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In this episode of the Hotflash inc podcast, host and founder Ann Marie McQueen sits down with Dr Lara Briden – a naturopath, women’s health speaker, and author of Period Repair Manual, Hormone Repair Manual, and Metabolism Repair for Women. Together, they unpack some of the buzziest and most confusing midlife health trends: from hormone therapy + GLP-1 combos to supplement overwhelm, vaginal estrogen, and the sudden concern over labia shrinkage.

Dr Briden brings a refreshing and deeply grounded perspective to the conversation, challenging common narratives and reminding us of the biological brilliance of the female body – especially in midlife.

Highlights:

• The overhyped narrative about hormone therapy and GLP-1s
• What GLP-1 medications really do, and why they’re fascinating to Dr. Briden
• Supplements as a security blanket, and why Ann Marie and her friends are rethinking them
• Taking a “supplement holiday” – what it is and why it helps
• The connection between GLP-1s and gut health
• What happens when you go off hormone therapy or GLP-1s?
• A naturopath’s minimalist supplement travel kit
• Vaginal changes in menopause: what’s real, what’s clickbait
• The difference in how men vs women are told to view their bodies as they age
• Vaginal estrogen and the truth about genitourinary syndrome of menopause
• The bizarre labia shrinkage trend and the pressure of “perfect” body parts
• Why menopause is not a mistake of evolution – it’s a feature
• The danger of over-identifying with health labels
• “Wear it lightly” – a powerful reframe from Dr. Briden
• The trend of diagnosing yourself through Instagram
• Not everyone suffers in perimenopause – and that’s okay

Sponsor: Shoutout to our sponsor MenoLabs – makers of MenoFit, a science-backed probiotic designed to relieve hot flashes, night sweats and more. Hotflash Inc listeners get 20% off with the code HOTFLASHINC20.

Connect with Dr. Lara Briden:

• Website: www.larabriden.com
• Instagram: @larabriden
• X: @larabriden
• Books: Available wherever books are sold, including Bookshop.org, Amazon, and Pan Macmillan

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Episode website: Hotflashinc

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In this episode of the Hotflash inc Podcast, founder and host Ann Marie McQueen talks with serial entrepreneur Carin Luna-Ostaseski – creator of Hot or Just Me?, a comprehensive online platform supporting women through perimenopause and menopause.

Carin’s path from successful whiskey founder to menopause advocate is anything but ordinary. After launching the first American woman and Hispanic-created Scotch whisky (SIA), and pioneering a grant program for underserved entrepreneurs, she found herself navigating hot flashes, anxiety, insomnia and more. Rather than suffer silently, she launched a new venture focused on offering trusted products, expert advice, and a supportive community for other women going through the same.

They talk candidly about hormonal sensitivity, the pressure to take HRT, entrepreneurial lessons, how to optimize sleep (even if your partner snores like a bear) and the most helpful (and unhelpful) products in the menopause space. If you'd like to check out Carin's marketplace Hot or Just Me? use our exclusive discount code for Hotflash inc listeners, HFINC, here for 25 percent off.

Episode highlights:

• Carin’s journey from tech and whisky to menopause advocacy
• How her own symptoms inspired Hot or Just Me?
• How she selects products for the site and what she avoids
• Her top-selling tools for cooling, comfort, and sexual wellness
• Why she’s cautious about one-size-fits-all supplements
• Thoughts on the “menopause gold rush” and consumer choice
• Why she isn’t on hormone therapy and how that’s played out
• Navigating hormonal sensitivity and IVF struggles
• The nuance around HRT pressure and platform responsibility
• Non-hormonal solutions that work for her (starting with sleep!)
• Caffeine and alcohol hacks that actually help

Sponsor shoutout: Has your doctor told you that you're too young for perimenopause, but you just don’t feel like yourself? You’re not alone – perimenopause can start earlier than you think. That’s why MenoLabs is here, to support you with a range of products and the information you need to confidently speak up and get the care you deserve. They also offer science-backed solutions like their best-seller, MenoFit, a probiotic designed to help relieve symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats and more – all while supporting your overall health and wellness. Visit menolabs.com and get 20% off your order using code: HOTFLASH20

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Relevant links:

• Website → https://hotorjustme.com
• IG → @hotorjustme
• Find a certified menopause practitioner →

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack

See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

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This week’s solo episode is all about supplements – the good, the bad, and the potentially dangerous. I open up about my own rocky road with pills, powders, and tinctures, including the time I returned a popular fat burner in the early 2000s and, more recently, when I accidentally took five times the recommended dose of desiccated thyroid.

This episode is both a cautionary tale and an invitation to slow down, listen to your body, and ask what you really need – beyond the bottle. If you’ve been gagging on supplements, feeling unwell despite taking “all the right things,” or questioning what’s working and what’s not, this is for you.

Episode highlights:

• That time I levitated from a fat burner (and returned it in a rage)
• How Ephedra was banned after high-profile deaths
• What early sensitivity to supplements taught me (and didn’t)
• When supplements become a security blanket
• The Maca incident that triggered spotting and emotional chaos
• “Why didn’t you rest?” – the question that (started to) change everything
• Genetic testing, fatigue and falling back into old patterns
• Stage 2 hypertension and a terrifying headache
• The wakeup call
• Supplements vs. food – what we’re getting wrong
• What symptoms are really telling you
• A call to self-kindness and slowing down

Sponsor shoutout:

Has your doctor told you that you’re too young for perimenopause, but you know you just don’t feel like yourself? You’re not alone – perimenopause can start earlier than you think. That’s why MenoLabs is here, to support you with a range of products and the information you need to confidently speak up and get the care you deserve. They also offer science-backed products like their best-seller, MenoFit, a probiotic designed to help relieve symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats and more – all while supporting your overall health and wellness. Don’t settle for less during this season of your life. Visit Menolabs.com and get the support you need today. Hotflash inc listeners get 20% off with code: HOTFLASH20

Now for the small print: This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Call to action:

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with someone who might need it. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss what’s coming next, we’ve got incredible guests and stories on the way.

Join the Hotflash inc perimenoposse:

Web: hotflashinc.com
Newsletter: Hotflash inc. on Substack
TikTok: @hotflashinc
Instagram: @hotflashinc
X: @hotflashinc

Episode website: Hotflashinc

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Substack

See hotflashinc.com/privacy-policy for privacy information