Today we talk through the trending question - do I have ADHD or is this perimenopause?

Two of us are officially diagnosed with ADHD, one is not. But the question comes up all the time.

As Aliza shares her questions and Jenn and & Karen share their lived experience, we touch on:

• The changes in how we could cope with multiple competing tasks before and no longer can
• The ways that ADHD shows up differently in girls and women, and how shame plays a role in missed diagnoses
• The reality that there are things that can look like ADHD that aren't - that are hormonal or even immune/inflammation driven
• Hormones being protective against neuroinflammation and the role that plays in ADHD like presentations in perimenipause
• Time blindness and time optimism
• The continuum of presentation of ADHD
• The many other things that can present with focus. attention and memory, including trauma, chronic illness, and pain
• Food sensitivities and ADHD symptoms
• The difference between an inflammatory response and a wiring difference
• A biochemical overlap in the pathways related to pain and attention 

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Perimenopause and ADHD
02:40 Understanding the Intersection of Hormones and ADHD
05:31 Coping Mechanisms and Self-Reflection
08:23 The Role of Neuroinflammation
11:07 Time Perception and ADHD
14:05 The Dopamine Connection
16:44 Exploring ADHD Presentations in Women
19:30 The Impact of Chronic Illness on ADHD
22:04 Finding Solutions Beyond ADHD
24:57 The Importance of Professional Evaluation

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Today we have Cindy back for yet another important episode all about sexual health. 

We talk about:

• Hormone changes to tissue and structure of the genitals
• The importance of moisturizing our vagina (its as important as moisturizing our skin)
• The importance of early intervention to maintain flexibility of the vaginal canal/tissues and prevent atrophy
• The role of hormones in the health of vaginal tissue
• The fears many women have when it comes to using hormone support
• The ideal time to implement a vaginal care protocol, and some things you can do if you feel like you are behind on this
• The importance of understanding your arousal and sexual response languages
• The impact of stress on both sexual desire and pelvic floor function and some things you can do to help with it
• Ways outside of sex that you can tell if you have vaginal dryness (and the times you might think you have an infection but don't)
• How often you should have sex to maintain sexual health and pelvic floor integrity
• The changes in orgasm with perimenopause, the role orgasm plays in tissue and mental health, and the hope in improving it

Cindy's favorite products: 

Bonafide: Revaree vaginal moisturizer
Good Clean Love
Intimate Rose
Uqora Urinary Health
The Pelvic People

Find Cindy: 

Comprehensive Therapy Services, Inc.
https://www.comprehensivetherapy.com

Socials: @comprehensivetherapyservices

Find other Pelvic PTS

Episodes on hormone replacement: 

Hormone Replacement Therapy in Perimenopause & Menopause

Non-Hormone Support in Perimenopause and Menopause

Chapters
00:00 Understanding Sexual Health in Midlife
02:49 The Impact of Hormones on Sexual Function
05:28 The Importance of Early Intervention
08:07 Exploring Treatment Options for Sexual Health
11:06 Addressing Stigma and Fear Around Hormone Therapy
13:48 The Role of Communication in Sexual Relationships
16:31 The Connection Between Stress and Sexual Desire
19:09 Body Awareness and Sexual Health
22:08 The Importance of Foreplay and Arousal
24:44 Navigating Conversations About Sexual Health
31:43 Exploring Hormonal Support and Vaginal Health
36:10 Understanding Vaginal Dryness and Its Indicators
41:06 Maintaining Sexual Health and Frequency
45:21 The Role of Orgasm in Sexual Health
50:38 Hope for Improved Sexual Response
56:56 Final Thoughts on Sexual Health

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

In this episode we'll talk through all the "fun" changes that happen in our digestive function with hormone changes during perimenopause and menopause:

• The "normal" amount of bowel movements per day, and when to worry
• Factors influence bowel regularity
• Medications that can cause constipation
• Aging isn't just on the outside, we also experience aging in our internal organs
• How our lifetime habits that we learn as children can impact bowel function in adulthood
• Taking time to poop is also self care!!!
• Techniques to help our bowels function optimally and change leaned patterns
• The connection between pelvic bowl/floor health and bowel movements
• Best ways to prepare your digestive system to have bowel movements with ease

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Pelvic Health and Bowel Health
01:40 Understanding Bowel Health and Hormonal Impact
05:17 Normal Bowel Frequency and Dietary Considerations
08:49 The Connection Between Constipation and Bladder Health
12:38 Childhood Constipation and Its Long-Term Effects
16:16 Self-Care and the Importance of Regular Bowel Movements
19:23 Understanding Rectal Health and Complications
21:36 Breathing Techniques for Pelvic Health
25:06 Understanding Bowel Movements and Pelvic Floor Dynamics
29:08 Dietary Impacts on Bowel Health
35:24 Optimal Bowel Movement Practices
40:56 The Interconnection of Bowel and Urinary Health

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

In this episode, Jenn, Karen, and Aliza sit down with pelvic floor physical therapist Cindy Furey for the conversation we all wish we had decades ago. Cindy has a gift for making the complicated feel completely approachable, and yes, she will absolutely tell you to stop peeing in the shower and to quit going just in case!

In this episode we cover:

• What the pelvic floor (bowl) actually is and why it does so much more than you think.
• The important role the pelvic bowl health plays in organ function, abdominal health, and joint stability, especially in hip and lower back comfort.  
• Why normal urinary frequency is every two to five hours (yes, really).
• Tips on how to train your bladder to reach maximum capacity for optimal bladder health and uninterrupted sleep.
• How prompting little girls and boys to pee "just in case" may be accidentally teaching them to stop trusting their own bodies, and what that costs them in body awareness and agency as they grow up.
• The effects of carbonation and caffeine on bladder health and urinary frequency.
• The connection between your nervous system, fight or flight and your bladder.
• The link between TMJ clenching and pelvic floor tension.
• How chronic tension and the freeze stress response can shut down glandular function, leading to dryness, pain with insertion, and why it is not just a hormone problem.
• The 12 second rule: how long you should actually be peeing and what it means if you are done in five.
• Why hovering over the toilet is working against you.
• How de-estrogenization during perimenopause impacts pelvic organ function and floor health.
• Why letting go is sometimes how you gain control.
• The case for vaginal estradiol and personalized pelvic PT.

The bottom line: Your pelvic floor is not broken. It just needs some attention, some education, and maybe a squatty potty.

This is Part 1 of 4 with Cindy. Trust us, you will want to come back for the rest.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Pelvic Health Awareness
01:43 Understanding the Pelvic Floor
06:35 Bladder Health and Frequency
11:57 The Impact of Habits on Bladder Control
14:14 Peeing in the Shower: Myths and Facts
19:23 The Connection Between Pelvic Floor and Nervous System
20:19 Understanding the Pelvic Floor and Nervous System Connection
33:01 Exploring Bladder Health and Incontinence
45:22 Conclusion and Future Topics on Women's Health

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Karen shares an experience she had where she had to make a very hard choice to say no to her father's deathbed wish regarding her supporting another family member.

Her process of moving from guilt to love in this situation helped her see that it has far reaching impacts in all of her life. 

Some of the things we touch on: 

• The shift from obligatory to optional in how we evaluate how we are spending our time and our emotional energy
• Navigating the emotions that can come up with letting go of these expectations, of ourselves and of our relationships
• The importance and difficulty of accepting "what is" in life
• How grief and relief can exist in the same space
• Being driven by guilt or doing something because of love - and the freedom and healing that can come from recognizing you have a choice
• Love is everything and it magnifies the healing of every choice we make
• Saying no when you are coming from a place of obligation is more loving than showing up with guilt or an empty tank
• That we don't always have to choose to be nice
• Moving from obligation to choice is relevant in the day to day and the big things in life
• Having to work through something over time doesn't always mean it is the wrong thing to do - it might not be hell yes or no
• There can be healing in the reflection time we spend thinking through something that challenges who we think we are or how we show up in the world - especially if you have competing values
• Values change over time, and sometimes our struggles help us see a shift in values
• We can always add "right now" to the difficult choices we have to make in recognition that things are always changing

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Complex Emotions in Midlife
07:42 The Shift from Obligation to Choice
12:41 Understanding Values and Decision-Making
17:53 Evolving Values in the Sandwich Generation

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

We've talked together previously about blocks that stop us from doing what we know we need, in all areas of our lives. On this episode, we touch back on some of our struggles and Aliza shares some of the shifts she's experienced recently that have helped her move forward.

We talk about:

• The fear that something we're counting on to help us won't really help
• How do we not lose hope?
• Being gentle with ourselves and not self-blaming
• How emotions, overwhelm, fear all play into our blocks - sometimes we can't handle even one more thing to do
• Blocks are not self-sabotage - there are legitimate and valid reasons for them
• The work that we do on ourselves and our belief systems doesn't always show up immediately with the results we want, but it's the foundation for allowing obstacles to clear - the layers that build on each other are the magic
• Change isn't linear, and we can fluctuate between the different stages of change
• We don't have to beat ourselves up about not making a change sooner...we can be proud of ourselves for the change happening when it did
• The relief that finally comes with acceptance

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Resistance in Self-Care
01:27 Understanding Personal Blocks to Health
04:19 Exploring Emotional Connections to Health Decisions
08:07 The Role of Self-Sabotage in Healing
10:34 The Journey of Letting Go and Moving Forward
13:04 Stages of Change in Personal Growth
15:51 Acceptance and Non-Attachment to Outcomes
19:02 Finding Freedom in Acceptance
26:44 Conclusion and Future Outlook

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

The whole gang's back together again!  Jenn returns from her surgery recovery and shares her recent experience with endometriosis surgery, recovery, and all of the emotional and physical implications. She reflects on the importance of community support, self-care, and trusting our intuition in navigating complex health decisions.

Today, we touch on:

• Jenn’s decision to proceed with the hysterectomy and ovarian removal.
• The healing validation that comes from this surgery.
• Trusting that we are making the best decision that we can with the information that we have available at the time, regardless of the outcome.
• Navigating medication, hormonal changes & treatment options post-surgery.
• The sneaky nature of endometriosis.
• The emotional impact of losing reproductive organs.
• Coaching ourselves through the patience necessary for recovery from major abdominal surgery.
• The blessing that is community support during recovery and midlife.
• Leveraging health challenges to reset mindset, values, and clarity regarding meaningful priorities to shake up those old, automatic habits and patterns that no longer serve us.  
• Practical tips for recovery, including the use of supportive accessories like hysterectomy pillows for comfort and as reminders to slow down.  

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

01:35 Surgery Insights and Decisions

07:11 Pathology Report and Validation

10:24 Navigating Post-Surgery Emotions

15:14 Hormone Replacement Therapy Discussion

17:58 Understanding Lab Results Post-Surgery

20:44 Community Support and Personal Growth

30:00 Resetting Priorities and Values

Resources & Links:

• Hysterectomy Pillow - https://a.co/d/0aKUvSHb

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Just Aliza and Karen today while Jenn is recovering from surgery. Today we needed to process setting boundaries that work for us. 

We touch on: 

• People can't respect your boundaries if you don't set them for yourself
• The energetic impact of having clarity on your boundaries for yourself
• When we are clear on our boundaries, we no longer need to justify what we are asking for - we can simply ask
• Do we have to have an experience with an unstated boundary being crossed to get clarity
• Clarity allows us to show up in relationships and enforcing boundaries in executive mode rather than in survival or emotional mode (and executive mode is much more effective)
• Boundaries can become clear to you in real time while you are seeing it crossed
• Setting boundaries don't have to have judgment associated with them - what doesn't work for you might be desired by someone else
• How our flimsy boundaries are based on people pleasing and putting other people's comfort and desires ahead of ourselves 
• The role of intuition and tending to our body and internal cues in gaining clarity in our boundaries
• The role of the resounding yes in understanding our boundaries
• Boundaries within ourselves about the expectations we have in relationship
• The sacred pause and its role in understanding boundaries

Chapters

00:00 Setting Boundaries in Midlife
03:57 The Power of Personal Boundaries
09:24 Clarity and Communication in Relationships
16:19 The Good Girl Phenomenon
22:14 Finding Peace with Boundaries
25:44 Embracing the 'No' in Our Lives

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Jenn talks through her preparations for her upcoming hysterectomy and oopherectomy. 

We talk about:

• Our expectations of ourselves while healing
• How we relate to our health conditions and treatments/surgeries
• The positives that have come from having endometriosis 
• Being OK with uncertainty going into surgery and coming out of it
• The surprising emotional impact of removing the uterus and ovaries compared to other surgeries
• Being able to bid farewell to a part of our bodies/selves that is no longer serving us, even if it was part of the best things in your life at one point

Chapters

00:00 Facing Surgery: A Personal Journey
02:45 Emotional Reflections on Hysterectomy
04:49 Navigating Recovery and Expectations
07:38 The Psychological Impact of Surgery
10:17 Finding Positives in Adversity
13:00 The Importance of Language in Medical Choices
15:32 The Significance of the Uterus in Identity
18:25 Preparing for Change and New Beginnings

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

We have had a lot of requests to talk about the sandwich generation - where we are raising kids and helping or caring for aging parents. 

We talk about: 

• The guilt and shame that comes with trying to navigate multiple things that are essentially competing personal values
• Navigating things as a solo parent or only child
• The role in community and the ways relationships change over time and as new challenges arise
• The things outside of our control that impact our friendships, including things with our kids and their personalities and needs
• How we prioritize community and connection and how that impacts the difficulty in the messy middle of the sandwich generation
• How the way we feel mentally and physically and the ways it impacts relationships and community, for better or worse
• The choices we have to make to avoid burnout but still try to have a full and fulfilling life
• The way "flares" of the sandwich can trigger deep trauma and deplete you further when people are counting on you the most
• The importance of connected knowing
• The competition between our lifelong messages to be selfless and the fact that we do actually have a self that deserves attention

Book referenced: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Sandwich Generation and Its Relevance
01:55 Personal Stories: Weekend Overload and Emotional Toll
03:41 Defining the Sandwich Generation: Responsibilities and Challenges
06:12 Financial Concerns and Future Uncertainties
08:52 The Role of Community and Support Networks
12:39 Changing Dynamics of Friendships and Social Support
16:07 Juggling Multiple Responsibilities and Burnout
19:35 The Flare of Stress and Unresolved Childhood Issues
23:35 The Importance of Connected Knowing and Empathy
27:01 Supporting Each Other: Practical Acts of Kindness
31:38 The Myth of Selflessness and Self-Care Challenges
33:47 Finding Meaning and Growth in the Sandwich Experience

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Do you ever struggle to do even the simplest things that you know are good for you? Even when you already did the hard part?

Do you ever wonder how to have the hard conversations with people you love when you see them doing the same thing?

Today we talk: 

• Stages of change and how being in messy midlife impacts our ability to move through them
• How we show up in relationships and how we lovingly talk about hard things
• The importance of talking about the hard things before we are in crisis
• The importance of trusting and loving friendships that are a safe container to talk about shame
• Where "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, but..." and starting at a solution or absolute belongs in loving and difficult conversations

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Setting the Stage
01:29 Navigating Personal Health as Doctors
05:20 The Challenge of Self-Care
10:20 The Psychology of Change and Healing
12:08 Honesty in Friendships and Relationships
19:00 Navigating Difficult Conversations
22:21 The Role of Friends in Relationships
24:44 Openness to Change and Acceptance
27:01 The Impact of Shame on Relationships
31:05 Creating Safe Spaces for Conversations
34:30 Curiosity as a Tool for Connection
40:03 Stages of Change and Personal Growth

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Karen shares an epiphany she had with a patient recently. Her patient was doing really well but then the things that had been working just stopped, seemingly out of nowhere. They had to work together to find the obstacles to healing so that she could start improving again. 

This made use think about how often this is true in perimenopause, and the ways that we can even become our own obstacle to thriving. 

Some questions arose that we realized we need to ask ourselves: 

• What do we use to sense our worth or to see ourselves as valuable?
• What are our unspoken agreements with ourselves?
• What ways do the unspoken agreements end up draining you, and maybe even making physical symptoms worse?
• How can we take power back - empower ourselves - by breaking these unspoken agreements with ourselves?

We talk through some of our own answers to these questions and how this is showing up in our lives. Saying it loud is powerful, and we invite you to join us. 

Chapters

00:00 Integrative Care in Midlife Health
05:25 Navigating Hormonal Changes and Empowerment

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Not everyone can use (or wants to use) hormone replacement therapy. Today we talk about some of the options to look at and considerations. 

We talk about

• The Women's Health Initiative, research in general, and what it means for you and your health
• The importance of not just taking something off the shelf or that you learned about from social media influences in this precarious time of health transition 
• Natural support to help manage symptoms such as hot flashes, vascular integrity, sleep
• Medication support for symptom management
• Reasons why antidepressants sometimes actually help hot flashes
• Things to consider about how medications and herbs or supplements can work that could cause issues
• The role of strength training in testosterone production in women
• The lifestyle shifts that are helpful, and necessary to feel our best
• The value of doing less but better, especially in midlife
• The importance of acceptance and embracing a new chapter, rather than trying to make everything feel like it did before
• Where to find someone that has expertise to guide you through all of this so you can live your best life, at this stage in life

Chapters

00:00 Understanding HRT and Its Alternatives
08:43 Exploring Non-HRT Options for Symptom Management
19:34 Addressing Lifestyle Changes and Their Impact
29:25 Navigating the Transition: Embracing New Chapters

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Today we talk through some of the things you are likely considering to help you feel better. 

None of this is medical advice - always consult with your healthcare provider before starting anything, even supplements that you can purchase without a prescription. 

Things we cover: 

• The difference between standard hormone replacement therapy and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
• The importance of progesterone even if you no longer have a uterus (because it does more for us than just protect the uterus)
• Testosterone in BHRT, things to consider, and some of the controversy you might see around it
• Breast cancer risk in HRT
• The actual goal of HRT in easing through perimenopause
• Some consideration for determining how long you might need to be on HRT, and things to consider when it is time to wean off
• Our thoughts on a better, more accurate term to describe what we are actually doing with HRT because the term is really confusing and misleading
• Accessibility of BHRT compared to HRT
• HRT tidbits for consideration in the highly sensitive population

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
04:26 Bioidentical vs. Conventional Hormones
11:07 Breast Cancer Risk and Hormone Therapy
20:48 Accessibility and Affordability of Hormone Treatments

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Today we answer the most common questions about hormone testing, and the questions you need to get answered but might not know to ask. 

We talk about: 

• Where in your cycle testing will be most reliable, and what to do when you don't have a regular cycle. 
• Why there is value in getting tested before starting any hormone therapy, even when you don't have a period. 
• The importance of working with a hormone literate doctor that can order and interpret the labs from a perspective of optimal vs optimal, rather than disease vs within normal limits. 
• Whether liver function, blood sugar, cholesterol, and other markers should be monitored more closely or frequently as hormones that impact them start to change. 
• Testing that isn't standard that should be to help take clear and correct preventative action for things like osteoporosis and heart disease. 
• The uses and value of blood vs. saliva vs. urine testing for hormones. 

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Hormones and Testing Basics
05:14 Navigating Perimenopause and Hormonal Changes
10:33 The Importance of Comprehensive Testing
15:58 Evaluating Hormone Testing Methods
26:31 Addressing Hormonal Imbalances and Treatment Options

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

By listener request! Aliza takes us back to the basics with the role different hormones play in our health both before and during perimenopause. This chat is full of good foundations for conversations you are having with healthcare providers, and sets the stage for more details in upcoming episodes all about hormone replacement therapy and non-hormone support options. 

Things to take note of: 

• Hormones have a MUCH bigger role than your menstrual cycle.
• Estrogen plays a role in sleep, blood sugar regulation, cholesterol, temperature regulation, sleep, memory, arterial elasticity, and more. 
• There are three forms of estrogen in our body and not all are created equal. 
• Progesterone also impacts sleep, cholesterol, mood, and more. 
• Estrogen is more dominant or building, while progesterone is more inhibiting or calming. 

Books mentioned: 

Do Less by Kate Northrup

Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Hormones and Perimenopause
02:42 Understanding Estrogen: Types and Functions
05:35 The Role of Progesterone in Women's Health
08:19 The Interplay of Hormones During the Menstrual Cycle
10:49 Navigating Hormonal Changes in Perimenopause
19:43 Understanding Hormonal Fluctuations
23:31 The Role of Testosterone in Women's Health
27:06 Cycle Tracking and Life Planning
36:56 Navigating Perimenopause and Hormonal Changes

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Embodiment! Realignment! Transformation! 

Karen's favorite thing to talk about - ever. Perimenopause is our chance to reclaim ourselves, especially as an HSP. 

Some key takeaways: 

• Intuition lives in our bodies. When we retreat into our minds and our cognitive world, we are disconnecting from our intuition. This is especially relevant in perimenopause for both HSPs and non-HSPs because of how poorly understood perimenopause is. It is even more relevant for HSPs who have likely been told that their experiences aren't real for their whole lives and who have learned to retreat inward when the outer world said they were too much. 
• Perimenopause is a shift away from being driven by hormones to literally create and provide for a community. It allows our minds and our bodies to return to ourselves. Our work in perimenopause is to realign with our body and to our inner truth. 
• There is a purpose in the sensitivities you as an HSP have, and perimenopause provides a clear time of transition that allows discovery and a closer and deeper connection with that purpose. 
• Perimenopause can be a time where the limits for an HSP living in a non-HSP world have been pushed to the limit, and change to connect more with yourself and your needs become non-negotiable. 

The book Jenn couldn't remember: The Power of When by Michael Breus, PhD

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to HSPs and Perimenopause
02:50 The Impact of Perimenopause on Highly Sensitive People
05:39 Reclaiming Identity and Purpose in Midlife
08:24 The Good Girl Syndrome and Societal Expectations
10:57 The Role of Highly Sensitive People in Society
13:41 Navigating Relationships During Perimenopause
16:31 Transformation and Self-Actualization in Midlife
18:37 Embracing Change and Learning in the Transition
21:11 Conclusion and Reflections on the Journey

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Jenn & Karen are back again to dive even deeper into perimenopause and the highly sensitive person. 

Some top takeaways: 

• The importance of magnesium and sodium in highly sensitive people, before and during perimenopause, especially when it comes to detoxification/removal of hormones, anxiety, sleep, and more. 
• The impact of medications on nutrient status in the body, and the smaller window HSPs have for deficiencies. 
• Gut and bowel function is impacted by both perimenopause and being an HSP. 
• There are many symptoms of perimenopause that highly sensitive people have already sought help for, that Karen has not seen get worse in perimenopause because they are already supported. 
• HSPs can have a strong or even paradoxical reaction to hormones, even at a low dose. 
• HSPs often need lower doses of medications but might need higher doses of others. It is important to work with a provider who understand the needs of HSPs and is willing to pay attention to your response to any intervention. 
• HSPs will likely start feeling symptoms long before anything outside of normal range will show up on lab tests. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Highly Sensitive People and Perimenopause
02:37 Understanding Hormonal Changes and Their Impact
05:24 Symptoms of Perimenopause in Highly Sensitive People
09:02 Nutritional Needs and Considerations
12:36 The Role of Magnesium and Vitamin C
14:29 Bowel Health and Its Connection to Sensitivity
17:18 Detoxification and Hormonal Balance
21:33 Mental Health Symptoms in Perimenopause
24:35 Sleep Changes and Sensitivity
26:24 Hormonal Changes and Sleep Disruption
27:28 The Role of Progesterone in Mood Regulation
28:01 Medication Sensitivity in Highly Sensitive People
29:50 Trial and Error in Medication Dosing
30:44 Listening to Your Body's Needs
32:25 Nutrient Depletion and Sensitivity
34:37 Embodiment and Disconnection
35:17 Complex Interplay of Hormones and Medications
41:23 Joint Pain and Hormonal Changes
44:16 Detoxification and Skin Changes
47:48 Lab Testing and Hormonal Changes

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

We dive into Karen's professional expertise and personal lived experience to talk about being a highly sensitive person in perimenopause. 

In this episode we talk about what a highly sensitive person actually is, from a neurological and medical perspective. We also talk about the lived experience of being a highly sensitive person. 

We get a bit geeky about the overlap of stress hormones and sex hormones (especially progesterone), the overlap between higher needs for certain nutrients and the meds that can deplete those same nutrients. 

Some important takeaways: 

• High sensitivity is present in many species beyond humans and has an evolutionary explanation. 
• Sensitivity isn't just about emotions or pain. It is about how a person is wired, how they process sensory information, and how their body works. 
• There are different nutrition and medical needs that a highly sensitive person has compared to less sensitive people. 
• You can be an extroverted high sensation seeking person and still be highly sensitive. 
• Progesterone plays a more critical role in the wellbeing of the HSP.
• Highly sensitive women can be more likely to have early perimenopause symptoms and more likely to experience fertility challenges. 
• The impact of trauma on the HSP. 
• You can be an HSP without realizing you are. 

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Midlife Challenges
02:33 Understanding ADHD and HSP
05:25 Defining Highly Sensitive People
07:50 The Impact of Sensitivity on Health
10:13 Nutrition and Sensitivity
11:51 Sensitivity and Emotional Perception
14:19 The Intersection of Sensitivity and ADHD
16:59 Hormonal Influences on Sensitivity
19:49 Physiological Differences in HSPs
21:41 Understanding Sensitivity and Health
22:49 Hormonal Changes in Highly Sensitive People
25:57 The Impact of Sensitivity on Midlife
26:59 Exploring Sensitivity Suppression
30:50 The Warrior Gene and Sensitivity
36:59 Looking Ahead: Sensitivity in Perimenopause

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

We revisit rage today, because our last episode had us feeling a lot of it. We talk about our understanding of what it actually is, how it serves us, and how we got here in the first place. 

00:00 Exploring Sacred Rage
02:51 The Balance of Emotions
05:30 Rage as a Secondary Emotion
08:08 Generational Perspectives on Rage
10:54 The Role of Helplessness in Anger
13:33 Paving the Way for Future Generations
16:15 Expressing Emotions Freely
19:05 The Complexity of Rage and Other Emotions

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Jenn shares all about her surprise diagnosis of endometriosis as a platform for learning and also discussing the importance of self-advocacy for your health. We talk about medical gaslighting, how we gaslight ourselves so often when it comes to health, and the ways we are set up to do this to ourselves. 

This episode is a jumpstart to some upcoming, highly requested, more medically focused topics about all things that affect women in midlife. 

We hope this episode helps someone give themselves permission to push harder - because women feeling good is good for everyone. 

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Midlife Challenges
11:16 Understanding Endometriosis
44:46 Empowerment in Healthcare Decisions

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

We don't start with rage, but through a conversation about unexpected solitude and the clarity that can come from it, we get there. The stark contrast between our daily lives and our lives in ideal circumstances leads to misaligned expectations within ourselves and within our relationships. And when we reach midlife and perimenopause, the center can no longer hold. 

We talk about our inner voice, wisdom, or intuition telling us something that we ignore over and over again. We talk about co-dependency and over-functioning, where they overlap, and the ways that this has just become expected of women. 

And of course, we talk about rage. Not just our experience of it, but what it actually means, and the role it plays in our lives and in personal transformation. We don't all agree on things here, but we work to find common understanding, or at least to understand each other's perspective. 

Book referenced: Real Self Care by Pooja Lakshmin, MD 

Brene Brown essay: The Midlife Unraveling

Chapters

00:00 Crawling Out from Under a Rock
03:09 The Gift of Stillness and Hibernation
06:08 Navigating Perfectionism and Efficiency
09:01 The Power of Internal Awareness
12:11 Reintegration Challenges
15:03 Emotional Labor and Family Dynamics
17:56 Finding Balance in Love and Responsibility
20:59 Integrating Retreat Insights into Daily Life
23:48 Resetting Relationships and Expectations
31:48 Listening to Our Inner Voice
35:12 The Energetic Connection Between Mothers and Children
38:54 The Pressure of Self-Care
41:36 The Importance of Saying No
46:57 Navigating Over-Functioning and Under-Functioning
52:10 Understanding Rage in Motherhood
01:01:25 The Transformative Power of Rage

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Aliza jumpstarts the conversation by sharing her experience at a women's retreat that she attends every year and the challenges of trying to incorporate the insights into regular life. 

Regular listeners know that Aliza has been struggling with some aspects of parenting, and one of the biggest takeaways from the retreat had a massive impact on how she relates to parenting and her daughter. 

The retreat opened up a conversation on things about how we see ourselves versus how we are seen by others, and the masking that we do to try and bridge the gap. We also talked about shifts in intuition as we are reconnecting to our authentic selves and integrating it with who we have become, while also looking toward who we might be in the future. 

This is another episode with some insights that we are revisiting again and again in our personal lives. We hope it connects with you too!

Women's Purpose Community: https://www.womenspurposecommunity.com/

00:00 Navigating Life's Challenges
08:39 Embracing the Divine Feminine
17:54 Reconnecting with Intuition and Authenticity
21:55 Navigating Personal Growth and Business Coaching
24:02 The Balance of Giving and Receiving
27:02 Self-Care and the Importance of Saying No
29:58 The Complexity of Midlife Transitions
35:17 The Masks We Wear and Their Impact
42:31 Embracing Discomfort and the Journey of Self-Discovery

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Just Karen and Jenn today!

This is a not to miss episode if you are dealing with ADHD, people pleasing, perimenopause, overwhelm, or like Karen and I - the times when all of these things collide. 

Today we unpack a real life experience of the overlap of ADHD, perimenopause, perfectionism, and just regular mom stuff. We start with Karen's relatable experience of paralysis in just trying to get from one place to another with all the things she had to do - or in this case literally all the things she was carrying. 

We tackle the ways labels serve us and also harm us, the ways our body intervenes when we get stuck in people pleasing, and the opportunity for magnificence that comes in midlife. 

In this episode we touch on some strategies, mindset shifts, and therapy concepts that dramatically shift how we feel when we get stuck. Things like the concept of our future self as a different person, internal family systems, and *stardust* (you have to listen to episode to get the good stuff on this one). 

Books referenced: 

Real Self Care by Pooja Lakshmin, MD

Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life by Sharon Blackie

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Absences and Authenticity
02:36 The Inner Turmoil of Overcommitment
04:44 The Importance of Unwinding Before Vacation
06:53 The Struggle of Efficiency in Daily Tasks
09:10 Labels and Self-Identity
11:29 The Burden of Perfectionism
14:03 Future Self and Self-Care
16:24 The Complexity of Motherhood and Expectations
18:39 The Weight of Relationships and Responsibilities
25:52 Listening to Our Bodies
28:27 The Weight of Expectations
31:37 Navigating Change and Relationships
34:50 Embracing Discomfort for Growth
39:57 Opening Space for New Possibilities
44:09 Finding Relief in Perspective

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Just Karen and Aliza again! Today we picked up with a topic we had chatted about off mic - manifesting. We have been feeling some blocks and frustration with manifesting recently, so we explore a bit about that. As we chat we realize that manifesting has taken on a fully different dimension as parents and with perimenopause. We very quickly get real about what we are trying to manifest for ourselves - from new and hopefully better parenting styles than we received, to expectations that might not be obtainable given the shifting relationships that are inherent as our children grow up. 

00:00 Navigating Frustration in Manifestation
03:34 Parenting Challenges and Control
08:20 Emotional Connections and Communication
13:55 The Importance of Affection in Parenting
17:36 Letting Go of Control and Embracing Love

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Just Karen and Aliza today!

Aliza starts with some frustration she is experiencing with parenting a teenager, and we work our way through to exploring some insights on the value of frustration in parenting and perimenopause. 

00:00 Navigating the Messy Midlife
02:36 Balancing Parenting and Personal Challenges
04:56 Communication and Expectations with Children
07:31 Understanding Frustration in Parenting
10:16 The Nonlinear Journey of Parenting and Midlife
12:44 Finding Comfort in Discomfort
14:45 The Chaos of Hormonal Changes
17:18 Embracing the Complexity of Emotions
19:59 Radical Acceptance in Parenting
22:30 The Serenity Prayer and Parenting
24:59 Conclusion and Reflection

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Today we have a chat about letting go of New Year's resolutions, self-acceptance, and the pressures of productivity, especially in midlife. We talk about our personal experiences with resolutions and when we let them go, the arbitrary nature of the New Year, and the importance of embracing change authentically. We remind each other and our listeners to recognize our worth without the compulsion to constantly improve or prove ourselves, especially during transitional periods like the New Year.

Chapters

00:00 New Year Reflections and Resolutions
07:56 The Pressure of Productivity and Self-Worth
13:32 Authenticity vs. Performative Changes
20:41 Embracing Change and Self-Acceptance

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

In this conversation, we chat about the evolving nature of holiday celebrations in our midlife. We share about the changes in our families, our traditions, and how that impacts us. We explore new ways of looking at things, creating new family traditions, embracing simplicity, and finding joy in the present moment while navigating feelings of nostalgia and loss.

00:00 Navigating Holiday Emotions in Midlife
02:16 Personal Holiday Traditions and Celebrations
05:09 Shifting Perspectives on Gift-Giving
07:45 Creating Holiday Magic for Children
10:13 Balancing Nostalgia and New Traditions
13:03 Embracing Change and Loss During the Holidays
15:38 Finding Joy in Simplicity
18:08 The Importance of Family Connections
20:30 Creating New Traditions
23:07 Reflecting on Expectations vs. Reality
25:33 Final Thoughts on Holiday Celebrations

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Today we explore the complexities of navigating personal and political challenges during midlife. We tackle the impact of political polarization on emotional well-being, the intertwining of health and politics, and the importance of authentic expression. It's us, so of course we end up finding our way to the need for radical acceptance, community connection, and intentional engagement in a world filled with uncertainty and division. We work out our next steps for finding clarity and peace amidst the chaos, without trying to bright side the reality.

00:00 Navigating the Messy Middle
01:59 The Impact of Political Polarization
04:25 Health and Politics: A Complex Relationship
06:47 Fear and Authenticity in Expression
08:37 Understanding Different Perspectives
10:52 The Emotional Toll of Current Events
13:09 Finding Clarity Amidst Chaos
13:59 Social Media's Role in Our Lives
16:21 Radical Acceptance and Personal Agency
18:46 The Spectrum of Opinions
20:49 Navigating Relationships in a Divided World
22:54 The Importance of Connection and Community
25:22 Embracing Uncertainty and Change
27:48 Finding Peace in the Midst of Turmoil
30:30 The Power of Intentional Engagement
32:44 Creating a Supportive Environment
35:09 The Balance of Awareness and Disengagement
37:21 The Emotional Landscape of Midlife
40:02 Concluding Thoughts on Connection and Action

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

In this episode we talk about the complexities of forming and maintaining friendships during midlife. We talk about it all - making new friends, keeping friends, and navigating all the things that come with midlife and still finding time for fun and authentic connection. 

00:00 Navigating Friendship in Midlife
07:47 The Challenges of Making New Connections
11:44 Evolving Friendships Through Life Changes
20:28 The Importance of Fun and Connection
25:36 Embracing Vulnerability in Friendships

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

We start with parenting, but this ISN'T an episode just for parents. 

Today we cover A LOT of ground in a short time. It all starts from Aliza's vulnerable share about struggles with parenting - from trying to parent the way she wanted to be parented to the difficulties when your ideals and expectations aren't working out like you hoped. 

This takes us on a journey that includes something for everyone. We talk about

• leadership
• balancing the coldness of rules/expectations with warmth 
• the importance of mutual trust
• needs vs. wants
• emotional regulation through all of the ways midlife becomes monotonous
• finding vibrance and enthusiasm through monotony, change, and responsibility
• the U-curve of happiness
• ADHD, perimenopause, and hormone changes
• adrenal health and impacts on attention
• the grief of the closed doors to who you once thought you could be

Yeah... it was a journey.

Jenn mentioned 2 books: 

All Fours by Miranda July

Wellness by Nathan Hill

00:00 Reconnecting and Reflecting on Life's Chaos
01:46 Navigating Parenting Challenges
05:11 Leadership Lessons in Parenting
08:42 Trust and Consequences in Parenting
13:52 The Complexity of Midlife Parenting
18:41 Emotional Regulation and Parenting
24:15 The Intersection of Hormones and Parenting
29:31 Finding Balance in Parenting and Self-Care
34:31 The Journey of Parenting Through Chaos

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Our chat today starts with an exploration of connection and vulnerability and its role in both mental and physical health. We talk about dramatic and sudden changes in how we related to others and the world, in our bodies, and in what we can reliably use to move through physical and emotional challenges. (And how nothing feels reliable anymore.) We get a bit nerdy about things like stress hormones, heart rate variability, and resilience. We support and love each other through some challenging shares about chronic health conditions. 

00:00 Navigating the Chaos of Midlife Responsibilities
02:40 The Struggle for Self-Care Amidst Overwhelm
05:01 Understanding Vulnerability and Connection
07:32 The Impact of Stress on Health
10:18 Adapting to Changes in Body and Mind
12:46 Finding Balance in a Distracted World
15:23 The Role of Breath in Stress Management
17:51 The Challenge of Monitoring Health
20:21 Embracing Acceptance in Difficult Times
22:46 The Importance of Trust and Letting Go
25:29 The Power of Vulnerability in Transformation
27:43 Coping with Chronic Pain and Frustration
30:27 Finding Ease in the Midst of Struggle
32:29 The Journey of Acceptance and Healing

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

We explore the concept of the 'sacred pause'—a necessary moment of stillness that allows for reflection, connection, and personal growth. And of course, we get real with the challenges we have in pausing, and work our way to an experiment that just might help us find it a bit easier. 

Book referenced: Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey (not an affiliate link)
IG account mentioned: @justbeingmelani

00:00 The Sacred Pause: Embracing Stillness
20:50 Breaking Free from Societal Constraints
23:10 Exploring the Impact of Military Experience
28:22 The Struggle with Self-Identity and Shame
29:24 Recognizing Intuition vs. Anxiety
31:30 The Importance of the Sacred Pause
36:36 Bridging Professional and Personal Life
40:40 Trusting Others and the Fear of the Unknown
42:51 Embracing Possibility and Ease

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

We revisit the thoughts on control that came up in last episode because they stuck with us over the week. We explore places control gets sneaky, within ourselves, our relationships, and even spiritual journeys. We work out our understanding of the middle ground between control and acceptance.

00:00 Exploring Control in Midlife
01:44 The Impact of Control on Parenting
04:30 Personal Reflections on Control and Surrender
05:54 Understanding Control in Relationships
08:32 The Messiness of Midlife
10:35 The Role of Shame in Control
12:56 Finding Peace in Letting Go
15:08 The Journey Towards Acceptance and Surrender

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Today, we dive in to the real stuff pretty quickly. Jenn is dealing with the dust settling after a trip to the ER and wrestling with what this means for her well being now and in the future. We talk about the importance of self-compassion, support systems, and the need to redefine non-negotiables in life. 

00:00 Navigating Health Challenges in Midlife
02:22 The Emotional Toll of Aging and Self-Compassion
04:52 The Importance of Support Systems
07:27 Balancing Responsibilities and Self-Care
10:12 The Pressure of Expectations and Slowing Down
12:53 The Weight of Health and Body Image
15:36 Redefining Non-Negotiables in Life
18:14 The Role of Vulnerability in Healing
20:57 The Impact of Societal Standards on Self-Perception
23:25 Finding Acceptance in Change
26:26 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Control
29:06 Embracing the Uncontrollable
31:17 The Power of Connection and Community
33:35 The Complexity of Body Image and Acceptance
36:04 Finding Relief and Hope
38:28 The Importance of Rest and Reflection
40:54 Navigating Pain and Seeking Solutions
43:02 The Balance of Control and Acceptance
45:47 The Gift of Letting Go
48:25 Closing Thoughts on Healing and Growth

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Today we talk vulnerability. We talk about the sneaky ways it can show up to the significant shifts that have happened in our life as we lean into it. 

00:00 Celebrating Vulnerability and Connection
04:56 Navigating Family Dynamics and Self-Worth
07:55 The Struggle of Proving Worthiness
10:37 The Impact of Perception on Self-Image
12:57 Embracing Support and Vulnerability
15:58 The Dangers of Overexertion and Self-Care
18:38 The Power of Sharing Vulnerability
21:05 Finding Safety in Vulnerability
24:03 Creating a Safe Space for Authenticity
25:22 First Impressions and Self-Consciousness
27:21 The Challenge of Acknowledging Our Worth
27:47 Building Trust and Vulnerability Over Time
28:42 The Importance of Being Seen
30:19 Understanding Shame and Vulnerability
32:55 Vulnerability as a Strength
35:11 Breaking Free from Shame
36:22 The Ongoing Journey of Self-Acceptance
38:56 The Messy Middle of Transformation
40:38 Generational Patterns and Healing
42:16 Normalizing Vulnerability in Everyday Life

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

We are going to be spending some quality time together, so we thought we should introduce ourselves. We share why we are doing this podcast, what we hope you will get from joining us, and a bit about our expertise so you know when you take notes. 

00:00 Introduction to the Messy Midlife Podcast
00:21 The Motivation Behind the Podcast
05:23 Navigating the Messy Middle of Life
08:24 The Importance of Community and Connection
11:32 Redefining Midlife: Crisis or Evolution?
13:55 Sharing Expertise and Personal Experiences
23:11 The Role of Spiritual Evolution in Health
24:51 The Anti-Hustle Mentality
31:30 Therapeutic Conversations and Connection

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Join us as we dive into the unscripted and unplanned conversations of three women navigating the complexities of midlife. From the challenges of parenting and self-discovery to the pressures of hustle culture and redefining our identities, we explore it all with authenticity and vulnerability. As naturopathic doctors and a therapist, we bring a unique perspective to the table, offering insights and support as we embrace the transformative power of midlife. Pull up a chair and join us for a candid discussion on the messiness of life and the journey to living our truth.

If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.