Podcast Summary: Lipstick on the Rim — "Your Supplement Guide for Your 30s, 40s & 50s"

Host: Molly Sims and Emese Gormley
Guest: Victoria Joya, Co-Founder and CEO of Perelel
Release Date: November 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the complexities of women’s health and supplements across different life stages—conception, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond. Hosts Molly Sims and Emese Gormley are joined by Victoria Joya, founder of Perelel, the first OB-GYN-founded women’s vitamin company, to discuss how supplements, routines, and mindful health choices can make a significant difference. The conversation demystifies which supplements are actually helpful, when to take them, and how to avoid falling prey to misinformation or “wellness marketing.”

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Underserved World of Women's Health Research

• Historical Context:

  • Women were excluded from clinical research studies from 1977–1994, making women’s health research lag behind.

    "From 1977 to 1994, women weren't included in clinical research studies." (Victoria Joya, 05:13)

  • This lack of data has fueled misinformation and left many women advocating for their own health.

• Molly Sims highlights the disparity:

  “Think about how many pills there are for erectile dysfunction... yet for women there wasn’t the same... we’ve been suffering for decades and no one talked about it.” (Molly Sims, 06:58)

2. The Origin of Perelel

• Victoria’s Personal Journey:

  • Autoimmune history, challenges with gestational diabetes, and a personal experience with pregnancy nutritional deficiencies highlighted gaps in the market.
  • Realization that “prenatal vitamins” are not regulated—what’s in the bottle can vary widely.

    “The name prenatal vitamins isn’t actually regulated... you had to do the research to look on the back of the label.” (Victoria Joya, 08:01)

• Importance of Stage-Specific Formulation:

  • Perelel’s philosophy: no more “one-size-fits-all”—formulas are tailored for conception, each trimester, and postpartum.

3. Clinically Backed vs. Wellness Marketing

• Science-Driven Development:
  • Products are developed collaboratively with Dr. Bhayani, a practicing OB-GYN.

    “Nothing comes from marketing. It comes from her—this is what we’re gonna do.” (Victoria Joya, 12:00)

  • No gimmicks or magic pill claims; transparency and evidence-based ingredients only.

4. Deep Dive: Supplement Needs by Life Stage

a) Conception, Pregnancy & Postpartum

• Motherhood Suite: Formulas for each stage, reducing pill load and increasing efficacy.

  “Acknowledging conception, each trimester, postpartum as unique stages.” (Victoria Joya, 15:53)

• Community support for infertility, pregnancy loss, and postpartum mental/physical health.

b) Perimenopause and Menopause

• Clarification:

  • Menopause is one day—12 months after your last period; perimenopause is the years-long transition beforehand.

    “Menopause is actually one day... Perimenopause is that whole phase and roller coaster leading up.” (Victoria Joya, 21:00)

  • Symptoms are diverse: brain fog, mood swings, sleep changes, irregular cycles, weight gain.

• Daily Packs for Simplicity:

  • Perelel’s perimenopause pack: five pills in one sachet, targeted support (metabolism, mood, baseline nutrients).

    “It’s five pills. One sachet. Take it every day.” (Victoria Joya, 22:54)

c) Midlife Women (40+): Diet and Daily Habits

• Protein and Fiber:
  • Muscle mass and bone density drop with age—protein is crucial. Fiber is equally important for blood sugar regulation and weight management.

    “Fiber helps regulate your blood sugar... helps with weight management, heart health.” (Victoria Joya, 30:39)

  • Creatine (low dose) as a supplement for cognitive and muscle health in women.

d) Avoiding Supplement Overload

• Dangers of Doubling Up:
  • Multis, beauty supps, greens—these often overlap, risking overdosing.

    “You’re actually overdosing yourself and that’s a lot of burden on your liver.” (Victoria Joya, 23:50)

  • Stick to essentials; let labs and symptoms guide choices.

5. Myths, TikTok Trends, and What Actually Matters

• Protein Hype:
  • Social media is obsessed, but research supports increased needs with age, especially to prevent osteoporosis.
• Supplements are Supplements:
  • They complement (not replace) a balanced, whole foods diet.

    “Supplements are only that—they are supplements to a healthy diet.” (Victoria Joya, 27:58)

6. Self-Care and Grace in the Chaos

• Working Mom Reality:
  • Burnout is real—find small, regular rituals to restore yourself. Even 20 minutes makes a difference.

    “You have to carve out your time to fill your cup and you have to do it every week.” (Victoria Joya, 33:10)

• Household Mental Load:
  • The unseen, unending “to do” list carried by mothers is real; prioritize grace, accept imperfection.

Memorable Quotes

• “No woman should ever feel guilt... we should have better products out there.” —Victoria Joya (10:35)
• “Supplements aren’t magic pills. They’re not going to do that.” —Dr. Bhayati (paraphrased by Victoria Joya, 12:00)
• “There is such a thing as too many supplements... you’re overdosing yourself and that’s a lot of burden on your liver.” —Victoria Joya (23:50)
• “Menopause is actually one day...” —Victoria Joya (21:00)
• “Supplements are only that—they are supplements to a healthy diet.” —Victoria Joya (27:58)
• “Listen to your body, not to trends.” —Molly Sims (41:26)
• On self-care: “I have no shame anymore—‘Is anyone there that could bring my son home?’” —Victoria Joya (34:45)
• “We just love... how your company really meets our woman where she’s at.” —Emese Gormley (43:52)

Women’s Health AMA: Listener Q&A Highlights

Timestamps:

• Non-negotiable vs. hype supplements?
  “It’s about what you can build into your daily routine... Ashwagandha if you’re feeling burnout.” (Victoria Joya, 37:10)
• Menopause vs. Pemenopause: How to Tell?
  “Perimenopause is a huge phase leading up to this one day... It’s your hormones.” (Victoria Joya, 38:12)
• Supplements for Perimenopause?
  “Stress Support or the perimenopause support pack, depending on what you’re struggling with.” (Victoria Joya, 39:23)
• Why so much protein after 40?
  “Hormonal changes deplete muscles and bones... you actually shouldn’t eat less, just eat right.” (Victoria Joya, 40:51)

Practical Advice & Takeaways

• Track Your Health: Get regular labs to personalize your supplement regimen.

  “Try to get your blood taken once every six months to a year... your numbers don’t lie.” (Emese Gormley, 37:52)

• Ritual Matters: Consistency is key with supplements for real results.

• Doctor is Key: Self-advocacy matters, but a good doctor (OB-GYN, GP, endocrinologist, etc.) is crucial, especially in perimenopause.

  “A lot of women don’t actually know where to go... having someone to put you on that path is super important.” (Emese Gormley, 45:26)

• Mental Health and Grace:

  “We don’t give ourselves grace sometimes... I’m going to mess up. I will forget something, and that’s okay.” (Molly Sims, 34:03)

• Best Advice to 10-year-old self:

  “Build up your self-confidence and worry about yourself.” (Victoria Joya, 42:13)

Useful Segment Timestamps

• [05:13] — Historical research gap in women’s health
• [08:01] — The truth about prenatal supplements
• [15:53] — Why different life stages need different vitamins
• [21:00] — The real definition of menopause
• [23:50] — Supplement overload dangers
• [30:39] — The importance of fiber
• [36:21] — Real talk: daily stress and burnout
• [37:10] — Listener Q&A: Essential vs. hype supplements
• [41:26] — Final thoughts: Listen to your body not trends

Episode Tone

Warm, candid, and empowering—with science-backed guidance, humor, and real talk about the sometimes-overwhelming journey of women’s health.

Final Words

The episode encourages women to get curious about their own health, ask questions, avoid supplement overload, and seek targeted, science-backed support through life’s different hormonal stages. Most importantly: You’re not alone, you’re not crazy, and grace for yourself is essential—along with finding regular moments to fill your cup.