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Listening Deeper: 8 Wellness Experts Share What Every Midlife Woman Needs to Know

Listening Deeper: 8 Wellness Experts Share What Every Midlife Woman Needs to Know

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 Your body has a 28-day cycle. The fitness industry has a 7-day plan. Guess which one wins? That's just one of the questions we explore in this very special episode of The Naked Librarian. And if you're like, "she always says that," listen, Linda, this time it's for real. Here's the deal: I recorded most of these interviews almost two years ago. Then life happened—a full-time job I love, a memoir demanding to be written—and these conversations sat on my hard drive, unheard. When I finally listened back, I discovered something: beneath all the talk about hormones and heart health and movement and stress, every conversation was really about the stories we tell ourselves. About aging. About what our bodies can and can't do. About who gets to be the authority on our own experience. So at the end of 2025, I was like, damnit, I'm bringing their wisdom to the world. And here it is: eight wellness experts reveal what midlife women actually need to know—how to train with your hormones instead of against them, why "caregiver stress syndrome" is real (and you probably have it), what your cholesterol numbers actually mean, and how to grieve the person you used to be while becoming who you're meant to be next. From a mediator who teaches families to fight better, to a cardiologist who explains your lab work in plain English, to an energy healer who says it's okay to mourn your old career—these aren't your typical wellness tips. Consider this your permission slip to stop following advice designed for someone else's body and someone else's life. This is the conversation your body's been waiting for you to have. A few more things: Thank you to my guests—who trusted me with their time and expertise. I am so grateful. Before the transcript, you'll find a list of contributors and ways to follow up with them. Also, big thanks to the musical duo Russo & Weinberg for their tune 'Take Me Out' featured in this episode. Podcast Interviews! *These timestamps are close to the actual time stamps. The podcast went through a second edit after I rerecorded due to some audio wobbles.* Hard Family Conversations with Elizabeth Franz: 6:56 Movement & Moon Cycles with Jana Barrett: 28:27 Movement & Menopause with Dr. Maria Luque: 43:22 Keeping Your Heart Healthy with Dr G the NP: 54:51 Talking Caregiver Stress Syndrome with Dr Soma Mandal: 1:07:29 Emotional Eating Conversation with Jeff Spitzer: 1:24:18 Grieving Yourself with Gina Marie Leingang: 1:37:29 Transcendence & Meaning with Justin McSweeney: 1:51:33. Elizabeth Franz: https://humanzmediate.com/ Jana Barrett: https://www.instagram.com/jana_movement_coach/ jana-barrett.com Dr. Maria Luque: https://www.instagram.com/drmarialuque/ https://www.drmarialuque.com/ Dr. Tranise Goodlow: https://drgthenp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drgthenp/ Dr. Soma Mandal: https://www.somamandalmd.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drsomamandalmd/ Jeff Spitzer: https://www.facebook.com/jeffspitzer1970 https://courses.myh3h.com/ Gina Maria Leingang: https://www.magicbydesignhd.com/ https://www.instagram.com/magicbydesign_hd/ Justin McSweeney: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoobO-TWsWR3YHmj7YgjBIQ Russo & Weinberg: https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/artist/russo--weinberg/401 Speaker 1 (00:00:07): We are going to start today with some deep thoughts. Ready? What if your need for meaning and transcendence isn't a luxury but as essential to your wellbeing, sleep, food or connection? What if the problem isn't that you're not trying hard enough but you're listening to advice designed for someone else's body, someone else's life? These are just two of the questions we'll explore in this very special episode of The Naked Librarian. And if you're like, she always says that, listen, Linda, this time it's for real, and if you don't believe me, give me two more minutes to explain because I've got a little announcement for you if you're new here. Oh, hi, I'm Victoria Payne, a writer, story coach and guided autobiography instructor and your host of the Naked Librarian. Also, while there's technically no nudity involved in the show, it's just a fun metaphor for honest, nerdy conversation. (00:01:01): I am about to get a little naked or a little naked, as they say in my home state of Georgia. I need to be honest with you. I recorded most of these interviews almost two years ago and then life happened. I took a full-time job that I love, doubled down on writing a memoir, and suddenly this podcast that had been so central to my creative life got pushed to the side and I felt just awful because I had talked to these really cool people who had given me their time and expertise. So at the end of 2025, I was like, damnit, I don't care if I have to work every weekend for the next two months, I will bring their wisdom to the world, and that's what I have done. But also as I've been preparing to relaunch the show, I went back through these conversations with these wellness experts from around the world, ...
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