Perimenopause. Menopause. The midlife transition. Somehow still one of the most misunderstood, under-researched, and over-opinionated spaces in women’s health. My guest today is on a mission to change that. Ann Marie McQueen is a veteran health journalist, award-winning reporter, and the founder of Hotflash Inc — and she has built a platform that cuts through the noise to deliver the evidence and the lived experience. Let’s go.
Links & References:
Connect With Ann Marie McQueen
Website: Hotflashinc.com
Connect With Jennifer Jefferies
Show Note:
The gifts nobody warned you about
Ann Marie shares how post-menopause has brought her more peace, clarity, and genuine excitement about life than any other chapter. Less rumination, less anxiety, less performing. More herself.
Alcohol, relationships, and letting go of the mask
Both Jen and Ann Marie open up about their relationship with alcohol and how midlife stripped away the need to numb, escape, or seek external validation. Ann Marie also shares how menopause has transformed the way she dates — and why she’s done humoring behaviour that doesn’t serve her.
Rewriting the rules of relationships
Separate bedrooms. Not making dinner. Saying what you actually want in bed. This conversation goes there — and it’s worth every minute.
The HRT narrative doing the most damage
Ann Marie’s take might surprise you. It’s not the one you expect. She breaks down why the “you need HRT to be healthy post-menopause” story is just that — a story — and what women deserve to understand before making this decision.
Why HRT isn’t a magic bullet
The side effects people aren’t talking about. The 40% who struggle. The four months it can take to get it right. Ann Marie shares her own experience with progesterone and why informed consent matters more than ever.
Your options are wider than you think
From naturopathy to homeopathy to traditional Chinese medicine — Ann Marie makes the case for a wider view of what’s possible, and Jen shares her own story of resolving a prolapse through pelvic floor acupuncture when conventional medicine had nothing useful to offer.
The pelvic floor conversation every woman needs
Prolapses, UTIs, trampoline classes, and inner thigh strength. Yes, really. And yes, it’s essential listening.