Welcome to Quick Hits, where we bring you the most impactful moments from past episodes in under 15 minutes.

Today’s clip comes from one of our most replayed conversations with Maria Claps and Kristin Johnson, founders of Wise and Well and authors of The Great Menopause Myth.

If you have been told menopause is just hot flashes, aging, and something you have to “push through,” this episode will challenge that entire narrative.

Maria is an FDN practitioner, and Kristin is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner board-certified in holistic nutrition. They are plainspoken friends, practitioners, and menopausal women themselves who are deeply passionate about helping women thrive in midlife.

Together, they combine clinical experience, personal experience, nutrition, lifestyle strategies, lab testing, mindset coaching, and hormone replacement therapy education to help women understand what is really happening during perimenopause and menopause.

In this Quick Hits episode, we explore why hormone health matters far beyond symptom relief. We discuss estrogen receptors, hormone replacement therapy, estradiol, estriol, cyclical progesterone dosing, hormone cycling, senescent cells, aging, brain health, vascular health, hair, joints, and the myths that continue to keep women confused and under-supported.

This episode is for any woman who wants a more nuanced, educated, and honest conversation about menopause, HRT, bioidentical hormones, and what it means to truly age well.

If you want the full episode, check the link in the description below.

Listen to the full episode.

Listen to the full episode on iTunes.

In the Full Episode, We Cover:

• Why hormone replacement therapy may impact overall health beyond hot flashes
• How estrogen receptors are found throughout the body, including areas like the eyes and ears
• Why optimal hormone levels may support hair, joints, brain health, vascular health, and quality of life
• How hormone cycling may better mimic the body’s natural rhythms
• Why Maria and Kristin prefer cyclical progesterone dosing over static hormone dosing
• How static hormone dosing may contribute to breakthrough bleeding, water retention, or other unwanted symptoms
• Why estradiol is often misunderstood and feared despite its potential benefits
• How high doses of estriol may cause unwanted effects in some women
• Why topical progesterone may be helpful for women who do not tolerate oral progesterone well
• Why hormone health matters beyond symptom management
• How The Great Menopause Myth offers a different perspective on menopause and aging
• Why many women still receive inadequate medical support during menopause
• How misconceptions about hormone therapy can leave women isolated and misinformed
• Why more research is needed using bioidentical hormones
• How upcoming studies may compare traditional HRT to physiologic hormone restoration
• Why achieving hormone levels closer to a healthy younger woman may be beneficial for some women
• How proper hormone cycling may support lighter periods and fewer PMS symptoms
• Why the current narrative around menopause can hurt women

Why This Menopause Conversation Matters

The menopause conversation is often too narrow. Women are told to focus on hot flashes, night sweats, and “getting through it,” while the bigger picture gets ignored.

But estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones affect much more than symptoms. They influence the brain, bones, blood vessels, joints, skin, hair, sleep, metabolism, mood, and overall quality of life.

That is why Maria and Kristin challenge the idea that menopause should simply be endured. Their work helps women understand that hormone health is not just about symptom management. It is about aging, function, prevention, and feeling like yourself in midlife and beyond.

Estradiol, Estriol and the HRT Debate

One of the most confusing parts of hormone replacement therapy is the conversation around estrogen.

Estradiol is often feared, even though it is the primary estrogen of the reproductive years and plays important roles throughout the body. Estriol is often described as the “safer” estrogen, but Maria and Kristin explain why that conversation needs more nuance.

In this episode, they discuss why hormone type, dose, delivery method, timing, and individual response all matter when creating a hormone therapy plan.

What Is Hormone Cycling?

Hormone cycling is an approach that attempts to better mimic the body’s natural hormonal rhythms instead of using the exact same dose every day.

Maria and Kristin discuss why they often prefer cyclical progesterone dosing over static hormone dosing, and how this may support some women with bleeding patterns, PMS symptoms, water retention, and overall hormone balance.

As always, hormone therapy should be individualized and guided by a trained practitioner.

This Episode Is For You If:

• You are confused about HRT, estradiol, estriol, or progesterone
• You want to understand hormone therapy beyond hot flashes
• You have been told menopause is just something to push through
• You are curious about hormone cycling or cyclical progesterone dosing
• You want a more honest conversation about menopause and aging
• You are interested in The Great Menopause Myth
• You want to better understand how hormones affect brain, vascular, joint, skin, and metabolic health

FAQ Section

What is The Great Menopause Myth about?

The Great Menopause Myth by Maria Claps and Kristin Johnson challenges common beliefs about menopause, aging, and hormone therapy. Their work focuses on helping women understand how hormones, nutrition, lifestyle, lab testing, and individualized care may support better health in midlife.

Why does hormone replacement therapy matter beyond hot flashes?

Hormone replacement therapy may matter beyond hot flashes because estrogen and progesterone receptors are found throughout the body. These hormones can affect brain health, vascular health, joints, skin, hair, sleep, mood, metabolism, and quality of life.

What is the difference between estradiol and estriol?

Estradiol is the primary estrogen during a woman’s reproductive years and has powerful effects throughout the body. Estriol is a weaker estrogen that rises significantly during pregnancy and is sometimes used in hormone therapy. Both have different roles, and the best approach depends on the individual woman.

Is estriol safer than estradiol?

Estriol is often described as gentler, but that does not automatically mean it is better or safer for every woman. Dose, delivery method, symptoms, hormone levels, and health history all matter. The estriol versus estradiol conversation needs more nuance than women are often given.

What is cyclical progesterone dosing?

Cyclical progesterone dosing means progesterone is taken in a pattern that more closely mimics the body’s natural cycle, instead of taking the same dose every day. Some practitioners prefer this approach for certain women because it may better support natural hormone rhythms.

Why are women still confused about menopause and HRT?

Women are still confused because menopause care is often outdated, oversimplified, or polarized. Many women are told to avoid hormones completely, while others are given one-size-fits-all protocols. Women need better education, individualized care, and honest conversations about the risks and benefits of HRT.