Health Trip Podcast with Jill Foos

Most women in menopause are focused on the wrong cancer.

Colorectal cancer is now the number one cause of cancer death in adults under 55 — and rates are rising 3% every year in people aged 20 to 49. For midlife women navigating perimenopause and post-menopause, the risk window is right now. And almost nobody is connecting these dots.

In this episode of the Health Trip Podcast, Jill Foos sits down with Dr. Faris Murad — board-certified gastroenterologist, Mayo Clinic-trained, and founder of Santé Integrated Health & Wellness on Chicago's North Shore — for one of the most important and overlooked conversations in women's midlife health.

What menopause actually does to your gut, your colon, and your microbiome. Why the GI symptoms you've been experiencing since perimenopause started are not in your head. What a polyp actually is and what it means when one is found during screening. Why the colonoscopy prep is no longer the barrier it used to be. And the data point that will genuinely stop you — the Women's Health Initiative found a 37% reduction in colorectal cancer risk among women on combined hormone therapy. This benefit is almost never part of the HRT conversation. It should be.

Dr. Murad breaks down the estrobolome — the gut's hidden estrogen-metabolizing system — and explains why it becomes dysregulated in menopause, compounding hormonal decline and driving symptoms most women attribute to aging. He explains the full landscape of colorectal cancer screening options beyond colonoscopy, including FIT tests, Cologuard, and virtual colonoscopy, and walks through modern prep options that make the experience significantly more tolerable than most women expect.

He also addresses the data connecting hormone replacement therapy to meaningful colon cancer risk reduction — evidence that most clinicians and patients have never discussed — and explains why midlife women with the highest genetic risk may benefit the most from HRT's protective effect on the colon.

This is the episode that makes you schedule the screening you have been putting off. Early detection is almost always curative. Waiting for symptoms is not a strategy.

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Desire is one of the most under-addressed topics in the menopause conversation — and one of the most important. In this episode of the Health Trip Podcast, Jill Foos sits down with Holly Randall, world-renowned erotic photographer, director, producer, AVN Hall of Fame inductee, and host of the Holly Randall Unfiltered podcast, for an honest, evidence-based conversation about reclaiming sexual pleasure in midlife.

Sexual health and pleasure are core pillars of midlife wellness alongside sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress management. The evidence is clear: sexual pleasure, alone or partnered, improves cardiovascular health, boosts immune function by 30%, supports mental health, relieves pain, improves sleep, and maintains pelvic floor health — making it one of the most powerful and underutilized tools in a midlife woman's health toolkit.

For most women, the barrier isn't physical. It's permission. Permission to want pleasure. Permission to pursue it. Permission to explore tools that feel unfamiliar — or taboo. For decades, pornography was made by men, for men, reflecting the male gaze and leaving most women cold. That stigma is real — and it makes sense. Women were never the intended audience.

But that is changing. A growing world of erotic content is now being made by women, directed by women, and designed for women — aesthetically beautiful, emotionally resonant, and created to turn you on in a way that feels safe, exciting, and entirely yours.

For midlife women navigating menopause, declining estrogen, declining testosterone, and reduced spontaneous desire, erotic content can be a powerful tool for re-engaging the brain's role in arousal. Desire in midlife is often responsive — you need a reason to want it. The right erotic content can be that reason.

Holly Randall grew up at the center of this world. Her mother, Suze Randall, was the first female photographer to shoot for Playboy, Hustler, and Penthouse. Holly went on to build her own empire championing erotic content that centers women's pleasure — and was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2024. AVN stands for Adult Video News, the industry's equivalent of the Oscars.

This episode is about giving yourself permission to explore a side of yourself that has always been there — part curiosity, part hunger — but never quite felt safe enough to come forward.

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In this episode, we speak with dermatologist Melissa Coleman (Mrs. Derm) about practical skincare for midlife and beyond. She breaks down how skin changes with age and what actually works to support healthy, resilient skin without overcomplicated routines or trends.

We cover simple, effective skincare habits, key ingredients worth using, and how to build a routine that prioritizes results over noise. We also explore easy makeup approaches that enhance natural features and help you feel polished with minimal effort.

This conversation is about confidence, simplicity, and learning how to care for your skin in a way that helps you look and feel your best at every age.

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Peptide therapy is everywhere right now, and midlife women are being sold hard. Before-and-after photos, bold promises, pretty packaging, and steep price tags are flooding social media. But what's missing from most of those posts is the science, the safety, and the truth about what's actually regulated, what's actually studied, and what's actually being injected from compounding pharmacies most women have never heard of.

Menopausal women are navigating their health in the dark and dismissed by their doctors, feeling unheard, and turning to anything that promises relief. This episode is for them.

Board-certified physician in Obesity Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Menopause Society certified practitioner, and founder of Precision Medical Care, Dr. Catherine Johnson joins the Health Trip Podcast to cut through the noise. We cover what peptides actually are, which ones have real evidence behind them, which ones are currently restricted by the FDA, what questions every woman should ask before spending a dollar on peptide therapy, and why the most dangerous place to get medical advice is your Instagram feed.

If you're a woman in midlife who wants straight answers based on science and safety, not social media, this one is for you.

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Heart disease is the number one killer of women, not breast cancer, and the treatment guidelines just changed. In this episode, one of the country's most respected lipidologists, Dr. Tom Dayspring, breaks down the 2026 Dyslipidemia Guidelines in plain English and explains exactly what they mean for women in midlife and beyond. From why LDL alone doesn't tell the whole story, to what apoB reveals that most doctors aren't testing for, to how cardiovascular risk is assessed differently in women and this is the conversation your doctor should be having with you but probably isn't. With social media full of statin haters and misinformation, Dr. Dayspring, board-certified in internal medicine and clinical lipidology, NLA award recipient, and followed by over 34,000 people at @DrLipid, is the trusted voice you need in your ear. Your heart depends on it.

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Many women in midlife find themselves asking, “Who am I now?” In this episode, we explore how identity, confidence, and authenticity evolve through perimenopause and beyond.

Host Jill Foos is joined by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Dr. Gail Saltz to unpack the cultural pressures women face around aging, beauty, and relevance. Together, they discuss why midlife can feel so destabilizing and how women can move forward with greater clarity, self-respect, and emotional well-being.

Dr. Saltz is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, bestselling author of The Power of Different, media mental health expert, and host of the How Can I Help? podcast.

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Starting around age 40, women can lose 3 to 8 percent of muscle mass per decade if they are not actively working to preserve it. At the same time, hormonal changes in perimenopause and menopause can make fat gain, blood sugar issues, and bone loss more likely. What many women don’t realize is that muscle is not about aesthetics. It is essential for bone health, metabolic health, independence, and longevity.

In this episode, I’m joined by Stuart Phillips, PhD, one of the world’s leading experts on muscle health, protein metabolism, and aging. We break down common midlife myths and share practical, science-based strategies to help women build strength and protect their health in midlife and beyond.

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Perimenopause can feel confusing, isolating, and full of mixed messages, especially when it comes to deciding whether to stay on birth control, transition to menopause hormone therapy, or do both. In this episode, we break down what’s really happening in the body during perimenopause, why symptoms and hormone testing can be so unclear, and how women can make informed decisions about hormone treatment. We also address common myths, mood and PMS concerns, early menopause, hysterectomy, libido, and long-term health considerations. This conversation is about giving women clarity, confidence, and compassionate guidance during one of the most misunderstood phases of life. Join Jill Foos, NBCHWC, and Dr. Sarah de la Torre, MD for an in-depth conversation on the Health Trip Podcast.

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In this episode of The Health Trip Podcast, I explore why traditional New Year’s resolutions rarely stick and what midlife women can do instead to create lasting, realistic change. Hormonal shifts, disrupted sleep, higher stress, and a changing metabolism make the classic “all or nothing” approach especially challenging in midlife. I break down the science behind failed resolutions, including motivation drop-off and vague goals, and explain evidence-based strategies that work: small steps, supportive systems, emotional rewards, and identity-driven habits. I also share why behavior-change health coaching is so effective during the menopause transition and how it helps women build habits that align with their biology. If resolutions have left you frustrated in the past, this episode offers a clearer, more compassionate path forward for the year ahead.

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In this episode, I share a simple holiday health plan for midlife women who want to enjoy the season without losing energy, sleep, or momentum. The holidays can trigger cravings, stress, and all-or-nothing thinking, so I walk through 10 realistic, science-backed strategies to stay steady.

You’ll learn how to keep your mindset grounded, protect the key habits that matter most, and give yourself grace when you indulge. A few holiday treats won’t undo months of consistency.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s finding a healthy balance between joy, connection, and feeling strong in your midlife body.

This episode is short, direct, and practical. Take what you need and leave the rest.

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Many women experience real changes in desire, arousal, and comfort during the menopause transition, yet most of us were never taught how to talk about sexual health as part of midlife wellness. Sexual pleasure is a vital sign, closely connected to hormones, cardiovascular health, sleep, mental health, and longevity.

Because of stigma and silence, many women quietly accept pain, low desire, or the belief that sex ends after midlife. It doesn’t. Menopause may change sex, but it doesn’t take it away.

In this episode, we break down what actually happens to the body during midlife, how pleasure evolves, and practical ways to rebuild a healthy, satisfying sex life. Every woman has a unique health equation, and that includes sexual wellness.

My guest is Dr. Rachel Zar, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist with advanced training in sex therapy and clinical sexology. She is the Clinical Director at Avid Intimacy, a practice dedicated to evidence-based sex and relationship therapy.

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This episode looks at how menopause affects women’s financial health, from increased medical costs to the billions lost each year in work time. For Gen X women in their peak earning years, these hidden expenses can reshape retirement plans more than most people realize.

I’m joined by Dr. Barbara Provost, founder of Purse Strings, who has spent her career helping women get the financial guidance and confidence they often miss in traditional advising. We talk about the real cost of menopause, why financial planning matters now more than ever, and how women can take control during this stage of life.

If you're navigating midlife, career shifts, or planning your next chapter, this conversation will give you clear, practical insight.

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In this episode of The Health Trip Podcast, Jill Foos, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, shares how midlife women can build a personalized healthcare team to navigate menopause with confidence. From finding the right menopause specialist to working with preventive cardiologists, health coaches, pelvic floor therapists, Dermatologists, and more, Jill explains how a collaborative approach can address hormonal changes, sexual health, bone strength, and emotional well-being. Learn how to take charge of your health by assembling a support system that aligns with your goals, values, and lifestyle—because thriving in midlife takes a team.

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During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this Health Trip Podcast episode explores how health coaching empowers women navigating breast cancer in midlife. Beyond medical care, coaches provide holistic support—body, mind, and spirit—managing symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, and menopause challenges. They offer tailored lifestyle plans, from meal-prepping to healthy food delivery, foster emotional resilience through judgment-free support and specialist referrals, and build consistent habits with science-backed strategies. Coaches also connect women to expanded care teams, including acupuncturists or stylists, for thriving in survivorship. Tune in to learn how to reclaim joy and book a 30-minute consultation via the show notes.

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In this episode of The Health Trip Podcast, Jill Foos and Dr. Dana Russo break down how GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound fit into women’s midlife health. They discuss how menopause affects metabolism, why insulin resistance rises, and how GLP-1s go beyond weight loss to improve inflammation, heart health, and longevity.

Learn the difference between FDA-approved and compounded versions, how hormone therapy and lifestyle work alongside these medications, and what a balanced, science-backed approach to metabolic health looks like in midlife and beyond.

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In this episode, we explore the science-backed power of small steps for women navigating midlife and menopause. Instead of all-or-nothing changes, small, consistent actions create lasting habits that support long-term health. We’ll talk about finding your why, reconnecting with your values, and using simple habit formulas to make lifestyle shifts stick—so you can move through midlife with strength, confidence, and resilience.

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This episode explores one of the most overlooked areas of women’s health: the link between menopause and metabolic health. I’m joined by Dr. Catherine Johnson, founder of My Precision Medical Care, a Board-Certified Obesity and Emergency Medicine physician with advanced training in menopause, functional medicine, and precision medicine. Together we discuss why so many women struggle with midlife weight gain, insulin resistance, and blood sugar changes, even when they’ve lived a healthy lifestyle. We talk about the hormonal shifts that drive these changes, the lifestyle and genetic factors that add to the risk, and the practical steps women can take to protect their metabolic health through nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, and in some cases medical therapies. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still can’t manage weight, energy, or blood sugar, this conversation offers clarity and solutions to help you move forward.

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Starting healthy habits in midlife can feel overwhelming—whether it’s eating better, exercising, improving sleep, managing stress, or keeping up with supplements. In this episode of the Health Trip Podcast, you’ll learn three simple strategies to make lasting changes without willpower or perfection.

You’ll discover how to:

• Start small and specific with achievable goals

• Use habit stacking to tie new habits to routines

• Shift from pressure to intention for guilt-free progress

These practical, science-backed tips help midlife women build confidence, consistency, and healthier lives—one small step at a time.

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