The Positive Pause National Menopause Foundation

Joining me on the podcast today is Jennifer Garrison PhD. Jennifer is an assistant professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and also holds appointments in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California.
Dr. Garrison’s research focuses on understating how chemical communication between the brain and other tissues influence aging. 
Running a research lab is just one part of Dr. Garrison’s work. Understanding aging on a molecular level is a key part of her work at the Buck Institute. The goal is to understand the underlying causes of aging as a way to tackle multiple diseases at the same time. 
“The goal is to increase health span . . . increase that period of time when you are healthy.”  Jennifer Garrison 
Jennifer explains that she believes that the brain is the key player for systemic aging. She explains how the brain is controlling what’s happening, by listening to and recording feedback from all the organs in your body. 
Dr. Garrison organized the International Scientific Conference Focused on Reproductive Aging. As we make progress extending healthy longevity, reproductive longevity must also be addressed. It’s not just a physical issue but affects gender equality as well. A goal is to get rid of menopause and if that’s not possible, then to extend it until much later in life. 
There’s a lack of understanding about why women experience menopause at all. Jennifer paints the big picture that is fascinating. Did you know that only humans and a few species of whales even experience menopause? The research is underfunded, and Dr. Garrison is advocating that scientists and clinicians to talk and collaborate about these issues. 
The male body has been the baseline. Researching women’s bodies is still underfunded and Dr. Garrison along with organizations like the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation are trying to bring awareness and the need for more research. Funding is key to bringing the scientists and physicians together who can begin to answer fundamental questions about women’s bodies and reproductive health. 
What should every woman know about reproductive aging? 
The ovary isn’t just for fertility. It produces endocrine hormones and other chemicals that are essential for general health that have nothing to do with fertility. Those functions are what Dr. Garrison wants to learn how they can be extended to improve overall health. 
Reproductive aging centers around equality. Every aspect of a woman’s life is affected by the fact that she will go through a decline when menopause begins. Dr. Garrison wants this to be a conversation that’s reframed with a holistic point of view. 
It’s a unique time in history to be able to marry reproductive health with longevity. Ambassadors are welcome to have conversations about women’s health and the incredible work being done by Dr. Garrison and others. 
Connect with Dr. Garrison: Buck Institute


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Ageism is real and we all likely know someone who has experienced it. In this episode, Claire Gill speaks with Patti Temple Rocks, author of I’m Not Done Yet: It’s Time to Talk About Ageism in the Workplace. In her close to four decades in the communications business, Patti has held senior leadership positions in four different areas of the industry: Public Relations, Advertising, Corporate, and Start-Up. Patti is known as an inspirational leader, innovative thinker, problem-solver, growth driver, passionate brand steward and both an agent for change and a counselor during that change. She was shocked to see her female professional mentors being slowly edged out of their leadership positions once they reached a certain age. And then it happened to her. The experienced inspired her to write about what really happens to women and men in business when they are impacted by ageism and why it’s bad for business. She and Claire discussed how ageism impacts so many areas of women’s lives at menopause.



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In this episode, National Menopause Foundation Board Member, Bonnie Tandy Leblang, RD, interviews fellow nutritionists and authors of THE MENOPAUSE DIET PLAN: A Natural Guide to Managing Hormones, Health, and Happiness. Hillary Wright and Elizabeth Ward, registered dietitians and good friends since college, bring more than 60 years of combined knowledge as health professionals - and their experiences as post-menopausal women - to deliver a comprehensive, customizable, plant-based eating and lifestyle plan, combining evidence-based advice with real-life circumstances and personal experience. Ms. Tandy Leblang was able to talk with them a bit about their book and what they hoped it will do to change how women experience menopause.
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There are many physical changes women experience at menopause. Some of these changes can be difficult to acknowledge and understand. In this episode of The Positive Pause we speak with Dr. Heather L. Johnson, an actively practicing gynecologist and author of two books, who, after delivering more than 3,500 babies over 40 years, recently retired as an obstetrician. Dr. Johnson shares recommendations on what to discuss with your gynecologist as you approach menopause and how to discuss even the most awkward questions you may have. She also shares some of the most common questions she gets from her patients. For more information and insights from Dr. Johnson, check out our “Inspirational Insights” section. You can also learn more and connect with Dr. Johnson via her website: https://askdrheatherjohnson.com/. And be sure to check out her book too, What They Don’t Tell You about Menopause: A Gynecologist’s Unofficial Guide to Premenopausal, Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Life.
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For about 75% of women, hot flashes and night sweats are a fact of life during perimenopause and menopause. Entrepreneur Lara Smith was inspired to create a beautiful and comfortable sleepwear product to help her sister who suffered through night sweats caused by cancer treatment. The result, Lusomè, is beautifully designed sleepwear using the most innovative moisture management technology possible for naturally blended fabrics. We hear from Lara about how she was able to use her network of contacts and her expertise in retail. We also discuss Lara’s efforts to give back to women in need via Sweet Dreams.  All listeners to the Positive Pause can use the code: MPFOUNDATION20 to get 20% off their purchase of Lusomè.
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It’s estimated that more than 100,000 Americans give birth in their 40s each year, a number that has been steadily growing. It’s wonderful that the option of having children or adopting children is available to women later in life than was previously the norm. But, it’s still not the norm. For those who have become mom’s later in life, this episode of the Positive Pause is for you. Our guest is Robin Gorman Newman, founder of Motherhood Later….Than Sooner - https://motherhoodlater.com/meet-robin.
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