In this episode of the Love Your Life Show, I sit down with Dr. Maria Sophocles to talk about midlife sexuality and why so many women experience changes in desire as they move through perimenopause and menopause. We explore the bedroom gap, sexual burnout in women, and the many reasons women find themselves wondering why they no longer want sex in midlife. From body image and sexual desire to the role hormones and stress play, this conversation sheds light on what is actually happening and why you are not broken.

We also talk about topics women are rarely given clear guidance on, including menopause and sex, medications that affect libido, and why it can feel so uncomfortable to talk to doctors and partners about sexual health. Dr. Maria shares practical, doable steps women can take today to feel more connected to their bodies and better informed about women’s sexual health after 40.

In this episode, we cover:

Why libido changes after menopause and during perimenopause

What sexual burnout looks like and why it is so common

How body image impacts sexual desire in midlife

The bedroom gap and mismatched expectations between partners

Prescription medications that may be affecting libido

How to talk to your doctor about sex and get real support

If you have ever felt confused, frustrated, or alone when it comes to sex in midlife, this episode on the bedroom gap with Dr. Maria Sophocles and Susie Pettit will help you understand what is going on and what you can do next.

If you liked this show, you’ll like the past conversation I had with Dr. Maria! 

Rethinking Menopause & HRT on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-menopause-hrt-your-best-self-starts-now/id1434429161?i=1000713365898

Rethinking Menopause & HRT on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/5TwRaLgGLrmxBzLlT7vpBu?si=Hl3CyADmTCKrAIkgD2QxPg

If you already listened to that and want more about “duty sex” and midlife sexuality, don’t miss this conversation with Dr Sonia Wright:

Let's Talk about Sex with Dr. Sonia Wright on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/130-lets-talk-about-sex-with-dr-sonia-wright/id1434429161?i=1000507532904

Let's Talk about Sex with Dr. Sonia Wright on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/3kPZokWJmNAFnKunNP0SnK?si=bgimi9afQhGSIkxshn2ikQ

Get all the links we mentioned and connect with Dr Maria Sophocles go here 👉🏾https://SMBwell.com/393

Get her book now: https://amzn.to/49uZ7JV

Want more support?

💬 Share this with a friend who feels burnt out, resentful towards her husband, or is in a sexless marriage. 

👩🏼‍🎓Take it to the next level and join the Love Your Life School http://theloveyourlifeschool.com/

📸 Tag me on Instagram @smb.wellness so I can cheer you on! https://instagram.com/smb.wellness

The post The Bedroom Gap with Dr. Maria Sophocles appeared first on Susie Pettit.

Have you ever wondered if you are being compassionate or if you are actually taking on responsibility that was never yours to carry?

In this episode, I am talking directly to the women who are capable, thoughtful, and deeply caring, and who often feel exhausted because they are holding everything together for everyone else.

This conversation was inspired by real emails from listeners who asked a powerful question. How can I tell if I am being compassionate or codependent?

Together, we explore how many of us were raised to overfunction, why this pattern makes so much sense, and how it shows up in our adult relationships. I share why this is not your fault, how being a “good girl” shaped so many of our habits, and why trying to fix other people’s feelings can quietly steal your peace.

Most importantly, I walk you through simple, practical ways to pause, regulate yourself, and respond differently so you can stay caring without abandoning yourself. I also share real life examples from my own day to show how this work looks in the moment, not in theory.

If you are ready to stop feeling so responsible for everyone else and start creating healthier, more connected relationships, this episode is for you.

If you liked this show, you’ll like these:

Top episodes for moms: https://SMBwell.com/mom

Top episodes related to narcissism + relationships: https://SMBwell.com/narc

The Podcast Roadmap (foundational episodes on emotional intelligence and emotional maturity): https://smbwell.com/roadmap

FREE QUIZ: How Codependent Am I? https://SMBwell.com/coda

Get the full show notes here👉🏾 https://SMBwell.com/392

⭐️See if Coach Susie has room on her schedule: https://smbwell.com/work-with-me/

🤓Join the Love Your Life School: http://theLoveYourLifeSchool.com

🙌🏾 Support Susie’s Mission: https://patreon.com/susiepettit

📰Get the Weekly Warrior Wellness Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2gYQMlA

🩷Let’s be friends on Instagram-https://instagram.com/smb.wellness

The post Are You Being Compassionate or Codependent? How Overfunctioning Is Costing You Your Peace appeared first on Susie Pettit.

Do you consider yourself GenX?

Do you know someone who was born between 1965-1980?

Don’t miss this episode inspired by a TikTok on “The Top GenX Blindspots”. Whoa!

For me, and many midlife women, these are things we learned to do to survive in a system where our emotional and mental needs weren’t met. We were pretty ingenious actually, one might even say, warrior like! Yet, as adults, these adaptive, protective strategies become maladaptive and hurt us and our relationships.

Join me as I explain how the way we were raised might be quietly sabotaging our emotional wellbeing and the health of our relationships.

If you have ever wondered why you say you are fine when you are not, why you push your own needs aside, or why you feel responsible for everyone around you, this episode will help so much.

And I don’t leave you hanging - after listening, you’ll have some simple strategies to help you care for yourself, connect more deeply, and begin shifting patterns that have been in place for decades.

This episode is the perfect starting point as we begin a new year and move toward February’s relationship healing work in the Love Your Life School.

Join me, fellow GenX woman, as I look at three hidden patterns that are probably playing out in your relationships and affecting your mental health.

If you liked this show, you’ll love these two:

Learned helplessness on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/274-overfunctioning-and-learned-helplessness/id1434429161?i=1000634097009

Learned helplessness on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MF4IJSaVSMpfNhRAb7wyN?si=JuwR8qQnRiydi4fKDz1UDw

Enmeshment interview with Dr. Kate Balestrieri on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/enmeshment-codependency-with-dr-kate-balestrieri/id1434429161?i=1000733979384

Enmeshment interview with Dr. Kate Balestrieri on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WMOkGaEpLNHcmvF0W5JTa?si=kMALGFXuTQWzb-oFH5qDGQ

Get the full show notes here👉🏾 https://SMBwell.com/391

⭐️See if Susie has room on her schedule for a one-on-one session. Let’s get to where we’re going faster! https://smb.as.me/

🤓Quick - Join us as we dive into relationships for February 2026! The Love Your Life School Membership http://theLoveYourLifeSchool.com

🙌🏾 Support Susie’s Mission https://patreon.com/susiepettit

🩷Find, follow and connect with her on Instagram https://instagram.com/smb.wellness

📩 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter so you never miss an episode.

💬 Share this with a friend who’s feeling disconnected or overwhelmed. (or who often says “I’m fine” but you know she’s anything but ❤️‍🩹)

The post Three Gen X Blind Spots That Hurt Our Relationships and How to Heal Them appeared first on Susie Pettit.

Anyone else out there tired?

Emotionally exhausted?

Ready to try something new for 2026?

This is the episode for you. 💗

I sat down with Dr. Shonda Allen Hill to talk about the subtle “conversation traps” so many midlife women fall into without realizing it. If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation feeling drained, irritated, or like you just lost thirty minutes of your life you’ll never get back, click play. 🤓

These traps steal our time, amp up our stress, and keep us stuck in cycles of over-explaining, defending, and managing everyone else’s emotions. Dr. Hill breaks down why these patterns feel so exhausting and why they’re especially common for moms who are already carrying the emotional load of the whole household.

But here’s the good news: communication doesn’t have to feel heavy. In this episode, Dr. Hill shares simple, doable shifts that help you reclaim your time, your energy, and your peace—even if the people around you don’t change. Her insights will show you how to say less, stress less, and sidestep the conversations that lead straight into conflict or resentment. If you’re ready to feel lighter in your relationships and more in control of your day, you’re going to love this conversation.

If you liked this show, you’ll like this one: Communication Tool: Less Drama, More Connection on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/communication-tool-less-drama-more-connection/id1434429161?i=1000658725819

Drama, More Connection on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4t8QgA2UAiFkB9a9XrZszU?si=OcxoBHQsT5a83zh2aiskew

Get all the links we mentioned and connect with Dr. Shonda Allen Hill go here👉🏾 https://SMBwell.com/390

Want more support?

💬 Share this with a friend who feels like her conversations with her husband or kids never change or who sometimes complains “We can’t talk about that”

👩🏼‍🎓Take it to the next level and join the Love Your Life School http://theloveyourlifeschool.com/

📸 Tag me on Instagram @smb.wellness so I can cheer you on! https://instagram.com/smb.wellness

The post Avoid these Conversation Traps: Your Communication Fresh Start appeared first on Susie Pettit.

This is the episode you’ve been asking for!

When you next feel overwhelmed, anxious, emotionally exhausted, or over. it. all….Before booking a one-way ticket to anywhere but here, press play and tap along with me.

In this episode of the Love Your Life Show, I walk you through a full guided EFT tapping session. This is the exact practice I use when my emotions feel too big, when my anxiety hits a ten out of ten, or when life feels heavier than I want it to.

EFT tapping blends Chinese acupressure with modern psychology and is known for helping with anxiety, stress, fear, sleep struggles, and emotional overload. You simply tap on 9 points of the body while repeating a setup statement. 

This is a quick episode where I guide you through the exact practice. Not one more thing to do or research. I’ve done that for you. Literally, sit back, push play, and feel relief. 

I’m serious when I say, this works. 

Inside this episode you will learn:

This is a short, calming, supportive session designed for real life moments. You can tap along anywhere and any time you need grounding.

If you have been feeling stretched thin or stuck in your head, this episode will help you reconnect with your body and breathe again. Give yourself the next few minutes. You deserve it. Press play and let’s tap together.

👉🏽Want another “push play, feel better” practice? Here’s a full body scan

Warrior Body Scan on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/warrior-body-scan/id1434429161?i=1000454944667

Warrior Body Scan on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0UkMmFbdlO3wwzsi4Hcd2V?si=06f8f264216744c4

👉🏽Looking for more of what helps me when I’m anxious? 

Listen here: 64: 10 All-Natural Ways to Beat Anxiety on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/64-10-all-natural-ways-to-beat-anxiety/id1434429161?i=1000454561162

64: 10 All-Natural Ways to Beat Anxiety on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BFVByo5lmPC60mj3g6LeU?si=b31sBGL-QSC-5fHRs_PmIQ

Want to see where I’m tapping? Watch this video here: https://youtu.be/FaSuF_JbYM8

And if you’re new here, Here’s the PODCAST ROADMAP I mentioned: https://smbwell.com/roadmap for the foundational episodes on emotional regulation, emotional intelligence, and how to feel better in your life.

Get the full show notes here👉🏾 https://SMBwell.com/389

CONNECT WITH COACH SUSIE:

⭐️Work with Coach Susie: https://smbwell.com/work-with-me/

🤓The Love Your Life School Membership-http://theLoveYourLifeSchool.com

🙌🏾 Support Susie’s Mission: https://patreon.com/susiepettit

🩷Find and follow her on YouTube-LOVE YOUR LIFE VLOG - YouTube

Or Instagram-https://instagram.com/smb.wellness

The post A Guided Tapping Session for the Days You Just Can’t Even appeared first on Susie Pettit.

If you’ve ever found yourself feeling resentful, irritated, or annoyed as a mom, wife, or friend, you don’t want to miss this episode.

Learning from Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife has helped me so much as a mom, through my divorce and into my now healthy, more mature marriage, my friendships, and my relationship with myself. I can not recommend her work highly enough.

Please gift yourself a listen to today’s episode. Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife and I talk about why resentment shows up in marriage and motherhood and how to use it as a path toward self-understanding and deeper connection.

We explore how relationships are powerful containers for personal growth, what it really means to self-confront and take responsibility for your part, and how to move away from compliance and people-pleasing into honesty and emotional maturity.

Dr. Finlayson-Fife shares her perspective on self-authoring, costly accommodation, and the difference between love and victim entitlement. Together we talk about how to feel more connected in your marriage, less resentful in your motherhood, and more grounded in who you truly are.

If you’ve been longing for more peace and authenticity in your relationships, this conversation will help you take the first step.

If you liked this show, you’ll like these two:

Resentment and Shame on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/233-resentment-feel-it-heres-the-greatest-tip/id1434429161?i=1000596420128

Get the full show notes here👉🏾 https://SMBwell.com/388

Find out more about Dr. Fife here:

Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife’s website: https://www.finlayson-fife.com/

Say hi to Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finlaysonfife/

Want more support?

💬 This is a GREAT episode to share with a friend. Who knows, you might pair up and take her Art of Desire Class together! Share the link to this show on Apple and Spotify here https://smbwell.com/listen

👩🏼‍🎓Take it to the next level and join the Love Your Life School 

📸 Come say hi on Instagram @smb.wellness and ⭐️bonus points ⭐️if you let Dr. Finlayson-Fife know you appreciate her coming on the Love Your Life Show https://www.instagram.com/finlaysonfife/

The post How to Stop Feeling Resentful in Marriage and Motherhood | Conversation with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife appeared first on Susie Pettit.

The Year You Let It Be Easy

What if your best year yet didn’t require more effort but less struggle?

In this episode, I invite you to imagine a year that feels light, free, and full of possibility. Together we’ll look at how to stop overworking, overthinking, and over-caring so you can start creating a life that actually feels like yours.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

This is your reminder that it’s safe to slow down. You can dream, choose, and believe your way into a gentler, more joyful year.

Press play and let’s make this the year you let it be easy.

If you liked this show, you’ll like this one:

The Case for Boredom on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/155-the-case-for-boredom/id1434429161?i=1000530241019

The Case for Boredom on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4yxhcocfY1yrkNSvCTnLJs?si=r3np0HpMQjOv4LqddUwf7w

If you’ve never chosen a word of the year before, you’ll want to

1️⃣ Listen to this episode here

2️⃣ Get your WORD OF THE YEAR WORKSHEET here https://smbwell.com/word

Get the full show notes here👉🏾 https://SMBwell.com/387

CONNECT WITH COACH SUSIE:

⭐️Work with Coach Susie: https://smbwell.com/work-with-me/

🤓The Love Your Life School Membership: http://theLoveYourLifeSchool.com

🙌🏾 Support Susie’s Mission: https://patreon.com/susiepettit

🩷SHARE YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR WITH ME here on Instagram-https://instagram.com/smb.wellness or email me at [email protected]

The post The Year You Let It Be Easy appeared first on Susie Pettit.

Whoa warriors, this episode wasn’t planned.

It started on a walk. One small moment after another, until something landed so clearly that I stopped short, pulled out my phone, and hit record.

In this short bonus episode, I share a more personal side of my own life and what that walk stirred up for me in real time. It’s reflective, honest, and a little different than my usual episodes.

Then, I bring you the heart of a listener-favorite teaching and walk you through how to choose your word of the year in a way that actually feels supportive instead of stressful. Not a word you should pick. A word that meets you where you are and gently guides you toward how you want to feel and live.

If you’ve been craving clarity, a reset, or a softer way to step into the year ahead, this episode is for you. Let it be a pause, a breath, and an invitation to choose on purpose.

If you liked this show, you’ll like this one:

230: My Most Vulnerable Episode Yet on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/230-my-most-vulnerable-episode-yet/id1434429161?i=1000589799587

230: My Most Vulnerable Episode Yet on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kU0nc1wDkFMS0zo2ZmdY0?si=YBmV7dfFTkaUcRGt4_962g

GET YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR WORKSHEET HERE: https://SMBwell.com/word

Get the full show notes here👉🏾 https://smbwell.com/word-of-the-year-2026/

⭐️Work with Susie in 2026: https://smbwell.com/work-with-me/

🤓Join the Love Your Life School -http://theLoveYourLifeSchool.com

🙌🏾 Support Susie + keep the podcast AD free: https://patreon.com/susiepettit

🩷Get the Weekly Warrior Wellness Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2gYQMlA

😊 Let’s be friends on Instagram-https://instagram.com/smb.wellness

The post Word of the Year 2026 appeared first on Susie Pettit.

Are you tired of being the one who holds everything and everyone together?

If you’re the go-to problem solver, the one who jumps in to “help” before anyone even asks, this episode will feel like a deep exhale. 💛

This week, I’m joined by psychotherapist and author Leah Marone, whose new book Serial Fixer explores why so many of us over-function, over-accommodate, and lose ourselves in relationships. Together, we unpack what drives our urge to fix and how to finally stop. 

💬 Join us as we talk about:

The difference between helping and fixing (and why it matters)

What’s really behind our need to keep everyone happy

The hidden rewards of over-functioning that keep us stuck

Actual things you can say to validate others.

What happens when you stop managing everyone else’s emotions

Simple, daily steps to release control and reconnect with yourself

How to Support not Solve (with your teenager, young adult, or spouse!)

Whether you call it people-pleasing, emotional outsourcing, codependency, or just “being the responsible one,” this conversation will help you see that you’re not broken and you’re not alone.

If you’ve been craving lighter, freer, more balanced relationships, you’ll want to listen in. Talking with Leah helped me so much. 🌿

Press play and start breaking the habit of fixing so you can finally find peace, connection, and joy that lasts.

If you liked this show, you’ll like these too:

- Lovingly Detached on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/6bL2I9rFFHSf18buCOEZMi?si=gOQRe5rAR1mwHhfEIl30ow

- Popcorn parenting on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/292-popcorn-parenting/id1434429161?i=1000648160327

- Popcorn parenting on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/6W3ra8NW1jeJMx8quEQmwx?si=BtH-IixmT--23L3I6sxNtA

Find out more about Leah here: https://www.leahmarone.com/

For the shownotes go here 👉🏾 https://SMBwell.com/386

Want more support?

📩 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter http://bit.ly/2gYQMlA so you never miss an episode.

The post How to Break Free from the Habit of Solving Other People’s Problems appeared first on Susie Pettit.

This holiday season, skip the stress of finding the “perfect” gift. Time and time again, I’ve found that these three gifts last far longer than any new xbox game, fancy watch, or clothing item my teen or spouse wants.

Click play to learn simple ways to:

I credit these gifts as foundations to the close relationships I have with my kids now. They’ve also helped me in the empty nest! There’s no time that’s too late to start - End your year with less pressure and more peace, and give your loved ones what they truly want: you.

If you liked this show, you’ll like these too:

Active Listening on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/active-listening/id1434429161?i=1000724674712

Get the full show notes here👉🏾 https://SMBwell.com/385

GIFTS FOR YOU:

🎁Actual Gifts: Susie’s favorite gifts, books and resources:  https://www.amazon.com/shop/smbwell

GIFTS FOR SUSIE: 

The post 3 Gifts for Your Loved Ones They’ll Remember Far Beyond the New Year appeared first on Susie Pettit.