Energized with Dr. Mariza

Have you ever felt like you become a completely different person during the second half of your cycle?

One week you're energized, focused, and confident. The next, you're battling brain fog, irritability, anxiety, exhaustion, and wondering what happened to the version of yourself from just a few days ago.

In this live conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with entrepreneur, former Snapchat executive, and founder of The Cycle, Anastasia Sartan, to explore the overlooked realities of PMDD, hormone fluctuations, and why women's changing biology has been largely ignored by the wellness industry.

After struggling with debilitating PMDD while working in the high-pressure tech world, Anastasia set out to create the first functional beverage specifically designed to support women through every stage of their hormonal journey—from the luteal phase and menstruation to perimenopause and menopause.

Together, they discuss how chronic stress, motherhood, the invisible mental load, nervous system dysregulation, and modern work culture amplify hormonal symptoms, leaving many women feeling like they're constantly pushing through instead of truly thriving.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that your changing hormones aren't a personal failure. They are an invitation to better understand your body, prioritize rest, and finally embrace products, habits, and support systems that were designed with women in mind.

ANASTASIA SARTAN

Anastasia Sartan is an entrepreneur, former Snapchat executive, data scientist, and founder of The Cycle, the first functional beverage brand created to support women throughout every phase of their hormonal cycle. Inspired by her personal journey with PMDD, she is on a mission to close the gap in women's wellness by creating innovative products that help women feel supported, understood, and empowered.

IN THIS EPISODE

What PMDD really is and why so many women are misdiagnosed

Why hormone fluctuations dramatically impact mood, energy, and resilience

The hidden connection between chronic stress, motherhood, and hormonal symptoms

How nervous system regulation supports women's hormonal health

Why women's wellness products have historically overlooked hormonal cycles

The inspiration behind creating The Cycle functional beverage

Why rest may be one of the most powerful tools for hormone health

How honoring your body's changing needs helps you thrive through every season

QUOTES“Periods are a lifestyle, not a medical condition.”

“We had the hormones to scaffold us... until we didn't.”

“Women deserve products that are designed for women's biology.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code DRMARIZA and get 5% off on The Cycle Functional Drinks

https://onthecycle.com/s/312c05

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your MitoQ Order

https://www.mitoq.com/energized

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your Troscription Order

http://troscriptions.com/ENERGIZED

The Cycle Website

Anastasia Sartan Instagram

RELATED EPISODES

762: Why Women Need to Stop Being “Good Patients” and Start Advocating for Better Healthcare with Dr. Mariza

761: Finding Your Way Back to Pleasure and Feeling Fully Alive with Gabriella Espinosa

760: The Mindset Shift That Helps You Stop Feeling Stuck with Dr. Rachel Goldman

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause

How many times have you been told, "Your labs are normal," even though you know something doesn't feel right?

In this empowering solo episode, Dr. Mariza challenges one of the biggest beliefs women have been conditioned to accept: that being a "good patient" means staying quiet, pushing through symptoms, and trusting a healthcare system that has historically overlooked women's biology.

She explores how decades of research gaps, delayed recognition of perimenopause, and outdated medical training have left millions of women feeling dismissed, unheard, and convinced that exhaustion, brain fog, anxiety, poor sleep, weight gain, and hormone changes are simply part of getting older.

Dr. Mariza explains why perimenopause is far more than a reproductive transition. It's a neurological, metabolic, cardiovascular, and whole-body transition that deserves proactive care—not years of unnecessary suffering.

Most importantly, she shares practical strategies for becoming an active partner in your healthcare, including how to prepare for appointments, ask better questions, understand your symptoms, and advocate for the care you deserve.

If you've ever left a doctor's appointment feeling unheard or wondering if it's "all in your head," this episode will remind you that your symptoms matter, your intuition matters, and you deserve answers.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why women have been conditioned to become "good patients"

The hidden impact of research gaps in women's healthcare

Why "your labs are normal" isn't always the full story

How perimenopause affects the brain, metabolism, heart, and hormones

The questions every woman should ask at her medical appointments

How to prepare for appointments so you become an active partner in your care

The difference between normal lab ranges and optimal health

Why you deserve evidence-based care that prioritizes your long-term health

QUOTES

“You are the CEO of your health.”

“Symptoms are not inconveniences to silence. They are signals to understand.”

“Normal isn't always the same as optimal.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Stop surviving and start thriving: join the free 5-day challenge beginning July 27, 2026: https://drmariza.com/jumpstart

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your MitoQ Order

http://www.mitoq.com/energized%C2%A0

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

Thriving in Perimenopause Survival Guide: https://go.drmariza.com/lp/perimenopause-survival-guide/

Joy & Blokes Lab Testing: https://joiandblokes.com/labs-with-dr-mariza-snyder/

RELATED EPISODES

761: Finding Your Way Back to Pleasure and Feeling Fully Alive with Gabriella Espinosa

759: Tired, Wired & Inflamed? The Sleep Fix Most Women Are Missing with Dr. Michael Breus

756: What Low-Grade Inflammation Is Really Doing to Your Hormones, Brain & Metabolism with Dr. Mariza

650: Unlock Your Health: The Ultimate Biomarker & Lab Blueprint to Thrive in Midlife and Beyond

Have you ever looked around at your life and wondered: "When did I stop feeling like myself?"

Maybe you're checking all the boxes, taking care of everyone else, managing your career, your family, your home, and your health—but somewhere along the way, joy, curiosity, desire, and pleasure started to disappear.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with Gabriella Espinosa, women's wellness expert, host of the Pleasure in the Pause podcast, and advocate for redefining pleasure and connection in midlife.

Gabriella shares her own journey through perimenopause, where anxiety, overwhelm, brain fog, low libido, and feeling disconnected from herself led her to explore the missing conversation around pleasure, body awareness, intimacy, and nervous system safety.

Together, they discuss why so many women lose connection with their bodies after years of caregiving, striving, and putting everyone else first—and why pleasure isn't a luxury, but an essential part of feeling alive, energized, and connected.

They also explore how changing hormones, stress, and survival mode impact desire, why intimacy can be rebuilt at any age, and how simple daily moments of joy and sensation can help women reconnect with themselves.

If you've been feeling like the version of you who felt vibrant, playful, confident, or deeply connected has disappeared, this conversation will remind you that she isn't gone—and it's never too late to rediscover her.

GABRIELLA ESPINOSA

Gabriella Espinosa is a women's wellness and pleasure advocate, yoga and breathwork teacher, host of the Pleasure in the Pause podcast, and executive producer of the upcoming documentary Hot. Through her work, she helps women reconnect with their bodies, redefine pleasure, and navigate midlife with greater confidence, connection, and vitality.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why so many women feel disconnected from themselves during midlife

How perimenopause can impact desire, intimacy, and confidence

Why pleasure is an important signal of safety, vitality, and wellbeing

How chronic stress and survival mode affect connection with your body

The importance of learning the language of your own needs and desires

Why intimacy and pleasure can be rebuilt at any age

Simple practices to reconnect with your body through sensation

How to advocate for your pleasure, health, and relationships

QUOTES

“Pleasure has no age limit or expiration date.”

“Pleasure is actually information.”

“Perimenopause doesn't mean the end of pleasure. It can be the beginning of a new exciting chapter.”

“What feels good in my body?”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code DRMARIZA and get 10% off on your Womeness Order

https://www.womaness.com/DRMARIZA

Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now

https://drmariza.com/firecollective

Pleasure in the Pause Podcast

Get the 7-Day Pleasure Body Journal

Pleasure in the Pause Website

Gabriella Espinosa Website

Gabriella Espinosa Instagram

Gabriella Espinosa Youtube

RELATED EPISODES

760: The Mindset Shift That Helps You Stop Feeling Stuck with Dr. Rachel Goldman

759: Tired, Wired & Inflamed? The Sleep Fix Most Women Are Missing with Dr. Michael Breus

758: Why Your Body Can’t Heal Until It Feels Safe: The Nervous System Shift That Changes Everything with Dr. Dave Rabin

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause

Why do so many women reach midlife and suddenly feel like everything is harder than it used to be?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with nationally recognized clinical psychologist, behavioral change expert, and author Dr. Rachel Goldman to explore why so many women feel overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, and stuck during major life transitions.

Dr. Rachel explains how stress, changing responsibilities, shifting identities, motherhood, career demands, and body changes can create a sense of losing yourself—and why the answer isn't pushing harder, but learning how to respond differently.

Together, they discuss the mindset shifts that help women navigate change with more self-compassion, flexibility, and resilience. They also explore the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and how simple tools from cognitive behavioral therapy can help break patterns that keep us stuck.

Dr. Rachel also shares why self-care doesn't have to mean adding another overwhelming task to your list. Instead, small intentional moments like movement, breathing, time outside, connection, and creating a reset can completely shift how you show up in your life.

If you've been wondering whether you'll ever feel like yourself again, this episode is a reminder that change doesn't mean you've lost who you are—it may be an invitation to step into your next chapter with more strength and confidence.

DR. RACHEL GOLDMAN

Dr. Rachel Goldman is a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, behavioral change expert, speaker, and author of When Life Happens: The Mindset Shift You Need to Manage Stress, Build Confidence, and Break Free. She helps people manage stress, improve mindset, navigate life transitions, and build confidence through practical, evidence-based tools rooted in psychology and behavioral change.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why so many women feel disconnected from themselves in midlife

How mindset impacts stress, emotions, confidence, and behavior

The importance of self-compassion during seasons of change

Why routines and small habits help create stability during stressful times

How to stop all-or-nothing thinking and create realistic solutions

The connection between body image, aging, and identity shifts

Why resilience comes from building tools before life gets difficult

How to create a personalized stress management toolbox

QUOTES

“Life can be challenging, but it doesn't have to feel so challenging.”

“We have to create the time.”

“Feeling stuck isn't who you are. It's a signal.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your MitoQ Order

https://www.mitoq.com/energized

Grab the “When Life Happens” book by Dr. Rachel Goldman

https://amzn.to/4aBRJwq

Goldman Website

Dr. Rachel Goldman Instagram

Dr. Rachel Goldman Facebook

Dr. Rachel Goldman Youtube

RELATED EPISODES

759: Tired, Wired & Inflamed? The Sleep Fix Most Women Are Missing with Dr. Michael Breus

758: Why Your Body Can’t Heal Until It Feels Safe: The Nervous System Shift That Changes Everything with Dr. Dave Rabin

754: How to Find Joy When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan with Amberly Lago

753: The Brain’s Hidden Role in Chronic Pain, Migraines & Fatigue with Dr. Howard Schubiner

Why do so many women suddenly start waking up at 3:00 a.m. during perimenopause?

In this practical and science-backed conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with renowned sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus to unpack why sleep changes so dramatically during perimenopause and menopause, and what women can do to finally get restorative sleep again.

Dr. Breus explains how fluctuating estrogen, progesterone, melatonin, cortisol, body temperature, and blood sugar all collide during midlife, creating the perfect storm for middle-of-the-night awakenings. He shares why waking up at 3:00 a.m. is incredibly common, how modern habits often make it worse, and why women need a layered approach instead of relying on a single solution.

Together, they discuss everything from sleep apnea, hormone replacement therapy, alcohol, caffeine, blood sugar, and evening routines to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), breathwork, thermoregulation, and supplementation.

Most importantly, Dr. Breus offers practical strategies women can begin implementing immediately to improve sleep quality, reduce nighttime wakeups, and build a foundation for better health through every stage of menopause.

If you've been lying awake at 3:00 a.m. wondering what's happening to your body, this episode is packed with answers and actionable solutions.

DR. MICHAEL BREUS

Dr. Michael Breus is a board-certified clinical psychologist, clinical sleep specialist, bestselling author, and founder of The Sleep Doctor. For more than two decades, he has helped millions of people improve their sleep through science-backed strategies focused on circadian rhythms, sleep disorders, behavioral sleep medicine, and overall wellness. He is the author of multiple bestselling books, including Sleep, Drink, Breathe.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why women commonly wake up around 3:00 a.m. during perimenopause

How estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and blood sugar affect sleep

The biggest mistakes women make before bedtime

Why sleep apnea is often overlooked in midlife women

How CBT-I can help retrain the brain for better sleep

The role of caffeine, alcohol, fiber, and evening nutrition

Why cooling the body improves sleep quality

Practical habits that create a healthier nighttime routine

QUOTES

“Everything we do, we do better with a good night's sleep.”

“Sleep is the currency of attention.”

“You need runway to land the plane.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

https://peri-revolution.com/

Get the “Sleep Drink Breathe: Simple Daily Habits for Profound Long-Term Health” book by Dr. Michael Breus.

https://amzn.to/4b6OM75

Take the Chronoquiz nowGet the Home Sleep Study - The at-home sleep study measures key sleep metrics

The Sleep Doctor Website

The Sleep Doctor Instagram

The Sleep Doctor Youtube

RELATED EPISODES 

758: Why Your Body Can’t Heal Until It Feels Safe: The Nervous System Shift That Changes Everything with Dr. Dave Rabin

757: The Hidden Emotional Shift of Perimenopause (No One Prepared Us For) with Dr. Melinda Ring

756: What Low-Grade Inflammation Is Really Doing to Your Hormones, Brain & Metabolism with Dr. Mariza

755: What If Your Body Isn’t Broken, Just Undernourished? The Missing Link Between Nutrients, Hormones & Energy with Ryan Woodburry