Women on Fire®

It’s time to wake up (pun intended!) because today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to none other than Elina Winnel, The Sleep Expert.Elina isn’t your average "sleep whisperer"— she’s a media darling, regularly sharing her expertise on major TV networks. After battling chronic insomnia herself, she didn’t just hit snooze on the problem.She developed a science-backed approach to tackling sleep issues at the root—there are no quick fixes here.Elina’s method is all about getting to the heart of the problem and transforming your sleep. She’s helped countless people who once thought restful, rejuvenating sleep was just a dream (see what I did there?).So grab your favourite pillow, get cosy, and enjoy this conversation.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:04 About Elina02:24 Elina's Journey: From Finance to Sleep Expert05:40 Understanding the Autonomic Nervous System08:44 The Impact of Stress on Sleep12:10 Managing Hot Flashes and Night Sweats14:32 The Role of Melatonin and Relaxation17:46 Stress as an Inside Job20:40 Patterns of Thinking and Their Effects on Sleep26:14 Lifestyle Factors Affecting Sleep30:27 The Importance of Community31:56 Finding Solutions for Sleep Issues34:45 Practical Steps to Balance the Nervous System38:00 Sleep and Mental Health40:15 Mind Chatter and Its Impact on Sleep43:09 Trusting Your Gut and Heart for Better Sleep45:04 ConclusionEpisode Resources:Download: 7 Secrets To Better Sleep hereEarthing sheets & products (20% discount): here Elina's website: https://thesleepexpert.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.sleep.expertFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesleepexpertWomen On Fire® is sponsored by MenoMe®Botanical sleep support: Merry Peri® for peri & Perky Post for post-menopause hereFollow MenoMe® on Instagram hereFollow MenoMe® on Facebook hereVisit the website hereSubscribe to the YouTube channel to watch the interviews here We're honoured you've joined Women On Fire® and hope you enjoyed the episode. If you did, we'd be grateful if you'd leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts or subscribe to our YouTube channel. That way, we can reach as many women as possible with Women On Fire®. Disclaimer: Women On Fire® is for information purposes only, it should not take the place of medical advice.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Did you know that 60% of Australian adults (and let’s be real, probably most of the rest of the world too) suffer from sleep disorders? If you’re tuning in to Women on Fire®, chances are you know sleep problems well - especially if you’re navigating the choppy waters of peri or post-menopause.Sleep deprivation links to all kinds of pesky things: memory lapses, mood swings, stress, weight gain. And for us women in the throes of hormonal chaos, it’s like nature’s treacherous double-whammy! Not getting enough quality sleep messes with your body, brain, and gut, upping obesity, diabetes, and dementia risk. Yikes!In this Mini Pause®, I’m unpacking some gems from Dr Michael Mosley's 4 Weeks To Better Sleep co-created with Australia’s Flinders University Sleep Institute, alongside the SBS series Australia’s Sleep Revolution.Dr Mosley reminds us that severe sleep issues should get expert support but he was confident the advice in his book could make a difference for most.We planned to invite Dr Mosley onto the show just before his untimely passing during a holiday in Greece with his wife, Claire. His loss is felt by millions of fans who followed his findings. Rest in peace, Dr. Mosley - you were truly one of a kind.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:04 About Dr Michael Mosley03:46 How many people have problems with sleep?04:52 Sleep and its link to health06:51 Why are you sleeping badly?07:42 The science of sleep: deep sleep and REM sleep10:44 Sleep and weight gain11:53 Sleep and metabolic syndrome13:00 Sleep, mood, libido and hormones13:34 How much sleep do we need?13:58 Quiz: are you sleep deprived?15:00 Circadian rhythm and chronotypes18:28 Are you a lark or an owl?19:30 Tips to help you sleep better23:12 Summary24:18 How to check if you're getting enough24:42 Sponsor message about MenoMe® botanical sleep supportEpisode Resources:Read: 4 Weeks to Better Sleep: A life-changing plan for deep sleep, improved brain function and feeling great here or hereWatch/Read: with Flinders Unversity Sleep Institute hereDownload: Dr Michael Mosley's Sleep Diary hereDownload: Sleep Hygiene Sheet hereLeave a tribute: for Dr Michael Mosley hereBotanical sleep support: Merry Peri® for peri & Perky Post for post-menopause hereWomen On Fire® is sponsored by MenoMe®Follow MenoMe® on Instagram hereFollow MenoMe® on Facebook hereVisit the website hereSubscribe to the YouTube channel to watch the interviews here We're honoured you've joined Women On Fire® and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, we'd be grateful if you'd leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts or subscribe to our YouTube channel. That way, we can reach as many women as possible with Women On Fire®. Disclaimer: Our Mini Pauses® are for information purposes only. They come from a holistic vantage point and from collating (often conflicting) scientific data if it's available. They should not take the place of medical advice.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

He’s back by popular demand! Dr John Gray of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus fame.Touted as one of the top 10 most influential books of the past 25 years, John’s also one of the most influential relationship counsellors of our time. His latest book, Beyond Mars and Venus: Relationship Skills for Our Complex Modern World, continues his legacy. Check out his website MarsVenus.com.John's always a captivating guest; in this episode, he winds through various biohacks for relationships.Tip: Listen more than once as you always pick up something new. He generally speaks to heterosexual people but some hormonal/nutritional aspects may be helpful for same-sex couples too.In this episode, we talk about:01:04 Intro 02:26 The biological difference men & women04:00 Women and stress06:07 Libido, attraction and peri and post-menopause09:50 Relationship skills in a complex world14:12 Biohack 1: protein and elevated cortisol (stress)15:54 The committed relationship effect18:18 Traditional gender roles; masculine and feminine27:58 Biohack 2: estrogen and relationships in menopause (for singles and couples)30:00 What turns a man on?33:55 Biohack 3: an exercise to raise estrogen and connect to a man39:38 Singles: how to get a man in your life52:09 Getting back on the relationship horse after a loss or a breakup1:05:55 If you're dating in midlifeEpisode Resources:Episode #107 with John hereWebsite: MarsVenus.comFollow John on Instagram hereFollow John on Facebook hereFree Relationship Course: https://www.marsvenus.com/giftJohn's book: Beyond Mars and Venus: Relationship Skills For Our Complex Modern WorldEvent: 50% off singles and couples relationship weekendWomen On Fire® is sponsored by MenoMe®Follow MenoMe® on Instagram hereFollow MenoMe® on Facebook hereVisit the website hereSubscribe to the YouTube channel to watch the interviews here We're honoured you've joined Women On Fire® and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, we'd be grateful if you would leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts or subscribe to YouTube. That way, we can reach as many women as possible with Women On Fire®.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this Mini Pause®, Jenna talks about the classic bestseller The Five Love Languages: The Secret To Love That Lasts by Dr Gary Chapman PhD.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:03 About Five Love Languages: The Secret To Love That Lasts04:04 Exploring the Love Languages04:32 Words of Affirmation05:06. Quality Time05:47. Acts Of Service06:30. Receiving Gifts07:26. Physical Touch09:48 Most common and least common Love LanguagesEpisode Resources:Take: The Five Love Languages Quiz hereRead: The Five Love Languages: The Secret To Love That Lasts by Dr Gary Chapman PhD hereRead: Dr Gary Chapman's analysis of The Five Love Languages hereRead: Did You Know Girlfriends Are Good For Your Health here (and about oxytocin)Botanical support: Merry Peri® for peri & Perky Post for post-menopause hereWomen On Fire® is sponsored by MenoMe®Follow MenoMe® on Instagram hereFollow MenoMe® on Facebook hereVisit the website hereSubscribe to the YouTube channel to watch the interviews here We're honoured you've joined Women On Fire® and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, we would be grateful if you would leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts or subscribe to our YouTube channel. That way, we can reach as many women as possible with Women On Fire®.Disclaimer: Our Mini Pauses® are for information purposes only. They come from a holistic vantage point and from collating (often conflicting) scientific data if it's available. They should not take the place of medical advice.menoverse, peri, menopause, postmenopause, midlife, millennopause, millennials, perimenopause, hormonal changes, symptoms, post-menopause, The Five Love LanguagesHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Dr Wendy Sweet PhD is a menopause educator, fitness specialist and healthy ageing expert for women. In this episode, we talk about the right type of exercise, lifting weights, how much protein is ideal and is creatine essential for you?And despite the well-meaning messages out there lifting more and more weights, eating more and more protein and taking creatine may not be right for you. It's different strokes for different folks. In this episode, we talk about:00:00 Introduction01:04 About Wendy05:42. Wendy's story10:44 Exercise and depression10:52 Understanding the importance of vitamin D14:23 We aren't our mother's generations16:15 Should women be lifting heavier and heavier weights? Is there a best choice of exercise?28:58 Exercise assumption, ageing and menopause33:40. American Heart Association Guidelines37:02 Recovery and blood work40:10 Your muscles are ageing and changing44:32 Do we need to be taking creatine?48:30 Fat gain and meno belly57:05 How much (and what type of protein should non-athletes be eating?59:52 The Keto diet and menopause01:01 The Mediterranean diet and menopauseWould you rather see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our YouTube channel here Episode Resources:Follow Wendy on Instagram hereFollow Wendy on Facebook hereMy Menopause Transformation newsletter hereAmerican Heart Association Guidelines hereWomen On Fire® is sponsored by MenoMe®Follow MenoMe® on Instagram hereFollow MenoMe® on Facebook hereVisit the website hereSubscribe to the YouTube channel to watch the interviews here We're honoured you've joined Women On Fire® and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, we would be grateful if you would leave us a 5-star review wherever you listen to your podcasts or subscribe to our YouTube channel. That way, we can reach as many women as possible with Women On Fire®.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this Mini Pause®, Jenna talks about what happens to your beautiful body during perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. (Please see the disclaimer.)Chapters00:00 Introduction01:09 What's happening to your body?01:29 An overview of menopause05:38 It can be a confusing time!09:03 Exciting new research about the brain10:08 How long does this life stage take?10:38 Types of estrogen10:58 Perimenopause, menopause & post-menopauseEpisode Resources:Listen or watch: How Will I Know If I'm In Perimenopause? hereListen or watch: What Is Menopause? hereListen: How Will Your Life Change In Post-Menopause hereRead: The 34 Most Common Symptoms Of Perimenopause (& Counting!) hereRead: Dr Lisa Mosconi's research in Nature Journal hereBotanical support: Merry Peri® for peri & Perky Post for post-menopause hereWomen On Fire® is sponsored by MenoMe®Follow MenoMe® on Instagram hereFollow MenoMe® on Facebook hereVisit the website hereSubscribe to the YouTube channel to watch the interviews here We're honoured you've joined Women On Fire® and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, we would be grateful if you would leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts or subscribe to our YouTube channel. That way, we can reach as many women as possible with Women On Fire®.Disclaimer: Our Mini Pauses® are for information purposes only. They come from a holistic vantage point and from collating (often conflicting) scientific data if it's available. They should not take the place of medical advice.menoverse, peri, menopause, postmenopause, midlife, millennopause, millennials, perimenopause, hormonal changes, symptoms, post-menopauseHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The lovely Chelcey Salinger IAT is a certified trichologist and hair loss specialist at the Australian Trichology Centre in Sydney and Adelaide. As well as that she's the executive director for the International Association of Trichologists - phew!Chelcey specialises in hair loss, baldness, alopecia areata, hair breakage, hair damage, psoriasis and other scalp problems.Chelcey's involved in trichologist education, tutoring students around the world and supervising the clinical training of students in Australia and New Zealand. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Movement and Health and a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy.With her long list of credentials, Chelcey is an in-demand speaker globally so we’re delighted she joined us for this episode and so generously shared her expertise.  In this episode, we talk about:00:00 Introduction01:04 About Chelcey04:17 What is a trichologist? 05:10 What causes hormonal thinning/hair loss? 06:40 Lifestyle matters10:20 Autoimmune conditions and the female epidemic of Female Fibrosing Alopecia 12:10 The importance of vitamin D16:14 Key nutrients for healthy hair17:18 The hair growth cycle18:14 How the hair changes with peri:menopause, age and/or nutrient deficiencies21:19 Caring for your hair24:12 Working from the inside out25:10 Adverse effects of some hormonal therapies and beneficial treatments27:52. Why do we go grey?Would you rather see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our YouTube channel here Episode Resources:Follow Chelcey on Instagram hereAustralian Trichology Centre hereInternational Association of Trichologists hereWomen On Fire® is sponsored by MenoMe®Follow MenoMe® on Instagram hereFollow MenoMe® on Facebook hereVisit the website hereSubscribe to the YouTube channel to watch the interviews here We're honoured you've joined Women On Fire® and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, we would be grateful if you would leave us a 5-star review wherever you listen to your podcasts or subscribe to our YouTube channel. That way, we can reach as many women as possible with Women On Fire®. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this Mini Pause®, Jenna examines how and why the skin changes during peri and post-menopause and what you can do about it.TakeawaysPerimenopause and post-menopause is a time of massive skin changes.What can happen to the skin as estradiol declines during peri and post-menopause.How we can offset the changes we find troublesome.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:02 A Time Of Massive Skin Changes01:43 The Estrogen Factor02:16 Skin Density, Plumpness & Hydration04:09 What Are Collagen & Elastin?05:30 What Is Hyaluronic Acid?07:20 Argh:!Dehydration, Sensitivity, Crepey Skin, Itchy Skin, Pigmentation & Acne12:54 Skin 10114:33 The Layers Of The Skin17:20 15 Ways To Look After Your Skin During Peri & Post-MenopauseEpisode Resources:Read: 6 Ways To Tame Itchy Skin hereRead: How To Soothe Ichy Skin (including your va-jay-jay) hereRead: How To Have Fabulous Skin After The Age 40 hereListen: The Impact Of EDC's & Xenoestrogens On Menopause hereWatch: How Gut Health Affects Your Menopause Journey hereHappy Go Tummy® hereLotsaLocks® hereWomen On Fire® is sponsored by MenoMe®Follow MenoMe® on Instagram hereFollow MenoMe® on Facebook hereVisit the website hereSubscribe to the YouTube channel to watch the interviews here We're honoured you've joined Women On Fire® and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, we would be grateful if you would leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts or subscribe to our YouTube channel. That way, we can reach as many women as possible with Women On Fire®.Disclaimer: Our Mini Pauses® are for information purposes only. They come from a holistic vantage point and from collating (often conflicting) scientific data if it's available. They should not take the place of medical advice.menoverse, peri, menopause, postmenopause, midlife, millennopause, millennials, perimenopause, hormonal changes, symptoms, post-menopauseHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the Millennopause Era and the Menoverse! (Oh, and we should probably add Menoposse in there too!)Jenna chats about the seismic shift that's occurred around peri, menopause and post-menopause over the past 10 years and the rise and rise of the Menoverse and Millennopause. Because millennials have grown up and entered peri and they're taking it by the reins.TakeawaysThe Menoverse is the world of menopause which is super-relevant for all women from their mid-30s.The Menoverse and Millennopause are real. So, let's get educated.Peri aka perimenopause begins earlier than you might think and it's not a one-and-done overnight experience. The key to a smoother ride is understanding the hormonal changes and symptoms associated with peri.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:03 Menoverse, Millennopause and Peri02:03 Who Are Millennials? And Gen Xers?04:02 Changes Can Your Begin In Your 30s05:11 Peri Symptoms06:03 Not Just About Your Ovaries06:20 Peri: Depression & Anxiety06:43 Quick Fire Knowledge Nuggets10:00 You're So Lucky!Episode Resources:Millennials Are Rebranding Menopause UnherdHark, The Millennial Death Wail New York Times (Paywall)Episode #104 How Will I Know I'm In Perimenopause? Merry Peri® hereHappy Go Tummy® hereWomen On Fire® is sponsored by MenoMe®Follow MenoMe® on Instagram hereFollow MenoMe® on Facebook hereVisit the website hereSubscribe to the YouTube channel to watch the interviews here We're honoured you've joined Women On Fire® and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, we would be grateful if you would leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcasts or subscribe to our YouTube channel. That way, we can reach as many women as possible with Women On Fire®.Disclaimer: Our Mini Pauses® are for information purposes only. They come from a holistic vantage point and from collating (often conflicting) scientific data if it's available. They should not take the place of medical advice.menoverse, peri, menopause, postmenopause, midlife, millennopause, millennials, perimenopause, hormonal changes, symptoms, post-menopauseHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We're privileged to feature Professor Jayashri Kulkarni AM on this episode - a woman who is globally renowned as a leader and expert in the field of women's mental health. She's also a passionate advocate for midlife women.Among her many accolades and achievements, Professor Kulkarni is the director and founder of HER Centre Australia @ Monash University, which is dedicated to understanding and treating mental illnesses experienced by women. Indeed, Professor Kulkarni has conducted world-first research into the link between our reproductive hormones and mental health.   A Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists since 1989, she was awarded a PhD from Monash University in 1997 for her thesis “Women and Psychosis”. A major area of her research involves psychoneuroendocrine studies of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in women with severe mental illnesses. In particular, she has pioneered the use of estrogen as a new treatment in schizophrenia.Professor Kulkarni received an Order of Australia (AM) in 2019 for her services to Medicine. In 2024, she received two prestigious awards from The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP): the Ian Simpson Award for “the most outstanding contributions to clinical psychiatry through service to patients and the community” and the RANZCP Senior Research Award, for “the most significant contribution to psychiatric research in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand over the preceding five years”.As you can imagine Professor Kulkarni is a very busy woman and her knowledge and wisdom is sought after so we hope you (and your GP) gain a lot from this episode.In this episode, we talk about:About Professor Kulkarni(1:03)The link between reproductive hormones and mental health (4:44)Questionnaire about depression in menopause (5:19)Menopause depression is different - what are the signs? (5:29)The statistics - this is a significant time of mental health change for many women. (7:25)Let's not forget the men because this is everyone's business (9:30)Menopausal mood disorder and the brain (10:45)Beware of misdiagnosis (12:20)The link between hormones, the brain and menopause (14:47)We need to re-look at the way society looks at menopause (16:22)Don't stigmatise women who struggle (18:57)Know your numbers ladies (20:37)Taking the holistic approach to menopause (21:19)Make your needs known loudly and assertively (24;15)Blood tests can't show what's happening in the brain (24:43)Women are very good at knowing what is going on in their bodies (25:20)Message for GPs and women who are aged around 40 (26:08)Would you rather see our smiling faces? Subscribe to our YouTube channel here Episode Resources:HER Centre Australia https://www.monash.edu/medicine/her-centreGet MENO-D: a rating scale to detect menopause in depression here https://www.maprc.org.au/sites/www.maprc.org.au/files/MENO-D_0.pdfWomen On Fire® is sponsored by MenoMe®Follow MenoMe® on Instagram hereFollow MenoMe® on Facebook hereVisit the website hereSubscribe to the YouTube channel to watch the interviews here We're honoured you've joined Women On Fire® and hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, we would be grateful if you would leave us a 5-star review wherever you listen to your podcasts or subscribe to our YouTube channel. That way, we can reach as many women as possible with Women On Fire®. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.