Episode Description
What if the root of your exhaustion, anxiety, or hormonal chaos isn’t “just stress” — but your nervous system trying to get your attention?
In this episode of The Shifted Podcast, Amira Davis sits down once again with Dr. Jennifer Hopkins of Mindful Medicine to unpack the real science behind midlife regulation — the vagus nerve, your body’s built-in reset system, and how it influences everything from digestion and sleep to hormones and mood.
This isn’t another self-care conversation. It’s a grounded look at how stress, trauma, and hormonal changes intersect — and what you can do to support your body through it.
Amira also shares her personal ritual using Vibrant Blue Oils’ Parasympathetic Blend, explaining how scent and touch can activate calm through the vagus nerve and amygdala. Together, she and Dr. Hopkins explore the bridge between medical insight and practical daily tools that help women in midlife regulate their systems, one small reset at a time.
If you’ve ever been told “it’s just stress,” this episode will give you the language, science, and self-advocacy tools to find real answers — not quick fixes.
Key Topics
Journal Prompt
“What’s one symptom I’ve brushed off as ‘just stress’ that might have a real, medical root?”
“What question am I ready to ask my doctor—or myself—about my health?”
Featured Guest
Dr. Jennifer Hopkins — Integrative physician and founder of Mindful Medicine, blending medical science with mindfulness to help women reclaim calm, clarity, and whole-body wellness in midlife.
🔗 Tools & Resources Mentioned
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◦Instagram: instagram.com/amiraevolved
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◦Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562292933065
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◦TikTok: tiktok.com/@amiradavis7
◦Stan Store: stan.store/amiraevolved Dr. Jennifer Hopkins / Mindful Medicine
◦Website: mindfulmedicine4.com
◦Mindful Healing Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mindful-healing/id1736490534
◦Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mindful-Medicine-100093360940946TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drhopkinsmindfulmedicine
◦Email contact: mindfulmedicine4@gmail.com
◦Phone: 607-727-6079 Parasympathetic Blend: https://dv216.isrefer.com/go/paraaf/amiradavis/Next Episode PreviewNext week, Amira talks with Danielle Smith of Vocaré Coaching about using the Enneagram to uncover identity, purpose, and clarity in midlife. If you’ve ever wondered why you react the way you do, in stress, leadership, or love, this one’s for you.
💡 Episode Overview
In this episode of The Shifted Podcast, Amira Davis dives into what happens when confidence gets mislabeled as “shade.” From a simple social post that sparked an unexpected reaction, Amira explores the deeper layers of perception, emotional maturity, and capacity — and what it means to stand in your truth during midlife without apologizing for it.
Through real conversation and reflection, she breaks down:
How clarity often gets mistaken for conflict
Why women in midlife still feel pressure to soften their truth
What emotional capacity really means (and how to build it)
How to stay grounded when someone misreads your intentions
The difference between confidence, ego, and clean energy
Whether you’ve ever been called “too much,” “too direct,” or “shady” just for being proud of what you’ve built — this episode is for you.
🧠 Key Takeaways
Confidence ≠ Shade: Celebrating yourself doesn’t make you arrogant. It makes you self-aware.
Clarity Isn’t Conflict: Some people interpret calm truth as confrontation — and that’s about their filter, not your tone.
Capacity Is Emotional Strength: It’s your ability to hold truth and peace, even when others can’t.
Midlife = Mastery: With age comes emotional steadiness — the ability to speak directly without guilt or over-explaining.
You’re Not Responsible for Other People’s Projections: Clean intentions don’t need defense.
Journal Prompt
“Where in my life am I softening my truth so it doesn’t get misread?” “And what would it look like to say it — clearly, calmly, and without apology?”
Use this week’s reflection to explore where you’re still editing yourself and what it might feel like to let go of that need for approval.
Coming Up Next
Amira shares a sneak peek into future episodes — including an honest conversation about the Enneagram and how it completely changed her self-awareness journey. She’ll also be joined by her friend Carrie, a midlife woman and speech pathologist, to talk about communication, identity, and rediscovering your voice in this stage of life.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiraevolved/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562292933065
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amiradavis7
Check out my digital products: stan.store/amiraevolved
The Shifted Self: A 90 Day Journal For Evolution, Gratitude & Self-Reflection:
Parasympathetic Blend: https://dv216.isrefer.com/go/paraaf/amiradavis/
In this episode, Amira sits down with her friend Amelie Hennessy, owner of The Hennessy Group, to explore how partnerships evolve in midlife. Amelie shares her story of raising four kids and running a business with her ex-husband, proving divorce is not the end but a shift.
They discuss:
Dating in midlife and what changes after your 20s and 30s
Practical tips for co-parenting and collaborating with an ex
Type A strengths and balancing masculine and feminine energy
Redefining partnership in midlife—with yourself, your kids, and new relationships
This conversation is for anyone navigating life transitions, co-parenting, or rethinking what healthy relationships look like.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How to co-parent and run a business with an ex without constant conflict
Why clear boundaries and blunt communication actually strengthen partnerships
The role financial independence plays in redefining midlife relationships
How to pivot when a partnership changes—without losing respect or connection
Ways midlife can bring unexpected clarity, freedom, and fresh definitions of love
Why being unapologetically Type A (or whatever your style is) can be a strength, not a flaw
Links & Resources: ✨Journal Prompt: Where in your life do you need to shift from refighting old battles to building new ground?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiraevolved/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562292933065
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amiradavis7
Check out my digital products: stan.store/amiraevolved
The Shifted Self: A 90 Day Journal For Evolution, Gratitude & Self-Reflection:
https://amzn.to/4ltSlXq
Parasympathetic Blend: https://dv216.isrefer.com/go/paraaf/amiradavis/
Marriage doesn’t stay the same and it’s not supposed to. In this episode of The Shifted Podcast, Amira sits down with her husband, Sam, to talk honestly about what it takes to grow separately and still stay together after thirty years of marriage.
From meeting in 1992, marrying in 1994, raising three kids, and walking through health struggles, belief differences, and hard relationship challenges, Amira and Sam share how boundaries and self-respect reshaped their connection.
This conversation explores:
How to grow as individuals without drifting apart
Why boundaries create more intimacy, not less
The role of self-respect in long-term marriage
Navigating marriage challenges and change in midlife
A candid Q&A where Sam and Amira ask each other questions they’ve never said out loud
If you’ve ever wondered if marriage can survive growth, reinvention, and tough choices, this episode will give you hope and practical perspective.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why long-term relationships require evolution
How Gen X women are redefining marriage in midlife
The difference between “empowerment” and true self-respect
Practical examples of setting boundaries with your partner
How to rebuild connection after hard years in marriage
Links & Resources: ✨ Journal Prompt: “Where in your relationship are you afraid your growth might create distance? What would shift if you trusted that boundaries could bring you closer instead?”
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiraevolved/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562292933065
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amiradavis7
Check out my digital products: stan.store/amiraevolved
The Shifted Self: A 90 Day Journal For Evolution, Gratitude & Self-Reflection:
Parasympathetic Blend: https://dv216.isrefer.com/go/paraaf/amiradavis/
Grief doesn’t come with a rulebook and it certainly doesn’t owe anyone an explanation. In this episode, I dive into the messy, deeply personal reality of grieving in midlife and the boundaries we often forget we’re allowed to set.
From the quiet ache of friendships fading, kids growing up, bodies changing, and parents aging, to the gut-punch of losing a beloved pet, I’m sharing how grief shows up in ways both obvious and invisible and why honoring your own style of healing matters.
Whether you need solitude and silence or constant check-ins and connection, your way of grieving is valid. The right people will honor your boundaries, not question them.
In this episode we cover:
Why you don’t owe anyone a “front row seat” to your grief
The difference between functioning and actually thriving
How cultural pressure to “share everything” can erase your true needs
What real support looks like (and what it doesn’t)
See a pic of my beloved puppy, Dozer here
Let’s Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiraevolved/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562292933065
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amiradavis7
Check out my digital products: stan.store/amiraevolved
The Shifted Self: A 90 Day Journal For Evolution, Gratitude & Self-Reflection:
Parasympathetic Blend: https://dv216.isrefer.com/go/paraaf/amiradavis/
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jennifer Hopkins, nurse practitioner and founder of Mindful Medicine, for a candid, information-packed deep dive into perimenopause and menopause topics too many women face alone. We explore why these life stages are still under-discussed, the surprising and often-misdiagnosed symptoms, and how women can better advocate for their health.
Dr. Jen breaks down the neuroendocrine pathway, explains how interconnected our hormones really are, and shares why a cookie-cutter approach to treatment fails so many women. She unpacks the benefits of integrative medicine, bioidentical hormones, red light therapy, and inhaled hydrogen therapy.
From beef-jerky tissue analogies to grounding barefoot in the grass, this conversation blends science, humor, and practical takeaways helping women understand their bodies, reclaim their vitality, and know they’re not alone on the road through midlife shifts.
See my BEFORE and AFTER photos
In this episode we cover:
Why perimenopause and menopause remain misunderstood and too often dismissed in traditional medicine
Common but overlooked symptoms that can lead to years of misdiagnosis
The mind-body connection: why grounding, breathwork, and stress reduction matter
Practical ways to advocate for yourself in medical settings
Connect with Dr. Jen:
Website: https://www.mindfulmedicine4.com/
Email: mindfulmedicine4@gmail.com
Phone: (607) 727-6079
Let’s Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiraevolved/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562292933065
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amiradavis7
Check out my digital products: stan.store/amiraevolved
The Shifted Self: A 90 Day Journal For Evolution, Gratitude & Self-Reflection: https://amzn.to/4ltSlXq
Parasympathetic Blend: https://dv216.isrefer.com/go/paraaf/amiradavis/
In this episode of The Shifted podcast, I sit down with master resilience coach, transformation expert, and U.S. Army officer Coach Courtni Clay to get honest about something we all face but rarely talk about: friendship shifts.
We talk about the grief of losing longtime friends, how being “done” can be a healthy boundary, and why growth sometimes means moving on without closure.
Whether you're navigating a friendship breakup or just feeling a shift in your circle, this episode is your permission slip to honor what was and fiercely protect who you’re becoming.
In this episode we cover:
Why friendship in your 40s and 50s hits different and why fewer, deeper connections matter more than ever
The gut-punch of outgrowing friendships and the disappointment (not drama) that comes with it
How to protect your peace, trust your gut, and stop being Captain Save-A-Friend
Spotting transactional relationships disguised as connection and knowing when to let go with grace
Connect with Courtni:
Website: https://www.iamcoachcourt.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachcourt83/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coachcourtni
Lady BOSS Alliance Higher Love Invocation 2025: https://lbaevents.com/
Let’s Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiraevolved/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562292933065
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amiradavis7
Check out my digital products: stan.store/amiraevolved
The Shifted Self: A 90 Day Journal For Evolution, Gratitude & Self-Reflection: https://amzn.to/4ltSlXq
Parasympathetic Blend: https://dv216.isrefer.com/go/paraaf/amiradavis/
Welcome to the very first episode of The Shifted Podcast. I’m your host, Amira Davis—a 51-year-old mother, wife, coach, and human-in-progress. I’m getting real about what it means to navigate life when everything feels like it's changing and nobody gave you the rulebook.
This isn’t a podcast for perfection. It’s a space for truth.
In this raw and personal solo kickoff, I share my story, from being a woman constantly showing up for everyone else, to finally asking herself, “What do I need?”
In this episode we cover:
The slow unraveling of feeling “off” in your own body
The reality of dissociation and watching your life from the outside while silently disappearing from it
The truth about not recognizing yourself anymore and choosing to reclaim that version of you
How tools like journaling, meditation, vagus nerve work, and binaural beats can help you reconnect with your mind and body.
Let’s Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiraevolved/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562292933065
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amiradavis7
Check out my digital products: stan.store/amiraevolved
The Shifted Self: A 90 Day Journal For Evolution, Gratitude & Self-Reflection: https://amzn.to/4ltSlXq
Parasympathetic Blend: https://dv216.isrefer.com/go/paraaf/amiradavis/