What if menopause wasn’t something to “get through”—but something to feel empowered in?

In this episode, we sit down with Shirley Weir, founder of Menopause Chicks, to break down what empowered menopause really looks like.

For over 13 years, Shirley has helped thousands of women move from confusion to clarity—translating complex, evidence-based information on hormones, sleep, menopause hormone therapy, and vulva & vaginal health into language that actually makes sense.

We cover:

• What most women are getting wrong about menopause
• How to make informed decisions about hormone therapy
• Why sleep and vaginal health matter more than you think
• How to advocate for yourself in midlife healthcare

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, confused, or unsure what’s happening in your body—this episode will change that.

You deserve to feel informed, confident, and amazing in this stage of life.

🎧 Listen now and take your next step toward an empowered menopause.

Check out Menopause Chicks: @menopausechicks

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Dr. Liisa Galea, Ph.D., FCAHS is the Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health, Senior Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. She leads the Women’s Health Research Cluster with over 1,000 members across 43 countries, promoting impactful research on women’s mental health. A world-renowned expert on sex and sex hormone influences on the brain, Dr. Galea focuses on stress-related psychiatric disorders and dementia. She has published over 220 papers, serves as a Principal Editor, and was named one of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence in 2025.

Support the groundbreaking work at CAMH by funding womenmind Research, helping advance critical discoveries in women’s brain and mental health.

In this powerful episode, Dr. Natalie Perkins sits down with two leading experts who are reshaping the conversation around women’s sexual health, autonomy, and pleasure.

Dr. Maureen Slattery, physician, AASECT-certified sex counselor and educator, and menopause practitioner, brings decades of experience in women’s health. Her work focuses on empowering women through evidence-based care while advocating for bodily autonomy and informed decision-making in sexual and menopause medicine.

Joining her is Dr. Nan Wise, a behavioral neuroscientist, licensed psychotherapist, and certified sex therapist whose groundbreaking brain imaging research explores how the brain processes sexual stimulation, imagery, and orgasm. With more than 30 years of clinical experience and a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience from Rutgers University, Dr. Wise’s work bridges neuroscience, psychotherapy, and sexual health to better understand pleasure, trauma, and emotional wellbeing.

Together, they unpack the powerful connection between the brain, pleasure, and health — and why women’s sexual autonomy remains a critical yet often overlooked aspect of wellbeing.

The conversation explores:

• Why sexual health is fundamental to overall health
• The neuroscience of pleasure and emotional resilience
• How cultural messaging has shaped women’s relationships with their bodies
• The impact of menopause on sexual wellbeing
• Why reclaiming autonomy over our bodies is essential for long-term health

Dr. Wise also discusses her award-winning book Why Good Sex Matters, which explores the neuroscience of pleasure as a key to resilience and wellbeing, and the growing “pleasure crisis” affecting modern health.

This episode challenges outdated narratives and reframes sexual health as a vital part of women’s physical, emotional, and neurological wellbeing.

Because understanding our bodies isn’t just empowering.

It’s essential.