Have you been feeling more anxious, overwhelmed, irritable, or just "not like yourself" lately? It may not be stress, aging, or a lack of resilience. Hormones could be playing a bigger role than you realize.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Kirsten Smith, a naturopathic doctor specializing in women's health, for an honest and empowering conversation about perimenopause, menopause, and the physical and emotional changes that often come with midlife.

Dr. Kirsten also shares insight into:

• Early signs of perimenopause that often go unrecognized
• The connection between hormones, anxiety, mood, and stress tolerance
• Why women's midlife health is finally getting more attention
• The importance of advocating for yourself in healthcare settings
• How to navigate the overwhelming world of online health information
• Why feeling better is not "too much to ask"

This conversation is a reminder that women deserve to feel informed, supported, and taken seriously during every stage of life.

🎧 Listen in for a thoughtful discussion about women's health, self-advocacy, and caring for the woman who's living this next chapter.

You don't have to simply push through. Understanding your body is a powerful place to begin.

Connect with Dr. Kirsten at:
Website
Instagram

What does it look like to begin again when the life you knew no longer fits?

In this episode, I'm talking with attorney, author, and speaker Maria Leonard Olsen about starting over, trying new things, and discovering who you are in a new season of life.

After navigating divorce, recovery, an empty nest, and living alone for the first time, Maria found herself at 50 wondering: What comes next?

Instead of waiting until she had the answer, she got curious. Maria challenged herself to try 50 new things ~ and along the way, discovered new interests, new experiences, and a new way of looking at her life.

We talk about:

• Why you don't need to have your next chapter figured out
• How trying new things can help you rediscover yourself
• What Maria learned from her "50 new things" experiment
• Letting go of what no longer fits
• The difference between being alone and being lonely
• Why curiosity can be such a powerful tool during times of change
• Giving yourself permission to ask, "What do I want now?"

You don't have to wait for a major life transition to reconsider how you're spending your time or what you want more of.

Sometimes the next chapter doesn't begin with a big plan. It begins with getting curious enough to try something new.

Connect with Maria at:
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

TEDX talks:
Turning Life's Challenges Into a Force for Good
Should you use a DNA test kit?

Book:
50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life

Gen X women are pretty good at figuring things out ourselves.

But when independence becomes our default, asking for help can feel surprisingly hard.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why independence became such a defining Gen X trait
• How "I'll figure it out myself" can become a limiting pattern
• Why asking for help can feel especially difficult for women
• How therapy can give us a place to sort things out without the emotional entanglements of everyday life
• Why good friendships matter as we move into this next chapter

Contact Tracy at:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Huffington Post Article ~ The Most Common Issues GenXers Bring Up in Therapy

In this week's Design Your Joyful Retirement episode, I'm talking with Raquel Durden ~ veteran, cancer survivor, yoga teacher, author of Dial Down: Moving from Chaos to Calm, and proud "wellness weaver."

Raquel shares a simple but powerful idea: wellness isn't something you escape to someday. It's something you gently weave into your everyday life.

We explored how small practices ~ like walking, breathing, journaling, movement, or taking a few quiet minutes for yourself ~ can help you feel more grounded, especially during midlife and retirement transitions.

This conversation is a refreshing reminder that calm doesn't arrive when life finally gets easier. It's built in small moments, one choice at a time.

🎧 Listen now for an encouraging, practical conversation about creating wellness in ways that actually work for real life.

Connect with Raquel at:

Website

Humble Warrior Wellness & Yoga

One of the things I love about midlife is that we start asking different questions.

Do I really want to keep doing this? What would I do if I had more freedom? What might be possible if I stopped doing things simply because they're familiar?

But even when we know we want something to change, that doesn't mean we know exactly what comes next.

In this episode with Alison Lebwohl, we talk about her gradual transition from a 23-year career in state government to building her own consulting business. Rather than having a mapped out plan, her business grew organically, one opportunity at a time.

Maybe there's something you've been thinking about ~ a career change, a new business, a different way of working, more time for yourself, or simply a life that feels more like you.

The next chapter doesn't have to be perfectly planned. It just has to feel true to you.

Connect with Alison on LinkedIn or via email

What if this season of life isn't something to survive, but an opportunity to create intentionally?

In this episode, I'm talking with Marelda Rodrigues, certified health coach, menopause educator, and founder of Sovereign Becoming™, to explore how menopause, retirement, and other life transitions can become powerful invitations to reconnect with yourself and design a next chapter that truly fits.

We talk about:

• Why menopause is more than a physical transition
• The connection between health, identity, and purpose
• How to approach your next chapter with intention instead of autopilot

Reflection: What do you want the next chapter of your life to feel like?

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mareldarodrigues/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sovereignbecoming/
Website: https://mareldarodrigues.com

This conversation with Jess Parvin is an honest look at what it really takes to build a business that reflects who you are ~ without shrinking yourself to fit someone else's formula.

We talk about the myth of "overnight success," why burnout often becomes a turning point, and how entrepreneurship can act as a powerful catalyst for personal and spiritual growth. Jess shares how limiting beliefs ~ not lack of strategy ~ are often the real barrier, and why reconnecting with your authentic self is the foundation for building something sustainable.

We also explore the shift away from hustle culture toward a more aligned, soul-led way of working, the power of community, and how taking small, imperfect steps can create real momentum. If you've ever felt stuck, scattered, or unsure how to turn your experience into something meaningful, this conversation will meet you there.

Website: www.jessparvin.com

Podcast: Holistic Business Growth

Instagram: Holistic Biz Growth