Rise Before You're Ready

Dawn LeBlanc
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Rise Before You’re Ready is a podcast for women in the second act of life who are done sitting on the sidelines of their own story. Around here, we believe in finding strength through the struggle, purpose in the mess, and freedom through action—even when it’s scary and imperfect. Each week, I share honest stories, real conversations, and simple reflections to help you rise in your voice, your confidence, and your life… all before you feel ready. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it too late for me?” this space is your reminder that your next chapter isn’t waiting for clarity. It’s waiting for you.

  1. 2d ago

    What If It's Not Just Hot Flashes? - The Symptoms No One Warned Us Could Be Hormonal

    Most women are taught to think of perimenopause as hot flashes, night sweats, and irregular periods. But what if the signs are not always that obvious? In this episode, I’m talking about the symptoms women don’t always realize could be connected to hormonal changes — the weird, frustrating, confusing symptoms that can creep in slowly and make you feel like your body is becoming unfamiliar. I also share a personal update about my own experience with burning tongue, severe itching, low estrogen, and what happened after I advocated to add estrogen into my HRT plan. This episode is not medical advice, and it is not about assuming every symptom is hormonal. It is about learning to pay attention, noticing what is new for you, and understanding that perimenopause can be a whole-body transition — not just a reproductive one. In this episode, we talk about: Why hormones are chemical messengers that affect so much more than periods and hot flashesHow symptoms can creep in slowly before you ever think “perimenopause”Burning tongue, itchy skin, sleep changes, anxiety, brain fog, joint pain, libido changes, and moreWhy women often dismiss symptoms until their body gets louderThe fear of bringing symptoms up and being dismissedThe emotional side of entering a new chapter and leaving behind the childbearing yearsWhy “this is new for me” is an important sentence to start usingHow to stop making your symptoms mean something bad about youThis episode is for the woman who keeps saying, “I don’t feel like myself,” but doesn’t know where to put that feeling. Your body is not being dramatic. It may just be trying to get your attention.

    32 min

  2. Jun 16

    The Truth Behind the Fear of Hormone Therapy: The Study That Scared a Generation of Women

    For decades, women were taught to fear hormone replacement therapy. Many of us didn’t know where that fear came from. We just knew the message: hormones are dangerous. In this episode of Rise Before You’re Ready, I continue my BHRT journey by talking about the fear I carried around hormone therapy, the Women’s Health Initiative study that shaped public opinion, and why so many women have suffered because they were never given the full conversation. This episode is not about convincing every woman to take hormones. It’s about education, self-advocacy, asking better questions, and understanding that women deserve more than fear when it comes to their health. I also shares what I learned about estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA, and why understanding what these hormones actually do can help women have better conversations with their practitioners. In This Episode, We Talk About: Why so many women are afraid of hormone replacement therapyHow the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative shaped the conversation around HRTWhy headlines created fear that lasted for decadesHow women’s symptoms are often brushed aside as stress, aging, or “normal”Why perimenopause and menopause education mattersWhat estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA can affect in the bodyWhy women need to research, ask questions, and advocate for themselvesThe difference between making decisions from fear and making decisions from informationWhy no one knows your body better than you doWomen should not have to suffer in silence because they were never educated about their bodies. Hormones are not right for everyone, but every woman deserves current information, real conversations, and the ability to make informed decisions about her own health. Disclaimer This episode is for educational and personal storytelling purposes only and is not medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare provider about your own symptoms, risks, medical history, and treatment options.

    29 min

  3. Jun 10

    What If There's More to the Story? Nobody Told Me This Could Be Perimenopause

    A few months ago, I developed an itch so severe it hurt to wear clothes. I thought it was a dairy allergy, or a detergent allergy. Then I thought it was stress. Then I started wondering if something was seriously wrong with me. What I never considered was perimenopause. In this first episode of Season 2, I'm sharing the story that started everything—the symptom that sent me searching for answers, the book that changed the questions I was asking, and the rabbit hole that completely changed how I think about women's health after 40. This episode isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking better questions. If you've ever struggled with symptoms that didn't seem connected, felt like your body was changing, or wondered why the things that used to work no longer do, this conversation is for you. In this episode I'll talk about: The mysterious itch that took over my life Why I thought I had developed an allergy The frustration of having symptoms without answers The fitness struggles that led me to Stacy Sims' book Next Level The moment I realized some of my symptoms might be connected Symptoms such as burning tongue, heart palpitations, itchy skin, sleep issues, and more Why women deserve better education about perimenopause and menopause The beginning of my hormone health journey This season is about connecting the dots, reclaiming our health, and learning together in real time. Because there is still so much life left to live. And maybe... there's more to the story.

    23 min

  4. Season 2, Episode 1 Trailer

    Season 2 Trailer: There's More to the Story (Connecting the Dots & Reclaiming Your Health)

    After a short break from the podcast, I'm back—and Season 2 is taking us in a direction I never expected. What started as one unexplained symptom has turned into a journey of asking bigger questions about women's health after 40, perimenopause, menopause, hormones, strength, energy, and the things nobody seems to talk about until you're living them. This season isn't about having all the answers. It's about learning in real time. Together, we'll explore: Perimenopause and menopauseHormones and women's healthStrength training and muscle after 40Sleep, energy, and motivationAdvocating for yourself in the healthcare systemThe questions women should be asking about their healthBHRT and my personal journeyWhat I've learned—and what I'm still learningIf you've ever felt like your body changed and nobody handed you the manual, this season is for you. Because there's still so much life left to live. And maybe... there's more to the story. 💛 Coming Next Week You Don't Know You're in Perimenopause Until You're in It The story that started all of this: The symptom that sent me searching for answersThe book that changed the questions I was askingThe rabbit hole that completely changed how I think about women's health after 40 Connect with Rise Collective:Facebook: Rise CollectivePrivate Community: The Rise RoomInstagram: @dawnleblanc_risecollective #WomenOver40 #Perimenopause #Menopause #WomensHealth #BHRT #HealthyAging #StrengthAfter40 #RiseCollective #RiseBeforeYoureReady #MidlifeWomen #HormoneHealth #ReclaimYourHealth

    3 min

  5. May 13

    You fell off. Now what?

    Falling off doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re human. In the final episode of this 4 part series, we’re talking about the part of growth nobody really prepares you for — the moment when you realize you’ve drifted from the habits, routines, and promises you made to yourself. Maybe life got heavy. Maybe you got overwhelmed. Maybe you stopped showing up for yourself the way you wanted to. And instead of simply getting back on track, you turned it into proof that you can’t change. This episode is about changing that pattern. We’re talking about: why falling off is not the same as failingthe damage caused by all-or-nothing thinkinghow to stop restarting from day one every time life happensthe importance of having a Plan Bwhy returning is more powerful than starting overhow to rebuild self-trust through small promisespractical steps to take when you feel off trackThe goal isn’t to become a woman who never falls off. The goal is to become a woman who knows how to come back without abandoning herself.

    30 min

  6. May 6

    Stop Starting Over - Setbacks Aren't Failure

    How many times have you told yourself: “I’ll start over Monday”? This episode is about the cycle so many women stay trapped in:Start. Stop. Restart. Repeat. And the truth is… starting over can feel productive while actually keeping you stuck. In part 3 of this 4 part series, we talk about: Why constantly restarting destroys self-trustThe difference between falling off and quittingWhy women often treat one bad day like total failureThe hidden comfort in “fresh starts”How to stop making setbacks mean something about youPractical ways to bounce back faster instead of restarting completelyWe also dive into: The all-or-nothing mindsetWhy perfectionism fuels inconsistencyHow to build a “bounce back” plan for real lifeThe mountain analogy that changes how you look at progressBecause changing your life isn’t about never falling off. It’s about becoming someone who always comes back. Follow Rise Collective on Facebook and @dawnleblanc_risecollective on Instagram Everything in one place, including some free gifts: linktr.ee/rise_collective

    12 min

  7. Apr 29

    You Keep Breaking Promises to Yourself - Here's Why

    If you’ve ever said “I’ll start Monday”… and didn’t…If you’ve ever put yourself last without even thinking about it…If you’ve ever felt like you just can’t stay consistent no matter how hard you try… This episode is for you. Because the truth is—this isn’t about motivation. It’s about trust. In this episode, we go deeper than surface-level habits and talk about what’s actually happening when you keep breaking promises to yourself—and why it’s so common, especially for women who have spent years putting everyone else first. In part 2 of this 4 part series, we talk about: How self-trust is broken (and why it’s not what you think)The hidden pattern of self-abandonmentWhy wives and mothers often put themselves last—automaticallyHow “life gets busy” becomes a cycle that keeps you stuckThe difference between being selfish and finally including yourselfPractical ways to start rebuilding trust with yourself—without starting overThis episode isn’t about doing more. It’s about becoming someone who finally does what she says she’s going to do. One small promise at a time. Because the goal isn’t perfection. It’s self-trust.

    15 min

  8. Apr 22

    Motivation Is a Lie (And It's Keeping You Stuck)

    If you keep starting over… this episode is for you. We’ve been taught to rely on motivation to change our lives—to wait until we feel ready, energized, inspired enough to finally follow through. But motivation is a feeling. And feelings change. That’s why so many women feel stuck in the same cycle:Starting strong → falling off → starting again. It’s not because you’re lazy.It’s not because you don’t want it bad enough. It’s because you’re relying on something that was never meant to carry you. In part 1 of this 4 part series, we’re breaking down what actually creates change— and how to build it in a way that lasts. Why motivation is unreliable (and why it keeps you stuck)The real reason you struggle with consistencyHow breaking your own word destroys self-trustWhy discipline isn’t punishment—it’s self-respectThe cycle of “starting over” and how to finally break itKeep small promises to yourselfStop trying to change everything overnight. Start small and rebuild trust through follow-through.Remove the negotiationDecide once. Stop debating with yourself every day based on how you feel.Lower the bar to build consistencyConsistency beats intensity. Do less—but do it regularly.Show up especially when you don’t feel like itDiscipline is built on the hard days, not the easy ones.Shift your identityBecome someone who follows through—not perfectly, but consistently.Motivation will get you started sometimes…but discipline is what carries you through. And if you’re tired of starting over… It’s time to stop waiting to feel like it—and start becoming someone who follows through. You don’t need more motivation. You need a decision. And then you need to follow through. Don’t wait until you feel ready. Rise before you’re ready.

    14 min
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About

Rise Before You’re Ready is a podcast for women in the second act of life who are done sitting on the sidelines of their own story. Around here, we believe in finding strength through the struggle, purpose in the mess, and freedom through action—even when it’s scary and imperfect. Each week, I share honest stories, real conversations, and simple reflections to help you rise in your voice, your confidence, and your life… all before you feel ready. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it too late for me?” this space is your reminder that your next chapter isn’t waiting for clarity. It’s waiting for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Dawn LeBlanc
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dawn LeBlanc
  • Show Website
    Rise Before You're Ready