My Bloody Hell

Episode #14 is the last episode of Season One of the My Bloody Hell podcast! We did it!  

I am really proud of the show we’ve created and the diversity of stories we’ve heard so far. My goal for the My Bloody Hell podcast was to create a space where women could share their menopause and perimenopause experiences and in an effort to bring menopause out of the closet. 

For this final episode, my guests are Dr. Michelle Paraiso  and Dr. Michaela Nelson, who together are known as the Menopositive Doctors. I sat down and chatted with the doctors and asked them a whole bunch of questions about how to optimize the menopause journey. What you’ll hear on this short but informative episode, are clips from our chat that contain the key takeaways, tips and tricks they offered.

And please note that what you hear from Drs. Michelle and Michaela should not be construed as medical advice. As always, you should speak with your own health care provider for any menopause related questions or concerns.

Some of the topics we discuss include:

-The impact that the sex hormones have on our bodily systems beyond fertility and libido

-Why soy should be on every woman’s diet during perimenopause and post menopause

-The truth behind the “soy causes cancer” myth

-The four pillars for an optimized menopause

Links from the Show You Need to Know

To follow the Menopositive Doctors on Instagram, find them at The_Menopositive_Life 

You can also follow their Menopositive Doctors Facebook page.

To hear more about how spirituality can help reduce physical menopause symptoms, listen to episode number #9 of The My Bloody Hell podcast.

If you have time to leave a rating or a review on My Bloody Hell on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, I would appreciate it very much. 

Perfect for holiday gifts, try ordering subscription snack boxes from Yumday.co for everyone on your list! Use the code MBHPOD15 for 15% off your order.

Don’t forget to follow My Bloody Hell on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more multicultural menopause information and inspiration. And be sure to visit the My Bloody Hell website for even more resources.

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

On episode #13 of the podcast, my guest is Marla Stein. Marla is 49 years old and has had a varied and exciting professional career. 

On this episode, Marla shares her story about what it was like to go through a surgically induced menopause when she was in her late 30s after going through cancer treatment and then another cancer scare. 

Now, ten years later, Marla shares what it was like to go through “cold turkey menopause;” what the worst part of going through menopause before her 40th birthday was; and she talks a lot about the importance of listening to her body and how that instinct has literally saved her life many times over.

Despite the heavy topics we cover, Marla shares her story with humor and complete transparency. I know it’s going to resonate with anyone who also went through early menopause, but also for all of us looking at the second half of our lives and wondering what comes next. 

Some of the issues Marla covers in her story include:

-Finding a lump in her breast at age 32 and having a doctor dismiss her concerns about cancer because she was “too young.”

-Why she elected to have her ovary removed as a preventive measure

- The emotional pain from the loss of her fertility

-Why humor is the best menopause medicine

Links from the Show

Find out more about Marla Stein and her writing business on her website Marlita’s Atlas.

If you have time to leave a rating or a review on My Bloody Hell on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, I would appreciate it very much. 

Perfect for holiday gifts, try ordering subscription snack boxes from Yumday.co for everyone on your list! Use the code MBHPOD15 for 15% off your order.

Don’t forget to follow My Bloody Hell on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more multicultural menopause information and inspiration. And be sure to visit the My Bloody Hell website for even more resources.

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

Episode 12 of the podcast is a short but important show with an actionable message. We’re going to be talking about the importance of tracking our menopause journey, from a health perspective and a growth mindset perspective. The fact is, by keeping track of our physical and emotional symptoms, as well as our evolving state of mind through this transition process, a woman can really improve and optimize her perimenopause experience. On the show, not only will I be sharing three key reasons why you should be tracking all aspects of your menopause journey, but I’ll also offer some tips and techniques on how you can keep track as well. 

Links from the Show

If you’re interested in investigating some of the new perimenopause apps that were designed to help women keep track of their perimenopause symptoms, here are a few: (Note: I have not tried any of these apps and my listing them here is not an endorsement. Please do your own thorough investigations before using these apps.) 

My Luna App

Caria App

MySysters App

MenoLife App

On episode #5 of the My Bloody Hell podcast, my guest Lisette Austin talked about using the Caria app and how it helped her keep track of and manage her symptoms as she dealt with perimenopasue and the grief from losing her father. 

If you have time to leave a rating or a review on My Bloody Hell on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, I would appreciate it very much. 

Perfect for holiday gifts, try ordering subscription snack boxes from Yumday.co for everyone on your list! Use the code MBHPOD15 for 15% off your order.

If you’re looking for an inclusive multicultural menopause community to join where you’ll always find inspiration, information and support for your menopause journey, come join us inside the private My Bloody Hell membership community. 

Don’t forget to follow My Bloody Hell on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more multicultural menopause information and inspiration. And be sure to visit the My Bloody Hell website for even more resources.

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

On episode #11 of the podcast, my guest is Wendy Battles. Wendy is a 56-year-old African American woman based in Connecticut.

Wendy suffered from fibroids, which eventually led to a hysterectomy. But because she kept her ovaries, she still went through perimenopause. On the show, Wendy explains what perimenopause with no period is like, and how she’s used a combination of natural remedies, as well as diet and exercise, to help manage her symptoms.

Wendy also talks about what she’s learned as the host of the inspirational podcast, Reinvention Rebels – a show that highlights the stories of women ages 50-90 who have reinvented themselves in the second half of their lives – and why she is on a mission to help women redefine aging and embrace their dreams at every stage of life.

I know you’re going to love Wendy's remarkable story, her actionable tips for healthy aging, and her infectious enthusiasm.

Some of the things Wendy shares include:

- Her journey with fibroids

- Why she and her husband decided not to have children

- Why she felt like celebrating after her hysterectomy

- Her experience with anxiety as an unexpected perimenopause symptom

- What diet tweaks she’s made to manage her weight and feel better in her body

- Why gratitude is in her pro-aging toolbox

Links from the Show

To Learn More about Wendy Battles and the Reinvention Rebels podcast, visit the Reinvention Rebels website. 

Find Wendy on Instagram @ReinventionRebels

Listen to the Reinvention Rebels Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Lori Tharps shared her story of reinvention – from college professor to the Oprah of Menopause in the South of Spain – on a recent episode of the Reinvention Rebels podcast.

Don’t forget to visit our sponsor, Yumday, for all of your holiday shopping. CyberMonday is the perfect time to place your order for subscription boxes for all of your friends and family members. When you visit Yumday.co use the code MBHPOD15 for 15% off your order!

Please leave a rating or a review of My Bloody Hell on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you’re looking for an inclusive menopause community to join, where you’ll have access to inspiration, information and support for your entire menopause journey, come join us inside the private My Bloody Hell membership community. 

Don’t forget to follow My Bloody Hell on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more multicultural menopause information and inspiration. And check out the MyBloodyHell website too!

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

On episode #10 of the podcast, my guest is Kimberly Adams. Kimberly is a white woman who grew up in Colorado and Maryland. She is the mother of two children, ages 20 and 17, and currently lives in Pennsylvania where she works as a therapist, a kayak instructor, and a ski instructor.

I wanted Kimberly to share her story on the show because she is the rare unicorn who has no physical perimenopause symptoms, but she does have emotional ones. It's an interesting dynamic that you will hear Kimberly talk about, as she shares what her unique perimenopause experience has been like without the telltale markers that many of us depend on to know where we are on the menopause journey.

Kimberly has thought deeply about what perimenopause means, beyond the physical, and she’s living a life that shows that this meaningful transition period is about so much more than waning hormones and erratic periods. 

Some of the things Kimberly discusses include:

• Being kind to her body and focusing on where it can take her instead of what it looks like
• Why having rage issues without hot flashes is crazy-making and confusing
• How perimenopause impacted her decision to quit her “perfect job”
• Why she decided NOT to follow her husband to California when he got a new job and how that decision has made her perimenopause experience - and her marriage -  better.

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If you live in the Allentown, PA area and are interested in working with Kimberly for therapy, use this link to her practice.

You can listen to Kimberly’s perimenopause anthem, Bitch, by Meredith Brooks here. 

If you have time to leave a rating or a review on My Bloody Hell on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, I would appreciate it very much. 

If you're ready to eat,  order some delicious snacks from Yumday! Visit Yumday.co and use the code MBHPOD15 for 15% off your order.

Don’t forget to follow My Bloody Hell on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more multicultural menopause information and inspiration. 

Visit My Bloody Hell.com to learn more about our brand.

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

On episode number nine of the podcast, Lori Tharps is putting on her professor’s hat again for an important solo episode to talk about how and why race, ethnicity and culture impact how we experience our menopause journey. It’s not all just about age and hormones.

As a journalist and an author, Lori spent her entire career writing about racism, identity politics and social justice issues, and so bringing that lens to the menopause space is something she had to do, not only because it’s fascinating, but also, because understanding how one’s ethnic background influences one’s menopause experience makes it easier to manage and anticipate the changes and symptoms that are part of this transition phase.

Also, like many things in America, there are inequities in menopause outcomes that are most definitely influenced by things like racism, classism and chronic poverty.

Some of the topics that will be covered in this episode include:

- Why women of color hit menopause earlier than white women

- Which ethnic group suffers the the most intense perimenopausal symptoms and why

- How diet might impact the intensity of perimenopause symptoms

- How culture and ageism impacts perimenopause symptoms

- Why racism and poverty can make perimenopause symptoms worse

- What do smoking and religion have to do with menopause

- Why menopause is a social justice issue

Links from the show for more menopause inspiration and information

The SWAN study (The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation)

A Washington Post article that examines the Black woman's menopause experience and the lack of attention they have received.

An article (somewhat dated but still interesting) from the Chicago Tribune about the Asian American menopause experience. 

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If you have time to leave a rating or a review on My Bloody Hell on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, I would appreciate it very much. 

To order some delicious healthy snacks that will be delivered to your door, visit Yumday.co and use the code MBHPOD15 for 15% off your order. Remember to keep Yumday in mind when doing your holiday shopping.

If you’re looking for an inclusive multicultural community to join where you’ll always find inspiration, information and support for your menopause journey, come join us inside the private My Bloody Hell membership community. 

Don’t forget to follow My Bloody Hell on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more multicultural menopause information and inspiration. 

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

On episode number eight of the podcast, my guest is Katherin Garland. Kathy is a 48-year-old Black American woman based in Florida. She is the mother of two adult daughters and she is an associate professor of education and a writer.

During her episode, Kathy shares her story of how she went from being totally unprepared and unaware of what to expect from perimenopause, to launching a blog to help other women “navigate the change.” With humor and honesty, Kathy talks about how perimenopause started with crazy, erratic periods, how she discovered red wine made her hot flashes heat up, the scary moment she literally thought she was losing her mind because she couldn’t stop crying, and the magic of ashwagandha, an herbal supplement she discovered by accident.

Some of the other issues Kathy talks about during this episode include:

• The frustration of not having female elders in the family to prepare her for menopause.
• Why she started her menopause blog, Navigating the Change
• How taking probiotics and a multivitamin helped improve her problems with bloating and insomnia.

• If you want to learn more about Kathy Garland, visit her personal website Kwoted. 

• Kathy’s informative blog about menopause is called, Navigating the Change.

• If you’re looking to learn more about ashwagandha, start with this article from Healthline.

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If you have time to leave a rating or a review on My Bloody Hell on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, I would appreciate it very much. 

To order some delicious healthy snacks that will be delivered to your door, visit Yumday.co and use the code MBHPOD15 for 15% off your order.

If you’re looking for an inclusive multicultural community to join where you’ll always find inspiration, information and support for your menopause journey, come join us inside the private My Bloody Hell membership community. 

Don’t forget to follow My Bloody Hell on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more multicultural menopause information and inspiration. 

MyBloodyHell.com

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

On episode seven of the podcast, get ready for a true tale that may scare you. Narrated by host Lori  L. Tharps, it's a story gleaned from history about witches, witchcraft and menopause. Since we’re just a few days away from celebrating Halloween in many countries, what better time to share this horrific history lesson about the creepy connection between witches and menopause. A connection that goes all the way back to the 15th century in Western Europe, but still has massive repercussions for all of us women today. 

In this episode you’ll learn how and why a menopausal woman became the poster child for a witch in Early Modern Europe and why we’re still fighting those stereotypes today.

 It’s a short but important story told in four chapters:

1. Chapter 1: Why were women, instead of men, classified as witches?
2. Chapter 2: What made women over 50 especially suspect to witch hunters?
3. Chapter 3: Why were certain menopause symptoms interpreted as witchcraft?
4. Chapter 4: Why are women still being persecuted as witches today?
5. The Epilogue: What are the lingering effects of history’s witch hysteria on menopausal women today?

The sponsors for this episode are:

The My Bloody Hell Membership Community, which is now open for business

Yumday, an online subscription snack box company that prioritizes snack brands led by women and people of color. Visit Yumday.co and use the code MBHPOD15 for 15% off your order.

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If you really want to learn more about the history of witches, from a positive historical  perspective, check out this podcast episode from Lori L. Tharps' other podcast, My American Meltingpot about America’s history of multicultural witches. 

If you have time to rate and/or review My Bloody Hell on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts, that would be great!

Are you following My Bloody Hell on Instagram and Twitter for more information and inspiration about the menopause journey.

On episode number six of the podcast, my guest is Maceo Estevez Cabrera. Maceo is a 45-year-old Cuban-American woman who recently relocated from California to Portugal with her husband and two young children. Maceo is the founder and owner of Booklandia, an online bookstore that specializes in bilingual books in Spanish and English for children and teens.

Maceo joins me on My Bloody Hell to share her story about the challenges of living with perimenopause and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and then being diagnosed with ADHD! Even though Maceo says she honestly only experiences one week out of every month where she actually feels “good,” she has still figured out how to find joy in the little things in her life. And she’s even found a way to be grateful for what perimenopause has taught her about staying present in the here and now.  

During the episode Maceo talks about:

- What Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is and what it looks like in real life.

- How her Cuban heritage impacts her relationship with her mother and their conversations about periods and perimenopause.

- What it’s like to be diagnosed with ADHD in your 40s

- How ADHD makes perimenopause symptoms worse

- Why she moved to Portugal in the midst of a pandemic and        perimenopause

It's an inspiring and informative episode that every woman should listen to. 

More Menopause Links from the Show

If you’d like to find out more about Maceo and/or her company Booklandia, visit Booklandia.co or follow Booklandia on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

If you’d like to read more about perimenopause and ADHD, particularly how to manage the two simultaneously, check out this article about menopause and ADD from ADDitude magazine. 

For a definition of Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), check out this definition of PMDD from the Cleveland Clinic.

Next week’s episode of the podcast will be our Halloween themed show. Revisit episode number three for a hint about what type of witchy tales I’ll be telling. 

Don’t forget to rate and review My Bloody Hell on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Or just tell your two best girlfriends about the show.

To order some delicious healthy snacks that will be delivered to your door, visit Yumday.co and use the code MBHPOD15 for 15% off your order.

If you’re looking for an inclusive community to join where you’ll always find inspiration, information and support, come join us inside the private My Bloody Hell membership community. 

Don’t forget to follow My Bloody Hell on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more menopause information and inspiration. 

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

On episode number five of the podcast, my guest is Lisette Austin. Lisette is a 51-year-old woman who identifies as Black and biracial. She lives in Seattle with her husband and 20-year-old son. On the show, Lisette shares her experiences navigating grief - after the death of her father - and perimenopause simultaneously.

Despite the very serious nature of her experiences, Lisette shares her journey with passion and enthusiasm, and is eager to pass on the wisdom she has gleaned from her still-evolving menopause journey.

Lisette is a travel podcaster and award travel expert. She hosts the award-winning Globetrotter Lounge Podcast, interviewing diverse women who have found creative ways to travel more. Lisette is working on a new podcast project called Traveling My Roots. She will journey to where her adoptive and biological ancestors are from - through North America, Europe and Africa. Along the way she will explore Black history, the immigrant experience, the complexities of adoption and being multracial – and ultimately her own identity.

Some of the things Lisette talks about on the show include:

-The similarities in how grief and perimenopause manifest in the body.

-How an IUD both helped and hindered her perimenopause experience

-Why America’s obsession with youth culture makes it so hard to embrace aging

-The connection between diet and perimenopause symptoms, particularly night sweats.

Links to More Menopause Information and Inspiration Mentioned in the Episode

•That New York Times Op-Ed documentary called Menopause Stories that Lisette recommends to everyone can be found here.

•Here’s an article that discusses the connection between diet and common perimenopausal symptoms.

•The App Lisette uses and likes very much is called, Caria and can be found here. (We are not endorsing the app, just sharing it because Lisette likes it and finds it useful.)

•To follow Lisette on her upcoming travels visit TravelingMyRoots.com. To listen to her amazing podcast where she interviews inspiring women who make travel a priority in their lives, visit The Globetrotter’s Lounge. And to follow Lisette on Instagram, you can find her at @jetsetlisette.

• To order some delicious healthy snacks that will be delivered to your door, visit Yumday.co and use the code MBHPOD15 for 15% off your order

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If you’re looking for an inclusive community to join where you’ll always find inspiration, information and support, come join us inside the private My Bloody Hell membership community. 

Don’t forget to follow My Bloody Hell on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more menopause information and inspiration. 

• Please  rate and review My Bloody Hell on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Or just tell your two best girlfriends about the show. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding perimenopause or any other health-related issue.