You're Not Crazy! It's Perimenopause with Jenny Smith

Have you suddenly noticed you're running to the bathroom more often, leaking when you sneeze or exercise, experiencing painful sex, or dealing with changes down there that you never had before? In this episode, Jenny sits down with Doctor of Physical Therapy and pelvic health specialist Dr. Kirsten DesMarais to talk about the pelvic and urinary changes that can show up during perimenopause and why...

With so many supplements marketed to women in perimenopause, how do you know which ones are actually worth taking? In this episode, Jenny shares three of her personal favorite supplements, why she takes them, and some of the ways they may support women as they move through perimenopause. But supplements are exactly that—they’re meant to supplement the foundation, not replace it. Jenny also shares...

You’re eating healthy, so why are you still dealing with cravings, brain fog, low energy, irritability, or feeling hungry again just a couple of hours after eating? In this episode, Jenny shares three common nutrition mistakes she sees women making in perimenopause and why foods that seem “healthy” may not be giving your body what it needs to feel great. You’ll learn how the way you build and time...

If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s, chances are you’ve heard completely conflicting information about hormone replacement therapy. Is HRT safe? Does it cause breast cancer? What are bioidentical hormones? And how do you know if hormone therapy might be right for you? In this episode, Jenny breaks down what happens to your hormones as you move through perimenopause and menopause, what HRT actuall...

Have you noticed that alcohol just doesn’t hit the same way it used to? Maybe a couple of glasses of wine now leave you wide awake at 2 a.m., sweating, exhausted, anxious, or wondering why you feel so terrible the next day. In this episode, Jenny explains why alcohol can affect women differently in perimenopause and how it may be contributing to symptoms like poor sleep, anxiety, mood swings, hot...

Have you ever thought, “I know what I should be doing, so why can’t I just do it?” In this episode, Jenny is joined by holistic energy healing practitioner and registered dietitian Karen Donaldson to explore why changing habits, emotional eating, cravings, and even the way we respond to stress isn’t always as simple as having more willpower. Karen shares how our past experiences, emotions, and dee...

Cholesterol can be confusing, especially when the numbers suddenly start creeping up during perimenopause even though you haven't changed the way you eat or live. In this episode, Jenny is joined by naturopathic doctor Dr. Joanna Barrette to help make sense of cholesterol, why it can change as estrogen declines, and why the numbers on a standard cholesterol panel may not tell the whole story. Jenn...

Have you spent many years taking care of everyone else that you've lost connection with yourself along the way? In this deeply personal episode, Jenny shares the story of her mom and reflects on what she now understands about the challenges women can face in midlife. Between raising children, caring for aging parents, managing careers and relationships, and navigating the changes of perimenopause,...

Relationships can feel different during perimenopause, and it isn't just because of hormones. In this episode, Jenny is joined by love and relationship specialist Dr. Lyz to explore how stress, emotional changes, caregiving responsibilities, and shifting hormones can quietly impact connection, communication, intimacy, and even how we show up with the people we love. If you've been feeling more irr...

We hear a lot about protein in perimenopause, but what about fiber? In this episode, Jenny explains why fiber deserves just as much attention and how not getting enough could be affecting everything from blood sugar and cholesterol to cravings, constipation, gut health, and even estrogen metabolism. She also shares why so many women over 40 are falling short and how that may be impacting the way t...

In this episode, Jenny sits down with retirement coach and money strategist Dalene Higgins to talk about a topic that doesn't get nearly enough attention in midlife: money and the impact it can have on your health and your relationship. Stress about retirement, savings, and financial security can weigh heavily on women during perimenopause, and Dalene shares practical guidance to help make plannin...

You've heard it a hundred times: "Eat more protein." But if you're already eating protein and still struggling with sugar cravings, low energy, or feeling hungry all the time, you might not be getting enough. In this episode, Jenny explains why protein becomes even more important after 40, the common mistakes women make, and why there's a big difference between eating some protein and eating the r...

Jenny knows what it's like to constantly crave sugar. If you've ever wondered why you can eat healthy all day only to find yourself standing in the pantry at night reaching for something sweet, this episode is for you. Jenny shares the 8 most common reasons you're craving sugar and, more importantly, what you can do about each one so you can finally stop relying on willpower alone. Some of the rea...

Jenny shares a very personal health journey she’s been walking through this year. After feeling stressed, exhausted, and unlike herself, she found herself considering an option she never thought she would… GLP-1. But before making a decision, she took a step back and considered the pros and cons. She shares the decision that felt right for her. If you've been struggling with cravings, stubborn wei...

Jenny is joined by fellow Functional Medicine Health Coach Heidi Vance from Zero Longevity Science for an honest conversation about metabolic health, intermittent fasting, protein, and what really matters for women over 40. Jenny and Heidi cut through the confusion around trends like BMI, GLP-1 medications, and fasting to discuss what actually supports long-term health and why small, consistent ha...

Jenny sits down with voice teacher, mindset coach, and former Broadway performer Erin Stewart for an encouraging conversation about self-doubt, confidence, and what it means to truly find your voice in midlife. Together, they explore why so many women over 40 struggle with their inner critic, how fear and perfectionism can keep us playing small, and why learning to speak to ourselves with more com...

Jenny dives into a topic that many women overlook, but can have a major impact on our overall health: hydration. She shares personal stories about both of her children experiencing serious dehydration that led to emergency room visits, highlighting how easy it is to underestimate the body's need for water. Jenny explains why hydration becomes even more important during perimenopause and menopause....

In this episode, Jenny sits down with Enneagram coach Angie Alchemist to explore how the nine Enneagram personality types influence motivation, habits, self-care, people-pleasing, burnout, and the way women approach their health in midlife. Together, they unpack why the issue often isn't a lack of willpower at all, and why understanding yourself may be the missing piece. Angie breaks down each Enn...

In this episode, Jenny shares her experience from a solo wellness retreat and how learning to slow down became one of the biggest lessons she took away from the experience. She opens up about stress, emotional exhaustion, people-pleasing, and how many women are constantly stuck in “go mode” while ignoring what their bodies are trying to tell them. She explains why managing stress becomes even more...

In this episode, Jenny sits down with certified personal trainer and women’s strength coach Adelade LaFontaine to talk about why strength training becomes even more important in our 40s and 50s. They discuss the biggest fitness mistakes women over 40 make, why cardio alone isn’t enough anymore, and how building muscle supports metabolism, hormones, bone health, energy, and longevity.  Adelade also...

In this episode, Jenny breaks down the truth about intermittent fasting for women over 40. While fasting can be a powerful tool for weight loss, energy, and metabolic health, Jenny explains why it often feels different, and sometimes worse, during perimenopause. She walks listeners through what intermittent fasting really is (and what it’s not), how it supports blood sugar balance and fat burning,...

In this episode, Jenny discusses why sleep can feel so much harder during perimenopause and why sleep is critical in this stage of life. She shares a personal story from one of the most difficult seasons of her life and how it opened her eyes to the serious impact sleep deprivation can have on mood, focus, decision-making, and overall health. She also breaks down what happens during the different...

In this episode, Jenny explores the often-overlooked connection between food, mood, and hormones in perimenopause. She shares how childhood conditioning, relationship with food, and long-held beliefs about food may be shaping the way women eat today. She also introduces her simple Balanced Plate Method and explains how nourishing the body using this method can support more energy, calmer moods, an...

In this episode, Jenny shares the moment everything changed for her: sitting in a doctor’s office, feeling anxious and overwhelmed, and being offered a quick solution that didn’t address her symptoms. If you’ve been feeling like something is off but can’t get real answers, this episode connects the dots between perimenopause symptoms, anxiety, and hormone imbalance. She talks about how a functiona...

In this episode, Jenny shares a powerful personal story that reveals how easy it is to overlook what’s really going on in your body, especially when life feels stressful and overwhelming. What seemed like “normal” reactions to a difficult season turned out to be something much deeper, and it’s a story so many women will recognize in their own lives today. She connects the dots between thyroid heal...