Messy Midlife

Messy Midlife

Messy Midlife is what happens when three women, all naturopathic doctors and one a therapist, going through midlife, pull up a chair to talk honestly. It is all on the table - hormones, families, burnout, and rediscovering who we are. It’s unfiltered, funny, and healing, like eavesdropping on the table of women who just get it.

  1. Emotionally Prepping for Hysterectomy

    5D AGO

    Emotionally Prepping for Hysterectomy

    Send us Fan Mail Jenn talks through her preparations for her upcoming hysterectomy and oopherectomy.  We talk about: Our expectations of ourselves while healingHow we relate to our health conditions and treatments/surgeriesThe positives that have come from having endometriosis Being OK with uncertainty going into surgery and coming out of itThe surprising emotional impact of removing the uterus and ovaries compared to other surgeriesBeing able to bid farewell to a part of our bodies/selves that is no longer serving us, even if it was part of the best things in your life at one pointChapters 00:00 Facing Surgery: A Personal Journey 02:45 Emotional Reflections on Hysterectomy 04:49 Navigating Recovery and Expectations 07:38 The Psychological Impact of Surgery 10:17 Finding Positives in Adversity 13:00 The Importance of Language in Medical Choices 15:32 The Significance of the Uterus in Identity 18:25 Preparing for Change and New Beginnings If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

    34 min
  2. The "Flaming" Sandwich Generation

    APR 28

    The "Flaming" Sandwich Generation

    Send us Fan Mail We have had a lot of requests to talk about the sandwich generation - where we are raising kids and helping or caring for aging parents.  We talk about:  The guilt and shame that comes with trying to navigate multiple things that are essentially competing personal valuesNavigating things as a solo parent or only childThe role in community and the ways relationships change over time and as new challenges ariseThe things outside of our control that impact our friendships, including things with our kids and their personalities and needsHow we prioritize community and connection and how that impacts the difficulty in the messy middle of the sandwich generationHow the way we feel mentally and physically and the ways it impacts relationships and community, for better or worseThe choices we have to make to avoid burnout but still try to have a full and fulfilling lifeThe way "flares" of the sandwich can trigger deep trauma and deplete you further when people are counting on you the mostThe importance of connected knowingThe competition between our lifelong messages to be selfless and the fact that we do actually have a self that deserves attentionBook referenced: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Sandwich Generation and Its Relevance 01:55 Personal Stories: Weekend Overload and Emotional Toll 03:41 Defining the Sandwich Generation: Responsibilities and Challenges 06:12 Financial Concerns and Future Uncertainties 08:52 The Role of Community and Support Networks 12:39 Changing Dynamics of Friendships and Social Support 16:07 Juggling Multiple Responsibilities and Burnout 19:35 The Flare of Stress and Unresolved Childhood Issues 23:35 The Importance of Connected Knowing and Empathy 27:01 Supporting Each Other: Practical Acts of Kindness 31:38 The Myth of Selflessness and Self-Care Challenges 33:47 Finding Meaning and Growth in the Sandwich Experience If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

    36 min
  3. Why Can't I Just Do _____?

    APR 21

    Why Can't I Just Do _____?

    Send us Fan Mail Do you ever struggle to do even the simplest things that you know are good for you? Even when you already did the hard part? Do you ever wonder how to have the hard conversations with people you love when you see them doing the same thing? Today we talk:  Stages of change and how being in messy midlife impacts our ability to move through themHow we show up in relationships and how we lovingly talk about hard thingsThe importance of talking about the hard things before we are in crisisThe importance of trusting and loving friendships that are a safe container to talk about shameWhere "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, but..." and starting at a solution or absolute belongs in loving and difficult conversationsChapters 00:00 Welcome and Setting the Stage 01:29 Navigating Personal Health as Doctors 05:20 The Challenge of Self-Care 10:20 The Psychology of Change and Healing 12:08 Honesty in Friendships and Relationships 19:00 Navigating Difficult Conversations 22:21 The Role of Friends in Relationships 24:44 Openness to Change and Acceptance 27:01 The Impact of Shame on Relationships 31:05 Creating Safe Spaces for Conversations 34:30 Curiosity as a Tool for Connection 40:03 Stages of Change and Personal Growth If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

    45 min
  4. Obstacles and Openness to Thriving

    APR 14

    Obstacles and Openness to Thriving

    Send us Fan Mail Karen shares an epiphany she had with a patient recently. Her patient was doing really well but then the things that had been working just stopped, seemingly out of nowhere. They had to work together to find the obstacles to healing so that she could start improving again.  This made use think about how often this is true in perimenopause, and the ways that we can even become our own obstacle to thriving.  Some questions arose that we realized we need to ask ourselves:  What do we use to sense our worth or to see ourselves as valuable?What are our unspoken agreements with ourselves?What ways do the unspoken agreements end up draining you, and maybe even making physical symptoms worse?How can we take power back - empower ourselves - by breaking these unspoken agreements with ourselves?We talk through some of our own answers to these questions and how this is showing up in our lives. Saying it loud is powerful, and we invite you to join us.  Chapters 00:00 Integrative Care in Midlife Health 05:25 Navigating Hormonal Changes and Empowerment If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

    15 min
  5. Non-Hormone Support in Perimenopause and Menopause

    APR 7

    Non-Hormone Support in Perimenopause and Menopause

    Send us Fan Mail Not everyone can use (or wants to use) hormone replacement therapy. Today we talk about some of the options to look at and considerations.  We talk about The Women's Health Initiative, research in general, and what it means for you and your healthThe importance of not just taking something off the shelf or that you learned about from social media influences in this precarious time of health transition Natural support to help manage symptoms such as hot flashes, vascular integrity, sleepMedication support for symptom managementReasons why antidepressants sometimes actually help hot flashesThings to consider about how medications and herbs or supplements can work that could cause issuesThe role of strength training in testosterone production in womenThe lifestyle shifts that are helpful, and necessary to feel our bestThe value of doing less but better, especially in midlifeThe importance of acceptance and embracing a new chapter, rather than trying to make everything feel like it did beforeWhere to find someone that has expertise to guide you through all of this so you can live your best life, at this stage in lifeChapters 00:00 Understanding HRT and Its Alternatives 08:43 Exploring Non-HRT Options for Symptom Management 19:34 Addressing Lifestyle Changes and Their Impact 29:25 Navigating the Transition: Embracing New Chapters If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

    36 min
  6. Hormone Replacement Therapy in Perimenopause & Menopause

    MAR 31

    Hormone Replacement Therapy in Perimenopause & Menopause

    Send us Fan Mail Today we talk through some of the things you are likely considering to help you feel better.  None of this is medical advice - always consult with your healthcare provider before starting anything, even supplements that you can purchase without a prescription.  Things we cover:  The difference between standard hormone replacement therapy and bioidentical hormone replacement therapyThe importance of progesterone even if you no longer have a uterus (because it does more for us than just protect the uterus)Testosterone in BHRT, things to consider, and some of the controversy you might see around itBreast cancer risk in HRTThe actual goal of HRT in easing through perimenopauseSome consideration for determining how long you might need to be on HRT, and things to consider when it is time to wean offOur thoughts on a better, more accurate term to describe what we are actually doing with HRT because the term is really confusing and misleadingAccessibility of BHRT compared to HRTHRT tidbits for consideration in the highly sensitive populationChapters 00:00 Understanding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) 04:26 Bioidentical vs. Conventional Hormones 11:07 Breast Cancer Risk and Hormone Therapy 20:48 Accessibility and Affordability of Hormone Treatments If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

    25 min
  7. Hormone Testing in Perimenopause

    MAR 24

    Hormone Testing in Perimenopause

    Send us Fan Mail Today we answer the most common questions about hormone testing, and the questions you need to get answered but might not know to ask.  We talk about:  Where in your cycle testing will be most reliable, and what to do when you don't have a regular cycle. Why there is value in getting tested before starting any hormone therapy, even when you don't have a period. The importance of working with a hormone literate doctor that can order and interpret the labs from a perspective of optimal vs optimal, rather than disease vs within normal limits. Whether liver function, blood sugar, cholesterol, and other markers should be monitored more closely or frequently as hormones that impact them start to change. Testing that isn't standard that should be to help take clear and correct preventative action for things like osteoporosis and heart disease. The uses and value of blood vs. saliva vs. urine testing for hormones. Chapters 00:00 Understanding Hormones and Testing Basics 05:14 Navigating Perimenopause and Hormonal Changes 10:33 The Importance of Comprehensive Testing 15:58 Evaluating Hormone Testing Methods 26:31 Addressing Hormonal Imbalances and Treatment Options If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

    33 min
  8. Hormones 101

    MAR 17

    Hormones 101

    Send us Fan Mail By listener request! Aliza takes us back to the basics with the role different hormones play in our health both before and during perimenopause. This chat is full of good foundations for conversations you are having with healthcare providers, and sets the stage for more details in upcoming episodes all about hormone replacement therapy and non-hormone support options.  Things to take note of:  Hormones have a MUCH bigger role than your menstrual cycle.Estrogen plays a role in sleep, blood sugar regulation, cholesterol, temperature regulation, sleep, memory, arterial elasticity, and more. There are three forms of estrogen in our body and not all are created equal. Progesterone also impacts sleep, cholesterol, mood, and more. Estrogen is more dominant or building, while progesterone is more inhibiting or calming. Books mentioned:  Do Less by Kate Northrup Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Hormones and Perimenopause 02:42 Understanding Estrogen: Types and Functions 05:35 The Role of Progesterone in Women's Health 08:19 The Interplay of Hormones During the Menstrual Cycle 10:49 Navigating Hormonal Changes in Perimenopause 19:43 Understanding Hormonal Fluctuations 23:31 The Role of Testosterone in Women's Health 27:06 Cycle Tracking and Life Planning 36:56 Navigating Perimenopause and Hormonal Changes If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

    39 min
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About

Messy Midlife is what happens when three women, all naturopathic doctors and one a therapist, going through midlife, pull up a chair to talk honestly. It is all on the table - hormones, families, burnout, and rediscovering who we are. It’s unfiltered, funny, and healing, like eavesdropping on the table of women who just get it.

Information

  • Creator
    Messy Midlife
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Messy Midlife
  • Show Website
    Messy Midlife