About 15% to 50% of perimenopausal women may experience anxiety, often accompanied by depression, insomnia, and forgetfulness. In fact, anxiety is one of the main symptoms women reach out to me about. But unfortunately, a lot of healthcare providers aren't addressing the underlying imbalances associated with anxiety, besides thoughts, mindset, and/or trauma. And of course these things should be addressed, but there's more to the story... In this episode, we covered: Anxiety in perimenopause Horm...
Jul 09, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 70
If you're a woman in your 40s who feels constantly anxious, moody, and mentally fried, it might not just be your hormones. In this episode of Perimenopause Simplified, I unpack one of the most overlooked hormone disruptors in midlife: overstimulation. From non-stop group chats to cluttered homes to the pressure to keep up on Instagram, our nervous systems are bombarded 24/7… and it’s silently wrecking our hormone balance, our energy, and our mood. I’m sharing my personal experience with digital ...
Jun 25, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 69
Estrogen often gets a bad rap, but it’s one of the most powerful and protective hormones in a woman’s body, especially in midlife. In this episode of Perimenopause Simplified, we’re unpacking what estrogen does, how it changes after 40, and what you need to know about supporting it through perimenopause and beyond. Whether you're dealing with brain fog, vaginal dryness, or mood swings, this episode will help you understand whether low estrogen might be at play – and what you can do about it. We ...
Jun 18, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 68
In this episode of Perimenopause Simplified, we’re diving deep into cortisol, the stress hormone that plays a significant role in our health, especially for women over 40. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, anxious, or wired at night, it’s time to understand what might be going on with your cortisol levels. Cortisol can become dysregulated during perimenopause, making stress management even more crucial, as your body’s hormonal landscape shifts. Tune in to learn how to support your cortisol, mana...
Jun 11, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Feeling more tired, anxious, or irritable in your 40s—but still pushing through like you always have? In this episode, Claudia shares why the “hustle mode” that may have worked in your 30s starts to backfire in perimenopause–and what to do instead. She opens up about the personal changes she’s made to her daily and weekly rhythm, and walks you through 5 simple, doable practices to help you preserve energy, regulate your nervous system, and feel more like yourself again. This isn’t about doing no...
Jun 04, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 66
If you’re feeling anxious, exhausted, gaining weight, and like nothing is working anymore, this episode is for you. These symptoms aren’t just about hormones; they’re often signs of a dysregulated nervous system. In this episode, Functional Health & Integrative Nutrition Coach Claudia Petrilli, breaks down how your nervous system impacts hormones, metabolism, sleep, mood, and more during perimenopause. You’ll learn why so many women over 40 feel stuck in survival mode and what you can start ...
May 28, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 65
In this raw and empowering episode of Perimenopause Simplified, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked, yet powerful ways to support your health in midlife: sex. From the hormonal magic of oxytocin to the emotional benefits of intimacy, I’ll share how good sex can actually help ease perimenopause symptoms—while also addressing the very real challenges modern couples face when it comes to connection. I’ll also open up about a dry spell in my own relationship, and how we found our way back t...
May 21, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 64
In this episode of Perimenopause Simplified, Claudia dives deep into vaginal health during midlife, an often overlooked but essential part of overall well-being. Learn how hormonal shifts impact vaginal tissue, pH, and infection risk, and get practical, evidence-based solutions to support comfort, confidence, and intimacy. Whether you're experiencing dryness, odor, or recurring UTIs, this episode breaks down both hormonal and non-hormonal tools that can help you feel like yourself again. In this...
May 14, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 63
On this week’s episode of Perimenopause Simplified , Claudia is joined by Christina Walsh, a New Orleans mama of two, physical therapist, published researcher, and cofounder of Tighten Your Tinkler–a pelvic floor rehab method designed specifically for women. Christina knows firsthand what it’s like to live with pelvic floor dysfunction–and how to heal naturally, without kegels or invasive devices. Together, we dig into what every woman 35+ needs to know about pelvic floor health in perimenopause...
May 08, 2025•39 min•Season 1Ep. 62
Feeling stuck, exhausted, or like your body is working against you in midlife? This episode is your tough-love wake-up call, because thriving in perimenopause starts with radical ownership. I’m breaking down the patterns that keep women overwhelmed, inflamed, and waiting for “someday”, and offering a powerful invitation to take back your time, energy, and mindset–starting now. In this episode, I cover: Why overwhelm is often a choice–and how to change it The hidden cost of people-pleasing and la...
May 01, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 61
Think perimenopause starts in your late 40s? Think again! Many women start experiencing subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) hormone shifts in their mid-30s. But doctors often dismiss these early symptoms. In this episode, Claudia breaks down why perimenopause begins earlier than you expect–and what you can do to start feeling better now. We’re covering: Why perimenopause isn’t just about your period changing–it’s a whole-body shift The first signs of perimenopause (that most women overlook) Why...
Apr 16, 2025•9 min•Season 1Ep. 60
In this week’s episode, Claudia addresses one of the BIGGEST frustrations women face–going to their OB/GYN for perimenopause help, only to realize they’re not as knowledgeable about hormones as we expect. Too often, doctors miss the full picture, leaving women dismissed and without real solutions. We’re covering: Why your OB/GYN is great for pregnancy–but often clueless about perimenopause Why perimenopause isn’t just about estrogen and progesterone The common treatments doctors prescribe that d...
Apr 09, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Progesterone is one of the most essential hormones for women’s health. But after 35, you start to lose this amazing hormone. In this episode, Claudia dives into what you need to know about progesterone, why she believes most women over 35 should replace it, common questions she gets about progesterone, and more. We covered: Symptoms of low progesterone Anovulatory cycles in perimenopause Why estrogen is not the enemy How stress can hinder progesterone Benefits Claudia experienced with progestero...
Apr 02, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Jennifer Ragazzo is a Soul-Aligned Wellness Coach with over a decade of experience guiding women through profound transformation. With a background in psychology, teaching and coaching, she blends deep emotional and spiritual work with functional health, helping her clients reconnect with their bodies, release unprocessed wounds, and reclaim their vitality. Jennifer’s expertise spans Integrative Nutrition, Applied Functional Medicine, and Naturopathy, but her work goes far beyond lab results and...
Mar 26, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 57
SUSAN BRATTON , “Intimacy Expert to Millions," is a champion and advocate for all those who desire intimacy and passion their whole life long. Susan's superpower is her courage. She takes a lionhearted stand for our human right to pleasurable connection. And she has the willingness and expertise to get nerdy about science/anatomy and very detailed about boudoir skills so everyone can learn to achieve the pleasure they deserve. Susan is co-founder and CEO of two companies: Personal Life Media, In...
Mar 19, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Jennifer Kirsch helps women 45+ get stronger, move better, and build muscle in a way that actually works. With over 30 years of experience, she’s coached thousands of women to ditch the fads, lift smart, and fuel their bodies for long-term strength and confidence. Through her online STRONGER U Program and STRAIGHT UP STRENGTH membership, Jen makes strength training simple, effective, and totally doable–no gimmicks, just real results. In this episode, we covered: The most effective types of exerc...
Mar 12, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 55
In this week’s episode of Perimenopause Simplified, we have special guest Dr. Doug Lucas, a double board-certified physician specializing in osteoporosis reversal, hormone replacement, and healthspan. He started Optimal Human Health MD, a nationwide telehealth practice, which focuses exclusively on bone health, with a mission to educate the world that osteoporosis is reversible. He also launched PEMA BioIdentical after realizing how challenging it was for his patients to find high-quality bioide...
Mar 05, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode, Claudia discusses how stress, mineral depletion, and lack of healthy communication with your partner are to blame for your low libido – not just your hormones. If you’ve been dealing with a low sex drive and want to understand the steps to take to improve it, you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode. We covered: How chronic stress disrupts hormones and depletes nutrients How high cortisol impacts your sex hormones and ability to relax Why you need to lessen control and s...
Feb 19, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 53
In this episode, Claudia discusses how minerals are the “spark plugs of life” and may be the missing piece in addressing your perimenopause symptoms. Whether you’re dealing with fatigue, mood swings, anxiety, joint pain, sleep disruption or low libido, you’ll want to listen to this episode. We covered: What happens to your minerals in perimenopause Key minerals that play a role in your energy, mood, and libido The little known mineral and hormone connection How Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA...
Feb 12, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Testosterone is not just about getting your mojo back in the bedroom—although, that’s a pretty nice bonus! It really is SO much more than that, especially for us perimenopausal women. It plays a huge role in your energy levels, mood, muscle strength, and even how well you recover after exercise. It’s just as important as estrogen and progesterone in helping us feel our best. In this episode, we covered: How testosterone impacts energy, muscle, strength, brain function & confidence What to kn...
Feb 05, 2025•16 min•Season 1Ep. 51
In this episode, we covered: What is perimenopause? When does perimenopause occur? What hormones are responsible for perimenopause symptoms? Most common perimenopause symptoms women experience Not-so-obvious perimenopause symptoms Why this stage of life is so crucial Why our clients get results and improve their health Learn about The Perimenopause Method HERE and get started today! When you enroll by January 31st, you’ll get a bonus coaching session with me ($300 value). Sources: https://pmc.nc...
Jan 29, 2025•15 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this episode, I’m sharing effective, natural solutions to find relief from perimenopause symptoms. Teaser: it’s not the majority of things you’re hearing about on Instagram, such as fasting, seed cycling, parasite cleanses, water fasts, cold plunges, strict elimination diets, collagen, creatine, or hormone testing, food sensitivity testing, or genetic testing. Basically, I’m sorting through all of the “noise” and sharing what you really need to do to feel (and look) your best in perimenopause...
Jan 22, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 49
In this episode, Claudia gets vulnerable, sharing her own struggle with depression, the steps she took to overcome it, and how you can navigate depression in perimenopause. She covered: How hormone changes in perimenopause affect mental health How nutrient imbalances and gut health play a role in depression The life transitions perimenopause women experience Frustrations with your body and health in perimenopause The impact of unaddressed trauma Is it time to slow down or consider a career chang...
Jan 15, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In this episode, Claudia shares 4 questions she asks herself every December to reflect on her year and to think about the year ahead. She covered things that went well, things that were a struggle, what she wants to stop doing, and what she plans to implement in the new year. Grab a pen and paper to answer the prompts she shares, so you can celebrate the good, learn from the challenges, make a commitment to stop some of your destructive habits, and create a sustainable plan for the new year. Rea...
Jan 08, 2025•11 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode, we covered: Dena’s general approach to diet in perimenopause Why protein is crucial in perimenopause The role of soy in perimenopause Benefits of soy in symptom management Is soy a replacement for HRT? The best sources of soy Soy-based supplements - yay or nay? Dena Norton, MS, RD has been a registered dietitian for over 20 years, working in both conventional medical system and in the holistic and functional medicine spheres. She is the owner of Back To The Book Nutrition, a web...
Dec 18, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 46
In this episode, we covered: Lack of quality control in supplements Why “natural” isn’t necessarily harmless Not everyone needs to take vitamin D How to find quality supplements Why testing is better than guessing Supplements to consider in perimenopause Want support? Grab Claudia’s Perimenopause Audit to get her eyeballs on your diet, lifestyle, supplements, and more with a personalized video that will provide clarity and a clear path to take. Want a deep dive? Apply to work with her HERE and s...
Dec 11, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this episode, Claudia digs into weight loss, a common struggle women in perimenopause experience, and some specific barriers to weight loss you likely haven’t considered or fully addressed. Want support? Grab Claudia’s Perimenopause Audit to get her eyeballs on your diet, lifestyle, supplements, and more with a personalized video that will provide clarity and a clear path to take. Need guidance on hormone replacement therapy? Check out her brand new course: Perimenopause HRT Roadmap to learn ...
Dec 04, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode, we covered: Low hormone levels seen in women in their 20s Why hormonal birth control is a trap The many benefits of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy Vaginal application of HRT Why hormone testing is not reliable How long it takes for women to optimize HRT regimen Continuous versus cyclical HRT How hormones aid in weight loss How estrogen therapy makes GLP-1s more effective Today I have a special guest, Dr. Sarah Daccarett renowned hormone specialist + anti-aging expert a...
Nov 27, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this episode, Claudia digs into the reasons she started hormone replacement therapy, specific symptoms she was experiencing, and the difference it has made for her health, relationship, work, and overall quality of life. In this episode, we covered: Recognizing Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance The Limitations of Diet and Lifestyle Alone The Role of Thyroid Hormones, Progesterone, and Estrogen Myths and Misconceptions Around HRT The Importance of Personalized and Balanced Hormone Therapy Check o...
Nov 20, 2024•17 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Today I have a special guest, my friend Janessa. Janessa M. Borges is a first generation Latina, therapist, business strategist, mindset coach, and speaker. She was born and raised in Miami, and obtained her degree from the clinically intensive program at NYU. She has over twenty years of experience working with individuals and families. After over 14 years as a business owner and therapist she began coaching and is focused on helping Latinas open, market and scale their own successful multi six...
Nov 13, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 41
