ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What if the changes you experience as you get older aren't something you simply have to accept, and what if the key to feeling better goes far beyond hormones?
In this episode of Inside The Speakeasy, Eric Berman sits down with Dr. Betsy Greenleaf, Quadruple board-certified physician, and founder of The International Pause Institute, for an honest and wide-ranging conversation about menopause, hormones, gut health, pelvic health, relationships, entrepreneurship, and building a business around your expertise. Dr. Greenleaf shares how a career in medicine evolved from an unexpected path into gynecology, how a serious car accident forced her to rethink her future, and how that transition ultimately opened the door to teaching, speaking, entrepreneurship, and launching a menopause-focused clinic. The conversation explores why menopause symptoms should not simply be dismissed as "getting older," why hormones are only one tool, the connection between gut health and overall wellness, how partners can better support women, and why building a highly engaged audience can matter more than going viral.
Key Takeaways:
→ Symptoms associated with menopause, including brain fog, mood changes, changes in sex drive, and discomfort, are often treated as an inevitable part of aging, but the conversation emphasizes the importance of education and exploring available solutions.
→ The conversation challenges the idea that hormones are either the answer to everything or something to avoid entirely. The broader context of stress, inflammation, and overall health matters too.
→ The discussion connects gut health with areas including mood, immunity, and sex drive, highlighting why the gut microbiome has become such an important area of interest.
→ A car accident forced a career change that made it impossible to continue practicing surgery in the same way. That unexpected interruption led to teaching, speaking, an MBA, entrepreneurship, and eventually a return to clinical medicine through a menopause-focused practice.
→ The conversation illustrates how medical expertise can expand into education, speaking, e-commerce, clinical services, books, and other entrepreneurial opportunities.
Episode Timestamps
00:54 - Food Rules for Better Health
01:12 - The Reality of Menopause
01:49 - Meet Dr. Betsy Greenleaf
08:17 - Burnout and the Car Accident That Changed Everything
10:44 - Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap into E-Commerce
13:03 - Why Menopause Is Finally Getting Attention
15:01 - Hormones Are a Tool, Not a Cure
17:59 - The PAUSE Protocol: A Framework for Menopause
19:40 - The Real Magic Pill: Health Fundamentals
20:53 - Sleep, Libido, and Sexual Health
23:43 - Midlife Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore
25:46 - Overlooked Gut Health Symptoms
27:13 - Microbiome Testing Explained
28:33 - Eat, Walk, Swim, Fly, Grow
31:42 - The Menopause Hormone Therapy Debate
33:49 - The Health Benefits of Hormones
Connect With Dr. Greenleaf:
Website: https://pauseinstitute.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbetsygreenleaf/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.betsy.greenleaf/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbetsygreenleaf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBGreenleaf
Connect with Eric Berman:
Website: https://speakeasymastermind.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasymastermind/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speakeasymastermind/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericberman/
