Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo

Academy Award–winning actress Marcia Gay Harden joins me on Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo for an intimate conversation about losing her mother to Alzheimer’s — and what it taught her about love, grief, and what truly endures.In honour of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Marcia shares the heartbreaking and beautiful moments of walking beside her mother as memory fades, along with what she’s learned about women’s brain health, risk, and prevention — and the changes she has made in her own life since her mother’s battle with the disease.I was fortunate to sit down with Marcia in Toronto at the first-ever Women’s Brain Health Summit, where she spoke powerfully about her personal journey and the urgent need for more research, funding, and awareness around a disease that disproportionately impacts women.This is a conversation about more than illness — it’s about what remains when memory disappears, and how love never does.Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner Producer: Melissa Grelo (@MelissaGrelo, @AgingPowerfullyWithMelissaGrelo)For any partnership inquires, contact [email protected] 

January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Canada, and this episode tackles a critical — and often overlooked — reality: nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s diagnoses are in women.Melissa is joined by returning guest Dr. Liisa Galea (previous Episode #46), a world-renowned neuroscientist, inaugural womenmind Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health, Senior Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, where she helps guide evidence-based research and innovation focused on brain health and aging.Dr. Galea shares the latest science on women’s brain health, the menopausal brain, and why decades of male-focused research have left dangerous gaps in our understanding of Alzheimer’s risk in women. Together, they explore what we know, what we’re still learning, and where research must go next to close the gender gap in neuroscience.In this episode, we discuss:Why women account for the majority of Alzheimer’s casesHow menopause and hormonal changes affect the brainThe role of inflammation, stress, and aging in cognitive healthEmerging research in dementia preventionWhat women can do now to support brain health — without fearThis is an empowering, evidence-based conversation about awareness, advocacy, and protecting women’s brains across the lifespan.Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner Producer: Melissa GreloFor any partnership inquires, contact [email protected] 

2025 was one of my busiest—and most meaningful—years yet. Thank you for being on this journey with me and for showing up week after week to learn, question, laugh, and age powerfully together.As we wrap up the year, this episode is a Power Replay: a look back at the incredible conversations from Season 3, plus a preview of what’s coming in 2026. Note: We’ll be taking a short break, with new episodes returning in January 2026—so now is the perfect time to catch up on anything you missed. Looking Ahead to 2026So much is coming next year, including deep dives into:PCOSEndometriosisFibroidsPregnancy during perimenopauseBreast cancerCancer screenings in midlifeEvidence-based strategies for better sleepCaregiving in Canada (over 13 million unpaid caregivers)A very special episode featuring my parents, my most beloved role modelsStay ConnectedI want to hear from you.What topics do you want us to tackle next? Reach me via my website: agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo.com Or connect on Instagram: @melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagreloWishing you peace, good health, prosperity, and clarity in 2026. Merry Christmas Happy Hanukkah Happy HolidaysTech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner Producer: Melissa GreloFor any partnership inquires, contact [email protected] 

In this episode of Aging Powerfully, Melissa digs into one of the most emotional (and common!) midlife topics: hair loss, with medical and cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Renée A. Beach (@dermabeach). From thinning at the crown to shedding in the shower, we talk about why it happens, what’s normal, and when to investigate further.We cover:How perimenopause, menopause, stress, and genetics impact hairThe difference between “normal shedding” and true hair lossMedical causes to rule out (like thyroid issues, iron levels, and hormones)Evidence-based treatments vs. overhyped “miracle” curesPractical strategies to protect hair health from the inside outThe emotional toll of hair loss and how to protect your confidence and identityIf you’ve ever felt panicked by the hair in your brush or avoided looking at your part in photos, this episode will give you clarity, options, and a lot of compassion.Tech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)For any partnership inquires, contact [email protected] 

(Originally aired May 23, 2024)In this uplifting episode, Melissa sits down with mother-daughter powerhouse Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) and Michelle MacDonald (@michellemacdonaldofficial) to explore what’s truly possible when women choose strength, consistency, and self-belief — no matter their age.Joan began her fitness journey at 70 and has since inspired millions of women to reclaim their health. Michelle, her coach and daughter, shares the training, nutrition, and mindset strategies that made Joan’s transformation sustainable and life-changing.What We Cover:Joan’s turning point and how she began at age 70Michelle’s expert approach to strength training for women in midlifeThe emotional and identity shifts that come with reinventing yourselfWhy it’s never too late to build strength, confidence, and vitalityHow visibility and community empower women to age powerfullyTech and Audio Producer: Drew Garner Producer: Melissa Grelo (@melissagrelo, @agingpowerfullywithmelissagrelo)For any partnership inquires, contact [email protected]