THE SWEATY PILLOW

S2, Ep8 | The Menopause Brain: Brain Fog, Sleep & Your Future Brain Health with Dr. Manna Semby This episode is for every woman who has lost her train of thought mid-sentence and wondered, “What the hell is happening to my brain?” The word you can’t find. The sleep you can’t seem to get. The unsettling feeling that you don’t quite recognize yourself. In this episode of The Sweaty Pillow, Lara...

S2, Ep7 | Women, Weight & Midlife: What Gina Livy Knows After 30 Years of Listening This episode is for every woman who has wondered, “Why does what used to work for me feel so much harder now?” The changing body. The conflicting advice. The pressure to lose weight—and the exhaustion of starting over. In this episode of The Sweaty Pillow , Lara sits down with Gina Livy, founder of The Livy Met...

S.2. Ep6 This episode is for every partner who has ever thought, “I don’t understand what’s happening… but I want to.” The mood shifts. The tension that feels sudden. The conversations that turn into conflict without a clear reason. The quiet realization that something is changing—but no one has explained what, or why. In this episode, Lara sits down with Jesse Robertson, founder of @husbands4meno...

S.2. Ep5 This episode is for anyone who ends their day exhausted… but still can’t fully switch off. The racing thoughts. The mental to-do lists. The feeling of being physically tired, but mentally wired. The quiet frustration of knowing you need rest — but not knowing how to actually get it. In this episode, Lara sits down with Greg Macdonald, Founder & CEO of Bathorium, to explore a perspecti...

S.2. Ep4 This episode is for every woman who has ever felt like something is shifting… and no one is really talking about it in a way that makes sense. The identity changes. The body changes. The emotions that feel louder, sharper, or harder to ignore. The quiet realization that the life you’ve built might not fully fit anymore. In this episode, Lara sits down with Dr. Somi Javaid, a board-certifi...

S.2. Ep3 This episode is for every woman who has ever thought, “I’m doing all the things… so why do I still feel like this?” The weight that won’t move. The sleep that feels broken. The hot flashes. The stress. The exhaustion. The “is this menopause, or is something else going on?” of it all. In this episode, Lara sits down with Angela Longo, a board-certified health coach and integrative nutritio...

S.2. Ep2 Season 2 is officially in full swing and we are not easing in quietly. The Sweaty Pillow is turning the volume up on the conversations women actually want to have, with smarter science, sharper truths, and support that feels like it was designed by women who get it. What if menopause is not breaking your brain but rewiring it for power? What if the depression, brain fog, and identity shif...

S.2. Ep1 The Sweaty Pillow returns with a brand new season. We are turning up the volume with deeper conversations, sharper science, and the real support you already know and trust for this Season 2 launch. This season will cover everything related to perimenopause and menopause, with bite-sized, life-saving tips to help you not just survive but actually thrive in midlife. Sleep, hormones, weight,...

Today, Lara is joined by one of the leading voices in women’s sleep health: the extraordinary Dr. Andrea Matsumura, Board-Certified Sleep Medicine Specialist, Internal Medicine Physician, and nationally recognized expert on the biology of midlife sleep. As a clinician, educator, and advocate, Dr. Matsumura has dedicated her career to understanding why so many women stop sleeping in midlife, and wh...

Today, Lara is joined by one of the most respected voices in modern sleep science: the brilliant Dr. Michael Breus, Clinical Psychologist and Board-Certified Sleep Specialist. Recently named the Top Sleep Specialist in California and recognized as one of the ten most influential people in sleep, Dr. Breus has built an extraordinary career reshaping how we understand rest, energy, and the biologica...

Welcome to a very special episode of The Sweaty Pillow! For the first time ever, we’re welcoming a man into our sanctuary: the brilliant Dr. Bill Bruno, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in West Hollywood. Dr. Bruno’s work extends far beyond aesthetics. After a personal health scare involving heart disease, he pioneered the integration of longevity and wellness into modern medical practice,...

This episode of the Sweaty Pillow Podcast features an illuminating conversation with Dr. Vonda Wright, a pioneering health innovator and double board-certified orthopedic surgeon. We dive deep into the often-overlooked yet critical aspects of menopause, its profound impact on mobility, bone density, and overall physical and mental vitality. Dr. Wright, who openly shares her personal journey from "...

This episode uncovers a crucial, yet often neglected, topic: The profound impact of menopause on mental health. Dr. Ariel Dalfen, co-founder and leading psychiatrist at Better Bria, explains the common emotional and psychological struggles women experience during perimenopause and menopause, such as mood swings, anxiety, and anger. Listeners will gain insights into the biological underpinnings of...

This episode will put an end to boring, dry menopause sex. Mackie Swan, CEO of the female-forward sex brand, WOO MORE PLAY is on The Sweaty Pillow Podcast sharing her best tips for feeling confident in the bedroom. This episode is for anyone seeking real, relatable advice about sex and relationships during their menopause journey. We see you, we hear you, and we are you. Let’s continue this advent...

Discover the vital link between breath and menopause with Dr. Jana Rieger. This episode of the Sweaty Pillow Podcast explores how controlled breathing can ease anxiety, improve heart health, and enhance well-being during menopause. Dr. Rieger shares her research on the nervous system, cortisol, and the power of daily breathwork. Learn practical tips and how wearable tech can help you reclaim your...

Join us for a special episode as we celebrate the Sweaty Pillow Podcast's one-year anniversary! We're diving deep into our biggest "aha" moments and transformative takeaways from a year of candid conversations with doctors, experts, and incredible women navigating menopause. Hosted by our very own dynamic duo, we’re recapping the key insights that have reshaped our own journeys and those of our co...

This episode, originally released in November 2024, resonates deeply with our listeners and remains central to The Sweaty Pillow's mission: To challenge outdated narratives and reclaim the conversation around menopause. After the episode, join the conversation in our supportive online community at thesweatypillow.com , and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to support the show! Stay in to...

FULL VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE Happy New Year! If weight loss is a resolution you set for yourself this year, this episode is for you. Cindy Topel, a Menopause and Weight Loss Specialist and founder of The Menopause Path, returns for a second episode on The Sweaty Pillow to share her wisdom on weight loss during menopause. Cindy discusses her three non-negotiables in nutrition, how she eats to main...

FULL VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE Cindy Topel is a certified menopause specialist and weight loss coach. After a lifelong battle with weight and a challenging struggle with menopause symptoms, she transformed her health by losing 27 pounds and keeping it off for over two years. Additionally, she has successfully reduced or eliminated her menopause symptoms. And now, Cindy joins The Sweaty Pillow to sh...

FULL VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE This episode covers it all. Lara is joined by Dr. Rebbecca Hertel, a board-certified osteopathic family medicine physician and menopause expert. Their conversation goes everywhere, discussing the complexities of menopause and its symptoms. Lara and Rebbecca explore the taboo subject of sex during menopause, why more women get divorced at this age, and how to navigate...

FULL VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE Tamsen Fadal is, above all, a storyteller. She started her career as a journalist, winning 13 Emmys and multiple Military Media Awards. Then, one day, she caught herself stumbling through the words on the teleprompter and then collapsing on the newsroom floor. Tamsen was in menopause and needed answers. Tamsen went searching and found a glaring lack of understanding a...

FULL VIDEO EPISODE AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE In the second episode of this two-part series, Lara is joined by returning guest, Abida Dhukai. Abida is a Nurse Practitioner at Science and Humans and is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, from which she has her PhD. Abida has also been facilitating TSP host Lara’s HRT journey. In this episode, Abida and Lara discuss Lara’s personalized HRT...

FULL VIDEO EPISODE AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE In the first episode of this two-part series, Lara is joined by returning guest, Abida Dhukai. Abida is a Nurse Practitioner at Science and Humans and is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, from which she has her PhD. Abida has also been facilitating TSP host Lara’s HRT journey. In this episode, Abida and Lara discuss the impact of the WHI stu...

Did you know October, is Menopause Awareness Month? In honor of Menopause Month, we are bringing back your favorite episode "The New Menopause with Dr. Mary Claire Haver." This episode, originally released in May, continues to deeply resonate with our listeners and our mission: To challenge outdated narratives and reclaim the conversation around menopause. So, sit back and get ready to feel heard...

FULL VIDEO EPISODE AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE In this episode, Lara sits down with Dr. Sarah Berry, the Chief Scientist at Zoe, to talk about how the menopausal transition affects your metabolism. Dr. Berry explains how blood sugar and triglycerides levels can differ with the foods we eat, and when we eat them and dives into nutritional best practices during perimenopause and beyond. You can check out D...