Guest: Dr. Shafeena Premji, Menopause Expert & Physician (@drshafeenapremji).

If you’ve been told you can’t take hormone therapy—or you’ve chosen not to—this episode is for you.

This week, menopause expert and physician Dr. Shafeena Premji joins us to unpack all the non-hormonal treatment options available to women navigating the menopause transition. From prescription medications to emerging therapies, Dr. Premji explains what’s proven, safe, and effective for managing symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and sleep issues—without using hormones.

She also breaks down the exciting new non-hormonal treatment recently approved by Health Canada, how it works, and why it’s being hailed as a game changer—especially for:

• Breast cancer survivors
• Stroke or cardiovascular disease patients
• Those beyond the 10-year window for starting hormone therapy
• Anyone seeking approved, science-backed non-hormonal symptom relief

We’ll cover what the research says, how to talk to your doctor about these options, and what this means for the future of menopause care in Canada.

You’ll learn:

• The science behind non-hormonal menopause treatments
• Which medications are currently approved and how they work
• Who should consider non-hormonal therapies
• How the newest Health Canada-approved treatment is changing the landscape for menopause symptom management

This episode is packed with expert insights and empowering information to help you make informed choices for your health and well-being through midlife and beyond.

EPISODE SUPPORTED BY: Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo: The Retreat (www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com/retreat).

Thank to you partners:

@GoodLifeFitness - www.goodlifefitness.com

@Avene - www.eau-thermale-avene.ca

@LoveMy.Iris - www.lovemyiris.com

Producer: Melissa Grelo.

Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner.

This Menopause Awareness Month, we’re turning up the laughter (and maybe the thermostat) with one of the funniest and most relatable voices in the menopause conversation — Kara Murray, the Canadian mom behind the viral Instagram account @mediocremom76.

Kara has made millions of women laugh about symptoms that would otherwise make us cry — from night sweats and brain fog to mood swings and hot flashes that could power a small village. But beyond the humour, she’s using her platform to educate, empower, and remind us that none of us are alone in this stage of life.

In this episode, Kara shares how she started creating content about menopause, how comedy helps her (and all of us) cope with change, and why she believes laughter is one of the most powerful forms of self-care.

If you’ve ever felt invisible, overwhelmed, or just plain tired of pretending everything’s fine — this conversation will make you feel seen, understood, and lighter.

EPISODE SUPPORTED BY: Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo: The Retreat (www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com/retreat).

Thank to you partners:

@GoodLifeFitness - www.goodlifefitness.com

@Avene - www.eau-thermale-avene.ca

@LoveMy.Iris - www.lovemyiris.com

Producer: Melissa Grelo.

Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner.

Menopause is often talked about as if it’s a universal experience — but the truth is, it’s not the same for every woman. Research shows that women of colour often experience menopause differently, with variations in symptoms, severity, and duration. Yet these differences are rarely acknowledged in medical care, leaving many women without the support they need.

In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Omolayo Famuyide, one of the few menopause doctors and specialists who is also a woman of colour. Together, we explore why representation in medicine matters and how the medical system must evolve to provide inclusive and effective care for all women in midlife.

In this episode, we cover:

• How symptoms of menopause can differ across ethnic backgrounds — from hot flashes to sleep issues to bone health
• Why severity and duration of menopause can vary, and what that means for treatment
• The blind spots many doctors still have when treating women of colour
• Barriers to accessing care and the role of systemic inequities
• How cultural differences influence whether — and how — women seek medical help
• Evidence-based treatments and what works best for different women

This episode kicks off Menopause Awareness Month on the podcast, where I’ll be dedicating every conversation to breaking stigma, raising awareness, and giving women the knowledge they deserve about this vital stage of life.

Tune in, share with a friend, and join us in making menopause care more inclusive.

Find Dr. Famuyide on Instagram at @layocentre or @dr.famuyidemd, or on her website at layocentre.com.

Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.

EPISODE SUPPORTED BY: Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo: The Retreat (www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com/retreat).

Thank to you partners,

@GoodLifeFitness, www.goodlifefitness.com

@Avene, www.eau-thermale-avene.ca

@LoveMy.Iris www.lovemyiris.com

Producer: Melissa Grelo.

Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner.

What’s new in menopause care? In this episode of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo, Melissa sits down with three board members of the Canadian Menopause Society (CMS) — Dr. Shafeena Premji, Dr. Alison Shea, and Dr. Denise Black — to unpack the Top 5 Takeaways from the CMS Biennial Scientific Conference.

This conference brings together leading clinicians and researchers from across Canada and around the world to share the latest science and best practices in midlife and menopause health. Together, our expert guests highlight the most important breakthroughs and insights you need to know — from hormone therapy to lifestyle strategies — and how these can directly improve the way women experience midlife transitions.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Perimenopause Demystified – What’s really happening hormonally, how perimenopause is defined, and key insights from Dr. Denise Black’s talk.
• The Sleep Connection – Why sleep changes with age and reproductive stage, the links between sleep, mood, and vasomotor symptoms, and why disrupted sleep may be a more important driver of health concerns than hot flashes alone.
• Brain Fog vs. ADHD – Debunking myths, exploring differences, and whether testosterone or creatine may play a role in cognitive health.
• Lifestyle Strategies for a Healthy Menopause – Practical advice on nutrition, movement, and daily habits to support energy, mood, and long-term well-being.
• The Latest in Midlife Health Research – From breast density and its role in hormone therapy decisions to new targeted therapies for managing vasomotor symptoms when hormone therapy isn’t an option.

About Our Guests:

• Dr. Shafeena Premji – Family physician and menopause expert passionate about empowering women with evidence-based care, based in Calgary, Alberta.
• Dr. Alison Shea – Obstetrician-gynecologist and researcher focused on reproductive aging and quality of life in midlife women based at the University of Manitoba.
• Dr. Denise Black – Gynecologist and menopause specialist with decades of leadership in guideline development and education, based in Hamilton, Ontario.

About the Canadian Menopause Society:

CMS is a multidisciplinary, non-profit organization committed to promoting knowledge, study, and expertise in all aspects of midlife and aging in women. Their mission is to improve quality of life through research, clinical care, and education in perimenopause, menopause, and healthy aging.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Canadian Menopause Society: www.canadianmenopausesociety.org, IG: @canadianmenopausesociety
• Connect with Melissa on Instagram: @melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmg
• Connect with the experts: @drshafeenapremji, Dr. Alison Shea @hormone.md.hamilton,
• Subscribe to Aging Powerfully for more episodes on thriving in midlife and beyond.

EPISODE SUPPORTED BY: Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo: The Retreat (www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com/retreat).

Thank to you partners,

@GoodLifeFitness, www.goodlifefitness.com

@Avene, www.eau-thermale-avene.ca

@LoveMy.Iris www.lovemyiris.com

Producer: Melissa Grelo.

Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner.

When it comes to midlife health, women are bombarded with mixed messages: It’s all your hormones. There’s nothing you can do. Just accept the changes. But is that really the full story?

On this episode of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo, I sit down with muscle scientist Dr. Colenso-Semple to break down why building muscle as we age isn’t just about looking strong — it’s about preserving independence, vitality, and living fully on our own terms.

We tackle the myths and hype around menopause, hormones, and body composition, and get straight to the facts:

• Why muscle is the true “fountain of youth” for women in midlife and beyond
• The real drivers of body composition change in menopause — and why hormones are only one piece of the puzzle
• Strength training decoded: how often, how heavy, which body parts, and whether tools like weighted vests actually matter
• The cortisol connection: how stress impacts our ability to build and maintain muscle
• Training and the cycle: does your period really affect strength gains?

If you’ve ever felt confused by the noise online about women’s fitness, aging, and menopause, this conversation cuts through it all. Dr. Colenso-Semple gives us the science-backed “how-to” on building muscle, protecting our health, and aging powerfully — literally.

It’s time to stop the myths, stop the fear, and start lifting for the life you want.

This episode supported by Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo: The Retreat, November 7-9, 2025 at Kingbridge Centre, Ontario. For info and bookings, www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com/retreat. Thank you to our partners, IRIS @lovemy.iris, GoodLife Fitness @goodlifefitness and Avène @avene.

Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.

Producer: Melissa Grelo.

Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner.

The podcast is back and kicking off Season 3 with more myth-busting and more challenging of misinformation with OB-GYN Dr. Jen Gunter (@drjengunter). She's back on the show because the nonsense online about menopause and women's health has only heated up and not slowed down. She discusses the latest myths about hormone therapy, plus the newest hot topics: strength training and protein intake. Finally, Dr. Gunter discusses how the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement and the conspiracy theories it espouses could have an impact on us Canadians up here.

Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.

Producer: Melissa Grelo.

Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner.

After a short break, the podcast is back! Season 3 drops tomorrow, and every Thursday thereafter. Dr. Jen Gunter (@drjengunter), the Internet's favourite myth-busting OB-GYN, is back to tackle today's biggest menopause and women's health social media myths and misinformation. But first, Melissa catches us up on something BIG she's been planning for the fall. Listen today and then tune in tomorrow for the first episode of Season 3!

Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.

Producer: Melissa Grelo.

Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner.

It’s a wrap on another incredible season! Join Melissa and her Tech & Audio Producer, Drew Garner, as they look back on their favourite moments from the season. They’ll share behind-the-scenes stories you’ve never heard before — including the inside scoop on an episode that never aired and why it stayed on the shelf.

A big thank you to all the sponsors who supported Season 2!

@lovemyiris

@alwaysdiscreet

@felixhealthca

@avene

@sanoliving.ai

@cdnhpcassn

STAY TUNED FOR SEASON 3 COMING THIS FALL!

Find Melissa Grelo on Instagram @MelissaGrelo and @AgingPowerfullyWithMG, or on her website AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo.com.

Producer: Melissa Grelo.

Audio/Video Producer and Editor: Drew Garner.