Peri-Normal

Stephanie Sprenger
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  • Mental Health

Midlife ADHD can be scary. But it doesn’t have to be. Here on Peri-Normal, we are demystifying neurodivergence and perimenopause plus, with candid conversations and advice from experts. Join me for a no-holds-barred exploration of what it means to be neurodivergent at midlife. 

  1. Jun 16

    Is Psilocybin the Medicine Midlife Women Have Been Missing? | Welcome to the Bottom of the U

    Guest: Dr. Rebecca Richey is one of Colorado’s first prescribing psychologists, dedicated to empowering women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals through compassionate, evidence-based care. With advanced training in clinical psychopharmacology and a deep understanding of the unique mental health challenges faced by her clients. Learn more about her here. Episode Summary In one of our most anticipated conversations yet, Steph sits down with Dr. Richey — a prescribing psychologist AND a natural medicine facilitator in training — to talk about psilocybin, perimenopause, and why these two things might be a match made in the cosmos. Dr. Richey breaks down what actually happens during a psilocybin journey, what the weeks of integration after look like, why she believes perimenopause is especially fertile ground for this kind of inner work, and who it's for — and who it isn't. This is a conversation grounded in both neuroscience and spiritual reverence, with a healthy dose of "f**k the patriarchy" woven throughout. In This Episode How Colorado's regulated natural medicine program works — and why it's different from a dispensaryThe distinction between a clinical facilitator and a non-clinical facilitator, and why it matters if you have trauma or a mental health historyWhat BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is and why the weeks after a journey can be an extraordinary window for learning and integrationWhy perimenopause may be uniquely suited to this kind of psychedelic inner workThe research gap around women, reproductive cycles, and psilocybin — including why your menstrual cycle phase may actually matterWhy psilocybin has an inherently low abuse potential (hint: tolerance)The "Mama Mushroom" philosophy — and why surrender is the whole gameContraindications and who should pause before pursuing a journeyHow to find a facilitator and what the intake process looks like at a healing centerThe role of integration: journaling, reconnecting with music, and why the 72-hour check-in matters Contraindications Mentioned Personal or family history of psychosisHistory of manic episodesUnmanaged hypertension (consult your doctor first)Significant unprocessed physical or psychological trauma without adequate therapeutic supportThis is not a complete list. Always consult a physician and a licensed facilitator before pursuing a psilocybin journey. Resources Mentioned Swimming in the Sacred — book on psychedelics, women, and ancient medicine wisdom ETC Healing Center, Golden, CO — website hereColorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Natural Medicine Program — dora.colorado.govColorado Department of Natural Medicine — dnm.colorado.govA Note on Legal Status Psilocybin is legal for adults 21+ in Colorado through licensed healing centers under facilitator supervision. It remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. Laws vary by state. Please research your local laws before pursuing access.

    45 min

  2. Jun 9

    The "Now What?" Era: Reinventing Midlife After Divorce with Cindy DiTiberio

    ABOUT THIS EPISODE What does it mean to arrive on the other side of the hardest thing you've ever done — and realize the rest of your life is suddenly, terrifyingly, exhilaratingly wide open? In this episode, I'm doing something a little different. Before introducing my guest, I'm reading a piece I wrote about a year ago for my Substack column, The Reclamation Era, called The Case for Divorce. It came up in my Facebook memories right as I was preparing for this conversation, and I couldn't think of a better way in. It's about dancing in the rain at 17, joie de vivre, and what it means to finally stop asking permission to want what you want.  Then I'm joined by Cindy DiTiberio — writer, editor, New York Times bestselling collaborator and editor, and the force behind the beloved Substack The Motherlode: Essays and Interviews on Motherhood, Marriage, and Divorce. Cindy and I are on nearly identical post-divorce timelines, which made this conversation feel less like an interview and more like two women sitting across from each other going: did that just happen to us? And now what? We are both a few years out from the gauntlet. We are both, cautiously, on the cusp of something new. And we had a lot to say about it. IN THIS EPISODE: Reading of The Case for Divorce from The Reclamation Era on Substack — on rebirth, aliveness, and the off-leash feeling of life after divorceHow Cindy went from ghostwriter and editor to finding her own voice mid-pandemic, and the origin story of The MotherlodeMaggie Smith's You Could Make This Place Beautiful as a lantern — and what it means to be a lantern bearer for other womenThe "good girl" conditioning that keeps so many of us trapped — and what it actually took to get underneath it (MDMA therapy for Cindy, IFS therapy for me, and years of unpacking)Why couples therapy can quietly cause harm — and what we wish therapists were trained to recognizeThe financial reality of divorce that nobody prepares you for: legal fees, spousal support in theory vs. practice, and what it means to rebuild a career from the ground upThe identity shift of no longer wanting to be a wife — and what that word actually carries with itSeparate spheres, red walls, and the question nobody is asking: can the kind of romance we're looking for actually survive in a domestic setting?The three stages of post-divorce life — the gauntlet, the delayed reckoning, and the slow return to being a person againNow what — and why that might be the most exciting question of midlifeMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Case for Divorce — Steph's essay on The Reclamation Era here.You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie SmithThis American Ex-Wife by Lyz LenzFair Play by Eve RodskyThe Ambition Penalty by Stephanie O'Connell RodriguezCome As You Are and Come Together by Emily NagoskiEsther Perel on desire and domesticityMad Wife by Kate Hamilton (pseudonym) — on post-separation abuseThe Motherlode on Substack: cindyditiberio.substack.comRedacted — Steph's sister podcast: hereIf this episode resonated with you, share it with a woman who needs to hear it. And if you're in the thick of the gauntlet right now — hang on. The "now what?" is coming. I promise.

    49 min

  3. May 4

    Motherhood, ADHD, and the Identity Crisis Nobody Warned You About

    Motherhood, ADHD & the Identity Crisis Nobody Warned You About What happens when a coach realizes she abandoned her own journey while helping everyone else with theirs? Dr. Gertrude Lyons got a doctorate about it. In this warm, wide-ranging conversation, Steph and Dr. Gertrude bond over late ADHD diagnoses, the chaos of new motherhood, and why "doing it differently" isn't something to apologize for. What we're getting into: Premarital counseling at 23 — weird then, genius in retrospectFrom economic analyst to transformational leadership doctorate — the winding, beautiful road that got her hereWhat it means to "mother" even if you've never had children (yes, you're already doing it)The moment she realized she'd been coaching everyone but herselfHer brand new book Rewrite the Mother Code and the eight-year journey it took to write itLate-in-life ADHD diagnosis talk — the guilt, the grief, the oh thank God that explains it momentLosing yourself in motherhood (even when you know better)Why that "gelatinous mass" of new parenthood is actually a massive opportunity for growthRewriting your mother code — and what that even meansBoth Steph and Dr. Lyons have ADHD — and neither of them found out as kids. Here's what that journey looked likeLetting go of the guilt that you don't work like your (very organized, very linear) partnerCreating structures you'll actually use vs. the ones you think you should useNeurodiverse kids in a square-box world — a real conversation about accommodations, resilience, and meeting in the middleCelebrating the wins (a reminder we all apparently need)Find Dr. Gertrude Lyons: 🌐 www.drgertrudelyons.com🎙️ Podcast: Rewrite the Mother Code📸 Instagram: @DrGertrudeLyons📺 TEDx talk on YouTube📚 Rewrite the Mother Code: From Sacrifice to Stardust — available now🎧 Catch Steph on the Rewrite the Mother Code podcast: Listen hereSee Steph LIVE: 🎟️ LTYM Boulder in-person tickets: Grab yours here💻 Can't make it in person? Livestream tickets: Get the link hereDr. Gertrude Lyons is the author of Rewrite the Mother Code: From Sacrifice to Stardust - A Cosmic Approach to Motherhood and is a leading coach and educator in women’s leadership development, parenting, and relationship satisfaction. As the founder of Rewrite the Mother Code, LLC, she inspires women to take control of their own personal transformations and has spent the last 27 years empowering individuals, couples, parents, and families to realize meaningful, successful lives. Dr. Lyons has a Masters degree in coaching and a Whole Brain Living certified coach through Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. Lyons received her B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, her M.A. in Psychology from Antioch University McGregor School and her Ed.D and M.A. in Transformational Leadership and Coaching at the Wright Graduate University. She is a noted media and podcast guest, and the host of the popular podcast, Rewrite the Mother Code. A TEDx speaker, Dr. Lyons has spoken at Google and other

    48 min

  4. Apr 13

    Finally, I Make Sense: An ADHD Diagnosis at 65 and the Little Girl Who Always Knew

    Show Notes: What does it feel like to finally receive an ADHD diagnosis at 65? For writer Penny Hawes, it felt like someone had handed her a map—not an excuse, not a crutch, but a way of finally understanding the terrain she'd been navigating her whole life. Penny is the witty, warm, and deeply perceptive voice behind the Substack column Slightly Over the Hill with ADHD, and in this conversation, she and Steph explore what it means to look back at six and a half decades of life through a brand new lens. They talk about the little girls they used to be—perfectionists, people-pleasers, teacher's pets—working so hard to stay safe by being good. They talk about Groundhog Decades: the same three goals on the same list, year after year, and what it means to finally understand why. They dig into rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), emotional regulation, the ADHD brain's default toward interest over importance, and why so many of us have spent our whole lives bracing— shoulders up around our ears—without ever knowing why. This is a conversation about grief and relief, about retrospect and possibility, about the women we've become and the little girls who deserved so much more compassion along the way. In this episode: Penny shares how her daughter's curiosity about ADHD led to Penny's own diagnosis at 65—and what it felt like to finally have a name for itWhy so many Gen X women (and beyond) were completely missed by a system that only recognized "hyperactive little boys"The "groundhog decade"—the same three goals on repeat for 20 years, and why that's not a character flawRejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD): what it is, why it hits so hard, and the Christmas meltdown that changed everything for StephHow an ADHD diagnosis can make you more compassionate—with your partner, your kids, and your younger selfThe ADHD brain is wired for interest, not importance—and why that reframe is everythingPerfectionism, people-pleasing, and the exhausting work of masking as a "good girl"Anxiety as a motor: how it keeps high-achieving women going while quietly running them into the groundWhy inattentive-type ADHD looks nothing like the stereotype—and how many women have spent a lifetime not knowingThe very real physical consequences of hyper-focus mode (Steph shares a recent health scare as a cautionary tale)What Penny would tell her younger self—and why it's never too late for healing, understanding, and a fresh startResources mentioned: Penny's Substack: Slightly Over the Hill with ADHD Tracy Otsuka's podcast: ADHD for Smart Ass WomenJoin The Pause Writers—a writing membership for midlife women that includes co-working, connection, writing prompts, accountability, and guest workshops. Learn more about our community at welcometothepause.com.

    56 min

  5. Mar 27

    Midlife is the perfect time to return to your creativity: A conversation with Ann Imig

    Show Notes: Experience a quick, grounding practice (PQ reps) to tune into our bodiesGuest Ann Imig and Steph have a discussion of the concept of saboteurs: patterns that keep us stuckWe overview  common obstacles to our creativity: perfectionism, procrastination, people-pleasing, or being a hyper-achiever“We don’t outrun our saboteurs, but we learn to turn them down and take action from a different place in our brains—the intuitive, clear, focused place.”What happens when you feel like you can’t find your spark, your creativity, or even yourself—it’s not lost, we promise!Learn more about working with Ann here.For those curious about learning more about this, frustrated with creative blocks, or feeling out of touch with your spark, you can learn more about the April workshop here. Looking for a community of other creative midlife women? Join us in The Pause.

    29 min

  6. Feb 18

    The Hormonal Accelerant: How Midlife Brings Patterns to the Surface with Dana Bowman

    Steph talks to Dana Bowman, author and TedX speaker, about midlife, recovery, hormones, and identity. • Sobriety & Motherhood - Getting sober while raising young kids and navigating wine culture • Perimenopause as a Catalyst - How hormonal changes during perimenopause can reveal underlying issues and trigger addictive patterns • Process Addictions - Understanding addictions beyond substances (scrolling, sugar, exercise, gambling) and how they emerge during life transitions • The Medical Gap - Why doctors often miss or dismiss perimenopause symptoms, especially for women in recovery • Identity Shifts + Invisible Woman Syndrome - Going gray, aging, and redefining yourself at midlife • Anxiety & Panic - Middle-of-the-night breathing issues, panic attacks, and other lesser-known perimenopause symptoms • Creative Healing - Using writing, creativity, and self-expression as tools for recovery and self-understanding • Getting Curious vs. Getting Critical - Approaching your struggles with curiosity instead of shame • "Be Gentle with Yourself and the Horse" - Learning to extend grace during difficult transitions Takeaway: Midlife hormonal changes can act as an accelerant for whatever's bubbling beneath the surface. Instead of shame, get curious about what your body and behaviors are trying to tell you. Meet Dana:  Dana Bowman is the author of three books. Humble Pie: Addiction, Recovery, and Dessert was published in November of 2025 by Bloomsbury Press. Her two memoirs, Bottled, A Mom’s Guide to Early Recovery, and How To Be Perfect Like Me, were both published by Central Recovery Press. Bottled was selected as a Kansas Notable Book in 2018. A TEDx speaker, writer for Psychology Today, and occasional stand-up comedian, she shares about beating shame, kicking addictions, and how going gray changed her life.  Dana has collected numerous awards for her humorous writing, and she earned the moniker of “The Erma Bombeck of alcoholics” from her first publisher, a descriptor she is very proud to carry. Her goal is to provide hope, along with a good laugh and a good story, to help heal the addict within all of us.  You can find out more about her over at danabowmancreative.com  or at all the socials (even TikTok because she is cool) at @thedanabow Dana's Books: Humble Pie: Sobriety, Menopause, & The Sweetness of RecoveryBottled: A Mom's Guide to Early Recovery (Kansas Notable Book 2018)How to Be Perfect Like Me

    50 min

  7. Jan 26

    The Messy Intersection of ADHD + Perimenopause with Dr. Rebecca Richey

    Dr. Rebecca Richey returns to talk about the wild intersection of ADHD and perimenopause, or as she calls it, “When the wheels fall off the bus.”Anxiety might actually be your ADHD talking – When you treat the ADHD first, the anxiety often gets way quieter. It's not the main problem; it's the monkey on your shoulder that comes with ADHD.Perimenopause + ADHD Your estrogen is ping-ponging all over the place while your executive function was already struggling. No wonder everything feels impossible.There's literally no protocol for this – Research on women's hormones and ADHD is basically nonexistent. We're all just figuring it out together through trial and error (and group texts about estrogen patches).Late diagnosis is super common – So many women get diagnosed in their 40s because they finally hit the point where all their coping systems can't keep up anymore. Career peak + aging parents + big kid problems + perimenopause = diagnosis time.Stimulants aren't scary – Kids with ADHD who are medicated have better outcomes across the board: fewer car accidents, less substance abuse, better relationships, lower suicide rates. The zombie thing was a 90s problem.The hypervigilance is real – That constant "am I forgetting something?" anxiety comes from decades of being the "good girl" who couldn't let anyone see how hard things were. BUT: You're not in danger anymore – Your 8-year-old self believed she was in danger when she got in trouble. But you're an adult, and nobody's putting you in timeout.Perimenopause has gifts too – Like suddenly realizing you're not always wrong. And giving way fewer f***s about what other people think. Welcome to your "actually, I'm the f*****g queen" era.Find practitioners who actually listen – You might try 17 medications before finding the right one. You need someone who won't treat you like a burden.Hang on—it gets better – Women in post-menopause are the happiest they've ever been (aside from ages 0-10). So buckle up, but know there's light at the end of the tunnel.Follow Steph on IG @stephsprenger, and on Substack at The Reclamation Era. Looking for a community of creative midlife women? Check out MidCircle Check out Dr. Richey’s appearances on The Mother Plus Podcast: Why ADHD Women Are “Too Sensitive”How to Regulate Your Emotions When You’re “Too Sensitive: A Conversation AboutRSD with Dr. Rebecca RicheyA Psychologist Explains How the ADHD Mom Can Advocate for Herself: Part I Part IIDr. Rebecca Richey is one of Colorado’s first prescribing psychologists, dedicated to empowering women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals through compassionate, evidence-based care. With advanced training in clinical psychopharmacology and a deep understanding of the unique mental health challenges faced by her clients, Dr. Richey offers an integrative approach that includes medication management, psychedelic therapy, and psychological testing. Learn more here.

    53 min

  8. Jan 8

    The Portal of Midlife: Putting the "Pause" in Perimenopause

    Show Notes: Special guest: Dr. Breanne Hinz, my go-to chiropractor and all-around holistic health guru. She’s all about treating the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.The "portal" of midlife—Dr. Bre and I share what this means to us, and how this transitional stage of life is a powerful opportunity for transformation and renewal. We talk about the importance of pausing— it's almost like perimenoPAUSE is giving us an instruction we so frequently miss. Midlife is the perfect time to stop and start listening to your body.We dive into guilt, especially the kind that comes with resting, doing things for yourself, or fixating on what you are and aren't "supposed to do." Dr. Bre shares her thoughts on breaking old patterns, letting go of people-pleasing, and learning to trust your own intuition (even when it feels uncomfortable).Cycles, rest, and self-compassion are key—not just for women, but for everyone trying to find more ease in life.We share our favorite rituals: journaling, meditation, salt baths, and the magic of just sitting still and noticing what’s going on inside.Join The Pause: A Creative Portal for Midlife Women. This is a 60-minute virtual writing circle on January 15th at 6:30 pm MST/ 8:30 pm EST. Learn more here. Are you a midlife woman who writes, looking for a supportive, nourishing community to nurture both your spirit and your writing practice? Join MidCircle—details here. Dr. Breanne Hinz aka “Dr. Bre” is a founder and lead chiropractor at Aligned Chiropractic and Performance Center, based in Arvada CO, where she practices with her husband, who is also a chiropractor. She’s specializes in nervous system regulation and treating whole families, and is certified in pediatric (and adult) craniosacral therapy.  When not treating patients she enjoys yoga, being outdoors, and playing with her kids. She also has an in depth meditation practice and sees life from a growth mindset.  Follow Steph on IG @stephsprenger, and on Substack at The Reclamation Era.

    51 min
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About

Midlife ADHD can be scary. But it doesn’t have to be. Here on Peri-Normal, we are demystifying neurodivergence and perimenopause plus, with candid conversations and advice from experts. Join me for a no-holds-barred exploration of what it means to be neurodivergent at midlife. 

Information

  • Creator
    Stephanie Sprenger
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Peri-Normal
  • Show Website
    Peri-Normal