Libsyn Directory

World Menopause Day Lives Part 2

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

Release Date: 12/20/2024

HRT in the Blue Zones and How to Solve the Adrenal Crisis | Dr. Sangeeta Pati

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

Midlife has a way of getting your attention, especially when your body starts changing in ways no one really prepared you for, and menopause is often right at the center of it. In this conversation, we talk honestly about what’s really happening during this season and what women can do to feel more like themselves again. You’ll hear how small, intentional shifts can lead to more energy, clarity, and resilience over time. This episode is about moving from just getting through midlife to actually feeling good in it. I sat down with Dr. Sangeeta Pati, MD, FACOG, ABOIM, a...

The Girlfriend Doctor Podcast Best of 2025

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

As we look back on 2025, one thing became clear. The episodes that resonated most were not about quick fixes. They were about helping women finally understand their bodies. This year, you leaned into conversations that offered clarity instead of confusion, compassion instead of restriction, and real explanations for why your body responds the way it does. In this special Best of 2025 episode, we are revisiting the moments that moved you most. You will hear powerful clips on gut health, hormones, burnout, mitochondria, intimacy, alcohol, oral and eye health, and the nervous system. Again...

How to Increase Libido After Menopause Naturally | Gabriella Espinosa

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

So many women hit midlife and suddenly find themselves whispering about things they never thought they’d struggle with, like desire, dryness, disconnection, or feeling like a stranger in their own body. That quiet discomfort adds up, and it can take a real toll on intimacy and self-confidence. In this episode, we start talking about what’s actually going on with your hormones, your libido, and your relationships, so you can finally get clarity instead of guessing. Gabriella Espinosa, a Menopause Advocate, Women’s Health and Sexual Wellness Coach, and Host of Pleasure in the...

How to Increase Oxytocin levels + Why You Need To | Dr. Tyna Moore

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

Oxytocin might get all the hype as the “love hormone,” but the way it quietly shapes our mood, relationships, and everyday well-being is honestly pretty incredible once you understand it. In today’s episode, you’ll get a clear look at what this hormone is actually doing behind the scenes and why it plays such a big role in how connected, calm, and joyful we feel. We break down the real science in simple language and talk about the places where oxytocin shows up in your life without you even noticing. I’m sitting down with my good friend, Dr. Tyna Moore, one of the smartest and...

Why You Probably Need to Drink Less | Dr. Brooke Scheller

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

It’s wild how easily alcohol becomes part of our routine, especially in midlife, yet so many women quietly wonder why their sleep, mood, or hormones suddenly feel out of sync. In this episode, we get real about what alcohol is actually doing behind the scenes and how a few simple nutrition shifts can change the way you feel (and even what you crave). I’m sitting down with Dr. Brooke Scheller, a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition and Founder of Functional Sobriety, whose work is helping women rethink their drinking habits with compassion and curiosity. Dr. Brooke opens up about her own...

You're Not Getting Enough Morning Sunlight | Jack Kruse

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

The fascinating intersections of circadian biology, quantum health, and women’s wellness really come alive as I sit down with Neurosurgeon-turned-Quantum-Biologist Dr. Jack Kruse. You’ll hear how simple things, like the light you see first thing in the morning, quietly shape your hormones, energy, and even how you age. Dr. Jack’s decades of surgical and biophysical knowledge make these concepts surprisingly practical for everyday health. By the end, you may find yourself rethinking your daily routines in the best way. Together, we get into why AM sunlight can make such a big...

How to Boost Fertility Naturally

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

Fertility challenges are becoming all too common, and it’s not just about trying to get pregnant. It’s about the bigger picture of how our health today shapes the next generation. I sat down with my dear friend, Dr. Ann Shippy, a brilliant Functional Medicine Physician and Author of The Preconception Revolution, to talk about what’s really driving the rise in infertility and what we can do about it long before conception even happens. Dr. Ann has such a unique perspective. She started out as a chemical engineer before becoming a doctor, so she looks at the body like a system: one...

Can Trauma Cause Physical Pain?

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

You know that feeling when your body’s tired but your heart’s carrying the real weight? Yeah… that’s not just stress. It’s your body holding onto stories it never got to finish, the unprocessed stuff we call trauma. In this powerful and personal conversation, Dr. Shiroko Sokitch and I get into how emotional wounds can quietly shape your physical health, and how real healing starts when you finally listen to what your body’s been trying to say. Dr. Shiroko spent years in emergency medicine before following her intuition into acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine,...

The Truth About Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

Strong bones do more than prevent fractures; they help you stay active, confident, and energized no matter your age. I caught up with Kevin Ellis, aka the Bone Coach, a Forbes-featured integrative health coach who’s helped thousands of people worldwide improve their bone health through his Stronger Bones Solution. We talk about what your bone density scores really mean, the difference between bone quality and bone density, and practical steps you can take today to strengthen your bones. Kevin also shares simple nutrition tips, supplements like vitamin D3, K2, and collagen, plus safe...

Beyond Menopause: Reclaiming Health and Vitality with Functional Medicine

The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

The transition through midlife can feel like stepping into unknown territory, your body changes, your moods shift, and suddenly what used to work no longer does. But what if understanding your hormones was the key to feeling like yourself again? In today’s conversation, Dr. Cheryl Burdette, Director of Education at Progressive Medical Center and Co-Founder of Precision Point Diagnostics, breaks down what’s really happening inside your body during this season of change. She shares how functional testing and targeted lifestyle shifts can restore energy, balance, and clarity at any age....

More Episodes

Menopause is one of those things no one really prepares you for, right? The sleepless nights, the cravings, the mood swings—it can feel like your body is running the show. That’s why I sat down with two brilliant women, Cynthia Thurlow, a Functional Nutrition expert with over 15 million views on her TEDx talk about intermittent fasting, and Dani Williamson, a powerhouse in Integrative Medicine specializing in gut, thyroid, and hormone health, to talk about real, practical ways to make this phase of life not just manageable but empowering. From hormones to heart health to inflammation, they’re sharing the stuff every woman needs to know to feel like herself again—maybe even better.

We chat about everything from creating a distraction-free sleep sanctuary to tackling inflammation and dialing in your hormones. These simple changes can make a huge difference, and you don’t have to go through it alone—we’re figuring it out together.

Cynthia breaks down the numbers every woman should know to protect her heart health (yes, it’s about more than cholesterol), while Dani talks about the surprising ways stress wreaks havoc on your hormones. We’re also getting into the hidden role of inflammation in menopause and how your diet and lifestyle choices can either fuel the fire or calm things down. Plus, there’s an eye-opening conversation about setting boundaries to create space for what really matters—your health and happiness. Trust me, you’ll leave this episode feeling inspired and ready to take charge!

If you’re ready to feel your best, let’s do this together! My Keto-Green 16 Challenge is coming up, and it’s designed to help you reset after the holidays. Whether it’s cravings, stress, or just needing a fresh start, this 16-day journey can boost your energy, mood, and more. Head over to dranna.com/challenge to join me—we’re in this together!

Key Timestamps:

[00:02:00] World Menopause Day series.

[00:07:07] Inflammation and hormone imbalance.

[00:10:22] Diet will heal or kill.

[00:11:34] Alcohol as a sleep disruptor.

[00:14:14] Bedroom sanctuary for menopause.

[00:19:24] Menopause and its liberation.

[00:21:48] EMF exposure and health risks.

[00:26:34] The happiness hormone: pregnenolone.

[00:30:10] Automate, eliminate, and delegate.

[00:34:38] Women's heart health and menopause.

[00:39:14] Insulin and triglyceride levels.

[00:46:27] Lipid changes post-menopause.

[00:51:48] Coronary artery calcification assessment.

[00:53:39] Statins and heart health testing.

[01:02:14] Low hormones and heart health.

[01:03:17] Holiday heart and stroke risk.

[01:06:18] Transforming your health journey.

Memorable Quotes:

"Your diet will heal you or kill you. It is as simple as that. There is no in-between. And when you take the emotion out of food—which is what I have learned—you've just got to take the emotion out of it, and you've got to eat to live, not live to eat." [00:10:15] – Dani Williamson

"Statistically, women are most likely to die from heart disease. That's why this conversation is so important. And certainly, we live longer than men... but if we don't take care of ourselves—you know, we are the caretakers for everyone else—if we are not taking care of ourselves, we are going to end up having a lower quality of life as we get older." [00:37:56] – Cynthia Thurlow

Links Mentioned:

Keto-Green 16 Challenge: https://dranna.com/challenge

Prevencio Tests: https://prevenciomed.com/

Connect with Dani Williamson:

Website: https://daniwilliamson.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniwilliamsonwellness/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniWilliamson

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DaniWilliamsonWellness

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daniwilliamsonwellness

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow:

Website: https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthia_thurlow_/