
Menopause Rise and Thrive | Helping Women Navigate Midlife and Menopause
Welcome to Menopause Rise and Thrive! I’m Dr. Sara Poldmae, and this podcast is for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause—women who are ready to embrace this stage of life with confidence and create a future that feels authentic and fulfilling.
Every week, I’ll walk you through the ups and downs of midlife, sharing helpful tips, real-world advice, and a space where you can feel heard and supported. Whether you’re dealing with hot flashes, weight changes, mood swings, sleep disruptions, or brain fog—or simply trying to make sense of the emotional shifts that come with menopause—you’re not alone.
Together, we’ll cut through the noise of misinformation and explore real, effective strategies for managing menopause symptoms, emotional well-being, and relationship dynamics. Menopause Rise and Thrive is about more than just symptom management—it’s about stepping into your strength, prioritizing your well-being, and finding renewed purpose in this chapter of life.
More than anything, this podcast is about community—a place where women like you can connect, share experiences, and support one another. Together, we’ll challenge outdated myths about aging, celebrate our resilience, and approach midlife with clarity, strength, and empowerment.
Offering a unique blend of insights from my experience as a Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Chinese herbalist, acupuncturist, yogi, functional medicine practitioner, and women’s advocate, I’m here to help you reclaim your health and rediscover your passions. Every episode is designed to provide guidance, reassurance, and practical steps so you can navigate menopause with confidence.
Menopause Rise and Thrive | Helping Women Navigate Midlife and Menopause
90. Unwinding Perfect: Choosing Yourself with Christine Clyne-Spraker
What if the perfect life you've been striving for is the very thing holding you back?
Christine Clyne-Spraker, author of Unwinding Perfect and former co-CEO of a best-in-class healthcare technology company, Eon, joins the podcast today to talk about her book, Unwinding Perfect.
Christine shares her journey from being a serial people-pleaser to choosing herself, leaving a high-powered career, and embracing imperfection. Her story is a reminder that true joy and contentment come from within, not from external validation or societal expectations. Through reflection, spiritual growth, and hard decisions, Christine discovered the importance of letting go of control, overcoming fear, and redefining success.
If you're ready to stop living for others and step into the life you truly desire, this episode is for you.
In this episode:
- Christine's journey to unwinding perfection and embracing imperfection.
- The impact of childhood dynamics on identity and self-worth.
- Breaking free from societal expectations and learning to choose yourself.
- Tools for personal growth, including EFT tapping, meditation, and reframing negative self-talk.
- The dangers of void fillers, such as overworking, and how to recognize them.
- How shadow work and embracing our "ugly" sides can lead to self-acceptance and healing.
- Navigating midlife changes with grace and embracing transformation.
- The importance of detaching from outcomes and finding peace in the present moment.
- Christine’s insights on raising resilient children while modeling healthy behavior.
- Her process of writing Unwinding Perfect and the lessons she shares in her book.
Connect with Christine:
Website: https://www.unwindingperfect.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christine_clyne_spraker/
Unwinding Perfect: One Woman’s Story of Reclamation: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1L56VBH?ref_=pe_93986420_774942710
Connect with me, Sara Poldmae:
Website: https://risingwomanproject.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarapoldmae
Learn more about my upcoming retreat to Panama: https://risingwomanproject.com/retreats/
Ready To Take The Next Step To Thriving In Midlife? Download Your Free Hot Sheet With The Top 3 Things You Can Do Today To Rise + Thrive! https://risingwomanproject.com/contact/
Have a question I can answer? Send me a message! I love to hear from my listeners!