Women Mastering Midlife

In this enlightening episode of Women Mastering Midlife , I sit down with Dr. Christie Smirl , Ayurveda Doctor, nurse practitioner, yoga teacher, and founder of Healthier Vibrations. With her unique background blending modern medicine and ancient Eastern practices, Dr. Smirl offers a holistic approach to navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the midlife transition . We dive deep into how Ayurve...

In this inspiring episode of Women Mastering Midlife, I sit down with Martine Cohen—attorney turned speaker, author, and transformational coach. After a life-changing concussion forced her to question everything she thought she knew about herself, Martine developed her groundbreaking approach, No More Layers, to help women peel back self-doubt, fear, and limiting beliefs to reconnect with their tr...

What does it really mean to raise daughters—and to be raised by them in return? In this heartfelt episode of Women Mastering Midlife , Victoria sits down with lawyer, mentor, and author Bernadette Catalana to explore the sacred, messy, and magical journey of motherhood. Drawing from her book Daughter Lessons: Wise and Witty Reflections on Leading, Learning From, and Loving Our Daughters , Bernadet...

In this powerful episode of Women Mastering Midlife , Victoria Byrd is joined by health coach and emotional eating expert Terry Tateossian. Terry shares her transformative journey from a burnt-out, overstressed, 80-pounds-overweight businesswoman to a strong, grounded, and thriving coach helping women reclaim their health mentally, emotionally, and physically. Through raw honesty, humor, and deep...

In this special solo episode of *Women Mastering Midlife*, host **Victoria Byrd, RPh**, wraps up the Sexual Wellness Series with a timely and powerful discussion. Recorded on the very day the **FDA removed the black box warning from vaginal estrogen**, Victoria explores what this historic decision means for women in perimenopause and menopause. From sexual wellness products to the importance of sa...

In this powerful closing episode of the Women Mastering Midlife sexual wellness series, I sit down with Dr. Sadaf Lodi—board-certified OB-GYN, intimacy coach, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and host of The Muslim Sex Podcast . With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Sadaf is on a mission to help women reclaim their sexual agency, navigate perimenopause and menopause with confiden...

In this episode of Women Mastering Midlife , I welcome back Nurse Practitioner Vanessa Weiland for a candid and much-needed conversation about vaginal estrogen, genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), and sexual wellness for women in perimenopause and beyond. Too many midlife women suffer in silence from vaginal dryness, recurrent UTIs, painful sex, and bladder issues—often unaware that safe, e...

In this deeply insightful episode of Women Mastering Midlife , Victoria Byrd sits down with Christine Marie Mason, founder of Rosebud Woman—a company redefining intimate and sexual wellness through natural, body-honoring products and conscious conversation. Together, they explore the intersection of pleasure, embodiment, spirituality, and healing across every stage of a woman’s life. Christine sha...

In this powerful episode of Women Mastering Midlife , Victoria sits down with Magen Price, MSN, FNP-BC, NCMP, AASECT Certified Sex Counselor , to unpack one of the most under-discussed aspects of women’s health — sexual wellness in midlife . Together, they explore how hormonal shifts, shame, & lack of education have shaped women’s experiences with sex, pleasure, & pain during perimenopause...

In this episode of Women Mastering Midlife , host Victoria Byrd welcomes back certified sexuality educator and intimacy coach Shauna Stewart for a powerful conversation about redefining sex, pleasure, and intimacy in midlife. Together, they explore why “vanilla” intimacy doesn’t have to mean boring, how novelty and intentionality fuel desire, and why safety and communication are the foundation of...

What happens when menopause comes suddenly instead of gradually? For women facing a hysterectomy or ovary removal, surgical menopause can feel like being hit by a truck—bringing abrupt hormone loss, severe symptoms, and long-term health risks. In this episode of Women Mastering Midlife , I sit down with Julie Parana, occupational therapist and founder of The Menopause OT . Julie shares her persona...

In this episode of Women Mastering Midlife , Victoria sits down with Jennifer Han, PharmD, BCACP , clinical pharmacist turned entrepreneur and co-founder of SEEN Nutrition , to talk about bone health, calcium supplementation, and why women deserve better options. After experiencing a rare case of pregnancy-lactation osteoporosis , Jennifer discovered firsthand the gaps in women’s health when it co...

In this must-listen episode of Women Mastering Midlife , host Victoria Byrd sits down with Dr. Lisa Moore, DPT, to unpack the often-overlooked topic of bone health in perimenopause and menopause. Together, they explore the critical connection between estrogen and osteoporosis, the surprising risks of low BMI, and why midlife is the perfect time to start strength training—not just to build muscle,...

Your thyroid may be small, but it plays a mighty role in your midlife health. From energy and mood to metabolism, hair, skin, and even heart health; this butterfly-shaped gland has an outsized influence on how you feel day to day. Yet for many women, thyroid issues are often dismissed as just “getting older” or blamed on perimenopause and menopause. In this episode of Women Mastering Midlife , Vic...

In this heartfelt episode of Women Mastering Midlife , host Victoria Byrd welcomes fertility and life coach Abbe Feder, founder of InCircle Fertility and host of the Women's Wellness with Abbe Feder podcast. Together, they explore the deeply emotional and often invisible journey of infertility, IVF, midlife motherhood, and the identity shifts that come with them. From the raw reality of eight...

In this soul-stirring episode of Women Mastering Midlife, I sit down with transformational speaker, spiritual teacher, and author Elaine Glass to discuss the profound healing power of getting quiet. Elaine shares the story behind her book Get Quiet, how a chance encounter with a labyrinth changed her life, and why silence is the missing ingredient so many midlife women are seeking. We explore how...

In this powerful episode of Women Mastering Midlife, Victoria Byrd sits down with Dr. Nadine Macaluso; licensed marriage and family therapist, trauma bonding and narcissistic abuse expert, and author of the memoir Run Like Hell: A Therapist’s Guide to Recognizing, Escaping, and Healing from Trauma Bonds. You may recognize her as the former wife of the infamous “Wolf of Wall Street,” but today, Nad...

Is pellet hormone therapy safe? Why isn’t it FDA-approved? And why is there so much controversy surrounding it? In this episode of Women Mastering Midlife , Victoria Byrd, RPh, dives deep into the nuances of pellet hormone therapy with Christine Farrell, MSN, FNP-C- an integrative hormone specialist with over 20 years of experience. Christine shares her clinical insights and personal journey with...

Are you waking up at 3 a.m. and can’t fall back asleep? Tossing, turning, and wondering if it’s your hormones or just aging? In this essential episode of Women Mastering Midlife, host Victoria Byrd talks with Dr. Andrea Matsumura, a board-certified sleep medicine physician, internist, and Menopause Society-certified practitioner, about the unique sleep struggles women face in perimenopause and men...

In this spirited and insightful episode, Victoria Byrd welcomes the powerhouse trio behind The Dusty Muffins podcast: Dr. Aoife O’Sullivan, Dr. Rebbecca Hertel, and Dr. Christine Hart Kress. These certified menopause practitioners—and self-declared “Menno Besties”—share their journey from training and clinical collaboration to launching one of the most refreshing, no-holds-barred podcasts in the m...

In this electrifying episode of Women Mastering Midlife , Victoria Byrd sits down with filmmaker, photographer, and punk rock truth-teller Alicia J. Rose, the force behind the upcoming documentary Menopunks . What starts as a conversation about the personal and political impacts of hormone therapy quickly evolves into a raw, radical takedown of the broken systems that have failed women for decades...

In this episode of Women Mastering Midlife , host Victoria Byrd sits down with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple- exercise scientist, researcher, and truth-teller in the crowded world of wellness advice for a powerful, no-nonsense conversation about fitness, fat loss, protein, hormones, and everything in between for midlife women. Dr. Colenso-Semple helps demystify the noise around social media trends and...

Could the key to protecting women's brains during menopause already exist and be overlooked for decades? In this groundbreaking episode, I sit down with Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, UCLA neurologist and internationally recognized researcher, to explore the powerful link between estrogen, menopause, and cognitive health. Dr. Voskuhl breaks down her decades of research on sex differences in neurological dise...

In this inspiring episode of Women Mastering Midlife , host Victoria Byrd welcomes Sharon Macy — motivational speaker, content creator, and host of the globally ranked podcast Mom to More . Sharon shares her journey from two decades as a stay-at-home mom to becoming a celebrated podcaster and community builder. Together, Victoria and Sharon dive into the often invisible value of motherhood, refram...

Today on Women Mastering Midlife, I’m joined by Annie Evans- entrepreneur, single mom, skincare expert, and all-around powerhouse, for a refreshingly real conversation about navigating life after divorce, building a thriving business, and embracing self-care and community during the midlife years. Annie shares how she went from reluctant business owner to founder of two successful locations and he...