Own Your Midlife Podcast: Hormones, Perimenopause & Reinvention for Women 40+

Susie McLean
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Own Your Midlife is a podcast for women in their 40s+ navigating midlife transitions, perimenopause, changing hormones, career pivots, and the deep desire for reinvention. It's a space for heartfelt conversations about confidence, clarity, identity, and all the messy, beautiful shifts that happen in this season of life. Host Susie McLean sits down with inspiring guests and shares real stories, practical tools, and gentle nudges that help you reconnect with your voice, trust your intuition, and take the next small step toward a life that feels true to you. If you've ever thought "I'm not where I expected to be," or wondered what's next for you, you're not alone. This podcast supports women who want to show up for themselves, feel better in their bodies, understand their changing hormones, rebuild confidence, and create a fulfilling second act. So grab your earbuds, settle in, and let's navigate this season together.

  1. 1d ago

    Truth Over Approval: The Midlife Shift Back to Yourself with Diane Sorensen

    Have you ever wondered how much of who you are is really you, and how much may have been shaped by years of wanting to feel accepted, loved, or safe? For many women, approval-driven patterns can become so familiar that they start to feel like part of your personality. Being accommodating, keeping others happy, avoiding disappointment, or automatically going along with what everyone else wants can become something you do without even realizing it. In this episode, I'm joined by Diane Sorensen, speaker, Boundary & Empowerment Coach, and host of the Chaos to Connection podcast. We talk about where these patterns can come from, why the need for approval can stay with us long after childhood, and why midlife can bring us face-to-face with ways of living we may have never questioned before. We also talk about resentment and what it may be telling you, why setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable even when you know they're healthy, why other people may struggle when you begin changing, and simple ways to start noticing your own preferences instead of automatically going along with what everyone else wants. In this episode, we talk about: • Why approval-seeking can become a deeply ingrained pattern • How some behaviors we think are our personality may have been learned years ago • Why setting boundaries can bring up guilt and discomfort • How resentment can be a sign that you've been putting your own needs and feelings aside • Why changing old patterns can be difficult for the people around you too • How to start paying attention to what you actually want and need • Why midlife can be an opportunity to question old patterns and live more honestly If you've spent years looking outside yourself for approval, this conversation may help you understand where some of those patterns came from and begin paying attention to what's actually true for you. Connect with Susie: If you enjoyed this episode reach out! I'd love to hear from you:) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemclean.xo/ Email: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com Website: www.susiemclean.com Connect with Diane: Podcast Spotify - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diane-sorensen1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianesorensen.bb/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589 Website: https://www.dianesorensen.net/ Free gift – Drama to Empowerment workbook: https://www.dianesorensen.net/drama-to-empowerment

  2. Aug 11

    Why You Feel Lonely in Midlife Even When You're Not Alone

    Have you ever wondered why you feel lonely even when you have people around you? Loneliness in midlife can be confusing. You may be married, have children, friends, coworkers, and people you talk to regularly, yet still feel disconnected or like something is missing. In this episode, I'm talking about why loneliness can show up in midlife, what that feeling may be telling you, and three practical things you can do to create more meaningful connection in your life. I also share what recent research says about loneliness after 45 and why social connection matters more than we may realize. We'll dive into: • Why you can feel lonely even when you are not physically alone • How to figure out what kind of connection you are actually missing • Why feeling known and understood matters • How to reach out when you are tired of always being the one who initiates • Simple ways to create more connection, belonging, and meaningful relationships in midlife If you have been feeling lonely, disconnected, or like your relationships are missing something, I hope this episode helps you understand what you may need and gives you one small step you can take today. CONNECT! I'd love to hear from you! Send me a message at: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com Connect on: Instagram Website: www.susiemclean.com

  3. Aug 4

    How to Find Clarity When You Feel Lost in Midlife

    What do you do when you're feeling lost in midlife and know you want something different for your life, but you can't quite figure out what that something is? In this solo episode, I'm sharing three things that helped me find clarity when I felt uncertain about what was next. We'll talk about what happens when the life you're living no longer feels like it fits, how other people's opinions can quietly influence your decisions, and why waiting until you feel completely certain may be keeping you stuck. You'll also learn how paying attention to what feels out of alignment can help you understand yourself more clearly, why choosing impact over approval can reconnect you with what truly matters, and how taking one imperfect step can give you information that thinking alone cannot. In this episode, we talk about: • Recognizing when an area of your life feels out of alignment • How fear of judgment can make it harder to know what you truly want • The subtle ways other people's opinions can influence your decisions • Choosing impact over approval • How perfectionism can keep you waiting for certainty • Why taking action can help you find clarity • Three questions to ask when you feel lost in midlife Sometimes you only need enough clarity to take the next step. If this episode encourages you, share it with someone in your life who may need to hear it. Connect with Susie: Instagram - susiemclean.xo Email: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com

  4. Jul 28

    Normal Labs, Brain Fog & Fatigue? Why You Still Don't Feel Like Yourself | Dr. Alicia Newsome

    Have you ever gone to the doctor because you knew something felt off, only to be told that all your lab work looked normal? Maybe you're dealing with brain fog, low energy, mood changes, poor sleep, or that hard to explain feeling that you simply don't feel like yourself anymore. Being told everything looks fine can leave you wondering whether you're imagining it or whether there may be more to explore. In this episode, I'm joined by functional medicine practitioner Dr. Alicia Newsome for a conversation about hormones in midlife and why routine testing may not always answer every question a woman has about how she feels. Alicia shares her functional medicine approach to looking at the body more broadly. We talk about hormone testing, cortisol, chronic stress, blood sugar, nutrition, gut health, sleep, and some of the other areas she considers when working with women who are struggling with symptoms but have been told their results are normal. We also talk about what it means to pay attention to your body, why asking questions matters, and how to advocate for yourself when you know you do not feel right. Before we wrap up, Alicia shares three practical steps women can consider this week, including starting the day with a more balanced breakfast, doing a brain dump before bed, and seeking appropriate testing and support when symptoms continue. You know your body. When something feels off, you deserve to be heard, ask questions, and find the support you need. Connect with Alicia Newsom Instagram: @dr.alicianewsome Facebook: Dr. Alicia Newsome                                                                                                                                                      Linkedin: Dr. Alicia Newsome                                                                                                                                                        Youtube: Dr. Alicia Newsome  Connect with Susie  Website: susiemclean.com Instagram: susiemclean.xo

  5. Jul 21

    Feeling Disconnected in Your Marriage? 4 Ways to Reconnect

    Have you ever wondered how two people who love each other can slowly start to feel disconnected? Most of the time, it does not happen because of one major moment. It happens through small things that go unnoticed, unspoken, or pushed aside during the busyness of life. In this episode, my husband Anthony joins me to talk about how to stay connected in a relationship through the different seasons of life. After more than two decades together, we've learned that reconnecting with your partner often begins with simple choices you can make in everyday moments. We talk about why acknowledgement matters, especially when someone's effort has become so familiar that it becomes easy to stop noticing. We also share why comparing your relationship to another couple's highlight reel can make you lose sight of the season you are currently experiencing together. In this episode, you'll hear: Why your partner's priorities should matter to you How acknowledgement helps your partner feel seen Why reliable partners are often taken for granted How comparison can create dissatisfaction in your relationship Why saying "I'm fine" can slowly lead to resentment and disconnection If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. Email me at ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com You can also connect with me on Instagram at @susiemclean.xo

  6. Jul 14

    Why You Keep Putting Yourself Last (and How to Trust Your Voice)

    For many women, putting yourself last can look a lot like kindness. You become the easygoing one, the flexible one, the woman who always makes it work. But after years of people-pleasing, saying yes to everyone, and ignoring your own needs, many women over 40 reach midlife realizing they can hear everyone else's voice more clearly than their own. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, I share the moment that helped me recognize the difference between being kind and quietly abandoning myself. You'll learn why self-abandonment is often rewarded, how your body may recognize a boundary before you can say it out loud, and why rebuilding self-trust begins in small, everyday decisions. You'll also be given one simple question to ask before automatically saying yes and truthful language you can use when something doesn't work for you. Because every time you honor what you need, you remind yourself that your voice matters. In this episode, you'll hear: The subtle phrases that may sound like kindness but can actually be signs of people-pleasing and self-abandonment Why you may say yes before giving yourself time to recognize your own needs and boundaries One simple question to ask before saying, "It's fine," so you can begin trusting your voice and responding more honestly Know a woman who needs to hear this? Send it her way. And make sure you're following Own Your Midlife so you don't miss future episodes. I love hearing from you! Leave a review or send me an email at: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com Tell me what you're enjoying!  Connect with Susie: Instagram

  7. Jul 7

    Outgrowing Friendships in Midlife? Let Go Without the Guilt

    Friendships in midlife can change in ways we never expected. If you've been wondering whether you've outgrown a friendship, why a friendship feels different than it used to, or why someone who was once so close no longer plays the same role in your life, this episode is for you. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, we're talking about outgrowing friendships, the guilt that often comes with it, and three questions to help you better understand where a friendship is today. I'm also sharing one of the biggest takeaways I learned from friendship expert Anna Goldfarb during a previous episode of the podcast, along with the findings from a well known study out of the Netherlands on how our friend circles naturally change over time. Together, they completely changed how I think about adult friendships and why they evolve the way they do. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why friendship changes are a normal part of adulthood and midlife • Three questions to help you understand where a friendship is today • Why history alone isn't always a reason to stay • How to recognize when a friendship may no longer fit this season of your life • A healthier way to think about friendships that have changed If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with a friend or another woman who might need this conversation today. Be sure to check out my conversation with friendship expert Anna Goldfarb in Episode 10: Why Friendships Feel Harder After 40 (and What Actually Works). Connect with me on Instagram: @susiekmclean.xo Email: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com

  8. Jun 30

    Midlife Imposter Syndrome: Stop Letting Self-Doubt Make Your Decisions

    Self-doubt has a way of making us question everything. It can make us wonder if we're qualified enough, experienced enough, or even capable of taking the next step. For many women, that's exactly how imposter syndrome (also spelled impostor syndrome) in midlife begins to show up. In this episode of Own Your Midlife, we're talking about the thoughts that fuel self-doubt, what imposter syndrome can sound like in everyday life, and how those beliefs can influence the decisions we make. If you've ever thought, "Who do I think I am?" or "Someone else could do it better," you're not alone. I'll also share the three mindset shifts that have helped me recognize those thoughts, build confidence through action, and stop letting imposter syndrome make my decisions. Whether you're thinking about changing careers, starting a business, writing a book, going back to school, or simply stepping into a new season of life, I hope this episode reminds you that you don't have to wait until you feel confident to move forward. ✨In this episode, you'll learn: • What imposter syndrome is and what it can sound like in everyday life • How to recognize the voice of self-doubt • Why confidence is built by taking action • How to collect evidence instead of excuses • Three practical ways to stop letting self-doubt make your decisions 😊 Connect with Susie  Instagram - @susiemclean.xo 📧 Tell me what episode you enjoyed! Email: ownyourmidlifepodcast@gmail.com ⭐️ If this show has made you feel less alone in the middle of it all, a review on Apple Podcasts would mean the world. It helps other women find their way here too ❤️

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Own Your Midlife is a podcast for women in their 40s+ navigating midlife transitions, perimenopause, changing hormones, career pivots, and the deep desire for reinvention. It's a space for heartfelt conversations about confidence, clarity, identity, and all the messy, beautiful shifts that happen in this season of life. Host Susie McLean sits down with inspiring guests and shares real stories, practical tools, and gentle nudges that help you reconnect with your voice, trust your intuition, and take the next small step toward a life that feels true to you. If you've ever thought "I'm not where I expected to be," or wondered what's next for you, you're not alone. This podcast supports women who want to show up for themselves, feel better in their bodies, understand their changing hormones, rebuild confidence, and create a fulfilling second act. So grab your earbuds, settle in, and let's navigate this season together.

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