BALANCE: A Perimenopause Journey

BALANCE: A Perimenopause Journey is for every woman who has ever felt “off,” dismissed by doctors, or wondered why her body suddenly feels unfamiliar. Through personal journeys, raw patient stories, celebrity voices, and leading experts, BALANCE pulls back the curtain on the truth about perimenopause and menopause—and shows that you are not alone. Honest, eye-opening, and deeply relatable, this is more than a docuseries—it’s a path toward answers, healing, and hope.

Special guest panelists:

 Dr. Erika

Dr. Erika is an Idaho native who grew up in Boise. She received a BA in English at the University of Idaho where she also completed pre-medical studies. She attended the founding school of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, in Kirksville, Missouri, and received her degree as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2011. She completed a year-long traditional osteopathic internship at Henry Ford Hospital and then completed a family medicine residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan.

After completing training, she returned to Idaho and has been practicing in the Treasure Valley since 2016. She holds board certifications in both osteopathic and allopathic family medicine. Dr. Erika actively speaks on local and national news as a physician consultant, regularly publishes articles in medical and social media platforms, and serves as an expert consultant on healthcare web platforms.

Her podcast, Afraid to Ask, is a medical humor podcast where she and her husband, comedian/actor/writer Jamie Lissow, discuss the lighter side of medicine while bringing humor and relatability to health and wellness.

Jill Keely, CNM

For over 25 years, I’ve had the honor of walking alongside women and families during one of life’s most transformative moments — the journey of bringing new life into the world. My own path into midwifery began with motherhood itself; as a mom of three now-grown children, I know firsthand the power, vulnerability, and beauty that birth holds.

I started my work in birth as a doula in 2000, spending 15 years supporting families and learning the art of presence and advocacy. That passion led me to nursing school, graduating in 2017, where I fell in love with labor and delivery nursing — so much so that what was meant to be a one-year requirement before midwifery school became seven deeply fulfilling years at St. Luke’s. I graduated from Midwifery school in 2024. Each role I’ve held has shaped the next, layering my perspective and deepening my commitment to the work I do today as a midwife.

My practice is rooted in a fierce belief in physiologic birth and the power of great birth stories — no matter the outcome. I am passionate about creating birth experiences where families feel informed, respected, and in control. My evidence-based fellowship research with St. Luke’s focused on birth trauma, revealing that trauma is rarely about how birth unfolds, but rather about whether families feel they have agency throughout the process. That understanding shapes every interaction I have in the birth space.

When I’m not attending births, you’ll find me hiking, biking, traveling with my high school sweetheart, playing with my grandchildren, and enjoying everything the beautiful Treasure Valley has to offer.

Cynthia Culp NP-C

founder and CEO of Foothills Functional Medicine, PLLC in Eagle, ID since 2019. Previously, Cynthia founded and practiced at Rocky Mountain Health and Wellness, LLC in Eagle ID in 2001-2018. She has years of experience in integrative and functional medicine and brings the latest advancements in those fields to the Eagle community and surrounding areas.

Cynthia has been successful treating her patients by utilizing the functional medicine approach; blending pharmaceuticals with nutraceuticals, utilizing science and nutrition to its best advantage to get the optimal effect and outcome. She has had great success treating gastrointestinal problems, mitochondrial dysfunction, autoimmune conditions, and hormone imbalances. She develops a therapeutic alliance with her patients assisting them on their journey to achieve optimal health and wellness.

Cynthia is board-certified family nurse practitioner and was one of the first practitioners to complete the certification through the Institute for Functional Medicine in 2013. Most recently she completed a fellowship and certification in Anti-aging and Metabolic Medicine through American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). She completed the peptide certification through A4M in 2022.

Education: Cynthia received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Nursing from Augustana College, graduating with honors in 1990, then went on to complete her Master of Science degree in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Gonzaga University in 1997.