Midlife...NOW WHAT?!

Erin Mires & Jennie Stehli
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Midlife… Now What?! is the podcast for every woman who’s looked at her life and thought, “Wait… is this it?” Hosted by Erin Mires and Jennie Stehli, two women in the thick of raising kids, redefining careers, and navigating relationships, this show gives you permission to say the quiet parts out loud. We talk identity shifts, marriage and divorce, friendship changes, parenting chaos, purpose pivots, hormones, and outgrowing old versions of yourself. No toxic positivity. Just real, honest conversations. Grab your coffee—or your wine—and come get honest with us.

  1. 6D AGO

    Midlife Catch-Up: Peptides, Perimenopause & Real Life Chaos

    This week’s episode is a little different… and honestly, it feels like you’re sitting at the kitchen table with us, catching up on life. 💛 In this behind-the-scenes style conversation, Erin and Jennie hit record before diving into a “planned” podcast topic — and ended up talking about everything from nervous system regulation and parenting to peptides, hormones, perimenopause, marriage, burnout, ADHD, travel sports, and why women are so exhausted trying to hold it all together. Erin opens up about her work with Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT), explaining how subconscious healing, trauma regression, and nervous system work can help uncover emotional blocks and even physical symptoms. Jennie shares her deep dive into peptides, wellness, longevity, and why women deserve to feel good instead of simply surviving. Together, they unpack:✨ The truth about peptides beyond weight loss✨ HRT, perimenopause, and the symptoms no one prepares women for✨ Why so many women feel dismissed in traditional healthcare✨ The connection between emotional stress and physical symptoms✨ Outsourcing your sanity instead of glorifying burnout✨ Raising kids while navigating your own healing journey✨ Travel sports chaos, marriage updates, work pivots, and real-life midlife conversations This episode is raw, unfiltered, educational, funny, and incredibly relatable — because sometimes the best conversations happen before the “real” episode even begins. Topics We Discuss Peptides + longevity medicineGLP-1 microdosingPerimenopause + HRTADHD in womenNervous system regulationQuantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT)Parenting + midlife overwhelmBurnout + mental healthFunctional medicine vs traditional medicineWomen’s wellness + hormone health Resources + Links 💛 Follow the podcast on Instagram:Midlife…Now What?! Instagram 💛 Learn more about Erin’s QHHT sessions:Erin Mires QHHT Profile 💛 Erin’s peptide + wellness link:EllieMD with Erin Mires 💛 Jennie’s peptide + wellness link:EllieMD with Jennie Stehli 💛 Dr. Mary Claire Haver’s menopause resources:The Pause Life by Dr. Mary Claire Haver 💛 Midi Health (women’s midlife healthcare platform Erin references):Midi Health 💛 The famous chia bowls Erin mentions 😂Tropical Smoothie Cafe 💛 Alani Nu supplements + drinks:Alani Nu If this episode resonates with you, send it to a friend who’s also in the thick of figuring it all out. And make sure you subscribe, leave a review, and follow along because these are the conversations women need to be having. 💛 🎙 Midlife… Now What?! is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.

    51 min

  2. MAY 4

    Midlife Health Rewritten: Peptides, Biohacking & Taking Back Control

    This episode is powerful, eye-opening, and deeply empowering. Today, we sit down with Blair Critch, a cancer survivor, wellness educator, and advocate for taking your health into your own hands. Blair shares her journey from being dismissed by doctors… to trusting her intuition… to ultimately being diagnosed with ovarian cancer after months of pushing for answers. What follows is a story not just of survival—but transformation. From chemotherapy and medical menopause to discovering peptides, biohacking, and integrative healing, Blair completely redefined what health and longevity look like in midlife. This conversation is for every woman who has ever thought:“Something feels off… but no one is listening.” Because this episode will remind you:👉 You know your body better than anyone else. 💬 What We Talk About The early signs of ovarian cancer that were dismissed as perimenopauseWhy advocating for your health could save your lifeThe reality of medical menopause (and why no one prepares you)Misdiagnosis in women’s health—and why it’s so commonWhat peptides are and how they support healing and recoveryInflammation, weight gain, and hormonal chaos in midlifeThe connection between stress, cortisol, and declining healthIntegrating Eastern + Western medicine for optimal wellnessBiohacking explained in simple, real-life termsSmall daily habits that regulate your nervous systemWhy midlife is actually the beginning of a powerful new chapter 🔑 Key Takeaways You are your best advocate—trust your intuitionMidlife symptoms are often dismissed or misunderstoodHealing isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s about finding what works for YOUPrevention and proactive care matter more than everYour body is capable of incredible healing when supported properlyMidlife isn’t the end—it’s a recalibration📲 Connect with Blair Instagram: @BlairCritch2Website: BlairCritchOfficial.comFree Resource: Modern Menopause Guide (linked on her platforms)

    1h 26m

  3. APR 6

    Lies, Deceit, & Betrayal: When Trust Breaks… Now What?

    Today’s conversation is not an easy one.It’s raw. It’s real. And it’s something almost everyone of us has experienced in some form. In this episode of Midlife… Now What?!, we’re diving into lies, deceit, and betrayal—and why these experiences don’t just break trust with others… they shake the trust we have in ourselves. Jennie shares a deeply personal and recent story of betrayal that hit close to home—literally. What unfolds is more than just a story about something being taken… it’s about violation, shock, and the emotional aftermath of realizing someone you trusted wasn’t who you thought they were. Because betrayal isn’t just about what happened.It’s about what it makes you question: Your judgmentYour intuitionYour safetyYour ability to trust againAnd that’s where the real work begins. What We Talk About Why betrayal feels so deeply personal and destabilizingThe nervous system response: fight, flight, hypervigilance, and emotional overwhelmThe spiral of self-blame: “How did I not see this?”The difference between processing emotions vs. suppressing themHow to pause instead of react in moments of emotional intensityWhy community and support matter more than ever after betrayalThe truth about forgiveness: you don’t have to reconcile to healHow to hold two truths at once:“I’m grateful for the outcome… and I don’t want you in my life.”Rebuilding self-trust and intuition after your sense of safety is shaken Key Takeaways Betrayal activates more than emotions—it disrupts your entire nervous systemYou cannot think your way through betrayal—you have to feel and process itSelf-blame keeps you stuck; self-awareness moves you forwardYou can forgive without allowing someone back into your lifeBoundaries are not walls—they are self-trust in actionHealing isn’t about pretending it didn’t hurt—it’s about learning to trust yourself again Questions to Reflect On Where did this experience make me question myself?What emotions am I avoiding feeling?Where have I felt this before?What boundaries do I need moving forward?What would it look like to trust myself again? Resources + Support ✨ Erin’s Binaural Beats (for nervous system regulation):https://substack.com/@drerinmires?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page ✨ PDA Parenting Resource Mentioned:https://www.atpeaceparents.com/ Final Thought Betrayal may change you…But it doesn’t have to harden you. You can walk away wiser.More discerning.More grounded in yourself. Because healing isn’t about closing your heart—It’s about coming back home to it, safely.

    45 min

  4. MAR 16

    Friendships in Midlife: Why Your Circle Gets Smaller (and Why That’s Actually a Good Thing)

    Friendships change in midlife — and sometimes those changes can feel confusing, painful, or even lonely. Why does it seem like we have fewer friends as we get older? Why can losing a friendship hurt just as much as a romantic breakup? And how do we know when a friendship has run its course? In this episode of Midlife… Now What?!, Erin and Jennie dive into the evolving landscape of friendships in midlife and why many women find themselves shifting from quantity to quality in their relationships. As life gets fuller — with careers, parenting, marriages, divorces, and personal growth — our emotional bandwidth becomes more limited. The friendships that once felt effortless can start to feel draining, misaligned, or simply no longer reflective of who we’re becoming. But that shrinking circle? It’s often a sign of growth. Erin and Jennie share personal stories about navigating friendship changes through divorce, parenting challenges, and life transitions, and they explore how midlife invites us to prioritize authenticity, emotional safety, and deeper connection over social obligations. Because the truth is: You don’t need more friends in midlife. You need the right ones. In this episode, we talk about: Why friendships naturally shift in midlifeThe difference between authentic and performative friendshipsHow emotional safety becomes more important than social popularityThe importance of reciprocity and equal effort in relationshipsRecognizing when a friendship is draining your energyWhy some friendships are meant for a seasonHow to reflect on whether your friendships are aligned with who you are today Erin also shares the powerful reflection questions she now asks herself when evaluating friendships: Who feels emotionally safe? Who drains your energy? Who celebrates you? Who truly knows the real you? Sometimes the most powerful growth happens when we stop trying to maintain relationships out of habit and start choosing connections that truly support the person we’re becoming. Resources Mentioned Erin’s Binaural Beats (available for paid subscribers on Substack) https://substack.com/@drerinmires At Peace Parents – PDA Parenting Course referenced in the episode https://www.atpeaceparents.com/ Sponsor Spotlight This episode is brought to you by Sheila Haugh, Self-Trust and Parts Work Coach. Sheila helps women reconnect with their inner wisdom and build deeper self-trust through parts work and nervous system awareness. Her work focuses on helping women slow down, listen inward, and develop the tools needed to navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity and confidence. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your intuition or struggled to trust yourself during a season of change, Sheila’s work offers a powerful path back to yourself. Learn more about working with Sheila at: https://sheilahaugh.com/

    30 min

  5. MAR 2

    When Your Child Isn’t “Typical”: The Emotional Reality of Being a Special Needs Parent

    Today’s conversation is different. It’s more personal. More vulnerable. And more raw. In this episode of Midlife… Now What?!, Jennie interviews Erin about something that has shaped her more than any career pivot or identity shift ever could: being a special needs parent. This is not an episode about medical definitions or labels.It’s about: • The grief of letting go of the life you thought you’d have• The exhaustion of fighting systems that don’t listen• The impact on marriage and siblings• The invisible labor no one prepares you for• The PTSD, guilt, and nervous system toll• The power of trusting your intuition• And what it means to rewrite the parenting “rulebook” Erin shares the long road to understanding her son’s nervous system disorder (PDA – Pathological Demand Avoidance), the medical gaslighting they endured, the misdiagnoses, the financial cost, the emotional cost, and the breakthrough that finally changed everything. They talk about: • What it’s like to be told your child might need inpatient psychiatric care• The moment you realize you have PTSD from your own child’s outbursts• How unlimited screen time became a nervous system regulation tool• How siblings are affected• How marriages stretch and strengthen• How friendships change• The guilt of self-care when your child is struggling• And the deep importance of community This episode isn’t just for special needs parents. It’s for any woman who has: • Felt unseen by the medical system• Had to advocate harder than she thought possible• Grieved the life she expected• Questioned herself• Been told she was “overreacting”• Or quietly wondered… “Why is this so much harder than everyone else’s life?” ✨ Erin’s Advice for Parents in the Thick of It: • Trust your intuition.• Don’t let the medical community gaslight you.• Share your story — connection can change everything.• Find your community, even if it’s small.• Take care of your own nervous system too. Because your cup matters. — 🎧 Resources Mentioned in This Episode If you’re walking this road and need tangible support, here are the resources Erin references: • Erin’s custom nervous system regulation binaural beats + subliminal affirmationsAvailable for paid subscribers on Substack — get the full library for just $7/month:👉 https://substack.com/@drerinmires?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page • At Peace Parents — The PDA parenting course that helped transform Erin’s family dynamicThis is the program referenced in the episode:👉 https://www.atpeaceparents.com/ If you suspect your child may struggle with demand avoidance or nervous system dysregulation, this is a powerful place to start. — 💛 A Resource We Trust If this episode resonated with you — especially the parts about nervous system burnout, trauma, or feeling like you’re holding everything together — we also want to share someone we deeply trust. Sheila Haugh is a Self-Trust and Parts Work Coach who helps women reconnect with themselves, regulate their nervous systems, and gently unpack the internal patterns that keep them stuck in survival mode. Her work is rooted in compassion, nervous system safety, and helping you build a relationship with yourself that feels grounded and steady — even in the middle of chaos. Learn more here:👉 https://sheilahaugh.com/ — This is one of our most honest episodes yet. If it resonates, please share it with someone who might need to hear this today. You are not alone.

    54 min

  6. FEB 23

    Dating in Midlife: Is It About Finding Love… or Finally Finding Yourself?

    This week’s episode was requested by you — our listeners — and we’re diving into one of the most asked-about midlife topics: dating after divorce. Erin flips the script and interviews Jennie about her very real, very raw journey through separation, divorce, heartbreak, healing, attachment, and rebuilding confidence in midlife. But this conversation goes far deeper than dating apps and red flags. This episode asks the bigger question: Is dating in midlife about finding love… or about finally finding yourself? What We Talk About How Jennie knew she was truly ready to date againThe difference between loneliness and alignmentWhy your values MUST come before your next relationshipWhat it actually means to “lose yourself” in loveAttachment styles and how childhood conditioning shapes adult relationshipsWhy 97% of our behaviors come from the subconsciousThe honeymoon phase (and why you shouldn’t trust it too quickly)The danger of falling in love with potentialSecure attachment vs. familiar chaosHow to rebuild confidence after rejectionWhy love is not just a feeling — it’s a choiceThe hard truth: you can’t heal someone who won’t do their own workKey Takeaways ✨ You cannot have a healthy relationship with someone else until you have one with yourself. ✨ Your nervous system will seek what feels familiar — not what feels healthy. ✨ Red flags don’t disappear just because you’re lonely. ✨ You don’t need someone to rescue you. You need someone willing to grow with you. ✨ Healing doesn’t stop once you start dating — it deepens. This episode is honest. It’s messy. It’s tender. And it’s a reminder that midlife isn’t about starting over — it’s about waking up. Jennie’s Recommended Resources These are the teachers, coaches, and voices Jennie personally follows and loves: For Women Masha Kay Sabrina Zohar Jay Shetty Rising Woman For Men The Evolving Man This Week’s Midlife Support Spotlight If you’re doing this kind of deep relational work — whether dating, married, divorced, or somewhere in between — self-trust is foundational. We highly recommend connecting with Sheila Haugh, Self-Trust & Parts Work Coach. Sheila specializes in helping women slow down, sit with the uncomfortable parts of themselves, and build a deeper internal sense of safety — so they stop abandoning themselves in relationships. If you’ve ever felt like: You over-give in relationships You lose yourself when you fall in love You ignore red flags because you’re afraid of being alone Or you struggle to trust your own intuition Her work may deeply resonate. Learn more at: 🌿 https://sheilahaugh.com/ If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who’s navigating dating, divorce, or rediscovering herself in this season. And if you have a topic you’d love us to explore next, message us. We’re building this space with you. Midlife isn’t a crisis. It’s a reclamation. 💛

    37 min

  7. FEB 16

    The TIGER Healing Process: Trust, Therapy, Self-Care & Reinvention

    Chasing Tigers in the Dark: Trauma, Resilience & Reinvention with Ally Shaw What happens when life throws not one, but three devastating curveballs at you — and the version of your future you carefully planned disappears overnight? In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Midlife… Now What?!, we sit down with author and speaker Ally Shaw to talk about trauma, healing, divorce, reinvention, and what it truly means to rebuild your life from the ground up. Ally shares what she calls her “triple curveball” moments — losing the man she thought she would marry, being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer at 19, and being told she would never have children. And that was just the beginning. Through grief, sexual assault, divorce, shame, cancer, and starting over with two young children, Ally learned something transformational: Broken doesn’t mean ruined.Broken can mean rebuilt — with gold. Using the Japanese art of Kintsugi (repairing broken pottery with gold), Ally reframes scars — seen and unseen — as the very places where the light gets in. This conversation is raw, honest, and hopeful. Jennie shares vulnerably about dating after divorce, repeating childhood patterns, and the tension between showing up for your children while healing yourself. If you’ve ever wondered: How do I keep going after heartbreak? How do I trust myself again? How do I balance healing with motherhood? What if this painful chapter is actually redirecting me? This episode will meet you there. Because midlife isn’t a crisis.Sometimes it’s the moment the truth finally demands to be heard. The TIGER Healing Process In her memoir Chasing Tigers in the Dark, Ally introduces the TIGER Healing Process, a framework she developed after years of navigating trauma. T – Trust Your IntuitionYour inner voice is wiser than you think — especially in moments of safety, relationships, and purpose. I – Invest in YourselfTherapy, EMDR, nervous system work — healing requires action. You deserve support. G – Grow Your CharacterPause before reacting. Ask: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it possible? E – Exercise Self-CareYou cannot pour from an empty cup. Self-care is not selfish — it’s necessary. R – Reinvent Yourself OftenYou are allowed to change. You are allowed to choose again. You are allowed to build a new happily ever after. A Few Moments We Loved “What if our scars are where the light gets in?”“Life’s obstacles spark the catalyst for our happily ever after.”“We change lives one person at a time.”"We don’t want to just survive — that’s not living.” About Ally Shaw Ally Shaw is an author of nonfiction and fiction, a motivational speaker, and a recently retired restaurant franchise owner. Her memoir, Chasing Tigers in the Dark, is a deeply vulnerable account of surviving cancer, domestic abuse, sexual assault, loss, and divorce — and finding strength on the other side. The Second Edition releases March 3, 2026 and includes her TIGER Healing framework. This book is for anyone navigating healing after: CancerDivorceDomestic abuseSexual assaultGriefReinvention in midlife Pre-Order Information (15% Off – Limited Time) You can pre-order the second edition now and receive 15% off through the publisher. Order atwww.librarytalespublishing.com Use code: LTPFIRST Follow AllyInstagram: @allyshawauthorWebsite: www.fiercetigerlady.com If this episode touched you, share it with a friend who’s walking through her own “Now what?” season. You are not broken.You are becoming. 🤍

    37 min

  8. FEB 9

    Saying No, Setting Boundaries, and Choosing What Actually Matters

    What happens when life gets overwhelming — and instead of pushing through, you pause? In this episode of Midlife… Now What?!, Erin and Jennie share why they took an unexpected break from the podcast and how that decision became a real-time lesson in values, boundaries, and nervous system regulation. From snowpocalypse chaos and family illness to breakups, job decisions, and identity shifts, this conversation explores what it really means to stop abandoning yourself to keep the peace. They talk honestly about how values change in midlife, why saying “no” can feel so uncomfortable, and how listening to your body can guide you back to alignment. This episode is for every woman who feels stretched too thin, emotionally exhausted, or stuck saying yes when everything inside her is screaming no. What We Talk About Why we chose to pause instead of push throughHow values guide decisions — and why they shift in midlifeThe connection between boundaries and nervous system regulationJennie’s breakup and leaving a job that wasn’t alignedErin navigating family illness, burnout, and special needs parentingGenerational people-pleasing and guilt around restWhy relief after saying no is an important signal Key Takeaways If a decision costs your nervous system, it’s too expensiveValues evolve — and your life has to evolve with themSaying no can feel dysregulating before it feels empoweringRelief is often your body confirming alignmentBoundaries aren’t selfish — they’re protectiveResources Mentioned Values Workbook 👉 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F9kKZhBwvHYuPuZgr5g7NEZg2dLsYJsX/view?usp=sharing 5 Love Languages FREE Quiz 👉 https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language What’s Coming Next A powerful conversation with cancer survivor and author Ali Shah Dating in your 40s after divorce Parenting a child with special needs You're not behind.You’re not broken.You’re learning to listen to yourself. 💛 ✨ Sponsor Spotlight: Sheila Haugh If this episode resonated and you’re noticing how often you override your own needs, we want to share someone we trust deeply. Sheila Haugh is a Self-Trust & Parts Work Coach who helps women slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and rebuild trust with themselves — especially after burnout, overgiving, or major life transitions. Her work is grounded, compassionate, and deeply aligned with everything we talk about here: nervous system regulation, boundaries, and learning to listen to yourself again. Learn more and connect with Sheila here:👉 https://sheilahaugh.com/

    50 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Midlife… Now What?! is the podcast for every woman who’s looked at her life and thought, “Wait… is this it?” Hosted by Erin Mires and Jennie Stehli, two women in the thick of raising kids, redefining careers, and navigating relationships, this show gives you permission to say the quiet parts out loud. We talk identity shifts, marriage and divorce, friendship changes, parenting chaos, purpose pivots, hormones, and outgrowing old versions of yourself. No toxic positivity. Just real, honest conversations. Grab your coffee—or your wine—and come get honest with us.

Information

  • Creator
    Erin Mires & Jennie Stehli
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Erin Mires & Jennie Stehli
  • Show Website
    Midlife...NOW WHAT?!

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