Today, we welcome Dr. Michelle Cromwell, founder of Sœur du Sol, for a deep and inspiring conversation about disrupting the menopause narrative around traditional and holistic medicine to support symptoms.

Dr. Michelle is a former C-suite executive and vice president in higher education, with over 18 years of experience as a professor, administrator, and leader. She holds a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution and has taught research methods and sociology, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to her work.

Dr. Michelle’s journey is marked by her transition from academia and corporate leadership to the healing arts. While building her career, she quietly practiced complementary medicine—becoming a yoga instructor, Reiki master teacher, and student of traditional herbalism, inspired by her father, an engineer and herbalist. Her calling became undeniable after a transformative experience in a course on cosmic herbalism and medical astrology, which led her to leave her executive role and fully embrace her identity as a healer.

She has since traveled to Benin, West Africa, to learn directly from traditional healers, deepening her expertise in West African herbs and holistic wellness. Dr. Michelle’s work now bridges science, spirit, and heritage healthcare, empowering women—especially those in high-achieving and leadership roles—to reclaim their autonomy and well-being during menopause.

Key Topics

• Science Meets Spirit: Integrating medical astrology, traditional medicine, and scientific rigor in women’s health.
• West African Herbal Wisdom: Firsthand learning from traditional healers and developing proprietary herbal blends.
• Empowering Women: Addressing the challenges women face in menopause, especially in corporate environments.
• Herbal Tea: Dr. Michelle's unique herbal blend for brain fog and sleep, rooted in ancestral knowledge.
• Bridging Healthcare Gaps: Advocating for partnerships between conventional and complementary practitioners, and the deep mistrust as a result of the Women's Health Initiative that commenced in early 1990s and abrubtly halted in 2002.

Connect with Dr. Michelle Cromwell

• Website: Sœur du Sol

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I would love it if you could support the show. Go into the show notes and click on the button where you read "support the show." You have the option to donate monthly, $3, 5, 8, 10. Be a loyal supporter for as long as you want with recurring fee as little of three as $3 a month, and opt out at any time. Each investment goes directly back into producing episodes with even better content, improved audio quality, and we'll go a long way in bringing great guests onto the show.

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Meet your Host:
Mary is a Licensed Menopause Champion, certified Menopause Doula, and Woman's Coaching Specialist supporting high-achieving women to embrace their transition from peri- to post-menopause.

Mary coaches individuals and guides organizations to create a menopause-friendly workplace, helping forward-thinking organizations design policies to accommodate employees at work and foster a positive and supportive culture.

Click on the link to learn more 👉🏼👉🏼 https://emmeellecoaching.com/workplace

Ready to transform your menopause journey? Learn how Mary can work with you 1:1. Book a free consultation call.

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

In this episode, Mary sits down with Dr. Amy Day, a leading naturopathic doctor specializing in perimenopausal and menopausal health. Dr. Day shares her journey into the field, her passion for empowering women with education, and her commitment to providing holistic, individualized care.

Key Topics Discussed

• Understanding Perimenopause: Dr. Day explains the often-overlooked transition of perimenopause, highlighting the lack of education and awareness that many women face. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing hormonal changes and seeking support early.
• Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT): The conversation covers what BHRT is, its history, and how it can be safely and effectively used as part of a broader approach to women’s health. Dr. Day addresses common misconceptions and the need for individualized treatment plans.
• Holistic and Lifestyle Approaches: Beyond hormones, Dr. Day discusses the critical role of stress resilience, adrenal health, nutrition, and lifestyle adjustments. She advocates for self-care and viewing this life stage as an opportunity for growth and well-being.
• Virtual Care and Community: Dr. Day describes her virtual practice, licensed in California, and the resources available through her online community at womensvitalitycenter.com.

Connect

• Dr. Amy Day’s Perimenopause 101 mini-course, clinic and online community website: womensvitalitycenter.com

Let us know if you're liking the show!

I would love it if you could support the show. Go into the show notes and click on the button where you read "support the show." You have the option to donate monthly, $3, 5, 8, 10. Be a loyal supporter for as long as you want with recurring fee as little of three as $3 a month, and opt out at any time. Each investment goes directly back into producing episodes with even better content, improved audio quality, and we'll go a long way in bringing great guests onto the show.

Support the show

Meet your Host:
Mary is a Licensed Menopause Champion, certified Menopause Doula, and Woman's Coaching Specialist supporting high-achieving women to embrace their transition from peri- to post-menopause.

Mary coaches individuals and guides organizations to create a menopause-friendly workplace, helping forward-thinking organizations design policies to accommodate employees at work and foster a positive and supportive culture.

Click on the link to learn more 👉🏼👉🏼 https://emmeellecoaching.com/workplace

Ready to transform your menopause journey? Learn how Mary can work with you 1:1. Book a free consultation call.

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.

In this episode of the Menopause Disruptor Podcast, host Mary delves deep into the intricate link between stress, gut health, and visceral belly fat as experienced during menopause.

Mary explains how chronic stress impacts gut microbiota, inflammation, and fat storage, and highlights the gut-brain axis's role in this process. She leans into the experts in the field include Dr. Tara Swart and Dr. Stacy Sims to explain why stress and a hormone-changing woman's body responds to stress and fat stores, emphasizing the value of sprint intervals and heavy resistance training over steady cardio to manage cortisol levels and improve body composition.

Mary offers actionable advice on gut-friendly nutrition and stress-regulating practices that she shares with several clients that she has coached which can help you mitigate belly fat.

Resources:

• Dr. Tara Swart
• Dr. Stacy Sims
• 5 Clinically Proven Remedies to Tackle Gut Heath Issues
• How to make L.Crispatus Yogurt
• 
  

Sign up for a free resource: The Midlife Belly Fat Reset: A 7-Day Gut–Hormone–Workout Plan.

In this plan, you will get:

• A week of gut-friendly, hormone-balancing meals that lower cortisol and feed your good bacteria.
• Two sprint interval workouts and two heavy resistance sessions—simple, structured, and designed for midlife women.
• Daily stress-reset rituals you can do in under 10 minutes to calm your gut-brain axis.

Start shifting belly fat at the root cause and by working with your body. Sign up today. https://subscribepage.io/bellyfatreset

Let us know if you're liking the show!

Support the show

Meet your Host:
Mary is a Licensed Menopause Champion, certified Menopause Doula, and Woman's Coaching Specialist supporting high-achieving women to embrace their transition from peri- to post-menopause.

Mary coaches individuals and guides organizations to create a menopause-friendly workplace, helping forward-thinking organizations design policies to accommodate employees at work and foster a positive and supportive culture.

Click on the link to learn more 👉🏼👉🏼 https://emmeellecoaching.com/workplace

Ready to transform your menopause journey? Learn how Mary can work with you 1:1. Book a free consultation call.

Disclaimer: Information shared is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not replace medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional.