Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo

Brain fog. Word-finding trouble. Walking into a room and having no idea why. If you're in perimenopause or menopause, you know the feeling — and you've probably wondered: is this real, is it permanent, and should I be worried?

In this latest episode, Melissa speaks with one of the world's leading researchers on menopause and the brain, Dr. Pauline Maki — Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology — to separate myth from medicine and bust 25 menopause brain myths wide open.

We cover what's actually happening inside your brain during the transition, why estrogen matters far beyond your reproductive system, and whether what you're experiencing is permanent damage or something far more temporary. We get into hot flashes as a neurological signal, the hormone therapy confusion that has scared women away from care for decades, and what the science actually says about dementia risk.

We close on what you can do right now — and how to reframe this entire transition as something other than loss.

Menopause is not a cognitive collapse. It is a neurological transition. And you deserve accurate information, not fear.

About Dr. Pauline Maki (Instagram: @pauline.maki)

Dr. Pauline Maki is a Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she serves as Director of Women's Mental Health Research and Senior Director of Research at the Center for Research on Women and Gender. University of Illinois College of Medicine She is Past President of the North American Menopause Society and a recognized authority on how hormonal changes and menopause symptoms affect cognition, mood, and brain function in midlife women. Psychology With over 175 published research papers, her work has shaped clinical practice guidelines for the North American Menopause Society, the International Menopause Society, and beyond. University of Illinois College of Medicine Her current NIH-funded research is examining the relationship between hot flashes and memory deficits, ischemic brain lesions, and functional changes in the brain at rest University of Illinois at Chicago — work that is redefining how we understand and treat the menopause brain.

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo

Episode supported by:

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY, MAY 16, 2026!

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com 

Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo is produced for women navigating midlife with curiosity, humour, and zero tolerance for being dismissed. Subscribe wherever you listen.

What if the most powerful prescription for how you age isn't in a pill bottle — it's in how you live?

In this episode, we're diving deep into Lifestyle Medicine — the evidence-based science of using the six pillars of health (how we eat, move, sleep, manage stress, connect with others, and avoid harmful habits) as medicine itself. The research is remarkable, and the implications for women navigating midlife and the menopause transition are profound.

On the show this week are two exceptional women at the forefront of evidence-based women's health care in Canada:

Dr. Ariane Ouellet-Decoste is a Canadian-trained physician with nearly two decades of experience spanning emergency care, preventative medicine, and women's health. After 15 years in emergency medicine in Quebec and the UK, she transitioned her focus to preventative and lifestyle medicine, training with The Menopause Society, the British Menopause Society, and the Canadian Menopause Society. She also holds a postgraduate certificate in Nutrition Science from Stanford School of Medicine, and currently serves as Medical Director at Coral — a virtual women's health clinic specializing in menopause care.

Linda Franco, RN is Director of Patient Care at Coral Health, with over 13 years of clinical experience — including 8 years in emergency medicine. At just 20, she became the youngest Assistant Head Nurse at the Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal. Trained in menopause and hormone therapy through the Canadian Menopause Society, Linda holds certifications in menopause, nutrition, fitness, and holistic health, and designs care pathways that put women at the centre of their health journey.

Together, they bring clinical depth, real-world experience, and a genuine passion for helping women thrive — not just survive — through every stage of life.

In this episode, we cover:

What Lifestyle Medicine actually is
The 3 core principles and 6 pillars of Lifestyle Medicine and why they matter 
How to start using lifestyle as medicine — today

Whether you're just beginning to think about your health differently, or you're deep in the work of optimizing how you feel and age — this one's for you.

RESOURCES & LINKS: Coral Health

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner

Producer: Melissa Grelo

Episode supported by:

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY, MAY 16, 2026!

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com

If you’ve ever been told that debilitating period pain is “normal,” this episode is for you.

Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and undertreated conditions in women’s health. It can impact fertility, work, relationships, mental health, and overall quality of life — often for years before a diagnosis is made.

Today, I sit down with one of Canada’s leading experts in women’s health, Dr. Nicholas Leyland, to cut through the myths, the confusion, and the medical gaslighting with clear, evidence-based answers.

Dr. Leyland is a renowned gynecologic surgeon, researcher, educator, and incoming President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC). With decades of experience treating complex gynecologic conditions, he offers trusted insight into what endometriosis really is, how it’s treated, and how women can advocate for the care they deserve.
In this episode, we discuss:
What endometriosis actually is — and why it hurts so much
The most common (and often overlooked) symptoms
Who is at risk and how many Canadians are affected
Why diagnosis is often delayed for years
Treatment options: medications, surgery, and what actually works
Whether endometriosis is a lifelong condition
Fertility considerations
Barriers to getting proper care in Canada
Midlife, menopause, and hormone therapy considerations
Health-care inequities affecting women
How to advocate for yourself at medical appointments
Rapid-fire myths and misconceptions

Resources & Support:
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC): sogc.org
The Endometriosis Network Canada: endometriosisnetwork.com
Talk to your primary care provider if you suspect endometriosis

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner 

Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)

AGING POWERFULLY WITH MELISSA GRELO LIVE IN CALGARY! 

May 16, 2026, Hotel Arts, Calgary, Alberta

Tickets available now: www.agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com

This special double episode drops in recognition of World Sleep Day — March 13th.

Are you exhausted but wide awake at night? Melissa sits down with sleep expert Dr. Colleen Carney to unpack why sleep gets harder as we age, what actually works to fix it, and why so much of what we think we know about sleep is wrong. With a special focus on women in perimenopause, midlife, and menopause — this one is packed with real answers.

IN THIS EPISODE:
Insomnia vs. occasional poor sleep — how to tell the difference
Sleep stages, how much you actually need, and why quality matters
How hormones, stress, and anxiety disrupt sleep in midlife
Why sleep apnea is so often missed in women
Sleep's critical role in heart health, brain health, mood, and metabolism
Sleep medications, CBT-I, and what the science actually supports
Common sleep myths — busted
ABOUT DR. COLLEEN CARNEY:
Dr. Colleen Carney is a licensed clinical psychologist, Professor of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University, and one of the world's leading experts in insomnia and CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia). Her research has shaped international clinical guidelines for treating sleep disorders.

RESOURCES:
Canadian Sleep Society
National Sleep Foundation
Sleep Foundation: sleepfoundation.org

Always speak with a qualified health-care provider about sleep concerns or treatment options.
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY STARBUCKS CANADA PROTEIN DRINKS.
Learn more at https://www.starbucks.ca/menu/drinks/protein-beverages

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner 

Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)

This special double episode drops in recognition of World Sleep Day — March 13th.

Are you exhausted but wide awake at night? Melissa sits down with sleep expert Dr. Colleen Carney to unpack why sleep gets harder as we age, what actually works to fix it, and why so much of what we think we know about sleep is wrong. With a special focus on women in perimenopause, midlife, and menopause — this one is packed with real answers.

IN THIS EPISODE:
Insomnia vs. occasional poor sleep — how to tell the difference
Sleep stages, how much you actually need, and why quality matters
How hormones, stress, and anxiety disrupt sleep in midlife
Why sleep apnea is so often missed in women
Sleep's critical role in heart health, brain health, mood, and metabolism
Sleep medications, CBT-I, and what the science actually supports
Common sleep myths — busted
ABOUT DR. COLLEEN CARNEY:
Dr. Colleen Carney is a licensed clinical psychologist, Professor of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University, and one of the world's leading experts in insomnia and CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia). Her research has shaped international clinical guidelines for treating sleep disorders.

RESOURCES:
Canadian Sleep Society
National Sleep Foundation
Sleep Foundation: sleepfoundation.org

Always speak with a qualified health-care provider about sleep concerns or treatment options.
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY STARBUCKS CANADA PROTEIN DRINKS.
Learn more at https://www.starbucks.ca/menu/drinks/protein-beverages

Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner 

Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)