What if midlife isn’t a slow fade—but a sacred initiation into your deepest truth, cellular power, and unapologetic pleasure? In this soulful, grounded conversation, Carla Wainwright—holistic wellness coach, sexual awakening facilitator, and “midlife alchemist”—joins Jannine to bridge science and the sacred. We unpack how hormone shifts, stress, and blood sugar changes can make pleasure feel far away—and why that’s exactly when pleasure (hello, oxytocin) becomes the antidote that rewires your nervous system and stabilizes your hormones. Expect liberating reframes (hot flashes as sacred burn-off, anyone?), practical micro-rituals, and a reminder that the wisest, sexiest chapters can unfold in your 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The “sacred metabolism” of midlife: a simple science-meets-sacred lens for feeling vital again
Why oxytocin sits “on the throne” (and how to stack 5 daily oxytocin moments without adding more to your plate)
A kinder narrative for perimenopause + menopause that honors your body’s design (not a “decline to fix”)
How to transmute stress, people-pleasing, and identity shifts into clarity, boundaries, and desire
Mentions & resources:
Carla’s Vibrancy Reset guide https://vibrancyguide.com/
Work with Carla https://www.carlawainwright.com/
Free Honey Pot Meditation – a soothing, body-based anchor to drop you out of your head and into sensation. Perfect for those 5 daily oxytocin moments. https://janninemackinnon.com/honey-pot/
Sensual Embodiment Collective (SEC) – monthly guided practices, live journeys, and a growing on-demand library designed for real women with real lives. (Use code PODCAST for 10% off your first month.) https://janninemackinnon.com/sensual-embodiment-collective/
Related episodes you’ll love:
S4 Ep 114 - Pt. 1 Why Your Nervous System Is a Key Part of Having Better Sex
Yoni Breathing: How to Awaken the Sensations of Your Yoni
How to Nourish Yourself With Your Sexual Energy
3 Ways to Spice Up Your Sex Life (That Go Deeper Than Toys & Lingerie)
More About Carla:
Carla Wainwright is a Holistic Wellness Coach, Sexual Awakening Facilitator, and Midlife Alchemist. She supports women 40+ to reclaim vitality, balance their hormones, and reconnect with their pleasure and power through a blend of metabolic health, nervous system healing, and sensual embodiment.With a background in biology, homeopathy, and over two decades of experience in the healing arts, Carla bridges the science of the body with the sacredness of lived experience. Her work helps women shift from surviving to thriving - by listening to the body’s signals, reawakening desire, and embracing midlife as a powerful rite of passage.Carla leads retreats, group programs, and 1:1 coaching that integrate lifestyle medicine, deep emotional inquiry, and somatic practices to guide women back to their vibrancy and radiance.