Why Menopause Feels Harder for High-Performing Women

Ayurveda and Menopause: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Women's Health

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Shivani Gupta about how Ayurveda approaches menopause as a natural transition rather than a decline in health. We explore the role of chronic inflammation, gut health, circadian rhythms, sleep, and daily rituals in supporting women's healthspan. Dr. Gupta shares practical strategies for reducing inflammation, improving resilience, and creating greater vitality throughout the second half of life. - - - - - Dr. Shivani Gupta is an Ayurvedic practitioner, researcher, entrepreneur, and educator specializing in inflammation, gut health, thyroid health, and longevity. Her PhD research focused on turmeric and its role in reducing inflammation, leading her to develop evidence-based formulations designed to support whole-body wellness. Through her work, Dr. Gupta helps bridge ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern scientific research to empower people to live healthier, more vibrant lives. - - - - - Connect with Our Guest: Website: https://shivanigupta.com/ [https://shivanigupta.com/]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.shivanigupta/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.shivanigupta/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheShivaniGupta/ [https://www.facebook.com/TheShivaniGupta/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.shivanigupta [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.shivanigupta]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Is It Menopause or Your Thyroid? What Women Need to Know

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Daryl Turner to explore why thyroid disorders are so often overlooked in women, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, when symptoms can overlap significantly. We discuss common signs of thyroid dysfunction, the relationship between thyroid health and other hormones, and how sleep, stress, exercise, and nutrition may influence overall hormonal balance. - - - - -  Dr. Daryl Turner is a hormone specialist, focusing on thyroid, iodine, and adrenal, and DNA/RNA. He invented, patented, developed, and clinically trialed hormone testing devices plus the supporting advanced innovative medications for the treatment of hormone imbalances. He also discovered an effective treatment and, more importantly, the cure for Hashimoto’s Disease, the treatment of Graves and RT3, and has developed effective protocols for balancing the core hormones. In addition, he has further pushed the boundaries for the treatment of Hashitoxicosis by identifying mutant DNA and using an RNA intervention. - - - - - Connect with Our Guest: Website: https://www.nitekmedical.com/ [https://www.nitekmedical.com/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NitekMedical/ [https://www.facebook.com/NitekMedical/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/NiTekMedicalInc [https://www.youtube.com/user/NiTekMedicalInc]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

The Truth About Women's Brain Health After 50

In this episode, I sit down with neurologist Dr. Kenneth Sharlin to explore why women face a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease after menopause. We discuss the protective role of estrogen, the importance of hormone replacement therapy, genetic risk factors like ApoE4, and the everyday lifestyle habits—including sleep, movement, nutrition, stress management, and social connection—that may help protect long-term brain health and cognitive function. - - - - -  Kenneth Sharlin, MD, MPH, IFMCP, is a board-certified neurologist, consultant, functional medicine practitioner, Assistant Clinical Professor, researcher, author, and speaker. His medical degrees are from Emory University, the University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt University. His functional medicine certification is through The Institute for Functional Medicine. He is the author of the #1 best-seller, The Healthy Brain Toolbox: Neurologist-Proven Strategies to Improve Memory Loss and Protect Your Aging Brain, and co-author of Neurishment: The Brain Tune Up Food Guide. Dr. Sharlin is also a major contributor to Reversal of Cognitive Decline: 100 Patients, which can be found in the peer-reviewed Journal of Alzheimer’s & Parkinsonism, and he has been the primary investigator in several pharma-sponsored clinical trials that have helped bring new therapeutics to market. Dr. Sharlin practices general neurology and directs his functional medicine program, Brain Tune Up!, and the Sharlin Neuro Regenerative Protocol in Ozark, MO. - - - - - Connect with Our Guest: Website: https://functionalmedicine.doctor/ [https://functionalmedicine.doctor/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharlinHealthandNeurology/ [https://www.facebook.com/SharlinHealthandNeurology/]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kensharlin.md/ [https://www.instagram.com/kensharlin.md/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.kensharlin1548 [https://www.youtube.com/@dr.kensharlin1548]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Pain, Dryness, and UTIs: The Truth About Menopause and Vaginal Health

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Christina Enzmann to discuss Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), a condition that affects far more than vaginal dryness alone. We explore how menopause impacts vaginal and urinary health, the role of vaginal estrogen, common misconceptions about hormone therapy, changes in the vaginal microbiome, pelvic floor dysfunction, and why many women are dismissed or misdiagnosed when seeking care. Together, we highlight practical strategies to help women maintain comfort, confidence, and quality of life throughout menopause. - - - - - Dr. Christina Enzmann, MD, PhD, is a board-certified gynecologist, menopause specialist, and functional medicine practitioner based in Maryland. She holds an MD/PhD from the University of Hamburg and runs a hybrid practice serving women in midlife through both in-person and telemedicine care. Her clinical expertise covers the full spectrum of midlife women’s health — from osteoporosis and sexual health to dyspareunia and vulvovaginal disease. She has particular depth in the cortisol-stress axis and its role in menopausal transition, insulin resistance, and the gut-hormone connection. She is a co-owner of Nobodytoldme, a Germany-based nutrition-focused menopause platform. She serves as Clinical Advisor for Vaginal Microbiome Sciences, where she is also a principal investigator in an active vaginal microbiome study. - - - - - Connect with Our Guest: Website: https://drchristinaenzmann.com/ [https://drchristinaenzmann.com/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCEnzmann [https://www.facebook.com/DrCEnzmann]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorchristinaenzmann [https://www.instagram.com/doctorchristinaenzmann]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]

Why a Weekend Getaway Leaves You Exhausted—and How to Fix It

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Monisha Bhanote to explore why travel often becomes more challenging as we age. We discuss how travel can reveal underlying issues in energy production, gut health, immunity, circadian rhythm, and recovery. Dr. Bhanote explains the role of mitochondria, inflammation, and the microbiome in healthy aging, while sharing practical strategies to help women build resilience, recover faster, and enjoy travel with greater vitality. - - - - -  Dr. Monisha Bhanote is a board-certified physician, integrative medicine specialist, culinary medicine expert, author of The Anatomy of Well-Being, and founder of Wellkula Institute and Travella Wellness. Drawing from decades of experience in pathology and cellular health, she combines modern longevity science with traditional healing approaches to help individuals optimize energy, gut health, immunity, recovery, and overall well-being. Her work focuses on empowering people to build greater cellular resilience so they can age with vitality and continue living active, fulfilling lives. - - - - - Social Handles: Website: https://www.drbhanote.com/ [https://www.drbhanote.com/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbhanote/ [https://www.facebook.com/drbhanote/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbhanote/ [https://www.instagram.com/drbhanote/]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drbhanote [https://www.youtube.com/@drbhanote]  - - - - -  Dr. Pat McShane, MD LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-mcshane-0535ba3/]  Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.womenshealthspan.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.womenshealthspan.net/] YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@mcshanepmcshane9303] Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@patmcshane⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@patmcshane] Produced by DrTalks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast/ [https://drtalks.com/podcast/]