The Positive Pause

In this episode, Dawn Van Berkel, LPC, CCTP, CST, a mental health counselor and founder of H.E.R. Therapy, joins us for a discussion to explore the emotional challenges and opportunities women face during midlife and menopause. Dawn shares her inspiring story of going back to school in her mid-40s to earn a master’s degree in counseling, proving that reinvention is possible at any age. She wants women to know it’s never too late to make a career change, to go back to school to obtain a ...

In this episode, Ingrid Harm-Ernandes, PT, WCS, a seasoned physical therapist, author, and speaker with over 40 years of experience, including almost three decades specializing in women’s health, joins us for a discussion into the often overlooked but crucial topic of pelvic health, its critical role in everyday functions like bowel and bladder control, sexual health, & maintaining stability, and treatment options and resources available including NMF’s free Menopause MicroCourse on genit...

In this episode, Stephanie Mitchell, a certified personal trainer (CPT) and the inspiring wellness coach behind Stephanie Mitchell Fitness, joins us for a discussion around how women can prioritize wellness through the complex journey of perimenopause and menopause. In our conversation, Stephanie shares insights on staying connected to our "why" in our wellness routines, staying resilient as our bodies change, and building community as a powerful support network during this phase of life. Ste...

In this episode, Laura Okafor, founder and CEO of perry, joins us for a conversation about why perimenopause needs its own awareness month, how to help women understand & support them during the menopause transition, and misconceptions around perimenopause. This September, the National Menopause Foundation, in partnership with perry, launched the inaugural National Perimenopause Awareness Month. With 5-7 online events each week, this initiative aims to expand the conversation and provide ...

In this episode, Dr. Evan M. Rabinowitz, the founder of the Yao Shan Center for Chinese Medicine in Washington, DC, joins us for a conversation about acupuncture for menopause symptom treatment relief, the importance of treatment for the individual, how the body is an ecosystem and how holistic & Eastern medicine focus on addressing and balancing the entire system rather than just a single problematic issue. Acupuncture as a medical practice has existed for thousands of years and it used ...

In this episode, Dr. Samantha Dunham joins us for a conversation on the crisis around menopausal care as often, women experience menopausal symptoms without understanding what’s happening and without knowing where to go for help. Dr. Samantha Dunham is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN), a certified menopause practitioner, and the co-director of the Center for Midlife Health and Menopause at NYU Langone Health. She’s also a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of O...

In this episode, we focus on the importance of sleep and how aging & menopause can affect our sleep habits with guest, Dr. Whitney Roban, PhD. Dr. Roban is a renowned sleep expert, author, and founder of Solve Our Sleep, a one-stop shop for family, educational, and corporate sleep needs, offering various sleep supports via her family sleep private practice, her educational sleep consulting, and her corporate sleep wellness programming. Dr. Roban's mission is to provide the sleep education...

In this episode, we discuss how important our pelvic floor is to our overall health with guest Ingrid Harm-Ernandes. Many women experience symptoms in the pelvic region during menopause. These are known as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and are often not discussed with women as they transition through menopause. Ms. Harm-Ernandes is a physical therapist, board certified in Women’s Health (WCS) and Pelvic Floor Biofeedback who has been specializing in women’s health for 27 years.&nb...