Episode Details

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In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Amy Benjamin about the overlooked realities and challenges of perimenopause and menopause. Amy Benjamin is based in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa. The audience will learn about common symptoms that are frequently misunderstood, the lack of societal conversation, how Amy turned her struggles into advocacy, and how a renewed focus on humor and science is empowering women to advocate for better care.

Amy Benjamin Moore, M.Ed., turned 31 years in education into a menopause revolution. As a GGS-Certified Menopause Coaching Specialist, she built the Menopause Mastery Toolkit app and the Menopause Symptom Tracker app so women could stop suffering in silence and start advocating powerfully for themselves. In her debut book, Hot Flashes & Cold Truths (2026) she tackles menopause with education, humor, and strategies because menopause shouldn’t be whispered about; it should be owned.

Main Topics Covered:

1. Recognizing and navigating the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause hidden among everyday stressors and aging.
2. The struggle for medical validation—why so many doctors miss menopause and rely on minimal training.
3. The impact of menopause on work, relationships, and mental health, including overlooked symptoms like brain fog, irritability, and suicidal ideation.
4. Intergenerational silence: why women rarely hear about menopause from their families or communities.
5. The transformation from unaddressed discomfort to becoming an informed and empowered advocate for other women.
6. Social media’s role in connecting women for information and support, plus caution on product-driven “menopause influencers.”
7. Essential tips for self-advocacy in medical settings—how to prepare for doctor visits and what questions to ask.
8. Resources and support: Amy’s survival guide, coaching, and upcoming humorous book on menopause.

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Welcome & intro; Amy Benjamin’s Midwest home and outlook on daily joy

[00:00:39] Sources of beauty and daily nature rituals—adapting to Iowa winters

[00:02:07] Introduction to topic: Amy's “basket of physical and emotional symptoms” and medical journey

[00:03:39] Realization of menopause symptoms: joint pain, brain fog, memory issues, and stress in early 40s

[00:08:09] Lack of family/societal discussion about menopause—generational silence and missed opportunities

[00:13:30] The medical runaround: symptoms dismissed as aging, lack of hormone and menopause conversation

[00:14:03] Discovery of frozen shoulder—an overlooked menopause symptom and physician disconnect

[00:17:13] Doctors saying “You’re fine”—Amy’s frustration and the systemic lack of menopause education

[00:19:17] Minimal training for doctors on menopause; expert commentary

[00:22:23] Unexpected weight gain, irritability, impact on relationships and divorce

[00:24:28] Suicidal ideation flashes—mental health symptoms leading to help

[00:26:01] Extreme bleeding, ablation, still no mention of menopause by doctors

[00:28:41] Working in a f