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Women Mastering Midlife

Women Mastering Midlife

Written by: Victoria Byrd Pharmacist and Certified Menopause Health Coach
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About this listen

 Women Mastering Midlife is a podcast for women navigating perimenopause and menopause who want clear answers, honest conversations, and practical support. Hosted by Victoria Byrd, a licensed pharmacist, integrative women's health coach and menopause educator, the show covers hormones, brain fog, sleep, stress, weight changes, relationships, nutrition, movement, and what midlife really looks like behind the scenes. Through expert guests and real talk, this podcast helps you feel informed, supported, and less alone as you move through midlife on your own terms.Victoria Byrd, Pharmacist and Certified Menopause Health Coach Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • 88. Closing the Gap in Menopause Care: Dr. Jordan Emont on Hormone Therapy, Misconceptions, and Patient-Centered Medicine

    88. Closing the Gap in Menopause Care: Dr. Jordan Emont on Hormone Therapy, Misconceptions, and Patient-Centered Medicine
    Jan 26 2026

    In this episode of the Women Mastering Midlife Podcast, Victoria Byrd, RPh, welcomes Dr. Jordan Emont, an OB-GYN dedicated to raising the standard of care for women in perimenopause and menopause. As the first male guest on the podcast, Dr. Emont brings a thoughtful and clinically grounded perspective shaped by listening deeply to women’s experiences, recognizing gaps in medical training, and advocating for evidence-based, compassionate menopause care.

    Throughout this conversation, Victoria and Dr. Emont discuss why menopause care remains underemphasized in traditional medical education, how fear-based narratives around hormone therapy persist despite strong data, and why patient-centered care is essential for improving outcomes for midlife women. This episode highlights both the systemic challenges women face in healthcare and the meaningful progress being driven by clinicians committed to change.


    Topics Covered

    • Why most clinicians receive minimal training in menopause care

    • The importance of listening and humility in caring for midlife women

    • How systemic bias contributes to women feeling dismissed in healthcare settings

    • Common and overlooked symptoms of perimenopause, including mood changes and heart palpitations

    • The importance of maintaining a full differential diagnosis rather than attributing all symptoms to perimenopause

    • The overlap between menopause symptoms and thyroid or cardiovascular conditions

    • Why standard 15-minute medical appointments are inadequate for menopause care

    • How to personalize hormone therapy using evidence, safety data, and patient feedback

    • What excites Dr. Emont most about the future of menopause medicine

    • Why menopause care must extend beyond OB-GYNs into primary care and other specialties

    • The critical role of patient advocacy and informed decision-making

    About Dr. Jordan Emont

    Dr. Jordan Emont is an OB-GYN specializing in perimenopause, menopause, and sexual health. He currently offers telehealth care in California and Florida, with plans to expand to additional states. He is also a member of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), an organization committed to advancing education and care in women’s sexual and hormonal health.


    To learn more about Dr. Emont’s work, follow him on social media and visit his website for updates on clinical availability.


    Let’s Keep the Conversation Going: If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe to Women Mastering Midlife on your favorite podcast platform to receive weekly conversations that help you navigate perimenopause, menopause, and midlife health with clarity and confidence.

    Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let’s grow stronger together.

    Get your FREE guides HERE: www.womenmasteringmidlife.com/free-guides

    Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!

    Find more information on our website: www.womenmasteringmidlife.com

    Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses


    Disclaimer

    This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.

    Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.
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    36 mins
  • 87. The New Rules of Women’s Health in Midlife: Advocacy, Menopause, and Taking Ownership of Your Care

    87. The New Rules of Women’s Health in Midlife: Advocacy, Menopause, and Taking Ownership of Your Care
    Jan 19 2026
    What if the real problem in women’s healthcare isn’t a lack of information but decades of outdated rules that were never designed for women in the first place?In this powerful and deeply validating episode of Women Mastering Midlife, Victoria sits down with award-winning journalist and author Meghan Rabbitt to discuss her new book, The New Rules of Women’s Health: Your Guide to Thriving at Any Age, and why midlife is a critical turning point for women to stop outsourcing their care and start advocating for themselves.With more than 20 years of experience translating complex medical science into accessible guidance, Meghan brings both evidence and lived experience to a conversation that spans the full female lifespan from anatomy and hormones to brain health, heart health, lifestyle, and the unseen gaps that still exist in modern medicine.In this episode, we discuss:Why women’s health research has historically treated men as the “default patient” and how that legacy still affects diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes todayWhy perimenopause is not a niche issue, but a major blind spot in healthcare during a crucial window for prevention and longevityHow to stop normalizing symptoms like brain fog, heavy periods, fatigue, and mood changes that deserve real clinical attentionWhat women need to know about menopause hormone therapy, including where evidence ends, where clinical judgment begins, and why shared decision-making mattersThe role of lifestyle factors: nutrition, strength training, sleep, alcohol use, and stress regulation in shaping long-term health during midlifeHow misinformation, clickbait headlines, and influencer culture are fueling confusion around women’s health, and how to evaluate claims using evidence-based thinkingWhy pharmacists are an underutilized and highly accessible resource for women navigating medications, supplements, and hormone therapyMeghan’s personal health journey, including years of dismissed symptoms, the eventual diagnosis of uterine fibroids, and the importance of tracking and naming what your body is telling youHow to prepare for medical appointments with confidence, ask better questions, and recognize when it is time to seek a second opinion or a new providerThe empowering truth about midlife: this is not a decline, but a transition into clarity, agency, and informed self-leadershipHow to find Meghan:Her Book: The New Rules of Women’s Health: Your Guide to Thriving at Any AgeHer WebsiteInstagramLet’s Keep the Conversation Going: If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe to Women Mastering Midlife on your favorite podcast platform to receive weekly conversations that help you navigate perimenopause, menopause, and midlife health with clarity and confidence.Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let’s grow stronger together.Get your FREE guides HERE: www.womenmasteringmidlife.com/free-guides Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together! Find more information on our website: www.womenmasteringmidlife.com Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses Disclaimer This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice. Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.
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    45 mins
  • 86. When Hormone Therapy Isn’t the Answer: Andrea Nakayama on Root-Cause Healing and Thriving Through Midlife Naturally

    86. When Hormone Therapy Isn’t the Answer: Andrea Nakayama on Root-Cause Healing and Thriving Through Midlife Naturally
    Jan 12 2026

    In this empowering episode of Women Mastering Midlife, host Victoria Byrd, RPh sits down with Andrea Nakayama, functional medicine nutritionist and founder of the Functional Nutrition Alliance, to unpack what happens when hormone replacement therapy (HRT) isn’t the right fit.

    Whether due to contraindications, side effects, or personal choice, many women find that HRT doesn’t solve everything. Andrea shares how to navigate perimenopause and menopause naturally, focusing on root-cause healing, functional nutrition, and the body’s terrain—including sleep, gut health, blood sugar balance, and stress.


    Together, they explore:

    • Why HRT doesn’t work for every woman — and how to know if it’s not working for you

    • How to support your body’s natural hormone metabolism through nutrition and lifestyle

    • The importance of balancing sleep, digestion, and blood sugar before adding hormones

    • The truth about functional lab testing and what’s actually worth your money

    • Why joy, purpose, and community matter just as much as supplements or prescriptions

    Andrea reminds us that vitality and balance are possible—with or without hormones. Her compassionate, evidence-based perspective helps women reclaim agency over their midlife health and make empowered decisions that align with their individual stories.


    Connect with Andrea Nakayama: andreanakayama.com Instagram: @andreanakayama


    Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let’s grow stronger together.

    Listen & subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

    Get your FREE guides HERE: www.msvictoriabyrd.com/free-guides


    Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @WomenMasteringMidlife and @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!

    Find more information on our website: www.womenmasteringmidlife.com

    Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses


    Disclaimer

    This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.

    Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
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