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

In this episode, I sit down with Maria Claps and Kristin Johnson, the founders of Wise and Well and authors of The Great Menopause Myth. 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.

Maria and Kristin 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 conversation, we talk about 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.

In This 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 Hormone Replacement Therapy Is About More Than Hot Flashes

HRT is often discussed only in terms of symptom relief: hot flashes, night sweats, sleep, mood, and vaginal dryness. But estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones influence far more than that.

In this episode, Maria and Kristin explain why hormone receptors are found throughout the body and why hormone changes in midlife can affect the brain, blood vessels, joints, skin, hair, metabolism, sleep, mood, and overall aging.

This is why menopause should not be treated as a small inconvenience. It is a major hormonal transition that deserves better education and better care.

Estradiol, Estriol and the Confusion Around Estrogen

One of the biggest areas of confusion in hormone therapy is estrogen itself.

Many women are taught to fear estradiol, even though estradiol is the primary estrogen of the reproductive years and plays important roles throughout the body. At the same time, estriol is often promoted as the “safe” estrogen, but Maria and Kristin explain why that conversation is more complex than it sounds.

This episode explores why estradiol, estriol, hormone ratios, dosing, and delivery method all matter, and why women need individualized care instead of one-size-fits-all hormone advice.

Why Hormone Cycling and Progesterone Dosing Matter

Maria and Kristin also explain why they often prefer cyclical progesterone dosing instead of static daily dosing for many women.

The goal is to better mimic the body’s natural hormonal rhythms instead of flattening everything into the same dose every day. For some women, this approach may support better symptom control, lighter periods, fewer PMS symptoms, and a more physiologic approach to hormone restoration.

They also discuss why some women may do better with topical progesterone if they are sensitive to oral forms.

Why Women Need Better Menopause Education

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that women are still not getting enough support during menopause.

Too many women are dismissed, under-treated, or given outdated information about hormone therapy. Others are left to piece together their health from social media, podcasts, and conflicting medical opinions.

This conversation is about changing that. Women deserve clear information, individualized care, and the ability to make informed decisions about HRT, nutrition, lifestyle, and long-term health.

This Episode Is For You If:

• You are confused about estradiol, estriol, and progesterone
• You want to understand HRT beyond hot flashes
• You have heard conflicting opinions about bioidentical hormones
• You are curious about hormone cycling or cyclical progesterone dosing
• You want to understand why estrogen receptors matter
• You feel like your doctor has dismissed your menopause symptoms
• You want a more empowered and informed view of menopause
• You are interested in The Great Menopause Myth by Maria Claps and Kristin Johnson

FAQ

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 can support better health in midlife.

Why does HRT matter beyond hot flashes?

HRT may matter beyond hot flashes because estrogen and progesterone receptors are found throughout the body. Hormones can influence brain health, vascular health, bones, 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 the best or safest choice for every woman. Dose, delivery method, symptoms, hormone levels, and health history all matter. This episode discusses why the estriol versus estradiol debate needs more nuance.

What is cyclical progesterone dosing?

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

Why do some women use topical progesterone?

Some women use topical progesterone because they are sensitive to oral progesterone or experience side effects such as grogginess, mood changes, or poor tolerance. The best form depends on symptoms, goals, labs, and clinical guidance.

Why are women still confused about menopause and HRT?

Women are still confused because menopause care is often outdated, oversimplified, or polarized. Some women are told to avoid hormones completely, while others are given one-size-fits-all protocols. This leaves many women without the education they need to make informed choices.

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