, Chellie provides ADHD assessments and therapy using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach. She integrates cognitive behavioral therapy, executive functioning skill-building, and practical strategies to help clients manage anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, and major life transitions.

Earlier in her career, Chellie worked across multiple areas of human services in New York, including at-risk youth, geriatric mental health, community colleges, and DOJ/OMH collaborations. Today, she is especially passionate about helping high-achieving individuals who carry significant responsibilities yet feel stretched thin find clarity, resilience, and sustainable ways to thrive.

Website: https://www.kristinswansonconsulting.com/

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Silence around menopause helps no one—especially when cancer or surgery fast‑forwards the transition. We sit down with mindset and executive coach Kristin Swanson, a breast cancer survivor who navigated surgical menopause, to explore how data, values, and intuition can coexist when the path ahead is anything but clear. Kristin walks us through the moment she chose a double mastectomy, the journaling prompt that cut through fear, and the relief of hearing a surgeon say her choice aligned with what the pathology later proved.

From there, we open up the realities of surgical menopause: the symptoms no one warned about, the lonely middle ground for survivors who can’t use standard HRT, and the practical ways to build a care team that actually fits your life. Kristin shares how she balanced oncology with functional medicine, therapy, and coaching; why “speaking the words” changes your energy; and how to move forward with one small, safe, doable step—sleep first, then stack other habits. We also talk about reducing overwhelm, reframing the inner critic, and using community in unexpected places to find answers faster.

Throughout, a simple idea threads everything together: trust yourself. Not as a substitute for evidence, but as the compass that helps you weigh tradeoffs, ask better questions, and decide what kind of story you want to live. If you’ve felt dismissed, stuck, or scared to switch doctors, this conversation gives you language, tools, and permission to advocate for what you need. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the one step you’re taking next—we’d love to hear how you’re turning a whisper into action.

Kristin Swanson helps female founders finish the Soul Led Projects they are afraid to say out loud. As a coach for entrepreneurs and a former executive, she blends practical strategies with mindset work to overcome resistance and follow through - consistently. As a breast cancer survivor, Kristin learned the importance of getting out of her own way and stop the habit of waiting until "someday" to make a unique impact. Realizing deeply that "you only live once," she gained the perspective needed to see through the illusions fear creates. She coaches founders to overcome overwhelm and inner hesitation to finish those soul-led goals.

Website: https://www.kristinswansonconsulting.com/

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

What if the thing you’re chasing isn’t ahead of you, but within you? We sit down with Harper A. Bailey—public health leader and author of the memoir “It Was Her”—to unpack how grief can become a teacher, how creativity can act as medicine, and why midlife refuses to let us ignore our truth. From family health inequities that drew her to public health, to the dream that showed she was running from a younger self, Harper shares the moments that cracked her open and invited her to finally listen.

Harper’s story bridges systems and self. She explains how the “invisible” work of public health—prevention, policy, community voice—mirrors the inner work many of us avoid. A gifted diary at nine began a lifelong journaling practice, carrying her through the loss of her mother, a staycation that birthed her book outline, and the decision to write from the scar rather than the wound. We explore the “treasure chest” where she stored pain, the myth that high achievement equals healing, and the revelation that not doing the work is also hard.

The conversation reaches into family, identity, and forgiveness. Harper describes softening toward her father through the lens of mental health and substance use, finding new ways to connect without erasing the past. She offers a freeing reframe—wholeness is our birthright—and challenges the belief that healing belongs to other people. Art, music, movement, and honest words become practical tools that regulate, connect, and transform. If you’ve ever felt stuck on the next mountain, this is a map back to yourself.

Listen for grounded insights on grief, midlife clarity, advocacy, and courageous asking. Then share it with a friend who needs the reminder that they are worthy of the work—and of the joy on the other side. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what truth are you ready to name?

Harper A. Bailey is the pen name of Tiosha Bailey, a Chicago native, public health leader, and powerful storyteller who challenges the status quo. She was the first Black woman to lead a prominent national women's healthcare nonprofit, where she prioritized health equity and amplified the voices of underserved communities.

Her first book, It Was Her: A Memoir—featuring a foreword by renowned motivational speaker Lisa Nichols—invites readers into a deeply personal story shaped by loss, resilience, and transformation. Through honest and compelling storytelling, Harper explores identity, healing, and the courage it takes to reclaim your narrative.

As a speaker, Harper brings clarity, depth, and humor to conversations about leadership, purpose, and the lived experiences of Black women. She connects with audiences through truth-telling and a passion for creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered.

Website: https://www.harperabailey.com/

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

What if the missing piece in your health story isn’t willpower, it’s evidence and language? We welcome award-winning journalist Meghan Rabbitt, author of The New Rules of Women’s Health, for a candid, practical, and uplifting tour of the health span—from puberty and pelvic pain to perimenopause, hormone therapy, and post-menopause strength. Together, we unpack why “women aren’t small men” is more than a slogan; it’s a research mandate that changes diagnostics, dosing, and daily care.

Meghan shares how a lifetime of “tough it out” messaging trains many of us to rationalize symptoms and aim for an A+ at the doctor’s office, even when we’re suffering. Her own turning point—dismissing heavy bleeding until an ultrasound revealed fibroids—leads to a clear playbook for self-advocacy: track symptoms, ask direct questions, understand options, and choose clinicians who speak fluent menopause and practice shared decision-making. We get specific about hormone therapy and why timing, route, and personal risk matter more than recycled fear, plus how to navigate the social-media swirl without falling for bad advice.

The conversation also moves beyond the clinic to culture and work. We talk openly about clitoral anatomy, vaginal estrogen, dense breasts, and the joy of breaking taboos in public spaces, because daylight accelerates change. Then we take on the workplace, where menopause support still lags in policies and empathy. Simple steps—manager training, cool quiet spaces, flexible scheduling, and benefits that cover evidence-based care—can keep experienced talent thriving.

Meghan’s book functions like a narrative reference you can return to for credible, actionable guidance. Share chapters with partners and teens to build a common language around tests, choices, and emotions. If you’re ready to replace confusion with clarity and judgment with wonder, this conversation offers tools you can use today. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more women find evidence-based support. Your story deserves respect—and great care.

Meghan Rabbitt is an award-winning journalist and author of The New Rules of Women’s Health: Your Guide to Thriving at Every Age. She specializes in writing about women’s health and wellness, and her work has appeared in many national publications, including Women’s Health, Oprah Daily, Prevention, Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, and more. She’s known for translating complex medical and scientific topics into clear, actionable information—and for telling stories that help readers better understand their bodies, their health, and themselves.

Website: https://newrulesofwomenshealth.com/

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The quiet hours can change a life. We sit down with author and artist Laing Rikkers to trace how dawn writing, long walks, and a sudden loss opened a doorway from grief to growth—and how nature’s language can help you name what’s changing in midlife. Laing’s book, Morning Leaves, began as private morning pages for her children during lockdown and grew into a vivid map of becoming: palms bent by relentless wind, a black-eyed Susan fighting through concrete, a cactus guarding a soft core. These images mirror the real work many of us face now—shedding old identities, listening more closely, and choosing what truly matters when the noise falls away.

We talk about the awkward courage of trying on a new self when your past role still fits others’ expectations. After years in private equity, sharing poems and botanical art felt risky, but encouragement, a wise publisher, and a steady trail of “breadcrumbs” kept her moving. Lang reframes grief as a practice that can lead to joy—not sparkly happiness, but a grounded alignment with values and integrity. The second edition of Morning Leaves expands the lens beyond bereavement to cultural and environmental loss, adds new art and a poem, and includes an epilogue reflecting on five years of transformation.

Along the way, we lean into simple practices that make space for clarity: morning pages before the inner critic wakes up, walking in nature until an image meets your mood, and following small curiosities back to play. We also explore service as a source of meaning—supporting food security and end-of-life caregivers—and how radical self-care sustains expression and impact. If midlife feels like a cliff edge, consider this your nudge: crack the concrete, grow wild, bloom bright, and listen carefully. Press play, share this with a friend who needs courage today, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.

Laing Rikkers is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and executive coach whose personal journey through grief inspired her book Morning Leaves (Red Hen Press), now in its second edition. Drawing on creativity, nature, and simple daily rituals, Laing offers a practical and

compassionate guide to navigating grief and life’s many transitions. Whether facing personal loss, burnout, or major change, her heartfelt insights and actionable tools help people find resilience, meaning, and joy—even in the darkest seasons.

Website: www.laingrikkers.com

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

What if menopause isn’t the end of something—but the beginning of your clearest, most powerful self? We sit down with Dr. Mindy Pelz—best-selling author of Age Like a Girl—to explore how declining estrogen rewires the brain and why that shift can upgrade focus, confidence, and purpose. Instead of treating symptoms like flaws, Mindy shows how depression, rage, anxiety, and brain fog are signals pointing to a life that needs new boundaries, better fuel, and deeper connection.

We unpack estrogen’s “girl gang” of neurochemicals—dopamine, serotonin, GABA, oxytocin, melatonin, BDNF—and what to do as they dip. Expect practical, doable tools: short daily fasts (13–15 hours) to feed your brain ketones and clear mental fog, novelty and learning to revive dopamine, sleep rhythms to support calm, and community that actually feels nourishing. Mindy shares her own story of stepping away to rebuild from a mental health crash, and how choosing herself ended people pleasing and restored her energy.

We also dig into the grandmother hypothesis and how post-reproductive women historically powered survival with leadership, stamina, and social cohesion. That evolutionary lens flips the script on ageism: a post-menopausal brain is built for focus and mentorship. One billion women are moving through this stage right now—imagine the cultural change if more of us claimed that power. You’ll leave with a new frame for symptoms, a plan for your next chapter, and permission to ask, without apology: What do I want?

If this conversation sparks something, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Tell us: what will you stop saying yes to so you can say yes to yourself?

Dr. Mindy Pelz is a New York Times bestselling author, visionary educator, and trailblazer in the field of women’s health and hormone science. With over two decades of experience, she’s built a global movement to help women understand the power of their bodies at every stage of life. Her bestselling books, including Fast Like a Girl, The Menopause Reset, and her newest release Eat Like a Girl, have helped millions of women use fasting, nutrition, and lifestyle shifts to balance hormones, boost energy, and take back control of their health.

Her upcoming book, Age Like a Girl, redefines what it means to grow older as a woman. Rooted in the latest science and rich in personal story, the book challenges outdated narratives about menopause and aging offering instead a roadmap for awakening. Dr. Mindy shows women how to use the neurochemical shifts of midlife as a launchpad for purpose, leadership, and bold reinvention.

Dr. Mindy’s Resetter Podcast consistently ranks among Apple’s top U.S. science shows, withguests ranging from LeAnn Rimes and Rachel Hollis to Dr. Rangan Chatterjee. Her YouTube channel has surpassed 110 million views, and her teachings have reached hundreds of thousands through workshops, online programs, and live events.

She holds a Doctorate of Chiropractic and a background in functional nutrition, and she brings both science and heart to everything she does. Based in San Jose, CA, she leads a team committed to helping women worldwide become the healthiest, most powerful version of themselves. Dr. Mindy believes this is not the time for women to get quieter, it’s the time to get stronger, clearer, and more connected to who they truly are. Aging isn’t a decline. It’s an evolution.

Website: https://www.drmindypelz.com/

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, ra

Tired of hearing that retirement means retreat? We sit down with Lustre co-founders Erica Baird and Karen Wagner to flip that script and show how midlife can be a launchpad for purpose, community, and power. They walked away from high-profile careers, hit the same identity shock so many of us feel, and built a modern space where women design what comes next with confidence and style.

We dig into the big shifts that happen when the calendar clears and the title disappears, and why a yes-first mindset can turn uncertainty into momentum. Erica and Karen share a practical framework to treat reinvention like real work: audit what lit you up, map the skills you still want to use, and craft a plan that fits a 20 to 30 year runway. We talk about building community on purpose, especially for introverts who want depth over noise, and we offer simple scripts to answer “What are you doing now?” with clarity and pride.

Ageism shows up in subtle and loud ways, so we name it and counter it with visibility, advocacy, and action. You’ll hear how Lustre’s platform connects thousands of women through thoughtful content, interactive expert sessions on health, money, and longevity, a weekly news briefing, and a member directory that sparks real-world meetups. The stories will move you: a marketer who returned to playwriting and made it to Broadway, a finance executive who chased a lifelong dream to fly and now circles the globe.

If you’ve been standing in that cold hallway between what ended and what’s next, this conversation hands you the handle: say yes, find your people, and let purpose steer the next chapter. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this reframe, and leave a review to help more women retire with attitude.

Erica Baird is a retired lawyer with a career spanning four decades. She was the first woman partner in the General Counsel’s Office of her then Big 6 accounting firm, working in the US and abroad on some of the major financial issues of the day. Erica is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and New York University School of Law. Erica has a daughter and lives with her husband in New York City.

Karen E. Wagner was the first woman litigation partner at her global law firm in New York City. She practiced law for forty years, litigating cases involving domestic and international debt, sovereign rights and insolvency. After she retired, she co-founded Lustre, a platform advocating for retired professional women. Karen graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and New York University School of Law. Karen is married, has two wonderful children and lives in New York with her husband.

Website: https://lustre.net

MiDOViA LINKS:

Website: https://www.midovia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/midovia
Email Us: info@midovia.com

MiDOViA is dedicated to changing the narrative about menopause by educating, raising awareness & supporting women in this stage of life, both at home and in the workplace. Visit midovia.com to learn more.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images & other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.