You Are Not Broken

In this episode of the You Are Not Broken podcast, Dr. Kelly Casperson sits down with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon for a powerful, science-forward conversation about why muscle is the organ of longevity—and why women have been taught to focus on the wrong things for decades. They unpack how an overemphasis on fat loss has distracted from the far more important goal of preserving and building muscle, especially as we age. Dr. Lyon explains anabolic resistance, protein needs across the lifespan, and why mindset—not willpower—is often the missing link in women’s fitness and health outcomes. This episode reframes strength training, nutrition, and supplements as essential medical tools—not aesthetic choices—and delivers a clear message: women deserve better education about their bodies and the confidence to train for strength, not shrinkage. Why muscle is critical for metabolic health, protection, and aging well How the obsession with fat loss has undermined women’s long-term health The role of mindset in body recomposition and sustainable fitness Why protein intake matters more than calorie restriction What anabolic resistance is—and why protein needs increase with age How the “fit fat” phenotype challenges outdated health metrics When continuous glucose monitoring is helpful (and when it’s not) Why many women over 65 are protein deficient—and why that matters The role of supplements like creatine and essential amino acids Why strength training is a non-negotiable for women’s health Muscle is not about appearance—it’s about independence, resilience, and metabolic health. Women have been under-informed, under-fueled, and under-trained for far too long. Prioritizing strength is one of the most powerful health decisions a woman can make at any age. In The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK, you’ll discover how to think, eat, move, and recover in a way that supports muscle, protects your metabolism, and helps you look, feel, and live Forever Strong. When you pre-order a copy, you’ll unlock $400+ in additional bonuses, including a 6-week group challenge to help you bring the plan from the book to life with accountability support and community.https://drgabriellelyon.com/playbook/ To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠⁠ Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the You Are Not Broken, Dr. Kelly Casperson is joined by Joanna Strober, CEO of MIDI Health, for a direct and hopeful conversation about menopause care, hormone therapy, and what women actually need from the healthcare system. Joanna shares the story behind building MIDI Health and why access, education, and properly trained providers are essential to closing the massive gaps in menopause care. Despite the data, only a small fraction of eligible women are receiving hormone therapy—leaving millions undertreated, dismissed, or told to simply “push through.” This episode tackles outdated narratives around menopause, reframes hormones as foundational to long-term health and longevity, and makes a strong case for advocacy—by clinicians, companies, and women themselves. How MIDI Health is delivering hormone therapy to 25,000 women each week Why only ~5% of women over 40 are currently using hormone therapy The critical need for education and training in menopause care How hormone therapy can help prevent downstream health issues Why menopause care doesn’t end when periods stop What’s broken in women’s healthcare—and how to fix it Real patient success stories that show what’s possible The role of hormones in longevity, vitality, and overall health Why advocacy is essential for meaningful change MIDI Health’s vision to become a trusted, national brand for women’s health Menopause is not the end of care—it’s the beginning of a new phase that deserves attention, education, and evidence-based treatment. Hormone therapy isn’t about vanity or “anti-aging”; it’s about giving women access to the healthcare they’ve always deserved. To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠⁠ Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the You Are Not Broken podcast, Dr. Kelly Casperson sits down with Dr. Christine Maren to explore one of the most under-recognized truths about women’s bodies: female physiology is exceptionally adaptable—and that adaptability comes with trade-offs. Women’s bodies evolved to support reproduction, and that evolutionary priority shaped a physiology that can adjust rapidly to stress, environment, and demand. But that same flexibility can come at a cost, especially in today’s world of chronic stress, environmental exposures, and constant pressure. Together, Dr. Casperson and Dr. Maren unpack how this rapid adaptability may contribute to issues like thyroid dysfunction, hormone imbalance, gut disruption, and infertility—and why understanding these patterns is essential for improving women’s health care. Why female physiology is uniquely adaptable—and how reproduction shaped that design How rapid physiological adaptation can stress systems like the thyroid The links between chronic stress, hormones, gut health, and fertility How environmental factors interact with women’s biology Why adaptability can be both a powerful strength and a vulnerability The importance of recognizing these trade-offs in modern women’s health care Women’s bodies are not “broken.” They are highly responsive systems doing exactly what they evolved to do—often in environments that no longer support them. Understanding the costs of adaptation is the first step toward more compassionate, effective, and science-based care. Dr. Maren's Website To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠⁠ Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠List is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the audio from an amazing webinar I did with Alloy Health. I was so fortunate to be interviewed by their community leader, Rachel Hughes. What I’m seeing clearly is that Gen X is leading the menopause conversation — we’re asking better questions, demanding better answers, and refusing to be dismissed. At the same time, Millennials are shifting the focus toward prevention, not just treating disease after it shows up. That mindset matters, and it’s changing healthcare. I talk a lot about why self-care isn’t indulgent — it’s essential if you want to thrive in midlife and beyond. That starts with education. You cannot make informed decisions about your body if no one ever taught you how hormones actually work. Hormones are not just reactive tools — they can be preventative, supporting long-term health when used thoughtfully and appropriately. Progesterone and testosterone play real, meaningful roles in women’s health, and vaginal estrogen is both safe and incredibly effective for many women — despite how rarely it’s discussed. We also have to talk about sex. Communication is foundational to a fulfilling sex life in midlife, and silence only benefits outdated narratives, not women. The bottom line? You have more control over your health than you’ve been led to believe. Empowerment doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from understanding your body and advocating for yourself in a system that often won’t do it for you. To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠ Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of the You Are Not Broken podcast, Kelly Casperson and Dr. Mariza Snyder discuss the transformative journey of women navigating perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Mariza shares her personal experiences with chronic migraines and how they led her to become a functional medicine practitioner focused on women's health. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding hormonal changes, the impact of chronic stress, and the necessity of movement and nutrition in reclaiming health. Dr. Mariza encourages women to envision their future selves and take ownership of their health journeys, while also addressing the societal pressures that contribute to stress and unhealthy habits. Takeaways Dr. Mariza's journey from chiropractic to functional medicine was driven by her own health struggles. Chronic migraines often affect women in perimenopause due to hormonal changes. Empowering women through health can create a multiplier effect in communities. Movement is essential for recovery and overall well-being. Functional health practitioners focus on root causes rather than just symptoms. Women often feel pressured to be busy, which can lead to chronic stress. Adrenal fatigue is not a recognized medical diagnosis, but stress impacts health significantly. Nutrition plays a crucial role in managing health, especially regarding processed sugars. Insulin resistance is a growing concern for women in midlife. Reading and self-education can empower individuals to take control of their health. Dr. Snyder IG The Perimenopause Revolution To my fellow clinicians: listen to the You Are Not Broken podcast on ⁠⁠Pinnacle's network to earn FREE CME credit⁠⁠ Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices