What this episode is about
Gabriella Espinosa steps out from behind the microphone and into the hot seat, interviewed by her friend and fellow midlife health advocate Karen Cerezo.
Key takeaways
- Gabriella says that when you use your voice in the bedroom and in the doctor's office, you step into the most powerful version of yourself.
- Gabriella shares a doctor's picture of your vulva as a garden. You tend it with nutrients like hormones, and hydration like moisturizer.
- Gabriella says getting ahead of changes now matters. If you don't want systemic hormones, she points to vaginal estrogen, which she says has been proven safe and effective.
Moments from this episode
Word for word from the recording. Tap a time to hear it.
It all starts with you
“It all starts with you. That's my whole mantra. It all starts with you becoming intimate with yourself and finding what lights you up.”
We get to have more in midlife
“We get to have more in midlife. That's what I tell my midlife women. We get to have more of everything. And so when we widen that definition, we realize everything that's possible. So much pleasure is possible.”
Trust your voice
“I would just tell that younger version of myself to trust her voice, that her voice is wise, has so many smart things to say, and that if she just allowed herself to speak up, the world would listen.”
Creating space to listen
“It means not overriding what your body's telling you, but yet creating that space, to listen, to feel and to really step into whatever decade you're stepping into.”
“When you use your voice both in the bedroom and in the doctor's office, you step into the most powerful version of yourself.”
Gabriella Espinosaat 16:01
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Show notes
This is a milestone episode. Episode 100 of Pleasure in the Pause marks two years of bold, honest conversations about women's bodies, pleasure, and sexual health in midlife , and this one is personal. For the first time, host Gabriella Espinosa steps out from behind the microphone and into the hot seat, interviewed by her friend and fellow midlife health advocate Karen Cerezo.
If you have ever felt dismissed by a doctor, confused by the changes in your body, or quietly assumed that pleasure was something you would just have to let go of in this chapter of life , this episode is your reminder that you are not alone, and that assumption is wrong. Gabriella shares the deeply personal story behind why she started this podcast, what she learned from 100 conversations with leading experts in sexual health and intimacy, and where the conversation is headed next. From the surprising gap in women's knowledge about their own anatomy, to cutting-edge medical tools most women have never heard of, to what it really means to step into your sixties with intention , this episode covers it all.
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Are you ready to awaken your sensuality and feel more empowered in your body? Access the FREE Pleasure Upgrade Bundle at pleasureinthepause.com/gift.
Karen Cerezo is a nationally board-certified health coach, certified personal trainer, menopause expert, TEDx speaker, and founder of Lifestyle Fitness. With over a decade of experience helping women in midlife navigate perimenopause and beyond, Karen blends science-backed education with real-life practicality to help women reclaim strength in their bodies, their choices, and their confidence. Karen specializes in menopause education, hormone health, strength training after 45, and the hidden cost of ignoring midlife health in the workplace. She is the author of Navigating Menopause: A Comprehensive Wellness Tracking Journal and a sought-after speaker who makes complex hormone conversations clear, relatable, and actionable.
Highlights from our discussion include:
- Sexual pleasure in midlife is not over , it just looks different.
- Systemic hormones and local hormone therapy are not the same thing , and most women are only doing one when they may need both.
- Knowing your own anatomy is the foundation of self-advocacy.
- Pelvic floor therapy is one of the most underused and most effective tools available to women in midlife.
- Pleasure is broader than the bedroom.
This podcast started because Gabriella had no language for what was happening in her own body. A hundred episodes later, that conversation has reached women in 106 countries , and it is just getting started.
If this episode resonated, subscribe to Pleasure in the Pause and share it with a woman in your life who needs to hear it. And if you have been part of this community from the beginning, thank you. This milestone belongs to you, too.
If you're seeking to reclaim your pleasure and vitality, join Gabriella at pleasureinthepause.com for this enlightening journey into the heart of female pleasure and empowerment.
CONNECT WITH KAREN CEREZO:
Website: midlifehealthcoach.com
Instagram: instagram.com
CONNECT WITH GABRIELLA ESPINOSA:
The information shared on Pleasure in the Pause is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health or treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or Pleasure in the Pause.
