Midlife Advice | Perimenopause, Hormones and Midlife Women’s Health

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...

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 dis...

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 pivo...

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...

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 sourc...

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 the...

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...

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...

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 inv...

How to Help a Friend in Crisis: Real Advice from a Mom Who’s Been There When 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....

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 hea...

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 p...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 uri...

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 nervou...

You did everything “right”—you have a successful career, a family, a beautiful home, amazing friends—so why does it still feel like something’s missing?  If you’ve ever looked at your life and thought, Wait, is this it? Is this as good as it gets? , this episode is for you.   I’m joined by transformational coach Anna K. Morris to dive deep into this midlife conundrum so many women face.    We disc...

What if the secret to thriving in midlife wasn’t about hustling harder, but about staying curious, connected, and flexible? My 82-year-old dad, Bob Chilvers, joins me on the podcast to share his best midlife wisdom—advice he not only gives but actually lives by. In this episode, we dive into: ✔️The three key pillars of staying vibrant as you age ✔️How to stop the endless cycle of yearning and actu...

Stressed, Exhausted, and One Dirty Dish Away from a Meltdown? Let’s Fix That   Ever feel like life is one long to-do list, and you’re permanently running on empty? Yup, me too.  The mental load, the laundry, the constant What’s for dinner? —it’s enough to make even the most patient among us snap. But what if you could break free from the overwhelm without quitting your life and moving to a remote...

Can CBD help women in midlife feel better? What perimenopause symptoms can it help with? How does it work? Will it give me a high? Is it safe? There is so much information and misinformation out there about CBD that it’s hard to keep it all straight. In this episode, Christine Calegari, representative with Green Compass, clears up the confusion and tells it to us straight. She explains how CBD can...

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to change careers? To take a giant leap and leave your current job to try something completely new? I know that so many of us in midlife start to have these questions, these fantasies, or simply desire a big change.  That is exactly why I am talking to my friend, Petra Langer, in this episode. She has pivoted her career two times and landed exactly where sh...

Did you know that exhaustion and lack of motivation are not the only symptoms of burn out? In fact, there are many other physical signs your body gives you, but do you know what they are? I bet some of them will surprise you.  Tune in as Katie Bonarrigo, certified holistic health and burnout coach, and I discuss what exactly burn out is, what the symptoms are, what is physically happening in your...

Do you dream of traveling the world but feel like it isn’t possible because you have kids? Today’s episode might just change your mind. Hear from my dear friend, Ananda Baron, about how she packed up her backpack and took to the skies with her husband and 11-year-old twins for an entire year.  How did they choose the right time to go? How did they choose their destinations? How did the kids handle...