If you’ve ever told yourself, “I just need to try harder” when the scale won’t budge, this episode is going to set you free.

Midlife weight gain hormones are not just buzzwords—they’re the key to understanding why so many women struggle during perimenopause and beyond. This episode breaks down the biology behind stubborn belly fat in midlife, from the impact of cortisol belly fat in women to the complex dance of estrogen, insulin, leptin, and thyroid hormones.

You’ll learn why hormone imbalance affects weight loss, and why dieting doesn’t work in midlife the way it used to. We’ll dive into the perimenopause metabolism changes that slow things down—and how chronic stress and weight gain in women are deeply linked.

By the end of this conversation, you’ll understand how old-school tactics like eating less and exercising more often backfire and how a true metabolism reset for women over 40 starts with biology—not willpower.

• Why stress = belly fat: How cortisol drives fat storage in your midsection and creates that frustrating “cortisol belly fat”.

• What hormonal shifts really do: The role of perimenopause, estrogen, thyroid, insulin, and leptin in your changing metabolism.

• The dieting trap: Why dieting doesn’t work in midlife and how it can make your metabolism more sluggish.

• Smart, hormone-supportive shifts: Simple, sustainable changes to reset your metabolism after 40 and support lasting weight loss.

When women blame themselves for weight gain, they overlook the real culprits: midlife weight gain hormones, stress, and biological shifts. By understanding your body’s signals and learning to work with your hormones—not against them—you’ll escape the trap of self-blame and start making empowered, informed choices.

Want to go deeper? Join me inside Well Women Rx, where you’ll learn how to reset your metabolism with personalized strategies, lab literacy, and community support.

📩 DM me “HOW” on Instagram @michelebroadnp or email me at [email protected] to learn more.

📲 Follow me on Instagram @michelebroadnp for daily wellness + leadership insights.

For too long, women have been told to push through their menstrual cycle, ignoring the energy dips, mood shifts, and hormonal changes that happen every single month. But here’s the truth: your cycle isn’t a weakness—it’s a built-in performance strategy. When understood, it becomes a powerful tool to boost productivity, enhance leadership, and prevent burnout.

In this episode, I’ll break down the four phases of your menstrual cycle and how each one impacts your energy, creativity, and decision-making. You’ll learn how to work with your menstrual cycle, not against it, so you can align your workflow, workouts, and leadership style with your biology. This approach, known as cycle syncing for women leaders, is key to cycle aware leadership and thriving as a BioAligned Leader.

And if you’re navigating perimenopause or menopause? This episode isn’t just for menstruating women. You’ll learn perimenopause energy tips and menopause performance strategies rooted in the BioAligned Woman Method™—so you can lead with clarity and confidence through every hormonal shift.

We’ll also explore how hormonal changes and leadership are deeply connected, and how honoring your cycle can support long-term women’s health and leadership success.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The 4 phases of your menstrual cycle and the strengths of each

• Which phase burnout most often begins in—and how to prevent burnout with cycle syncing

• How ignoring your hormonal signals lowers creativity, clarity, and drive

• Practical tools to align your work and workouts with your cycle (without adding complexity)

• How to use BioAligned Leadership principles during perimenopause and menopause

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Download my free Hormone Sync Starter Kit (Martin, please add the link)

• Get on the Well Women Rx waitlist

• Follow me on Instagram for daily tips: @michelebroadnp

If You Enjoyed This Episode:

• Share it with a friend or colleague who needs to hear this message

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help more women discover the show

• Subscribe so you never miss an episode

Let me know if you'd like a shorter version for a podcast app description or social media caption!

Send me a DM on the gram www.instagram.com/michelebroadnp

Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Just click here to review , select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Also, join us on Facebook at our Facebook group here!

You’ve been told to trust your gut in leadership — but what if your gut is literally inflamed and sending mixed signals? In today’s episode, we dive into the gut-brain axis and how gut health for women impacts everything from decision-making to mood, focus, and confidence. You’ll learn why bloating and stress can be signs of deeper imbalance, and how your microbiome balance influences not just digestion, but also energy, resilience, and women’s leadership and wellness.

This isn’t just about digestion — it’s about energy, flow, and leadership clarity.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why your gut is the “second brain” and how it affects mental clarity

• Common signs of inflammation that have nothing to do with digestion

• How stress, skipped meals, and sleep disruption hurt your gut

• Why a healthy gut sharpens your intuition and decision-making

• Three simple ways to support your gut (without going on another restrictive plan)

Episode Resources:

• DM me the word FLOW on Instagram for a quick link to your gut reset tool

• Want weekly tips like this? Join the Well Women Weekly

• Ready to go deeper with your wellness and apply these teachings to your life and business? Join the Well Women Rx membership waitlist

Send me a DM on the gram www.instagram.com/michelebroadnp

Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Just click here to review , select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Also, join us on Facebook at our Facebook group here!

Think your thyroid is just about weight gain and fatigue? Think again. In this episode, I’m breaking down why your thyroid is the metabolic CEO of your body and how its dysfunction often gets misdiagnosed as stress, burnout, or “just getting older.”

We’ll unpack what the thyroid really controls, the early signs of hypothyroidism that often go unnoticed (even with “normal” labs), and the critical thyroid and stress connection that every high-performing woman needs to understand. If you’ve been struggling with brain fog, low energy, or mood swings, it might be time to look deeper at your thyroid health as a woman.

We’ll also explore how metabolism and thyroid function are closely linked—and how chronic stress and under-fueling can silently sabotage both. Plus, I’ll share three natural thyroid support tips that are simple, science-backed, and easy to implement into your daily life.

If you’re a high-achieving woman who feels like you’re pushing through unexplained fatigue, brain fog, or weight changes, this is a must-listen.

• Why your thyroid does so much more than manage your weight

• How stress and undereating put the brakes on your thyroid

• Early signs of hypothyroidism you might be missing

• How thyroid dysfunction impacts your mental clarity, energy, and leadership

• 3 natural thyroid support tips to boost your health starting today—no biohacks needed

Want a quick thyroid-support checklist? DM me "ENERGY" on Instagram and I’ll send it your way.

Join the waitlist for Well Women Rx, my community for high-achieving women who want to lead with energy and wellness at the center.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/michelenp Email: [email protected]

Send me a DM on the gram www.instagram.com/michelebroadnp

Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Just click here to review , select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Also, join us on Facebook at our Facebook group here!

You’ve been told to chase balance—to juggle it all, do it all, and make it all look effortless. But what if balance isn’t the goal? What if it’s actually what’s keeping you stuck?

In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the balance myth and what to aim for instead: alignment. Because the truth is, balance asks you to split yourself into equal parts, while alignment invites you to lead from what’s real right now—your energy, your body, your values, your season.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for dropping the ball, resentful that you can’t “do it all,” or exhausted trying to meet competing demands in your career and personal life, this episode will shift everything.

We’re diving into aligned leadership for women—a model rooted in nervous system-based leadership and energy management, not external expectations. Because why balance doesn’t work isn’t just a mindset issue—it’s a structural one.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Why the traditional model of balance isn’t designed for how women actually work and live

• The hidden pressure and guilt balance creates—and how it drains your energy

• The difference between chasing balance and living in alignment

• How to use your body and energy as a leadership compass

• What aligned leadership looks and feels like—and why it’s more effective and sustainable for high-achieving women

Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or wellness-minded leader, this is the conversation that reframes women’s wellness and leadership for good.

Power Quote: “Balance tells you to do everything equally. Alignment teaches you to respond to what matters most right now.”

Interested in joining Well Women Rx? Email: [email protected] DM: www.intstagram.com/michelebroadnp

Send me a DM on the gram www.instagram.com/michelebroadnp

Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Just click here to review , select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Also, join us on Facebook at our Facebook group here!

In today’s episode, we’re flipping the script on one of the most ingrained productivity myths: that managing your time is the key to managing your life. But here’s the truth—your body doesn’t run on hours, it runs on energy. And if you’re still treating wellness like a chore while giving your business everything you’ve got, you’re not alone. In fact, the data backs it up.

We’ll explore why your wellness feels burdensome, why your calendar might be lying to you, and how leading from alignment, not depletion, can help you build a life and business that actually feels good to live inside.

If you're ready to move from hustle to harmony and lead from a well body, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why time management is outdated and energy alignment is the new essential

• How performance culture has turned wellness into another task to “get right”

• The neuroscience and hormonal reasons your energy fluctuates and why it matters

• Why so many women feel guilt when caring for themselves, but not when overworking

• The cost of treating wellness as a luxury instead of a leadership skill

Referenced Research:

• 67% of professional women delay healthcare due to workload (Journal of Women’s Health)

• 74% of women feel guilty for taking time for themselves (HealthyWomen & Working Mother Institute)

• 80% of women associate wellness with discipline, not rest (Global Wellness Institute)

• Women leaders are twice as likely to report lack of time for wellness despite higher burnout (McKinsey & LeanIn.org)

Takeaway Quote: "You don’t rise to the level of your ambition—you rise, or crash, to the level of your wellbeing."

Get on the Well Women Rx waiting list Discover why managing your energy—not your time—is the key to sustainable success, and why wellness should never feel like a chore.

Send me a DM on the gram www.instagram.com/michelebroadnp

Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Just click here to review , select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Also, join us on Facebook at our Facebook group here!

If you’ve ever tried to “rest your way out” of burnout, only to return feeling just as depleted, this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, I’m debunking one of the most persistent myths in wellness: that more rest is the answer to burnout recovery. I’m sharing why a weekend off or even a full night of sleep isn’t enough to rebuild your energy—and what your nervous system actually needs instead.

We’ll explore why rest isn’t enough and how deep sleep and burnout are deeply connected. I talk about the difference between passive rest and active repair, why deep and REM sleep are non-negotiable for nervous system healing, and how to move beyond temporary fixes toward lasting change.

Because real recovery doesn’t come from occasional downtime. It comes from a restorative rhythm—one that supports your body every single night.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why you’re still tired after “resting”

• The science of sleep and what your brain is actually doing at night

• The benefits of REM sleep for burnout recovery

• Why deep sleep is critical for nervous system repair

• The burnout cycle no one talks about—and how poor sleep keeps it going

• How to build a rhythm of true rest and healing, not just escape-style recovery

• Small daily shifts that support deeper sleep and long-term burnout healing

Notable Quote: “Burnout isn’t about how much you do, it’s about how little you recover.”

Resources Mentioned:

• Stanford Sleep Medicine insights by Dr. Rafael Pelayo

• Harvard Division of Sleep Medicine studies

• National Sleep Foundation Guidelines

Ready to Rewire, Not Just Rest? Join the Well Women Rx community, where we go beyond surface-level solutions and give your body the sustainable support it actually needs. Join the waitlist here

Meta tag:

Think more sleep will fix burnout? Learn why deeper sleep—not more rest—is key to true recovery and nervous system repair.

Send me a DM on the gram www.instagram.com/michelebroadnp

Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Just click here to review , select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Also, join us on Facebook at our Facebook group here!

Your data is your power—but only if you know how to use it.

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the booming world of femtech apps—from menstrual and fertility trackers to wellness platforms that promise insights into your mood, sleep, and cycles. These tools often claim to empower women through digital body literacy, but how accurate, inclusive, or safe are they really?

This episode is for you if:

• You’ve ever used a women’s health tracking app and questioned how accurate its predictions actually are

• You want to feel more informed—not overwhelmed—by your health data

• You're craving sovereignty in how you understand and care for your body

• You’re a leader, businesswoman, or changemaker looking to integrate wellness, intuition, and clarity into your everyday life

We explore what it means to be a conscious, critically-thinking user of femtech, so you’re not just consuming information—but owning it.

What You’ll Learn:

• What femtech actually is—and why it’s vital to understand the industry behind your favorite health tracking apps

• The truth about menstrual tracking accuracy, and how many apps fall short

• Why most health apps aren’t built by clinicians, and how that impacts their usefulness

• How algorithmic bias affects women who don’t fit the “standard model”

• The often-hidden risks around health data privacy and how your data may be used without your full awareness

• What reflective, purposeful tracking really looks like—and how it builds self-trust, confidence, and leadership

Key Takeaways:

• You are the expert on your body—not the algorithm

• Femtech tools can be supportive guides, but they’re not gospel

• Not all data is created equal—especially when privacy, accuracy, and inclusivity are lacking

• Health literacy is leadership—and how you relate to your body shapes how you lead in the world

Featured Research Mentions:

• Nature (2023) – Accuracy of ovulation predictions in cycle-tracking apps

• BMJ (2022) – Clinical involvement in femtech app development

• FTC.gov (2021) – Flo app fined for privacy violations

• JAMA (2020) – Impact of reflective tracking on long-term behavior change

Resources Mentioned:

• Clue App

• Natural Cycles (FDA-cleared contraceptive app)

• Kindara App (Fertility Awareness Method)

• BMJ & JAMA research summaries

• FTC ruling on Flo app data violations

Meta Tag: Learn how to use femtech tools wisely without outsourcing your power. Discover what body literacy, privacy, and tracking really mean for your health and leadership.

Send me a DM on the gram www.instagram.com/michelebroadnp

Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Just click here to review , select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Also, join us on Facebook at our Facebook group here!

If you're feeling tired but wired, stretched thin, or like your hormones and energy are on two different planets, this episode is for you.

We’re diving into the world of adaptogens for women—what they are, how they work, and the best adaptogens for stress, hormone balance, and sustainable energy support. Whether you’re dealing with perimenopause fatigue, burnout, or brain fog, these herbs can offer powerful, natural support for your nervous system.

You’ll learn about five powerful adaptogenic herbs I recommend for cortisol regulation, mental fatigue, and overall hormonal resilience—and exactly how to use adaptogens safely and effectively.

No fluff, no overwhelm—just real, practical tools for high-achieving women who want to feel clear, calm, and energized.

• What adaptogens really do (and why they matter if you’re juggling a lot)

• The top 5 adaptogens for burnout recovery and hormone support

• How to choose the right herb for your stress and energy patterns

• Who should avoid adaptogens—and how to get started safely

• Why natural energy support for women starts with a healthy stress response

• Rhodiola: for mental fatigue, burnout, and brain fog

• Ashwagandha: for cortisol balance and nervous system support

• Maca root: for hormone balance and perimenopause fatigue

• Schisandra: for clarity, detox, and clean energy

• Holy Basil (Tulsi): for emotional resilience and anxious energy

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting new herbs—especially if you’re on medication, pregnant, or breastfeeding.

• Link to herbs

• Want personalized support with herbs and lifestyle tools? Join the Well Women Rx Membership waitlist

• Follow me on Instagram for daily tips and behind-the-scenes support: @michelebroadnp

• Share this episode with a friend who could use a little plant-powered backup

Discover 5 powerful adaptogens that help high-achieving women reduce stress, balance hormones, and boost energy—naturally and sustainably.

Send me a DM on the gram www.instagram.com/michelebroadnp

Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Just click here to review , select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Also, join us on Facebook at our Facebook group here!

Today’s episode explores how to redefine productivity through a wellness-first lens—especially for women who are ready to move beyond burnout and embrace a gentler, more sustainable way to thrive. You’ll discover Bioaligned Productivity™, a science-backed, hormone-friendly productivity approach that honors your nervous system, gut-brain connection, and natural energy rhythms.

This is feminine productivity—rooted in women’s wellness, not hustle.

• Why traditional productivity models are harming women’s health

• What Bioaligned Productivity™ really means and how to use it today

• How to work with your energy, not against it

• The link between rest, hormones, and productivity

• Daily structures that support gut, heart, and brain health

• Micro habits and minimum baselines for steady success

• How to track your progress with self-kindness and joy

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Episode #7: How to Calm Your Nervous System

• The Bioaligned™ Physiology Framework

DM me if this episode resonates and you're craving a new way to live, lead, and work. Inside Well Women Rx, you'll get tools, community, and ongoing support for sustainable productivity for women. Learn to build rhythms that support your hormone health, energy levels, and leadership.

1. Redefining Productivity for Women: Shift from hustle to harmony. Productivity without burnout honors biology and restores wellness.

2. Results Over Busyness: Focus on meaningful outcomes—not a packed calendar. Steady progress regulates your nervous system.

3. Quality Over Output: A few intentional tasks beat a long to-do list. Slower pace supports parasympathetic healing.

4. Aligning Work with Energy Levels: Match task difficulty to your internal rhythms. This is cycle-aware productivity in action.

5. Track Energy, Not Just Time: Energy management > time management. Track what fuels or drains your system.

6. Stress-Free Productivity Habits: Set gentle expectations. Use micro habits and minimum baselines to stay consistent without burnout.

7. Practice Intentional Slowness: Slowness improves gut-brain connection, reduces inflammation, and sharpens focus.

8. Compassionate Workflow: Alternate ease with effort. Ask: What supports my hormone-friendly productivity?

9. Track Progress with Kindness: Reflect with curiosity, not criticism. Your journey is data—not a test.

10. Rest Without Guilt: Rest supports hormone balance, gut health, and resilience. Breaks are non-negotiable.

11. Infuse Joy Into Productivity: Joy boosts dopamine, supports women’s leadership, and enhances daily wellness routines.

This episode is for you if you want a more sustainable, feminine, and wellness-based approach to productivity. Let’s redefine success together—gently, intentionally, and in alignment with your body.

Send me a DM on the gram www.instagram.com/michelebroadnp

Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Just click here to review , select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Also, join us on Facebook at our Facebook group here!