The Hotflash inc podcast

• 188: Jennifer Block is following the estrogen money

  Send us a textWelcome back to the Hotflash inc podcast, hosted by journalist and founder Ann Marie McQueen – the only reader-supported, evidence, expert opinion and human experience-based platform dedicated to all aspects of menopause and midlife. Today’s guest is Jennifer Block, an independent investigative journalist based in the United States. who reports on medicine, health, science and power. In this episode, Ann Marie and Jennifer explore the rising tide of estrogen-focused messaging in menopause care – and how it might not be as organic or evidence-based as it seems. Jennifer has just published three major articles — in The Free Press, The British Medical Journal and on her Substack Unpopular Science — that connect long-suspected dots between pharma-backed advocacy, conflicts of interest and the shifting tone around hormone therapy. Together, these pieces paint a picture of an industry-backed campaign influencing policy, public opinion, and clinical guidance. If you’ve been wondering why estrogen is suddenly everywhere, this is the conversation you’ve been waiting for.Sponsor Shoutout: Thank you to our sponsor, Timeline Nutrition – makers of Mitopure™, the first clinically tested Urolithin A supplement that supports cellular energy and muscle strength. Visit www.timeline.com and use the code HOTFLASH for 20% off your first order.Also, thank you to our friends at Bonafide. Visit hellobonafide.com and use code SUMMIT20 to receive 20% off your first month of any Bonafide subscription product.HighlightsHow Jennifer’s recent reporting was sparked by the FDA black box warning changeThe behind-the-scenes forces pushing for estrogen’s big comebackWhy the “menopause awareness movement” isn’t as grassroots as it seemsWhat Jennifer uncovered about the industry ties behind the Menopause SocietyWhy many doctors may not be aware of their own industry entanglementsHow these dynamics affect everyday women making decisions about HRTWhat informed consent really means in this climateThe importance of journalistic scrutiny in medical debatesFact check:Addyi (flibanserin) offers a modest benefit for certain premenopausal women with HSDD (hypoactive sexual desire disorder), averaging 0.5 to 1 additional satisfying sexual event per month compared to placebo.Compounded hormones typically do not carry standardized FDA boxed warnings or package inserts. These customized medications are exempt from federal labeling regulations, meaning key risk information may not be included.About Jennifer Website: www.jenniferblock.comSubstack: Unpopular ScienceJoin the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

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• 187: What everyone got wrong about Dr. Rachel Pope's perimenopause hormone therapy study

  Send us a textIn this episode of the Hotflash Inc Podcast, host and journalist Ann Marie McQueen is joined by Dr. Rachel Pope, an OB-GYN and certified menopause practitioner at the Urology Institute University Hospitals Cleveland, with an appointment in the Department of Reproductive Biology. Dr. Pope is also a public health researcher, currently working to clarify gaps in hormone therapy research that impact real women every day.Dr. Pope’s recent study set social media on fire, with claims that hormone therapy in perimenopause reduces breast cancer, stroke, and heart attack risk by 60%. But is that actually what the data said? In this episode, Dr. Pope gives a clear, honest account of what her study really found – and what it didn’t. She speaks about the confusion that followed, why nuance matters, her belief in the power of hormone therapy and how to move forward in the menopause conversation with more care, accuracy and integrity.This is a must-listen for anyone navigating perimenopause, hormone therapy decisions or working in the midlife health space.Sponsor ShoutoutThank you to our sponsor, Timeline Nutrition – makers of Mitopure™, the first clinically tested Urolithin A supplement that supports cellular energy and muscle strength. Visit www.timeline.com and use the code HOTFLASH for 20% off your first order.Thank you to Bonafide, a gold sponsor at the Hotflash Inc Summit. To learn more, visit hellobonafide.com and be sure to use code SUMMIT20 to receive 20% off the first month of any Bonafide subscription product.HighlightsThe truth behind the viral claim that hormone therapy “reduces risk by 60%.”Why misinterpretation of data spreads so fast — especially on social media.What the research actually says about breast cancer, stroke, and heart attack.The gaps in current evidence, especially around compounded hormones and long-term outcomes.How healthy-user bias and retrospective databases can distort study results.Why individualized care matters — and why hormone therapy isn’t universally preventative.GUEST LINKSUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterInstagram: @drrpopeX: @drrpope Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

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• 186 SOLO: Perimenopause, ADHD and the midlife mental load

  Send us a textIn this solo episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, host and founder Ann Marie McQueen dives into the rising conversation around ADHD and perimenopause. Drawing from personal experience, research, and lived insight, Ann Marie explores how midlife hormone shifts may intersect with neurodivergence – and how confusing, frustrating and illuminating that process can be. This episode is a candid, powerful reflection on mental health, executive function and how being a woman in midlife calls for compassion and curiosity.Thank you to our sponsor, Timeline Nutrition – makers of Mitopure™, the first clinically tested Urolithin A supplement that supports cellular energy and muscle strength. Visit www.timeline.com and use the code HOTFLASH for 20% off your first order.HighlightsAnn Marie reflects on the constant battle to get information right in a world full of misinformation.The emerging connection between perimenopause, ADHD, and hormonal changes.Research shows ADHD traits can intensify menopausal symptoms—even in undiagnosed women.Ann Marie shares her own experience recognizing lifelong ADHD tendencies.Sensory sensitivity, rejection sensitivity, and how they show up in midlife.Why she hasn’t pursued an official diagnosis – and how nervous system healing has helped.The pain of not being taken seriously when you open up about neurodivergence.Testosterone’s overlooked role in executive function and how HRT may help.Why a holistic approach is essential for navigating neurodivergence in midlife.The power of being seen and heard – how a simple conversation at work changed everything.This podcast is hosted by Ann Marie McQueen, journalist and founder of Hotflash inc, the world’s only reader-supported, research-based platform covering all aspects of menopause and midlife. With more than 30 years in journalism, Ann Marie provides evidence-based content, expert interviews, and deeply personal conversations to help women around the world navigate this pivotal life stage.If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit –  and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show. To get the latest research and real talk on perimenopause, menopause, and midlife straight to your inbox, subscribe to the Hotflash inc newsletter at hotflashinc.com.Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

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• 185 SOLO: Black box warnings, all about HRT (and remembering Dr Burt Webb)

  Send us a textOn this solo episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, journalist and founder Ann Marie McQueen breaks down one of the biggest developments in menopause care in years: the FDA’s decision to remove the black box warning on vaginal and topical estrogen. Ann Marie unpacks what this means, what it doesn’t mean, and what we’re not being told in the flurry of headlines and social media excitement. She also shares insight from two menopause certified practitioners who are upcoming guest on the podcast – US ob-gyn Dr. Rachel Pope and Canadian naturopathic doctor Dr. Kirsten Smith – and reflects on the legacy of Dr Burt Webb, a beloved podcast guest and women’s health champion.Thank you to our sponsor, Timeline Nutrition – makers of Mitopure™, the first clinically tested Urolithin A supplement that supports cellular energy and muscle strength. Visit www.timeline.com and use the code HOTFLASH for 20% off your first order.It’s not too late to get an All Access Pass to the Hotflash inc Summit! You get lifetime access to the videos, as well as Hotflash inc Summit Book of Knowledge (top takeaways from all the interviews) and the BETA version of the Hotflash inc Hormone Therapy Navigator.HighlightsThe FDA’s removal of the black box warning on vaginal and topical estrogen — what it really meansThe disconnect between science and media messagingExpert insights from Dr. Kirsten Smith and Dr. Rachel Pope on nuance, safety, and responsible communicationWhy sudden menopause isn’t the same as natural menopause — and why that distinction mattersThe quiet truth about progestins vs. progesteroneSocial media, private practice, and the influencer-doctor economyVaginal options like DHEA and testosterone — and what’s missing from the conversationThree questions to ask yourself before starting hormone therapyRemembering Dr. Burt Webb — one of Ann Marie’s favorite guestsThis is a solo episode hosted by Ann Marie McQueen. Additional expert commentary is provided by:Dr. Kirsten Smith, a naturopathic doctor practicing in Canada and Costa Rica with a focus on women’s health and hormone balancing.Dr. Rachel Pope, obstetrician-gynecologist, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and associate professor at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.Dr. Burt Webb, late OB/GYN and beloved advocate for women’s vaginal and hormonal health.This podcast is hosted by Ann Marie McQueen, journalist and founder of Hotflash inc, the world’s only reader-supported, research-based platform covering all aspects of menopause and midlife. With more than 30 years in journalism, Ann Marie provides evidence-based content, expert interviews, and deeply personal conversations to help women around the world navigate this Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

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• 184: Why self-connection matters most in perimenopause with Dr Leigha Saunders

  Send us a textHosted by journalist and Hotflash inc founder Ann Marie McQueen, this episode features Dr Leigha Saunders, a naturopathic doctor, menopause specialist and mom of two whose own postpartum sleep struggles ignited a mission to help women reclaim their rest and balance.From her sold-out “Woman Up” event to her candid insights on burnout, radical self-responsibility, and the real roots of fatigue, Leigha and Ann Marie dig into the science and soul of women’s health. They unpack why everything is suddenly labeled “perimenopause,” the hidden role of iron deficiency, and how stress, relationships and lost self-connection lie beneath so many midlife symptoms.Sponsor shout-out Thank you to our sponsor, Timeline Nutrition – makers of Mitopure™, the first clinically tested Urolithin A supplement that supports cellular energy and muscle strength. Visit www.timeline.com and use the code HOTFLASH for 20% off your first order.HighlightsDr Leigha Saunders shares how her Woman Up event united over 100 women seeking health and happiness.Why “normal” bloodwork isn’t always optimal — and how the medical system continues to fail women.How midlife hormones lower our tolerance for stress and change the way we recover.Leigha’s own burnout and “dark night of the soul” — and how she turned it into a healing experience.Why perimenopause can sound like “I don’t feel like myself” — and what that really means.The danger of assuming every symptom is perimenopause — and what to test instead.Iron, B12, and protein deficiencies: the hidden causes behind fatigue and low mood.Why collaboration between medical and naturopathic doctors is the future of women’s health.Where to find Dr LeighWebsite: leighasaundersnd.com Instagram: @drleighasaundersndHost bioThis podcast is hosted by Ann Marie McQueen, journalist and founder of Hotflash Inc, the world’s only reader-supported, research-based platform covering all aspects of menopause and midlife. With more than 30 years in journalism, Ann Marie provides evidence-based content, expert interviews, and deeply personal conversations to help women around the world navigate this pivotal life stage.Thank you for being hereIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might benefit — and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show. For the latest research and real talk on perimenopause, menopause, and midlife straight to your inbox, subscribe to the Hotflash inc newsletter here.Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse: Web: hotflashinc.comNewsletter: Hotflash inc. on SubstackTikTok: @hotflashincInstagram: @hotflashincX: @hotflashinc Episode website: Hotflashinc Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

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