Hit Play Not Pause
Episodes
Innovations that are Making Menopause Better with Alyssa Dweck, MD (Episode 93)
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From femtech apps to menopause telehealth, tracking rings to cooling bracelets, and even cryotech surgical services designed to prolong ovarian functi...
The Challenges of Surgical and Early Menopause with Corinne Menn, MD (Episode 92)
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One in eight women will have their ovaries removed before the natural age of menopause. Five percent of women naturally go through early menopause bet...
You Deserve to Get Good Sleep with Andrea Matsumura, MD (Episode 91)
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Women have traditionally been ignored in sleep medicine (shocking, we know). That means our sleep issues can be misunderstood and misdiagnosed, especi...
IX: Turning up the Volume with Joan Cronan
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hit Play Not Pause is on a quick summer break during the weeks of July 18th and 25th, 2022. While we're out, we are excited to share two episodes from...
IX: Changing the Game with Wendy Mink
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hit Play Not Pause is on a quick summer break during the weeks of July 18th and 25th, 2022. While we're out, we are excited to share two episodes from...
Muscle and Ligament Strength in Menopause with Kathryn Ackerman, MD, MPH (Episode 90)
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re feeling more injury prone, you’re not alone. Many women who have led active, athletic lives without a lot of injuries and “itises” s...
Menopause Lessons from the Mountains with Jeannette McGill (Episode 89)
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Women often stop going to the high mountains when they reach menopause. The reasons why–hot flashes, unpredictable periods, anxiety, and fear, to na...
The Obstacle is Her Way with Laura McElduff (Episode 88)
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The menopause transition can throw a lot of obstacles in your path. Training for and participating in obstacle course races can help you overcome them...
Better Brain Health with Louisa Nicola (Episode 87)
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As active women, we train our strength and our endurance. But we don’t clean that barbell, we don’t cross that finish line, we literally don’t a...
Oh, Baby! with Liz Carlson (Episode 86)
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As women are living longer, pursuing higher education, and chasing athletic goals well into midlife, the decision if, when, or even how to have a baby...
Hot Flashes, Cold Plunges & Pushing the Limits in Perimenopause with George Gilbert (Episode 85)
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Breaking a sweat is generally a good thing–a sign of healthy exertion–unless you’re working out in temperatures more suited to penguins than peo...
Build a Better Body Image Toolbox with Maria Luque, PhD (Episode 84)
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The menopause transition can leave a minefield of body image issues in its wake. Some research shows that as few as 12 percent of us are satisfied wit...
Menopause Watts with Karen Duff (Episode 83)
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hot flashes. Sleepless nights. Mood swings. Divorce. The challenges of menopause and midlife came raining down on this week’s guest, Karen Duff, jus...
Vaginas, Vulvas, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse with Kathleen Connell, MD (Episode 82)
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Your pelvis changes during menopause–inside and out. The vaginal and vulvar tissues become thinner; the pH and microbiome in your vagina can shift; ...
Next Level Menopause with Dr. Stacy Sims (Episode 81)
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Menopause is not the end of the line. It is not a “deficiency.” It’s a transition to the next phase of your life–a phase that can be positive,...
Massage in Menopause - Finding a Safe Space with Rosemarie Rotenberger (Episode 80)
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Your muscles and connective tissues can get “stickier” and feel stiffer during the menopause transition, and you can find yourself with more aches...
How to Start Lifting Heavy Sh*t & More with Kerry Ann Madden (Episode 79)
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We know lifting heavy, doing plyometrics, and adding intensity to our routines help us stay strong and powerful as our bodies change during the menopa...
Do You Need Hormone Therapy? with Carla DiGirolamo, M.D., Ph.D. (Episode 78)
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the year and a half since we started this podcast, many women have gone from being afraid to take hormone therapy to being afraid not to take hormo...
Rewilding Menopause with Kirsten Lewis (Episode 77)
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kirsten Lewis, at the age of 57, just ran her fastest 5K time–post-menopause, less than two years after she was ready to hang up her racing shoes an...
Keto, Fasting, Food Phobia & the Un-Dieting of Menopause with Jenn Salib Huber, RD, ND (Episode 76)
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re a woman, someone somewhere has a diet to sell you. If you’re a menopausal woman, that diet is likely to paint carbs as the root of all y...
Why You Need Barbell Medicine with Cassi Niemann (Episode 75)
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re training for a tri, into CrossFit, or just want to be strong for life, barbells are the most effective way to get full-body strong in...
The Eyes Have It with Christine Begley, OD (Episode 74)
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Need glasses for the first time in your life? Contacts suddenly feel too tight? Are your eyes dry and itchy? Menopause and midlife can usher in a casc...
The Joy of Rowing with Sarah Fuhrmann (Episode 73)
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dim the lights. Pour a drink. Light some candles. And get ready to…row! Yep, row. Indoor rowing can be an exercise in meditation, says this week’s...
Save Your Teeth with Dr. Julie Gallagher (Episode 72)
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Even if you brush, floss, and get regular dental check-ups, if you’re like many athletes—especially those in the menopause transition—you may st...
All About Blood Sugar with Molly Downey, RDN (Episode 71)
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anyone who’s ever hit the wall at mile 19 of a marathon or fizzled out on a Fran at CrossFit, knows how important glucose (aka sugar) is for energy–...
You Belong with Elizabeth Allen (Episode 70)
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We all want to belong. That desire can increase during the menopause transition, when having a community to share experiences with helps us feel less ...
You Are More than Your Body with Kaisa Keranen (Episode 69)
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For far too long, many of us have defined ourselves (or worse our self worth) by the size of our thighs and the circumference of our waistline, settin...
March to Your Own Drummer with Jennifer Maxwell (Episode 68)
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes life sidelines us, knocking us off the path we thought we’d be on forever, or at least for the foreseeable future. Menopause can certainly...
Meet the Menoparkers with Gina Ransom (Episode 67)
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when menopause turns you into a nearly unrecognizable version of yourself? If you’re Gina Ransom, you pore through every resource you...
No Limits with Leah Goldstein (Episode 66)
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy to look at the barriers we face and think, “I can’t.” Leah Goldstein is here this week to show you, you can. Leah won the Race Acros...
When Trauma Meets Menopause with Athena Farias (Episode 65)
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Running is a coping mechanism for many trauma survivors. You lace up and put one foot in front of the other for solace and escape. But what happens wh...
Self Acceptance & the Love of the Game with Julie Dunkle (Episode 64)
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Menopause can be a wet blanket for competitive athletes. How do you keep showing up to start lines when you’re managing hot flashes, heat intoleranc...
Overcoming Obstacles with Julie Angel, Ph.D. (Episode 63)
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us–even the most active among us–are limited in how well we move. Sure we can run or ride a bike or lift heavy sh*t, but can we balance on...
*REBROADCAST* Let’s Talk About Sex with Kelly Casperson, MD (Episode 50)
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Your brain is your largest--and arguably your most important--sex organ. It’s also the most overlooked, especially during the menopausal transition ...
*REBROADCAST* Estrogen Matters with Avrum Bluming, MD & Carol Tavris, PhD (Episode 41)
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hormone therapy for menopause is rife with confusion, fear, misunderstanding, and outright misinformation. Even doctors, who are often relying on long...
Can’t Stop. Won’t Stop. with Melanie McQuaid (Episode 62)
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Longevity in sport takes determination, curiosity, and the ability to adapt to what your mind and body needs as time goes on. That’s the embodiment ...
"Lifequakes," Identity Crises & Finding Solid Ground with Lisa Hesse (Episode 61)
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Who am I now?” That’s an identity crisis many of us face during the menopausal transition, especially if we end up taking a step back from our...
Adventures in Menopause with Jeannie Wall (Episode 60)
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Menopause Is Hell. It Also Made Me a Better Climber.” That’s the title of a feature article written in Outside magazine by this week’s guest ...
Staying On Top of the Symptoms with Catriona Courtney (Episode 59)
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joint pain, hot flashes, night sweats, crushing fatigue. Menopause can usher in a host of symptoms that make daily life challenging, let alone daily l...
Talking Testosterone with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo (Episode 58)
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Women make testosterone. It works in concert with estrogen and progesterone to maintain healthy muscles and bones and fires up your sex drive and help...
High Performance Nutrition with Lauren Antonucci, RDN (Episode 57)
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our performance nutrition needs change during the menopause transition. Few know that better than women who both teach it and live it as athletes and ...
Feet First with Dr. Karen Langone (Episode 56)
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bunions and bone spurs and heel pain, oh my! Foot pain in all shapes and forms is extremely common and becomes more so as we enter the menopause trans...
Leaks, Lockdowns & Magic Wands with Amy Hill Fife, MPT (Episode 55)
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As active women we know all about our muscles. We know the sets and reps to work our shoulders, glutes, and core. We’re proficient in using dumbbell...
Enter the Dragon Boat with Chris Head and Connie Flesuras (Episode 54)
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Never underestimate the power of menopausal women. Their years of experience and deep well of physical and mental strength uniquely positions them to ...
All About Your Bones with Dr. Marci Goolsby & Dr. Alana Serota (Episode 53)
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As a woman you can lose up to 20% of your bone density during the five to seven years following menopause. Given the fact that we hit peak bone densit...
Selene Yeager on Becoming the Face of Menopause with guest host Tania Dalton (Episode 52)
08 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Happy birthday to Hit Play Not Pause! As a special gift, past guest, personal trainer, and healthy ageing coach Tania Dalton turns the tables and inte...
Just Getting Started with Mari Holden (Episode 51)
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whether we run, ride, swim, or practice martial arts, at some point we can feel like we’re nearing the end of the line with how far we can go. That’...
Let’s Talk About Sex with Kelly Casperson, MD (Episode 50)
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Your brain is your largest--and arguably your most important--sex organ. It’s also the most overlooked, especially during the menopausal transition ...
Wisdom From the Back of the Pack with Adina O’Neill (Episode 49)
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Races are about more than winning. Competing is about more than podium spots or fastest times. Races are about personal bests and striving to be your ...
Behind the ‘Gram with Nicole Sin Quee (Episode 48)
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Following menopausal athletes on Instagram can be inspiring. But if we’re honest, it can also be deflating. You see the podium smiles and the highli...
Balancing Training with the Changes with Lenita Anthony (Episode 47)
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Juggling training by itself is hard. Juggling training along with real life obligations is even harder. Add the physical and psychological changes tha...
When Cancer Enters the Equation with Dr. Corinne Menn (Episode 46)
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Medical menopause can be intense. If you’re a cancer survivor, you may have multiple rounds with menopause. You may go through premature menopause o...
Raise the Floor & Break the Ceiling with Tracey Jacobs (Episode 45)
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As women we hear a lot about “breaking the ceiling,” whether it’s the glass one that has hovered over us for so long or the self imposed one tha...
Weighty Matters with Diana Reid, MPH, RDN (Episode 44)
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We often talk about menopause as puberty in reverse. Remember puberty? You sprouted breasts and grew hips and maybe got curvier all the way around. No...
Calm Your Mind with Dr. Alisha Brosse (Episode 43)
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and other psychological practices come up a lot on this show as ways we can quell anxiety, manage menopausa...
Let Your Lifestyle Be Your Medicine with Dr. Melissa Sundermann (Episode 42)
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let food be thy medicine, they say. But don’t stop there. Let exercise and stress management and sleep and friendships and your whole lifestyle be t...
Estrogen Matters with Avrum Bluming, MD & Carol Tavris, PhD (Episode 41)
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hormone therapy for menopause is rife with confusion, fear, misunderstanding, and outright misinformation. Even doctors, who are often relying on long...
Trust the Process with Libbey Sheldon (Episode 40)
21 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This show is all about working with your changing physiology to optimize performance. This week’s guest, Masters 50-54 Cyclocross World Champion and...
**REBROADCAST** Stop the Leaks with Chloë Murdock, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS (Episode 6)
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone needs a little summer break, even podcast hosts! So this week we are re-posting this excellent episode with physical therapist Chloe Murdock ...
The Thyroid Menopause Connection with Ingrid Anderson, RD (Episode 39)
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
60 percent of people with thyroid disease go undiagnosed. And if you’re a menopausal woman, you may be mistaking thyroid disease symptoms for menopa...
This is Your Brain on Menopause with Dr. Sarah McKay (Episode 38)
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Recent research using brain imaging analysis shows our brains physically change during perimenopause. So our brains are clearly—sometimes substantia...
Kick Ass with Kettlebells with Andrea Du Cane (Episode 37)
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re looking for just one piece of equipment that can help you get strong and fit AF, look no further than kettlebells. If you’re looking for...
It’s Not Time to Slow Down with Vonda Wright, MD (Episode 36)
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Maybe it’s time to slow down.” That’s the message menopausal women often get from their friends, family, and yes, even physicians when they h...
The Menopause Manifesto with Dr. Jen Gunter (Episode 35)
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why is there so much misinformation about menopause? What really helps? What doesn’t? What the heck are “bioidentical hormones”? And why do we g...
Unwell Women with Elinor Cleghorn, Ph. D. (Episode 34)
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder how we got here? How is it that in 2021 billions of women are still largely in the dark about menopause? That many of us still feel kind o...
Find Your Personal Peak with Julie Young (Episode 33)
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What can you do today to make yourself better tomorrow? The best answer to that question is based on you and you alone. Not what other women are doing...
CrossFit Rx with Carla DiGirolamo, M.D. (Episode 32)
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ask your doctor about the benefits of high intensity exercise, lifting heavy sh*t, and adaptogens and you may just get a shrug (or worse a patronizing...
Rolling with The Change with Cheryl Osborne (Episode 31)
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Your big goals don’t have to change with “The Change,” but your training, nutrition, and mindset sure do. This week, long time road and track cy...
Train Smart & Avoid Injury with Claire Callaghan B.Pty MSc (Episode 30)
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s hard to chase big goals and live your best life when you’re getting sidelined by injuries, which is a struggle many women face during the men...
Fine Tune Your Fueling with Dina Griffin, RDN (Episode 29)
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Does your diet make you feel good? How’s your energy? Are you performing and recovering well? How do you really feel? If we’re honest, many of us ...
Life Starts Now with Tania Dalton (Episode 28)
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How many times have you pushed back a big goal until you got “fitter” or “leaner”? How many times have you looked at an exciting challenge and...
Guts & Glory with Stasi Kasianchuk, RDN (Episode 27)
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gut health means more than just good digestion—though that’s certainly an important part of it! Your gut microbiome also impacts your overall heal...
Reach New Heights with Nancy Feagin and Maggie Odette (Episode 26)
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The hormonal havoc of menopause can leave us with higher anxiety, less muscle, and a decline in power—all things that are unhelpful for sport in gen...
Screw Diet Culture with Intuitive Eating’s Evelyn Tribole, RDN (Episode 25)
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Diets do not work. More than 30 years of diet culture has proven that point. Yet, we’re still bombarded day in and day out with books, websites, and...
Keep Your Active Heart Healthy with Dr. Tamanna Singh (Episode 24)
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone knows chest pain is a symptom of heart trouble. What too many people still don’t know is that women are more likely than men to experience ...
Ease Your Aches & Pains with The Ready State’s Dr. Kelly Starrett (Episode 23)
17 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tight hips, achy knees, weak glutes, grouchy back, stiff ankles...the list of aches, pains, and niggles that pop up seemingly out of nowhere can feel ...
Healing Moves with Yoga Therapist Carol Krucoff (Episode 22)
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Yoga is more than something you do--that one or two classes a week where you attempt a full pigeon pose. It’s a way you live--a strengthening of the...
Stoke Your Motivation with Dr. Lisa Lewis (Episode 21)
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dragging yourself through the motions more often than not these days? You’re not alone. The brain chemistry changes that occur during menopausal yea...
Save Your Sleep with Sleep Evangelist Dr. Sophie Bostock (Episode 20)
24 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Menopause and midlife can send dueling wrecking balls straight into your sleep architecture, leaving you tossing and turning unable to get to sleep, w...
Become a Fat Burning Machine with Gale Bernhardt (Episode 19)
17 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As active women, we use carbs to fuel our training and racing. But there’s a limit to how many are good for our health (as well as performance), esp...
Strong Starts in the Mind with Lisbeth Darsh (Episode 18)
10 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What keeps you going when the curtains start to fall at mile 19 of a marathon? How do you get up and charge again 3 days into a 6 day stage race? What...
Going Big & Staying Balanced with Lynda Rowan (Episode 17)
03 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chasing big athletic goals can supercharge your life. But how do you chase and accomplish those goals without dropping the ball on everything else, es...
Sex Solutions with Dr. Lauren Streicher (Episode 16)
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Time for “the talk.” Seriously, we get sex ed when we go through puberty to know what to expect. But then we hit the other end of the hormonal spe...
Breaking Down Body Image & Eating Disorders with Dr. Christy Greenleaf (Episode 15)
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The words we say to ourselves. The way we look at ourselves. The way we fuel, or often don’t fuel, ourselves. They’re a product of so many things-...
Overcoming the Mental Agony of Injury with Heidi Armstrong (Episode 14)
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Injuries don’t just hurt physically. They can rock you emotionally, as they keep you away from the activity you love, isolate you from your training...
Time to Shine with Kacy Duke (Episode 13)
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ready to create your menopause adventure? Yes, adventure. Now is the time to shine, says this week’s guest, wellness coach and fitness trainer Kacy ...
**REBROADCAST** Joy Goals with Kristen Dieffenbach (Episode 9)
30 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Missing your usual mojo and motivation? Wrestling with body image issues? Want a little help setting meaningful goals that go beyond how fast you can ...
**REBROADCAST** Happy Vaginas with Dr. Mary Jane Minkin (Episode 4)
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Jane is clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale University School of Medicine. She ...
Resilience To Go The Distance with Magda Boulet(Episode 12)
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Recovery, resilience, and injury resistance gets harder as we get older. The harder and longer you go, the harder and longer the recovery process can ...
Plant Power with Leslie Bonci (Episode 11)
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Studies show women following a plant-based diet have fewer night sweats and hot flashes during menopause. So this week Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, CSSD, LD...
Inject Badass with Dr. Pam Peeke (Episode 10)
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Past trauma can lead to more severe symptoms and a more challenging menopause journey. This week, stress and resiliency expert Pamela Peeke, M.D., M.P...
Joy Goals with Kristen Dieffenbach (Episode 9)
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Missing your usual mojo and motivation? Wrestling with body image issues? Want a little help setting meaningful goals that go beyond how fast you can ...
Eat Carbs! with Hillary Wright, MEd, RDN & Elizabeth Ward, MS, RDN (Episode 8)
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Low fat. High protein. Low carb. No carb. This week’s guests and authors of The Menopause Diet Plan, Hillary Wright and Elizabeth Ward, have seen di...
Rise Above the Menopocalypse with Amanda Thebe (Episode 7)
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Depression, anxiety, bone-crushing fatigue, incontinence, heart palpitations, migraines. What the hell is going on? Shockingly, your family doctor may...
Stop the Leaks with Chloë Murdock, DPT (Episode 6)
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It happens. You sneeze, cough, or laugh…and leak. Or you can barely get your key in the door without wetting yourself. It’s common, but not normal...
Never Wonder "What If" with Cherie Gruenfeld (Episode 5)
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Thirty four years ago, at the age of 42, Cherie Gruenfeld went from lying in bed eating sticky buns and watching the LA Marathon to buying running sho...
Happy Vaginas with Dr. Mary Jane Minkin (Episode 4)
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Heavy periods, hot flashes, vaginal pain, debilitating full body achiness, we’ve got a hit parade of menopausal symptoms, and more importantly, solu...
Hit Your Next PR with Erin Carson (Episode 3)
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy to beat yourself up (and down) with strength training. That’s not Erin Carson’s game. As the strength trainer for endurance athletes l...
Never Retire with Rebecca Rusch (Episode 2)
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Traditionally athletes in their 40s (and certainly their 50s) are supposed to retire and find something else to do. Not seven-time world champion Rebe...
Breaking Down the Science with Dr. Stacy Sims (Episode 1)
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is happening?! You’ll find out as Selene Yeager talks all things menopause with Dr. Stacy Sims, exercise physiologist, nutrition scientist and ...