What happens when being the strong one stops working?

In this deeply personal first solo episode of Caught in the Middle, Alyssia Essig shares the origin story behind the podcast — and the season of life that forced her to confront burnout, identity shifts, menopause symptoms, aging parents, kids leaving home, and the quiet exhaustion that high-achieving women rarely talk about.

After selling 130 homes in 2020 and holding everything together during a chaotic time in the world, Alyssia hit a wall. Not a dramatic breakdown — but a subtle, scary moment of not caring.

In this episode, she opens up about:

• Hitting a wall in midlife
• The shame of admitting “I’m not okay”
• Therapy, antidepressants, and hormonal shifts
• Navigating aging parents and kids leaving for college
• Burnout in high-functioning women
• Emotional release and finding joy again
• The 5 shifts that helped her regain awareness and control

This isn’t a productivity episode.
It’s a permission episode.

If you’ve ever been the glue… the achiever… the one everyone depends on… and lately you’ve felt tired, flat, or not like yourself — you are not alone.

Because midlife doesn’t come with a manual. Just a podcast.

It naturally includes search-friendly phrases like:

• midlife burnout
• high-functioning women
• menopause symptoms
• identity shifts
• aging parents
• kids leaving home
• therapy and antidepressants
• emotional release
• finding joy

Caring for aging parents. Planning for our children. Trying to understand wills, trusts, and estates — all while juggling work, family, and life in midlife.

In this episode of Caught in the Middle, I’m joined by Paige Fingerhut Charnick, a real estate professional who specializes in probate and estate-related transitions, for a calm, practical conversation about the things so many families avoid talking about until they’re forced to.

This is a national, non-legal conversation designed to help you understand the landscape — not overwhelm you with jargon.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What adult children should know when caring for aging parents
• The basic differences between wills, trusts, and estates (in plain English)
• Common misconceptions around family trusts and estate planning
• When and why plans should be updated as life changes
• How planning ahead can reduce stress for children and loved ones
• Where real estate can quietly intersect with probate and estate planning

This episode is for anyone who feels caught in the middle — between parents who need support, children who still need guidance, and the growing awareness that “we should probably deal with this.”

Our goal is not fear or urgency — it’s clarity, confidence, and small, manageable next steps.

The conversation delves into the world of genetic testing and nutrigenomics, exploring how genes influence nutrient processing, quality of life, and privacy concerns. It emphasizes the importance of understanding genetic variants and their impact on healthspan, as well as the significance of skeletal muscle mass for long-term health and well-being.

Takeaways

• Nutrigenomics and Genetic Testing
• Quality of Life vs. Lifespan
• Importance of Skeletal Muscle Mass
• Privacy Concerns in Genetic Testing

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Genetic Testing and Nutrigenomics
• 06:34 Exploring Specific Gene Variants and Their Impact
• 17:25 Healthspan vs. Lifespan and Importance of Skeletal Muscle Mass
• 29:02 Privacy Concerns and Genetic Testing

Welcome to Caught in the Middle

The conversation begins with an introduction and background of the guest, Eric Rittmeyer, and his journey into menopause research. It then delves into the taboo of menopause, misconceptions and studies on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), cultural and generational perspectives on menopause, perimenopause and its symptoms, and an in-depth understanding of menopause and hormones. The conversation delves into the individualized nature of hormone replacement therapy, emphasizing the importance of tailored treatment. It explores the emotional impact of menopause, challenges in accessing accurate information, and the need for self-education. The discussion also covers different types of hormone replacement therapy and the importance of educating men about menopause from a male perspective.

Takeaways

• Menopause as a universal female medical experience
• The importance of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and its misconceptions Individualized hormone replacement therapy
• Importance of educating men about menopause

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding Menopause and Hormones
• 24:05 Individualized Hormone Replacement Therapy
• 31:40 Challenges in Accessing Information
• 41:12 Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy