Decoding Women's Health with Dr. Elizabeth Poynor

Sleep in midlife can be complicated — shaped by stress, hormone fluctuations, and a lifetime of habits that may not be serving you. Dr. Jade Wu offers a reframe that challenges how many of us approach sleep. It’s not a problem to be solved. Sleep is your friend, one that responds better to patience than control.
Dr. Wu also explains why the real measure of sleep doesn’t come from a tracker or device but from how alert you feel during the day. We outline the difference between sleep deprivation, insomnia and sleep apnea. And we discuss the potential benefits of CBT-I or cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.
Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
Thrive Sleep Clinic FAQs
Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications
Genome-wide association study identifies genetic loci for self-reported habitual sleep duration supported by accelerometer-derived estimates
Sleep Disturbance and Perimenopause: A Narrative Review
Sleep Apnea
Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI)
To learn more about at-home sleep studies, speak with your doctor and read this
See a breakdown of the evidence for different treatments for sleep
You can find a list of certified CBT-I therapists here
A 2023 paper in JAMA tested 25 over-the-counter melatonin supplements and found that 22 of them contained very different amounts of melatonin and did not match what was on the label: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2804077
Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Figuring out how to take care of your skin shouldn’t be so hard. Leading dermatologist Dr. Elizabeth Hale joins the show to give us all the crucial information we need to take care of our skin all year around. Dr. Hale also walks us through the various regenerative treatments that are in high demand, from exosomes and red light therapy to microneedling, to other mainstays like Botox™ and fillers. Plus, some actionable tips for early skin cancer detection.
Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
Skin Cancer Foundation
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you could actually delay the process of aging? Dr. Nir Barzilai hopes to identify interventions that could do just that. He believes a class of drugs known as gerotherapeutics could be real game changers.
Dr. Barzilai walks us through his pioneering research and explains why your biological age may actually be different from your chronological age. And we break down the buzziest trends in the longevity space.
Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
Cellergy Therapeutics
How to measure biological aging in humans
Rapamycin, But Not Resveratrol or Simvastatin, Extends Life Span of Genetically Heterogeneous Mice
An Updated Prioritization of Geroscience- Guided FDA-Approved Drugs Repurposed to Target Aging
Comparative Effectiveness of Metformin Versus Sulfonylureas on Exceptional Longevity in Women With Type 2 Diabetes: Target Trial Emulation
The Super Ager Family Study
Nir Barziliai, MD, on what we can learn about longevity from SuperAgers and Centenarians
Cardiovascular advantages among the offspring of centenarians
Lower all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality in centenarians' offspring
Reduced Prevalence and Incidence of Cognitive Impairment Among Centenarian Offspring
What You Should Know About NAD+ Supplements
Abstract 4168: NMN supplementation enhances proliferation and aggressiveness in UV-induced skin cancer
Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Integrative health expert & naturopathic physician Dr. Robert Kachko shares his powerful framework for better understanding our biology, our ecology and our biography. His holistic approach helps patients navigate PTSD, trauma, and chronic conditions.
His work centers on some really powerful questions: Why does a body get sick? What are our symptoms trying to tell us? And how can that information be reverse engineered into a treatment plan?
Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Somatic Experiencing
Trauma and Violence
Veterans Administration National Center for PTSD
Remission from post-traumatic stress disorder in the general population
Remission from post-traumatic stress disorder in the general population
Recovery from DSM-IV post-traumatic stress disorder in the WHO World Mental Health surveys
Assessing Primary Care Contributions to Behavioral Health: A Cross-sectional Study Using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
Clinician's Guide to Medications for PTSD
2023 U.S. Surgeon General - Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation
‘Dunbar's number’ deconstructed
Why friendship and loneliness affect our health
Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re tackling your questions about midlife hormone support. We’ll debunk common myths, unpack the research, and break down the basics of hormone support. We’ll also discuss some of the systemic benefits that may come with taking hormones, as well as important considerations for people with a history of health conditions, like cancer or stroke. Joining Dr. Elizabeth Poynor for this discussion is Atria Health Institute’s Chief Content Officer Siobhan O’Connor.
Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
(00:25:29) - Decoding Happiness in Midlife with Dr. Laurie Santos
(00:27:27) - Decoding Brain Fog with Dr. Caroline Gurvich
(00:48:00) - Decoding Partnership in Midlife with Dr. Richard Shapiro
Vaginal estrogen use in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of recurrence and mortality risks
Oral micronized progesterone for perimenopausal night sweats and hot flushes a Phase III Canada-wide randomized placebo-controlled 4 month trial
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of menopause hormone therapy on risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Risk of Endometrial Cancer
Allopregnanolone and Reproductive Psychiatry: An Overview
Adverse Changes in Body Composition During the Menopausal Transition and Relation to Cardiovascular Risk: A Contemporary Review
The role of lifestyle medicine in menopausal health: a review of non-pharmacologic interventions
Skeletal muscle as an endocrine organ: PGC-1α, myokines and exercise
ADHD and Sex Hormones in Females: A Systematic Review
The range and variation in serum estradiol concentration in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women treated with transdermal estradiol in a real-world setting: a cross-sectional study
The use of HRT containing transdermal estradiol in women with a personal history of venous or arterial thromboembolism: A consecutive series of 115 cases
Recurrent Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women: AUA/CUA/SUFU Guideline (2025)
Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.