Episodes

Are you a woman over 40 or 50 struggling with hot flashes , battling insomnia , or feeling like you are losing control amidst the massive identity shifts of midlife? You’re NOT alone — and you’re not out of options. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , clinical hypnotherapist Sarah Rubens joins me to demystify hypnosis and explain why it is one of only two non-hormonal treatments for menopause symptoms recognized by The Menopause Society. If you are ready to learn how to update your brain's "s...

Part 2: In this second episode of our Confidence Deep Dive tapping mini-series, I’m guiding you through a specific practice to handle general stress about world events , political strife, and the negativity we see in the news. If you find yourself "doom scrolling" or feeling unsafe in these turbulent times — and you’re ready to lower your cortisol so you can breathe again — this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn: ✔ The "High Stress" Protocol : Why you must tap on the negative emotion first i...

Are you a woman over 40 or 50 losing sleep over retirement money , health changes , or simply getting stuck in traffic ? You’re NOT alone — and you’re not broken. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , I’m diving into the neuroscience behind why we worry, why our brains are wired to prioritize "safety" over happiness, and why the old advice of "don't get your hopes up" is actually sabotaging your success. If you are tired of the constant worry loop running in the background of your day — and wan...

in this first episode of our new Confidence Deep Dive mini-series, I’m breaking down the science behind Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and why this simple practice is recognized by the American Psychological Association as a valid treatment for stress and trauma. If you’re skeptical about how tapping on your face can change your life — or if you’re ready to learn a proven method to lower cortisol and interrupt negative thought patterns — this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn: ✔ The scien...

Are you a woman over 40 or 50 with a little feeling in your gut that you wish you could do something else, but worry it’s too late to make a big change? You’re NOT alone — and you’re certainly not done. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , wine expert and founder of SIP Society Collective, Kristi Mayfield , joins me to break down career pivots , the power of intuition , and how to turn a passion like wine into a "social power skill" for midlife women navigating networking , business dining , a...

Part 4: In this final episode of our Confidence Deep Dive mini-series, I’m sharing the hard but liberating truth: mindset is "always the work." You don't just take the class, get an A, and move on; you build a practice of constant adjustment. If you’re ready to take the intentional thoughts we created in the last episode and actually cement them into your brain — avoiding the trap of "robotic" affirmations — this episode is for you. **Let me know your questions and comments! Your private email a...

Are you a woman over 40 who started January strong but is already feeling the motivation slip? You’re NOT alone. In fact, by the second week of February, nearly 80% of resolutions have been abandoned . In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , I’m getting real about my own struggle to stick to a simple 10-minute yoga routine and breaking down the psychology behind why we quit . If you are ready to stop beating yourself up for falling off the wagon — and want to learn how to actually stay on it — t...

Part 3: In this third part of our special "Confidence Deep Dive" mini-series, I’m breaking down how to stop walking through life "hypnotized" and start making intentional decisions that light you up. If you’re tired of shuffling along without a plan — or if you’re ready to finally understand the hidden story cycle that drives your every move — this episode is for you. **Remember that you have personal email access to me as a subscriber. Send your questions or comments to bonus@che...

Are you a woman in midlife who knows she wants more ease, freedom, or financial security — but still feels uncomfortable receiving, charging, asking, or even wanting more? You’re not broken, and you’re definitely not alone. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , I’m joined by money mentor and bestselling author Denise Duffield-Thomas for an honest, compassionate conversation about money mindset, hidden money blocks, gratitude, the upper limit problem, and why so many women feel unsafe with succe...

Ever wondered what it would look like to age with energy, clarity, and confidence instead of decline? What if midlife—especially menopause—wasn’t something to just “get through,” but an opportunity to feel better than you have in years? In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , I sit down with renowned OBGYN Dr. Prudence Hall to talk about what she calls vibrant aging —a holistic, empowering approach to perimenopause, menopause, and life beyond it. This conversation builds beautifully on last week’...

Bonus topic! **Remember that you have personal email access to me as a subscriber. Send your questions or comments to bonus@cherylpfischer.com.** Looking for a saner way to start the New Year? We pressed pause on big, brittle resolutions and asked Dr. Prudence Hall to map a simpler path: anti-inflammatory eating you can actually live with. The approach is grounded and flexible—eat from the land, lean on fiber-rich plants and clean proteins, and make healthy fats a daily habit. Alo...

Ever wonder if the way you’re feeling in midlife is just “how it’s supposed to be now”—or if something deeper is going on? In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , I’m sharing my own hormone replacement therapy (HRT) journey and what ultimately led me to say yes to exploring it. I’ve interviewed experts on menopause and hormones before, but this time, I’m telling my story. From unexpected physical symptoms to mood changes, low energy, and a surprising high cholesterol wake-up call, this episode is...

Ever notice how your inner voice can quietly sabotage your confidence, your mood, and even your motivation—without you fully realizing it? Imagine understanding exactly how that happens, and learning how to interrupt it before it derails your day. In this second episode of How to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy , I take you deeper into the real work of mindset change. We move beyond why your brain gets negative and into what to do about it . This episode is all about awareness, language, and the...

Are you a woman over 40 or 50 feeling stressed, behind, or unsure about money, retirement planning, or your financial future? You’re NOT alone — and you’re not stuck. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife , financial advisor Shari Rash joins me to break down money mindset, retirement planning, financial confidence, and the real emotional side of finances for midlife women navigating career changes, aging parents, kids leaving the nest, and the fear of not saving “enough.” If money makes you anxio...

Part 1: Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “Why am I the one standing in my own way again?” You’re not broken. You’re human. And in midlife, when change is everywhere, our brains can get extra loud trying to keep us “safe.” In this first episode, I’m kicking off a mini-series on how to stop being your own worst enemy . We’re getting super clear on the five sneaky mental traps that fuel self-sabotage, shrink your confidence, and keep you stuck in patterns you’re ready to outgrow. The good ne...

In this Changemakers episode of Mind Your Midlife , Cheryl sits down with Tori Rittinger , founder of Talk Tiles to Me , the first Mahjong studio in the DMV area. And this conversation isn’t just about a game. It’s about what midlife women are craving most: community, joy, and real brain exercise , all wrapped into one playful, addictive hobby. Tori shares how a simple lesson with friends turned into a thriving business and a growing movement of women (and plenty of men too!) who are using Mahjo...

Part 4: Ever set a fitness or weight goal, feel motivated for a couple weeks… and then watch life slowly knock it off the rails? If you’ve been there, this episode is your reset. I’m wrapping everything up with one powerful question: what if you do want to get more fit or change your body in midlife—without turning it into a shame spiral? We’re talking about how to create a clear end-result vision (with emotion attached) so your brain actually wants to keep showing up… even when you’re tired, bu...

Have you ever noticed how fast your brain can spiral into worst-case-scenario mode, focused on the worries, the fears, the what-ifs? And yes, you’ve heard that gratitude can help you shift out of that… but maybe it’s felt a little too simple to be real. In this episode, I’m breaking down why gratitude isn’t a personality trait — it’s a practice — and how it can literally calm your nervous system and pull you out of fear. I’m also joined by my longtime friend Jennifer Richwine , Executive Directo...

Part 3: Ever look at a clothing size or a photo of yourself and feel your confidence drop in two seconds flat? You’re not alone. In this private Confidence Deep Dive episode, we’re continuing our body image series with a practical, mindset-first reset for midlife women. We’re talking about what body image really is: not what you look like, but what you think and feel about your body — and what you’re subconsciously projecting into the world. We’ll go straight at the most common triggers (the sca...

Ever wonder why the empty nest hits so much harder than anyone prepared you for? One minute you're cheering your kids on, feeling proud and excited for their new life chapters… and the next, you’re staring at their empty bedrooms wondering how your heart can feel full and broken at the same time. In this heartfelt episode of Mind Your Midlife, I get real about the emotional roller coaster women over 40 and 50 experience when their kids grow up and move out. Whether your adult kids live across...

What Do You Really Want to See When You Look in the Mirror? In this second episode of our subscriber-only Body Image Mindset Series, Cheryl guides you through a surprisingly simple but powerful exercise: deciding what you actually want your relationship with your body to be. Most of us walk around critiquing our bodies on autopilot — noticing every flaw, every angle, every “problem area” we think needs fixing. But very few of us ever stop to ask: What do I truly want to see when I look in the...

Ever feel like you’ve been doing all the right things at work—but somehow, you’re still not being seen? You’re showing up, doing great work, but the next opportunity just isn’t coming? You’re not imagining it—and you’re not alone. In this powerful episode of Mind Your Midlife , I sit down with Mary Tribble of the Wake Women Podcast and Tiffany Tate , CEO of Career Maven Consulting , to talk about leadership, visibility, and confidence for midlife women who want to grow in their careers. We explo...

When was the last time you looked in the mirror and felt critical of what you saw? Most of us have had moments — or seasons — of unhappiness with our bodies. In this first part of the Body Image Mindset mini-series, we're talking about why that happens, why it’s completely normal, and why you’re not broken for feeling this way. This episode explores: How early comments or criticism about our bodies can shape lifelong beliefs ( Listen to episode 57 ) The impact of growing up surrounded by magazin...

Body image — it’s one of those topics that every midlife woman can relate to, yet few of us talk about honestly. Why does it get so hard to like what we see in the mirror in our 40s and 50s? And what can we do about it? In this episode, Cheryl gets real about body image in midlife — where our insecurities come from, why they’re so hard to shake, and how to start changing the conversation in your own head. Spoiler: this isn’t about “fixing” your body. It’s about noticing the outdated stories that...