Women Aging Powerfully

Leah Vachani

Curious about unlocking the secrets to thriving through menopause? Join Leah Vachani, Certified Menopause Specialist & Nutrition Coach as each episode features dynamic discussions with top thought leaders in women's health, diving into crucial topics often overlooked by many health providers—nutrition, fitness, hormones, stress management, sleep and more. We simplify complex science into practical steps for your daily life, empowering you to tackle menopausal symptoms, conquer weight challenges, and boost your overall health. This isn't just about aging gracefully; it’s about aging powerfully!

  1. Jun 4

    The Pelvic Floor Truth Most Women Aren't Told (Leakage, Painful Sex, Perimenopause) with Jana Danielson #057

    Most women have been told their pelvic floor problems mean they're weak. Pelvic floor and Pilates expert Jana Danielson is here to set the record straight: most women are too tight, not too weak — and the kegels we've been doing for years may have been making things worse. In this conversation, Jana breaks down the real anatomy of the pelvic floor, the symptoms that connect back to it (leakage, painful sex, bloating, constipation, even jaw tension), why breath and posture matter more than another exercise, and the three-minute daily practice that can change everything. If you've ever quietly accepted any pelvic floor symptom as "just part of aging," this is your wake-up call. Full show notes here. → Watch on YouTube: @WomenAgingPowerfully → The CGM Metabolic Makeover — my flagship program for understanding your blood sugar in real time → Join the mailing list at leahvachani.com — episode summaries, recipes, and the things I'm learning → My FullScript Dispensary — special community discount on practitioner-grade supplements Connect with Jana → Website: bloombetter.life → Instagram: @jana.danielson → Facebook: The Cooch Ball → Substack: The Jana Danielson → Free download: Healthy Pelvic Floor eBook → Join us: 21-Day Belly Bloat Challenge (June 9–30, 2026) Mentioned in This Episode → The Cooch Ball — Jana's pelvic floor fitness tool → Joylux vFit — red-light intimate wellness device referenced for vaginal tissue health 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

    1h 18m

  2. May 29

    Intermittent Fasting for Women Over 40: What Actually Works in Menopause with Melanie Avalon #056

    Melanie Avalon — host of The Intermittent Fasting Podcast — joins Leah to bust the myths around intermittent fasting for women over 40. They cover the infamous rat study behind most of the fear, what recent research on postmenopausal women actually shows, what really breaks a fast (it’s probably your morning coffee ritual), the protein lever most women are missing, and two supplements that pair with fasting. Full Show Notes here. About the guest Melanie Avalon is the host of The Intermittent Fasting Podcast and The Melanie Avalon Biohacking Podcast, author of What When Wine, founder of the supplement line AvalonX, and creator of the food sensitivity app Food Sense Guide. Connect with Melanie Website: melanieavalon.com Find Your IF Style — Melanie’s quiz: melanieavalon.com/ifquiz AvalonX supplements (code LEAH for 10% off): avalonx.us 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

    44 min

  3. May 21

    Why You're Waking Up at 3 AM in Perimenopause (And What a Stanford Sleep Expert Says Actually Works) #055

    Waking up at 3 AM and can't fall back asleep? You're not imagining it, and you're not alone — sleep maintenance insomnia affects roughly 40 to 60% of women in perimenopause and menopause. In this episode, Stanford-trained behavioral sleep medicine specialist Dr. Sarah Silverman, PsyD, breaks down what's actually happening in your body, why melatonin is probably the wrong tool, and the evidence-based approach (called CBT-I) that has the strongest research behind it. We cover the 2 AM cortisol spike, sleep apnea in fit perimenopausal women that often gets missed, chronotypes, and the single most important thing you can do for sleep — which has more to do with your wake-up time than your bedtime.ABOUT THE GUESTDr. Sarah Silverman, PsyD is a licensed clinical health psychologist and Stanford-trained behavioral sleep medicine specialist. She is a former Stanford Sleep Medicine Clinical Fellow, former Director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, and former Director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine at Tampa General Hospital. Her practice focuses on helping women — especially in midlife — sleep again without medication, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Find her at drsarahsleep.com.CONNECT WITH DR. SARAHWebsite: drsarahsleep.comFree Sleep Masterclass — 3 Steps to Up-Level Your Sleep Confidence Get the full show notes at: https://leahvachani.com/post/why-waking-up-3am-perimenopause-sleep-055 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

    49 min

  4. May 14

    Should I Eat Fruit After 40? What Hibernating Bears Can Teach You About Sugar #054

    Should you stop eating fruit after 40? In this solo episode, Leah Vachani — Certified Nutritionist, Menopause Specialist, and Metabolism Coach — answers the question she hears on nearly every coaching call right now.Using what hibernating bears reveal about insulin resistance as a survival feature, what our ancestors actually did with fruit, and how declining estrogen changes the metabolic equation, Leah walks through a clear six-rule framework for eating fruit in perimenopause and menopause.Topics covered:Why "is modern fruit sweeter?" is the wrong questionThe bear story — and why insulin resistance can be a feature, not a bugWhy our ancestors ate fruit on a seasonal rhythmWhy estrogen decline changes your glucose response to fruitThe six-rule framework for eating fruit after 40How to use CGM data to write your own personal rules📖 Read the full deep-dive article: Is Fruit Healthy After 40? https://leahvachani.com/post/is-fruit-healthy-after-40-perimenopause-blood-sugar 🎧 Full show notes: https://leahvachani.com/post/is-fruit-healthy-after-40-054 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

    24 min

  5. May 7

    Why Most Diets Fail: How Emotional Eating and Food Addiction Keep You Stuck with Tricia Nelson ep #053

    If willpower keeps letting you down around food, this conversation is going to feel like an exhale. Emotional eating expert Tricia Nelson joins Leah for a real, honest look at why most diets fail, how to tell the difference between emotional eating and food addiction, and what to actually do about it. From her PEP test to the 24 personality traits underneath every binge, Tricia hands you a completely new way to think about why you eat the way you eat — and what real healing actually looks like. In This Episode We Cover How Tricia first realized she was an emotional eater (the sister story everyone relates to) Why avoiding tempting foods isn't a real strategy in modern life Emotional eating vs. food addiction: where you might fall on the spectrum The three real drivers of overeating: emotions, stress, and habit Why nighttime eating is so common (and what's actually driving it) Tricia's PEP test — Painkiller, Escape, Punishment The 24 personality traits behind emotional eating Why people-pleasing leads straight to the I-deserve-it bingeThe real solution: slowing down, three-meal magic, and communityWhy support isn't shameful — it's the fastest way through Resources from the Episode Tricia's website and free emotional eating quiz: healyourhunger.com Tricia's TEDx talk (over 2 million views): Emotional Eating: What if Weight Loss Isn't about the Food? Tricia's book: Heal Your Hunger: 7 Simple Steps to End Emotional Eating Now Tricia's podcast: Confessions of a Binge Eater Tricia on Instagram: @tricianelson_ Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

    44 min

  6. Apr 29

    Is Keto Bad for Women in Menopause? The Truth About Keto After 40 #052

    In this solo episode, Leah unpacks one of the most confusing questions in women's metabolic health right now: is keto actually bad for women in menopause? Drawing from the work of Dr. Ben Bikman, Dr. Lisa Mosconi, Dr. Jason Fung, Dr. Mindy Pelz, and Dr. Ralph DeFronzo, Leah breaks down what keto actually is (and isn't), why this conversation matters more in midlife than at any other stage, and the middle-path framework she uses with her clients to get the benefits without the burnout. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN What keto actually is, in plain language Why insulin resistance gets worse as estrogen declines How ketones may help fuel the menopausal brain When strict keto can backfire (cortisol, thyroid, stress) Why metabolic flexibility beats metabolic rigidity A practical framework you can start using this week PROGRAMS & RESOURCES MENTIONED CGM Metabolic Makeover program FullScript dispensary (15% community discount)Subscribe to the Women Aging Powerfully newsletter🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

    42 min

  7. Apr 23

    How Many Carbs Does Your Body REALLY Need? #051

    We've been told for decades to build our diets around carbohydrates. But what does the science actually say — and does the answer change for women going through perimenopause and menopause? In this solo episode, Leah Vachani unpacks the history of the low-fat movement, explains what carbohydrates do in the body and why insulin is the hormone you need to understand, and dives deep into how declining estrogen changes your carb metabolism in ways most doctors never explain. Drawing on research from Dr. Ben Bikman, Dr. Robert Lustig, Dr. Jason Fung, Dr. Lisa Mosconi, Dr. Ralph DeFronzo, and Dr. Mindy Pelz, this episode offers a clear, practical framework for how to eat in a way that actually works with your hormonal reality — not against it.   In This Episode The history of the diet-heart hypothesis and how Ancel Keys shaped decades of nutrition advice Why carbohydrates are not classified as an essential nutrient How glucose, insulin, and fat storage are connected How estrogen acts as an insulin sensitizer — and what happens when it declines ZOE PREDICT study: why post-menopausal women have dramatically higher blood sugar responses to the same meals Dr. Lisa Mosconi's brain imaging research on glucose metabolism and the menopausal brain Why brain fog, 2am waking, hot flashes, and cravings can all have a blood sugar component A tiered carb framework: ketogenic / low-carb / moderate-carb — with actual numbers The kindling vs. log analogy for understanding metabolic fuel switching Which lab markers to ask for — and why fasting insulin matters more than fasting glucose How CGMs make all of this personal and actionable Teaser: next week's episode — Is ketosis bad for women in perimenopause and menopause?  Get the full show notes here. 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List 💚 FullScript Dispensary (My community gets a 15% discount!) 💚 AG1 Greens - With my special link, you will receive an exclusive subscription introductory offer worth $205 for only $79! Books Why We Get Sick — Dr. Ben Bikman (2020) Fat Chance — Dr. Robert Lustig (2012) Metabolical — Dr. Robert Lustig (2021) The Obesity Code — Dr. Jason Fung (2016) The Menopause Brain — Dr. Lisa Mosconi (2024) The XX Brain — Dr. Lisa Mosconi (2020) Grain Brain — Dr. David Perlmutter (2013) Fast Like a Girl — Dr. Mindy Pelz (2022) Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

    38 min

  8. Apr 8

    The Truth About Food Labels, Clean Eating, and Going Low Carb Without Feeling Deprived — with Anna Vocino #050

    After a celiac diagnosis forced her to rethink everything she ate, Anna Vocino didn't just figure out how to feed herself — she built a food company. Today she's the founder of Eat Happy Kitchen, a bestselling cookbook author, and co-host of the Fitness Confidential podcast, and she's spent years helping others find joy in eating well without sacrificing flavor.In this conversation, Anna and Leah dig into low-carb strategies, the truth behind food labels, what happens to insulin sensitivity when estrogen declines, and the emotional complexity of changing how you eat during midlife. What We Cover Anna's story: from celiac diagnosis to clean food entrepreneur Why insulin resistance increases as estrogen declines — and what to do about it Simple low-carb swaps for pasta, rice, pizza, and comfort food classics The 30-to-60-day taste bud reset and why it's worth the discomfort Meal planning strategies that hold up on real, tired weeknights How to read food labels — and what brands are legally allowed to hide Why "net carbs" can be misleading and what to focus on instead The emotional and cultural relationship women have with food during midlife Navigating wine, celebrations, and social eating without guilt Voting with your wallet and supporting clean food brands Full show notes here 🔥 Resources/Links Mentioned: Eat Happy Kitchen Anna's Cookbooks: Eat Happy | Eat Happy Too | Eat Happy Low Carb Italian | Eat Happy Cocktail Hour (2026) Connect with Anna on her website Anna on Instagram @annavocino Chlorella supplement mentioned by Leah | code 'LEAHV' to save 20% 🎙️ Submit YOUR podcast question here: https://www.speakpipe.com/LeahVachani or via written format here. 💌 Leah's Mailing List: https://leahvachani.com 💚 FullScript Dispensary: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/lvachani (My community gets a 15% discount!) Connect with Leah... ✨ Follow Leah on Instagram for more value-packed content, tips, and lots of laughs! ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/leahvachani/ ⁠ ✨ Subscribe to Women Aging Powerfully on YouTube for more free content. ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@WomenAgingPowerfully ✨ Join the free Women Aging Powerfully Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenagingpowerfully ✨ Listen to the Women Aging Powerfully Podcast: https://leahvachani.com/podcast ✨ Lose that stubborn belly weight, reclaim your energy ALL day, sleep better, and feel amazing with Leah's signature course: https://leahvachani.com/cgm-reset-register-now The information provided during this podcast is for educational purposes only. The speaker may be a licensed medical professional and may present case studies of actual patients or refer to patients' treatment during the program. Please be reminded that the Scope of Practice for Holistic Nutrition Professionals prevents us from diagnosing, preventing, treating, curing, prescribing, managing, or healing disease. Holistic Nutrition Professionals are not licensed in any state and work with clients, not patients.

    1 hr
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Curious about unlocking the secrets to thriving through menopause? Join Leah Vachani, Certified Menopause Specialist & Nutrition Coach as each episode features dynamic discussions with top thought leaders in women's health, diving into crucial topics often overlooked by many health providers—nutrition, fitness, hormones, stress management, sleep and more. We simplify complex science into practical steps for your daily life, empowering you to tackle menopausal symptoms, conquer weight challenges, and boost your overall health. This isn't just about aging gracefully; it’s about aging powerfully!

Information

  • Creator
    Leah Vachani
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Leah Vachani
  • Show Website
    Women Aging Powerfully

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