Midlife Advice | Perimenopause, Hormones and Midlife Women’s Health

Jessica Long | Helping Overwhelmed Women Over 40 Feel Fully Alive Again
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You're a woman over 40, you're in the thick of perimenopause or menopause, and lately you keep coming back to the same thought: I just don't feel like myself anymore. You're doing everything right. Showing up for your family, your work, everyone who needs you. But you feel exhausted in a way that sleep doesn't fix. Work feels harder and less fulfilling than it used to. Your relationship feels distant. Your body is changing. You’re overwhelmed with the neverending decisions. And no matter what you do, you just feel off. Disconnected from yourself.  Midlife Advice is the podcast for intelligent midlife women who are ready to stop white-knuckling through life and feel next-level good. Each week, host Jessica Long brings you honest conversations about navigating perimenopause and menopause, hormones, overwhelm, relationships, confidence, and the identity shift nobody warned you was coming. Not as a patient. Not as a problem to be solved. As a woman who deserves to actually feel GREAT again. Jessica is a holistic health coach, certified menopause coaching specialist, breathwork facilitator and fellow midlife woman navigating all of this right alongside you. If you've ever searched: Why am I so exhausted all the time?Why does work feel so hard lately?Why do I feel so disconnected from my partner?Why do I have low libido and will it ever come back?Why don't I feel like myself anymore?Is this perimenopause or something else? This podcast was made for you. 💌 If you’re a midlife woman navigating perimenopause, hormone shifts, personal growth, and just not feeling like yourself, you’ll fit right in to my community. Join my email list where I share personal stories, nervous system regulation tools, favorite products, high-protein recipes, book recs and exclusive discounts. I’ll send you my FREE 10-minute breathwork session to get better sleep tonight to get you started! ✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong ⚡️Ready to feel f*cking GREAT again? Learn more about working together at belongwellness.com. 

  1. 5d ago

    The Surprising Reason Women Over 40 Don't Feel Like Themselves

    If you've caught yourself thinking "I don't feel like myself" and you can't quite put your finger on why, this one's for you. Hormones play a role. Being stretched impossibly thin plays a role. But there's a third factor that I think is fundamental, and it's one I never hear anyone talking about: interoception. Interoception is your ability to sense and interpret what's actually happening inside your body (like hunger, thirst, stress, emotion). When it's working, you catch yourself before you're hangry, before you snap at your kids, before you're running on fumes. When it's not working, and for so many of us in midlife it's not, you don't know you're stressed until you're yelling, or so numb you're running the whole day on autopilot without feeling a single thing. I'm breaking down exactly how chronic stress shuts your interoception down, what that actually looks like in daily life, and the somatic practices, including breathwork, that bring it back online.  Stick around to the end, because I'm inviting you to two free virtual breathwork sessions where you can feel the shift for yourself instead of just hearing me talk about it. What we get into: What interoception is and how it worksThe specific ways chronic stress shuts your body's signals offWhy you might feel completely numb one day and completely overwhelmed the nextThe research on interoception and stress, explained in plain languageHow breathwork helps you tune back in and hear your body againTwo free virtual breathwork sessions happening soon  Resources: PubMed article: Interoception and Stress I want to hear from you. Send me a text or voicemail! Jessica's freebies and resources: 📅 Join me for a FREE virtual breathwork experience for women 40+ September 24th or October 2nd! (https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/bookings/live-breathwork-events) 😴 Sleep better tonight with my free 10-minute audio breathwork session. (https://your.belongwellness.com/sleep) ⚡️Join Hello, Next-Level You, my 6-week group breathwork experience for women over 40 who are ready to feel f*cking GREAT. This Beta program launches October 5th. (https://your.belongwellness.com/hnly-beta-sales-page) ✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong

  2. Sep 1

    Do I Have ADHD or Is This Perimenopause? ADHD Symptoms in Women Over 40

    ADHD in midlife women is the topic my audience requested most in my latest Instagram poll - and now it's here! If you've been wondering whether your scattered, overloaded brain is ADHD, perimenopause, or just life, you are in the right place. Today I’m speaking with Dr. Jennifer Dall, Ed.D., an ADHD specialist with a doctorate in educational psychology, a background in special education, and her own late-in-life ADHD diagnosis, to talk about everything women over 40 actually want to know about ADHD. What you'll hear: How ADHD shows up in high-achieving women, and why it looks nothing like the stereotypeWhy perimenopause doesn't cause ADHD but can turn the volume all the way up on symptoms you've had your whole lifeWhy so many Gen X women went undiagnosed for decades, and what the stories we were told about ourselves have to do with itWhether you need a formal ADHD diagnosis and what that evaluation actually involvesWhat you can start doing today to work with your brain instead of fighting itThe ADHD strengths that high-achieving women carry without ever recognizing them as strengths Connect with Dr. Jennifer Dall:  adhdholistically.com | @adhd.holistically  I want to hear from you. Send me a text or voicemail! Jessica's freebies and resources: 📅 Join me for a FREE virtual breathwork experience for women 40+ September 24th or October 2nd! (https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/bookings/live-breathwork-events) 😴 Sleep better tonight with my free 10-minute audio breathwork session. (https://your.belongwellness.com/sleep) ⚡️Join Hello, Next-Level You, my 6-week group breathwork experience for women over 40 who are ready to feel f*cking GREAT. This Beta program launches October 5th. (https://your.belongwellness.com/hnly-beta-sales-page) ✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong

  3. Aug 25

    What Your Future Self Sees That You're Missing Right Now

    What if your future self could travel back in time to right now and show you exactly what you're missing? That's the exercise we're playing with in today's episode. I've been using it myself, and it shifts my perspective, changes my energy, and influences the trajectory of my whole day in a really positive way. And it couldn't be easier. I first came across this concept while listening to Dr. Benjamin Hardy's book, Be Your Future Self Now. He shares a story about a completely average evening that tugged at my heart strings. And then a text from my 84-year-old dad gave me the chance to try it in real life. In this episode: The future self visualization exercise you can start using on the most ordinary moments of your dayHow to apply it when you're feeling irritated, impatient, or just doneWhy this one simple shift is a powerful way to change your energy and your whole outlook on a regular TuesdayI can’t wait for you to try this. After you do, click the link below to send me a text and tell me about it! I want to hear from you. Send me a text or voicemail! Jessica's freebies and resources: 📅 Join me for a FREE virtual breathwork experience for women 40+ September 24th or October 2nd! (https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/bookings/live-breathwork-events) 😴 Sleep better tonight with my free 10-minute audio breathwork session. (https://your.belongwellness.com/sleep) ⚡️Join Hello, Next-Level You, my 6-week group breathwork experience for women over 40 who are ready to feel f*cking GREAT. This Beta program launches October 5th. (https://your.belongwellness.com/hnly-beta-sales-page) ✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong

  4. Aug 18

    Joint Pain After 40: What's Actually Causing It and What to Do

    Muscle and joint pain in perimenopause is not just a hormone problem, and it's not just aging. Physical therapist and musculoskeletal specialist Stacey Roberts explains what's really driving pain in midlife women, and what to do about it. Her answers might surprise you. We talk about: Why your hormones were acting as your body's natural anti-inflammatories, and what happens when they drop in perimenopause and menopauseThe non-drug, non-injection options for joint and muscle pain that most women never hear aboutWhy cortisol being too low (not just too high) can cause nighttime inflammation, especially in high-achieving womenHow to tell the difference between normal workout soreness and pain you should actually stop forWhy the place where you feel pain is not always where the problem is (a weak hip causing foot pain, for example)The vicious cycle of hurt, stop moving, get tighter, hurt more, and how to break out of itWhy heavy lifting is not the only way to build strength and protect your jointsWhat to do first if you've stopped working out because something always hurtsStacey Roberts PT, RN, MSN has over 30 years of experience helping patients live pain-free. Stacey owns New You Health and Wellness in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, combining advanced manual therapy, cutting-edge technology, and functional medicine. She is the author of the number one bestselling book The Pain Free Formula and host of The Pain Free Formula podcast. Connect with Stacey NewYouHealthandWellness.com | The Pain Free Formula book | The Pain Free Formula podcast | @newyouhealthandwellness I want to hear from you. Send me a text or voicemail! Jessica's freebies and resources: 📅 Join me for a FREE virtual breathwork experience for women 40+ September 24th or October 2nd! (https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/bookings/live-breathwork-events) 😴 Sleep better tonight with my free 10-minute audio breathwork session. (https://your.belongwellness.com/sleep) ⚡️Join Hello, Next-Level You, my 6-week group breathwork experience for women over 40 who are ready to feel f*cking GREAT. This Beta program launches October 5th. (https://your.belongwellness.com/hnly-beta-sales-page) ✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong

  5. Jul 28

    Why Perimenopause Hits Some Women So Much Harder (It Might Be Your DNA)

    Do your perimenopause symptoms like brain fog, weight gain, and sleep issues feel like they are so much worse than your friend’s? Your DNA might explain why. Today I’m speaking with Kim Ressler, Founder and CEO of SNiP Nutrigenomics, to unpack the growing science of nutrigenomics and what your genetic blueprint reveals about how you experience perimenopause and menopause.  If you've ever wondered why your symptoms feel so much worse than everyone else's, this episode has an answer worth hearing. In this episode we discuss: Why menopause is more genetically influenced than most women realizeHow your DNA shapes specific symptoms like brain fog, weight gain, insomnia, anxiety, hot flashes and moreWhat genetic testing can tell you about your menopause experienceHow to use your DNA to make smarter nutrition and lifestyle decisions without going deep into biohacking Guest: Kim Ressler, Founder and CEO, SNiP Nutrigenomics snipnutrition.com I want to hear from you. Send me a text or voicemail! Jessica's freebies and resources: 📅 Join me for a FREE virtual breathwork experience for women 40+ September 24th or October 2nd! (https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/bookings/live-breathwork-events) 😴 Sleep better tonight with my free 10-minute audio breathwork session. (https://your.belongwellness.com/sleep) ⚡️Join Hello, Next-Level You, my 6-week group breathwork experience for women over 40 who are ready to feel f*cking GREAT. This Beta program launches October 5th. (https://your.belongwellness.com/hnly-beta-sales-page) ✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong

  6. Jul 21

    Low Libido in Midlife: What's Really Shutting Down Your Desire

    Low libido in midlife is likely not just your hormones. There are other factors at play that are important to know about. Let’s talk about what's actually shutting down desire for midlife women, and what helps bring it back. Brooke Bralove, LCSW-C and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and I talk about what women over 40 actually need to know about low desire, sexual ruts in long-term relationships, and how unresolved trauma can live in the body and affect intimacy for decades. Here’s what we cover: Why familiarity and too much emotional safety can kill eroticism in long-term relationshipsThe myth of spontaneous desire, and what's actually more realisticHow mental overload, exhaustion, and resentment shut down libido faster than any hormone shiftWhy "willingness to try" is more useful than waiting to be in the moodHow trauma, big and small, can show up in the body and affect intimacy years laterWhat Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is, and how it's helping women resolve sexual trauma in as few as one sessionOne thing you can do this week to reconnect with your own desireBrooke Bralove, LCSW-C, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist with over 20 years in private practice.  brookebralove.com | @BrookeBralovePsychotherapy  Chapters: 00:00 Understanding Low Libido in Midlife Women 03:11 The Role of Familiarity and Newness in Relationships 05:57 The Myth of Spontaneous Desire 08:55 The Importance of Communication and Willingness 11:49 Addressing Resentment and Unmet Needs 14:21 Exploring Root Causes of Low Libido 17:03 Healing from Trauma and Its Impact on Desire 19:49 Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) Explained 22:37 Practical Steps to Reconnect with Desire I want to hear from you. Send me a text or voicemail! Jessica's freebies and resources: 📅 Join me for a FREE virtual breathwork experience for women 40+ September 24th or October 2nd! (https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/bookings/live-breathwork-events) 😴 Sleep better tonight with my free 10-minute audio breathwork session. (https://your.belongwellness.com/sleep) ⚡️Join Hello, Next-Level You, my 6-week group breathwork experience for women over 40 who are ready to feel f*cking GREAT. This Beta program launches October 5th. (https://your.belongwellness.com/hnly-beta-sales-page) ✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong

  7. Jul 14

    Reinventing Yourself in Midlife: A Novelist on How to Write the Next Chapter of Your Life

    Feeling stuck in midlife even when life looks successful from the outside? Novelist and coach Ellen Baker says we can reinvent ourselves the same way an author writes a character into existence: by choosing who we need to be before we have proof we're there. Ellen Baker spent a decade navigating divorce, rejection, and reinvention before her novel The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson became HarperCollins' Lead Read for Winter 2024 and was featured in People and Woman's World. Her new novel, Summerland Cove, is out June 2026. She is also the founder of The Next Chapter Studio, where she helps women rewrite the internal beliefs that shape how they show up. She says we can write the next chapter of our own lives the same way an author writes a character into existence: by deciding who that character needs to be before writing a word. You choose the identity first. The outcomes follow. I can’t wait for you to hear this! We talk about: Why the identity that got you here isn't the one that will carry you forwardThe author's approach to identity change: deciding who your character needs to be before the story startsHow to look at yourself from the outside, the way an author looks at a character she's writingThe "I choose to" shift that gives you your agency back right nowWhy we've been conditioned to think achievement has to come before identity (and why that's backwards)How to tell the difference between an identity that's truly yours versus one you're just performingThe "What if?" question that lets you try on a new identity without pressureWhat actually changes first when a woman steps into a new identityHow an identity shift ripples into relationships, and how to navigate thatThe first thing to do if you suspect you've been living from an outdated identity Connect with Ellen Baker: ellenbakernovels.com | The Next Chapter Studio: ellenbakernovels.com/studio I want to hear from you. Send me a text or voicemail! Jessica's freebies and resources: 📅 Join me for a FREE virtual breathwork experience for women 40+ September 24th or October 2nd! (https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/bookings/live-breathwork-events) 😴 Sleep better tonight with my free 10-minute audio breathwork session. (https://your.belongwellness.com/sleep) ⚡️Join Hello, Next-Level You, my 6-week group breathwork experience for women over 40 who are ready to feel f*cking GREAT. This Beta program launches October 5th. (https://your.belongwellness.com/hnly-beta-sales-page) ✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong

  8. Jul 7

    What Creatine Does for Your Muscle, Brain and Mood After 40

    Creatine isn't just for bodybuilders. Functional medicine doctor Miranda Naylor explains why women over 40 actually need creatine for muscle, brain, mood, and sleep. Thank you, Dr. Naylor, for clearing up all the confusion around creatine and whether it is helpful and safe for midlife women.  What you'll hear: Why women naturally have lower creatine stores than menHow estrogen affects creatine metabolism and why midlife women may need moreWhat creatine actually does for muscle, brain function, mood, and sleepDosing guidance: loading vs. maintenance, and what to look for in a productDr. Miranda Naylor is a functional medicine doctor in San Diego, CA and the host of the podcast Modern Women's Wellness.  Connect with Dr. Miranda: drmirandanaylor.com | @drmirandanaylor | Modern Women’s Wellness podcast ➡️ My favorite creatine: Be Well By Kelly (https://go.shopmy.us/p-50264235) I want to hear from you. Send me a text or voicemail! Jessica's freebies and resources: 📅 Join me for a FREE virtual breathwork experience for women 40+ September 24th or October 2nd! (https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/bookings/live-breathwork-events) 😴 Sleep better tonight with my free 10-minute audio breathwork session. (https://your.belongwellness.com/sleep) ⚡️Join Hello, Next-Level You, my 6-week group breathwork experience for women over 40 who are ready to feel f*cking GREAT. This Beta program launches October 5th. (https://your.belongwellness.com/hnly-beta-sales-page) ✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong

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You're a woman over 40, you're in the thick of perimenopause or menopause, and lately you keep coming back to the same thought: I just don't feel like myself anymore. You're doing everything right. Showing up for your family, your work, everyone who needs you. But you feel exhausted in a way that sleep doesn't fix. Work feels harder and less fulfilling than it used to. Your relationship feels distant. Your body is changing. You’re overwhelmed with the neverending decisions. And no matter what you do, you just feel off. Disconnected from yourself.  Midlife Advice is the podcast for intelligent midlife women who are ready to stop white-knuckling through life and feel next-level good. Each week, host Jessica Long brings you honest conversations about navigating perimenopause and menopause, hormones, overwhelm, relationships, confidence, and the identity shift nobody warned you was coming. Not as a patient. Not as a problem to be solved. As a woman who deserves to actually feel GREAT again. Jessica is a holistic health coach, certified menopause coaching specialist, breathwork facilitator and fellow midlife woman navigating all of this right alongside you. If you've ever searched: Why am I so exhausted all the time?Why does work feel so hard lately?Why do I feel so disconnected from my partner?Why do I have low libido and will it ever come back?Why don't I feel like myself anymore?Is this perimenopause or something else? This podcast was made for you. 💌 If you’re a midlife woman navigating perimenopause, hormone shifts, personal growth, and just not feeling like yourself, you’ll fit right in to my community. Join my email list where I share personal stories, nervous system regulation tools, favorite products, high-protein recipes, book recs and exclusive discounts. I’ll send you my FREE 10-minute breathwork session to get better sleep tonight to get you started! ✨For more midlife advice on perimenopause, hormone health, nervous system regulation, and living with purpose in your 40s and 50s follow me: @midlifeadvicepodcast | @heyjessicalong ⚡️Ready to feel f*cking GREAT again? Learn more about working together at belongwellness.com. 

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