Unstoppable At Any Age

Dr. Shawna Darou, ND

Inspiring stories and science-backed insight from women who continue to build strength, performance, and possibility with age. Hosted by Dr. Shawna Darou, ND, Unstoppable at Any Age is the voice of Women Who Move - a global movement grounded in one belief: how we move today determines how we live tomorrow. Each episode features conversations with athletes, scientists, founders, and leaders who are expanding what is possible in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. These women are training, competing, leading, and building lives defined by strength, independence, and momentum.

  1. 5d ago

    20. There's always a way with Jill Moreash

    Movement isn't reserved for athletes. It isn't only for people without pain, injuries, or physical limitations. In this episode of Unstoppable at Any Age, I sit down with fitness professional, educator, and adaptive movement specialist Jill Moreash to talk about one of the most important messages I've shared on this podcast: There is always a way to move. Jill has spent decades helping people of every age and ability become stronger, more confident, and more independent. From older adults and people living with disabilities to individuals recovering from cancer, spinal cord injuries, and major surgeries, she's seen firsthand how movement can transform lives when we stop trying to force our bodies into exercise and instead adapt exercise to fit our bodies. We also explore why movement is about so much more than fitness. It's about maintaining independence. Protecting brain health. Preventing falls. Supporting healthy aging. And creating a life where you can continue doing the things you love for as long as possible. Whether you've exercised your whole life or you're wondering if it's simply too late to begin, this conversation is a reminder that every step counts - and that it's never too late to start. Why movement should be adapted to your body - not the other way around How people of every age and ability can become stronger Inspiring stories of clients who refused to let injuries, cancer, or disability define them Why strength training, balance, and mobility become even more important as we age The connection between exercise, brain health, and cognitive function Simple ways to add more movement into everyday life Why accountability often matters more than motivation The importance of recovery, nutrition, and listening to your body during midlife How movement supports healthspan—not just lifespan Why it's never too late to discover an activity you love Practical ways to begin if walking into a gym feels intimidating The mindset shift that can change how you think about aging forever One of my favourite moments from this conversation was when Jill said: "There's always a way." No matter your age. No matter your ability. No matter what life has thrown your way. Movement is still possible - and every small step forward matters. 💜 Join my free community, #WomenWhoMove https://drshawnadarou.com/start-here 📖 Download my free guide, Fueling for Hormones & Metabolic Health https://drshawnadarou.com/fueling-for-health 💪 Learn more about Metabolic Mastery https://drshawnadarou.com/metabolic-mastery 💪 Learn more about Jill Moreash - Your Wellnes Warriorhttps://yourwellnesswarrior.ca In this episode, we discuss:Ready to keep moving?

  2. Jul 30

    19. The science that changed how I think about aging

    If I could convince every woman to do one thing for the next 30 years, it would be to keep moving. In this solo episode, I'm sharing the real reason I've shifted so much of my focus - and my career - toward women's movement. Not hormones. Not supplements. Movement. After 22+ years as a naturopathic doctor and thousands of appointments with women, I've come to believe that exercise is the single biggest longevity lever we have - bigger than nutrition, bigger than anything in a bottle. And with both my mother and stepmother living with Alzheimer's and dementia, this has become deeply personal, not just clinical. I also share my own story: how I became a masters track athlete after menopause, what it was like competing at the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships in Geneva, Ohio, and why watching women in their 60s, 70s, and 80s compete completely changed my outlook on aging. Then we get into the research - three studies that reshaped how I think about brain health, strength, and what's actually possible as we age: A 44-year Swedish study connecting midlife cardiovascular fitness to an 88% lower risk of dementia A twin study showing leg strength predicts brain structure and cognitive decline, independent of genetics 30+ years of research using female masters athletes as a model for healthy cardiovascular aging In this episode, we discuss: Why I've shifted my career focus toward women's movement, not just hormones My mission to get one million women moving - and what Women Who Move is My own journey into masters track running after menopause Competing at USATF Masters Outdoor Championships and coming home with two silver medals The difference between healthspan and lifespan The 2018 Swedish study linking cardiovascular fitness to dementia risk Why VO2 max matters more than most people realize The 2016 twin study connecting leg strength to brain structure and cognitive decline Why muscle functions as an endocrine organ (and what muscle has to do with your brain) 30 years of masters athlete research on cardiovascular aging Three practical takeaways One of my favourite lines from this episode: "These women are becoming living proof that decline is not the only story available to us." Sometimes the most powerful medicine isn't a prescription. It's a reason to move. If you'd like more support with movement, metabolic health, and healthy aging: Join my free community → #WomenWhoMove Join my free upcoming Masterclass "Normal Isn't Optimal" Reminder: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women realize how much they still have ahead of them.

  3. Jul 23

    18. Your body is not a problem to solve with Carmen McDonald.

    For so many women, health has become synonymous with weight loss. We spend years trying to make our bodies smaller, leaner, or more acceptable, believing that confidence will come once we finally reach the "right" number on the scale. But what if we've been asking the wrong question all along? In this episode of Unstoppable at Any Age, I sit down with health coach, behavior strategist, and fitness professional Carmen McDonald to explore what happened when she stopped chasing the perfect body and started building a healthier relationship with herself. After years of competing at a national level in fitness competitions, Carmen found herself physically depleted, emotionally exhausted, and deep into perimenopause without realizing it. Today, she's found a completely different path through sprinting, strength, cardiovascular health, and learning to trust her body again. This conversation isn't just about menopause. It's about redefining what health really looks like. • Why your body is not a problem to be solved • The hidden emotional impact of chasing weight loss • How sprinting helped Carmen reconnect with her body • The surprising benefits of training for performance instead of appearance • Why consistency always beats perfection • The importance of muscle, movement, and metabolic health during menopause • Why cardiovascular disease should be on every woman's radar • The role of self-awareness in creating lasting health habits • Letting go of who you were at 20 and embracing who you're becoming • Why community can completely change your health journey One of my favourite moments from this conversation was when Carmen said: "My body is not a problem to be solved. It's a relationship to heal." I think every woman needs to hear that. Sometimes the greatest transformation isn't changing your body. It's changing the way you see it. 💜 Join my free community, #WomenWhoMove https://drshawnadarou.com/start-here 📖 Download my free guide: Fueling for Hormones & Metabolic Health https://drshawnadarou.com/fueling-for-health 💪 Learn more about Metabolic Mastery https://drshawnadarou.com/metabolic-mastery Connect with Carmen: www.nourishlongevity.ca and www.myheartfitness.ca. Instagram @carmenshawnlifestyle In this episode, we discuss:

  4. Jul 16

    17. You are not fragile with Marni Weiner

    You are not fragile. You are capable of becoming stronger, more confident, and more resilient at any age. In this episode of Unstoppable at Any Age, I sit down with fitness instructor Marni Weiner to talk about strength, movement, healthy aging, and what becomes possible when we stop placing limits on ourselves. Marni’s relationship with fitness began in her 20s after she developed severe back pain. Her doctor told her that unless she strengthened her back and core, she would likely continue living in pain. Within days, she joined a gym. Strength training and yoga helped Marni move out of pain, but they also changed the way she thought about exercise. Movement was no longer something she did simply to stay in shape or change how she looked. It became something she intended to do for life. Today, at 58, Marni teaches challenging strength, yoga, and Pilates classes while encouraging everyone in the room to work with their own body, respect their limitations, and remain open to discovering what they are capable of. What I love most about this conversation is that it isn’t simply about exercise. It’s about refusing to see yourself as fragile. It’s about returning after injuries, questioning the beliefs that keep you small, and treating your strength as something worth protecting for the rest of your life. In this episode, we discuss: How strengthening her back and core helped Marni move out of chronic pain Why staying active can be important when your body feels stiff or uncomfortable How to modify exercise around injuries without giving up movement completely Why women over 40 need proper guidance when beginning strength training The importance of eating enough food and protein to maintain muscle Why maintaining muscle can become more challenging after 50 How to know when it’s time to increase your weights Why progress requires moving beyond what feels comfortable Why exercising with other people can feel different from working out alone How community helps women remain active for decades Why the hardest part is often simply walking through the door How to begin again if you haven’t exercised consistently in years One moment that really stayed with me was Marni’s story about breaking her wrist. While she was being assessed, someone described her as “fragile.” That word immediately bothered her. When women begin believing they are fragile, they may stop lifting, challenging themselves, and doing the very things that help protect their muscles, bones, balance, and independence. Marni’s message is the opposite. You can respect your body without underestimating it. You can modify without giving up. You can experience an injury without making it your identity. And you can always begin where you are. When I asked Marni what being Unstoppable at any Age means to her, she said: “No matter how many times you fall down, you get back up. No matter how many times you fail, you don’t stop trying. No matter how many times you think you can’t, you can choose that you can.” Whether you’re returning to movement after an injury, picking up weights for the first time, or simply trying to feel stronger in your everyday life, it is not too late. Start with the walk. Make the phone call. Join the class. Give yourself one repetition. The hardest step may be the first one, but once you take it, you’re already on your way. Ready to keep moving? 💜 Join my free community, #WomenWhoMovehttps://drshawnadarou.com/start-here 📖 Download my free guide, Fueling for Hormones & Metabolic Healthhttps://drshawnadarou.com/fueling-for-health 💪 Learn more about Metabolic Masteryhttps://drshawnadarou.com/metabolic-mastery Reminder: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women discover what is possible as they age.

  5. Jul 9

    16. You don’t have to be fast to belong with Lynn Bourque

    You don't have to be fast to belong. You don't need a background in sports. You don't even need to call yourself a runner. In this episode of Unstoppable at Any Age, I sit down with Lynn Bourque, owner of Toronto's iconic The Runner's Shop, marathon runner, run leader, and someone who has spent more than 25 years helping people discover what running can add to their lives. Lynn didn't grow up as an athlete. She started running in her 30s because she wanted to lose weight before getting pregnant. One run around the block turned into a lifetime of friendships, six World Marathon Majors, and eventually owning Canada's oldest independent running store. What I love most about this conversation is that it isn't really about running. It's about community. Confidence. Learning to see yourself as an athlete, no matter your pace. • How Lynn went from beginner runner to completing all six World Marathon Majors • Why consistency matters more than speed • The biggest mistakes new runners make • Why community keeps women running for decades • How to start running if you've never considered yourself "a runner" • Why proper shoes, fueling, and hydration matter • The power of age-group racing and age-graded scoring • Why women often underestimate what they deserve as athletes • How running builds confidence far beyond fitness • Why movement becomes even more meaningful as we age One of my favourite moments came near the end of our conversation when Lynn said: "I have a right to be here. The stop signs are fake news." I absolutely love that. Whether you're starting at 35, returning at 55, or still running in your 70s, you belong here. 💜 Join my free community, #WomenWhoMove https://drshawnadarou.com/start-here 📖 Download my free guide, Fueling for Hormones & Metabolic Health https://drshawnadarou.com/fueling-for-health 💪 Learn more about Metabolic Mastery https://drshawnadarou.com/metabolic-mastery Visit The Runners Shop - https://www.therunnersshop.com/ Reminder: This podcast is for education only and should never replace personalized medical advice. Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women discover what's possible as they age. In this episode, we discuss:Ready to keep moving?

  6. Jul 2

    15. When your life no longer fits with Alison Taylor

    Perimenopause changes more than your hormones. For many women, it changes how they see their work, relationships, priorities, and themselves. In this episode, I sit down with health and nutrition coach Alison Taylor to talk about the physical and emotional reality of moving through perimenopause and menopause. Alison shares her own experience navigating mood changes, disrupted sleep, metabolic changes, and the feeling that the life she'd built no longer fit. That realization led to a series of changes over several years - from leaving the city, changing careers, becoming a health coach, and creating a life that aligned much more closely with what she truly needed. We also talk about something I believe deserves much more attention. Perimenopause isn't simply a hormone transition. It's often a life transition. • Why perimenopause looks different for every woman • The symptoms that caught Alison by surprise • Why lifestyle should be the foundation of menopause care • Exercise, metabolic health, nervous system regulation, and hormones • The emotional changes that often accompany perimenopause • Learning to listen when your body tells you something isn't working • Career changes, moving, and creating a life that feels aligned • Why women often reinvent themselves during midlife • The importance of having someone to talk to through menopause • Why movement, nutrition, and protein matter more than ever One of my favourite moments from this conversation was when Alison said: "Stay open to reinventing yourself." Sometimes your body isn't breaking down. Sometimes it's asking you to build something different. Join my free community → #womenwhomove Learn more about Metabolic Mastery here. Lean more about Alison here: Website: alisontaylorwellness.com, Instagram: @alisontwellness Reminder: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women realize they aren't alone. In this episode, we discuss:If you'd like more support navigating perimenopause and menopause:

  7. Jun 25

    14. Aging is a privilege with Shannon Wilson

    What if aging isn't something to fear? What if it's a privilege? In this episode, I sit down with Shannon Wilson, a palliative care nurse, marathon runner, Ironman athlete, mother of five, grandmother of three, and one of the most inspiring women I've met through the endurance sports community. Shannon has completed 26 marathons and is currently training for her 10th Ironman. What makes this conversation so powerful isn't just her athletic accomplishments. It's the perspective she has gained through decades of caring for people at the end of life. Every day, Shannon works with people who thought they had more time. That experience has shaped how she thinks about movement, aging, health, and what it means to truly live. This conversation is about setting meaningful goals, staying active through every stage of life, and refusing to let age define what is possible. • How Shannon completed 26 marathons and 9 Ironmans - and why she's training for number 10 • The teacher who inspired her dream of becoming an Ironman athlete • Why having something to train for creates purpose and structure • How menopause has changed her recovery, training, and sleep • The role strength training plays in staying healthy and injury-free • Balancing training, family, work, aging parents, children, and grandchildren • Lessons learned from working in palliative care • Why aging is a privilege, not a guarantee • The importance of movement for longevity and quality of life • Why "don't stop moving" has become her philosophy One of my favourite moments from this conversation was when Shannon said: "Aging is a privilege. It's not guaranteed." That perspective changes everything. Join my free community → #womenwhomove Download my free guide → Fueling for Hormones & Metabolic Health . Reminder: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women rethink what's possible as they age. In this episode, we discuss:Want more support?

  8. Jun 18

    13. What happens when you finally choose yourself with Cath Cowan

    There comes a point when the life that worked for years... stops working. Not because you've failed. Not because something is wrong with you. But because you've changed. In this episode, I sit down with leadership transformation coach Catherine Cowan for a conversation about one of the most common experiences I see in women during midlife. The feeling that something no longer fits. Your career. Your relationships. The expectations you've carried for years. The version of yourself you've been trying to maintain. For many women, this happens during perimenopause and menopause. There's a growing awareness that you've spent years caring for everyone else, performing, achieving, and meeting expectations - while losing touch with your own needs in the process. This conversation explores what happens when you start listening to yourself again. • Why so many women experience major life changes in midlife• The connection between perimenopause and self-discovery• Releasing people-pleasing, perfectionism, and over-performing• Learning to trust your intuition again• Why exhaustion can become a powerful teacher• How to reconnect with your own needs and desires• The role of compassion and curiosity during times of change• Why asking for support is a strength, not a weakness• Practical journaling prompts for building self-awareness and clarity• How to navigate transitions with more confidence and self-trust One of my favourite moments from this conversation was when Katherine said: "Your intuition never goes away. What disappears is the mechanism for listening." I think every woman needs to hear that. Here are the journal prompts from this episode: I am grateful for... I feel... What I know to be true is... I desire... I choose... I ask God / Spirit / Universe for... Join my free community → #womenwhomove https://drshawnadarou.com/start-here Download my free guide → Fueling for Hormones & Metabolic Health https://drshawnadarou.com/fueling-for-health Follow Catherine Cowan online: https://www.instagram.com/catherinecowan_/  Reminder: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Subscribe, rate, and review to help more women realize they are not alone. In this episode, we discuss:Journaling Prompts from CatherineWant more support?

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About

Inspiring stories and science-backed insight from women who continue to build strength, performance, and possibility with age. Hosted by Dr. Shawna Darou, ND, Unstoppable at Any Age is the voice of Women Who Move - a global movement grounded in one belief: how we move today determines how we live tomorrow. Each episode features conversations with athletes, scientists, founders, and leaders who are expanding what is possible in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. These women are training, competing, leading, and building lives defined by strength, independence, and momentum.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Shawna Darou, ND
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Shawna Darou, ND
  • Show Website
    Unstoppable At Any Age

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