unPAUSED with Dr. Mary Claire Haver

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Audacy
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Welcome to unPAUSED, the podcast where bold, unfiltered conversations take place about what it really takes for women to thrive in the second half of life. Every week, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Certified Menopause Practitioner, and #1 New York Times best-selling author, tackles the conversations women actually need to hear. Dr. Haver sits down with a variety of medical experts, CEOs, and risk-takers to discuss everything that matters, from hormones and identity to financial power, relationships, and the tools needed to build the life you want. unPAUSED is about reclaiming your healthspan—not just the number of years you live, but the number of years you live well. Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes of unPAUSED. Subscribe now so you don't miss it.

  1. 1d ago

    Menopause Skin Treatments: Botox, Lasers and Lifestyle

    Nothing needed cutting. The full description comes to 3,601 characters, so it's under the 4,000 limit: In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Erica Kelly, board-certified dermatologist, Clinical Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and founder and director of UTMB's Cosmetic Dermatology Division and this time it's the practical half: sunscreen, routines, treatments, and hair. Dr. Kelly settles the questions filling everyone's feed — chemical vs. mineral sunscreen, whether the endocrine-disruption fears are backed by evidence, why some filters are banned in the US but not Europe — and explains why the best sunscreen is simply the one you'll actually wear, every day, including the spots everyone forgets: scalp, ears, and lower lip. Mary Claire also shares her own recent diagnosis: a squamous cell carcinoma on her nose — which Dr. Kelly removed. Guest links: - Dr. Erica Kelly at UTMB Health Aesthetics https://utmbhealth.com/aesthetics/about/erica-kelly - Dr. Erica Kelly (UTMB Health) https://doctors.utmbhealth.com/profile/005428 Recommended Books: - "The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book - "The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z 00:00:00 – Mineral vs chemical sunscreen 00:02:16 – Are sunscreens endocrine disrupting? 00:04:56 – Do you need sunscreen every day? 00:06:28 – The ideal morning and evening skincare routine 00:07:19 – What a dermatologist actually uses on her skin 00:10:17 – Supplements and the evidence for collagen 00:12:43 – When professional skin treatments make sense 00:13:22 – The four approaches to cosmetic treatment 00:15:02 – How menopause changes lasers and Botox 00:17:01 – How to choose a safe cosmetic provider 00:19:18 – When to start Botox 00:22:22 – Menopause changes across the whole body 00:24:49 – Diet, sleep and skin aging 00:27:02 – Does red light therapy work? 00:28:25 – What actually helps menopausal hair loss 00:32:16 – The number one thing to do for your skin 00:32:46 – Drugstore skincare Dr. Kelly recommends Never miss an episode—sign up for The 'Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletter Medical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The 'Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.

    Menopause Skin Treatments: Botox, Lasers and Lifestyle

  2. 4d ago

    Menopause Skin Changes and the Science of Skincare

    In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Erica Kelly, board-certified dermatologist, Clinical Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and founder and director of UTMB's Cosmetic Dermatology Division — and the first physician who ever connected the dots for Mary Claire between estrogen, collagen, and what happens to women's skin in midlife. Dr. Kelly explains why so many women feel their skin change almost overnight in their 40s and 50s — the sudden dryness, sensitivity, sagging, easy bruising, and acne all at once — and the mechanism behind it: women lose around 30% of their skin's collagen in the first five years after menopause, while estrogen receptors throughout the skin lose the hormone that kept the barrier, moisture, and elasticity working. Dr. Kelly walks through what's really happening layer by layer — why skin gets rough and pores dilate, why moisturisers you've used for years suddenly cause reactions, why acne and wrinkles show up together, the truth behind itchy ears, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea — and the "your face has gotten too small for your skin" anatomy of midlife sagging. Then it's the evidence: what the research actually shows about systemic hormone therapy and skin aging, her deep dive into topical estrogen creams (including why she uses estriol on the face and how long results take), and the skincare ingredients worth your money — why retinoids and sunscreen are "light years ahead of everything else," plus the honest verdict on hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide, vitamin C, exfoliating acids, peptides, and growth factors. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Guest links: Dr. Erica Kelly at UTMB Health Aesthetics https://utmbhealth.com/aesthetics/about/erica-kelly Dr. Erica Kelly (UTMB Health) https://doctors.utmbhealth.com/profile/005428 Books: "The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book "The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z Never miss an episode—sign up for The 'Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletter Medical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The 'Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.

    Menopause Skin Changes and the Science of Skincare

  3. Sep 25

    Building Muscle in Menopause: Protein, Creatine and Strength Training with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

    In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver continues her conversation with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, board-certified family physician, founder of the Institute for Muscle-Centric Medicine, and bestselling author of Forever Strong — this time with the practical roadmap for building muscle in your 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. Dr. Lyon explains why your first meal of the day matters most and why 30–50 grams of protein at that meal can change your body composition on its own. She breaks down anabolic resistance — why the diet and training that worked at 20 stops working at 58 — and the research showing it's reversible: women over 60 got no muscle response from 15 grams of protein, but at 30 grams responded just like 20-year-olds. They get specific: what a 50-gram breakfast looks like, why two eggs won't stimulate aging muscle, how essential amino acids and creatine fill the gap, why the protein RDA is a floor rather than a target, the truth about red meat and saturated fat, the honest state of the evidence on hormones and muscle, and Dr. Lyon's warning about GLP-1 medications and accelerated sarcopenia. Plus: why progressive overload should really be progressive stimulus, where a woman who has never lifted should start, and why getting bulky isn't the risk — becoming frail is. Guest links:Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (Website) https://drgabriellelyon.com/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/drgabriellelyon Books:"Forever Strong," by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4VSDWQ2"The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK," by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL32CJ81"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z For full show notes, please visit: [BIT.LY LINK]Never miss an episode—sign up for The 'Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsletter Medical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The 'Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.

    Building Muscle in Menopause: Protein, Creatine and Strength Training with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

  4. Sep 22

    Muscle is the Organ for Longevity with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

    In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, board-certified family physician, founder of the Institute for Muscle-Centric Medicine, and bestselling author of Forever Strong, to explain why skeletal muscle — not body fat — determines how well women age. Dr. Lyon shares the case that changed her career: a patient in her mid-fifties who had done everything she was told — dieting, cardio, the food pyramid — yet showed signs of accelerated brain aging. The problem wasn't her fat. It was her muscle. Dr. Lyon explains why muscle is the body's largest site for glucose disposal — meaning low muscle mass can cause insulin resistance and prediabetes even in lean women — and why muscle quality, not just quantity, drives the metabolic dysfunction usually blamed on obesity, yet still isn't measured in routine care. She and Dr. Haver dig into why 60–70 grams of protein a day isn't enough to protect muscle through perimenopause and menopause and why women should aim for closer to 100 grams alongside resistance training, how sedentary muscle lowers your carbohydrate tolerance before blood sugar and insulin become dysregulated, and the myokines — including BDNF — released when muscle contracts that support brain health, metabolism, and long-term independence. Dr. Lyon's takeaway: resistance training and adequate protein are the two things women actually control as they age, and no hormone therapy can make up for them if they're missing. Guest links:Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (Website) https://drgabriellelyon.com/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gabrielle-lyon-00175a1a8/Dr. Gabrielle Lyon (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/drgabriellelyonThe Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show (Apple Podcasts) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-gabrielle-lyon-show/id1622316426 Books:"Forever Strong: A New, Science-Based Strategy for Aging Well," by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Strong-Science-Based-Strategy-Aging/dp/B0C4VSDWQ2"The Forever Strong PLAYBOOK: A Six-Week, Science-Based Plan to Sharpen Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Get Healthy at Any Age," by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon https://www.amazon.com/Forever-StrongTM-PLAYBOOK-Science-Based-Strengthen/dp/B0FL32CJ81"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z

    Muscle is the Organ for Longevity with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

  5. Sep 15

    Menopause Masterclass: Why Your Hair Is Thinning and What Works

    In this solo episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver tells the truth about hair loss in women over 40 — a medical condition with real, identifiable causes, not a vanity complaint to be dismissed as stress or aging. She breaks down the biology of the hair growth cycle and the hormonal mechanism driving midlife thinning: as estrogen declines, androgens like DHT take over at the follicle, shrinking it with every cycle. She walks through the five most common causes of hair loss in midlife women — female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium (including the dramatic shedding triggered by illness, surgery, stress, and rapid weight loss on GLP-1 medications), iron deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, and nutrient deficiencies and medications — plus the red flags, like bald patches, a receding hairline, or scalp scarring, that need a dermatologist immediately. Dr. Haver then details exactly how to advocate for yourself: the full lab workup to request (and why ferritin must be checked even when standard blood counts look normal), what to bring to your appointment, and the treatment options that actually work — from correcting deficiencies first, to topical and oral minoxidil, finasteride, spironolactone, PRP, microneedling, and laser therapy. She gives the honest answer on whether hormone therapy treats hair loss, which supplements have real evidence behind them, why biotin is unlikely to help without a true deficiency, and shares her own experience with both female pattern hair loss and a post-illness shed. The episode closes with a practical five-step action plan for documenting your hair loss, requesting the right tests, and getting the workup you deserve — because your hair is a vital sign. Resources:Download the FREE Midlife Hair Loss Guide https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-midlife-hair-loss-guideDr. Mary Claire Haver (Substack) https://drmaryclairehaver.substack.com/ Books:"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z

    Menopause Masterclass: Why Your Hair Is Thinning and What Works

  6. Sep 8

    Melinda French Gates Is Fighting to Close the Menopause Funding Gap

    In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Melinda French Gates, philanthropist and founder of Pivotal, to talk about her call for a "menopause revolution" — including the $215 million in new funding for women's health she announced in her New York Times essay, bringing her total investment in women's health to more than $600 million in two years. Melinda opens with the numbers driving her urgency: nearly one in three women over forty has menopause symptoms severe enough to disrupt her life, only about one in four gets treated, fewer than a third of OB-GYN training programs teach menopause at all, and just five cents of every dollar spent on medical research goes to women's health. Melinda shares her own story — how, despite what she calls unbelievable privilege and access to the best health care in the world, it took three doctors to get the right care for her symptoms, and how chronic insomnia and brain fog left her doubting herself walking into meetings with world leaders and CEOs. She and Dr. Haver trace how the Women's Health Initiative halted research, education, and hormone therapy almost overnight, why the health care system was built for men's bodies by default, the racial disparities leaving women of color to suffer most with the least treatment, and the new research she's funding through Wellcome Leap into women-specific heart disease and microvascular diagnostics. The episode closes with Melinda's concrete advice for every woman who wants change: advocate for yourself at the doctor's office, educate your friends with credible information, contact your representatives, and vote — because midlife shouldn't be an off-ramp, but one of the most vibrant chapters of a woman's life. Guest links:Melinda French Gates (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/@melindagatesMelinda French Gates (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/melindafrenchgates/Melinda French Gates (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/melindagates/Melinda French Gates (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindagates/Melinda French Gates (X) https://x.com/melindagatesPivotal https://www.pivotal.com/founderMoment of Lift Books https://www.momentoflift.com/Melinda French Gates at the Gates Foundation https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/leadership/melinda-french-gates Books:"The Next Day," by Melinda French Gates https://www.melindafrenchgates.com/"The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book"The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z

    Melinda French Gates Is Fighting to Close the Menopause Funding Gap

  7. Sep 1

    Testosterone Is Not a Male Hormone: Levels, Dosing, and What It Does During Menopause

    In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Mohit Khera, board-certified urologist and Professor of Urology at Baylor College of Medicine, where he holds the F. Brantley Scott Chair in Urology, to tell women the truth about testosterone — the hormone women actually make more of than estrogen, yet still cannot access in a single FDA-approved formulation. Dr. Khera explains why testosterone is one of the most biologically active hormones in the female body, with receptors in the brain, heart, bone, muscle, and genitalia, and why the research to prove its full benefits for women has simply never been funded. He walks through what low testosterone really looks like, how to get tested properly, why women with low libido are so often handed an SSRI that makes things worse, the truth about pellets, creams, and injections, which side effects are reversible and which are not, and the red flags to watch for when looking for a prescriber. He also shares why sexual dysfunction is a couple's disease, what he calls the "hormonally dangerous decade," and the one intervention he's found that makes women feel even better than hormones. Guest links: Dr. Mohit Khera (Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/drmohitkhera/ Dr. Mohit Khera (X) https://twitter.com/DrMohitKhera Dr. Mohit Khera (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmohitkhera/ Dr. Mohit Khera (Website) https://drmohitkhera.com/ Dr. Mohit Khera at Baylor College of Medicine https://www.bcm.edu/people-search/mohit-khera-24469 Books: "The New Perimenopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-new-perimenopause-book "The New Menopause," by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-Navigating-Through-Hormonal/dp/B0CKBZ4K1Z

    Testosterone Is Not a Male Hormone: Levels, Dosing, and What It Does During Menopause

  8. Aug 25

    Dr. Mary Claire Haver on Menopause: Recorded Live from LA with Dr. Rena Malik

    This episode of unPAUSED was recorded live at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles in front of an audience gathered to talk about perimenopause, menopause, hormones, sex, brain health, and bone health. Dr. Mary Claire Haver is joined on stage by Dr. Rena Malik, a board certified urologist, pelvic medicine specialist, and sexual health expert, for a wide ranging conversation about what is actually happening in women's bodies during the menopause transition, and what every woman navigating midlife health should know. The conversation moves through the zone of chaos that is perimenopause, the hormonal unpredictability behind mood changes, sleep disruption, brain fog, and rising inflammation. Dr. Haver traces how estrogen loss drives increases in cholesterol, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk, and explains why the fastest rate of bone loss happens in perimenopause, two years before a woman's final period, making a bone density baseline in your forties, not your sixties, the smarter move against osteoporosis later in life. Guest links: The ‘Pause Life Dr. Mary Claire Haver (Instagram) Dr. Mary Claire Haver (Facebook) Dr. Mary Claire Haver (YouTube) Dr. Mary Claire Haver (Substack) unPAUSED (Apple Podcasts) Books “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “The New Menopause"⁠ by Dr. Mary Claire Haver “Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women's Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives -- Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer,” by Dr. Avrum Bluming For full show notes, please click here.

    Dr. Mary Claire Haver on Menopause: Recorded Live from LA with Dr. Rena Malik
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Welcome to unPAUSED, the podcast where bold, unfiltered conversations take place about what it really takes for women to thrive in the second half of life. Every week, Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Certified Menopause Practitioner, and #1 New York Times best-selling author, tackles the conversations women actually need to hear. Dr. Haver sits down with a variety of medical experts, CEOs, and risk-takers to discuss everything that matters, from hormones and identity to financial power, relationships, and the tools needed to build the life you want. unPAUSED is about reclaiming your healthspan—not just the number of years you live, but the number of years you live well. Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes of unPAUSED. Subscribe now so you don't miss it.

Information

  • Channel
    Audacy
  • Creator
    Audacy | Mary Claire Haver, MD
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    Copyright © Mary Claire Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    unPAUSED with Dr. Mary Claire Haver

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