Midlife Advice | Perimenopause, Hormones and Midlife Women’s Health
Midlife Advice is for women over 40 navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the hormonal and emotional shifts that can make them feel unlike themselves. Host Jessica Long, a holistic health coach and certified menopause coaching specialist, discusses overwhelm, relationships, confidence, and the identity changes of midlife. Each week offers honest conversations meant to help women stop white-knuckling through life and feel fully alive again.
Episodes
How People Pleasing Keeps the Patriarchy Running (And How to Stop)
People pleasing feels like a personality trait. The over-explaining. The softening. Carrying everyone’s worries like it’s your job. But what if it’s also the thing keeping the patriarchy running?That’s the idea clairvoyant and energy worker Christine Agro brings to this conversation. She has spent almost thirty years helping people clear old patterns, and about a year ago she started seeing a deep
How to Start Investing After 40 (When You've Only Ever Saved)
If you're great at saving money but nervous about investing it, this episode is for you. How much should you actually keep in savings? Should you pay off debt or invest? And how do you find a financial advisor who's on your side?Financial advisor and wealth manager Lisa Clements spent twenty-four years in corporate at companies like Meta and Accenture before starting Clear Springs Wealth
Why You Can't Enjoy It When Things Are Going Well (And How to Train Your Nervous System to Hold More Joy)
Ever notice that when things are finally going well, you can't fully enjoy it? You feel good for about five minutes, then you're either moving the goalposts or bracing for something to go wrong. This solo episode is about why your brain does that, and how celebrating small wins trains your nervous system to hold more joy.Celebrating isn't just for weddings, graduations and birthdays
Where Your Body Stores Stress (And How to Release It)
You used to be able to handle so much more stress than you can now. Work, kids, travel, hard conversations, not enough sleep, and you kept going. Now your neck is always tight, your digestion is off, you're wired at 11pm and exhausted at 3pm, and you can't figure out what changed.Hormones are part of that. But there's a second thing happening, and almost nobody talks about it: your
Why Am I So Anxious All the Time? It Might Not Be What You Think
Breathwork for anxiety sounds almost too easy. Too obvious. But the mechanism behind it is measurable. This episode explores anxiety as a body problem, not a mind problem, and the way you're breathing all day might be what's keeping it going.Sigmar Berg is the founder of Lovetuner, a breathwork and sound healing tool featured in CNN, the LA Times, and Buzzfeed, and he has spent over a de
The Surprising Reason Women Over 40 Don't Feel Like Themselves
If you've caught yourself thinking "I don't feel like myself" and you can't quite put your finger on why, this one's for you. Hormones play a role. Being stretched impossibly thin plays a role. But there's a third factor that I think is fundamental, and it's one I never hear anyone talking about: interoception.Interoception is your ability to sense and inter
Do I Have ADHD or Is This Perimenopause? ADHD Symptoms in Women Over 40
ADHD in midlife women is the topic my audience requested most in my latest Instagram poll - and now it's here! If you've been wondering whether your scattered, overloaded brain is ADHD, perimenopause, or just life, you are in the right place.Today I’m speaking with Dr. Jennifer Dall, Ed.D., an ADHD specialist with a doctorate in educational psychology, a background in special education,
What Your Future Self Sees That You're Missing Right Now
What if your future self could travel back in time to right now and show you exactly what you're missing?That's the exercise we're playing with in today's episode. I've been using it myself, and it shifts my perspective, changes my energy, and influences the trajectory of my whole day in a really positive way. And it couldn't be easier.I first came across this concept
Joint Pain After 40: What's Actually Causing It and What to Do
Muscle and joint pain in perimenopause is not just a hormone problem, and it's not just aging. Physical therapist and musculoskeletal specialist Stacey Roberts explains what's really driving pain in midlife women, and what to do about it. Her answers might surprise you.We talk about:Why your hormones were acting as your body's natural anti-inflammatories, and what happens when they
Why Perimenopause Hits Some Women So Much Harder (It Might Be Your DNA)
Do your perimenopause symptoms like brain fog, weight gain, and sleep issues feel like they are so much worse than your friend’s? Your DNA might explain why.Today I’m speaking with Kim Ressler, Founder and CEO of SNiP Nutrigenomics, to unpack the growing science of nutrigenomics and what your genetic blueprint reveals about how you experience perimenopause and menopause. If you've ever wonder
Low Libido in Midlife: What's Really Shutting Down Your Desire
Low libido in midlife is likely not just your hormones. There are other factors at play that are important to know about. Let’s talk about what's actually shutting down desire for midlife women, and what helps bring it back.Brooke Bralove, LCSW-C and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and I talk about what women over 40 actually need to know about low desire, sexual ruts in long-term relationship
Reinventing Yourself in Midlife: A Novelist on How to Write the Next Chapter of Your Life
Feeling stuck in midlife even when life looks successful from the outside? Novelist and coach Ellen Baker says we can reinvent ourselves the same way an author writes a character into existence: by choosing who we need to be before we have proof we're there.Ellen Baker spent a decade navigating divorce, rejection, and reinvention before her novel The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson became Harper
What Creatine Does for Your Muscle, Brain and Mood After 40
Creatine isn't just for bodybuilders. Functional medicine doctor Miranda Naylor explains why women over 40 actually need creatine for muscle, brain, mood, and sleep.Thank you, Dr. Naylor, for clearing up all the confusion around creatine and whether it is helpful and safe for midlife women. What you'll hear:Why women naturally have lower creatine stores than menHow estrogen affects creat
AI for Midlife Women: Why Chat and Claude Fall Short (and the Tool Being Built for Us)
The AI tools you're using weren't built for midlife women. But now there’s one that is customized for women over 40 and you’ll learn all about it (including how you can start using it) in this episode.If you've ever asked ChatGPT something deeply personal and gotten back an answer that was technically fine but somehow missed the point, you need to hear about this new AI tool for mid
🥳 It’s My Birthday! Let’s Reflect on Who We’re Becoming
In this personal birthday episode, I’m sharing what’s been guiding me this year and the practices helping me step into my next-level self now, instead of waiting for someday or some arbitrary accomplishment.And I invite you to reflect alongside me, not on tasks you’ve completed, but on who you are becoming.Every year around my birthday, I find myself asking a few questions:How am I really doing?Am
Summer Reading List 2026: 3 Books You Won't Be Able to Put Down
Get your summer reading recommendations for women over 40, curated by someone who reads more in a month than most people read in a year. This episode is your 2026 summer reading list, plus the permission to quit every book that is not worth your precious time.Today I’m joined by my friend (since preschool!) and repeat guest Alexis Lynch for our annual summer reading conversation. Alexis shares thr
Plastic Surgery After 40: What Actually Works for Jowls, Hooded Eyes, and the Body Changes Skincare Can't Fix
If you have tried fillers or lasers for jowls, hooded eyes, or skin laxity after 40 and are still not happy with what you see, you're in the right place. Dr. Carolyn Chang is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has spent her career focused on natural-looking results for midlife women, and she is here to give you real answers.She trained under one of the inventors of the modern facelift and
Hair Extensions for Thinning Hair: What Actually Works (and What to Skip)
Hair extensions can be a great solution for midlife women experiencing hair thinning, but they are not right for everyone. A 20-year specialist breaks down who qualifies, which method works best for thinning hair, and what it really costs.This conversation covers everything I didn't know to ask. Extensions are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Whether they work for you depends on the type of
How to Build Muscle After 40 Without Lifting Heavy (BFR Training Explained)
You've heard you need to lift heavy to build (or keep!) your muscle after 40. But what if your body just isn’t cooperating with that plan right now? Good news: there's another way, and science backs it up.I've been training with Ashley Selman for months, and I've been waiting to record this episode because I knew it was going to be the one everyone sends to a friend.Ashley has
How to Lose Weight After 40 Without Dieting, Willpower, or Starting Over on Monday
Tried every diet and still can't make it stick? Certified life coach and bestselling author Lizzie Merritt is here to tell you it's not your fault, and to explain a completely different approach to weight loss after 40 that starts with your brain and nervous system, not a food plan.If you've counted calories, tracked macros, done the cleanses, and found yourself starting over on Mon
Why You Can’t Relax Even When You Have Time (And How to Feel Calm Again)
Why you can’t relax, even when you finally have time, and what it has to do with your nervous system.You finally have a break. The house is quiet. There’s nothing urgent to do.And instead of relaxing…you feel restless. Anxious. Like you should be doing something.In this solo episode, I’m digging into why so many midlife women struggle to slow down (even when we want to) and why that uncomfortable,
Best Skincare Routine for Women Over 40: How to Care for Dry, Sensitive, Aging Skin
Dry skin after 40? Sensitive, aging skin that keeps getting worse? Your skincare routine might be part of the problem. Botanical formulator May Lindstrom explains what midlife skin actually needs and what to stop doing.If your skin has changed in your 40s or 50s and your routine keeps getting longer without getting better results, this conversation is going to shift how you think about your skin.M
Not Feeling Heard in Your Relationship: A 5-Step Fix to Rebuild Connection
Struggling with communication in your relationship or feeling unheard by your partner? Not feeling heard in a relationship is one of the most common challenges for midlife women, especially in long-term partnerships where conversations can start to feel like logistics, criticism, or defensiveness instead of real connection. If you’ve ever wondered why communication in your relationship feels harde
69: Are Hidden Mineral Imbalances Causing Your Brain Fog, Fatigue, and Mood Swings?
If you’re dealing with brain fog, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, low energy, or a metabolism that feels like it has completely changed in midlife, this episode is worth a listen.We talk so much about hormones in perimenopause and menopause, but what if there’s another foundational piece of midlife health that almost no one is talking about? In this episode, Jessica talks with Functional Diagn
68: Why Your Job Feels So Hard Lately and What to Do About It
Ever catch yourself thinking… why does work feel so hard lately?You’re showing up, doing everything “right,” and yet you feel more exhausted, more disconnected, and less motivated than ever. If you’ve been wondering if your job is even right for you anymore—or if you’re dealing with career burnout, overwork, or that nagging sense that something is off—this episode is for you.In this conversation,
67: Feel Like Life is Passing You By? How to Get Back on Track Without Overhauling Everything
If it feels like your life is passing you by and you’re not fully in it, let’s talk.You’re keeping everything running, everyone’s taken care of, nothing is wrong…but you’re not exactly feeling like the main character in your life either. Am I right?This is your invitation to pause, check in, and get back on track without overhauling everything. Seriously, we’re keeping it easy peasy because who ne
66: Can You Delay Menopause? What Actually Affects Your Hormones (and What You Can Do About It)
Can you delay menopause—and is your timeline more in your control than you think?Perimenopause can feel like a moving target you have zero control over—your weight, your mood, your sleep, even when menopause will actually happen. But what if some of this isn’t as predetermined as we’ve been led to believe?In this episode, Dr. Miranda Naylor and I are diving into whether you can actually delay meno
65: How to Declutter Your Home When You’re Overwhelmed (Without Doing Everything at Once)
If your house feels cluttered but the thought of tackling it sounds like pure torture, this 15-minute daily habit might just change your mind and your approach.A lot of midlife women are craving a calmer home—but between work, kids, relationships, and the general mental load of life, the idea of decluttering the whole house can feel like standing at the base of Mount Everest.In this episode, Jessi
64: Midlife Marriage on the Rocks? Here’s What to Do
If your midlife marriage feels more like roommates than romance, you’re not alone. Marriage therapist Dr. Becky Whetstone explains what to do before making any big decisions.Many women begin questioning their marriages in midlife—wondering if the relationship can evolve with them or if it’s time to walk away.In this episode, I’m talking with marriage and family therapist Dr. Becky Whetstone about
63: Why High-Performing Midlife Women Get Stuck at Director Level (and How to Break Through to VP)
Feeling stuck at Director level despite years of experience and strong performance? Executive coach Katy McFee explains why high-performing midlife women often get passed over for promotion and the simple shifts that can finally get you seen as VP material.You’ve spent 20+ years building your career. You’re trusted, capable, and consistently delivering results. Your team relies on you and leadersh
62: The Surprising Power of Peptides for Midlife Skin, Hair Loss and Longevity
Is your midlife skin looking OLD? Is your hair shedding more than it used to? In this episode, we explore how peptides may support midlife skin, hair loss, inflammation, and longevity.In part two of our peptide mini-series, I’m joined by Dr. Aleksandra Gajer to talk about something that genuinely surprised me: the role peptides may play in supporting skin elasticity, collagen production, hair grow
61: Do Peptides Help with Sleep, Weight Gain and Brain Fog in Perimenopause?
Are peptides the missing link for midlife women who are doing all the right things and still feel stuck?If your nutrition, exercise, and sleep are pretty dialed in but you’re still dealing with low-grade fatigue, slower workout recovery, brain fog or stubborn weight gain in perimenopause, this episode is for you.I’m joined by functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner and host of The Period Whis
60: The Midlife 180 You Didn’t See Coming
At some point in your 40s, something shifted.The way you work. The way you value your time. The way you see yourself.Maybe you once wore fierce independence like a badge of honor. Maybe proving you could do it all alone felt meaningful. Maybe your career was your entire identity.And now?You’re not that woman anymore.In this solo episode, I share the radical 180 I made between my 30s and 40s — shif
59: Surviving the Midlife Trifecta: Menopause, Divorce and Dating
Menopause, divorce, and dating don’t always take turns. They hit all at once. Angela Burk explains how surviving all three can become a midlife turning point you didn’t see coming.Angela Burk, author of REAL GIRLS GUIDE TO MIDLIFE, has lived straight through the midlife trifecta and has the hard-earned perspective to prove it. This is an honest, funny, deeply validating conversation for women who
Bonus: Hormone Support for Perimenopause and Painful Periods Using Real Food
A food-first approach to hormone support for perimenopause and painful periods.If you’re navigating perimenopause symptoms yourself or supporting a daughter dealing with heavy periods, cramps, or hormonal acne, this quick bonus episode is for you.This conversation explores how hormone imbalances can show up similarly across life stages and why food-based support can play a meaningful role.I’m join
58: Perimenopause, Puberty and the Undeniable Parallels
If you’re raising a daughter while navigating perimenopause yourself, this episode will help you see puberty and midlife hormone changes in a new, more compassionate light.What if puberty and perimenopause aren’t opposite ends of womanhood, but mirrors of each other?In this episode, I’m joined by Konika Ray Wong, co-founder of Girl Power Science, longtime puberty educator, body literacy specialist
57: Why Self-Aware Midlife Women Still End Up in Unhealthy Relationships
If you are self-aware, emotionally intelligent and still finding yourself people-pleasing or walking on eggshells in your relationship, this episode will help you understand why, without blaming yourself.Trauma-informed coach and somatic therapist Steffi Seefeld joins me to unpack why so many high-achieving women feel confident and successful on the outside, yet anxious, unseen, or unsure in their
56: Midlife Overdrive and Why Slowing Down Feels Hard
Most midlife women don’t burn out because they’re doing something wrong. They burn out because they don’t know how to stop pushing.Why does rest feel so uncomfortable for so many capable, high-functioning midlife women?In this short solo episode, health coach and podcast host Jessica Long gets honest about burnout, nervous system conditioning, and why stepping back can feel scarier than staying ex
55: Ditch the Sunday Scaries & Plan Your Most Aligned Year Using Your Enneagram Type
This episode explores how midlife women can use the Enneagram to plan a more aligned year at work and at home, instead of bracing for the Sunday Scaries every week.Leadership coach and Enneagram facilitator Ali Dunn returns to the podcast to help midlife women plan a year that actually fits—without forcing goals, burning everything down, or fantasizing about moving to Fiji (tempting though it may
54: Why Dieting Backfires and Metabolism Is Key in Perimenopause
Eating less and exercising more does not help with weight gain in perimenopause. It can actually backfire. Here’s what works instead.In this episode, I talk with registered dietitian and holistic nutritionist Betsy Markle about why traditional dieting stops working in perimenopause and what actually supports metabolism during midlife. We unpack why the old “calories in calories out” advice fails s
53: New Year Reflection for Midlife Women Who Want a More Aligned Life
Did you accomplish a lot this year but still feel oddly unfulfilled? This episode will help you understand why and what to do next.In this solo episode, I share some of my favorite end-of-year and New Year reflection prompts for midlife women who are done moving through life on auto-pilot and ready to get honest about what it takes to live life “awake.”✨ Get the full list of end-of-year and new-ye
52: I’m Doing the Holidays Differently This Year
A short and sweet check-in on slowing down, protecting your bandwidth, and savoring the holiday week instead of letting it blur.In this episode, I’m sharing a few small, meaningful ways I’m protecting my energy and sanity during the holiday week — in case it inspires you to do the same. This is about slowing down enough to actually feel this season and not miss the joy because you’re on auto-pilot
51: The Best Midlife Advice From 50 Episodes on Perimenopause, Reinvention and Feeling Like Yourself Again
If midlife has you thinking, “Why don’t I feel like myself anymore?”—this episode is for you.After 50 episodes of interviewing doctors, coaches, healers, and badass midlife women (plus sharing plenty of my own solo reflections), I’ve noticed the same themes rise to the surface again and again. Today, I’m pulling together the most important lessons from the first 50 episodes to help you feel less a
50: Holiday Eating Tips Every Midlife Woman Needs
The holidays are here — which means parties, pressure, family expectations, and enough sugar to take down a small village. If you’re a midlife woman who’s finally feeling good again thanks to protein, strength training, better sleep, and smarter nutrition… the holidays can feel like a threat to your hard-won progress.Good news: you can stay true to your healthy habits and have fun.In this episode,
49: Simplify the Holidays: Minimalist Tips for Busy Midlife Women with Shira Gill
Raise your hand (or glass?) if gift giving, cards, décor, hosting, and family expectations around the holidays STRESS. YOU. OUT. I see you. In this episode, world-renowned organizing expert and bestselling author Shira Gill shares minimalist strategies that help busy midlife women simplify the holidays without sacrificing joy.We cover:✔️Why we keep buying things we don’t need — and how to break th
48: What Midlife Women Are Most Grateful For (A Crowdsourced Thanksgiving Episode)
This one’s special — because you helped create it.In honor of Thanksgiving, I asked listeners to share what they’re feeling most grateful for in midlife. And your answers were so good! They’re honest, hilarious, heartfelt, and full of that signature midlife “F-it” energy we all know and love.Today’s episode is a crowdsourced roundup of what real women 40+ are grateful for right now — from better r
47: Why You Don’t Feel Like Yourself in Perimenopause (& How to Get Your Groove Back) with Dr. Prudence Hall
If you’ve been thinking, “I just don’t feel like myself anymore,” this episode is for you. Dr. Prudence Hall breaks down why perimenopause can flip your mood, energy, sleep, libido, and identity upside down—and what you can actually do about it.We dig into the hormonal shifts behind the fog, the labs that matter, the truth about birth control pills and hormonal IUDs in perimenopause, and how bioid
46: 📣 Introducing the Midlife Advice Podcast (formerly Belong Wellness)
The podcast has a new name! Welcome to Midlife Advice, where smart and sassy women over 40 come to figure out all things midlife — from hormones to careers, relationships, and everything in between.In this episode, Jessica shares why she decided to change the name from Belong Wellness to Midlife Advice and how you can be featured in an upcoming episode.If you’ve ever struggled to launch something
45: Surviving Breast Cancer & Early Menopause with a “Pausitive Outlook” (Teyonna Bowman)
Is midlife going exactly as you expected it would? Yeah… me neither. And it certainly didn’t for Teyonna Bowman.At 35, she was a young mom who thought she was doing everything right — eating healthy, staying active, raising her kids — until she found a lump in her breast that changed everything. After surviving breast cancer twice and enduring chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone-blocking treatmen
44: Midlife Advice: Family “Vacation” Edition
My midlife mom friends—If you’ve ever needed a vacation after your family vacation, this one’s for you.In this playful mini-sode, I reflect on my recent family “vacation,” and how I’m getting closer to dropping the quotes. I talk five-hour flights with no iPads, the magic of kids’ clubs, Yoto players, hotel spas, and share tips (and a few silly wins) for traveling with little kids while keeping yo
43: How Beliefs About Aging Affect Midlife Health and Longevity with Andrea Nakayama
Turns out, those ‘I’m past my prime’ thoughts aren’t harmless—they can literally change your hormones, heart, and health. 😱Functional nutritionist and narrative-medicine practitioner (yes, we will cover what that means) Andrea Nakayama explains how age beliefs influence inflammation, cortisol, heart health, memory, recovery, and even longevity.If you’re a midlife woman trying to feel your best dur
42: Why Parenting Is the Most Advanced Yoga with Sarah Ezrin
What if the hardest thing to do in yoga isn’t on the mat — it’s staying calm when your kid rolls their eyes for the fiftieth time that day?In this episode, I talk with Sarah Ezrin, yoga teacher and author of The Yoga of Parenting, about how the ancient principles of yoga can help us survive — and even savor — the chaos of raising humans as midlife women.Sarah says parenting is the most advanced yo
41: Are You Sabotaging Your Own Joy? How to Stop Holding Yourself Back in Midlife with Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming
Have you ever noticed that just when life starts to feel really good…you start waiting for the other shoe to drop? Or worse, you pick a fight or find a way to mess things up? That’s not random—it’s what psychologists call the Upper Limits Problem, and it’s one of the sneakiest ways we sabotage our own joy.In this episode, I talk with award-winning author Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming, whose book How to Ha
40: Emotional Eating: Why We Do It and How to Stop with Tricia Nelson
Bag of chips. Pint of ice cream. Pick your favorite vice. Ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m not even hungry—so why am I eating this?”In this episode, I’m joined by Tricia Nelson, founder of Heal Your Hunger and author of Heal Your Hunger: 7 Simple Steps to End Emotional Eating Now. After losing 50 pounds and healing her own relationship with food, Tricia has devoted decades to helping women unco
39: The Menopause Hormone Options No One Explained to You with Pharmacist Peter Koshland
Most women are told there are only a handful of options when it comes to hormone therapy for perimenopause and menopause. But what if that’s not the full story?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Peter Koshland, a UCSF-trained pharmacist and founder of Koshland Pharm, San Francisco’s only PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacy. Peter pulls back the curtain on what compounding really is, how safety
38:🎙️Do I Love Podcasting? The Honest Truth
In today’s minisode, I’m answering one of the most common questions I get: “So… do you love podcasting?”The short answer? Yes! I love the challenge of learning a new industry, diving into conversations with inspiring midlife women, and spreading science-based information. But I also want to keep it real — it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. Podcasting is a ton of work, and doing it solo while jugg
37: Midlife Nutrition Tips for Belly Fat, Brain Fog and Sleep with Barbara Sobel
If you’ve hit your 40s and suddenly feel like your body got swapped out for someone else’s…I’m right there with you. For many midlife women, uninvited menopause belly fat shows up overnight, brain fog makes you lose your train of thought mid-sentence, and you’re wide awake at 3am pondering disasters that will probably never happen. In this episode, I’m joined by Barbara Sobel, a board-certified nu
36: 🥣 5 Foods I Don’t Eat Anymore
In this episode, I’m sharing five foods I used to eat all the time that just don’t have a place in my life anymore. And no, this isn’t about demonizing food or creating rules. It’s about noticing how my choices have shifted as I’ve moved through midlife and perimenopause, and celebrating the small but powerful changes that support my hormone health and energy now.You’ll hear me talk about:✔️Why I
35: Ayurveda Says Perimenopause Is Your Golden Goddess Era with Heather Grzych
Perimenopause doesn’t have to feel like the end of your fire. In Ayurveda, this stage of life is actually called your Golden Goddess era.In this episode, Jessica talks with Heather Grzych, Ayurvedic doctor-level practitioner, bestselling author of The Ayurvedic Guide to Fertility, and former president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association. Heather explains how Ayurveda sees midlife as a sh
34: How Early Menopause After Hysterectomy Inspired Julie Parana’s New Career
When Julie Parana had a hysterectomy at 42, she expected relief from years of pain—which she got. What she did not expect was the immediate launch into menopause a decade earlier than planned. Even with her ovaries intact, Julie found herself dealing with symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness, and sleep struggles that were affecting her work. But, it wasn’t until the hot flashes showed up that sh
33: A Midlife Surrogate on Pregnancy, Perimenopause, and Letting Go with Heather Nelson
In this episode, I’m joined by Heather Nelson to discuss her very personal story that sheds light on a topic that feels like a black box to many of us—surrogacy. Heather is a mother, wife, business coach and podcaster who became a surrogate five years ago. Now at 43 and navigating perimenopause, she’s preparing to do it again. Her story offers a rare, honest look at the emotional and logistical r
32:🍴5 Protein Recipes for Midlife Women Who Don’t Want to Eat Chicken All Day
If you are a midlife woman trying to eat more protein—but you’re tired of people telling you to eat 100 grams a day, and you’re even more tired of eating chicken—then this episode’s for you. I’m breaking down how to personalize your protein intake without bloating, burnout or boredom. I also share 5 protein recipes I make on repeat, including muffins, smoothies, and energy bites my kids devour.I c
31: When the Patriarchy Pushes You Out, Chart a New Course: Cheyenne Richards on Starting Over in Midlife
What happens when a powerful woman gets pushed out by the patriarchy? If you’re Cheyenne Richards, you write a novel, get your captain’s license, and sail into your next chapter—literally.In this episode, Cheyenne shares how she went from VP of Marketing at a tech startup to award-winning historical fiction author and full-time adventurer. We talk about midlife reinvention, creative courage, self-
30: Midlife Relationships: You’re Evolving. He’s Not. Now What? with Jessie Curtner
Why do so many smart, self-aware women feel emotionally disconnected from their partners in midlife? And how do you know if you should keep working on the relationship or separate?These are the questions I explore in this episode with licensed psychotherapist Jessie Curtner.We discuss in depth what happens when one partner starts to grow and evolve while the other stays the same—and why that disco
29: 📼 Midlife Mixtape: Can’t Miss Clips from the Last 6 Months—MHT, Colonoscopies, Goddess Visions and More
The Belong Wellness podcast just turned 6 months old! To celebrate, I’m taking you on a greatest-hits-style trip through some of my favorite podcast moments so far. From big laughs to aha moments, from menopause hormone therapy advice for IUD users to a goddess vision during Reiki, this “Midlife Mixtape” brings the sass, the science, and the soul.In this episode, you’ll hear about:•a career pivot
28: Your Body Isn’t the Problem—A Midlife Health Reframe with Courtney Townley from Grace & Grit
I have seen too many super smart, extremely capable women start to feel like the wheels are coming off in their 40s. But before we go blaming our hormones, our jobs, our spouses or our bodies—let’s pause.This week, I’m joined by Courtney Townley, host of the Grace & Grit podcast and a total truth-teller when it comes to women’s health. She’s here to help us stop waging war on our bodies, stop
27: Laughing Through the Midlife Sh*tshow: Divorce & Reinvention with Donna Johnsen
What happens when divorce, single motherhood, turning 50, and perimenopause all hit at once? You get a full-blown midlife dumpster fire. But today’s guest, Donna Johnsen, found a lifeline in laughter. In this episode, she shares how journaling, community, and humor helped her survive the hardest season of her life—and how her Instagram account Laugh Lines and Life Goals became an unexpected source
26: 🥳 My Birthday, A Mid-Year Check-In, and a Favor to Ask
It’s my birthday, and we’re halfway through 2025, so I’m doing a little mid-year reflection and inviting you to join me. In this solo episode, I’m sharing what’s felt aligned this year, where I’ve made some changes, how my word of the year is going, and why launching this podcast has felt both vulnerable and fulfilling.Plus: I need your help with a birthday goal I’ve set for the podcast… and there
25: Midlife Book Recs (and How to Actually Find Time to Read Them) with Alexis Lynch
If your nightstand is stacked with books you swear you’re going to read (someday), this episode is for you.Jessica sits down with her oldest friend, Alexis Lynch—a lawyer, mom, and avid reader—who somehow manages to read 2 to 6 books a month while working full time and raising an 8-year-old.In this light & fun chat between old friends, Jess & Lex talk about:📖 Why midlife is the perfect tim
24: How to Fit Strength Training Into Your Day—Even Without a Gym, Childcare, or Time to Spare with Judy Truong
If you’re a midlife woman who knows strength training matters but can’t figure out how the heck to fit it in, this episode is for you. Jessica talks with longtime fitness instructor and midlife mom Judy Truong, who’s all about making strength training doable—no gym, no childcare, no special gear required.Judy shares creative ways to squeeze strength into your day, how to start if you’re not sure w
23: How Pilates Pro Jill Harris Became an Inventor and Built a Brand
Ever had a brilliant idea for a product but no clue how to make it real? Whether you are a visionary with a dream, or just love a story of resilience and midlife woman badassery, this episode is for you.Jill is a longtime Pilates instructor with a thriving studio and Instagram following. But when she couldn’t find a piece of equipment that did what her clients actually needed, she decided to inven
22: How to Help a Friend in Crisis: Real Advice from a Mom Who’s Been There with Tara Sharp
How to Help a Friend in Crisis: Real Advice from a Mom Who’s Been ThereWhen someone you love is facing the unimaginable, what do you actually say? What can you do that really helps?In this episode, Jessica talks with her friend Tara Sharp, a midlife mom who’s navigated multiple medical crises with her children—including open-heart surgery for her infant daughter and spinal surgery for her teen. Ta
21: Frozen Shoulder, Hot Flashes, and Mood Swings: Acupuncture for Perimenopause Relief with Katharine Chaney
Acupuncture for midlife symptoms? Yes, please. In this episode, licensed acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner Katharine Chaney explains how acupuncture, cupping, and Chinese herbs can help with perimenopause symptoms like frozen shoulder, hot flashes, sleep issues, anxiety, and irritability. We talk about how to actually build better health habits, what your tongue says about your healt
20: Girls Trips in Our 40s: What’s Different and What’s Wonderfully the Same
What happens when seven friends who’ve known each other for nearly 30 years head out on a girls trip in their 40s? Well… let’s just say some of my expectations about how things might be different now were hilariously wrong.In this episode, I reflect on my most recent trip with my college girls—and the ways midlife girls trips are both different and wonderfully the same. From Whole Foods-fueled pre
19: The Midlife Working Mom Struggle is Real: Burnout, Guilt and Finding Joy with Erin Holland
Career deadlines, school pickups, aging parents, hormonal chaos — and somehow we’re still supposed to have it all together? Please.In this episode, I’m joined by Erin Holland — marketing manager, single mom of two, and host of the PG-ish Podcast — for an honest conversation about what it’s really like to be a midlife working mom today. We dive into burnout, mom guilt, boundary-setting, and how to
18: What Is Reiki Healing—and Can It Help Stressed-Out Midlife Women? with Lily Panyacosit
If you’ve ever wondered what the heck Reiki actually is—or if energy healing could help you feel more balanced during the chaos of midlife—this episode is for you.I’m joined by Lily Panyacosit, Reiki practitioner, clinical herbalist, and intuitive healer, to demystify this ancient healing practice and share how Reiki can support women navigating perimenopause, parenting, career pressure, and all t
17: Menopause Hormone Therapy Explained: What Every Midlife Woman Should Know with Dr. Lisa Brent
If the phrase menopause hormone therapy makes your head spin (or sends you down a late-night Google rabbit hole), this episode is for you. I’m joined by Dr. Lisa Brent, a naturopathic doctor and hormone whisperer who’s helped countless women—including me—feel like themselves again in midlife.We’re breaking down the real-deal science and the nuance behind menopause hormone therapy (MHT). From how t
16: Can Herbs Help My Hormones? Natural Solutions for Perimenopause Symptoms with Ashley Rocha
If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the supplement aisle, overwhelmed by a sea of mysterious herbs—Black cohosh, Vitex, Ashwagandha, Shatavari—and wondering WTF are these and do they help with perimenopause?, you’re not alone.This week, I’m joined by Ashley Rocha, trained herbalist and founder of Ladywell, to demystify herbal remedies for perimenopause. We’re talking about natural ways to su
15: Pelvic Floor Problems in Midlife & Perimenopause? You’re Not Broken—You Just Need the Right Support with Marci Silverberg
Let’s talk about the stuff no one warned us about in midlife—like peeing when you sneeze, frequent UTIs, and why sex might suddenly hurt. If your pelvic floor feels like it’s staging a rebellion, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not broken.In this episode, I chat with Marci Silverberg, pelvic floor physical therapist and founder of Pelvic Path. We dig into why pelvic floor symptoms like urin
14: 5 Habits That Improved My Sleep in Perimenopause
If you’ve been struggling with falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling sluggish and tired—this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I’m sharing five simple but powerful habits I’ve added to my routine that have significantly improved the quality and quantity of my sleep.I’ll also walk you through WHY these habits work for me (we’re talking: hormones, stress response, and nervous
