November 2025 @ North Star 8, Minneapolis, MN: Let’s Talk Women’s Health - The CHANGE Summit
At the end of a full day of programming at The CHANGE Summit in Minneapolis, the room of nearly 200 women had absorbed hours of expert insight on hormones, health, and midlife transformation. Then Katie Brodnik took the stage — and laughter ensued.
In a ten-minute whirlwind of humor, candor, and unmistakable authenticity, Katie reignited the room with exactly what the moment needed: laughter, energy, and a reminder that learning about menopause doesn’t have to feel clinical or heavy. From the opening line (“I came all the way from Boulder, Colorado to see how you guys do meno in Minnie! I am impressed!”) to the final applause, she delivered an unforgettable close to the conference. Instead of telling women what to do, Katie emphasized what she always does: start with community, give women permission to be curious, and make space for shared learning.
Five Steps Every Woman Can Take
Katie distilled the complexity of midlife health into five concrete, doable steps - a roadmap that was accessible, memorable, and deeply human:
Buy a handheld mirror.
Understand your anatomy, advocate for your care, and learn not to be embarrassed about your own body.
Master a bodyweight squat.
Not for aesthetics - for independence. As Katie told the crowd, her goal as an 80-year-old woman is simple: “to be an independent toilet user.” Movement is longevity, and a squat is freedom.
Know your bone density.
Get a DEXA scan long before insurance pays for it. Understand your baseline now so you can protect your bones long-term.
Talk to your doctor about vaginal estrogen.
Katie used a now-iconic prop to demonstrate application - equal parts education and comedy - while reminding women that GSM affects 80% of those in menopause and should be treated preventively, not reactively.
Build your community.
Talk to your friends, your provider, your partner, your sisters. And if you don’t know where to start, she offered a simple framework:
One number. Two words.
A quick gut check to build connection and self-awareness in any room.
A Memorable End to a Transformational Event
Katie closed The CHANGE Summit by giving women permission to approach midlife with clarity, agency, and a lot more joy. Her blend of irreverence and grounded wisdom reminded everyone in the room that health doesn’t begin with perfection or prescriptions - it begins with knowledge, community, and a willingness to laugh along the way.
