The independent, non-clinical hub where North Carolina women go first for vetted information and trusted referrals, so you can advocate for yourself and make the best decisions for your health.
Rooted in Carteret County, NC. Growing across North Carolina.
The hot flashes may be over, but some of the biggest health changes happen after menopause. The good news: most of them are preventable or treatable.
Bone loss speeds up after menopause and usually has no symptoms until a break. Ask about a bone density scan, and keep lifting things heavier than your purse.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, and risk rises after menopause. Know your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers.
Bladder leaks, vaginal dryness, and painful sex are common after menopause, and they're treatable. It's not "just getting older," and you don't have to live with it.
Information from trusted sources such as The Menopause Society and the American Heart Association. Educational only, not medical advice.
Ask our experts at M2Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.
Our mission is to educate, connect, and empower women through perimenopause, menopause, post-menopause, and beyond by providing access to trusted, vetted resources and practical information that support their health and well-being.
We want women to feel informed, supported, strong, and empowered to embrace and celebrate this powerful stage of life.
women ages 40 and older live in Carteret County, nearly 1 in 3 residents. About 16,000 are ages 40 to 69, and nearly 10,000 are 65 or older. We're starting here, where the need is greatest, and growing across North Carolina.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.
You know your body best. HER PowerShift gives you vetted information and trusted connections, so you can walk into any appointment informed and work hand in hand with your healthcare team to make the decisions that are right for you.
Plain-language information from trusted sources, so you understand every choice, not just one.
Our free guide and expert Q&As help you speak up and get real answers.
We help you arrive prepared, so you and your provider can make a plan together, and we connect you with vetted local specialists in midlife care.
Community-based outreach delivering education and resources directly to women where they already gather.
Building strength in muscle, mind, and spirit. After menopause, women lose bone and muscle faster. The good news: the right kind of movement helps protect both. Through M2 talks, short videos, and simple demos, we teach practical, evidence-based ways to:
Hope I. Peterson, Founder · Menopause Experts Group Champion · Certified Personal Trainer · Yoga & TRX Instructor · Wellness Coach
I've been helping women move, sweat, and feel strong since I taught my first fitness class in college in 1988. Since then I've taught more than 2,000 yoga classes and coached women one-on-one as a personal trainer and wellness coach. I've seen it all: hot flashes, mood swings, depression, weight struggles. And I've been right there with my clients, feeling it too.
Alongside teaching, I built a corporate career in health and life sciences with companies like SAS Institute and DataDirect, supporting federally funded researchers working to stop infectious diseases, find cures for cancer, monitor HIV, and bring lifesaving drugs to market. I partnered with the North Carolina ABC Commission and the North Carolina Governor's Office on the "Talk It Out, NC" campaign against underage drinking, and led wellness programs and events with organizations like Duke Health and Bayer/BASF.
I founded Studio 8 Wellness as a place where women could find answers and start feeling fabulous again, and created the 3 C's of Self-Care: Continuous, Consistent, Connected. That's when I realized this is bigger than getting through menopause. It's about getting in front of midlife, rallying together, and owning it. HER PowerShift is how I'm bringing that to women across North Carolina.
Over the last few years, I've attended Women's Health Conversations, learning from nationally recognized menopause experts and sharing my plans for HER PowerShift and our work in rural North Carolina.
We want to feel good, be seen, and shine bright. It's our time to thrive, and to make midlife the most fabulous chapter yet!
"Imagine girlfriends gathering with a cocktail or mocktail, plenty of laughs, and trusted experts breaking down the mystery of midlife and menopause. No white coat. No paper gown. Just real answers in a relaxed, fun setting."
HER PowerShift is independent and non-clinical. We don't sell treatments, and our recommendations can't be bought. Here's how we keep it that way.
Every provider we refer to meets our published standards, such as recognized credentials and evidence-based practice.
Vetted providers are listed at no cost. No one pays for a place on our list.
Sponsored posts, placements, and event spots are clearly marked "Sponsored" or "Presented by."
Sponsors never review, edit, or approve our educational content. If a partner stops meeting our standards, the partnership ends.
Vetted businesses can sponsor M2 socials and our community, and connect with women at the moment they're seeking help they can trust.
Our community is women 40+ actively looking for care, answers, and services, right now.
Only vetted businesses can partner with us, so being here tells women you've met a real standard.
At M2 socials you're not an ad. You're the expert in the room, answering real questions.
Ways to partner
Host a table and a short expert Q&A at one M2 social, with your logo on the invites.
A quarter of visibility: an M2 event, a featured spot on our site, a newsletter feature, and social media spotlights.
A year as "M2 presented by," at every event, plus monthly features and expert articles.
Healthcare providers: we'd love to partner with you. HER PowerShift helps women arrive at appointments informed, with their symptoms tracked and their questions ready, so you can make the most of your time together. Reach out to learn how to join our vetted network.
You shouldn't have to piece midlife together from Google at 2 a.m. We give you the information and the questions to speak up for yourself. Joining is free, and here's what you get.
5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Midlife Health, so you walk into your next appointment ready to speak up for yourself.
Our vetted list of local providers who specialize in midlife women's care, shared with members first.
Dates and locations go to members before anyone else, and seats are limited.
Straight talk on the questions women ask most, from trusted sources, in your inbox.
Get our free guide, 5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Midlife Health, plus first dibs on M2 dates and our vetted provider list as it grows.
Independent and non-clinical. Educational information only, not medical advice. Unsubscribe anytime.