Her Time, Her Health with Dr. Jila

At 15, she's told irregular periods are normal for teenagers, at 31 it's a fertility problem, and at 45 it's just perimenopause, even though it was the same condition the entire time. Roughly one in eight women of reproductive age has PCOS, now officially renamed PMOS, and up to 70% have never been diagnosed, often because each symptom is sent to a different specialist and no one connects the dots.

I dive deeper into this in a solo episode of Her Time, Her Health, walking through what PMOS looks like in your teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond, and exactly what to ask for at each stage. I also talk about why the birth control pill can hide the diagnosis for a decade, why gestational diabetes is a warning light for your long-term metabolic health, and why your cardiometabolic risk doesn't retire when your periods stop.

If you're struggling with irregular cycles, weight that won't budge, stubborn acne or chin hair, or blood sugar that keeps creeping up, and no one has connected the dots, this episode is for you:

What's Discussed:

(1:43) Same condition, three different explanations at 15, 31, and 45.

(3:33) Why PCOS was renamed PMOS, and what each word in the new name means.

(5:27) Your teens: the cycle ranges that are not normal.

(9:23) The birth control pill question.

(12:43) Why PMOS is not caused by weight gain.

(15:18) The baseline labs to ask for in your 20s.

(15:53) Your 30s: fertility, letrozole, and why to ask for help early.

(17:42) Why gestational diabetes is a warning light.

(18:52) The uterine lining risk when periods are far apart.

(21:46) Your 40s: when perimenopause meets PMOS.

(27:19) Why PMOS doesn't end at menopause.

(32:01) Your decade-by-decade checklist.

Learn More About Dr. Jila Senemar:

Website: http://jilamd.com

Podcast: http://jilamd.com/podcast

Instagram: @drjilasenemar

YouTube: @Dr.JilaSenemar

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This week on Her Time, Her Health, I’m joined by Brooke Davis, creator of the Instagram page Marriage and Perimenopause and the Hormone-Informed Midlife Marriage course. With over 20 years in healthcare administration, Brooke translates relationship and hormone research into practical tools for couples navigating midlife.

We dig into the staggering divorce statistics tied to perimenopause, why so many long marriages hit a breaking point in midlife, and how couples can become “hormone-informed” without using biology as an excuse to dismiss what’s really going on. Brooke shares her own path — from unexplained anxiety and brain fog in her mid-40s to building a platform that’s helped thousands of couples find language for a transition no one prepared them for.

In this episode we cover:

• Why nearly 60% of divorces after 45 are initiated by women
• The patient story that reveals what’s at stake when perimenopause goes undiagnosed
• Why perimenopause doesn’t enter an “empty” marriage — it amplifies existing patterns
• The real meaning behind midlife resentment (and why it’s not just “hormones”)
• How to become a hormone-informed couple without explaining each other away
• The difference between real support and dismissive “it’s your hormones” comments
• Women’s shifting identity in midlife — and why it can feel threatening to a partner
• Can perimenopause actually strengthen a marriage?
• Renegotiating roles, intimacy, and expectations after decades together

Timestamps:
00:00 – Cold open: the divorce stat that stops people cold
01:35 – Meet Brooke Davis: Marriage and Perimenopause, her background and mission
04:42 – Brooke’s own story: unexplained anxiety, brain fog, and self-diagnosing perimenopause
06:16 – The pattern she noticed across friends: resentment, disconnection, “roommate” marriages
07:03 – Why she went beyond menopause research into relationship science
08:36 – How “Marriage and Perimenopause” came to life
09:22 – The gray divorce / menopause divorce statistic, explained
10:55 – A patient story: divorced, dismissed, and finally diagnosed
12:32 – “I wonder if this would have saved my marriage”
13:20 – Why this feels different from PMS and PMDD — the unpredictability factor
14:07 – How perimenopause changes a relationship before either partner understands why
14:54 – Why partners take the changes personally
15:39 – We don’t react to behavior — we react to the meaning we give it
16:27 – Perimenopause doesn’t enter an empty marriage: roles, patterns, and sore spots
17:15 – Showing up to midlife “wrecked”: careers, kids, aging parents, financial pressure
18:01 – Why this transition can last 5–10 years and catch women off guard
18:48 – Where midlife resentment actually comes from
19:36 – The husband’s fear: “will she ever come back?”
20:24 – Reframing the question: do I want to keep living this way?
21:10 – Why one partner feels blindsided while the other has felt it building for years
21:55 – The invisible mental load most women carry — and why partners don’t see it
22:43 – How “who’s done more” arguments miss the real issue
23:32 – A better question than “is my marriage bad?”: what is resentment telling us?
24:20 – How to support a partner without finger-pointing or blaming hormones
25:07 – Becoming a hormone-informed couple: why credible education matters
26:41 – Building a plan together instead of guessing what helps
27:27 – The difference between real support and “you’re being hormonal”
28:15 – How self-awareness helps women catch overwhelm before it boils over
29:01 – Hormone-informed doesn’t mean hormone-excused
29:49 – Women’s identity in midlife: a deeply personal shift
31:23 – From “what do I need to get done” to “is this how I want to live?”
32:12 – Who am I when I’m not being useful to somebody?
32:58 – Questioning your marriage isn’t the same as wanting to leave it
33:45 – Connecting back to the divorce statistics: women choosing to walk away
35:19 – Did perimenopause give women the strength to make hard changes?
36:05 – Brooke’s personal reckoning: therapy, buried emotions, and feeling “like a different person”
37:39 – Seeing life “in Technicolor” and getting fired up in new ways
38:26 – Community, courage, and watching other women pivot
40:00 – Can perimenopause actually strengthen a marriage?
40:47 – Renegotiating unspoken agreements built over decades
41:34 – Better questions for long-term couples: what still works, what doesn’t?
42:21 – How asking harder questions transformed Brooke’s own marriage
43:07 – Letting your partner grow and change instead of staying “boxed in”
43:54 – When it’s time to consider couples therapy
44:42 – Where to find and work with Brooke Davis
45:28 – Her course and 5-week framework for couples
47:04 – Closing thoughts and how to support the show

Connect with Brooke Davis:
📸 Instagram: @marriageinperimenopause
🎓 Hormone-Informed Midlife Marriage course + 5-week couples framework

If today’s conversation inspired you, taught you something new, or helped you feel more empowered in your health journey, please subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Women’s health is longevity. The choices you make today shape the quality of your tomorrows.

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This week on Her Time, Her Health, I'm joined by Dr. Andrea Matsumura, a double board-certified sleep medicine physician, nationally recognized expert in sleep and menopause, creator of the Dream Sleep Method, and chief of sleep services at Monarch MD. Her work has been featured in The New York Times and CNN.

We unpack why so many women who "used to be great sleepers" suddenly find themselves wide awake at 2 or 3am — and why the answer is rarely as simple as "just menopause." Dr. Matsumura breaks down the staggering rates of undiagnosed sleep apnea in midlife women, why the tools used to screen for it were built for men's physiology, the truth about melatonin and supplements, and her practical, five-part Dream Sleep Method for reclaiming real rest.

In this episode we cover:

• Why so many women wake up in the middle of the night in midlife
• How estrogen and progesterone loss disrupts melatonin, oxygenation, and ventilation
• The "sleep syndrome of menopause" and its four telltale patterns
• Why 45–65% of midlife women may have sleep apnea — and 9 out of 10 don't know it
• Why women's sleep apnea and snoring look nothing like the male stereotype
• Restless leg syndrome, ferritin levels, and the new numbers to ask for
• Supplements, melatonin, and prescription sleep aids: what actually helps
• The Dream Sleep Method: habits, environment, emotions, archetype, and medical conditions
• Alcohol's real effect on REM sleep
• Sleep trackers (Oura, Whoop) — useful tool or obsession trap?
• Rapid-fire sleep myths, including the mouth tape trend she can't stand
• Her upcoming book, When Women Stop Sleeping

Timestamps:
00:00 – Cold open: waking up at 2–3am and the sleep apnea stat that shocks everyone
01:34 – Meet Dr. Andrea Matsumura: credentials, Dream Sleep Method, and media features
02:21 – The most common sleep complaint in midlife women
03:10 – How estrogen and progesterone loss disrupts melatonin production
03:55 – Why midlife women get hit with sleep disruption from every angle
04:42 – The "sleep syndrome of menopause": four core patterns
05:30 – Hormones, stress, aging, or learned insomnia — untangling the causes
06:17 – How past trauma resurfaces as insomnia when estrogen drops
07:04 – Why most sleep providers were never trained on women's sleep
07:52 – Why sleep apnea screening tools were built for men, not women
09:26 – The staggering stat: 45–65% of midlife women may have sleep apnea
10:14 – Home sleep studies vs. in-lab studies — what gets missed
11:03 – The Dream Sleep Method and a low threshold for testing
11:51 – Restless leg syndrome: up to 30% of midlife women, mostly undiagnosed
12:38 – Why CBT for insomnia isn't as simple as it sounds
14:11 – Sleep supplements: what they can and can't do
15:00 – Prescription sleep aids, sedation, and promising DORA medications
15:45 – "We need sleep training for adults, not medication"
16:30 – Walking through the Dream Sleep Method step by step
18:03 – Are women over-supplementing instead of digging for the real cause?
19:38 – Melatonin, decoded: why it's controversial and what it actually does
21:10 – The master clock, circadian genes, and fragmented sleep
21:57 – Alcohol's real impact on REM sleep and recovery
23:32 – Restless leg syndrome and the hormone-ferritin connection
25:06 – Why ferritin cutoffs are changing (and what your number should be)
26:44 – Sleep trackers: Oura Rings, Whoop, and how to actually use the data
28:16 – Why "how you feel" matters more than your sleep score
29:48 – Orthosomnia: when chasing perfect sleep backfires
31:20 – Why so much of medicine (and sleep science) still centers men
32:05 – Sex, relationships, and sleeping next to a snoring partner
32:54 – Rapid-fire sleep myths: mouth tape, the "8 hours" rule, and more
35:15 – "Poor sleep is just part of menopause" — true or false?
35:15 – Her upcoming book, When Women Stop Sleeping
37:34 – The healthcare provider course launching March 2027
37:34 – What she wants every woman reading at 3am to understand
39:10 – Why sleep is "the original longevity tool"
39:58 – Her #1 tip: morning light exposure
40:46 – Where to find and follow Dr. Andrea Matsumura
41:35 – Closing thoughts and how to support the show

Connect with Dr. Andrea Matsumura:
🌐 Website: AndreaMatsumuraMD.com
📚 Upcoming book: When Women Stop Sleeping
🎓 Provider course launching March 2027

If today's conversation inspired you, taught you something new, or helped you feel more empowered in your health journey, please subscribe, leave us a 5-star review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Women's health is longevity. The choices you make today shape the quality of your tomorrows.

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This week on Her Time, Her Health, I sit down with Dr. Tracy Shevell — a board-certified OB-GYN and maternal fetal medicine specialist with over two decades in academic medicine, and founder of Blue Moon Perinatal, a high-touch concierge OB practice built around whole-person care.

We dig into a topic that doesn't get nearly enough airtime: the surprising link between mast cells, histamine, and perimenopause. Dr. Shevell breaks down why so many women's symptoms — flushing, headaches, GI issues, palpitations, poor sleep — get dismissed as "just anxiety," and how a simple over-the-counter antihistamine trial can sometimes offer real relief while the medical system catches up.

We also talk about medical dismissal, patient advocacy, the three life cycles of womanhood, and her deeply personal path from burned-out high-risk OB-GYN to entrepreneur and author of the upcoming book Labor and Deliverance.

In this episode, we cover:

• The immune system's changing relationship with hormones across pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause
• Why estrogen aggravates mast cells, and progesterone stabilizes them
• Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), histamine intolerance, and Long COVID's role in bringing it to light
• The Pepcid/antihistamine "trial" approach and how to safely self-advocate
• How AI can help women translate medical jargon before their doctor visits
• Puberty and perimenopause as mirror-image hormonal transitions
• The patient encounter that pushed Dr. Shevell to leave traditional medicine
• Building a following, writing a book, and turning pain into purpose

Timestamps:
00:00 – Cold open: where does the Pepcid/antihistamine trend really stand?
01:33 – Meet Dr. Tracy Shevell: training, career, and Blue Moon Perinatal
03:05 – Her upcoming book, social following, and advocacy work
03:52 – Setting up today's topic: the immune system in midlife women
04:40 – Pregnancy's unique hormone–immune system interplay
05:27 – Why perimenopause reactivates the immune conversation
06:13 – Estrogen aggravates mast cells, progesterone stabilizes them
07:00 – Hormonal instability and its effect on autoimmune conditions
07:49 – Why some immune issues quiet down after menopause
08:35 – Why perimenopause hormone therapy takes trial and error
09:24 – Menopause certification, MCAS, and how nuanced treatment really is
10:10 – Mast cells, Long COVID, and "it's not just anxiety"
10:56 – Walking the line between real science and internet trends
11:44 – The Pepcid/antihistamine reel that sparked backlash
12:30 – Framing antihistamines as a low-risk 2-week test
13:17 – Is histamine intolerance a real diagnosis? The two camps
14:02 – Why first-line therapy stays safe regardless of the "official" label
14:49 – How histamine builds up in the body
15:37 – Long-term stakes: bone, brain, and cardiometabolic health
16:23 – Using AI to decode medical research before your appointment
17:12 – Histamine overlap with perimenopause and PMDD symptoms
17:59 – The "overworked mom" analogy for hormone-triggered mast cell flares
18:45 – Puberty vs. perimenopause: mirrored hormonal transitions
19:31 – The maiden, mother, crone: reclaiming women's life cycles
20:20 – The heartbreaking patient moment that sparked a career pivot
21:07 – "I don't know who my doctor is": a system failing women
21:54 – Quitting medicine, burnout, and being diagnosed with her own mystery illness
22:43 – Realizing no one was caring for the "whole woman"
23:29 – Entering the "wild west" of medical entrepreneurship
24:15 – Becoming a relatable, natural voice on social media
25:02 – Talking to a phone but really talking to a patient
25:50 – Learning to post every day (and finally feeling excited again)
26:39 – Reaching women in underserved communities through content
27:26 – Turning pain into purpose
28:14 – Learning to actually rest instead of burning out again
28:38 – Writing the book: journaling, dinner-party stories, and finding the will
29:47 – The long, "soul-sucking" road to getting published
30:34 – Inside the book: medical, emotional, and spiritual well-being
31:22 – Publication date and why vulnerability felt scary
32:08 – Where to find and follow Dr. Tracy Shevell
32:53 – Closing thoughts and gratitude
33:40 – Sign-off and how to support the show

Connect with Dr. Tracy Shevell:
📸 Instagram / TikTok: @tracychevellemd
🔗 Website: new site linked in her bio
📚 Upcoming book: Labor and Deliverance: Reclaiming the Healing in Women's Health (Harper One, January 2027)

If today's conversation inspired you, taught you something new, or helped you feel more empowered in your health journey, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Women's health is longevity. The choices you make today shape the quality of your tomorrows.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Her Time, Her Health! This week I sit down with Dr. Shivani Gupta, Ayurvedic practitioner, turmeric researcher, and author of The Inflammation Code, to break down "inflammaging," the hidden driver behind so many of the symptoms women write off as "just getting older."

We dig into why turmeric and curcumin are so powerful for midlife inflammation, how Ayurvedic wisdom (vata, pitta, kapha) can help you understand your body type, and simple daily rituals from tongue scraping to Abhyanga oil massage that support hormone balance, better sleep, and long-term vitality.

Dr. Gupta has helped thousands of women reduce inflammation, balance their hormones, and reclaim their energy through her supplement line, teas, book, and the Emmy-nominated show Vibrant Health with Dr. Shivani Gupta.

In this episode, we cover:

• What "inflammaging" really is and why it's not just aging
• The Ayurvedic roots of modern wellness science
• Why Dr. Gupta built her career around turmeric and curcumin
• The vata, pitta, kapha body types (Elemental Design)
• What happens to women's hormones, metabolism, and energy after 35
• A full morning-to-night Ayurvedic self-care routine
• Her supplement and tea lines, and how to use them

Timestamps:
00:00 – What is "inflammaging"? Introduction
01:31 – Welcome to Her Time, Her Health + episode overview
02:16 – Meet Dr. Shivani Gupta: bridging Eastern & Western medicine
03:01 – Inflammaging explained and how it relates to midlife women
05:17 – Getting to the root cause vs. "band-aid" medicine
05:17 – What is Ayurveda? The sister science to yoga
06:47 – Gut health, circadian living, and daily detoxification
07:33 – Super spices — and why lifestyle still has to come first
09:03 – Dr. Gupta's health journey and how her grandmother's spice cabinet started it all
10:33 – Why NSAIDs upset her stomach — and the PhD research that followed
11:18 – Curcuminoids: why only 3–5% of turmeric matters, and potency
12:04 – Estrogen decline, neuroinflammation, and menopause joint pain
12:49 – Curcumin vs. PPIs: the research behind natural anti-inflammatories
13:34 – The Inflammation Code book & supplement line overview
14:19 – Turmeric Gold + Inflammation Relief: how herbs work as an "orchestra"
15:05 – Sleep tea, unwind tea, and menopause support tea
15:50 – Elemental Design: living according to your body type and circadian clock
16:35 – Vata, Pitta, Kapha — the three Ayurvedic doshas explained
17:20 – Vata (air) type: traits, imbalance, and grounding techniques
18:05 – Pitta (fire) type: traits, imbalance, and cooling techniques
19:36 – Kapha (earth) type: traits, imbalance, and movement techniques
21:06 – Can you be a mix of doshas?
21:51 – Women's health after 35: hormones, metabolism, and energy shifts
22:36 – Midlife as a "circadian shift of menopause"
23:21 – Ayurvedic life stages: kapha, pitta, and vata seasons of life
24:06 – The vata transition and classic menopause symptoms
24:51 – "Little earthquakes": why we keep throwing supplements at the problem
25:37 – Building an integrative approach: HRT, supplements, and grounding
26:22 – Agni (digestive fire) and reclaiming energy
27:07 – Getting back to basics: sleep, screens, and technology
27:52 – How Ayurvedic traditions fit into modern daily life
28:38 – Morning ritual: setting a daily intention
29:23 – Hydration and the copper cup ritual
30:08 – Meditation and breathwork — how long it really takes
30:53 – Tongue scraping explained
31:38 – Oral health and oil pulling
32:23 – Evening rituals: dry brushing and lymphatic support
33:09 – Abhyanga massage: the self-oiling ritual for menopause
33:54 – How to do Abhyanga (and scalp massage for hair health)
35:24 – Perimenopause skin changes and why self-care matters
36:09 – Avoiding overwhelm: start small, build gradually
36:55 – Ayurveda's philosophy of moderation vs. social media extremism
37:40 – "Tea time is me time": Dr. Gupta's sacred pause ritual
38:26 – Using anchor moments to reset your day
39:11 – Turmeric Gold: the foundational supplement
39:56 – Inflammation Relief for chronic inflammation and pain
40:41 – Real results from the Turmeric Gold + Inflammation Relief combo
41:26 – Sleep gummies and sleep tea for perimenopause insomnia
42:11 – Menopause support tea for hot flashes and mood
42:56 – Detox tea for gut health support
43:42 – Curcumin, metabolism, and the metformin connection
44:28 – Where to find and work with Dr. Shivani Gupta
45:13 – Closing thoughts, gratitude, and how to support the show

Connect with Dr. Shivani Gupta:
🌐 Website: DrShivani.com
📸 Instagram: @dr.shivanigupta
🎙️ Podcast: The Inflammation Code
📚 Book: The Inflammation Code

If today's conversation helped you feel more empowered in your health journey, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Women's health is longevity. The choices you make today shape the quality of your tomorrows.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does weight management become more challenging for women in midlife—and why is it about so much more than willpower?

In this episode of Her Time, Her Health, Dr. Jila is joined by Dr. Cagney Cristancho, MD, ABOM—Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, adult endocrinologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and obesity medicine specialist—to explore the science behind obesity, metabolism, and women’s health.

Dr. Cristancho explains why obesity should be understood as a chronic disease rather than a failure of willpower, how cultural traditions can influence our relationship with food and body image, and why women may experience muscle loss and increased visceral fat during the perimenopausal and menopausal transition. She also shares what women should understand about GLP-1 medications, who may benefit from them, why medical supervision is important, and the risks associated with unregulated medications.

Together, Dr. Jila and Dr. Cristancho also explore why preserving muscle should be a priority during weight loss, how protein and strength training can support healthy body composition, why some patients may need longer-term treatment, and how women can separate evidence-based guidance from the misinformation often found on social media.

Connect & Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Dr. Cagney Cristancho: Follow Dr. Cristancho on social media for evidence-based education on obesity medicine, endocrinology, metabolism, weight management, and women’s health.

Instagram:@dra.cagneycristancho.endocrino

Professional Profile

Her Time, Her Health: Subscribe for more conversations with leading experts in women’s health, longevity, hormones, and preventative care.

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What happens when a firefighter-paramedic realizes that reactive healthcare is failing patients?

In this episode of Her Time, Her Health, Dr. Jila is joined by Sammy Tejada—former firefighter-paramedic, founder and CEO of Liquid Vita, chairman of the American IV Association, and author of How to Win in Modern Wellness—to explore the shift from emergency response to proactive longevity.

Sammy shares his story of working in emergency medicine while drawing blood for pioneering longevity doctors, noticing a stark contrast between patients trapped in chronic disease and those actively reversing decline through functional medicine. Together, Dr. Jila and Sammy discuss why comprehensive diagnostics (like DEXA scans and resting metabolic rate tests) are critical for midlife health, how microdosing GLP-1s can preserve vital muscle mass, and why women deserve personalized, data-driven proactive care. Sammy also opens up about his daily biohacking and morning routine, setting healthy business boundaries, and why data is the ultimate tool for optimizing healthspan.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•

From Emergency Medicine to Longevity: How witnessing chronic disease from the back of an ambulance inspired Sammy to build Liquid Vita.

•

Shifting the Paradigm in Women's Health: Why modern longevity care must move beyond male-centric models to focus on midlife hormonal health and preventative testing.

•

A Smart Approach to GLP-1s: Why tracking lean muscle mass with DEXA scans, microdosing, and prioritizing strength training prevents weight loss counter-productivity.

•

The Power of Diagnostics: Why regular comprehensive blood work, hormone panels, and metabolic testing provide the true baseline for preventative health.

•

Standardizing IV Therapy: How the American IV Association is driving safety, compliance, and clinical evidence in the vitamin infusion space.

•

Sammy’s Daily Biohacking Routine: Inside his morning sunlight exposure, rucking, peptides, vagus nerve stimulation, and sleep optimization strategies.

•

Rapid-Fire Takeaways: Sammy's top longevity habit for women under 40, his view on overhyped diets, and the book every entrepreneur should read.

Connect & Resources Mentioned:

•

Learn More About Liquid Vita: Visithttps://www.liquidvita.com/

•

Book: How to Win in Modern Wellness by Sammy Tejada

•

Industry Event: Learn about the VIBE Conference athttps://americaniv.com/http://americaniv.com

•

Connect with Sammy Tejada: Visitsammytejada.com or search "Sammy Tejada" across social platforms

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What does it truly mean to listen to your body, advocate for yourself, and embrace reinvention in midlife?

In this episode of Her Time, Her Health, Dr. Jila sits down with health coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Balangy, Giselle Orentas, for an intimate, vulnerable conversation on navigating health challenges, life transitions, and holistic wellness.

Giselle opens up about her personal evolution—from working in construction equipment sales in her 20s to overcoming hormonal migraines, ovarian cysts, and navigating life after divorce. Together, Dr. Jila and Giselle explore why symptoms are your body's way of communicating rather than something to fix, how natural modalities like wild yam cream can support hormonal shifts, and why midlife is a powerful window for self-advocacy and personal growth. They also discuss blending motherhood with entrepreneurship and redefining what balance actually looks like in daily life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•

Listening to Body Signals: Why symptoms like PMS, cysts, and hormonal migraines are your body's communication system—not a flaw to be fixed.

•

Self-Advocacy in Healthcare: How asking questions, seeking second opinions, and exploring holistic options empowers women to take charge of their care.

•

Natural Support for Hormones: The science and personal experience behind using wild yam cream (a natural phytoestrogen) for PMS and hormonal support.

•

Reinvention in Midlife: How navigating major life shifts—like divorce or career changes—can serve as a powerful catalyst for personal growth and business building.

•

Blending Motherhood and Ambition: A realistic, honest look at finding "balance" by integrating family life with entrepreneurship.

•

Rapid-Fire Insights: Giselle's go-to morning wellness ritual, her favorite free form of self-care, and what balance means to her.

Connect & Resources Mentioned:

•

Follow Giselle Orentas: Instagram (@giselle.orentas)

•

Explore Balangy: Visitgisellebalangy.com

•

Substack: Read Giselle's publication, Balance

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Why does nutrition and fitness feel more confusing now than ever before? In this episode of Her Time, Her Health, Dr. Jila sits down with clinical nutritionist Dr. Joey Munoz to cut through the social media noise, debunk modern diet myths, and simplify what it actually takes to build a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

Together, Dr. Jila and Dr. Joey unpack why restricting whole food groups backfires, why midlife women must prioritize strength training over restrictive dieting, and how focusing on muscle mass rather than the number on the scale protects long-term metabolic health. They also take an evidence-based, nuanced look at GLP-1 medications—exploring their benefits, their limitations, and why building foundational lifestyle habits remains essential for lasting results.

•

The Root of Nutrition Confusion: How social media algorithms reward extreme claims over nuanced, science-backed truth.

•

Common Diet Myths Debunked: Why cutting out whole food groups (like vegetables, dairy, or carbohydrates) can do more harm than good.

•

Body Composition vs. Weight Loss: Why preserving lean muscle mass is the key to protecting your metabolism—especially through perimenopause and post-menopause.

•

The Fundamentals of Sustainable Health: How to build a strong nutrition foundation using protein, fiber, meal structure, and the 80/20 rule.

•

A Balanced Take on GLP-1s: What weight loss medications can (and can’t) do, and how to avoid sacrificing muscle health.

•

Evidence-Backed Supplements: Which daily supplements are actually supported by research and which ones are just clever marketing.

Connect & Resources Mentioned:

•

Follow Dr. Joey Munoz: Instagram (⁠@dr.joeymunoz⁠) | YouTube & Podcast (The Dr. Joey Munoz Show)

•

Learn More & Work with Dr. Joey: Visit⁠Strong Standard⁠

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Is brain fog or memory loss an inevitable part of aging, or can we actively rewire and strengthen our brains as we get older?

In this episode of Her Time, Her Health, Dr. Jila is joined by world-renowned neurologist and neuroscientist Dr. Majid Fotuhi, author of The Invincible Brain, to discuss the remarkable power of neuroplasticity and proactive brain health.

Together, Dr. Jila and Dr. Fotuhi break down the five science-backed pillars of cognitive longevity—exercise, sleep, nutrition, stress reduction, and brain training. They explore why brain shrinkage actually begins in our 30s and 40s, how midlife hormonal shifts contribute to brain fog, and why lifestyle interventions like vigorous aerobic exercise can physically expand the hippocampus. Dr. Fotuhi also clarifies the difference between normal age-related memory decline and clinical dementia, offering an optimistic, evidence-based roadmap for keeping your mind sharp at any age.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•

The Power of Neuroplasticity: How your brain can form new synapses and physically grow new neurons well into your 70s, 80s, and beyond.

•

The Five Pillars of Brain Health: The most essential, non-debatable lifestyle interventions for lifelong cognitive sharpness.

•

When Brain Aging Begins: Why microscopic structural changes start as early as your 30s and why midlife is the critical window for prevention.

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Brain Fog vs. Dementia: Reassuring insights into perimenopausal brain fog, hormone replacement therapy, and the difference between general cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.

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Nutrition for Cognitive Vitality: Why processed junk foods shrink the brain and how high-fiber diets produce neuroprotective short-chain fatty acids.

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The Most Potent Brain Intervention: Why vigorous aerobic exercise stimulates BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) to grow memory centers faster than any supplement.

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Understanding Biomarkers: The science behind the p-tau 217 blood test and what the next decade holds for Alzheimer's prevention and treatment.

Connect & Resources Mentioned:

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Book: The Invincible Brain: The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain and Stay Sharp for Life by Dr. Majid Fotuhi

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App: Download The Invincible Brain app for cognitive assessments and personalized brain training

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Connect with Dr. Fotuhi: Visithttps://drfotuhi.com/ or follow him on Instagram (@dr_fotuhi) and LinkedIn

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Your gut health is THE missing piece in your menopause journey.

Dr. Cynthia Thurlow breaks down what's really happening when estrogen declines, and it's SO much more than just bloating! 👇

As estrogen drops:

• Your gut barrier weakens (hello autoimmune risk!)

• Insulin sensitivity decreases

• You produce less stomach acid & digestive enzymes

• Bile production changes (fat breakdown struggles)

What you can do NOW:

✅ Prioritize 7-8 hours quality sleep

✅ Focus on stress management (it rewires your nervous system!)

✅ Eat protein-centric with 25-30g fiber daily

✅ Strength train > chronic cardio

✅ Support your vagus nerve

The truth? Weight gain is NOT an inevitable part of aging when you understand what's happening beneath the surface.

Which of these strategies are you implementing first? 👇

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When you think infertility is just bad luck... think again 🎯

Dr. Natalie Crawford drops truth bombs about what REALLY affects your fertility (and it's not what you've been told).

Here's what most women don't know:

✨ You have WAY more control than you think

🔬 Inflammation is the silent enemy affecting egg quality, ovulation, and even when you'll hit menopause

⏰ You shouldn't have to FAIL first to get care

💪 Those 60 days before ovulation? Game-changing window for improving fertility

The mind-blowing part? Insulin resistance affects fertility even if you don't have diabetes. Your metabolic health, sleep, stress, and toxin exposure are all playing roles in your ability to conceive.

And that AMH test doctors won't order? You DESERVE that information about your egg count - whether you're trying now or planning for the future.

Stop waiting until something's wrong. Your fertility is a health marker, and knowledge is power 💫

Have you ever felt dismissed when asking about your fertility? Drop a 🙋‍♀️ below.

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When stress hits, it's not about what happens, it's about HOW you respond.

Dr. Rachel Goldman breaks down why high-performing women are stuck in the cycle of "I know what to do, but I can't do it" 👇

The truth? You don't need to overhaul your entire life. You need:

• A PAUSE before you react 🛑

• Moments (not hours) for yourself ⏰

• To ditch the "shoulds" and ask what YOU actually want 💪

• Flexibility over perfection 🌊

Self-care isn't selfish—it's saying "me too" ❤️

You can't control life, but you CAN control your response. And that changes everything .

What's ONE unhelpful thought pattern you're ready to let go of? Drop it below 👇

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NEVER GIVE UP YOUR CEO SEAT

Dr. Somi Javaid just dropped the REAL truth about raising $40M, selling her company, and what she'd do differently 💰

Here's what 10+ years of building in women's health taught her:

✨ Stay scrappy & self-funded as LONG as possible

✨ Pick investors like life partners (because they are)

✨ Healthcare needs providers + VCs + patients TOGETHER

✨ The lonely truth? Leadership can be isolating AF

✨ Nobody knows your business better than YOU

The biggest regret? Giving up her CEO seat when she became CMO 👑

From raising capital as part of the 0.4% of WOC securing VC funding to successfully exiting HerMD - this conversation is for every founder who thinks they need to sacrifice control to scale.

Your mission. Your vision. Your voice. Don't give that up. 💪

What's ONE thing you're not willing to compromise on in your career? Drop it below 👇

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Building and maintaining muscle is one of the best preventative health measures we have available to us. Today, Professor Stuart Phillips joins us to break down the best ways to build muscle and how muscle mass plays into women's health in midlife.

As a professor of kinesiology at McMaster University, Professor Phillips brings a wealth of knowledge to today’s conversation. We cover everything from recommended daily protein intake to the real science behind resistance training. Stuart also offers his insight on peptides, and why listeners might want to exercise caution with peptides that aren’t medically cleared. If you’ve been looking for a sing to pick up those dumbbells, this is it!

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Instagram: @drjilasenemar

LinkedIn: Jila Meyer

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Karen Geiger is a speech language pathologist, therapeutic journaling facilitator, and mindful writing teacher. Today, she joins Dr. Jila to discuss the power of journaling and reclaiming narratives.

Karen’s journey started when she led a writing program at cancer center that opened her eyes to the power of therapeutic journaling. Karen’s work focuses on the overlooked aspects of mid-life like menopause and perimenopause. Medical intervention is so important, but so is making sure women maintain an empowered mindset. Journaling and storytelling are so impactful, and Karen is helping women shift from “what now?” to “why not?”

Learn more about Karen on karenfgeiger.com

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LinkedIn: Jila Meyer

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IG:@reddrockmusic

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When Joey Udovich faced health challenges in her family and personal life, is sparked a drastic change. She moved from being an educator and entrepreneur to becoming an outspoken health and wellness advocate. Today, we walk through Joey’s journey and the highs and lows that brought her to where she is now.

Joey starts by explaining her father’s devastating stage IV cancer diagnosis that led her to discover she was also BRCA2 positive. Joey chose to pursue prophylactic surgery and then went through surgical menopause. Joey felt the chaos of menopause and explored various options like GLP-1's and healing her relationship with food. After finding what worked for her, she was inspired to share her story with others. Joey hopes that her advocacy can show other women they are not alone and there are solutions out there for menopause symptoms whether they come after a lifechanging surgery or naturally in midlife.

Learn more about Joey on 3Instagram @joeyudovich

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Instagram: @drjilasenemar

LinkedIn: Jila Meyer

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Menopause in the workplace is often overlooked or outright ignored. Kacy Fleming is on a mission to change how to handle midlife and menopause in the workplace. As creator of the Fuchsia Tent, Kacy is dedicated to supporting women through midlife transitions.

Today, Kacy and Dr. Jila dive into the societal perceptions of women in midlife and the implications of menopause in the workplace. Kacy explains that when midlife women are given the support and menopause healthcare they need, they continue to thrive and provide value in the workplace. Supporting women through this phase is not only the right thing to do, but also a smart business decision.

Learn more about Kacy at https://kacyfleming.com/ and the Fuchsia Tent at thefuchsiatent.com

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LinkedIn: Jila Meyer

This is a Redd Rock Music Podcast

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Dr. Sharon Malone is a board-certified OB/GYN, women’s health advocate, and the chief medical advisor at Alloy Health. She has built a career addressing women’s health concerns, especially those that are often minimized and dismissed.

Today, Dr.Jila and Dr. Malone walk through Dr. Malone’s career and what she hopes to see in the future for women’s health. They also discuss the Women’s Health Initiative which suggested that hormone therapy for women would increase the risk of breast cancer. We now know that this is not necessarily the case, and Dr. Malone walks through some of the risks and benefits of hormone therapy for women in midlife. Now, Dr. Malone is on a mission to debunk women’s health risks and create a future where all women have access to the care they need.

Learn more about Dr. Malone here

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Instagram: @drjilasenemar

LinkedIn: Jila Meyer

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Today we’re joined by a physician whose career matches the evolution of modern medicine. Dr. Shoma Datta-Thomas began her career as a gynecologic robotic surgeon and has since transitioned into functional medicine and longevity. As the daughter of immigrants and a mother to four daughters in a blended family, Dr. Datta-Thomas is dedicated to evolving the medical system.

Dr. Datta-Thomas has great insights on the next generation of healthcare, from switching to a proactive approach to focusing on longevity. Dr. Jila and Dr. Datta-Thomas also break down Dr. Datta-Thomas' work at Next Health as a practice at the forefront of this paradigm shift in the medical world. Doctors like Dr. Datta-Thomas and organizations like Next Health are revolutionizing access to women’s health and longevity care helping people optimize their health and vitality.

More from Dr. Jila

Website: https://jilamd.com/

Instagram: @drjilasenemar

LinkedIn: Jila Meyer

This is a Redd Rock Music Podcast

IG:@reddrockmusic

http://www.reddrockmusic.com/

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