Age Like a Badass Mother

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LIVE from SXSW 2026: Too Much, Too Nice, Too Old, Too Single — The Impossible Tightrope Women Walk

Recorded live at SXSW 2026 in Austin, Texas, from Conscious Kitchen, this special episode of Age Like A Badass Mother brings together an incredible panel of women to unpack the invisible rules women are expected to live by.

From beauty standards to leadership bias to aging and singlehood, women are often told to walk a very narrow line:

Be confident — but not intimidating.
Be attractive — but not trying too hard.
Be successful — but not threatening.
Be friendly — but not desperate.

In this candid and thought-provoking conversation, the panel dives into how these expectations show up in our careers, relationships, and self-image—and what it takes to break free from them.

Live Panel Guests

Laura Johansen
Founder of Talk Like a Boss, where she helps healthcare professionals communicate more effectively at work—whether they're speaking, leading teams, or collaborating with colleagues.

Sally Matika, PA-C
Dermatology Physician Associate at Westlake Dermatology with over 15 years of experience in aesthetic medicine. She focuses on helping patients look and feel their best with balanced, natural results.

Dr. Nikki Siso
Owner of Conscious Kitchen, podcast host of Conscious Kitchen Radio, and a holistic health expert with a Master’s in Sustainability from Harvard and a PhD in Holistic Health and Nutrition. Her work centers on helping people detoxify their homes, bodies, and minds.

In This Episode

• Why women are judged on appearance in ways men rarely are
 • The impossible social rules women are expected to follow
 • How beauty standards shape confidence and opportunity
 • The difference between self-care, self-expression, and social pressure
 • Leadership bias and how women are perceived differently in power
 • The cultural pressure around aging and being single
 • How women can start rewriting these rules for themselves

Recorded Live at SXSW

Special thanks to Dr. Nikki Siso and Conscious Kitchen for hosting this live recording during SXSW in Austin.

About the Podcast

Age Like A Badass Mother explores how women can thrive physically, mentally, and socially as they age. Through expert interviews, real conversations, and plenty of humor, the show challenges outdated expectations about what it means to grow older.

Follow & Connect

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother
Website: AgeLikeABadassMother.com

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

If you have been following my saga about trying to lower my LDL cholesterol with food (Dr. Greger's protocol), the results are in! If you haven't done so, listen to episode 82 from January 6th to catch up. You'll see how I completely botched it on my first attempt, but after guidance from the doctor himself, righted myself. 

If you have been trying to lower your cholesterol, this episode is for you!

Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother 

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

A powerful story of weight loss, addiction recovery, and rebuilding health with a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle.

What does it take to completely rebuild your life: body, mind, and spirit?

In this conversation, Tim Kaufman of Fatman Rants shares his extraordinary transformation from addiction, morbid obesity (over 400 LBS.), and barely being able to perform daily tasks to becoming a world-class endurance athlete fueled by a whole-food, plant-based diet.

Tim opens up about the darkest periods of his life, including struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, food dependency, and the wake-up calls that forced him to confront the direction he was headed. He shares how the unwavering support of his wife, the grief of losing loved ones, and a growing sense of gratitude became turning points in his recovery.

This isn’t just a weight loss story. It’s a story about radical personal responsibility, small daily changes, and healing the emotional and spiritual roots of self-destructive behavior.

You can find him:

https://fatmanrants.com/

Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother 

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#TimKaufman, #PlantBasedTransformation, #HealthyAging, #StrengthAfter40, #WholeFoodPlantBased, #WeightLossJourney, #FitnessOver50, #LifestyleChange, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #PlantBasedSuccess, #FatManRants, #Podcast, 

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

By the time Lauren Bernick was six years old, two different women had already told her she was "fat as a house." They weren't seeing her; they were projecting their own inherited fear and shame, expecting her to swallow it and pass it on. That's how the cycle works.

In this mini episode, Lauren traces that conditioning to its roots: beauty standards largely set by men with a vested interest in keeping women chasing an impossible ideal: the body of a teenage girl. The media and beauty industry flood us with images of youth while aging women are rendered invisible. Men get to grow old in public. Women are told to fight it, fix it, hide it.

Lauren's message is a rallying cry. Stop getting distracted by the noise telling you to look younger. Take your rage and use it! Protect the young women coming up behind you from predatory men and impossible standards, to demand that images of real, aging women are seen and celebrated, and to show up for each other the way bonobo monkeys do: fiercely, collectively, without leaving anyone behind.

We are perfectly imperfect. It's time to act like it.

Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother 

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

In this engaging and evidence-backed conversation, Dr. Angie Sadeghi, a board-certified gastroenterologist and plant-based physician, dives into the crucial role gut health plays in aging well. She explains how a fiber-rich, plant-based diet can transform your health, while also clarifying the role of medications like statins and GLP-1s in supporting wellness.

She discusses the role of protein, why most people are getting too much, and how much you really need. 

Dr. Sadeghi breaks down common misconceptions around nutrition and health, emphasizing that food alone isn’t medicine, but it’s a powerful tool when combined with science-based strategies and personalized care. She also addresses the challenges within the healthcare system and why preventive approaches are essential for long-term vitality.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How fiber and a plant-based diet impact gut and metabolic health
• When medications like statins and GLP-1s are necessary and effective
• How to spot digestive issues, like bloating, that can indicate deeper problems
• The role of hormones, exercise, and lifestyle in healthy aging
• Why preventive care and personalized medicine are the ultimate longevity tools

www.iopbm.com 

https://wellelephant.com/

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother 

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#DrAngieSadeghi, #GutHealthMatters, #PlantBasedDoctor, #HealYourGut, #WholeFoodPlantBased, #InflammationHealing, #LifestyleMedicine, #PreventChronicDisease, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #FoodAsMedicine, #Podcast, 

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

In this solo minisode, Lauren Bernick explores the surprising factors that accelerate aging and shares actionable insights on staying vibrant.

What You'll Learn:

Physical Factors: How your posture and facial expressions impact how you look and feel over time.

Lifestyle & Habits: Everyday decisions about nutrition and physical activity either support your longevity or quietly add years to your appearance and health.

The Emotional Connection: Why negative emotions and chronic stress don't just affect your mood, they leave visible marks on your body and accelerate aging from the inside out.

The Power of Connection: The critical but often overlooked role of community and friendships in maintaining youth and vitality, and how social isolation can be as harmful as poor physical health.

Good news: none of this is permanent. Making even a few adjustments can help you feel better and slow down the aging process.

https://wellelephant.com/

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother 

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Menopause isn’t an ending, it’s a powerful new chapter. Filmmaker Dominique Debroux joins Age Like a Badass Mother to share insights from her documentary Wise Women: Humanity’s Untold Origins. We explore how society has misunderstood and medicalized this life stage, and how post-menopausal women have historically held vital leadership and influence roles that are too often overlooked today.

From the pivotal roles grandmothers played in early human survival to what bonobos can teach us about female solidarity, Dominique challenges outdated narratives and shows how women can step fully into their power, wisdom, and leadership after midlife. She also shares practical strategies for nutrition, community, and self-care that help women thrive during this transformative stage.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why menopause has been misrepresented and medicalized
• The historical leadership and influence of post-menopausal women
• How community and support among women transform the menopause experience
• Nutritional approaches to maintain energy, balance, and well-being
• Lessons from anthropology and bonobos on female solidarity and power
• How to embrace post-reproductive years as a time of wisdom, influence, and self-discovery

Key takeaway: Menopause is not a decline; it’s a launchpad for leadership, empowerment, and impact. Women who claim this stage can reshape their lives—and the world.

Watch the documentary at https://bingeable.net/wisewomen

Follow them:

Instagram

@wisewomenforward

TikTok

@cronesunite

YouTube

@WiseWomenMovie

SubStack

https://wisewomenforward.substack.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother 

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#LifeReinvention, #PurposeDrivenLiving, #CreativeResilience, #MidlifeReset, #AuthenticLife, #PersonalTransformation, #InnerCompass, #LivingIntentionally, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #DominiqueDebroux, #WiseWomen, #Podcast,

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

In this solo mini-episode, Lauren Bernick explores aging under pressure and the impact of beauty standards on women’s self-image. She shares her personal experience with Botox and fillers, not to promote or criticize cosmetic procedures, but to examine how cultural pressure to look young influences our choices.

Lauren reflects on changing her mind and on questioning whether decisions about appearance stem from self-care or societal expectations. She addresses judgment, of ourselves and others, and how comparison fuels insecurity around aging.

Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother 

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Fitness expert Ellen Barrett explains why exercise often feels punishing in midlife, and the movement principles that reliably keep women strong, energized, and fit. We talk alignment, posture, hydration, energy, building muscle, and why exercise should restore you, not drain you. 

Ellen Barrett, the iconic fitness expert known for making movement feel like magic, talks about why fitness stopped being fun for so many of us, and how to get it back. She shares the secret sauce behind movement that nourishes instead of drains, why alignment is your new midlife superpower, and how simple daily habits can radically shift your energy and truly keep you fit. We dig into the deeply underrated power of self-compassion.

https://www.ellenbarrett.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother 

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#EllenBarrett, #AgingStrong, #MindfulMovement, #FunctionalFitness, #MidlifeMovement, #HealthyAgingBody, #MovementIsMedicine, #FitnessOver40, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #LifelongWellness, #Wellness, #Podcast, 

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

In this candid minisode, Lauren Bernick pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening behind the scenes, both with her health and her next big creative leap.

She shares a real-time update on her mission to lower her LDL cholesterol naturally and the very human struggle of sticking to Dr. Greger’s protocol. From there, Lauren introduces her newest project: her upcoming book, Age Like a Badass Mother, a deeply personal and practical guide for Gen X and beyond.

The book will weave together stories from Lauren’s own life, lessons from podcast guests, and a framework for transformation built around three questions:
What’s the issue? What’s the root cause? And what’s the solution?

You’ll also hear Lauren reflect on her unconventional GenX childhood and the lasting influence of her parents, especially her mother, on how she views herself today. Some of these stories are crazy! Buckle up, Fluffy, it's going to be a ride. 

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/
https://wellelephant.com/
https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/
https://www.instagram.com/agelikeabadassmother/

ACE Plant-based Eating Online Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/