What if the hardest thing to do in yoga isn’t on the mat — it’s staying calm when your kid rolls their eyes for the fiftieth time that day?

In this episode, I talk with Sarah Ezrin, yoga teacher and author of The Yoga of Parenting, about how the ancient principles of yoga can help us survive — and even savor — the chaos of raising humans as midlife women.

Sarah says parenting is the most advanced yoga of all, and once you hear her examples, you’ll get it.

We talk about how yoga is less about poses and more about presence — being aware of your breath, your triggers, and your connection to your kids (especially when they’re testing every ounce of patience you have).

You’ll also hear:

•Why the balance of strong and soft is the real parenting sweet spot

•What “non-attachment” actually looks like when you’ve got to get your kid out the door

•How protecting your energy is the most loving thing you can do for your family

•The one yoga principle Sarah says every parent needs to start with

This episode will make you laugh, nod, and maybe breathe a little deeper the next time you’re about to lose it.

👉 Listen now to hear some powerful midlife advice from a yoga perspective — and why Sarah says, if she rewrote her book today, she might evolve that idea even further.

Guest:

Sarah Ezrin — yoga teacher, writer, and author of The Yoga of Parenting

@sarahezrinyoga

Chapters:

02:27 What is The Yoga of Parenting?

07:04 The Definition of Yoga

10:20 Balancing Softness and Strength

18:37 Non-attachment in Parenting

26:30 The Importance of Self-Care as a Parent

34:54 When Applying the Yoga of Parenting, Start Here

38:39 Key Takeaways

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Have you ever noticed that just when life starts to feel really good…you start waiting for the other shoe to drop? Or worse, you pick a fight or find a way to mess things up? That’s not random—it’s what psychologists call the Upper Limits Problem, and it’s one of the sneakiest ways we sabotage our own joy.

In this episode, I talk with award-winning author Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming, whose book How to Have a Happy Birthday explores why so many of us minimize celebrations, dread our own birthdays, or struggle to receive joy.

We discuss:

✔️What the Upper Limits Problem is and how it shows up in daily life

✔️Why birthdays are a magnifying glass for self-sabotage

✔️Childhood experiences that shape how we feel about celebrating ourselves

✔️How birthdays can be a practice ground for raising your threshold for joy

✔️Why fully feeling joy matters—not just for us, but for our kids

If you’ve ever cringed at the thought of being celebrated, struggled with disappointment on your birthday, or wondered why joy feels uncomfortable, this conversation is for you.

📖 Learn more about Tamar and her book at howtohaveahappybirthday.com.

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who doesn’t love her birthday—because maybe it’s time she had a different story about celebrating herself.

Chapters:

03:34 The Upper Limits Problem

06:45 How to Use Your Birthday To Expand Your Joy Threshold

08:51 How & Why We Sabotage Our Birthday

12:15 How Jessica Sabotages Her Birthday

17:31 How Parents Can Help Their Kids Expand Their Thresholds for Joy

21:19 How to Have A Happy Birthday in December

23:48 Why It's Important to Celebrate On Your Actual Birthday

26:13 Want to Have A Happy Birthday? Start Here.

29:23 Key takeaways

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Bag of chips. Pint of ice cream. Pick your favorite vice. Ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m not even hungry—so why am I eating this?”

In this episode, I’m joined by Tricia Nelson, founder of Heal Your Hunger and author of Heal Your Hunger: 7 Simple Steps to End Emotional Eating Now. After losing 50 pounds and healing her own relationship with food, Tricia has devoted decades to helping women uncover the real reasons behind emotional eating.

We talk about:

✔️What emotional eating actually is (and how to recognize it)

✔️How it gets more complicated in midlife

✔️The PEP test (Painkiller, Escape, Punishment) and how food plays each role

✔️Why diets fail and what to do instead

✔️Practical steps to break the cycle and find freedom

🎧 Listen in to discover how to stop reaching for food when what you really need is something else entirely.

CHAPTERS:

02:28 What is Emotional Eating?

04:30 Why Do We Turn to Sugar and Carbs?

05:52 Tricia's PEP Test for Understanding Why We Emotionally Eat

09:49 Are Some of Us Predisposed to Emotional Eating?

15:47 Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Eating

19:56 The 3 Things That Drive Emotional Eating

24:21 How To Care For Yourself When You're Emotionally Eating

28:05 Emotional Eating in Midlife

34:59 Tricia's Coaching Program

40:07 Key Takeaways

Connect with Tricia:

➡️ Tricia’s website

➡️ Take Tricia’s Emotional Eating Quiz

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

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Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

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Check out my website: belongwellness.com

Most women are told there are only a handful of options when it comes to hormone therapy for perimenopause and menopause. But what if that’s not the full story?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Peter Koshland, a UCSF-trained pharmacist and founder of Koshland Pharm, San Francisco’s only PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacy. Peter pulls back the curtain on what compounding really is, how safety and testing work, and why it can open up a world of options beyond the standard prescriptions.

We cover:

•Why one-size-fits-all menopause hormone therapy isn't for everyone

•Safe, smart delivery methods for progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone

•What compounding pharmacies do to ensure safety, potency, and precision

•The misunderstood role of progesterone in midlife women’s health

•The potential of low-dose naltrexone for women with autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s

💌 Share this episode with a friend who’s navigating menopause hormones. These conversations aren’t happening enough, and the more we spread the word, the more women will know they have choices.

Chapters:

02:27 Why Peter Is "The Hormone Guy"

06:50 What is a Compounding Pharmacy?

08:55 Who is Best Served by Compounding Pharmacies?

10:23 A Compounded Drug That Helps Hypothyroidism

13:32 Why Don't All Doctors Prescribe Compounded Hormones?

16:26 Compounded Hormones: Safety and Regulation

20:55 Compounded Hormones for Menopause Hormone Therapy

33:26 Why Blood Tests Can Be Misleading

37:13 Peter's Preferred Delivery Methods for Menopause Hormones

41:55 Trends in Menopause Hormone Therapy

45:39 The Importance of Compounding in Hormone Therapy

47:04 Key Takeaways

Connect with Dr. Peter Koshland:

➡️ koshlandpharm.com

➡️ @koshlandpharm

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com

In today’s minisode, I’m answering one of the most common questions I get: “So… do you love podcasting?”

The short answer? Yes! I love the challenge of learning a new industry, diving into conversations with inspiring midlife women, and spreading science-based information. But I also want to keep it real — it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. Podcasting is a ton of work, and doing it solo while juggling family and life isn’t sustainable forever.

In this short and honest episode, I share:

✔️ Why I love podcasting (and what keeps me going)

✔️ Why defining your sense of purpose matters for health and longevity

✔️ An important reminder for all midlife women

👀 A sneak peek at upcoming episodes

⭐️ If this podcast has brought you new info or inspiration, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and help other midlife women find this show. TYSM!

Chapters

01:00 I Need a Break

01:38 Your Question Answered: Are You Loving Your Podcast?

06:03 Midlife Reminder: Schedule Your Annual Exams

07:09 Coming Soon on the Podcast!

🎧 Episode mentioned:

Menopause Hormone Therapy Explained: What Every Midlife Woman Should Know

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

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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.

We dive into:

•The truth about protein for women in perimenopause and menopause

•What to eat to steady blood sugar and reduce menopause belly fat

•What to do if you are pre-diabetic or have high cholesterol (both common in midlife)

•Nutrition tips to support your strength training

•How nutrition and lifestyle shifts can improve sleep in midlife women

•Key nutrients for perimenopause brain fog, hair thinning, and hormone changes

•Intermittent fasting in midlife: Yay or Nay?

Barb’s approach is refreshingly real: no rigid diet rules, no gimmicks, and no shame. Just practical, doable ways to feel like yourself again—even when your hormones have other plans.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:18 Nutrition Advice for Perimenopause

06:17 You Don't Have to Stick to One Diet ALL the Time

08:55 Use the Plate Visual

11:46 Are Dairy Foods Considered Protein or Fat?

14:54 How Much Protein Should Midlife Women Eat?

18:57 What to Do If You Are Pre-Diabetic or Have High Cholesterol

23:20 Nutrition Tips for Brain Fog, Hair Thinning and Sleep

27:31 Nutrition for Midlife Symptoms

27:48 Nutrition to Support Strength Training

31:26 What to Do About Menopausal Belly Weight

38:57 Intermittent Fasting in Midlife: Yay or Nay?

41:21 Key Takeaways

🎧 Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:

5 Habits That Improved My Sleep in Perimenopause

5 Protein Recipes for Midlife Women Who Don’t Want to Eat Chicken All Day

Connect with Barbara:

barbsobel.com

@barbarasobel_nutrition

➕If this conversation inspired you, please follow the podcast and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Apple or Spotify. It helps other smart, sassy midlife women just like you find the show and feel connected to others on the same rocky boat ride.

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com

In this episode, I’m sharing five foods I used to eat all the time that just don’t have a place in my life anymore. And no, this isn’t about demonizing food or creating rules. It’s about noticing how my choices have shifted as I’ve moved through midlife and perimenopause, and celebrating the small but powerful changes that support my hormone health and energy now.

You’ll hear me talk about:

✔️Why I broke up with breakfast cereal after decades of eating it on the regular

✔️The hardest thing I’ve ever given up and the freedom it has given me

✔️How a clean-eating challenge made me start actually reading ingredient labels

✔️Why Wheat Thins feel like a total “waste of sugar” to me now

✔️The reason I choose pasture-raised meat and eggs when I can, and how that supports midlife hormone balance

This conversation isn’t really about cereal or crackers — it’s about noticing the ways we evolve and giving ourselves credit for the progress we’ve made.

✨ Now it’s your turn: What’s one food you used to eat all the time that you don’t anymore? Tell me in a written review on Apple, or in the comments on Spotify or Instagram. I can’t wait to hear what you share!

Chapters:

01:23 The "Why" Behind This Episode

02:43 Breakfast Cereal

05:27 Coffee and Coffee Mate

08:25 Energy/Protein Bars

10:46 Wheat Thins

12:16 Conventional Meat and Eggs

14:12 Wrap Up

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

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Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

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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.

We cover:

✔️How Ayurveda defines the stages of a woman’s life — from “juicy” childhood through the spaciousness of midlife

✔️Why perimenopause can feel like too much fire (hot flashes) or too much air and space (anxiety, dryness) — and how to rebalance

✔️Why oils are considered grounding and calming, and which ones are best for midlife women

✔️How disrupted sleep creates “ama” (toxic buildup) in the body, and gentle ways Ayurveda clears it

✔️How Ayurveda looks at food as qualities (warm, cooling, dry, oily) rather than calories — and what that means for hot flashes, mood, and metabolism

✔️Why routines, rituals, and steady movement like Pilates or yoga bring stability during this stage

✔️Why Ayurveda doesn’t hand out a single perimenopause protocol — because every woman’s transition looks different

Heather reminds us that this isn’t about powering through symptoms or finding the “one right supplement.” It’s about learning how your body is shifting, and working with it instead of against it — so you can move through perimenopause with more steadiness, clarity, and even a little goddess glow.

Connect with Heather:

heathergrzych.com

Wisdom of the Body podcast

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Episode Intro

01:30 Listener Shout Out 🎉

03:09 What is Ayurveda?

07:29 Perimenopause through the Lens of Ayurveda

15:49 How to Treat Perimenopause Symptoms Using Ayurveda

27:54 Heather's Top Tip for Perimenopause

33:17 What Worked For Your Friend Might Not Work For You

34:18 Conclusion

35:01 Key Takeaways

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com