Own Your Midlife Podcast: Hormones, Perimenopause & Reinvention for Women 40+
Susie McLean 30 episodes Nov 10, 2026
Own Your Midlife is a podcast for women in their 40s+ navigating midlife transitions, perimenopause, changing hormones, career pivots, and the deep desire for reinvention. Host Susie McLean shares real stories and practical tools to help women reconnect with their voice, trust their intuition, and take the next small step toward a fulfilling life. The podcast covers topics like confidence, clarity, identity, and the messy, beautiful shifts of this season. It's a supportive space for women who want to show up for themselves, feel better in their bodies, and create a fulfilling second act.
Episodes
Waking Up at 3AM? How to Sleep Better During Perimenopause | with Kelly Murray
Today I'm sitting down with Kelly Murray, a certified adult sleep coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner who helps women with sleep during perimenopause and menopause. And one of the first things I wanted to ask her was, "Why 3am? What's actually going on?" Kelly spent years waking up at 3am while working as an award-winning pediatric sleep consultant and helping other families get
3 Ways to Build Confidence When You Doubt Yourself
Have you ever seen someone doing something amazing, thought to yourself "I could never do that," and immediately talked yourself out of even trying? You are definitely not alone. In this solo episode of Own Your Midlife, I'm opening up about my own struggles with self-doubt before starting this podcast and how I had to learn to build genuine belief in myself. We often wait around for confidence t
Goal Setting in Midlife | Start the One Thing You Keep Putting Off
Is there something you've wanted to do for years, but keep putting off? In Episode 50 of Own Your Midlife, I'm sharing what releasing a new podcast episode every week has taught me about goal setting in midlife staying consistent, and following through when life gets busy. In this solo episode, I'm encouraging you to choose one thing that matters to you now and think honestly about what you're wil
Why We Feel So Disconnected and How to Reconnect with Dr. Jody Carrington
Are you feeling constantly overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected from the people around you... even when your daily life is packed with activity? Do you find yourself pulling away when you need support the most, or wondering why staying connected feels like so much work in this season of life? In this episode of Own Your Midlife, I sit down with clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and ch
Genetic Testing in Midlife. What Your DNA Can Tell You About Your Health | Natalie Samson
If a health condition runs in your family, does that mean it's your future, too? And what could genetic testing actually tell you about your health in midlife? In this episode, I'm joined by Natalie Samson, a board-certified genetic counselor and founder of Golden Genetics, to explore how our genes affect our health and where testing might fit into the changes we experience in our 40s and beyond.
The Truth About HRT | What Every Woman Should Know About Hormones and Aging Well | Karen Martel
Are you tired of feeling like perimenopause is taking over your life, leaving you exhausted, dealing with sudden heavy cycles or fibroids, and wondering where the "old you" went? Do you worry about whether hormone replacement therapy is safe, or feel completely brushed off when you bring up your symptoms to your doctor? You are not crazy, and you certainly don't have to just "suffer through" midl
Creating Your Own Opportunity When You're Tired of Waiting
Feeling stuck in midlife while everyone else seems to be moving ahead? Maybe you're applying for jobs, going to auditions, or building a business, and the opportunity you've worked toward still hasn't come. You keep showing up, but you're starting to wonder: Do I keep going? Do I need a different plan? In this episode of Own Your Midlife, I'm talking about how to get your power back when you fee
Feeling Guilty for Resting? Why Slowing Down Doesn't Mean Falling Behind
Do you feel guilty when you take a break, even when you're exhausted? Maybe you finally sit down, but your mind immediately starts listing everything you should be doing next. Answer the email. Work on the idea. Get ahead. Make progress. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, we're talking about productivity guilt, the pressure to keep going, and the fear that slowing down means you're losing moment
You're Not Starting Over. How to Use Your Skills to Build Something New After 40 | Shannon Russell
Thinking about making a career change in midlife, starting a business, or finally exploring an idea that keeps coming back to you? In this episode, I'm talking with Shannon Russell about what it really looks like to create a second act without feeling like you have to start from scratch. Shannon is a Business Coach, Corporate Team Building Facilitator, TEDx Speaker, and the author of Start Your Se
The Friendship Conversation You've Been Avoiding: Grief, Growth, and Boundaries in Midlife
Have you ever noticed that as you start changing, some of your friendships start to feel different too? As we grow, set better boundaries, speak up more, stop overgiving, or stop making ourselves smaller to keep the peace, the dynamics in our friendships can change. And sometimes that can leave us wondering whether the relationship can actually grow with us. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, I'
Waiting Isn't a Plan: How to Make a Career Decision You Trust (with Paula Randler)
If you're in midlife and starting to wonder whether the career you've built still fits who you are now, this episode will help you think through what comes next, whether that means staying, making changes where you are, or stepping into something completely new. In this episode, I'm joined by career coach Paula Randler. Paula spent seventeen years in one organization before eventually leaving and
It's Not Too Late: Find Yourself Again in Midlife
What if finding yourself again in midlife starts with remembering the moments when you already proved something to yourself? In this solo episode, I'm talking about the stories we carry with us. The moments that remind us we've been brave before, taken risks before, trusted ourselves before, and figured things out when we had no idea how they were going to work out. I share one of those moments fr
Truth Over Approval: The Midlife Shift Back to Yourself with Diane Sorensen
Have you ever wondered how much of who you are is really you, and how much may have been shaped by years of wanting to feel accepted, loved, or safe? For many women, approval-driven patterns can become so familiar that they start to feel like part of your personality. Being accommodating, keeping others happy, avoiding disappointment, or automatically going along with what everyone else wants can
Why You Feel Lonely in Midlife Even When You're Not Alone
Have you ever wondered why you feel lonely even when you have people around you? Loneliness in midlife can be confusing. You may be married, have children, friends, coworkers, and people you talk to regularly, yet still feel disconnected or like something is missing. In this episode, I'm talking about why loneliness can show up in midlife, what that feeling may be telling you, and three practical
How to Find Clarity When You Feel Lost in Midlife
What do you do when you're feeling lost in midlife and know you want something different for your life, but you can't quite figure out what that something is? In this solo episode, I'm sharing three things that helped me find clarity when I felt uncertain about what was next. We'll talk about what happens when the life you're living no longer feels like it fits, how other people's opinions can qui
Normal Labs, Brain Fog & Fatigue? Why You Still Don't Feel Like Yourself | Dr. Alicia Newsome
Have you ever gone to the doctor because you knew something felt off, only to be told that all your lab work looked normal? Maybe you're dealing with brain fog, low energy, mood changes, poor sleep, or that hard to explain feeling that you simply don't feel like yourself anymore. Being told everything looks fine can leave you wondering whether you're imagining it or whether there may be more to ex
Feeling Disconnected in Your Marriage? 4 Ways to Reconnect
Have you ever wondered how two people who love each other can slowly start to feel disconnected? Most of the time, it does not happen because of one major moment. It happens through small things that go unnoticed, unspoken, or pushed aside during the busyness of life. In this episode, my husband Anthony joins me to talk about how to stay connected in a relationship through the different seasons of
Why You Keep Putting Yourself Last (and How to Trust Your Voice)
For many women, putting yourself last can look a lot like kindness. You become the easygoing one, the flexible one, the woman who always makes it work. But after years of people-pleasing, saying yes to everyone, and ignoring your own needs, many women over 40 reach midlife realizing they can hear everyone else's voice more clearly than their own. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, I share the
Outgrowing Friendships in Midlife? Let Go Without the Guilt
Friendships in midlife can change in ways we never expected. If you've been wondering whether you've outgrown a friendship, why a friendship feels different than it used to, or why someone who was once so close no longer plays the same role in your life, this episode is for you. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, we're talking about outgrowing friendships, the guilt that often comes with it, a
Midlife Imposter Syndrome: Stop Letting Self-Doubt Make Your Decisions
Self-doubt has a way of making us question everything. It can make us wonder if we're qualified enough, experienced enough, or even capable of taking the next step. For many women, that's exactly how imposter syndrome (also spelled impostor syndrome) in midlife begins to show up. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, we're talking about the thoughts that fuel self-doubt, what imposter syndrome can
Hidden Generational Beliefs Keeping Women Stuck in Midlife with Anthony McLean
Have you ever wondered who decided what age you're supposed to have life figured out? Or why so many of us feel like there's a timeline we're supposed to follow, and if we miss it, we've somehow fallen behind? In this episode, I'm sitting down with my husband, Anthony McLean, and we're getting into something most of us have never stopped to question. The unspoken rules our generations handed us. T
Divorce in Midlife: The Emotional Survival Guide for Women Starting Over with Oona Metz
Divorce can feel overwhelming, heartbreaking, and incredibly lonely, especially in midlife when so much of your life feels intertwined with your marriage, family, finances, identity, and future. In this episode we talk about the emotional side of divorce that so many women struggle through quietly. Oona shares the five phases of divorce grief, what to do first when you don't know where to start, h
Why You Feel Disconnected in Your Relationship (And What It's Costing You) with Colette Jane Fehr
Feeling disconnected in your relationship and not sure why? Wondering if resentment in marriage or emotional distance with your partner is quietly building? In this powerful conversation, licensed psychotherapist, relationship expert, TEDx speaker, and author of The Cost of Quiet, Colette Jane Fehr joins me to talk about the hidden cost of staying quiet in relationships, especially for women who h
Why Comparison Hits Differently in Midlife (And What to Do About It)
If you're in midlife and comparison has been making you feel like you're behind, too late, or like everyone else has figured something out that you haven't, this episode is going to hit home. Comparison in midlife feels different than it did in your twenties. Back then it felt like fuel. Now it feels more like a deadline. And that shift is not an accident. It's something a lot of women feeling s
Playing it Safe in Midlife? It's Time to Bet On You
Betting on yourself in midlife can feel scary, especially when you've spent years putting everyone else first. In this episode, we're talking about what it actually looks like to stop waiting, trust yourself, and finally take a chance on the life you really want. If you've ever found yourself thinking, maybe next year, when life settles down, or when I feel more ready. This conversation is for you
Nervous System Overload? Small Midlife Resets That Actually Help
If you've been feeling emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed, or like life just feels heavier than it used to, this episode is for you. Maybe you're juggling work, kids, aging parents, relationships, your health, and somehow still feeling like you're supposed to hold everything together. Maybe you're waking up already feeling behind, constantly overstimulated, and wondering why everything suddenly fe
Midlife Reinvention: How to Become Who You're Meant to Be (with Wendy Valentine)
If you're in your 40s or 50s and things feel like they're starting to unravel, this episode is going to remind you that breakdown and breakthrough can often happen at the same time. Today I'm sitting down with Wendy Valentine, internationally published author of Women Waking Up, founder of Midlifology, and host of the Midlife Makeover Show, a podcast ranked in the top 1% globally. After going thro
Brain Fog & Low Energy in Midlife: What Actually Worked for Me
If you're in your 40s or 50s and dealing with low energy, fatigue, brain fog, or walking into a room and forgetting why you're there, you are not alone. These are some of the most common symptoms women experience in midlife, and for a long time I thought something was seriously wrong with me. Note: I am not a doctor and nothing here is medical advice. Please talk to your doctor before trying any
Midlife Identity Shift: The Story That's Been Holding You Back
If you're in your 40s or 50s and suddenly feeling like you don't recognize yourself anymore you're not alone. So many women experience a midlife identity shift and don't have the words for what's happening. Women in midlife often arrive carrying limiting beliefs about themselves that they never stopped to question. Beliefs about what they're capable of, what they deserve, and who they're allowed
The 3 Things Every Strong Friendship Needs After 40 (with J'Leen Manning Saeger)
Friendships can feel different in midlife. Some grow deeper. Others start to feel confusing or distant. And a lot of us quietly wonder why connection doesn't always feel as easy as it once did. In this episode, I'm sitting down with J'Leen Manning Saeger to talk about how friendships change in this season of life and what actually helps them stay strong. After recognizing how her own insecuritie
Why Burnout Hits Different in Midlife (And It Starts With Your Minerals) with Dori Martin
If you're dealing with midlife burnout, low energy, or that feeling of doing everything right and still running on empty, this episode is for you. Today I'm joined by Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis practitioner Dori Martin. Dori specializes in helping women in midlife understand what's driving their fatigue, hormone shifts, weight resistance, and brai
Stuck Waiting for Someone Else to Choose You? 3 Ways to Take Your Power Back (with Anthony McLean)
In this episode, my husband Anthony joins me to talk about what changed when he stopped waiting for opportunity to come to him and started creating his own direction instead. For years, his career as an actor meant waiting for someone else to say yes to the next role. Eventually he realized he didn't want his future depending on someone else's decision anymore. That shift changed everything. And h
Why You Feel Stuck in Midlife (And What's Actually Keeping You There)
Have you ever felt stuck but couldn't quite explain why? In midlife, that feeling often shows up right when you're thinking about making a change. Starting something new. Letting go of something old. Or finally moving toward something you've been putting off for a long time. In this episode, I'm talking about three quiet reasons many women begin to feel stuck during this season of life. Not beca
The Hidden Mistake That's Killing Your Goals (And 5 Ways to Protect Your Momentum)
What if sharing your goals too early is actually slowing you down? In this episode we're talking about something many women experience during midlife transitions. The need to share their plans before they're fully formed. Especially during seasons when your sense of identity is evolving, and how that can quietly affect motivation, clarity, and confidence. Whether you're starting something new, mak
Always Putting Everyone Else First? One Woman's Midlife Wake-Up Call with Angela Burk
Many women reach midlife feeling physically and mentally exhausted not just from being busy, but from years of living by expectations they never consciously chose. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, Angela Burk, author of Real Girls Guide to Midlife, joins me to talk about navigating midlife transitions and the "invisible rule book" of expectations that so many women are quietly living by. An
People Pleasing Is Costing You Your Voice (3 Ways to Take It Back)
Have you ever said yes when you really wanted to say no? I know I have. People pleasing can seem harmless on the surface. You keep the peace, avoid conflict, and make sure everyone else is comfortable. But over time, constantly putting other people first can start to shape the way you make decisions, how you show up in relationships, and even how you see yourself. Many women reach midlife and real
Struggling to Connect With Your Teen? 5 Ways That Actually Work
Raising teenagers in midlife is a whole new level of parenting and it can feel both beautiful and incredibly hard. In this episode, my husband Anthony joins me as we share five things that are genuinely helping us stay connected to our teens. Because this stage of parenting looks very different than we expected and we're not coming to you as experts, just as two parents in the middle of it, learni
Insulin Resistance in Midlife: Belly Fat, Hot Flashes, Energy Crashes & What to Do About It | with Robin Nielsen
Have you ever felt like you're doing all the right things? Eating well, trying to take care of yourself and yet your body just isn't responding the way it used to? The stubborn belly fat, the energy crashes, the hot flashes, the hair changes and you're left wondering what is actually going on? That's exactly what we're diving into today. I'm sitting down with Robin Nielsen. She's a board-certified
Keeping Your Dreams Alive in Midlife (No Matter What Season You're In)
In this episode, we're talking about what it actually looks like to move toward your dream in midlife. Whether you're in a season with the capacity to take a big leap, or a season where you're just trying to stay connected to the thing on your heart. Because you are not behind. And your dream is not too late. This is your reminder that the step forward doesn't have to look the same for everyone an
Fibroids & Surgery: Modern Treatment Options Explained with Dr. Kelly Wright (Part 3)
Fibroids affect up to 80% of women yet too many are told their symptoms are "normal" or are offered outdated treatment options without understanding what else is available. In Part 3 of this fibroid series, I sit down with Dr. Kelly Wright, Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery and Vice Chair of Gynecology at Cedars-Sinai, one of the most respected medical institutions in the world.
Fibroids & Relief: 7 Natural Ways to Ease Your Symptoms (Part 2)
For many women, fibroids stay quiet for years until perimenopause brings symptoms like bloating, heavy bleeding, fatigue, and inflammation to the surface. In Part 2 of my fibroid series, I'm sharing the seven natural remedies that helped ease my fibroid symptoms during the two years I was navigating bloating, pressure, inflammation, and hormonal chaos before surgery ever entered the picture. This
Fibroids, Fear & Finding Relief: My Story (Part 1)
This isn't the easiest episode for me to put out there, but it's one I know someone needs. Today I'm opening up about my fibroid journey. The fear, the confusion, the late-night Googling (that did not help 🤦🏽♀️), and the choice I made to get my life back. I'm sharing this because I remember how isolating it felt. And if my story helps even one woman feel seen, understood, or a little less ove
Why Friendships Feel Harder After 40 (and What Actually Works) with Anna Goldfarb
Did you know that we lose half of our close friends every 7 years? That falling in love costs you an average of 2 friendships? And that midlife is one of the hardest times to make and maintain friends? You're not crazy if you feel like friendship is harder now. It IS harder. And there are actual sociological reasons why. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, I sat down with friendship expert and jo
Fit Over 40: The Habit System That Finally Makes Fitness Stick (with Oonagh Duncan)
If you can't seem to stay consistent with your workouts, you're not the problem. You're approach is. In this episode I'm joined by Oonagh Duncan who is a multi-award-winning trainer. Her book Healthy As Fck* was a #1 Globe and Mail bestseller and was named one of the The Top 100 Fitness Books of all time. She's a TEDx speaker, host of the top 5% podcast Goals, Grit, And Some Woo Woo Shit, and has
How to Create a Vision Board That Actually Works (The Brain Science Behind It)
You start the year motivated. Clear on what you want. Ready for change. And then life happens. Work gets busy. Family needs you. And those goals? They quietly slip away. Sound familiar? If you know what you want but something keeps getting in the way, this episode is for you. Vision boards are not about wishing or waiting for things to fall into place. They are about working with your brain so tha
A Little Encouragement Before the New Year
As the year winds down, you might be feeling the weight of everything 2025 threw at you. In this end of year episode, I'm sharing some encouragement for women in midlife who are tired, overwhelmed, or just unsure of what comes next. I talk about why it's okay if this year didn't go as planned, the surprising science behind choosing the right people for your inner circle, and why you don't need to
Reinvention Isn't One Big Leap. It's a Series of Small Pivots (with Anthony McLean)
Sometimes reinvention doesn't come with a big moment or a clear sign. It starts quietly. In this episode, I'm sitting down with my husband, Anthony McLean, to talk about how change in midlife often unfolds through small pivots rather than one big leap. We talk about the uncertainty that can come with change, why clarity usually comes from taking action instead of waiting for the perfect moment, an
Before You Blame Perimenopause, Check Your Thyroid with Lindsay O'Reilly
So many women in their 40s and 50s assume their symptoms are just perimenopause, but your thyroid might be playing a much bigger role than you realize. In this episode, I'm joined by registered dietitian and thyroid specialist Lindsay O'Reilly, who helps women understand their thyroid health with clarity and compassion. Lindsay breaks down what thyroid symptoms actually look like, why so many wome
The Midlife Mineral You're Probably Missing
Have you ever had those days where your body feels "off," but you can't quite explain why? The sleep isn't deep, the stress hits faster, the little things suddenly feel really loud and you're left wondering, "Is it just me?" You're not imagining it. And magnesium might be the missing piece. In this episode, I'm breaking down the two types of magnesium that made the biggest difference for me. One
Why Reinvention Starts with Your Identity. Not Your Résumé
In today's episode, we're breaking down what it really looks like to reinvent your career in midlife without feeling like you're starting from zero. We dig into why true reinvention doesn't start with updating your résumé. It starts with identity. It starts with getting quiet enough to hear your own voice again, especially after years of being everything to everyone else. I share tangible tools th
Hormone Imbalance, Perimenopause & Brain Fog: What Women Need to Know with Dr. Corina Dunlap
If you've been feeling off lately, extra tired, moody, foggy, or like you just do not feel like yourself even though your labs come back normal, this episode will really speak to you. Today I am joined by Dr. Corina Dunlap, a licensed naturopathic doctor, researcher, and womens health and hormone specialist. We talk about what is actually happening with hormones in midlife, why so many women are d
Feeling Behind in Midlife? 3 Tools to Move Forward
Have you been looking at your life lately thinking, "This isn't where I thought I'd be by now"? You're not the only one. So many women in midlife feel stuck, feel behind, or feel lost. In this episode, we're getting honest about that "off track" feeling that shows up in your 40s and 50s. When life shifts, timelines change, or the picture you had for your life no longer matches your reality. I'm sh
Welcome to Own Your Midlife - Why I Started This Podcast
Welcome to Own Your Midlife, a podcast for women in their 40s+ who are ready to reinvent themselves when life flips everything upside down. When your body changes, your career feels stale, your relationships shift, and you catch yourself thinking, "Is this really it for me?" That's when reinvention begins. In this introduction episode, host Susie shares the personal story behind why she started th
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