055: This is Perimenopause with Mikelle Ethier

03/11/25 • 50 min

Have you ever found yourself wondering what’s happening to your body, feeling disconnected, or struggling with unexplainable changes as you enter your 40s or beyond?

These are common experiences for many facing perimenopause, a phase that often catches individuals off guard due to lack of information and societal dialogue. In this episode of the People Teaching People podcast, I’m joined by Mikelle Ethier, co-founder of This Is Perimenopause, to share insights on understanding and navigating this crucial life stage.

My conversation with Mikelle underscores the need for enhanced awareness and research on women’s health, particularly about perimenopause. As the medical community continues to make slow but steady progress, Mikelle and her co-founder, Michelle Stainton, advocate for a proactive approach to personal health and well-being.

For anyone struggling with or interested in better understanding perimenopause, This Is Perimenopause offers a wealth of resources and a solid starting point to guide one’s journey. You can join their community to gain insights, support, and inspiration for navigating this transformative phase of life.

Listen in as we talk about:

03:57 The birth of This Is Perimenopause

06:56 What is perimenopause?

11:52 What I wish I had known

14:58 Seeking answers and solutions

17:51 Slowly but surely – raising awareness for women’s health

22:10 The overwhelming impact of perimenopause

24:50 Curated support for perimenopause

36:18 Supporting loved ones through perimenopause

39:11 No quick fix for perimenopause

44:21 The power of great teachers

45:39 Pride in personal growth

46:44 A different way forward

Connect with Mikelle:

Website: https://thisisperimenopause.com/
LinkedIn: Mikelle Ethier
Instagram: @thisisperimenopause
Facebook: @thisisperimenopause
TikTok: @thisisperimenopause
Podcast: This is Perimenopause

Connect with Tiana:

Website: https://tianafech.com
LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
Instagram: @tianafech
Facebook: @tianafech
Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course

THE BIRTH OF THIS IS PERIMENOPAUSE

Mikelle describes her journey from the corporate banking world to entrepreneurship, sparked by a period of deep reflection and unexpected challenges. In 2020, amidst the chaos of the pandemic, she and two close friends found themselves struggling with perimenopausal symptoms and frustrated by the lack of information and support available. Realizing they weren’t alone, they decided to take action, creating This Is Perimenopause to provide the resources they wished they had. With the backing of an incubator program, their mission gained momentum, proving that personal struggles can lead to powerful solutions. Sometimes, the hardest moments push us to redefine who we are and what truly matters.

WHAT IS PERIMENOPAUSE?

Perimenopause is a phase many women don’t recognize until they’re in the middle of it. When Mikelle first started experiencing symptoms, she was surprised to learn that there’s no simple test to diagnose it. She explains that menopause itself is just one day—the one-year anniversary of a woman’s final menstrual period. The years leading up to that day, known as perimenopause, bring unpredictable hormonal fluctuations that can last anywhere from four to ten years. These changes can cause extreme anxiety, disrupted sleep, and dozens of other physical and emotional symptoms, often before any noticeable cycle changes. With over 60 recognized symptoms and ongoing research into even more, perimenopause remains widely misunderstood. The more we talk about it, the easier it becomes to navigate this phase with knowledge, support, and confidence.

WHAT I WISH I HAD KNOWN

“This is not your fault. This is your hormones.”

Mikelle reflects on the challenges she faced when her perimenopausal symptoms began in her early 40s, including anxiety, exhaustion, sleep issues, and other physical changes. At the time, she attributed it all to stre...

Have you ever found yourself wondering what’s happening to your body, feeling disconnected, or struggling with unexplainable changes as you enter your 40s or beyond?

Listen in as we talk about:

03:57 The birth of This Is Perimenopause

06:56 What is perimenopause?

11:52 What I wish I had known

14:58 Seeking answers and solutions

17:51 Slowly but surely – raising awareness for women’s health

22:10 The overwhelming impact of perimenopause

24:50 Curated support for perimenopause

36:18 Supporting loved ones through perimenopause

39:11 No quick fix for perimenopause

44:21 The power of great teachers

45:39 Pride in personal growth

46:44 A different way forward

Connect with Mikelle:

Website: https://thisisperimenopause.com/
LinkedIn: Mikelle Ethier
Instagram: @thisisperimenopause
Facebook: @thisisperimenopause
TikTok: @thisisperimenopause
Podcast: This is Perimenopause

Connect with Tiana:

Website: https://tianafech.com
LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
Instagram: @tianafech
Facebook: @tianafech
Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course

THE BIRTH OF THIS IS PERIMENOPAUSE

WHAT IS PERIMENOPAUSE?

WHAT I WISH I HAD KNOWN

“This is not your fault. This is your hormones.”

Previous Episode

054: But Why? Making Learning Stick with Tiana Fech

Have you ever noticed that when people don’t see the relevance of what they’re learning, they tune out—whether it’s students in a classroom or employees in a training session? If learners don’t understand the “but why” something matters, they won’t care. And if they don’t care, they won’t learn.

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, we’re diving into how relevance and purpose can transform learning from a passive experience into something truly engaging and impactful. From connecting content to real-world applications to using reflection, discussion, and feedback loops, we’ll explore practical ways to make learning stick.

Make sure you get your FREE Guide: Teaching Tool – But Why?

Listen in as we talk about:

2:51 The power of “But why?”

4:20 Why relevance matters in learning

7:39 Turning “But why?” into “Now I get It!”

15:21 Engaging learners beyond information

17:16 Making learning stick

Connect with Tiana:

Website: https://tianafech.com
LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
Instagram: @tianafech
Facebook: @tianafech
Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course

THE POWER OF “BUT WHY?”

When learners ask, “but why?”, they’re not just being curious. They’re searching for meaning. Relevance in learning connects new information to their experiences, goals, or interests, while purpose helps them see why it matters in their lives or careers. Without this connection, learning feels like a checklist rather than something valuable. If people don’t understand the “why,” they disengage – mentally planning dinner, making grocery lists, or checking hockey stats instead of paying attention. But when learning feels relevant and purposeful, it sticks, leading to deeper engagement and real impact. If learners don’t know why something matters, they won’t care and if they don’t care, they won’t learn.

WHY RELEVANCE MATTERS IN LEARNING

“When the ‘but why’ is clear, learning isn’t just relevant – it’s transformative.”

From classrooms to corporate training rooms, the “but why” is the foundation of engagement and retention. Studies show that when learners, whether students, employees, or clients, don’t see the relevance of what they’re being taught, they check out, leading to lost opportunities for critical thinking, problem-solving, and growth. But when the purpose is clear, engagement soars, motivation strengthens, and information sticks. Understanding the “but why” transforms learning from something to get through into something that truly matters – whether it’s algebra helping with real-world problem-solving or leadership training shaping career success. When learning is relevant, it’s not just absorbed – it’s applied, remembered, and used to create real impact.

TURNING “BUT WHY?” INTO “NOW I GET IT!”

To make learning truly meaningful, we need to go beyond simply presenting information. We need to help learners see the “but why” behind it. Whether it’s high school chemistry or corporate training, the key is making it relevant. This means connecting new concepts to real-world applications, telling compelling stories, providing concrete examples, and building on prior knowledge. Addressing misconceptions, showing the benefits, and even highlighting the consequences of not knowing can make a huge difference in engagement and retention. When learners understand why something matters, they’re more likely to stay motivated, absorb information, and apply it in meaningful ways. When learning is connected to real-world meaning, it shifts from something to endure to something that inspires growth and action.

ENGAGING LEARNERS BEYOND INFORMATION

Understanding the “but why” behind learning isn’t just about making content relevant. It’s about making it engaging. To move learners from passive listeners to active participants, encourage reflection with thought-provoking questions, have them brainstorm real-life applications, and foster peer discussions where they can share insights and experiences. Feedback loops are another key tool – checking in regularly ensures learners are making meaningful connections and allows for immediate clarification. When learners actively engage with content and see how it applies to their own lives, they’re more likely to stay motivated, absorb information, and put it into action. Learning isn’t just about what we take in. It’s about how...

Next Episode

056: Rethinking Education with Tiana Fech

Have you ever stopped to question the way we think about education? The way we define success? The way learning should look and feel?

For a long time, I didn’t. I followed the path, checked the boxes, and did what I was supposed to do. But over the years, as a student, teacher, and now a parent, I’ve come to realize that learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. And the way we measure success? That might need rethinking too.

In this solo episode, I dive into the idea of ‘rethinking’ education – questioning the traditional learning journey and exploring what teaching, learning, and success really mean. I share personal experiences as a student, teacher, and parent, revealing the challenges of an achievement-driven mindset and how my perspectives have shifted over time. From struggling behind the scenes as a high-achieving student to navigating the education system as a mom, I explore the realities of school, the importance of feeling seen, and the need to rethink success beyond the traditional path.

Make sure you get your FREE Guide: Reflection Questions – Rethinking Education

Listen in as we talk about:

3:00 Success vs. struggle

7:32 The ups and downs of school

8:52 The invisible struggle of students

9:47 The magic of unicorn teachers

11:07 Redefining the “right” path

12:09 Seeing the whole story

14:11 Rethinking learning and success

Connect with Tiana:

Website: https://tianafech.com
LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
Instagram: @tianafech
Facebook: @tianafech
Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course

SUCCESS VS. STRUGGLE

On the surface, I was the picture of academic success – high marks, awards, scholarships – but beneath it all, I was struggling. I spent hours trying to keep up, carrying a constant weight of anxiety. School felt like a never-ending cycle of proving myself, and while I found strategies to “succeed,” I never truly felt at ease. When I left home for an international school, the anxiety hit even harder, amplified by the loss of familiar support systems. It wasn’t until I started finding new ways to manage the overwhelm that things slowly shifted. Even as I moved through university, teaching, and eventually motherhood, those feelings of pressure and self-doubt followed me. But becoming a mom to kids in school? That changed everything. It made me rethink education – not just for them, but for myself too. Achievement doesn’t always mean understanding, and success doesn’t always mean ease. Sometimes, the biggest lessons come when we finally pause to question the path we’re on.

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF SCHOOL

When school is going well, it feels easy – parent-teacher interviews are positive, your child is engaged, and everything seems to be on track. But when school is a struggle, it’s a different story. Homework battles, morning resistance, and emotional meltdowns can make every day feel like an uphill climb. As parents, we have to step in – not just to support our kids, but to advocate for them, even when it means having difficult conversations with teachers, partners, and sometimes even ourselves. A child’s success isn’t just about grades. It’s about feeling seen, supported, and understood. As parents, our role isn’t to fix everything, but to stand beside them as they navigate the challenges.

THE INVISIBLE STRUGGLE OF STUDENTS

In a busy classroom, it’s easy to assume that quiet, well-behaved students are doing just fine. But silence doesn’t always mean success. Many kids who don’t speak up, cause trouble, or demand attention can struggle just as much as those who do – they just do it quietly. With so many students and responsibilities, teachers face real challenges in getting to know every child, but the reality is that some kids go through the school day feeling unseen and unheard. Just because a child isn’t raising their hand doesn’t mean they don’t need support. Every student deserves to feel noticed, valued, and understood.

THE MAGIC OF UNICORN TEACHERS

Some teachers leave a lasting impact – not because of the lessons they teach, but because of how they make students feel. These “unicorn teachers” see kids for who they truly are, creating spaces where they feel safe, valued, and encouraged to take risks. Their classrooms aren’t just about achievement; they’re about belonging. And we appreciate them even more when we encounter the opposite – te...