Perimenopause doesn’t just affect a woman’s body—it can affect her mood, confidence, mental health, intimacy, and the way she connects with the people she loves.

In this episode of The Next Level NP Podcast, I’m joined by Jamie Jones, FNP, PMHNP, owner of Intentional Wellness Solutions, for a conversation about what happens when hormones begin showing up in our relationships.

As both a Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner—and a woman who has experienced perimenopause herself—Jamie brings a unique perspective to the connection between hormones and mental health.

We talk about irritability, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, changes in libido and intimacy, body image, weight, communication, and what can happen when a woman simply says, “I don’t feel like myself anymore.”

We also discuss Jamie’s remarkable personal health journey, including maintaining a 140-pound weight loss for more than a decade, why sustainable health is about far more than willpower, and the importance of considering hormone health earlier—not just when symptoms become unbearable.

This conversation is for women navigating perimenopause, the people who love them, and healthcare providers who want to better understand the whole woman sitting in front of them.

Connect with Jamie Jones, NP
🌐 Intentional Wellness Solutions: https://www.intentionalwellnesssolutions.com

Connect with Marcia Jones, NP
🌐 MarciaJonesNP.com
🌐 For Nurse Practitioners: NextLevelNP.com

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman—or a partner—who needs to hear this conversation.

The Next Level NP Podcast
Transforming Women’s Healthcare One Conversation at a Time.

Are we really practicing preventive healthcare—or are we simply screening for disease and calling it wellness?

In this episode of The Next Level NP Podcast, I’m challenging the traditional wellness exam and the way we approach women’s health.

A CBC, CMP, glucose, cholesterol and basic screenings are important. But when a woman is exhausted, gaining abdominal weight, losing muscle, struggling with sleep, experiencing brain fog or noticing significant changes during perimenopause and menopause, being told that “everything looks normal” doesn’t answer the most important question:

Why doesn’t she feel well?

Women’s health needs change across the lifespan, and our approach to prevention should change with them.

In this episode, I discuss the importance of looking beyond basic disease screening to consider hormonal changes, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, insulin and metabolic health, thyroid function, muscle mass, bone health, sleep, nutrition and cardiovascular risk.

We also talk about why counting steps isn’t the same as protecting muscle and bone, why a normal glucose doesn’t necessarily tell the entire metabolic story, and why improving a woman’s quality of life may actually give her the capacity and motivation to pursue true wellness.

This isn’t about ordering every test on every woman or treating every symptom with hormones. It’s about asking better questions, understanding female physiology, and recognizing opportunities for prevention before disease becomes the diagnosis.

It’s time to move beyond simply telling women, “Everything looks normal.”

It’s time for better women’s healthcare.

FOR WOMEN

If you’re tired of being told your labs are “normal” when you know you don’t feel like yourself, learn more about working with me. I provide virtual women’s health and hormone care. marciajonesnp.com

FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS

If you’re an NP who wants to go beyond ordering labs and learn how to understand women’s hormonal and metabolic health, interpret the bigger clinical picture, and connect the dots, explore NextLevelNP.net

FOR ORGANIZATIONS

Women’s health isn’t just a healthcare issue. It’s a workforce strategy. I work with organizations to bring evidence-informed midlife women’s health education and strategy into the workplace. https://marciajonesnp.com

The Next Level NP Podcast
Transforming Women’s Healthcare One Conversation at a Time.

Subscribe, share this episode, and join the conversation about what women’s healthcare can become.

#WomensHealth #Menopause #Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #PreventiveHealth #NursePractitioner #NextLevelNP #MetabolicHealth #WomensWellness #MenopauseAtWork

Women’s hormones have gone from being something we rarely discussed to one of the biggest conversations happening in healthcare today.

But how did we get here?

In this episode of The Next Level NP Podcast, I’m looking at the evolution of women’s hormone care—from the introduction of birth control in 1960, to the fear that followed the Women’s Health Initiative, to the new conversations happening around menopause and hormone replacement therapy today.

For generations, women were expected to simply endure the changes of midlife. Today, women are asking more questions, research and clinical guidance continue to evolve, and providers have an opportunity to change the way we care for women.

But more conversation doesn’t automatically mean better care. We need better education, better assessment, and providers who understand the bigger picture.

• How women’s attitudes toward hormones have evolved across generations
• How the Women’s Health Initiative changed the perception of HRT—and important context surrounding those findings
• Why annual wellness care needs to better address sleep, cognition, libido, mood, metabolism, stress and hormonal changes
• Why hormones shouldn’t be evaluated in isolation—and how thyroid health, insulin, nutrition, gut health, sleep and HPA-axis/stress physiology can be part of the bigger picture
• Why Nurse Practitioners are uniquely positioned to help bridge the gap and lead the next evolution of women’s healthcare

This isn’t about abandoning traditional medicine. It’s about bridging the gap.

And if you’re an NP listening and thinking, I wasn’t taught enough of this, you’re not alone. Women’s healthcare is evolving, and our education has to evolve with it.

Schedule a Practice Assessment
If you’re ready to expand your practice, improve the way you care for women, or simply aren’t sure where to start, let’s look at your current practice and create a path forward. https://www.nextlevelnp.net/launchyournppractice

Take My Basic Women’s Hormone Panel Course
You don’t have to practice exclusively in women’s health to make a difference. Learn how a foundational women’s hormone panel can help you ask better questions, recognize patterns, and better understand the woman sitting in front of you.
https://www.nextlevelnp.net/courses

Join Me at the Women’s Health Intensive
September 17–19, 2026 | South Carolina
Go deeper with me in an intimate, hands-on learning environment focused on women’s hormones, labs, HPA-axis/stress physiology, whole-person care, real clinical application, and the bigger picture behind women’s symptoms.
https://www.nextlevelnp.net/nextlevelnpwomenshealthintensive

The conversation around hormones has changed. Now healthcare has to change with it—and I believe Nurse Practitioners can help lead the way.

Subscribe, share this episode with another NP, and join me as we continue Transforming Women’s Healthcare—One Conversation at a Time.

What happens when a woman facing breast cancer makes a healthcare decision her doctors don’t agree with?

In this episode of The Next Level Podcast, I sit down with Dawn Painter, who shares her personal journey after being diagnosed with ER/PR-positive breast cancer.

Dawn opens up about the fear surrounding her diagnosis, feeling pressured to make decisions quickly, and the challenges she encountered when she began asking questions and exploring a different path. We talk about patient choice, advocating for yourself, finding providers willing to listen, navigating testing and insurance barriers, and the financial realities of care outside the traditional system.

But Dawn’s story is also about faith, resilience, and living. We talk about completing the Mud Run as a survivor, making significant lifestyle changes, and turning her experience into an opportunity to support other women facing cancer.

Connect with Dawn & Her Support Community:

https://www.facebook.com/dawn.derbypainter
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61593050278565

My Holistic Cancer Care course explores nutrition, metabolic and gut health, environmental exposures, stress, lifestyle, and other whole-person considerations that can support wellness alongside appropriate medical care.

Learn more:
https://revolution.marciajonesnp.com/holisticcancercare

For Women & Patients:
Personalized women’s health and whole-person care
Marcia Jones, NP: https://marciajonesnp.com

For Nurse Practitioners & Providers:
Women’s health education, clinical training, mentorship, strategy sessions, and practice development through Next Level NP
Learn more: https://nextlevelnp.net

This episode shares Dawn’s individual experience and is not intended to recommend replacing, delaying, or declining evidence-based cancer treatment. Cancer treatment decisions should be made in consultation with qualified oncology professionals.

If this episode encouraged you, like, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation.

The Next Level Podcast

Transforming Women’s Healthcare—One Conversation at a Time.

#BreastCancer #BreastCancerAwareness #BreastCancerSupport #CancerJourney #CancerSupport #PatientAdvocacy #InformedChoices #WomensHealth #WomensHealthcare #WholePersonHealth #IntegrativeHealth #HealthcareChoices #PatientCenteredCare #WomenSupportingWomen #CancerSurvivor #NursePractitioner #NursePractitioners #NextLevelNP #TheNextLevelPodcast #TransformingWomensHealthcare

What if the future of healthcare isn't about choosing between conventional and functional medicine—but bringing the best of both together?

In this episode of The Next Level Podcast, Marcia Jones, NP sits down with Kacie Proctor, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, FMACP, IBDA-C, a Family Nurse Practitioner and Functional Medicine Practitioner who is redefining what patient-centered care can look like.

After working in emergency medicine, critical care, hospital medicine, palliative care, and primary care, Kacie began noticing the same pattern: women struggling with fatigue, weight changes, brain fog, digestive issues, hormone symptoms, and chronic health concerns—while repeatedly being told their labs were "normal."

That realization led her to functional medicine—not to abandon conventional medicine, but to expand upon it.

• Bridging conventional and functional medicine
• Why women with “normal” labs still don’t feel well
• Looking beyond symptoms to uncover root causes
• Kacie’s journey into functional medicine
• Building a hybrid practice as a Nurse Practitioner
• What Kacie would tell NPs who are ready for something different
• The future of women’s healthcare

One of the biggest messages from this episode is simple:

You don't have to choose sides.

Conventional medicine is extraordinary for acute illness, emergency care, surgery, and lifesaving treatment. Functional medicine gives us additional tools to explore prevention, chronic illness, lifestyle, and the deeper "why" behind symptoms.

When we bring the best of both together, we can create a more personalized, preventive, and patient-centered model of care.

Kacie Proctor, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, FMACP, IBDA-C

Website: Wecarehealthandwellness.com
Social Media: @KacieProctorNP

For women looking for a functional medicine approach to hormones, thyroid, metabolic health, gut health, fatigue, and whole-person wellness:

MarciaJonesNP.com

For Nurse Practitioners ready to expand their clinical knowledge, explore functional medicine, build a practice, or take their career to the next level:

NextLevelNP.net

Ready to go deeper?

Join Marcia for the Next Level NP Women's Health Intensive, an intimate, hands-on experience for Nurse Practitioners who want to strengthen their knowledge of women's health, hormones, functional medicine, and real-world clinical application—while connecting with other NPs who are ready to practice differently.

September 17–19, 2026 | South Carolina

Learn more and register:
https://www.nextlevelnp.net/nextlevelnpwomenshealthintensive

Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a woman or healthcare provider who needs to hear this conversation.

Every share helps us continue our mission of transforming women's healthcare one conversation at a time.

The Next Level Podcast
Hosted by Marcia Jones, NP

Your Body Is Trying to Tell You Something

What if your symptoms are more than physical? What if your body is trying to tell you something your mind has been trying to suppress?

In this thought-provoking episode of The Next Level NP Podcast, Marcia Jones, Nurse Practitioner and Functional Medicine Practitioner, sits down with Breanna Bowen, an intuitive healer, soul reader, and founder of Breanna's Wholistic Healing.

Together, they explore the concept of dis-ease—the idea that unresolved trauma, suppressed emotions, and unhealed experiences can influence our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. They also discuss energy work and how practices such as Theta Healing® are intended to help people identify and release emotional and energetic blocks that may be keeping them stuck.

Marcia shares her own healing journey with Breanna, including the Theta Healing session that inspired the dream leading to her upcoming book, Strong. Beautiful.Fearless. Together, they discuss healing through story, surrender, forgiveness, intuition, the gut-brain connection, and learning to listen to what your body has been trying to say all along.

Connect with Breanna Bowen
🌐 https://healmebre.com
📘 https://www.facebook.com/BreannasWholisticHealing
📷 https://www.instagram.com/healmebre

Work with Marcia Jones, NP
If you're ready to uncover the root causes behind fatigue, hormone imbalances, thyroid concerns, brain fog, weight struggles, or other persistent symptoms, visit https://www.MarciaJonesNP.com.

Healthcare provider? Learn more about education and mentorship at https://www.NextLevelNP.net.

If this conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone whose body may be trying to tell them something.

In this episode of The Next Level Podcast, Marcia Jones, NP, sits down with Marla Ballard to to discuss being dismissed by healthcare providers, hormone imbalance, thyroid challenges, learning to trust your body, and discovering a more holistic path to healing.

Together, they discuss the importance of listening to your body, asking deeper questions, and embracing a more holistic approach to health and healing. Marla shares how her experiences led her beyond conventional medicine and into a lifelong passion for helping others reconnect with their own inner wisdom and vitality.

• Why so many women feel dismissed in today's healthcare system
• The connection between hormones, stress, trauma, and overall wellness
• Learning to trust your body and advocate for your health
• Looking beyond symptoms to discover root causes
• Encouragement for women seeking answers and providers committed to changing women's healthcare

Marla Ballard is the CEO of YU2SHINE and an intuitive healing practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in leadership, coaching, EFT, and transformational healing.

Follow Marla:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marla.ballard.9
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marla.ballard/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlafballard/

🌐 MarciaJonesNP.com
🌐 NextLevelNP.net
📧 marcia@marciajonesnp.com

Facebook (Women's Health)
https://www.facebook.com/MarciaJonesNP

Facebook (Next Level NP)
https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelNP

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/marciajonesnp

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciajonesnp

For Women:
If you're looking for answers to hormone concerns, fatigue, thyroid issues, gut health, weight struggles, or simply aren't feeling like yourself, I'd love to help you discover a personalized path to healing through a functional medicine approach.

For Nurse Practitioners & Healthcare Providers:
If you're passionate about transforming women's healthcare, growing your confidence in functional medicine, or building a thriving women's health practice, learn more about Next Level NP and our education, mentorship, and membership opportunities.

Whether you have a story to share, an area of expertise, or would like to be considered as a future guest, leave a comment or reach out directly.

📧 marcia@marciajonesnp.com

Welcome to The Next Level Podcast, where we bridge the gap between traditional healthcare and a root-cause, whole-person approach to women's health.

In this episode, I share my journey from traditional medicine to functional medicine, why I believe women's stories matter, and the vision behind this podcast. We explore why symptoms are rarely isolated, the changing landscape of women's healthcare, and why both women and providers deserve better conversations, better education, and better options.

Whether you're searching for answers about your own health or you're a healthcare provider wanting to better serve your patients, I'm so glad you're here.

• Traditional medicine and functional medicine: working together
• Navigating health information and misinformation
• The future of women's healthcare
• What to expect from future episodes
• Why providers have an incredible opportunity to transform women's healthcare

If you're tired of being told your labs are "normal" while you still don't feel like yourself, I'd love to help. Learn more about personalized functional medicine consultations at MarciaJonesNP.com.

If you're ready to grow your confidence in women's health, integrate functional medicine into your practice, or build a thriving business you love, visit NextLevelNP.net to learn about mentorship, consulting, and the Next Level NP Membership.

Coming Fall 2026: The Next Level NP Women's Health Retreat—an intimate, immersive experience designed for Nurse Practitioners who are ready to elevate their clinical skills, expand their practice, and connect with like-minded providers.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who believes women's healthcare can be better.

Connect with Me
🌐 MarciaJonesNP.com
🌐 NextLevelNP.net
📧 marcia@marciajonesnp.com

One of the most meaningful parts of The Next Level Podcast is hearing real stories and real conversations.

If you're a woman whose healthcare journey could encourage or inspire others, or you're a healthcare providerpassionate about changing the future of women's health, I'd love to hear from you.

Whether you have a story to share, an area of expertise, or you'd like to be considered as a future guest, leave a comment or reach out directly.

📧 marcia@marciajonesnp.com

Your story may be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

Facebook (Women's Health):
Marcia Jones NP

Facebook (Next Level NP):
Next Level NP

Instagram:
@MarciaJonesNP

LinkedIn:
Marcia Jones, NP