Own Your Midlife Podcast: Hormones, Perimenopause & Reinvention for Women 40+

Susie McLean
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated weekly

Own Your Midlife is a podcast for women in their 40s+ navigating midlife transitions, perimenopause, changing hormones, career pivots, and the deep desire for reinvention. It's a space for heartfelt conversations about confidence, clarity, identity, and all the messy, beautiful shifts that happen in this season of life. Host Susie McLean sits down with inspiring guests and shares real stories, practical tools, and gentle nudges that help you reconnect with your voice, trust your intuition, and take the next small step toward a life that feels true to you. If you've ever thought "I'm not where I expected to be," or wondered what's next for you, you're not alone. This podcast supports women who want to show up for themselves, feel better in their bodies, understand their changing hormones, rebuild confidence, and create a fulfilling second act. So grab your earbuds, settle in, and let's navigate this season together.

  1. 4 days ago

    The Friendship Conversation You've Been Avoiding: Grief, Growth, and Boundaries in Midlife

    Have you ever noticed that as you start changing, some of your friendships start to feel different too? As we grow, set better boundaries, speak up more, stop overgiving, or stop making ourselves smaller to keep the peace, the dynamics in our friendships can change. And sometimes that can leave us wondering whether the relationship can actually grow with us. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, I'm talking about what happens when your growth starts affecting your friendships, the grief that can come with that, and the honest conversations we sometimes avoid when something no longer feels right. I'm also sharing a personal story about a close friendship, people-pleasing, unspoken hurt, and the resentment that can build when we expect someone to know what we're feeling without actually telling them. Because as much as we need to recognize when a friendship is no longer healthy, we also have to be willing to look at our own part and ask whether we've been honest about what we need, what hurt us, and what has changed. In this episode, I talk about how to: Recognize when a friendship has become one-sided, emotionally draining, or difficult to navigate. Understand the connection between people-pleasing, silence, resentment, and friendship problems. Set healthy boundaries with friends without immediately assuming the relationship has to end. Have an honest conversation with a friend who has hurt you. Consider whether you have clearly communicated what you need before walking away. Understand why grief and relief can exist at the same time after a friendship changes or ends. Recognize that we can miss someone and still know the relationship is no longer healthy for us. Build adult friendships where we can be honest, disagree, grow, and be fully ourselves. Before deciding that a friendship is over, I encourage us to ask: Have I actually told this person what hurt me, or how I felt I was being treated? Sometimes a friendship can grow with us. Sometimes the dynamic needs to change. Sometimes there's a boundary or an honest conversation that needs to happen. And sometimes, after we've communicated clearly, we realize the relationship no longer has room for who we're becoming. If you're navigating changing friendships, friendship grief, difficult conversations, or setting boundaries after 40, this episode will help you look at those relationships more honestly and get clearer on what deserves more of your energy moving forward. Connect with Susie: Send me a message here: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemclean.xo Website: www.susiemclean.com

  2. 1 Sept

    Waiting Isn't a Plan: How to Make a Career Decision You Trust (with Paula Randler)

    If you're in midlife and starting to wonder whether the career you've built still fits who you are now, this episode will help you think through what comes next, whether that means staying, making changes where you are, or stepping into something completely new. In this episode, I'm joined by career coach Paula Randler. Paula spent seventeen years in one organization before eventually leaving and starting her own coaching practice, so she understands both the fear of walking away from something familiar and the possibility of creating a completely different next chapter. We talk about why "Should I stay or should I go?" may actually be the wrong first question, how to tell the difference between a rough season and a deeper misalignment, and why staying can sometimes be the right decision when you're choosing it on purpose. We also get into the fear and grief that can come with changing careers in midlife, how overworking and emotionally carrying other people can keep women stuck, and how to get clearer when you know something needs to change but you honestly don't know what you want instead. Paula shares how your values, your current season of life, and small "micro experiments" can help you figure out what actually fits now without feeling like you have to blow up your whole life. In this episode, we talk about: Career change in midlife How to know when your career no longer fits Feeling stuck or restless at work Whether to stay, leave, or make changes where you are The fear of starting over in midlife Burnout, overworking, and carrying too much at work  How to get clear on what you actually want next Making career decisions you can trust Using your values to guide your next move If you've been thinking, I don't know if I want to keep doing this for the next ten years, this conversation will help you look at your career more honestly and get clearer about what you want this next season to look like. Connect with Paula: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paularandler/ Website: https://paularandler.com/ Connect with Susie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemclean.xo Website: www.susiemclean.com Email: susiekmclean@gmail.com

  3. 25 Aug

    It's Not Too Late: Find Yourself Again in Midlife

    What if finding yourself again in midlife starts with remembering the moments when you already proved something to yourself? In this solo episode, I'm talking about the stories we carry with us. The moments that remind us we've been brave before, taken risks before, trusted ourselves before, and figured things out when we had no idea how they were going to work out. I share one of those moments from my own life, and why I still think about it years later whenever I need a reminder not to let someone else's opinion become the limit I place on myself. From there, we get into what it really means to own your midlife. Deciding what you want next, rebuilding self-trust, taking action even when you don't have a guarantee, and remembering that you are not starting from zero. If you've been questioning what's next, thinking about starting over, or trying to reconnect with the version of yourself who wasn't afraid to take a chance, this episode will help you look at your own story differently and start moving toward the life you want now. CONNECT WITH ME :)  I would love to here from you and what you've been enjoying. Send me a message at: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com Connect with me on Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/susiemclean.xo  Website: susiemclean.com

  4. 18 Aug

    Truth Over Approval: The Midlife Shift Back to Yourself with Diane Sorensen

    Have you ever wondered how much of who you are is really you, and how much may have been shaped by years of wanting to feel accepted, loved, or safe? For many women, approval-driven patterns can become so familiar that they start to feel like part of your personality. Being accommodating, keeping others happy, avoiding disappointment, or automatically going along with what everyone else wants can become something you do without even realizing it. In this episode, I'm joined by Diane Sorensen, speaker, Boundary & Empowerment Coach, and host of the Chaos to Connection podcast. We talk about where these patterns can come from, why the need for approval can stay with us long after childhood, and why midlife can bring us face-to-face with ways of living we may have never questioned before. We also talk about resentment and what it may be telling you, why setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable even when you know they're healthy, why other people may struggle when you begin changing, and simple ways to start noticing your own preferences instead of automatically going along with what everyone else wants. In this episode, we talk about: • Why approval-seeking can become a deeply ingrained pattern • How some behaviors we think are our personality may have been learned years ago • Why setting boundaries can bring up guilt and discomfort • How resentment can be a sign that you've been putting your own needs and feelings aside • Why changing old patterns can be difficult for the people around you too • How to start paying attention to what you actually want and need • Why midlife can be an opportunity to question old patterns and live more honestly If you've spent years looking outside yourself for approval, this conversation may help you understand where some of those patterns came from and begin paying attention to what's actually true for you. Connect with Susie: If you enjoyed this episode reach out! I'd love to hear from you:) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemclean.xo/ Email: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com Website: www.susiemclean.com Connect with Diane: Podcast Spotify - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diane-sorensen1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianesorensen.bb/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589 Website: https://www.dianesorensen.net/ Free gift – Drama to Empowerment workbook: https://www.dianesorensen.net/drama-to-empowerment

  5. 11 Aug

    Why You Feel Lonely in Midlife Even When You're Not Alone

    Have you ever wondered why you feel lonely even when you have people around you? Loneliness in midlife can be confusing. You may be married, have children, friends, coworkers, and people you talk to regularly, yet still feel disconnected or like something is missing. In this episode, I'm talking about why loneliness can show up in midlife, what that feeling may be telling you, and three practical things you can do to create more meaningful connection in your life. I also share what recent research says about loneliness after 45 and why social connection matters more than we may realize. We'll dive into: • Why you can feel lonely even when you are not physically alone • How to figure out what kind of connection you are actually missing • Why feeling known and understood matters • How to reach out when you are tired of always being the one who initiates • Simple ways to create more connection, belonging, and meaningful relationships in midlife If you have been feeling lonely, disconnected, or like your relationships are missing something, I hope this episode helps you understand what you may need and gives you one small step you can take today. CONNECT! I'd love to hear from you! Send me a message at: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com Connect on: Instagram Website: www.susiemclean.com

  6. 4 Aug

    How to Find Clarity When You Feel Lost in Midlife

    What do you do when you're feeling lost in midlife and know you want something different for your life, but you can't quite figure out what that something is? In this solo episode, I'm sharing three things that helped me find clarity when I felt uncertain about what was next. We'll talk about what happens when the life you're living no longer feels like it fits, how other people's opinions can quietly influence your decisions, and why waiting until you feel completely certain may be keeping you stuck. You'll also learn how paying attention to what feels out of alignment can help you understand yourself more clearly, why choosing impact over approval can reconnect you with what truly matters, and how taking one imperfect step can give you information that thinking alone cannot. In this episode, we talk about: • Recognizing when an area of your life feels out of alignment • How fear of judgment can make it harder to know what you truly want • The subtle ways other people's opinions can influence your decisions • Choosing impact over approval • How perfectionism can keep you waiting for certainty • Why taking action can help you find clarity • Three questions to ask when you feel lost in midlife Sometimes you only need enough clarity to take the next step. If this episode encourages you, share it with someone in your life who may need to hear it. Connect with Susie: Instagram - susiemclean.xo Email: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com

  7. 28 Jul

    Normal Labs, Brain Fog & Fatigue? Why You Still Don't Feel Like Yourself | Dr. Alicia Newsome

    Have you ever gone to the doctor because you knew something felt off, only to be told that all your lab work looked normal? Maybe you're dealing with brain fog, low energy, mood changes, poor sleep, or that hard to explain feeling that you simply don't feel like yourself anymore. Being told everything looks fine can leave you wondering whether you're imagining it or whether there may be more to explore. In this episode, I'm joined by functional medicine practitioner Dr. Alicia Newsome for a conversation about hormones in midlife and why routine testing may not always answer every question a woman has about how she feels. Alicia shares her functional medicine approach to looking at the body more broadly. We talk about hormone testing, cortisol, chronic stress, blood sugar, nutrition, gut health, sleep, and some of the other areas she considers when working with women who are struggling with symptoms but have been told their results are normal. We also talk about what it means to pay attention to your body, why asking questions matters, and how to advocate for yourself when you know you do not feel right. Before we wrap up, Alicia shares three practical steps women can consider this week, including starting the day with a more balanced breakfast, doing a brain dump before bed, and seeking appropriate testing and support when symptoms continue. You know your body. When something feels off, you deserve to be heard, ask questions, and find the support you need. Connect with Alicia Newsom Instagram: @dr.alicianewsome Facebook: Dr. Alicia Newsome                                                                                                                                                      Linkedin: Dr. Alicia Newsome                                                                                                                                                        Youtube: Dr. Alicia Newsome  Connect with Susie  Website: susiemclean.com Instagram: susiemclean.xo

  8. 21 Jul

    Feeling Disconnected in Your Marriage? 4 Ways to Reconnect

    Have you ever wondered how two people who love each other can slowly start to feel disconnected? Most of the time, it does not happen because of one major moment. It happens through small things that go unnoticed, unspoken, or pushed aside during the busyness of life. In this episode, my husband Anthony joins me to talk about how to stay connected in a relationship through the different seasons of life. After more than two decades together, we've learned that reconnecting with your partner often begins with simple choices you can make in everyday moments. We talk about why acknowledgement matters, especially when someone's effort has become so familiar that it becomes easy to stop noticing. We also share why comparing your relationship to another couple's highlight reel can make you lose sight of the season you are currently experiencing together. In this episode, you'll hear: Why your partner's priorities should matter to you How acknowledgement helps your partner feel seen Why reliable partners are often taken for granted How comparison can create dissatisfaction in your relationship Why saying "I'm fine" can slowly lead to resentment and disconnection If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. Email me at ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com You can also connect with me on Instagram at @susiemclean.xo

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About

Own Your Midlife is a podcast for women in their 40s+ navigating midlife transitions, perimenopause, changing hormones, career pivots, and the deep desire for reinvention. It's a space for heartfelt conversations about confidence, clarity, identity, and all the messy, beautiful shifts that happen in this season of life. Host Susie McLean sits down with inspiring guests and shares real stories, practical tools, and gentle nudges that help you reconnect with your voice, trust your intuition, and take the next small step toward a life that feels true to you. If you've ever thought "I'm not where I expected to be," or wondered what's next for you, you're not alone. This podcast supports women who want to show up for themselves, feel better in their bodies, understand their changing hormones, rebuild confidence, and create a fulfilling second act. So grab your earbuds, settle in, and let's navigate this season together.

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