Opt to Thrive
Dr Corina Sims
Opt to Thrive is a health and wellness podcast designed to support, educate, inspire, empower and motivate midlife women to live their healthiest, happiest most fulfilled lives. Motivated by her own life experiences and the punch in the face that was the midlife transition, Dr Corina Sims created Opt to Thrive.
Dr Sims is a rural GP Obstetrician with a passion for connecting with and empowering other women to be the best version of themselves. Disappointed with the plethora of contradictory information targeted at perimenopausal and menopausal women and recognising the gap in medicine that has been identified GLOBALLY in managing women going through it she strives to bring evidence based information to those who are searching for the answers.
Listen in every week where on one week you’ll find either a short and sweet episode designed to uplift, inspire and give helpful tips to manage your mind and a longer episode the next created to educate and inform.
All episodes
Best episodes
Seasons
Top 10 Opt to Thrive Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Opt to Thrive episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Opt to Thrive for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Opt to Thrive episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
01/01/25 • 24 min
In this follow on episode from the previous The Secrets to a Mutually Satisfying Sex Life in Long-term Relationships, we dive into breaking the toxic Pursuer-Distancer Cycle that impacts libido in long-term relationships. We discuss how libido can fluctuate over time, especially for women, and why it’s normal for desire to decrease. But when one partner's libido is higher than the other's, emotional distance and resentment can build. So, how do we fix it?
We explore research that uncovers the disconnect between what women and men believe impacts female libido, highlighting the critical importance of communication and affection —things men often overlook. By understanding these differences and addressing relationship issues, couples can begin to rebuild their intimacy.
Topics include:
- Why Mercy Sex (duty sex) is damaging
- Strategies for re-establishing connection and empathy
- What helps improve libido in both women and men
- Simple communication techniques to break the cycle
This episode offers practical steps to reignite intimacy in a relationship, emphasizing the need for consistent effort and mutual understanding.
Tune in and learn how to want more, together.
Join the Opt to Thrive Community:
- Instagram: [@drcorinasimsopttothrive]
- Facebook: [Opt to Thrive]
- Website: [opttothrive.com]
Manage Your Mind Mindful Moment - #3
Opt to Thrive
11/13/24 • 7 min
In this week's Mindful Moment Dr Sims reflects on cognitive dissonance. What it is, what happened when she recognized it in her own life and what she did about it.
Manage Your Mind Mindful Moment - #5
Opt to Thrive
12/11/24 • 7 min
The holidays are here, and it's time to embrace all things festive—like cheesy Christmas movies! In this episode, I’m confessing a little guilty pleasure of mine: sinking into a feel-good Christmas movie when I’ve got some downtime. And no, I’m not talking about Die Hard (as much as my husband might disagree!). I’m talking about those sweet, predictable rom-coms, small-town love stories, and heartwarming tales of people discovering the true meaning of Christmas.
But here’s the real question: Why do so many of us love them so much, even though the acting can be, well, a bit cheesy and the plotlines pretty predictable? In this episode, I dig into why watching these films can actually be a form of self-care.
🎄 Why Christmas Movies = Stress Relief
The holiday season can be a time of chaos and overwhelm. Christmas movies offer a short, comforting escape to a predictable world of joy, love, and happy endings. I explore how these movies can act as a mental reset, helping to unwind, reduce anxiety, and fill us with positive emotions.
🎄 The Role of Nostalgia Bias
Ever notice how watching a Christmas movie makes you feel all the feels? It turns out, there’s a psychological phenomenon at play here: nostalgia bias. I share some of my own personal memories of Christmas—both the good and the challenging—and how they’ve shaped my love for the season. Spoiler: Nostalgia bias is what makes our memories shine brighter and makes us crave the comfort of those holiday traditions.
🎄 The Science Behind the Joy
When you watch Christmas movies, your brain lights up with feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and oxytocin. I explain how these movies trigger emotional responses, making us feel warm, connected, and, well... merry.
Whether you’re in the snow or soaking up the sun in the Southern Hemisphere, this episode is a reminder to take a little time for yourself this season. Whether it’s watching your favorite Christmas movie, spending time with loved ones, or simply enjoying the small joys, it’s all part of the self-care we all need.
Wishing you all a beautiful holiday season, filled with peace, joy, and some cheesy Christmas movie magic. 🎅🎄
Join the Opt to Thrive Community:
- Instagram: [@opttothrive]
- Facebook: [Opt to Thrive]
- Website: [opttothrive.com]
10/23/24 • 40 min
In this episode we welcome our very first guest! Dr Suzanne Rutherford is a physician and nutrition coach practicing in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada. Suzanne is also cofounder of The Fit Physician Program where she is dedicated to inspiring and guiding her colleagues on their journeys to reclaim their well-being and live their most fulfilling lives, both personally and professionally.
With a strong foundation in human biology and nutritional sciences, Suzanne focuses on simplifying nutrition foundations. In today's discussion Suzanne breaks it all right down to what we really need to know in terms of optimising our nutrition to lower our risk of metabolic disease, improve our longevity, rid ourselves of stubborn body fat and be the best healthiest versions of ourselves.
Manage Your Mind Mindful Moment - #1
Opt to Thrive
10/18/24 • 7 min
This is the first episode in the Manage Your Mind Mindful Moment series which will be dropped on alternate thursday's to the usual Opt to Thrive episodes.
During these short Manage Your Mind Mindful Moment episodes, Dr Sims shares tips, tricks, techniques and personal stories designed to inspire, uplift and motivate the listener to opt to thrive!
10/09/24 • 31 min
Responding to listener feedback, in this episode Dr Sims discusses the things to consider before you start or when you are thinking about coming off of menopause hormone treatment.
As with a lot of medical treatments there is more to consider than just how to do it, but also why, when or if.
Find out how long it is recommended women take hormone treatment once they start, what to expect when stopping and the evidence behind the various approaches used for stopping.
Hormone Havoc - It's NOT all in your head!
Opt to Thrive
05/08/24 • 16 min
In this episode of Opt to Thrive Dr Sims breaks down perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause and what is happening in the body during each phase. The symptoms and the risks are discussed in preparation for the next episode where the in's and out's of menopause hormone therapy will be explored.
I'm Doing What I've Always Done, So Why am l Putting on Weight? - The Truth About Weight Gain and Menopause
Opt to Thrive
09/25/24 • 21 min
In this episode of Opt to Thrive Dr Sims seeks to answer the question "is it really menopause or is there something else to blame for the weight gain most women will experience during this midlife transition?".
Dr Sims explores the underlying mechanisms of weight gain during midlife and explains why we cannot keep doing what we've always done and expect to get the results we used to get.
After this episode the listener will have gained valuable insight into what is actually happening in her body in this midlife transition that has contributed to weight gain. This Insight will be a powerful tool that can be used to create effective strategies to remove the excess weight once and for all.
The HRT Scandal - Everything You Need to Know
Opt to Thrive
05/22/24 • 26 min
In this episode of Opt to Thrive, Dr Sims starts with a short entertaining history of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), now known as menopause hormone therapy (MHT). We hear about how we got from treatment of menopause by surgical removal of the ovaries to the treatment we use today. Dr Sims breaks down the study that set menopause treatment back by twenty plus years, the study that some have described as scandalous. The actual risks of MHT are explored as are the differences between the formulations used in that study to those that we use today. By the end of this episode you should have a clear view of the hormone treatment options currently available and of the true risks and benefits associated with them.
Dr Louise Newsom interview with Professor Robert Langer:
https://www.podbean.com/pu/pbblog-aeujm-47785e
Manage Your Mind Mindful Moment - #6
Opt to Thrive
12/25/24 • 6 min
Let's talk about inner dialogue.
One word we're better off without and how comparison can rob us of living into our full potential.
Join the Opt to Thrive Community:
- Instagram: [@drcorinasimsopttothrive]
- Facebook: [Opt to Thrive]
- Website: [opttothrive.com]
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does Opt to Thrive have?
Opt to Thrive currently has 26 episodes available.
What topics does Opt to Thrive cover?
The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Motivation, Inspirational, Self Help, Podcasts, Self-Improvement, Education and Menopause.
What is the most popular episode on Opt to Thrive?
The episode title 'Hormone Havoc - It's NOT all in your head!' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Opt to Thrive?
The average episode length on Opt to Thrive is 22 minutes.
How often are episodes of Opt to Thrive released?
Episodes of Opt to Thrive are typically released every 8 days, 12 hours.
When was the first episode of Opt to Thrive?
The first episode of Opt to Thrive was released on Apr 18, 2024.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ