Energized with Dr. Mariza

Feeling like even the smallest things are suddenly overwhelming you? 

This is actually part of a much bigger hormonal and neurological shift happening beneath the surface. 

In today’s episode, I’m covering one of the most common—and least talked about—midlife experiences: the brain-related changes that come with perimenopause. 

Even women who experience few classic symptoms like hot flashes are still undergoing silent physiological changes affecting the brain, bones, muscles, metabolism, and cardiovascular health. 

We explore why perimenopause can be a destabilizing but deeply transformative recalibration where everything from hormones to lifestyle habits comes up for review. 

So I’m breaking down simple daily habits you can start right away to support your brain, stabilize your energy, and reduce overwhelm without adding more to your already full plate. 

Ready to clear the fog and feel like yourself again in midlife? Tune in here for the science-backed tools to start today. 🧠

IN THIS EPISODE



The massive neuroendocrine shift happening in midlife



What’s actually happening to the brain during perimenopause 



Managing midlife inflammation and your immune system 



The benefits of balancing your blood sugar and metabolism 



How short bursts of activity can help you reclaim your energy 



Honoring your circadian rhythm and prioritizing sleep 



Why building strength and resilience in midlife is so important



Managing your nervous system and avoiding cortisol spikes 



How to join my FREE 7-day reset challenge to reignite your energy and metabolism! 

QUOTES

“Over 70% of women in perimenopause experience brain-related symptoms: mood changes, sleep disruptions, hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, irritability, cognitive shifts, memory lapses, and low stress resilience. Eight out of the 10 most common symptoms in perimenopause are brain-related.”

“This is metabolic neuroscience, and this is exactly why we cannot just push through the brain fog. We need to stabilize glucose. We need to lower insulin spikes. We need a calm cortisol. We need to reduce the inflammatory load.” 

“These are the signals that we get to listen to, and that's why I created something to help you decode those signals and give your body back what it has been asking for.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Discover my Morning Metabolic Ignition Method in my FREE 7-day Jumpstart Program

https://go.drmariza.com/lp/reignite-your-energy/

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

https://peri-revolution.com/

The Menopause Brain by Dr. Lisa Moscone

RELATED EPISODES

 721: No, It’s Not All in Your Head: The Medical Truth About Perimenopause with Dr. Jila Senemar

718: Low-Grade Inflammation: The Hidden Root of Fatigue, Brain Fog, and Hormone Imbalance with Dr. Shivani Gupta

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause

701: Mood Swings, Brain Fog & Exhaustion: The Hormone Conversation You Deserve with Dr. Carrie Jones

690: The Perimenopause Revolution: Why midlife isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of your most energized, powerful, and vibrant self

Midlife is a time for rebirth… a time to come into who you truly are. 

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with the brilliant Dr. Deanna Minich to dive into how this stage of life can bring you to the best version of yourself after years of balancing roles, expectations, and responsibilities. 

Dr. Minich shares why midlife is the perfect time to rediscover your voice, clarify your needs, and define your non-negotiables so you can live the next chapter on your own terms. 

We’re reframing menopause not as an ending, but as the beginning of a powerful second half of life filled with purpose and authenticity. 

Ready to reclaim your energy and step into midlife with clarity and confidence?  Tune in here! 

Deanna Minich, PhD, MS, CNS, IFMCP

Deanna Minich is a nutrition scientist, international lecturer, educator, and author with over 25 years of experience in academia and in the food and dietary supplement industries. She’s the Chief Science Officer at Symphony Natural Health, and has written seven books and over 50 scientific publications. Her work aims to help others live well by using therapeutic lifestyle changes that impact their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

IN THIS EPISODE

Uncommon signs that you’re entering  perimenopause 

The importance of musculoskeletal strength in midlife

What’s really going on with female hormones in perimenopause 

Setting boundaries in midlife in your relationships and career

Balancing lifestyle changes and hormone replacement therapy for optimal results 

How to navigate stress and manage your nervous system

Finding your authentic self in perimenopause and beyond

How to connect with Dr. Deanna for more midlife expertise 

QUOTES

“I think it's a really powerful system and I think the best thing for women, no matter if you're going through perimenopause, you're just about to enter, or even if you're post, it's really connecting into that wisdom within that we have as the endocrine system.”

“There's no way I could ever do women's health on my own. I want to be connected to a collaborative, to a team, to other people in the space where we rise together and we really get the message out. So that's what I've been doing.”

“Here’s the message for women: we all need a way to bring ourselves into better coherence, better emotional, mental status, like where we feel in the zone.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your Troscription Order

http://troscriptions.com/ENERGIZED

Use code ENERGIZED and get 15% off on your entire purchase

https://symphonynaturalhealth.com/products/herbatonin

https://symphonynaturalhealth.com/products/macalife

Dr. Deanna’s Website

Dr. Deanna on Instagram

Dr. Deanna on Facebook

Symphony Natural Health Website

RELATED EPISODES

 724: Age Like A Girl: Why Midlife Women Stop Shrinking and Start Leading with Dr. Mindy Pelz 

721: No, It’s Not All in Your Head: The Medical Truth About Perimenopause with Dr. Jila Senemar

720: Why No One Talks About Loneliness in Midlife—And Why It’s Not Just You 

574: The Connection between Trauma, the Immune System, and Autoimmune Disease: Lab Testing and Solutions with Dr. Sara Szal Gottfried

Struggling to reclaim your identity and find joy in midlife? 

You’re far from the only one! In this episode, I’m joined by women’s health and hormone expert Dr. Sonya Jensen to explore how you can turn your midlife overwhelm into a true awakening.  

We talk about the reality of this season—juggling kids, careers, aging parents, and big life transitions—while your body undergoes one of its most profound hormonal and emotional shifts. 

Unresolved trauma can surface out of nowhere during perimenopause and menopause, but we cover why these mental and emotional shifts make sense biologically. Dr. Jensen invites you to reframe midlife as a powerful opportunity to celebrate change rather than resist it, and to reconnect with peace, joy, and self-trust.  

This conversation is packed with tools to help you refocus your mind and reclaim the parts of yourself that may have been lost along the way. 

Tune in here to redefine who you are in midlife!

Dr. Sonya Jensen ND

Sonya Jensen is a Naturopathic Physician, international speaker, author, and embodied healer who guides women to reclaim their power through hormonal wisdom, emotional depth, and ancestral healing. She integrates trauma-informed modalities, herbs, nutrition, hormone therapy, longevity medicine, and nervous system support to address the unseen patterns behind hormonal imbalance. Dr. Sonya Jensen is the founder of the HER Method and the HER Community, where she helps women decode the stories their bodies are telling to transform relationships, fertility, perimenopause, and life’s transitions. 

IN THIS EPISODE

Shifts that happen physically and mentally in perimenopause 

How to handle the resurfacing of trauma that comes in midlife 

Changing the narrative around women’s hormonal shifts in all stages of life 

Showing yourself grace and recognizing that shifts in your mental capacity are normal and okay

Making changes to help support your emotions during perimenopause and menopause 

Best lifestyle tips to regulate your mind and body back to a state of peace 

Discussing boundaries and discernment in midlife and what that can look like for you 

How to learn more about healing your hormones with Dr. Sonya Jensen’s latest book 

QUOTES

“I wish I had just sat down with other women and just talked about these transitions, and just talked about the challenges I'm feeling. But when you have this pressure on yourself to make it seem like you have it all together so you can hold space for others, it's really challenging to ask for help.”

“When we normalize that, then we can normalize perimenopause and the changes that we go through and the suffering that we may go through, but we can have a different relationship to that suffering.”

“We're losing those hormones. We're losing that armor. We're losing that protection that those hormones we're giving you. So if we're low in estrogen, most women will feel less motivated, maybe a little bit more depressed, maybe more fearful too because estrogen does help to stabilize that fear center.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my latest book: The Perimenopause Revolution HERE

https://peri-revolution.com/

Order Dr. Jensen’s Book: Heal Your Hormones, Reclaim Yourself

http://www.healyourhormonesbook.com

Dr. Jensen’s Website

Dr. Jensen on Instagram

RELATED EPISODES 

722: Why Women Feel Unsafe Right Now: Trauma, Hormones & Protecting the Next Generation with Dr. Aimie Apigian

720: Why No One Talks About Loneliness in Midlife—And Why It’s Not Just You 

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause

702: How to Heal Trauma and Rebuild Trust Through Connectability with Anna Runkle

It can take about 4 to 6 doctor’s visits for women’s symptoms to finally be connected to perimenopause and menopause. 

So how do you know you’re entering this massive transition? 

In today’s episode, I’m joined by women’s health and nutrition expert Dr. Amy Shah for a deep dive into midlife transitions and why our healthcare system still struggles to make these critical links. 

Dr. Shah shares her own beautiful ascension, revealing how a season of life that can feel destabilizing is also deeply transformative. Through tips from her own experience combined with her well-rounded medical expertise, you’ll walk away with clarity and confidence.

We also talk about intentionality in midlife—how to navigate new opportunities, say yes to growth, and still carve out space for yourself. 

If you’re ready to step into your next level with purpose and self-trust, tune in here!

Amy Shah, MD 

Dr. Amy Shah is a double board-certified MD and nutritionist with training from Cornell, Columbia, and Harvard. She’s a gut-health expert, best-selling author, and worldwide educator in women’s health. She focuses on evidence-based research in women’s health and hormones, nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle medicine, helping people transform their health, digestion, and natural hormone balance. Her goal is to help you save yourself by prioritizing physical and mental health, even amidst the busiest of schedules.  

IN THIS EPISODE

Tips for recognizing when you’re in perimenopause 

Finding lifestyle strategies that work best for you in perimenopause 

What changes in your body in midlife, and how to best show up in this new and different way 

Changing your internal narrative and improving self-talk in perimenopause 

The biggest things that should change in women’s modern medicine 

How to move away from a place of fear and let go of holding back in midlife 

Best tips for smoothly navigating the perimenopause transition

Where to get more of Dr. Amy’s best midlife recommendations 

QUOTES

“Once I started doing that, it improved things so much. That cortisol strategy, the cortisol reset, that is what changed everything.”

“What’s taking me into the next phase of my life is that we don't have a lot of time. We are allowed to fail. We are all imperfect, flawed people. And if you just give yourself permission to do things that you really want to do in this life, this is the time.”

“Go in with confidence, open eyes, and start doing things proactively because, like I said, your gut and your hormones are so connected that if you start improving your gut health, all of a sudden your brain health improves. Your hormone health is going to improve, and this rocky roller coaster of a transition will be so much smoother.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my latest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

https://peri-revolution.com/

Dr. Amy’s Website

Sign up for Dr. Amy’s Free Newsletter HERE

Dr. Amy’s Podcast: Save Yourself

Dr. Amy on Instagram

Dr. Amy’s YouTube Channel

RELATED EPISODES 

721: No, It’s Not All in Your Head: The Medical Truth About Perimenopause with Dr. Jila Senemar

704: Hormone Intelligence for Women in Midlife: How to Thrive Through Perimenopause with Dr. Aviva Romm

690: The Perimenopause Revolution: Why midlife isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of your most energized, powerful, and vibrant self

490: Why We Crave The Foods We Crave and What We Can Finally Do About It with Dr. Amy Shah

“There's no better human on the planet to stand up for herself once she realizes how powerful she is than a menopausal woman.”

Wise words spoken by the wonderful Dr. Mindy Pelz, who joins the podcast to unpack what’s quietly shaping how we as women see ourselves, our bodies, and our worth. 

We explore how unresolved trauma biology impacts longevity, influencing everything from nervous system regulation to autoimmunity and cardiovascular health, especially in the post-menopausal years. 

This conversation validates what so many women are feeling right now: a shared awakening and a call to speak up and come together. Dr. Pelz reminds us that you can lead change without traumatizing your nervous systems. 

You’ll hear some empowering ways to alchemize frustration and grief into meaningful action through community and connection. 

Tune in here to join the conversation and learn to stand up for yourself in midlife and beyond! 

Mindy Pelz 

Dr. Mindy Pelz is a New York Times bestselling author and a globally recognized voice in women’s health, hormones, and aging. Her bestselling books, including her newest – Age Like A Girl– teach women how to sync with their hormones, harness the power of fasting, and age with strength and purpose. Through her top-rated The Resetter Podcast and YouTube channel, Dr. Mindy is leading a movement to reframe menopause as a time of awakening and help women step into the most powerful chapter of their lives. 

IN THIS EPISODE

1. The biology of trauma and its impact on women 

2. Addressing the patriarchal system in health care 

3. Tapping into your intuition, especially in perimenopause 

4. Rewriting the narrative in midlife and showing up for yourself 

5. Qualities to look for in a doctor and how to best advocate for yourself 

6.  Tips for owning your power amid the chaos going on today 

7. Having the hard conversations and coming together as strong, powerful women in midlife 

8. All you can gain from Dr. Mindy’s new book: Age Like a Girl 

QUOTES

“When you look at your health, you also need to look at your friend group. You need to look at your home environment. You need to look at the messaging you're allowing into your brain. All of this really matters to the feminine body.”

“This rewire that happens at menopause is for our benefit because we can finally stand up for ourselves, we can gather with other women. This is the evolutionary explanation of menopause.”

“In all the research I've done on menopause, there's no better human on the planet to stand up for herself once she realizes how powerful she is than a menopausal woman.”RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my new book: The Perimenopause Revolution HERE!

https://peri-revolution.com/

Order Dr. Mindy’s Book: Age Like a Girl HERE!

https://www.discover.hayhouse.com/agelikeagirl/

Dr. Mindy Pelz Website

⁠The Resetter Podcast

Dr. Mindy on Socials: 

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

RELATED EPISODES 

722: Why Women Feel Unsafe Right Now: Trauma, Hormones & Protecting the Next Generation with Dr. Aimie Apigian

721: No, It’s Not All in YourHead: The Medical Truth About Perimenopause with Dr. Jila Senemar

720: Why No One Talks About Loneliness in Midlife—And Why It’s Not Just You

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause