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The Modern Midlife Collective

The Modern Midlife Collective

Written by: Dr. Ade Akindipe DNP MBA APRN FNP-C and Dr. Jillian Woodruff MD FACOG NCMP
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Welcome to The Modern Midlife Collective—where midlife isn’t a crisis, it’s a rebirth. Hosted by Dr. Ade Akindipe, DNP, and Dr. Jillian Woodruff, MD, this is the podcast for women ready to unapologetically own their power, thrive through the ups and downs of hormones, weight, and self-care, and show the world that thriving at 40 and beyond isn’t just possible—it’s your birthright. Biweekly, we bring you science-backed insights on hormones, menopause, longevity, and sexual health—real tools to empower women in midlife and beyond. With a fearless blend of functional medicine, real-life wisdom, and no-nonsense empowerment, we’re here to challenge the norms, break through the barriers, and help you step into a life of vitality, confidence, and unstoppable strength. Ready to rise? Let’s do this.© 2026 Dr. Ade Akindipe, DNP, MBA, APRN, FNP-C and Dr. Jillian Woodruff, MD, FACOG, NCMP Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Episode 37: "I Think I'm in Perimenopause — When Do I Start Progesterone?"

    Episode 37: "I Think I'm in Perimenopause — When Do I Start Progesterone?"
    Jul 15 2026

    If you're in your late 30s or 40s, waking up at 3 a.m., and wondering why your anxiety is through the roof and your cycles are changing — this episode is for you. Dr. Jill and Dr. Ade break down everything you need to know about perimenopause and progesterone: what progesterone actually does (hint: it's way more than a "pregnancy hormone"), why bioidentical progesterone is different from synthetic progestins, and the clinical decision framework for when to start. Real science. No fear. Just answers.

    In Episode 37, Dr. Jill Woodruff (gynecologist and certified menopause practitioner) and Dr. Ade Akindipe (DNP, functional medicine specialist) tackle the most common question they hear from women in their 40s: "I think I'm in perimenopause — when do I start progesterone?"

    This episode covers:

    • What perimenopause actually is and when it starts (hint: much earlier than you think)

    • Why progesterone is often the first hormone to decline — and what that means for your sleep, mood, and cycles

    • The critical difference between bioidentical progesterone and synthetic progestins

    • Why the Women's Health Initiative doesn't apply to modern bioidentical hormone therapy

    • Three clinical scenarios where progesterone is indicated in perimenopause

    • How to talk to your provider and advocate for the care you deserve

    GUEST DETAILS:

    This is a co-host episode featuring Dr. Jillian Woodruff, MD, FACOG, NCMP (CMO, Modern Gynecology & Skin) and Dr. Ade Akindipe, DNP, MBA, APRN, FNP-C (Founder, Rejuvenate Health and Wellness).
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    40 mins
  • Episode 36: The Menopause Toolkit Every Woman Needs Before Her Next Doctor's Visit

    Episode 36: The Menopause Toolkit Every Woman Needs Before Her Next Doctor's Visit
    Jul 1 2026

    What happens when a patient decides she deserves better?

    After experiencing years of frustrating symptoms and feeling dismissed by the healthcare system, Angela Jackson, LMSW, turned her own journey into a mission to help other women.

    In this episode, Angela shares the story behind her graduate capstone project—a comprehensive Perimenopause & Menopause Toolkit designed to educate women, improve communication with healthcare providers, and empower patients to become active participants in their own care. The toolkit is available as a free download in the resources below.

    Together, Dr. Jillian Woodruff and Dr. Ade Akindipe explore why so many women remain undiagnosed during perimenopause, the importance of recognizing early symptoms, racial disparities in menopause care, and how patients and providers can work together to create better outcomes.

    This conversation is a reminder that menopause isn't simply something to survive—it's a life transition women can navigate with knowledge, partnership, and confidence.

    What You'll Learn

    • Why women are frequently dismissed during perimenopause
    • The hidden symptoms many women overlook
    • How to prepare for your next healthcare appointment
    • Why patient self-advocacy changes healthcare outcomes
    • The importance of provider-patient collaboration
    • What health equity means in menopause care
    • Why thriving—not suffering—should be the goal

    Featured Guest

    Angela Jackson, LMSW

    Angela Jackson recently earned her Master of Social Work and developed a Perimenopause & Menopause Toolkit as her graduate capstone project. Grounded in trauma-informed care, patient empowerment, and health equity, the toolkit helps women understand symptoms, prepare for medical appointments, and confidently advocate for their healthcare needs.

    Key Takeaways

    • You know your body better than anyone else.
    • Your symptoms deserve to be taken seriously.
    • Perimenopause often begins years before menopause.
    • Being informed allows you to become an active participant in your healthcare.
    • The best healthcare happens through partnership—not one-sided conversations.
    • Every woman deserves to thrive during midlife.

    Suggested Chapter Markers

    00:00 – Why women often feel dismissed

    02:45 – Meet Angela Jackson

    06:00 – The inspiration behind the Menopause Toolkit

    12:00 – Learning to advocate for yourself

    16:30 – Building a toolkit for patients and providers

    20:00 – Racial disparities in menopause care

    24:00 – Why earlier conversations matter

    30:00 – Practical advice for your next doctor's appointment

    35:00 – Final reflections

    Resources Mentioned

    • Perimenopause symptom awareness
    • Patient self-advocacy
    • Shared decision-making between patients and providers
    • Trauma-informed healthcare
    • SWAN (Study of Women's Health Across the Nation)


    Free Download

    📥 Download Angela Jackson's Perimenopause & Menopause Toolkit

    Angela created this comprehensive educational toolkit to help women better understand perimenopause and menopause, recognize common symptoms, prepare for healthcare appointments, and confidently advocate for their care.

    Whether you're just beginning to notice changes or you're already navigating menopause, this free resource is designed to help you feel informed, empowered, and prepared.

    👉 Download the toolkit here
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    53 mins
  • Episode 35: Am I Crazy, or Is This Perimenopause?

    Episode 35: Am I Crazy, or Is This Perimenopause?
    Jun 17 2026
    Am I Crazy, or Is This Perimenopause?The Modern Midlife Collective PodcastEpisode OverviewHave you been told your labs are normal -- but you still don't feel like yourself? Are you waking up at 3 a.m., snapping at people you love, forgetting words mid-sentence, and wondering what is happening to your body? Before you assume the worst, there's something you need to hear: you are not crazy. You may be in perimenopause.In this foundational episode, Dr. Jillian Woodruff, MD, FACOG, MSCP, and Dr. Ade Akindipe, DNP, break down everything women need to know about the menopausal transition -- what it actually is, why it begins earlier than most women expect, and why the symptom list goes so far beyond hot flashes. They explain why perimenopause is a clinical diagnosis rather than a laboratory one, what the research actually shows about hormones and brain health, and what to do if you have already been dismissed by a provider who told you your numbers look fine.This episode also addresses why so many perimenopausal symptoms are misattributed to anxiety, stress, or aging -- and what the full, evidence-based picture actually looks like. If you have been searching for someone to finally connect the dots, this is that conversation.Key Takeaways• Perimenopause can begin in the late 30s and lasts an average of four to ten years -- and women can be fully symptomatic while still having regular menstrual cycles.• Hormone levels fluctuate dramatically during this transition. A single blood draw is a snapshot, not the full film. Perimenopause is a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms, history, and patterns over time.• Estrogen receptors are found in the brain, bones, heart, blood vessels, bladder, skin, and muscles. When estrogen fluctuates, women feel it throughout their entire body -- which explains why the symptom list seems so disconnected.• The SWAN Study (Study of Women's Health Across the Nation), one of the largest long-term studies of the menopausal transition, confirmed that sleep disruption, mood changes, cognitive complaints, and hot flashes commonly emerge during perimenopause -- often well before the final menstrual period.• Cognitive changes -- word-finding difficulties, brain fog, and memory lapses -- are common during perimenopause and are typically temporary and hormone-related. They are not early dementia.• Tracking your symptoms over four to six weeks -- including sleep, mood, energy, cycle changes, hot flashes, brain fog, and joint pain -- gives your clinician critical information that a single lab result cannot provide.• Evidence-based treatment options exist. There is no clinical or moral virtue in suffering through this transition without support.Topics DiscussedWhat perimenopause is and how it differs from menopause, why perimenopause can begin in the late 30s, the hormone fluctuation pattern during perimenopause and why it is not a steady decline, the full symptom spectrum of perimenopause including neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, urogenital, and metabolic symptoms, the SWAN Study and what it tells us about the menopausal transition, estrogen and the brain including research from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, the ACOG position on perimenopause symptom onset, why perimenopause is a clinical diagnosis and not a laboratory diagnosis, the limitations of hormone testing and what labs actually tell us, conditions that mimic perimenopause including thyroid disease, iron deficiency, and insulin resistance, why perimenopausal anxiety is frequently misattributed to stress, the cognitive changes of perimenopause and why they are temporary, building your midlife foundation using the CARESS framework, how to find a Menopause Society certified practitioner, listener questions addressing the most common perimenopause misconceptionsYour Five-Step Perimenopause Action Plan1. Track your symptoms for four to six weeks. Include sleep, mood, energy, hot flashes, brain fog, cycle changes, joint pain, and libido. Patterns are data your clinician needs.2. Know your family history. Ask when your mother or sisters reached menopause and whether they experienced osteoporosis, heart disease, or cognitive changes.3. Build your midlife foundation. Prioritize protein at every meal, resistance training two to three times per week, daily movement, stress management, and sleep. The CARESS framework is a place to start.4. Find a clinician with menopause-specific training. The Menopause Society maintains a certified practitioner directory at menopause.org.5. Give yourself grace. You are not weak. You are not lazy. You are moving through a transition -- and you deserve support during it.Resources MentionedThe Menopause Society certified practitioner directory: menopause.orgACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists): acog.orgSWAN Study (Study of Women's Health Across the Nation): swanstudy.orgModern Gynecology and Skin: moderngynalaska.comRejuvenate Health and ...
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    43 mins
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