🎙️ Episode Title: Taking Charge of Menopause, Longevity, & Primary Care
Guest: Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan, MD, Certified Menopause Specialist

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan, a board-certified family physician and North American Menopause Society (NAMS) certified menopause specialist, who’s rewriting the way women experience midlife care.

Originally trained in Ireland, Dr. O’Sullivan completed medical school and her first residency there before relocating to the U.S. in 2004, where she completed a second residency in Family Medicine at the University of Maryland. Her broad clinical experience spans urgent care, HIV care, gender-affirming care, and emergency medicine—bringing a truly intersectional, whole-person lens to her current work in menopause.

Dr. O’Sullivan is the founder of Portland Menopause Doc, a telemedicine practice serving women in Oregon and Washington, and co-founder of The Portland Menopause Collective, a physician-led initiative focused on educating both clinicians and communities on the science (and stigma) of menopause.

She’s also a frequent lecturer, podcast guest, and contributor to women’s health research, and co-host of the much-loved podcast, The Dusty Muffins, where she blends humor, science, and lived experience in every conversation.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The real risks (and benefits) of hormone therapy
• Why vaginal estrogen is underused and misunderstood
• What’s actually causing your UTIs, brain fog, and vaginal dryness
• How doctors are being trained—and where the system is failing women
• How humor and storytelling are tools for empowerment

Dr. O’Sullivan is the provider you wish you had: sharp, warm, honest, and deeply committed to making sure women stop being dismissed—and start being heard.

Join PAUZ today! www.pauz.health

#MenopauseCare #PAUZVoices #MidlifeMedicine #DustyMuffins #HormoneHealth #WomenDeserveBetter ##perimenopause #lifestyle ##healthylifestyle #empowerment

Think the scale tells the whole story? Think again.

In this episode, we’re breaking down the real reason you might be gaining fat, losing muscle, or missing early signs of bone loss—even if you're eating well and working out.
The secret? A DEXA scan.

Join us as we sit down with Tony Orlando, founder of DEXA+ and DEXASCAN.com, and a true pioneer in the body composition and bone density space. With over 25 years of experience, Tony has built one of the largest networks of DEXA providers in the U.S., making precision health testing accessible nationwide.

We’ll dive into:
🔍 What a DEXA scan actually tells you (it’s way more than just fat %)
🧠 Why women in midlife need this data to track progress and protect long-term health
📉 How declining estrogen impacts fat, muscle, and bone—and how DEXA helps you see it
💡 How Tony turned his passion for longevity into a movement that’s changing preventive health

If you’re ready to ditch the scale, get real answers, and take control of your health—this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or watch on YouTube.
📲 Follow @pauzhealth for more insights and updates.

#DEXAScan #BodyComposition #WomensHealth #Longevity #MuscleIsMedicine #TonyOrlando #PAUZHealth #MenopauseFitness #PreventiveHealth #KnowYourNumbers #ScanStrong #Menopause #clevelandclinic #mayoclinic #vondawright

Why Gut Health Matters for Vaginal Health

Your gut and vagina are more connected than you think.

💬 In our latest expert interview, we sat down with microbiome specialist Dragana Skokovic-Sunjic to talk all things gut and vaginal health—and why supporting your gut can make a major difference in preventing vaginal infections, maintaining pH balance, and improving overall wellness (yes, including libido 💥).

Dragana Skokovic-Sunjic is a Clinical Pharmacist and internationally recognized expert in the human microbiome, with a special focus on probiotics and women’s health. She is the author of the Clinical Guide to Probiotic Products Available in Canada, used by healthcare professionals nationwide. Dragana is known for translating complex microbiome science into practical strategies for improving gut, vaginal, and overall health. She frequently speaks at international conferences and serves as an advisor on evidence-based probiotic use and microbiome support.

Here’s what we learned:

✨ A healthy gut microbiome supports a balanced vaginal microbiome
✨ Disruptions in gut bacteria (hello antibiotics, stress, poor diet) can throw off vaginal health
✨ Probiotics and nutrition play key roles in restoring balance
✨ Supporting your gut = supporting your immune system, mood, and hormones

🧠 Your gut and vagina communicate through the immune system, nervous system, and even the microbiome highway (yep, that’s real).

Want support for your gut and vaginal health?
👉 Join www.pauz.health

#GutHealth #VaginalHealth #Microbiome #PerimenopauseSupport #MenopauseMatters #PAUZHealth #WomensHealth #DraganaSkokovicSunjic #HolisticHealth

Ask ChatGPT

🎙️ New Episode: Grabbing Life by the Ovaries with Dr. Shyamala Kiru

This week, we're joined by powerhouse psychotherapist and emotional leadership expert Dr. Shyamala Kiru — a woman who truly embodies what it means to grab life by the ovaries.

With over two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Kiru is the creator of the Creatrix Method, a transformative framework helping women master their emotions, deepen their relationships, and fully align their energy and purpose.

In this energizing conversation, we explore:

💡 Why everything starts and ends with how we choose to lead ourselves
🧠 The shift from self-abandonment to self-investment
❤️ How emotional mastery changes the game in midlife relationships
⚡ The difference between managing emotions vs. leading them
🌱 Why now — in perimenopause and beyond — is the time to rewrite the story

You’ll walk away feeling grounded, empowered, and ready to take bold, aligned action in your life.

🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts — and if you're ready to step into your next chapter, this is the episode you don’t want to miss.

#PAUZPodcast #EmotionalLeadership #CreatrixMethod #MidlifePower #PerimenopauseWisdom #WomenWhoLead #MindsetShift #SelfMastery #GrabLifeByTheOvaries

A Powerhouse Conversation with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany

Stepping Into Your Authentic Self — For Your Health

This episode is a must-listen for every woman navigating the fog, fire, and friction of perimenopause.

Dr. Shieva Ghofrany — OBGYN, ovarian cancer survivor, co-creator of Tribe Called V — joins us to talk about what it means to step into your authentic self and take the reins on your health journey.

We cover:
✔️ Naming and understanding the symptoms of perimenopause
✔️ The power of vaginal estrogen
✔️ How to advocate for yourself in a system that too often dismisses women
✔️ What it looks like to be proactive, not paranoid

Dr. Shieva blends medical insight with raw honesty from her own journey: 6 miscarriages, endometriosis, weight loss surgery, ovarian cancer — and through it all, a relentless drive to help women replace fear with knowledge.

Whether you're a clinician, a patient, or somewhere in between, this is a conversation about ownership, honesty, and informed self-care.

🎧 Follow @pauzhealth
📲 Follow her @drshievag
🌐 Learn more: drshievag.com and tribecalledv.com

Getting Your Zzz’s Back: Sleep Tips for Women in Perimenopause with Dr. Alison Kole | PAUZ Health

Struggling with restless nights, 3 AM wake-ups, or feeling exhausted no matter how much sleep you get? You’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Alison Kole, a nationally recognized sleep expert and founder of Oak Health Sleep, to talk about why so many women experience disrupted sleep during perimenopause—and what you can do about it.

With board certifications in Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary, and Critical Care, Dr. Kole shares evidence-based strategies (like CBT-I), powerful lifestyle shifts, and the most common sleep myths holding women back from deep, restorative rest.

🧠 You’ll learn:

• Why sleep gets harder in your 40s and 50s
• How hormones, stress, and lifestyle collide to sabotage your rest
• The truth about melatonin, sleep meds, and CBT-I
• Simple changes that can make a big difference—starting tonight
• How to reset your body’s natural sleep rhythm

Whether you're just noticing changes or have been struggling for years, this conversation is your guide to finally getting your Zzz’s back.

🔔 Subscribe to PAUZ Health for more expert interviews and tools to thrive through midlife and beyond.

www.pauz.health

Follow us on Socials @pauzhealth

📍Connect with Dr. Kole:
Oak Health Sleep: https://oakhealthsleep.com
Podcast: Sleep Is My Waking Passion
Website: www.askthesleepmd.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/askthesleepmd

Facebook: www.facebook.com/askthesleepmd

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alison-kole-md-mph-fccp-faasm-b6a26715

💬 Drop your questions in the comments—we’d love to hear how sleep is showing up in your life.

#SleepHealth #Perimenopause #WomensHealth #InsomniaHelp #CBTI #DrAlisonKole #MidlifeWellness #PAUZHealth #HormonesAndSleep #SleepDisorders #BetterSleepStartsHere

Listen to Dr. Perkins talk with Expert Athlete Health and Performance Research Scientist Dr. Candow on how women in perimenopause can optimize their muscle and bone health.

-Does creatine work?

-How to take creatine

-How to maximize strength training benefits

Darren G. Candow, Ph.D., CSEP-CEP, FISSN is a Professor and Director of the Aging Muscle and Bone Health Laboratory, Director of Research for the Athlete Health and Performance Initiative and past Associate Dean-Graduate Studies and Research in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina, Canada. The overall objectives of Dr. Candow’s research program are to develop effective lifestyle interventions involving nutrition (primarily creatine monohydrate) and physical activity (resistance training) which have practical and clinical relevance for improving properties of muscle, bone and brain health/function. Dr. Candow has published > 150 peer-refereed journal manuscripts (h-index: 49, i10-index: 107), received > $2 million in research support, and supervised over 20 MSc and PhD students. In addition, Dr. Candow serves on the editorial review boards for the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition; Nutrients; Frontiers; Advanced Exercise and Health Sciences; Scientific Reports; and Longevity and as a Scientific Advisor for AlzChem and Create. Dr. Candow is also a fellow of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and a Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology-Clinical Exercise Physiologist.

Dr. Lori Brotto is a renowned figure in the field of women's sexual health. As a Professor in the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, she holds a Canada Research Chair, focusing on developing safe and accessible treatments for prevalent sexual concerns in women. She is a published author on the topic of mediation and libido.

Listen to our conversation about perimenopause and libido-how meditation and mindset can help!