Shows
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 056: Age Like A GirlWhat 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. Ex...
2025-12-1258 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 055: Retire With Attitude: Building Purpose, Community, And Identity After CareerTired 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...
2025-12-0340 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 054: A Guide To Gender-Affirming Menopause SupportStart with the lived experience, not the label. We sit down with gender-affirming menopause educator and advocate Lasara Firefox Allen to reframe menopause as a human transition that deserves respect, nuance, and choices. From the first hot flash to postmenopausal clarity, we map the terrain for trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people who are too often erased by narrow clinical language and outdated protocols.Lasara shares how dysphoria and euphoria can shape the menopause arc, why “hormones have no gender,” and how surgical or chemical menopause intersects with identity and safety. We break down what affirming care looks like...
2025-11-0443 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 053: The Truth About Menopause: Menopause At Work: Why it MattersMenopause doesn’t clock out when we clock in—and ignoring that truth is costing organizations billions while pushing experienced talent to the margins. We sit down with Rachel Hughes of Alloy Women’s Health to unpack how symptoms like brain fog, sleep disruption, and hot flashes intersect with deadlines, shifts, and team dynamics. Through relatable stories and clear data, we map the ripple effects of untreated menopause—from presenteeism to turnover—and show why treating it as a workplace issue is both a moral imperative and a competitive advantage.We break the cycle of silence with a practica...
2025-10-2654 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 052: The Truth About Menopause: Lifestyle, Longevity, and the Future of Menopause SupportMenopause doesn’t have to mean white‑knuckling through sleepless nights, brain fog, and a maze of appointments. We sit down with Dr. Taylor Hahn, a board‑certified OBGYN and certified menopause practitioner, to map a clearer path: ask better questions, build a care team that truly engages, and use lifestyle medicine as a force multiplier for relief. Instead of cramming everything into a rushed visit, Dr. Hahn shows how to prepare a sharp symptom list, lead with your top priority, and confidently ask whether your clinician feels comfortable managing menopause. Honest answers save months and get you to the ri...
2025-10-2049 min
HR ScoopApril Haberman from MiDOViA | Bringing Menopause Into the Workplace Well-Being ConversationChristine Muldoon sits down with April Haberman, CEO and Co-Founder of MiDOViA, to discuss why menopause must be part of every workplace wellbeing strategy. From tackling stigma to building inclusive policies and sustainable culture change, this conversation reframes how HR can better support women through all life stages—not just the childbearing years."Workplaces have made space for pregnancy and mental health. It's time menopause gets the same support."This episode covers:What it really means to be a menopause-friendly workplaceWhy holistic women's health must include every life stageHow organizations can normalize the conversation an...
2025-10-2052 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 051: The Truth About Menopause: Black Women and MenopauseMenopause isn’t experienced equally—and the differences are too big to ignore. We sit down with Dr. Kudzai Dombo, OB-GYN and Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Alloy Health, to explore why Black women often face earlier menopause, longer and more severe symptoms, and far less access to effective treatment. Drawing on the SWAN study’s decades of data, we connect dots between evidence, everyday experiences, and the systems that shape both.Dr. Dombo shares her own perimenopause story—misdiagnosis, expense, and relief once hormones were recognized as the driver—and uses it to illuminate the barriers m...
2025-10-0946 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 50: The Truth About Menopause: A Menopause Awareness Month Series with Alloy HealthMenopause shouldn’t feel like a mystery you have to solve alone. We sit down with Dr. Corinne Menn—board‑certified OB‑GYN, certified menopause practitioner, and cancer survivor—to clear the fog around estrogen, perimenopause, and modern, evidence‑based care. From the infamous Women’s Health Initiative to today’s safer formulations and smarter timing, we separate risk from rumor and show how context—age, route, dose, and goals—changes the story.We dig into the “window of opportunity” for menopausal hormone therapy, why transdermal estradiol and micronized progesterone matter, and how treatment decisions shift if you’re 5, 10, or 15 year...
2025-10-0454 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 049: From Burnout to Resilience: Stress, Self-Belief, and Thriving in MidlifeWhat if stress isn’t the villain but the spark—and the real unlock is how extraordinary you decide to feel? We sit down with stress resiliency coach and former Microsoft leader Dat Tran to explore a fresh, human approach to burnout, anxiety, and midlife pressure. Dat shares how a car accident and cascading changes forced him to rebuild from the inside out, and why the turning point wasn’t stress reduction—it was expanding capacity.Together, we unpack a powerful yet simple formula: resiliency equals how extraordinary you feel minus how much tension you carry. That insight...
2025-10-0242 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 048: How CVS Health Turned Menopause Taboo Into a Business AdvantageMenopause doesn’t pause at the office door. It shows up in sleep loss, hot flashes, brain fog, anxiety—and too often, in silence. We wanted to break that pattern. So we sat down with Dr. Joanne Armstrong, VP and Chief Medical Officer for Women’s Health and Genomics, and benefits leader Carmilla Tan to unpack how CVS Health scaled a menopause support strategy across retail stores, call centers, pharmacies, clinics, warehouses, and corporate teams—without losing the human touch.We talk candidly about the barriers women face: undertrained clinicians, misdiagnosis, stigma, and the time squeeze that pushes c...
2025-09-2946 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 047: The Truth About Hormones: How Your Body Really WorksWhat happens when you outlive your ovaries? Dr. Kelly Casperson, board-certified urologist and award-winning author, joins us to unpack the truth about menopause and hormones in her characteristically honest, evidence-based approach.Kelly challenges the outdated narrative that hormones are dangerous, walking us through why the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study has been widely misinterpreted. "The paper is free online," she explains, "and it says breast cancer does not reach statistical significance." Yet two decades later, this misunderstanding continues to prevent women from accessing treatments that could significantly improve their quality of life.We dive deep into...
2025-09-1539 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 046: The First Menopause Law in the U.S.Senator Lori Urso of Rhode Island takes us behind the scenes of America's first-ever workplace menopause legislation in this powerful conversation about leadership, advocacy, and breaking barriers. Drawing from her personal journey through menopause that nearly derailed her career, Senator Erso reveals how she transformed her struggles into groundbreaking policy change that's now serving as a model for other states.The conversation moves seamlessly between deeply personal revelations and strategic policy insights. Senator Urso candidly shares how seven years of unmanaged menopause symptoms led her to actually resign from her position before finally finding proper treatment. "I...
2025-09-0944 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 045: Embracing Change: Divorce, Empty Nesting, and Finding Yourself After 40Have you ever found yourself staring into the mirror wondering "Who am I now?" Michele Heffron, transformational life and divorce coach, joins us for a profound conversation about the identity shifts that occur during midlife transitions.Michele shares how menopause often becomes a catalyst for deeper questioning about relationships, purpose, and fulfillment. "We get to this certain point in time and there's all these shifts taking place not only in our bodies but in who and how we're showing up in the world," she explains. This awakening frequently coincides with major life decisions around relationships, empty nesting...
2025-09-0336 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 044: The Hidden Reality of Male MenopauseTestosterone isn't just a male hormone—it's a vital life force that gradually declines with age, affecting everything from muscle mass to mood. This eye-opening conversation with Lisa Lounsbury, founder of New Day Wellness, explores the reality of male menopause (andropause) and its profound impact on men's health and relationships.Unlike female menopause, andropause sneaks in gradually, making it easy to mistake hormonal changes for normal aging. "Men might confuse this loss of hormone with regular aging," Lounsbury explains, "but there is a difference, and we need to educate men so we can have cross-lateral empathy as we...
2025-08-2730 min
Hello, Hot Flash: Conversations about menopause, women’s health and mindset for midlife women.227 Does Menopause Mess With Your Money with April Haberman of MiDOViAMenopause is a natural part of life — but when it shows up in the workplace, it can create very real challenges that most organizations are simply not prepared to address. Symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, hot flashes, and brain fog don’t stay at home when women walk into the office… and when these go unacknowledged, they can affect productivity, morale, retention, and leadership development.
In this episode of Hello, Hot Flash, Stephanie is joined by April Haberman, CEO and co-founder of MiDOViA, to talk about why it’s time to shift the narrative from “menopause is a personal i...
2025-08-2132 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 043: Strong Women Live Better: Why Strength Training Matters in MidlifeStrength training isn't just about looking good—it's about living well for longer. Linda Goos discovered this truth decades ago when she began her first strength program at age 17, experiencing mental benefits that far outweighed the physical ones. After 20 years in marketing at Microsoft, she returned to her passion with a crucial mission: helping women in midlife build and maintain strength to preserve their independence and vitality.Linda founded Studio Bloom with a clear understanding of the challenges women face during perimenopause and beyond. Many workout facilities left her either completely exhausted or feeling like she hadn't ac...
2025-08-1040 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 043: Strong Women Live Better: Why Strength Training Matters in MidlifeStrength training isn't just about looking good—it's about living well for longer. Linda Goos discovered this truth decades ago when she began her first strength program at age 17, experiencing mental benefits that far outweighed the physical ones. After 20 years in marketing at Microsoft, she returned to her passion with a crucial mission: helping women in midlife build and maintain strength to preserve their independence and vitality.Linda founded Studio Bloom with a clear understanding of the challenges women face during perimenopause and beyond. Many workout facilities left her either completely exhausted or feeling like she hadn't ac...
2025-08-0840 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 042: Millennial Menopause Revolution: What Women in Their 30s Need to Know About Perimenopause NowMenopause isn't just your mother's journey anymore. Today's conversation with Lauren Tenenbaum, author of the upcoming book "Millennial Menopause: Preparing for Perimenopause, Menopause, and Life's Next Period," challenges everything you thought you knew about this life transition.Did you know perimenopause symptoms can start in your 30s? Despite being well-read and passionate about women's health, Lauren found herself at 39 realizing she knew nothing about the next phase of her reproductive and mental health journey. This knowledge gap drove her to create what she describes as "the compassionate guide that every woman in her 30s and 40s needs"...
2025-06-1927 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 041: Mental Health in MenopauseHow do hormonal changes during menopause affect your mental health? This question has remained largely unaddressed in conventional healthcare, leaving countless women struggling to understand why they suddenly feel like strangers in their own minds and bodies.Psychotherapist Kim Crispeno joins us to shed light on this critical intersection. As co-founder of the Aftermath Agency, Kim's approach to mental health during menopause emerged from her own personal journey and professional expertise. She explains how hormonal fluctuations directly impact brain function, triggering everything from brain fog and memory issues to anxiety, depression, and irritability that can strain relationships...
2025-05-1643 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 040: You Are Already Good: Reframing Body Image in MenopauseWhat if the journey through menopause offered not just physical challenges, but a profound opportunity to heal your relationship with your body? In this illuminating conversation with Trisha Wilkerson, certified health and nutrition coach and trauma-sensitive yoga teacher, we explore how midlife becomes a crucial crossroads in women's relationships with themselves.Trisha shares her personal evolution from disordered eating to becoming a compassionate guide for women struggling with food and body image. She reveals the patterns she's observed in women's relationships with their bodies - particularly the strong inner critic that judges, compares, and denies pleasure. This...
2025-05-0736 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 039: Women in Work: Empowering Female Leaders Beyond ReproductionMelissa Ashley, founder of Women in Work US and the Menopause Mandate, joins us for a compelling conversation about workplace support through every stage of women's lives, especially menopause.She shares her journey of recognizing that while companies focus on reproductive health, they often neglect supporting women through menopause, despite this demographic making up approximately 20% of the US workforce. "There's not a lot that's really targeted to C-suite executives in the HR and benefits area that talks about the how," Melissa explains, highlighting the gap her organization fills through impactful events and resources.We explore...
2025-04-2530 min
beyond ArtLessLaura DunbarSend us a textMaybe Chris should learn how to take notes. Maybe Peter should learn how to arrange travel for guests. Maybe Phil should learn how to interview. Our guest Dr. Laura Dunbar can do all of these things better than our hosts and is also a world class educator! Dr. Dunbar is head of music education studies at UW Eau Claire and also coordinates the Chippewa Valley Youth Choirs and directs the Very Young Composers of the Chippewa Valley Workshop. Listen on as she describes her journey from small town Ohio through a PhD from Unive...
2025-04-1357 min
beyond ArtLessOmar ThomasSend us a textIt’s hard to mess up a podcast when you have a guest like Omar Thomas. In this episode, we talk with Omar about his incredibly busy and creative schedule, the release of his new album Griot Songs, and the behind-the-scenes process of recording it with the Omar Thomas Large Ensemble.Omar reflects on his compositional approach, the art of crossing genres, and the importance of teaching and fostering artistic growth in students. He also shares insights into his latest commissioned work for the International Trumpet Guild’s 50th Anniversary, which feat...
2025-04-061h 09
beyond ArtLessBill DrurySend us a textMarch Madness is in full swing and our guest is providing us all the knowledge our commuter will ever need about Gonzaga basketball. Bill Drury shares with us about his career as Associate Director of Wind Ensembles at New England Conservatory. And also his journey to NEC by way of the railroad, parking valet attendant and more. Not to forget his parallel career as a military servant in the Air National Guard. Peter, Phil and Chris provide the typical useless banter and pickleball trivia. Who could ask for more? How could our commuter be pro...
2025-03-3056 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 038: GLP-1s: Myths, Truths, and MenopauseWeight gain during menopause frustrates countless women—but what if there was a science-backed solution that addressed the underlying hormonal shifts? Michelle Cardel, Chief Nutrition Officer at Weight Watchers, takes us on an eye-opening journey through the world of GLP-1 medications, debunking myths and revealing surprising truths along the way.Originally developed for diabetes management, these medications have revolutionized weight management by targeting the biological drivers of hunger. "They mimic a natural hormone that helps regulate blood sugar, reduces appetite, and slows gastric emptying," explains Cardel. The result? A remarkable reduction in what researchers call "food noise"—that...
2025-03-2632 min
beyond ArtLessMickaela PaschSend us a textJoin us this week as we learn from a young teacher who is much brighter than we are! Mickaela Pasch is a recent Concordia grad changing lives all around the state of Minnesota. Intentional, passionate, a volunteer, and visionary in music education (all the things we are not), Mickaela has so many gifts to share with our audience about the real ways to be a successful music teacher. Join us as Phil actually asks quality questions and Chris simply sits and draws pictures. When the podcast is finished you’ll be asking for Mi...
2025-03-221h 06
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 037: HotPause Health is creating the "Baby Center" of menopauseThe modern menopause experience doesn't have to be shrouded in confusion, isolation, and suffering. Melissa Oliveira and Stacey Ulacia co-founders of HotPause Health, are on a mission to transform how women navigate this significant life transition by creating what they call "the Baby Center of menopause.” Born from their own frustrating perimenopause journeys during the pandemic, HotPause Health launched in August 2024 to fill a critical gap in women's healthcare. They identified that while pregnancy comes with 40 weeks of guidance and support, women experiencing perimenopause and menopause often struggle alone for years, battling symptoms they don't understand and facing healthcare prov...
2025-03-1833 min
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 037: HotPause Health is creating the Baby Center of menopauseThe modern menopause experience doesn't have to be shrouded in confusion, isolation, and suffering. Melissa Oliveira and Stacey Uleisha, co-founders of HotPause Health, are on a mission to transform how women navigate this significant life transition by creating what they call "the Baby Center of menopause.” Born from their own frustrating perimenopause journeys during the pandemic, HotPause Health launched in August 2024 to fill a critical gap in women's healthcare. They identified that while pregnancy comes with 40 weeks of guidance and support, women experiencing perimenopause and menopause often struggle alone for years, battling symptoms they don't understand and facing healthcare pro...
2025-03-1733 min
beyond ArtLessMary LandSend us a textThis week, Eric Songer steps in for Phil, delivering a strong performance as co-host. After helping Peter tackle a minor wardrobe noise issue, we dive into a fantastic conversation with Dr. Mary Land, Associate Professor of Music Education at Western Michigan University. We explore her journey in music education, the power of community in teaching, the impact of mentorship, and the opportunities ahead for future educators.Plus, we introduce two new segments: "Leave it to Bever" with Adam and Julie Bever, and PPTD (Phil and Peter Throw Down)—all adding up to...
2025-03-1559 min
beyond ArtLessMichael KasperSend us a textIt's a BIG week for this below-average podcast! We wrap up our "Inquiring Teens Want to Know" segment (big thanks to Edina HS) and finally put the "What Would Phil and Peter Do" (WWPPD) segment to rest. As if that wasn't enough, our guest Michael Kasper knocks it out of the park, answering poorly conceived questions with brilliance. Tune in to hear Michael, an exceptional music educator, dive deep into artistry, score preparation, comprehensive musicianship, and—yes—even breakfast cereal.Show Notes:Learn more about Michael hereLe...
2025-03-091h 05
beyond ArtLessHenry DornSend us a textThe Lutheran Mafia has strong representation in this week’s episode! We visit with Dr. Henry Dorn from St. Olaf College and get to hear his southern flare mixed with Midwest appreciation for the cold weather. As usual, Haberman talks too much, Gleason adds in sound effects, and Ostrander sputters sentence fragments.Listen in as we talk about balancing time between family and music, being both a composer and a conductor, and the joy of teaching at a liberal arts college with a strong music program.Show Notes:
2025-03-021h 05
The MiDOViA Menopause Podcast: Real Talk on Hormones, Work, and Wellness for MidlifeEpisode 036: Navigating Menopause in the WorkplaceMenopause is not just a personal journey for women; it profoundly shapes their professional lives too. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Mache, a distinguished expert in women's health, as he uncovers the transformational effects of menopause in the workplace. We delve into how menopause can affect productivity and organizational dynamics, with statistics revealing that nearly 10% of women may leave their jobs due to its symptoms.Dr. Mache emphasizes that menopause starts earlier than most realize and that the associated challenges can significantly hinder career advancement for many women. He discusses how a lack of...
2025-02-2742 min