Living Inspired - A Functional Approach to Women’s Health, Energy, and Resilience

You are not imagining it. Midlife health has turned into one long to-do list. From supplements and biohacks to hormone protocols and trackers, it can feel like everyone has an opinion about what you “should” be doing to feel better. If you are in perimenopause or navigating chronic symptoms, that constant noise can be exhausting. In this episode, I am sharing what I am actually focusing on this ye...

What if time isn’t actually the problem? In this episode of Living Inspired , Rachel sits down with Michelle Niemeyer , a former attorney turned coach, to explore a powerful reframe she calls time bending . Instead of managing time more efficiently or cramming more into already-full days, this conversation looks at how our relationship with time changes when we reconnect with what energizes us. Mi...

As we stand on the edge of a new year, it’s easy to feel the pressure to set big goals, fix what feels broken, or reinvent ourselves entirely. In this episode of Living Inspired , Rachel invites you into a very different way of approaching 2026. One that is gentler, more sustainable, and deeply rooted in who you are already becoming. Instead of resolutions, we explore the idea of tiny experiments...

I’m joined by Nina Manolson , a body peace coach and therapist with over 30 years of experience helping women end the war with food and their bodies. Together, we explore the growing cultural pressure to shrink, especially in the era of GLP-1 medications, and the quieter question so many women are asking themselves: Should I be shrinking too? This episode is not about judging GLP-1s or telling any...

In this bonus episode, we take a gentle pause from regular programming to honor something many people carry this time of year: grief. Whether your loss is recent or years in the past, the holidays often bring memories and emotions to the surface. Rachel opens the episode by sharing her own experience of losing her dad and a simple analogy that reframes how grief lives within us over time. She offe...

If you have been feeling irritable, overstimulated, or like your nervous system is stuck on high this holiday season, this episode is for you. In this coaching call I am sharing with you, we talk about what actually makes this time of year feel so intense and how to gently bring your system back down without clearing your schedule or disappearing for a week. You will learn simple, realistic ways t...

In this episode, I am inviting you into something that feels very close to my heart. On Black Friday morning, instead of running a sale, I felt led to simply open my Zoom room for 30 minutes and offer a live breath and meditation practice. No slides. No pitch. Just community, connection, and a space to allow whatever was present. If you are in midlife, or in any season where your hormones, emotion...

I’m sharing Chapter 3 of my book, Secrets to Authentic Happiness , as today’s episode. This chapter is all about the power of gratitude, how it rewires your brain through neuroplasticity, and why a simple five-minute daily practice can begin to shift your entire inner world. You’ll hear stories from my clients, the science behind gratitude, and a guided invitation into a 90-day practice I call Liv...

What happens to marriage when hormones shift? For many women, midlife brings not only physical changes — but emotional distance, shorter tempers, and a quiet wondering: What happened to us? In this deeply personal episode, I sit down with Brooke Davis , creator of Marriage in Perimenopause , to talk honestly about what’s really happening inside relationships during this season of life — and how to...

Does it ever feel like the smallest thing can send your whole day spiraling? You spill the coffee, your kid melts down, a meeting runs late—and suddenly, your emotional stability feels like it’s gone. In this week’s episode, Rachel opens up about what real resilience looks like in perimenopause—and why it’s not about pushing harder or doing more. Through her personal story of burnout as a nurse du...

This week’s episode is a little different. Rather than talking about hormones or health habits, I’m sharing something deeply personal, something that reminds us of the sacredness of life and how grief can be one of our greatest teachers. Six years ago, I lost one of my dearest friends, Maria. Her life, and her passing, changed me forever. In this episode, I reflect on what she taught me about livi...

You’re the one everyone depends on; the woman who holds it all together. But inside, you’re tired, emotional, and wondering how much longer you can keep this up. It’s not that you’re failing. It’s that perimenopause makes doing it all impossible and pushing harder only fuels the chaos happening inside your body. In today’s episode, Rachel Carta, RN, Functional Nutrition Counselor, and Life Coach,...

Have you ever walked out of the doctor’s office feeling dismissed? Maybe your labs came back “normal,” yet you’re still exhausted, moody, bloated, or foggy and the only advice you got was “eat less, move more” or “here’s a prescription.” If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Conventional medicine is lifesaving in emergencies, but when it comes to chronic symptoms and midlife changes ,...

Life in perimenopause, midlife, or even just womanhood can feel too full, too heavy, and too overwhelming. The last thing you need is another complicated plan. In this episode of Living Inspired , I’m sharing three gentle, simple practices you can lean on this week to bring calm to your body and mind—without adding hours of work to your day. These are practices I use personally and with my clients...

Do you ever feel like your life is so full that the idea of “fixing your health” feels impossible? If you’ve been running on empty—juggling work, family, errands, and the never-ending to-do list—it’s easy to believe you need a massive overhaul to start feeling better. But here’s the truth: healing doesn’t begin with doing more. It begins with the right small shifts, repeated consistently. In this...

Have you ever felt like your body is betraying you? Maybe it’s migraines, fatigue, anxiety, mood swings, or digestive issues that just won’t go away—no matter what diet, supplement, or protocol you try. I know that feeling all too well. In 2020, as a brand-new nurse on a high-acuity COVID floor, my body completely broke down. I was unraveling under the stress, getting up to 25 migraines a month, b...

Welcome back to Part 2 of this incredibly moving and insightful conversation with trauma healing guide Mandy Harvey . If you’ve ever wondered why you “self-sabotage,” why motivation isn’t enough, or why change feels so hard to sustain—this episode is going to offer so much clarity, compassion, and hope. In Part 2, we dive deeper into the emotional patterns that keep us stuck and how to begin heali...

Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of starting and stopping—no matter how much you want to feel better? In this powerful two-part conversation, I’m joined by trauma healing guide Mandy Harvey to explore what’s really happening beneath the surface when we can’t seem to stay consistent with our health habits. In Part 1, Mandy shares her courageous personal story and helps us begin to understand the...

In today’s episode of the Living Inspired Podcast , I’m sharing a truly special conversation with a remarkable woman who has lived through a century of experiences. Fern, who at 100 years old, shares timeless lessons on living a life filled with faith, positivity, resilience, and purpose. In this episode, you’ll hear: Fern’s secrets to living a long, healthy life, including her powerful approach t...

In today’s powerful episode, Rachel Carta down with Kate Zuraw, a licensed social worker turned mentor and the creator of Liminal Resilience . Together, they explore a transformative practice that helps you declare your independence from the limiting beliefs and identities that are holding you back. This Independence Day, it's time to declare your personal freedom from the things that no longe...

In this episode of the Living Inspired Podcast , Rachel Carta dives into a powerful concept that can make a massive difference in your health and well-being: the Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 Rule. Rachel explains how small, consistent habits—those simple actions we often overlook—can lead to profound results over time. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by all the changes you “should” be making,...

In this powerful and practical episode of Living Inspired , I’m joined by professional organizer and life coach, Tracy Hoth, to explore how physical and mental clutter impacts our stress, health, and overall well-being. Tracy introduces her memorable 5-step SPASM method (yes, really!) to help you simplify and organize your space, your mind, and your calendar, without shame or overwhelm. We go deep...

Ever find yourself snapping over something small… or tearing up and wondering, “What is happening to me?” If your moods feel unpredictable lately, this episode is for you. In this heartfelt and informative conversation, Rachel breaks down three powerful (but often hidden) reasons so many women in midlife feel emotionally out of control. Spoiler: It’s not just stress and it’s definitely not because...

If you’ve been feeling anxious, irritable, or emotionally fragile — and wondering why you just don’t feel like yourself anymore — this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, I’m breaking down the real reasons behind mood swings and anxiety in midlife. These symptoms are not just in your head — they’re rooted in powerful biological patterns happening in your body. And when you begin to unders...

In this episode of Living Inspired , I sit down with Jane Butler, a dynamic women’s health coach, author, and retired Registered Nurse with over 40 years of experience. Together, we explore how mindset can dramatically shift your experience of menopause and perimenopause. Jane shares her own journey with menopause and the tools she uses to help women navigate this transition with confidence, clari...