Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo

This special double episode drops in recognition of World Sleep Day — March 13th.

Are you exhausted but wide awake at night? Melissa sits down with sleep expert Dr. Colleen Carney to unpack why sleep gets harder as we age, what actually works to fix it, and why so much of what we think we know about sleep is wrong. With a special focus on women in perimenopause, midlife, and menopause — this one is packed with real answers.

Bloating, irregular periods, weight changes, mood swings — these symptoms could point to several different conditions, and getting the right answer matters. In this episode, I sit down with fertility specialist and reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Marjorie Dixon to break down two commonly misunderstood reproductive health conditions: PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and uterine fibroids.

We get into what each condition actually is, ...

Heart disease doesn’t always look the way we think it does — especially in women.

In this episode of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo, I’m joined by cardiologist and women’s heart health expert Dr. Tara Sedlak to dismantle the biggest myths surrounding women’s cardiovascular health — and explain why so many women’s symptoms are overlooked, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed.

We discuss:



• why heart disease in women often looks not...

Women are having babies later than ever — which means many are trying to conceive while also entering perimenopause. In this eye-opening episode of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo, Melissa sits down with fertility specialist Dr. Kaajal Abrol to unpack what’s really happening in the body during this confusing overlap.

From irregular cycles and hormone swings to fertility testing, pregnancy risks, and assisted options, Dr. Abrol ...

Women’s desire is often misunderstood — and oversimplified. In this candid, science-backed conversation, melissa sits down with psychologist and leading sexuality researcher Dr. Lori Brotto to unpack why libido changes, especially during midlife, perimenopause, and menopause — and why that doesn’t mean something is broken.

We explore the difference between desire and arousal, whether women’s sexuality is wired the same way as men’s,...

Cancer is one of the most frightening diagnoses any of us can face — and yet, it’s also an area of medicine where progress is happening at an extraordinary pace.

In honour of World Cancer Day, this episode launches a new two-part series on cancer for Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo. Melissa sits down with two of Canada’s leading voices — a leading cancer scientist, Dr. Lillian Siu, and a powerful advocate and CEO, Dr. Miyo Yamas...

Cancer is one of the most frightening diagnoses any of us can face — and yet, it’s also an area of medicine where progress is happening at an extraordinary pace.

In honour of World Cancer Day, this episode launches a new two-part series on cancer for Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo. Melissa sits down with two of Canada’s leading voices — a leading cancer scientist, Dr. Lillian Siu, and a powerful advocate and CEO, Dr. Miyo Yama...

In this very special and personal episode of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo, I’m joined by my parents, Claire and Frank Grelo, to talk about something I never expected to experience so close to home: shingles. Before this experience, and like many people in their 50s, I didn’t know much about shingles or realize how common it is among adults who’ve had chickenpox. Did you know that adults who’ve had chickenpox have a 1 in 3 ch...

In this deeply personal episode of Aging Powerfully, I sit down with Jann Arden to talk about her family’s journey through dementia and Alzheimer’s disease — with both of her parents. Jann shares the emotional realities of caregiving, the challenges of watching someone you love change, and how humour, resilience, and connection help navigate the hardest moments.

Together we explore:

• What it’s really like caring for parents living ...

Academy Award–winning actress Marcia Gay Harden joins me on Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo for an intimate conversation about losing her mother to Alzheimer’s — and what it taught her about love, grief, and what truly endures.

In honour of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Marcia shares the heartbreaking and beautiful moments of walking beside her mother as memory fades, along with what she’s learned about women’s brain health, risk...

January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Canada, and this episode tackles a critical — and often overlooked — reality: nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s diagnoses are in women.

Melissa is joined by returning guest Dr. Liisa Galea (previous Episode #46), a world-renowned neuroscientist, inaugural womenmind Treliving Family Chair in Women’s Mental Health, Senior Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and Professor o...

2025 was one of my busiest—and most meaningful—years yet. Thank you for being on this journey with me and for showing up week after week to learn, question, laugh, and age powerfully together.

As we wrap up the year, this episode is a Power Replay: a look back at the incredible conversations from Season 3, plus a preview of what’s coming in 2026.

Note: We’ll be taking a short break, with new episodes returning in January 2026—so now...

In this episode of Aging Powerfully, Melissa digs into one of the most emotional (and common!) midlife topics: hair loss, with medical and cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Renée A. Beach (@dermabeach). From thinning at the crown to shedding in the shower, we talk about why it happens, what’s normal, and when to investigate further.

We cover:

• How perimenopause, menopause, stress, and genetics impact hair
• The difference between “normal s...

(Originally aired May 23, 2024)

In this uplifting episode, Melissa sits down with mother-daughter powerhouse Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan) and Michelle MacDonald (@michellemacdonaldofficial) to explore what’s truly possible when women choose strength, consistency, and self-belief — no matter their age.

Joan began her fitness journey at 70 and has since inspired millions of women to reclaim their health. Michelle, her coach and daug...

This week on Aging Powerfully, we’re getting brutally honest about one of the most avoided — yet most essential — topics in midlife: preparing your family for the unexpected.

Most people think they’re organized.

Spoiler: they’re not.

To cut through the confusion and give us the real roadmap, I’m joined by Canada’s financial powerhouse Pattie Lovett-Reid. Together, we break down the exact documents, details, and conversations every fam...

Guest: Dr. Amy Louis‑Bayliss

Original Air Date: January 30, 2025

Duration: ~89 minutes

In this deep-dive episode, Melissa sits down with Dr. Amy Louis-Bayliss to walk you through the seven key health metrics that every woman should know—especially as we navigate midlife and beyond.

From lab numbers to lifestyle markers, these data points give you a snapshot of where your health is now—and more importantly—where it can go. Dr. Louis-Bay...

Guest: Dr. Stephanie Faubion, Director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health & Medical Director of The Menopause Society

Part One: Menopause Myths & Medicine

Menopause has gone viral — but not always for the right reasons. From claims that a woman’s brain “eats itself” in menopause to this week’s breaking FDA news about estrogen therapy, it’s harder than ever to know what’s true.

In this first half of the episode, Melis...

Guest: Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, Clinical Psychologist & Friendship Researcher

As we age, our friendships can evolve—some deepen, others drift, and new ones can feel harder to form. In this episode of Aging Powerfully with Melissa Grelo, Melissa speaks with Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, a clinical psychologist and leading expert on adult friendship, about why meaningful connection is vital for women in midlife and beyond.

Together, they explor...

Episode supported by Starbucks Protein at Starbucks Canada @starbuckscanada 

https://protein.starbucks.ca/

When it comes to aging powerfully, there’s one thing we can’t afford to lose: muscle.

In this episode, Melissa sits down with one of the world’s foremost experts on muscle health and aging — Dr. Stuart Phillips, Professor of Kinesiology at McMaster University, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Skeletal Muscle Health and Aging, and ...