My midlife mom friends—If you’ve ever needed a vacation after your family vacation, this one’s for you. In this playful mini-sode, I reflect on my recent family “vacation,” and how I’m getting closer to dropping the quotes. I talk five-hour flights with no iPads, the magic of kids’ clubs, Yoto players, hotel spas, and share tips (and a few silly wins) for traveling with little kids while keeping your sanity intact. You’ll hear: •Tips that make family travel a little easier •How to actually sq...

Turns out, those ‘I’m past my prime’ thoughts aren’t harmless—they can literally change your hormones, heart, and health. 😱 Functional nutritionist and narrative-medicine practitioner (yes, we will cover what that means) Andrea Nakayama explains how age beliefs influence inflammation, cortisol, heart health, memory, recovery, and even longevity. If you’re a midlife woman trying to feel your best during this wacky season of life and want some practical midlife advice for how to evolve into one...

What if the hardest thing to do in yoga isn’t on the mat — it’s staying calm when your kid rolls their eyes for the fiftieth time that day? In this episode, I talk with Sarah Ezrin, yoga teacher and author of The Yoga of Parenting, about how the ancient principles of yoga can help us survive — and even savor — the chaos of raising humans as midlife women. Sarah says parenting is the most advanced yoga of all, and once you hear her examples, you’ll get it. We talk about how yoga is less about ...

Have you ever noticed that just when life starts to feel really good…you start waiting for the other shoe to drop? Or worse, you pick a fight or find a way to mess things up? That’s not random—it’s what psychologists call the Upper Limits Problem, and it’s one of the sneakiest ways we sabotage our own joy. In this episode, I talk with award-winning author Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming, whose book How to Have a Happy Birthday explores why so many of us minimize celebrations, dread our own birthdays, o...

Bag of chips. Pint of ice cream. Pick your favorite vice. Ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m not even hungry—so why am I eating this?” In this episode, I’m joined by Tricia Nelson, founder of Heal Your Hunger and author of Heal Your Hunger: 7 Simple Steps to End Emotional Eating Now. After losing 50 pounds and healing her own relationship with food, Tricia has devoted decades to helping women uncover the real reasons behind emotional eating. We talk about: ✔️What emotional eating actually is...

Most women are told there are only a handful of options when it comes to hormone therapy for perimenopause and menopause. But what if that’s not the full story? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Peter Koshland, a UCSF-trained pharmacist and founder of Koshland Pharm, San Francisco’s only PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacy. Peter pulls back the curtain on what compounding really is, how safety and testing work, and why it can open up a world of options beyond the standard prescriptions. W...

In today’s minisode, I’m answering one of the most common questions I get: “So… do you love podcasting?” The short answer? Yes! I love the challenge of learning a new industry, diving into conversations with inspiring midlife women, and spreading science-based information. But I also want to keep it real — it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. Podcasting is a ton of work, and doing it solo while juggling family and life isn’t sustainable forever. In this short and honest episode, I share: ✔️ Wh...

If you’ve hit your 40s and suddenly feel like your body got swapped out for someone else’s…I’m right there with you. For many midlife women, uninvited menopause belly fat shows up overnight, brain fog makes you lose your train of thought mid-sentence, and you’re wide awake at 3am pondering disasters that will probably never happen. In this episode, I’m joined by Barbara Sobel, a board-certified nutritionist with a master’s in clinical and functional medicine nutrition. Barb specializes ...

In this episode, I’m sharing five foods I used to eat all the time that just don’t have a place in my life anymore. And no, this isn’t about demonizing food or creating rules. It’s about noticing how my choices have shifted as I’ve moved through midlife and perimenopause, and celebrating the small but powerful changes that support my hormone health and energy now. You’ll hear me talk about: ✔️Why I broke up with breakfast cereal after decades of eating it on the regular ✔️The hardest thing ...

Perimenopause doesn’t have to feel like the end of your fire. In Ayurveda, this stage of life is actually called your Golden Goddess era. In this episode, Jessica talks with Heather Grzych, Ayurvedic doctor-level practitioner, bestselling author of The Ayurvedic Guide to Fertility, and former president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association. Heather explains how Ayurveda sees midlife as a shift from the fiery stage of life into the air and space stage — a transition that brings both ch...

When Julie Parana had a hysterectomy at 42, she expected relief from years of pain—which she got. What she did not expect was the immediate launch into menopause a decade earlier than planned. Even with her ovaries intact, Julie found herself dealing with symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness, and sleep struggles that were affecting her work. But, it wasn’t until the hot flashes showed up that she connected the dots. In this episode, Julie shares how she pieced together the truth, why ...

In this episode, I’m joined by Heather Nelson to discuss her very personal story that sheds light on a topic that feels like a black box to many of us—surrogacy. Heather is a mother, wife, business coach and podcaster who became a surrogate five years ago. Now at 43 and navigating perimenopause, she’s preparing to do it again. Her story offers a rare, honest look at the emotional and logistical realities of surrogacy—from hormone shots to heart-expanding moments to what it means ...

If you are a midlife woman trying to eat more protein—but you’re tired of people telling you to eat 100 grams a day, and you’re even more tired of eating chicken—then this episode’s for you. I’m breaking down how to personalize your protein intake without bloating, burnout or boredom. I also share 5 protein recipes I make on repeat, including muffins, smoothies, and energy bites my kids devour. I cover: ✔️Why “100g a day” isn’t right for every woman ✔️How to calculate your own protein r...

What happens when a powerful woman gets pushed out by the patriarchy? If you’re Cheyenne Richards, you write a novel, get your captain’s license, and sail into your next chapter—literally. In this episode, Cheyenne shares how she went from VP of Marketing at a tech startup to award-winning historical fiction author and full-time adventurer. We talk about midlife reinvention, creative courage, self-discovery, and what it really means to live authentically. We cover: ✔️Imposter syndrome in male...

Why do so many smart, self-aware women feel emotionally disconnected from their partners in midlife? And how do you know if you should keep working on the relationship or separate? These are the questions I explore in this episode with licensed psychotherapist Jessie Curtner. We discuss in depth what happens when one partner starts to grow and evolve while the other stays the same—and why that disconnect can feel so painful and confusing. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔️ The real reason wome...

The Belong Wellness podcast just turned 6 months old! To celebrate, I’m taking you on a greatest-hits-style trip through some of my favorite podcast moments so far. From big laughs to aha moments, from menopause hormone therapy advice for IUD users to a goddess vision during Reiki, this “Midlife Mixtape” brings the sass, the science, and the soul. In this episode, you’ll hear about: •a career pivot with an unexpected beginning that made me laugh so hard I had to mute my microphone •a year-lon...

I have seen too many super smart, extremely capable women start to feel like the wheels are coming off in their 40s. But before we go blaming our hormones, our jobs, our spouses or our bodies—let’s pause. This week, I’m joined by Courtney Townley, host of the Grace & Grit podcast and a total truth-teller when it comes to women’s health. She’s here to help us stop waging war on our bodies, stop doing everyone else’s emotional labor, and start rebuilding a life that actually works for us. W...

What happens when divorce, single motherhood, turning 50, and perimenopause all hit at once? You get a full-blown midlife dumpster fire. But today’s guest, Donna Johnsen, found a lifeline in laughter. In this episode, she shares how journaling, community, and humor helped her survive the hardest season of her life—and how her Instagram account Laugh Lines and Life Goals became an unexpected source of healing for herself and others. We talk about: •Being blindsided by divorce and survi...

It’s my birthday, and we’re halfway through 2025, so I’m doing a little mid-year reflection and inviting you to join me. In this solo episode, I’m sharing what’s felt aligned this year, where I’ve made some changes, how my word of the year is going, and why launching this podcast has felt both vulnerable and fulfilling. Plus: I need your help with a birthday goal I’ve set for the podcast… and there’s a fun little giveaway in it for you. 🎁 I cover: •My 2025 intentions and how it’s goin...

If your nightstand is stacked with books you swear you’re going to read (someday), this episode is for you. Jessica sits down with her oldest friend, Alexis Lynch—a lawyer, mom, and avid reader—who somehow manages to read 2 to 6 books a month while working full time and raising an 8-year-old. In this light & fun chat between old friends, Jess & Lex talk about: 📖 Why midlife is the perfect time to rediscover reading for fun 📖 The mindset shift that helped Alexis start reading again 📖 H...