Wellness After 40

Katie Ewaskiew

 A podcast that empowers women in their 40s and beyond to embrace aging with vitality and purpose.

  1. 4 days ago

    Hormones, Longevity & Healthy Aging: What 25+ Years of Experience Can Teach Us with Dr. Janette Gray

    For more than 25 years, Dr. Janette Gray has been helping patients navigate hormone health—long before hormone therapy, peptides, and longevity medicine became everyday conversations. As an Internal Medicine physician and founder of Perfect Balance Health, she's spent decades helping patients look beyond "normal aging" to uncover potential root causes of symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, poor sleep, and low energy. In this episode of Wellness After 40, Dr. Gray shares what more than two decades of clinical experience has taught her about hormones, healthy aging, metabolism, and longevity. We discuss how hormone health may influence overall well-being, why midlife symptoms deserve a closer look, and how to think critically about today's conversations around hormone therapy. In this episode, we discuss: Why aging and decline aren't necessarily the same thingCommon misconceptions about hormones and healthy agingFatigue, brain fog, low libido, and when symptoms deserve further evaluationHormones, metabolism, and why weight gain in midlife is more complex than calories aloneHow the conversation around hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has changed over the last 25 yearsWhat longevity really means—and the habits that matter mostPractical first steps for improving your health as you ageConnect with Dr. Janette Gray Website: https://perfectbalance.health/ Instagram: @janettegraymd and @perfectbalance.health Book: The Truth About Sex Hormones: Balancing Your Hormones to Optimize Your Health https://www.amazon.com/dp/1641469412 Enjoying Wellness After 40? If you're loving the show, the best way to support it is by subscribing so you never miss an episode. You'll get evidence-based conversations with leading experts on hormones, menopause, nutrition, fitness, longevity, and healthy aging—designed to help you feel your best after 40. Subscribe here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438861/subscribe If this episode was helpful, I'd also be so grateful if you'd leave a review and share it with a friend. Your support helps Wellness After 40 reach more women looking for trusted, practical health information. Support the show

  2. 6 Aug

    Stuck in Fight-or-Flight? How the Vagus Nerve Affects Women's Health After 40 | Dr. Elissa Chambers

    Have you heard of the vagus nerve? Maybe it's been popping up all over your social media feed. And if it hasn't, ask yourself this... Do you constantly feel stressed, anxious, exhausted, overwhelmed, or like your body just can't relax? For many women over 40, these symptoms are often dismissed as "just stress," "just hormones," or simply part of getting older. But your nervous system—and specifically your vagus nerve—may be playing a much bigger role than you realize. In this episode of Wellness After 40, I'm joined by Dr. Elissa Chambers, a chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner specializing in women's health and nervous system function. Together, we break down the science behind the vagus nerve, what it actually does, and why understanding it may help explain everything from poor sleep and digestive issues to brain fog, anxiety, inflammation, and feeling stuck in survival mode. In this episode, we discuss: • What the vagus nerve is and why everyone is talking about it • What really happens when you're stuck in fight-or-flight • Why stress often becomes more physical during midlife • How hormones, chronic stress, and the nervous system work together • Common signs your nervous system may be dysregulated • The connection between stress, digestion, inflammation, metabolism, and immune health • What social media gets right—and wrong—about "healing" the vagus nerve • Realistic ways to support your nervous system without completely overhauling your life Connect with Dr. Elissa Chambers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drelissachambers/ 🎧 Become a Wellness After 40 Insider Support the show and unlock exclusive subscriber-only episodes, bonus wellness content, and practical resources created specifically for women over 40. Subscribe here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438861/subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Wellness After 40, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps more women discover evidence-based conversations that make navigating midlife a little easier. Support the show

  3. 30 Jul

    The Truth About Gratitude in Midlife: Why Positivity Isn't Always the Answer with Laura Bratton

    What if gratitude isn't about staying positive? We've been sold a version of gratitude that looks a lot like suppression with better branding — smile through it, focus on the positive, don't dwell. In this episode, I sit down with Laura Bratton, founder of Ubi Global and author of Harnessing Courage, to talk about what gratitude actually is when you strip away the toxic positivity. This conversation will change how you think about the "just be grateful" advice you've probably given yourself a hundred times. We get into why honesty — not optimism — is what actually builds resilience, how gratitude and hard emotions can coexist instead of canceling each other out, and what it looks like to navigate a season that doesn't match what you planned for your life. If you've ever felt like you were "failing" at gratitude because you were also struggling, this episode is going to feel like permission. In this episode: — The real difference between gratitude and toxic positivity — Why honesty is the foundation of resilience, not the opposite of it — How to hold gratitude and difficult emotions at the same time — Practical ways to build a gratitude practice that's honest, not performative — Navigating life when it doesn't look like what you expected This one's for anyone in a season of change, uncertainty, or midlife recalibration — which, let's be honest, is most of us right now. Connect with Laura: Website: https://www.laurabratton.com/ ✨ Want even more Wellness After 40? Support the podcast and access subscriber-only episodes and bonus content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438861/subscribe If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and share it with a friend. Your support helps Wellness After 40 reach more women looking for practical wellness advice and meaningful conversations for midlife. Support the show Support the show

  4. 2 Jul

    Women, Alzheimer's & Brain Health: What You Can Do Now | Tess Cheng, MS

    In this episode of Wellness After 40, I'm joined by Tess Cheng, MS, health and wellness coach and author of Confident You, to discuss one of the topics many women worry about most as they age: brain health. Women account for nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer's cases, but how much of our risk is genetic—and how much can be influenced by the choices we make every day? Tess breaks down the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's disease, why women may be at greater risk, and the lifestyle habits that research suggests can help support long-term brain health. In this conversation, we discuss: • The difference between dementia and Alzheimer's disease  • Why women face a higher risk of Alzheimer's  • The connection between menopause, hormones, and brain health  • The powerful role of exercise and movement  • Why sleep is essential for memory and cognitive function  • How stress, blood sugar, inflammation, nutrition, and alcohol affect the brain  • Supplements that may support brain health  • What family history really means for your risk  • Simple habits you can start today to support healthy aging If brain health has ever felt overwhelming or frightening, this episode offers practical, evidence-based strategies and a hopeful perspective on what we can do now to support our brains for the future. Resources from Tess 🌐 Website: https://glowithtess.com/ 📖 Confident You: https://amzn.to/4ae7Sbo 😴 Free Sleep Tracker: https://tinyurl.com/GWTSleepGuide Support Wellness After 40 Love the show? Get bonus episodes and support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438861/support If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a friend or family member. Your shares, ratings, and reviews help more women discover evidence-based wellness information for life after 40. ❤️ Support the show

  5. 25 Jun

    Peptides and Longevity: Hype or Helpful? with Dr. Christine Boev

    Peptides are one of the fastest-growing topics in health and wellness, with claims ranging from improved recovery and muscle growth to better metabolic health, healthier skin, and increased longevity. But how much of the excitement is backed by science? In this episode of Wellness After 40, I sit down with Dr. Christine Boev to explore what peptides are, how they work in the body, and who may benefit from them. We discuss the current state of peptide therapy, potential risks and benefits, common misconceptions, and why peptides should be viewed as one piece of a larger wellness strategy—not a replacement for healthy habits. Whether you're curious about peptides for aging, recovery, body composition, or overall wellness, this conversation will help you better understand the science and separate fact from fiction. In this episode, we discuss: • What peptides are and how they work • Potential benefits for recovery, metabolic health, and longevity • Common myths and misconceptions about peptide therapy • Risks, considerations, and who may not be a good candidate • Why medical guidance matters when considering peptides • How peptides fit alongside nutrition, exercise, sleep, and other healthy lifestyle habits Connect with Dr. Christine Boev: Website: https://vitalize-fitness.com/bio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchristineboev/ If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Wellness After 40, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Your support helps us continue bringing evidence-based wellness conversations to women navigating midlife and beyond. Interested in bonus episodes and subscriber-only content?   Subscribe here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2438861/subscribe Support the show

  6. 4 Jun

    Cancer Prevention, Early Detection & Screenings for Women Over 40 with Rebecca Maff, Cancer Biologist

    What should women over 40 actually be paying attention to when it comes to cancer prevention and early detection? In this episode of Wellness After 40, I sit down with cancer biologist and TEDx speaker Rebecca Maff for a conversation about cancer screenings, prevention, overlooked health changes, and the importance of proactive care in midlife. We discuss why certain cancer screening guidelines are changing, what women should know about breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer awareness, and how subtle shifts in the body can sometimes be dismissed as “just aging,” stress, or hormones. Rebecca also shares insight into the future of cancer detection, the role of AI in healthcare, and why understanding your body and advocating for your health matters more than ever after 40. In this episode, we discuss:  Cancer prevention and proactive healthcare after 40  Why colorectal cancer screenings now begin at age 45  Breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer awareness  Subtle health changes women often dismiss in midlife  The importance of routine screenings and family history  Early detection and evolving healthcare technology  AI and the future of cancer research and diagnosis  Stress, overall health, and long-term wellness Connect with Rebecca:  Instagram: @rebeccamaff  TEDx Talk: Watch Rebecca’s TEDx Talk Visit my website for more episodes and wellness resources:  Living Well With Katie If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow Wellness After 40, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who may benefit from it. Support the show

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 A podcast that empowers women in their 40s and beyond to embrace aging with vitality and purpose.