Podcasts about midlife

A year ago, my life was completely upended. When you go through something hard, people that care about you try to say helpful things, some of this can feel so cliché. Turns out though, certain phrases become an old adage because they are right on the money.  Whether you are going through something mildly challenging or like me: nervous system on fire, life impoloding, grasping to hold your life and family together, the words of wisdom I share in this episode while seeming trite, really will help you get through. From "you won't feel this way forever" to "don't judge until you've walked a mile in their shoes", I share how popular advice held up under fire.  For more info on how I can help you visit my site BetterByDrBrooke.   Resources mentioned in this episode: Dr. Brooke Show #456: 5 Meme-Worthy Concepts That Just Hit Harder in Midlife Dr. Brooke Show #438: Midlife is More than HRT, Part I Dr. Brooke Show #439: Midlife is More than HRT, Part II Grab the Midlife Is More Than HRT guide free right here if, like me, midlife didn't feel quite like you expected. And be sure to listen to episodes #438 and #439, which were all about the mess that midlife can be, and my 3G + 4R process to tackle it!   Stuff I Know You Will Love I have a high bar for fish oils, and a bad product is worse than not taking omega 3s at all. Confirmed third-party tested for rancidity and heavy metals, distilled properly, triglyceride form - and ALL of it can be found in AquaOmega. AND for every bottle sold they will clean up 1 pound of plastic and debris from the ocean. Did I mention they are are about a third of the cost of the brands I've been recommending for years!? Save 20% with this link and code BETTEREVERYDAY at checkout. If you are looking for an expert prescriber for HRT during your perimenopause or menopause journey but are at odds with your local provider being a bit behind current best practices or you simply can't find anyone near you to help, it is MIDI to the rescue! I've worked with a number of telehealth services in my search for providers that are up to date on modern menopause medicine, have great customer service, and are licensed in all 50 states and I'm so thrilled to have found my provider with MIDI. If you too need help with getting HRT please use this link bit.ly/drbrookemidi to try MIDI with no membership fees and insurance billing available. So many of you take magnesium already but it's often citrate or glycinate only, and while that might be checking a couple of boxes, it might not hit support for muscles and cellular energy. Enter BIOptimizers with 7 forms of magnesium to support sleep, digestion and energy. Try it for  15% off with this link and code DRBROOKE knowing there is a 365, no questions asked, money back guarantee!  Be sure you connect with me in my FREE PRIVATE Facebook group: Hormones & Happiness with Dr. Brooke where other amazing, like-minded women like YOU are already hanging out! Join us!   Follow Dr. Brooke on Instagram and get signed up for my awesome emails here. Seriously, I write really great emails, or so 1000s of women tell me and I'd like to send you one too. To work with Dr. Brooke click here and if you loved this episode, please leave a review!

There is a voice that most of us know intimately. The one that says you are not doing enough, not being enough, not achieving enough. At midlife, that voice often gets louder. In this episode I share my own evolving relationship with my inner critic, including how I have learned to stop trying to silence her and start turning her questions back around. When she asks why I am not doing more, I have learned to answer: why not me? Why not this version, this season, doing things the way I am doing them? I also explore the reframe that has helped me most, treating the inner critic not as an enemy but as information, and share research on why self-compassion actually outperforms self-criticism when it comes to motivation, resilience, and performance. Want everything in one place? Join me on Substack for real talk, deeper insights, and the community you didn't know you needed — at https://courtneytownley.substack.com   #GraceAndGrit #InnerCritic #MidlifeWomen #SelfCompassion #SelfLeadership #WomensWellness #DeepHealth #Mindset #IntentionalLiving #MidlifeHealth

Self-care has quietly become another job many of us feel like we're failing at. If you've ever turned “take care of yourself” into a punishing checklist, this solo cast is for you. I'm Amy, and I'm talking about self-care for midlife women in a way that's less about adding more routines and more about creating a right size life that fits the season you're in right now.We walk through five shifts that change everything: becoming the CEO of your own health (not obsessing, participating), reframing wellness as preparation and capacity, and noticing how your inner voice may be the most overlooked form of self-care. I share a simple practice I use to interrupt the “I'm too old” and “it's too late” loop by catching the sentence and changing the sentence, so your self-talk starts supporting you instead of draining you.From there, we tackle a hard truth: you don't owe anyone the same version of you forever. Midlife brings real change in body, family, relationships, and priorities, and self-care can mean meeting the woman you're becoming rather than chasing who you were 10 years ago. We also talk about recovery without guilt and why rest is part of strength, not a reward for exhaustion. Finally, we end with my favorite idea: put something on the horizon. Anticipation and curiosity are self-care, too.If this resonates, subscribe to The Right Size Life, share the episode with a friend who needs a gentler approach to wellness, and leave a review so more women can find this conversation.Get a copy of Amy's Best selling book: CANNONBALL! FEARLESSLY Facing Midlife and Beyond hereMake sure to share with friends and family and would love if you could leave a review. There are so many shows out there floating around and if you are finding value in the The Right Sized Life Podcast share it with the world – a review means so much.And sign up for the Radiant Woman Reset hereAnd don't forget to follow along on all the socials:http://instagram.com/theamy.schmidthttps://www.facebook.com/fearlesslyfacingfifty/https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-schmidt-a5684412/

Has your period suddenly started behaving completely differently? Maybe your cycles are shorter or longer. PMS hits harder. Your breasts are sore, cravings are stronger, your mood changes dramatically, or your libido seems to have disappeared. In this episode, Dr. Mariza sits down with Beeya co-founders Kaya and Yasmin Purohit to explore what your changing cycle may be telling you, especially as you move into your late 30s and 40s. Yasmin shares her experience coming off birth control after 15 years and struggling for two years with anxiety, painful cramps, breast tenderness, and acne. Together, they explore why these symptoms deserve attention and how foundational habits like sleep, movement, whole foods, and blood sugar stability can support hormone health. They also unpack seed cycling, including exactly how it works, the nutrients different seeds provide throughout the menstrual cycle, what the research currently supports, and why women in perimenopause have become an especially important part of Beeya's community. Most importantly, this conversation is a reminder that your changing cycle is information. Listen now to learn how to recognize the clues your body is giving you and support your hormones without making wellness another overwhelming job. KAYA & YASMIN PUROHIT Kaya and Yasmin Purohit are the co-founders of Beeya, a women's wellness brand focused on helping women support their bodies through PMS, perimenopause, irregular cycles, fertility, and beyond. After Yasmin struggled with severe symptoms following 15 years on birth control, she and Kaya discovered seed cycling and set out to make the practice simpler and more accessible for modern women. Their work combines nutrition, education, and practical daily rituals designed to help women better understand and support their cycles. IN THIS EPISODE Why changing periods can be an early clue that you're entering perimenopause Yasmin's experience after coming off birth control following 15 years on the pill How sleep, movement, and whole-food nutrition can affect your cycle The surprising connection between blood sugar, progesterone, PMS, anxiety, and rage What seed cycling is and how to use different seeds throughout your cycle Why women in perimenopause may benefit from additional nutritional support How postpartum and perimenopause can overlap for women having children later Why community, joy, and flexibility belong in the conversation about women's health QUOTES “Your cycle is information. It's always giving you information.” “Not every day is going to be a winner.” “Annoyance is the price you pay for community.” RESOURCES MENTIONED Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now https://drmariza.com/jumpstart Beeya Wellness Website Beeya Wellness Instagram Beeya Wellness Youtube RELATED EPISODES  767: The Longevity Secret We Rarely Talk About: The Healing Power of Friendship, Joy & Being Fully Expressed with Samantha Hollingsworth 766: The Weight You Lose Isn't Always the Biggest Transformation: The Part of GLP-1s Nobody Talks About with Dr. Alexandra Sowa 764: Why Your Nervous System Feels Dysregulated (Even When You're Doing Everything Right) with Roseann Capanna-Hodge 763: Why So Many High-Functing and Achieving Women Miss the Signs of Hormone Imbalance with Anastasia Sartan

“My lens around style doesn't have anything to do with style anymore — it's about physicality,” says stylist and fashion consultant Stacy London. “What do I want to be able to do? How do I keep myself strong?” Stacy's message has resonated for many women, and for this episode, she joins Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, host of TED Health, at TED2025 for a special live conversation about why women are so embarrassed to talk about aging. For Stacy, aging became a chance to reassess her relationship to her body, and her experience with menopause and spinal surgery shifted her focus to health and wellbeing. Her best advice on what you can do to feel good in your skin? Throw away the most painful pair of shoes you own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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For over 30 years, the National Weight Control Registry has tracked more than 10,000 people who've lost significant weight and — the hard part — kept it off. In this episode, we break down what the data actually shows these successful maintainers have in common, and why those lessons carry extra weight (pun intended) for women navigating perimenopause and menopause, when hormonal shifts make muscle loss and fat gain more likely. No fad-diet promises — just what the research says works over the long haul.

I'm delighted to bring you a midlife metabolic health masterclass for women today, with experts Dr. Yael Joffe, Dr. Ben Bikman, Dr. Lara Briden, Dr. Felice Gersh, and Dr. Alexandra Sowa. In this masterclass, our panel of experts explores how women's metabolisms change in perimenopause, how our fat cells change with age, and how those changes influence our estrogen, insulin, and body composition. We examine how muscle, estrogen, and satiety mechanisms can improve or worsen metabolic health, the roles of aging, stress, inflammation, and ovarian health, and how body changes become metabolic risks. Join us for today's impactful masterclass with our insightful panel of metabolic health experts. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Why the amount of body fat you carry does not necessarily determine your metabolic health How declining estrogen during menopause can change where women store their body fat Why women have to work harder to maintain and build muscle as estrogen declines in perimenopause and menopause How women can continue building muscle at any age Why progesterone is not only a reproductive hormone or something prescribed to protect the uterine lining The changes women may experience as their estradiol and progesterone production declines in midlife What women considering GLP-1 medications for menopausal weight gain should look at, beyond the number on the scale How to support your gut health and manage gastrointestinal symptoms when taking a GLP-1 The factors Dr. Joffe takes into account when evaluating women during their menopausal transition Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia's website. Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com  Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow.  Purchase Cynthia's book, The Menopause Gut. Cynthia's Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause Supplement Line Connect with Dr. Yael Joffe 3X4 Genetics Instagram Facebook Connect with Dr. Ben Bikman On his website Social media: @benbikmanphd Connect with Dr. Lara Briden Website Social media: @Lara Briden Connect with Dr. Felice Gersh On her website: Integrative Medical Group of Irvine Instagram All of Dr. Gersh's books are available on Amazon. Connect with Dr. Alexandra Sowa On her website   Social media: @alexandrasowamd  Purchase a copy of Dr. Sowa's book, The Ozempic Revolution: A Doctor's Proven Plan for Success to Help You Reverse Obesity, End Yo-Yo Dieting, and Protect Yourself from Disease Podcast Episodes:  Ep. 558 Your DNA Isn't Your Destiny – The Most Actionable Way to Use Genetics for Weight Loss with Dr. Yael Joffe  Ep. 316 The Impact of Age, Gender and Lifestyle on Metabolic Health with Dr. Ben Bikman Ep. 372 Metabolism Repair for Women: Strategies and Insights with Dr. Lara Briden Ep. 570 We've Been Wrong About Progesterone! – The Most Powerful Hormone for Heart, Brain & Longevity with Dr. Felice Gersh|Menopause & HRT Ep. 438 - The Rise of GLP-1s: Key to Weight Loss and Metabolic Health with Alexandra Sowa, MD

Midlife desperately needs a rebrand. Dr. Margie Lachman is doing just that with her research at the Lifespan Lab at Brandeis University where she teaches psychology. She has pioneered the lifespan psychology approach to midlife. We talked about the joys midlife can bring and why her academic approach is so essential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Right now, every Mamamia subscriber is automatically entered to win a $5,000 Dreamworld holiday for four; flights, accommodation, express passes and more included. Subscribe here to enter. T&Cs apply. Dolly Parton has died at 80, and the world has lost one of its most beloved icons. Mia, Amelia and Em unpack what made Dolly so universally loved. From her music and iconic look to her extraordinary business brain and the millions of books she’s given to children. Plus, would you have a baby for $75,000? Singapore is offering new parents a huge cash incentive to tackle its declining birth rate. And is the humble ‘pop-in’ officially cancelled? Is turning up at someone’s house unannounced rude or even, controversial? Get access to Very Peri, Mamamia's exclusive perimenopause series, for just $59. 25 world-leading experts, over 20 on-demand sessions, available now. We’ve sorted through the noise so you don't have to. Go to veryperi.com.au today. You hot? Same. What To Listen To Next: Listen to Unleashed: 'I'm Wearing Red Undies For Financial Reasons' Listen to our latest episode: New Couple Launch & A Very Hollywood Situationship Listen: The Swans Aftermath & WTF Harry And Meghan? Listen: Would You Go Topless In Front Of Your Dad? Listen: The Lindsay Clancy Conversation Listen: The Part of Hayden Panettiere's Story Everyone's Missing Listen: The Fake Bump Conspiracy Continues. Anne Hathaway Edition. Listen: Logies Recap & The Melbourne Lawyer Fired for a TikTok Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts Check out the Mamamia Out Loud newsletter. Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here including the very latest episode of Parenting Out Loud, the parenting podcast for people who don't listen to... parenting podcasts. SUBSCRIBE here: Support independent women's media You can now watch our show in full length video on the Apple Podcast app - make sure your phone is up to date and we can't wait for you to see Mamamia Out Loud on Apple What to read: Legendary country singer Dolly Parton has died, aged 80. 'The world feels a lot less sparkly': All the celebrities paying tribute to Dolly Parton. 'I'm a doctor and this is why women over 40 are full of s***. Literally.' Apparently we're all constipated right now, but most of us won't admit it. The real reason less of us are having babies in 2025. THE END BITS: Check out our merch at MamamiaOutLoud.com GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us an email at outloud@mamamia.com.au Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message. Join our Facebook group Mamamia Outlouders to talk about the show. Follow us on Instagram @mamamiaoutloud and on Tiktok @mamamiaoutloud Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you miss feeling emotionally connected, excited about intimacy, and close sexually?Maybe you've been trying harder to create closeness. You've prayed, read the marriage books, worked on your communication, and done everything you know to do. Yet something still feels missing.What if rebuilding emotional connection, intimacy, and desire isn't about trying harder... but about trusting God more?In this episode of Midlife Marriage Makeover, I'm kicking off a brand-new series called "Let Him... and See What Happens." Before you dismiss the title, this isn't about becoming passive or losing your voice. It's about trusting God more deeply, letting go of control, appreciating your husband's strengths, and discovering how those simple shifts can rebuild emotional connection, awaken desire, and breathe new life into your marriage.In this episode you'll discover:3 simple shifts to rebuild emotional connection, intimacy, and desire in midlife marriage.Why trying to carry everything can quietly create distance between you and your husband.How surrendering control helped me experience more peace, romance, attraction, and intimacy.The unexpected lesson God taught me through a simple conversation about cooking that transformed our marriage.How trusting God more can soften your heart, deepen emotional connection, and help you fall in love with your husband all over again.Friend, your marriage isn't broken, and your best years don't have to be behind you. I believe your future can be bigger than your past, and sometimes the breakthrough you've been praying for begins with one simple shift—not trying harder, but trusting God more.If you're ready to rebuild emotional connection, intimacy, romance, and desire in your Christian midlife marriage, you're in the right place.Come join my private Facebook community, Empty Nest Wives: Rebuilding Intimacy & Connection, where Christian wives are learning how to create marriages filled with emotional connection, lasting intimacy, romance, and joy.I'm so glad you're here. Let's build the marriage you've always hoped was possible. ❤️

Wendy Valentine — author of Women Waking Up: The Midlife Manifesto for Passion, Purpose, and Play and host of the Midlife Makeover Show — joins Heather for a raw, wide-ranging conversation about rebuilding a life from the ground up. At 45, Wendy hit a full-on midlife meltdown: divorce, job loss, over $150K in debt, an empty nest, chronic illness, and the deaths of her dog, cat, and brother — all within weeks of each other. Instead of staying stuck, she chased a long-held dream of RVing across the country and completely reconstructed her life within two years. In this episode, Wendy and Heather dig into what it really means to "lean into your destiny," why midlife often feels less like a crisis and more like a coma we need to wake up from, how to grieve fully instead of stuffing it down, the "lotus effect" and being in the mud without being of it, and how to become your own best friend by rewiring the stories running through your head. It's a conversation about permission — to feel, to grieve, to change, and to finally show up for yourself. Find Wendy: WendyValentine.com | Women Waking Up (Amazon) | The Midlife Makeover Show | Instagram @wendy_valentine_ Sponsor: AirDoctor: Head to www.AirDoctorPro.com  and use promo code HEATHER to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. We're so confident you'll love AirDoctor that every purchase is backed by a 30 day money back guarantee. This is an exclusive podcast only offer, available now!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Text the ShowThis week, Kim talks with therapist, writer, and activist Jen Gallagher about women's rage in midlife and why it deserves to be taken seriously instead of minimized. The conversation connects emotional suppression, perimenopause, and physical health, while giving listeners a clearer way to understand rage as information, not failure.Key topicsIn this episode, Kim introduces Jen Gallagher and frames the discussion around rage as a topic many women feel but rarely talk about openly.Jen shares how her own autoimmune illness became the turning point that pushed her to examine how much she had been prioritizing everyone else over herself.She describes how rage showed up in her own life first as road rage, which made her realize she was carrying more suppressed anger than she had admitted.They discuss how women's rage is often layered over years of self-neglect, people pleasing, and emotional minimizing.Jen explains that rage in midlife is often tied to both accumulation and hormonal change, especially the loss of estrogen's calming effect.Kim and Jen talk about how often women are told, “It's just perimenopause,” and why that explanation can erase real emotional and physical needs.Jen shares a powerful example of a woman whose unresolved rage surfaced in a dramatic moment at home, leading to deeper clarity about her marriage and her own needs.The conversation highlights shame and embarrassment as major reasons women do not talk about anger, even when it is clearly affecting their lives.Jen explains that therapy, journaling, and honest conversation can help women process rage safely and identify what it is trying to reveal.They connect suppressed rage with physical stress, inflammation, and chronic activation of stress chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline.Kim and Jen discuss how over apologizing and centering other people's comfort can keep women disconnected from their own truth.Jen reframes rage as an approach emotion, something that can fuel courage, boundary setting, and necessary change.The episode closes with a message of self-worth and permission: women are worth the time and attention it takes to understand what they feel.Connect with Jen on her website: jengallaghercounseling.com and take her rage quiz. What if your next vacation helped you come home feeling healthier, more rested, and truly recharged?Joyous Escape Travel is inviting women to step away from the demands of everyday life and join the Reset & Rise Wellness Cruise this January. It's more than a vacation-it's an opportunity to relax, connect and return home feeling refreshed. Reserve your spot HERE at Joyous Escape Travel today. Support the showHave you been listening to Midlife with Courage™ and thinking, "That's me"?Now it's time to take the next step.It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ is a transformational 4-week workshop designed for women who are ready to stop shrinking themselves, take up space, and live more boldly. Together, we'll uncover the subtle ways we make ourselves smaller, explore why those patterns exist, and practice the tools to communicate with confidence, set healthy boundaries, and step fully into the life we deserve.If you're ready to move from inspiration to transformation, I'd love to have you join us this September.Click HERE to join us! The podcast starts the conversation. The workshop is where the transformation begins.****************************Find Your Vitality Today!We all know our skin changes in midlife and we know there are a lot of products out there making promises. I have found one that delivers and I'd love to have you join me by trying it out yourself. Go to the link below to find out more about this luxurious facial serumhttps://vitalitybioskin.com/products/vitality-society-founding-circle***************************Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Bold Women Thriving After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim...

25 years to learn. 40 years to earn. And if you're lucky — 13 years to yearn. Once you see that math, you can't unsee it.Session three of the Back to School (of Midlife) series. This week, Laurie lays out the three seasons of life — Learn, Earn, Yearn — on a simple timeline from zero to 80, using the average U.S. female life expectancy of 78.8 years as the anchor. The math is blunt: 25 years learning, 40 years earning, and only about 13 years left to yearn — and that's if you're lucky, since that number is actually decreasing, not increasing.She calls it one of the biggest grifts sold to high achievers: give your most vital, vibrant years to climbing the ladder, and get a shorter, less certain stretch at the end as your reward. She brings in Bill Perkins' Die With Zero and its health/time/money framing — good health and time but no money in the first third, health and money but no time in the second, and money and time but no guaranteed health in the third — to make the same point from a different angle.Then she tells the story of her Dad: retired on his 66th birthday after 48 years of work, moved back to Boise, had real, specific plans for retirement, and he never got the chance to live out those retirement dreams.The episode closes with this week's assignment: identify one thing you've been deferring to your "someday" Yearn season, and find a way to move it into your Earn season now — the same thing Laurie's doing with her own upcoming France trip.What we cover:The three seasons of life, laid out on a simple zero-to-80 timelineWhy the math changes once you use the real average life expectancy (78.8, and declining) instead of assuming a full "65 to 80"The "grift" framing — why trading your most vital years for a shorter, less certain retirement is a bad dealBill Perkins' Die With Zero and his health/time/money breakdown of the three phases of lifeWhy health is the one resource in that equation nobody can guarantee, no matter how well you planLaurie's dad's story — 48 years of work, five months of retirement, and the retirement dreams he never got toThe reframe: you don't have to wait for the Yearn season to start living like your life mattersA BEST LIFE Retreat client who moved up her own retirement date by five years after doing this workLaurie's own example: finally taking the France trip she's talked about for five years, instead of deferring it againThe "must be nice" reaction some women have when they hear about the trip — and why that reaction is worth examiningThis week's assignment: do your own version of the math, name one thing you've been deferring to "someday," and move it into your Earn season nowA preview of next week: the Curiosity, Clarity, Courage, Confidence framework — the actual mechanics of how this work happensQuotable moments"Once you see it laid out, you won't be able to unsee it.""I think this is one of the biggest grifts sold to high achievers.""Why should we spend forty to sixty hours a week at work during our most vital life years?""He got five months of his Yearn years. And when he died, so did every dream he'd put off.""You don't have to wait to the Yearn season to start living like the life you want matters.""You have to plan for your own dreams just like you do your kids' schedules and your work projects."Resources + links mentioned:Die With Zero by Bill PerkinsEpisode 187 — Attainable Is Overrated: Why "Wildest Dreams" Beat "Realistic Ones | Back to School - Ep. 2Episode 186 — Orientation Day: When Being a High-Achiever Isn't Enough | Back to School - Ep. 1CONNECT WITH LAURIE: Email Laurie or book a call 

Most women don't hear about perimenopause until they're already deep into it, sometimes a decade in. This week, guest host Karen Walrond talks with OB/GYN and Generation M author Dr. Jessica Shepherd about the actual, gradual shape of that transition, the real math behind hormone therapy decisions, and why nearly 40% of a woman's life happens after menopause even begins. It's less a symptom checklist than a new starting point for the next several decades.What you'll explore:The gas-tank way to picture where you actually are between reproductive years and menopauseWhy symptom severity has almost nothing to do with how "together" you otherwise areThe difference between the "symptom bucket" and the "longevity bucket" in deciding on hormone therapyWhy perimenopause itself splits into an early, mid, and late phase, and why the late phase is the window with the most protective upside for starting hormonesWhat the SWAN study found about how menopause symptoms differ by race, and why that matters long-termIf you've been treating menopause as a phase to survive rather than a stage to prepare for, this resets the starting point.You can find Jessica at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptNext week, we're sitting down with Priya Parker to talk about why conflict, handled well, might be one of the things that makes your closest relationships stronger instead of weaker, and what most of us get backwards about the moment right before it happens. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss any upcoming episodes!Check out our sponsors and resources: Visit Our Sponsor Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Love U Podcast, I sit...

In this episode of Living Life Naturally, Lynne talks with Debbie Harris, an author, integrative nutrition health coach, certified hypnotist, and certified menopause coaching specialist. Debbie shares her experience with lifelong weight struggles and explains why the diets and strategies women relied on earlier in life may stop producing the same results during menopause. She introduces her "freedom eater" philosophy, an approach designed to help women discover what works for their individual bodies without following rigid rules or labeling favorite foods as permanently forbidden. Lynne and Debbie also have an honest conversation about the parts of menopause women aren't always encouraged to discuss, including anxiety, depression, rage, physical intimacy, pelvic-floor concerns, medication side effects, and feeling dismissed by healthcare professionals. They discuss the importance of asking questions, seeking another opinion when necessary, and assembling a healthcare team that considers the whole woman—not simply one isolated symptom. Most importantly, this episode offers a hopeful reminder: menopause isn't the end of your life. It can become the beginning of a freer, more creative, joyful, and deeply fulfilling season. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER: • Why eating strategies that worked earlier in life may stop working during menopause • How Debbie's 30 to Life Solution helps women recognize their individual food responses • What it means to become a "freedom eater" • Why one doughnut—or any other indulgence—doesn't need to derail your entire day • A discreet cooling technique that may help when you feel a hot flash beginning • Why pelvic-floor support can be valuable for bladder and intimacy concerns • How menopause may affect anxiety, mood, and emotional well-being • Why it's important to ask about potential medication side effects • What you can do when a healthcare professional dismisses your concerns • Why menopause care shouldn't be approached as one-size-fits-all • How partners can better understand and support women during menopause • Why midlife can become a new beginning rather than an ending ABOUT DEBBIE HARRIS Debbie Harris is an author, integrative nutrition health coach, certified hypnotist, and certified menopause coaching specialist. Her award-winning book, Dieting Sucks for Women Over 40, addresses the emotional and physical challenges women can experience with food, weight, and menopause. Through her 30 to Life Solution, Debbie helps women identify what works for their unique bodies, release rigid dieting rules, and become what she calls "freedom eaters." She is also the speaker behind the TEDx talk Three Steps to Conquering Menopause. DEBBIE'S BOOK: Dieting Sucks for Women Over 40: 30 to Life—The Ultimate Weight Loss and Hormone Balancing Solution Debbie's book explores weight, menopause, trigger foods, emotional eating, self-hypnosis, and the thought patterns that can keep women trapped in a cycle of restrictive dieting. It also introduces Debbie's 30 to Life Solution and offers a compassionate, practical approach to releasing weight, supporting hormonal well-being, sleeping better, and enjoying food without rigid rules or all-or-nothing thinking. Learn more and purchase the book: https://a.co/d/95XCXao Learn more about Debbie's 30 to Life approach: https://30tolife.org/   CONNECT WITH DEBBIE HARRIS Website: https://30tolife.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fordebbielee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fordebbielee/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbielee211/ X: https://x.com/DebbieLHarris Book—Dieting Sucks for Women Over 40: 30 to Life—The Ultimate Weight Loss and Hormone Balancing Solution: https://a.co/d/95XCXao   CONNECT WITH LYNNE Imagine not having to "figure out midlife" on your own anymore.

A lot of the conversation on retirement runs one way: stay busy, stay productive. Dr. Denise Taylor thinks that could quietly cost some people their best years. Denise is a Chartered Psychologist and later-life researcher in the UK. She spent 25 years coaching people through career transitions, then, at 61, went back to school herself, completing a professional doctorate on how people reconstruct meaning after full-time work. Her research subjects were all at least two years past retirement, deliberately, because the first two years tell you very little. What she found in them became the backbone of her new book, ThriveSpan: Walking Gently Into What Matters Now. The extra years we have gained, she argues, arrive roughly between 60 and 80, while health usually still holds. Spending them duplicating the shape of your working life is a decision, and it’s not right for everyone. Her alternative is not reinvention, which she calls exhausting, but recalibration: a reset in which you subtract before you add. She is also candid about her own path. Leaving a twenty-year marriage. Four days and four nights alone in nature with no food and no tent. A doctorate that started the October before COVID. Four acres of woodland that taught her, at last, how to stop moving fast. We discuss why purpose does not have to be a cathedral, why she stopped dyeing her hair on principle, what her research says about curiosity and being of service, why you should imagine the future you do not want, and why saying no is the most underrated skill in later life. Retirement is different for everyone and we have choices. Denise argues against a continue to work narrative, and she argues strongly. If you’re a listener who loves their work, or who needs the income, shear her as offering choice rather than a verdict. ________________________ Bio Dr. Denise Taylor is a Chartered Psychologist, later-life researcher, and widely published author whose work explores how we can live well as we age. With more than 25 years’ experience supporting career and life transitions, she has written extensively on work, identity, ageing, and meaning in later life. Her work has been featured by the BBC, ITV, and national newspapers. Her previous books include Career Coaching for Midlife and Beyond, Rethinking Retirement for Positive Ageing , and Find Work at 50+. Her doctoral research into meaning after full-time work won the Research by a Career Development Professional award in 2024. ThriveSpan: Walking Gently Into What Matters Now offers a reflective, psychologically grounded approach to later life, integrating research, lived experience, and the restorative influence of nature. Denise writes the Substack newsletter Ageing Reimagined and is a regular contributor to the i Paper. She lives in Gloucestershire, where time spent in her woodland continues to inspire both her writing and her approach to later life. _______________________ For More on Denise Taylor Substack – https://ageingreimagined.substack.com/ ThriveSpan – https://denisetaylor.co.uk/thrivespan/ Website – https://denisetaylor.co.uk/ _______________________ Other Retirement Podcast Conversations You’ll Also Love Inspired Retirement – Nathalie Martin Re-Visioning Retirement – Susan Reid, PhD Joyspan – Kerry Burnight, PhD _______________________ Wise Quotes On Recalibrating “You don’t have to reinvent yourself. You can just slow down a bit…now time is more my own.” On Purpose “When I’m talking to people about purpose, they want this massive thing, like building a cathedral. You can have purpose just by smiling at somebody walking down the street.” On Being “If all you are is a human doing, then you’re not really thinking about who am I as a human being?” ______________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You'll get smarter about the investment decisions you'll make about the most important asset you'll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren't quite done yet, discover what's next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn't just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master's degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 2 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He's the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy.

If you're training hard, eating well, and still watching your waist thicken, I want you to hear this: you are not lazy, and your metabolism is not broken. Something else is going on, and once you see it, belly fat stops feeling like a mystery you can't crack. So I called in four people I trust most on this, Ben Azadi, Dr Sarah Berry, Cynthia Thurlow, and Mary Claire Haver. Together we get into why cortisol parks fat right around your middle, how losing estrogen quietly reroutes fat from your hips to your belly, and why the exact same meal spikes your blood sugar far more after menopause than it did before. We go deep on the pieces most women never get told about, the muscle you're losing, the gut and estrobolome shifts, and the insulin exposure that makes this fat feel so stubborn. Then I hand you the fix. My five levers, in the order that actually works, from breaking up long sitting to resistance training, smart HIIT, whole-food carbs, and protecting your sleep and stress. And I tell you honestly where fasted training helps and where it just becomes another way to punish yourself. If you're a busy woman over 40 who's done with "eat less, move more" and wants to know which lever your body needs first, this one's for you. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN - Does cortisol cause belly fat in women over 40? - Why does fat move to your belly during menopause? - Is menopause belly fat caused by a slow metabolism? - What is visceral fat and why is it dangerous? - Can you gain visceral fat even if the scale doesn't move? - Why do post-menopausal women have higher blood sugar spikes? - How does insulin resistance drive stubborn belly fat? - Does the gut microbiome affect body composition in midlife? - How does breaking up sitting improve insulin sensitivity? - Does resistance training help you lose belly fat after 40? - Does HIIT reduce abdominal fat in women? - Does fasted training help burn visceral fat? TIMESTAMPS - 00:00 Why Cortisol Drives Stubborn Belly Fat In Women Over 35 - 03:00 Insulin Resistance, Estrogen Loss And Why Menopause Moves Fat To Your Belly - 09:44 How Muscle Loss And Your Gut Control Midlife Body Composition - 16:11 Why Menopause Belly Fat Is Dangerous And How To Shift Visceral Fat - 17:59 The 5 Levers To Lose Midlife Belly Fat Without A Broken MetabolismVALUABLE RESOURCES Timeline - Support your mitochondrial health: Timeline Mitopure delivers Urolithin A at the clinically studied dose to support cellular renewal and energy production, helping counter the natural decline in mitochondrial function that comes with age.

If your body feels like it is always switched on, being told to “just relax” is not exactly helpful. Midlife already comes with enough stress, disrupted sleep, travel, workouts, work, family, and mental load. The bigger question is: how do you actually help your body recover when slowing down is not always realistic?In this episode of The Well Drop, I sit down with Byanka McClain, CFO of HAELO, to talk about PEMF, or Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy, and why this has become one of the few wellness tools I keep reaching for at home. I know PEMF can sound a little futuristic, so we break down what it actually is, how the technology has evolved from big clinical machines into something you can use from your couch, and why I started paying much more attention to it for sleep, stress, travel, and recovery.Byanka McClain has been part of HAELO since 2019, helping take the company from early R&D into the at-home system it is today. She is also a working mother of three, so this conversation is very much about making recovery fit into real life. We get into what women should know before trying PEMF, the different ways people are using it, and why the most useful wellness routine may be the one that asks the least from you when your body already feels maxed out.What's Discussed(09:34) The decades-old recovery technology most women still have never heard of.(10:50) What is actually happening when PEMF interacts with the body, and why frequency matters.(15:43) Why Amber started noticing that travel hits differently in midlife, and what she reaches for afterward.(16:34) The one change HAELO users report noticing most often.(22:15) What constant “go mode” may be doing to your ability to truly recover.(24:35) How PEMF can be used differently depending on what your body needs that day.(33:11) Why the real results may come from what happens after you stop expecting an instant fix.If recovery has started feeling harder than it should, you are going to want to hear this one.Sign up for The Well Drop Newsletter: Check out The Well Drop approved products and brands at amberberger.me/products Find out more about Amber Berger: Website: thewelldrop.com  Instagram: @thewelldropFind out more about Byanka McClain: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/byanka-mcclain-8129a8200 Facebook: @byanka.alapisco Find out more about HAELO:Website: haelo.com/ Instagram: @haelo_socialTHE WELL DROP

Designed to Profit Stories - Summer Series - Part 10 of 13 Have you reached a point in life where you've checked all the boxes, taken care of everyone else, built a career or business... and still feel like something is missing?In this episode of the Designed to Profit Stories Series, I'm joined by Human Design coach, author and speaker Suzanne Arjona, whose work helps women in midlife reconnect with themselves and build lives that truly fit who they are.Suzanne shares how discovering Human Design completely changed the way she approaches coaching, why she stopped trying to force herself into a group coaching model that never felt right, and how embracing her natural design allowed her to build a business on her own terms.We also dive into emotional authority, the challenges of being a Manifesting Generator, writing books, building community on Substack, and why your business should support your life—not consume it.If you've been feeling like you're entering a new chapter but can't quite put your finger on what's changing, this conversation is for you.In this episode we discuss:Suzanne's journey as a 6/2 Emotional Manifesting GeneratorWhy rest is essential—even for high-energy entrepreneursLiving through the three distinct life phases of a 6th Line profileHow Human Design helps women navigate midlife transitionsLearning to trust Emotional Authority when making decisionsWhy forcing yourself into business models that don't fit creates burnoutThe freedom of returning to one-on-one coachingBuilding a business around your natural strengths instead of industry expectationsSuzanne's four-book author journeyWhy she chose Substack for her podcast, writing and communityThe power of creating a business that supports your life—not the other way aroundHow Designed to Profit helped her align her messaging with the people she's truly here to serveAbout Suzanne ArjonaSuzanne Arjona is a Human Design coach, author, speaker and guide for women navigating life's transitions. She helps women in midlife reconnect with themselves, discover what truly matters, and create lives they genuinely want to wake up to using Human Design as a practical tool for everyday living.She is the author of several books, including Finding Balance, Finding Truth, Declutter for Life, and a mindfulness journal, with a fourth book on navigating midlife through Human Design currently in progress.Connect with SuzanneWebsite: SuzanneArjona.comSubstack: Suzanne ArjonaInstagram: @suzannearjonaReady to build a business that actually fits who you are?Too many entrepreneurs spend years trying to force themselves into business models that don't match the way they're naturally designed to work.Inside Designed to Profit, we take a different approach.You'll learn how to build your offers, messaging, marketing and customer journey around your Human Design, while creating sustainable systems that allow your business to support your life—not take it over.Whether you're building one-to-one services, memberships, courses or something completely unique, you'll have the strategy, support and community to do it your way.Join us here: https://www.vickiedickson.com/designed-to-profit

What would change if you stopped allowing your past to determine your future?In this week's episode of The BraveHearted Woman Podcast, let's talk honestly about one of the most powerful and uncomfortable emotions we all experience: regret.Whether you're regretting a decision you made, an opportunity you missed, a relationship you handled differently, or something you wish you had done sooner, it can be easy to get trapped in the cycle of “what if,” “if only,” and “I should have.”Let me explain that while regret can be painful, it can also become an opportunity for growth. Instead of continually replaying the past, you can learn from your experiences, practice self-forgiveness, make amends where necessary, and choose how you want to live moving forward.For women in midlife, this can be especially powerful. You've lived enough life to recognize what no longer fits, and you have the wisdom to make different choices now.Today, let me share six ways to live with less regret in life.The big takeaway is that you cannot change what happened in the past. But you can change what you do with it.Chapters:0:00 - Intro1:15 - Understanding regret and where it comes from3:57 - Why regret can feel like emotional pain6:01 - Regret = Growth6:49 - 6 ways to live with less regret16:18 - How to release the pain of regret17:25 - How to take actionQuotations:“When you start to feel, you can start to heal.”“Regret can induce pain, but it can also be a chance for growth.”“Do not stop learning. Do not stop growing. Do not stop reading and expanding.”“I choose today to live today going forward, refreshed, refueled, refocused, refined.”Resources:♀️ Join the community of the The Brave-Hearted Woman ☆ Self-Rescue for Worn Out Working Wonder Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/braveheartedwoman

If you've ever wondered whether there's a practical route to more consistent energy, deeper sleep, and improved well-being in midlife, you're not alone. So many women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are searching for grounded ways to support their health, from hormones to brain fog to the daily realities of menopause symptoms. Today's episode explores one scientist's journey from research lab to real-world solutions, centered on a Nobel Prize-winning molecule and the hard-earned lessons behind it. Chris Burris, mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, and author of "Live Longer and Better," steps out from behind the lab bench to offer a candid, evidence-based look at the daily realities of longevity, sleep, headaches, and navigating the supplement industry. His experience spans decades of manufacturing, product safety, and the often-overlooked realities women face as hormone shifts and sleepless nights arrive. This conversation unpacks what's possible with science, what still demands more answers, and how the right information can lead to meaningful day-to-day change. By listening, you'll learn: • What a Nobel Prize-winning molecule actually is, how it works in the body, and why it matters for women in midlife • How sleep, energy, and hormone balance are connected and what the latest research reveals about practical steps forward • Why so many midlife women experience new headaches or fatigue, and how to approach these changes with clarity, not confusion • Real-life insight into the supplement industry, including quality concerns, what to look for, and how to make informed choices • How scientific discovery translates (or doesn't) to trustworthy options for women navigating menopause and perimenopause This episode delivers clarity, possibility, and validation for any woman feeling stuck between headlines, hormone shifts, and a changing body. You'll walk away with a deeper understanding grounded in science and lived experience about supporting your energy, sleep, and long-term health in ways that feel both reasonable and real. Resources: Episode website: https://www.natalietysdal.com/post/menopause-headaches-sleep https://myvitalc.com/nataliet https://www.natalietysdal.com https://www.instagram.com/ntysdal https://www.tiktok.com/@ntysdal https://www.facebook.com/NatalieTysdal

Midlife…Maybe you've noticed it too.You still care deeply about your calling. You still want to make an impact. You still have ideas, responsibilities and people you love.But the pace you once kept doesn't fit quite the same anymore.Your energy has changed. Your capacity may have changed. Your roles are changing.And somewhere in the middle of it all, you may be asking, “What is this season for?”We've been talking a lot around here about a theology of time, how what we believe about God and time shapes what we do with our days. Today's conversation with Claire Davis of The Midlife Mentors adds another layer:The God who created time also created you. Your body isn't an inconvenience to your calling. Your limitations aren't something you have to outsmart. And a change in season doesn't necessarily mean you're becoming less useful.It may be an invitation to become more discerning about what you're carrying into the next one.Ready to Start Redeeming Your Time?If this conversation has you realizing it's time for a different rhythm, you don't need another productivity system. You need a place to start.I've put together the free REDEEM Her Time Starter Kit to help you begin asking the question that changes everything: “Lord, what is it time for?”Inside, you'll get the foundational tools to start giving what matters a home in your actual week, while leaving room for your capacity, your season, and real life.When you grab the Starter Kit, you'll also join me here on REDEEM Her Time, where we'll keep looking to the Author of Time for what it means to faithfully steward what He's entrusted to us.What If Midlife Isn't a Decline?Claire knows something about reaching the point where striving stops working. After years of putting so much of her identity and meaning into her career, work and brand, she experienced burnout and eventually found herself at the end of herself.And that's where God met her.What followed reshaped how she understood who she was and what her life was for.That's especially significant in midlife because so much is already changing. Children may be leaving home. Parents may need more care. Hormones change. And suddenly the roles that have answered “Who am I?” for decades don't answer quite as easily anymore.Claire describes midlife as an opportunity to get curious rather than assume we're in decline.What still matters? What have we been carrying because someone else told us success was supposed to look that way? And what might God be asking us to lay down so we have the capacity to hear what He's inviting us into next?As Claire put it:“It's not about adding. It's about subtracting. It's about taking things out and living more in our natural rhythms.”That sounds a lot like stewardship to me.Healthy Ambition Requires a Different RhythmI especially wanted to ask Claire about healthy ambition because the women in this community aren't looking for permission to stop caring.We want our lives to matter. We want to build, serve, love our families and use what God has entrusted to us well.The real question is what's driving our ambition, not whether we should have it.Unhealthy ambition can look a lot like stress, striving, and not-enoughness. And we can make our striving sound very spiritual.“I'm doing this for God.” “I'm serving people.” “This opportunity could make such an impact.”All of those things may be true. And we can still outrun our capacity.Claire reminded us that the body we're living in is also part of what God has entrusted to us. Sleep matters. Movement matters. Creating space to be with God instead of filling every available minute, even with good things, matters.And sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is remove something that no longer belongs, not squeeze another healthy habit into an already-full schedule.Faithful stewardship means discerning what God has entrusted to us and letting that determine our yeses, not doing less simply for the sake of doing less.So What Is It Time for Now?Toward the end of our conversation, Claire offered a simple place to begin.Take 10 minutes a day. Grab a journal. And get curious with God.Who does God say I am? What used to bring me joy? What might He be calling me toward now?You don't need to figure out the entire second half of your life in one sitting. You simply need enough space to begin listening.Because maybe this season isn't asking you to become more efficient at carrying everything you've always carried. Maybe it's asking you to discern what belongs now.So before you move on to the next thing, sit with this week's stewardship question: “What am I still carrying because it fit a previous season, but may not belong in the one God has me in now?”Don't rush to fix it. Get curious. Bring it before God. And then ask the question we've been practicing together: “Lord, what is it time for?”I'd love to hear what comes up for you in the comments.Ready to Let That Answer Shape Your Actual Week?Recognizing that your season has changed is one thing. Letting it change the way you live Monday through Sunday is another.Inside the Stewardship Circle, you'll start with the Faithful Week Framework™ to discern what God has entrusted to you in this season, decide what deserves your yes, and give those priorities a realistic home in your week, with room for your actual capacity and real life.Because great information can help us see differently. But transformation comes as we begin living differently.And change takes time. Pun fully intended.About Claire DavisClaire Davis is an award-winning coach, speaker, host of a top 1.5% global podcast and co-founder of The Midlife Mentors, helping midlife men and women thrive with clarity, confidence and purpose.With more than two decades of experience in health, wellbeing and resilience, Claire blends science-based strategies with real-world insights to help people navigate the psychological and physiological complexities of midlife. She's a certified health and business coach, personal trainer, NLP practitioner, stress-management consultant, menopause specialist and nutrition advisor.Take Claire's Free Midlife Reset AuditClaire also created a free Midlife Reset Audit to help you discover what may be holding you back from living your healthiest, happiest midlife, and where you may want to focus next without adding more pressure or burning yourself out.→ Take Claire's Free Midlife Reset Audit Get full access to REDEEM Her Time at lissafiggins.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever felt like you are doing everything right and your body is just not cooperating? You are eating well, exercising, tracking your protein, fasting, taking supplements, getting your steps in, and still gaining weight, feeling exhausted, sleeping poorly, and wondering why the strategies that used to work suddenly do not anymore. In this episode, I sit down with Debbie Potts to talk about what may actually be happening when healthy habits become unhealthy stressors. We get into the connection between the nervous system, metabolism, hormones, muscle, recovery, under-fueling, overtraining, and the chronic stress load so many women are carrying in midlife. We also talk about why more is not always better. Sometimes the answer is not another workout, another fast, another supplement, or another hormone adjustment. Sometimes the body needs a completely different signal. More safety. More fuel. More recovery. More muscle. Less chronic cardio. Less obsession. Less trying to force your body into submission. This is a conversation about learning how to read your body differently and understanding that your body may not be failing you at all. It may be adapting exactly the way it was designed to. In this episode, we cover: Why women can do everything "right" and still gain weight and feel exhausted What Debbie means by "metabolic chaos" How sympathetic dominance can affect energy, digestion, sleep, and recovery Why chronic fasting, low-carb diets, and excessive cardio can become stressors The difference between AMPK and mTOR and why midlife women need both Why under-eating can slow metabolism and make muscle gain harder How protein and strength training help support a stronger midlife metabolism Why low HRV can be a clue that your nervous system is under too much load The role of the vagus nerve in digestion, inflammation, and recovery Why hormones and peptides may help, but cannot replace foundational habits   Visit Debbie's website.     Sponsors Timeline is offering up to 39% off your first order of Mitopure. Gummies. Go to timeline.com/HORMONE use coupon HORMONE LMNT: Order your LMNT electrolytes today and get a FREE 8 pack of samples! Plus try it risk free, they have a no-questions-asked refund policy – you don't even have to send it back! Get 15% off Magnesium Breakthrough at bioptimizers.com/hormone     Are you in perimenopause or postmenopause and struggling with symptoms—but not getting the support you deserve? At Midlife Solutions, we specialize in hormone optimization for women in midlife. Our all-female clinical team offers telehealth care across all 50 U.S. states, with the ability to prescribe bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid medication.   Book your FREE Hormone Discovery Call Find out what's really driving your symptoms and what your next best steps are.   Visit the website: https://karenmartel.com   Shop the Midlife Solutions Store Over-the-counter bioidentical hormone creams and oils — no prescription needed. Including: • Progesterone • Estrogen Face Cream • Vaginal Moisturizer and more!   Take the Hormone Quiz Discover hidden hormone imbalances that could be driving your symptoms. Get personalized results (and yes, they may surprise you).   Women's Peptide Weight Loss Program Clinically guided, hormone-aware weight loss for midlife women.   Midlife RESET HRT Program A complete, supportive approach to hormone replacement therapy in midlife.   Your host: Karen Martel Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert   Karen's Facebook Karen's Instagram

Rip sits down with OB-GYN, women's health expert, and author of Generation M, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, for a candid, empowering conversation about perimenopause, menopause, hormones, nutrition, sex, sleep, strength, and what it really means to thrive in midlife and beyond.For too long, menopause has been framed as a decline — something to dread, hide, or simply suffer through. Dr. Shepherd is here to change that narrative. She explains that menopause is not a failure of the body, but a natural biological transition — and one that deserves far more education, support, and celebration.In this conversation, Rip is joined by PLANTSTRONG Podcast producer Carrie Barrett, who, at 53, brings her own lived experience in perimenopause to the discussion. They eplain why estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone affect far more than reproduction — influencing the brain, bones, heart, muscles, metabolism, skin, sleep, and sexual health.And because this is Plant Strong, they also dive into the power of nutrition. Dr. Shepherd emphasizes that food is one of the most important tools in the menopause toolbox, especially during the 10–12 year perimenopausal window. A colorful, plant-centered diet rich in beans, greens, whole grains, berries, legumes, soy foods, fiber, and fermented foods can help support heart health, gut health, metabolic health, inflammation, muscle maintenance, and long-term vitality.This episode is not about one magic fix. It is about building the full toolbox: plants, movement, resistance training, sleep, self-advocacy, and, when appropriate, hormone therapy. As Dr. Shepherd reminds us, women deserve agency, options, and the chance to live their 70s, 80s, and 90s with strength, clarity, and confidence.Learn More About our 2026 Live PLANTSTRONG Events: https://plantstrongevents.com/ Let Us Help Your PLANTSTRONG JourneyLearn More About Our Corporate Wellness Program: https://liveplantstrong.com/corporate-wellness/ COMPLEMENT: Use code PLANTSTRONG for 30% off at https://lovecomplement.com/pages/plantstrong-special-offer Follow PLANTSTRONG and Rip Esselstynhttps://plantstrong.com/ https://www.facebook.com/GoPlantstrong https://www.instagram.com/goplantstrong/https://www.instagram.com/ripesselstyn/ Follow the PLANTSTRONG Podcast and Give the Show a 5-star RatingApple PodcastsSpotifyEpisode WebpageWatch on YouTube

Does starting over in midlife feel exciting or terrifying? In this special crossover episode, I joined Olivia F. Scott from Freedom at the Mat to talk about career pivots, identity, ambition, and what it means to rebuild in midlife. We share our own experiences with burnout, rebuilding our careers, redefining what success means, letting go of external validation, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit you don't have all the answers. Tune in to discover how to navigate midlife with more courage, purpose, and self-trust. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl's limited-time offer before it's gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. IM8 - Go to IM8HEALTH.com/achiever RIGHT NOW or click on the link in the description and use code achiever for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code ACHIEVER Brevo - Get started for free today—or use code ACHIEVER50 to save 50% on Starter and Standard Plans for the first three months of an annual subscription Upwork - Visit upwork.com right now and post your job for free.  In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Midlife can be the beginning of something new. 04:00 What does it mean to rebuild your life and career? 07:45 Reinvention is possible at any stage of life. 14:15 How do you let go of your past without letting go of yourself? 16:45 What happens when you stop chasing external validation? 19:45 How slowing down changes the way you experience life. 22:30 Is your ambition serving you or driving you? 26:00 How understanding your motivations help prevent burnout. 29:15 How trusting your instincts can lead to unexpected opportunities. 35:15 What happens when you give yourself permission to rest? 38:15 What gets better about life in midlife? 39:45 What younger women need to know about midlife. 44:30 Why you should reach out to 3 people every day. Resources + Links Learn more about Olivia F. Scott HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Olivia: on LinkedIn @oliviafscottmarketing + Instagram @olivialove901fm

Join The Circle and use code "PODCAST": https://holplus.co/circle/Tamsen Fadal was an experienced news anchor when heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, and severe brain fog left her on the bathroom floor of her newsroom. Despite spending decades in the media, she had no idea she was experiencing menopause.In this episode of hol+ with Dr. Taz MD, Tamsen shares how that frightening experience led her to investigate why so many women remain unprepared for perimenopause and menopause.Tamsen reflects on losing her mother to breast cancer and later realizing that her mother had experienced medical menopause following chemotherapy and a double mastectomy. Nearly 28 years separated their experiences, yet both women suffered without the information or support they needed.That realization inspired Tamsen to step away from a three-decade career in television journalism and devote her work to menopause education and advocacy. She explains how social media revealed the scale of the problem and gave women a place to share symptoms and experiences that had been ignored or dismissed.Dr. Taz and Tamsen also discuss the confusion surrounding hormone replacement therapy, the importance of personalized care, barriers to finding informed doctors, and the role telehealth may play in improving access. They explore how brain fog, anxiety, sleep disruption, and other symptoms can affect women's confidence, careers, relationships, and sense of identity.Tamsen also shares the story behind The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause. After being told there was no audience for a menopause documentary, Tamsen and her partners self-funded the project, brought together leading experts and women's personal stories, and ultimately secured national distribution through PBS.The conversation turns toward reclaiming menopause as a powerful stage of life rather than a period of invisibility or decline. Tamsen discusses her book, How to Menopause, and the practical lifestyle changes that have helped her take better care of herself at 54.In this episode:Tamsen's frightening menopause experience in the newsroomHeart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, and severe brain fogWhy she did not recognize her symptoms as menopauseHer mother's experience with medically induced menopauseWhy menopause care has changed so little across generationsLeaving a three-decade journalism career for women's advocacyThe fear and financial uncertainty of making a major midlife changeHow social media helped women begin sharing their experiencesCreating The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on MenopauseBeing told there was no audience for a menopause documentaryWhy hormone replacement therapy remains confusingThe need for personalized menopause treatmentWhat to do when a doctor dismisses or minimizes your symptomsImproving menopause research, education, and access to careHow menopause symptoms affect women in the workplaceReframing menopause as a powerful new stage of lifeThe sleep, exercise, protein, stress, and alcohol changes helping Tamsen at 54About Tamsen Fadal:Tamsen Fadal is a 13-time Emmy-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, documentary filmmaker, podcaster, and menopause advocate.After more than three decades as a television journalist and news anchor, she shifted her work toward helping women understand perimenopause, menopause, and life beyond midlife.Tamsen is the author of How to Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life, and Feel Even Better Than Before. She is also a co-producer and executive producer of The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause, a documentary exploring the medical, emotional, social, and workplace effects of menopause.Connect with Tamsen Fadal:https://www.tamsenfadal.com/https://www.instagram.com/tamsenfadal/Get How to Menopause:https://www.howtomenopause.com/Watch The M Factor:https://themfactorfilm.com/About Dr. Taz:Dr. Tasneem Bhatia (Dr. Taz) is a triple board-certified integrative medicine physician, bestselling author, and founder of hol+, a multi-location integrative medicine practice.Learn more: https://doctortaz.com/aboutStay Connected:Connect further with hol+ at https://holplus.co/ and don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of hol+.Book a Hol+ Consultation:https://holplus.co/locations/virtual/Follow Dr. Taz on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drtazmd/https://www.instagram.com/liveholplus/Subscribe to the audio podcast:https://holplus.transistor.fm/subscribeSubscribe to the video podcast:https://www.youtube.com/@DrTazMD/podcastsProduced by https://ClipGrowth.com (Producer: Pat Gostek)

Ellie White's 40s did not go gently. A pandemic upended her life in London and moved her to the Sussex countryside. She fell in love with the idea of becoming a mother for the first time at 43, found out she was pregnant, and very sadly lost her son at 22 weeks. Less than a year later, she had a miscarriage.  She saw a photo of herself on a hiking holiday in Switzerland and didn't recognize the woman looking back at her and knew she needed a change.  She started running. She ran the London Marathon. She trained as a health coach. And somewhere in the middle of all of that, at a birthday lunch when she was 47, she ordered a mocktail instead of champagne, just to see what would happen. She's been alcohol-free since.  Ellie is now a 5x certified coach specializing in wellness and alcohol-free living for women in midlife, and this conversation shows that a relationship with alcohol rarely changes in isolation.  It changes when everything else is changing, when life has pushed you far enough that you finally stop and ask what you actually want. We talk about grief, midlife hormonal changes and why alcohol makes every single one of them worse, what reinvention actually looks like for the women Ellie works with, and what it meant to lose her dog Maddie six months ago while alcohol-free, and to actually be present for all of it.   IN THIS EPISODE:  Losing a son at 22 weeks, then a miscarriage less than a year later, and what those losses set in motion How grief became the catalyst for a complete life overhaul, including retraining, running, and eventually eliminating alcohol The birthday lunch decision at 47 that changed her life, and why she describes it as her rebel side showing up How alcohol interacts with perimenopause hormones, progesterone, estrogen, cortisol, and sleep in ways most women don't realize What two months alcohol-free has looked like for one of Ellie's current clients The woman who went on a walk on the beach instead of a pub garden and accidentally joined a mermaid sea swimming group What it was like to lose her dog Maddie while alcohol-free, and why she's grateful she was sober to drive her to the vet that night   Find Ellie at elliewhitewellness.com and on Instagram @byelliewhite Join over 20,000 souls who tune into weekly newsletters on the competitive advantage you get alcohol-free. Get on the Euphoric newsletter. Apply to be our next Thought Leader to master premium selling and thought leader positioning to publish your book and deliver your keynote onstage.  Euphoric the Club is the premier space to lose the desire for alcohol as you surround yourself with successful women who don't drink (and the women who are becoming them). Euphoric the Club includes full access to all of my alcohol-free programs to make alcohol meaningless as your dreams take center stage, meaningful monthly challenges, weekly coaching and more.  If you know you're meant to help other people change their relationship with alcohol and create a profitable online brand, be sure to get on the waitlist for the Empowered AF Coach 5x Certification – and get 5x certified as a world class alcohol-free empowerment coach, subconscious change coach, success coach, NLP practitioner, and hypnosis practitioner and implement our 0 to $100k Coach Method™ as your build a profitable brand.  Profiling successful people who don't drink and where the alcohol-free lifestyle and entrepreneurship collide. Subscribe to the Euphoric AF YouTube channel. Read Euphoric: my HarperCollins bestseller on losing the desire for alcohol while getting high on your dream life. Be sure to get your copy of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You today or grab your free chapter here.  Follow @euphoric.af on Instagram.  Please do rate, review, and subscribe so we can continue spreading our message far and wide!

Somewhere along the way, the friendships that used to happen on their own stopped happening. The school pickups ended, the schedules changed, and one day you looked around and realized your circle got smaller.  But what if the connection you're craving is more available than you think, and the only thing standing between you and it is knowing where to start? In this episode, we're talking about why social connection changes in midlife, why the female friendship you're craving now is different from the friendship of your 20s, and what it actually takes to rebuild your village on purpose. We also share what our first women's wellness retreat taught us about what women in this stage of life are really asking for. In this episode, you'll discover: The reason your social circle shrank without you doing anything wrong What changes about the connection you crave once you know what being supported actually feels like Why so many midlife women are braver than they were at 25, and what that bravery unlocks The shift that happens when you stop caring what people think of you What a viral Facebook group revealed about how many women are craving women's community right now Why proximity built your old friendships and why building community now takes intention The first place to look when finding community and you don't know where to start How women supporting women becomes the kind of support system that can literally save your life What the research on social prescribing says about connection and how long you live The one thing retreat attendees asked for more of, and what it tells you about what you're missing too You don't need a huge circle or a perfect starting point, you just need one brave yes, and this episode shows you where to find it. Let's rebrand wellness together! Elizabeth, Tara & Maria   Experience Wellness Rebranded in real life! Join Elizabeth, Maria, and Tara on October 3rd for Inhale, a one-day fall retreat with movement, nature walks, nourishing food, and conversations that go deeper. Reserve your spot here.    The Ultimate Self Care Planner: https://elizabethharrisnutrition.ck.page/9e817ab37e   Connect with us! Elizabeth Harris, MS, RDN, LDN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ElizabethHarrisNutrition Take the free quiz, What Type of Eater Are You?: https://elizabethharrisnutrition.com/quiz Join The Nourished Table, Elizabeth's monthly recipe club, for $20 a month: https://elizabethharrisnutrition.com/recipe-club   Tara De Leon, Master Personal Trainer Email: FitnessTrainer19@hotmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tara_de_leon_fitness Join Tara's Newsletter: www.taradeleonfitness.com/connect   Maria Winters, LCPC, NCC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coaching_therapist/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/MWcoachingtherapy Website: www.thecoachingtherapist.com   Episodes Mentioned Want to go deeper on why connection is so good for your health? Go back and listen to Episode 156: Boost Your Health Without Medicine: Understanding Social Prescribing And if the midlife conversation resonated, don't miss our recent episode with Jenn Salib Huber: The Truth About Menopause Metabolism: How to Support Energy, Sleep, and Body Changes (Without Cutting Carbs) Did something in this episode jump out at you? Come tell us about it in our free Facebook community, Health and Healing with Intuitive Eating, where all three of us are active. We want to hear your story!   If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit julianabarbati.com and let them know we sent you!

Most of us would fire our contractor building our dream home if she tried to make the plans conform to "specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound." So why do we do that to our own lives?Session two of the Back to School (of Midlife) series. If last week was orientation, this is the core curriculum — the actual framework behind everything Laurie coaches: BEST LIFE™.She starts by naming the pushback she hears constantly — "I'm not a high achiever" — and dismantles it directly: if you've ever solved a problem nobody asked you to solve, put yourself last on the list, or believed your rest had to be earned, you're a high achiever, whatever your job title says.From there she walks through the two real reasons she built BEST LIFE™: the goal-chasing problem (achieving the goal without ever asking what you actually wanted, and feeling empty anyway), and her long-standing issue with SMART goals as personal-life advice. The dream house metaphor she opened with threads through the entire back half — you wouldn't build a house without a plan for what you actually want to live in, so why are you building a life that way?Then she breaks down BEST LIFE™ letter by letter — BEyond your wildest dreams, Success on your terms, Truly want, so you can build a LIFE of Legacy, Impact, Fulfillment, and Excitement — with homework at the end: pick one letter, write down what it actually means to you.What we cover:Why Laurie built BEST LIFE™ for two specific reasons, not oneThe "I'm not a high achiever" pushback, and why she doesn't let anyone off the hook for itThe success playbook checklist — school, job, marriage, kids, house, promotion, retirement — and why finishing it doesn't always feel the way you expectWhy chasing the right goal without checking in with yourself first still leaves you emptyWhat changes when clients do the foundational work first — what do you want, what does success mean, what does your best life look likeLaurie's own story: 20 years in commercial real estate and brokerage before she became "student one" at the School of MidlifeWhy the SMART goals framework is excellent for a sales quarter and terrible for a marriage or a health goalA closer look at two SMART letters specifically — Attainable and Time-Bound — and why Laurie thinks both are the wrong filter for your personal lifeThe dream house metaphor, used to explain why you plan a life the same way you'd plan a home: you can't hand someone the blueprints until you know what you wantBE: Beyond your wildest dreams — letting yourself want something big before your brain talks you out of itS: Success on your terms — redefining success outside of money and job title, specific to this season of lifeT: What you truly want — stripping away everyone else's opinion, including a nod to that scene in The NotebookLIFE: Legacy, Impact, Fulfillment, and Excitement — including the generational angle: what your daughters and sons learn by watching how you liveThis week's homework: pick one letter, write down what it actually means to you — not a dictionary definition, the real oneA preview of next week: the three seasons of life — Learn, Earn, Yearn — and why waiting for the last one is a bad betQuotable moments"You have to remember, I was student one at the School of Midlife.""If there is a problem in your life, more often than not, you're the one who solved it, even when nobody asked you to.""I don't care if you get there. When we talk about attainable and achievable, I want you to make it so big — wildest dreams big.""If this is something you genuinely want... who cares how long it takes?""You have to stop trying to make everybody happy and start living a life that is true to you.""If, like, none of it excites you, it's probably someone else's goal or dream that you've just adopted.""This is not just some rosy saying that should make you feel good. There is intentionality behind this."Resources + links mentionedEpisode 186 — Orientation Day: When Being a High-Achiever Isn't Enough (Back to School [of Midlife] series, session one)Best Life PlannerJOIN MY MAILING LISTCONNECT WITH LAURIE

"It [cardiovascular disease]  becomes an issue in middle age because that's when they start looking, not because that's when it starts." —Dr. Daniel Chong Heart disease and midlife are more connected than most people — or their doctors — realize, and this episode of Essential Ingredients pulls that connection into the open. Justine Reichman sits down with naturopathic physician Dr. Daniel Chong and returning co-host Dr. Lisa Brent to unpack why cardiovascular risk quietly rises for both men and women in midlife, and why so few people are told to watch for it until it's already underway. This conversation is for anyone in perimenopause, menopause, or andropause who's been handed a cholesterol number without context, or who's simply never been told when to start paying attention. Dr. Chong breaks down lipid testing, arterial plaque, nitric oxide, and even the surprising role your dentist plays in your heart health — all in plain, usable language. By the end, you'll understand that cardiovascular disease isn't a midlife event — it's a decades-long process that just happens to get noticed in midlife, and that the actions you take starting this week can change its trajectory. Key Takeaways: Plaque development in the arteries can begin in childhood or even before birth, so family history matters far more than age when deciding when to start testing. A single elevated LDL reading isn't enough to justify a statin prescription — triglyceride-to-HDL ratios and more detailed testing give a fuller picture. Gum disease and harsh antibacterial mouthwash can disrupt oral bacteria needed to produce nitric oxide, which directly affects artery health. Dark leafy greens, berries, garlic, and onions support nitric oxide production and should be eaten daily, regardless of what else is on the plate. Movement spread throughout the day — not just a single workout — meaningfully lowers cardiovascular risk on its own. Around age 35–40 is a reasonable starting point for a fasting lipid panel if there's no strong family history pushing that number younger. Listen to the full episode for the complete breakdown of lab testing, imaging, and diet strategy Dr. Chong uses with his patients:  https://tinyurl.com/Essential-Ingredients-Podcast  Meet Daniel:  An expert in cardiovascular health, Dr. Daniel Chong is a licensed naturopathic physician with over two decades of experience. He earned his doctorate from the National University of Natural Medicine in 2000. Dr. Chong specializes in preventing and reversing cardiovascular disease using drug-free strategies, defining himself as a "nutritional angiologist." He holds advanced certifications in cardiometabolic medicine and the Bale-Doneen Method for heart attack prevention. Dr. Chong helps patients optimize arterial health through advanced risk assessment, lifestyle medicine, and nutrition at his Vital Human telehealth practice and Portland clinic.  Website Facebook  LinkedIn Instagram Meet Lisa:  Dr. Lisa Brent is a licensed naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist specializing in women's health. With a commitment to holistic and patient-centered care, she integrates primary care training with expertise in lifestyle medicine, nutrition, bioidentical hormone therapy, and gut health. Dr. Brent is dedicated to empowering her patients through education, individualized wellness strategies, and compassionate support. She is the founder of Be Well Natural Medicine, hosts educational events such as the Women's Health Symposium, and provides care both in-person and via telehealth. Website Instagram Facebook Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Podcast Chapters: 00:32 The #1 Cause of Death for Women Nobody Talks About 02:14 Meet Dr. Daniel Chong: Cardiovascular Expert 04:17 Why Heart Disease Risk Rises in Midlife 06:02 When Should You Start Checking Your Cholesterol? 09:02 How Long Elevated Lipids Matter More Than the Number 11:44 The Hormone Mistake Most People Make 17:21 What to Actually Ask Your Doctor 18:42 Why One Lipid Panel Isn't Enough for a Diagnosis 24:05 The Surprising Link Between Dental Health and Heart Disease 28:37 The Diet Pattern That Actually Protects Your Heart 37:17 One Change to Make This Week   THE PRIMES  ✨ You're more capable than you have ever been, and somehow more invisible than ever. You keep handing out advice you do not take yourself. You keep saying 'after this next thing' to your own life, and the people around you have no idea because, from the outside, everything looks fine— that is exactly what The Primes was built for.

Talk to KimThis week, Kim shares her personal journey of finding her voice, overcoming the tendency to shrink herself, and empowering women to take up space and speak their truth. This episode explores the roots of self-silencing and offers practical steps to reclaim confidence.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the episode and theme of finding your voice00:16 Kim shares her personal journey and the importance of self-awareness01:02 The roots of self-silencing in childhood and societal expectations02:17 How relationships influence women to shrink their voices03:23 Recognizing when your voice is being taken away04:59 Kim's story of her daughter coming out and its impact on her12:23 The importance of reclaiming and standing in your power14:14 Introducing the 'It's Not Just You' workshop for women15:57 Encouragement to women to take up space and speak their truthWhen you are ready to improve your health, you want someone who will walk alongside you, not hand you a plan and walk away. Stephanie Anderson with Renew Wellness is your Wellness Strategist who uses your unique strengths to create a plan to get you on the path to wellness. Go to her website and learn how Stephanie can help. https://renew-wellness.com/wellness-roadmapSupport the showHave you been listening to Midlife with Courage™ and thinking, "That's me"?Now it's time to take the next step.It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ is a transformational 4-week workshop designed for women who are ready to stop shrinking themselves, take up space, and live more boldly. Together, we'll uncover the subtle ways we make ourselves smaller, explore why those patterns exist, and practice the tools to communicate with confidence, set healthy boundaries, and step fully into the life we deserve.If you're ready to move from inspiration to transformation, I'd love to have you join us this September.Click HERE to join us! The podcast starts the conversation. The workshop is where the transformation begins.****************************Find Your Vitality Today!We all know our skin changes in midlife and we know there are a lot of products out there making promises. I have found one that delivers and I'd love to have you join me by trying it out yourself. Go to the link below to find out more about this luxurious facial serumhttps://vitalitybioskin.com/products/vitality-society-founding-circle***************************Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Bold Women Thriving After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim...

(00:00:00) 229: Doctor W.H.O. on Lubes - A World Health Issue! (00:00:11) Welcome to Itchy and Bitchy (00:01:32) The Surprising Variety of Sex Lubricants (00:04:51) What Makes a Good Lubricant (00:09:51) Personal Preferences in Lubricant Selection (00:15:25) Types of Lubricants Explained (00:21:20) The Importance of Provider-Patient Communication (00:22:32) Legit or Bullshit: Sexual Health Quirks (00:28:19) Closing Remarks and Call to Action The Art of the Perfect Lube: Because Your Vagina Deserves a Craft CocktailNobody talks about personal lubricants the way they talk about a perfectly balanced Old Fashioned, and honestly that's a crime. Both require the right ingredients, the wrong ones will absolutely ruin the experience, and yet most people are just grabbing whatever's cheapest off the shelf with zero regard for the recipe. Turns out formulation matters enormously; pH balance, osmolality, silicone versus water base, parabens, glycerin - these are your bitters, your base spirit, your garnish.Get the ratio wrong and you're looking at irritation, infection, and a night that ends far earlier than planned. Just like a great bartender wouldn't dump corn syrup into a Negroni, your body deserves better than petroleum-based mystery ingredients.We're breaking down exactly what's in your bottle and why the right cocktail recipe changes everything.Visit itchyandbitchy.comItchy & Bitchy is the podcast for anyone who has ever felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/itchy-and-bitchy-podcast--4303608/support.Itchy & Bitchy: Have you felt dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit by a broken medical system.  From gut health, hormones, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, holistic health, and alternative medicine ... medical gaslighting, patient advocacy , or misdiagnosis we'll call that too.  For chronic illness warriors, self-advocacy seekers: WE OFFER  No BS 

In this episode, I'm talking with Emilie Toups of Toups & Co. about what actually happens to our skin as we age and why so many mainstream skincare products may not be helping.We dig into a simple, natural skincare routine that anyone can start doing at home plus how these options compare to mainstream ingredients like retinol. Emilie also shares how to make the switch to natural skincare without getting overwhelmed and what we can do beyond topical products to nourish our skin from the inside out. And of course, we get into the bigger question underneath it all: how do we care for aging skin without making aging itself the enemy?Podcast Episode Highlights:How and why our skin changes over timeWhy aren't mainstream skincare products working?What actually works for our skinStep #1: Oil cleansingStep #2: Gentle serumsStep #3: TallowOil cleansing issues to keep in mindNatural products vs. retinolAddressing the critics of tallowFacial toner detailsHow to switch from mainstream skincare to natural products without overwhelmWhat to do (besides skincare) to nourish your skinDeep thoughts on agingResources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:Learn more about Toups and Co. here: https://toupsandco.com/pages/prairie25First time buyers can use the code Prairie25 to get you 25% off your first Toups order.Previous Podcast Episodes & Blog Articles on Natural Skincare:How to Opt-Out of Toxic Mainstream Skincare with Emilie Toups (podcast episode): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/tph_podcasts/season-7-episode-10-how-to-opt-out-of-toxic-mainstream-skincareWhen the Old Ways Make More Sense (blog article on using tallow on your skin): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2023/03/when-the-old-ways-make-more-sense.htmlHow to Make Tallow Body Butter (blog recipe for making your own tallow skincare): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2022/04/how-to-make-tallow-body-butter.htmlOTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.comJill on Instagram: @jill.wingerJill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomesteadApply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-applicationDid you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback! 

You did everything they told you. You rested it. You waited. And it still hurts. Here's the part no one explains: rest is often the reason it isn't getting better. Dr. Tom Walters is an orthopedic physical therapist, kinesiology professor, and founder of Rehab Science. Tom has spent over a decade teaching people that their bodies are adaptable, not fragile, and this conversation is a masterclass in what that actually means when something starts to hurt. They nerd out (a lot), but everything here is built to help you move through midlife with less fear and more agency. This one is for every Bettie who was told her aching hip or frozen shoulder is "just aging." You're not broken, and you're not behind. Your capacity changed; your plan just needs to change with it.

Hot flashes, stubborn fatigue, unexplained weight changes, so many midlife women notice these shifts but struggle to find clear answers about what's really happening in their bodies. What if the real root isn't just "hormones," but a small brain region called the hypothalamus? Discover why caring for your hypothalamus might be the true missing piece for feeling steady, rested, and well through perimenopause and beyond. Many women enter midlife juggling work, relationships, family, and changing health. Aches, irritability, and brain fog often get brushed off or labeled as "just getting older." But research is increasingly showing that the hypothalamus, your body's master regulator, could explain much of what you're experiencing. Joining Natalie is Deborah Maragopoulos, FNP, an integrative hormone expert known as "The Hormone Queen," who brings decades of clinical experience on what actually supports midlife energy, metabolism, and emotional balance. Her practical insight offers a refreshing roadmap for women tired of quick fixes and unclear advice. What you'll learn: • How the hypothalamus drives hormones, hunger, sleep, and mood during midlife with signs you might be experiencing hypothalamic dysfunction • Why quality sleep and light exposure directly shape hormonal health and daytime energy • Plainspoken ways to adjust your daily nutrition, meal timing, and evening routines to better support your hypothalamus (without dieting or deprivation) • The surprising effects of chronic stress and blue light on your body's natural rhythms—and realistic steps to restore balance • How mindset and self-trust can help you listen to (and meet) your body's real needs in this season • When it makes sense to seek practitioner support, and what labs or resources can help you advocate for your own care Getting clear on what your body is asking for isn't wishful thinking, it's the foundation of empowered midlife health. This conversation validates the challenges midlife women face, replaces confusion with insight, and arms you with actionable changes that respect both your biology and your life. https://www.natalietysdal.com https://www.instagram.com/ntysdal https://www.tiktok.com/@ntysdal https://www.facebook.com/NatalieTysdal

Migraines in midlife can feel unpredictable—but they may not be as random as they first appear. Hormonal fluctuations, stress, disrupted sleep, skipped meals, dehydration, food sensitivities, and weather changes can overlap until the body crosses its individual migraine threshold. In this deeply personal episode of Tea & Truth, Lynne shares what it was like to live with almost-daily, debilitating migraines. Her attacks frequently forced her to leave work, pull over while driving to be sick, and visit her doctor for injections when her usual medication couldn't control the pain. Her turning point came when she attended a headache clinic while studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Together, those experiences helped her combine appropriate migraine care with a more holistic understanding of her triggers, eating habits, stress, hydration, sleep, and overall lifestyle. Today, Lynne's migraines are far less frequent and are usually associated with weather and barometric-pressure changes. In This Episode You'll learn: Why migraine is much more than a bad headache How estrogen fluctuations may affect migraines in perimenopause Why migraines may change before and after menopause The difference between an underlying migraine condition and an individual trigger How food, skipped meals, blood-sugar swings, and dehydration may contribute Why cravings can sometimes be an early migraine symptom How stress and disrupted sleep may lower your migraine threshold Why storms and barometric-pressure changes can trigger attacks How to track patterns without becoming fearful or overly restrictive Practical ways to reduce your overall trigger load When a new, severe, or changing headache needs prompt medical attention You may not be able to control every trigger—especially the weather—but understanding your personal patterns may help you feel more prepared, informed, and empowered.   Explore Lynne's Migraine Book Lynne is also the author of Conquering Migraines: Your Guide to a Life Without Pain, an educational resource inspired by her own journey with debilitating migraines. The book explores possible migraine triggers and practical food and lifestyle strategies that may help readers become more informed participants in their care. Find Conquering Migraines on Amazon   Connect with Lynne Imagine not having to figure out midlife on your own. Join The Energized Healthy Women's Club, Lynne's private community for women who want practical support, honest conversation, and encouragement through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. Join the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/energized.healthy.women Schedule a gentle chat about your next steps: https://calendly.com/lynnewadsworth/30min Website: https://holistic-healthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holistichealthandwellnessllc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnewadsworth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnewadsworth   Did You Enjoy the Podcast? If this episode helped you, please follow Living Life Naturally and leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeartRadio. Your review helps more women discover these conversations and feel less alone in their midlife health journey. Please consider sharing this episode with a friend who lives with migraines or has noticed that her headaches are changing in midlife. Disclaimer The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and isn't intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. It isn't a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding headaches, migraine symptoms, medications, hormone therapy, dietary changes, or any other health concerns. Seek immediate medical attention for sudden, severe, new, or unusual headache symptoms.

In Part 1 of this bold, funny, and unfiltered two-part conversation, 50ish & Fab host KC Sonshine sits down with guest- host Tye to put one big question on trial: Is it really a man's world... or are we just not understanding each other anymore?Inspired by It's a Man's Man's Man's World by James Brown, this episode dives into men vs. women, dating after 50, communication styles, gender roles, relationship expectations, and generational differences—then vs. now. KC brings the seasoned Gen X perspective—spiritual, experienced, and not easily impressed—while Tye, the millennial voice with confidence and edge, brings bold opinions and just enough spice to keep things interesting. KC Sonshine breaks down:Gen X vs Millennial dating differences: Why effort and emotional expression don't always matchHow miscommunication turns into frustrationWhy healthy relationships require translation—not just attractionBecause sometimes it's not that they don't care...they just don't communicate the way you need.

Join our community: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/community/There are seasons in life when you can feel that something is changing, but you can't yet see what's taking shape. You know you're no longer where you were, but you don't yet know where you're going.This is a liminal space—the space between what was and what is coming.It's the no longer, but not yet—the murky, uncomfortable season where an old way of being is ending and something new is beginning to take shape.And if you're a growth-minded woman in midlife, there's a good chance you'll find yourself here more than once.In this episode, I'm talking about what happens when life is changing, whether you chose the change or it was thrust upon you, and how to navigate those seasons without rushing, resisting, or abandoning yourself.Because the work of a liminal season isn't first and foremost to figure everything out or take massive action.The primary work is to slow down. To listen. To rest. To let go. To put down deeper roots. To take really good care of yourself.And to trust that something essential is happening beneath the surface, even when life feels barren and you can't fully see what's coming next.In this episode, we'll explore:What a liminal space is and why so many midlife women find themselves in oneWhy significant change can bring up anxiety, self-doubt, overwhelm, and old patterns, even when you've already done a lot of inner workWhy you don't need to rush to make big decisions when you're in the thick of transitionHow to loosen your grip on what was and make room for what's becomingWhy the “barren” seasons of life can actually be seasons of putting down deep roots and preparation for transformationHow to care for yourself when your usual rhythms and routines no longer workWhy rest, connection, health, and small doses of joy matter so much in seasons of upheavalHow your past can remind you that you have moved through uncertainty before—and found more freedom and joy on the other sideMost of all, I want you to walk away knowing this:You are not broken. You are not doing anything wrong.You may simply be in the uncomfortable space between who you were and who you are becoming.And the only way through is through.ResourcesSeasons of Transition Are Important and Require Ample Rest: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/seasons-of-transition/Quiet the Noise 4-Day Challenge: https://www.alifeinprogress.ca/quiet-the-noise/Connect with Krista:Instagram: @a_life_in_progressFacebook: @alifeinprogressca and @rebrandingmiddleageYouTube: @ALifeinProgressWebsite: alifeinprogress.ca

Age is just a number. We say it all the time. Do we actually believe it?This week I sit down with Dr. Arnold Gilberg, MD, PhD — a psychiatrist with over 60 years of clinical experience and author of The Myth of Aging. Sixty years. Let that sink in for a second. He has watched mental health care go from something people hid to something people post about. And he has spent just as long studying what actually keeps people vital as they get older, and it is not what most of us assume.We get into what a psychiatrist actually is (and how that's different from a psychologist or a therapist), why the shame around therapy has mostly disappeared since the 1960s but hasn't fully left medicine itself, and why he'd argue we're over-medicating a problem that often needs connection more than a prescription. Then we go somewhere I did not expect, his own path to becoming a rabbi, and what spirituality has taught him about the mind that medicine alone couldn't.If you've ever felt "stuck," or assumed decline was just the deal you signed up for by getting older — this one's for you.Dr. Arnold Gilberg, MD, PhD, is a psychiatrist with more than six decades of clinical experience and the author of The Myth of Aging. Over the course of his career he has treated patients through massive shifts in how our culture understands mental health — from the stigma of the mid-20th century to today's very different, more open landscape. He is also a rabbi, a path that grew out of his clinical work and shapes how he thinks about meaning, purpose, and healing. The Myth of Aging bookWhat We CoverPsychiatry vs. psychology vs. therapy. What a psychiatrist actually does, how that role differs from a psychologist or therapist, and why the lines have blurred (and shifted) as the field has evolved.From shame to normal. How therapy went from something you hid to something you casually mention at dinner — and why stigma still lingers inside the medical community itself, even as it's faded in the culture at large.The culture of medication. Dr. Gilbert doesn't hold back on this one — the over-reliance on medication, what gets missed when a prescription replaces psychotherapy, and why informed consent about side effects matters more than most patients realize.Body and mind are not separate systems. Why physical activity is one of the most underused tools in mental health care, and how movement changes the brain, not just the body.Becoming a rabbi. Dr. Gilbert's own journey into spirituality, and how faith and religion show up as legitimate tools for emotional and mental well-being — not as an alternative to psychiatry, but alongside it.Cultural shifts, real clinical impact. How broader acceptance of diverse sexualities and identities has changed what shows up in the therapy room and how mental health providers practice.Connection is the treatment. Why trust between patient and therapist predicts outcomes more than technique — and what that means for how we should be evaluating "good" therapy.The myth of aging, dismantled. Aging does not have to mean decline. Investment in physical, mental, and social health changes the trajectory — and it's never too late to start.Midlife crisis, reframed. What's actually happening during a midlife crisis, and why it can be the opening for real change instead of just a cliché to laugh off.Mindset changes your biology. The Harvard research on mindset and lifespan — and what it tells us about how much of "aging" is happening in our heads before it happens in our bodies.Getting unstuck. Practical ways to turn a feeling of stagnation into an actual growth opportunity.Community, movement, purpose. The three pillars Dr. Gilbert keeps coming back to for aging well — and why none of them are optional.Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs it.

I'm delighted to connect with Dr. Rachel Goldman today. She is a licensed clinical psychologist based in New York City and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She specializes in the mind-body connection using cognitive behavioral therapy, with a focus on stress management, burnout, distorted eating, bariatric surgery support, and health behavior changes. I was honored to meet Dr. Rachel in Miami at an event where we both spoke earlier this year. In our conversation, we discuss how to approach body image in midlife, how our families influence our relationships with food, what toxic positivity is, and how it invalidates our emotions. We also explore the vulnerability of midlife and parenting, the effects of GLP-1 drugs, obesity as a disease, and the impact of mindset. Dr. Rachel also defines burnout and shares the best ways to address it. Stay tuned for today's invaluable conversation on body image, mindset, emotions, and navigating the challenges of midlife. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: Dr. Rachel shares her approach to helping midlife women struggling with body image and identity  How our thought processes around food can influence our emotions and behaviors Various factors that can influence our relationship with food How women with many rules around food can start changing their thinking How to navigate grief about your younger body and learn to appreciate the body you have now What toxic positivity is and how it invalidates our emotions How personal and professional role changes in midlife can affect a woman's sense of identity Why Dr. Rachel recommends having more than one coping tool in your toolbox  The effects Dr. Rachel has been seeing in patients using GLP-1 medications What burnout is, and how to address it Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia's website. Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com  Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow.  Purchase Cynthia's book, The Menopause Gut. Cynthia's Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause Supplement Line Connect with Dr. Rachel Goldman On social media: @DrRachelNYC   Purchase links for Dr. Rachel's book are available HERE.

In early marriage, intimacy is effortless. You don't have to plan it, think about it, or work at it. Midlife is a different story, and in this episode, Zane and I get honest about sex and intimacy after 50. Zane and I talk honestly about the real challenges of intimacy in midlife, from menopause and hormones to feeling attractive and getting out of a rut. From there, we get into what men really find attractive in their wives, why confidence matters so much, and how taking care of yourself changes the way you show up in your marriage. After nearly forty years together, Zane and I don't have all the answers. But we've learned that intimacy isn't about looking like you did at twenty-five. It's about choosing each other, respecting each other, and making room for this part of your relationship to keep growing.   WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: Why intimacy changes in your 50s and 60s, and why it can become more meaningful than ever My honest experience with hormone replacement therapy and what changed when I found my balance. Plus, why Zane is now open to testosterone for the first time. What Zane says men actually find attractive in their wives (and it has nothing to do with your appearance) How decades of trust, love, and shared history create a kind of intimacy you simply can't have in a young marriage How to communicate about intimacy, get out of a rut, and understand what each other needs as your bodies and seasons of life change Why intimacy in your 50s and 60s can go deeper than it ever did in your 20s and 30s   LINKS & RESOURCES Listen to Part 1: What Kills Romance in Your Marriage in Your 50s and 60s (And How to Get It Back When It Feels Hopeless) Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   WHERE TO LISTEN If this episode encouraged you, we would love it if you took a few minutes to rate and review The SavvyCast! It means so much and helps more women (just like you) find the show!  Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT! The Marriage Check-In That Reveals More Than You Expect (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats) Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube 38 Years of Marriage: What We Got Right (& What We'd Do Differently) Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

What if the midlife years of your marriage could be some of the richest? Bill and Pam Farrel share how to do some healthy life reflections in the middle years. Then, Erin Smalley encourages you and your mate to have a vision for your current season of life. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/marriagepodcast or call 1-800-A-FAMILYThe 10 Best Decisions a Couple Can MakeFocus on Marriage AssessmentNavigating Midlife Transitions in Your Marriage I-II (Digital)Marriage ChampionsListen to Focus Live on Godcaster

Send us Fan MailRetirement should be the beginning of your next meaningful chapter—not the end of your purpose.What happens when your career ends and the title, routine, responsibilities, and identity that shaped your life suddenly change? In this powerful episode of the Remarkable People Podcast, David Pasqualone sits down with Chris Maduri, founder of Vibrant Retirement, to explore how to find purpose after retirement, rebuild your identity beyond work, deepen your faith, and create a meaningful second act.Chris shares much more than retirement advice. He opens up about his own remarkable journey through adoption, struggles with identity, the devastating loss of his best friend, alcohol, divorce, multiple DUIs, jail, and the spiritual transformation that followed.During one of the lowest seasons of his life, Chris began reading the Bible, slowing down, becoming still, and developing a deeper relationship with God. That process helped him begin seeing himself differently—not according to his failures, income, career, achievements, or the opinions of other people, but through a completely different understanding of identity, grace, responsibility, and purpose.In this conversation, you'll discover:• Why financial preparation alone does not prepare you for retirement• How career and achievement can become dangerously connected to identity• Why you should begin designing your “second act” years before retirement• How to balance work, family, health, faith, and enjoying life now• Why stillness, prayer, listening, and self-awareness matter• How Chris rebuilt his life after addiction, DUIs, divorce, and jail• Why failure does not mean your life or purpose is over• How small acts of service can reveal a much larger purpose• Why purpose ultimately has to extend beyond yourself• How to stop endlessly preparing and begin taking meaningful action• Why you do not need to be perfect before you can add value to someone else's lifeOne of Chris's most powerful insights from the episode:“If you're looking for purpose, it has to be outside of you. No one's purpose is to help themselves.”Whether you are 25, 45, 65, approaching retirement, already retired, experiencing a major life transition, or simply wondering, “What does God want me to do next?”—this conversation is for you.Your career may eventually end.Your job title may change.But if you are still here, your life still matters—and there is still good you can do.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

For decades, I told myself I was creative. But not really creative. I could do lettering and calligraphy. But I couldn't draw or paint. So being creative became something I did on the side of my life instead of something I let myself really own. In this episode, I'm tracing that belief all the way back through a bathroom valance I made just because I wanted to, a plain Ikea table turned into a chessboard, and years of doodling whales I love so much I bought a domain for it. Then something happened. It felt like the summer that cracked creativity open. It centered around a cancelled Grand Canyon rafting trip, a friend's art studio, and a decision to create something rather than have a summer with only sadness. This isn't a story about becoming an artist. It's a story about giving yourself permission and about one of the most common regrets I hear from midlife women: not letting yourself be happy. Please enjoy! Learn more here!

Have you done everything right and still watched the scale refuse to move? I sat down with fitness industry veteran Chalene Johnson, who built her career telling women exactly how to lose weight, and then walked straight into that same wall herself in perimenopause. Her hormone panel came back "dialed in." She was still doing every workout, every macro track, every habit that used to work. The weight stayed anyway, until she found the piece nobody had pointed her toward, the link between cortisol, insulin resistance, and a metabolism that stops cooperating no matter how hard you push. We get into the stress inventory that changed her day almost overnight, why she traded daily cardio for heavy strength training, her honest concerns about GLP-1s, and the Harvard longevity data that convinced her friendship matters more for a long healthy life than anything you'll find in a gym. Timestamps: 0:00 — Doing everything right and still gaining weight in perimenopause 4:36 — How the fitness industry sets women up to fail on purpose 12:00 — Hormones "dialed in," weight still not moving 13:14 — The cortisol and insulin resistance connection nobody explained to her 13:57 — The stress inventory exercise that changed her days 23:39 — Why she traded cardio for heavy strength training 25:48 — The identical twin study on muscle, memory, and cognition 27:55 — Her honest concerns about GLP-1s and rapid weight loss 33:49 — Why community predicts longevity more than diet or exercise 36:03 — Rapid fire: supplements, sunlight, and energy vampires 42:08 — Camp Be More and where to find Chalene Memorable Quotes: "I have my hormones dialed in, but when I was working with an integrative medical doctor who would look at my panel, she's like, 'Your cortisol is through the roof.'" — Chalene Johnson "The machine needs for you to not succeed so that you believe, okay, something else is going to work for me." — Chalene Johnson "We can't heal a body we hate." — Dr. Anna Cabeca Key Takeaways: A "perfect" hormone panel doesn't rule out cortisol and insulin resistance quietly driving weight gain underneath it Writing out every stressor and circling only what you control turns "reduce your stress" into something actually doable Lower body strength training, not cardio, was the single habit Chalene says moved the needle most for her body and brain The identical twin study she references found more lower body muscle correlated with better memory and cognition at 50 and beyond Rapid weight loss without addressing muscle and detoxification support can cost you the two things that matter most for longevity Community, not diet or exercise, was the strongest predictor of quality of life and lifespan in the longest running Harvard longevity study Vitamin D from sunlight and magnesium are the two non negotiables in Chalene's own daily routine FAQ Why do I keep gaining weight in perimenopause even though my hormones are balanced?  For many women, hormone balance is only part of the picture. Cortisol and insulin resistance can quietly drive weight gain even when a hormone panel looks well managed. Addressing stress load and metabolic health alongside hormones is often the missing piece. Does stress actually cause weight gain, or is that oversimplified? Chronic stress raises cortisol, and elevated cortisol is linked to increased insulin resistance and a slower metabolic rate. This isn't about willpower. It's a physiological chain that can work against weight loss efforts regardless of diet and exercise habits. Is strength training better than cardio for women in midlife? Strength training, particularly lower body work with adequate weight, supports muscle retention, bone density, and metabolic health in ways cardio alone doesn't. Many experts recommend prioritizing strength training first, then layering in cardio. What is Camp Be More? Camp Be More is a live event created by Shelene Johnson for women, focused on connection, aging on your own terms, and building community with other women navigating midlife. How much strength training do I need to see results? Shelene recommends starting with two days a week focused on the lower body if daily training feels overwhelming. Consistency matters more than volume when you're starting out.   Connect with Chalene Johnson Website: https://chalene.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chalene Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalenejohnson/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chalenejohnson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chalenejohnson Connect with Dr. Anna Website: http://drannacabeca.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirlfrienddoctor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegirlfrienddoctor Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thegirlfrienddoctor/  

Life Coach BFF Show | Episode 277 Thriving in Midlife: The Estrogen Patch Shortage, Decluttering Keepsakes & Midlife Dilemmas Hosts: Heather Pettey & Dr. Carol Lynn Episode Summary In this episode, Heather and Dr. Carol Lynn sit down for a fun, relatable, and candid conversation on navigating midlife chaos with humor and grace. From dealing with the real-life frustration of the current estrogen patch shortage to figuring out what to do with decades of family photos, old furniture, and childhood keepsakes—they cover it all. Plus, they share a few hilarious (and bizarre!) local news stories, touch on the generational differences in home decor, and offer practical medical insight into HRT alternatives. Key Highlights & Timestamps – Intro & Midlife Welcome Heather & Dr. Carol Lynn discuss thriving in midlife: marriage, grown kids, health, and navigating menopause together. – The Dining Table Dilemma Heather's recent move from Memphis back to Mississippi, dealing with damaged furniture, and whether to DIY repair a scratched tabletop or ship it back. – Decluttering Generations of Pictures & Keepsakes Why our kids don't want giant, ornate framed portraits of distant relatives, dealing with old family photo albums, and converting vintage film into coffee table books.   Do Our Adult Children Care About Sentimentality? Generational differences in keeping family heirlooms and why younger generations view photos and keepsakes completely differently.   The Estrogen Patch Shortage & HRT Alternatives Addressing the real-world shortage of estrogen patches. Where to find them: Amazon Pharmacy and select grocery chains (like Kroger) may still have stock compared to major retail pharmacies. Alternatives: Dr. Carol Lynn explains switching to once-a-week patches or oral estrogen/progesterone options during supply chain issues.   Creative Birthday Ideas & Unbelievable Local News Fun birthday surprises and wild stories, including a viral clown story, unbelievable local business drama, and funny family parenting memories. Key Takeaways & Quick Advice Medical Advice Note: Always consult your own healthcare provider before making changes to your hormone replacement therapy (HRT) routine. Estrogen Patch Shortage Hacks: If your pharmacy is out of twice-weekly estrogen patches, ask your doctor about switching to a once-a-week patch or transitioning temporarily to oral estrogen. Check smaller local distributors or mail-order pharmacies like Amazon Pharmacy, which often pull from different stock networks than big-box retail drugstores. Photo & Storage Solutions: Instead of storing heavy, framed family portraits in closets or garages, consider scanning older photos into high-resolution digital files and printing a single, compact coffee table book. Connect & Share Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Life Coach BFF Show on your favorite podcast app! Share the love: Leave us a 5-star review and send this episode to a friend who needs a laugh (or an estrogen patch update) today. Reminder: Don't forget to smile—Jesus loves you! Connect With Us: If you loved this episode, please hit the follow button and leave us a quick review! It truly helps other women find our community. Connect with Your Life Coach BFFs: Join the Midlife Moxie Newsletter: Don't miss out on fun items, exclusive updates, and the best life ever! The link is right in the show notes. Sign Up and Get the latest MOXIE news!   Follow on Social Media: All our community connection is on our Our Midlife Moxie Facebook Page! (Yes, the podcast is Life Coach BFF Show, but our social is under Our Midlife Moxie – we hope to see you there!). @ourmidlifemoxie   The Journal: Grab your My Midlife Moxie Journal on Amazon and register it on page two. Digital Version My Midlife Moxie Journal   Connect with us: Sign Up and Get the latest MOXIE news!   Join The Facebook Group: @ourmidlifemoxie Connect with Host Heather Pettey: Email: hpetteyoffice@gmail.com Private Coaching with Heather:https://www.ourmidlifemoxie.com/heatherpetteycoaching Speaker Request Here Instagram @HeatherPettey_ Facebook: @HeatherPettey1 Linkedin: @HeatherPettey Book: "Keep It Simple, Sarah" (Amazon bestseller) Connect with Host Dr. Carol Lynn: Linkedin Website: https://www.drcarollynn.com Facebook Group: @ourmidlifemoxie Website: www.ourmidlifemoxie.com Don't forget to subscribe to the Life Coach BFF Show for more inspiring content and practical life advice! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. Heather Pettey is a certified coach and Dr. Carol Lynn is a licensed physician. Nothing heard on this podcast should be taken as personal medical advice. Always consult your personal physician regarding your specific health and wellness needs.

Can't lift heavy loads but still want the benefits of heavy lifting? Blood flow restriction (BFR) training—using cuffs to partially restrict venous blood flow so you can get heavy‑lifting‑like gains with much lighter loads—could be just what you need, says this week's guest, veteran strength coach Ashley Selman, CSCS. In this episode, we dig into what BFR training is, how it's done in real‑world workouts, who it's for, and why it can be a powerful option for midlife athletes who can't tolerate traditional heavy lifting but still want to build and maintain muscle, strength, bone health, and even VO₂ max.Ashley Selman, MA, CSCS, is a veteran strength coach with 30+ years' experience working with elite athletes, collegiate programs at Stanford and the University of Oregon, and clients at every level. She was named one of the Top 100 Trainers in the U.S. by Men's Journal and founded Evolution Trainers in Mountain View, California, voted the number one health club in Silicon Valley. After a difficult hip replacement and early menopause at 43 left her losing muscle despite “doing everything right,” discovering blood flow restriction (BFR) training allowed her to rapidly regain strength she hadn't felt in over 15 years, which inspired her to create Seli Strength, a virtual BFR program now serving hundreds of midlife women. She recently developed "Coaching Blood Flow Restriction Training: The Future of Fitness" with the American Council on Exercise (ACE), for fitness professionals who want to bring BFR training to their clients. You can learn more about her and her work at www.selistrength.comResourcesGet $50 off BFR bands with the code Feisty50 at Selistrength.com/bfr-bandsBlood Flow Restriction Training for Athletes: A Systematic Review hereSystematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of blood flow restriction training on bone health in older adults hereVascular occlusion for optimising the functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomised controlled trial hereFeistyFest Info: https://livefeisty.com/events/feisty-fest/Women's Mechanic Camp in Tucson: https://livefeisty.com/events/bike-mechanic-school-tucson/Courses and Coaching: https://livefeisty.com/courses/Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://livefeisty.com/newsletters/feisty-40/Follow Us on Instagram:Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopauseHit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099Support our Partners:Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/Previnex: Get 20% off your order with code FEISTYBRAIN at https://www.previnex.com/ Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

What if everything you've been told about menopause is incomplete? Many women believe menopause automatically means weight gain, brain fog, fatigue, poor sleep, and feeling like the best years are behind them. But according to physician and hormone expert Dr. Miranda Naylor, menopause isn't the beginning of decline—it can become one of the greatest opportunities to reset your health. In this episode, we explore the biggest myths surrounding perimenopause and menopause, the role genetics really play, how lifestyle impacts ovarian aging, and where hormone replacement therapy fits into a personalized longevity plan. Whether you're approaching menopause, currently navigating it, or simply want to prepare for healthy aging, this conversation will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and hopeful. In this episode you'll learn: Why menopause doesn't have to mean decline Why your mother's experience doesn't determine yours The difference between chronological age, biological age and ovarian age Lifestyle habits that can dramatically improve your menopausal transition When hormone replacement therapy may be appropriate Bioidentical hormones vs synthetic hormones The importance of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone How community, sleep and stress influence hormone health Why menopause can become a powerful opportunity for reinvention Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome + Why Menopause Needs a New Narrative 02:05 The Biggest Myths About Menopause 04:45 The Unexpected Gifts of Midlife 08:30 Why Menopause Can Be Your Health Reset 10:50 Hormone Replacement Therapy: What Women Need to Know 15:15 Estrogen, Progesterone & Testosterone Explained 18:45 A Real-Life Patient Success Story 20:30 The Lifestyle Habits That Matter Most 25:05 Genetics vs. Lifestyle: Does Your Mom's Menopause Predict Yours? 27:30 Biological Age vs. Ovarian Age 31:30 HRT Myths, Breast Cancer & Safety 35:20 Dr. Miranda's RISE Method + Final Takeaways 37:10 Free Hormone Quiz + Closing Thoughts Connect with Dr. Miranda Naylor Website Instagram Modern Women's Wellness Podcast Free Hormone Quiz Connect with Us Follow & Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartofliving_well/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theartoflivingwellpodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theartoflivingwel/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gym3jOPdSHwrpM1BmxyJz Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-living-well-podcast/id1482050468  Connect with your Hosts: https://www.theartoflivingwell.us/about-us