Dr. B’s Resource Library

Books, podcasts, tools, and support for your brain, body, and badass midlife self.

Welcome to Your Midlife Resource Library

Looking to feel more like yourself again? Start here.

This is where I’ve gathered the tools, books, podcasts, and guides I recommend most often to my patients—whether they’re navigating brain fog, mood swings, hormonal shifts, or just trying to figure out what the heck is happening to their body.

You’ll find evidence-based info, empowering stories, and practical steps for wherever you are in your journey. Browse, download, revisit. You don’t have to know what you’re looking for—just start with what speaks to you.

And come back often. I’m always adding new brainy goodness.

🔗Articles + Websites Worth Exploring

Looking for smart, credible reporting on menopause and women’s health? These are some of the articles I recommend most often; some myth-busting, some rage-inducing, and all worth a read.

I’ve also included a few trusted websites where you can dig deeper. Many of the articles are from major publications and may be gift links that bypass paywalls (for now, so don’t wait too long!).

📰 Articles to Read:

  • What Is Perimenopause? (Mayo Clinic)
    Link – A basics primer for anyone starting to connect the dots.

  • Women Are Suffering Needlessly Through the Menopause Transition, Physicians Say (CBC Radio)
    Link – A smart overview of why so many women still struggle to get the help they need and what’s standing in the way.

  • Despite Decades of Promises, Health Research Still Overlooks Women (The Guardian)
    Link – Why the data gap matters and what we can do about it.

  • Women Have Been Misled About Menopause (The New York Times)
    Gift Link – Eye-opening and infuriating in the best way. A must-read.

  • Why Is Perimenopause Still Such a Mystery? (The New York Times)
    Link – Still relevant, still maddening. A good companion to the article above.

  • Welcome to the Menopause Gold Rush (The New York Times)
    Gift Link – A sharp look at the booming menopause market and what to watch for.

  • Women are Still Unrepresented in Clinical Trials (The Washington Post)
    Link – A powerful look at why women are still underrepresented in clinical trials and why it matters for your care.

🌐 Trusted Websites:

Start with what speaks to you.

You don’t have to know what you’re looking for.

📚 Books I Actually Recommend

These aren’t just informative, they’re ones I regularly suggest to patients for insight, validation, and real change. Science-backed, soul-nourishing, and genuinely helpful.

Hormones + Perimenopause

  • The Menopause Manifesto – Dr. Jen Gunter
    Evidence-based, myth-busting, and empowering.

  • The Menopause Brain – Lisa Mosconi, PhD
    Brain health meets hormonal insight. A favorite for understanding cognitive shifts.

  • The New Menopause – Dr. Mary Claire Haver
    Whole-body wellness and hormone balance with a proactive, empowering approach.

  • How to Menopause – Tamsen Fadal
    Accessible, supportive, and informed by a wide range of experts.

  • What Fresh Hell Is This? – Heather Corinna
    Candid, inclusive, and full of helpful context for this transition.

  • The Great Menopause Myth – Kristin Johnson + Maria Claps
    Debunks common menopause misunderstandings with practical advice. Has a functional medicine perspective.

Fiction That Gets It

  • Sandwich – Catherine Newman
    This one’s for anyone living that midlife squeeze: parenting grown-ish kids, worrying about aging parents, and wondering where you went in the process. It’s funny, raw, and so real. You'll laugh, cry, and feel seen.

Mental Health + Well-Being

  • Practical Optimism – Dr. Sue Varma
    Science meets mindset in this actionable guide to resilience.

  • Dare I Say It – Naomi Watts
    A personal, relatable perspective on midlife and menopause.

  • It's Not Hysteria – Dr. Karen Tang
    A go-to guide for understanding reproductive health and advocating for yourself.

  • Grown Woman Talk – Sharon Malone, M.D.
    A practical guide to aging and health for women who have felt ignored or marginalized by the medical profession.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

🎧 Podcasts Worth Your Time

Great listens for walks, chores, or those "what is happening to me?" moments.

  • This Is So Awkward – The New Menopause with Dr. Marie Claire Haver
    Compassionate, funny, and surprisingly useful “awkward” talks. Listen Here

  • Therapy Rocks – The Menopause Brain and Beyond; The Wonders of the Changing Female Body; Menopause, Nutrition, and Diet Culture
    Real talk about hormones, mood, and reclaiming your brain. Listen Here

  • The Opposite of Small Talk – 181. Menopause with Susan A. Miele, PhD
    A conversation about redefining the narrative around menopause. Listen Here

  • Midlife Mavens Podcast – Navigating Long-Term Relationships
    Hosted by two psychologists discussing love, identity, career, and more. Watch on YouTube

  • The Tamsen Show – Hormone Therapy for Menopause
    Myth busting and science-backed truth about hormone therapy. Listen Here

  • Perimenopause WTF – Cutting Through Perimenopause Trial and Error; Overcoming Health Anxiety in Perimenopause
    All peri all the time with tons of great guests and experts. Listen Here

  • Back from the Abyss – Panic Attacks and Perimenopause
    A deep and powerful personal story. Listen Here

Your brain isn’t broken.

Your hormones are shifting.

Time to learn more about what’s happening…

✍️ Self-Assessments + Symptom Tools

Not sure what’s going on? These are some of the same tools I use in my practice to help patients better understand what they’re feeling and why. They're helpful on your own or to bring into a medical appointment.

  • Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) — Helps track physical, mental, and emotional symptoms. Useful for identifying patterns. Download PDF

  • Hormones 101: Estrogens + Progestins

    Wondering what your hormone options actually are? This cheat sheet gives you a simple starting point. It covers common types of estrogens and progestins and is designed to help you have a smarter, more personalized conversation with your provider. (Because one-size-fits-all never really fits.) Google Doc

Bonus Screeners for Midlife Health:

More ways to understand your body, hormones, and risk factors. And can be super helpful to share with a medical provider.

Hormone-Related + Cycle Awareness

Sleep + Fatigue

  • Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) — Download PDF

  • CBT-i Sleep Diary — A tool to help you track your sleep and build better habits. Download PDF

Metabolic + Bone Health

📲 Apps + Tools I Like

For tracking, calming, or just noticing what’s going on under the surface.

  • Perry App
    A community and resource hub for women navigating perimenopause. Includes expert-led videos, tips, and symptom tracking.

  • CBT-i Coach
    Free app for sleep retraining using CBT-i strategies.

  • Clue / MyFlo
    Period and symptom trackers that help you spot patterns.

  • Insight Timer
    Guided meditations, sleep sounds, and relaxation tools.

  • Daylio
    Mood and habit tracker for quick daily insights.

📓 Journal Prompts + Reflections

Designed to help you connect the dots between your thoughts, body, and next steps.

Instructions: You can use these prompts however you like—a few at a time or just one that resonates with you today. Be honest. You don't have to write a lot. Sometimes just one sentence can shift your perspective.

Identity + Self-Awareness

  • Who am I becoming in this new phase of life?

  • What parts of me have been waiting for this chapter?

  • What do I miss about how I used to feel?

Hormones + Health

  • What are the signals my body is sending me lately?

  • What would I tell my doctor if I had 10 minutes of their full attention?

  • What symptoms am I normalizing that maybe I shouldn't be?

Resilience + Growth

  • What's one thing I’ve handled better than I thought I would?

  • Where am I holding myself to unrealistic expectations?

  • What would I say to a friend going through the same thing?

Future + Purpose

  • What does "thriving" look like for me right now?

  • What do I want more of in the second half of life?

  • What kind of legacy or example do I want to leave?

Tip: Keep a small notebook or use a notes app. You don’t need the perfect routine—just moments of reflection that feel honest and real.