Speaking of Women's Health

Send us Fan Mail We kick off season four by unpacking the most important women’s health developments of 2025 and turning them into simple, confident actions for 2026. From menopausal care finally getting a long-overdue reboot to new tools for mood, pain, and preventive screening, we focus on what’s real, what helps and what to do next. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Dr. Holly Thacker...

Send us Fan Mail The holidays don’t have to be a choice between joy and well-being. We invite you into a cozy Christmas Eve conversation that blends candlelight traditions with clear, doable strategies for eating well, staying energized, and sleeping better. From a nourishing breakfast to a colorful plate at dinner, you’ll learn how to slow down and savor your favorites. We also share a one-minute...

Send us Fan Mail A tiny mineral with a big impact can change how you feel during the day -from steadier energy to clearer thinking and fewer snack attacks. So, what is this important mineral? Chromium, the quiet cofactor that helps your body process carbs, fats, and proteins more efficiently.  Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Dr. Holly L. Thacker explains why “food first” beats a crowd...

Send us Fan Mail Hot flashes don’t keep a schedule, and neither do lab numbers. We sit down with Dr. Rachel Novik of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Specialized Women’s Health to cut through the noise around perimenopause, menopause, and hormone testing—and focus on what actually helps you feel like yourself again. We talk about why the most reliable “diagnosis” of menopause is still 12 months witho...

Send us Fan Mail What if birth control could be your most reliable tool for better cycles, clearer skin, steadier moods, and a smoother perimenopause—whether or not you need pregnancy prevention?  Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Dr. Holly Thacker sits down with Certified Nurse Practitioner Dana Leslie to map out a smarter, personalized path through contraception, hormone balance, and...

Send us Fan Mail Perfection is loud during the holidays. Presence is quieter—and far more powerful. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Executive Producer Leigh Klekar sat down with clinical social worker and holistic psychotherapist Marita Pompeani to unpack why this season ratchets up stress and how to find steady ground with simple, science-backed tools you can use anywhere. We talk about e...

Send us Fan Mail The wellness industry thrives on convincing us we need the latest supplements for optimal health. But do those trendy powders and pills pushed by social media influencers actually deliver results? In this eye-opening episode, Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Dr. Holly Thacker cuts through the marketing noise surrounding four popular supplements dominating online conver...

Send us Fan Mail When family dynamics break down, who protects the bond between grandparents and grandchildren? Attorney Eva Saulnier returns to the Speaking of Women's Health Podcast to tackle this often-overlooked but emotionally charged area of family law. Most grandparents are shocked to discover they have limited legal standing regarding their grandchildren. As Saulnier explains to Host...

Send us Fan Mail Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Dr. Holly Thacker unpacks what collagen actually is, why production slows with age and menopause, and how to protect and build it with food and daily habits. She weighs the evidence on collagen supplements, shares safety guardrails, and lays out a practical plan for skin, joints, and bones. Dr. Thacker starts with the big levers: why sm...

Send us Fan Mail Breast cancer survivors are sometimes told to endure the fallout of estrogen deprivation. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host sits down with Dr. Corinne Menn, a long‑term breast cancer survivor, to unpack what real, evidence‑based menopause care looks like for breast cancer survivors, high‑risk women, and BRCA previvors—without fear and without shame. For more information...

Send us Fan Mail Your bones are silently changing beneath the surface, and for women entering menopause, that change accelerates at an alarming rate. Did you know you could lose up to 30% of your bone mass in the first 5-7 years after menopause? This silent thief works without symptoms until a fracture occurs, often when it's too late for prevention. In this episode, Speaking of Women's...

Send us Fan Mail Every October 18th marks World Menopause Day, highlighting a transition affecting over a billion women worldwide who spend at least a third to half of their lives in this phase. Despite its universal nature, menopause remains poorly understood and inadequately addressed in many healthcare settings. Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Dr. Holly Thacker walks you through th...

Send us Fan Mail Hormone therapy remains the gold standard for treating menopausal symptoms—hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and vaginal dryness. When started within 10 years of menopause onset, it offers a remarkable 30% reduction in all-cause mortality. Yet this fact rarely makes headlines. Join Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Dr. Holly Thacker as she rea...

Send us Fan Mail Are you tired of feeling like you're navigating menopause or perimenopause alone, armed only with contradictory advice and sensationalized headlines? Dr. Holly Thacker, Director of the Center for Specialized Women's Health at Cleveland Clinic, is here to change that.  In honor of October being World Menopause Month , we are replaying this first episode of Dr. Thacker&apo...

Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Holly Thacker tackles the complex relationship between alcohol and health, particularly for women. Drawing from both scientific evidence and personal stories, she explains why women experience more severe effects from alcohol than men—even when drinking the same amount. The conversation goes beyond basic facts about alcoholism to explore how alcoho...

Send us Fan Mail That burning sensation creeping up your chest after a delicious meal isn't just uncomfortable—it's your body sending you an important message. Dr. Holly Thacker breaks down the crucial differences between occasional acid reflux and chronic GERD, a condition affecting one in three adults that shouldn't be ignored. Drawing from decades of clinical experience, Dr. Thac...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your body enters perimenopause? Does hormone therapy cause cancer? Dr. Madeline Cohn, who recently joined Cleveland Clinic's Center for Specialized Women's Health as a staff physician, brings clarity to these questions. With expertise in menopause care, sexual health, osteoporosis, and general gynecological concerns, Dr. Cohn tackles six persistent meno...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered why urinary issues seem to affect women differently than men? The answer lies in our unique anatomy and hormonal makeup — factors that make female urinary health both fascinating and complex. Dr. Holly Thacker takes listeners on a comprehensive journey through the most common urologic conditions affecting women during Urology Awareness Month. From the annoyi...

Send us Fan Mail Ovarian cancer, the second most common gynecologic malignancy, can be cured 90-95% of the time when caught early.  Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host talks through the risk factors like family history, BRCA gene mutations, obesity, and personal reproductive factors that are essential for early detection and prevention. • Risk increases with age (over 50), family history,...

Send us Fan Mail Could balancing your omega-3 and omega-6 intake be the key to better health and wellness? Discover how omega fatty acids play a pivotal role in our lives as host Dr. Holly Thacker unravels everything you need to know about omega fatty acids. Join us as we explore the remarkable benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on conditions ranging from depression to cardiovascular and neurodegener...

Send us Fan Mail Join Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Holly Thacker, MD, for secret skincare tips from dermatologists and other experts for younger, healthier skin.  Did the summer sun dry out your hair and skin? This episode is filled with ways to get rid of sun spots, improve split ends and bring a glow to your skin. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The battle against cognitive decline begins long before memory problems appear. Dr. Holly Thacker delivers a fascinating deep dive into the nutrients and supplements proven to protect your brain as you age, with startling revelations about how women's brains age differently than men's. At the heart of this episode is a treasure trove of practical knowledge about brain-pr...

Send us Fan Mail Nurse Samantha Graham joins Speaking of Women's Health Podcast Host Dr. Holly Thacker to share her expansive nursing knowledge and provide essential guidance on preparing for surgery and breastfeeding success. Sam offers both professional insights and personal experiences to help patients navigate important healthcare moments with confidence. Various nursing career pathways f...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Holly Thacker takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the often-overlooked world of women's foot health in this Speaking of Women's Health Podcast episode. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, she reveals why those 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 120 muscles in each foot deserve much more attention than they typically receive. Did...

Send us Fan Mail When doctors told Judi Bar she would need spinal fusion surgery or likely end up in a wheelchair, she made a bold request: "Give me one year to help myself." That decision not only saved her from surgery but launched her on a transformative journey to become a pioneering yoga therapist who has helped countless people with chronic pain. In this deeply personal conversatio...