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.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 90: Protein, Muscle and Midlife Metabolism
2w ago00:35:58Tap 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
3w ago00:25:04Tap 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.
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 →