Brain fog. Word-finding trouble. Walking into a room and having no idea why. If you're in perimenopause or menopause, you know the feeling — and you've probably wondered: is this real, is it permanent, and should I be worried?

In this latest episode, Melissa speaks with one of the world's leading researchers on menopause and the brain, Dr. Pauline Maki — Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology — to separate myth from medicine and bust 25 menopause brain myths wide open.

We cover what's actually happening inside your brain during the transition, why estrogen matters far beyond your reproductive system, and whether what you're experiencing is permanent damage or something far more temporary. We get into hot flashes as a neurological signal, the hormone therapy confusion that has scared women away from care for decades, and what the science actually says about dementia risk.

We close on what you can do right now — and how to reframe this entire transition as something other than loss.

Menopause is not a cognitive collapse. It is a neurological transition. And you deserve accurate information, not fear.

About Dr. Pauline Maki (Instagram: @pauline.maki)

Dr. Pauline Maki is a Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she serves as Director of Women's Mental Health Research and Senior Director of Research at the Center for Research on Women and Gender. University of Illinois College of Medicine She is Past President of the North American Menopause Society and a recognized authority on how hormonal changes and menopause symptoms affect cognition, mood, and brain function in midlife women. Psychology With over 175 published research papers, her work has shaped clinical practice guidelines for the North American Menopause Society, the International Menopause Society, and beyond. University of Illinois College of Medicine Her current NIH-funded research is examining the relationship between hot flashes and memory deficits, ischemic brain lesions, and functional changes in the brain at rest University of Illinois at Chicago — work that is redefining how we understand and treat the menopause brain.

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo

Episode supported by:

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY, MAY 16, 2026!

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com

Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo is produced for women navigating midlife with curiosity, humour, and zero tolerance for being dismissed. Subscribe wherever you listen.

What if the most powerful prescription for how you age isn't in a pill bottle — it's in how you live?

In this episode, we're diving deep into Lifestyle Medicine — the evidence-based science of using the six pillars of health (how we eat, move, sleep, manage stress, connect with others, and avoid harmful habits) as medicine itself. The research is remarkable, and the implications for women navigating midlife and the menopause transition are profound.

On the show this week are two exceptional women at the forefront of evidence-based women's health care in Canada:

Dr. Ariane Ouellet-Decoste is a Canadian-trained physician with nearly two decades of experience spanning emergency care, preventative medicine, and women's health. After 15 years in emergency medicine in Quebec and the UK, she transitioned her focus to preventative and lifestyle medicine, training with The Menopause Society, the British Menopause Society, and the Canadian Menopause Society. She also holds a postgraduate certificate in Nutrition Science from Stanford School of Medicine, and currently serves as Medical Director at Coral — a virtual women's health clinic specializing in menopause care.

Linda Franco, RN is Director of Patient Care at Coral Health, with over 13 years of clinical experience — including 8 years in emergency medicine. At just 20, she became the youngest Assistant Head Nurse at the Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal. Trained in menopause and hormone therapy through the Canadian Menopause Society, Linda holds certifications in menopause, nutrition, fitness, and holistic health, and designs care pathways that put women at the centre of their health journey.

Together, they bring clinical depth, real-world experience, and a genuine passion for helping women thrive — not just survive — through every stage of life.

In this episode, we cover:

• What Lifestyle Medicine actually is
• The 3 core principles and 6 pillars of Lifestyle Medicine and why they matter
• How to start using lifestyle as medicine — today

Whether you're just beginning to think about your health differently, or you're deep in the work of optimizing how you feel and age — this one's for you.

RESOURCES & LINKS: Coral Health

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo

Episode supported by:

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY, MAY 16, 2026!

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com

If you’ve ever been told that debilitating period pain is “normal,” this episode is for you.

Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated conditions in women’s health. It can impact fertility, work, relationships, mental health, and overall quality of life — often for years before a diagnosis is made.

Today, I sit down with one of Canada’s leading experts in women’s health, Dr. Nicholas Leyland, to cut through the myths, the confusion, and the medical gaslighting with clear, evidence-based answers.

Dr. Leyland is a renowned gynecologic surgeon, researcher, educator, and incoming President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC). With decades of experience treating complex gynecologic conditions, he offers trusted insight into what endometriosis really is, how it’s treated, and how women can advocate for the care they deserve.

• What endometriosis actually is — and why it hurts so much
• The most common (and often overlooked) symptoms
• Who is at risk and how many Canadians are affected
• Why diagnosis is often delayed for years
• Treatment options: medications, surgery, and what actually works
• Whether endometriosis is a lifelong condition
• Fertility considerations
• Barriers to getting proper care in Canada
• Midlife, menopause, and hormone therapy considerations
• Health-care inequities affecting women
• How to advocate for yourself at medical appointments
• Rapid-fire myths and misconceptions

• Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC): sogc.org
• The Endometriosis Network Canada: endometriosisnetwork.com
• Talk to your primary care provider if you suspect endometriosis

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY!

May 16, 2026, Hotel Arts, Calgary, Alberta

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com

This special double episode drops in recognition of World Sleep Day — March 13th.

Are you exhausted but wide awake at night? Melissa sits down with sleep expert Dr. Colleen Carney to unpack why sleep gets harder as we age, what actually works to fix it, and why so much of what we think we know about sleep is wrong. With a special focus on women in perimenopause, midlife, and menopause — this one is packed with real answers.

• Insomnia vs. occasional poor sleep — how to tell the difference
• Sleep stages, how much you actually need, and why quality matters
• How hormones, stress, and anxiety disrupt sleep in midlife
• Why sleep apnea is so often missed in women
• Sleep's critical role in heart health, brain health, mood, and metabolism
• Sleep medications, CBT-I, and what the science actually supports
• Common sleep myths — busted

Dr. Colleen Carney is a licensed clinical psychologist, Professor of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University, and one of the world's leading experts in insomnia and CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia). Her research has shaped international clinical guidelines for treating sleep disorders.

• Canadian Sleep Society
• National Sleep Foundation
• Sleep Foundation: sleepfoundation.org

Always speak with a qualified health-care provider about sleep concerns or treatment options.

Learn more at https://www.starbucks.ca/menu/drinks/protein-beverages

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)

This special double episode drops in recognition of World Sleep Day — March 13th.

Are you exhausted but wide awake at night? Melissa sits down with sleep expert Dr. Colleen Carney to unpack why sleep gets harder as we age, what actually works to fix it, and why so much of what we think we know about sleep is wrong. With a special focus on women in perimenopause, midlife, and menopause — this one is packed with real answers.

• Insomnia vs. occasional poor sleep — how to tell the difference
• Sleep stages, how much you actually need, and why quality matters
• How hormones, stress, and anxiety disrupt sleep in midlife
• Why sleep apnea is so often missed in women
• Sleep's critical role in heart health, brain health, mood, and metabolism
• Sleep medications, CBT-I, and what the science actually supports
• Common sleep myths — busted

Dr. Colleen Carney is a licensed clinical psychologist, Professor of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University, and one of the world's leading experts in insomnia and CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia). Her research has shaped international clinical guidelines for treating sleep disorders.

• Canadian Sleep Society
• National Sleep Foundation
• Sleep Foundation: sleepfoundation.org

Always speak with a qualified health-care provider about sleep concerns or treatment options.

Learn more at https://www.starbucks.ca/menu/drinks/protein-beverages

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)

Bloating, irregular periods, weight changes, mood swings — these symptoms could point to several different conditions, and getting the right answer matters. In this episode, I sit down with fertility specialist and reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Marjorie Dixon to break down two commonly misunderstood reproductive health conditions: PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and uterine fibroids.

We get into what each condition actually is, how they show up in the body, and — crucially — why their symptoms are so often mistaken for perimenopause. Dr. Dixon shares how clinicians distinguish between these diagnoses, what to ask your doctor, and why getting the right answer is the first step toward the right care.

If you've ever wondered whether what you're experiencing is "just hormones" or something else entirely, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• What PCOS and fibroids are — and how they differ
• The overlapping symptoms that can mimic perimenopause
• How a fertility specialist approaches diagnosis
• What tests and conversations to have with your doctor
• Why these conditions are underdiagnosed and what to do about it

Guest: Dr. Marjorie Dixon, Fertility Specialist

www.anovafertility.com

Instagram: @anovafertility

This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personal medical guidance.

TECH AND AUDIO PRODUCER: DREW GARNER

PRODUCER: MELISSA GRELO

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY!

May 16, 2026, Hotel Arts, Calgary, Alberta

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com

Heart disease doesn’t always look the way we think it does — especially in women.

In this episode of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo, I’m joined by cardiologist and women’s heart health expert Dr. Tara Sedlak to dismantle the biggest myths surrounding women’s cardiovascular health — and explain why so many women’s symptoms are overlooked, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed.

We discuss:



• why heart disease in women often looks nothing like what we’ve been taught
• the most common misconceptions about women’s heart health
• why women are more likely to be dismissed when reporting symptoms
• how heart risk changes during perimenopause and menopause
• conditions that disproportionately affect women, including scad and minoca
• the role of pregnancy, stress, inflammation, and hormones in heart disease
• what women should ask their doctors — and how to advocate for better care

This episode is empowering, eye-opening, and essential listening for women of all ages — especially those navigating midlife and beyond.

Listen now, share this with the women in your life and take charge of your heart health.

Resources:

Women's Heart Health Clinic at VGH (@Women__Heart)

Canadian Women's Heart Health Centre (@CWHHAlliance)

Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute (@DilawriCVI)

Episode supported by @StarbucksCanada Protein Drinks

https://www.starbucks.ca/menu/drinks/protein-beverages

Women are having babies later than ever — which means many are trying to conceive while also entering perimenopause. In this eye-opening episode of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo, Melissa sits down with fertility specialist Dr. Kaajal Abrol to unpack what’s really happening in the body during this confusing overlap.

From irregular cycles and hormone swings to fertility testing, pregnancy risks, and assisted options, Dr. Abrol explains what women 35+ need to know if they’re trying, considering, or wondering whether pregnancy is still possible.

• How perimenopause affects fertility and ovulation

• Pregnancy symptoms vs. hormone symptoms

• What fertility tests can (and can’t) tell you

• When to see a specialist

• Options for conceiving later in life

• Realistic expectations for pregnancy after 35 and 40

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)

For any partnership inquires, contact beverly@agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com