Peri & Pause The Podcast Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-peri-pause-podcast The Peri & Pause Podcast is for women in midlife who know something in their body has changed—but haven’t been given real answers, or have been left overwhelmed by conflicting information. Hosted by Jamie Gallagher, DNP, FNP-C, MSCP, a nurse practitioner specializing in perimenopause and menopause care, the show explores hormones, metabolism, mental health, sleep, sex, weight changes, and chronic conditions through an evidence-based, deeply practical lens. We unpack the physiology of midlife alongside the lived experience of women navigating careers, relationships, finances, and identity during this transition. Every woman deserves this conversation—and the clarity, language, and confidence to advocate for better care. Because “Your Labs Are Normal” Is Not the Whole Story. © 2026 Peri & Pause 01f9b8bd-d60a-58fc-8327-9f11c59ff5e3 yes Trailer en Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:59:23 -0700 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 22:05:56 -0700 https://periandpause.com https://img.transistorcdn.com/Mer5Y5feH0NH5B6XaOjN4onTbclHOQwH4KaFqeoaWTY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wMGVj/M2RkYjA1MGExODEw/MzY2Mjk3NzUwODE5/MmNmNi5qcGc.jpg Peri & Pause The Podcast https://periandpause.com episodic Peri & Pause The Peri & Pause Podcast is for women in midlife who know something in their body has changed—but haven’t been given real answers, or have been left overwhelmed by conflicting information. Hosted by Jamie Gallagher, DNP, FNP-C, MSCP, a nurse practitioner specializing in perimenopause and menopause care, the show explores hormones, metabolism, mental health, sleep, sex, weight changes, and chronic conditions through an evidence-based, deeply practical lens. We unpack the physiology of midlife alongside the lived experience of women navigating careers, relationships, finances, and identity during this transition. Every woman deserves this conversation—and the clarity, language, and confidence to advocate for better care. Because “Your Labs Are Normal” Is Not the Whole Story. The Peri & Pause Podcast is for women in midlife who know something in their body has changed—but haven’t been given real answers, or have been left overwhelmed by conflicting information. perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education Jamie Gallagher joew@relevantmediasolutions.com No No What Actually Works for Menopause Weight Gain 13 13 What Actually Works for Menopause Weight Gain full 4efb0285-103b-45a0-9f67-3b8437ca4223 https://share.transistor.fm/s/312e59dd In this follow-up episode of Perimenopause the Podcast, Jamie Gallagher moves beyond the "why" behind menopause weight gain and inflammation and focuses on the "how."

After explaining the science behind hormonal changes, inflammation, belly fat, insulin resistance, and metabolic slowdown in the previous episode, Jamie now shares practical strategies women can use to interrupt the cycle and regain control of their health. 

This episode explores resistance training, high-protein nutrition, the Mediterranean diet, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), GLP-1 medications, and why traditional approaches to weight loss often stop working during perimenopause and menopause.

If you've been doing all the "right things" but still struggling with weight gain, inflammation, low energy, or changes in body composition, this episode offers a science-based roadmap for navigating this transition. 


00:00 – Welcome back and recap of the previous episode
00:45 – Why understanding the "how" matters
01:15 – Pillar One: Rebuilding your metabolic engine
01:45 – Why endless cardio isn't the answer anymore
02:00 – Resistance training and reducing inflammation
02:30 – HIIT workouts and visceral fat reduction
03:00 – Why protein becomes more important during menopause
03:30 – Protein recommendations explained
03:45 – The Mediterranean diet and obesity prevention
04:15 – Alcohol's impact on belly fat and metabolism
04:45 – Pillar Two: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
05:15 – How estrogen influences fat distribution
05:45 – Hormone therapy and inflammation reduction
06:15 – What happens when hormone therapy stops
06:30 – Pillar Three: GLP-1 medications explained
07:00 – Semaglutide, tirzepatide, and women's health
07:30 – Why women often respond differently than men
07:45 – Protecting muscle while losing weight
08:00 – The importance of strength training during GLP-1 use
08:15 – Building a complete weight-loss strategy
08:30 – The role of nutritionists, trainers, and clinicians
08:45 – Changing your strategy instead of blaming yourself
09:00 – Final thoughts and encouragement

]]> In this follow-up episode of Perimenopause the Podcast, Jamie Gallagher moves beyond the "why" behind menopause weight gain and inflammation and focuses on the "how."

After explaining the science behind hormonal changes, inflammation, belly fat, insulin resistance, and metabolic slowdown in the previous episode, Jamie now shares practical strategies women can use to interrupt the cycle and regain control of their health. 

This episode explores resistance training, high-protein nutrition, the Mediterranean diet, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), GLP-1 medications, and why traditional approaches to weight loss often stop working during perimenopause and menopause.

If you've been doing all the "right things" but still struggling with weight gain, inflammation, low energy, or changes in body composition, this episode offers a science-based roadmap for navigating this transition. 


00:00 – Welcome back and recap of the previous episode
00:45 – Why understanding the "how" matters
01:15 – Pillar One: Rebuilding your metabolic engine
01:45 – Why endless cardio isn't the answer anymore
02:00 – Resistance training and reducing inflammation
02:30 – HIIT workouts and visceral fat reduction
03:00 – Why protein becomes more important during menopause
03:30 – Protein recommendations explained
03:45 – The Mediterranean diet and obesity prevention
04:15 – Alcohol's impact on belly fat and metabolism
04:45 – Pillar Two: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
05:15 – How estrogen influences fat distribution
05:45 – Hormone therapy and inflammation reduction
06:15 – What happens when hormone therapy stops
06:30 – Pillar Three: GLP-1 medications explained
07:00 – Semaglutide, tirzepatide, and women's health
07:30 – Why women often respond differently than men
07:45 – Protecting muscle while losing weight
08:00 – The importance of strength training during GLP-1 use
08:15 – Building a complete weight-loss strategy
08:30 – The role of nutritionists, trainers, and clinicians
08:45 – Changing your strategy instead of blaming yourself
09:00 – Final thoughts and encouragement

]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 591 In this follow-up episode of Perimenopause the Podcast, Jamie Gallagher moves beyond the "why" behind menopause weight gain and inflammation and focuses on the "how."

After explaining the science behind hormonal changes, inflammation, belly fat, insulin resistance, and metabolic slowdown in the previous episode, Jamie now shares practical strategies women can use to interrupt the cycle and regain control of their health. 

This episode explores resistance training, high-protein nutrition, the Mediterranean diet, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), GLP-1 medications, and why traditional approaches to weight loss often stop working during perimenopause and menopause.

If you've been doing all the "right things" but still struggling with weight gain, inflammation, low energy, or changes in body composition, this episode offers a science-based roadmap for navigating this transition. 


00:00 – Welcome back and recap of the previous episode
00:45 – Why understanding the "how" matters
01:15 – Pillar One: Rebuilding your metabolic engine
01:45 – Why endless cardio isn't the answer anymore
02:00 – Resistance training and reducing inflammation
02:30 – HIIT workouts and visceral fat reduction
03:00 – Why protein becomes more important during menopause
03:30 – Protein recommendations explained
03:45 – The Mediterranean diet and obesity prevention
04:15 – Alcohol's impact on belly fat and metabolism
04:45 – Pillar Two: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
05:15 – How estrogen influences fat distribution
05:45 – Hormone therapy and inflammation reduction
06:15 – What happens when hormone therapy stops
06:30 – Pillar Three: GLP-1 medications explained
07:00 – Semaglutide, tirzepatide, and women's health
07:30 – Why women often respond differently than men
07:45 – Protecting muscle while losing weight
08:00 – The importance of strength training during GLP-1 use
08:15 – Building a complete weight-loss strategy
08:30 – The role of nutritionists, trainers, and clinicians
08:45 – Changing your strategy instead of blaming yourself
09:00 – Final thoughts and encouragement

]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Why Menopause Weight Gain Isn't Your Fault 12 12 Why Menopause Weight Gain Isn't Your Fault full baeff680-5850-4794-8960-45f021326f36 https://share.transistor.fm/s/bf1fd3d2 In this episode of Perimenopause the Podcast, Jamie Gallagher tackles one of the most frustrating and misunderstood challenges women face during perimenopause and menopause: weight gain and inflammation that seem to appear out of nowhere.

If you've found yourself eating the same foods, exercising the same way, and still noticing stubborn belly fat, increased inflammation, joint aches, brain fog, or changes in your metabolism, you're not imagining it—and you're not alone.

Jamie breaks down the science behind hormonal changes, estrogen decline, FSH spikes, insulin resistance, visceral fat accumulation, muscle loss, and chronic inflammation. Most importantly, she explains why this transition is not a failure of willpower or discipline, but a biological shift happening inside the body.

This episode is packed with practical insights and validation for women who have been blaming themselves for changes that are often driven by hormones, metabolism, and immune system changes beyond their control.


00:00 – Introduction to today's Ask Us Anything episode
00:45 – The frustration of midlife weight gain and inflammation
01:20 – Why this isn't a willpower problem
01:45 – The connection between inflammation and weight gain
02:00 – Estrogen's role in metabolism and immune health
02:30 – The body's "internal thermostat" explained
03:00 – Why women feel puffy and inflamed during perimenopause
03:15 – Understanding follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
03:45 – How FSH contributes to belly fat accumulation
04:15 – Why weight gain often begins before menopause
04:30 – The vicious cycle of visceral fat and inflammation
05:00 – How belly fat acts like its own endocrine organ
05:20 – Insulin resistance and blood sugar changes
06:00 – Why normal labs don't always tell the full story
06:30 – Muscle loss and metabolic slowdown
07:00 – Sleep disruption, cortisol, and cravings
07:30 – Why you're not lazy, broken, or failing
08:00 – The power of resistance training and muscle building
08:20 – Why lifting weights helps fight inflammation
08:40 – Changing your strategy, not blaming yourself
08:55 – Preview of next episode: practical solutions

]]> In this episode of Perimenopause the Podcast, Jamie Gallagher tackles one of the most frustrating and misunderstood challenges women face during perimenopause and menopause: weight gain and inflammation that seem to appear out of nowhere.

If you've found yourself eating the same foods, exercising the same way, and still noticing stubborn belly fat, increased inflammation, joint aches, brain fog, or changes in your metabolism, you're not imagining it—and you're not alone.

Jamie breaks down the science behind hormonal changes, estrogen decline, FSH spikes, insulin resistance, visceral fat accumulation, muscle loss, and chronic inflammation. Most importantly, she explains why this transition is not a failure of willpower or discipline, but a biological shift happening inside the body.

This episode is packed with practical insights and validation for women who have been blaming themselves for changes that are often driven by hormones, metabolism, and immune system changes beyond their control.


00:00 – Introduction to today's Ask Us Anything episode
00:45 – The frustration of midlife weight gain and inflammation
01:20 – Why this isn't a willpower problem
01:45 – The connection between inflammation and weight gain
02:00 – Estrogen's role in metabolism and immune health
02:30 – The body's "internal thermostat" explained
03:00 – Why women feel puffy and inflamed during perimenopause
03:15 – Understanding follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
03:45 – How FSH contributes to belly fat accumulation
04:15 – Why weight gain often begins before menopause
04:30 – The vicious cycle of visceral fat and inflammation
05:00 – How belly fat acts like its own endocrine organ
05:20 – Insulin resistance and blood sugar changes
06:00 – Why normal labs don't always tell the full story
06:30 – Muscle loss and metabolic slowdown
07:00 – Sleep disruption, cortisol, and cravings
07:30 – Why you're not lazy, broken, or failing
08:00 – The power of resistance training and muscle building
08:20 – Why lifting weights helps fight inflammation
08:40 – Changing your strategy, not blaming yourself
08:55 – Preview of next episode: practical solutions

]]> Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 557 In this episode of Perimenopause the Podcast, Jamie Gallagher tackles one of the most frustrating and misunderstood challenges women face during perimenopause and menopause: weight gain and inflammation that seem to appear out of nowhere.

If you've found yourself eating the same foods, exercising the same way, and still noticing stubborn belly fat, increased inflammation, joint aches, brain fog, or changes in your metabolism, you're not imagining it—and you're not alone.

Jamie breaks down the science behind hormonal changes, estrogen decline, FSH spikes, insulin resistance, visceral fat accumulation, muscle loss, and chronic inflammation. Most importantly, she explains why this transition is not a failure of willpower or discipline, but a biological shift happening inside the body.

This episode is packed with practical insights and validation for women who have been blaming themselves for changes that are often driven by hormones, metabolism, and immune system changes beyond their control.


00:00 – Introduction to today's Ask Us Anything episode
00:45 – The frustration of midlife weight gain and inflammation
01:20 – Why this isn't a willpower problem
01:45 – The connection between inflammation and weight gain
02:00 – Estrogen's role in metabolism and immune health
02:30 – The body's "internal thermostat" explained
03:00 – Why women feel puffy and inflamed during perimenopause
03:15 – Understanding follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
03:45 – How FSH contributes to belly fat accumulation
04:15 – Why weight gain often begins before menopause
04:30 – The vicious cycle of visceral fat and inflammation
05:00 – How belly fat acts like its own endocrine organ
05:20 – Insulin resistance and blood sugar changes
06:00 – Why normal labs don't always tell the full story
06:30 – Muscle loss and metabolic slowdown
07:00 – Sleep disruption, cortisol, and cravings
07:30 – Why you're not lazy, broken, or failing
08:00 – The power of resistance training and muscle building
08:20 – Why lifting weights helps fight inflammation
08:40 – Changing your strategy, not blaming yourself
08:55 – Preview of next episode: practical solutions

]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Hormone Testing During Menopause: What Every Woman Should Know 11 11 Hormone Testing During Menopause: What Every Woman Should Know full 67f9a66c-dcf4-472e-8091-ec8b71bcd8b7 https://share.transistor.fm/s/d2ff88d3 Women often hear conflicting information online about estrogen, progesterone, and hormone testing. Jamie explains why hormone levels fluctuate dramatically during perimenopause, why a single blood test rarely tells the full story, and why symptoms often provide more useful information than lab values alone.

This episode also covers stopping birth control pills in midlife, hormone testing after pregnancy, when hormone testing is appropriate, and why some women may still benefit from lab work in specific situations.

If you've ever wondered whether hormone testing can confirm perimenopause or menopause, this episode will help you understand what hormone tests can, and can't, tell you.


00:00 – Welcome back to Perimenopause the Podcast
00:25 – Listener questions about hormone testing
00:55 – Should women routinely check hormone levels?
01:15 – Why hormone levels fluctuate so dramatically
01:40 – Understanding hormone changes during perimenopause
02:00 – Why symptoms matter more than a single lab test
02:15 – Stopping birth control in your 40s: what to expect
02:40 – How birth control affects hormone testing
02:55 – Could birth control be masking menopause?
03:10 – Hormone testing after pregnancy and childbirth
03:35 – When hormone testing may be appropriate
03:50 – Testosterone monitoring and hormone therapy
04:10 – New research on estrogen and bone health
04:35 – Why hormone testing is trending online
04:50 – The better question to ask about your symptoms
05:15 – Final thoughts and listener questions

]]> Women often hear conflicting information online about estrogen, progesterone, and hormone testing. Jamie explains why hormone levels fluctuate dramatically during perimenopause, why a single blood test rarely tells the full story, and why symptoms often provide more useful information than lab values alone.

This episode also covers stopping birth control pills in midlife, hormone testing after pregnancy, when hormone testing is appropriate, and why some women may still benefit from lab work in specific situations.

If you've ever wondered whether hormone testing can confirm perimenopause or menopause, this episode will help you understand what hormone tests can, and can't, tell you.


00:00 – Welcome back to Perimenopause the Podcast
00:25 – Listener questions about hormone testing
00:55 – Should women routinely check hormone levels?
01:15 – Why hormone levels fluctuate so dramatically
01:40 – Understanding hormone changes during perimenopause
02:00 – Why symptoms matter more than a single lab test
02:15 – Stopping birth control in your 40s: what to expect
02:40 – How birth control affects hormone testing
02:55 – Could birth control be masking menopause?
03:10 – Hormone testing after pregnancy and childbirth
03:35 – When hormone testing may be appropriate
03:50 – Testosterone monitoring and hormone therapy
04:10 – New research on estrogen and bone health
04:35 – Why hormone testing is trending online
04:50 – The better question to ask about your symptoms
05:15 – Final thoughts and listener questions

]]> Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 372 Women often hear conflicting information online about estrogen, progesterone, and hormone testing. Jamie explains why hormone levels fluctuate dramatically during perimenopause, why a single blood test rarely tells the full story, and why symptoms often provide more useful information than lab values alone.

This episode also covers stopping birth control pills in midlife, hormone testing after pregnancy, when hormone testing is appropriate, and why some women may still benefit from lab work in specific situations.

If you've ever wondered whether hormone testing can confirm perimenopause or menopause, this episode will help you understand what hormone tests can, and can't, tell you.


00:00 – Welcome back to Perimenopause the Podcast
00:25 – Listener questions about hormone testing
00:55 – Should women routinely check hormone levels?
01:15 – Why hormone levels fluctuate so dramatically
01:40 – Understanding hormone changes during perimenopause
02:00 – Why symptoms matter more than a single lab test
02:15 – Stopping birth control in your 40s: what to expect
02:40 – How birth control affects hormone testing
02:55 – Could birth control be masking menopause?
03:10 – Hormone testing after pregnancy and childbirth
03:35 – When hormone testing may be appropriate
03:50 – Testosterone monitoring and hormone therapy
04:10 – New research on estrogen and bone health
04:35 – Why hormone testing is trending online
04:50 – The better question to ask about your symptoms
05:15 – Final thoughts and listener questions

]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Surgical Menopause: The Missing Piece Many Women Never Hear About 10 10 Surgical Menopause: The Missing Piece Many Women Never Hear About full eb5b2b92-dd74-4860-b3c3-f2c3c0f2ec2c https://share.transistor.fm/s/b19ee440 In this Ask Us Anything episode of Perimenopause the Podcast, Jamie Gallagher answers a heartfelt question from Tammy, a woman struggling to feel like herself after a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes).

One and a half years after surgery, Tammy describes feeling like her hormones and body are "a wreck." Jamie explains the difference between natural menopause and surgical menopause, the health impacts of ovary removal, and why many women continue to struggle when the right hormone therapy has not been explored.

This conversation covers estrogen therapy, long-term health risks, surgical menopause recovery, and practical ways women in rural communities can access menopause specialists through telehealth and professional networks.

If you've experienced ovary removal, hysterectomy, surgical menopause, or persistent hormone symptoms, this episode offers education, validation, and hope.


00:00 – Welcome to Ask Us Anything
00:30 – Tammy's question: "My hormones are a wreck"
01:15 – What is a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy?
01:50 – Why the reason for ovary removal matters
02:30 – Understanding surgical menopause
03:00 – Long-term health effects of ovary removal
03:45 – Heart health, bone health, brain health, and libido
04:15 – Why estrogen therapy matters
04:45 – The hormone Tammy didn't mention
05:00 – Why you don't have to accept feeling miserable
05:20 – Finding menopause specialists through telehealth
05:40 – How to use Menopause.org to find care
05:55 – Why it's not too late to feel better
06:15 – Final encouragement and closing thoughts

]]> In this Ask Us Anything episode of Perimenopause the Podcast, Jamie Gallagher answers a heartfelt question from Tammy, a woman struggling to feel like herself after a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes).

One and a half years after surgery, Tammy describes feeling like her hormones and body are "a wreck." Jamie explains the difference between natural menopause and surgical menopause, the health impacts of ovary removal, and why many women continue to struggle when the right hormone therapy has not been explored.

This conversation covers estrogen therapy, long-term health risks, surgical menopause recovery, and practical ways women in rural communities can access menopause specialists through telehealth and professional networks.

If you've experienced ovary removal, hysterectomy, surgical menopause, or persistent hormone symptoms, this episode offers education, validation, and hope.


00:00 – Welcome to Ask Us Anything
00:30 – Tammy's question: "My hormones are a wreck"
01:15 – What is a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy?
01:50 – Why the reason for ovary removal matters
02:30 – Understanding surgical menopause
03:00 – Long-term health effects of ovary removal
03:45 – Heart health, bone health, brain health, and libido
04:15 – Why estrogen therapy matters
04:45 – The hormone Tammy didn't mention
05:00 – Why you don't have to accept feeling miserable
05:20 – Finding menopause specialists through telehealth
05:40 – How to use Menopause.org to find care
05:55 – Why it's not too late to feel better
06:15 – Final encouragement and closing thoughts

]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 372 In this Ask Us Anything episode of Perimenopause the Podcast, Jamie Gallagher answers a heartfelt question from Tammy, a woman struggling to feel like herself after a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes).

One and a half years after surgery, Tammy describes feeling like her hormones and body are "a wreck." Jamie explains the difference between natural menopause and surgical menopause, the health impacts of ovary removal, and why many women continue to struggle when the right hormone therapy has not been explored.

This conversation covers estrogen therapy, long-term health risks, surgical menopause recovery, and practical ways women in rural communities can access menopause specialists through telehealth and professional networks.

If you've experienced ovary removal, hysterectomy, surgical menopause, or persistent hormone symptoms, this episode offers education, validation, and hope.


00:00 – Welcome to Ask Us Anything
00:30 – Tammy's question: "My hormones are a wreck"
01:15 – What is a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy?
01:50 – Why the reason for ovary removal matters
02:30 – Understanding surgical menopause
03:00 – Long-term health effects of ovary removal
03:45 – Heart health, bone health, brain health, and libido
04:15 – Why estrogen therapy matters
04:45 – The hormone Tammy didn't mention
05:00 – Why you don't have to accept feeling miserable
05:20 – Finding menopause specialists through telehealth
05:40 – How to use Menopause.org to find care
05:55 – Why it's not too late to feel better
06:15 – Final encouragement and closing thoughts

]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP From Military to Menopause: A Partner's Perspective 9 9 From Military to Menopause: A Partner's Perspective full 43f13a06-1f0b-4b6e-b795-b3fe5432f485 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9e90ce3e In Part 2 of the Meet the Founder series on Peri & Pause, Jamie is joined by her husband and co-founder, Stu, to discuss his background in international business and a 26-year military career, his transition into civilian life, and how mission, purpose, and service shape his leadership. They explore what Stu saw in Peri & Pause early on, the parallels between military mission-focus and building a menopause care company, and the persistent midlife women’s health care gap he witnessed through his mother’s experience and Jamie’s own perimenopause. Stu describes how perimenopause can strain relationships when symptoms are misunderstood, emphasizes addressing root causes rather than just symptoms, and encourages partners to show patience, seek help, and support women through care that can improve families, work, and overall quality of life.

00:00 Meet Stu Intro

01:33 Military Roots

03:17 Leaving Service

04:47 Vision For Peri Pause

06:10 Mission Parallels

07:47 Care Gap Reality

09:32 Partner Perspective

13:40 Mom And Family Impact

17:39 Advice For Partners

18:31 Thick Skin and Support

18:55 Men Asking for Help

20:39 Building Together Talk

22:51 Napkin to Launch

23:58 Balancing Risk and Caution

26:17 Mission Bigger Than Us

28:06 Scaling the Impact

30:11 Gratitude and Outro

------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info

]]> In Part 2 of the Meet the Founder series on Peri & Pause, Jamie is joined by her husband and co-founder, Stu, to discuss his background in international business and a 26-year military career, his transition into civilian life, and how mission, purpose, and service shape his leadership. They explore what Stu saw in Peri & Pause early on, the parallels between military mission-focus and building a menopause care company, and the persistent midlife women’s health care gap he witnessed through his mother’s experience and Jamie’s own perimenopause. Stu describes how perimenopause can strain relationships when symptoms are misunderstood, emphasizes addressing root causes rather than just symptoms, and encourages partners to show patience, seek help, and support women through care that can improve families, work, and overall quality of life.

00:00 Meet Stu Intro

01:33 Military Roots

03:17 Leaving Service

04:47 Vision For Peri Pause

06:10 Mission Parallels

07:47 Care Gap Reality

09:32 Partner Perspective

13:40 Mom And Family Impact

17:39 Advice For Partners

18:31 Thick Skin and Support

18:55 Men Asking for Help

20:39 Building Together Talk

22:51 Napkin to Launch

23:58 Balancing Risk and Caution

26:17 Mission Bigger Than Us

28:06 Scaling the Impact

30:11 Gratitude and Outro

------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info

]]> Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 1863 In Part 2 of the Meet the Founder series on Peri & Pause, Jamie is joined by her husband and co-founder, Stu, to discuss his background in international business and a 26-year military career, his transition into civilian life, and how mission, purpose, and service shape his leadership. They explore what Stu saw in Peri & Pause early on, the parallels between military mission-focus and building a menopause care company, and the persistent midlife women’s health care gap he witnessed through his mother’s experience and Jamie’s own perimenopause. Stu describes how perimenopause can strain relationships when symptoms are misunderstood, emphasizes addressing root causes rather than just symptoms, and encourages partners to show patience, seek help, and support women through care that can improve families, work, and overall quality of life.

00:00 Meet Stu Intro

01:33 Military Roots

03:17 Leaving Service

04:47 Vision For Peri Pause

06:10 Mission Parallels

07:47 Care Gap Reality

09:32 Partner Perspective

13:40 Mom And Family Impact

17:39 Advice For Partners

18:31 Thick Skin and Support

18:55 Men Asking for Help

20:39 Building Together Talk

22:51 Napkin to Launch

23:58 Balancing Risk and Caution

26:17 Mission Bigger Than Us

28:06 Scaling the Impact

30:11 Gratitude and Outro

------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info

]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Stuart Gallagher Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Empowering Midlife Health: The Origin of Peri and Pause 8 8 Empowering Midlife Health: The Origin of Peri and Pause full 5f529a14-1129-4a68-a598-c1ff5d5e3a43 https://share.transistor.fm/s/53948c93 Kristen wraps the nurse practitioner series and launches the founder series with Peri & Pause founder Jamie Gallagher, who shares what drew her into nursing, her critical care background, and why she became a nurse practitioner and later earned her DNP. Jamie explains how time limits, metrics, and fragmented, symptom-by-symptom care pushed her to rethink how midlife women are treated, especially after her own perimenopause experience revealed a major healthcare gap. She describes Peri & Pause’s model as relationship-driven, evidence-based whole-woman care through the perimenopause/menopause lens, including proactive prevention, collaboration with other clinicians, and referrals when needed. Jamie discusses misinformation and clinician shaming around hormones, the need for better clinician education, core values like integrity and humility, and her vision for continued growth to meet ongoing demand.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

01:09 Jamie Nursing Origins

02:47 Becoming Nurse Practitioner

04:46 Healthcare System Friction

08:27 Perimenopause Wake Up Call

11:13 Seeing the Bigger Pattern

13:11 Biggest Care Gap

14:20 Founding Peri and Pause

18:25 Building Patient First Practice

19:21 Whole Woman Care Approach

20:20 Coordinated Care Promise

20:46 Preventive Deep Dives

21:56 Proactive Treatment Mindset

22:19 Patient Wins That Matter

23:12 Word of Mouth Growth

24:12 Building a Mission Business

25:41 Imposter Syndrome and Connection

26:57 Misinformation and Clinician Shame

30:00 Why Education Still Lags

31:13 Values Purpose and The Future

36:45 Closing Thoughts and Wrap Up


]]> Kristen wraps the nurse practitioner series and launches the founder series with Peri & Pause founder Jamie Gallagher, who shares what drew her into nursing, her critical care background, and why she became a nurse practitioner and later earned her DNP. Jamie explains how time limits, metrics, and fragmented, symptom-by-symptom care pushed her to rethink how midlife women are treated, especially after her own perimenopause experience revealed a major healthcare gap. She describes Peri & Pause’s model as relationship-driven, evidence-based whole-woman care through the perimenopause/menopause lens, including proactive prevention, collaboration with other clinicians, and referrals when needed. Jamie discusses misinformation and clinician shaming around hormones, the need for better clinician education, core values like integrity and humility, and her vision for continued growth to meet ongoing demand.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

01:09 Jamie Nursing Origins

02:47 Becoming Nurse Practitioner

04:46 Healthcare System Friction

08:27 Perimenopause Wake Up Call

11:13 Seeing the Bigger Pattern

13:11 Biggest Care Gap

14:20 Founding Peri and Pause

18:25 Building Patient First Practice

19:21 Whole Woman Care Approach

20:20 Coordinated Care Promise

20:46 Preventive Deep Dives

21:56 Proactive Treatment Mindset

22:19 Patient Wins That Matter

23:12 Word of Mouth Growth

24:12 Building a Mission Business

25:41 Imposter Syndrome and Connection

26:57 Misinformation and Clinician Shame

30:00 Why Education Still Lags

31:13 Values Purpose and The Future

36:45 Closing Thoughts and Wrap Up


]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 2086 Kristen wraps the nurse practitioner series and launches the founder series with Peri & Pause founder Jamie Gallagher, who shares what drew her into nursing, her critical care background, and why she became a nurse practitioner and later earned her DNP. Jamie explains how time limits, metrics, and fragmented, symptom-by-symptom care pushed her to rethink how midlife women are treated, especially after her own perimenopause experience revealed a major healthcare gap. She describes Peri & Pause’s model as relationship-driven, evidence-based whole-woman care through the perimenopause/menopause lens, including proactive prevention, collaboration with other clinicians, and referrals when needed. Jamie discusses misinformation and clinician shaming around hormones, the need for better clinician education, core values like integrity and humility, and her vision for continued growth to meet ongoing demand.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

01:09 Jamie Nursing Origins

02:47 Becoming Nurse Practitioner

04:46 Healthcare System Friction

08:27 Perimenopause Wake Up Call

11:13 Seeing the Bigger Pattern

13:11 Biggest Care Gap

14:20 Founding Peri and Pause

18:25 Building Patient First Practice

19:21 Whole Woman Care Approach

20:20 Coordinated Care Promise

20:46 Preventive Deep Dives

21:56 Proactive Treatment Mindset

22:19 Patient Wins That Matter

23:12 Word of Mouth Growth

24:12 Building a Mission Business

25:41 Imposter Syndrome and Connection

26:57 Misinformation and Clinician Shame

30:00 Why Education Still Lags

31:13 Values Purpose and The Future

36:45 Closing Thoughts and Wrap Up


]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Kristen Nawyn Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Breaking the Silence: Women's Healthcare Insights with Jaime Davis 7 7 Breaking the Silence: Women's Healthcare Insights with Jaime Davis full 352c904c-c7b9-4de9-ba17-e91ef1e131b9 https://share.transistor.fm/s/0e0cddb0 In this Meet the Nurse Practitioner episode of Per and Pause, nurse practitioner Jaime Davis shares how her background in primary care and labor and delivery shaped her patient-centered approach and her focus on midlife women’s care. She discusses how perimenopause is often missed because symptoms can look like stress or anxiety, and highlights early signs such as brain fog, insomnia, word-finding difficulty, and menstrual changes influenced by hormone fluctuations like declining progesterone. Jaime recounts her own experience of years of severe pain after a traumatic C-section that was initially dismissed, later diagnosed as subcutaneous endometriosis and resolved with a short surgery, underscoring the importance of trusting your body and finding providers who listen. She explains her commitment to connecting symptoms, tailoring plans to patient goals, and helping women feel heard, supported, and empowered.

00:00 Meet Jaime Davis

00:54 Labor and Delivery Lessons

02:24 Path to Midlife Care

03:50 Why Perimenopause Gets Missed

06:47 Dismissed Pain Story

11:08 Finding the Real Cause

13:29 What Listening Really Means

15:27 Beyond Rigid Guidelines

16:56 Early Perimenopause Clues

17:06 Brain Fog Sleep Anxiety

19:46 Symptoms Are Connected

21:29 Menopause Education Gaps

23:45 Care After Dismissal

25:10 The Peri Pause Experience

26:15 Closing Thanks Farewell


------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info


]]> In this Meet the Nurse Practitioner episode of Per and Pause, nurse practitioner Jaime Davis shares how her background in primary care and labor and delivery shaped her patient-centered approach and her focus on midlife women’s care. She discusses how perimenopause is often missed because symptoms can look like stress or anxiety, and highlights early signs such as brain fog, insomnia, word-finding difficulty, and menstrual changes influenced by hormone fluctuations like declining progesterone. Jaime recounts her own experience of years of severe pain after a traumatic C-section that was initially dismissed, later diagnosed as subcutaneous endometriosis and resolved with a short surgery, underscoring the importance of trusting your body and finding providers who listen. She explains her commitment to connecting symptoms, tailoring plans to patient goals, and helping women feel heard, supported, and empowered.

00:00 Meet Jaime Davis

00:54 Labor and Delivery Lessons

02:24 Path to Midlife Care

03:50 Why Perimenopause Gets Missed

06:47 Dismissed Pain Story

11:08 Finding the Real Cause

13:29 What Listening Really Means

15:27 Beyond Rigid Guidelines

16:56 Early Perimenopause Clues

17:06 Brain Fog Sleep Anxiety

19:46 Symptoms Are Connected

21:29 Menopause Education Gaps

23:45 Care After Dismissal

25:10 The Peri Pause Experience

26:15 Closing Thanks Farewell


------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info


]]> Tue, 05 May 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 1651 In this Meet the Nurse Practitioner episode of Per and Pause, nurse practitioner Jaime Davis shares how her background in primary care and labor and delivery shaped her patient-centered approach and her focus on midlife women’s care. She discusses how perimenopause is often missed because symptoms can look like stress or anxiety, and highlights early signs such as brain fog, insomnia, word-finding difficulty, and menstrual changes influenced by hormone fluctuations like declining progesterone. Jaime recounts her own experience of years of severe pain after a traumatic C-section that was initially dismissed, later diagnosed as subcutaneous endometriosis and resolved with a short surgery, underscoring the importance of trusting your body and finding providers who listen. She explains her commitment to connecting symptoms, tailoring plans to patient goals, and helping women feel heard, supported, and empowered.

00:00 Meet Jaime Davis

00:54 Labor and Delivery Lessons

02:24 Path to Midlife Care

03:50 Why Perimenopause Gets Missed

06:47 Dismissed Pain Story

11:08 Finding the Real Cause

13:29 What Listening Really Means

15:27 Beyond Rigid Guidelines

16:56 Early Perimenopause Clues

17:06 Brain Fog Sleep Anxiety

19:46 Symptoms Are Connected

21:29 Menopause Education Gaps

23:45 Care After Dismissal

25:10 The Peri Pause Experience

26:15 Closing Thanks Farewell


------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info


]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Jaime Davis Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Empowering Women Through Midlife Transitions: A Conversation with Amanda Maingi 6 6 Empowering Women Through Midlife Transitions: A Conversation with Amanda Maingi full c93708f9-8f32-4843-a333-dab2977d5655 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6c557272 On Peri and Pause the podcast, host interviews women’s health nurse practitioner Amanda Maingi, who shares why she chose women’s health, her education at Georgetown, and how menopause and perimenopause received limited focus in training despite women spending a third of life in this stage. Amanda describes noticing gaps while working in a fast-paced traditional GYN clinic, where time constraints and protocol-driven care could miss the “whole woman” experience. She contrasts younger patients’ typically more straightforward visits with the complexity of midlife, highlighting under-research, life stressors, and chronic conditions. Common perimenopause symptoms often mislabeled as anxiety or depression include sleep disruption, heart palpitations, brain fog, irritability, overwhelm, and feeling out of control. The episode emphasizes validation, individualized high-touch care beyond algorithms, and addresses misconceptions that hormone therapy is inherently dangerous, stressing risk-benefit tailoring and comprehensive evaluation.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:53 Why Womens Health

02:17 Academic Journey Highlights

04:09 Menopause Education Gap

05:24 Clinic Reality and Missing Care

08:57 Midlife vs Younger Patients

13:14 Symptoms Mistaken for Anxiety

17:43 Beyond Protocols Individual Care

19:34 Patch And Pill Problem

21:21 Telehealth Versus High Touch

22:56 Layered Whole Woman Care

26:03 Validation First Visit

28:42 Hormone Therapy Myths

30:07 New Patient Expectations

31:53 Outro And Sign Off

32:23 Recording The Closing Script

34:16 Final Takeaway Message


------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info


]]> On Peri and Pause the podcast, host interviews women’s health nurse practitioner Amanda Maingi, who shares why she chose women’s health, her education at Georgetown, and how menopause and perimenopause received limited focus in training despite women spending a third of life in this stage. Amanda describes noticing gaps while working in a fast-paced traditional GYN clinic, where time constraints and protocol-driven care could miss the “whole woman” experience. She contrasts younger patients’ typically more straightforward visits with the complexity of midlife, highlighting under-research, life stressors, and chronic conditions. Common perimenopause symptoms often mislabeled as anxiety or depression include sleep disruption, heart palpitations, brain fog, irritability, overwhelm, and feeling out of control. The episode emphasizes validation, individualized high-touch care beyond algorithms, and addresses misconceptions that hormone therapy is inherently dangerous, stressing risk-benefit tailoring and comprehensive evaluation.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:53 Why Womens Health

02:17 Academic Journey Highlights

04:09 Menopause Education Gap

05:24 Clinic Reality and Missing Care

08:57 Midlife vs Younger Patients

13:14 Symptoms Mistaken for Anxiety

17:43 Beyond Protocols Individual Care

19:34 Patch And Pill Problem

21:21 Telehealth Versus High Touch

22:56 Layered Whole Woman Care

26:03 Validation First Visit

28:42 Hormone Therapy Myths

30:07 New Patient Expectations

31:53 Outro And Sign Off

32:23 Recording The Closing Script

34:16 Final Takeaway Message


------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info


]]> Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 1595 On Peri and Pause the podcast, host interviews women’s health nurse practitioner Amanda Maingi, who shares why she chose women’s health, her education at Georgetown, and how menopause and perimenopause received limited focus in training despite women spending a third of life in this stage. Amanda describes noticing gaps while working in a fast-paced traditional GYN clinic, where time constraints and protocol-driven care could miss the “whole woman” experience. She contrasts younger patients’ typically more straightforward visits with the complexity of midlife, highlighting under-research, life stressors, and chronic conditions. Common perimenopause symptoms often mislabeled as anxiety or depression include sleep disruption, heart palpitations, brain fog, irritability, overwhelm, and feeling out of control. The episode emphasizes validation, individualized high-touch care beyond algorithms, and addresses misconceptions that hormone therapy is inherently dangerous, stressing risk-benefit tailoring and comprehensive evaluation.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:53 Why Womens Health

02:17 Academic Journey Highlights

04:09 Menopause Education Gap

05:24 Clinic Reality and Missing Care

08:57 Midlife vs Younger Patients

13:14 Symptoms Mistaken for Anxiety

17:43 Beyond Protocols Individual Care

19:34 Patch And Pill Problem

21:21 Telehealth Versus High Touch

22:56 Layered Whole Woman Care

26:03 Validation First Visit

28:42 Hormone Therapy Myths

30:07 New Patient Expectations

31:53 Outro And Sign Off

32:23 Recording The Closing Script

34:16 Final Takeaway Message


------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info


]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Amanda Maingi Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Meet Nurse Practitioner Nancy Chen: From Exercise Physiology to Midlife Women’s Hormone Care 5 5 Meet Nurse Practitioner Nancy Chen: From Exercise Physiology to Midlife Women’s Hormone Care full 17a75580-c9ec-42ee-bd57-7aa9f0f7f6f4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/32557c2e In this episode of Peri & Pause - The Podcast, the second in the “Meet the Nurse Practitioner” series, the host interviews nurse practitioner Nancy Chen about her path from studying exercise physiology at Meredith College to working as a personal trainer, then becoming a nurse and moving into critical care, urgent care during the pandemic, and traditional primary care. Nancy explains how limited appointment times and “moral injury” pushed her toward specializing in perimenopause and midlife women’s health, after seeing patients struggle with symptoms, chronic disease changes, and feeling dismissed due to gaps in training. She emphasizes the importance of education, validation, realistic expectations, individualized treatment, and helping women feel heard and hopeful, including reviewing complex medication and supplement “cocktails” and supporting women through the fluctuating “moving target” of perimenopause.

00:00 Meet Nancy Chen

00:53 Exercise Physiology Roots

01:24 From Trainer to Nurse

01:52 Critical Care Wake Up

03:11 NP Path and Pandemic

04:22 Primary Care Time Crunch

05:58 Midlife Symptoms Puzzle

07:32 Personal Perimenopause Realization

09:42 Hormones and the Care Gap

15:23 What Patients Need First

16:22 Follow-Up Wins

16:59 Building the Foundation

20:59 Grace in Perimenopause

24:08 Finding Your Care Team

24:33 Medication Cocktail Reset

25:35 Message to Midlife Women

27:17 Thanks and Disclaimer

]]> In this episode of Peri & Pause - The Podcast, the second in the “Meet the Nurse Practitioner” series, the host interviews nurse practitioner Nancy Chen about her path from studying exercise physiology at Meredith College to working as a personal trainer, then becoming a nurse and moving into critical care, urgent care during the pandemic, and traditional primary care. Nancy explains how limited appointment times and “moral injury” pushed her toward specializing in perimenopause and midlife women’s health, after seeing patients struggle with symptoms, chronic disease changes, and feeling dismissed due to gaps in training. She emphasizes the importance of education, validation, realistic expectations, individualized treatment, and helping women feel heard and hopeful, including reviewing complex medication and supplement “cocktails” and supporting women through the fluctuating “moving target” of perimenopause.

00:00 Meet Nancy Chen

00:53 Exercise Physiology Roots

01:24 From Trainer to Nurse

01:52 Critical Care Wake Up

03:11 NP Path and Pandemic

04:22 Primary Care Time Crunch

05:58 Midlife Symptoms Puzzle

07:32 Personal Perimenopause Realization

09:42 Hormones and the Care Gap

15:23 What Patients Need First

16:22 Follow-Up Wins

16:59 Building the Foundation

20:59 Grace in Perimenopause

24:08 Finding Your Care Team

24:33 Medication Cocktail Reset

25:35 Message to Midlife Women

27:17 Thanks and Disclaimer

]]> Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 1688 In this episode of Peri & Pause - The Podcast, the second in the “Meet the Nurse Practitioner” series, the host interviews nurse practitioner Nancy Chen about her path from studying exercise physiology at Meredith College to working as a personal trainer, then becoming a nurse and moving into critical care, urgent care during the pandemic, and traditional primary care. Nancy explains how limited appointment times and “moral injury” pushed her toward specializing in perimenopause and midlife women’s health, after seeing patients struggle with symptoms, chronic disease changes, and feeling dismissed due to gaps in training. She emphasizes the importance of education, validation, realistic expectations, individualized treatment, and helping women feel heard and hopeful, including reviewing complex medication and supplement “cocktails” and supporting women through the fluctuating “moving target” of perimenopause.

00:00 Meet Nancy Chen

00:53 Exercise Physiology Roots

01:24 From Trainer to Nurse

01:52 Critical Care Wake Up

03:11 NP Path and Pandemic

04:22 Primary Care Time Crunch

05:58 Midlife Symptoms Puzzle

07:32 Personal Perimenopause Realization

09:42 Hormones and the Care Gap

15:23 What Patients Need First

16:22 Follow-Up Wins

16:59 Building the Foundation

20:59 Grace in Perimenopause

24:08 Finding Your Care Team

24:33 Medication Cocktail Reset

25:35 Message to Midlife Women

27:17 Thanks and Disclaimer

]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Nancy Chen MSN, FNP-C Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Navigating Menopause: A Conversation with Nurse Practitioner Kristen Nawyn 4 4 Navigating Menopause: A Conversation with Nurse Practitioner Kristen Nawyn full 789eedbe-1f03-4d32-af1a-bbede1597c74 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6c71db47 In this episode of The Peri and Pause podcast, Jamie Gallagher launch the “Meet the Nurse Practitioner” series by introducing Kristen Nawyn, a board-certified adult gerontology nurse practitioner and Menopause Society–certified menopause specialist. Kristin shares her path from ICU nursing through the pandemic to palliative care interests focused on goals, values, and quality of life, and explains how a family medicine preceptorship revealed the gaps in menopause care and shifted her career. She discusses limited menopause education in graduate school, her oncology research on chemotherapy-induced early menopause in premenopausal cancer survivors, and how sudden induced menopause differs from natural menopause. Kristin describes common “loss of self” experiences in perimenopause, the biology of hormonal fluctuations, the need for anticipatory guidance, and how she builds trust with patients, addresses long-term hormone therapy concerns, and advocates for whole-person, time-rich menopause care.

00:42 Podcast Intro and Guest Spotlight

02:08 Kristin’s Nursing Origin Story

03:10 What Palliative Care Really Is

04:35 From ICU to Nurse Practitioner

05:52 Discovering the Menopause Care Gap

08:43 Graduate School vs Real Menopause Care

10:37 Thesis on Chemo Induced Menopause

13:04 Losing Your Sense of Self

15:05 Natural vs Induced Menopause

16:52 Better Care for Cancer Survivors

17:46 Staying On Hormones

18:57 Risks Of Stopping

21:02 ICU Lessons On Aging

22:50 Earning Patient Trust

25:52 Midlife Women Carrying It All

28:24 You Are Not Crazy

29:00 Whole Person Menopause Care

30:43 Emotional Weight And Guilt

32:36 Closing Thanks And Wrap

------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info

]]> In this episode of The Peri and Pause podcast, Jamie Gallagher launch the “Meet the Nurse Practitioner” series by introducing Kristen Nawyn, a board-certified adult gerontology nurse practitioner and Menopause Society–certified menopause specialist. Kristin shares her path from ICU nursing through the pandemic to palliative care interests focused on goals, values, and quality of life, and explains how a family medicine preceptorship revealed the gaps in menopause care and shifted her career. She discusses limited menopause education in graduate school, her oncology research on chemotherapy-induced early menopause in premenopausal cancer survivors, and how sudden induced menopause differs from natural menopause. Kristin describes common “loss of self” experiences in perimenopause, the biology of hormonal fluctuations, the need for anticipatory guidance, and how she builds trust with patients, addresses long-term hormone therapy concerns, and advocates for whole-person, time-rich menopause care.

00:42 Podcast Intro and Guest Spotlight

02:08 Kristin’s Nursing Origin Story

03:10 What Palliative Care Really Is

04:35 From ICU to Nurse Practitioner

05:52 Discovering the Menopause Care Gap

08:43 Graduate School vs Real Menopause Care

10:37 Thesis on Chemo Induced Menopause

13:04 Losing Your Sense of Self

15:05 Natural vs Induced Menopause

16:52 Better Care for Cancer Survivors

17:46 Staying On Hormones

18:57 Risks Of Stopping

21:02 ICU Lessons On Aging

22:50 Earning Patient Trust

25:52 Midlife Women Carrying It All

28:24 You Are Not Crazy

29:00 Whole Person Menopause Care

30:43 Emotional Weight And Guilt

32:36 Closing Thanks And Wrap

------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 1762 In this episode of The Peri and Pause podcast, Jamie Gallagher launch the “Meet the Nurse Practitioner” series by introducing Kristen Nawyn, a board-certified adult gerontology nurse practitioner and Menopause Society–certified menopause specialist. Kristin shares her path from ICU nursing through the pandemic to palliative care interests focused on goals, values, and quality of life, and explains how a family medicine preceptorship revealed the gaps in menopause care and shifted her career. She discusses limited menopause education in graduate school, her oncology research on chemotherapy-induced early menopause in premenopausal cancer survivors, and how sudden induced menopause differs from natural menopause. Kristin describes common “loss of self” experiences in perimenopause, the biology of hormonal fluctuations, the need for anticipatory guidance, and how she builds trust with patients, addresses long-term hormone therapy concerns, and advocates for whole-person, time-rich menopause care.

00:42 Podcast Intro and Guest Spotlight

02:08 Kristin’s Nursing Origin Story

03:10 What Palliative Care Really Is

04:35 From ICU to Nurse Practitioner

05:52 Discovering the Menopause Care Gap

08:43 Graduate School vs Real Menopause Care

10:37 Thesis on Chemo Induced Menopause

13:04 Losing Your Sense of Self

15:05 Natural vs Induced Menopause

16:52 Better Care for Cancer Survivors

17:46 Staying On Hormones

18:57 Risks Of Stopping

21:02 ICU Lessons On Aging

22:50 Earning Patient Trust

25:52 Midlife Women Carrying It All

28:24 You Are Not Crazy

29:00 Whole Person Menopause Care

30:43 Emotional Weight And Guilt

32:36 Closing Thanks And Wrap

------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info

]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Kristen Nawyn Decoding Menopause: Beyond Misunderstandings 3 3 Decoding Menopause: Beyond Misunderstandings full d7d91aee-ec5e-4f9a-a05b-353e837443ce https://share.transistor.fm/s/76eb0543 Jamie, founder of Peri & Pause—the Menopause Center—and a board-certified nurse practitioner, explores why many women feel dismissed during perimenopause and menopause, emphasizing it’s often rooted in history and training rather than lack of care. She explains how menopause was long framed as a “normal” transition not requiring intervention, despite wide-ranging effects on brain, sleep, mood, metabolism, and cardiovascular health. Jamie highlights limited menopause education in medical training and how normal lab results can lead clinicians to default to stress or mood explanations. She details how the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study—often misinterpreted, focused on older women and specific hormone formulations—drove widespread fear of hormone therapy, shaping practice for decades. She notes newer, more nuanced evidence is slowly changing care and previews upcoming episodes introducing the clinic’s nurse practitioners.

00:00 Why Women Feel Dismissed

02:14 Menopause Is Natural Not Simple

05:40 Training Gaps In Menopause Care

07:43 Defaulting To Stress And Labs

09:46 WHI Study Changed Everything

10:50 Who WHI Actually Studied

12:24 Hormone Types And Nuance Lost

14:05 Breast Cancer Risk Explained

15:31 Aftermath And Reassessment

19:23 Where Menopause Care Is Now

20:24 Next Series Meet The NPs


]]> Jamie, founder of Peri & Pause—the Menopause Center—and a board-certified nurse practitioner, explores why many women feel dismissed during perimenopause and menopause, emphasizing it’s often rooted in history and training rather than lack of care. She explains how menopause was long framed as a “normal” transition not requiring intervention, despite wide-ranging effects on brain, sleep, mood, metabolism, and cardiovascular health. Jamie highlights limited menopause education in medical training and how normal lab results can lead clinicians to default to stress or mood explanations. She details how the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study—often misinterpreted, focused on older women and specific hormone formulations—drove widespread fear of hormone therapy, shaping practice for decades. She notes newer, more nuanced evidence is slowly changing care and previews upcoming episodes introducing the clinic’s nurse practitioners.

00:00 Why Women Feel Dismissed

02:14 Menopause Is Natural Not Simple

05:40 Training Gaps In Menopause Care

07:43 Defaulting To Stress And Labs

09:46 WHI Study Changed Everything

10:50 Who WHI Actually Studied

12:24 Hormone Types And Nuance Lost

14:05 Breast Cancer Risk Explained

15:31 Aftermath And Reassessment

19:23 Where Menopause Care Is Now

20:24 Next Series Meet The NPs


]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0700 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 1117 Jamie, founder of Peri & Pause—the Menopause Center—and a board-certified nurse practitioner, explores why many women feel dismissed during perimenopause and menopause, emphasizing it’s often rooted in history and training rather than lack of care. She explains how menopause was long framed as a “normal” transition not requiring intervention, despite wide-ranging effects on brain, sleep, mood, metabolism, and cardiovascular health. Jamie highlights limited menopause education in medical training and how normal lab results can lead clinicians to default to stress or mood explanations. She details how the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study—often misinterpreted, focused on older women and specific hormone formulations—drove widespread fear of hormone therapy, shaping practice for decades. She notes newer, more nuanced evidence is slowly changing care and previews upcoming episodes introducing the clinic’s nurse practitioners.

00:00 Why Women Feel Dismissed

02:14 Menopause Is Natural Not Simple

05:40 Training Gaps In Menopause Care

07:43 Defaulting To Stress And Labs

09:46 WHI Study Changed Everything

10:50 Who WHI Actually Studied

12:24 Hormone Types And Nuance Lost

14:05 Breast Cancer Risk Explained

15:31 Aftermath And Reassessment

19:23 Where Menopause Care Is Now

20:24 Next Series Meet The NPs


]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP It’s Not “Just Stress”: How Perimenopause Affects Your Brain, Sleep, Mood & Stress Tolerance 2 2 It’s Not “Just Stress”: How Perimenopause Affects Your Brain, Sleep, Mood & Stress Tolerance full f45dd63d-350a-40e4-be1b-5ac7d79aaebe https://youtu.be/tMVmP92ozk4 The episode explains that while stress in midlife is real, many symptoms blamed on “stress” are actually driven by perimenopause physiology. The speaker describes how perimenopause and menopause affect far more than periods and hot flashes, impacting brain function, sleep, mood, energy, focus, and emotional regulation. She reframes perimenopause as a neuroendocrine transition, noting estrogen’s role in brain energy, neurotransmitters, sleep regulation, stress response, metabolism, and glucose use, and explains that early progesterone changes can worsen mood and sleep. Common experiences include unfamiliar anxiety, brain fog, word-finding issues, emotional reactivity, rage, and fatigue. She emphasizes that “normal” labs can be misleading due to hormonal fluctuations, and encourages symptom-based care, self-compassion, and preparation to advocate in healthcare in the next episode.

00:00 Stress vs Physiology

01:08 Band-Aid Advice

02:17 Perimenopause Brain Shift

03:43 Early Symptoms Explained

04:35 Reframing Stress Tolerance

05:12 Why Labs Look Normal

06:11 Symptom-Based Support

06:50 Recalibration Not Breakdown

07:46 Closing and Next Steps


]]> The episode explains that while stress in midlife is real, many symptoms blamed on “stress” are actually driven by perimenopause physiology. The speaker describes how perimenopause and menopause affect far more than periods and hot flashes, impacting brain function, sleep, mood, energy, focus, and emotional regulation. She reframes perimenopause as a neuroendocrine transition, noting estrogen’s role in brain energy, neurotransmitters, sleep regulation, stress response, metabolism, and glucose use, and explains that early progesterone changes can worsen mood and sleep. Common experiences include unfamiliar anxiety, brain fog, word-finding issues, emotional reactivity, rage, and fatigue. She emphasizes that “normal” labs can be misleading due to hormonal fluctuations, and encourages symptom-based care, self-compassion, and preparation to advocate in healthcare in the next episode.

00:00 Stress vs Physiology

01:08 Band-Aid Advice

02:17 Perimenopause Brain Shift

03:43 Early Symptoms Explained

04:35 Reframing Stress Tolerance

05:12 Why Labs Look Normal

06:11 Symptom-Based Support

06:50 Recalibration Not Breakdown

07:46 Closing and Next Steps


]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0800 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 528 The episode explains that while stress in midlife is real, many symptoms blamed on “stress” are actually driven by perimenopause physiology. The speaker describes how perimenopause and menopause affect far more than periods and hot flashes, impacting brain function, sleep, mood, energy, focus, and emotional regulation. She reframes perimenopause as a neuroendocrine transition, noting estrogen’s role in brain energy, neurotransmitters, sleep regulation, stress response, metabolism, and glucose use, and explains that early progesterone changes can worsen mood and sleep. Common experiences include unfamiliar anxiety, brain fog, word-finding issues, emotional reactivity, rage, and fatigue. She emphasizes that “normal” labs can be misleading due to hormonal fluctuations, and encourages symptom-based care, self-compassion, and preparation to advocate in healthcare in the next episode.

00:00 Stress vs Physiology

01:08 Band-Aid Advice

02:17 Perimenopause Brain Shift

03:43 Early Symptoms Explained

04:35 Reframing Stress Tolerance

05:12 Why Labs Look Normal

06:11 Symptom-Based Support

06:50 Recalibration Not Breakdown

07:46 Closing and Next Steps


]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Real Conversations About Perimenopause, Menopause, and Midlife 1 1 Real Conversations About Perimenopause, Menopause, and Midlife full 151e37d4-e7da-40b5-b38f-d2234ccd4b38 https://share.transistor.fm/s/a07c24ac In the first episode, Jamie Gallagher, a nurse practitioner certified in menopause care, introduces a podcast focused on thoughtful, non-flashy conversations for women who feel something is off—especially those exhausted, confused, or told their labs look normal while they don’t feel normal. She describes common midlife experiences she sees in clinical practice—fatigue unrelieved by sleep, brain fog, weight changes, mood shifts, anxiety, and feeling unfamiliar in one’s body—and explains why these symptoms can feel scary, especially with family health histories or misinformation from online searches. Jamie emphasizes that not everything is menopause, that good clinicians listen and evaluate thoroughly, and that midlife women need context, language, validation, and clear explanations. She shares how gaps in her own medical training led her to research and synthesize scattered, sometimes contradictory information on menopause, shaping her clinical work and inspiring the podcast to widen access to these conversations. The show will cover perimenopause and menopause topics like hormones, brain health, metabolism, sleep, sexuality, identity, and emotional shifts, along with relationships, parenting, aging, grief, loss, finances, and empowerment, featuring solo episodes, colleagues, trusted experts, and real stories. She clarifies the podcast is educational and not personal medical advice, encouraging listeners to advocate for themselves, and closes by reframing midlife as a transition that deserves guidance and inviting listeners to subscribe, review, share, and follow the show on Facebook and Instagram.


00:00 Welcome: This Podcast Is for the Women Who Feel “Off”

00:55 What I Hear in the Exam Room: “I’m Doing Everything Right—So Why Do I Feel Like This?”

01:36 Dr. Google, Real Risks, and Why Not Everything Is Menopause

02:30 Why This Podcast Exists: Context, Language, and Being Heard

03:37 Meet Jamie: Menopause-Certified NP + Why I Started Digging Deeper

04:35 The Research Rabbit Hole: Scattered Science, Nuance, and Listening to Women

05:28 What This Show Is (and Isn’t): No Fixing, No Trends, No Panic

05:49 What We’ll Cover + Who You’ll Hear From

07:05 Important Disclaimer: Education, Not Personal Medical Advice

07:31 Midlife Isn’t Failure—It’s a Transition That Deserves Guidance

08:10 Your Invitation + Closing: You’re Not Alone, You’re Right on Time


------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info


]]> In the first episode, Jamie Gallagher, a nurse practitioner certified in menopause care, introduces a podcast focused on thoughtful, non-flashy conversations for women who feel something is off—especially those exhausted, confused, or told their labs look normal while they don’t feel normal. She describes common midlife experiences she sees in clinical practice—fatigue unrelieved by sleep, brain fog, weight changes, mood shifts, anxiety, and feeling unfamiliar in one’s body—and explains why these symptoms can feel scary, especially with family health histories or misinformation from online searches. Jamie emphasizes that not everything is menopause, that good clinicians listen and evaluate thoroughly, and that midlife women need context, language, validation, and clear explanations. She shares how gaps in her own medical training led her to research and synthesize scattered, sometimes contradictory information on menopause, shaping her clinical work and inspiring the podcast to widen access to these conversations. The show will cover perimenopause and menopause topics like hormones, brain health, metabolism, sleep, sexuality, identity, and emotional shifts, along with relationships, parenting, aging, grief, loss, finances, and empowerment, featuring solo episodes, colleagues, trusted experts, and real stories. She clarifies the podcast is educational and not personal medical advice, encouraging listeners to advocate for themselves, and closes by reframing midlife as a transition that deserves guidance and inviting listeners to subscribe, review, share, and follow the show on Facebook and Instagram.


00:00 Welcome: This Podcast Is for the Women Who Feel “Off”

00:55 What I Hear in the Exam Room: “I’m Doing Everything Right—So Why Do I Feel Like This?”

01:36 Dr. Google, Real Risks, and Why Not Everything Is Menopause

02:30 Why This Podcast Exists: Context, Language, and Being Heard

03:37 Meet Jamie: Menopause-Certified NP + Why I Started Digging Deeper

04:35 The Research Rabbit Hole: Scattered Science, Nuance, and Listening to Women

05:28 What This Show Is (and Isn’t): No Fixing, No Trends, No Panic

05:49 What We’ll Cover + Who You’ll Hear From

07:05 Important Disclaimer: Education, Not Personal Medical Advice

07:31 Midlife Isn’t Failure—It’s a Transition That Deserves Guidance

08:10 Your Invitation + Closing: You’re Not Alone, You’re Right on Time


------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info


]]> Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:17:57 -0800 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 544 In the first episode, Jamie Gallagher, a nurse practitioner certified in menopause care, introduces a podcast focused on thoughtful, non-flashy conversations for women who feel something is off—especially those exhausted, confused, or told their labs look normal while they don’t feel normal. She describes common midlife experiences she sees in clinical practice—fatigue unrelieved by sleep, brain fog, weight changes, mood shifts, anxiety, and feeling unfamiliar in one’s body—and explains why these symptoms can feel scary, especially with family health histories or misinformation from online searches. Jamie emphasizes that not everything is menopause, that good clinicians listen and evaluate thoroughly, and that midlife women need context, language, validation, and clear explanations. She shares how gaps in her own medical training led her to research and synthesize scattered, sometimes contradictory information on menopause, shaping her clinical work and inspiring the podcast to widen access to these conversations. The show will cover perimenopause and menopause topics like hormones, brain health, metabolism, sleep, sexuality, identity, and emotional shifts, along with relationships, parenting, aging, grief, loss, finances, and empowerment, featuring solo episodes, colleagues, trusted experts, and real stories. She clarifies the podcast is educational and not personal medical advice, encouraging listeners to advocate for themselves, and closes by reframing midlife as a transition that deserves guidance and inviting listeners to subscribe, review, share, and follow the show on Facebook and Instagram.


00:00 Welcome: This Podcast Is for the Women Who Feel “Off”

00:55 What I Hear in the Exam Room: “I’m Doing Everything Right—So Why Do I Feel Like This?”

01:36 Dr. Google, Real Risks, and Why Not Everything Is Menopause

02:30 Why This Podcast Exists: Context, Language, and Being Heard

03:37 Meet Jamie: Menopause-Certified NP + Why I Started Digging Deeper

04:35 The Research Rabbit Hole: Scattered Science, Nuance, and Listening to Women

05:28 What This Show Is (and Isn’t): No Fixing, No Trends, No Panic

05:49 What We’ll Cover + Who You’ll Hear From

07:05 Important Disclaimer: Education, Not Personal Medical Advice

07:31 Midlife Isn’t Failure—It’s a Transition That Deserves Guidance

08:10 Your Invitation + Closing: You’re Not Alone, You’re Right on Time


------
This podcast exists to normalize, explain, and elevate the midlife healthcare conversation—so women feel informed, believed, and empowered to demand better care for their bodies and lives.

Visit https://periandpause.com for more info


]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP Trailer Trailer trailer f9073617-ceca-48d7-9385-98c71c0b3220 https://share.transistor.fm/s/dd7ae140 Welcome to Peri and Pause, the podcast where midlife women get real answers about their bodies, their health, and what's actually changing because every woman deserves this conversation. 

]]> Welcome to Peri and Pause, the podcast where midlife women get real answers about their bodies, their health, and what's actually changing because every woman deserves this conversation. 

]]> Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:07:53 -0800 Peri & Pause Peri & Pause 143 Welcome to Peri and Pause, the podcast where midlife women get real answers about their bodies, their health, and what's actually changing because every woman deserves this conversation. 

]]> perimenopause, menopause, midlife women, women’s hormones, hormone health, menopause care, women’s health podcast, midlife wellness, menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, women’s healthcare advocacy, metabolism and hormones, mental health midlife women, menopause education No Jamie Gallagher DNP, FNP-C, MSCP