The Science Behind Menopause

The Michael Shermer Show

Michael Shermer

Dialogue, Science, Reason, Michaelshermer, Natural Sciences, Skeptic

4.4 • 921 Ratings

🗓️ 17 June 2025

⏱️ 80 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When award-winning science writer Amy Alkon was blindsided by her first hot flash, it kicked off a cascade of symptoms—drenching night sweats, insomnia, and a rage she couldn’t explain. But what shocked her more was how little real science her doctor had to offer.

In this episode, Alkon shares what she uncovered in her deep dive into the research on menopause and perimenopause—the critical yet often neglected years leading up to menopause when millions of women are misdiagnosed, dismissed, or simply told to “wait it out.” Drawing from her new book Going Menopostal, she explains why so much medical advice is still based on outdated or inadequate evidence, and what women can do about it.

Alkon breaks down complex science with clarity, humor, and a healthy dose of skepticism, giving listeners the tools they need to ask better questions, advocate for themselves, and get the care they deserve. Whether you’re in the thick of it or simply want to be prepared, or want to support your loved ones going through menopause, this episode will leave you informed, empowered, and maybe even laughing.

Amy Alkon is an independent investigative science writer specializing in “applied science”—using scientific evidence to solve real-world problems. Alkon critically evaluates and synthesizes research across disciplines and then translates it into everyday language, empowering regular people to make scientifically informed decisions for the best of their health and well-being.

For 25 years, Alkon wrote an award-winning, science-based nationally syndicated advice column, distributed by Creators. She is the author of five books—most recently, her “science-help” book Unf*ckology: How to Live with Guts and Confidence (St. Martin’s Press, 2018). She is the past President of the Applied Evolutionary Psychology Society, which brings evolutionary science to public policy, education, and medicine. Her new book is Going Menopostal: What You (And Your Doctor) Need to Know About the Real Science of Menopause and Perimenopause.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to The Michael Shermer Show.
0:15.6	Hey, everybody, it's Michael Shermer.
0:17.6	It's time for another episode of the Michael Shermer show.
0:20.1	Guess who's on the show today, returning champion Amy Almer. It's time for another episode of the Michael Shermer show. Guess who's on the show today? Returning champion, Amy Alcon. She was on before for her, well, I'll introduce. Let me give her proper introduction here. She's an independent investigative science writer, specializing in applied science that is using scientific evidence to solve real-world problems.
0:38.7	Let's see why I like that.
0:40.2	Alcon critically evaluates and synthesizes research across disciplines and then translates
0:44.5	it into everyday language, empowering regular people, that's us, to make scientifically
0:50.0	informed decisions for the best of their health and well-being.
0:54.0	For 25 years, she wrote the award-winning science-based nationally-incidated
0:58.1	advice column distributed by creators and is the author of five books.
1:02.7	Most recently, before the new one, I'll just introduce a moment, for which she was on
1:06.7	the show before is called Unfuckology, How to live with guts and confidence. At least I think
1:12.4	that's how it's pronounced. Actually, Amy, I cite that book in my next book and the copy editor
1:18.9	corrected and said, you have to put an asterisk where the U is. I hate that. It is not my choice.
1:25.8	No fig leaves, but bookstores require them, or they won't sell it. So I defer to...
1:29.9	Really? Is that right? Yeah, the god of sales. Oh, my gosh. I know. It's just so stupid. Hi, we all know what the word is.
1:38.9	Well, anyway, here's the new book. It's called Going Menopostal, what you and your doctor need to know about the real
1:45.8	science of menopause and perimenopause. I forgot to mention that you've written for the New York
1:51.1	Times Times Magazine, The Washington Post, the Independent in UK, McLean's. You've been on today. Good
1:57.5	Morning America. CNN Nightline Anderson Cooper, coast to coast. Oh, you did coast to
2:01.9	coast a.m. All right. That's cool. You get those calls at two in the morning. That's always big fun.
2:05.9	But actually, I didn't write the story for the New York Times. Someone wrote one about me. So,
	...

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