This week on Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with Dr. Julie Merriman—PhD, Certified Sex Counselor, trauma specialist, and creator of Soul Joy™—for a conversation that goes way deeper than “self-care.”

They unpack the virtuous woman trap: the lifelong conditioning that teaches women to over-function, over-give, and override their own needs… until they don’t even feel themselves anymore.

This episode is about nervous system survival, emotional numbness, identity loss—and what it actually takes to come home to yourself again.

🎧 New episodes drop every Thursday

Listen on all podcast platforms + YouTube

In this episode we talk about:

The “good girl” conditioning that wires women for burnout

Why high-achieving women feel empty (even when they’re successful)

What “functional freeze” actually looks like in real life

The moment Lisa realized: “I don’t feel my feet”

Why you can’t think your way out of a feeling problem

How disconnection impacts intimacy, desire, and relationships

The truth about masculinity, safety, and emotional regulation

Empty nest grief and identity loss in midlife

What it means to “have a homecoming” back to yourself

Key Takeaways:

You are not broken.

Your nervous system adapted to keep you safe.

But the life you want?

It requires more than survival—it requires coming back into your body.

Connet with Julie Merriman:

Dr. Julie Merriman, Ph.D., LPC-S, CSC is a counselor educator, author, speaker, and clinician with over 25 years of experience helping high-achieving women break free from burnout and self-sacrifice.

She is the creator of Soul Joy™, host of the Compassion Fatigue Cure podcast, and author of:

In Pursuit of Soul Joy

Are We Gonna Have Sex or What? (Spring 2026)

Her work blends neuroscience, somatics, and real-life application to help women reconnect to desire, identity, and pleasure in midlife.

🔗 Learn more: https://juliemerrimanphd.com

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.juliemerriman/

🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjuliemerriman

🔥 In This Episode, We Talk About:💥 Key Takeaway👤 About Julie Merriman🎙️ Let’s Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467📩 Email: [email protected]

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What do wine and parenting have in common? More than you think.

In this insightful and surprisingly funny conversation, Lisa sits down with luxury wine expert and author Danielle Frank to explore how the language of wine can help us rethink how we raise humans.

From control and expectations to identity, independence, and imperfection—this episode challenges modern parenting norms and reminds us that growth isn’t about perfection… it’s about becoming.

What We Explore:

Why kids (like wine) need space to breathe

The hidden pressure of “perfect parenting”

How expectations can quietly damage relationships

Why community—not control—raises healthy humans

The power of letting go and trusting the process

What “faults” teach us about identity and resilience

Standout Moments:

“The majority of your relationship with your child will be with them as an adult.”

“Sometimes the best thing you can do… is step back and let it breathe.”

“We teach kids how to behave—but also what to expect from others.”

“It’s not failure. It’s evolution.”

“Imperfection doesn’t ruin the bottle—it makes it unique.”

About Danielle:

Danielle Frank is a luxury wine and spirits expert with over 20 years of experience, including leadership roles at Moët Hennessy and Bacardi.

She is the author of A Wine Lover’s Guide to Parenting—a witty, insightful book that blends wine terminology with real-life parenting wisdom.

🔗 Connect with Danielle:

instragram @createagreatstory   

website: www.daniellefrankauthor.net

Available on all podcast platforms + YouTube

Connect with Lisa:

Website: https://liberatedmenopause.ca

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467

📩 Email: [email protected]

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What if exhaustion isn't the price of success?

This week on Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with Maria Angelova, creator of the Angelova Method, fitness professional, former corporate leader, and passionate advocate for helping people reconnect with their bodies.

After years of pushing through stress, sleeplessness, anxiety, and burnout, Maria experienced a series of wake-up calls that forced her to question everything she thought she knew about achievement, productivity, and wellness.

Together, Lisa and Maria explore:

✔ Why so many high-achieving women mistake burnout for success

✔ The hidden ways stress shows up in the body

✔ How perimenopause invites us to rethink our priorities

✔ The connection between movement, emotions, and nervous system regulation

✔ Why self-awareness is the foundation of healing

✔ Small daily practices that create profound change

✔ The role of rebellion in becoming your authentic self

✔ How to stop living on autopilot and start living intentionally

Memorable Takeaways:

Your body is not working against you.

The symptoms, tension, exhaustion, and emotional overwhelm many women experience are often signals pointing toward what needs attention, healing, and change.

Midlife isn't the end of your story.

It may be the first time you're finally writing it for yourself.

Connect with Maria:

Website: www.rebelliousstudio.com/

LI: www.linkedin.com/in/mariamangelova/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mind.body.expert

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@themindbodyexpert

FB: https://www.facebook.com/maria.angelova.39750

Freebie: https://www.rebelliousstudio.com/opt-in

Connect with Lisa:

Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467

Email: [email protected]

New episodes drop every Thursday on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you stop trying to hold it all together… and start laughing instead?

This week, Lisa sits down with Kara Murray—aka MediocreMom76—former teacher turned viral content creator and now stand-up comedian.

Kara built a massive audience by telling the truth about motherhood, menopause, and the absolute chaos of midlife—and people felt it.

In this episode, we explore what happens when you stop striving for perfection and start embracing “good enough.”

The accidental creation of the “Menopause Hotline” (and why it exploded)

Why midlife unlocks confidence you didn’t have before

Teacher ➡️ creator ➡️ comedian: how reinvention actually happens

The mental load, brain fog, and identity shifts of menopause

Body image, generational patterns, and what we pass to our kids

Why comedy might be one of the most powerful forms of advocacy

Letting go of perfection and embracing “mediocre”

You don’t have to suffer in your body

Reinvention isn’t reckless—it’s necessary

“Good enough” is more powerful than perfect

Midlife isn’t shrinking you—it’s expanding you

Laughter is connection—and we need more of it

Kara Murray (MediocreMom76) is a former teacher turned social media personality and emerging stand-up comedian. She shares honest, hilarious takes on motherhood, menopause, and midlife identity, building a community through truth and humour.

Instagram: @mediocremom76

Let’s Stay Connected:

Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 Email: [email protected]

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This week on Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with pharmacist, wellness expert, and author Dr. Nayan Patel for a powerful conversation about the missing pieces in the menopause and longevity conversation. Please note - this episode was recorded before the term PCOS was evolved to PMOS. 

Together they unpack:

Why hormones are only one piece of the puzzle

The connection between stress, insulin, and hormone imbalance

GLP-1 medications and the concerns women need to understand

Oxidative stress and cellular health

What glutathione actually does in the body

Why prevention matters more than “fixing”

The emotional overwhelm women are carrying in midlife

This conversation moves beyond quick fixes and into a more nuanced understanding of energy, aging, and wraparound care.

Chapters:

00:00 — Welcome + introducing Dr. Nayan Patel

01:40 — What’s missing from the hormone conversation

03:00 — Stress, insulin & the “real” drivers of symptoms

05:50 — Environmental toxins, xenoestrogens & PCOS *This was recorded prior to the change to PMOS.

09:30 — Why hormone therapy isn’t the full solution

12:00 — “The lion is chasing us 24/7”

15:00 — Coaching, behaviour change & emotional patterns

18:45 — The truth about GLP-1 medications

25:10 — Muscle loss, resistance training & midlife health

27:00 — What glutathione actually is 33:00 — Why oxidative stress matters

37:00 — The body needs less, not more 39:30 — Wraparound care & prevention

43:00 — Aging is not the enemy

45:00 — Closing thoughts

Transforming 45 drops every Thursday.

Connect with Lisa:

Website: Liberated Menopause

Instagram: @lboate

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467

 YouTube: Transforming 45 

[email protected]

Connect with Dr. Patel:

Website: http://aurowellness.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Aurowellness

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aurowellness

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@auro.wellness?_t=8nrXA1jnFeM&_r=1

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aurowellness

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What if nothing is going wrong… but everything is changing?

In this deeply honest and unfiltered conversation, Lisa sits down with Angela Burk—author, marketing strategist, and self-proclaimed midlife hell-raiser—to talk about what it actually feels like to move through midlife.

From confronting the mirror to redefining relationships, navigating shifting identities, and parenting adult children, this episode names the things so many women feel—but struggle to articulate.

This is a conversation about grief, growth, desire, partnership, and the quiet (and not-so-quiet) realization that you are no longer who you used to be.

And maybe… that’s the point.

In this episode, we explore:

Why midlife can feel so confronting—and why that matters

The identity shift no one prepares you for

How relationships evolve (and strain) in this phase

What changes in partnership, intimacy, and communication

Parenting adult children and the grief no one talks about

The power of saying what you need—out loud

Why you’re not falling apart… you’re becoming

About Angela Burk:

Angela Burk is a writer, marketing strategist, and author of Real Girl’s Guide to Midlife. She is a fierce advocate for women reclaiming their stories and building bold, unapologetic lives in midlife. A mom of seven in a beautifully blended family, Angela splits her time between California and Australia.

Connect with Angela:

🔗 Learn more: www.realgirlsguide55.com

Website: ttps://www.realgirlsguide.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realgirlsguide/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realgirlsguide55/

📩 Follow Angela on Substack

Connect with Lisa

🌐 Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lboate👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/liberatedmenopause📧 Email: [email protected]

🎙️ Transforming 45 releases new episodes every Thursday.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What School Could Be — If We Had The Courage To Imagine Differently 

Lisa is joined by jeewan chanicka and Alison Bradshaw for a powerful conversation about the future of public education in Ontario and beyond.

The conversation explores:

Ontario’s new attendance and standardized testing policies

Why students are disengaging from school

The impact of policy on neurodivergent learners

The difference between education as a public good vs workforce pipeline

Indigenous approaches to learning and community

The role of governance, trustees, and privatization

What education could become if rooted in humanity and belonging

Key Takeaways:

Behaviour is communication, not defiance

Attendance problems are often symptoms of deeper systemic issues

Standardized exams frequently measure stress and privilege more than intelligence

Public education should develop humans, not just workers

Indigenous knowledge systems challenge industrialized education models

Hope requires imagination and action

Connect wtih Lisa:

Website: Liberated Menopause Consulting & Coaching

Instagram: @lboate

Email: [email protected]a

Connect with jeewan chanicka:

Website: https://jeewanchanicka.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacredreturnjourney/

Connect with Alison Bradshaw: https://www.instagram.com/alison8958/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if everything you’re feeling… actually makes sense?

In this powerful episode of Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with Andrea Donsky—nutritionist, 7x published menopause researcher, and co-founder of Morphus—to break open the conversation women were never taught to have.

From the shocking reality that menopause is completely absent from school curriculum to the 100+ symptoms most women don’t even know exist, this conversation is equal parts validating, eye-opening, and empowering.

If you’ve ever thought “I don’t feel like myself anymore”—this episode is for you.

What You'll Learn:

Why menopause education is still missing globally

The 103+ symptoms of perimenopause (beyond hot flashes)

Why so many women feel dismissed by healthcare providers

The emotional impact of body changes (and how to navigate it)

How to communicate what’s happening—to doctors, partners, and yourself

Why “you don’t have to suffer” can feel so uncomfortable (and why it matters)

The #1 place to start if you want to feel better now

Key Moments:

The moment Lisa’s pants didn’t do up—and what it revealed

Phantom smells, itchy ears, and symptoms no one talks about

The cultural conditioning that equates success with suffering

Why menopause is impacting your relationships more than you think

The power of naming what’s happening in your body

Key Takeaways:

You are not broken.

You are not alone.

And you do not have to suffer.

Connect with Lisa:

Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboateFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467

 Email: [email protected]

Free Guide: How To Reignite Your Purpose Without Feeling Overwhelmed or Guilty

Connect with Andrea

Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn: @andreadonsky @wearemorphus

📖 Book: Nourishing Menopause: Powerful Nutrition and Lifestyle Strategies to Feel Your Best: nourishingmenopausebook.com

🌐 Website: www.wearemorphus.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the thing you’ve been trying to avoid… is actually the way back to yourself?

This week on Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with Udo Erasmus—a pioneer in the health and wellness space and co-founder of Udo’s Choice—to explore the connection between heartache, healing, and coming home to your body.

From surviving war as a child to decades studying biology, psychology, and human nature, Udo shares a perspective that challenges everything we’ve been taught about where fulfillment comes from.

In this episode:

Why heartache isn’t something to fix—but something to feel

The disconnect that happens after childhood—and how it shapes our lives

Why midlife is the moment your body calls you back

The difference between chasing fulfillment vs. embodying it

A simple daily practice to reconnect to yourself

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Udo Erasmus and His Journey

04:44 The Impact of Curiosity and Persistence

09:59 Understanding Heartache and Disconnection

15:56 Reframing Heartache as a Gift

23:05 The Essence of Love and Connection

27:55 The Importance of Self-Connection

33:20 The Need for a New Understanding of Health

This is a conversation about peace, presence, and the radical idea that nothing is missing—only forgotten.

🎙️ New episodes drop every Thursday on all podcast platforms + YouTube.

What if what you’re feeling right now… isn’t something to fix—but something to listen to?

In this episode of Transforming 45, I’m joined by Udo Erasmus to unpack a powerful truth:

👉 Heartache isn’t the problem 👉 Disconnection is 👉 And midlife is your way back

If you’ve done everything “right” but still feel off, this conversation will land.

✨ We talk about:

Why heartache might be your turning point

How we lose connection to ourselves

Why midlife is a wake-up call—not a breakdown

A simple way to start coming back to your body

🎙️ New episodes every Thursday on all platforms.

Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 Email: [email protected]

✨ Free Guide: How To Reignite Your Purpose Without Feeling Overwhelmed or Guilty

Connect with Udo:

Website: https://udoerasmus.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theudoerasmus/

🎥 YouTube DescriptionMidlife Isn’t a Crisis. It’s When You Burn the Script.🔗 Let’s Stay ConnectedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/udoerasmus/

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What if midlife isn’t something to survive… but something to reimagine?

In this episode of Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with Brandi Croghan, founder of The What If Collective, to explore how one simple question—what if—can unlock curiosity, courage, and meaningful change.

This conversation moves beyond symptoms and into identity, belonging, and the emotional shifts that come with midlife. Together, they unpack how we’ve been conditioned to play it safe—and what becomes possible when we don’t.

What You'll Learn:

Why “what if” is more than a question—it’s a mindset

How to reconnect with curiosity and childlike wonder

The role of belonging and psychological safety in transformation

Why midlife can feel like entering a “new culture”

How to move from fear → curiosity → action

Letting go of perfectionism and the “strive” narrative

Why slowing down is actually growth

How midlife can become your most aligned chapter

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the What If Collective

02:22 The Power of the 'What If' Question

05:11 Reconnecting with Childlike Curiosity

07:18 Navigating Conversations on Belonging

11:52 Cultural Shifts in Midlife

15:57 Menopause in the Workplace

19:05 Creating Safe Spaces for Conversations

22:32 The Importance of Being Seen and Heard

27:17 Embracing Change and Identity

31:19 Finding Joy in the 'What If' Mindset

About Brandi:

Brandi Croghan is the founder of The What If Collective, where she helps individuals and organizations unlock bold thinking, deeper connection, and meaningful transformation through curiosity-driven conversations.

With a background in leadership, culture change, and facilitation, Brandi blends strategy, science, and soul to help people reimagine what’s possible.

Connect with Brandi:

Website: https://www.thewhatifcollective.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealwhatifcollective/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrandiCroghanWhatIfMindset/ 

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandi-croghan-founder-whatifcollective/ 

Available on all podcast platforms + YouTube ✨ New episodes drop every Thursday

Let’s Stay Connected:

Website: liberatedmenopause.ca

Instagram: @lboate

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 Email: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices