The Second Half Strong Show

Heather Hausman

Real Talk on Perimenopause, Hormones & Midlife Health If you’ve been doing “all the right things” — eating clean, working out, pushing through — and your body still feels different after 40… this show is for you. The Second Half Strong Show is where strength meets science for women navigating perimenopause, hormones, and midlife health. Hosted by Heather Hausman of H2, this podcast breaks down what’s actually happening inside your body during perimenopause — from shifting estrogen and rising cortisol to muscle loss, belly fat changes, sleep disruption, and nervous system overload. No fear tactics.No extreme trends.No shame. Just real conversations about: • Hormones & physiology• Metabolic health & muscle• Nervous system regulation• Body recomposition• Longevity & performance in midlife Because perimenopause isn’t the beginning of decline. It’s the beginning of a different kind of strength. Welcome to your second half — stronger.

  1. 4d ago

    Whose Voice Is It? Mindy Gorman-Plutzer on Food, Fear, and Coming Home to Yourself in Midlife

    So many of us carry our relationship with food quietly. Then perimenopause arrives, the old rules stop working, and the instinct is to clamp down harder. My guest this week, Mindy Gorman-Plutzer, has spent decades helping women make peace with food. She's a Certified Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Practitioner, a Board Certified Integrative Health Coach, a Certified Eating Psychology Coach, and the author of The Freedom Promise and Midlife Metamorphosis. Mindy shares her own story of living inside diet culture for most of her adult life, the difference between doing recovery and being recovered, and why she went back to school at 55. We talk about the gap between information and a rule book, the seven steps of The Freedom Promise, her four R framework (Recognize, Reject, Reclaim, Radically Accept), and the one small practice she'd start with: one pause before one meal, and one question. What am I really hungry for? Connect with Mindy at mindy@thefreedompromise.com  Instagram: @thefreedompromise  Ready to Build Your Strongest Second Half? The podcast is just the beginning. If you're ready for deeper guidance, structured training, and support, explore the programs and resources below. Join the Substack Community here!    Have a question or comment for the show?  Call us at +1 816-342-5579 Free Resources Second Half Strong Starter Guide: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/welcomeTake the Quiz: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/quiz Programs Steady & Glow 6-Week Reset for Women in Perimenopause + Menopause (use code "podcast" for $25 off): https://glow.heatherhausman.com/ Second Half Strong Elite Membership: https://www.heatherhausman.com/elite Longevity Blueprint: https://www.journeyforlongevity.com Gut Harmony: https://www.heatherhausman.com/serv...

  2. Oct 19

    Your Ears Are Changing Too: Hearing, Hormones & Midlife with Dr. Pamela Nelson

    Itchy ears. Ringing that shows up out of nowhere. Suddenly struggling to follow the conversation at a busy dinner. If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Heather sits down with Dr. Pamela Nelson, Doctor of Audiology and owner of Quality Hearing & Audiology Center in St. Joseph, Missouri, for the perimenopause conversation almost nobody is having: what's happening with your ears. They cover why your ears itch and the common culprits to rule out, how hormonal shifts may play a role in how we hear, what tinnitus is really signaling, the sneaky early signs of hearing loss, and why research keeps connecting hearing with brain health. Dr. Nelson walks through exactly what happens at a hearing test and shares her three biggest takeaways: get a baseline, never wait on sudden hearing loss, and protect your ears every time things get loud. Your body is always talking to you. This one's about learning to listen. Ready to Build Your Strongest Second Half? The podcast is just the beginning. If you're ready for deeper guidance, structured training, and support, explore the programs and resources below. Join the Substack Community here!    Have a question or comment for the show?  Call us at +1 816-342-5579 Free Resources Second Half Strong Starter Guide: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/welcomeTake the Quiz: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/quiz Programs Steady & Glow 6-Week Reset for Women in Perimenopause + Menopause (use code "podcast" for $25 off): https://glow.heatherhausman.com/ Second Half Strong Elite Membership: https://www.heatherhausman.com/elite Longevity Blueprint: https://www.journeyforlongevity.com Gut Harmony: https://www.heatherhausman.com/serv...

  3. Oct 12

    Our Grandmothers Knew: Old-School Food Pairings That Make Your Nutrients Work

    Supplement timing, nutrient pairing, and food combinations for women in perimenopause and menopause. Taking a handful of supplements every day and not sure they're doing anything? In this episode, Heather shares the old-school food pairings our grandmothers got right long before anyone could explain why, the nutrient pairs that help each other, and the ones that quietly compete. In this episode: Sushi, wasabi, and ginger: the centuries-old pairing that turns out to be food safetySauerkraut, Captain Cook, and scurvy: why fermenting cabbage makes it more nutritious, not lessVinegar-soaked onions and cucumbers: the side dish that may blunt a blood sugar spikeWhy vitamins A, D, E and K need a little fat (and what olive oil does for your salad)Turmeric and black pepper: why the golden milk recipe includes bothCalcium and iron: why taking them together can work against you, and how vitamin C helpsA simple action plan to try this week Why the goal isn't a fuller supplement shelf This episode is for education only and isn't medical advice. Talk with your practitioner or pharmacist before changing how or when you take any supplement or medication. Ready to Build Your Strongest Second Half? The podcast is just the beginning. If you're ready for deeper guidance, structured training, and support, explore the programs and resources below. Join the Substack Community here!    Have a question or comment for the show?  Call us at +1 816-342-5579 Free Resources Second Half Strong Starter Guide: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/welcomeTake the Quiz: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/quiz Programs Steady & Glow 6-Week Reset for Women in Perimenopause + Menopause (use code "podcast" for $25 off): https://glow.heatherhausman.com/ Second Half Strong Elite Membership: https://www.heatherhausman.com/elite Longevity Blueprint: https://www.journeyforlongevity.com Gut Harmony: https://www.heatherhausman.com/serv...

  4. Oct 5

    Your Body Is Talking: Dori Martin on Minerals, Stress, and the Basics We Skip

    Midlife fatigue, stress, and a mineral test most women have never heard of. That's where this conversation with Dori Martin starts. Dori is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and certified hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) practitioner who works with women in midlife. After years of caregiving, she was doing everything "right" and still felt depleted. What changed things for her wasn't anything flashy. It was the basics. In this episode: ✔️ Dori's story of burnout after years of caregiving ✔️ What a hair tissue mineral analysis is and how the sample is collected ✔️ Why stress catches up with so many women in midlife ✔️ The unglamorous basics we skip because they don't feel productive ✔️ Why stillness feels so uncomfortable, and what shifts when you keep at it ✔️ The question Dori wishes more women would ask about their symptoms Share this one with the woman who's doing all the things and still running on empty. Connect with Dori: dorimartin.com | Instagram @midlifeenergy.dori  Connect with Heather: https://heatherhausman.com | Instagram @h2_pt_ This episode is for education and inspiration, not medical advice. Please talk with your healthcare provider before starting supplements, ordering testing, or changing any medication, including hormone therapy. Ready to Build Your Strongest Second Half? The podcast is just the beginning. If you're ready for deeper guidance, structured training, and support, explore the programs and resources below. Join the Substack Community here!    Have a question or comment for the show?  Call us at +1 816-342-5579 Free Resources Second Half Strong Starter Guide: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/welcomeTake the Quiz: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/quiz Programs Steady & Glow 6-Week Reset for Women in Perimenopause + Menopause (use code "podcast" for $25 off): https://glow.heatherhausman.com/ Second Half Strong Elite Membership: https://www.heatherhausman.com/elite Longevity Blueprint: https://www.journeyforlongevity.com Gut Harmony: https://www.heatherhausman.com/serv...

  5. Sep 28

    You've Been Told Cardio Has to Hurt to Work. It Doesn't. Zone 2 Training, Explained

    Zone 2 training might be the most underrated workout for women in perimenopause, and it's supposed to feel almost too easy. If you think a workout doesn't count unless you're wiped out for the rest of the day, this episode is for you. Heather breaks down zone 2: the steady, conversational effort where you're working but not straining. She also gets honest about where the zone 2 hype outruns the evidence. In this episode:  ✔️ What zone 2 is, and how to know you did it right  ✔️ The simple talk test for finding your zone, no gadgets required  ✔️ Why estrogen and your mitochondria are part of this conversation  ✔️ How much to aim for, and how to start small  ✔️ How to fit zone 2 around your strength training, not instead of it  ✔️ Easy ways to get it in, including a standing walk with a friend Consider this your permission to go slower and still do meaningful work for your body. Share this one with the woman who thinks every workout has to leave her exhausted. Connect with Heather: https://heatherhausman.com | Instagram @h2_pt_ Some medications change how your heart rate responds to exercise. If you take one or have a heart condition, talk with your provider before using heart rate targets. This episode is for education and inspiration, not medical advice. Please talk with your healthcare provider before starting a new exercise routine. Ready to Build Your Strongest Second Half? The podcast is just the beginning. If you're ready for deeper guidance, structured training, and support, explore the programs and resources below. Join the Substack Community here!    Have a question or comment for the show?  Call us at +1 816-342-5579 Free Resources Second Half Strong Starter Guide: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/welcomeTake the Quiz: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/quiz Programs Steady & Glow 6-Week Reset for Women in Perimenopause + Menopause (use code "podcast" for $25 off): https://glow.heatherhausman.com/ Second Half Strong Elite Membership: https://www.heatherhausman.com/elite Longevity Blueprint: https://www.journeyforlongevity.com Gut Harmony: https://www.heatherhausman.com/serv...

  6. Sep 21

    Your Bones Need a Team: Calcium Is Just One Player

    Calcium gets all the credit for strong bones, but it was never meant to work alone. In this solo episode, Heather breaks down why bone health shifts so quickly in the years around menopause, and why what you do right now matters most. You'll meet the nutrient team that helps calcium get where it belongs, and learn why your daily walk isn't enough on its own. In this episode: Calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and K2, and why they work as one teamWhy a standard magnesium blood test may not tell the whole storyProtein as your bones' scaffoldingWhy bones need strength training and impact, not just movementDEXA vs. REMS: why a baseline bone scan matters, even if it comes back normalA note on vitamin K: if you take a blood thinner, talk with your provider before adding K2 or K2-rich foods like natto. Share this one with the woman who thinks her daily walk has her bones covered. Connect with Heather: https://heatherhausman.com | Instagram @h2_pt_ This episode is for education and inspiration, not medical advice. Please talk with your healthcare provider before starting new supplements or testing. Ready to Build Your Strongest Second Half? The podcast is just the beginning. If you're ready for deeper guidance, structured training, and support, explore the programs and resources below. Join the Substack Community here!    Have a question or comment for the show?  Call us at +1 816-342-5579 Free Resources Second Half Strong Starter Guide: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/welcomeTake the Quiz: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/quiz Programs Steady & Glow 6-Week Reset for Women in Perimenopause + Menopause (use code "podcast" for $25 off): https://glow.heatherhausman.com/ Second Half Strong Elite Membership: https://www.heatherhausman.com/elite Longevity Blueprint: https://www.journeyforlongevity.com Gut Harmony: https://www.heatherhausman.com/serv...

  7. Sep 7

    The Wisdom Years: Coming Home to Yourself with Dana Frost

    Some conversations feel different because they are. This one is with my friend Dana Frost, who has been through the perimenopausal transition herself. Dana has been in the wellness industry since 2007. She's a Master Certified Life Coach, a Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Practitioner, and a HeartMath® facilitator, and she hosts the Vitally You® podcast. She tells the story of what her own transition actually looked like — fatigue that didn't make sense, sleep that stopped being reliable, and a practitioner who told her it was all in her head. Then she walked out and kept asking questions until someone finally investigated. Her recovery wasn't one intervention. It was several things, addressed slowly. The practice she resisted hardest — resting every day — is the one she credits most. We also get into the identity shift nobody puts on a graphic, what Dana calls the wisdom years, and a breathing practice she taught me in 2019 that I still use. Connect with Dana: danafrost.com | the Vitally You® podcast Connect with Heather: heatherhausman.com | @h2_pt_ A personal story and a conversation between two coaches — not medical advice. If something here sounds like you, bring it to a clinician who will actually listen. Ready to Build Your Strongest Second Half? The podcast is just the beginning. If you're ready for deeper guidance, structured training, and support, explore the programs and resources below. Join the Substack Community here!    Have a question or comment for the show?  Call us at +1 816-342-5579 Free Resources Second Half Strong Starter Guide: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/welcomeTake the Quiz: https://h2.heatherhausman.com/quiz Programs Steady & Glow 6-Week Reset for Women in Perimenopause + Menopause (use code "podcast" for $25 off): https://glow.heatherhausman.com/ Second Half Strong Elite Membership: https://www.heatherhausman.com/elite Longevity Blueprint: https://www.journeyforlongevity.com Gut Harmony: https://www.heatherhausman.com/serv...

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Real Talk on Perimenopause, Hormones & Midlife Health If you’ve been doing “all the right things” — eating clean, working out, pushing through — and your body still feels different after 40… this show is for you. The Second Half Strong Show is where strength meets science for women navigating perimenopause, hormones, and midlife health. Hosted by Heather Hausman of H2, this podcast breaks down what’s actually happening inside your body during perimenopause — from shifting estrogen and rising cortisol to muscle loss, belly fat changes, sleep disruption, and nervous system overload. No fear tactics.No extreme trends.No shame. Just real conversations about: • Hormones & physiology• Metabolic health & muscle• Nervous system regulation• Body recomposition• Longevity & performance in midlife Because perimenopause isn’t the beginning of decline. It’s the beginning of a different kind of strength. Welcome to your second half — stronger.