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.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 88: The Gut–Hormone Connection – Why Your Microbiome Matters After 40
2w ago00:18:43Tap 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
3w ago00:33:46Tap 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.
Transcribe →Episode 82: “It’s Just Your Age”… Or Is It? What Women Over 40 Are Really Experiencing
Mar 1900:25:58Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsWe hear it all the time:“I don’t feel like myself anymore…”And then comes the classic brush-off — “It’s just your age.”In this episode, we dig into why that phrase isn’t just unhelpful… it’s often the reason women stay stuck for far longer than they need to.We unpack what women over 40 are actually experiencing day to day — the energy crashes, disrupted sleep, brain fog, weight changes that don’t play by the old rules, and mood shifts that seem to come out of nowhere.Then we get into the real issue: when everything gets labelled as “normal”, it shuts down curiosity, delays support, and leaves women questioning themselves instead of the advice they’ve been given.Because yes, age plays a role — but it’s not an explanation.We break down what’s really going on beneath the surface, from hormonal shifts to stress, blood sugar, and sleep disruption, and why your old routines suddenly stop delivering.Most importantly, we talk about what women actually need — not more discipline, but a smarter, more personalised approach that fits this stage of life.If you’ve ever been told “it’s just your age”… this episode will help you see things very differently.And if it hits close to home, it might be time to take a proper look at what’s going on for you.👉 Our Menopause Impact Assessment is designed to do exactly that — helping you join the dots, understand your symptoms, and build a plan that actually makes sense for your body right now. See https://impact.fabulousbeyond40.com/
Transcribe →Episode 81: GLP-1s Explained — What Happens When Weight Loss Comes From a Needle?
Mar 1200:32:48Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsGLP-1 medications are dominating the weight-loss conversation right now. But what actually happens when weight loss comes from a weekly injection rather than changes in lifestyle?In this episode of Empower Your Menopause, James and Juli break down GLP-1 drugs in plain English. These medications don’t “burn fat.” They mimic a hormone called GLP-1 that signals fullness to the brain and slows stomach emptying, which makes eating less easier.The problem? When appetite disappears but nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress aren’t addressed, the body can start paying a hidden price. Many people lose significant muscle during rapid weight loss, struggle to get enough protein and micronutrients, and experience digestive issues such as constipation and bloating.The episode also explores a rarely discussed reality: when people stop the medication, weight regain is common if the underlying habits and physiology haven’t changed.But here’s the encouraging part. Your body already produces GLP-1 naturally. Protein-rich meals, fibre that feeds beneficial gut bacteria, stable blood sugar, regular movement, and good sleep all help stimulate your body’s own satiety signalling.Want some advice on GLP-1s?If you’d like some friendly, no-obligation guidance, feel free to email James or Juli.james@fabulousbeyond40.comjuli@fabulousbeyond40.comOur Gut Reset CourseAnd if gut health is part of the puzzle for you, our new Gut Reset Course helps support the microbiome and increase fibre-driven short-chain fatty acids in the gut — one of the key pathways that naturally stimulates GLP-1 release and helps regulate appetite, blood sugar, and energy.Sometimes the most powerful approach isn’t bypassing your biology — it’s supporting it.Find out more here: https://gutresetcourse.com/
Transcribe →Episode 80: Gut Instincts — Why Your Belly Bloats and Your Brain Wants Sugar After 40
Mar 600:20:39Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsBloating and sudden sugar cravings are two of the most common complaints we hear from women over 40. And while they might feel like completely separate issues, they’re often closely connected.In this episode, James and Juli explain how changes in digestion, blood sugar stability, stress, sleep, and hormones can all influence how your gut behaves during midlife. When digestion slows and blood sugar swings become more common, the body often responds with uncomfortable bloating and powerful cravings for quick energy.The good news is that there are simple nutritional strategies that can help.You’ll learn how fibre can support more stable energy, improve gut motility, and feed beneficial gut bacteria — but why increasing it too quickly can backfire. James explains a practical “fibre ladder” approach that allows your gut to adapt gradually without triggering more bloating.Juli also breaks down fermented foods — what they are, why they can support microbial diversity, and how to introduce them slowly so they help rather than irritate your digestion. You’ll also learn why live, unpasteurised ferments often provide the greatest benefits.The conversation also touches on why food sensitivities often appear after 40, the role of the gut microbiome in hormone metabolism, and why cravings are often signals from the body rather than a lack of willpower.If you’ve ever wondered why your digestion suddenly feels different in midlife, this episode connects the dots between gut health, hormones, and everyday symptoms.Want to take this further?If this episode resonated, our Gut Health Reset Course shows you how to rebuild gut resilience step by step — without extreme diets or cutting out half the foods you enjoy.Inside the course you’ll learn how to support digestion, improve microbial diversity, calm bloating, and stabilise energy using simple food-first strategies that actually fit into real life.You can learn more here: https://gutresetcourse.com/
Transcribe →Episode 79: The Superwoman Trap and Menopause
Feb 500:25:30Tap to summarizeMessage us your commentsIf you’re the one holding everything together – work, family, admin, emotional labour, and everyone else’s needs – this episode is for you. James and Juli unpack the Superwoman Trap: the unspoken belief that your worth is tied to how much you can cope with, manage, and carry. In midlife, that identity often starts to crack, bringing guilt, resentment, exhaustion, and the feeling that rest has somehow become “lazy.”They explore why this trap hits harder in perimenopause and menopause, when broken sleep, hormonal shifts, and brain fog make the mental load far more expensive than it used to be. It’s not that you’ve lost your capability – it’s that your stress buffering has changed, while the demands on you haven’t. As James puts it, your bandwidth didn’t disappear, your life just kept opening new tabs.The episode finishes with a practical, no-nonsense toolkit to help you step out of Superwoman mode without blowing up your life – including simple reframes, boundary scripts, the Drop–Delay–Delegate rule, and “minimum dose” self-care that supports your energy instead of adding more to your to-do list.Join Us at The Mother of All Menopause SummitsWe’re hosting The Mother of All Menopause Summits, running February 11–13, 2026 – a fully virtual event created specifically for busy career and business mums who need realistic shifts, not more pressure. With a free ticket, you’ll get 48-hour access to each session during summit week, with the option to upgrade to the Menopause Momentum Power Pack for ongoing access, extras, and a free month inside Club Fabulous Beyond 40.🎟 Register free at motherofallmenopausesummits.com And if your inner Superwoman tries to argue, tell her we said she can take the day off.
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