Hormonal shifts in perimenopause and menopause can do more than throw off your cycle—they can actually stir up inflammation, spark strange symptoms, and even trigger immune responses that leave you wondering, what is going on with my body? If you've ever felt like your symptoms don’t quite “fit in a box,” this conversation is for you. I sit down with Dr. Tania Dempsey—a brilliant MD and expert in complex, multi-system diseases—to talk about Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), why it’s often missed in women, and how hormones can play a huge role in triggering it. This episode connects the dots between your immune system, your hormones, and all those mystery symptoms no one’s been able to explain.

Dr. Tania breaks it down—how mast cells work, what happens when they go rogue, and why midlife women are seeing a rise in things like histamine intolerance, inflammation, and post-viral flare-ups (yes, COVID included). She shares what to look out for, what testing often misses, and how therapies like low-dose naltrexone and even ozone can make a difference.

You’ll also love hearing Dr. Tania’s heart for educating both patients and physicians so women can finally get the answers they deserve. And speaking of support, I’ve been sipping on my new Mighty Maca Mango lately, and it’s a summer fave. Light, zesty, and still packed with all the hormone-balancing goodness of the original, it’s perfect over ice or made into popsicles. Check it out at dranna.com—you’ll be hooked.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction.

[00:01:28] Mast cell activation syndrome.

[00:06:51] Mast cell activation syndrome prevalence.

[00:08:12] Immune system and estrogen dominance.

[00:09:44] Symptoms of MCAS

[00:12:08] Hormonal impacts on mast cells.

[00:15:42] Long COVID and mast cell activation.

[00:20:51] Perfect storm of infections.

[00:23:41] Plasmapheresis for mast cell activation.

[00:29:04] EMF sensitivity and health effects.

[00:30:11] EMF shielding devices and methods.

[00:34:44] Fatigue in mast cell activation.

Memorable Quotes:

"My mission is really to figure out how can we get it to the point where this could be potentially, quote-unquote, cured. " [00:25:16] – Dr. Tania Dempsey

"I'm going to help the world, one patient at a time, by giving them this information so they can help themselves." [00:37:11] – Dr. Tania Dempsey

Links Mentioned:

Mighty Maca Mango: https://drannacabeca.com/products/mighty-maca

Connect with Dr. Tania Dempsey:

Mast Cell Matters Podcast: https://drtaniadempsey.com/podcast/

Website: https://drtaniadempsey.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtaniadempseymd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taniadempseymd/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniadempsey/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrTaniaDempsey

Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca:

Website: https://drannacabeca.com/pages/show

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

Growing up with a mom struggling with severe mental illness, Karena Dawn learned early what it meant to carry heavy things in silence. That experience shaped so much of her life—including the dark years she rarely talked about. In this episode, she shares her journey from that painful silence to healing, forgiveness, and ultimately, purpose. We talk about how fitness became her lifeline and how she found her voice by telling the truth in her powerful memoir, The Big Silence.

You may know Karena as the co-founder of Tone It Up, a wellness community that’s inspired millions of women—but behind the fitness empire is a woman who's walked through deep grief, trauma, and recovery. She shares what it was like to care for her mom after a stroke, how she’s working to break the stigma around mental illness, and why mental wellness is now at the heart of everything she does—including her work with The Big Silence Foundation and the board of NAMI. She opens up about how trauma can sneak into our health—especially during perimenopause—and the things that actually helped her feel like herself again. You’ll also hear how she’s now using her story to help others speak up and get the support they need. Her honesty is refreshing, and her heart for mental wellness is contagious.

This one will move you, especially if you’ve ever carried pain quietly or felt like healing was out of reach. Karena’s story reminds us that there’s always a way forward—and it doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. And before you go, I’ve got a new favorite to share: Mighty Maca Mango just dropped, and it’s the zingy summer pick-me-up I’ve been loving lately. Throw it in sparkling water or popsicle molds… it’s a delicious way to feel good from the inside out—check it out at dranna.com.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Welcome to The Girlfriend Doctor.

[00:02:05] The Big Silence.

[00:03:14] Living with a parent with mental illness.

[00:06:40] Fitness becoming a therapy.

[00:08:59] Micro challenges build self-confidence.

[00:12:42] Mental health and perimenopause.

[00:15:36] Oxytocin and mental health.

[00:21:36] Food is medicine.

[00:24:18] Grieving a lost mother.

[00:28:25] Motherhood's diverse definitions.

[00:32:34] Preventing and healing from mental illness.

[00:35:06] Maiden, Mother, Magi and empowerment.

Memorable Quotes:

"I even have changed the story of being a victim of my mom's illness... I said, Mom, don't regret it because I love the woman I've become. And I became that woman because of what you had to go through. " [00:29:47] – Karena Dawn

"I believe our society is getting better at recognizing the different types of mothers... motherhood is such a bigger term now, and I think that's such an important thing to get out there is you can be a mother in so many ways. And to recognize Mother's Day is not a happy day for everyone." [00:39:06] – Karena Dawn

Links Mentioned:

Mighty Maca Mango: https://drannacabeca.com/products/mighty-maca

Listen to The Big Silence Podcast: http://www.thebigsilence.com/listen

Buy the memoir, The Big Silence: https://thebigsilence.com/pages/memoir

Connect with Karena Dawn:

Website: http://www.karenadawn.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenadawn/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenaDawn/

The Big Silence Foundation: https://thebigsilence.com/

Tone It Up: https://my.toneitup.com/

Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca:

Website: https://drannacabeca.com/pages/show

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

We’re back for part two of an eye-opening, soul-stirring conversation with Seren Bertrand. We’re talking sacred sexuality, feminine energy, and that beautiful, mystical power that lives in your body, especially in your vulva. Seren shares her own story of reclaiming her sensual energy and reminds us why our bodies are not only wise, but sacred. If you’ve ever felt disconnected or just a little curious about what it means to feel truly alive and sensual in your skin again, you’re in the right place.

Seren is the brilliant Author of Womb Awakening and a guiding voice in the feminine awakening space. She has this incredible way of weaving ancient wisdom with real-life, grounded practices that help you reconnect with your body in a way that feels both magical and doable. We talk about how to release old energy that may be lingering in your womb space, how to connect your heart and womb through breath, and why your vulva has always been more sacred than you were ever told. This one’s deeply personal, tender, and empowering all at once.

And hey—while you’re pouring love back into your body, don’t miss my new favorite daily ritual: Mighty Maca Mango. It’s the same powerful blend you know and love, now with a zesty twist that’s perfect for summer—sparkling, iced, or even made into popsicles. It’s as refreshing as it is nourishing. Go check it out at dranna.com—you’re going to love it.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction.

[00:04:19] Sexual sovereignty and self-exploration.

[00:10:22] Alchemizing pain and pleasure.

[00:13:12] The deep earth womb.

[00:18:35] Mothering and menopausal wisdom.

[00:25:05] Connection of pleasure and emotion.

[00:28:46] Womb as intelligent matriarch.

[00:34:45] Reigniting post-menopause pleasure.

[00:36:02] Sacred anatomy and spiritual connection.

[00:39:27] Empowering the enchantress within.

Memorable Quotes:

"The first kind of step in sacred feminine sexuality is to reclaim the knowing that your sexual energy is yours. It's not something that belongs to anyone else or has to happen with anyone else. It's yours." [00:04:10] – Seren Bertrand

"Our pleasure is connected to our feelings, is connected to our soul." [00:24:59] – Seren Bertrand

Links Mentioned:

Mighty Maca Mango: https://drannacabeca.com/products/mighty-maca

Womb Awakening Book: https://serenbertrand.com/books/womb-awakening/

Connect with Seren Bertrand:

Website: https://serenbertrand.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serenbertrand/

Substack: https://substack.com/@serenbertrand

Connect with Dr. Anna Cabeca:

Website: https://drannacabeca.com/pages/show

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drannacabeca

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com