Dear Midlife...

In our pre-chat with every guest we have on our show we share a disclaimer with them...Trinity says she's a cusser, and Shelby claims she's a crier. (Though, Shelby often cusses as much as Trinity and Trinity is trying to stop!) The irony of these acknowledgements is that Shelby realized in this conversation with our guest, Tamar Gersh, that she may actually have a hard time CONSCIOUSLY feeling her emotions. The reality is that she can't control the tears sometimes. That is her normal reaction to so many thing...things that are sad, things that make her happy, things that make her upset. However, she's been shamed about these tears her whole life. People tease her that she's "too emotional". So, she's learned to quickly turn off the tears and push her emotions away. Whether she's watching a movie with her kids, in a heartfelt conversation with a friend, or in the middle of an interview with a podcast guest, the shame she experiences when expressing her emotions has taught her to suck it up and move on. Now, she doesn't often give herself permission to feel sad because she doesn't want to dwell in these, perceivably, negative emotions. But, what our guest pointed out today is that, when Shelby denies her feelings and moves through the emotions too quickly, she may be depriving herself of experiencing the truest joy!!

Trinity, on the other hand, NEVER lets herself feel ANY negative emotions. Perhaps, it is because she PRIDES herself in being the strong one. She's always HAD to be the strong one ever since she was a little girl and to fix all the problems around her. She doesn't have time for negative emotions or sadness. She's got shit to do and problems to solve and she can't do that if she's overwhelmed with emotions.

The bottom line is that we've both been programmed to deny our emotions and to quickly bury them and get on with life. However, when that happens, Tamar says instead, we need to slow down and get curious...ask ourselves why we're rushing past a feeling or emotion. What are we afraid of feeling? She reminds us that there is value if we become more aware of our emotions, dig deeper, allow our emotions to move through us and surrender to that. And, ladies, surrendering doesn't mean sitting in the emotion forever...which I think is maybe what we're both afraid of. I think we believe that staying in the headspace of negativity or sadness for too long will hold us back from accomplishing what we want to. 

However, by rushing past the negative emotions and never actually allowing ourselves to feel them or know the depths of sadness or despair or frustration, we are preventing ourselves from, consequently, feeling ultimate joy. Because, just like that old song, "joy and pain, like sunshine and rain." You can NOT have one without experiencing the other. 

Tamar touts herself as the queen of joyful living and says she's an unconventional Life and Business coach and a master of self-discipline. She leverages a variety of tools to lead her clients, who are typically the creatives and healers of the world, to plug back into their own genius so that they can stop showing up to their business like a weirdo and start showing up as their 150% authentic selves. 

In this episode, Tamar Teaches us:

1. In order to live a joyful life we have to be willing to experience ALL emotions, especially pain. We can never know or appreciate the greatest joy without experiencing pain.
2. When you bring awareness to the thing you are trying to "conquer", whether it is breaking a habit that no longer serves you or navigating your emotions, one approach is to bring awareness into the space and to welcome it in (vs. trying to avoid), name it, feel it, notice the thoughts, feelings, sensations, and slow things down and experience it all. When doing so, you are then better able to manage through it.
3. Stop "shoulding" yourselves. This is when we try to convince ourselves that we should be doing, thinking, or feeling something different than we are as a way to avoid the true emotion we are IN. Instead, give yourself permission to feel actually feel that emotion and in that moment, detach any possible negative consequences for FEELING the emotion and JUST feel!
4. Tamar invites to discard our "student hat" we all wear everyday as we take in the world and the societal programming that we consume every day and, instead, put on 3 different hats: the scientist hat, the rock star (or artist) hat, and the monk hat so that you can become curious, confident, and devoted to the journey of your life.
5. Feel happy now. Changing the circumstances in our lives will NOT make you happy. Don't wait until you lose that 100 pounds to choose happy. Choose happy now by putting a conscious awareness on all the things that you are happy about. It is THAT happiness that will carry you where you want to go, not the circumstances that you're in.

To find more of Tamar:

Website: tamarcoaching.com

And you know, we are on the same mission. We want to give you the tools and resources you need to show up as your authentic selves each and every day. So, we're curating toolkits and courses that will do just that. Visit our website at dearmidlife.com. Get ready to meet us in the middle!

So, here’s the thing, we all have suffered our own traumas in childhood. Shelby lost her mom at an early age and had to navigate that feeling of abandonment and struggled with forming an unconditional bond with a new mother, which caused her to feel as though the only way she could "prove" herself worthy of love and acceptance was to embody perfectionism.

Trinity's biological father left at a very early age, never to return. Then, when her sister's father stepped into their lives, it was tumultuous. He was threatening and abusive and, as a result, they fled the home at a young age and lived under assumed names. As a consequence, we all grew up with some confusing expectations of who our parents were supposed to be. 

Shelby felt her stepmother was perfect and almost super human and that she, too, had to be flawless to win her affection. Consequently, she's practically killed herself striving for perfectionism in her relationships with her significant other, friends, and children to her own detriment, sacrificing herself in the process.

And Trinity, who lacked that father figure...the "ultimate protector" never felt safe and, instead, she became the protector of everyone herself and feels like she's constantly required to "save" those that I love. I mean, Trinity actually spent time this week learning how to connect her iPhone to satellite so that, when the apocalypse comes, she's prepared and we're not joking! She's constantly looking over her shoulder and living this life has impacted her tremendously.

Living these lives have caused us both self-doubt and created an atmosphere in which we're constantly hustling to the point of burnout and loss of personal identity because I spend so much time trying to please or take care of other people. We don't even know who we are or what makes US happy any more. 

And it is weird because now Trinity suddenly finds herself on her own and looking in the mirror and realizing that SHE the only one that she has to take care of now. She finally has the space to catch her breath and look around and, for the first time ever, she has the time to contemplate these traumas and their impact and begin to come face to face with her own patterns.

And that's where our guest today, Amy Schadt, comes in. She’s all about helping women finally confront and heal these deep, core wounds—especially that ‘Father Wound,’ which, let’s face it, so many of us carry. Amy's not just talking about forgiving your parents and moving on. She has this incredible method that helps you really embrace healing—mind, body, and soul.

She calls it the *Radical Embodiment Method,* and it’s all about reflecting on those old traumas, releasing the anger and sadness, and then re-envisioning your life without those chains. Amy's approach is all about helping women let go of those old patterns we’ve been stuck in for decades, so we can finally live the lives we were meant to.

Honestly, middle age is the perfect time to do this. We’ve spent so long running on autopilot, we don’t even realize how much these unhealed wounds have been shaping our choices. Amy helps us to stop, pay attention, and heal for real—so we can abandon the self-doubt, people-pleasing, and all those ways we’ve been playing small.

Let’s be honest—we’ve been carrying this baggage for way too long, and it’s time to let that shit go. We deserve to step into our power without being weighed down by our past.

In this episode, Amy teaches us:

1. The father wound is a feeling of loss when we have certain expectations of our father figure that go unfulfilled and that leaves us with a sense of wounding or trauma as a result. This can happen when our father is not present at all, present and abusive, or simply a close bond is not formed.
2. The first step in healing the father wound is through empathy. Most parents do the best they can with the knowledge and experience they have. We can be empathetic with our fathers by looking into their past, understanding their wounds, the nature of their relationships with their parents, and the experiences that have shaped them as men and fathers.This gives us perspective WHY they behave the way they do and, perhaps, even recognize they are not capable of being the father we (think) we want and need.
3. On some level, we don’t even know what is missing. When you don’t have something in your life, you are only operating under an assumption as to what you perceive a father should be. We only know what we’ve been told is missing or an “idea” of what a father is based on TV and other narratives or constructs that we’ve been given. Part of healing is letting go of these false narratives and asking ourselves if I’m really missing out on something that we never had.
4. To adopt new behaviors, identify people in your life who embody the behaviors you desire. Then ask yourself what are THEY doing that demonstrates resilience or confidence and then adopt those behaviors yourself. Part of the key is for YOU to determine what these things mean to you.
5. You are where you’re supposed to be! Right in this moment…where is the lesson? What can you do now to be stronger or better. We only live in the present moment. There is not yesterday, there is no tomorrow, only right here and now.

To find more of Amy:

Website | amyschadt.com

radicalembodimentmethod.com

And, girl, if you've been feeling stuck and wondering how to move forward, you are not alone. We've been developing the tools and resources you need to uncover and heal these traumas so you can live your best life. Meet us in the middle at dearmidlife.com to gain access to the tools and resources that will help you level-up your life.

You know, We've both spent the better part of our lives chasing optimal health. Shelby's mother passed away when she was 7. Her mother was just 30 years old and the autopsy suggested that she died of cardiac arrest due to complications with an undetected autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's Hypothyroiditis. And as she reached adulthood and had 2 daughters of her own, Shelby swore she would do everything in her power to remain strong and healthy for her girls. She didn't want to leave them without a mother.

Shelby is not the only one. So Many women struggle with our health and weight. Trinity has had her own struggles. Her mom also died of cardiac arrest and was lost at far too young. She was raised on a diet of comfort food and learned to feed all of her emotions. Then, when she became 100 pounds overweight, she tried all of the solutions from yoyo dieting, to gastric bypass, and all the fads in between. And, now that we find ourselves here...in midlife. We're both happier with our bodies than we've ever been before! Now, health to us is more about being strong and able to do all the things we want to do as we live this next chapter in our lives!

But the problem is that we feel like I've tried EVERYTHING to achieve optimal health and it STILL alludes us! You know, we're all looking for that easy button or the silver bullet, but it feels like there is no PERFECT solution to figure out what are the RIGHT things for OUR (individual) bodies...

OR...What if there IS a perfect solution? What if that solution is in the GENES you wear everyday...But, we're not talking about the jeans you wear, we're talking your GENETICS, girl. Today's guest, Brenda Wollenberg, helps educate us on how to unlock the secret to health with our DNA, ya'll.

That's right, Brenda and her business partner analyze and interpret genetic profiles to design personalized wellness programs that are UNIQUE to you and your genetics. They recognize that 'one-size-fits-all wellness" can be confusing and ineffective. But, with the programs that Brenda offers, maintaining optimal health can be simple, personal, and doable.

WE love the fact that Brenda combines her years of experience as a Social Worker and holistic nutritional consultant to compassionately and uniquely help her clients understand their current patterns of behavior and lifestyle choices that are UNhelpful and that are (possibly) contributing to their current state of health. THEN, helps them to adopt simple, new behaviors that make a BIG impact. 

Because, here's the thing, ladies. Midlife is HARD on our bodies. Things are happening that we can't really understand and that we feel are totally out of our control...I'm talking hot flashes, sleeplessness, inflammation, aches, brain fog. These are ALL things that can be remedied with the RIGHT information and tools. Think about how your life would be different....ELEVATED if you felt great waking up every single day?! What would you do? What could you accomplish? We are here to help you live your best midlife and it starts with your health!

In this episode, Brenda teaches us

1. There are things you can actually do to change the way in which certain genes are expressed to make an impact on our life and health. Genetics can be used to pinpoint the exact lifestyle or dietary shifts that your genetics require to become optimized
2. The two things that have a high impact on the expression of our genes are high levels of stress and inflammation, or high amounts of cortisol, epinephrine/norepinephrine. These create proverbial "power surges" to our system that then inhibits the positive expression of our genes and prevents them from operating in the best possible way for our energy and vitality
3. When we focus on the specific genes that have exceptional levels of data science behind them, are relevant to our health, and are "actionable" i.e. there are lifestyle shifts we can make to alter the expression of these gene to improve our health, and elevate our lives.
4. Most food is processed in some way. We need to avoid ULTRA processed food in which the food is manufactured in a lab and created with a "bliss point" that truly increases our cravings and dramatically impacts our health in a negative way. You should always be able to recognize the ingredients on the label.
5. Ladies, look around you. The obesity epidemic is real and we are ALL DIFFERENT. The paradigms of the past (think the food pyramid) are no longer serving us. We are getting the WRONG fuel mix on our kids plates and drinking liquid sugar. and we're doing it wrong for ourselves in midlife

To find more of Brenda:

Website | inbalancelm.com

And, girl! When we talk about ELEVATING your life, the first step may start with your health, but it take many steps to make the journey to living your best life and we want to be there with you every step of the way! Join our tribe of like-minded women, tap into our toolkits, and indulge in topical expertise to keep you moving in the right direction. It can all be found at dearmidlife.com. Can't wait to meet you in the middle!

You know, we have been on this entrepreneurial journey for what...2 1/2 years? And it's been difficult. We've had to balance managing our side business and very busy day jobs in which we are both executives, we've struggled to make the financial investment, we've felt lost at times (we're still lost) in defining our direction or what exactly it is we offer our customer. Having the conversation with our next guest, Jen Jaciw, was really eye opening.

We've had a lot of conversation about how to get this business going. I think we've both recognized that we have our own unique skills and experiences and, while there may be a lot of overlap there in the space of adult learning and coaching, its still evident that we each just have different things that light our fires or what I like to call our "zone of genius"...

What stood out to us is that Jen is suggesting that working with a coach like her helps women just like us find their "zone of genius" and then supports them in stepping into that space by paving the way to a faster path of success....and when I say "like us" women, in midlife, who are struggling to find themselves and have an entrepreneurial spirit!

Jen is the consummate entrepreneur. She and her husband owned and sold a business of their own. But, then Jen found herself back in the "corporate grind". After being laid off twice in two years and having to prove her worth over and over again to potential employers, she became frustrated. She was tired of trying to find the “right” job that she actually enjoy doing and that would pay her a competitive wage. It was time to create something better for herself, but she wasn’t sure where to start. That is when a friend introduced her to a The Entrepreneur’s Source (TES) coach, and it was a game changer.

She now does what she calls Career Ownership Coaching. She helps people transition from employment to entrepreneurship through a complimentary coaching experience that includes goal defining, behavioral assessment, coaching, and education. .

Now, Jen helps clients identify their super powers and how they can transfer them into a business ownership role. In this episode, Jen shares her difficult path and how she's risen to success having been born to parents who struggled with addiction and then navigating abusive relationships. These experiences and her subsequent path to healing empower herself her to relate to her clients and hold transparent conversations that are a necessary part of the coaching experience.

In today's episode, Jen teaches us:

1. Stepping into owning a franchise can be an excellent solution for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit because your stepping into a proven business model, you avoid the typical phase in which you throw the spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks and are armed with the tools/resources for success.
2. Many people don't realize the transferrable skills that are accessible and applicable when transitioning from full-time corporate employment to entrepreneurship,
3. Brokers are focused on helping a business sell and/or supporting individuals who want to buy a business and bringing the two together. The Entrepreneur's Source is more focused on helping individual's find their path through conversation.
4. Being an entrepreneur requires doing what feels uncomfortable to you and you just have to do it and put yourself out there. The more you do, the better you get.
5. A lot of success comes from trying something, falling down, picking yourself back up, pivoting, adapting and trying again. The more you embrace this method and step into new things the happier and better you will become.

To find more of Jen:

Website | jjaciw.esourcecoach.com

LinkedIn | JenniferJaciw

If you find yourself feeling stuck and burned out from the corporate grind, this episode will really light your fire. And, if you're looking for a tribe of fearless women to help you on this journey of growth and transition, go to our website at Dearmidlife.com.

Our next guest, Aleen Raybin, believes the healing industry has been co-opted - promoting things like self-care and being your best. But, we agree, this just reinforces individualism, self-reliance, the proverbial "hustle" and the illusion that we are not enough and must DO more. This feels like it has been our truth for our whole lives. We're never enough...we must always DO more and BE more!

But, then we step back and ask ourselves where that has gotten us and the answer is we feel lost, stuck, and burned out. We KNOW you are also out there and likely grappling with this same truth. Thankfully, Aleen is here to save us from ourselves. She show us that we can live richer and fuller lives when we choose to be led by our soul, the TRUE parts of ourselves rather than being led by our conditioning.

Aleen calls herself a Medicine Woman. And I don't know about you all, but when I think about a "Medicine Woman" I think of an elderly indigenous woman with miraculous healing powers. But, while Aleen WAS trained by said indigenous woman and was bestowed the title "Medicine Woman"..."medicine" To Aleen means going deep into ourselves to heal our trauma. Her medicine is reconnecting with our truth, and putting the YOU back into your life.

Aleen's work and her mantra is to "help you come home to yourself", which is so beautiful, and her process entails helping us to remember who we are in all of our truth and authenticity...NOT by telling you what to do, but THROUGH you. Aleen helps us slow down and listen to our souls for the answers that are already there. And then supports us in making small shifts to live more as ourselves and less as our conditioned selves. She says her personal medicine is what she learned while waking up to how good her own existence can be - even in the everyday human sh*t of life and she strives to do the same for others by witnessing them on this journey and holding space for their unique truth.

In this episode Aleen teaches us:

1. Letting go of the societal narrative is a, potentially, impossible. We are swimming in both our own truth and what society tells us we should be and do and to separate the two and fully live only in our truth is unrealistic.
2. When we heal our trauma, as women, we also heal our lineage and the trauma of our ancestors who preceded us as our ability to step into the space of healing and the access we have to the tools and resources to do so is a luxury that was not afforded our mothers and grandmothers
3. Moving closer to yourself happens in the little moments. Small shifts to your habits and rituals can make a big difference. Trying to make big changes too quickly is often what gets in our way.
4. Knowing more about what sets our heart on fire and moving beyond our feelings of being lost or stuck, requires us to start by going inside, we need to get quiet in order to hear our truth.
5. Asking yourself if YOU are satisfied instead of always only considering the way in which you are satisfying the others in your life can be a true measure of self-love. And, what a gift to give to those who love you most...your whole and authentic self.

To find more of Aleen:

Website | aleenraybin.com

Instagram | @aleen_raybin

And baby girl, we are here for you on this journey as well. Make sure we're connected on Facebook and Instagram. We've got your back with a no-nonsense blueprint and a supportive tribe. Visit dearmidlife.com for:

Access to our toolkits and courses that contain expert interviews, curated resources, and actionable steps that demand growth.

Tap into our network of Supportive Problem Solvers: and the fierce friendships of our community, helping you solve any problem, find your purpose and redefine yourself.

Where you can build a strong inner circle that supports, cheers, and holds you accountable every step of the way.

When Shelby was 7 years old, her mother passed away and then Shelby's father passed away at the very end of December 2022. When Trinity lost her mother when she was in her 20's, it was profoundly painful. Needless to say, experiencing the loss of a parent is one of the most traumatic experiences we can have.

Our guest today, Jocelyn Bates, lost BOTH parents within the span of 7 days and under the most distressing circumstances during the COVID pandemic. I don't know if any of you have experienced such loss, but it has taken us YEARS to heal from the loss of our parents who truly had a unique and special place in our lives in so many ways and we, honestly, don't think we'll ever fully heal from that loss. It is something we'll carry with us for ever.

Shelby still tears up when she thinks about losing either parent (no surprise)...whether it has been over 40 years or just a little more than a year the pain of the loss is still very real and raw. Jocelyn knows that pain well and has channeled her grief to creating a space of healing and reinvention for others.

During this period of loss, Jocelyn was really in tune with her body and intuition and leaned into the messages she was receiving and allowed them to guide her actions. It was because of this intuitive path she took that she now helps others heal by encouraging them to get curious about their emotions and then to express those emotions through some form of creativity. 

On this journey, Jocelyn found new meaning and used her grief as a catalyst for transformation. She has so many tools at her disposal...and so many of these were new to us. She's getting certified in Soul Art Healing through Creative Expression, she's trained in Akashic Records and Human Design. She uses Yoga Nidra to balance the nervous system as we move through our emotions. All of which help to navigate through pain, trauma, and grief to find yourself in a place of growth and empowerment.

Trinity was SOO fascinated by these tools that she booked a session with Jocelyn to experience them myself and gained so much insight into the sort of longing she's been feeling.  

In this episode, Jocelyn teaches us:

1. We tend to want to avoid grief or feeling badly. However, this is an opportunity to really get in tune with your body and feel/move through your emotions in a way that resonates with you.
2. When you're truly in touch with your body and emotions, you can hear the subtle messages that you are getting sent. Surrender to your intuition and follow the threads of opportunity that present themselves.
3. Akashic records are a dimension of pure knowledge. Every soul has record of all the life experiences it has had. Everyone has the ability to access these records. Time is not linear. Everything is happening all at once...past, present, and future.
4. There are ways to open the door to our emotions slowly and to feel them incrementally. If we need to, start by writing out your painful experience in the third person and, when the time is right, you can revisit the narrative in first person.
5. Soul Art was developed by Laura Hollick and is a creative process that works with Intention, Somatic Awareness, and channeled creativity to gain insights through your art about an area in your life where you may desire more clarity, healing, or transformation.

To find more of Jocelyn:

Website | Jocelynbates.net

Linktree

And you know...if you are feeling lost or stuck, you're not alone. Midlife can be a tricky time, We're fed up, burned out, feeling lost, and trying to remember who we are and figure out who in the hell we want to become. But, we are on this journey with you alongside so many other women. It is our goal to give you space to connect with others on this same path and to give you new tools and resources to navigate this time in life. If you're enjoying this show, please share it with a friend and leave a review so we can continue to bring these tremendous resources to each and every one of you. Then join us in the middle by finding us on Facebook or Instagram or our website dearmidlife.com. We can wait to do life in the middle with you!

Trinity has been having this feeling lately that there is something new on the horizon. It's like this knowing in her bones that she's meant for more. She IS making a short-term move to Arizona and keeps thinking maybe this is a fresh start and wonder if that has something to do with it...But, then she's like nope! There's something more here, but she just can't quite put her finger on it. Have you ever felt that way?

That feeling is what possessed us to start this podcast and....to keep going for 2+ years! We just know we are on the verge of creating something that is great, that will help women who are grappling with this SAME knowing find their purpose. Today, our guest, Sasha Greenridge, does just THIS...she helps women find their purpose.

Sasha is a certified Mindset Coach that that uses Gene Keys to help women who are ready to stop seeking validation from, literally, everyone outside of themselves and, instead, look inward to discover who they really are and who in the hell they are meant to be! Gene Keys are a tool to help guide women in uncovering their gifts so they can go all in on themselves and step into their life's purpose with knowing and intention.

That's right! By understanding what their future holds and where they are meant to me, she empowers women to let go of codependence and that feeling of not being enough. Through her own seeking and efforts to redefine her OWN story, Sasha is able to empathize with other women and help them rewrite THEIR stories. 

She Iikes to think that she is designed to be the bridge, the leader, for her community into a new way. She is here to empower self love, independence and self-reliance as she shows her clients how to follow their design to live their uniqueness without interference from others. 

In this episode, Sasha teaches us:

1. Gene Keys is a transformative system that uses your birth data to provide insights into our energetic and genetic programming. Our Gene Keys can be expressed either negatively (the Shadow) or positively (the Gift), or at the enlightened state (the Siddhi). By understanding these, we can find and step into our life's purpose with intention.
2. Human Design is a “holistic self-knowledge system” that combines astrology, Kabbalah, Myers-Briggs, I Ching, quantum physics, the chakra system and a load of other stuff in order to generate an “energetic blueprint” called a BodyGraph. This is a map of “genetic code” that shows how your energy is here to engage in the world. 
3. When Human Design and Gene Keys are combined, they can guide the way you live your life and show up in this world. This knowledge can empower us to pursue our purpose with intention. If we don't understand our purpose or choose not to follow the path that has been laid out for us, we may feel as though we are in "crisis". 
4. There are life cycles through our lifespan and the cycle we hit in our 40's we go through the Uranus Opposition and can be the source of the conflict we feel in midlife. We have a choice to remain stuck and lost or we can find new purpose. Our 50s Cycle is called the Chiron and this a time where we find new purpose and meaning for the rest of our life.
5. You can't change other people. You can only change yourself.

To find more of Sasha:

Instagram | @sashaharris_Greenridge

If you're ready to ditch midlife mediocrity and level-up, we've got your back with a no-nonsense blueprint and a supportive tribe. Make sure we're connected on Facebook and Instagram. Then, visit dearmidlife.com for:

Accelerated Education: Tap into our toolkits and courses that contain expert interviews, curated resources, and actionable steps that demand growth.

Supportive Problem Solvers: Navigate midlife challenges with access to experts and the fierce friendships of our community, helping you solve any problem, find your purpose and redefine yourself.

Unapologetic Friendship Fuel: Build a strong inner circle that supports, cheers, and holds you accountable every step of the way.

We can't wait to meet you in the middle! xo Trinity and Shelby

Last year Trinity's son became very sick with a chronic illness. He had all kinds of crazy symptoms. He couldn't keep anything in his stomach and lost 100 pounds and it was truly difficult to pinpoint the root cause of the issues. As a matter of fact, they spent the better part of a year trying to get to get a true diagnosis to bring her son some relief so that he could return to living a normal life. Here's the thing, chronic illness can take so many forms: muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, insomnia, poor digestion, irritable bowels, hormone imbalance, anxiety, depression…this list can go on forever. But, you know what all chronic illness has in common? They are a huge expense to your quality of life. When Trinity's son was sick she became sick with anxiety worrying about finding a cure for him. They both struggled to work and live life and they continue to suffer anxiety that the issues may return at any moment!

Ladies, the bottom line is that If YOU are suffering from any of these, you’re not being the best human you can be. Whether it’s parenting, supporting a family, being a community member, building a career, or just enjoying your life, chronic illness is keeping you from doing it at 100%. And you know what else all these things have in common? Western medicine does not have good solutions for them. Have you ever been told “it’s all in your head” or “you just need to reduce stress” by a trusted expert or doctor?

I'm sure you're thinking, "yes! A million times!" So, if you're ready to learn how to solve these common problems with no gimmicks or expensive therapies, just real data with real solutions, you'll love our guest today, Dr. Elizabeth Davidson. Dr. Elizabeth is a Holistic doctor, functional bloodwork specialist, intuitive healer, entrepreneur, author, forager, skier, and single mom. Everyone's health is a puzzle and she combines science and intuition to help people put that puzzle together, solving "unsolvable" symptoms and rebuilding health for maximum life.

Elizabeth helps her clients recognize all the healing power they have within themselves. Many of her clients are moms... and Girl, if you can grow a human being inside your body, it makes something like lupus or hormonal imbalance look simple to solve in comparison. Dr. E has helped many women just like you solve autoimmune conditions, fibromyalgia, anxiety, hypothyroidism, and various hormonal issues.

Her "magic" is helping her clients solve "unsolvable" symptoms simply and holistically with no medications. 

In this episode, Elizabeth teaches us:

1. 80% of our immune system is in your gut. The secret to great health begins with healing or resetting your gut microbiome.
2. The foundation of health lies in your mindset. Our confidence about our bodies ability to heal has been diminished by modern society because we are focused on using drugs to treat our symptoms, without getting to the root cause of the issues.
3. Sleep is when healing happens, where you process memories, digest your food...sleep is FOUNDATIONAL to health and wellness. Further, the first thing to be impacted when you lack sleep is your immune system.
4. Schedule at least 5 interrupted minutes a day to do something for yourself! Treat yourself more like a friend and show yourself love and compassion. It is great for your health!
5. Symptoms are information. When you experience a symptom, ask yourself "why"? And then ask yourself why you're taking certain mediations? Medications are also stressors to your body because this is another substance they your body knows how to process. There should always be an "end date" to using your medication and you should strive to solve your medical ailments at the root cause of the issue.

To find more of Elizabeth:

Website | drelizabethdavidson.com

IG | @doctorelizabethvt

Free Masterclass on transforming your health practice

And we are here to add some midlife magic to your lives as well in the form of a community of women who are going through the same shit as you. They are struggling, winning, questioning, loving, and even feeling stuck at times...just like you. SO, let me ask you. Would you rather be struggling alone or with a tribe of women who empathize with you!? Who know how you feel? Who are willing and able to support you and lift you up? Because we are better together. You don't have to ride this roller coaster alone.

We've got your back with a no-nonsense blueprint and a supportive tribe. Make sure we're connected on Facebook and Instagram. Then, visit dearmidlife.com for:

Accelerated Education: Tap into our toolkits and courses that contain expert interviews, curated resources, and actionable steps that demand growth.

Supportive Problem Solvers: Navigate midlife challenges with access to experts and the fierce friendships of our community, helping you solve any problem, find your purpose and redefine yourself.

Unapologetic Friendship Fuel: Build a strong inner circle that supports, cheers, and holds you accountable every step of the way.

We can't wait to meet you in the middle! xo Trinity and Shelby

You know, we've been using a phrase a lot lately "life be lifin" meaning life ain't all roses! Sometimes she can be a little bitch that bites you in the ass. And our guest today, Suzy Easterling Wood has had her fair share of the ups and downs on the roller coaster we know as life.

Suzy endured the demise of a super abusive relationship and the loss of not one, but two, of her three children. She jokingly calls herself the "unintentional expert on all things shitty"! And yet, despite it all, she is a lover of life and is determined to help people find their own joy after devastating situations. 

Suzy is a fierce advocate for finding gratitude, even in the most challenging of times. And ladies, we're not talking about toxic positivity but, instead, being able to focus in on the positive despite the negative factors that often derail us from living the life we deserve. 

After losing her second child, Suzy knew that she was MEANT to survive her stories and to share them with others. It is her goal to give people hope and for them to understand that just because tragic events happen, they do not have to define us. Shape us, yes. Define us, no.

In this episode, she reminds us that there is so much happiness in the world if we allow ourselves the space to create it. None of us are exempt from the experience of loss. It is perhaps the only thing that that we all, as humans, have in common. Her philosophy is that we might as well make peace with it. Even marinate in it for a while. And then take steps to mobilize and work towards experiencing the joy that surrounds us. We have to make space for it. It is not easy, but it is possible. We promise.

In this episode Suzy teaches us:

1. Life is fragile and temporary. Take every opportunity to experience life-the good AND the bad-with authenticity.
2. Use your grief and trauma as a catalyst to become the person that you want to be.
3. It is important to shed or let go of the emotions that are no longer serving you. If necessary, write these emotions down on a piece of paper and physically box them up, cross them off, or get rid of them symbolically in someway. In this way, you can make space for the emotions you want to keep
4. You have to train your brain to transform your negative thoughts into positive ones. Suzy says, When you're driving down the highway and barreling towards those negative thoughts, put your blinker on and choose a different path.
5. We are meant to survive our stories. Every single one of us will experience trauma or grief. What we do with it is our choice and there is still so much beauty in this world. make the best of it and find gratitude in the little things.

Girl! We know you've had your struggles too. But, look around you. You are not alone. WE are here and we've got your back and we have a tribe of female friends who've got your back. we are all here to lift you up and support you.

Are you ready to ditch midlife mediocrity and level up your life? We've got your back with a no-nonsense blueprint and a supportive tribe. Make sure we're connected on Facebook and Instagram. Then, visit dearmidlife.com for:

Accelerated Education: Tap into our toolkits and courses that contain expert interviews, curated resources, and actionable steps that demand growth.

Supportive Problem Solvers: Navigate midlife challenges with access to experts and the fierce friendships of our community, helping you solve any problem, find your purpose and redefine yourself.

Unapologetic Friendship Fuel: Build a strong inner circle that supports, cheers, and holds you accountable every step of the way.

Trinity recently landed herself in the hospital because she's been so overwhelmed with a work project that she just started neglecting herself. She was eating the bare minimum each day, she wasn't sleeping and was, essentially, depriving her body of everything it needed to remain focused on her work. For the first time ever she acknowledges that she really felt this wake-up call. Her body was like, "excuse me bitch...what the hell do you think you're doing?" She was having heart palpitations, brain fog, was shaking and sweating and, ultimately, found herself at the hospital in fear and concern because these were symptoms she'd never experienced before!

Have you ever had a similar experience? Has your body tried to tell you to slow the hell down? I mean, Life be lifin' for all of us these days and we get it! If you're a woman, it seems inevitable to turn our attention to everyone else around us BUT ourselves. Because, that is what we do as women! However, our guest today, Amy K. Wilson, is here to remind us that THIS neglect...this failure to listen to our bodies... is landing men and women in their early 50s (people OUR age) in nursing homes for the rest of their lives.

Amy is a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, a certified fitness professional, and a certified nutrition coach using the FASTer Way to Fat Loss platform, that is disrupting the diet industry and helping her clients take their health back. And I know what you're thinking...I'm not geriatric YET!! But, it is her goal to keep these issues plaguing our society at bay so you can feel young and vibrant.

It's Amy’s mission is to empower and equip her clients to take charge of their health and find balance in their lives. With over 30 years of experience, Amy specializes in developing individualized health plans that navigate through her client’s individual barriers, allowing them to be successful in their efforts. Amy is passionate about helping people prevent and reverse diseases with nutrition and fitness. Through her personal and professional experience, she has seen first hand how diet and exercise can change a person’s life, and how the right nutritional program can be the key to improving their health and fitness.

She has seen her clients reverse their pre-diabetes, diabetes, high cholesterol, and more. She is driven to help her clients feel in control of their body and mind, while no longer feeling enslaved by their scale. The conversation

In this episode Amy teaches us:

1. Our bodies are one big chemical reaction. If we are not giving our bodies what we need, it will start to fail and send you signals. LISTEN AND RESPOND to what your body is telling you.
2. The processed "healthy" crap in a box is NOT healthy for you. Your body needs REAL food
3. when your body isn't getting enough healthy fuel/food...it starts feeding on your muscles and your bones. This creates long-term issues like muscle atrophy and osteoperosis.
4. Insulin resistance occurs when we eat too many things (think those "quick" easy things like cookies) that causes our insulin to spike and we do this repetitively over and over again. When this happens our muscles and cells become "resistant" to insulin and will no longer allow more insulin into the cell as fuel. Then we have excess blood sugar in our bodies that manifests itself as diabetes.
5. The body uses inflammation in some instances to heal itself. However, when we aren't eating enough, we don't get enough sleep and we're under constant stress, our body feels like it is always under attack an we develop chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is the cornerstone of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Alzheimer's.

To connect with Amy:

Website | AmyKWilson.com

Facebook | amywilsonfitness

LinkedIn | Amy-Wilson-rph-bcgp

Instagram | @thenutritioncoachpharmacist

And girl, if you've not become part of our tribe of badass women, head to our website dearmidlife.com and join the conversation. We are striving everyday to give you the resources you need to survive and thrive in Midlife. When you have the tools and tribe in place, anything is possible. Are you ready to unleash your power?