GenX Hits Menopause

Heather Reilly Hiemstra · podesis.com

Welcome to GenX Hits Menopause, the podcast where host Heather Reilly Hiemstra dives into the unfiltered, transformative journey of midlife. Join Heather and her co-host, John Hiemstra, as they explore what it means to thrive in every stage of life through candid conversations with experts, innovators, and everyday individuals. From groundbreaking science and traditional medicine to personal stories and practical tools, this show redefines aging for a generation that’s ready to stay vibrant, confident, and unapologetically themselves. Together, we’ll challenge outdated narratives and embrace a future of health, intimacy, and empowerment—for women and men alike.

31 episodes

1mo ago latest

fortnightly cadence

English language

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Episodes 31

Bliss Is the System | The ECS, Estrogen & Perimenopause Connection
1mo ago
Heather gets together with Dr. Shabnam Sarshar - phytopharmacist, PhD in pharmaceutical biology and phytochemistry, and certified endocannabinoid medicine specialist - to pull back the curtain on a woman’s most overlooked hormonal partner in her body: the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Like a soundboard running beneath every organ from head to toe, the ECS doesn't just regulate sleep, mood, and pain — it's in constant, bidirectional conversation with estrogen, mirroring it receptor for receptor across the very systems that go haywire in perimenopause. If your moods are swinging without warning,
Feed Your Head | Gut Microbiome, Hormones & Midlife Vitality
1mo ago
Host Heather Reilly-Hiemstra sits down with Dr. Brent W. Laartz, MD FIDSA — infectious disease physician, associate professor at the University of South Florida, and, yes, bestselling spy novelist — to explore the organ that quietly runs everything behind the scenes: your gut. Think of your microbiome as a sourdough starter (both Heather & Brent craft their own): neglect it and you get hockey pucks; feed it right and it rises to the occasion every time. If your mood, sleep, hormones, or midlife energy feel like they've gone off the rails, this episode is your road map back — because the longev
Don't Wait for the Stop | Optimizing Your Hormones Before Perimenopause
2mo ago
Heather Reilly Hiemstra sits down with Dr. Cathleen Gerenger — chiropractic physician, acupuncturist, functional health practitioner, and the Tampa Bay area's go-to healthy living expert — to map the hormone timeline nobody handed us in our 20s. The conversation opens a truth most women have never heard spelled out: perimenopause isn't a switch that flips at 50. It's a slow, decade-by-decade depletion of thyroid, progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen that begins before you've even had your first child — and every symptom you were told to
No Stone Unturned | Bone Density at Every Age
2mo ago
Heather Reilly Hiemstra has always loved rocks — and it turns out the most important ones are the ones you're built on. In this episode, she sits down with Rush Simonson, founding CEO of Juvent, a 25-year pioneer in regenerative medicine and bone science, to make the case that bone density is not a passive number on a lab report — it's a living, remodeling biomarker that GenX women can actively rebuild starting today. If your last doctor's visit left you with more dread than direction — or if you've never been told that your skeleton from 10 years ago is already gone and replaced — this conver
Time to Glow Up | Finding Yourself in Midlife Reinvention
2mo ago
Heather Reilly Hiemstra sits down with Heather Theisen-Gandara — certified divorce coach, former international diplomat, and founder of the Reignite Collective — to talk about what happens when the life you planned simply stops fitting. Heather T. lost 90 pounds, left a 24-year career in global diplomacy, and built an entirely new identity on the other side of an unexpected divorce at the age of 48. What actually happened here? A glow up that started from the inside out. If you've ever looked in the mirror mid-life — divorced, married, or somewhere in between — and asked who the hell am I righ
One Omega Number Everyone Should Know
3mo ago
Host Heather Reilly Hiemstra won a drawing at the most recent SRQ Women's Expo — and what she won gave her a whole new understanding of omega fatty acid numbers and what they mean to our health & longevity. In “One Omega Number Everyone Should Know”, Heather sits down with Dr. Jeanine Fedorko, chiropractic physician and 35-year functional wellness veteran, to unpack the one ratio most doctors never test and almost nobody has in range: omega-6 to omega-3. Your body has an inflammation dial — and for 99% of Americans, it's been cranked past the safety line for years.If your joints ache, your ene
Get Back To Your Authentic Self
6mo ago · 38:04
In “Get Back to Your Authentic Self”, Heather sits down with Alli Williams, a plant medicine guide, herbalist, and integrative coach at Bionic Bloom. Alli shares her own journey to healing from professional basketball – living in a "hyper masculine" way: all mind, striving, and forgetting the body. Alli reveals how she found balance and a "grounded presence" through potent, ancient allies. Join us for a deeply personal and insightful dive into the world of plant medicine and integration, and discover: The Nervous System "Vitamin": What if a subtle, legal dose could create a "little wedge" betw
My Generations | The Endocannabinoid System for Women from GenX to GenZ
7mo ago · 56:56
In “My Generations”, host Heather Really Hiemstra and transformational speaker Angela Hutchinson bridge thirty years difference to reveal the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) as the key to better health & homeostasis for women at every age. Homeostasis - when our body works in optimal balance - is like the perfectly mixed track, and the ECS is your soundboard. If your moods, sleep, or libido feel out of tune with perimenopause or menopausal symptoms, listen in to learn how to master your mix. Conversations include: The ECS Decoded. Learn how messengers (cannabinoids like the "bliss molecule" anand
Red Light and Blue: Our Midlife Clean Energy Future
8mo ago · 45:16
In “Red Light and Methylene Blue”, Heather dives deeper into the focus on “balance” in women's health concerns with Dr. Sarah Secor-Jones, founder of Lesh Lifestyle and an integrative medicine physician specializing in hormone health and longevity. Dr. Sarah makes it clear that finding your happy balance isn't just about hormones; it’s about optimizing the internal power systems that support and produce them. The real game-changer here: mitochondria, the powerhouses of every cell. Conversations include: The Powerhouse Organ. Why optimizing ovary health is key to combating brain fog and boostin
Not the Doctors | Personalized Medicine, Personal Responsibility
9mo ago · 1:34:12
In ‘Not the Doctors’, Heather sits down with ‘Nurse Gone Rogue’ Diana Nicorici for a no-holds-barred conversation about busting through corporate healthcare, becoming a multi-million-dollar pioneer, and how women especially need to retake control of their own healthcare choices. Diane went rogue for a reason - to create better outcomes for her patients. In less than three years, she flipped three suitcases into a portfolio worth $3 million. This warrior mother of five is changing the system for people who need it the most, including co-founding The Blind Investment nonprofit to help victims of
Only GenX Wasteland | Toward True Leadership with Paul Karasik
9mo ago · 51:52
Heather and John continue their conversation with author, leadership visionary, and entheogenic legend Paul Karasik, exploring how the modern leadership crisis mirrors a deeper spiritual one. Drawing from his book Getting High on Leadership: The Leader’s Guide to Higher Consciousness, Karasik challenges listeners to rethink what it means to lead with awareness, empathy, and authenticity. From the lost ideals of the 1960s to the burnout of today’s workforce, Only GenX Wasteland asks: how do we evolve leadership itself—so it’s no longer about power, but about presence, connection, and conscious
Sleep All Night, Rock All Day | Rebalance Health
10mo ago · 1:02:51
In “Sleep All Night, Rock All Day”, Heather has a sparkling conversation on a very hard topic for most of us with Justin Hai, author of one of this summer’s best-selling books, "Stress Nation”. Justin turns a strong light on the profound impact of modern stress and technology on our hormonal balance, and the critical role of sleep in supporting hormone regulation and vibrant, sexy aging. Justin is also the co-founder of Rebalance Health, which introduces an innovative, actionable solution to the adverse effects of our constantly stimulated world, as well as the inevitable changes our bodies go
You Want a Healthspan Revolution?
11mo ago · 43:33
In this special episode of Gen X Hits Menopause, Heather speaks with Elias Arjan – a true luminary in the healthspan and longevity universe. Armed with his powerful "trifecta" of scientific prowess, business savvy, and tech-forward thinking, Elias is on a mission to start a revolution in health and wellness, a revolution to dismantle misinformation and champion credible, life-enhancing solutions in today's overwhelming health landscape. Elias's groundbreaking venture, PRUVN, is a truth-teller, rigorously validating health innovations and cutting through the noise. His production company Health
More Than This ~ Extended Orgasm & The Fountain of Youth
1y ago · 47:45
In “More Than This: Extended Orgasm & The Fountain of Youth“ host Heather Reilly Hiemstra holds a high-voltage conversation with Alicia Davon, a leading expert in Tantra and tantric relationship coaching. Get ready to amplify your passion and ignite your inner rockstar, because this isn't your grandma's menopause talk. Alicia and her husband Erwan have guided over 20,000 students through their unique Davon Method over the last two decades, blending psychology, Zen, and Tantra into a unique system that's hitting all the right notes for singles and couples worldwide. Topics include:- Dismantling
Towards More Radical Human Connection
1y ago · 1:09:07
In "Towards More Radical Human Connection", Heather introduces listeners to Pete Cessa, a pivotal figure who transitioned a high-profile career in marketing and large-scale event production, including the Grammys and Super Bowls, to his pioneering work in the cannabis and psychedelic communities. Learn how he co-founded the Florida Cannabis Coalition in 2014, laying the groundwork for the state's current cannabis industry. This trailblazing effort culminated in Cannadelic, a groundbreaking event that has united cannabis and psychedelics under one roof, drawing over 25,000 attendees from more t
Enter Lady Longevity
1y ago · 35:06
In ‘Enter Lady Longevity’, Heather talks with Alejandra Garcia, a functional medicine practitioner and longevity specialist who is here to help us learn to balance fatigue, hormone imbalances, and accelerated aging by optimizing our cellular health and metabolic function. Join their conversation on rewriting the current health narrative for women. Topics include:- The unique aspects of female biology for longevity: Why women are naturally built for a longer lifespan and how menopause can be seen as an opportunity for reinvention. Addressing the shortcomings of current longevity protocols: How
What Your Stylist Wants You to Know
1y ago · 40:41
In “What Your Stylist Wants You to Know”, the haircare gurus from Magick & Mane/SRQ Hair return to talk over their holistic approach to hair issues that’s helping women stay vibrant, sexy, and beautiful through every stage & challenge of life. Heather kicks off the conversation by praising Melissa Marino’s seasoned artistry and "energy-informed beauty rituals". Specializing in Japanese haircare science and mesh integration systems, Melissa is all about luxury and longevity, helping women reclaim their confidence from the crown down. The conversation quickly turns to the new salon space Melissa
These Are the Good Hair Days
1y ago · 39:47
In “These Are the Good Hair Days “, Rockstar Blends founder Heather Reilly Hiemstra explores the deep link between hair health, confidence, self-esteem and self-expression with local Sarasota experts lsle Chevalier and Melissa Moreno. Together, they unpack why hair isn’t just about beauty—it’s about agency. From hormone-driven hair loss to healing and recovery, they share real solutions rooted in ingredient integrity, scalp science, and open conversation. Melissa brings insights from Japanese haircare traditions that prioritize the scalp as the root of it all, while Ayal reframes extensions as
C'mon, Light My Fire: Endocannabinoid Science & Orgasm on the Road to Vibrant Aging
1y ago · 47:38
Picking up where they left off last time, Heather and John get deeper into a more scientific understanding of what happens when we orgasm —and why pleasure, immunity, and longevity just might share the same spark. In this episode, Heather and John try to connect the dots between the body’s most overlooked regulator of vitality: the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the essential role it plays in our sex lives. Spoiler alert—it’s not about getting high. It’s about unlocking the system your body already runs on to regulate pain, mood, sleep, metabolism, immune response, and, yes, orgasm. We explo
Orgasm Rx: What Your Body Already Knows, and Why She’s Asking for More
1y ago · 37:45
In “Orgasm Rx”, Heather and John launch into what promises to be the first of many conversations around another topic many people tiptoe around for any number of reasons. But as Heather accidentally discovered on the path to creating Rockstar Woman, orgasms are much more than exhilarating, fleeting moments; they can be in fact a fundamental contribution to our immune system function, health and longevity. John asks the questions once again in this episode, so Heather can introduce us to all the leaping-off points that science has to offer here. We're talking oxytocin floods, bone density boost
Let's Talk About Cannadelic Miami 2025 with Dr. Angela Fisher
1y ago · 24:35
In this special episode, Dr. Angela Fisher returns to chat about the upcoming Cannadelic Miami conference May 23 /24th sponsored by both Bionic Bloom and Rockstar Blends. Think less “head shop” and more “head -and-heart-connected healing.” Together they discuss the evolution of these events to spaces for authentic connection, discovery of new information and experiences in the realms of cannabis and psychedelics, and for personal transformation—not just getting high. On Saturday, Heather will moderate a discussion panel titled "The New Intimacy: How Cannabis and Psychedelics Are Changing Conne
First, We Kick Out All The Toxins
1y ago · 37:55
In this episode, chef and educator Natalie Golba takes us on a tour of toxins hiding in plain sight all around us in our everyday lives, from cookware to personal care products to the water we drink and cook with. Learn small, actionable steps we can take in our own kitchens that can make a big difference in how we feel right now and help us head off some of the biggest challenges of healthy aging and longevity. Natalie shares the free master class on toxic exposure she has created with Dr. Stephanie Peacock and offers listeners a unique 30% discount code on her monthly coaching program create
All We Need Is L.O.V.E.
1y ago · 41:05
In this episode of "GenX Hits Menopause," host Heather Reilly Hiemstra sits down with Mark Mears, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and business consultant to talk about new ways of working at midlife. Mark introduces an earlier book "Paying it Backward," which is about sharing lessons he wishes he'd known earlier in life, as a belated mentor to his younger self. Sharing his own professional experiences and career setbacks, Mark shares how his LEAF and LOVE concepts for working better came to be. Mark thinks everyone in business is in the people's business and that people need more than ju
Let's Talk About Sex with Dr. Angela Fisher
1y ago · 33:34
Heather embarks on a new exploration of “why sex is good for you” with groundbreaking psychologist and integrative mental health expert Dr. Angela Fisher, who pursues the question "Why is sex a good thing?” by first super clear up front; “I'm going to divide that out into two brands of sex. recreational sex and procreational sex." The conversation dives into the notion of "recreational sex," uncovering why it's not just a good time, but a crucial element for our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Together, Heather and Angela begin to illuminate the physiological and psychological wond
Live Your Legacy Now
1y ago · 32:06
Sovereign legacy advisor Christy Morrell-Stinson joins Heather & John to talk about founding our 'legacy'. What does 'legacy' even mean here at midlife & menopause? What should our next act be? Christy introduces her multi-layer framework for designing and building our individual legacies, weaving together refined concepts of clarity, desire, discernment and more to help each of us open up our own true destiny. Spoiler alert: there's no wrong way to use it! Christy and Heather talk through feminine desire and pleasure, both the deeply physical and the deeply creative essentials that can unlock