Living Inspired - A Functional Approach to Women’s Health, Energy, and Resilience

Rachel Carta, RN
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Living Inspired is a podcast for women who feel overwhelmed by their health, frustrated by normal lab results, and are looking for a calmer, more grounded way to feel better. Hosted by Rachel Carta, RN, Functional Nutrition Counselor, and Life Coach, this podcast explores women’s health through a functional, root-cause approach. We talk about fatigue, stress, hormonal changes, sleep issues, metabolism, and chronic symptoms, and how small, sustainable changes can restore energy and build resilience—without quick fixes or rigid protocols. Learn More: RachelCartaRN.com IG: @peaceinperimenopause

  1. 3D AGO

    85. Why Your Body Won’t Relax And What It Means

    Have you ever tried to relax, only to notice your mind speeding up or your body staying tense? In this episode, Rachel shares what these experiences may actually mean and why they often point to your nervous system rather than a personal shortcoming. Through a powerful client story and practical insights, she explains how mood, digestion, energy, and stress responses are deeply connected, and why real healing often begins with helping your body feel safe instead of pushing harder or adding more protocols. You’ll also learn gentle signs your system may be stuck in survival mode and one simple practice you can use to begin shifting toward calm. In This Episode: why your body may feel restless even when life looks calm how nervous system state affects mood, digestion, and energy signs your system may still be in stress mode why foundations matter more than quick fixes a simple way to signal safety to your body If this episode speaks to you and you want deeper support, Rachel’s live Mood Shift Method workshop will walk you through how to understand your body and create lasting change. Join here: RachelCartaRN.com/moodshift

    21 min

  2. FEB 13

    84. Why Your Patterns Keep Repeating And What Your Subconscious Is Trying To Protect

    In this episode, I’m joined by Sheila Wenger, founder of Shift Hypnosis and certified hypnotherapist, for a powerful conversation about subconscious patterns, emotional healing, and why change can feel hard even when you truly want it. We talk about how the subconscious mind works, why certain fears and reactions stay with us for years, and how many of the patterns women struggle with are actually protective responses that once served a purpose. Sheila explains how root beliefs form, how they influence behavior and relationships, and why real healing often begins when truth is acknowledged. If you’ve ever wondered why you keep repeating certain cycles, feel stuck despite doing all the “right” things, or want to better understand your emotional patterns, this conversation will give you a new lens to look through. Connect With Sheila Website: https://www.shifthypnosis.org Podcast: Shift Is Happening Email: Sheila@shifthypnosis.org Connect With Rachel Website + resources: https://www.rachelcartarn.com Free Guide - The Real Reason You Still Feel Off: https://rachelcartarn.com/lastinghealth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaceinperimenopause

    54 min

  3. FEB 6

    83. Grief, Self-Compassion, and the Nervous System: What Healing Really Requires

    What if healing isn’t about fixing what feels wrong, but learning how to feel what’s been held for too long? In this episode of Living Inspired, I’m joined by somatic and transformational coach Soulla Demetriou for a grounded conversation about grief, self-compassion, and the nervous system, and why these are often the missing pieces in healing. We explore how grief shows up not only after loss, but in quieter, less visible ways when life doesn’t unfold as we hoped. We talk about how avoiding grief can keep the nervous system stuck in survival mode, and how this can ripple into fatigue, digestive issues, sleep struggles, and emotional overwhelm. This episode is especially for women who feel unsettled in their bodies despite “doing all the right things.” We discuss how self-compassion creates safety in the nervous system, and how healing often happens in small, steady moments rather than big overhauls. Why grief is not something to fix, but something to allow How unprocessed grief can show up as physical and emotional symptoms The role of nervous system safety in healing Why self-compassion is foundational, not optional Simple ways to help the body exhale and soften Find Rachel here: RachelCartaRN.com Free Guide: The Reason You Still Feel Off Free Mood Swings Audio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaceinperimenopause Find Soulla Here: Website: https://www.withsoulla.comBook: https://www.withsoulla.com/always-enoughInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/withsoullaFree Self-Compassion Course: https://www.withsoulla.com/courses/7-steps-course-sign-up

    58 min

  4. JAN 30

    82. The Real Reason Everything Feels Like Too Much in Midlife

    In this episode, I’m sharing a live talk I gave for the Brigham Education Institute, part of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. It’s the fourth time I’ve been invited to speak for their program, and this conversation felt too important not to share more widely. So many women reach midlife and feel blindsided by what’s happening in their bodies. Sounds feel louder. Emotions feel closer to the surface. Digestion changes. Sleep becomes elusive. And often, everything looks “normal” on paper, even though you know something feels off. In this episode, we take a step back and look at symptoms differently. Not as random or inevitable, but as meaningful signals from the body. You’ll hear about: Why midlife can suddenly feel harder, even if nothing dramatic has changed A simple bucket analogy that explains capacity, stress, and symptom spillover The four core systems that often drive mood changes, digestive issues, and overwhelm in midlife How hormonal shifts impact the nervous system, blood sugar, digestion, and recovery Why moving from fixing to listening creates real and lasting change This is not about another protocol or checklist. It’s about understanding what your body has been responding to, and how small, steady shifts can help you feel calmer, more confident, and more at home in yourself again. If you’ve been feeling off, overwhelmed, or confused by your symptoms, this episode is for you. Free Guide: The Real Reason You Still Feel Off And if you’d like deeper, personalized support, you can book a Clarity and Relief Session.

    29 min

  5. JAN 25

    81. Why Strength Training Matters More in Midlife Than Ever (According to Decades of Research)

    Strength training is often framed around appearance or fitness goals. But its real impact goes far deeper than that. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Wayne Westcott, a leading researcher in strength training and exercise science, to talk about why building and maintaining muscle matters so much in midlife and beyond. Wayne has spent decades studying how resistance training affects the body across the lifespan, including adults in their 90s, and his research offers a hopeful, practical perspective on aging. We talk about how muscle loss affects metabolism, bone density, mood, and independence, what strength training actually looks like in real life, and how little time it can take to see meaningful benefits. Wayne also shares powerful insights from nursing home studies that challenge the idea that it’s ever too late to get stronger. This is a grounded, encouraging conversation for anyone who feels overwhelmed by fitness advice, unsure where to begin, or curious about how to support their body in a way that feels realistic and sustainable. Why muscle matters for healthy aging and daily function How strength training supports metabolism, bones, and mood What research shows about building strength later in life What strength training really means (and what it doesn’t) How to get results without spending hours in the gym Dr. Wayne Westcott is a retired professor of exercise science and one of the most respected researchers in strength training. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed studies, written 30 books, and taught at institutions including Harvard and Yale. Get: Strength Training Past 50 Contact Rachel: rachel@rachelcartarn.com RachelCartaRN.com Free eBook: The Real Reason You Still Feel Off

    1h 14m

  6. JAN 17

    80. Change Your Perspective, Change Your Life

    In this episode, I share a powerful shift in perspective that changed how I move through life, especially during hard seasons. Through stories from my time as a nurse and hospice nurse, I talk about what happens when we stop waiting for life to get easier and instead build ourselves strong enough to meet it. We explore the idea:What if your life is happening for you, not to you? Not as a positivity slogan, but as a way to relate to challenges without staying stuck in them. In this episode, you’ll hear: A moment from nursing school that forever changed how I view hardship Why hard and beautiful things often exist at the same time A sacred hospice experience that reshaped my understanding of presence and meaning What courage really looks like when life feels overwhelming A simple journaling invitation to reflect on your own challenges with honesty and compassion This episode is for anyone who feels like they’ve been waiting for life to get easier, or who knows there must be another way to move forward, even when things feel heavy. There's a meditation to practice at the 11 minute mark. You are here for a reason. And you are more capable than you realize. Connect with Rachel: rachel@rachelcartarn.com Get the Mood Swings SOS (when your mood feels overwhelming). Learn More: RachelCartaRN.com

    22 min

  7. JAN 11

    79. What I’m Really Focusing On In Midlife (Instead Of Chasing Every Biohack)

    You are not imagining it. Midlife health has turned into one long to-do list. From supplements and biohacks to hormone protocols and trackers, it can feel like everyone has an opinion about what you “should” be doing to feel better. If you are in perimenopause or navigating chronic symptoms, that constant noise can be exhausting. In this episode, I am sharing what I am actually focusing on this year as a midlife woman with a full plate, and just as importantly, what I am intentionally letting go of. We talk about how to shift from chasing every new thing to being “boringly consistent” with the habits that truly move the needle for your energy, mood, and peace. You will hear: Why the endless list of midlife “must dos” feels so overwhelming How my chronic migraines and a moment with my son became a turning point What I am focusing on in 2026 How to rethink your resilience in midlife and honor your real capacity The power of seeing your symptoms as signals instead of enemies A beautiful client story about moving from hopeless and burned out to hopeful and resourced What I am releasing this year, including productivity as proof of worth This episode is an invitation to step away from the pressure, listen to your body, and choose a simpler, more peaceful way forward in midlife. How to connect with Rachel + Free Resources: Book a Clarity and Relief Session and learn more about working together: RachelCartaRN.com Follow me on Instagram: @peaceinperimenopause Free resources to help you feel more clear and calm in your body: Mood Swings SOS The Real Reason You Still Feel Off Partner Communication Guide for Perimenopause

    46 min

  8. JAN 2

    78. How to Bend Time and Feel Less Overwhelmed

    What if time isn’t actually the problem? In this episode of Living Inspired, Rachel sits down with Michelle Niemeyer, a former attorney turned coach, to explore a powerful reframe she calls time bending. Instead of managing time more efficiently or cramming more into already-full days, this conversation looks at how our relationship with time changes when we reconnect with what energizes us. Michelle shares how chronic stress and burnout quietly shrink our world, draining joy, creativity, and focus, and how her own autoimmune diagnosis became a turning point that forced her to slow down and listen. From there, she explains how rediscovering what truly lights us up can expand our capacity, improve focus, and help us get more done without pushing harder. This episode is especially meaningful for women navigating midlife, chronic stress, or ongoing symptoms, where the nervous system has been “on” for far too long. Rachel and Michelle explore how joy, creativity, movement, and alignment are not luxuries, but essential ingredients for healing, clarity, and sustainable energy. Rather than offering another productivity system, this conversation invites you to pause, reflect, and take back agency over how you spend your time, energy, and attention. Why burnout isn’t just about working too much, but losing pieces of yourself How doing what energizes you can actually expand your experience of time The connection between nervous system regulation, joy, and productivity Why energy, not hours, is the real currency Simple ways to regain clarity without quitting your job or overhauling your life How small shifts in awareness can create big changes in how life feels Michelle also shares a free resource for listeners, including a guided meditation and journaling prompts to help you identify what truly lights you up, along with a goal-setting framework designed to support intentional living.

    43 min
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About

Living Inspired is a podcast for women who feel overwhelmed by their health, frustrated by normal lab results, and are looking for a calmer, more grounded way to feel better. Hosted by Rachel Carta, RN, Functional Nutrition Counselor, and Life Coach, this podcast explores women’s health through a functional, root-cause approach. We talk about fatigue, stress, hormonal changes, sleep issues, metabolism, and chronic symptoms, and how small, sustainable changes can restore energy and build resilience—without quick fixes or rigid protocols. Learn More: RachelCartaRN.com IG: @peaceinperimenopause

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