You Are Not Broken

Episode 369: Dr. Kelly Casperson, interviewed by Sara Reardon

What happens when a urologic surgeon who has spent years treating women's bladder and sexual health sits down to answer every question she wishes her patients had asked sooner? You get this episode.

In a role reversal from her usual hosting chair, Dr. Kelly Casperson is interviewed by Sara Reardon for a wide-ranging, myth-busting conversation on perimenopause, hormone therapy, and what it actually means to advocate for yourself in a medical system that has historically under-served women. No gatekeeping. No fear-mongering. Just the science, the nuance, and the permission to want more.

Perimenopause is not just hot flashes. The hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause affect your bladder, your sleep, your joints, your skin, your mood, and your sex life — often years before your period stops. Kelly breaks down what's actually happening biologically and why so many women are told their symptoms are "just aging."

Local estrogen and systemic HRT are not the same thing — and you may need both. Vaginal estrogen treats the tissue. Systemic hormone therapy treats the whole person. Kelly explains the difference, who benefits from each, and how to have an informed conversation with your provider about what's right for you.

DHEA and testosterone belong in the conversation. These hormones are not just for men. Kelly covers the evidence for testosterone and DHEA in women's health — including delivery methods, indications, and why so many women are never offered them.

Finding a knowledgeable provider is hard. Here's how to do it. Not every clinician is trained in hormone therapy. Kelly talks about how to identify providers who are, and how to self-educate enough to advocate effectively in any appointment.

Gut health, exercise, and alcohol all matter — but not instead of hormones. Lifestyle strategies can amplify hormone therapy; they're not a replacement for it. Kelly cuts through the supplement noise and explains what the evidence actually supports.

Gender bias is real, and naming it is the first step. From the Women's Health Initiative fallout to the way women's pain is routinely minimized, Kelly addresses the systemic forces that have shaped (and limited) what women are offered — and how to push back.

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Via vaginal moisturizer from Solv Wellness, visit ⁠⁠via4her.com⁠⁠ and get 20% off your first order. For an additional $5 off, use coupon code DRKELLY5. Clinicians can request patient materials or samples at ⁠⁠hcp.solvwellness.com⁠⁠.

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Unlocking Brain Health: Insights with Dr. Louisa Nicola.

Explore the fascinating world of neuroscience and preventative health with Dr. Louisa Nicola, a neurophysiologist dedicated to understanding and combating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. This episode dives deep into brain biology, the impact of hormones, lifestyle factors, and cutting-edge research on neuroprotection.

Top takeaways:

How neural networks and algorithms sparked her love for the human brain

The critical distinction between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Recent advancements in understanding amyloid beta and tau proteins

The role of lifestyle, hormones, and genetic factors in preventing dementia

The influence of sex differences and hormone levels on neurodegenerative risk

The impact of sleep, inflammation, and infections like shingles on brain aging

Emerging research on preventative strategies, including vaccines and supplements like creatine

https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Via vaginal moisturizer from Solv Wellness, visit ⁠⁠via4her.com⁠⁠ and get 20% off your first order. For an additional $5 off, use coupon code DRKELLY5. Clinicians can request patient materials or samples at ⁠⁠hcp.solvwellness.com⁠⁠.

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance. Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of You Are Not Broken, Dr. Kelly Casperson sits down with physical therapist Dr. Lisa Moore, an expert in bone health, for a conversation that reframes how we think about osteoporosis—from something to fear… to something we can actively influence.

If you’ve ever been told to “be careful” or “avoid injury” without being given a clear path forward, this episode is your antidote. Dr. Moore brings clarity, science, and practicality to a topic that is often clouded by confusion and limitation.

Why physical therapists are essential to bone health
Physical therapists are uniquely trained in the musculoskeletal system—bones, muscles, and joints. Dr. Moore explains how this expertise allows them to guide patients not just in recovery, but in building strength, resilience, and confidence in their bodies.
Working with women undergoing breast cancer treatment, Dr. Moore saw firsthand how certain therapies increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Instead of accepting this as inevitable, she pursued deeper education and now empowers women with actionable strategies to protect and rebuild their bone health.

Why balance training is non-negotiable
Most fractures don’t happen because bones are weak alone—they happen because people fall. Dr. Moore shares why dynamic balance training (not just standing on one foot) is critical, and how practicing real-life movement scenarios can dramatically reduce fall risk.

The underrated power of… power training
Strength is important—but strength plus speed is what keeps you from falling. Power training helps your body react quickly and effectively, which is essential for maintaining independence and longevity.

Why your starting point doesn’t matter as much as you think
Dr. Moore emphasizes the principle of initial values: those starting at a lower baseline often see the greatest gains. Translation? It’s never too late to start, and your body is more adaptable than you’ve been led to believe.

How to stay active without rigidity (even while traveling)
Fitness doesn’t have to mean perfection. Dr. Moore shares how she balances structured workouts with joyful movement like hiking and swimming—reminding us that consistency over time matters more than any single workout.

The truth about osteoporosis: it’s not fixed
One of the most empowering takeaways—bone health is dynamic. With the right interventions, you can improve bone density, strength, and function. This is not a one-way street.

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

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

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Via vaginal moisturizer from Solv Wellness, visit ⁠via4her.com⁠ and get 20% off your first order. For an additional $5 off, use coupon code DRKELLY5. Clinicians can request patient materials or samples at ⁠hcp.solvwellness.com⁠.

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of You Are Not Broken, I sit down with Dr. Sunny Smith — physician, coach, and fierce advocate for women in medicine — for a conversation that felt both deeply personal and urgently necessary.

We talk about the transformative power of coaching and why so many high-achieving women still struggle with self-doubt. If you’ve ever downplayed your accomplishments, hesitated to speak up in a room full of men, or questioned whether you’re “expert enough,” this episode is for you.

Dr. Smith and I share personal stories from our own careers that highlight the subtle (and not-so-subtle) gender dynamics embedded in medical culture. We explore how women physicians are often socialized to overwork, over-give, and under-claim their authority — and how that conditioning impacts not only our careers, but our health.

This conversation is about agency.

It’s about recognizing that your thoughts create your feelings, your feelings drive your actions, and your actions determine your results. If you believe you’re “not ready,” you’ll play small. If you believe you belong, you’ll act differently — and the world will respond differently.

We also talk about:


Why coaching works (especially for high-achieving professionals)


How women are conditioned to minimize their expertise


The cost of self-abandonment in medicine


Gender bias in healthcare — both as physicians and as patients


What it actually means to advocate for yourself


Why questioning limiting beliefs is a radical act


The ripple effect of empowered women physicians

This episode isn’t about blaming the system. It’s about understanding it — and then deciding who you want to be inside of it.

Because when women own their expertise, take up space, and stop apologizing for their ambition, everything changes — for us, for our patients, and for medicine itself.

You are not broken.
You are powerful.
And you’re allowed to act like it.

Dr. Smith's Empowering Women Physician Website

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Via vaginal moisturizer from Solv Wellness, visit ⁠via4her.com⁠ and get 20% off your first order. For an additional $5 off, use coupon code DRKELLY5. Clinicians can request patient materials or samples at ⁠hcp.solvwellness.com⁠.

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of You Are Not Broken, I sit down with Dr. Lisa Miller — psychologist, researcher, and author — to talk about something we don’t discuss enough in medicine: spirituality as a measurable, protective force in women’s lives.

Not religion.
Not dogma.
But spirituality — the innate human capacity to feel connected, guided, and held in meaning.

And friends… this one is powerful.

Dr. Miller shares the science behind spirituality, including data showing that an active spiritual life can dramatically reduce the risk of depression, substance use, and hopelessness. We talk about how spirituality isn’t fluffy — it’s neurologically real, biologically protective, and especially alive in women.

I loved this conversation because it reframes struggle. So many of us think our hardest seasons mean we’re broken. What if they’re actually the doorway?

We discuss:


Why every woman is a Ferrari — powerful, finely tuned, and built for depth


The research showing spirituality cuts depression and addiction risk


How crisis can become spiritual awakening


The concept of “high counsel” — the guidance that is available to us when we’re willing to listen


Why engaging with our feelings (instead of bypassing them) is the path forward


The unique spiritual intelligence women carry


Why men often struggle differently in their spiritual development


Post-traumatic spiritual growth


And how to cultivate your innate spirituality without subscribing to anyone else’s rulebook

One of my favorite takeaways?
Spirituality isn’t something you earn. It’s something you remember.

We talk about how women are often socialized to disconnect from their inner voice — from intuition, from knowing. Reconnecting to that voice is not indulgent. It’s medicine.

This episode isn’t about telling you what to believe.
It’s about reminding you that you are wired for meaning.

And that you are never alone in your becoming.

If you’ve been walking through something hard…
If you’ve felt unmoored…
If you’ve wondered whether there’s something more…

This conversation is for you.

The Awakened Brain by Dr. Miller

Listen to my Tedx Talk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Why we need adult sex ed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Adult Sex Ed Master Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in my sexual health and hormone clinic? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waitlist is open⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn more about Via vaginal moisturizer from Solv Wellness, visit via4her.com and get 20% off your first order. For an additional $5 off, use coupon code DRKELLY5. Clinicians can request patient materials or samples at hcp.solvwellness.com.

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Midi Women's Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Designed by midlife experts, delivered by experienced clinicians, covered by insurance.Midi is the first virtual care clinic made exclusively for women 40+. Evidence-based treatments. Personalized midlife care.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.joinmidi.com⁠
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices