Hello, Hot Flash: Christian Menopause, Weight Loss, Hormones & Midlife Health

In this episode of Hello Hot Flash, host Stephanie Shaw sits down with Dr. Sharon Berquist, a renowned stress management expert and Ph.D. in psychology, to uncover the powerful ways midlife women can use stress to improve their health and overall well-being.
What You’ll Learn: • The difference between chronic stress and beneficial (“hormetic”) stress and why it matters in midlife • How high-intensity exercise and mental challenges can activate cellular repair and enhance resilience • Why self-expression is essential for reducing unhealthy stress and supporting long-term health
Additional Resources: Ready to launch your podcast – https://hellohotflash.com/podcast-production Grow your business through speaking: https://www.hellohotflash.com/speaking-engagement-finder

Menopause is a natural part of life — but when it shows up in the workplace, it can create very real challenges that most organizations are simply not prepared to address. Symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, hot flashes, and brain fog don’t stay at home when women walk into the office… and when these go unacknowledged, they can affect productivity, morale, retention, and leadership development.
In this episode of Hello, Hot Flash, Stephanie is joined by April Haberman, CEO and co-founder of MiDOViA, to talk about why it’s time to shift the narrative from “menopause is a personal issue” to “menopause is a workplace reality.” April explains how even well-intentioned employers overlook this stage of life, and how that oversight creates economic consequences for both employees and organizations. She shares real-world examples — including CVS Health becoming the first U.S. company to earn Menopause-Friendly Accreditation — that illustrate what it looks like when an organization gets it right.
From establishing clear policies and accommodations to fostering a culture of open conversation, this episode explores practical ways companies can support midlife women and ensure they remain confident, productive, and empowered at work.
 
Three Things You’ll Learn:
How menopause symptoms can impact productivity, attendance, and leadership retention in the workplace
Why forward-thinking organizations are investing in menopause policies and accreditation
Practical strategies you can present to HR to create supportive environments
About Our Guest:
April Haberman is the Co-Founder and CEO of MiDOViA, a passionate advocate and expert in women’s wellness, specializing in menstrual health, menopause, and sexual reproductive health. With over a decade of experience in global women’s health, April has an extensive background in business development, nonprofit leadership, and social enterprise creation. She has worked extensively in Africa, spearheading initiatives in menstrual health and setting up social ventures that drive sustainable impact. Her expertise spans administration, public speaking, training and development, fundraising, event planning, and curriculum development. April is a member of the Women in Global Health Seattle Advisory Panel and a committee member of the ISO Technical Advisory Group. She also holds a Wellness Health Coaching certification from the Integrative Women's Health Institute.
Website: www.menopausefriendlyus.com
Website: www.midovia.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mymidovia
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/mymidovia
 
Additional Resources :
Ready to launch your podcast:  https://hellohotflash.com/podcast-production
Looking to grow your business through speaking.  Check out our list of 900+ speaking engagements - both podcasts and conferences covering a host of niches - health, wellness, business, entrepreneurship, real estate, faith-based, and more.  https://www.hellohotflash.com/speaking-engagement-finder

In this episode of Hello Hot Flash, we explore how cycle tracking—yes, even during perimenopause—can help you better understand your body, improve your mental health, and support hormonal balance. Guests Laura Federico and Morgan Miller, co-authors of The Cycle Book, explain how tuning into your cycle phases can reveal early signs of hormonal imbalance and help you make smarter choices about nutrition, energy management, and emotional well-being.
You’ll learn:
How cycle syncing can improve decision-making, productivity, and energy
Why tracking patterns like sleep and temperature matters in midlife
The surprising connection between hormonal shifts, anxiety, and depression
Whether your periods are regular, irregular, or gone altogether, this conversation offers a fresh approach to navigating midlife with more awareness, ease, and confidence.
 
About Our Guest: 
Laura Federico is a psychotherapist and AASECT-certified sex and relationship therapist in private practice. https://www.laurafedericotherapy.com/thecyclebook
Morgan Miller is a certified professional midwife, lactation consultant, activist, and birth center founder in private practice.
 
Additional Resources:
The Cycle Book - https://www.laurafedericotherapy.com/thecyclebook
Ready to launch your podcast:  https://hellohotflash.com/podcast-production
Looking to grow your business through speaking.  Check out our list of 900+ speaking engagements - both podcasts and conferences covering a host of niches - health, wellness, business, entrepreneurship, real estate, Christianity, and more.  https://www.hellohotflash.com/speaking-engagement-finder
 

In this episode of Hello Hot Flash, we explore what inclusive, whole-person menopause care really looks like. You’ll learn how to identify care that goes beyond quick fixes and actually supports your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. We cover why common symptoms like migraines, brain fog, and mood swings aren’t always “just hormones”—and why it's important to dig deeper.
Dr. Taniqua Miller joins us to discuss the real barriers many women face in getting quality menopause care—especially women of color and those with disabilities—and how to advocate for yourself when you feel dismissed or unheard.
Whether you’re navigating perimenopause or well into postmenopause, this episode will help you:
Recognize the signs of high-quality, patient-centered care
Ask better questions during doctor visits
Build a menopause support plan that actually works for you

Feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or just stretched too thin?
In this episode of Hello Hot Flash, former nun turned mindfulness coach Denise Pyles shares how just a few mindful minutes a day (we’re talking less than seven) can help you reset, feel grounded, and show up as your best self.
If you’re a midlife woman managing career, health shifts, family, and hormones — this episode is for you.
You’ll learn: 
How to build “micro-moments” of calm into a busy day
Why ditching perfection gives you more peace
The surprising link between stillness and resilience
About Our Guest:
With over 35,000 hours of mindfulness practice and background as a former nun, Denise brings depth and insight into the world of mindfulness. Specializing in creating practical micro-mindfulness
techniques, she serves as a guide for professionals in high-stress, high-performance fields like tech.
Denise has crafted a unique approach that blends deep-rooted mindfulness practices with real-world applicability, offering valuable tools for managing stress, improving productivity, and cultivating resilience amidst the pressures of fast-paced careers and life transitions.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisepyles/
 
Additional Resources:
Ready to launch your podcast:  https://hellohotflash.com/podcast-production
Looking to grow your business through speaking.  Check out our list of 900+ speaking engagements - both podcasts and conferences covering a host of niches - health, wellness, business, entrepreneurship, real estate, Christianity and more.  https://www.hellohotflash.com/speaking-engagement-finder

Feeling foggy, anxious, or just not like yourself? Herbalist and author Rachelle Robinett joins Stephanie to explore how plant medicine supports stress relief, hormone balance, and overall midlife wellness. Learn simple ways to integrate herbalism into your everyday life and why it’s a powerful tool for women navigating menopause.
What You’ll Learn:
Herbs that calm anxiety and support brain health
The vital role of liver health in hormone balance
How modern medicine is rooted in herbal practices
Please subscribe + leave a review to help more women find their way to wellness.
About Our Guest:
Rachelle Robinett, RH (AHG), is a writer, herbalist, educator, and life-long naturalist. She’s the founder of multidisciplinary companies dedicated to the art and science of natural wellness. Combining traditional medicine and current health insights with an understanding of individual behavior modification, Rachelle has provided accessible plant-based healing to countless people. She’s based in New York and Costa Rica.
Website: https://www.ursupernatural.com/
Additional Resources :
Ready to launch your podcast:  https://hellohotflash.com/podcast-production
Looking to grow your business through speaking.  Check out our list of 900+ speaking engagements - both podcasts and conferences covering a host of niches - health, wellness, business, entrepreneurship, real estate, Christianity and more.  https://www.hellohotflash.com/speaking-engagement-finder
Rachelle's book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/753977/naturally-by-rachelle-robinett-rh-ahg/
 

Autoimmune diseases often go undetected, especially in women over 40. In this episode, Dr. Bonnie Feldman and Stephanie Shaw unpack how hormones, stress, genetics, and even your relationships may be impacting your health. Learn how to connect the dots, speak up for your needs, and take a holistic approach to healing.
What You’ll Learn:
How to recognize early autoimmune symptoms
How hormones and stress influence autoimmune responses
Steps to advocate for your health and get real answers
Please subscribe + leave a review to help more women find their way to wellness.
About Our Guest:
Dr. Bonnie Feldman is an entrepreneur, health practitioner, researcher, financial analyst, digital health advisor, and autoimmune patient and advocate. Since 2010, Dr. Feldman’s mission has been to integrate digital tech, virtual-first care, and lifestyle interventions with conventional care to improve outcomes for autoimmune patients. She has spent the past decade raising awareness of the largely underserved and growing autoimmune market opportunity for private investment. Her decades of experience as an autoimmune patient – in addition to her 10 grandchildren at high genetic risk for autoimmune disease – has fueled Bonnie’s passion for prevention, earlier diagnosis and improved care for all autoimmune patients. 
Dr. Bonnie has built and managed two dental practices and served as an executive with early-stage biotech startups. She also boasts a rich financial background as a Wall Street equity research analyst, strategic advisor and investment consultant. 
Website:https://drbonnie360.com/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@drbonnie360
Additional Resources :
Ready to launch your podcast:  https://hellohotflash.com/podcast-production
Looking to grow your business through speaking.  Check out our list of 900+ speaking engagements - both podcasts and conferences covering a host of niches - health, wellness, business, entrepreneurship, real estate, Christianity and more.  https://www.hellohotflash.com/speaking-engagement-finder

In this episode of Hello Hot Flash, host Stephanie Shaw sits down with nutrition expert Dawn Navaratnasingam to break down what midlife women really need to know about food, without the noise, confusion, or overwhelm.
As hormones shift during midlife, everything from your energy levels to your digestion can start to feel… different. What worked for your body five or ten years ago may no longer serve you now. That’s why understanding your nutritional needs in this new season of life is key—not just for weight or appearance, but for your overall health, strength, and vitality.
Together, they dive into:
Why protein is essential—not just for muscle maintenance, but for hormone production, stable moods, and bone health
How plant-based diets can fully support your nutritional needs—and how to combine foods to ensure you're getting complete proteins
 The Power Plate Formula—a simple, visual approach to meal planning that helps you support brain, heart, and hormonal health with every bite
If you're tired of feeling fatigued, moody, or unsure of how to fuel your body now that you're in your 40s or 50s, this episode offers science-backed tips and realistic strategies that meet you where you are.