Health, Fitness & Personal Growth Tips for Women in Midlife: Asking for a Friend

Today’s episode feels like catching up with a friend—but one who challenges you to stop playing small. I’m joined again by Susan Guidi, who first appeared back in Episode 45. A lot has changed since then—and this chapter might be her most powerful yet. Susan started over as a single mom, built a business from scratch, discovered stand-up comedy, lost 45 pounds at 63, and stepped on a bodybuilding...

If midlife wellness feels overwhelming, you’re not imagining it. Everyone has an opinion. Every scroll brings a new protocol. Eat this. Don’t eat that. Lift heavier. Do less. Fix your hormones. Try this supplement. And most women? They’re trying to do all of it —and still not feeling better. In this episode of Asking for a Friend , Michele sits down with Raquel Cartagena and Kristin Brucker, hosts...

This is Episode 200—and one of the most meaningful conversations I’ve ever had with you. After four years, nearly 200 episodes, and a podcast that grew into the top 1.5% globally, I’m pressing pause on Asking for a Friend. This wasn’t a quick or easy decision. This podcast has been more than a platform—it’s been part of my identity. It’s been a space where we’ve had honest conversations about midl...

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this all there is?” —this episode is for you. In this powerful conversation, Michele sits down with Angela Burk, author of The Real Girl’s Guide to Midlife , to unpack what’s really happening during midlife—and why it’s not a crisis, but a turning point. From hormonal shifts and identity loss to reclaiming your voice, your body, and your desires, Angela shares a...

Before you assume this episode isn’t for you—stick with me. Because narcissistic relationships don’t always look toxic on the surface. They often start off feeling too good to be true … and that’s exactly the problem. In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Rymer of the Victim to Warrior Method to break down what these relationships actually look like in real life—beyond the buzzwords. We talk ab...

On this week’s episode of Asking for a Friend , Michele sits down with Cristina Fontana , registered nurse, health coach, living kidney donor, and author of Metamorphosis: The Gift of a Life Lived Twice . Cristina’s journey began with profound loss. When she was just nine years old, her father was diagnosed with kidney cancer—a moment that quietly planted the seed for a future she never imagined....

After nearly 200 episodes of Asking for a Friend , I realized something surprising—we had never taken a deep dive into environmental toxins and low-tox living . So I went straight to the source. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Rachel Marynowski and Carly Egoavil , the doctors behind Kale Blossom and creators of the Ask Nook app , a tool designed to help consumers identify hidden toxins in every...

Have you ever been told your labs are “normal” — but you don’t feel normal? In this episode, I sit down with integrative and functional medicine physician Aaron Hartman , author of Uncurable , to unpack the dangerous gap between normal and optimal — especially for women in midlife. We cover: What lab reference ranges really mean The cardiovascular markers every woman should know (hs-CRP, LDL parti...

We spend a lot of time and money chasing better skin. But what actually matters after 50? In this episode of Asking for a Friend , I sit down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy for a practical, no-nonsense conversation about midlife skin health. We focus on what truly moves the needle: • The non-negotiables of an effective skincare routine  • Retinol vs. tretinoin — do you need a...

Midlife can feel destabilizing. The kids are leaving. Careers are shifting. Parents are aging. Hormones are changing. And somewhere inside, a quiet voice says, “I’m not done yet.” In this conversation, Michele sits down with fellow podcaster Kim Benoy , host of Midlife Courage: Flourishing After 40 , to explore what courage actually looks like in the second half of life. After a 27-year nursing ca...

Anxiety often feels like it comes out of nowhere in midlife—especially during perimenopause and after menopause. You’re doing “all the right things,” yet your nervous system feels constantly on edge. Racing thoughts. Poor sleep. A sense that something isn’t right… but you can’t quite name it. In this episode of Asking for a Friend , I’m joined by Dr. Lori Davis , licensed psychologist, clinical in...

Emotional eating isn’t about willpower — and for many women, midlife is when it finally becomes impossible to ignore . In this powerful episode of Asking for a Friend , Michele Folan sits down with emotional eating expert, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author Tricia Nelson to unpack what emotional eating really is, why it intensifies during midlife and menopause, and how women can finally break fr...

Clutter in midlife affects more than your home—it impacts stress, mental health, and how you show up for your next chapter. In this episode of Asking for a Friend , Michele Folan is joined by Tracy Hoth , a professional organizer with 17 years of experience, a science-based life coach, and host of the Organized Coach Podcast . Together, they explore why clutter feels heavier in midlife—and why it’...

If you’re a midlife woman who feels like you’re doing everything right — lifting weights, eating well, walking, managing stress — and your body still isn’t responding, this episode is for you. In this powerful, myth-busting conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen , a triple board-certified endocrinologist, obesity medicine specialist, author, and early adopter of GLP-1 therapies in the...

Midlife fitness for women 45+ is not about trying harder—it’s about training smarter for perimenopause and menopause physiology. In this powerhouse episode of Asking for a Friend , host Michele Folan sits down with Dr. Stacy Sims —exercise physiologist, TEDx speaker behind “Women Are Not Small Men,” and author of ROAR and Next Level —to break down exactly why your old workouts and “eat less, do mo...

If you care about protein quality, metabolic health, inflammation, and long-term strength , this episode will change the way you shop for meat. On this episode of Asking for a Friend , Michele Folan pulls back the curtain on the modern meat industry with Cloe Parker , CEO of Parker Pastures, to expose the truth behind misleading meat labels—and why most consumers are unknowingly getting it wrong....

What if healthy aging isn’t just about adding years to your life—but adding energy, clarity, and purpose to the years you already have? In this episode of Asking for a Friend , host Michele Folan sits down with Eric North (aka “The Happiness Warrior”) , a wellness speaker and coach who’s redefining what it looks like to be strong—emotionally and physically—at 61. Eric is the creator of the Happine...

Midlife can feel like a perfect storm—menopause, stubborn weight gain, bone loss, shifting identities, and an unexpected rise in loneliness . In today’s episode of Asking for a Friend , we’re digging into one of the most overlooked drivers of women’s health in their 40s, 50s, and 60s: disconnection —and why rebuilding community may be as powerful as lifting heavy or optimizing your hormones. My gu...

If you can talk about hot flashes and wrinkles but freeze up when the conversation turns to sex, this episode is for you. This week I’m joined by Dr. Betsy Greenleaf , the first female board-certified urogynecologist in the U.S. , to talk about everything we don’t discuss enough in midlife: pelvic floor health, recurrent UTIs, vaginal dryness, low libido, pain with sex, and what’s really going on...

Absolutely no one warned us that midlife would be this loud—hot flashes, achy joints, bone density, belly fat, all competing for attention at once. And yet the message women still get is, “This is just how it is.” In this episode, I’m joined by orthopedic sports surgeon and longevity visionary Dr. Vonda Wright , author of Unbreakable: A Woman’s Guide to Aging with Power . We dig into what it reall...

A lot of women in midlife are walking around feeling like they’re broken. You’ve done the labs, seen the specialists, tried the supplements… and you’re still exhausted, inflamed, and wondering if this is just your new normal. My guest today says absolutely not. Dr. Karyn Shanks is a physician, author, and pioneer in whole-person healing whose work sits at the intersection of cutting-edge science,...

In this episode of Asking for a Friend , we’re getting real about what’s happening inside your body in midlife—far beyond diet culture, quick fixes, or another “Motivation Monday.” I’m joined by Christa Tyler , functional nutritionist, founder of Your Gut Goddess , and breast cancer survivor whose near-fatal sepsis and reconstructive surgery complications sent her on a mission to rebuild health fr...

Urinary (and yes, bowel) leakage isn’t “just part of getting older”—it’s a signal from your core and pelvic floor. In this straight-talk episode, physical therapist Christina Walsh , co-founder of Tighten Your Tinkler , joins me to dismantle the shame around pelvic health and lay out a functional path forward that goes far beyond “just do more Kegels.”  We cover what’s really driving leaks, pressu...

Your bones, brain, and muscles are having the same conversation—and nutrition is the translator. Duke orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein breaks down how midlife hormone shifts accelerate bone loss, cartilage wear, and muscle decline , and why training + food choices can improve all three at once.  We cover earlier DEXA timing , the bone–brain crosstalk (osteocalcin, agility, balance), and a...

Want to feel stronger, steadier, and more capable for the next 30 years? In this episode, I sit down with strength coach Megan Dahlman to map out a clear, science-backed path for women 50+ to build real-world strength—without injury, confusion, or intimidation. We bust common fitness myths (“just lift heavy,” “bash your bones,” “jump every day”) and replace them with smarter, safer strategies that...