{"podcast":{"title":"Hit Play Not Pause","slug":"hit-play-not-pause-1366847","podcast_index_feed_id":1366847,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/hit-play-not-pause/","website_url":"https://www.feistymenopause.com/","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/bda8ab9d-7e6f-4666-a4c0-b9a8589fae77/Hit-Play-Not-Pause-Podcast-Cover.jpg","author":"Hit Play Not Pause","episode_count":300,"summary":"Perimenopause and menopause hit active women differently. We have a different lifestyle and different goals. And we know our bodies. Whether you run and hike or do CrossFit and ski (or a little of everything!), you’ve had a way of eating and exercising that worked…until the menopause transition, when it all goes out the window as body composition changes, fatigue, body aches, sleepless nights, hot flashes, brain fog, mood swings, and low mojo blindside you out of the blue—despite doing everything right. Your doctor may (or may not) help with hormone replacement therapy. But what about all the active stuff you love? You’re already exercising and eating well. What you want is to feel and perform like you used to. That doesn’t mean fasting, swearing off carbs for life, or just slowing down. It means adjusting your nutrition, training, recovery, and mindset to work with your changing physiology as you hit this phase of life. And we’re here for it. At Hit Play Not Pause, we know the potential of women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond, because we talk to elite athletes and everyday active women who are still hitting personal bests along with world-renowned sports dietitians, researche…","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hit-play-not-pause-1366847"},"episode":{"title":"Is It Burnout or Perimenopause? How to Tell (and What to Do About It) with Erin Ayala, PhD (Episode 254)","slug":"is-it-burnout-or-perimenopause-how-to-tell-and-what-to-do-about-it-with-erin-ayala-phd-episode-254","published_at":"2025-12-10T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hit-play-not-pause-1366847/is-it-burnout-or-perimenopause-how-to-tell-and-what-to-do-about-it-with-erin-ayala-phd-episode-254","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hit-play-not-pause-1366847","url":"https://www.feistymenopause.com/","audio_url":"https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/pdst.fm/e/pdcn.co/e/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/c5ae4348-1f4e-4027-8605-5c6fdbcefc70.mp3","summary":"Are you burned out? Or just in a rough patch? Is it perimenopause, depression, or some messy mix of well, everything? In this episode, we’re joined by sports psychologist and endurance athlete Dr. Erin Ayala to unpack athletic burnout in midlife women—what it is, how it shows up, how it overlaps with perimenopause and mood changes, and how to tell it apart from being overreached, under-fueled, or just end-of-season tired. Erin also serves up some practical advice for what to do when every workout feels like a slog, how to talk to your coach, why rest, recovery, and carbs matter more than ever, and how to build a support team that actually communicates. We also dig into the grief of changing performance and body composition in midlife—and how to pivot without losing your identity as an athlete. Erin Ayala, PhD, LP, CMPC is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) offering virtual mental health therapy for athletes aged 14 and above. She provides one-on-one performance coaching, CMPC mentorship, clinical supervision, and group workshops for teams and sport organizations. She supports athletes in injury recovery, managing performance anxiety, depression, pre-competition stress, confidence, and self-criticism. Located in Minnesota, she is licensed to work with athletes in 40 states. You can learn more about Dr. Ayala and her work at www.skadisportpsychology.com Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/ Join Feisty at the Grand Traverse in Duluth, MN on October 3rd! Use code FEISTY20 for $20 off when you register at https://feisty.co/events/the-grand-traverse/ Learn More about our 2026 Feisty Events, including Bike Camps and Cycling Trips: https://feisty.co/events/ Follow Us on Instagram: Feisty Menopause: @fe…","meta_description":"Are you burned out? Or just in a rough patch? Is it perimenopause, depression, or some messy mix of well, everything? In this episode, we’re joined by spo…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3720,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/hit-play-not-pause-1366847/episodes/is-it-burnout-or-perimenopause-how-to-tell-and-what-to-do-about-it-with-erin-ayala-phd-episode-254/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/hit-play-not-pause-1366847/is-it-burnout-or-perimenopause-how-to-tell-and-what-to-do-about-it-with-erin-ayala-phd-episode-254.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}