In this episode, I’m joined by Deb Schachter and Whitney Otto, authors of Body Image Inside Out, for a compassionate conversation about breaking free from those “bad body image moments.”

They share a refreshing way to see body image as a relationship—one that can be nurtured and transformed—so you can move past self-criticism and feel more confident this holiday season and all year round.

Midlife is a time of change, but also a chance for self-discovery and connection. If you’re ready to stop dreading the mirror and reclaim your confidence, this episode is for you.

Ever have one of those mornings where nothing feels right? Your clothes don’t fit the way you want, or a glance at an old photo sends you into a spiral of self-criticism? If you’re navigating midlife or perimenopause, you’re not alone.

In this episode, I sit down with body image expert and coach Summer Innanen to explore how hormonal shifts, societal pressures, and life stressors impact how we see ourselves.

Summer shares her journey and offers practical, compassionate strategies to help you embrace body neutrality, quiet the inner critic, and reconnect with your worth beyond appearance.

What if self-care wasn’t a luxury, but a lifeline? Heather Chauvin joins us to share how she turned a stage four cancer diagnosis into a powerful mission to help women redefine self-care.

Her energetic time management system has transformed lives, making it easier to prioritize well-being during midlife transitions like menopause and shifting roles.

Heather’s fresh perspective empowers you to embrace authenticity, build emotional resilience, and live with purpose.

Navigating your nutrition goals during menopause can be tough any month of the year, and especially around the holidays.

But what if you could approach this season with a non-diet mindset focused on balance instead of burnout?

Today I want to share practical tips for managing your physical, mental, and emotional needs so you can stay as nourished, satisfied, and present as possible!

Tune in as we chat with Sarah Dosanjh, who went from being a police officer to a psychotherapist and binge-eating coach after facing early menopause in her 20s. That experience shook up her relationship with food and eventually led her to a dramatically new way of serving others.

Together, we dig into the rollercoaster of emotions that come with menopause, the ups and downs of hormone therapy, and how intuitive eating can break the “last supper” cycle so many of us know too well. Sarah’s story is all about finding acceptance, resilience, and purpose when life doesn’t go as planned

How do you know if you’re finally done with dieting? It’s the million-dollar question, right?

You can start by listening to this conversation with Sinead Crowe, an intuitive eating counselor and perinatal mental health practitioner, who shares her journey from restrictive diets to a balanced, intuitive relationship with food. 

Sinead opens up about how her struggles with dieting and binge eating came to a head when she saw how it was affecting her son—pushing her to make a lasting change. 

It might just be the nudge of encouragement you need to take the first step on your journey to food freedom

Get ready to rethink what you know about binge eating and food addiction in this eye-opening conversation with health coach, occupational therapist, body image and binge eating coach, Stefanie Michele.

With her decades-long journey with binge eating, Stefanie shares insights to help break the stigma around it. You'll learn why binge eating is often more about emotional suppression and dietary restriction than willpower alone.

Stefanie and I unpack common myths from wellness culture, like labeling food—especially sugar—as addictive, and how rigid diet rules can worsen our relationship with food. 

Did you know that October is ADHD awareness month? It is! 

In this story session, I invited community member Jenny to share her ADHD story with us, from her childhood diagnosis in 1984 to the challenges she’s faced in perimenopause. She opens up about the brain fog, anxiety, and her decision to shift away from traditional stimulant medications towards practices like yoga and hiking for relief.

You'll love hearing her articulate her insights into the unique relationship between ADHD and intuitive eating.

Ever wondered if soy is a friend or foe during menopause? You're definitely not alone. There's so much conflicting information that it’s hard to know what to believe.

Some people, like me, are big fans of including soy regularly, while others say it should be avoided completely. It’s a hot topic in the world of nutrition, women’s health, and especially menopause—and today, we’re diving right into it.

I’ll start by clearing up some common myths, then get into the science-backed benefits of soy. Plus, I'll wrap things up with a few easy ways to incorporate more of it into your diet

Can you imagine a world where food choices are driven by joy, not fear? Today I’m joined by non-diet, weight-inclusive dietitian Abbie Attwood to explore the three most common roadblocks to intuitive eating.

We dive into the "messy middle," that tricky space where you’ve left behind diet culture but haven’t yet found your sweet spot with your eating habits. 

Perhaps most importantly, we highlight the critical role of self-compassion in moving past these hiccups. 

In this episode, we tackle a topic that deserves a heck of a lot more attention than we’re giving it—our pelvic floor. Kim Vopni, the "Vagina Coach," and founder of the “Buff Muff Method” helps us understand what it means to care for your pelvic health through perimenopause and menopause. Kim shares valuable advice on managing common symptoms like painful sex and annoying leaks.

We dive into the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, hormonal changes, and whether those popular biofeedback devices really work. Plus, we both advocate for the benefits of pelvic floor physiotherapy as part of your health routine.

Kim's compassionate guidance offers a reminder that you don’t have to suffer alone or just “suck it up”

What would it take for you to truly embrace and even get excited about this season of life? In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back Kate Codrington—author and midlife coach—who always brings such warmth, joy, and wisdom to these conversations.

Together, we talk about the different stages of life as seasons—spring's exploration, summer's energy, autumn's reflection, and winter's rest. Kate and I challenge the idea that menopause is simply about loss and share how we can create gentle, nurturing rhythms to navigate these shifts with more ease.

Isn’t it refreshing to hear this dieting trope “you are what you eat” turned on its head?  In this episode, I had the privilege of chatting with Dr. Emma Beckett, an Australian nutrition scientist and the brilliant mind behind You Are More Than What You Eat. Dr. Beckett’s book dives into the science of eating behaviors, but she makes it all so relatable and easy to understand.

We’re cutting through the noise and addressing why dietary myths and labels like “good” or “bad” can mess with our health and our relationship with food. Dr. Beckett’s approach is all about enjoying your food without stressing over perfection, embracing a flexible and intuitive eating style that actually makes food easy and fun.

To kick off this first episode of season 5, I wanted to share three reasons why I think life post-menopause is pretty awesome. My favorite being that midlife is this incredible opportunity to transform your relationship with food and your body. 

I’ll share how we can learn to work with our bodies rather than fighting them. Join us as we discuss how movement and food—focused on how it makes us feel, not how we look—can make the menopause journey more empowering and even fun.

For this special episode, I invited my sister, Friedel to join me. We didn't grow up together, but by luck, we both ended up living in the same city in the Netherlands and I couldn’t be more grateful to be sharing this season of life with her!  

My sister, at 46, is just starting perimenopause. Her journey this past year reflects what many go through, wondering, "Is this perimenopause, or am I going crazy?"

Join us as we chat about the five key things she's learned and wished she had known. 

Juggling menopause and a career is incredibly exhausting when you’re faced with the often unpredictable challenges of sleep issues, brain fog, and “crime-scene” periods as I like to call them. 

In this episode, I chat with Lauren Chiron, founder of Women of a Certain Age, about turning menopause from a taboo topic into one of empowerment in the workplace.

Lauren and I explore how job design, recruitment, and HR systems can support menopausal employees. She shares insights on using engagement surveys, training managers, and fostering open dialogue. We also discuss the benefits of social events and peer support groups. 

What happens when the pressures of motherhood push you to the brink? In this episode, I'm excited to welcome Tova Leigh, a hilarious mother of three who brilliantly exposes the realities of motherhood in a world where social media often only projects perfect parenting. 

We also explore embracing body changes as we age, shifting our focus from seeking external validation to prioritizing self-care and finding humor in the chaos. Tova is also a huge advocate of educating parents about the hidden dangers for kids online and she shares how she navigates this ongoing challenge.

Join me as I chat with Natasha, aka The Voyagist, the creative force behind the Food Joy and Body Joy retreats, including the upcoming one in 2025. We'll share details about these life-changing trips and how they help you step out of your comfort zone.

Even if travel seems out of reach, tune in to hear inspiring stories of personal growth from solo and group travel. Discover the incredible impact these adventures can have, whether you're an experienced traveler or just curious!

Today we're diving into emotional eating, cravings, and why everyone experiences them at one time or another. We'll also talk about how wellness and diet culture often blame menopause and hormones for cravings. I'll share what we actually know about these cravings and hormone changes.

More importantly, I’ll share a framework to help you decode your cravings—whether it's late-night snacking, work-time munchies, or a craving for something crunchy

Today we’re diving into a fascinating intersection of midlife: athleticism, high-performance sports, and intuitive eating. My guest today is Pam Moore, an occupational therapist who wears many hats: journalist, stand-up comedian, certified intuitive eating counselor, and seasoned athlete with her own journey through disordered eating.

In this episode, we explore the unique challenges faced by midlife athletes who are still competing and striving for peak performance while trying to break free from diet culture

For this Story Session, I’m joined by one of the most authentic examples of joyful movement. Sandra Mikulic is here to share her inspiring journey from treadmill workouts to outdoor trail races.

Tune in to hear how running transformed Sandra's life and how she is helping soon-to-be runners everywhere stop hiding behind their size.

Welcome to Day 4 of the 'Midlife Un-Dieting Miniseries. Have you ever tried to write an essay about a book after having skipped the middle and gone right to the end? If so, then you know that the ending doesn't always make sense if you don't know the whole story. 

Gentle nutrition is the intuitive eating principle that everyone wants to dive into, but in today's episode, I explain why the work of un-dieting needs to come first, otherwise you risk turning intuitive eating into another diet.

Rebekah Rotstein is back to help us tackle the common worries many of us have after a bone density or DEXA scan, especially when faced with diagnoses like osteoporosis or osteopenia. If you’ve ever been nervous about your T-score and wondered if you’re doing everything right, this episode is for you.

Rebekah will help you understand what T-scores and DEXA scans mean and why these numbers can be helpful but aren't the whole story. Together we share practical tips on other important factors to consider for boosting your confidence and improving bone health, no matter your diagnosis.

We're diving into a tricky topic today: orthorexia. While it’s not officially classified as an eating disorder, it shares a lot of similarities and is a form of disordered eating. What most people don’t understand is that perimenopause is a particularly vulnerable window for developing it. 

For this reason, I'm honored to have Dr. Morgan Francis with us—she's an eating disorder therapist and she's here to help us wrap our brains around a definition of orthorexia. You’ll discover how you can protect yourself from the traps set for us in midlife by diet and wellness culture. 

If you’ve been around for a while, you’ll recognize today’s guest and know you’re in for a real treat. Sleep expert Dr. Leigha Saunders ND is back to help us make the connection between sleep and burnout-a very common experience in midlife. 

As we dive into the challenges of parenting, caregiving, and the never-ending cycle of stress and sleep struggles, we'll help you spot the early signs of burnout—because knowing is half the battle to keeping it at bay. 

 I invite you to intentionally avoid your to-do list and listen to this episode instead!

Joining us is the incredible Dr. Alexis Conason, a US-based psychologist and author of Diet-Free Revolution.

We're exploring the behavioral and emotional aspects of intuitive eating. Dr. Conason’s approach, woven beautifully with storytelling, offers a fresh perspective that resonates deeply with those on the journey to reclaiming their relationship with food and their bodies.

Dr. Conason’s insights reassure us that we're not broken, and perhaps most importantly, we’re not to blame. 

Join me and parent coach Oona Hanson for a compassionate conversation about the tangled relationship between diet culture, body image, and family dynamics.

Drawing from both professional expertise and personal journey through eating disorder recovery, Oona offers helpful insights into the subtle ways language shapes our beliefs about food and self-worth, and how these patterns impact the next generation.

Together, we call out why parenting in the face of eating disorders is so tricky to navigate, and why we have to prioritize understanding and advocating for early intervention over blaming ourselves.

If you're ready to hop off the dieting rollercoaster, you might be starting to wonder what body acceptance really means for you. But here's the thing: a lot of folks mix up body acceptance with giving up, and it’s just not the case!

So, in this quick solo episode, I'm going to offer you a crystal clear definition of what body acceptance is, and what it isn't. The big takeaway? You don't have to stay feeling stuck in the “suck”- as I call it.

Building and maintaining new movement habits can feel daunting, especially if you don’t enjoy moving as much as you did in the past, or are learning to navigate changes to your physical abilities in midlife. But as my guest and I both agree, fitness culture has way overcomplicated what counts as success when it comes to fitness goals.

In this episode, personal trainer and nutrition coach, Michael Ulloa joins me to share his inclusive (and refreshing) perspective on fitness.  We peel back the layers of industry myths, especially those that relate to us in midlife and menopause, and reveal just how achievable and personal fitness can be.

If dieting has left you flat-out exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally, I want to assure you that you are not the problem. The problem is that diets and food rules have called the shots for decades of our lives. And in midlife, we’re starting to realize that our brains and bodies are tired of trying to do more with less. 

To help us unpack the many layers of the problems with dieting, I’ve invited Dr. Amy Porto to join me. She will help us understand why dieting “success” is so fleeting and why your real superpower lies in giving yourself permission to explore what hunger, satisfaction, and pleasure mean to you. 

The body acceptance and un-dieting journey of is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of courage to sit in all of the emotions that come with the questions that surface in this process.

To help us unpack the many layers of this conversation, I’ve invited nutritionist and body image coach, Steph Dodier to help us understand why our brains naturally associate being thin with being safe, why others feel threatened by people who feel at home in their larger bodies, and how to see your body as a vehicle to experience your life instead of a sign of your worth.

If you’re over 40, you can thank the 1980s for many of the beliefs you have about food, nutrition, and health. Having grown up in the days before the internet, we didn’t have the luxury of choosing what information we consumed. We were all fed the same messages as the pool of mainstream media was much smaller, and less diverse.

In this episode, I’m going to share three beliefs that diet culture fed you and why they are likely overcomplicating your relationship with food and your body. Then I’ll give you three questions you can ask yourself if you’re ready to start un-dieting these beliefs and find a more peaceful relationship with food and your body.

When we begin to heal from all the damage diet culture has had on our growth and development, it can feel very urgent to get it “right” for our kids and learn how to keep diet culture out of our homes. While this deserves to be a top priority, it requires a lot of grace.

In this episode, nutritionist and fitness coach, Tracey Harper helps us understand why rewriting the narrative for the next generation demands that we continue healing in our relationships with food and our bodies. She will help us frame up conversations that invite young people to get curious about how they relate to their bodies, as well as how to help kids reflect on the impact that the media has on their mental health. 

In this special story session, Christina Testut—a kindergarten teacher and champion of body acceptance—joins us this week on The Midlife Feast to share her inspiring un-dieting journey and the lessons that quarantine taught her about embracing body diversity. 

She shares why her weight-loss “success story”  became unsustainable, physically, mentally, and emotionally. As a mother and educator, she recognized the urgent need to redefine beauty standards for impressionable young people and took a powerful stand by transforming her epiphany into a children's book celebrating all body shapes and sizes.

Tight pants. Bloating. IBS. Food sensitivities. If you’re one of the many people who have experienced gastrointestinal discomfort in midlife, you know how complex this issue is.

Dr. Kim Bretz ND is joining me to answer some of the most frequently asked gut health questions. We’ll dive into FODMAPs, why digestive diversity is so important, and why self-directed diets not only add discomfort but actually put us at risk if we don’t know when and how to reintroduce foods. 

We’ll also touch on why trying to self-diagnose gut health problems can be an unexpected path to disordered eating patterns.

Diet and wellness culture do a fantastic job “shoulding” all over us, especially when it comes to the habits we put into place. This pressure does not mix well with our already strained capacity in midlife. That’s why I’ve invited health coach and behavior change expert Heather Sayers Lehman to help us dive into this work.

Habits can be powerful tools, but they should be a reflection of how attuned we are to our own needs and preferences-not diet culture rules. We’ll unpack why we need to focus less on willpower and more on self-compassion. 

Celebrate with me as we toast to the 100th episode of the Midlife Feast! As you know, on every episode of the podcast, I ask my guests what they think the missing ingredient in midlife is. After revisiting the answers in 100 episodes, I want to share with you the top five insights that have reshaped our understanding of midlife and menopause. 

As we clink glasses to this journey, I’m celebrating all the incredible guests who have come to share their wisdom and experience, collectively reminding us this is not our mother’s menopause. No one has to navigate this season alone anymore!

In addition to the emotional and physical changes that can come with midlife, have you ever felt discouraged when you realized that your relationship with your spouse or partner was having its own midlife crisis?

If so, you’re not alone, but you don’t have to stay stuck. Since we’re celebrating Valentine’s Day this week, I thought it would be the perfect time to invite relationship expert Carrie Cohen on the show to talk about why feeling disconnected in relationships and marriage in midlife can happen without us even noticing. 

Best of all, Carrie shares some incredibly practical and powerful tools you can implement in your relationship to get the spark and connection back on the menu again!

If you have recently been told that you have high blood pressure, (perhaps for the first time ever) there’s a couple of things you should know. First, this is not your fault! Second, don’t panic - because Dr. Alex Verge ND is back to help us understand why you’re not alone when it comes to understanding why blood pressure (among so many other things) changes in midlife.

Your blood pressure might even improve as you listen to this episode and hear all of the great suggestions Dr. Alex shares with us to help you feel prepared for your next checkup.

We talk about why Dr. Alex advocates for measuring your BP at home, how estrogen contributes to the equation, and what secondary factors to consider if you feel like you’re already doing all the right things.

Today we’re tackling a topic we haven’t yet devoted an entire episode to but certainly deserves one!  I’ve invited Nutrition & Body Relationship Coach, Deb Benfield to help us explore the subtle but profound impact of ageism on body image in midlife. We cover so much in this one conversation including aging body liberation, what it means to carry internalized ageism, and how that intersects with disordered eating during midlife. 

The episode emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, acknowledging losses, and practicing body acceptance. Deb and I get to express our excitement about this life stage, challenge societal norms, and promote a positive and fresh perspective on aging.

One of the biggest challenges of midlife is the fact that so many of us feel flat-out exhausted, even after a decent night's sleep! That’s why I invited the Fatigue Fixer, Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur ND to help us understand why this chronic exhaustion is so common but also more complex than just having low iron levels.

Sarah will share the four areas you need to explore to discover what is zapping your energy these days. We’ll also dive into why ”meno-rage” could actually be a gift and why we need to allocate more time each day to meet our own needs for nutrition, movement, rest, and pleasure.

In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist, speaker, and author, Dr. Jody Carrington. Jody believes that finding the courage and the safe places to tell our stories is what we need most as we navigate a distracted and disconnected world.

While I haven’t known Jody for long, we quickly connected over the bathing suit story she shared on her podcast (what she calls the connector of all stories). I hope that by sharing some of these relatable battles with body image, you’ll realize you’re not alone. Jody will also talk about two of the biggest tools for recovery in moments like these: gratitude and agency. 

If the pressure from wellness culture leaves you feeling fearful and anxious because of its unattainable standards, it's probably safe to say that it's not truly promoting well-being. And if you've invested time, money, or energy in the myths and promises of wellness culture, you probably haven't seen much ROI on those either. 

In this episode, I’m kicking off 2024 with a guest who needs little introduction-Registered Dietitian and author of The Wellness Trap, Christy Harrison. We are taking a deep dive into why clean eating became so trendy (and dangerous), why we are drawn to the fear-based messaging of wellness culture, as well as why it’s so irrelevant to such a large population of the world. 

As we bid farewell to 2023, I’d like to help you redirect the panic and pressure of New Year’s resolutions that may feel like they are waiting around the corner for you. I’m popping in to offer you some super practical tips for a healthier and more peaceful connection with food and your body, especially this time of year. 

I challenge you to give me sixteen minutes to help you see how the peace you crave is absolutely within reach. I’ll share five tips that can help you make confident food decisions, that leave room for the freedom and flexibility you need to thrive in this season.

You know the overwhelming and even sometimes paralyzing feelings you battle when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror or a photo? It’s when the image we see in front of us doesn’t match the image in our brain. That’s body grief. 

In this episode, I’ve invited Registered Dietitian, Amanda Mittman to tackle this subject with me. We’re calling out why body grief has so many layers you might not be aware of, and why it becomes even more complex when the curve balls of perimenopause and aging are added to the mix. 

Do you ever have days where you start out eating fat-free for breakfast, go vegan for lunch, and end up eating keto for dinner? Food rules are so appealing and yet so confusing. The problem is that there’s no “best” diet and they all have the same predictable result.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sylvi Martin who will help us expose why so many elements of wellness culture are getting in the way of your ability to thrive and have a normal relationship with food. We’ll also talk about why where you get your information matters as well why you need to focus on adding foods to your plate instead of trying to keep them off the menu.

Welcome to the third of a series of bonus episodes of The Midlife Feast, where we're flipping the script! Today, I’m in the hot seat and my podcast manager, Dee-Anna (who just turned 40) will be asking some of the questions asked by those of you in this community!

We're tackling how to handle the no-carb nonsense, how to know which "experts" to trust, and what you need to know about using HRT!

In this episode, I  invite you to listen as I sit down with Midlife Feast Community member, Laura, a veteran dieter who's now embracing life as an intuitive eater. Laura generously shares her 40-year dieting journey, beginning at age 11.

We debunk common myths like equating intuitive eating with “giving up” and explaining how it can truly nourish your soul and heart. We discuss the liberating feeling of giving yourself permission to enjoy food, and how even dining out and treats can fit into a healthy relationship with food.

While you probably know that pelvic floor therapy can help if you struggle with leaking or postpartum challenges, as you'll discover in this conversation, your pelvis has a much bigger impact on your overall well-being, especially in midlife. 

I know because I had the privilege of being treated by my guest today, Erika Burger. She is a highly regarded Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.  

There are so many painful and inconvenient conditions that can show up in midlife, but many of them are easily treated with the right therapist. So join me in this conversation and learn why I believe pelvic floor therapists are the unsung heroes of midlife!

Welcome to the second bonus episode of The Midlife Feast, where we're flipping the script! Today, I’m in the hot seat and my podcast manager, Dee-Anna (who just turned 40) will be asking MORE of the questions asked by those of you in this community!

We had an overwhelming response of fabulous questions, so we are serving the answers to you in a series of bite-sized episodes designed to satisfy your curiosity about diving into gentle nutrition and un-dieting in midlife! 

We're tackling how to handle food choices during midlife mood swings, and eating without the extra helping of guilt and shame!   

Ever found yourself locked in the diet mentality, labeling food as 'good' or 'bad', and feeling the pressure to achieve perfection with every bite? You're not alone!

In this episode, I've invited a fellow certified intuitive eating counselor, Alana Van Der Sluys to help us unpack the insidious role of perfectionism in our eating habits and diet culture.

Together, we share personal anecdotes, discuss the pitfalls of the all-or-nothing mindset, the stress of external validation, and shed light on the damaging impact perfectionism has on our overall well-being.

In this episode, weight-inclusive endocrinologist, Dr. Gregory Dodell joins me as we continue the conversation we’ve started on the podcast (with Val Schonberg and Danielle Bubblitz) about managing diabetes in midlife

Dr. Dodell emphasizes that diabetes doesn't discriminate based on body size. He advocates for a personalized, intuitive approach to eating, highlighting the importance of listening to your body. We highlight the fact that diabetes can bring emotional challenges, including stigma around medication and feeling like you've failed if diet and exercise alone don't cut it.

Welcome to the first of a series of bonus episodes of The Midlife Feast, where we're flipping the script! Today, I’m in the hot seat and my podcast manager, Dee-Anna (who just turned 40) will be asking some of the questions asked by those of you in this community!

We had an overwhelming response of fabulous questions, so we are serving the answers to you in a series of bite-sized episodes designed to satisfy your curiosity about diving into gentle nutrition and un-dieting in midlife! 

We're tackling how to un-diet from tracking, counting, and measuring, ideas for easy nutritional add-ins, and how to find informed support for your journey!  

Have you ever taken a moment to press pause just before you reach for your favourite salty snack, sweet treat, or glass of wine when a strong feeling bubbles to the surface? It’s a very human thing to “emotionally eat or drink” but do we know why? Or if that habit is actually helping us to resolve anything?  

Today on the podcast psychotherapist and certified alcohol coach, Emma Gilmour will help us understand the deeper connections between our eating and drinking habits in midlife. 

Emma even shares some powerful tools to help you get curious without shame so you can discover the courage to move through your emotions instead of getting stuck in them. 

When I did an open call in our Midlife Feast Community for anyone who was willing to do a story session, I was thrilled when long-time member Melissa jumped at the chance to share her story. She shares how she has transitioned from being a lifetime member of Weight Watchers and all the tracking, measuring, and counting that came with it, to enjoying the freedom of being an intuitive eater.

Melissa also shares her hard-earned wisdom of why we can’t rush the process of un-dieting and why it requires practicing self-compassion at every step. She shares how she can enjoy a whole piece of cake (instead of 4 bites for 4 points) and the sheer delight she finds in indulging in real coffee creamer each morning.

Midlife is notorious for bringing burnout, but I’d like to flip the script and propose it's actually the perfect time to rediscover joy in midlife! To help us, I’ve invited cancer survivor, artist, and facilitator, Meryl Cook to share her passion for helping others find healing through creativity and self-compassion. 

Meryl will share her unique creative process that starts with journaling and is a unique blend of writing, sketching, and turning problems into resolutions while connecting with the sensations of joy. We also talk about how midlife is a season to ditch all the things that aren’t serving us anymore.

Something has gone terribly wrong when we actually believe that the only kind of movement that counts is the movement that happens at five am in a gym for no less than forty-five minutes. We’ve reduced movement to such rigid definitions and only feel good about ourselves when a FitBit says it’s okay to do so. 

In this episode, I’ve invited one of my favorite joyful movement experts, Jamie Carbaugh to share why she believes movement should always be fun, playful, and intuitive. We talk about why letting go of objectives, structure, and all the before and after pictures help us get in touch with all the ways our bodies crave movement, whether it be for five minutes or thirty. 

When it comes to the diabetes conversation, have you ever felt like common sense was the missing ingredient? If so, you’re 100% correct. The fear-based messaging like “you’re just one donut away from diabetes” indicates how out of control it’s become. 

To help us tackle this topic, I’ve invited Danielle Bublitz, a weight-neutral registered dietitian who not only specializes in supporting clients with all different types of diabetes but has also lived with diabetes herself. Danielle will help us debunk some of the most harmful myths about diabetes.

Have you been successfully convinced that with your welcome letter to midlife, you’ve also developed insulin resistance? It’s not much different from believing that every pregnant woman will also develop gestational diabetes. Is it possible? Sure. Does it happen to everyone? Definitely not. 

In this episode, I’ve invited Registered Dietitian, Val Schonberg back on the show to help challenge some of the most common assumptions about insulin resistance for women in menopause. We dive into addressing how this overabundance of information rarely comes with a disclaimer that the connection between low estrogen and insulin resistance is not a direct one.

If you’ve been around here for a season or two, you know that I’ll never be in favor of taking anything off the menu when it comes to nutrition- with one exception: information overload. 

So in this season, you can look forward to every episode helping you filter through the noise so you can have access to the best experts, research, and tools. Think of this as your personalized road map for discovering how to make confident decisions about food and your body. 

Wondering why in the world would a naturopathic doctor and dietitian would suggest that food is not medicine? It’s a great question and one I wanted to tackle for the last episode of season 3. There’s no doubt about it-food does incredible things for our bodies. It fuels, supports, and nourishes us every day. But here’s a little secret: broccoli alone can’t save your life. Food is just food!

The pressure we feel to choose only the most “perfect” foods often ends up taking so much of our time and attention in an already demanding season of life. In this episode, I’ll be sharing 5 ways you can lower the bar to improve your health. I would love to know which one takes the pressure off your relationship with food the most!

Midlife is the ultimate “messy middle”, isn’t it? But when we take time to listen to our bodies, get comfortable with not having control, and surround ourselves with authentic community, there are a lot of gifts to discover in this season too! In this episode, I’ve invited Ann Douglas, the author of Navigating the Messy Middle, a book that brilliantly unpacks the challenges and experiences of women in midlife., especially those of us who are parenting teens at the same time!

But here’s what I hope will be your #1 takeaway: Life is far from over. Midlife is the chance to become your own expert in self-compassion, expression, growth, and trying on new hobbies, all for the joy of it!

As you settle into midlife you may discover one of the best gifts this season has to offer: a new urgency to let go of what no longer serves you. It’s refreshing to suddenly let go of people-pleasing habits, set (and keep)  boundaries, or do just about anything that sounds fun -especially if someone has urged you not to!

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Kate Codrington, the author of Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide to Menopause. Kate is helping put words to many of the things you may be feeling in this season but aren't entirely sure how to channel. In midlife, we become attuned to the cost we're paying for our people-pleasing tendencies. Even though it can feel inconvenient or even unnatural,  it’s important to practice using our voice and sometimes a little agency, to express our needs. 

Today I have a very special treat for you in this Q&A session with Registered Dietitian, Amanda Bullat. 
In this episode, we tackle three of the most-asked questions about un-dieting in midlife. The answers to these questions are helpful for anyone who has considered intuitive eating before but maybe got bogged down by the most common challenges and misconceptions related to un-dieting.

We talk about how tempting it is to sprinkle in formerly “successful” dieting strategies while you learn to become an intuitive eater, as well as how to challenge the most common fears that pop up when you let go of tracking, measuring, and dieting.

In this Story Session episode, a Midlife Feast Community Member joins me to share her journey of un-dieting from wellness culture. She’s learned the importance of letting go of restrictive food rules, how to question societal expectations, and how to prioritize a more balanced sense of well-being.

When we discover the courage to challenge wellness culture's influence in our lives, we can develop a more sustainable relationship with food. And the real payoff is that we have more room for self-discovery and creativity in midlife-two key ingredients for making midlife that much sweeter.

There’s no question. Sleep -good or bad- impacts every area of our lives. But what do you do when good sleep feels so out of reach during midlife? Dr. Leigha Saunders is joining me today to talk about how she helps women focus their barely functioning brains on the pieces of the sleep puzzle they do have control over. 

Dr. Leigha will share how hormone therapy can support better sleep and why cortisol often gets such a bad rap when actually, in proper doses, is key to our survival. We also talk about how important it is to practice self-compassion and resiliency as you get to know this new body of yours in midlife.

While you may be 1000% confident that spending the rest of your life on a diet is NOT the life for you…, do you ever find yourself thinking that the path to becoming an intuitive eater doesn’t feel all that intuitive? If so, welcome! You’ve arrived at what I like to call Dieting Rock Bottom! 

The good news is, you are not alone! How do I know? Because of the hundreds of messages I’ve received recently from women who are all in what I call the “messy middle” on the road to intuitive eating.

In this episode, I will sort through three common points of confusion that can bring your intuitive eating journey to a screeching halt. Come listen and see if these reasons are keeping you stuck too.  

If movement had zero impact on your body size, would you still choose to move? If the answer is no, then I encourage you to join me and Christine Chessman in this episode to learn why joyful movement is key to making movement sustainable in midlife and beyond. 

If you’ve started an intuitive eating journey, it is not uncommon to feel the desire to break up with your usual workout routine too. But in this conversation, we dive into understanding the non-scale benefits of movement which include self-care, stress relief, strength-building, and perhaps most importantly, learning how to choose to love your body right now.

In honor of Osteoporosis Awareness Month,  I’ve invited movement educator Rebekah Rotstein to shed light on the topic of bone health. It’s incredibly common to avoid thinking about the strength of our bones until later in life, which might be too late if your goal is to be resilient and independent in our second act Rebekah shares the many factors we need to understand about bone health and what screenings we need to ask for starting in perimenopause if you haven’t already.

Rebecca will also share her personal journey of being diagnosed with osteoporosis in her late 20s and how she now helps people across the globe get Buff Bones through fun and accessible education and movement.

 In this episode, I’m taking a minute to describe exactly what a hot flash is and what some of the common triggers are for this quick roller coaster ride (that you never bought a ticket for). You might be surprised to learn that there are many foods and beverages you may be eating regularly that could be fueling these hot flashes and night sweats. 

 I’ll share some of the simple and super tasty ways you can incorporate foods high in phytoestrogens that are 100% safe and have plenty of other nutritional value.

My guest on today’s Story Session is health coach and dietitian, Tracy Kelly. She’s sharing her story about how her practice has been transformed as a result of having recently started perimenopause. As universal as the symptoms of menopause can be, each of us has a story to tell. 

This episode will inspire you to lean into your experience, ask more questions, and discover how to live authentically in what likely feels like someone else’s body on a lot of days. 

In this episode, I’m joined for a second time by my friend Niamh Daly who will help us understand what is really happening to our bones in post-menopause. She will also help us understand why focusing on movement, balance, and posture are key to slowing bone loss.

You’ll also walk away from this episode with examples of simple low-impact exercises you can do anywhere throughout your day. It’s high time to challenge the idea that movement only happens once a day in concentrated bursts. Your bones will thank you when you do!

Even if you’ve worked hard to keep diet culture out of your house, there are so many ways our kids can still feel pressured to fit into certain body shape expectations. In this episode, Amelia Sherry will share some helpful questions you can ask your kids in order to challenge common examples of diet, food, and health misinformation.

We will also talk about ways to help our kids feel welcome to try, enjoy, and have access to all kinds of food (even sugar) so that they learn how their bodies can communicate with them. If you’re curious about raising intuitive eaters, this episode is a perfect place to start!

While you would probably guess that the average age of women going through menopause is between 51-52, you might not know that approximately 1% of women go through menopause prematurely before age 40. In today’s story session, I am joined by Midlife Feast Community member, Jen, who is sharing about her experience of going through Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). 

It’s easy to imagine how disruptive and confusing it would be to experience symptoms like hot flashes and long gaps between periods at the age of 31. You’ll discover how Jen put the pieces together pre-diagnosis and learned the best ways to support her health post-diagnosis, which included joining The Midlife Feast Community! 

In this episode, I’ve invited my friend and Burnout and Alcohol Coach Wendy McCallum back on the show to walk us through how to start saying no to more in midlife. What I love about Wendy is that her advice is so practical and empowers you to take action on what you want most starting today, not tomorrow.

So if you’re searching for ways to show up more intentionally for yourself and everyone around you, do whatever you have to do to let a ball drop for the next thirty minutes and tune into this episode.

If you’re burnt out on dieting, you’re probably interested in exploring a concept we talk about a lot around here: gentle nutrition. While most people are eager to get to the “good part” when learning to eat intuitively, gentle nutrition is one of the last steps of the journey of intuitive eating. Why? Because we have to un-do a lot of the default programming leftover from years of dieting and diet culture.

In this episode, I’ve invited fellow non-diet dietitian Rachael Hartley on the show to take a deep dive into understanding gentle nutrition- including who it’s for, how to apply it, and the most common hiccups that people experience along the way. Join us if you’re ready to examine your relationship with food!

While you may have expected many of the physical symptoms of menopause, the one that might really take you by surprise is brain fog. 

In this episode, I’ll share how hormones are the culprits (yet again) and the good news that brain fog won’t last forever! While what you eat won’t make the brain fog totally disappear, there are several things that you can do to support your brain, which I’ll share too. I’ll also let you in on one of the sneaky reasons that brain fog intensifies-and it’s one I bet you haven’t considered! 

Are you tempted to think that exercise has to be miserable if it’s going to have an impact? If so, you’re definitely not alone, and today’s conversation is just for you. 

Join me and my return guest, Dr. Maria Luque, as we take a deep dive into understanding the reasons we have come to believe that the only legitimate forms of exercise must feel like pure torture. We’ll also discuss why most people mistakenly make body change their motivation for working out, and how staying stuck in that mindset may be hurting your efforts to work on your body image. 

While rest is 100 % necessary (and not just a reward for being productive) discovering what rest means to us personally can be challenging. That’s why I’ve invited psychologist, author, and expert in self-care and rest, Suzy Reading to the show. She will help us explore why we struggle with rest and how doing it well helps us get in tune with our values.

Listen and take a close look at your relationship with rest. Then let’s all commit to being underachievers, shall we? 

In this episode, therapist and author, Alli Spots De Lazzer shares all about her book: MeaningFULL, 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body Image Issues. 

Join us to discover more about why defining our relationship with food feels so daunting. Here's a hint: the problem is NOT you. Your story is just still unfolding and midlife is the perfect time to discover peace and fulfillment in this area of your life.

Sleep -good or bad- impacts every area of our lives. But what do you do when good sleep feels so out of reach during midlife? Dr. Leigha Saunders is joining me today to talk about how she helps women focus their barely functioning brains on the pieces of the sleep puzzle they do have control over. 

Dr. Leigha will share how hormone therapy can support better sleep and why cortisol often gets such a bad rap when actually, in proper doses, is key to our survival. We also talk about how important it is to practice self-compassion and resiliency as you get to know this new body of yours in midlife.

In this episode, I’ve invited Val Schonberg, RD to expose the roots of eating disorders in midlife and why so few people, including the medical community, are noticing how widespread this struggle is for women in perimenopause and menopause. Join us as we talk about why it’s so easy to hide an eating disorder, how we can unintentionally encourage them, and how to identify more of what we can control without compromising our health.

In this episode, author and urologist,  Dr. Kelly Casperson shares how even her med school training could not have prepared her for the number of patients she sees who are convinced that their desire for intimacy will never be fulfilled again. We talk about the fact that while sex can change in midlife, hormones are not the only ones to blame. As set in our ways as we may be, we’ve still got a need for spontaneity. So how do we find that at this point in the game? 

Have you ever wondered "what the hell is happening" with your mood in midlife? Trust me, you're not alone.  And, as Dr. Stephanie Bayliss ND explains, there's a window of vulnerability in midlife that makes anxiety, depression and PMDD more common than ever.

In this episode, we discuss the hormone changes that increase the chances of anxiety and depression, the difference between PMS and PMDD, and discuss hormonal vs non-hormonal treatment options.

Dr. Stephanie Bayliss is a Naturopathic Doctor practicing in Victoria, BC, Canada. She is a North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Certified Practitioner and has a particular interest in supporting women's mental health, specifically how our hormones can impact mood. 

In this story session, I talk to Ann Marie McQueen, a Canadian health and wellness journalist living and working in the Middle East and going through the peri/menopause transition.

In June 2020, Ann Marie founded Hotflash Inc to provide balanced coverage and context about all things menopause via a weekly newsletter and social media, adding a sponsored weekly podcast the following year.

Join us as we talk about her own experience of navigating perimenopause, the problem with mainstream media reporting of midlife and menopause, and how her unique ability to mix curiosity and observation has helped her find her voice in this space.

In this episode, dietitian Jenn Messina RD helps us understand why so many of us were programmed into diet culture from a young age, how to go back and repair when you say something you don't mean, and even how to talk to other family members when diet talk is the uninvited guest at the table.

As I get ready to mark my 1-year meno-versary, I reflect on some of the ways that our generation's experience of menopause is different than that of our mothers and grandmothers, including how we talk about it, how we treat it, and how we're helping women thrive in their second season.

But, I also talk about what we still need to work on (in a big way) and what I think is the biggest "missing ingredient" in midlife.

Not sure how to manage holiday eating as an intuitive eater? Tune into this quick episode and learn how to stay mindful and intuitive this holiday season. I share some of my best advice for leading with satisfaction and attunement so that you can enjoy all the #foodjoy this season has to offer without feeling like you're lost at sea! Happy holidays!

In this episode, I’ve invited women’s fitness coach, menopause advocate and author, Amanda Thebe on the show to unpack all our fiery frustrations about this topic.

Then we share all the ways we envision creating informed, supportive global communities of women who are navigating this transition. A huge part of this work begins with normalizing the intensity and impact of menopausal symptoms instead of describing them as “bothersome”. We hope you'll continue this conversation in your own community of women! 

In this episode, I’m joined by Body Acceptance Coach and friend Kristina Bruce, who is brave enough to share about her very emotional and relatable un-dieting journey. She was convinced that if she was able to control the body that she presented to the world, then no one would ever get a hint of the chaos that was happening below the surface. That is until she started dating someone she really cared about.

When body changes show up in midlife, we often default to thinking that our bodies are the problem. Kristina and I unpack why we need to redirect our energy and focus in a healthier direction.

In this episode, I’ll dive into the three key stages of un-dieting. We’ll unpack what is common to think and feel at each of these stages, especially in that “messy middle” second stage. Will you ever want a vegetable again?

What do you do if you do gain weight? Find out why it’s normal to be asking these kinds of questions (and many more), but why we don’t have to all the answers to be confident about our bodies and this path. 

In this episode, I am joined by registered dietitian, Tamar Rothenberg who specializes in supporting women in recovery of breast and ovarian cancer. Having been a breast cancer survivor herself, she knows first-hand about the pressure to make the best nutritional decisions. And then add in all the unsolicited advice offered as you try to navigate life in the post-chemo fog. 

Tamar will help unpack two of the biggest myths about foods commonly believed to cause cancer: soy and sugar. 

Iron deficiency is by far the most common nutrient deficiency among women, but the chances of being low in this VIP mineral increase in perimenopause. And as Maryann Jacobsen RD and I discuss, you don't have to be clinically anemic to feel the effects of low iron.

We discuss why ferritin isn't the only measure we need to be paying attention to in our bloodwork, why the reference values for ferritin may be too low, and the symptoms that women in midlife should be on the lookout for.

My guest today is Julie Duffy Dillon, a registered dietitian who helps people with PCOS navigate nutrition and health from a non-diet perspective. As Julie and I discuss, PCOS often gets ignored as menopause comes along and period problems fade, but that's not necessarily in the best interest of health.

Most women notice changes in sleep as they transition through perimenopause, and many go to great lengths to be able to fall asleep, and stay asleep, more easily.

In this episode, Sarah Wilde introduces us to CBTi, and how this novel approach to helping us get more sleep is worth exploring. Sarah helps women sleep better so that they wake up feeling rested and ready to take on their day.

In this solo episode, I talk about what I think are 3 "missing ingredients" from most conversations about menopause nutrition, and introduce you to The Midlife Feast Community membership.

Perimenopause and the symptoms of stress can overlap quite significantly, especially when it comes to mood, sleep and energy. And as Dr. Barton and I talk about in this episode, that overlap puts some women at a disadvantage when seeking care.

Dr Fionnuala is a GP, women’s health doctor, and member of the British Menopause Society. She is passionate about empowering women to optimise their physical and emotional wellness using a proactive, informative, and holistic approach to perimenopause and menopause. 

Did you know that globally, cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in women? Research suggests that 1 out of 2 women don't, and this conversation with Dr. Alex Verge ND about cholesterol, heart health, and menopause is full of things women need to know as they go through the menopause transition.

We discuss myths about cholesterol, the role of diet vs genetics, and why dietary dogma often gets in the way of making changes that stick.

Welcome to season 3 of The Midlife Feast! In this episode, I share some of the highlights from my first year of podcasting, what you've told me you want more of, and what topics are on the menu this season! I also spill the beans about one of the big surprises I've been working on.

This is it, the episode so many of you have requested! In this solo episode, I break down the science of keto, why it does more harm than good, and I end by sharing my own personal story with keto and why I'm so passionate about keeping keto out of the midlife and menopause conversations.

P.S. There's also a disclaimer so be sure to listen to the beginning for the "ground rules".

Welcome to this week's story session episode with Lisa, who discovered food freedom and body confidence in midlife after a lifetime of dieting. Lisa shares her experience with meno-rage, how she discovered intuitive eating after a last-ditch effort to lose weight didn't "work", and what she wants younger women to know about life as an un-dieter.

Today's episode of The Midlife Feast may not be of interest to everyone, but it's an important conversation to have as many women often find themselves trying to conceive after 40.  And the hormonal changes that are happening in perimenopause can make getting pregnant and staying pregnant, more challenging.

Dr. Jordan Robertson ND is my guest today, and we talk about why fertility declines as we age, what hormones are involved in assessing fertility, why integrative approaches may be better than alternative ones, and why you shouldn't lose hope if you find yourself struggling to conceive.

This week's episode is a story session about Lindsay's experience of going into menopause at 42, and what she'd like others to know about her experience.

While perimenopause is often missed, or misdiagnosed for several years, it's even more likely to be missed for women who go into menopause early before the age of 45.

And for women who stop having periods earlier than expected, it's important to have a hormone-savvy practitioner on their team to help them manage the long-term risks of being without estrogen for longer than expected.

Even if you're not on an anti-diet journey, you're going to want to listen to this episode with Dr. Maggie Landes MD. We talk about her cancer diagnosis and how her journey convinced her to break up with the BMI, why most clinical encounters don't require your weight (and how to talk to your doctor about it), and why telling someone to "lose weight" is not only bad medicine but unethical. 

Maggie Landes is a board-certified physician, public health nutritionist, and anti-diet wellness expert. Her dual-mission is focused on not just helping women in midlife escape the grips of diet culture and recover from their lifelong turbulent relationship with food, but Maggie, in her Pro2Pro services, supports other health professionals to participate in, and promote, a weight-neutral approach to practice.

In today's episode, I'm ending the Midlife Un-Dieting Miniseries by talking about what happens when un-dieting meets menopause nutrition, and how gentle nutrition can help you make peace with food and meet your health and nutrition goals by discussing my '4 Pillars of Intuitive Nutrition. 

Welcome to Day 3 of my Midlife Un-Dieting Miniseries. You've probably heard mindset described in relation to goal setting before, but today's episode isn't about staying focused on your goal, or how to adopt a "winning" mindset.

It's about permission vs. restriction and what happens to our brain when we say YES instead of NO. Understanding why control creates craving may be the "aha" moment you've been looking for to get out of the diet mentality and make peace with food.

Welcome to Day 2 of the Midlife Un-Dieting Miniseries.  and today we're digging into 3 common beliefs you need to un-diet to have a more peaceful relationship with food.

I break down why you can let go of the fear that food is "addictive", why weight isn't a proxy for health, and that willpower isn't the reason why diets haven't worked for you.

Welcome to my 5-day miniseries on Un-Dieting in Midlife. Today is day 1, and in this short episode I'm talking about why making your nutrition goals primarily about weight loss may be keeping you from what you're really looking for.

I talk about why the desire for weight loss keeps us stuck in the diet cycle, and the beliefs that we need to change about diet, weight, and health to get out of the diet mentality (without feeling like we're free-falling!), and into a more sustainable relationship with food. If you can't imagine a world where your decisions about food aren't based on changing your weight, you'll definitely want to tune in.

Perimenopause often shows up at a time in our lives when there's a lot going on. Work and family obligations may be expected life demands, but navigating the loss of a parent and a spouse's major health concerns may not be.

Today's story session with Amanda Bullat RDN, a fellow non-diet dietitian who works with women in midlife, shares her experience of navigating the hormonal ups and downs that crash-landed into her life while she was in her late 30s.

Meno-rage: IYKYK. But why does it happen? Who do so many women from all walks of life relate to this volcano of anger? Is it just hormonal? Or is is cultural?

Mona Eltahawy is my guest this week, and we break down the cultural understanding of meno-rage, and what women can do about it.

Mona Eltahawy is a feminist author, commentator and disruptor of patriarchy. She is founder and editor-in-chief of the newsletter FEMINIST GIANT.

Like most things related to exercise, the conversation around strength training often gets caught up in talk about metabolism and weight, leaving many women feeling like they're doing something wrong if it's "not working".

So I love the conversation that I have with Dr. Maria Luque because we talk about what strength training actually is, why it's important to maintain muscle in midlife, how much and how often we should be incorporating strength-focused movement, and how to avoid the pitfalls of "all or nothing" thinking.

This week's podcast is a bit different than most of the "story sessions" I've done before. Like me, Crystal was bitten by the midlife creativity bug and she wants to inspire you to "start anywhere" too!

Crystal Garrett is a broadcaster turned podcaster and host of the Start Anywhere Podcast.  She is also a communications consultant, running and motivation coach and Pilates instructor.
 
Crystal says she has two passions:  telling stories and running.  She has more than two decades of experience as a renowned broadcast journalist, TV and radio host, anchor, reporter, and producer.   Crystal is also former national-class middle distance runner and former member of Canada’s national team for 10K.  She has helped coach two university teams to championship titles.

Beans and lentils are a midlife gal's best friend, and not just because they're a source of phytoestrogens! They're versatile, tasty, and a great source of fiber and protein.  But if adding them into your regular diet has been a challenge, Fiona will inspire you to give them a try!

We had a great conversation about why Fiona's personal experience of going into medical menopause prompted her to cook with beans and lentils more often, how phytoestrogens may help some women manage the symptoms of menopause, why soy doesn't have to be feared and she shares her best tips for easy and delicious ways to enjoy them regularly.

If you're one of the estimated 40-60% of women who experience sleep changes in perimenopause or menopause, you're going to want to tune in to this episode!

We discuss why sleep changes so much as our hormones change, why falling asleep and staying asleep aren't always the same thing, and the solutions we should be exploring to prioritize getting a full night's rest.  We also cover the topic of meal timing, and what you should be eating to get more zzzs.