If you’ve hit your 40s and suddenly feel like your body got swapped out for someone else’s…I’m right there with you. For many midlife women, uninvited menopause belly fat shows up overnight, brain fog makes you lose your train of thought mid-sentence, and you’re wide awake at 3am pondering disasters that will probably never happen. 

In this episode, I’m joined by Barbara Sobel, a board-certified nutritionist with a master’s in clinical and functional medicine nutrition. Barb specializes in midlife and menopause nutrition and helping women in perimenopause and menopause figure out what actually helps us feel better at this stage of life.

Midlife reflection for women in perimenopause: 5 foods I don’t eat anymore and the surprising lessons they taught me about healthy habits and hormone health.

Perimenopause doesn’t have to feel like the end of your fire. In Ayurveda, this stage of life is actually called your Golden Goddess era.

In this episode, Jessica talks with Heather Grzych, Ayurvedic doctor-level practitioner, bestselling author of The Ayurvedic Guide to Fertility, and former president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association. Heather explains how Ayurveda sees midlife as a shift from the fiery stage of life into the air and space stage — a transition that brings both challenges and new possibilities.

When Julie Parana had a hysterectomy at 42, she expected relief from years of pain—which she got. What she did not expect was the immediate launch into menopause a decade earlier than planned. Even with her ovaries intact, Julie found herself dealing with symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness, and sleep struggles that were affecting her work. But, it wasn’t until the hot flashes showed up that she connected the dots. 

In this episode, Julie shares how she pieced together the truth, and how the experience inspired her to become The Menopause Occupational Therapist — helping women and employers navigate this transition with confidence.

In this episode, I’m joined by Heather Nelson to discuss her very personal story that sheds light on a topic that feels like a black box to many of us—surrogacy. 

Heather is a mother, wife, business coach and podcaster who became a surrogate five years ago. Now at 43 and navigating perimenopause, she’s preparing to do it again. 

If you are a midlife woman trying to eat more protein—but you’re tired of people telling you to eat 100-grams-a-day, and you’re even more tired of eating chicken—then this episode’s for you. 

I’m breaking down how to personalize your protein intake—without bloating, burnout or boredom. I also share 5 protein recipes I make on repeat, including muffins, smoothies, and energy bites my kids devour.

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, imposter syndrome, creative courage, sailing as self-discovery, and what it really means to live authentically.

Relationships are always complicated. But in midlife, they often get even more layered—especially for women who are doing the deep inner work of growth, healing, and change.

In this episode of the Belong Wellness Podcast, I’m joined by licensed psychotherapist Jessie Curtner, who specializes in helping couples navigate the emotional complexity of long-term love. 

To celebrate the first 6 months of the Belong Wellness podcast, I’m taking you on a greatest-hits-style trip through some of my favorite 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.

This week, I’m joined by Courtney Townley, host of the Grace & Grit podcast and a total truth-teller when it comes to midlife women’s health. She’s here to help us stop waging war on our bodies, stop doing everyone else’s emotional labor, and start rebuilding a life that actually works for us.

We’re talking burnout, hormone shifts, people-pleasing, body image, boundaries—and how to stop patching the cracks and start pouring a new foundation.

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 became an unexpected source of healing for herself and others.

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.

We met in preschool. Now we’re in perimenopause. And somehow, my oldest friend Alexis Lynch is reading six books a month while running her own law firm, parenting an 8-year-old, and doing alllll the things.

In this week’s episode, Alexis shares how she reignited her love of reading in the middle of all the midlife madness—and how you can too. She also shares her summer reading list curated just for YOU.

You’ve heard the message loud and clear: strength training is crucial in midlife. But when are you supposed to fit it in between work, parenting, errands, and maybe trying to sleep??

In this episode of the Belong Wellness podcast, Jessica talks with Judy Truong, a longtime fitness instructor and midlife mom who’s made it her mission to show that strength training can actually work with your life—not against it.

Ever had a big idea… but no idea where to start?

This week’s podcast episode is for every woman who’s ever thought, “There has to be a better way.” Because that’s exactly where Jill Harris started.

Jill is a longtime Pilates pro who turned a frustration into a full-blown product. She invented Fit Springs—a spring-resistance workout system now used by athletes, celebrities, and clients in their 70s.

She shares her story of how she brought her idea to life, and let’s just say it wasn’t all easy street.

When your friend is facing a medical crisis—like a critically ill child, a major diagnosis, or life-changing surgery—it’s hard to know how to help. You don’t want to say the wrong thing. You don’t want to intrude. But you do want to show up.

In this powerful episode, Jessica talks with Tara Sharp, a midlife mom who has walked through years of intense medical challenges with her daughters. Tara shares raw and honest reflections on what helped her most—and what every friend should know about supporting someone in crisis.

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. 

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 beautifully the same. 

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 stop apologizing for needing breathing room.

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 the other midlife madness.