Essentially You: Empowering You On Your Health & Wellness Journey With Safe, Natural & Effective Solutions

Perimenopause and menopause can feel like a time of massive change.  Because it IS! And with physical and hormonal changes comes the need for a big upgrade to your exercise and wellness routine. That’s why I’ve brought expert Brian Keane onto the podcast to offer insight on optimally evolving your healthy habits to move with you through this wonderful season of life.  We dive into why restriction or an all-or-nothing approach to exercise can completely backfire in perimenopause and what to focus on instead for strength, energy, and longevity.  Brian also shares the most overlooked opportunities for building sustainable, effective wellness habits in midlife.  If you’re ready to lean into this powerful season of life with confidence (and less frustration), this episode is for you! Tune in now.  Brian Keane Brian Keane is a 3x bestselling author, certified strength and conditioning coach, sports nutritionist, and the host of the top podcast, The Brian Keane Podcast. Brian has been a featured speaker at p

At the end of a busy year, you’re probably feeling like you’ve been running on empty while pouring into everyone else.  So in this reflective episode, I invite you to pause and look back on 2025 with honesty and compassion for yourself. Together, we address the exhaustion so many midlife women are carrying and create space for a much-needed reset after a full and demanding year.  You’ll be guided through what truly worked in 2025, what you’re ready to release, and what you want to consciously carry forward as you turn the page.  With a focus on discernment, alignment, and intention—hallmarks of the perimenopausal journey—this episode offers 12 powerful reflection questions to help you find clarity on all you’ve gone through this year.   Tune in to honor how far you’ve come and step into 2026 with renewed confidence and purpose! IN THIS EPISODE Taking what I’ve learned in 2025 into the new year  Discovering what you want to call on in 2026  The benefits of taking time for reflection activit

Feeling totally drained amidst the holiday chaos?  In this episode, I’ll be sharing with you my five practical, no-fluff tips to help you boost your energy and stay grounded during one of the busiest seasons of the year.  Because here’s the truth: burnout does not have to be your baseline, even when your plate is overflowing.  These simple, doable habits are designed to support your hormones, protect your sanity, and help you feel more present—starting right now.  Even better, they’re meant to build momentum that carries you beyond the holidays and straight into 2026 feeling stronger and more energized than ever.  Tune in here for a refreshing reset and real-life strategies you can actually stick with this season and beyond! IN THIS EPISODE My top ways to avoid the holiday burnout  Energy boosting habits for a healthier holiday  Starting your morning routine with an evening routine  How to liven up your daily water intake Supporting yourself with metabolically healthy meals 

Perimenopause and menopause should be a time of possibility—not of decline.  Here to help me dive into this topic is renowned women’s health expert Dr. Jessica Shepherd, who shares how this powerful transition invites us to look inward and decide how we want to show up physically, emotionally, and metabolically as we age.  We explore the real hormonal changes happening in midlife and why this season can actually put you back in the driver’s seat of your health and wellbeing.  You’ll hear a refreshing, science-backed perspective on aging that challenges the old narrative, leaving you feeling confident and strong. Plus, you’ll hear our top non-negotiables and lifestyle recommendations to help you feel like your best self.  If you’re ready to redefine what midlife and longevity can look like for you, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to thrive through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond! Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG Dr. Jessica Shepherd is a board-certified OB/GYN, Chief Medical Officer of Hers,

Perimenopause and menopause can bring surprising changes to your brain—making multitasking even harder and emotional overwhelm way more real. That’s why in this episode, women’s health expert Dr. Aviva Romm joins us to break down what’s really happening cognitively in midlife and how these shifts can be a normal, navigable transition.  Together, we’re debunking common perimenopause myths and unpacking how sleep, nutrition, exercise, and daily lifestyle choices can dramatically support your brain power and emotional resilience.  Dr. Romm shares her top practical tools that will help you feel clear, focused, and confident as your body evolves in midlife.  Ready to thrive—not just survive—through midlife and beyond? Tune in now and discover how to support your brain and body so you can step into this next chapter feeling your best! Aviva Romm, MD Dr. Aviva Romm is a Yale-trained family physician, midwife, and herbalist who’s been a leading voice in women’s, maternal, and environmental health for over 35 y

The immune system is a MASSIVE key to your overall health. So what can you do to best support it and truly THRIVE at any age?  In this episode, pioneering functional medicine expert Dr. Jeffrey Bland joins me to explore how immune system rejuvenation can be a game-changer for long-term health. We dive into the idea that food truly is medicine, and how targeted nutrition (while minimizing ultra-processed foods) can help the immune system recover AND strengthen.  Dr. Bland shares exciting insights on immuno-rejuvenation and spotlights an ancient yet “new” superfood—Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat—that’s paving the way for the future of nutrition and longevity. Together, we unpack how chronic stress, inflammation, and poor nutrition quietly tax the body over time, increasing disease risk, and what you can do to interrupt that cycle.  Ready for real healing to occur? Tune into this episode for realistic, practical lifestyle strategies for sleep, stress, and nourishment to help you feel stronger, more resilient,

I’m one of millions of women specifically trying to parent themselves while parenting children… and it can be seriously exhausting. And when childhood trauma still comes back to haunt us in midlife and beyond, life can feel impossible.  That’s why I’ve invited trauma expert Anna Runkle on for this powerful episode to help unpack why so many midlife women are still impacted by old trauma, and how that buried stress shows up in our bodies.  We dive into the hidden ways trauma can lead us to isolate, dysregulate our nervous system, and disrupt key hormones like cortisol, dopamine, and serotonin.  Anna and I break down how this cascade of stress and deregulation can spark inflammation, oxidative stress, blood-sugar swings, and even contribute to autoimmune issues that so many women face.  But most importantly, Anna shares simple, compassionate tools to help regulate your nervous system and finally begin healing the deeper patterns driving overwhelm in midlife.  Ready to feel more grounded in this season of l

Feel like you’re just not yourself mentally in midlife? Trust me, you are absolutely not crazy for wondering what’s going on in your brain.  In this episode, hormone expert Dr. Carrie Jones joins me to unpack the very real brain changes and hormone fluctuations that make midlife feel like a rollercoaster. Dr. Carrie brings refreshing honesty about giving herself grace on the days when her brain simply says “no” and how that compassion is essential for all of us navigating this season of life.  We dive into the midlife “reckoning,” when so many women realize it’s time to reevaluate who they are, what they want, and say goodbye to what no longer serves them.  Together, we explore why midlife can leave you feeling out of whack, how hormones drive these shifts, and what you can do to support your brain with more clarity and ease.  Tune in to feel validated and empowered as you move through this transformative stage of life! Carrie Jones ND, FABNE, MPH Dr. Carrie Jones is an internationally recognized speak

80% of migraine sufferers are women. And I hear way too many women say their doctors brush off their complaints of headaches and migraines, giving no real, lasting solutions.  So that ends here!  I’ve invited the brilliant Dr. Meg Mill on the podcast to unpack the real connection between hormones, histamine, and headaches, especially as it relates to midlife hormonal changes.  You’ll learn the first practical steps—like: balancing blood sugar reducing oxidative stress spotting symptom patterns simplifying food eliminations and choosing the right supplements  —to finally get ahead of chronic migraines. This conversation is all about giving you the clarity, tools, and confidence to support your body instead of suffering in silence.  Tune in to discover the migraine solutions every woman deserves! Dr. Meg Mill Dr. Meg Mill is a leading women's health expert, Doctor of Clinical Pharmacy, and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience

Here’s your invitation to slow down, tune in, and truly support yourself through the midlife transition.  Because all the changes in menopause, emotionally and physically, can seriously rock your identity.  That’s why I’ve invited mindfulness expert Rosie Acosta on the podcast to explore the intersection of mindfulness and menopause, and how being in a community with other women can make this season of life feel less isolating and so much more empowering.  Rosie shares how anxiety can become a messenger to your body rather than an enemy, and offers simple breathing techniques so you can feel grounded anytime, anywhere.  Together, we redefine what womanhood and wellness look like in midlife and beyond—more connected and more intentional than ever. Listen now to feel seen and inspired on your midlife journey! Rosie Acosta Rosie Acosta is a mindfulness teacher at Headspace and author of You Are Radically Loved: A Healing Journey to Self-Love. With over 20 years of study and a decade of teaching, she’s led

In midlife, I see TONS of women who are “doing all the right things”—eating clean, exercising harder, even restricting more—yet still are seeing the scale creep up. That’s why I’ve invited Sarah Kennedy on the podcast, who’s the founder and CEO of Calocurb– a natural, non-prescription hunger control treatment option.  We’re unpacking why hunger can feel louder and more relentless than ever for women in midlife. Sarah breaks down how shifting hormones, chronic stress, poor sleep, and dwindling bandwidth all fuel food noise, cravings, and that constant tug-of-war with your appetite.  You’ll learn why willpower is not the problem—and why your biology deserves more compassion… not more restriction.  Most importantly, Sarah shares practical, science-backed ways to calm midlife cravings and support your changing metabolism with more ease. Tune in here and finally make a change that shows you results!  Sarah Kennedy Sarah Kennedy is the founder and CEO of Calocurb, a revolutionary weight-management product bas

Feeling a bit lost in midlife? This is a MASSIVE transition physically and emotionally, so it’s easy to feel like you’re just not who you once were.  In this episode, I sit down with the wonderful Elena Brower to discuss navigating midlife with more grace, spaciousness, and self-trust.  As a seasoned meditation and yoga instructor, Elena reminds us that this season of life is truly about letting go—releasing what no longer serves you and creating room for what deeply matters now.  Through the stories and practices in her new book, Hold Nothing, she offers a grounded pathway for prioritizing yourself, your energy, and your evolving needs without apology.  We explore how midlife asks us to choose what gets to take center stage today… and you can bet it’s different from what mattered most to you five, ten, or twenty years ago.  So if you’re craving care, patience, and encouragement as you move through hormonal shifts and midlife transitions, this conversation is just for you!  Elena Brower  Elena Brower i

Feel like you're eating as clean as you can but still not seeing results?  In midlife, this can be a constant battle for us as women.  So in this episode, nutrition expert Lara Frendjian breaks down what it really takes to master your metabolism after 40—and why it’s so much more empowering than the diet rules we grew up with.  Lara reminds us that how we eat isn’t punishment but a profound way of nourishing and loving our bodies through every season of life.  We dive into the key nutrition shifts that help you feel more energized, clear-headed, and strong, along with the lifestyle strategies that can supercharge your metabolic health.  If you’ve felt “off” or less vibrant lately, Lara’s simple, science-backed guidance will help you feel more alive in your body than you have in years.  Tune in to learn how to support your metabolism with confidence through midlife and beyond!  Lara Frendjian Lara Frendjian is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Life Coach, and the creator of Metabolic Mastery for Wome

Hormone replacement therapy education is all the talk these days. But how do you cut through all the noise and get the right care for you?  Expert in the field, Dr. Sarah Daccarett joins the podcast to get straight to the point about how the CORRECT hormone replacement methods can do more than just symptom management. We want you to feel GOOD in midlife, not just symptom-free. A lot of providers aren’t knowledgeable or confident enough in HRT options, leaving you with a one-size-fits-all treatment plan. And sadly, this causes thousands of women to be totally underdosed.  But Dr. Sarah offers something different that can potentially give some standardization for you. You can get predictable products and services at her company, Inner Balance. With a clinical team to check in with, and less HRT side effects than other formulations, Inner Balance is a safe and massively effective option for managing your midlife hormone symptoms.  Tune in here and learn how to get maximum benefit from hormone replacement th

If you’ve been doing everything right—eating clean, exercising, and taking your supplements—but still feel tired, bloated, or off, this episode is going to change the way you think about your health.  I’m joined by the incredible Kim Rogers, better known online as the “Worm Queen,” who’s pulling back the curtain on the hidden world of parasites and why so many of us are unknowingly affected by them.  With 20+ years in Western medicine and a powerful personal healing story through Lyme, mold, and parasite infections, Kim brings both science and passion to this eye-opening conversation.  You’ll learn why regular parasite cleansing can be a total game-changer for your energy, digestion, skin, and overall vitality.  All of us should be doing a parasite cleanse– it’s safe, effective, and an incredible way to be proactive about our health.  Tune in to this episode and feel empowered to take your healing into your own hands! Kim Rogers  Kim worked in western medicine for over 20 years, ran 25 healthcare colle

Ready to boost your energy and future-proof your health? In this episode, I’m joined by expert neuroscientist Dr. Siobhan Mitchell, who breaks down why your mitochondria—the tiny powerhouses inside your cells—are the secret to healthy aging.  She explains how the perimenopause and menopause transition is not just hormonal, but a neuroendocrine shift that impacts your brain, mood, energy, AND vitality.  And even if you’re doing your best to bring on lifestyle recommendations for optimizing mitochondrial health, odds are you still need more support than just that in midlife. So, that’s where the supplement MitoQ comes into play.  As MitoQ’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Mitchell reveals how this advanced antioxidant works deep inside your cells to enhance mitochondrial function, boosting mental clarity and long-term longevity.  Tune in and discover how to fuel your energy, elevate your mood, and embrace midlife feeling stronger than ever! Dr. Siobhan Mitchell  Siobhan Mitchell is the chief scientific off

Ever feel like you’re losing yourself in midlife?  In this powerful episode, I’m sitting down with expert Ashley Turner to explore the deeper meaning behind midlife hormonal changes in perimenopause and menopause.  Ashley helps you discover how perimenopause can be a profound reckoning, discussing how this stage of life invites us to shift from ego-driven goals toward greater purpose and compassion for others… and more importantly, for yourself.  Ashley beautifully reframes midlife as not an ending, but a spiritual awakening — a chance to realign with who we are and what we value.  We also dive into how embracing this change can spark healing, empowerment, and advocacy for ourselves and others.  Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you ready to step into your next chapter with grace and intention. Ashley Turner Ashley Turner is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Psychedelic Therapist, renowned yoga–meditation teacher, writer, facilitator, speaker, and 7-figure entrepreneur. Her mission is to

Millions of women struggle with infertility worldwide. And if you’re one of them, you’re not alone.  But in this inspiring episode, I sit down with the brilliant Dr. Ann Shippy to unpack the growing fertility crisis—and more importantly, what you can do to turn things around.  Dr. Shippy shares how the integrative and functional medicine approach helps women heal their gut, support detoxification, manage stress, and supercharge their mitochondria to naturally boost fertility and have healthier pregnancies.  We also dive into the world of epigenetics—how the choices you make before conception can literally shape how your baby’s genes are expressed for lifelong health.  Dr. Shippy’s message is clear: preconception care isn’t just about getting pregnant, it’s about setting up the next generation for success.  Whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, or 40s, taking time to optimize your health before conceiving can make all the difference for you AND your baby.  Tune in to learn how intentional steps today can lead

Dealing with menopause symptoms is rough enough, but navigating a cancer diagnosis at the same time causes even more stress and anxiety.  As a holistic-focused physician going through menopause, a diagnosis of breast cancer put a bump in the road for Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, leading to concerns about how she would navigate her own journey.  It can be hard to feel heard by your physician, and advocating for things like holistic healing options, lab testing, and hormone replacement therapy can become an endless battle. But as a women’s empowerment advocate and a public educator, Dr. Suzanne is here today to help YOU advocate for your needs and to speak up about your situation because you deserve to be heard.  Hearing Dr. Suzanne’s story can help you get through any tough times you’re facing. Especially for the breast cancer community– there are ways you can manage your longevity and your health now going forward for the better. Check out this podcast to find out how!  Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, MD  Dr. Suzann

As women in midlife, we’re constantly juggling all the things.  So, what can we do to balance all of our to-dos without feeling totally burnt out?  In this episode, we’re diving into the reality of energy changes during midlife and why committing to your own well-being is non-negotiable. I’ve invited Dr. Kristen Holmes– an expert in optimizing human performance, especially in women– to share her powerful strategies for enabling autonomic control so you can feel your best in your body.  We’re talking:  Boosting mitochondrial energy Improving recovery and metabolic health  And feeling fully resourced every. single. day We’ll break down the simple yet impactful habits you can start to help you reclaim your vitality—even with a packed schedule.  Because the truth is, no one is looking out for you the way YOU can. It’s time to prioritize yourself, show up fully, and start feeling amazing again! Dr. Kristen Holmes  Dr. Kristen Holmes is the Global Head of Human Performance, Principal Sci