Have you ever looked around at your life and wondered: "When did I stop feeling like myself?"

Maybe you're checking all the boxes, taking care of everyone else, managing your career, your family, your home, and your health—but somewhere along the way, joy, curiosity, desire, and pleasure started to disappear.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with Gabriella Espinosa, women's wellness expert, host of the Pleasure in the Pause podcast, and advocate for redefining pleasure and connection in midlife.

Gabriella shares her own journey through perimenopause, where anxiety, overwhelm, brain fog, low libido, and feeling disconnected from herself led her to explore the missing conversation around pleasure, body awareness, intimacy, and nervous system safety.

Together, they discuss why so many women lose connection with their bodies after years of caregiving, striving, and putting everyone else first—and why pleasure isn't a luxury, but an essential part of feeling alive, energized, and connected.

They also explore how changing hormones, stress, and survival mode impact desire, why intimacy can be rebuilt at any age, and how simple daily moments of joy and sensation can help women reconnect with themselves.

If you've been feeling like the version of you who felt vibrant, playful, confident, or deeply connected has disappeared, this conversation will remind you that she isn't gone—and it's never too late to rediscover her.

GABRIELLA ESPINOSA

Gabriella Espinosa is a women's wellness and pleasure advocate, yoga and breathwork teacher, host of the Pleasure in the Pause podcast, and executive producer of the upcoming documentary Hot. Through her work, she helps women reconnect with their bodies, redefine pleasure, and navigate midlife with greater confidence, connection, and vitality.

IN THIS EPISODE

QUOTES

“Pleasure has no age limit or expiration date.”

“Pleasure is actually information.”

“Perimenopause doesn't mean the end of pleasure. It can be the beginning of a new exciting chapter.”

“What feels good in my body?”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

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Why do so many women reach midlife and suddenly feel like everything is harder than it used to be?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with nationally recognized clinical psychologist, behavioral change expert, and author Dr. Rachel Goldman to explore why so many women feel overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, and stuck during major life transitions.

Dr. Rachel explains how stress, changing responsibilities, shifting identities, motherhood, career demands, and body changes can create a sense of losing yourself—and why the answer isn't pushing harder, but learning how to respond differently.

Together, they discuss the mindset shifts that help women navigate change with more self-compassion, flexibility, and resilience. They also explore the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and how simple tools from cognitive behavioral therapy can help break patterns that keep us stuck.

Dr. Rachel also shares why self-care doesn't have to mean adding another overwhelming task to your list. Instead, small intentional moments like movement, breathing, time outside, connection, and creating a reset can completely shift how you show up in your life.

If you've been wondering whether you'll ever feel like yourself again, this episode is a reminder that change doesn't mean you've lost who you are—it may be an invitation to step into your next chapter with more strength and confidence.

DR. RACHEL GOLDMAN

Dr. Rachel Goldman is a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, behavioral change expert, speaker, and author of When Life Happens: The Mindset Shift You Need to Manage Stress, Build Confidence, and Break Free. She helps people manage stress, improve mindset, navigate life transitions, and build confidence through practical, evidence-based tools rooted in psychology and behavioral change.

IN THIS EPISODE

QUOTES

“Life can be challenging, but it doesn't have to feel so challenging.”

“We have to create the time.”

“Feeling stuck isn't who you are. It's a signal.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

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Why do so many women suddenly start waking up at 3:00 a.m. during perimenopause?

In this practical and science-backed conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with renowned sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus to unpack why sleep changes so dramatically during perimenopause and menopause, and what women can do to finally get restorative sleep again.

Dr. Breus explains how fluctuating estrogen, progesterone, melatonin, cortisol, body temperature, and blood sugar all collide during midlife, creating the perfect storm for middle-of-the-night awakenings. He shares why waking up at 3:00 a.m. is incredibly common, how modern habits often make it worse, and why women need a layered approach instead of relying on a single solution.

Together, they discuss everything from sleep apnea, hormone replacement therapy, alcohol, caffeine, blood sugar, and evening routines to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), breathwork, thermoregulation, and supplementation.

Most importantly, Dr. Breus offers practical strategies women can begin implementing immediately to improve sleep quality, reduce nighttime wakeups, and build a foundation for better health through every stage of menopause.

If you've been lying awake at 3:00 a.m. wondering what's happening to your body, this episode is packed with answers and actionable solutions.

DR. MICHAEL BREUS

Dr. Michael Breus is a board-certified clinical psychologist, clinical sleep specialist, bestselling author, and founder of The Sleep Doctor. For more than two decades, he has helped millions of people improve their sleep through science-backed strategies focused on circadian rhythms, sleep disorders, behavioral sleep medicine, and overall wellness. He is the author of multiple bestselling books, including Sleep, Drink, Breathe.

IN THIS EPISODE

QUOTES

“Everything we do, we do better with a good night's sleep.”

“Sleep is the currency of attention.”

“You need runway to land the plane.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

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Get the “Sleep Drink Breathe: Simple Daily Habits for Profound Long-Term Health” book by Dr. Michael Breus.

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What if the reason you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, exhausted, disconnected, or stuck isn't because you're broken—but because your nervous system no longer feels safe?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with psychiatrist, neuroscientist, inventor, and author Dr. Dave Rabin to explore the science of safety, nervous system regulation, emotional healing, resilience, and what it truly means to be alive.

Drawing from decades of work treating patients with PTSD, anxiety, addiction, and chronic stress, Dr. Rabin shares why many traditional mental health approaches often fall short and why healing begins by helping the body relearn safety.

Together, they discuss how modern life, chronic overstimulation, smartphones, loneliness, and constant stress have created what Dr. Rabin calls a "habitat crisis" that is overwhelming our nervous systems and contributing to rising rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, and chronic disease.

Dr. Rabin also explains why feeling must come before thinking, how many of our limiting beliefs become subconscious programs during childhood, and how simple practices can help rewrite those stories in real time.

The conversation dives into heart rate variability (HRV), vagus nerve health, emotional processing, play, connection, and the remarkable science behind Apollo Neuro—a wearable technology designed to help the body feel safer, sleep better, and recover more effectively from stress.

If you've ever felt trapped in survival mode, disconnected from joy, or exhausted from constantly pushing through, this episode offers a hopeful roadmap back to safety, resilience, and healing.

Dr. Dave Rabin

Dr. Dave Rabin is a board-certified psychiatrist, neuroscientist, inventor, and mental health innovator. He is the co-founder of Apollo Neuro, a wearable technology designed to improve stress resilience, sleep, focus, and recovery through gentle vibrations that activate the body's safety response system. He is also the author of A Simple Guide to Being Alive, which explores the neuroscience of safety, healing, emotional well-being, and human flourishing.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why nervous system dysregulation is driving so many modern health challenges

How chronic stress, smartphones, and overstimulation contribute to a "habitat crisis"

Why feeling emotions is essential for healing and resilience

How subconscious childhood programming shapes adult behavior and beliefs

The connection between vagus nerve function, HRV, and long-term health

Why sleep quality may be one of the most powerful tools for nervous system recovery

The science behind Apollo Neuro and how it supports safety and resilience

How play, connection, and joy help create lasting healing

QUOTES
“Feeling is required for healing.”

“Pleasure and joy remind us that we are safe.”

“We all have the ability to heal ourselves.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code ENERGIZED and get 30% off on your first BATCH order

http://hellobatch.com/ENERGIZED

Get the “A Simple Guide to Being Alive” book by Dr. Dave Rabin now

https://apolloneuro.com/pages/a-simple-guide-to-being-alive

Apollo Neuro Website

The Board of Medicine

Dr. Dave Rabin Instagram

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Why do so many women enter perimenopause feeling like the rug has been pulled out from under them?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with integrative medicine physician and menopause expert Dr. Melinda Ring to explore why perimenopause often feels so destabilizing and why so many women feel blindsided by symptoms they were never warned about.

Together, they unpack the profound neuroendocrine changes happening during the perimenopause transition and why symptoms like sleep disruption, anxiety, brain fog, overwhelm, stress sensitivity, and feeling "not like yourself" often become some of the earliest signs that something is shifting.

Dr. Ring explains the critical connection between hormones, the stress response system, sleep quality, nervous system regulation, and long-term health outcomes. They also discuss why traditional medical approaches have historically fallen short for women, the growing role of hormone replacement therapy, and why individualized care matters more than ever.

The conversation dives deep into HPA axis dysfunction, trauma, chronic stress, self-compassion, resilience, and the importance of helping women feel safe in their bodies during a time of tremendous change.

If you've ever wondered whether what you're experiencing is normal—or if you've found yourself saying, "I don't feel like myself anymore"—this episode offers both validation and practical guidance.

Dr. Melinda Ring

Dr. Melinda Ring is a board-certified physician, integrative medicine expert, educator, and internationally recognized leader in women's health and menopause care. She serves as Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health and is passionate about helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause through evidence-based, whole-person care that addresses hormones, lifestyle, stress, sleep, and long-term health optimization.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why perimenopause often feels so overwhelming and unexpected

The connection between sleep disruption, hormones, and brain health

Why many women feel like they "don't feel like themselves" anymore

The role of HPA axis dysfunction and chronic stress during midlife

How trauma and long-term stress influence the menopause transition

The evolving conversation around hormone replacement therapy

Why individualized hormone care matters more than one-size-fits-all protocols

How women can build resilience, safety, and self-compassion during perimenopause

QUOTES
“Sleep is the force multiplier.”

“You can't heal in survival mode.”

“The brain is reorganizing, not just the ovaries.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your Troscription Order

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What if inflammation is the missing link behind so many of the symptoms women experience after 40?

In this solo episode, Dr. Mariza breaks down the powerful connection between low-grade chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, hormone changes, brain health, energy production, and accelerated aging. She explains why inflammation is far more than an immune system issue and how it silently influences nearly every aspect of health during perimenopause and menopause.

Many women assume that fatigue, brain fog, stubborn belly fat, poor sleep, anxiety, joint pain, cravings, and declining energy are separate issues requiring separate solutions. But Dr. Mariza reveals how these symptoms are often interconnected through one common underlying process: inflammation.

She also explores why perimenopause is not simply a hormone transition but a metabolic, vascular, and neuroendocrine transition that increases inflammatory burden and changes how the body responds to stress, blood sugar fluctuations, sleep disruption, and hormonal shifts.

Most importantly, Dr. Mariza shares the practical lifestyle pillars she uses to lower inflammation, improve metabolic flexibility, support hormone health, and create the internal environment needed for healthy aging and long-term vitality.

If you've been feeling like your body is changing but can't quite connect the dots, this episode will help you understand what inflammation may be trying to tell you.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why low-grade inflammation is one of the biggest drivers of symptoms after 40

The connection between inflammation, metabolism, hormones, and aging

How perimenopause increases inflammatory burden throughout the body

The labs Dr. Mariza recommends to assess inflammation and metabolic health

Why blood sugar regulation is one of the fastest ways to lower inflammation

The critical role of muscle, movement, sleep, and nervous system regulation

How gut health influences inflammation, immunity, and metabolism

Practical daily habits that help reduce inflammation and support healthy aging

QUOTES
“The goal isn't simply to lose weight. The goal is creating an internal environment where the body no longer feels the need to stay inflamed.”

“One workout cannot undo eight hours of sitting.”

“When inflammation comes down, everything goes up.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

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What if one of the biggest missing pieces of perimenopause isn't hormones at all?

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with Ryan Woodbury, co-founder and co-CEO of Needed, to explore why nutrient deficiencies may be one of the most overlooked drivers of fatigue, brain fog, low energy, poor stress resilience, and other common symptoms women experience during perimenopause.

Ryan shares the surprising personal experience that led her into the world of nutritional science and supplementation, including discovering her own nutrient deficiencies despite following a highly nutrient-dense diet. Together, they unpack the alarming research showing that most women are entering pregnancy, postpartum, and eventually perimenopause already running on depleted nutritional reserves.

They discuss the shortcomings of traditional nutritional recommendations, why so many women remain deficient despite taking standard multivitamins, and how decades of stress, caregiving, disrupted sleep, pregnancies, and modern environmental demands create a perfect storm for depletion.

Dr. Mariza and Ryan also dive into the critical role nutrients play in supporting hormone production, brain function, metabolism, cellular energy, blood sugar regulation, and healthy aging. Most importantly, they offer practical guidance for building a stronger nutritional foundation so women can thrive through midlife and beyond.

If you've ever wondered why you still feel depleted despite doing "all the right things," this conversation will help connect the dots.

RYAN WOODBURY

Ryan Woodbury is the co-founder and co-CEO of Needed, a company dedicated to improving nutritional support for women across every stage of life. With a background in environmental science, nutrition, and food systems, Ryan has become a leading advocate for evidence-based nutrient support for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause. Her mission is to help women move beyond bare-minimum nutrition and build the foundation needed for lifelong vitality.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why nutrient deficiencies are so common among women entering perimenopause

The hidden impact of stress, caregiving, pregnancy, and postpartum depletion

Why traditional multivitamins often fail to meet women's nutritional needs

The critical role of vitamin D, magnesium, choline, omega-3s, and B vitamins

How nutrient deficiencies contribute to fatigue, brain fog, and metabolic dysfunction

Why foundational nutrition matters before adding targeted interventions

The connection between blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and hormonal health

How women can build a stronger foundation for energy, cognition, and healthy aging

QUOTES
“95% of women have at least one nutrient deficiency in a very key nutrient.”

“You deserve to get what your body actually needs, not the bare minimum.”

“When women reclaim their energy, they don't just change themselves, they change the world.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Subscribe now and get 20% off + FREE Shipping on your first NEEDED Supplement Order

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What if resilience isn't about pushing harder, but about learning how to move forward with grace, courage, and joy when life doesn't go according to plan?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with bestselling author, speaker, coach, and podcast host Amberly Lago to discuss resilience, overcoming adversity, and finding purpose through life's most difficult challenges.

After surviving a devastating motorcycle accident that nearly took her life, enduring dozens of surgeries, and being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Amberly faced years of chronic pain, uncertainty, and reinvention. Rather than allowing her circumstances to define her, she chose to build a life rooted in resilience, gratitude, faith, community, and purpose.

Together, they explore the mindset shifts that help women move through difficult seasons, the role of gratitude in healing, why joy is a daily practice rather than a destination, and how small habits can create profound transformation over time.

Whether you're navigating health challenges, career transitions, relationship struggles, or simply feeling stuck, this conversation offers practical tools and powerful encouragement to help you move forward with greater confidence and hope.

AMBERLY LAGO

Amberly Lago is a bestselling author, resilience coach, TEDx speaker, top-ranked podcast host, and motivational speaker. After surviving a catastrophic motorcycle accident and living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, she transformed her personal challenges into a mission to help others build resilience, find joy, and create meaningful lives despite adversity. She is the author of multiple books, including Joy Through the Journey and True Grit and Grace.

IN THIS EPISODE

QUOTES

“You can't be grateful and miserable at the same time.”

“Resilience isn't about bouncing back. It's about moving forward.”

“When you've got grit, there is no quit.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

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What if your chronic pain, migraines, anxiety, fatigue, IBS, or other persistent symptoms aren't permanent at all?

In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with Dr. Howard Schubiner, physician, researcher, and leading expert in neuroplastic symptoms, to explore a groundbreaking approach that is helping people reverse chronic pain and other conditions long considered lifelong and irreversible.

Dr. Schubiner explains how the brain creates pain as a protective danger signal, why emotional injuries can activate the same neural pathways as physical injuries, and how unresolved trauma, chronic stress, adverse childhood experiences, and self-silencing can contribute to chronic symptoms years or even decades later.

Together, they discuss the growing body of research around neuroplastic pain, the connection between emotions and physical symptoms, and why many people continue suffering despite normal scans, medications, and conventional treatments.

Dr. Mariza also shares her own experience with chronic migraines, leading to a powerful live demonstration of how pain reprocessing techniques can begin shifting the brain's expectations and neural patterns in real time.

This conversation offers hope for anyone who has been told they simply need to manage their symptoms for the rest of their life.

HOWARD SCHUBINER

Dr. Howard Schubiner is a physician, researcher, educator, and one of the leading voices in the field of neuroplastic symptoms. He is the author of Unlearn Your Pain and has spent decades helping patients recover from chronic pain, migraines, fibromyalgia, IBS, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and other conditions through evidence-based approaches rooted in neuroscience, emotional processing, and neuroplasticity.

IN THIS EPISODE

QUOTES
“Pain can be a message that our brain sends.”

“Emotional injury causes the same parts of the brain to light up as physical injury.”

“Chronic pain is not necessarily a life sentence.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code ENERGIZED and get 30% off on your first BATCH order

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What if the foods marketed as “healthy” are actually contributing to the very symptoms so many women are struggling with today?

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with Julia Putzeys, certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and founder of the Trash Panda app, to expose the hidden reality of ultra-processed foods and how they impact energy, hormones, metabolism, mood, inflammation, and long-term health.

Together, they unpack the confusing world of food marketing, ingredient labels, food additives, artificial flavors, seed oils, and the growing prevalence of ultra-processed foods in the modern food supply. Julia shares her own journey from believing she was eating healthy to discovering how many seemingly nutritious products were filled with ingredients that offered little nourishment and often contributed to poor health outcomes.

They also discuss the powerful mindset shift from calorie counting and restriction toward nourishment, nutrient density, and real food. As mothers, both Dr. Mariza and Julia share practical strategies for helping children develop a healthier relationship with food while avoiding the traps of hyper-palatable, addictive processed products.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed at the grocery store or questioned whether the foods in your pantry are actually supporting your health, this episode offers practical guidance and empowering tools to help you make more informed choices.

JULIA PUTZEYS

Julia Putzeys is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, founder of the Trash Panda app, and mother of three. Combining her background in software product management with her passion for nutrition, Julia created Trash Panda to help consumers quickly identify potentially harmful ingredients in packaged foods and discover healthier alternatives. Her mission is to make ingredient transparency and healthier food choices more accessible to families everywhere.

IN THIS EPISODE

QUOTES
“Eating whole food means reading the ingredients, not just the nutrition label.”

“Your body becomes addicted to ultra-processed foods because they’re designed that way.”

“When I started focusing on real food, I had so much less food noise.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code ENERGIZED and get $10 off on annual membership for the Trash Panda App on IOS

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Download the Trash Panda App now on IOS or Android

https://trashpanda.app.link/AvwFh7mfG3b

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your MitoQ Order

https://www.mitoq.com/energized%C2%A0

Trash Panda App Website

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Trash Panda App Facebook

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