Episodes

Many of us in midlife are navigating situations with no happy ending. We struggle with how to stay positive when facing the harsh realities of aging parents, chronic illness, or deep loss.


In this episode, a follow-up to the popular conversation on "getting your hopes up" (Episode 86), I explore what happens when the hard thing happens anyway.


I'm sharing my personal journey of navigating my mom's Parkinson's diagnosis, the ongoing grieving process we face as caregivers, and why falling in...

There is a perfect storm of transitions that hits women in our 40s, 50s, and 60s: kids leaving home, aging parents, prep for retirement, and menopause. With so much happening at once, it is completely normal to feel frustrated, unfulfilled, or a little bit lost. We often spend our days running on an exhausting loop of "I have to" and forget that we actually have a choice.


In this episode, I welcome successful novelist and mindset coach Ellen Baker. Ellen is the author of four novels, includin...

Have you ever been in a situation where you are absolutely convinced, 100% convinced, that you know what someone else is thinking about you? I think the answer to that for all of us is yes! We convince ourselves we know what our partners, bosses, or friends are thinking, and it causes us a lot of unnecessary struggle.


Today we're diving into the mind-reading cognitive distortion—the false belief that we know exactly what is going on in someone else's head. Drawing on insights from Tara Mohr's...

We know that meditation could help with the stress and upheaval of midlife (or we've at least heard that somewhere). Yet, so many of us feel like we just can't stop our brains from running a mile a minute, leaving us feeling guilty that we can't get meditation right. Today energetic wellness strategist and yoga teacher Lauri Stern joins me to help. Lauri is the host of The Real and the Woo podcast and the founder of Custom Designed Wellness. We discuss a totally different approach to mi...

Has anyone ever suggested you write down three things you're grateful for every night—and you totally resisted the idea? We've all heard the buzz about gratitude, but sometimes it just feels like another chore on our to-do list, or worse, a push for "toxic positivity." In this episode, we are busting the myths surrounding gratitude. We'll explore why feeling thankful doesn't mean ignoring life's hard stuff, and how simple practices can literally rewire your brain to help you feel calme...

When we hit our forties and fifties, we often look around, realize our lives are pretty good, and still notice a sense of dissatisfaction or restlessness. Then, we feel guilty for feeling that way because we know how blessed we are to have families, friends, and careers we (at least) like.


In this Changemakers episode, I'm joined by Christina L. Woods, a clinical hypnotherapist, subconscious transformation expert, and former corporate executive. Christina specializes in helping high achievers...

Have you ever wondered why two people who are both 55 years old can look and act completely different, with one appearing ten years younger and the other seeming far older? In this episode, we explore the fascinating connection between our minds and the aging process to ask: are we actually thinking ourselves into old age?


Drawing inspiration from the book Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, we're talking about how accepting the artificial belief that we are "old" causes us to slow down, whi...

Do you feel like your body is changing, nothing fits right, and it’s easier to just wear pajama pants with a professional shirt for your Zoom calls? Giving up on getting dressed takes a heavy toll on how we feel about ourselves.


In this episode, I welcome style expert Jennifer Mackey Mary. Jennifer is the founder of Everyday Style and host of the top 10 podcast, The Everyday Style School. We dive into why mindset is the critical first step to style, how to confidently dress a changing midlife...

Have you ever thought about how often you say or think the phrase, "don't get your hopes up"? In midlife, dealing with career pivots, aging parents, and changing bodies, we often use this concept as a shield to protect ourselves. But what if lowering your expectations actually hurts you more? In this episode, I dive into why "don't get your hopes up" is one of my least favorite phrases and why it's time to start getting excited about life again. We explore the evolutionary psychology b...

Many women in their 40s, 50s, and early 60s tend to suffer in total silence when navigating changes in intimacy. We often carry shame around our shifting desires and changing bodies, falsely believing we are the only ones struggling or that we are somehow broken.

In this episode, I welcome Jennifer Marie Summers, a board-certified sexologist, certified sex coach, and menopause coach who has been doing this work for nearly two decades. We dive deep into why smart, capable midlife women experienc...

Have you ever set a big goal, started taking action, and then completely self-sabotaged? You are not alone. In midlife, we often feel ready to make a significant change, whether it is a career pivot, starting a new business, or getting in shape. But then procrastination sets in, and we slide right back into our old habits. What if this self-sabotage isn't a sign of weakness, but a predictable, biological, psychological process that you have control over?

In this episode, we dive into the concep...

There is something that affects so many women in their 40s and 50s, yet we tend to suffer in total silence: emotional eating. We often carry deep shame around our eating habits and falsely believe we are the only ones struggling.


In this episode, I welcome emotional eating expert Tricia Nelson. Tricia is the creator of the Heal Your Hunger system, host of the Confessions of a Binge Eater podcast, and her TEDx talk on "garbage eating" has over a million views. We dive deep into why smart, capa...

Have you caught yourself looking in the mirror recently, grabbing a little chunk of skin around your middle, or wondering, "Whose body is this?" You are definitely not alone.


We are diving deep into the reality of midlife body image. I share my own recent wake-up call after seeing a wedding photo, the difference between "fuel food" and "celebratory food," and how to finally turn the volume down on your self-criticism. If you are tired of fighting your own body and want to find a way to be hap...

Often, we see the opportunities, we feel the intuitive nudge, but we don't trust ourselves enough to take the leap. In this Changemakers episode, I am joined by New York Times bestselling author, Laura Malone Elliott. Laura shares her midlife pivot from writing long-form narrative journalism in the 1980s to becoming a best selling historical novelist. We dive into how she turned a dreaded assignment into a book, the reality of juggling a demanding career with kids' activities, and why history...

*This is a duplicate of episode 80 due to systems issues.*


Do you default to talking about bad weather, terrible traffic, or how busy you are? You might be using complaining as your primary conversation style without even realizing it. In this episode, we explore how chronic complaining drains your energy, keeps relationships surface-level, and physically rewires your brain to look for the negative. Let's talk about strategies to break the cycle, embrace healthy venting, and train your mind t...

Does the word "organization" strike fear into your heart? If you have spent decades calling yourself a "piler," a "messy person," or someone who just "cannot handle paper," it is no wonder your house reflects that reality. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife, certified life and organizing coach Tracy Hoth joins me to explain why decluttering isn't just about buying cute bins at Target—it is entirely about your mindset. We dive into why we unconsciously use clutter to protect ourselves from d...

If you are agonizing over a major life decision right now—like whether to move an aging parent, pivot your career, or raise the prices in your business, you’re not alone. Midlife is packed with heavy choices, and if you're like me, you've written a dozen "pros and cons" lists that still haven't given you any peace.


In this episode, I am diving into why logical lists fail us when our nervous systems are disturbed. We explore how to listen to the quiet intuition in your body, why making the rig...

Are you in your late 30s or your 40s and wondering if your sudden mood swings, brain fog, or even itchy ears are just stress—or if they are the start of perimenopause? You’re NOT alone, and it is perfectly normal to feel confused.


In this episode of Mind Your Midlife, Cheryl is joined by veteran health journalist Meghan Rabbitt, author of the incredibly comprehensive new book, The New Rules of Women’s Health: Your Guide to Thriving at Every Age. We dive into why we need to move beyond "bikini...

Have you ever walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went in there, or found yourself staring blankly in the middle of a sentence because you just cannot find the word? You’re NOT alone — and it doesn't mean you are losing your mind. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife, scientist, researcher, and health coach Dr. Christine Boev joins Cheryl to dive deep into the real brain science behind perimenopause and menopause brain fog .


What You’ll Learn:
✔ The surprising root cause of br...

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of advice about what you "should" be doing in midlife? You’re NOT alone. After speaking to a room of over 125 women at a recent local business event about "Busting the Myths of Menopause," I realized something important: we are drowning in information, but starving for simplicity. In this episode, I’m stripping away the complicated 10-step morning routines and the overwhelming lists. Instead, we are focusing on how to filter the no...

Are you feeling stuck in a toxic work environment, struggling to let go of an old identity, or blaming yourself when things just aren't working out? You’re NOT alone — and it is never too late to pull up your roots and replant yourself.


In this Changemakers episode, licensed therapist, speaker, and author Mary Rothwell joins me to share her journey of leaving a 32-year career in higher education after a leadership change turned her beloved job into a nightmare.


Mary shares the messy realit...

Are you a woman over 40 feeling anxious about bladder leaks when you sneeze, laugh, or jump? You’re NOT alone — but you don't have to just live with it. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife, certified health coach and Pfilates instructor Patricia Linderman joins me to break down pelvic floor health, the reality of prolapse, and the real muscular mechanics behind why we leak and how we can stop it.

What You’ll Learn:
✔ How your core acts like a "can" and why deep, three-dimensional breathing is ...

Are you a woman over 40 or 50 feeling stuck in analysis paralysis, second-guessing every decision from your career to your kitchen renovations, or trapped in a loop of "what if it goes wrong?" You’re NOT alone. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife, I’m sharing the story of my coaching client, Mandy—a highly successful entrepreneur who suddenly found herself unable to move forward on even simple projects.

We are diving deep into the Being Profile to uncover why smart, experienced midlife women g...

Are you riding the "bumpy ride" of perimenopause and wondering if there is an alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)? You’re NOT alone — and you have more options than you think. In this episode of Mind Your Midlife, Damon Iacovelli, a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, joins me to break down the science behind acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and how these ancient practices offer a modern solution for hot flashes, sleep issues, and midlife anxiety. I...