The Hotflash inc podcast

• 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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• 183: How Family Constellation therapy helps you heal midlife patterns

  Send us a textThank 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.In this episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, host and founder Ann Marie McQueen sits down with Laura Ghita, a Romanian psychotherapist and Family Constellation practitioner, for a deeply personal and revealing conversation about how unresolved ancestral patterns can shape our midlife experiences – and how we can shift them.Ann Marie recorded this interview several years ago, in the middle of going through menopause, just after experiencing her own Family Constellation session. What followed was a profound rethinking of how past generations and hidden dynamics impact our relationships, our health, and how we move through the world in perimenopause and beyond.Laura explains how this therapeutic modality works, what the science says about inherited trauma, and how this work can reconnect us to our intuition, our bodies, and our personal truth. Whether you're new to Family Constellation Therapy or already curious, this episode will move you to think differently about healing – and the invisible threads that connect us all.Highlights:How Family Constellation helps women in perimenopause and menopauseUnderstanding the inherited beliefs about womanhood from your maternal lineWhy we can’t think our way through healingHow trauma gets stored in our bodies – and why it mattersThe turning point when Ann Marie felt emotion linked to her great-grandmotherWhy healing is never “done” – it’s a lifelong journeyLaura Ghita is a Romania-based psychotherapist and Family Constellation facilitator with more than a decade of experience helping individuals and groups uncover the unconscious patterns passed down through generations. Her approach is grounded in psychology, trauma-informed practices, and energetic awareness. Laura travels internationally to offer workshops and one-on-one sessions, including regular visits to Seva Wellness in Dubai. Her work helps people reconnect with their deeper selves, their bodies, and their ancestral lines to bring clarity, healing, and peaceConnect with Laura:LinkedIn Laura Ghita Instagram: @lauraghita.psychologistJoin 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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• 182: Journalist Fiona Clark on hype, hormones and finding better science

  Send us a textThank you to Timeline for sponsoring this podcast. Powered by Mitopure®, Timeline’s clinically proven Urolithin A gummies are designed to boost energy and support healthy aging at the cellular level. Use code HOTFLASH at timeline.com for 20% off your first order.In this episode of the Hotflash inc podcast, host and founder Ann Marie McQueen speaks with award-winning journalist, broadcaster and women’s health advocate Fiona Clark. Together they unpack how media, medicine and marketing collided to create confusion and polarization in menopause care – and what needs to change.Fiona, co-founder of the Menopause Research and Education Fund, shares why she wrote Meno Wars, the impact of social media “medical influencers,” how evidence gets cherry-picked and misused, and why better data, plain-language summaries and shared decision-making are vital for women’s health. They also discuss vaginal health – including her own issues – testosterone, GLP-1s, trauma, diet culture and the urgent need for more menopause research funding.HighlightsHow the menopause movement went off the rails,The rise of medical influencers and how misinformation spreads onlineWhat hormone therapy can and can’t doThe overlooked importance of vaginal health and simple, effective treatmentsHow marketing shapes narrativesWhy anger is valid, and how women can demand better data, research, and careAbout Fiona ClarkFiona Clark is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and women’s health advocate. She is the author of Meno Wars: Why Menopause’s Moment Has Gone Horribly Wrong, which examines how media, medicine and marketing have shaped today’s menopause narrative. Fiona is also co-founder of the Menopause Research and Education Fund, dedicated to improving scientific research, education and equity in women’s health.Meno Wars: wherever books are sold IG: @fiona_clark_writesJoin 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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• 181: How to stop people pleasing and start living for you with Riana Malia

  Send us a textThank you to Timeline for sponsoring this podcast. Powered by Mitopure®, Timeline’s clinically proven Urolithin A gummies are designed to boost energy and support healthy aging at the cellular level. Use code HOTFLASH at timeline.com for 20% off your first order.In this empowering episode of the Hotflash inc podcast, journalist and founder Ann Marie McQueen speaks with Riana Malia, a transformation coach with over 20 years of experience helping ambitious women break free from emotional blocks, unconscious patterns, and limiting beliefs. Riana shares her Clear to Create method, which blends neuroscience, advanced trauma-aware coaching, and energetic techniques like Quantum Time Release to help women shed old stories and reclaim their personal power.We dig into people pleasing, forgiveness, midlife transitions, and why so many of us are unconsciously stuck in survival loops that keep us from fully living. We also discuss how midlife – and perimenopause – can serve as a powerful energetic reset, and what it really takes to step into your next chapter, unapologetically.Highlights4:20 – How childhood conditioning creates the nice girl persona6:50 – What it means to “clear before you can create”8:30 – The cost of repeating old patterns and people pleasing9:45 – What is Quantum Time Release and how does it work?12:15 – Why mindset isn’t enough and the unconscious mind always wins13:45 – Trauma, cycles, and the deep work that actually frees us16:30 – Alchemical forgiveness – what it is and how it sets you free20:00 – How emotional blocks show up physically in perimenopause and menopause22:00 – Stepping into your full power in midlife24:10 – Speaking up at work and at home – and dealing with the fallout26:30 – Reintroducing yourself after transformation29:10 – A dress disaster becomes a metaphor for authenticity32:30 – When you’re done being the one who fixes everything34:30 – You can’t solve a problem with the same mind that created it35:10 – How to work with Riana one-on-one or take her free assessmentRiana Malia is a transformational coach, advanced trauma practitioner, and creator of the Clear to Create method. With over two decades of experience and training in modalities like evolved neurolinguistic programming and Quantum Time Release, she helps ambitious women break free from the emotional and energetic blocks that keep them stuck. Her work blends neuroscience, deep compassion, and intuitive guidance to help clients step into their true power and create the life and love they desire.Where to find RaniaWebsite: https://www.rianamalia.com (currently being relaunched)Take the quiz: https://quiz.rianamalia.com – Find out what’s standing between you and extraordinary loveInstagram: https://instagram.com/rianamaliaJoin 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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