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The Dusty Muffins

The Dusty Muffins

Written by: The Dusty Muffins
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About this listen

Welcome to The Dusty Muffins, where three menopause specialists unite to inspire, empower, and uplift you through the wild ride of menopause and perimenopause. We're here to answer your burning questions, educate, and advocate with a touch of humor and a lot of heart. Whether you're curious, confused, or ready for authentic discussion, pull up a chair and join us.

Remember: while we're clinicians, we're not your doctors. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. We encourage you to partner with your own medical clinician to address your unique health needs.

This is The Dusty Muffins, where menopause meets sisterhood and strength!

CONTACT:

Rebbecca Hertel, DO, MSCP

Osteopathic Midlife Health

Rebbecca Hertel Consulting, LLC

Website

Instagram

Linkedin

Facebook

Substack

Aoife O’Sullivan, MD, MSCP

Portland Menopause Doc LLC

Website

Instagram

Linkedin

Christine Hart Kress, DNP, MSCP

Website

Instagram

Linkedin

Become a supporter of this podcast: TheDustyMuffins333@gmail.com

Copyright The Dusty Muffins, LLC
Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • From Fear to Facts: The End of the Black Box Warning
    Jan 18 2026

    Pop the confetti—it’s a landmark moment for women’s health! In this celebratory and vital episode of The Dusty Muffins, our expert trio—Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan (MD, MSCP), Dr. Christine Hart Kress (DNP, MSCP), and Dr. Rebbecca Hertel (DO, MSCP)—break down the FDA’s historic removal of the black box warning from estrogen products and what it really means for you.

    For decades, flawed science cast a shadow of fear over hormone therapy, sidelining millions from safe, effective treatment. No more. The docs dive into the past, present, and future of menopause care with clarity and conviction. In this episode, you’ll discover:

    📦 Why the "Black Box" Was All Wrong: How outdated, problematic studies created decades of unnecessary fear and confusion around estrogen.

    🛡️ The Gold Standard for GSM: Why local (vaginal) estrogen is not only safe but should be the first line of defense for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), including urinary symptoms.

    💊 Your Body, Your Blueprint: The critical importance of individualized hormone therapy—because one-size-fits-all never worked.

    🗣️ Your Right to Better Care: How to advocate for yourself with a healthcare system still catching up on the latest evidence, and why you should never settle for dismissive care.

    🔮 The Future is Nuanced: How women’s health is evolving beyond just hormones to include holistic, evidence-based practices that prioritize your quality of life.

    Tune in for an empowering episode that turns a bureaucratic update into a rallying cry for smarter, fearless, and personalized healthcare.

    The Dusty Muffins:

    📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedustymuffins

    🔗 Linktree → https://linktr.ee/thedustymuffins

    Hosts:

    👩⚕️ Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan → https://www.instagram.com/portlandmenopausedoc

    👩⚕️ Dr. Rebbecca Hertel → https://www.instagram.com/drrebbeccaherteldo

    👩⚕️ Dr. Christine Hart Kress → https://www.instagram.com/christinehartkress_dnp

    Disclaimer: The Dusty Muffins are doctors, but they’re not YOUR doctors. This is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Always consult your own healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.

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    48 mins
  • The Midlife Conversation You Deserve: A Breast Specialist's Perspective
    Nov 17 2025

    Navigating the intersection of menopause and breast health can be confusing and fraught with misinformation. In this essential episode of The Dusty Muffins, our specialist trio—Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan (MD, MSCP), Dr. Christine Hart Kress (DNP, MSCP), and Dr. Rebbecca Hertel (DO, MSCP)—sit down with breast health expert Dr. Sabrina Sahni, M.D., to bring clarity and confidence to this critical topic.

    This is a deep dive into the facts you need to make empowered decisions for your body. They tackle outdated myths, highlight the latest evidence, and provide a clear path forward for personalized care. In this episode, you’ll discover:

    🔬 PEt & Breast Health: The Real Story: Cutting through the fear and misconceptions surrounding hormone therapy and its risks, based on current evidence-based practices.

    📄 The Critical Role of Breast Density: Why your mammogram report’s mention of "dense breasts" is a key piece of your health puzzle and how it impacts your screening needs.

    🧬 Who Needs Genetic Testing? A clear guide on understanding your family history and when to consider genetic testing for breast cancer risk.

    🎓 The Education Gap: Why many clinicians are still misinformed about menopause management and how you can advocate for better, more nuanced care.

    💪 Your Health, Your Voice: Practical strategies for becoming your own best advocate, ensuring your quality of life is a top priority in every medical decision.

    The Dusty Muffins:

    📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedustymuffins

    🔗 Linktree → https://linktr.ee/thedustymuffins

    Hosts:

    👩⚕️ Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan → https://www.instagram.com/portlandmenopausedoc

    👩⚕️ Dr. Rebbecca Hertel → https://www.instagram.com/drrebbeccaherteldo

    👩⚕️ Dr. Christine Hart Kress → https://www.instagram.com/christinehartkress_dnp

    Guest – Dr. Sabrina Sahni:

    🌐 Mayo Clinic Profile → https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/sahni-sabrina-m-d/bio-20509454

    📸 Instagram → @sabrinaksahnimd

    Tune in for an episode that replaces anxiety with actionable knowledge, empowering you to take control of your health during midlife and beyond.

    Disclaimer: The Dusty Muffins are doctors, but they’re not YOUR doctors. This is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Always consult your own healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.

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    47 mins
  • From Silence to Strategy: A Modern Playbook for Menopause
    Nov 9 2025

    A new generation is changing the conversation around menopause, and this episode is your front-row seat! The specialist trio of The Dusty Muffins—Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan (MD, MSCP), Dr. Christine Hart Kress (DNP, MSCP), and Dr. Rebbecca Hertel (DO, MSCP)—are joined by author and women's advocate Lauren Tetenbaum for a powerful discussion on taking control of your health journey.

    This conversation is all about action, access, and advocacy. They tackle how to build a proactive plan for menopause and why a unified front is the future of effective treatment. In this episode, you’ll discover:

    🔑 Knowledge as Your Key: How arming yourself with information is the ultimate form of empowerment, transforming you from a passive patient into an informed advocate for your own care.

    🩺 The Power of the Dream Team: Why the best menopause care isn't a solo mission, but a collaborative effort that can involve your doctor, a coach, and your entire support network.

    🚫 Smashing the Stigma: The importance of breaking generational silence and having open, honest conversations to normalize this universal life transition.

    🌟 The Generational Shift: How millennials are proactively preparing, asking tough questions, and demanding better, more personalized healthcare options than ever before.

    💼 From Personal to Professional: How Lauren’s own journey fueled her mission to educate and empower women through writing, training, and advocacy.

    The Dusty Muffins:

    📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thedustymuffins

    🔗 Linktree → https://linktr.ee/thedustymuffins

    Hosts:

    👩⚕️ Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan → https://www.instagram.com/portlandmenopausedoc

    👩⚕️ Dr. Rebbecca Hertel → https://www.instagram.com/drrebbeccaherteldo

    👩⚕️ Dr. Christine Hart Kress → https://www.instagram.com/christinehartkress_dnp

    Guest – Lauren Tetenbaum (The Counselaur):

    🌐 Website → https://thecounselaur.com

    📸 Instagram → @thecounselaur

    Tune in for an energizing and strategic episode that will leave you feeling equipped, supported, and ready to demand the care you deserve.

    Disclaimer: The Dusty Muffins are doctors, but they’re not YOUR doctors. This is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Always consult your own healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.

    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
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