What's the Purpose of Menopause? (Why Your Brain Is Rewiring in Midlife) with Dr. Mindy Pelz

What if the reason you don't trust yourself was engineered centuries ago — on purpose? In this episode, Dr. Mindy Pelz sits down with feminist theologian and author Meggan Watterson to uncover the deliberate suppression of women's inner authority and what reclaiming it looks like right now. Meggan draws on 30 years of scholarship — including the long-buried Gospel of Mary and the Acts of Paul and Thecla — to show that the most powerful women in early Christianity weren't lost to history by accident. They were erased because their message was too dangerous: that the greatest power doesn't come from institutions, hierarchies, or external permission. It comes from within. In this conversation you'll learn: Why women's self-doubt has roots in a 4th-century political decision What the Gospel of Mary teaches about the "spiritual eye of the heart" Why ending the war with your body is the first act of reclaiming your power Why rage is sacred — and why feeling it fully is healing What it means to "baptize yourself" in today's world If you've ever felt unworthy, silenced, or too much — this episode is for you. For more resources related to today's episode, visit the podcast episode page: https://www.drmindypelz.com/ep333   Connect with Dr. Mindy: Join Reset Academy Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Dr. Mindy on Instagram Subscribe to Dr. Mindy's newsletter for tools and research on fasting, hormones, and metabolic health Connect with Meggan Watterson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megganwatterson/ Substack: https://substack.com/@megganwatterson Website: https://www.meganwatterson.com/ Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, fasting routine, or lifestyle.  

Have you ever blamed menopause for your inability to focus — only to wonder if something bigger is going on? I know I did. For years I thought brain fog was just about hormones, but this conversation cracked that wide open for me. I sat down with Dr. Zelana Montminy, positive psychologist and author of Finding Focus, and what she shared genuinely stopped me in my tracks. Focus isn't a character flaw. It's a biological state. And most of us, especially women in midlife,  have been operating in chronic nervous system dysregulation for so long, we don't even know what regulated feels like anymore. In this episode, we unpack why distraction is so often dysregulation in disguise, how the cultural expectation of multitasking has wrecked our brains, and why the "brain fog" you're experiencing might have less to do with estrogen and everything to do with decades of cognitive overload. We also talk about grief — the big kind and the micro kind — and how unprocessed loss quietly tanks our ability to show up and focus. If you're a woman in midlife wondering why you can't seem to finish a thought, this one is for you. 🎧 New episodes weekly on The Resetter Podcast. For more resources related to today's episode, visit the podcast page here: https://drmindypelz.com/podcast   MORE ON DR. ZELANA MONTMINY: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.zelana/ Website: https://drzelana.com/    RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Finding Focus by Dr. Zelana Montminy: https://drzelana.com/findingfocus Check out our community membership at https://resetacademy.drmindypelz.com    

Cancer rates are rising rapidly, especially among younger women. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mindy sits down with integrative cancer expert Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy to explore what is driving this surge and what women need to understand about prevention. Dr. Connealy shares her 40 years of clinical experience treating chronic illness and cancer. She explains why hormones are only one small piece of the health puzzle and why lifestyle, stress, toxins, sleep, and metabolic health play a much larger role in disease risk. Together they break down the truth about hormone replacement therapy, GLP-1 weight loss drugs, peptides, and fasting. Most importantly, they explain how women can create an internal environment where their cells can thrive. This episode will change how you think about health, prevention, and longevity. To view full show notes, resources mentioned, discount codes, transcripts, and more, visit https://drmindypelz.com/ep331/ Check out our community membership at https://resetacademy.drmindypelz.com  

If you've ever felt pressure to be the "good girl," you're not the only one. Dr. Mindy has heard from thousands of women who feel exhausted by the pressure to be agreeable, accommodating, and selfless. Many women were taught that being good meant putting everyone else first. But over time, that pattern often leads to resentment, burnout, and a deep disconnection from your own voice. That's why Dr. Mindy invited writer and cultural critic Elise Loehnen to join her for this conversation. Elise is the former Chief Content Officer of goop and the New York Times bestselling author of On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good. Through her writing and podcast Pulling the Thread, Elise explores the cultural expectations that shape women's lives and how those expectations influence our relationships, emotions, and sense of identity. In this conversation, Dr. Mindy and Elise unpack the invisible rules women have been taught to live by for generations. They explore why women were conditioned to suppress emotions like anger and envy, how people-pleasing shows up in female friendships, and why learning to trust your intuition is one of the most important skills a woman can develop. In this episode, you'll learn how to: -Reconnect with your intuition and inner authority -Understand the cultural conditioning shaping women's behavior -Recognize how suppressed emotions impact your health -Navigate female friendships with more awareness -Step out of people-pleasing patterns -Reclaim your voice and authenticity For any woman who feels like she has been living by expectations that don't truly belong to her, this conversation offers a new perspective. It helps you understand where those patterns came from and how to begin trusting yourself again. For more resources related to today's episode, visit the podcast episode page: https://www.drmindypelz.com/ep330  Connect with Dr. Mindy: Join Reset Academy Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Dr. Mindy on Instagram Subscribe to Dr. Mindy's newsletter for tools and research on fasting, hormones, and metabolic health Connect with Elise Loehnen: Podcast: Pulling the Thread Instagram: @eliseloehnen Book: On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, fasting routine, or lifestyle.

The world feels heavy right now. In this urgent and deeply personal conversation, I sit down with Dr. Shefali Tsabary to talk about rage — not the destructive kind, but the kind that wakes you up. To view full show notes, resources mentioned, discount codes, transcripts, and more, visit https://drmindypelz.com/ep329/ Check out our community membership at https://resetacademy.drmindypelz.com Content Disclosure This episode includes discussion of patriarchy, cultural power dynamics, parenting, anger, and current events involving public figures and widely reported controversies. References to individuals and cultural moments are part of a broader conversation about systems, power, and personal awareness. The discussion may feel activating or emotionally charged for some listeners. The perspectives shared are intended for educational and informational purposes only. They do not constitute medical, psychological, legal, or professional advice. Any commentary regarding public figures reflects personal opinion within the context of the discussion. If you are experiencing emotional distress or feel impacted by topics discussed in this episode, please consider seeking support from a licensed healthcare or mental health professional.  

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-(--header-height)" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "c7ff5041-d173-4b2d-b16f-e1c1aa8324c1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-39" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="user"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "661d2e6b-4d38-477a-81d5-fdb0aa644ab6" data-testid= "conversation-turn-40" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> If your workouts feel harder than they used to… If your recovery takes longer… If your brain feels foggier after a stressful day… You need to hear this. It's not about motivation. It's not about discipline. And it's not because you're "getting older." In this episode, Dr. Mindy breaks down a shift that almost no one explains to women: Estrogen stimulates creatine production. And when estrogen declines in perimenopause and menopause, creatine can decline too. Creatine isn't just a gym supplement. It's critical for cellular energy. It helps recycle ATP, the fuel your muscles and brain run on. When ATP drops, strength, recovery, and mental clarity can shift with it. This conversation will change how you think about midlife performance. In this episode, you'll learn: What creatine actually does inside the female body Why creatine matters more after 40 The connection between estrogen, ATP, and muscle strength How creatine supports brain energy and stress resilience What the research says about safety and dosing Who should consider creatine, and who shouldn't How to support strength long term through physiology, not willpower If you're lifting heavier but building less muscle… If your brain feels slower under pressure… If you've been blaming yourself for feeling "off"… Bookmark this episode. Share it with a friend who's navigating perimenopause or menopause. Because when you understand your biology, you stop fighting your body. For more resources related to today's episode, visit the podcast episode page. Connect with Dr. Mindy: Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Dr. Mindy on Instagram Join the Reset Academy Subscribe to Dr. Mindy's newsletter Explore her books, including Fast Like a Girl and Age Like a Girl Disclaimer

In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy Pelz breaks down nervous system dysregulation and HPA axis dysfunction what it is, why so many women are stuck in chronic stress, and how it shows up as fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, belly fat, and mood swings. Drawing from a 2025 review in the American Journal of Medicine, she explains the six most common causes of HPA axis dysfunction and shares seven practical, science-backed ways to regulate your nervous system naturally. If you've felt wired, overwhelmed, or exhausted lately, this episode will help you understand why and what you can do about it. To view full show notes and resources, visit: 👉 https://drmindypelz.com/ep327 Join our community at: 👉 https://resetacademy.drmindypelz.com Please note our medical disclaimer.

In this episode of The Resetter Podcast, Dr. Mindy Pelz sits down with Sara Szal for a thoughtful conversation about discernment, trust, and why so many women are quietly questioning the wellness and health narratives they were once told to accept. Rather than telling listeners what to believe, this discussion explores how to think, how to stay grounded, curious, and connected to your intuition without slipping into fear, cynicism, or blind trust. Together, they talk about power, silence, authority, and why learning to ask better questions is an essential part of women's health, safety, and self-trust. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with your inner guidance in a world full of noise. Content Disclosure: This episode includes discussion of sensitive cultural topics, institutional power, and public narratives. References to public figures or events are discussed in the context of widely known conversations and public information, not as allegations or accusations. The views expressed are intended to encourage discernment and critical thinking, not to present medical, legal, or investigative claims. Listener discretion is advised. To view full show notes, resources mentioned, discount codes, transcripts, and more, visit https://drmindypelz.com/ep326/ Check out our community membership at https://resetacademy.drmindypelz.com Please note our medical disclaimer.  

In this episode of The Resetter Podcast, Dr. Mindy Pelz sits down with hormone expert Dr. Sonya Jensen for a deeply honest conversation about how hormones shape our emotions, behaviors, relationships, and sense of self across every stage of a woman's life. Together, they explore why emotional reactions intensify during hormonal transitions, how resentment and rage often have ancestral roots, and why symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, and overwhelm are not character flaws, but signals from the body asking for support. Dr. Sonya introduces her "HER Cycle" framework, showing how hormones, emotions, and relationships are always influencing one another and how healing often begins in the body, not the mind. To view full show notes, resources mentioned in the episode, transcripts, and more, visit: 👉 https://drmindypelz.com/ep325 Explore our community membership at: 👉 https://resetacademy.drmindypelz.com Please note our medical disclaimer.

What if menopause isn't something to fix, but something to understand? In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy Pelz shares Chapter One of her new book Age Like a Girl and breaks down the real purpose of menopause through neuroscience, hormones, and evolution. She explains how the decline of estrogen and progesterone reshapes the female brain, why so many women experience anxiety, mood changes, and brain fog in midlife, and how this transition may actually be designed to reconnect women with their authentic voice, clarity, and power. If this conversation resonates with you, the audiobook of Age Like a Girl continues this journey with deeper insights, personal stories, and guidance to help you navigate this phase with confidence. To listen to the rest of Age Like a Girl, visit 👉 https://bit.ly/alagbook  To view full show notes, resources mentioned, transcripts, and more, visit 👉 https://drmindypelz.com/ep324  Check out our community membership at 👉 https://resetacademy.drmindypelz.com Please note our medical disclaimer.