We're also delighted to welcome artist and podcaster, Zya Be on the show, as we uncover the power of intuition and balance through physical activities, and the transformative potential of life's second acts. Zya  joins us to celebrate the 'hell yes' life, illustrating the courage it takes to redefine one's identity and the unexpected gifts the pandemic has bestowed upon us in the form of new passions. Her story is a vibrant mosaic of artistry and podcasting, a testament to the beauty of embracing change and the joy in pursuing what makes your heart sing. Be inspired to unleash your own creativity and find fulfillment at any stage of your journey. Wrapping up with a candid discussion on the challenges of personal transformation, we explore the importance of setting boundaries, affirming one's self, and saying yes to life's electrifying moments. 

Whether you're curious about establishing a nurturing routine or diving into a creative endeavor, there's wisdom to be gained from Zya Be's artistic pursuits and Your Hell Yes Life community. Tune in for an episode that champions growth, passion, and the pursuit of a life lived vibrantly.

More about Zya B:

Zya Be (Artist, Podcast Host, Hell Yes Life Trailblazer) is an abstract artist, podcast host, and best-selling author who is passionate about encouraging and celebrating women as they courageously forge lives aligned with their inner wisdom. After leaving a 25-year career as an entrepreneur and consultant driving transformative change for Fortune 500 companies, she changed her name and her life. Now, she creates vibrant and bold abstract paintings that ignite spaces and inspire viewers. She also hosts the Your Hell Yes Life podcast for women who want to live differently, finding more meaning and freedom.

Zya Be's Links:

https://yourhellyeslife.net

https://www.instagram.com/zya.be/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zyabe/

Menopause and the Brain Links:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/177192239-the-menopause-brain

https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2023/10/study-suggests-estrogen-to-prevent-alzheimer%E2%80%99s-warrants-renewed-research-interest#:~:text=Research%20suggests%20that%20estrogen%20has,disease%20outnumber%20their%20male%20counterparts.

Creative Mornings:

https://creativemornings.com/

Get in Touch with Bree!

Leave me a message at the Pause to Go Podcast FB Group

Or on our Pause To Go Podcast Webpage.

This has been an Awkward Sage Production

In this episode we delve deep into the heart of midlife with insights, stories, and a healthy dose of reality. We're joined by Ann Douglas, a renowned author and speaker, who shares her journey from being Canada’s go-to parenting advice author to exploring the nuanced and vibrant terrain of midlife. Listen in as we discuss the challenges, triumphs, and unexpected joys of navigating the middle chapters of our lives, debunking myths and celebrating the strength and wisdom that come with age.

Resources Mentioned:

• "Navigating the Messy Middle: A fiercely honest and wildly encouraging guide for midlife women" by Ann Douglas. Available on Amazon.
• Midlife Reimagined on Psychology Today.
• Connect with our guest on social media: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Connect with Pause to Go:

• Follow us on Instagram: @awkwardsagemedia
• Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest episodes and special content.
• Join our FB Group! 

Special Offer:

• Don’t forget to participate in our giveaway for a chance to win a copy of "Navigating the Messy Middle." Share a screenshot of you listening to this episode on your IG story, tag @awkwardsagemedia and our guest, @annmdouglas, and we'll draw the winner's name on March 19th!

Thank you for tuning in to Pause to Go. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us bring more stories and insights that matter to you.

Please note: This podcast is intended for entertainment purposes only. Please seek medical attention from a trusted provider if and when you need it.. 

What You'll Learn:

• Sonia's Story: From her initial diagnosis to becoming an advocate for food allergy awareness, Sonia's journey is both inspiring and relatable.
• Overcoming Challenges: Practical strategies for dealing with food allergies, including dining out, grocery shopping, and food prep.
• Mental Health and Food Allergies: The often-overlooked emotional aspect of living with dietary restrictions and how to maintain a positive mindset.
• Resources and Support: Sonia shares her go-to resources for recipes, support groups, and medical information to help listeners feel less isolated.
• Future Trends: Insight into the latest research and developments in the field of food allergies and what the future might hold.

SONIA HUNT is a Chief Marketing Officer, Best-Selling Author, and Global Speaker on Health and Wellness. Her mission is to create a world in which everyone can thrive by building a personal foundation of health and well-being.

Over her 20-year marketing career, Sonia has transformed the stories and products of global wellness brands such as Apple, TiVo, Califia Farms, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and Sephora, with whom she won the 2015 WWD Digital Innovator of the Year award.

Sonia overcame a lifetime of over 32 severe food allergies, and chronicled her journey in her #1 Best-Selling book, NUT JOB, and her TEDx Talk (1M+ views). 

Hunt is an advisor to global organizations, celebrities, and CEOs focused on solutions for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and a food allergy activist. She’s the creator of Three to Be™, a holistic health and well-being program that guides people to Be Healthy, Be Safe + Be Well™ to thrive. 

She furthers her mission to younger generations as a Guest Speaker at Drexel University, and is a Faculty Speaker with 1863 Ventures, advising and empowering new majority CEOs to shape an equitable future of thriving humans and business.

A proud woman of color, Sonia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s of Science in Environmental Engineering from Drexel University, is a LinkedIn Top Leadership Voice, and a Top 100 Keynote Speaker by Databird Business Journal. 

Connect with Sonia at https://soniahunt.com.

Closing: Thank you for tuning into Pause to Go. Sonia's story is a powerful reminder of the strength found in adversity and the importance of community and knowledge. For more episodes like this, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us grow and continue bringing you the best content. Until next time, keep your plates clean and your hearts full!

00:00 Introduction to Pause to Go Podcast

00:45 Sharing Stories of Midlife Transformations

02:12 Susan's Journey: From Acting to Writing

06:07 Matthew's Transformation: Embracing the Shadow Self

10:50 Anna's Story: Rediscovering Filmmaking

14:04 Sabina's Awakening: Embracing Intuition and Inner Knowing

17:31 James's Career Transition: From Journalism to Theater Management

22:08 Betsy's Perspective: Embracing Aging as an Opportunity

25:37 A Story of Resilience: Overcoming Divorce and Trauma

29:22 Conclusion: The Power of Stories and Gratitude

Thank to:

Susan Burke

Matthew Reynolds: https://www.mrrconsulting.org/services

Anna Ma

James Sanford

Betsy Link

And other listeners who have shared your stories.

Important Links:

Leave us a message at the Pause to Go Podcast FB Group

Or on our Pause To Go Podcast Webpage.

Produced by Awkward Sage Media

Find us on Instagran at https://www.instagram.com/awkwardsagemedia/

00:00 Introduction and Welcoming the Guest

06:46 Exploring the Journey of Self-Discovery and Aging

15:27 Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Connection

27:53 Embracing Aging and Sexuality

28:40 Influences and Heroes in the Field of Embodiment

31:49 Exploring Self-Love and Sensuality

Awkward Sage + Feral Grace go LIVE - Feb 21st

Q&A with Chloe, February 21st at 4pm ET/9pm GMT

Register HERE:

https://awkward-sage-media.ck.page/6ba944671f

Chloe de Sousa is ready to answer your questions about intimacy in midlife, somatic paths to healing, and tapping into the feral self. Bree Luck will read your anonymous questions online! 

We will be discussing sensitive topics in this episode that may include, but are not limited to trauma, body dysmorphia, sexuality, intimacy, grief, and relationships

Want to send us a question for Chloe to answer? Here are three ways to do it:

1. Leave us an anonymous voicemail at : https://www.awkwardsagemedia.com/show/pause-to-go-podcast/ (click the tab that says 'Send a voicemail" on the right)

2. Join the private FB Group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/231466982303099 and post a question anonymously in the group!

3. Follow Awkward Sage on IG at HTTP://Instagram.com/awkwardsagemedia and send me a DM (not anonymous, but I won't share your name unless you want me to!)

Important Links:

Check out the fabulous Honey Pot Meditation

Free Chapter: How to Live Your Feral Self

The Red School

The Body Keeps the Score

About Chloe De Sousa:

Chloe De Sousa is not your average love, sex, and relationship coach; she's a luminary with over two decades of experience guiding individuals through intimacy and self-discovery. As a seasoned 5 rhythms dance teacher and a dance movement psychotherapist, she's not just about theory; she's all about embodiment and transformation.

With a passion for unlocking the boundless potential within each person, Chloe empowers her clients to embrace their ecstatic sexuality and step into their own unique leadership journey. Her approach is rooted in trauma-informed practices, blending the latest findings in modern science with the timeless wisdom of ancient tantra.

Known as a "legend of space holding" and hailed as the "queen" of 5 rhythms dance facilitation, Chloe's reputation precedes her. Her influence extends globally, offering 1-1 coaching, transformative courses, and captivating talks that bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern understanding.

Beyond her spoken words, Chloe is also a published author, sharing her profound insights with the world. In her eyes, pleasure is not a privilege but a birthright for everyone.

www.feralgrace.net

0:00 PTG_CathyAmesTurner

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Host

01:10 Guest Introduction: Dr. Cathy Ames Turner

02:57 Dr. Cathy's Journey to Education and Self-Discovery

06:23 The Challenges and Triumphs of Menopause

24:47 Understanding Empathy and Self-Care

27:43 Journey of Personal Growth and Education

31:54 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Change

40:25 The Power of Faith and Community

Meet Dr. Cathy Ames Turner

Dr. Cathy Ames Turner is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother (Oma), as well as a pastor, scholar-activist, and life empowerment coach. Known a by various titles such as Pastor Cathy, Dr. Cat, Miss Cathy, and Honey (by her husband, Tony), Cathy's diverse roles converge in coaching individuals, families, and professional teams through life's challenges and transitions.

With a specific focus on issues related to carceral systems, foster care, and life-altering experiences, Cathy is committed to guiding individuals and families through successful reintegration or personal discovery.

As a pastor in Central Virginia and clergy at the local regional jail, Cathy has witnessed the profound impacts of incarceration on families and children in the foster care system. This firsthand experience led her to earn a doctorate from Fielding Graduate University in 2023, focusing on the experiences of formerly incarcerated African American men during reintegration. Her research underscored the crucial role of relational reintegration and the support from faith communities, families, and reentry professionals for successful outcomes.

In her coaching practice, Cathy provides a nurturing space for clients to cultivate self-awareness, engage in reflection, and take purposeful action. Drawing on psychology, human development, spiritual truths, and group dynamics, she facilitates progress with empathy and expertise.

Cathy extends her transformative expertise to teams, fostering an environment where members grow together with open communication, trust, and a shared commitment to client success. In essence, Cathy Ames Turner embodies a multifaceted professional deeply committed to facilitating positive change in the lives of individuals, families, and teams.

Connect with Bree

Instagram: http://instagram.com/awkwardsagemedia

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breeluck/

Join the FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pausetogopodcast

Connect with Dr. Cathy Ames Turner

https://www.communityhealingcoalition.org/

https://www.tableturners.org/

https://www.ricministries.org/

Production credit: Awkward Sage Media, LLC

Did you love this episode?

Check out other shows on the Awkward Sage Network!

Her Leading Story

Finding Harmony Podcast

Join me as we discuss how to navigate these crucial decisions with confidence and a bit of humor. Whether you're curious about non-hormonal therapies or just need some tips on communicating with your doctor, this episode is packed with everything you need to feel empowered and informed. Let's embark on this journey together!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview

00:01:11 - Finding the Right Medical Care during Perimenopause

00:02:19 - Navigating the North American Menopause Society Resources

00:03:01 - Key Points to Consider in Your Doctor's Visits

00:04:25 - The Importance of a Comfortable Doctor-Patient Relationship

00:05:36 - How to Support the Podcast

00:05:45 - Recognizing When to Seek a Second Opinion

00:08:14 - Signs Your Healthcare Provider Might Not Be the Best Fit

00:09:30 - Exploring Non-Hormonal Treatment Options

00:10:00 - The Role of Lifestyle Changes and Mind-Body Techniques

00:12:05 - EFT Tapping and Hypnotherapy: Alternative Approaches

00:13:07 - A Deep Dive into Herbal and Natural Remedies

00:18:30 - Discussing Non-Hormonal Pharmaceuticals

00:19:26 - Reflecting on the Menopause Journey

00:21:06 - Announcing the Launch of the Awkward Sage Network

00:22:25 - Free Downloadable Resource for Talking to Medical Providers

00:23:04 - Closing Remarks

Key Quotes:

• "Menopause isn't just a phase or a series of symptoms; it's a significant transition in our lives..."
• "Finding the right menopause informed doctor is about doing your research, asking the right questions, and trusting your instincts."
• "You're not just another appointment on their schedule. Your experiences and symptoms are valid and important."

References:

• North American Menopause Society (NAMS)
  • Website: menopause.org
  • For finding NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioners and general guidance on menopause care.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Website: nih.gov
  • Provided information on diet, exercise, and non-hormonal medications in menopause management.
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
  • Website: nccih.nih.gov
  • Served as a source for information on the effectiveness and safety of alternative treatments like black cohosh and mind-body techniques.
• Reveri Hypnotherapy App
  • Website: Reveri Health
  • An app offering guided hypnotherapy sessions that can be beneficial for menopause symptom management.
• The Tapping Solution App (EFT)
  • Website: The Tapping Solution
  • Provides Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Tapping resources which can be useful for stress relief and emotional well-being during menopause.
• The Vagenda by Jen Gunter (Substack Newsletter)
  • Website: Jen Gunter's Substack
  • For insights and evidence-based information on women's health, including menopause.
• Buy Me a Coffee (Support Link)
  • Website: Buy Me a Coffee
  • Support the Pause to Go Podcast -- every little bit counts!
• Pause to Go (Mailing List and Resources)
  • Website: Pausetogo.com
  • For joining your mailing list and accessing resources like the "5 Tips for Talking to Your Medical Care Provider About Perimenopause and Menopause" PDF.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:42 Postponing the Menopausal Hormone Therapy Series

01:21 Reflecting on the Most Popular Episode

01:55 Importance of Role Models in Midlife

02:39 Revisiting the Interview with Mimi

02:51 Introducing Rhonda Rich

03:06 Rhonda's Career and Connection with Mimi

04:59 Rhonda's Relationship with Mimi

05:05 Rhonda's Novel Featuring Mimi

05:38 Giveaway Announcement

05:59 Conversation with Rhonda about Grief

09:29 Remembering Mimi's Filmmaking Career

10:41 Mimi's Character in Rhonda's Novel

10:56 Remembering Mimi's Love for Others

16:35 Mimi's Impact on Rhonda's Life

17:20 Revisiting the Original Interview with Mimi

20:34 Discussing Famous Sayings About Time

20:44 Mimi's Thoughts on Time

26:40 Mimi's Experience with Government Work

27:33 Patience and Time

27:57 Dealing with Loss and Grief

28:56 The Power of Relationships

29:46 Coping with Tragedy

31:01 Finding Strength in Hard Times

31:38 The Healing Power of Work and Purpose

33:04 Generosity and Connection

34:34 Living in the Present

35:18 Appreciating Life's Simple Pleasures

38:58 The Impact of Personal Loss

41:08 Finding Strength in New Life

44:37 Recollections of Childhood and Hard Times

49:00 The Value of Trying New Things

51:14 Reflections and Farewell

Want to know more about Ronda Rich? (you know you do!)

https://www.rondarich.com/

https://www.rondarich.com/store/p/st-simons-island-a-stella-bankwell-mystery

https://www.goldenislesmagazine.com/columns/gim_columns/due-south-the-recipes-that-remind-us-of-loved-ones/article_88046b70-72c6-11ee-b5f9-37c5f2a9c579.html

***Bonus Giveaway: Comment on the IG Post for this Episode at @awkwardsagemedia and be entered in a drawing for a copy of Ronda's book " St. Simon's Island - A Stella Bankwell Mystery"

Special thanks to Gentry Hodnett for the photos used in the YouTube Slide show.

00:02 Welcome to Pause to Go

00:44 Hormones and Stress during the Holiday Season

01:46 Understanding Hormone Fluctuations

03:55 What is Menopausal Hormone Therapy?

04:47 Types of Estrogen Therapy

07:12 Combination Therapy with Estrogen and Progestogen

14:07 Bioidentical and Compound Hormone Therapies

19:20 Navigating Hormone Therapy and Finding What Works for You

19:57 Share Your Midlife Story

20:59 Thank You and Stay Curious

References: 

https://vajenda.substack.com/

https://www.webmd.com/menopause/menopause-hormone-therapy

Referenced Texts/Sites

• North American Menopause Society (NAMS)

  • Referenced as a major source of information regarding menopause and hormonal changes.

• https://www.webmd.com/ and https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397

  • Cited as a resource for information on menopause and hormones.

• Dr. Jen Gunter

  • Author of "The Menopause Manifesto," mentioned for her emphasis on empirical evidence in her recommendations.

• Huberman Lab Podcast

  • Specifically, an episode featuring Dr. Natalie Crawford discussing hormones in various life stages.
  •  

• Pause to Go Podcast Website

  • Visit the pause to go website for additional resources like the "five tips for talking to your medical provider about perimenopause and menopause.

• Julie's menopause experience
• Breaking Down the 'Good Girl' Mentality
• Tools for Self-Empowerment in Career Transitions
• Overcoming Workplace Challenges with Neuroscience
• Julie's Personal Experiences with Midlife Career Changes
• Advice for Midlife Career Change
• Finding Julie and Utilizing Her Resources
• Key Takeaways and Call to Action

• Julie's Career Coaching Website: JulieArtisCoaching.com
• Follow Julie on Instagram: @DrJulieArtis
• Share your midlife stories: PauseToGoPodcast.com

• The benefit of somatic practices for stress relief
• The power of clarity exercises in decision-making
• Julie's personal triumphs over midlife challenges

Explore your Inner Role System with Bree

https://calendly.com/awkwardsage/90-minute-session

Want to Support the Pause to Go Podcast?

Here are three ways:

1. Leave a written review on Apple Podcasts or drop 5 stars on Spotify

2. Send me a voice memo, letting me know your thoughts about the show

3. Buy me a coffee.  A little caffeine goes a long way to ignite midlife convos.

Learn more About the Disappearance of Shere Hite

https://www.ifcfilms.com/films/the-disappearance-of-shere-hite

More About Lisette Ostrander

Lisette Ostrander, Life Coach, Sex & Intimacy Coach in training, and founder of My Kind of Pleasure Community. My Kind of Pleasure- a community to explore topics of sex, pleasure, desire, mindset, and emotions and use the information learned to live the life we want and have the sex we want. My hope is that together, we will expand and challenge how we think about sex, our bodies, desire, aging, and the menopause journey so that we can bring more pleasure and aliveness into our lives.

www.lisetteostrander.com IG: lisette.ostrander

Check out the full show notes and transcripts for all the P2G episodes at www.pausetogopodcast.com

Lisa discusses her Seven Spiritual Principles, which include:

1. Fortify Your Faith

2. Fortify Yourself and Your Family

3. Fortify Your Mind

4. Fortify Your Body

5. Fortify Your Environment and Community

6. Fortify Your Creativity

7. Fortify Your Intuition

She emphasizes her heartfelt wish for others facing health crises and how they can access her book for more guidance.

Guest Bio: Lisa Manyon is known as The Business Marketing Architect. She's the President and Founder of Write On Creative, host of the podcast Your Message Matters and a bestselling author. She teaches, trains, and transforms on two core topics 1) Marketing With Integrity (it’s time to take the pain out of planning and the pain points out of your marketing message). Her strategies are known to create million-dollar results) and 2) Healing With Love (based on her bestselling book Spiritual Sugar: The Divine Ingredients to Heal Yourself With Love with a foreword by Dr. Joe Vitale and an afterword by Neale Donald Walsch.  Lisa lives in Magical Ashland, Oregon.

Here's how to find Lisa:

Website:

https://spiritualsugar.com/

Buy the Book:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lisa-Manyon/author/B07Q6Z1MTW?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Your Message Matters Podcast:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yourmessagematters

IG:

https://www.instagram.com/spiritualsugarofficial/

FB:

https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualSugar

YouTube:

Wanna connect with Bree? (I'm here for it!!!)

Find me on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/awkwardsagemedia/

Find me on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/breeluck/

Awkward Sage Media:

www.awkwardsage.com

The Lovely Unbecoming Coaching Services:

www.thelovelyunbecoming.com

Midlife is not a crisis, it's an opportunity. Embrace new beginnings and transformation. Move forward with confidence. - Bree Luck

• Check out the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) website to find a menopause specialist in your area.

• Consider attending a perimenopause party to connect with others going through similar experiences.

• Embrace your gray hair or experiment with different hair colors - it's your choice!

• Practice mindfulness by incorporating simple breathing techniques like deep breathing or box breathing into your daily routine.

• Try out new hobbies and explore new interests during midlife.

• Set boundaries and learn to say no when necessary - it's liberating!

• Volunteer and give back to enrich your life and help others.

• Reevaluate your friendships and focus on authentic, meaningful connections.

• Stay curious and keep asking questions to continue growing and learning.

• Celebrate the small wins in life to cultivate a mindset of gratitude and contentment.

• Stay consistent with exercise, even if it's just a brisk walk, to maintain physical health.

• Have fun with healthy eating and explore new recipes and ingredients suited for midlife.

• Ensure you're getting enough calcium to support your bone health.

• Schedule regular medical checkups to prioritize your overall well-being.

• Take care of your eye health and find some great reading classes!

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:02 - Welcome to Pause To Go, 00:01:11 - I'm turning 50. 00:02:22 - Side effects of perimenopause. 00:03:32 - Embracing changes and challenges. 00:08:02 - Celebrating small wins. 00:12:27 - Finding the right doctor. 00:17:27 - Stay Curious.  00:17:43 - Thank You and Break. 00:18:06 - Leave me a message!  00:19:17 - Thanks and Credits.

• https://www.twitter.com/awkwardsagepod

• https://www.facebook.com/pausetogopodcast

• https://pausetogopodcast.com

• https://www.linkedin.com/breeluck/

• https://www.youtube.com/@awkwardsagemedia

Our guest is Jamie Virostko, an accomplished theater artist, actor, and writer. In this interview, she brings a fresh narrative to her life experiences, most notably, her journey through perimenopause amid massive changes in her personal life. Through it all, Jamie's been able to boost self-compassion and strength to navigate this transformative period, offering valuable insight to all women braving similar paths.

I wish I just had more information. It would have been good to understand what was really going on with my body so I could factor that into how I'm processing and dealing with things. - Jamie Virostko

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Gain insights into the triumphs and trials during the phases of perimenopause and menopause.

• Recognize the crucial need for fortified support and extended consciousness during one's perimenopausal journey.

• Probe into the intriguing link between impactful life events and hormone variations.

• Appreciate the significance of true friendships and sincere conversations in your life's journey.

• Navigate the changing territories of perimenopause with the compass of self-compassion guiding you.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Join the Pause To Go podcast group on Facebook for deeper and richer conversations about menopause and perimenopause issues. (www.facebook.com/groups/pausetogopodcast/)

• Share your story of making questionable decisions during perimenopause by sending an email, dropping a line, or leaving a message for the Pause To Go podcast. Your story could be featured in an upcoming episode.

  You can (anonymously) share your story in writing here: 

  https://forms.gle/xiZ75geEbEwrrf2y7

  Or share an anonymous voice memo here:

  https://www.frfr.ai/awkwardsage55

   

• Check out Jamie Virostko's performances as a writer, actor, and theater artist. Bree describes her performances as a combination of rawness and precision that is absolutely electric.

• Stay connected with your girlfriends and have heartfelt conversations. Find friends or a group with whom you can have beautiful, raw, honest, and loving conversations.

• Be prepared and informed about perimenopause and its effects on your body and emotions. Knowing what you're going through can help you navigate the challenges and make better decisions.

• Take care of yourself during perimenopause by giving yourself space and grace to go through major life events. Understand that hormonal and physiological changes may be affecting the way you navigate life's happenstance.

The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - Introduction. 00:01:20 - Removing Shame from Perimenopause. 00:02:52 - The Power of Heart-to-Heart Conversations. 00:06:31 - Introduction to Jamie Virostko. 00:08:37 - Jamie's Adolescence and First Period. 00:12:20 - Jamie's Perimenopause Journey. 00:15:30 - Recovery and Transformation. 00:17:59 - The realization of hormonal peaks. 00:21:40 - Peaks and valleys of perimenopause. 00:26:44 - Finding strength and self-acceptance. 00:28:40 - Changes in sexual experiences. 00:32:20 - Intimacy and communication in relationships. 00:34:36 - The Importance of Authenticity and Support. 00:35:47 - Breaking Free from Heteronormative Roles. 00:39:12 - The Pitfalls of New Friendships. 00:41:56 - Regret and Loss. 00:45:03 - Rediscovering Dreams and Transformation. 00:48:54 - Believing in an Afterlife. 00:49:26 - Honoring a Friend's Memory. 00:50:15 - UVA Acts and Inclusive Practices. 00:51:50 - Partnering with Gen Z. 00:53:15 - Generational Differences and Boundaries.

Uncover the intricacies – Perimenopause is a complex period of considerable hormonal fluctuations that affect a woman's body, emotional state, and sexuality. During this episode, women are encouraged to embrace these challenges while uncovering the nuances such changes can bring about. Enhancing one's understanding of these intricacies not only eradicates misconceptions but fosters a better grasp of this transformative phase.

Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let Bree know what you think! And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/work-with-me Stay curious, y'all! xo Bree

• https://pausetogopodcast.com

• https://www.youtube.com/pausetogopodcast

• https://www.twitter.com/awkwardsagepod

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/pausetogopodcast/

• https://www.linkedin.com/breeluck/

Did you like this episode? Try these next:

• https://www.podpage.com/pause-to-go-podcast/-love-and-relationships-in-midlife-with-kira-hower/

• https://www.podpage.com/pause-to-go-podcast/menopause-with-friends-menopausal-af-with-lisa-powers-tricomi/

• https://www.podpage.com/pause-to-go-podcast/what-fresh--is-this-perimenopause-menopause-other-indignities-and-you-with-author-heather-corinna/

About our guest:

Jamie Virostko is a writer, actor, and theater artist. For six years, she also worked for the local elections office managing the early and mail voting process. Jamie has lived in London, Chicago, and Los Angeles after growing up in the small town of Clinton, Indiana. Following acting school in England, she spent almost a decade as a Chicago storefront theater actor. In Los Angeles, her focus turned to writing and directing. She became a regular presence in the LA spoken word and storytelling scenes. Her original play, The Outskirts of Paradise, was produced at the Met Theater. She and her husband recently relocated from Charlottesville, Virginia, to Baltimore, Maryland.

You can follow her work at: 

https://www.instagram.com/jamie.virostko/

https://www.facebook.com/jamie.virostko

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamievirostko/

Segment 1: Understanding the Impact of Mindset

• Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychology professor, introduced two key mindsets: growth mindset and fixed mindset.
• People with a growth mindset believe change is possible, while those with a fixed mindset believe they cannot change their situation or outcomes.
• Some women dread menopause and aging, while others maintain an open mindset, exploring the positives of aging.
• Cultivating a growth mindset involves understanding and adapting to situations, asking, "What can I do to make the best of this situation?"
• Studies show that the words we use significantly affect whether we have a growth or fixed mindset.

Segment 2: Navigating Midlife Transitions

• Midlife transitions involve challenges like children leaving home, turning 50, and hormonal shifts, leading to various emotions, including sadness.
• Negative self-talk can further impact well-being.
• Embracing emotions and acknowledging their validity is a crucial step in fostering a positive mindset.

Segment 3: Recognizing Self-Deprecating Patterns

• Reflecting on subtle self-deprecating patterns, we recognize the importance of addressing them to cultivate a positive mindset.
• Research shows that practicing self-compassion promotes well-being and reduces negative self-talk.

Segment 4: Shifting Mindset: Accepting Compliments

• Often, women downplay compliments and deflect praise, which can negatively affect self-esteem and self-worth.
• Accepting compliments with gratitude and owning achievements can boost self-esteem and enhance relationships.
• Bree shares a personal anecdote of accepting a compliment & demonstrates the power of embracing positivity.

Conclusion

• Embracing a growth-oriented and positive mindset is essential during midlife transitions.
• Ask, "What can I do to make the best of this situation?" to foster adaptability and resilience.
• Practice accepting compliments with appreciation and celebrate positive aspects of yourself.
• Whether due to energetics or psychology, a positive mindset can make a significant difference in our well-being.
• Stay tuned for the next episode, featuring an inspiring interview with Jamie Virostko on her perimenopause journey.
• Until then, let's stay curious and cultivate positivity in our lives.

Thank you for listening to Pause to Go. Subscribe for more empowering discussions and join us next time! 

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Understand how aging can become an avenue for personal evolution.

• Recognize the impact language has on constructing our world views.

• Get acquainted with navigating the dynamic relationships of parents with their grown children.

• Develop a guide to evolution from parental roles to fostering adult-to-adult relationships with your children.

• Decode the challenges of adult children returning home or mend estranged parent-child relationships.

My special guest is Carol Mishkin, a woman who brings a fresh perspective to the table in terms of parent and grown-up child relationships. Emigrating from Venezuela, Carol carries a rich blend of cultural experiences that shape her understanding of life’s chapters. When her children grew up and moved away from home, Carol realized that she had an opportunity to explore a new realm as an un-mother, forming a mutual respect and communication with her adult-children. 

Carol transforms challenges into growth points with her mantra of shifting narrative through thoughtful use of language. Through the power of words, she believes we can co-create our realities. Her wisdom, deeply rooted in her personal journey, will inspire you to embrace and initiate change in your relationships.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Consider shifting your language and thoughts to create a more positive and empowering mindset. Replace negative phrases like can't wait with more positive alternatives such as excited to or looking forward to.

• Reflect on your relationship with your adult children and consider the need for a shift in dynamics. Develop a new relationship as adults, based on respect and open communication.

• Listen more than you talk when communicating with your adult children, allowing for a meaningful interchange of ideas and perspectives.

• Embrace the changing culture and generational factors, understanding that the parenting landscape has evolved. Adapt to the changing times and let your adult children live their own lives.

• Release expectations that may lead to disappointment and instead focus on finding joy and fulfillment in new ways, even if they differ from what you originally envisioned.

• Take the time to learn and grow, recognizing that life is a continuous journey of self-discovery and personal development.

Every breath we take, every day counts, and every day we don't live fully is a day we lost. - Carol Mishkin

Nothing exists besides the thoughts we have in our head. - Carol Mishkin

Our words and our thoughts have power. Every time we think a thought and every time we speak a word, we are co-creating with the universe. - Carol Mishkin

Choose better words to describe our realities. Building words like 'I'm excited to meet you' instead of 'I can't wait' can make a difference in our lives. - Carol Mishkin

We have the power to change our beliefs and ways of thinking to adapt to the changing world. Flexibility is key to aging gracefully. - Carol Mishkin

https://www.carolmishkin.com/coaching-packages/

Special offer on parenting adult children

https://buy.stripe.com/00g28k9rZgzKctG6os

Carol's Workshop on Thursday July 20, at 1:00 pm ET

https://bit.ly/thrivewithadultchildren

Wanna make a podcast with Bree? Join PodCamp 2023 -- special beta rate for listeners who register before August 1! 

Click here for more info about PodCamp2023!

Sound familiar? Society tells you that in order to feel beautiful and accepted, you must conform to ageist beauty standards. You've tried countless products and treatments, spent hours in front of the mirror, and yet, the results are never enough. You feel the pain of constantly striving for an unattainable ideal, only to be met with disappointment and self-doubt. But what if there was another way? What if you could challenge these beauty norms, embrace your natural self, and find empowerment in doing so? Join us as we unravel the impact of age bias and sexism on beauty standards, and discover how you can rewrite the narrative to create a more inclusive and self-accepting society.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Dive deep into age bias and sexism, exploring their impact on established standards of beauty.

• Unravel the intricacies of intersectional bias and its relationship with overlapping forms of discrimination, with regards to age and gender.

• Confront the societal dread of aging and its associated negative perceptions.

• Celebrate the personal choice to bear one's natural hair color, defying traditions.

• Become a catalyst, reshaping dialogues around aging and beauty to challenge age bias.

Your worth is not defined by the color of your hair or by societal beauty standards.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Visit the Pause To Go website at www.pausetogopodcast.com to leave a voice memo sharing your midlife experiences, delights, or humor.

• Check out the Leave me a voice memo tab on the right side of the website to easily record and submit your story.

• Consider allowing your voice memo to be shared on the podcast to connect with others and contribute to the community.

• Explore the Pause To Go Instagram page for inspiration and support in embracing your natural hair color and the aging process.

• Consult a professional hairstylist to discuss options for transitioning to your natural gray hair color, including less permanent options.

• Join online communities or forums where you can find support and advice from others who have embraced their gray hair.

• Reflect on your own values and how you want to show up in the world, making choices that align with who you are.

• Remember that your worth and beauty are not defined by societal expectations, but by the person you are. Trust your own judgment and do what feels right for you.

Keep advocating for yourself, even when doctors dismiss your concerns.

Introducing Cora Schenberg, an accomplished professor in the German department at the University of Virginia and an inspiring woman of strength. Cora faced a startling health mystery, endured drawn-out diagnostic processes, and rose above the experience stronger than ever. Her story of persisting through perceived medical dismissal is one laden with grit and resilience. These experiences have shaped Cora into a powerful advocate for trusting one’s instincts when navigating healthcare.

This is Cora Schenberg's story:

At 51, Cora Schenberg celebrated her transition into menopause, saying goodbye to the years of menstrual cramping that plagued her. However, after four years of blessed relief, she found herself facing a new, unexpected ordeal. A mysterious bleeding episode on a family beach trip was her first sign of trouble. As the bleeding continued, Cora found herself shuttled between doctors, each one shrugging off her concerns. Cora's persistence was met with dismissive remarks, misplaced diagnoses, and countless delays. She felt herself losing strength as she battled not just her symptoms, but also the very system that was supposed to help her. Her story, however, took a turn when she attended a workshop led by James Yates. Encouraged by his words, she reignited her search for answers, refusing to accept the vague explanations and dismissals she'd been given.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Uncover the significance of standing up for oneself in matters of healthcare.
• Dive deep into the emotional turmoil one faces after a cancer diagnosis and the cry for support.
• Explore the tribulations of the healthcare system and the inherent predispositions.
• Recognize the power of trusting your instincts when it comes to seeking adequate medical care.
• Experience the potency of unity and encouragement during challenging health journeys.

Advocating for oneself is a critical process that influences the quality of care received. The person one should trust most when it comes to detailing experiences or symptoms is oneself. Speaking up about personal experiences during healthcare consultations, voicing concerns, or questioning authority an important part of working with our medical providers to get the help we need.

Cora Schenberg’s narrative is a perfect testament to this. She shared with Bree how her journey to diagnosis was marked with multiple instances where she had to relentlessly advocate for herself. By persisting in her valuable quest for answers, Cora imparts an essential lesson - individuals should remain steadfast in communicating their experiences, challenging dismissive responses, and facilitating necessary investigations in their pursuit of correct diagnoses and care.

• Read Cora's article in Fulll Grown People -- https://fullgrownpeople.com/2015/07/16/sepia/

• Dive deep into understanding the causes of migraines during perimenopause and how to control them.

• Get insight into how hormonal fluctuations can impact migraines and what it means for you.

• Unravel various treatment paths for perimenopausal migraines, including medications and hormone therapy.

• Find out about alternative migraine management techniques like acupuncture, massage, and essential oils.

• Grasp the need to seek medical consultation and support during perimenopausal migraines.

The articles mentioned in this episode are:

Pavlović JM. Evaluation and management of migraine in midlife women. Menopause. 2018 Aug;25(8):927-929. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001104. PMID: 29787480; PMCID: PMC6527322.

American Academy of Neurology. "Migraines during menstruation: Low estrogen levels paired with higher CGRP levels may jump start migraine." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 February 2023. .

Other notables:

• Visit the Pause To Go podcast website and listen to the episode on perimenopausal migraines. (Also, leave me any questions or feedback there!)

• Join the Pause To Go Podcast Facebook Group HERE!

• Keep a headache diary to track your migraines and identify potential triggers.

• Talk to your healthcare provider about potential treatment options, including hormone therapy and preventative medications.

• Consider making lifestyle changes such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, engaging in regular exercise, and keeping a food diary to identify trigger foods.

• Stay hydrated throughout the day by sipping water, and consider using a water bottle that you enjoy.

• Consult with your healthcare provider to explore natural treatment options, such as herbal supplements, that may help with migraines.

• Take a proactive approach to managing your migraines and seek support and guidance from healthcare professionals.

If you liked this episode, try these next:

Change Is Coming For Womens Health: A Conversation With Jeff Goldsmith, President of Health Futures

Havva Mahler on the Chines Medicine Perspective of Perimenopause and Menopause

This is Wendy Leigh's story:

When Wendy Leigh’s marriage came to an end, she courageously decided to face life head-on and attend a transformative sensuality retreat. There, Wendy realized that she could take control of her own desires and prioritize her self-awareness, ultimately leading to a happier and more fulfilling life. Armed with her newfound knowledge, Wendy began sharing her experiences with others, helping them to embrace their own desires and strengths with confidence. Through her unyielding determination to be true to herself and empower others, Wendy Leigh proves that prioritizing one's self-awareness can lead to an incredible journey of growth and happiness.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover techniques for empowering oneself in midlife through sexual exploration.
• Learn the significance of embracing personal desires and making self-awareness a priority.
• Gain insights on addressing the societal stigma around sexuality and sensuality, especially for women.
• Understand Wendy Leigh's approach to enhancing self-awareness and aligning resources with goals.
• Uncover the specifics about Wendy's program, Seggscamp, and its role in educating and exploring human sexuality.

As Bree's friend Beatrix Ost says, "In Your Body is a Good Place to Be"

Trusting one's body and acknowledging its wisdom is critical for cultivating a healthy relationship with one's sexuality and desires. This involves being mindful of past experiences that may have shaped present attitudes and beliefs, and learning to release any lingering shame and doubts. Wendy emphasizes the importance of understanding triggers, accepting the body as a safe place, and allowing oneself the freedom to explore and enjoy their sexuality fully. She contends that this process may be gradual and cannot be rushed but results in increased self-awareness, personal fulfillment, and a more profound sense of connection with oneself and others.

The Importance of Role Models and Breaking Stigmas

Societal stigmas surrounding midlife sexuality, particularly for women, can create significant barriers to self-awareness and exploration. Breaking down these stigmas and challenging societal norms are essential for fostering a healthier, more accepting attitude towards sexuality at any age. Wendy and Bree both stress the importance of dispelling these societal misconceptions and replacing them with positive role models and examples. By doing so, individuals can feel less isolated and more encouraged to explore their sexuality without fear of judgment or shame. Wendy's work as a educator aims to provide people with the support and resources needed to engage in such discussions and make informed decisions about their sexuality.

One Step to Boost Libido and Confidence

Taking small steps to improve one's self-esteem and libido can help individuals feel more confident and empowered in their sexuality. These steps may include exploring one's body through touch, music, and other sensory experiences that promote a sense of well-being and connection. Wendy suggests that even simple actions, such as wearing matching underwear, can provide a sense of empowerment and self-care. She encourages people to use all five senses to connect with their bodies and create a more present, immersive experience. By engaging in these activities, individuals can boost their confidence and reignite their passion as they navigate the complexities of midlife.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• What Bree's reading — Elise Loehnen’s Book “On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to be Good” https://bookshop.org/p/books/on-our-best-behavior-the-seven-deadly-sins-and-the-price-women-pay-to-be-good-elise-loehnen/19248307
• Sign up for Seggscamp (https://www.seggscamp.com) and use the code Pausetogo for a discount!

• Here’s Wendy’s blog post that is all about tapping into pleasure: https://centeredsexuality.com/back-to-basics-another-look-at-5-simple-pleasures/. 

Did you like this episode? Check out these next!

• ”How Can I Do Me Better?" a conversation with Jessica Childs https://www.pausetogopodcast.com/how-can-i-do-me-better-a-conversation-with-jessica-childs-on-lyme-disease-and-perimenopause-holding-boundaries-or-not-with-integrity-and-showing-up-with-vulnerability-and-presence/

• In Your Body Is a Good Place to Be: A Conversation about Love and Creativity with Beatrix Ost https://www.pausetogopodcast.com/in-your-body-is-a-good-place-to-be-a-conversation-about-love-and-creativity-with-beatrix-ost/

***

[00:01:30] Midlife transitions.

[00:07:31] Redoing puberty in midlife.

[00:09:17] Hot flashes vs. cold flashes.

[00:13:21] Perimenopause and the 34 most common side effects

[00:21:38] Cold flashes.

[00:22:23] Midlife can be great.

If you liked this episode, check these out next!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2aonZKgjANRCde6ISaRDhL?si=E5fjxNsgSYGYKsiLqbSR4w

https://open.spotify.com/episode/09kK18v6GUHksiZ7GCS1PV?si=T7IjrWP7R_Oqm4Wy-KvdHA

Did you like this episode? Here are three things that you can do next:

1. Leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! (Every 5-star review helps to spread the news about having a healthy midlife!)
2. Subscribe or follow this podcast wherever you like to catch your episodes!
3. Leave me a message at HTTP://www.pausetogopodcast.com 

Special thanks to Codebase CoWorking and WTJU radio for their support! 

This has been an Awkward Sage Production.

Transcript of Episode:

(Please note that this transcript was generated by a bot, and has not been edited by a sentient human. Any errors are a reminder of how incredible humans are!)

[00:00:00] Where is the manual for that y'all? Where is the what to expect when that baby grows up and has their own ideas and ventures out into the world and you're left to create a new identity while also rooting for your kid and releasing all expectations about them? That's the book that I want to read.

[00:00:22] Welcome to Pause To Go, the podcast that's all about making the most of life's transitions from middle school through menopause. I'm your host, Bree Luck joining you as we embark on a journey of self-discovery. And questionable decisions. Get ready for heartfelt conversations, expert insights and personal stories that'll have you laughing, crying, and saying, thank goodness I'm not alone.

[00:00:50] If you've lost your midlife crisis survival kit, we've got you covered. So join me, won't you, and together we can pause to go.

[00:01:05] So we are now beginning season four of the Pause To Go podcast, and in this season I am actually going to, excuse the pun, cycle back to where we began, and that is with perimenopause and menopause and all the other midlife concerns and foibles and adventures and breakdowns and advantages throughout the season.

[00:01:30] You see, I started. Pause to go talking about perimenopause and menopause because it kept coming up with my clients and in my community. And also, frankly, I had just turned 48 then, and I really, really, really wanted to have a better understanding of what the heck was going on in my body and in my brain.

[00:01:51] And how I could make sense of that. And I was also really interested in exploring the societal aspects of being. For me, being a woman in midlife, I'm gonna try not to use gendered language as much in the exploration this season. I probably will sometimes, but we know that lots of people with ovaries, lots of people.

[00:02:17] Who are going through menopause do not identify as women. So, There we go. So I'm gonna try to do a better job of being more representative this season in my imperfect, but what is it? Ambitious way. So, lemme go back a little bit. In the first season of Pause To Go, we had all sorts of people come on to talk about perimenopause and menopause, from sexuality to career changes to health concerns.

[00:02:48] We talked about hot flashes and invisibility and how to find a spark in your relationship, and you all sent so much great feedback about it. I still get messages about those episodes and then at the end of that season, We moved on to two more seasons that we're looking at different aspects of transitions.

[00:03:10] So season two was all about creative change makers, and season three was about time, and I love those seasons too. But when I send out questions or requests for topics that listeners wanna hear on social media, what I hear the most is. Hey, can you gimme more stories about perimenopause and menopause? And so here we are and I'm turning 50 this summer.

[00:03:40] It's exciting. There's so much going on. My kids are both gonna be out of the house soon. My older daughter just graduated from college. My younger daughter just graduated from high school last week, and the younger daughter, it's not like she's heading to college an hour or so away. No, she's moving off to Ireland in September.

[00:04:01] I mean, that's far. I live in Virginia, for those of you who don't know, and I'm really feeling this transition. Most of that is about the emotional impact of midlife transitions. I'm caught up in the family changes that are happening. I've lost some family members and friends who were very, very dear to me in the last year.

[00:04:25] So I'm just acutely aware of endings and beginnings and shifting relationships and all that stuff. And speaking of which, I'm super excited because I'm gonna have a marvelous new friend of mine. Carol Michigan on to talk about how to use our language to cultivate new relationships with our adult children.

[00:04:51] Like where's the manual for that y'all? Where is the what to expect when that baby grows up and has their own ideas and ventures out into the world and you're left to create a new identity while also rooting for your kid and releasing all expectations about them? That's the book that I want to read.

[00:05:09] But instead, I'll host this podcast and bring on people who can help us navigate those relationships to time and self and our bodies that are shifting, and our children help us muddle through that mess. I know that we learn the most when we can attach facts or concepts to story. And so as we return to perimenopause and menopause with our midlife concerns, we will talk to experts, but we're really gonna focus on real life stories, stories of people with ovaries and uteruses who have been through or are going through perimenopause or menopause.

[00:05:55] Uh, I'll tell stories. Guests will share their experiences, and I want you to share your stories too. I also. Recently took my younger daughter, the one who just graduated, and we went to see the new film based on the classic Tweenage book. Are you there? God, it's me, Margaret. I just wanna say thank you, Judy Bloom.

[00:06:18] Oh gosh. I'll be honest. I really just balled the hallway through the film. I thought about my childhood best friend Margaret, and our first experiences when we got our periods. The first time we used tampons, I think it was in a department store. Oh my gosh, Margaret, I'm sorry. I won't, I won't talk about your period, but I'm so glad that we went through getting our periods together, that we went through the beginning of puberty together and all of its complications.

[00:06:52] It was so important to have someone to share in our awkward adolescent way what we were going through, and so my hope is that this podcast will do the same for you because in many ways, Perimenopause is a lot like puberty. We're having all of these major hormonal shifts. The world is seeing us differently.

[00:07:17] Our whole bodies and brains are earthquake and we are just trying to like hang in there and figure out who we are in this new stage. For me, doing this perimenopause, Exploration is a little bit like a chance to redo puberty, like reparenting myself, giving myself the gift of doing puberty again in the way that I would want to do it for myself.

[00:07:53] And my hope is that if you're going through these massive changes, that you take some comfort in having a friend. Our friends to share your journey with. And so that's where we are. And I'm actually gonna start by telling a, a little bit of a personal experience, which is that I feel so weird. This is a recurring thing.

[00:08:18] This is, this is not new that I feel weird. I generally embrace being my weird self, but this feeling. Of feeling like I'm different from other people in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable. It happened in puberty too, right? It's a feeling of I feel like what I'm going through is what nobody else is going through.

[00:08:46] And then you get on the internet and you may find something about it, but nobody's really talking about it, right? And there are also hot buttoned things that people do talk about that get a lot of attention, which is great because it probably means that a lot of people are experiencing them. But then if you have a side effect of, let's say, perimenopause that other people don't experience, it can make you feel even more alienated.

[00:09:17] For example, hot flashes are the big thing. All the jokes are about hot flashes, even though it's not really funny. It's something that we've chosen to laugh about. I mean, I get that gallows humor. I get it. I sort of feel like it's okay for people who have hot flashes to joke about hot flashes, but if you don't have hot flashes, it ain't your joke to tell because sometimes it feels like we're laughing at instead of laughing with, and that's something I'd really like to shift.

[00:09:45] I digress. So many people have these hot flashes, but I don't have them. I have something else entirely. What I have are cold flashes. I get cold, I get like shivers to my spine, like I can't get warm, and it seems to happen a lot like hot flashes happen for other people. I'm still having a cycle, a menstrual cycle, and it typically happens in the eight to 10 days before menstruation begins.

[00:10:17] So I get waves of being freezing cold no matter what. Actually, my wonderful stepmother, Leslie, thank you, Leslie gave me this device that I've been covering for a long, long time, which is called the Bon Charge Sauna Blanket. There's no kickback for this. I do not have an affiliate with bond charge. But I have their sauna blanket.

[00:10:45] It's kind of amazing. And I get in that thing. Even now, it's summertime, so it's June, and I get in that thing and it is awesome. I love it. If you like saunas, it's a great way to get that heat at home. It's portable. You can take it with you if you're going on a road trip somewhere, and you can really get that feeling of getting warm to the core.

[00:11:12] If you're a cold person like I am, you know what I mean? So I'll be in this sauna of blanket and I'll have it heated up to 164 degrees Fahrenheit, and I'll be feeling good. And then all of a sudden I'll just start shivering. I'm, I'm cold. So cold. And. It's not just nervous, shivering, it's cold, and no matter how warm the blanket is, my body just can't get warm for a little while.

[00:11:43] Typically, that lasts for just a few minutes at a time. It happens in waves, but I just wanted to let you all know that because I don't know anybody else who has cold flashes. But I thought it was kind of cool. So I looked it up to see if cold flashes might be, you know, a thing. And when I was looking it up, I started to compile all of the side effects of perimenopause.

[00:12:13] This is not a comprehensive list, but it's a lot. And some of them were ones that I didn't know, so take a listen. And if you are feeling any of these or experiencing any of these, just know that we will probably be covering it at some point on this podcast. And if you have. Um, menopause experience or a perimenopause experience that I have not listed here, let me know because I wanna keep adding to this list.

[00:12:50] I want to add to it so that people don't feel alone. If you have. Any side effects of perimenopause. I don't want you to feel lonely in your experience. Let us get into the side effects of perimenopause, number one, irregular periods. I mean, that seems pretty obvious, right? Most people are technically in menopause.

[00:13:17] At the point of 12 months after their final menstruation. So I say most people because some people have a sudden onset of menopause because of something like removal of the uterus and ovaries or some kind of trauma or medical intervention. But in general, people who menstruate go through a period of five to 10 years when our periods get irregular.

[00:13:43] It can be as much as 15. I don't wanna scare you, and I'm sure some people are under five, but in general, we're looking at five to 10 years. When we are experiencing some irregularity in our periods now, I used to think that that meant that our periods just sort of got further and further apart, but for some people it doesn't have to mean that some people have heavier periods or more frequent periods.

[00:14:09] For a while, I had a period that lasted for 28 days during a time of really high stress, and then it completely went back to regular. Periods are telling y'all. I will say this though, if you have reached menopause. Meaning you've gone for a year without menstruating and then you start bleeding again. Get that checked out please.

[00:14:34] I am not a doctor. I'm just a know-it-all, but I do know that that is an abnormal sign that requires attention. Number two, hot flashes. About 75% of perimenopausal people experience hot flashes. They are immensely uncomfortable and disturbing to so many people related to hot flashes, night sweats, that's when you have hot flashes at night, and that often is part of number four sleep disturbances.

[00:15:08] Now sleep disturbances don't just have to be night sweats. The insomnia is pretty frequent for a lot of people in midlife that can be having a harder time falling asleep or staying asleep or just not getting quality sleep or waking up too early. Number five, mood changes and irritability. Y'all, you are not crazy.

[00:15:33] And I would love to eliminate the shame spiral around emotional liability in general, but especially in midlife. Our hormones are surging. Our culture is judging us, ignoring us. Our brains are completely restructuring. We are going through some stuff. We know that adolescents are gonna get moody and we accept that and try to support them through that process.

[00:16:04] Let's do the same for ourselves. Number six, vaginal dryness, which often goes hand in hand with number seven, decreased libido. But I will say for some people, para menopause. There is also number eight, increased libido, and often it can vary greatly because of hormone surges and dips. So you may have. A time where you have a very high libido and a period of time when you have a very low libido, all part of the process.

[00:16:40] Number nine, difficulty concentrating. 60% of people impair menopause report having. Enough trouble concentrating that it has an effect on their work. And although this number is scary, I want you to know that for most people, this, like so many other side effects of this massive restructuring does get better after menopause.

[00:17:06] Number 10, memory lapses and brain fog again, it does get better after menopause for most folks. Number 11, bone loss or osteoporosis. That does not get better after menopause, but there are medical interventions to help with this. We'll talk about that another time. Number 12, skin changes. Some people get a resurgence of acne impair menopause, which feels like a double whammy.

[00:17:37] When you compare that with the loss of collagen and elastin, that makes our skin more supple and luminous, it happens. Number 13, weight gain. Number 14, bloating. Number 15, breast soreness. Especially for people who have breast soreness as a symptom of P M s, they're more likely to experience it impair menopause as well.

[00:18:02] Number 16, itchiness in specific areas like the face or the neck or genitals. I'm really itchy right now. I can't tell if it's one of those things. I don't know if any of you had lice as a kid, but now if I even think about. Lice. It makes my head itch. And that's what this, that's what talking about this particular side effect does to me.

[00:18:27] It's making my neck itch like crazy. Number 17, tingling or crawling sensations in your extremities. Some people also experience this in their arms, and it can feel like something is crawling under your skin. Pretty weird. It's called paraesthesia. Number 18, dental problems. Oh gosh. You know what? I still have a baby tooth.

[00:18:53] It was meant to last for about eight years, maybe. It bodes well for the rest of me, but it's still in there. It's gonna come out at some point, and I'm like, oh man. Para menopause is gonna be the time. It's gonna be the time that that thing comes out. I'll keep you posted. Number 19, joint pain number 20, muscle tension and aches.

[00:19:15] Number 21, burning mouth syndrome. Like you've taken a sip of McDonald's coffee when it's still scalding hot, but you haven't. Number 22 Electric shock Sensations. Uh, they say that's like having a rubber band snapped across your arm and these sensations, the burning mouth syndrome and the electric shock sensations are probably neurological and often fly under the radar.

[00:19:44] People don't talk about them. Number 23. Thinning hair. Number 24, brittle nails, number 25, digestive changes, which can include constipation, loose stools, more gas, more indigestion. You know, I think a lot of us actually have digestive discomfort throughout our adult lives that we never discuss. Well, let's start now.

[00:20:12] Let's not be uncomfortable anymore than we have to be. How about that 26 irregular heartbeat. Sometimes that can also come with dizziness. Number 27, headaches and Migraines. I have such a distinct childhood memory of my grandmother, Mimi, who has been referenced in many episodes of Pause to Go of her getting migraines.

[00:20:39] She was definitely in para menopause at that time and she had terrible migraines, and she would go to bed for a couple of days and I will say this. They got better. She got better. She had a long, wonderful life and was not plagued by migraines for all of it. Number 28, new allergies. Isn't that fun? Number 29.

[00:21:05] Loss of bladder control or incontinence affects the majority of people with vaginas. 30 a change in body odor. 31, fatigue or chronic exhaustion, 32 depression, 33, anxiety or panic disorder. I mean, after hearing all of these potential side effects, that totally makes sense to me. And then y'all, I found it cold flashes.

[00:21:40] So I'm not alone. So why do I share all of these? Well, because these are the things that people are writing about and finally researching. And we usually hear about weight gain, dry badges, hot flashes, and irritability. But if you are experiencing the other side effects, you are not alone. And there are so many things we can do to mitigate or alleviate some of these discomforts.

[00:22:10] I also really wanna say this. It's not all bad. It sounds so bad. I'm feeling guilty bringing up all of these side effects in this one episode. Let me start with the worst stuff, but I can also say that midlife is great for me so far. I cry at pretty much anything, but I'm also finding fresh ways of relating to the world and to myself, new ways that are wonderful for my career, for my friendships, for my family, and for me.

[00:22:45] Also, the majority of people that I have talked to who have gone through this. Say something to the effect of, there were some hard times in there, but it gets better, so let's pause to go and make the most of our midlife adventures. Oh, also, if you know anyone who is going through the change or is struggling with midlife or maybe.

[00:23:17] Isn't struggling and you feel like these episodes or this podcast would be good to share with them. Please do. This is all about connecting with folks, and the best way to do that is to share our stories. Here's my call to action for this episode. That's what they call it when I'm trying to get you. To do something, I want you to do something, and that is to share your story.

[00:23:43] So if you would like to share an experience of your midlife, delights, agony, or just plain humor, you can leave me a voice memo on my new website, pause to Go podcast.com. There's a tab on the right side of the website that says something like, leave me a voice memo, and you can. You can just record a voice memo for me right there, and I'll get it.

[00:24:06] And if you feel comfortable having me share your voice on the pod, then I can share that with everyone. It's so nice to hear other people's voices, but if you don't feel comfortable having me share your voice, I can just anonymously share your story. It'll be great to have your stories on the Pause To Go podcast.

[00:24:30] All right. Stay curious y'all. Thank you for listening to the Pause to Go podcast. Special thanks to code-based co-working and W T J U Radio for their support. This has been an awkward sage production.

zapmcconnell.com

-MFA graduate in Dance Performance from Hollins University

-creator/@hand productions

-co-creator/chicken bank collective

 chickenbankcollective.com

-creator/angry bunny cartoons

-directing member of zen monkey project

-associate member of McGuffey Arts Center

patreon.com/zapmcconnell

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

Christina holds a Ph.D in Italian Language and Literature from Yale University and a BA in Art History from Bowdoin College. She was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Italy. 

Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelovelyunbecoming Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pausetogopodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/breeluck/ Website: www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

by Dava Sobel

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

Our conversation includes:

• What are the Akashic Records?
• Reflection on an actual reading
• Akashic Records as a consciousness-raising tool
• Akashic Records compared to Jung’s Collective Unconscious
• Rehearsal Room
• Exploration of the Sovereign experience
•  Wendy tells the journey of discovering and embracing her spiritual and intuitive self.
• We talked about connecting even in the face of fear or discomfort
• Wendy talks about techniques for grounding/being in your most present state 
• Wendy differentiates between the “Clairs”: Clairvoyant, Clairaudient, Clairsentient, Claircognizant  

Wendy Vigdor-Hess, Visionary, Sacred Intuitive Empowerment Coach, Author

Wendy Vigdor-Hess is a Visionary, Sacred Intuitive Empowerment Coach and Author. She brings her gifts as an empath to identify and uncover the sacredness of the human body and spirit by combining both the physical sciences and spiritual understanding.

Wendy uses a unique, multi-petaled approach to guide and open people to create their sacred connection with Source, nature, and their authentic selves. This invites them to awaken and listen with clarity to their inner voice.

As a Certified Coach, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Reiki Master Teacher, Healer, Shaman, Herbalist, Akashic Records Practitioner and Certified Emotion Code Practitioner, as well as a prior Certified Personal Trainer, Nia Teacher and Pre and Perinatal Professional, Wendy engages her passion and helps people awaken and illuminate their inner gifts in order to transform. This inner transformation creates results that increase feelings of love, freedom, ease, connection, sovereignty, and grace in all areas of peoples’ lives.

Wendy loves time with her husband, children and animals. She enjoys communing with nature, walking barefoot, dancing, hiking, any beach, ritual, magic, yoga, travel and connection with family and friends.

A Free Offering for P2G Listeners: The Grounding Meditation: https://wendy-vigdorhess.ck.page/grounding

Ways to Work with Wendy https://wendy-vigdorhess.ck.page/offers

FB: https://www.facebook.com/wendy.vigdorhess

FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calmandempoweredwomen

IG: https://www.instagram.com/wendyvigdorhess

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

•  What are the challenges for families with ADHD?
•  What is Executive functioning and why is it important?
•  6 Time Management Tips for Families
• How can people work with Annika? 

Link to Website: https://timewise.life/

For more information about Seeing My Time workshops, beginning in January, visit: https://timewise.life/seeing-my-time-1

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

•  “Seattle” by the Jeffrey Lewis Band  (https://youtu.be/XvelHkfq6rY) 
• Edgar Cayce of the  A.R.E. (https://www.edgarcayce.org/)
• Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS)  (https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/)
•  The Egg - A Short Story - YouTube

Patrick Belisle is a practical mystic; a nonprofit executive, teacher, & world traveler. He studied business and theology with Benedictine monks at his Minnesota college, meditated with Buddhist monks in Thailand, & had a mystical experience at the Osho Commune in India on a 1-year trip around the world with his wife Jane as they searched for the meaning of life. They wandered North America 3 more years before settling in Cville. For decades Pat has been lecturing and raising money for Edgar Cayce's Association for Research & Enlightenment (A.R.E.), the University of Virginia Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) which is researching the nature of consciousness, United Way, UVA Children’s Hospitals, & more. He has also married over 50 couples as a Celebrant and has practiced hypnotherapy – including past-life regressions – with hundreds of folks.

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/chronic-lateness-tips/2021/08/13/0faeb85e-fa16-11eb-943a-c5cf30d50e6a_story.html

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

•  Bree is giving away five free sessions in December.
• Why so many people are struggling to focus these days
• Strategies for minimizing distractions and maximizing your energy

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

In this conversation we discuss:

• The stages of the menstrual cycle and how we can make the most of each phase at work and home!
• The connection between the phases of the moon and the menstrual cycle
• The stigma around PMS — and how we can break the pattern!
• How to give yourself the support you need to make the most of your time! 

Briana Villegas is a Cycle Syncing Coach who, when diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), applied her previous academic research training to find actionable solutions. After experiencing the transformation of cyclical living, she is committed to helping other women learn to harness their menstrual cycle so they can create the life they crave & feel good living. She is on a mission to bring the conversation around periods out of the menstrual health space into the day-to-day because when you align your life with your cycle everything gets easier.  

Links

website: www.brianavillegas.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/brianavillegascoaching/

Freebie: https://brianavillegas.com/freetracker 

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/04/picture-of-the-day-benjamin-franklins-daily-schedule/237615/

https://paulocoelhoblog.com/2015/09/04/the-fisherman-and-the-businessman/

Links to Workshops:

Podcasting from Scratch: https://docs.google.com/.../1krmnBf9sqzgDVYi1.../viewform... The Life Mapping Workshop https://www.breeluck.com/life-mapping-challenge-22

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

https://medium.com/@jothibasuofficial/why-there-are-24-hours-in-a-day-and-60-minutes-in-an-hour-b670879cbe99

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

• Why Time?
• The Challenge of understanding Time
• What the heck is Quantum Physics
• How Dolly Parton inspires me to do math (sort of)

References: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Sean Carroll Carlo Ravelli MIT OpenCourseware

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

There are studies that show that more than 58% of Americans feel that they do not have enough time in the day to do the things that they want to do. 

And what's interesting about that is that the researchers who conducted this study said that actually, they felt that that number was underrepresenting how people truly felt because it only represented the people who took the time to fill out the study. 

I know that when I check in with my clients or my community on social media or I hear back from you all, the questions that I hear the most are about time management. And I got to tell you, I hate the words, "time management." Because I don't want to manage anything else in my life. I don't want to manage people. I don't want to manage time. I want to have a relationship. So in this season, we're going to work on cultivating a relationship with time that is healthy. That has strong boundaries. That is respectful. And that is intentional.  And we're going to do that by looking at time from many perspectives. We're going to look at it culturally. We're going to look at it philosophically. We're going to look at it spiritually. We're going to look at it scientifically. We're going to look at it metaphysically. 

And we're going to look at it practically because I know that we all want practical tools. To help us harness time in a way that serves us best. So that's what this upcoming season is going to be. And for the most part. The episodes will be shorter than you may be used to. And that's really because. Well, Time is of the essence. 

So thank you for pausing to go with me.  And join me on Thursday for the first episode of Pause to Go, Season 3.  It's about time. 

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

• Why the past is our education, and how we can learn from our past selves
• How do we make friends with our shadow selves?
•  We talk about Matthew’s effort to use unconditional love to foster unconditional Belonging
• How do we expand as we grow?
• How much of your thinking is your thinking?
• How can we find joy within the Work of crafting our equity lens?
• How to engage our bodies in our process of expanding our selves.
• Matthew’s evolving views on Cancel Culture
• Bree is giving a copy of this book to every Visionary in Progress 1:1 client in the next year. 

About Matthew:

Matthew Reynolds has over 35 years of experience as a performer and instructor in the Theater Arts and Dance. Matthew helped create the Crater Renaissance Academy of Arts and Sciences in Southern Oregon right out of his Masters of Arts Teaching program. He spent 12 years in the classroom where he built equity in his program, with his students, guided by the mission of "Creating Community through the Arts." Matthew now finds himself advocating for equity within the arts and education spaces. He looks forward to helping others craft their equity lens so that they may live their biggest, fullest, and brightest lives. 

About Matthew Reynolds Consulting, LLC

Matthew Reynolds Consulting, LLC offers a range of services designed to enhance community relations, improve intra-organizational communications and awareness, and enrich lives through engagement, education, workshops, and presentations. Previous partnerships include Culturally Responsive Teaching with Professors at Southern Oregon University, Equity Building with Live Arts theater, and Building Equity through Community with Southern Oregon Education Support District. 

Crafting Your Equity Lens is a tool that, when utilized consistently, grows into being a person's “truth vision.” It has integrity, accountability, authenticity, vulnerability, self-worth, and unconditional love at its core. It is Building Belonging. It is a Call to Action. 

As people continue to heed the call to action and begin to build belonging, equity and justice will lead us into the new normal. A world that has our own ideas of community and belonging in it - helping each other to grow, experience joy, celebrate each other's humanity - and allows each person to know for themselves what living their biggest, fullest, and brightest means. 

Contact Matthew: https://www.mrrconsulting.org/contact Order the book!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

• How getting laid off from her previous position led to her new career path
• Why Faith has played such an important role for Gina in taking action and conquering fear
• The importance of feeling a sense of purpose at work
• Why Gina believes that we need to give ourselves the grace to experience -- and learn from -- the full spectrum of our emotions
• How Gina is learning to tap into her intuition
• Why life is like a barstool

You can find Gina on Instagram, Facebook, or at her website: https://ginaostarly.com/

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

 Miraculously, Lipska returned to normal functioning and wrote a book “The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind: My Tale of Madness and Recovery” about the experience.

 In this episode, we discuss:

* What it means to lose your mind

* Barbara Lipska's story of mental illness

* The stigma around mental illness and mental health

* Why  Lipska asserts that mental illness a physical issue

*What we can learn from brushes with insanity

* Lipska's advice for people who are experiencing mental illness -- or the loved ones who care for them

 If you are experiencing mental illness, visit  https://www.samhsa.gov/ to find facilities and programs in the United States or U.S. Territories for mental and substance use disorders.

Learn more about Barbara Lipska: https://www.barbaralipska.com/bio

Read the book, The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind! 

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

Dr. Orlena is a health coach who helps ambitious mums have bucket loads of energy and overcome the frustration of not losing weight by teaching them to eat and be healthy, to look after themselves and feel fit and fabulous. You can find Dr. Orlena at the following links: Website: https://www.drorlena.com FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/healthydrorlena Free video: https://www.drorlena.com/eliminate-emotional-eating-training

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

Topics include:

• Why Podcasting is an excellent platform for sharing an authentic voice
• Bringing together the passions of astrology, social justice, environmental activism, and mental health
• Grappling with our missteps in life
• Why do we need to embrace a Calling In culture instead of a Calling Out culture? (Check out this TedTalk with Loretta Ross about Calling In vs. Calling Out)
• How we can find ways to engage in activism that are in alignment with our authentic selves
• How Human Development is cyclical, not linear - and why that matters
• The relationship between Self Awareness and Self Acceptance
• Why Jessica (47) and Bree (48) are both loud and proud about their ages 
• Jessica and Bree go off on a peri-menopause tangent
• Heather Corinna’s book (http://heathercorinna.com/project/what-fresh--is-this-perimenopause-menopause-other-indignities-and-you-a-guide/) gets yet another mention on the Pause to Go Podcast
• Word Nerd Moment: The Etymology of Passion
• What’s ahead for the rest of 2022, more or less
• Addressing the problem and the wish for entitlement
• How to respond if you feel overwhelmed by what is ahead
• Jessica responds to the seven paths to creating change: Emotional, Analytical, Intuitive, Physical, Spiritual, Creative, and Social

Important links:  lovelanyadoo.com for weekly horoscopes, weekly podcast, and loads of free goodies across the site. Also, sign up for classes /webinars and get her book, Astrology for Real Relationships, here. astrologyfordays.com patreon.com/JessicaLanyadoo

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

 I think everyone's creative.  I don't think you can be human without being creative. I think it's a muscle and sometimes people don't use it a lot and sometimes people use it, so, so, so much. But creativity  is a part of the world. I mean, it literally is, is why we exist today… creativity doesn't mean necessarily art, but creative thinking, creative solutions. Creative doodling!

I am such a believer that the universe has your back that I don't know how to operate other than that. And when I don't believe that, when there's the day or the weeks that I go through and I'm like, it just doesn't seem like it. It's just like, it's like digging a hole. And as soon as I just go back to that core belief, it's all going to be fine. It's a grand experiment and the universe has my back and everyone in my life too. And  it doesn't just apply to me. The universe has OUR backs.

It takes an entire group of sometimes hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands of people to create one project. And I just think that it's incredible and people at the top of their game, in their very specific focus of their art and they're contributing… that's why it's movie magic to me. That's movie magic. It's not because they're falsifying a fake background and you believe it. The magic is that all these creatives come together full of unbelievable talent and joy and craft and all commit to one specific creative idea and then create. That's crazy. It's like building pyramids.

Important Links

IG, twitter, Facebook: @arvoldofficial 

Arvold. Website:

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

What the heck is Work/life balance?

Preventing Burnout

The Power of No and the Power of Yes

The Journey of the Creative

How Erica built her casting, education, and production company, Arvold.

The importance of mentorship: How Ron Howard showed Erica how to make a movie 

We discuss building the skill of starting over.

Building credibility with your professional community

Why it is important for experienced people to BE mentors

Identifying Core Values

Then awesomeness of failing big (and learning from it)

Having an entrepreneurial and creative voice.

Important Links Sign up for the Core Values Workshop on March 24th at 1pm ET HERE.

IG, twitter, Facebook: @arvoldofficial 

Arvold. Website: www.arvold.com

Quotes:

“I mean, we're sailors really. We have a goal at the end and all we have to do is sail, which means we have to go to the left to the right, to the left, to the right. And then there's wins and then there's this, and then the boat might tip over and then this, and people are like, oh, you made it to your place.

And you're like, yeah. And they're like, was it hard? And I'm like, are you kidding? We just went through a harrowing journey. Did you not see it? “

“Everyone is worthy of seeing the world in a certain way. And it’s just about how one is communicating it — and not TRYING to communicate it like someone else. So even if you are founding a company, even if you have an idea or a vision for something, the way YOU do it and the way I do it are unique to us…”

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

1. Bree talked about creating her Book of Woo, including Astrology, Human Design, Enneagram, Sparketype, and Myers-Briggs Personality Assessments
2. What is Human Design?
3. Different Human Design Types include: Generators, Manifesting Generators, Manifestors, Projectors, and Reflectors
4. Richard Rudd and the Gene Key system
5. Explaining the "Not Self" Themes in Human Design - clues for when we are venturing out of alignment
6. Using your human design type to find a decision making strategy.
7. Jaclyn Michelle’s trajectory and how she found Human Design
8. SEO’s and successful websites
9. The manifestation change game: Jaclyn explains how the seven paths to creating change played out in her life.
10. How getting sober changed Jaclyn’s life.
11. Robert Plutchik’s Emotion Wheel https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/emotion-wheel
12. Why intuition shows up so differently in different people

Important links:

Website: https://www.interiorcreature.com/

Instagram: @interiorcreature

Human Design YOUniversity on Teachable: https://interior-creature.teachable.com/

Coupon Code for Soul Contract Reading: PAUSETOGO for 10% off a Soul Contract Reading

Link for Soul Contract Reading: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15830948&appointmentType=19499324

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

Bree Luck discusses her strategies for making the most of rejection and shares an offer for the month of March.

Important Links:

Handling Rejection PDF Cheat Sheet

Let’s Work Together! (VIP Coaching with Bree)

In this episode, I refer to the publishing journey of author Jocelyn Johnson and her book, My Monticello.

Here are links to her episodes: Jocelyn Nicole Johnson: On Community, Identity, and Writing "My Monticello" (Part 1) Jocelyn Nicole Johnson: On Community, Identity, and Writing "My Monticello" (Part 2)

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

Health Futures was founded in 1982 by Jeff Goldsmith. Jeff Goldsmith is one of the nation's foremost health industry analysts, specializing in corporate strategy, trend analysis, health policy, and emerging technologies. He has worked across the health system- hospitals, health plans, physician groups, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and health manufacturing and distribution sectors- advising senior management and Boards. Health Futures also helps guide venture and private equity investment in emerging technologies. Jeff Goldsmith writes and lectures actively on health policy, financing, and technology, both in the United States and overseas. You can find an active archive of his writings and topics at www.healthfutures.net. After this episode, I created a PDF for listeners to access: 5 Tips for Talking to Your Medical Care Provider about Menopause and Perimenopause. You can get your copy of the PDF HERE.

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

1. Talking about periods: A real drag?
2. The perimenopausal amplification of the biological clock 
3. Pregnancy in perimenopause
4. PMDD - Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (or perimenopausal dysphoric disorder) and suicidal ideation
5.  Unusual symptoms of perimenopause - like Formication - the sensation that bugs are crawling under your skin
6. Why do hot flashes suck so much?
7.  Temporary cognitive impairment and perimenopause
8. Why Lisa sought out and recommends a woman doctor
9.  Why bioidentical hormones work for Lisa
10.  Invisibility and aging
11. Shifting priorities — letting go of the striving mentality
12. You have to last - and you don’t have to suffer.
13. Lisa's top tips for surviving perimenopause

Lisa can be found through her email address: letpeopletalk@gmail.com

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

1. Dawn’s PCOS diagnosis and the removal of her right ovary
2.  We talked about how awkward and embarrassing it can be to talk to our doctor about
3.  Getting off the shame cycle
4.  Pregnancy in Perimenopause
5.  Emotional lability and hormone fluctuations
6. Hot flushes
7. How our culture looks at dis-ease as a moral failing
8.  The Red Tent
9.   Invisibility at midlife
10.  Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Dysautonomia, POTS, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome… and Menopause
11.  Dawn’s perimenopausal career shift: Embracing Herbalism  
12.  Herbs for perimenopause
13.   Adding minerals to your regimen to protect your bones
14.  perimenopausal/postmenopausal weight gain and estrogen
15.  The benefits (and potential drawbacks) to incorporating more magnesium in your diet
16. How to find Dawn  online 

Dawn Schimke is an herbalist, wellness coach, and advocate for her clients. She began her formal herbal education in 2007, and applied her skills as a pastry chef to concocting wellness formulas in the apothecary. Her clinical skills, a love for research, and fierce compassion are interwoven with storytelling, nature metaphors, and a keen eye for energetic patterns. Her offerings include ongoing support programs for people who experience chronic conditions that affect their energy levels (aka Spoonies), including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, dysautonomia, and fibromyalgia. Dawn also offers mini-workshops to 'herb-curious' individuals and groups who desire simple and delicious techniques to upgrade their wellness autonomy.

Important links:

https://www.leafandpetalalchemy.com

https://www.instagram.com/leafandpetalalchemy

https://www.facebook.com/leafandpetalalchemy

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

• The wackiness of the peri-menopausal period may be the universe (or your body) is telling you to “pay attention to this now”
• Menopause can be a time of rediscovery, of finding new ways to care for yourself
• Mary’s discovery of Tantra and Sacred Sexuality
• If you want a vibrant life later in life, all you have to do is want it and make that decision - because you can work with the changes in your body
• Words matter — pay attention to the words that our culture uses around women and sexuality — and find a new way to speak about those concepts, issues, or even parts
• We have to take our personal desires, our wants, our opportunities for empowerment into our own hands, because our culture is not going to give it to us
• Finding an inclusive tantric community
• What the Divine Feminine means to Mary
• How to tap into a receptive state
• Moving away from a masculine approach to diet and exercise and tapping into the divine feminine in terms of how we care for our bodies
• What “enough” feels like
• How relationships change with growth
• Discussion about clearing away trauma, and cultural conditioning, exploring the duality of our nature
• Talking about with teenagers
• The role of the crone in society - humans and killer whales
• The role of self-pleasure in the discovery and deepening of orgasms   

Resources: Justin Gottlieb  @tantriclovecoach on Instagram

Amanda Ananda thetantricmama.com

Loudes Starshower tantrichealerflorida.com

Cathleene Cienfuegos bliss-life.com

Maria Merloni therapyden.com or mariamerloni.com

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

Finding purpose, peace, and love in your forties

Enjoy this Behind-Closed-Doors Pause to Go Discussion, in which I speak with Jennifer Hoyt Tidwell, artist, teacher, and former people pleaser, about finding clarity, purpose, and a healthy love relationship in perimenopause.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Bree comes clean about perimenopause
• Brain fog and perimenopause
• Dismantling internalized misogyny
• Mental health and hormones
• Cultivating a vibrant life even when you feel like
• Invisibility is a superpower
• Finding a new career in midlife
• Embracing a middle school teaching career in the middle of a pandemic
• Similarities between adolescence and perimenopause
• Tapping into intuitive knowledge
• Jen talks about working with Jess (who happens to be Jessica Childs, from episode 6) www.buzzsprout.com/1870019/9623929
• Reframing the manifestation list: Using lists to stay in integrity
• The aging process and sexual fluidity
• in perimenopause
• Embracing awkwardness
• Using fantasies for sexual connection
• Moving through physical limitations to feel
• The power of journeyman
• Shifting Sexual orientation in midlife
• Long-term relationships and using dopamine to keep things exciting

#manifesting #findinglove #loveinyourforties #sexinyourforties #codependence #freedom #perimenopause #menopause #intuition #misogyny #womensupportingwomen #greatwomen #womenartists 

#fionashaw #glennondoyle #brainfog #depression

Important Links:

http://www.jenniferhoyttidwell.com/

Flash Count Diary (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41940273-flash-count-diary)

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (https://naturopathic.org/default.aspx)

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

• How we can’t divorce our experience of perimenopause and menopause from the culture in which it is happening
• Why it is important for Gen X to spread the word about perimenopause so that millennials have it on their radar now.
• Celebrating Heather’s menopause victory after a long ride on the estrogenic roller coaster.
• How to evaluate products and services geared toward people in perimenopause and menopause to determine what is right for you.
• Body neutrality, self-acceptance, beauty standards, representation of aging, and pretty privilege. 
• The invisibility factor: The power in NOT being the center of attention
• “How come you never age?” and other messed-up compliments.
• How to have better relationships with family, friends, and coworkers during menopause.
• Schedule yourself a little bit of "Camp Me" -- taking time for genuine self-care when your body is in major transition!

Important links from this episode: Fat by Hanne Blank Heather Corinna’s books, including “What Fresh is This: Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities and You” Join the FB Pause to Go Discussion group, where I'll post very brief readings from Heather's book throughout the week. ***I'll GIVE a copy of Heather's book to one listener who leaves a 5-star written review on Apple Podcasts this week!*** Here's how: 1. Open the Apple Podcasts App on your iPhone. 2. Subscribe to the Pause to Go Podcast. 3. Then click on Library at the bottom of your screen. 4. Click on the Pause to Go Podcast Icon. 5. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to leave a review! Thanks to everyone who has left a review or shared the podcast with your friends! Every review and share helps! Special thanks to WTJU  for the use of their recording studio for this episode. When you support WTJU, you are supporting great radio and new podcasts! 

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

• Jessica’s experience of perimenopause 
• Lyme disease and perimenopause
• Finding an embodied state in the face of pain and discomfort
• Reframing Insomnia
• Using masturbation as an antidote to insomnia and other unpleasant situations
• What does an intimacy coach do?
• Looking at boundaries as both a limit and a capacity
• Examining different ways that humans respond to boundary crossing
• "How can I do me better?" Letting go of cultural messages that don’t serve us and returning to our animal bodies.
• The interplay of hormones and our drive
• Why self-awareness is not only good for your life, it’s good for the world.

Find out more about Jessica at:

www.oracleintimacy.com and www.instagram.com/oracleintimacy/ also, check out Existential Kink by Carolyn Elliot

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

• Join Bree's beta group for cultivating your own Lovely Unbecoming
• Shae's experience of early menopause: blushing, hot flushes, and irregular periods
• The perceived and erroneous pathologization of perimenopause and menopause
• The shame of menopause and perimenopause
• Embracing the baby crone 
• Leading from the heart in a time of transition and listening to the body's signals
• Why menopause is a lot like giving birth — and why it's more powerful in many ways
• Why it is essential to have deep conversations about our changing bodies
• The challenge of being a square peg in a round hole: When our transformational processes don't fit in a society that values linear growth
• The challenge of tapping into self-worth when our identities are shifting
• Worthiness, Women, and the Patriarchy
• Honoring the struggle — and also making room for ease and flow
• Why menopause is one of the last feminist frontiers
• Sexuality at midlife

https://www.shaeelise.com/

Http://midlifepleasureandpower.com

https://www.instagram.com/shaeeliseallen/

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

• The power of becoming aware of our cultural conditioning so we can move beyond it.
• What Bree is taking on her solo retreat in the jungle. (a yoga mat, a journal, and a book)
• Why we hurt.  Why we suffer.  And what to do with that information.
• How Western culture has normalized "suffering"
• Why your emotions are always valid
• The Chinese medicine perspective on the "gifts" of growing older
• How to cultivate joy and find greater ease

Links mentioned: Havva's Coaching Website: https://treesoflifecoaching.com/ Havva's Chinese Medicine Website: https://livemore.co.il/en/blog/ Literature mentioned:

• The Chalice and the Blade 
• Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Work-First-Years-Society/dp/0393313484 (We thought it was 10, 000 -- but it's actually 20,000 -- but who's counting, right?)
• There's No Such Thing as a Dragon 

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

• Dominique's personal experience of perimenopause.
• Gen X women and a shifting paradigm around women and aging
• Eradicating shame around perimenopause
• Estrogen Dominance and how hormones affect our wellbeing
• Maiden, Matron, Maven, Crone -- A queen's journey
• How our lifestyle affects our health in the aging process
• Dominique's new Periwink App

Links from the episode

• Dominique Cocuzza's Website: https://dominiquefitness.com/
• Periwink app
• Elise Loehnen discussed the inclusion of the Matron in the role profile of women in this Brilliant Balance podcast episode
• North American Menopause Society
• The XX Brain by Dr. Lisa Mosconi

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!

**** ONE MORE THING! Did you love this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send a quick voicemail to let me know what you think! (I LOVE to hear your voice too!) And if you'd like to work with me to maximize your moments, find greater fulfillment in your career, and clear away societal expectations to make room for YOUR dreams, visit me at www.thelovelyunbecoming.com/ Stay curious, y'all! xoBree P.S. All of these episodes are possible thanks to: Codebase Coworking as well as my dear friends over at WTJU Charlottesville!