🎙️ EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

Have you spent so much of your life being the capable one, the peacekeeper and the woman everyone can rely on that you’ve lost touch with what you actually want?

In this episode, I’m speaking with Katherine Sayson, Speaker, Author and Founder of the Bold Purpose Collective, about the hidden emotional patterns that can keep high-capacity women living through performance rather than purpose.

We explore the “good girl” identity, people-pleasing, over giving and the pressure women can feel to carry everything while insisting they’re “fine”. Katherine shares how midlife and perimenopause can become a mirror, bringing deeper questions about identity, purpose, worth and who we want to be in the next chapter of life.

We also explore Katherine’s powerful distinction between performance, which creates pressure, and purpose, which creates life, and how noticing what drains you, energises you and brings you joy can help you reconnect with the person beneath all the roles you’ve learned to play.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• How the “good girl” identity can shape the way women live and lead
• Signs you may be living for everyone else instead of yourself
• Why being needed isn’t necessarily the same as being valued
• The difference between purpose and performance
• How guilt, resentment and exhaustion can signal misalignment
• Why midlife can be a rebirth rather than a crisis
• How to begin noticing what gives you life and what drains you
• Why your value, worth and purpose do not diminish with age
• How to reconnect with who you were before the world told you who to be

ABOUT KATHERINE SAYSON:

Katherine Sayson is a speaker, author, and founder of the Bold Purpose Collective. With a background in leadership and personal transformation, she brings a rare ability to articulate the hidden emotional patterns that shape how high-capacity women live and lead.

Through reflective storytelling and practical insight, she helps audiences recognize what has long gone unseen — and reconnect with the clarity, voice, and grounded leadership that emerge when identity replaces constant performance.

CONNECT WITH KATHERINE SAYSON:

Website: https://katherinesayson.com/

Instagram: @katherinesaysoncoach

Facebook: @katherinesaysoncoach

LinkedIn: @katherine-sayson

RESOURCE MENTIONED:

Your Life Is Not Random – Katherine’s free workshop designed to help women connect the dots of their story, explore life transitions and begin asking deeper identity and purpose questions.

Website: https://yourlifeisnotrandom.com/

CONNECT WITH HOST TERRI BATSAKIS:

Web: https://terribatsakis.com.au/

Instagram: @terri.batsakis

Facebook: @terribatsakis

YouTube: @terribatsakis

🎙️ EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

What if you’re not having a midlife crisis at all, but simply outgrowing the version of yourself you’ve been?

In this episode, I’m speaking with Bianca Caruana, Ceremonial Guide, Holistic Counsellor and founder of The Goddess Temple in Brisbane, about the emotional and identity shifts that can occur through perimenopause and midlife.

We explore why women can feel disconnected, overwhelmed or lost during this transition, and how years of pushing through, caring for others and trying to fit into expectations can leave us unsure of who we are underneath it all.

Bianca shares a different perspective on midlife: rather than something to fix or fear, it can be an opportunity to let go of what no longer fits, reconnect with your body and begin discovering the woman you are becoming.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why an identity shift can feel like you’re falling apart
• What it means to move from the “mother” into the “wise woman” stage
• Why women can become disconnected from their bodies
• How constantly pushing through can contribute to burnout and overwhelm
• Why loneliness can exist even when you’re surrounded by people
• How hyper-independence can make asking for support difficult
• The importance of safety, surrender and self-inquiry
• Simple practices for coming back into your body
• Why community, women’s circles and feeling truly seen can matter
• How midlife can become an opportunity to live more authentically

ABOUT BIANCA CARUANA:

Bianca Caruana is a Ceremonial Guide, Holistic Counsellor, and founder of The Goddess Temple in Brisbane, where she supports women through identity shifts, life transitions and periods of personal transformation.

Much of Bianca’s work centres around the emotional and identity-based changes women experience throughout life, particularly during midlife and perimenopause. She views this stage as a significant transition, where many women begin moving from the role of mother into what some traditions describe as the “wise woman” stage of life.

Through women’s circles, grief ceremonies, life-transition celebratory gatherings and other community experiences, she creates opportunities for women to pause, reflect and feel supported as they navigate change.

Bianca speaks about the way modern life has removed many of the rituals, community structures and rites of passage that once helped women move through major transitions with greater understanding and support.

Her work focuses on themes including burnout, disconnection, nervous system awareness, belonging and the importance of recognising midlife not as something to “fix”, but as a meaningful transition that deserves care, reflection and community.

CONNECT WITH BIANCA CARUANA:

Web: www.biancacaruana.com

Contact: www.biancacaruana.com/contact

Instagram: @bianca.jade.light

Web: www.thegoddesstemple.com.au

Instagram: @thegoddesstemple.au

CONNECT WITH HOST TERRI BATSAKIS:

Web: https://terribatsakis.com.au/

Instagram: @terri.batsakis

Facebook: @terribatsakis

YouTube: @terribatsakis

🎙️ EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

What if your perimenopause symptoms are not just about your hormones?

In this episode, I’m speaking with Naturopath, Herbalist, Mentor and Women’s Health Advocate Kristy Hollis about the often-overlooked factors that influence how women feel through perimenopause.

We explore chronic stress, nervous system overload, nutrition, herbal medicine, lifestyle, connection and what can happen after years of pushing through.

Kristy shares her own experience of chronic stress and why slowing down, supporting the nervous system and looking at the whole person matters. We also discuss practical everyday strategies, personalised natural therapies, supplement quality and community, particularly for women living in rural and remote areas.

This conversation is a reminder that hormones matter, but they may only be one piece of the perimenopause puzzle.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why chronic stress and the nervous system matter in perimenopause
• How years of pushing through can affect your wellbeing
• Simple ways to create more calm in your day
• How herbal medicine can be personalised to the individual
• Why lifestyle changes matter alongside other treatments
• How reflexology fits within a holistic approach
• Why supplement quality and dosage matter
• The importance of protein and healthy fats in midlife
• Why connection and community support women’s wellbeing
• How Kristy supports women in rural and remote communities
• Why listening to your body and noticing changes matters

ABOUT KRISTY HOLLIS:

Kristy Hollis is a naturopath, herbalist, mentor and industry advocate with over 24 years’ experience delivering holistic healthcare to more than 10,000 women. Based in the Northern Territory for the past 17 years, she is passionate about improving rural and remote health by integrating natural medicine, community care, and cultural knowledge.

Her career began in science, with a CSIRO traineeship in entomology, working to control weeds like yellow dock and red clover. Today, she embraces those very plants as powerful healing herbs. That full-circle journey reflects Kristy’s unique ability to blend traditional wisdom and modern evidence in the pursuit of better health outcomes. Her project Women’s Business: Nurture and Thrive provides workshops and personalised naturopathic consultations in remote communities, focusing on women’s health, nutrition, stress, and emotional wellbeing.

Kristy’s model is grounded in:

In-community workshops delivered with local health partners,

Personalised natural therapies including herbal medicine, flower essences and reflexology,

Practical tools like cooking demos and recipe sharing.

She’s now building partnerships with First Nations healers to deliver truly integrated, culturally respectful care, centred on whole-person, whole-community, and whole-Country healing.

A former President of the Complementary Medicine Association of Australia, Kristy continues to advocate for preventative care and naturopathy in mainstream health policy, backed by evidence, collaboration and deep community ties.

CONNECT WITH KRISTY HOLLIS:

Web: https://everlasting-health.com.au/

Instagram: @everlastinghealthnt

Facebook: Kristy Hollis

LinkedIn: Kristy Hollis

CONNECT WITH HOST TERRI BATSAKIS:

Web: https://terribatsakis.com.au/

Instagram: @terri.batsakis

Facebook: @terribatsakis

YouTube: @terribatsakis

🎙️ EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

What happens when profound grief collides with the physical and emotional changes of perimenopause?

In this deeply moving episode, I’m speaking with Sanja Jovanovic, who experienced five close losses within five years, including the death of her husband of nearly three decades. This devastating period unfolded alongside her own perimenopause journey, leaving her navigating grief, brain fog, exhaustion, disrupted sleep, identity changes and significant health challenges.

Sanja shares how grief affected her physically as well as emotionally, why she learned to advocate fiercely for her health and how small routines helped her continue putting one foot in front of the other.

We also discuss how women can ask for support during life’s most difficult transitions and why friends and family should offer practical help rather than waiting to be asked.

This is an emotional conversation about loss, hormones, healing and the extraordinary strength women often discover when life changes forever.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• How grief and perimenopause symptoms can overlap
• Why grief affects the nervous system and body
• How brain fog and decision fatigue affect daily life
• Why women need to trust their intuition and advocate for their health
• The importance of recording symptoms and medical conversations
• How movement and routine supported Sanja through grief
• Why asking for help is not a sign of weakness
• Practical ways to support a grieving woman
• Why “let me know if you need anything” is often not enough
• How small daily actions can become evidence of progress
• How to recognise the strength of women navigating major life transitions

ABOUT SANJA JOVANOVIC:

What happens when you mix overwhelming grief with the hormonal rollercoaster of

perimenopause?

This was a topic Sanja Jovanovic never expected to be speaking about.

After more than 25 years as a multiple business owner, mentor, and sales leadership

trainer, Sanja’s world came crashing down with the loss of her husband of nearly three

decades.

Suddenly, she found herself navigating the profound depths of grief while simultaneously

fighting the physical and emotional shifts of menopause.

Now 56, Sanja has turned her survival into a masterclass on resilience. As an author,

speaker, and lifestyle mentor, she commands the room with unmatched passion and

storytelling ability.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating their own hormonal timeline together

with big life challenges, or for those wanting to fiercely support their female friends and

family through life's major transitions. Get ready to be inspired, empowered, and deeply

moved.

CONNECT WITH SANJA JOVANOVIC:

Lifestyle mentoring: @sanja.lifestyle.mentor

Women With Stars: @women.with.stars

Bite Size Wisdom: @bitesizewisdom_book

CONNECT WITH HOST TERRI BATSAKIS:

Web: https://terribatsakis.com.au/

Instagram: @terri.batsakis

Facebook: @terribatsakis

YouTube: @terribatsakis

What if the exercise advice you once followed no longer works for your body in midlife?

In this episode, I’m speaking with award-winning women’s health and fitness educator Mish Wright about creating a more flexible, personalised and supportive approach to movement during perimenopause.

Mish shares how traditional fitness methods contributed to her pelvic floor dysfunction and prolapse, leading her to challenge an industry largely built around research on young, fit men.

We explore what strength training really means, why mobility matters more as we age and how pushing harder when your energy is depleted can increase fatigue, stress and injury risk.

Mish also introduces her GRACE Protocol, a practical framework for adapting exercise to your energy, health and real-life circumstances.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why strength training does not have to mean lifting heavy weights in a gym
• How progressive overload can include Pilates, yoga and bodyweight movement
• Why mobility and warming up become increasingly important in midlife
• How fascia, hydration and pelvic floor function are connected
• Why pushing harder can sometimes increase fatigue and stress
• How to adjust exercise according to your sleep, energy and symptoms
• Why joyful movement is more sustainable than forcing yourself through workouts
• How nature, breathwork and nervous system regulation support wellbeing
• Why everyday activities can contribute to your overall movement
• How the GRACE Protocol supports strength, cardio, regulation and flexibility
• Why women still need cardiovascular exercise during and after menopause
• What to ask your fitness professional about women’s health education
• How reducing mindless phone use can create more time for movement and connection

ABOUT MISH WRIGHT:

Mish Wright is an award-winning educator and one of Australia’s leading voices in women’s health and fitness.

Her work focuses on the intersection of menopause and exercise — challenging outdated, one-size-fits-all approaches and giving women practical ways to train with their bodies, not against them.

After experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction from traditional fitness methods, Mish shifted her career toward education that actually reflects women’s physiology and lived experience. She is Head of Education at Women's Fitness Education.

She is the creator of the Menopause Training Matrix™ and GRACE Protocol, and works with fitness professionals globally to rethink how we approach movement, strength, and long-term health in midlife and beyond.

Mish Wright AUSactive Educator of the Year 2021 + 2024 FUEL Woman of the Year 2024 NZ Educator of the Year 2023

CONNECT WITH MISH WRIGHT:

Web: mishwright.com

Instagram: @mishwright

LinkedIn: Mish Wright

CONNECT WITH HOST TERRI BATSAKIS:

Web: https://terribatsakis.com.au/

Instagram: @terri.batsakis

Facebook: @terribatsakis

YouTube: @terribatsakis

🎙️ EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

What happens when perimenopause affects your confidence, memory and performance at work?

In this episode, I’m speaking with Susan Judd, Leadership Coach and founder of Hot, Foggy & Fabulous, about perimenopause in the workplace.

Susan shares findings from her research: 80% of women surveyed felt less confident professionally, 70% experienced changes to communication or memory in meetings, and 60% stepped back from leadership opportunities, projects or promotions.

We explore how brain fog, anxiety, poor sleep, fatigue, hot flushes and emotional changes can be mistaken for poor performance or attitude, leaving capable women questioning themselves just as they should be reaching their career stride.

Susan also explains her 3S Framework, Safe, Supported, Sustainable, and practical ways women can start conversations with employers without oversharing.

This episode is a reminder that women are not broken. They are moving through a major transition and deserve workplaces that help them remain confident, supported and able to thrive.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• How perimenopause can affect confidence, communication and performance at work
• What Susan’s research revealed about brain fog, anxiety, fatigue and burnout
• Why women may step back from promotions and leadership opportunities
• How menopause symptoms can be mistaken for performance or attitude problems
• The emotional impact of feeling unlike yourself during midlife
• Why psychological safety matters when discussing menopause at work
• How the 3S Framework supports women and workplaces
• Practical adjustments employers can offer, including flexibility and temperature support
• How to start a workplace conversation without oversharing
• Why women are not broken and what can be gained beyond menopause

ABOUT SUSAN JUDD:

Susan Judd is the founder of Hot, Foggy & Fabulous, a platform supporting women through the real, lived experience of perimenopause and menopause. Her work is grounded in both personal insight and the collective voices of women shared through the Hot, Foggy & Fabulous research project, bringing honesty and relatability to a stage of life that is often misunderstood.

Blending emotional intelligence with real-world insight, she helps women navigate the physical, emotional, and identity shifts of midlife with greater clarity, self-compassion, and confidence.

With a background in workplace culture and leadership, Susan is the creator of the simple 3S Framework - Safe, Supported, Sustainable - designed to help organisations of all sizes create practical, human-centred menopause support at work.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN JUDD:

Web: https://hotfoggyfabulous.com

LinkedIn: @susanjudd-hotfoggyfabulous

Facebook: @susan.judd.75

Facebook: @hotfoggyandfabulous

Instagram: @susan.juddd

Instagram: @hotfoggyandfabulous

RESOURCES:

Workplace Event Wallpaper & Toolkit:

https://susanjudd.com/event-wallpaper-and-toolkit-downloadable.html

Use code TERRI10

CONNECT WITH HOST TERRI BATSAKIS:

Web: https://terribatsakis.com.au/

Instagram: @terri.batsakis

Facebook: @terribatsakis

YouTube: @terribatsakis

🎙️ EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

What happens when the career and pace you once managed no longer fit your changing capacity?

In this episode, I’m speaking with Narelle Vigor, Registered Professional Career Counsellor and founder of Soul Compass, about burnout, identity shifts and the challenges women face during perimenopause and midlife.

We explore why many capable women feel they can no longer keep up, how hormonal changes, sleep disruption, brain fog and caregiving impact confidence, and why pushing harder isn’t the answer.

Narelle also shares why more women are turning to self-employment, the risks involved, and how small “two-degree shifts” can help you regain energy and clarity without overhauling your life.

This conversation is a reminder that honouring your capacity isn’t failure, it’s an opportunity to create work that supports who you are now.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• How perimenopause can affect energy, focus and work capacity
• Why sleep disruption and cognitive changes impact performance
• Why midlife women feel pressure to push through burnout
• How caregiving and mental load affect careers
• Why flexibility and safe workplaces matter
• The pros and risks of self-employment
• How working from home can both support and isolate
• Why connection and community are essential
• How flow and interest-based work support wellbeing
• Why multitasking may reduce productivity
• How small “two-degree shifts” create change
• Why self-awareness and self-compassion matter in midlife

ABOUT NARELLE VIGOR:

Narelle Vigor is a registered professional career counsellor and founder of Soul Compass, a practice devoted to helping mid-life women navigate burnout, identity shifts, and career transitions with clarity and soul. Drawing on two decades of experience across counselling, coaching, veteran career transition, and holistic therapies, Narelle blends somatic insight, eastern philosophy, and evidence-based practice to support women designing work that works for them.

A late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman, Narelle brings both lived experience and deep professional expertise to her mission: redefining career development for a generation of women who were never given a roadmap. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Education (Career Development and Counselling), certifications in polarity therapy, counselling, ayurvedic wellness coaching, and is a professional member of the Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA) and Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA).

CONNECT WITH NARELLE VIGOR:

Web: https://www.soulcompass.life/

Facebook: @soulcompasscareers

Instagram: @soulcompasscareers

RESOURCES FROM NARELLE:

The Invitation Blog

Spirituality in Career and Life Design

The Myth of Self-Employment as Freedom for Mid-Life Women

CONNECT WITH HOST TERRI BATSAKIS:

Web: https://terribatsakis.com.au/

Instagram: @terri.batsakis

Facebook: @terribatsakis

YouTube: @terribatsakis

🎙️ EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

In this episode, I am speaking with Briony Montgomery, a psychotherapist and somatic practitioner, about the nervous system, survival mode, emotional overwhelm, rage, grief, people pleasing and the deep identity shift that can happen during perimenopause and midlife.

Briony shares how stress and trauma live in the body, why old coping patterns can stop working in this season of life, and how somatic therapy can help women reconnect with safety, power, pleasure and purpose.

We also explore why midlife can feel like a rebirth, how rage can become a source of clarity and boundary-setting, and simple ways to begin calming the body when you feel anxious, overwhelmed, shut down or emotionally reactive.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• What nervous system dysregulation can look like in midlife
• Why trauma and stress are stored in the body
• How perimenopause can bring old patterns to the surface
• Why rage, grief and emotional reactivity are not “bad”
• The connection between people pleasing, fawning and nervous system safety
• How somatic therapy helps create space between reaction and response
• Simple tools to support your nervous system, including breath, movement, grounding, music, writing and presence
• Why midlife can be a powerful time of reinvention, self-trust and coming home to yourself

ABOUT BRIONY MONTGOMERY:

Briony Montgomery is a psychotherapist and somatic practitioner helping people get out of survival mode and feel safe in their bodies again. If you’re overwhelmed, anxious, shut down, or stuck in patterns you can’t seem to break, this is where it changes. Her work goes beyond talking. She works with the nervous system, where stress and trauma actually live. Through somatic therapy, Briony helps people move from burnout and emotional chaos into feeling calm, clear, steady, and in control. Not just insight - real change you can feel. This is where patterns break, capacity grows, and you reconnect to your power, pleasure, and purpose and finally feel at home in yourself.

CONNECT WITH BRIONY MONTGOMERY:

Web: www.thesomatherapycollective.com

Instagram: @brionymontgomery

YouTube: @nervoussystemsupport

TikTok: @brionymontgomery

Podcast: The Unfuckwithable Woman Podcast

Email: [email protected]

CONNECT WITH HOST TERRI BATSAKIS:

Web: https://terribatsakis.com.au/

Instagram: @terri.batsakis

Facebook: @terribatsakis

YouTube: @terribatsakis

🎙️ EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

In this episode, I am speaking with Michele Scherr, a former Defence Nursing Officer turned precision health practitioner, about why so many high-functioning women in midlife feel like their body has stopped responding the way it used to.

We explore the connection between DNA, epigenetics, body type, stress load, hormones and midlife weight gain, and why generic advice around food, exercise and routines may not work for every woman in perimenopause.

Michele shares how your environment, daily rhythms, nervous system, body design and capacity can influence symptoms like fatigue, poor sleep, stubborn weight, bloating and burnout. This episode is a powerful reminder that your body is not failing you. It is communicating with you.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why your body may stop responding in perimenopause, even when you are doing everything “right”
• How DNA, epigenetics and your environment can shape the way your body functions
• Why different body types may need different nutrition, movement and lifestyle strategies
• How stress, responsibility and emotional load can contribute to fatigue, weight changes and burnout
• Why your symptoms are messages from your body, not signs that you are failing
• How learning to “speak body” can help you work with your biology instead of fighting against it

ABOUT MICHELE SCHERR:

Michele Scherr is a former Defence Nursing Officer turned precision health practitioner who works with high-functioning women in midlife who feel like their body has stopped responding the way it used to. Her work focuses on helping women understand the biological shifts behind persistent symptoms like fatigue, poor sleep, and weight changes, moving them away from generic advice and toward precise, personalised and sustainable strategies that align with how their body actually works.

CONNECT WITH MICHELE SCHERR:

Website: https://personalisedhealthandwellbeingsolutions.com.au/

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: @pers.health.wellbeing.solutions

Instagram: @michele.scherr

LinkedIn: @michele-scherr

YouTube: @michele.scherr

Free Resource: HealthTypes for Beginners https://personalisedhealthandwellbeingsolutions.com.au/personalised-health-andwellbeing-solutions-health-type/

CONNECT WITH HOST TERRI BATSAKIS:

Web: https://terribatsakis.com.au/

Instagram: @terri.batsakis

Facebook: @terribatsakis

YouTube: @terribatsakis

🎙️ EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

In this episode, I’m speaking with Sonia Savage, Functional Nutritionist and owner of Balanced Life Nutrition, about why perimenopause symptoms may not always be purely hormonal.

Sonia shares how root cause healing looks at the bigger picture, including gut health, nutrient status, methylation, genetics, stress, environmental factors and a woman’s full health timeline.

We also discuss why many women are told their blood tests are “normal” despite still feeling exhausted, foggy, inflamed, anxious, or unlike themselves.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

Why symptoms may not be “just hormones”

What root cause healing means

Why “normal” blood tests may not be optimal

How methylation, gut health and nutrients impact wellbeing

What functional testing may reveal

Why fasting and keto may not suit every woman

How whole foods support long-term health

How to advocate for yourself and trust your instincts

ABOUT SONIA SAVAGE:

Sonia is a degree qualified Nutritionist and owner of Balanced Life Nutrition in Sydney. She has extensive clinical experience, with a specialist interest in hormones, fertility, gut health and autoimmune conditions. She is particularly passionate about supporting women through perimenopause and menopause. Her mission is to help her clients remain mentally sharp, physically strong and waking up ready to take on the day. As a functional practitioner, Sonia takes a whole-body, evidence-based approach to health. She believes in true “root cause” healing, often working to carefully unravel chronic conditions. Sonia also has specialist knowledge in methylation, longevity and epigenetics, allowing her to personalise care at a deeper biochemical level.

CONNECT WITH SONIA SAVAGE:

Sonia Savage | 0407 546 032 | [email protected]

Website: https://www.balancedlifenutrition.com.au/

Instagram: @balanced_life_nutrition

Facebook: @findyourbalancedlife

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-savage-0942731/

RESOURCES:

Book a free 15min health chat with Sonia: https://www.balancedlifenutrition.com.au/bookings

Journal article: https://www.balancedlifenutrition.com.au/single-post/how-a-functionalnutritionist-can-help-with-perimenopause-and-hormonal-changes

Free Low Carb Anti-Inflammatory Diet: https://www.balancedlifenutrition.com.au/contact

CONNECT WITH HOST TERRI BATSAKIS:

Web: https://terribatsakis.com.au/

Instagram: @terri.batsakis

Facebook: @terribatsakis

YouTube: @terribatsakis