Best Of The Body Pod - Mastering Menopause & Strength Training: Expert Insights with Selene Yeager

Best Of The Body Pod - Mastering Menopause & Strength Training: Expert Insights with Selene Yeager

We're bringing back one of our most impactful and information-packed episodes as part of our Best of the Body Pod series. The insights shared in this conversation are just as relevant today as when it first aired, and we believe every woman navigating midlife, menopause, and healthy aging can benefit from hearing it. In this episode of The Body Pod, we sit down with fitness journalist and endurance athlete Selene Yeager to explore how to thrive during menopause, improve strength training, and navigate the evolving landscape of women’s health. From her collaboration with Dr. Stacy Sims to her insights on hormonal changes, nutrition for women, and the science behind menopause fitness, Selene breaks down the biggest myths and shares practical, science-backed strategies for feeling stronger, more energized, and empowered through every stage of life. Whether you're an athlete, looking to boost your energy levels, or simply want to understand menopause training, this episode is packed with expert advice and actionable tips to help you master menopause and optimize your health. Hailey Happens Fitness Membership is the only fitness investment that grows with you! Get instant access to my full training system and design a training year that fits your midlife goals and body. Start training with a 10-day free trial → [https://www.haileyhappensfitness.com/hhfmembership?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=membership] Finish 2026 Strong. Two expert-led ways to close out the year, each with a community of women learning and training beside you. Be first in line → [https://mailchi.mp/haileyhappensfitness/2026planyouryear?utm_source=midroll&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=vip2026] when we open doors for early access to Fat Loss Happens Education course and the Shred Happens challenge.

Female-Specific Research, Longevity & Strength Training: Why Every Woman Belongs in the Weight Room | Dr. Stacy Sims & Selene Yeager

In this powerful episode of The Body Pod, world-renowned performance physiologist Dr. Stacy Sims and endurance expert Selene Yeager break down the latest breakthroughs in women’s health research, longevity, strength training, and female physiology—and why the future of women’s health is finally changing. From the stage with icons like Jane Fonda to cutting-edge conversations on the bone–brain–muscle axis, this episode dives deep into why strength training is essential for women’s longevity, brain health, metabolic health, and hormone balance. You’ll learn why traditional fitness advice has failed women, how underfueling impacts bone density and muscle mass, and why lifting weights is one of the most powerful tools for preventing osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and cognitive decline. Dr. Sims also introduces her groundbreaking new initiative, Collective X—a female-specific research and data platform designed to close the gender data gap in health and fitness. By leveraging vetted research, AI, and real-world data, Collective X is working to revolutionize how women understand their bodies, optimize performance, and make informed decisions about their health across the lifespan. This conversation tackles: 1. The massive gap in female-specific health research 2. Why women have been left out of medical and fitness data 3. How strength training supports brain function, gut health, and inflammation 4. The truth about DEXA scans, bone density, and hidden health risks 5. Why every woman deserves to be in the weight room 6. How lifting weights improves confidence, resilience, and quality of life as we age If you’re a woman navigating midlife, menopause, or simply want to live longer, stronger, and healthier, this episode is your roadmap to understanding the science—and taking action. Hailey Happens Fitness Membership is the only fitness investment that grows with you! Get instant access to my full training system and design a training year that fits your midlife goals and body. Start training with a 10-day free trial → [https://www.haileyhappensfitness.com/hhfmembership?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=membership] Finish 2026 Strong. Two expert-led ways to close out the year, each with a community of women learning and training beside you. Be first in line → [https://mailchi.mp/haileyhappensfitness/2026planyouryear?utm_source=midroll&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=vip2026] when we open doors for early access to Fat Loss Happens Education course and the Shred Happens challenge.

Permission to Pause: Brooke Burke on Wellness Retreats, Midlife & Finding Your Way Back to You

What if the most powerful thing you could do for yourself right now is simply stop? Like so many women who have built their lives around movement, productivity, and pushing through, Hailey discovered that slowing down was one of the hardest things she's ever tried to do. Quieting her mind felt almost impossible at first. But learning how to do it changed everything. Not just her health, but the way she sees herself and the life she's living. Because here's what she's come to believe: giving yourself permission to pause, to go inward, to do the quieter, slower, less visible work is every bit as powerful as the workouts, the nutrition, the fitness goals you've been chasing.  In this episode, Hailey sits down with fitness icon, model, actress, author, and wellness retreat host Brooke Burke for an honest conversation about what it means to give yourself permission to pause. They dig into why midlife can feel like you've lost yourself in the chaos, how a wellness retreat can crack you open in the best possible way, and why more women are choosing to invest in the experience of coming back to themselves. Brooke has built her life around this kind of intentional renewal and she brings the same unfiltered honesty and warmth to this conversation that has made her a trusted voices in women's wellness. This isn't about escaping your life. It's about finally returning to yourself within it. Whether you've dreamed of going on a retreat or don't even know where to start, this one will move you. Hailey Happens Fitness Membership is the only fitness investment that grows with you! Get instant access to my full training system and design a training year that fits your midlife goals and body. Start training with a 10-day free trial → [https://www.haileyhappensfitness.com/hhfmembership?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=membership] Finish 2026 Strong. Two expert-led ways to close out the year, each with a community of women learning and training beside you. Be first in line → [https://mailchi.mp/haileyhappensfitness/2026planyouryear?utm_source=midroll&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=vip2026] when we open doors for early access to Fat Loss Happens Education course and the Shred Happens challenge.

Menopause, IBS & Gut Health in Midlife Women: What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You with Dr. Mary Pardee

If you're a woman navigating midlife and feel like your body is changing faster than you can keep up with, this episode is exactly what you need to hear. We sat down with Dr. Mary Pardee, naturopathic doctor, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and founder of ModrnMed, for one of the most honest, information-packed conversations we've had on The Body Pod. Dr. Pardee pulls back the curtain on why so many women are being dismissed or under-treated by their doctors., from being told they're too young for hormone therapy, handed a prescription with no real explanation, or simply rushed through a 15-minute appointment that barely scratches the surface. She breaks down exactly how estrogen and progesterone affect your gut, why IBS flares are so common during perimenopause, and what the gut-brain axis actually means for your everyday symptoms like bloating, cramping, constipation, and diarrhea. We also get into the real numbers behind menopause hormone therapy (MHT), including breast cancer risks, cardiovascular benefits, and how long you can safely stay on it — so you can walk into your next doctor's appointment informed and empowered. Dr. Pardee explains why she recommends DEXA scans for women well before the standard age of 65, what early bone density testing can catch, and why waiting too long could mean missing a critical window to protect your skeletal health. Beyond hormones and gut health, Dr. Pardee shares her approach to preventative and performance medicine. We talk advanced lipid panels and ApoB testing to VO2 max, strength testing, and cognitive assessments. She's not just treating symptoms; she's helping women build a body that feels just as strong and vital in their 80s and 90s as it does today. If you've been curious about concierge medicine, cognitive behavioral therapy for IBS, diaphragmatic breathing, or simply want a doctor who will actually sit down and talk with you instead of at you — this episode covers it all. Dr. Pardee also shares how to find the right specialist for your specific needs and what questions to ask to make sure you're getting the individualized care you deserve. Hailey Happens Fitness Membership is the only fitness investment that grows with you! Get instant access to my full training system and design a training year that fits your midlife goals and body. Start training with a 10-day free trial → [https://www.haileyhappensfitness.com/hhfmembership?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=membership] Finish 2026 Strong. Two expert-led ways to close out the year, each with a community of women learning and training beside you. Be first in line → [https://mailchi.mp/haileyhappensfitness/2026planyouryear?utm_source=midroll&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=vip2026] when we open doors for early access to Fat Loss Happens Education course and the Shred Happens challenge.

Who You Are Now: Midlife Reinvention & Movement as Medicine with Olympic Coach Randi Strong

In this episode of The Body Pod, we sit down with professional dancer, choreographer, and entrepreneur Randi Strong — a So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 top-five finalist turned Olympic choreographer — for an honest, inspiring conversation about what it really looks like to build a life you love at every age. Randi walks us through her full journey, from training as a young girl and performing at Radio City Music Hall, to landing on national TV and taking her choreography all the way to the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics. But beyond the highlight reel, she gets real about the moment she realized her body was changing in her 30s, and how instead of fighting it, she pivoted with purpose — ultimately carving out a first-of-its-kind niche as a movement and dance coach for elite competitive figure skaters, including Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu. For midlife women navigating shifting bodies and changing careers, Randi's story is proof that your most impactful chapter doesn't have to be behind you. Randi talks candidly about body confidence, physical longevity, and how movement and dance can be a lifelong tool for health, joy, and vitality at every age. Randi dives deep into the role that mindset, morning routines, and daily meditation have played in her mental and physical wellbeing — topics that resonate deeply with women who are learning to prioritize themselves.  She shares how she went from burnout and uncertainty to building a thriving business on her own terms, and why slowing down to invest in your inner health was the key to her outer success. From setting boundaries and managing stress to showing up for yourself when life gets overwhelming, this conversation is equal parts practical wellness advice and deeply relatable real talk for women in the middle of their own reinvention. Whether you're a woman in midlife questioning your identity, struggling with your relationship to your body, or simply looking for permission to start over and dream bigger — this episode is for you. Randi Strong proves that aging doesn't mean shrinking; it means refining. Her message around movement as medicine, self-trust, and building a life aligned with who you are now (not who you were at 22) will leave you feeling fired up, seen, and ready to take up space. Hailey Happens Fitness Membership is the only fitness investment that grows with you! Get instant access to my full training system and design a training year that fits your midlife goals and body. Start training with a 10-day free trial → [https://www.haileyhappensfitness.com/hhfmembership?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=membership] Finish 2026 Strong. Two expert-led ways to close out the year, each with a community of women learning and training beside you. Be first in line → [https://mailchi.mp/haileyhappensfitness/2026planyouryear?utm_source=midroll&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=vip2026] when we open doors for early access to Fat Loss Happens Education course and the Shred Happens challenge.