Misti Graham of The Menopause Mafia Is Redefining Midlife with Humor, Hormones & Honest Support

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

Hi, I’m Misti Graham — women’s empowerment champion, marketing strategist, and a certified Menopause Coaching Specialist through Girls Gone Strong (aka: the gold standard of menopause knowledge, so yes, I’m officially qualified to help you through the hormonal Hunger Games). I founded The Menopause Mafia to give women a place where we can drop the shame, ditch the silence, and talk about midlife like the wild, confusing, hilarious adventure it really is. My goal? Help women feel powerful again — even when their hormones are acting like they woke up and chose chaos.

With my Peri to Post™ Coaching packages, I help women navigate the hormonal circus with confidence, humor, and zero judgment. And if you like your empowerment served with a side of sarcasm, you’ll love my Menopause on the Mic podcast — where I break down hot flashes, mood swings, and midlife madness with the energy of someone who has personally survived them all. I also write the Brain Fog Blog, which is basically where I document the midlife circus and help women feel seen, understood, and like they’re absolutely not alone in the madness. If you want support, laughs, and someone who gets what it’s like to lose your keys, your patience, and your grip on reality before noon — you’re in the right place.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Not at all. I wasn’t the kid selling lemonade with a five-year growth plan. I was more of a “follow the path, climb the ladder, do the responsible adult thing” girl. And for a while, that worked. But somewhere between the mood swings, the night sweats, and the moment I forgot where I parked while I was still in the car, something shifted. I realized that not only was I meant to build something of my own — I was meant to build something that didn’t exist but desperately needed to. I didn’t wake up one day thinking, I’m destined for entrepreneurship. I woke up thinking, if nobody else is going to create a space where midlife, menopausal women feel supported, educated, and able to laugh through the chaos… then I sure the hell will!

So no, entrepreneurship wasn’t the lifelong dream — but it absolutely became my calling. Once the idea for The Menopause Mafia hit me, it wasn’t a gentle nudge. It was a full-blown, universe-screaming-in-my-face, “This is what you’re meant to do, sister” moment. And honestly? I’ve never looked back… mostly because I can’t remember where “back” is anymore.

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

When I first launched my business, my marketing strategy was pretty simple: show up boldly, speak the truth about menopause, and make women laugh so hard they forget they were miserable five minutes ago. I knew women were craving real conversations about midlife — not clinical jargon, not vague advice — just honest, relatable, “finally someone said it” content.

Did it go as planned?

Well...yes and no. I expected slow growth and very gradual, steady interest. Instead, I got women DMing me like, “Ma’am, who gave you permission to read my mind?” and “Finally, someone is saying what we've all been screaming into our pillows.” Apparently, when you mix humor, real science, and the courage to say “it's okay that your hormones are acting like tiny drunk gremlins,” women pay attention. Things took off WAY faster than I anticipated because midlife women weren’t just interested — they were desperate for someone to talk about menopause like a normal human and not a medical textbook. So yes, my original plan worked… But let’s be honest: The Menopause Mafia went viral because midlife women will ride or die for anyone who helps them feel seen, supported, and slightly less unhinged. Turns out, a laptop, a hot flash, and a little chaos make a pretty solid marketing strategy.

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

The accomplishment I’m most proud of is creating a space where midlife women finally feel seen, heard, and understood — sometimes for the very first time. That’s the part that gets me emotional every single time. Women message me saying things like, “Thank you… now I don’t feel crazy,” or “Why has no one explained this to me before?” or my personal favorite, “I laughed so hard I forgot I was having a hot flash.” That’s when I know I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do.

I’m also ridiculously proud of how quickly The Menopause Mafia has become a community — through Peri to Post™ Coaching, the Menopause on the Mic podcast, the Brain Fog Blog, and yes, the merch that lets women announce to the world that their hormones now run the show. But the real accomplishment? Breaking the silence and turning menopause — something women were told to whisper about — into something we talk about openly, confidently, and with enough humor to make the whole experience feel a little less like a crisis and a little more like a sisterhood. If I’ve helped even one woman go from “I’m falling apart” to “Okay, I’ve got this,” then honestly… that’s the trophy right there.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

I wish I had known that you don’t need every detail figured out before you start — you just need the courage to begin and the willingness to adjust as you go. When I first stepped into entrepreneurship, I thought I needed the perfect plan, the perfect timing, the perfect strategy… basically the perfect everything. Spoiler: perfection is a scam, especially when you’re also navigating menopause. What I’ve learned is that clarity comes from action — from trying, tweaking, learning, and trusting that you can figure things out along the way. The magic isn’t in having it all mapped out. The magic is in showing up, even when you’re sweaty, uncertain, or fueled by a hot flash and a dream.

If I had known that earlier, I would’ve started sooner, stressed less, and given myself more grace. But now that I do know it, I build, grow, and evolve with so much more confidence — and a lot more humor.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

My go-to interview question is: “How will you make a difference in my company?” I love this question because it tells me everything I need to know — how someone sees themselves, how they think about impact, and whether they actually understand the mission behind The Menopause Mafia. I’m not looking for rehearsed answers or corporate buzzwords; I want to hear what they believe they can bring to the table in a real, human way. And because I also value honesty and self-awareness, I follow it up with: “Tell me about a time you had to be resourceful — and what your real reaction was before you pulled it together.”

This combo lets me see both sides of a person: their vision and their vulnerability, their confidence and their coping style. In The Menopause Mafia universe, I want people who can think creatively, communicate openly, and keep a sense of humor when things get chaotic — because they will get chaotic.

These two questions together tell me whether someone can make an impact and whether they’ll fit right into a company built on honesty, empowerment, and a healthy dose of midlife madness.

What did you go before starting your own business?

Before launching my business, I spent years climbing the ladder in marketing and brand leadership — from Manager to Director to CMO. I built brands, led teams, crafted big campaigns, and basically turned strategy and storytelling into my superpower. I also earned my Master’s in Psychology – Coaching, which fueled my passion for women’s empowerment, and later completed the Menopause Coaching Specialist Certification through Girls Gone Strong — the industry’s most trusted and comprehensive menopause certification. Translation: I know the science and the mindset behind what midlife women are going through. And then there’s my personal background: I’ve lived the entire hormonal trilogy — peri, menopause, and post — and came out the other side with battle scars, wisdom, and a wicked sense of humor about it all. After seeing how many women were struggling alone, I knew it was time to combine my expertise with some much-needed laughter and build something that actually helps women navigate midlife without losing their minds.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I took the leap to start my own business because one day, in the middle of a hot flash so aggressive it felt like I was being spiritually sautéed, I had the very clear realization: women deserve better than this. Better information, better support, better community — and definitely better jokes to survive it all.

After living through peri, menopause, and post myself, I kept looking around thinking, where is the space where women can actually talk about this without shame or confusion? Where’s the place that explains what’s happening in your body AND makes you laugh so hard you forget you were crying five minutes ago? When I couldn’t find it, the answer became obvious: I was meant to build it.

So I took my coaching expertise, my lived hormonal chaos, my smart-ass sense of humor, and my absolute refusal to let women struggle in silence — and I created The Menopause Mafia. I didn’t tiptoe into entrepreneurship; I full-on cannonballed into it because midlife women deserve a place where they can get answers, get support, and get through the madness with laughter instead of loneliness. And honestly? That impulsive, overheated epiphany was the best decision I ever made.

Do you have any recent wins?

One of my biggest wins this year has been launching my Peri to Post™ Menopause Coaching and watching women transform right in front of me. This has been the heartbeat of my business — the moment women finally get answers, finally feel seen, and finally stop thinking something is “wrong” with them.

Seeing clients go from overwhelmed and frustrated to confident and relieved has been the kind of win that makes all the late nights, research, writing, creating, and occasional hormone-fueled meltdowns worth it. Women have told me things like: “You explained in one session what my doctor hasn’t explained in five years.” “I finally understand my body again.” “I feel like I can breathe for the first time in months.” That’s the win I'm celebrating: women walking away with clarity, tools, confidence, and the feeling that they’re not navigating this chapter alone.

Coaching is where the breakthroughs happen — where the lightbulbs turn on, the dots connect, and women leave feeling hopeful instead of helpless. And honestly? Helping a woman reclaim her sanity during menopause… That’s a win I’ll celebrate every single time.

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

The one app I absolutely cannot live without is my Notes app. It’s basically the external hard drive for my peri-to-post menopause brain. Every idea, every joke, every podcast topic, every merch slogan, every “oh wait, THAT needs to go in the Brain Fog Blog” moment… it all lives there. It’s where I capture the brilliance and the chaos — because let’s be honest, if I don’t write something down the second it crosses my mind, it’s gone forever, floating into the void with all my missing socks and abandoned groceries.

My Notes app is my creative vault, my memory backup system, and my unofficial business partner. Without it, The Menopause Mafia would be 90% blank stares and “Hold on… what was I saying?” So yes… the Notes App: Irreplaceable.

Who are your customers?

My customers are midlife women — peri, meno, and post — who are done being confused, dismissed, or gaslit by their own hormones. My coaching clients are the women who want answers, a plan, and a coach who won’t flinch when they say, “I forgot my own birthday,” or “I’m sweating like I owe the universe money.” They come to me for real guidance, real help, and a whole lot of humor — because surviving menopause deserves more than a pamphlet and "get more sleep" advice.

However I also serve the women who are here for the sisterhood — the ones who listen to the Menopause on the Mic podcast, read the Brain Fog Blog, shop the Menopause Market for merch that says what they’re really thinking, and proudly claim their spot in The Menopause Mafia because laughing at the chaos is cheaper than therapy and way more fun. Together, they’re a fierce crew of brilliant, overwhelmed, hilarious women who want to understand what’s happening to their bodies — whether they’re diving into coaching or soaking up the content that reminds them they’re absolutely not alone in this hormonal circus.

What's your top productivity tip?

My top productivity tip: Break your day into “energy windows,” not hours. Some days you wake up feeling like a CEO. Other days you wake up feeling like a potato. That’s normal — especially in peri-to-post menopause. Instead of forcing yourself into rigid schedules, figure out when your brain is the sharpest (even if it’s only a 45-minute window between a hot flash and a snack). Use THAT time for your biggest tasks. Everything else gets slotted into the “medium energy” or “bare minimum” windows.

This way you’re working with your body, not fighting it — which saves time, energy, sanity, and prevents you from trying to complete a major project during peak brain fog hour. And honestly? Nothing boosts productivity like honoring your own rhythms instead of pretending you’re a machine.

What's your favorite business tool?

My favorite business tool is Canva — because it lets me run an entire brand with the speed, confidence, and chaos-tolerance of a woman in peri-to-post menopause. Everything from podcast graphics to coaching materials to merch mockups starts there. It keeps my branding consistent (even when my hormones aren’t), makes me look like a design genius without actually being one, and lets me create professional, polished content in minutes.

In a business built on humor, education, and visibility, Canva is the tool that keeps The Menopause Mafia looking fierce — even on days when I’m melting and my brain is operating at 2%.

What's your approach to work-life balance?

My approach to work-life balance is simple: I aim for integration instead of perfection — because balance implies everything is neatly divided, and have you met menopause? Nothing is neatly divided. I treat my life and my work like two women sitting at the same table: sometimes one talks more, sometimes the other needs attention, and sometimes they’re both loud at the same time and I just excuse myself to go breathe for a minute.

I build my schedule around what matters most — my health, my relationships, my sanity — and I let the rest flow around that. Some days are “I’m a powerhouse” days, and some days are “I will be horizontal by 3pm” days, and both are allowed. I also integrate joy and humor into the middle of everything. Laughing during the chaos counts as self-care in my world. Walks, breaks, naps, conversations, dance parties in the kitchen — they all blend into the way I work. In short, I don’t chase balance. I build a life where my work and my wellbeing get to coexist… and neither one has to apologize for needing a little extra love on any given day.

How do you avoid burn-out?

I avoid burnout by treating rest like it’s part of my business plan, not a reward for finishing it. In peri-to-post menopause, your body will absolutely let you know when you’re pushing too hard — usually by short-circuiting your brain or making you cry over an aggressive commercial. So instead of ignoring those signals, I honor them. I build in “reset moments” during the day where I step away, cool off (sometimes literally), breathe, stretch, or just stare at a wall like a peaceful houseplant. I also set boundaries around my time, say “no” more often, and refuse to feel guilty for resting — because burnout helps no one.

I’ve learned that if I want to serve women well, create from a clear head, and keep growing this movement, I have to protect my energy with the same enthusiasm I protect my snacks. Resting isn’t stepping back — it’s how I stay in the game.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

My advice to aspiring Entreprenistas is this: start messy, stay curious, and don’t wait for perfect — she’s not coming. Action creates clarity. Confidence grows from doing. And most of your best ideas will show up at the most inconvenient times (usually in the shower or during a hot flash), so don’t be afraid to begin before you feel “ready.”

Surround yourself with people who get your vision, protect your energy like it’s a limited-edition resource, and build a business that feels like you — not what you think you’re “supposed” to be. And most importantly: Use humor. Use heart. Use honesty. You’re going to make mistakes, change directions, outgrow old ideas, and surprise yourself a dozen times — enjoy the evolution. Women are unstoppable when we trust ourselves. So trust yourself, take the leap, and build the thing the world hasn’t seen yet… even if your brain fog tries to talk you out of it.

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