Libsyn Directory

75. Ditch Alcohol in Midlife: Reclaim Your Energy, Confidence & Clarity w/ Sarah Rusbatch

Release Date: 08/13/2025

91. You’re Not Behind After 40: Letting Go of Pressure, Comparison, and Expectations

Perimenopause Simplified

As another year comes to a close, many women in midlife silently judge themselves for what they didn’t achieve. In this powerful year-end episode, Claudia dismantles the toxic belief that your worth is tied to timelines, milestones, or other people’s expectations. If you’ve ever felt behind - in your career, relationships, finances, health, or life - this episode will shift your perspective and help you walk into 2026 with confidence. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why so many women over 40 feel “behind” despite working harder than ever and where those expectations really come...

90. Anger, Irritability & Rage in Perimenopause (and What to Do About It)

Perimenopause Simplified

If you’ve been snapping at people you love, feeling angry for no reason, or like you’re becoming someone you barely recognize, this episode explains why. Perimenopause rage is a physiological response to shifting hormones, mineral depletion, and decades of over-functioning. In this episode, Claudia breaks down what’s driving the emotional volatility, why traditional advice doesn’t help, and what it actually takes to feel calm and grounded again. In this episode, you’ll learn: The surprising hormonal shifts that trigger sudden rage in perimenopause Why low progesterone and...

89. Menopause in Your 40s: How My Teammate Tonya Romano Navigated the Transition Holistically

Perimenopause Simplified

In this episode, Claudia sits down with Tonya Romano, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and co-coach inside The Perimenopause Method, to talk about her personal journey into menopause - a few years earlier than expected. From losing her period in her 40s to discovering the power of functional testing, nutrition, weight training, and hormone therapy, Tonya’s story will resonate with any woman wondering if what she’s feeling is “normal.” We covered: The early signs Tonya experienced that hinted something was off What it was like going through menopause in her 40s How her...

88. Stop Overcomplicating Health After 40: Here’s What Women in Perimenopause Need First

Perimenopause Simplified

Tired, bloated, moody, or not like yourself? Before you assume it’s mold, Lyme, or some complicated “root cause”, it might be time to get back to the basics. In this episode, Claudia shares what women in perimenopause truly need to focus on first to start feeling better. She breaks down why functional medicine sometimes leads to fear and confusion, and how to simplify your approach, so your body can finally heal and thrive in your 40s and beyond. What You’ll Learn: The truth about why women over 40 overcomplicate their health (and what to do instead) The key foundations your body...

87. Redefining Yourself Over 40: One Bold Move at a Time (Even When It Feels Scary)

Perimenopause Simplified

Feeling stuck or craving change lately? In this episode, Claudia shares how a simple impulsive hair-dye moment became a reminder that midlife is the perfect season to reinvent yourself. Whether it’s changing careers, reconnecting with your partner, starting a new workout routine, or simply saying yes to what you’ve been putting off - this episode helps you rediscover who you are beyond the roles you’ve played. Learn how to build self-trust, embrace change without fear, and find confidence after 40 - one bold move at a time. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why midlife is the...

86. No, Your Blood Work Probably Isn't ‘Normal’ Over 40

Perimenopause Simplified

If your doctor told you your labs are “normal” but you still feel tired, bloated, anxious, or off in your body, this episode is for you. Claudia explains the difference between conventional lab ranges and optimal ones, the patterns most doctors overlook, and how functional blood work can finally give you the clarity and answers you've been missing in perimenopause. You’ll learn: Why “normal” lab results don’t mean your body is functioning optimally The difference between conventional and functional lab interpretation Common markers that get dismissed - and why they matter What...

85. Over 40 with More Hair ‘Down There’ & Everywhere?

Perimenopause Simplified

If you’ve noticed more chin hair, nipple hair, or thicker pubic hair in your 40s…you’re not imagining it. In this episode, Claudia breaks down what’s really behind the sudden hair growth and how your midlife hormones and metabolism are connected. You’ll learn: Why androgen hormones can spike during perimenopause and trigger hair growth How declining estrogen and progesterone make androgens more dominant The link between insulin resistance and excess hair - and why how you eat matters Key labs to assess metabolic and hormone health The role of inflammation, gut health, and stress in...

84. The Midlife Call-Up: How Hormone Shifts Become a Divine Invitation to Slow Down, Heal & Redefine Success

Perimenopause Simplified

In this powerful and heart-opening conversation, I joined my good friend Jennifer Ragazzo, a Soul Aligned Wellness Coach, on her podcast, The Daily Surrender, to explore the sacred intersection of hormones, healing and higher purpose. Together we unpack: Hormonal shifts that shape midlife and why your changing body is not betraying you - it’s inviting you to listen deeper How pushing, striving, and over-controlling can sabotage your hormones, creativity, and peace Why redefining success in this season means aligning with your biology and your soul Spiritual and emotional freedom that...

83. Food Noise in Perimenopause: Why You’re Always Hungry (and How to Fix It)

Perimenopause Simplified

Are you always thinking about food, feeling hungry, or never fully satisfied in perimenopause? You’re not alone. In this episode, Claudia breaks down why food noise gets louder in midlife, the role of fluctuating hormones, and how nutrition, movement, and even how GLP-1s can help you finally feel in control. You’ll learn: How estrogen fluctuations and blood sugar dips drive constant hunger Why under-eating over 40 backfires The impact of activity level and strength training on fueling needs The role of progesterone and testosterone in appetite How GLP-1 medications...

82. Why You Might Gain Weight on HRT & What to Do About It

Perimenopause Simplified

Many women start hormone therapy expecting relief from hot flashes, brain fog, and mood swings - only to be frustrated when the scale starts creeping up. While providers often dismiss it, weight gain on HRT is a real experience for many. In this episode, Claudia explains why it happens, which hormones play a role, and what you can do to support your metabolism in midlife. What you’ll learn in this episode: How progesterone can sometimes trigger water retention (even though it’s a diuretic) Why estrogen balance matters for fat distribution, insulin sensitivity, and fluid shifts The risks...

More Episodes

In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Perimenopause Simplified, Claudia sits down with Grey Area Drinking Coach and bestselling author, Sarah Rusbatch, to unpack the hidden impact of alcohol on women’s health, especially during perimenopause. From anxiety and sleep issues to weight gain and hormonal disruption, alcohol can quietly wreak havoc – yet it's often the last thing we question. Sarah shares her personal journey, the truth about Grey Area Drinking, and how thousands of women are rethinking their relationship with alcohol in midlife.

If you've ever found yourself relying on that glass of wine to unwind or wondering if it's doing more harm than good, this episode is for you.

What we cover:

What Grey Area Drinking really is (and how to know if you fall into it)
Why Alcohol Use Disorder has skyrocketed in women over the past 30 years
The connection between alcohol and perimenopause symptoms like anxiety, depression, and poor sleep
Why so many women shift their drinking habits in midlife and how to know when it’s time
The biggest benefits women report after ditching alcohol
How to start drinking less (without shame, pressure, or perfection)

Connect with Sarah:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

The Women’s Wellbeing Collective

30-Day Alcohol-Free Program

Beyond Booze: How to Create a Life You Love Alcohol-Free

Sources:

Alcohol Use Disorder

Gray Area Drinking

Alcohol Use & Increased Symptom Burden in Midlife

Women Unaware of Alcohol & Breast Cancer Risk