Hello
Bryn Meadows
Hi, I’m Bryn. I am a Counsellor, a healthcare leadership nerd, and a professional human being. Through my work, I have over twenty years of experience walking alongside people through the messy, meaningful, and magical parts of being human.
I created Menopolooza because I believe menopause is not the end—it’s a rite of passage. A wild, weird, and holy season where we get to reclaim ourselves, rewrite the script, and raise a little hell (or at least raise our voices). My work is trauma-informed, body-celebrating, and deeply rooted in compassion, with a healthy dose of humour.
I am navigating the midlife pathway myself. In the absence of information, I wanted to bring together our community, including: Physicians, Naturopathic Doctors, Counsellors, Registered Massage Therapists, Registered Dietitians, Fitness consultants and other experts to help us all connect, explain and offer guidance and information for us all to understand, heal and share our stories moving forward.
With a Master’s degree in Healthcare Leadership and 24 years in the mental health field, I bring clinical expertise and compassion to my work. I’m a Registered Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling (MPCC) and a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator–Clinician (CDWF), trained in the transformational methodology based on Dr. Brené Brown’s research on vulnerability, shame, and courage.
I live in Victoria, BC, with my husband and our scruffy dog pack. There, I garden, devise new ways to dismantle the patriarchy, and fiercely love my clients and community.
Meet the team
Jackie Dewey
Get ready to fall in love with Jackie Dewey — the hilarious heart and soul of Menopolooza! Jackie will be our Master of Ceremonies, guiding us through the weekend with her trademark mix of warmth, quick wit, and unstoppable charm.
Jackie is the kind of woman who can hold a room together while cracking it wide open with laughter. Her stories are real, her timing is razor-sharp, and her heart is always right there on her sleeve. Whether she's making you laugh until you cry or reminding you why we’re all here, Jackie brings the perfect balance of hilarity and heart to every moment.
We couldn’t imagine a better person to lead us through Menopolooza — and after a few minutes with Jackie, you’ll understand precisely why.
Dr. Tracy Wayne (Rodgers)
Dr. Wayne wears many crowns: OBGYN, "vaginal psychologist," menopause expert, and fierce advocate for women’s health. With over 20 years of gynecological expertise, Dr. Rodgers brings science, heart, and hilarious honesty to the Menopolooza stage.
Having navigated her journey through early menopause, Dr. Wayne knows firsthand the confusion, comedy, and courage it takes to survive and thrive. She blends clinical wisdom with a deep understanding of the emotional rollercoaster that often comes with midlife, making her uniquely equipped to inform, comfort, and make you snort-laugh — sometimes all at once.
Get ready to feel seen, heard, and downright empowered. Dr. Wayne is the real deal, and she’s here to bust myths, drop f-bombs, share truths, probably bring some tears to our eyes and remind us all that we are not broken—we are becoming.
Tara Findlay
Tara Findlay is a BCRMT, perimenopause educator and advocate, and co-creator of The Comprehensive Guide to Perimenopause & Menopause for RMTs. With 25 years of clinical experience and a knack for translating research into real-life relevance, Tara blends science and story to help health professionals better understand and support women in midlife. Her superpower? Taking peer-reviewed studies and turning them into something that’s not only digestible, but dare she say- funny. She teaches on the musculoskeletal syndrome of perimenopause, and what she calls “the neurotransition of perimenopause,” or, as she likes to put it, “This is your brain on perimenopause. Any questions?”
She’s also a certified yoga teacher, so expect a little science, a little woo, and a whole lot of real talk.
Find out more about Tara and her courses here:
Erin Roman, RD
Erin is a registered dietitian who has worked in a diversity of roles including public health, indigenous food security, mental health and nutrition, culinary nutrition, leading a provincial supportive cancer care nutrition team and now focuses solely on her private practice. She has a passion and particular interest for supporting women’s health and digestive health concerns, supporting an embodiment of the physiological ways our body can use food to fuel us and support us. Erin appreciates a biopsychosocial approach to wellness exploring how nutrition intersects our mental and emotional wellbeing as well as our cultural and social connections. She currently is honored to be live and practice within the traditional and unceded territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, Sathloot (‘sath-loot), Sasitla (sa-‘seet-la), Ieeksen (eye-‘ick-sun), and Pentlatch and Xa’xe (‘ha-hey) in Tin Town, Courtenay. Erin currently sits on the National Leadership Council for the Women’s Health Coalition
Audrey Panter
Let’s Talk About Sex! Did that warm you up? Or was that a hot flash?!!
Audrey is on a mission to break the silence around menopause and sexual health. As the founder of Island Passion, where self-love and sexual wellness are recognized as essential parts of self-care, she empowers women to embrace pleasure, comfort and connection. With a bold, unapologetic approach, Audrey dives headfirst into the often-overlooked intersection of menopause and intimacy. Drawing from personal experience and a commitment to breaking down taboos and normalizing conversations about menopause and sex, Audrey brings a playful yet professional approach. Join her at the conference for raw, honest and fun conversations about vaginal dryness and discomfort, changes in sex drive and orgasms, and strategies for managing sexual health and increasing pleasure during menopause including straight talk about the benefits of lubricants, vaginal moisturizers and sex toys!! Menopause is a new chapter—and Audrey’s here to help you own it!!
KELLY COULTER
Kelly Coulter is the creator, producer and host of Meant to Pause, the Telus/Storyhive sponsored video podcast promoting menopause wellness. From Victoria, British Columbia the video podcast ‘Meant to Pause’ takes a deep dive into society’s attitude towards menopause. Kelly and her expert guests explore existing fears and myths surrounding menopause underscoring the lack of accurate information available. Her intention is to answer questions, share experiences and wisdom, and ultimately shed positive light on the post-reproductive years. If we look at menopause differently… could it be the ultimate blessing/liberation women are rewarded with in their life journey? Her background in journalism, community organizing and feminist issues has led her to advocating for women's health and reproductive education. In one of her previous lives (there have been many) she convinced Justin Trudeau to legalize cannabis......but that's another story.
See Kelly’s podcast here: You Tube Link to Meant to Pause
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtbtNJQqjEI&list=PLuj3rWl-eKLHIeRQ19NZ3hjSU5Sn5tdY-
Sarah Jane Smith
Sarah Jane (She/Her) is a Grief Ritual Facilitator, Self-Compassion Practitioner and Coach. She leads grief-tending retreats, 1:1 coaching containers, plus group programs.
As a childless not by choice widow, Sarah Jane knows grief and what true grief support feels like. She believes that all transitions come with grief that needs to be tended and recognized.
Website: www.embodiedpossibility.com
Susannah Stewart (she/her)
Registered Physiotherapist : Pelvic Health
Susannah is cliterally obsessed with pelvic health! She helps people of all genders not pee their pants, have better sex, and feel safer in their bodies (and no, it's not all about Kegels!). Susannah graduated from physio school in 2004, and specialized in pelvic health in 2018. She practices from a mind body trauma informed lens, weaving yoga and other nervous system practices into her work. You can find Susannah practicing at Glow Integrative Clinic, mermaiding in lakes, or nerding out about vaginal estrogen.
Website susannahstewart.ca
insta: susannah.pelvicphysio
Jenn Farrell
Jenn Farrell (She/Her) is the powerhouse behind Witness the Fitness (WTF) — and yes, the name tells you everything you need to know about her hilarious, badass approach to wellness. Jenn is a personal trainer, fitness instructor and aerobics enthusiast, and weight-lifting evangelist specializing in making strength training fun, accessible, and empowering for everyone, especially beginners.But Jenn isn’t just your go-to fitness guru. She’s also the author of two collections of short fiction and has worked as a freelance writer, editor, and creative writing instructor in Vancouver.
Warm, witty, and wonderfully real, Jenn brings a unique blend of strength, heart, and storytelling magic to Menopolooza. Jenn will have you laughing, moving, and feeling stronger than ever.
Dr. Taylor Thurston, ND, MSCP
Naturopathic Doctor & Menopause Society Certified Practitioner
Dr. Taylor Thurston lives at the intersection of hormones, mental health, and calling out wellness nonsense. A Menopause Society Certified Practitioner and naturopathic doctor, she’s made it her mission to help women feel seen, supported, and actually informed—without guilt, restriction, or giving up what makes life enjoyable.
With deep clinical expertise and zero tolerance for fluff, Dr. Taylor brings clarity to the chaos of perimenopause and beyond. She’s not here to sell hormone fear or green juice miracles—she’s here for the real conversations: the mood swings, the sleep struggles, the “why do I feel like a different person?” days.
She believes women aren’t broken—they’re just under-supported. And she’s here to change that.
https://www.drtaylorthurston.com/
@drtaylorthurston
Lindsay May
Somatic Guide, Spiritual Mentor & Creator of the Sage Era
Lindsay May is a somatic practitioner, spiritual mentor and the visionary creator of Sage Era—a sacred body of work guiding women through the alchemical threshold of perimenopause and menopause. With deep reverence for the body as a living temple and the womb as a source of untapped wisdom, Lindsay brings a bold and soul-led perspective to the conversation around midlife.
She invites women to dismantle the false narratives of decay, deficiency and invisibility, and instead meet this season as a powerful rite of passage; one that asks us to reclaim our voice, rewild our pleasure and remember who we were before the world told us who to be.
Lindsay’s work weaves together somatics, nervous system healing, sacred sexuality, ancestral reclamation and spiritual midwifery. She is not here to fix you—she is here to walk with you as you remember your own medicine. Through her guidance, menopause becomes less of a medical event and more of a holy initiation into embodied wisdom and erotic wholeness.
Prepare to be gently unraveled and deeply re-membered.
Lillie Louise
Lillie Louise is a Victoria based photographer specializing in branding portraiture, lifestyle, commercial and food photography.
She grew up in Ireland & emigrated to Canada in the eighties. She studied Art History and Film at U of A.
After graduating from photography school in Vancouver, she assisted editorial & fashion photographers for many years before relocating to Vancouver Island.
She is known for her ability to put subjects at ease when being photographed and her style is clean, colourful and simple.
When she is not behind the camera, she works in TV & Film.
www.lillielouise.com
https://www.instagram.com/lillielouisephotographer
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