Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo

One year ago, Dr. Omolayo Famuyide sat down with me to talk about why menopause is not the same for all of us. In the menoverse, a year is an eternity. Since then, the U.S. FDA has stripped most of the 20 year old black box warning off hormone therapy, a major new review has weighed in on hormones and dementia, Health Canada has authorized a new nonhormonal option for hot flashes, and social media has served up a fresh wave of miracle cures and scare stories.

So Dr. Famuyide is back for Menopause 2026: a clear, evidence based reset on what menopause actually is, what the science now says, and what it still doesn't. We go myth by myth, from "hormones cause cancer" to "hormones prevent dementia," and we tackle the question too many doctors still can't answer: why do women of colour often go through menopause earlier, longer and harder, and why are they still less likely to be treated?

If you're 40 or over, love someone who is, or treat women who are, this is your refresher course.

In this episode we cover

What menopause and perimenopause really are, and why most women are in the transition years before they realize it
What has changed in the last year: the FDA label change, what it means (and doesn't mean) for Canadian women, and new non-hormonal treatments
What hasn't changed: who is a good candidate for hormone therapy and why timing still matters
True or false: can hormone therapy prevent heart disease or dementia?
The misinformation still bamboozling women on social media, in supplement aisles and, yes, sometimes in the doctor's office
Menopause in women of colour: earlier onset, longer lasting hot flashes, higher heart disease risk, and the research and care gaps behind it
How to walk into your next appointment prepared, and why this stage can be your power up, not your power down

About Dr. Omolayo Famuyide

Dr. Omolayo Famuyide is a menopause doctor practicing in Winnipeg, Manitoba and one of the few menopause specialists in Canada who understands no two people will through this transition the same way. She first joined the podcast for Episode 61, "Why Menopause Is Not the Same for All of Us."

Find her on Instagram at @layocentre and @dr.famuyidemd, and at layocentre.com.

Listen, watch and join us

New audio episodes drop every Thursday. Full video episodes live on Substack, where paid subscribers also get Substack Live aftershows and first access to Aging Powerfully LIVE events. Find it here.

If this episode helped you, share it with one woman who needs it. That's how we change the conversation.

This episode is for education and information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk to your own health care provider about your health.

Tech and Audio producer: Drew Garner

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this is one conversation every woman needs to hear.

One in eight Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Chances are, it has already touched someone you love. But how much do we really know about where breast cancer stands in Canada today?

In this episode, I sit down with two powerhouse voices in the breast cancer community. MJ DeCoteau founded Rethink Breast Cancer in 2001 after losing her mother to metastatic breast cancer when MJ was just 22, and she has spent more than two decades championing young people, those living with metastatic breast cancer, and communities that have been historically underserved. And Dr. Christine Brezden-Masley, a medical oncologist and researcher, joins us to break down the science, the treatments, and what's coming next.

Together, we cover:

What breast cancer actually is, and the different types every woman should understand.

Whether diagnoses are increasing in Canada, and what's behind the numbers.

The risk factors we can and can't control.

The latest breakthroughs in treatment.

Whether access to care is improving, and for whom it still isn't.

What survivorship really looks like, long after treatment ends.

Why breast cancer in younger women is different, from diagnosis to treatment to life after cancer.

How menopause, hormones and breast cancer intersect

What the future holds for breast cancer diagnostics, treatment and survivorship.

And what's next for Rethink Breast Cancer.

Whether you're a survivor, a caregiver, or simply want to be informed and empowered about your own health, this episode will leave you knowing more, and ready to advocate for yourself and the women you love.

Resources

Rethink Breast Cancer: rethinkbreastcancer.com
Follow Rethink on Instagram: @rethinkbreastcancer
Canadian Cancer Society: cancer.ca

New episodes of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo drop every Thursday on all your favourite podcast platforms. Watch the full video conversation on my Substack: www.melissagrelo.substack.com

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

She Doesn't Care About Your Excuses (And That's Why We Love Her)

October is Menopause Awareness Month! Welcome to it! 

Fair warning: this episode comes with a swear jar, and Beth Feraco filled it before we hit the ten minute mark.

Beth is the personal trainer who built a following of 1.3 million people across social media by doing something wildly radical in the wellness world: telling the truth. No filters, no fluff, no gentle whispers about "honouring your journey." Beth is brash, raw, hilarious, and allergic to nonsense, and midlife women can't get enough of her. Honestly? Same.

In this conversation, we get into:

Her mantra, "We can do hard things," and why it's the pep talk every woman in the menopause transition actually needs (not the one we've been getting).

Why Beth refuses to let influencers cast menopausal women as victims, and how that narrative keeps us stuck on the couch instead of under a barbell.

Her takedown of viral wellness claims, including the internet's current obsession with the idea that cortisol spikes are the enemy of women everywhere. Spoiler: Beth has thoughts. Loud ones.

The real pillars of aging powerfully, and what we SHOULD be focusing on instead of the latest trend in our feed.

How to finally flip the switch ON and turn it UP on strength training, because lifting heavy things is not optional anymore, ladies. It's the whole game.

If you've ever rolled your eyes at a wellness reel, felt talked down to about your own body, or needed someone to lovingly kick your butt into gear, this one's for you.

Listen on all your favourite podcast platforms, and watch the full video conversation on my Substack: www.melissagrelo.substack.com

Find Beth online at @bethferacofitness (just don't follow her if you're easily offended).

Tech and Audio producer: Drew Garner

After 18 years with Bell Media and 13 years co-hosting and moderating CTV's The Social, a show I conceived and pitched to the network over 15 years ago, I am stepping into my next chapter. In this Season 4 debut, I set aside the usual expert interviews to sit down with you, the audience, and talk directly about what's happened, what's next, and why I'm choosing to build this next chapter on my own terms.

This is a departure from the show's usual focus on evidence-based women's health, and that's the point. Before diving back into the science, research, and conversations that built this podcast, I wanted to catch you up, in my own words, on the biggest transition of my career.

In this episode:

Why I am moving on from The Social and Bell Media after nearly two decades
What it means to go from host to full-time media entrepreneur
The real story behind building Aging Powerfully from a passion project into my primary focus
What listeners can expect from Season 4 and beyond
Why this next chapter is being built on my own terms, in her own way
Explain how Substack is the new hub for all things Aging Powerfully
Announcement of first Substack live aftershow guest to air Friday

A programming note:

The audio version of Aging Powerfully drops every Thursday, right where you already listen.

And there's something new this season. Video podcasts are now available on Substack, the new hub for all things Aging Powerfully. Watch full video episodes, get bonus content, and go deeper with the community shaping this next chapter.

Thank you for being here for this one. It means more than you know.

Season 3 of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo is a wrap — and before we head into our spring and summer hiatus, we are doing something we have never done before. A full season recap. Every episode. Every guest. Every headline you need to carry with you.

Twenty-six episodes. Some of the most brilliant scientists, physicians, researchers, and storytellers in Canada and beyond. Conversations about menopause, brain health, sleep, heart health, sexual desire, cancer, endometriosis, friendship, grief, dementia, skin, strength, and what it actually means to age powerfully on your own terms.

In this episode, Melissa recaps every single episode of Season 3 in order — the biggest takeaways, the moments that stopped her cold, and the guests she will never forget. Whether you have listened to every episode or you are just discovering this show, this is your roadmap to one of the most comprehensive libraries of women's midlife health content in Canada.

This season featured:

Dr. Jen Gunter on hormone therapy misinformation and the MAHA movement. Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple and Dr. Stuart Phillips on why building muscle is the most important thing you can do as you age. A solo episode from the Canadian Menopause Society Scientific Conference. Dr. Omolayo Famuyide on why menopause is not the same for all of us. Kara Murray making us laugh through the hot flashes. Dr. Shafeena Premji on non-hormonal treatments. Dr. Sasha High on weight, menopause, and weight loss drugs. Dr. Miriam Kirmayer on the power of friendship in midlife. Dr. Stephanie Faubion, Medical Director of The Menopause Society, on the latest FDA developments. Pattie Lovett-Reid on the "When I Die" folder. Dr. Liisa Galea on Alzheimer's and the menopausal brain. Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden on her mother's journey with Alzheimer's. Canadian icon Jann Arden on dementia and the long goodbye. A deeply personal episode with Melissa's parents, Frank and Claire Grelo, on shingles. Dr. Lillian Siu and Dr. Miyo Yamashita on cancer research and care in Canada. Dr. Lori Brotto on women's desire and libido. Dr. Kaajal Abrol on pregnancy and perimenopause at the same time. Dr. Tara Sedlak on midlife women's heart health. Dr. Marjorie Dixon on PCOS, fibroids, and perimenopause. Dr. Colleen Carney on why women cannot sleep — and what actually works. Dr. Nicholas Leyland on endometriosis. Dr. Ariane Ouellet-Decoste and Linda Franco on the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. Dr. Pauline Maki busting 25 menopause brain myths. And Dr. Lisa Kellett on your summer skin survival guide.

Melissa also looks ahead to Season 4 — and she wants to hear from you. Peptides. The estrogen shortage. Testosterone for women. Advocacy for billing code reform and mandatory menopause assessments at 35 and 40. What do you want covered? Tell her.

And while the podcast is on hiatus for the spring and summer — go back. The library is deep, the science does not expire, and there is something in these episodes for every stage of your journey.

Keep an eye on Instagram @melissagrelo for upcoming events across Canada — including Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo LIVE in Calgary on May 16th, 2026.

Tickets available now. Come be in the room.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Canada MedLaser.

Canada MedLaser is one of Canada's leading medical aesthetics companies — offering advanced, science-backed treatments to help you look and feel your best at every age. From laser skin resurfacing and body contouring to injectables and skin rejuvenation, Canada MedLaser combines cutting-edge technology with medical expertise to deliver real, lasting results.

Because aging powerfully means investing in yourself — inside and out.

Visit www.canadamedlaser.ca to learn more and book your consultation.

A NOTE OF GRATITUDE

Season 3 does not happen without two people who work incredibly hard behind the scenes and deserve to be recognized publicly and loudly.

To Beverly Furer — my business manager, my behind-the-scenes anchor, and the person who handles all the official, important, complicated things that make this podcast a real, functioning business. Beverly, you make it possible for me to show up and do what I love. I am so grateful for you.

And to Drew Garner — my tech and audio producer, who has been with me since Day 1 of this podcast and has never missed a week. Drew, you make this show sound the way it does — clean, professional, and worthy of the guests and the audience it serves. Every single week, without fail. That kind of consistency and dedication is rare and I do not take it for granted for a single second.

This show is a team effort. And I am so lucky to have this team.

Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo is produced for women navigating midlife with curiosity, humour, and zero tolerance for being dismissed. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with every woman in your life who deserves better information about her own health.

Season 4 is coming. Stay tuned.