16. The One Where We Talk About Perimenopause (Without Freaking Out)

What this episode covers

This week on The Mindful Educator Podcast, I'm joined by the incredible Melissa Hohaia—a naturopath, health coach, and all-round powerhouse when it comes to women's health. Melissa's passion for helping women understand and embrace their bodies began as a teenager, and since then she's worked across the fitness industry, personal training, and natural therapies before specialising in women's hormonal health. Together, we dive into: ✨ What perimenopause actually is (and why it's often misunderstood) ✨ Early signs and symptoms you might notice—beyond hot flushes and night sweats ✨ Why stress is the biggest piece of the puzzle for navigating your 40s with more ease ✨ The role of progesterone and oestrogen, and Melissa's brilliant "foundation bottle" analogy ✨ Why traditional advice like intermittent fasting and HIIT might not serve women in this stage of life ✨ The truth about Ozempic and weight loss drugs—and what natural alternatives can offer ✨ Simple, everyday ways to support your body through hormonal changes Melissa brings both professional knowledge and personal lived experience (she's navigating perimenopause herself) to this conversation, making it honest, practical, and deeply empowering. This is an episode for every woman—whether you're preparing for this next chapter, in the thick of it, or just curious about understanding your body better. And if you're in your 20s or 30s, trust me, you'll want this info in your back pocket for later! Connect with Melissa * 🌐 Website: https://www.melissahohaia.com/ * 📸 Instagram: @melissa.hohaia.naturopath [https://www.instagram.com/melissa.hohaia.naturopath?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * 📘 Facebook: Melissa Hohaia - Naturopath [https://www.facebook.com/melissahohaia.naturopath?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 🎁 Free Resources from Melissa Melissa is kindly offering some free downloads for listeners, including: * Hormone-supportive recipes * A protein & fibre cheat sheet * Details on her upcoming 4-week Perimenopause Reset Program (starting October) Connect with Victoria * 🌐 Website: www.victoria-r.com.au * 📸 Instagram: @the.victoria.r * 📘 Facebook: Victoria R ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it, and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss next week's chat!