Ladyface AM: Perimenopause, Menopause Doulas, and Taking Up Space

Celeste sits down with Miriam Solan, who's navigating the early signs of perimenopause while managing a full life: a career in instructional design, a mental health counseling practice with her husband, and caring for her aging mother. What started as skin changes and gray hair escalated into cognitive fog, memory loss, and a sudden inability to filter frustration, the kind of behavioral shift that made Miriam question who she was becoming.

The conversation moves beyond symptom-checking into something deeper: the cultural gap around hormonal transitions. Unlike birth doulas or death doulas, there's no guide for the decades-long shift into menopause. Celeste and Miriam explore how multi-generational households once passed down this knowledge naturally, and how the loss of that shared wisdom leaves people isolated, turning to TikTok influencers instead of trusted voices.

They discuss what you can actually control during perimenopause, bioidentical hormones, supplements, behavioral changes, versus what's simply part of aging. Celeste breaks down why primary care doctors screen for disease, not wellness; why OB-GYNs focus on reproductive function, not long-term hormone support; and why HRT isn't covered by insurance until menopause is officially diagnosed.

The real takeaway: document your symptoms, get comprehensive labs, find a specialist who listens, and understand that starting HRT is a choice you can revisit anytime. Your body changes. Your power is knowing what you can influence.

Subscribe wherever you listen. Watch the full episode at https://www.youtube.com/@Ladyfaceam. More from the network at https://www.ridethewave.media/show/lady-face-am/