Navigating Life After 40

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in this solo episode of Navigating Life After 40, we’re talking about something that does not get discussed enough: the mental health side of perimenopause.

So many women are prepared for hot flashes, night sweats, and cycle changes, but not always for the anxiety, brain fog, sadness, irritability, crying spells, emotional numbness, panic attacks, forgetfulness, or the feeling of not recognizing themselves.

In this episode, I share my own experience with anxiety, a panic attack at work, brain fog that made me question my memory, emotional numbness, and the pressure of functioning while mentally exhausted. I also talk about how women, especially Black women and women of color, are often dismissed when they say something feels off.

This episode is a reminder that you are not broken. Your body may be changing, your hormones may be shifting, and your mental health deserves care, support, and compassion.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The connection between perimenopause and mental health

Resources mentioned:

The Menopause Society: Mental Health and Menopause

The Menopause Society: Perimenopause

Office on Women’s Health: Menopause Symptoms and Relief

National Institute of Mental Health: Depression in Women

SAMHSA National Helpline

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another woman who may be quietly wondering why she does not feel like herself.

Join Navelle as a Founding Member:

Learn more about Navelle Health:

Listen, follow, and share Navigating Life After 40 wherever you get your podcasts.

Discover how overfunctioning impacts women over 40 and learn to break free with insights from Katherine Sayson, a Life Mastery Consultant. This episode explores the hidden roots of burnout, offering practical strategies for personal growth and emotional well-being. Katherine reveals the three types of overfunctioners and shares a four-step process to shift from overresponsibility to authentic influence.Perfect for women seeking empowerment and midlife transformation, this conversation provides clarity and tools to reconnect with your purpose. Embrace self-care strategies and mindset shifts to reignite your passion for life. Join us to start your journey toward a more fulfilling, confident you.

Follow Katherine:

IG handle: katesayson.lifecoach

Let’s connect: @navigatinglifeafter40 on all social platforms and YouTube

Special Discounts for Listeners

Save 20% with code NAVIGATE at blackgirlvitamins.com

Grab merch here: Save 15% with code BESTIE15 at navigatinglifeafter40.com/shop

Sign Up for Our Telehealth Platform

Join the Facebook Community

Visit the Website

Feeling stuck after 40? Kimberly Spidel, a strategist and coach, as she reveals the mindset shift that transformed her life from anxiety to abundance. Discover how embracing your true identity and surrendering control can unlock the life you desire.In this episode, learn how to navigate reinvention with tools like self-trust, morning routines, and releasing false identities. Kimberly shares how to overcome fear and access limitless potential, offering practical tips and inspiring stories for women ready to live free and fulfilled.Perfect for those seeking purpose, this conversation reminds you: You already have everything you need. Tune in and start your journey of becoming today.

Follow Kimberly's work: ihearthatgirl.com

Let’s connect: @navigatinglifeafter40 on all social platforms and YouTube

Special Discounts for Listeners

Save 20% with code NAVIGATE at blackgirlvitamins.com

Grab merch here: Save 15% with code BESTIE15 at navigatinglifeafter40.com/shop

Sign Up for Our Telehealth Platform

Join the Facebook Community

Visit the Website

Are you wondering if it’s too late to start saving or finally get your money together? In this episode, Roni (Your Midlife Bestie) sits down with Christina Lynch, CEO of Trydent Consulting, to talk about finding financial clarity and peace — even if you’re starting over in your 40s or 50s.

Christina shares her insight from over 15 years of experience helping small businesses and professionals rebuild their confidence with money. Together, they explore how to let go of financial shame, take simple steps to get clear on your goals, and start saving smarter — no matter your age or income.

Whether you’re trying to recover after a career change, divorce, or just want to feel more in control of your finances, this episode will help you see that it’s never too late to take charge of your financial future.

Listen in for real talk, practical tools, and encouragement to help you build confidence and clarity around your money story.

Christina's information:

Let’s connect:

@navigatinglifeafter40 on all social platforms and YouTube

Special Discounts for Listeners

Save 20% with code NAVIGATE at blackgirlvitamins.com

Grab merch here: Save 15% with code BESTIE15 at navigatinglifeafter40.com/shop

Sign Up for Our Telehealth Platform

Join the Facebook Community

Visit the Website

There comes a moment when choosing yourself is no longer optional, it is necessary.

In this solo episode, Roni shares a deeply honest reflection on the power of not settling in relationships, career, and life. From stepping outside her comfort zone and experiencing a brief heartbreak, to recognizing how staying in a misaligned job disrupted her peace, focus, and nervous system, Roni walks listeners through what it truly means to choose alignment over distraction.

This episode explores:

How settling shows up in subtle ways

Why temporary attention can pull you off purpose

The impact misalignment has on your mental health and nervous system

How faith, intuition, and discipline guide better decisions

Why being hopeful and focused can coexist

If you’re in a season of building, healing, or learning how to trust yourself again, this conversation is a reminder that what you choose today shapes the life you live later.

Let’s connect:

@navigatinglifeafter40 on all social platforms and YouTube

Special Discounts for Listeners

Save 20% with code NAVIGATE at blackgirlvitamins.com

Grab merch here: Save 15% with code BESTIE15 at navigatinglifeafter40.com/shop

Sign Up for Our Telehealth Platform

Join the Facebook Community

Visit the Website

During menopause, your body isn’t just changing—it’s communicating. Hot flashes, anxiety, insomnia, and mood swings are all connected to how your nervous system responds to stress.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Katashia joins Your Midlife Bestie, Roni, to explore how sound therapy, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation can bring real menopause relief and restore hormonal balance.

You’ll learn:

Whether you’re struggling with brain fog, sleepless nights, or just trying to find calm in the chaos, this episode will help you understand your body on a deeper level and remind you—it’s possible to feel grounded, balanced, and whole again.

Ready to explore sound healing for yourself?

Grab merch here: Save 15% with code BESTIE15 at navigatinglifeafter40.com/shop

Sign Up for Our Telehealth Platform

Join the Facebook Community

Visit the Website

You show up. You lead. You care for others. But who holds space for you when you’re worn out?

In this solo episode, Roni opens up about her personal experience with burnout and high-functioning anxiety in midlife. She shares what it looks like when you’re the “strong friend” on the outside but emotionally drained on the inside. You’ll learn the hidden signs of emotional burnout, why high-achieving and first-generation women often push through without asking for help, and how to reset before your body forces you to stop.

Roni also gives practical tips for protecting your energy, managing how you show up for others, and identifying who’s truly showing up for you. If you’ve been running on empty, this episode is your reminder that rest is not a reward — it’s your responsibility.

Listen now and grab the free Reset Guide in the show notes to start your own pause-and-refill practice.

Reset Guide & Mental Health Resources

Let’s connect:

@navigatinglifeafter40 on all social platforms and YouTube

Special Discounts for Listeners

Save 20% with code NAVIGATE at blackgirlvitamins.com

Grab merch here: Save 15% with code BESTIE15 at navigatinglifeafter40.com/shop

Sign Up for Our Telehealth Platform

Join the Facebook Community

Visit the Website

Many women are told that bladder leakage, dryness, pain with intimacy, or prolapse are “just part of getting older.” But today’s guest, Dr. Chidi Tugbiyele, is here to set the record straight.

In this episode, Dr. Tugbiyele explains Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) — a common but rarely discussed condition that affects millions of women. We explore the myths, the impact on daily life and relationships, and the safe, effective solutions that can restore confidence, comfort, and control.

Dr. Chidi Tugbiyele is a Nigerian-American physician, urogynecologist, and pelvic floor specialist based in Metro Atlanta. His mission is to help women know they don’t have to suffer in silence — real solutions exist.

Let’s connect:

@navigatinglifeafter40 on all social platforms and YouTube

Sign Up for Our Telehealth Platform

Join the Facebook Community

Special Discounts for Listeners

Save 20% with code NAVIGATE at blackgirlvitamins.com

Visit the Website

Why does dating feel so hard — even for confident, successful women? In this episode, Dating Coach Lilli Bewley joins Roni to break down emotional blocks, feminine energy, and the hidden patterns that keep us stuck. If you're ready to stop settling and attract real love, this one's for you.

Take the Feminine Dating Archetype Quiz mentioned in the episode: Quiz

🩺 Sign Up for Our Telehealth Platform

💬 Join the Facebook Community

💸 Special Discounts for Listeners

Save $5 with code LIFEAFTER40 at banish.com

Save 20% with code NAVIGATE at blackgirlvitamins.com

🌐 Visit the Website

Dr. Stephanie, pharmacist and founder of Menopause in Color, joins me to talk about the symptoms women are often told to ignore, the truth about hormone therapy, and why Black and Brown women deserve better care. We’re breaking the silence on perimenopause and menopause — no fluff, just real talk and real solutions.

Grab her journal and retreat info here: 

Book: Menopause In Color Journal

🩺 Sign Up for Our Telehealth Platform

💬 Join the Facebook Community

💸 Special Discounts for Listeners

Save $5 with code LIFEAFTER40 at banish.com

Save 20% with code NAVIGATE at blackgirlvitamins.com

🌐 Visit the Website