If you've ever left a doctor's appointment feeling dismissed, unheard, or told your labs look "normal" while you're anything but — this episode is for you.

Dr. Kristin Markell is a double board-certified OB-GYN, hormonal health expert, and perimenopause specialist with over 20 years of experience. And her approach to women's health is refreshingly different: she treats the whole person, not just the symptom.

In this conversation, we talk about why perimenopause can begin as early as your mid-30s, why your bloodwork doesn't always tell the full story, and why rest isn't laziness — it's rebellion. We also dig into the fear and misinformation around hormone therapy, what it actually means to prioritize yourself, and the one thing Dr. Markell took a lifetime to learn: trust yourself.

This is the conversation every woman deserves to have with her doctor. We're just having it out loud.

lesliezanoff.com
kristinmarkellmd.com

{This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your personal health needs.}

What does it take to bet on yourself, build something beautiful and keep building even when life gets hard?

Becca Brisiel, owner of the beloved Maude Boutique in Fayetteville, Ark., has been answering that question for 18 years. She took a leap of faith and opened a single storefront with nothing but passion, vision and a whole lot of determination. Today, Maude is a thriving multi-channel retailer with its own private label jewelry line. Becca has built a hometown treasure where she’s walked alongside women through first dates, engagements, funerals and everything in between.

In this episode, Becca gets real about the moments that shaped her — from the "now or never" decision that started it all, to navigating a pandemic while her son battled a severe form of epilepsy, to learning that leading with kindness isn't just good business, it's a way of life. She opens up about mom guilt, the evolution of her personal style, what she's learned from thousands of dressing room conversations and why she believes following your passion is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.

This one is for every woman sitting with a dream, wondering if she should go for it. Spoiler: she should.

✨ Connect with Becca and Maude Boutique at shopmaude.com or @ShopMaude, and find them at 704 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville, Ark.

✨ Connect with Leslie at lesliezanoff.com or @lesliezanoff or Linked-In

What if the voices you heard growing up are still shaping the way you see yourself today? 

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr. VaShonda Eason — licensed clinician, entrepreneur, and founder of Eason Counseling and Associates — to talk about mental health, identity, and what it really means to show up for yourself and others.

Dr. Eason built her practice from the ground up in 2012 as a one-woman operation. Today she employs 45 people, operates two clinics, and serves over 3,000 clients across Northwest Arkansas. But the numbers are just part of the story.

We talk about the gaps in the mental health system that drove her to start Eason Counseling, why access to care is still one of the biggest challenges facing families today, and the danger of replacing real, individualized therapy with social media advice.

We also get into the deeper stuff — how identity shapes our mental health, why asking for help still feels like weakness for so many of us, and what it looks like to lead a team, run a business, and still take care of yourself at the end of the day.

And yes — we talk about the CEO hat coming off at 3pm. Every single day.

If you've ever felt like you're carrying too much, or like you've lost touch with who you actually are underneath all of it — this one is for you.

Find Dr. VaShonda Eason at easoncounseling.com
For more information or to sign up for Leslie's newsletter, please visit lesliezanoff.com

What if everything you were taught about fitness was wrong?

Brooke Robinson, founder of Brooke Robinson Fit, grew up in a home where exercise was forced, controlling, and tied to being loved. It took years — and a lot of unlearning — to discover that moving your body is supposed to feel good.

In this conversation, Brooke opens up about her journey from a difficult childhood relationship with fitness to building a thriving online fitness community for women. We talk about letting go of the "no pain, no gain" mentality, why 20 minutes is enough, and how a hand injury and a forced pause changed everything she thought she knew about her own body.

We also get into the deeper stuff — learning to be your own best friend, asking yourself what you actually want, and why women were never meant to do life alone.

If you've ever felt like you're doing fitness wrong, or like you've lost touch with your own body, this one is for you.

You're not too old. It's never too late. And your body was made to move — on your own terms.

🎧 Find Brooke and her workouts at brookerobinsonfit.com

Sign up for Leslie’s newsletter HERE. 

Hosted by journalist, speaker and Certified Meditation teacher, Leslie Zanoff, A Lifetime to Learn is where authentic conversations shed light on how we can live with a deeper sense of purpose. 

Together, let’s learn from entrepreneurs, health and wellness experts, thought leaders and luminaries. Don’t forget the change-makers and women who are rewriting the rules. 

This podcast is a culmination of Leslie’s desire to equip listeners with practical tools and inspiring stories on how to show up as your best self. You’re not too old and it’s never too late. Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual – only lessons revealed through living. So let’s get going. We’ve got A Lifetime to Learn.