Tag Archives | midlife

762: Why Women Need to Stop Being “Good Patients” and Start Advocating for Better Healthcare with Dr. Mariza

July 21, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

Listen to the Episode Here

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Episode Summary

How many times have you been told, “Your labs are normal,” even though you know something doesn’t feel right?

In this empowering solo episode, Dr. Mariza challenges one of the biggest beliefs women have been conditioned to accept: that being a “good patient” means staying quiet, pushing through symptoms, and trusting a healthcare system that has historically overlooked women’s biology.

She explores how decades of research gaps, delayed recognition of perimenopause, and outdated medical training have left millions of women feeling dismissed, unheard, and convinced that exhaustion, brain fog, anxiety, poor sleep, weight gain, and hormone changes are simply part of getting older.

Dr. Mariza explains why perimenopause is far more than a reproductive transition. It’s a neurological, metabolic, cardiovascular, and whole-body transition that deserves proactive care—not years of unnecessary suffering.

Most importantly, she shares practical strategies for becoming an active partner in your healthcare, including how to prepare for appointments, ask better questions, understand your symptoms, and advocate for the care you deserve.

If you’ve ever left a doctor’s appointment feeling unheard or wondering if it’s “all in your head,” this episode will remind you that your symptoms matter, your intuition matters, and you deserve answers.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why women have been conditioned to become “good patients”
The hidden impact of research gaps in women’s healthcare
Why “your labs are normal” isn’t always the full story
How perimenopause affects the brain, metabolism, heart, and hormones
The questions every woman should ask at her medical appointments
How to prepare for appointments so you become an active partner in your care
The difference between normal lab ranges and optimal health
Why you deserve evidence-based care that prioritizes your long-term health

QUOTES

“You are the CEO of your health.”

“Symptoms are not inconveniences to silence. They are signals to understand.”

“Normal isn’t always the same as optimal.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Stop surviving and start thriving: join Dr. Mariza’s free 5-day challenge beginning July 27th

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

Thriving in Perimenopause Survival Guide

Joy & Blokes Lab Testing

RELATED EPISODES

761: Finding Your Way Back to Pleasure and Feeling Fully Alive with Gabriella Espinosa

759: Tired, Wired & Inflamed? The Sleep Fix Most Women Are Missing with Dr. Michael Breus

756: What Low-Grade Inflammation Is Really Doing to Your Hormones, Brain & Metabolism with Dr. Mariza

650: Unlock Your Health: The Ultimate Biomarker & Lab Blueprint to Thrive in Midlife and Beyond

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761: Finding Your Way Back to Pleasure and Feeling Fully Alive with Gabriella Espinosa

July 14, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

Listen to the Episode Here

Or, listen on your favorite app: iTunes (Apple Podcasts) | Stitcher | Spotify | Pocketcasts

Episode Summary

Have you ever looked around at your life and wondered: “When did I stop feeling like myself?”

Maybe you’re checking all the boxes, taking care of everyone else, managing your career, your family, your home, and your health—but somewhere along the way, joy, curiosity, desire, and pleasure started to disappear.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with Gabriella Espinosa, women’s wellness expert, host of the Pleasure in the Pause podcast, and advocate for redefining pleasure and connection in midlife.

Gabriella shares her own journey through perimenopause, where anxiety, overwhelm, brain fog, low libido, and feeling disconnected from herself led her to explore the missing conversation around pleasure, body awareness, intimacy, and nervous system safety.

Together, they discuss why so many women lose connection with their bodies after years of caregiving, striving, and putting everyone else first—and why pleasure isn’t a luxury, but an essential part of feeling alive, energized, and connected.

They also explore how changing hormones, stress, and survival mode impact desire, why intimacy can be rebuilt at any age, and how simple daily moments of joy and sensation can help women reconnect with themselves.

If you’ve been feeling like the version of you who felt vibrant, playful, confident, or deeply connected has disappeared, this conversation will remind you that she isn’t gone—and it’s never too late to rediscover her.

GABRIELLA ESPINOSA

Gabriella Espinosa is a women’s wellness and pleasure advocate, yoga and breathwork teacher, host of the Pleasure in the Pause podcast, and executive producer of the upcoming documentary Hot. Through her work, she helps women reconnect with their bodies, redefine pleasure, and navigate midlife with greater confidence, connection, and vitality.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why so many women feel disconnected from themselves during midlife
How perimenopause can impact desire, intimacy, and confidence
Why pleasure is an important signal of safety, vitality, and wellbeing
How chronic stress and survival mode affect connection with your body
The importance of learning the language of your own needs and desires
Why intimacy and pleasure can be rebuilt at any age
Simple practices to reconnect with your body through sensation
How to advocate for your pleasure, health, and relationships

QUOTES

“Pleasure has no age limit or expiration date.”

“Pleasure is actually information.”

“Perimenopause doesn’t mean the end of pleasure. It can be the beginning of a new exciting chapter.”

“What feels good in my body?”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code DRMARIZA and get 10% off on your Womeness Order

Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now

Pleasure in the Pause Podcast

Get the 7-Day Pleasure Body Journal

Pleasure in the Pause Website

Gabriella Espinosa Website

Gabriella Espinosa Instagram

Gabriella Espinosa Youtube

RELATED EPISODES

760: The Mindset Shift That Helps You Stop Feeling Stuck with Dr. Rachel Goldman

759: Tired, Wired & Inflamed? The Sleep Fix Most Women Are Missing with Dr. Michael Breus

758: Why Your Body Can’t Heal Until It Feels Safe: The Nervous System Shift That Changes Everything with Dr. Dave Rabin

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause

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755: What If Your Body Isn’t Broken, Just Undernourished? The Missing Link Between Nutrients, Hormones & Energy with Ryan Woodburry

June 16, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

Listen to the Episode Here

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EPISODE SUMMARY

What if one of the biggest missing pieces of perimenopause isn’t hormones at all?

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with Ryan Woodbury, co-founder and co-CEO of Needed, to explore why nutrient deficiencies may be one of the most overlooked drivers of fatigue, brain fog, low energy, poor stress resilience, and other common symptoms women experience during perimenopause.

Ryan shares the surprising personal experience that led her into the world of nutritional science and supplementation, including discovering her own nutrient deficiencies despite following a highly nutrient-dense diet. Together, they unpack the alarming research showing that most women are entering pregnancy, postpartum, and eventually perimenopause already running on depleted nutritional reserves.

They discuss the shortcomings of traditional nutritional recommendations, why so many women remain deficient despite taking standard multivitamins, and how decades of stress, caregiving, disrupted sleep, pregnancies, and modern environmental demands create a perfect storm for depletion.

Dr. Mariza and Ryan also dive into the critical role nutrients play in supporting hormone production, brain function, metabolism, cellular energy, blood sugar regulation, and healthy aging. Most importantly, they offer practical guidance for building a stronger nutritional foundation so women can thrive through midlife and beyond.

If you’ve ever wondered why you still feel depleted despite doing “all the right things,” this conversation will help connect the dots.

RYAN WOODBURY

Ryan Woodbury is the co-founder and co-CEO of Needed, a company dedicated to improving nutritional support for women across every stage of life. With a background in environmental science, nutrition, and food systems, Ryan has become a leading advocate for evidence-based nutrient support for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause. Her mission is to help women move beyond bare-minimum nutrition and build the foundation needed for lifelong vitality.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why nutrient deficiencies are so common among women entering perimenopause
The hidden impact of stress, caregiving, pregnancy, and postpartum depletion
Why traditional multivitamins often fail to meet women’s nutritional needs
The critical role of vitamin D, magnesium, choline, omega-3s, and B vitamins
How nutrient deficiencies contribute to fatigue, brain fog, and metabolic dysfunction
Why foundational nutrition matters before adding targeted interventions
The connection between blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and hormonal health
How women can build a stronger foundation for energy, cognition, and healthy aging

QUOTES

“95% of women have at least one nutrient deficiency in a very key nutrient.”

“You deserve to get what your body actually needs, not the bare minimum.”

“When women reclaim their energy, they don’t just change themselves, they change the world.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Subscribe now and get 20% off + FREE Shipping on your first NEEDED Supplement Order

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

Needed Website

Needed Instagram

Needed Facebook

Needed Academy Instagram

RELATED EPISODES

754: How to Find Joy When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan with Amberly Lago

751: Bloating, Brain Fog & Hormone Chaos? Your Gut May Be the Root Cause with Dr. Cassie Smith

741: Estrogen, Gut Health, Mitochondria, and Cardiovascular Health: What Changes In Perimenopause with Dr. Siobhan Mitchel

743: Why Your Heart Risk Changes in Menopause (And What You Can Do About It) with Dr. Jayne Morgan

Free Download: Easy, Practical Tips to Get More Energy!

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750: The Underlying Cellular Cause of Midlife Fatigue, Brain Fog & Low Motivation with Andrew Salzman

May 28, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

Listen to the Episode Here

Or, listen on your favorite app: iTunes (Apple Podcasts) | Stitcher | Spotify | Pocketcasts

Episode Summary

“What if the exhaustion, brain fog, low libido, and metabolic changes women experience in midlife are actually rooted in a deeper cellular energy crisis?”

In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with Dr. Andrew Salzman — physician, inventor, biochemical engineer, and Chief Scientific Officer of Wonderfeel — to unpack the powerful connection between NAD, mitochondrial health, inflammation, ovarian aging, gut integrity, nitric oxide, and the dramatic energy shifts women experience during perimenopause and menopause.

Dr. Salzman explains why menopause represents a major biological inflection point for women and how declining NAD levels may be contributing to fatigue, brain fog, poor recovery, metabolic dysfunction, sleep issues, reduced stress resilience, cardiovascular changes, and shifts in sexual health.

Together, they explore the evolutionary role of menopause, why ovarian senescence accelerates aging pathways, how inflammation and the enzyme CD38 rapidly deplete NAD stores, and why the gut microbiome may be one of the biggest drivers of inflammation and energy decline in modern women.

They also dive into nitric oxide production, cardiovascular health, the brain’s dependence on NAD for sleep and cognitive function, and why ingredients like NMN and creatine are gaining attention for supporting healthy aging and resilience in midlife.

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought, “I don’t feel like myself anymore,” this conversation will help connect the dots between your symptoms, your mitochondria, and your long-term vitality.

ANDREW SALZMAN

Dr. Andrew Salzman is a physician, inventor, biochemical engineer, and the Chief Scientific Officer of Wonderfeel. With more than 30 years of experience in drug discovery and development, over 170 scientific publications, and more than 50 patents, Dr. Salzman has spent decades studying aging biology, inflammation, cellular resilience, nitric oxide signaling, and mitochondrial health

IN THIS EPISODE

Why menopause is a major biological inflection point for women
How declining NAD levels impact energy, metabolism, sleep, and brain function
Why CD38 accelerates inflammation and NAD depletion during aging
The surprising connection between gut health, inflammation, and menopause symptoms
How estrogen decline contributes to leaky gut and systemic inflammation
Why nitric oxide is essential for circulation, libido, cardiovascular health, and cognition
The role of NAD in circadian rhythm, sleep quality, and stress resilience
Why NMN and creatine are gaining attention for healthy aging and vitality

QUOTES

“Menopause will happen, but the question is: how do we maintain vibrancy and resilience through it?”

“NAD is the common currency that drives energy throughout the body.”

“The gut is the foundational driver of inflammation as we age.”

“Without NADPH, you don’t have nitric oxide production.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Subscribe and Save $15 on Wonderfeel Youngr™ NMN

Use code ENERGIZED and get 30% off on your first BATCH order

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

Wonderfeel Website

Wonderfeel Instagram

Wonderfeel YouTube

RELATED EPISODES

741: Estrogen, Gut Health, Mitochondria, and Cardiovascular Health: What Changes In Perimenopause with Dr. Siobhan Mitchel

691: The Fertility Crisis No One Talks About: Why Your Health Today Impacts Future Generations with Dr. Ann Shippy

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause

743: Why Your Heart Risk Changes in Menopause (And What You Can Do About It) with Dr. Jayne Morgan

Free Download: Easy, Practical Tips to Get More Energy!

Download the free Energy-Boosting Cheat Sheet now to learn how to unlock abundant health and energy that lasts—in only seconds every day!

747: The Silent Shift: Why The Perimenopause Transition Shapes Your Next 40 Years

May 19, 2026 in Podcast, Women’s Health 0

Listen to the Episode Here

Or, listen on your favorite app: iTunes (Apple Podcasts) | Stitcher | Spotify | Pocketcasts

Episode Summary

“Perimenopause is more than just hot flashes and mood swings—it’s a biological inflection point.”

In this solo episode, Dr. Mariza discusses the deeper, often overlooked changes happening during perimenopause and menopause. It’s more than a reproductive shift; it’s a systemic change affecting the brain, metabolism, hormones, mitochondria, gut health, and more.

Dr. Mariza delves into the silent shift that many women experience—feeling exhausted, stressed, and unproductive despite their best efforts. She explains how perimenopause accelerates aging processes, and why early intervention is key to reducing long-term health risks and preserving vitality.

This episode focuses on actionable steps you can take to support your body during this critical transition—from stabilizing blood sugar and building muscle to optimizing sleep and protecting your brain.

If you’ve been feeling “off” but can’t explain why, this episode is a must-listen.

Be sure to tune in!

IN THIS EPISODE

Why perimenopause is a biological and metabolic inflection point
The connection between hormonal fluctuations, mitochondria, and energy
How perimenopause accelerates aging and increases risk for chronic diseases
Why “just pushing through” is not the solution for midlife women
The importance of early intervention for better long-term health outcomes
Simple strategies for building energy, optimizing brain function, and protecting your future health
How stabilizing blood sugar, improving muscle mass, and prioritizing sleep can reduce inflammation and support resilience