The Next Phase

Stacey Hutson
  • 5.0 (6)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH

I used to be fun. I used to be driven. I used to be sexy. I used to be...young. What happened?  Dear Millennial moms in your late 30s or 40s -- former forces of nature, Are you burned out, overwhelmed, and wondering where your energy (and your old self) went? You’re not alone. The Next Phase is the podcast for overachieving moms navigating perimenopause who are dying to take back their energy, their bodies, and their magic. Here, we will not pummel you with hormone treatment plans or talk about perimenopause as if it's a diagnosis. Instead, we're going to celebrate it. We're going to use it as an excuse to really start taking care of ourselves. As a matter of fact, we're going to find ourselves in our perimenopause era.  Hosted by Stacey Hutson—certified health coach, wellness chef, former co-host of the Mother Plus Podcast, and mom of two—you’ll learn how to: Understand what’s really happening in perimenopause and how to work with your changing body, use nutrition, supplements, and sleep as medicine to restore your energy, get in tune with your cycle and learn practical ways to sync your life with your hormones, and create rituals (with a little woo) that help you slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with yourself. Each episode blends personal stories, expert insights, and actual doable steps you can take right away.  ✨ Subscribe now to The Next Phase and join a community of millennial moms redefining wellness in their 40s. Let’s make perimenopause your most magnetic chapter yet.

  1. 2D AGO

    #21: Why Millennial Workouts Are Backfiring in Perimenopause (With Dr. JJ Thomas, DPT)

    Millennial moms were raised on one fitness message: More cardio. Eat less. Push harder. Sleep when you’re dead. And now? We’re herniating discs. Developing “meno belly.” Feeling exhausted. And wondering why the workouts that used to work… don’t anymore. In this episode of The Next Phase Podcast, I sit down with Dr. JJ Thomas, Doctor of Physical Therapy, to talk about what is actually happening inside our bodies in our late 30s and 40s — and why our old fitness mentality may be working against us. Dr. JJ has been a physical therapist for 26 years and specializes in helping women build strength for longevity, not just aesthetics. We talk about: What anabolic resistance is — and why it starts in our 30sWhy more cardio + less food can backfire in perimenopauseThe real reason protein matters (and how much you likely need)How muscle mass regulates hormonesWhy strength training is more powerful than you thinkWhy training patterns, not just muscles, changes everythingHow to think about sleep vs. workouts in midlifeThe difference between looking “in shape” and being structurally in shapeWhy taking care of your fitness is not selfish — it’s capacity-buildingIf you’ve ever felt like your body is betraying you… this episode will reframe that entirely. This isn’t about getting skinny. It’s about building a resilient, functional, hormonally-supported body that can carry you through the second half of your life. And because “just try harder” is no longer a strategy… I made you something. My free Cycle Syncing Map walks you through how to eat, train, and plan your energy around your hormones. Especially in perimenopause. It’s free. It’s practical. And it’ll change how you think about your body. Get it here: Cycle Syncing Map Want to learn more from Dr. JJ? Follow Dr. JJ on Instagram for exercise demos and education:  👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjjphysicaltherapist (And if you sit at a desk all day long, learn how to do “Twisty Bear.” You’ll thank me.) Listen to the Dr. JJ Thomas Podcast: 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-jj-thomas-podcast/id1554499031 Check out the fitness app I do every morning here: 👉 https://playbookapp.io/creators/dr-jj-thomas-primal-physical-therapy

    46 min

  2. FEB 20

    #20: Intermittent Fasting vs. Cycle Syncing in Perimenopause (Why I Stopped Fasting)

    I’m sharing my full experience with intermittent fasting for women in perimenopause — why I started it after struggling with postpartum weight gain, how I followed Fast Like a Girl closely, and why it felt empowering… until it didn’t. If you’ve been exploring time-restricted eating, fasting for weight loss, or fasting in perimenopause, this conversation is for you. We’re diving into: The potential benefits of fasting (autophagy, insulin sensitivity, metabolic flexibility)Why intermittent fasting can increase cortisol and stress loadHow fasting may affect women’s hormones differently than men’sThe connection between stress, caffeine, blood sugar, and chronic UTIsWhy perimenopause changes the way your body responds to restrictionAnd how cycle syncing became a more sustainable, hormone-supportive approach for meThis is not an anti-fasting episode. There is research behind intermittent fasting, and it may work well for some women. But fasting during perimenopause — especially when sleep is disrupted and stress is already high — can come with trade-offs that aren’t always discussed. If you’re new to cycle syncing and want a foundation, go back and listen to: Episode 2: Explain Cycle Syncing to MeEpisode 4: How to Eat With Your Cycle to Balance Hormones in PerimenopauseAnd be sure to download my Cycle Syncing Guide to start aligning your nutrition, exercise, and energy with your menstrual cycle instead of fighting your body. Next week, I’m joined by Dr. JJ Thomas to talk about exercise in perimenopause — why pushing harder isn’t the solution, and how focusing on muscle building, recovery, and nervous system regulation can support metabolism and long-term hormone health. If you’re navigating perimenopause weight gain, hormonal shifts, or wondering whether fasting is helping or hurting — this episode will give you a new lens.

    28 min

  3. FEB 13

    #19: Minimalism in Midlife: Less Stuff, More White Space

    Lately, everything has felt like… too much. Too many activities.  Too many Amazon boxes.  Too many decisions.  Too many tabs open in our brains. In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Seferian, host of the Sustainable Minimalists and author of Sustainable Minimalism, to talk about what minimalism actually looks like in midlife. Not the white-wall, aesthetic version. The nervous system version. We explore: • Why our generation struggles with overconsumption  • The pressure to over-gift and over-schedule our kids  • How social media quietly fuels “more”  • What white space does to your energy  • Why your tolerance for chaos drops in your forties  • And how protecting your capacity might be the most radical shift of this phase Because minimalism in midlife isn’t about decluttering. It’s about asking: Why am I carrying so much in the first place? If you’ve been craving more space — in your home, your calendar, or your brain — this conversation will feel like an exhale. About Stephanie Stephanie Seferian is the host of the top-ranked Sustainable Minimalists> podcast and author of Sustainable Minimalism. For over eight years, she has helped families embrace incremental minimalism as a practical way to reduce stress, live intentionally, and lessen their environmental impact. Her work focuses on ethical decluttering, conscious consumerism, and sustainable living with kids — proving that living with less can be both realistic and life-giving. Connect with Stephanie Sustainable Minimalist Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/hn/podcast/sustainable-minimalists/id1329830361?l=en-GB Sustainable Minimalism Book: https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Minimalism-Sustainability-Sacrificing-Housecleaning-ebook/dp/B08RZD6X2J?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainableminimalists/?hl=en Resources Mentioned Download my Cycle-Syncing Guide: https://stacey-noelle-llc.kit.com/cyclemap Subscribe on Substack: https://substack.com/@staceyhutson?r=191989&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile&shareImageVariant=light

    32 min

  4. FEB 5

    #17: Saying Goodbye to Our 90s Mom: On Catherine O’Hara and the Motherhood We Inherited

    In the wake of Catherine O’Hara’s death, a lot of millennial women felt unexpectedly emotional. Not just because we lost a legendary actress — but because we lost Kevin’s mom. In this episode, I reflect on Kate McCallister, the iconic 90s movie mom from Home Alone, and why her character still lives in our bodies decades later. The busy, overwhelmed, loving mom who held everything together — often without rest, support, or language for burnout. This isn’t a tribute episode.  It’s a time capsule. A look at the model of motherhood so many of us absorbed from the movies and shows we grew up watching — and why that model quietly stopped working as we entered adulthood, motherhood, and perimenopause. We talk about: Why celebrity deaths from our childhood can feel like real griefWhat the “90s mom” taught us about strength, sacrifice, and enduranceWhy modern motherhood feels so overwhelming — even when we’re doing everything “right”And how we can take responsibility for building lives with more capacity, not more pressureSo grab your Hi-C, your Dunkaroos, or your Fruit by the Foot.  Dust off the VCR. This is about Kevin’s mom —  and what it means now that we’re the moms.

    12 min

  5. JAN 29

    #16: Perimenopause? What—Like It’s Hard? Herbal Wisdom with Jane Barlow

    Perimenopause can feel like a confusing full-body mystery… but today’s conversation is a deep exhale. I’m sitting down with Jane Barlow, an herbalist and founder of Barlow Herbal, who literally grew up in plant medicine—her dad was a college-educated medicinal botanist, and herbal healing was just normal in her house. And while Jane’s own menopause experience was basically a “nothing burger” (yes, we unpack that), she’s helped thousands of women navigate the real stuff: irregular/heavy periods, mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep that suddenly falls apart. In this episode, we talk about: Why perimenopause doesn’t have to be miserableThe simple starter herb she recommends for almost everyone: red raspberry leaf teaSleep support that can calm a “monkey mind”: valerian root + blue vervainAdaptogens for mood + resilience (and why modern stress makes us think we’re “broken”)Post-menopause vitality: energy, libido, hormones, and the herbs Jane personally usesThe deeper message beneath all of it: learning to trust your body againAnd then… Jane unexpectedly challenges me to something I did not see coming: One hour a week with zero technology. No doom scrolling. No dopamine drip. Just you, quiet, and your nervous system finally getting a signal that you’re safe. If you’re an overachieving millennial mom trying to stop fixing yourself and start listening to yourself—this one is for you. Find Jane: BarlowHerbal.com + @barlowherbal on Instagram + Barlow Herbal on YouTube (And yes… she actually does sell the products we talk about 😉) Jane's tea recommendation:  www.starwestbotanicals.com About Jane:  Jane Barlow is a master herbalist, health advocate, and founder of Barlow Herbal Specialties, carrying forward the legacy of her father, medicinal botanist Dr. Max G. Barlow. With decades of experience in herbal medicine, fitness, and holistic wellness, Jane teaches people how to use medicinal plants to support the body’s natural ability to heal. Before fully immersing herself in herbal medicine, Jane spent over 20 years in the fitness industry, including co-owning a gym with her sister. Her work bridges physical health, nervous system balance, and spiritual awareness, helping people reconnect with their intuition and take ownership of their well-being. Jane is also the author of Be Your Own Shaman, a modern expansion of her father’s classic work From the Shepherd’s Purse, and shares herbal wisdom through her YouTube channel and podcast appearances.

    48 min

  6. JAN 23

    #15: The Energetic Power of Finishing Mundane Tasks

    51 days. That’s how long the too-small sweater sat in my trunk before I finally made the return. In this episode, I’m talking about the mundane tasks we avoid — the returns, the laundry, the mail, the subscriptions we never cancel — and why they take up way more space in our bodies and nervous systems than we realize. For years, I told myself these tasks were beneath me. That I had more important things to focus on. That I would do them tomorrow. But what I’ve come to understand in this phase of life is that it was never about time or discipline — it was about capacity. Unfinished tasks aren’t just clutter or procrastination. They’re unfinished business. They hum in the background. They quietly drain our energy. And over time, they contribute to anxiety, overwhelm, and that constant feeling that we’re behind in our own lives. In this episode, I explore: Why “easy” tasks can feel harder than big goalsHow unfinished business affects your energy and nervous systemThe difference between forcing productivity and building real capacityWhy completing small, mundane tasks can actually free up space for the life you wantThis isn’t about fixing yourself or turning into someone you’re not (like June Cleaver). It’s about listening to what your system actually needs — and discovering that the answers might be smaller, quieter, and closer than you think. ✨ I’m also writing more about this idea over on Substack — including an essay about how much I hate making returns.  You can read it here: I Hate Making Returns If this episode resonated — if you felt it in your bones — I’d be so grateful if you left a review. I read every single one, and they truly mean more than you know. Thanks for being here. I’ll see you in the next phase.

    18 min

  7. JAN 15

    #14: The New Year Self-Help Spiral (and How I Found More Space Instead)

    January has a way of turning us into projects. Fix your habits. Fix your body. Fix your mindset. Fix your life. In this episode, Stacey reflects on the familiar New Year self-help spiral—and why, after decades of goal-setting, optimizing, and trying to become “better,” she’s choosing something different. Through a deeply personal New Year ritual, a surprising realization, and one tiny experiment that changed how she experiences time, Stacey explores what it actually means to create more space in your life—without forcing change, quitting your phone, or becoming someone new. This is a conversation about presence, nervous system safety, and learning how to enjoy the life you’ve already worked so hard to build. In this episode, we talk about: Why January can feel so aggressive for self-help-prone womenThe difference between fixing yourself and listening to yourselfHow constant phone consumption quietly steals our sense of time and spaceA simple, ordinary practice that brought Stacey back to herselfWhy small, embodied rituals can be more powerful than big New Year resolutions✨ Mentioned in this episode: Stacey’s Substack, where she shares a deeper reflection on the tooth-brushing practice and explores creating more space and joy through everyday rituals Episode #3: Why You Should Listen to Fewer Podcasts—Including This One Want to drop a note to Stacey? Email her at stacey@stacey-hutson.com If you’re tired of feeling like a before-version of yourself—and ready to experience your life instead of constantly trying to improve it—this episode is for you.

    27 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    #13: Explain EFT to Me: How to Calm Your Nervous System When You’re Spiraling

    Have you ever been set off by something that looks small to everyone else — but suddenly your chest is tight, your throat feels blocked, and you can’t fully exhale? Your body feels like it’s under attack… even though nothing “that bad” just happened. That’s spiraling — and if you’re a millennial mom in perimenopause, it may be happening more often than ever. In today’s episode of The Next Phase Podcast, I’m teaching you one of the most powerful nervous system regulation tools I know — one you can use anytime, anywhere, completely on your own. We’re talking about EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) — also known as tapping. I’ll walk you through: What spiraling actually is (and why it’s not a personal failure)Why anxiety feels more intense during perimenopauseWhat EFT is and why it works (yes, there’s real science behind it)How tapping helps calm your nervous system without numbing youA simple EFT formula you can use anytime you feel overwhelmedAnd finally, a guided EFT session you can come back to whenever you need itThis episode is especially for you if: Your anxiety feels physical (tight chest, racing thoughts, shallow breath)You’re tired of trying to “positive think” your way out of stressYou want to calm your body without gummies, wine, or scrollingYou need a tool that works in the moment — not later✨ Guided EFT Session EFT tapping begins at: 25:32 (Bookmark this section so you can return to it anytime you’re spiraling.) 🖐 EFT Meridian Points Used in This Episode Use this list to follow along during the tapping session: Karate Chop Point – Side of the hand, below the pinkyEyebrow – Inner edge of the eyebrowSide of the Eye – Outer corner of the eyeUnder the Eye – On the cheekbone, directly below the eyeUnder the Nose – Between the nose and upper lipChin – Crease between the lower lip and chinCollarbone – About 1 inch from the center of the collarboneUnder the Arm – About 3–4 fingers below the armpit, along the side of the bodyTop of the Head – The crown of the head(No need to memorize these — perfection is not the goal. Presence is.) 💛 Want More Support? If EFT resonated with you and you want help using it to finally tackle the things you’ve been avoiding, I’d love to invite you to my January Reset Body Doubling Session. We’ll start with a guided EFT to calm your nervous system — then actually do the thing together, from a grounded, supported place. You don’t need more willpower in January.  You need nervous system support — and community. 👉 Sign up here: stacey-hutson.com/body-doubling If this episode helped you, feel free to come back to the tapping anytime. There’s no rush, nothing to fix, and nothing you need to figure out right now. Just one breath at a time. Peace 🤍

    32 min
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About

I used to be fun. I used to be driven. I used to be sexy. I used to be...young. What happened?  Dear Millennial moms in your late 30s or 40s -- former forces of nature, Are you burned out, overwhelmed, and wondering where your energy (and your old self) went? You’re not alone. The Next Phase is the podcast for overachieving moms navigating perimenopause who are dying to take back their energy, their bodies, and their magic. Here, we will not pummel you with hormone treatment plans or talk about perimenopause as if it's a diagnosis. Instead, we're going to celebrate it. We're going to use it as an excuse to really start taking care of ourselves. As a matter of fact, we're going to find ourselves in our perimenopause era.  Hosted by Stacey Hutson—certified health coach, wellness chef, former co-host of the Mother Plus Podcast, and mom of two—you’ll learn how to: Understand what’s really happening in perimenopause and how to work with your changing body, use nutrition, supplements, and sleep as medicine to restore your energy, get in tune with your cycle and learn practical ways to sync your life with your hormones, and create rituals (with a little woo) that help you slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with yourself. Each episode blends personal stories, expert insights, and actual doable steps you can take right away.  ✨ Subscribe now to The Next Phase and join a community of millennial moms redefining wellness in their 40s. Let’s make perimenopause your most magnetic chapter yet.

Information

  • Creator
    Stacey Hutson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Next Phase
  • Show Website
    The Next Phase

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