95: What's Wrong with Women's Health Media? With Ann Marie McQueen

Shawna Kaminski and Alli Kerr sit down with seasoned journalist and menopause truth-teller Ann Marie McQueen. Ann Marie shares her fascinating journey from Canada to the Middle East, where she's lived for 17 years after relocating to Abu Dhabi for a journalism role. But her real transformation began when she entered perimenopause—and found herself shocked by the lack of honest, helpful information available to women navigating this major life transition.   Frustrated by the superficial and fear-driven content she encountered, Ann Marie launched Hot Flash Inc, a platform that began with a simple newsletter and has now grown into a robust website and podcast. What makes her approach different is her commitment to digging deeper and offering a 360-degree view of menopause—from hormone therapy to lifestyle interventions, and everything in between. Drawing on her journalism background, Ann Marie doesn't pretend to have all the answers. Instead, she curates a space where varied perspectives can be explored thoughtfully and respectfully.   Throughout the conversation, Ann Marie explains how her time as a journalist trained her to ask better questions, remain open-minded, and seek out sources that are not part of the mainstream media machine. She pulls back the curtain on how media outlets and influencers often use fear-based tactics—driven by profit motives and PR agendas—to manipulate women's health narratives. Her insight into how information is bought and sold in today's media landscape is a wake-up call for any woman scrolling her feed, trying to find truth in a sea of marketing.   The episode also dives into how we can become more informed consumers of information, especially in the wellness and medical spaces. Ann Marie emphasizes the need to build critical thinking skills and encourages women to be skeptical of "one-size-fits-all" advice—especially when it comes from sources that benefit financially from creating panic or urgency. She offers practical tips on how to seek out credible, balanced perspectives and advocates for a more empowering, personalized approach to perimenopause and beyond.   This candid conversation is a must-listen for any woman who's ever felt confused, dismissed, or overwhelmed by the noise surrounding midlife and menopause. Ann Marie's story is not only inspiring, but also incredibly validating. She reminds us that we deserve better—and that it's absolutely possible to find clarity, community, and confidence when we stop accepting fear as fact. Contact Ann Marie McQueen here: https://linktr.ee/hotflashinc *Subscribe, Share, & Rate our Show. And follow us on social media:**   📷 Instagram: @GirlsTalkHealthyAging   Facebook Group: Girls Talk Healthy Aging: https://www.facebook.com/groups/330434366004030 🌐 Website: GirlsTalkHealthyAging.com   📧 Email: [email protected] Follow & Message Shawna on Instagram: @shawnakaminski Grab Shawna's book 'Lose Your Menopause Belly' and other freebies here: https://shawnakworkouts.com   Follow & Message Alli on Facebook & Instagram: Alli Kerr and @allikerrfitness (respectively).  Train with Alli at The Pink Physique in person in Macon, Georgia or Online here: https://www.thepinkphysique.com  ---