Podcast
Empower Your Menopause
Hosted by Fabulous Beyond 40 · EN
Menopause specialist nutritionist and health coaches Juli Madacey and James Ellis talk all things menopause, including how your lifestyle can empower your transition.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 93: Why Women Over 40 Need Longer Conversations About Health with Sharon Lemoine
2w ago00:32:52Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsIn this episode of Empower Your Menopause, James and Juli are joined by Sharon Lemoine, an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and founder of Gig Harbor Medical Spa and Concierge Medicine in Washington State.Sharon brings years of clinical experience to a conversation many women over 40 will recognise immediately: what happens when you know something has changed, but you’re not getting the time, context or clarity you need to understand what’s going on.We talk about why midlife health is rarely about one isolated issue, and why better conversations matter when changes in energy, sleep, weight, mood, appetite, confidence, stress tolerance and hormones all start jostling for attention like badly behaved toddlers in a supermarket.This episode explores what more joined-up assessment can look like, why women are so often told their experience is “just ageing,” and what needs to be considered before jumping straight to diet advice, hormone therapy, weight-loss medication or another quick-fix solution.You’ll hear us discuss:Why the standard short appointment often falls short for women in midlifeWhat a proper hormone and health conversation should includeHow menopause-related changes can overlap with sleep, stress, blood sugar, thyroid, gut health and lifestyle factorsWhy weight gain after 40 deserves better assessment than “eat less and move more”How women can advocate for clearer answers without needing to become their own unpaid medical research departmentThis is a conversation about helping women understand what may be happening in their body, ask better questions, and make informed decisions with more confidence and less confusion.Connect with Sharon Lemoine:Website: https://gigharbormedicalspa.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconciergenp_/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonLemoine-ARNPFind out more about Fabulous Beyond 40:Website: https://fabulousbeyond40.com/
Transcribe →Episode 91: 5 Signs Your Gut Is Affecting More Than Your Digestion After 40
4w ago00:34:43Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsIn this episode of Empower Your Menopause, we explore why your gut health affects so much more than just digestion. Yes, bloating matters, but it's often just the most obvious sign that something else is going on beneath the surface. We unpack five surprising ways your gut may be influencing how you feel after 40, including brain fog, persistent fatigue, mood swings, skin changes, cravings, and those frustrating energy crashes that seem to come out of nowhere. We also explain why these issues can become more noticeable during the menopause transition, how your gut communicates with your brain, immune system, and hormones, and why looking after your gut doesn't have to mean giving up everything you enjoy. As always, we focus on practical, realistic strategies that fit into real life rather than adding another complicated wellness routine to your to-do list.If today's episode resonated with you and you'd like a simple first step, our High Protein Playbook is designed to help you support your gut health with 52 high-protein recipes, meal plans, shopping lists, and our Digital Protein Gap Coach to help you put everything into practice.Find out more at https://playbook.fabulousbeyond40.com/And if you recognised several of the signs we discussed and are ready for a deeper approach, our 4-week Gut Health Reset is designed specifically for women over 40 who want to improve their digestion, energy, mood, and overall wellbeing by addressing the root causes of poor gut health. Learn more at https://gutresetcourse.com/If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with another woman who might benefit from hearing it. And until next time, stay strong and stay fabulous.
Transcribe →Episode 90: Protein, Muscle and Midlife Metabolism
Jun 500:35:58Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsIn this episode of Empower Your Menopause, we tackle one of the biggest nutrition challenges we see in women over 40: not understanding that protein matters, but knowing how to eat enough of it consistently in real life.We call it the Protein Gap — the gap between knowing what you should do and actually doing it. We explore why protein becomes more important as we age, how it supports muscle, metabolism, energy, recovery, healthy ageing, and appetite regulation, and why so many women unintentionally under-eat it despite trying their best to make healthy choices. We also discuss the link between protein, cravings, afternoon energy crashes, strength training, and long-term independence, along with practical ways to increase your intake without tracking every gram or turning your life upside down. If you've ever found yourself thinking, "I know I should eat more protein, but I don't know how," this episode is for you. Grab The High Protein PlaybookTo help make protein simple, practical, and achievable, we've created the High Protein Playbook. It includes 52 high-protein recipes, two weeks of done-for-you meal plans, shopping lists, and our Digital Protein Gap Coach, which helps you turn good intentions into actual breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and shopping lists. It's not another recipe book — it's a practical bridge between knowing and doing.Find out more at: https://playbook.fabulousbeyond40.com/And as always, if you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with another woman who could benefit from hearing it. Stay strong and stay fabulous.
Transcribe →Episode 89: Why dieting stops working after 40 and what to do instead
May 2800:25:04Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsIf you’ve ever found yourself thinking “I’m eating well, I’m exercising, I’m trying really hard… so why isn’t anything changing anymore?” — this episode is for you.This week on the Empower Your Menopause podcast, James and Juli unpack one of the most frustrating realities women over 40 face: the old diet and weight loss advice often stops working the way it once did.And no, it’s not because you’ve suddenly become lazy, weak-willed, or “bad” at dieting.In this episode, we explore why the rules genuinely change during the menopause transition and beyond — from shifts in oestrogen, cortisol, insulin sensitivity and muscle mass, to the growing role gut health plays in metabolism, cravings, energy and body composition.Along the way, Juli shares her own personal experience of years spent white-knuckling diets before discovering a more sustainable, compassionate approach to health.The big message from this episode?Your body hasn’t turned against you. It’s simply operating under a different set of rules now — and you need a different strategy.Grab a free clarity callIf this episode resonates and you’re wondering where to start, James and Juli also talk about their free Clarity Calls — relaxed, no-pressure conversations designed to help women over 40 understand what’s really going on with their health and what one realistic next step might look like.Book your free call here:freecall.fabulousbeyond40.com
Transcribe →Episode 88: The Gut–Hormone Connection – Why Your Microbiome Matters After 40
May 1500:18:43Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsHave you ever felt like your body just… changed overnight?Same habits. Same effort. But suddenly it’s bloating, brain fog, stubborn weight gain, cravings, poor sleep, and energy levels that seem to disappear by 3pm.And usually the answer you get is: “It’s just your hormones.” Or worse… “It’s just your age.”But what if your gut is playing a much bigger role than you realise?In this episode, we unpack the gut–hormone connection in plain English and explain why your microbiome can have a huge influence on everything from appetite and metabolism to mood, cravings, inflammation, and energy after 40.We cover:What’s actually changing in the body after 40How gut bacteria influence hormones like oestrogenWhy bloating, belly fat, cravings, and brain fog are often connectedWhy so many women get stuck chasing symptoms instead of causes Practical ways to start supporting your gut without extreme diets or restriction We also talk about why protein intake is one of the biggest struggles we see in women over 40 — not knowing they need it, but knowing how to make it work consistently in real life.If that sounds familiar, join us for our practical workshop: The Protein Gap https://protein.fabulousbeyond40.com/And if this episode has made you realise your gut health might need some attention, check out our Gut Health Reset — a realistic, food-first programme designed specifically for women over 40: https://gutresetcourse.com/If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone else who needs to hear it.And until next time… stay strong and stay fabulous.
Transcribe →Episode 87: Menopause Didn’t Kill Your Libido. Burnout Did. With Special Guest Julie Merriman
May 800:33:46Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsIn this episode of Empower Your Menopause, Juli and James welcome Julie Merriman to talk about libido, burnout, intimacy, and why so many women over 40 feel disconnected from themselves.Because here’s the thing: menopause may not have killed your desire. Your nervous system may simply have been running a full-blown emergency response for years.Together, they explore how chronic stress, exhaustion, caregiving, mental load, resentment, poor sleep, under-fuelling, and years of self-sacrifice can leave women feeling numb, shut down, and miles away from pleasure. Julie explains why high-achieving women often fall into the “virtuous trap” of being the reliable one, and how that can quietly erode desire, confidence, and connection.They also unpack roommate marriages, responsive desire, body image, emotional safety, and what it means to reclaim your radiance after 40.To find out more about Julie Merriman, her work, books, podcast, and Soul Joy™ approach, visit her website at: https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/And if this episode resonates with you, please like, follow, and share it with another woman who needs to hear this message. Because chances are, her desire hasn’t vanished. It may just be buried under burnout, stress, and years of being the one who holds everything together.
Transcribe →Episode 86: The Gut–GLP 1 Connection - What Most Weight Loss Conversations Miss
Apr 1900:18:57Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsOn this week’s episode of Empower Your Menopause, we make no apologies for talking about GLP-1 again — but this time, we flip the script. Instead of asking how to boost it, we ask a better question: why isn’t your body regulating it properly in the first place?We dig into the gut–GLP-1 connection, why appetite signalling goes off track, and how stress, sleep, and modern eating habits all play a role. Because the goal isn’t just to suppress appetite… it’s to understand the system behind it.Join our workshopIf you want a clear, balanced take before making any decisions, join our £10 workshop: Thinking About Weight Loss Jabs? Start Here First.It’s designed to give you a clear, balanced understanding of your options.We’ll walk you through what these medications actually do, how your body regulates appetite, and what you need in place — whether you decide to use them or not.So you can make a decision from a place of clarity… not confusion or pressure.You can find that at jabs.fabulousbeyond40.com.
Transcribe →Episode 85: Can You Support GLP-1 Naturally? Foods That Influence Appetite Hormones
Apr 900:24:15Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsWeight loss jabs are everywhere right now.You can’t scroll, read, or have a conversation without them coming up… and we’re getting asked about them all the time. So in this episode, we’re tackling it head on.We break down what GLP-1 actually is, how your body already produces it, and why your gut, your food, and your lifestyle all play a role in how your appetite is regulated.Because this isn’t just about medication vs no medication… it’s about understanding what’s driving hunger in the first place, so you can make a more informed decision about what’s right for you.If you’re thinking about weight loss jabs — or even just trying to make sense of them — we’ve put together a workshop:Thinking About Weight Loss Jabs? Start Here First.It’s just £10, and it’s designed to give you a clear, balanced understanding of your options, what these medications actually do, and what you need in place whether you decide to use them or not.Find out more at jabs.fabulousbeyond40.com
Transcribe →Episode 84: GLP-1 Explained - Why These Weight Loss Drugs Are Everywhere Right Now
Apr 300:32:09Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsGLP-1 medications - aka weight loss jabs - are everywhere right now. And if your body feels like it’s fighting you, it’s easy to see why they’re so appealing.In this episode, we cut through the noise.Not to tell you they’re good or bad - but to help you actually understand what they do… and what they don’t.Because while they can be powerful tools, they don’t fix what’s going on underneath. Things like gut health, muscle loss, energy regulation, and what happens when you stop often get completely overlooked.And that’s where things start to unravel.This is a clear, honest look at why these drugs work, why so many women are turning to them—and what you need to know before making a decision.If this has raised a few questions (it should), we’ve created a low-cost workshop to help you make sense of it all:Workshop Thinking About Weight Loss Jabs? Start Here FirstWe’ll show you what’s really driving weight gain, cravings, and low energy after 40—and how to support your body properly, whether you choose to use these medications or not.It’s just £10 (about $13) to join, see 👉 https://jabs.fabulousbeyond40.com/
Transcribe →Episode 83: Cravings, Appetite and Gut Health. What’s Really Driving Hunger After 40
Mar 2600:30:47Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsDoing all the right things… but still feeling hungry, craving more, or stuck in that cycle of being “good” all day and then losing it later?In this episode, we break down what’s really driving appetite after 40 — from blood sugar swings and stress to the often-overlooked role of gut health. Because hunger isn’t random, and it’s not about willpower… it’s about the signals your body is sending.If you want good health, work on your gutIf you’re ready to fix the root of the problem, our Gut Health Reset is where to start.It’s a practical, food-first programme designed to help you calm cravings, steady your appetite, and improve your energy in as little as 4 weeks — with the option to go deeper over 8 weeks if you want to fully reset and rebuild your gut.You’ll get a clear step-by-step plan, simple nutrition protocols, and the exact approach we use with clients — without cutting out everything you enjoy or turning your life upside down.You can get started for just £49, or £85 for the full 8-week reset.Find out more at gutresetcourse.com.
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