In this episode of You Are Not Broken, I sit down with Susan Guidi — and this conversation is such a beautiful reminder that it is never too late to become who you were meant to be.

Susan shares her journey growing up in a Cuban Catholic family, where cultural expectations around marriage, sexuality, and identity were very clear — and very rigid. We talk about how those early narratives shape the way we see ourselves as women… and how hard it can be to untangle them later in life.

After a difficult divorce, Susan didn’t shrink.

She expanded.

She reinvented herself through stand-up comedy (yes, really) and eventually stepped onto a bodybuilding stage — proving that transformation isn’t reserved for the young. It’s reserved for the brave.

We talk about:

• How culture influences the stories we believe about ourselves

• Why comedy can be deeply therapeutic

• What it takes to compete in bodybuilding later in life

• The power of community support during major life transitions

• Why mindset matters more than motivation

• The role of nutrition in strength and longevity

• Redefining your identity after divorce, career shifts, or midlife change

• Why sharing your story can liberate someone else

This episode is about empowerment — not the fluffy kind, but the earned kind. The kind that comes from taking control of your health, your body, your voice, and your future.

Susan is living proof that you are not too old, too late, too divorced, too inexperienced, or too anything.

You are just in the middle of becoming.

If this conversation resonates, share it with a woman who needs to hear that reinvention is still on the table.

Because it is.

Susan's Instagram

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

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On today's episode I review the 2026 ISSWSH conference, sharing insights on women's sexual health, hormone therapy, and recent research developments. This episode covers upcoming events, new products, and key takeaways from the conference, providing valuable knowledge for clinicians and women alike.

https://www.isswsh.org/

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my ⁠⁠⁠Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

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This week on You Are Not Broken, I’m joined by the strong, grounded, and refreshingly honest Alicia Erickson for a conversation about midlife reinvention — from hormones to heavy lifting.

We talk about the real-life impact of perimenopause (and why projects like The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause matter), Alicia’s decision to get sober at 45, and what happens when women stop shrinking and start building — muscle, boundaries, and belief in themselves.

Alicia shares her journey into strength training, progressive overload, and even stepping on a bikini competition stage — not for validation, but for growth. We break down body recomposition (yes, you can build muscle and lose fat at the same time), the critical role of sleep, and how hormone replacement therapy can dramatically shift quality of life in midlife.

This is a conversation about doing hard things on purpose.
About eating enough.
About lifting heavy.
About community.
About deciding your second half will be stronger than your first.

You are not broken. You might just need a barbell.

• Why perimenopause feels chaotic — and what’s actually happening hormonally

• Alicia’s sobriety journey and the connection between alcohol, mental health, and midlife

• Why strength training is non-negotiable for women over 40

• Progressive overload explained simply

• Sleep as the foundation for body composition

• Hormone replacement therapy and quality of life

• Body recomposition: burning fat while building muscle

• Eating more (not less) to support muscle growth

• The mindset shift from “smaller” to “stronger”

• The power of community and doing hard things together

If this episode resonates, share it with a woman in your life who needs permission to take up space — in the gym, in her body, and in her life.

Because midlife isn’t the beginning of decline.

It’s the beginning of power.

https://www.instagram.com/aliciae/

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my ⁠⁠Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

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This week on You Are Not Broken, I sit down with breast oncologist and historian Dr. Elizabeth Comen to talk about her powerful book All in Her Head and the long, complicated history of how women’s health has been misunderstood, minimized, and medicalized.

If you’ve ever been told your symptoms are anxiety… stress… hormones… or just part of being a woman — this episode is for you.

We explore the historical roots of dismissal in women’s healthcare and how those patterns still show up today, especially in cancer care. Dr. Comen walks us through how breast cancer treatment has evolved, what we’ve gotten right, what we’ve gotten wrong, and why quality of life must be part of the conversation — not an afterthought.

We also talk about:

• Why women’s pain has historically been labeled “hysteria”

• How medical bias still affects diagnosis and treatment

• The real tension between longevity and quality of life

• Hormonal therapies in breast cancer — and how nuance gets lost

• Why advocacy matters more than ever

• The double-edged sword of social media and AI in health information

• How understanding medical history helps us build better medicine today

This episode isn’t about blaming the past. It’s about understanding it — so we stop repeating it.

Because when women are dismissed, care suffers.
And when women are informed, everything changes.

If you care about evidence-based medicine, health equity, and empowering women with real information — this is a must-listen.

Dr. Comen's IG

Dr. Comen's Book

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my ⁠Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

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Explorer is officially available for pre-order, and the first production run is intentionally limited. Use code NOTBROKEN20

If you’ve been waiting for a vibrator that’s anatomy-informed, safety-first, and designed with real female physiology in mind, this is for you.

👉 Pre-order Explorer now
🎧 Use code NOTBROKEN20 at checkout for 20% off
⏳ Limited first run — once it’s gone, you have to wait!

Pleasure is not a luxury. It’s part of health care.

What if pleasure wasn’t mysterious, shameful, or something women were expected to “figure out on their own”?

In this episode of You Are Not Broken, Dr. Kelly Casperson is joined by Lara Pack to talk about the launch of their new vibrator, Explorer—and more importantly, the science, safety, and education behind it.

It’s a grounded, evidence-based conversation about female arousal, blood flow, anatomy, consent, and why most women were never taught how their bodies actually work. Kelly and Lara walk listeners through why Explorer was designed the way it was, what makes a vibrator safe (and unsafe), and how pleasure tools can support—not replace—intimacy, connection, and sexual health.

They also tackle common myths around vibrators, including fears about dependency, partner insecurity, and “doing it wrong,” while reframing pleasure as a learnable, normal, and empowering part of healthcare.

If you’ve ever felt confused, embarrassed, or under-educated about pleasure—or wondered how to talk about it with a partner—this episode is for you.

What We Cover

• Why Explorer was designed for external pleasure—no penetration required

• The role of blood flow and arousal in sexual comfort, desire, and response

• Why consent matters in every relationship, no matter how long you’ve been together

• How vibrators can support sexual health, healing, and confidence

• The importance of anatomical accuracy and comfort in vibrator design

• How to talk with a partner about using pleasure tools without shame or defensiveness

• Why vibrators are not a “replacement” for partners—but a supplement to connection

• Safety, materials, and why quality matters when it comes to intimate products

• How sex education gaps leave women blaming themselves instead of the system

• Why sexual wellness is a lifelong learning process—not something you’re born knowing

Key Takeaway

Pleasure isn’t frivolous.
It’s physiological.
It’s learnable.
And it belongs to you.

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week I sit down with Autumn Calabrese to talk about fitness, mindset, and stress management—especially as they relate to women in midlife. We explore how hormonal changes can affect energy, recovery, motivation, and overall health, and why many women find that the fitness strategies that once worked no longer feel effective or sustainable.

We also discuss how women’s fitness culture has evolved over time, shifting away from extremes and toward a more balanced, realistic approach that prioritizes consistency over perfection. This episode highlights why managing stress is just as important as working out, and how nutrition, quality sleep, and community support play foundational roles in long-term wellness.

At its core, this conversation is an invitation to reframe fitness as a tool for resilience, strength, and vitality—not punishment—and to encourage women to embrace change, stay consistent, and prioritize their health through every season of midlife.

• Fitness helps support warmth, energy, and resilience, especially during winter

• Mindset is a major driver of sustainable fitness and health habits

• Stress management is essential for overall health in midlife

• Hormonal changes can significantly impact women’s physical and mental well-being

• Fitness culture is evolving toward balance rather than extremes

• Consistency in workouts leads to better long-term health outcomes

• Nutrition is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle

• Quality sleep is critical for recovery and overall well-being

• Embracing change can transform the midlife experience

• Community and accountability enhance motivation and long-term commitment

  Autumn's IG

  BODI platform

  To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠⁠

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the You Are Not Broken podcast, Dr. Kelly Casperson sits down with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon for a powerful, science-forward conversation about why muscle is the organ of longevity—and why women have been taught to focus on the wrong things for decades.

They unpack how an overemphasis on fat loss has distracted from the far more important goal of preserving and building muscle, especially as we age. Dr. Lyon explains anabolic resistance, protein needs across the lifespan, and why mindset—not willpower—is often the missing link in women’s fitness and health outcomes.

This episode reframes strength training, nutrition, and supplements as essential medical tools—not aesthetic choices—and delivers a clear message: women deserve better education about their bodies and the confidence to train for strength, not shrinkage.

• Why muscle is critical for metabolic health, protection, and aging well

• How the obsession with fat loss has undermined women’s long-term health

• The role of mindset in body recomposition and sustainable fitness

• Why protein intake matters more than calorie restriction

• What anabolic resistance is—and why protein needs increase with age

• How the “fit fat” phenotype challenges outdated health metrics

• When continuous glucose monitoring is helpful (and when it’s not)

• Why many women over 65 are protein deficient—and why that matters

• The role of supplements like creatine and essential amino acids

• Why strength training is a non-negotiable for women’s health

Muscle is not about appearance—it’s about independence, resilience, and metabolic health. Women have been under-informed, under-fueled, and under-trained for far too long. Prioritizing strength is one of the most powerful health decisions a woman can make at any age.

In The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK, you’ll discover how to think, eat, move, and recover in a way that supports muscle, protects your metabolism, and helps you look, feel, and live Forever Strong. When you pre-order a copy, you’ll unlock $400+ in additional bonuses, including a 6-week group challenge to help you bring the plan from the book to life with accountability support and community.https://drgabriellelyon.com/playbook/

To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠⁠

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

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In this episode of the You Are Not Broken, Dr. Kelly Casperson is joined by Joanna Strober, CEO of MIDI Health, for a direct and hopeful conversation about menopause care, hormone therapy, and what women actually need from the healthcare system.

Joanna shares the story behind building MIDI Health and why access, education, and properly trained providers are essential to closing the massive gaps in menopause care. Despite the data, only a small fraction of eligible women are receiving hormone therapy—leaving millions undertreated, dismissed, or told to simply “push through.”

This episode tackles outdated narratives around menopause, reframes hormones as foundational to long-term health and longevity, and makes a strong case for advocacy—by clinicians, companies, and women themselves.

• How MIDI Health is delivering hormone therapy to 25,000 women each week

• Why only ~5% of women over 40 are currently using hormone therapy

• The critical need for education and training in menopause care

• How hormone therapy can help prevent downstream health issues

• Why menopause care doesn’t end when periods stop

• What’s broken in women’s healthcare—and how to fix it

• Real patient success stories that show what’s possible

• The role of hormones in longevity, vitality, and overall health

• Why advocacy is essential for meaningful change

• MIDI Health’s vision to become a trusted, national brand for women’s health

Menopause is not the end of care—it’s the beginning of a new phase that deserves attention, education, and evidence-based treatment. Hormone therapy isn’t about vanity or “anti-aging”; it’s about giving women access to the healthcare they’ve always deserved.

To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠⁠

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the You Are Not Broken podcast, Dr. Kelly Casperson sits down with Dr. Christine Maren to explore one of the most under-recognized truths about women’s bodies: female physiology is exceptionally adaptable—and that adaptability comes with trade-offs.

Women’s bodies evolved to support reproduction, and that evolutionary priority shaped a physiology that can adjust rapidly to stress, environment, and demand. But that same flexibility can come at a cost, especially in today’s world of chronic stress, environmental exposures, and constant pressure.

Together, Dr. Casperson and Dr. Maren unpack how this rapid adaptability may contribute to issues like thyroid dysfunction, hormone imbalance, gut disruption, and infertility—and why understanding these patterns is essential for improving women’s health care.

• Why female physiology is uniquely adaptable—and how reproduction shaped that design

• How rapid physiological adaptation can stress systems like the thyroid

• The links between chronic stress, hormones, gut health, and fertility

• How environmental factors interact with women’s biology

• Why adaptability can be both a powerful strength and a vulnerability

• The importance of recognizing these trade-offs in modern women’s health care

Women’s bodies are not “broken.” They are highly responsive systems doing exactly what they evolved to do—often in environments that no longer support them. Understanding the costs of adaptation is the first step toward more compassionate, effective, and science-based care.

Dr. Maren's Website

To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠⁠

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠List is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the audio from an amazing webinar I did with Alloy Health. I was so fortunate to be interviewed by their community leader, Rachel Hughes.

What I’m seeing clearly is that Gen X is leading the menopause conversation — we’re asking better questions, demanding better answers, and refusing to be dismissed.

At the same time, Millennials are shifting the focus toward prevention, not just treating disease after it shows up. That mindset matters, and it’s changing healthcare.

I talk a lot about why self-care isn’t indulgent — it’s essential if you want to thrive in midlife and beyond. That starts with education. You cannot make informed decisions about your body if no one ever taught you how hormones actually work.

Hormones are not just reactive tools — they can be preventative, supporting long-term health when used thoughtfully and appropriately. Progesterone and testosterone play real, meaningful roles in women’s health, and vaginal estrogen is both safe and incredibly effective for many women — despite how rarely it’s discussed.

We also have to talk about sex. Communication is foundational to a fulfilling sex life in midlife, and silence only benefits outdated narratives, not women.

The bottom line? You have more control over your health than you’ve been led to believe. Empowerment doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from understanding your body and advocating for yourself in a system that often won’t do it for you.

To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

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In this episode of the You Are Not Broken podcast, Kelly Casperson and Dr. Mariza Snyder discuss the transformative journey of women navigating perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Mariza shares her personal experiences with chronic migraines and how they led her to become a functional medicine practitioner focused on women's health. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding hormonal changes, the impact of chronic stress, and the necessity of movement and nutrition in reclaiming health. Dr. Mariza encourages women to envision their future selves and take ownership of their health journeys, while also addressing the societal pressures that contribute to stress and unhealthy habits.

Takeaways

• Dr. Mariza's journey from chiropractic to functional medicine was driven by her own health struggles.
• Chronic migraines often affect women in perimenopause due to hormonal changes.
• Empowering women through health can create a multiplier effect in communities.
• Movement is essential for recovery and overall well-being.
• Functional health practitioners focus on root causes rather than just symptoms.
• Women often feel pressured to be busy, which can lead to chronic stress.
• Adrenal fatigue is not a recognized medical diagnosis, but stress impacts health significantly.
• Nutrition plays a crucial role in managing health, especially regarding processed sugars.
• Insulin resistance is a growing concern for women in midlife.
• Reading and self-education can empower individuals to take control of their health.

Dr. Snyder IG

The Perimenopause Revolution

To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices