The Aging Grace With Andrew Blakey

Part one of our conversation with Amanda Thebe took off and the feedback was incredible — and part two goes even deeper. This time we're getting into the practical stuff: what you can actually do, starting today, to manage your symptoms and move through this stage of life feeling stronger and more in control.
Amanda and Andrew speak the truth about hormone therapy — who it's for, what it actually does, and what the research cannot support yet — and why the loudest voices on social media aren't always the most trustworthy ones.
Then they get into the four tools Amanda swears by for managing menopause: exercise, nutrition, sleep and stress management, and mindset. Plus the conversation that every woman over 40 needs to hear — why listening to your body on the hard days isn't giving up, it's smart training.
In this episode:
The measured truth about hormone therapy — what it does well and what it can't do
Why your doctor's appointment is not a menopause plan
The four tools for managing menopause symptoms (exercise, nutrition, sleep, mindset)
Auto-regulation and the 1–10 energy scale for training through perimenopause
Why "intentional movement" on bad days is enough — and why showing up matters
Amanda's Spring Women's Health platform — what it is and who it's for
If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet from last week (Episode 33), go back and start there — this conversation builds on everything covered in the first episode.
Follow Amanda on Instagram: @amanda.thebeCheck out Spring Women's Health: springwomenshealth.comFollow Andrew on Instagram: @IamandrewblakeyPS I also have a brand new 7 day course called Strong After 40 for free where you can get a video sent to your inbox each day to learn how to get started with strength training by the end of our course together. 

Brain fog, insomnia, vertigo, anxiety, and a doctor telling you your tests are "normal"? You're not losing your mind. It could be perimenopause.
Amanda Thebe is the best-selling author of Menopocalypse, a TEDx speaker, and one of the most honest voices in women's health. After years of perimenopause symptoms and countless tests that found nothing, one doctor finally put a name to what she was going through. Now she helps women over 40 understand their bodies and get the care they deserve.
In Part 1, you'll learn:- The perimenopause symptoms nobody warns you about, from brain fog and joint pain to tinnitus and chronic fatigue- Why so many women see several doctors before anyone takes them seriously- Exactly what to say at your appointment so you walk out with a plan- Why strength training in your 30s and 40s protects your bones and muscle through menopause- Why men belong in the menopause conversation too
Part 2 drops next week: the practical strategies that actually move the needle on your symptoms.
CONNECT WITH AMANDA THEBEInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanda.thebe/Spring Women's Health: https://www.springwomenshealth.com
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE- Menopocalypse by Amanda Thebe: https://a.co/d/05JZlklw- Spring's doctor-visit guide with symptom tracking and exact language to use: https://www.springwomenshealth.com
LOVE THE SHOW?Subscribe so you never miss an episode, part two of this conversation comes out September 30th. 
If this episode helped you, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It takes 30 seconds and helps more women over 40 find the show.
The information in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider before making changes to your health or fitness routine.

Everyone's talking about creatine — but do you actually know what it does and whether it's right for you? In this episode of Aging Grace with Andrew Blakey, we break down one of the most researched supplements in existence and explain the science in a way that's simple, clear, and actually useful — especially if you're a woman over 40.
If you're over 40, your body is already working against you in ways you might not realize. Muscle loss accelerates, energy declines, metabolism slows, and the risk of falls and fractures quietly increases. Creatine has emerged as one of the most talked-about supplements for this exact stage of life — but the misinformation around it has kept too many women away from something the research actually supports quite strongly.
In this episode, Andrew covers what creatine really is, how it works inside your body, how to take it, and the truth behind the biggest myths — including the persistent claim that it damages your kidneys.
What you'll learn:
What creatine is and why it's not a steroid or a bodybuilding drug
Sarcopenia — the age-related muscle loss that begins in your 30s and why it matters
How the ATP-CP energy system works and why creatine gives you a "bigger battery"
Creatine monohydrate — the most researched version of the supplement.
What happens to your body and the scale in the first two weeks
The truth behind the kidney damage myth and why cycling off isn't necessary
The emerging research on creatine and brain health, cognitive function, and mental clarity after menopause
This episode is for women over 40 who want to understand their bodies, cut through the noise on social media, and make informed decisions about their health — not be told what to do.
if you’re interested in researching specific products please see below for some popular recommendations. 
Transparently these links are my affiliate links, I am in no way sponsored or affiliated with the company in any special way. I do receive a small small kickback for any purchase with these links but they in no way influence the price you pay
Amazon - Creatine Monohydrate
Andrew is not recommending creatine. This episode is education. For personalized guidance on supplementation and nutrition, always speak with a registered dietitian.
Follow Andrew on Instagram for myth-busting videos and weekly content for women over 40: @Iamandrewblakey

What if the best your body has ever looked and felt hasn't happened yet?
Most women over 40 spend their energy trying to get back to something — a number on the scale, the way they looked before kids, before the chaos, before life got complicated. But what if that's the wrong target entirely?
In today's episode, Andrew makes the case that the most powerful, confident, capable version of your body is not in your past. It's built right now, with the right strategy, in the body you actually have today.
This isn't a pep talk. It's a plan.
Andrew breaks down exactly why women over 40 have more potential than they've been told, what's actually been standing in the way, and the step-by-step approach his clients use to build bodies they are genuinely proud of — not in spite of being over 40, but because of everything this season of life has to offer.
If you've been waiting to feel good in your body again, stop waiting. This episode is your starting point.
In this episode:
Why the goal of "getting back" is keeping you from going forward
What changes after 40 — and why it's not the disadvantage you think it is
The 3-week training ramp that builds real, lasting results
How much protein you actually need to build muscle after 40
The mindset shift that changes everything
You haven't peaked. You're just getting started.
Come tell me what resonated — I'm on Instagram and I read every single message: instagram.com/Iamandrewblakey

If you're doing everything "right" and still exhausted, this episode is for you.
So many women over 40 are tired — not just end-of-day tired, but bone-deep, wake-up-exhausted, can't-get-through-the-afternoon tired. And too often they're told by their doctors: "You're just getting older. Deal with it." Today's guest refuses to accept that answer.
Dr. Paul Hrkal is a naturopathic doctor with a specialty in neurology, hormonal health, and weight loss support. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, Dr. Paul takes a systems biology approach — looking at how your hormones, sleep, gut, stress response, and nutrition all communicate with each other to either generate energy or drain it. He's worked with hundreds of women navigating perimenopause and menopause, and he's the creator of the 6-Week Energy Reset Program — a step-by-step framework to help you understand and rebuild your energy from the ground up.
In this episode, Andrew and Dr. Paul dig into why low energy is one of the most overlooked — and most misdiagnosed — health challenges women face after 40, and what you can actually do about it.
🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES
📲 Follow Dr. Paul Hrkal on Instagram and learn more about his 6 week energy reset program: instagram.com/drpaulhrkal
💪 The Blakey Breakthrough — Andrew's Signature Program: blakeybreakthrough.com⚡ Spots are still available — program starts September 8th. Don't miss it!
🎧 Listen to Aging Grace on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0UG2ZlmwAUI2WHtHtS4wA5
🕐 EPISODE TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] — Welcome & Dr. Paul's background: what a naturopathic doctor actually does
[05:00] — Why our healthcare system is failing women with multi-system symptoms
[10:00] — How to know if your fatigue is a real problem (vs. just a hard week)
[15:00] — The first building blocks to check: nutrition, iron, and B12 deficiency
[20:00] — Why sleep quality matters more than sleep quantity
[26:00] — The sleep apnea case study: a 55-year-old woman whose energy completely transformed
[32:00] — Cortisol, adrenal hormones & menopause: the sneaky connection draining your energy
[38:00] — "Adrenal fatigue" — what's real, what's myth, and why it matters
[44:00] — How exercise needs to change after 40 (and why pushing harder is often the wrong answer)
[50:00] — Dr. Paul's 6-Week Energy Reset Program

In this episode, Andrew Blakey sits down with life pivot and reinvention coach Alexis Doss to unpack a grounded, emotional, identity-driven approach to manifestation — not the Instagram version, but a blend of tough love, nervous system work, and practical tools for real change.
They explore how manifestation operates in the brain (RAS), why people resist change, fear of success, identity shifts, and how to build momentum toward health, relationships, and career reinvention. This episode is part one of a two-part conversation; listeners are encouraged to follow for part two and join the Blakey Breakthrough waitlist.You can check Alexis out on instagram @Thetoughlovecoach Don't forget to check out her free guide in her bio! 

Think aging means getting weaker, slower, and softer? Think again.
Most people over 40 focus on eating clean and doing cardio—but they’re ignoring the most powerful anti-aging tool available: muscle.
In this episode, I break down exactly why muscle is your best insurance policy for staying lean, strong, pain-free, and independent as you age. You’ll learn:
✅ What happens to your body if you don’t strength train after 40✅ Why muscle helps with metabolism, fat loss, joint pain, and longevity✅ The specific way you should train for muscle in your 40s, 50s, and beyond✅ How to recover smarter, eat better, and track what matters most✅ The one mindset shift that changes everything about aging
Whether you’re starting from scratch or getting back into a routine, this episode will give you the knowledge—and the motivation—to build strength that lasts a lifetime.
🔗 Listen to these next:
🎧 The Midlife Sleep Fix With Alanna McginnLearn why sleep changes later in life and what you can do about it🎧 Tik Tok Nutrition Myths Exposed With 11x Author Andy De SantisDietitian rockstar Andy De Santis breaks down and debunks common nutritional claims and what the truth about them is. 

If you’ve ever looked at your life and thought, “Somewhere along the way… I lost myself,” you’re not alone.
So many people over 40 wake up one day realizing they’ve been running for years — from responsibilities, from expectations, from emotions they never made space to feel. And the scariest part isn’t slowing down… it’s what you might find when you finally do.
In this episode, artist and Arting Around founder Julia Antimirova gets brutally honest about starting over, feeling empty, being a beginner at an age where you feel like you “should” have everything figured out, and what it actually takes to rebuild who you are.
This is a conversation for anyone who:
Feels disconnected from themselves
Has spent years staying “busy” to avoid feeling anything real
Forgot what it’s like to do something just for them
Is afraid to try because vulnerability feels like exposure
Hasn’t felt truly present in a long time
Wants to feel alive, inspired, and grounded again
We talk about the kind of vulnerability that makes your chest tighten — the kind that comes from sitting in silence, from facing yourself, from creating something and risking someone not understanding it.The kind of vulnerability most of us avoid until life forces us into it.
This episode isn’t really about art.It’s about what happens when you stop running.This conversation is the permission slip you didn’t know you needed...Check out Julia on instagram here! (@Julia_artingaround)