Celebrate with me as we toast to the 100th episode of the Midlife Feast! As you know, on every episode of the podcast, I ask my guests what they think the missing ingredient in midlife is. After revisiting the answers in 100 episodes, I want to share with you the top five insights that have reshaped our understanding of midlife and menopause. As we clink glasses to this journey, I’m celebrating all the incredible guests who have come to share their wisdom and experience, collectively reminding u...
Feb 19, 2024•26 min•Season 4Ep. 100
In addition to the emotional and physical changes that can come with midlife, have you ever felt discouraged when you realized that your relationship with your spouse or partner was having its own midlife crisis? If so, you’re not alone, but you don’t have to stay stuck. Since we’re celebrating Valentine’s Day this week, I thought it would be the perfect time to invite relationship expert Carrie Cohen on the show to talk about why feeling disconnected in relationships and marriage in midlife can...
Feb 12, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 99
If you have recently been told that you have high blood pressure, (perhaps for the first time ever) there are a couple of things you should know. First, this is not your fault! Second, don’t panic - because Dr. Alex Verge ND is back to help us understand why you’re not alone when it comes to understanding why blood pressure (among so many other things) changes in midlife. Your blood pressure might even improve as you listen to this episode and hear all of the great suggestions Dr. Alex shares wi...
Feb 05, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 98
Today we’re tackling a topic we haven’t yet devoted an entire episode to but certainly deserves one! I’ve invited Nutrition & Body Relationship Coach, Deb Benfield to help us explore the subtle but profound impact of ageism on body image in midlife. We cover so much in this one conversation including aging body liberation, what it means to carry internalized ageism, and how that intersects with disordered eating during midlife. The episode emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, acknow...
Jan 29, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 97
One of the biggest challenges of midlife is the fact that so many of us feel flat-out exhausted, even after 8 hours of sleep! That’s why I invited the Fatigue Fixer, Dr. Sarah Vadeboncoeur, ND to help us understand why this chronic exhaustion is so common but also more complex than just having low iron levels. Sarah will share the four areas you need to explore to discover what's zapping your energy these days. We’ll also dive into why ”meno-rage” could actually be a gift and why we need to allo...
Jan 22, 2024•47 min•Season 4Ep. 96
Everyone comes from somewhere. It’s a simple, perhaps obvious statement, but one that is more relevant than we might realize. In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist, speaker, and author, Dr. Jody Carrington. Jody believes that finding the courage and the safe places to tell our stories is what we need most as we navigate a distracted and disconnected world. While I haven’t known Jody for long, we quickly connected over the bathing suit story she shared on her podcast (what she calls the con...
Jan 15, 2024•43 min•Season 4Ep. 95
If the pressure from wellness culture leaves you feeling fearful and anxious because of its unattainable standards, it's probably safe to say that it's not truly promoting well-being. And if you've invested time, money, or energy in the myths and promises of wellness culture, you probably haven't seen much ROI on those either. In this episode, I’m kicking off 2024 with a guest who needs little introduction-Registered Dietitian and author of The Wellness Trap , Christy Harrison. We are taking a d...
Jan 08, 2024•45 min•Season 4Ep. 94
As we bid farewell to 2023, I’d like to help you redirect the panic and pressure of New Year’s resolutions that may feel like they are waiting around the corner for you. I’m popping in to offer you some super practical tips for a healthier and more peaceful connection with food and your body, especially this time of year. I challenge you to give me sixteen minutes to help you see how the peace you crave is absolutely within reach. I’ll share five tips that can help you make confident food decisi...
Dec 18, 2023•18 min•Season 4Ep. 93
You know the overwhelming and even sometimes paralyzing feelings you battle when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror or a photo? It’s when the image we see in front of us doesn’t match the image in our brain. That’s body grief. In this episode, I’ve invited Registered Dietitian, Amanda Mittman to tackle this subject with me. We’re calling out why body grief has so many layers you might not be aware of, and why it becomes even more complex when the curve balls of perimenopause and aging...
Dec 11, 2023•31 min•Season 4Ep. 92
Do you ever have days where you start out eating fat-free for breakfast, go vegan for lunch, and end up eating keto for dinner? Food rules are so appealing and yet so confusing. The problem is that there’s no “best” diet and they all have the same predictable result. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sylvi Martin who will help us expose why so many elements of wellness culture are getting in the way of your ability to thrive and have a normal relationship with food. We’ll also talk about why wh...
Dec 04, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 91
Welcome to the third of a series of bonus episodes of The Midlife Feast, where we're flipping the script! Today, I’m in the hot seat and my podcast manager, Dee-Anna (who just turned 40) will be asking some of the questions asked by those of you in this community! I had an overwhelming response of fabulous questions, so we are serving the answers to you in a series of bite-sized episodes designed to satisfy your curiosity about diving into gentle nutrition and un-dieting in midlife! Today we’re ...
Nov 27, 2023•13 min•Season 4Ep. 90
In this episode, I invite you to listen as I sit down with Midlife Feast Community member, Laura, a veteran dieter who's now embracing life as an intuitive eater. Laura generously shares her 40-year dieting journey, beginning at age 11, and why it’s so easy to buy into the lie that if you’re not seeing results on a diet, well, you simply aren’t trying hard enough. We debunk common myths like equating intuitive eating with “giving up” and explaining how it can truly nourish your soul and heart. L...
Nov 20, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 89
While you probably know that pelvic floor therapy can help if you struggle with leaking or postpartum challenges, as you'll discover in this conversation, your pelvis has a much bigger impact on your overall well-being, especially in midlife. I know because I had the privilege of being treated by my guest today, Erika Burger. She is a highly regarded Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. I went in seeking help for pain with ovulation when I was in perimenopause and left with ...
Nov 13, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 88
Welcome to the second of a series of bonus episodes of The Midlife Feast, where we're flipping the script! Today, I’m in the hot seat and my podcast manager, Dee-Anna (who just turned 40) will be asking some of the questions asked by those of you in this community! I had an overwhelming response of fabulous questions, so we are serving the answers to you in a series of bite-sized episodes designed to satisfy your curiosity about diving into gentle nutrition and un-dieting in midlife! Today we’re...
Nov 09, 2023•16 min•Season 4Ep. 87
Ever found yourself locked in the diet mentality, labeling food as 'good' or 'bad', and feeling the pressure to achieve perfection with every bite? You're not alone! In this episode, I've invited a fellow certified intuitive eating counselor, Alana Van Der Sluys to help us unpack the insidious role of perfectionism in our eating habits and diet culture. Together, we share personal anecdotes, discuss the pitfalls of the all-or-nothing mindset, the stress of external validation, and shed light on ...
Nov 06, 2023•28 min•Season 4Ep. 86
In this episode, weight-inclusive endocrinologist, Dr. Gregory Dodell joins me as we continue the conversation we’ve started on the podcast (with Val Schonberg and Danielle Bubblitz) about managing diabetes in midlife Dr. Dodell emphasizes that diabetes doesn't discriminate based on body size. He advocates for a personalized, intuitive approach to eating, highlighting the importance of listening to your body. We highlight the fact that diabetes can bring emotional challenges, including stigma ar...
Oct 30, 2023•25 min•Season 4Ep. 85
Welcome to the first of a series of bonus episodes of The Midlife Feast, where we're flipping the script! Today, I’m in the hot seat and my podcast manager, Dee-Anna (who just turned 40) will be asking some of the questions asked by those of you in this community! I had an overwhelming response of fabulous questions, so we are serving the answers to you in a series of bite-sized episodes designed to satisfy your curiosity about diving into gentle nutrition and un-dieting in midlife! Today we’re ...
Oct 26, 2023•17 min•Season 4Ep. 84
Have you ever taken a moment to press pause just before you reach for your favourite salty snack, sweet treat, or glass of wine when a strong feeling bubbles to the surface? It’s a very human thing to “emotionally eat or drink” but do we know why? Or if that habit is actually helping us to resolve anything?? Today on the podcast psychotherapist and certified alcohol coach, Emma Gilmour will help us understand the deeper connections between our eating and drinking habits in midlife. Emma will sha...
Oct 23, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 83
When I did an open call in our Midlife Feast Community for anyone who was willing to do a story session, I was thrilled when long-time member Melissa jumped at the chance to share her story. She shares how she has transitioned from lifetime member of Weight Watchers and all the tracking, measuring, and counting that came with it, to enjoying the freedom of being an intuitive eater. Melissa also shares her hard-earned wisdom of why we can’t rush the process of un-dieting and why it requires pract...
Oct 16, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 82
Midlife is notorious for bringing burnout, but I’d like to flip the script and propose it's actually the perfect time to rediscover joy in midlife! To help us, I’ve invited my friend Meryl Cook to share her passion for helping others find healing through creativity and self-compassion. Meryl will share her unique creative process that starts with journaling and is a unique blend of writing, sketching, and turning problems into resolutions while connecting with the sensations of joy. We also talk...
Oct 09, 2023•30 min•Season 4Ep. 81
When you hear the word “exercise”, what’s the very next word that comes to mind? Pain? Sweat? No thanks? It’s incredibly common to make these associations with movement because we’ve been conditioned to believe that unless we are miserable, it doesn’t count. In this episode, I’m talking with weight-inclusive fitness trainer, Jamie Carbaugh who will share why she is so passionate about choosing movement for more-of everything! Whether it’s more flexibility, better sleep, or dance parties, Jamie h...
Oct 02, 2023•38 min•Season 4Ep. 80
When it comes to the diabetes conversation, have you ever felt like common sense was the missing ingredient? If so, you’re 100% correct. The fear-based messaging like “you’re just one donut away from diabetes” indicates how out of control it’s become. What I want you to walk away with is knowing that you can make peace with food, even with diabetes- and one of the best ways to do that is through adopting an intuitive eating approach. To help us tackle this topic, I’ve invited Danielle Bublitz, a...
Sep 25, 2023•35 min•Season 4Ep. 79
Are you convinced that with your welcome to midlife and menopause letter, you’re also doomed to develop insulin resistance? It’s not much different from believing that every pregnant woman will also develop gestational diabetes. Is it possible? Sure. Does it happen to everyone? Definitely not. In this episode, I’ve invited Registered Dietitian, Val Schonberg back on the show to help challenge some of the most common assumptions about insulin resistance for women in menopause. Your body compositi...
Sep 18, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 78
If you’ve been around here for a season or two, you know that I’ll never be in favor of taking anything off the menu when it comes to nutrition- with one exception: information overload. These days, the problem with making decisions about food in midlife is not due to lack of information. It’s a lack of awareness of the other things that influence our decisions about food! So in this season, you can look forward to every episode helping you filter through the noise so you can have access to the ...
Sep 11, 2023•18 min•Season 4Ep. 77
Wondering why in the world would a naturopathic doctor and dietitian would suggest that food is not medicine. It’s a great question and one I wanted to tackle for the last episode of season 3. There’s no doubt about it-food does incredible things for our bodies. It fuels, supports, and nourishes us every day. But here’s a little secret: broccoli alone can’t save your life. Food is just food! The pressure we feel to choose only the most “perfect” foods often ends up taking so much of our time and...
Jul 17, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 76
Midlife is the ultimate “messy middle”, isn’t it? But when we take time to listen to our bodies, get comfortable with not having control, and surround ourselves with authentic community, there are a lot of gifts to discover in this season too! In this episode, I’ve invited Ann Douglas, the author of Navigating the Messy Middle, a book that brilliantly unpacks the challenges and experiences of women in midlife, especially those of us who are parenting teens at the same time! Part of what makes th...
Jul 10, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 75
Have you ever noticed that as you embrace midlife, you discover this newfound ability to stop doing all the things that just don’t serve you anymore? Isn’t it fantastic? My guest today Kate Codrington is joining me to help us understand that this fresh confidence and freedom has a name, and is also known as the autumn of perimenopause. But you might be more familiar with the experience of “meno-rage”, where your emotions feel completely out of control which leads us to explode and feel overwhelm...
Jul 03, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 74
Today I have a very special treat for you in this Q&A session with Registered Dietitian Amanda Bullat, who (*spoiler alert*) I am thrilled to announce will be joining us as a regular expert resource in the Midlife Feast community very soon! In this episode, we tackle three of the most-asked questions about un-dieting in midlife. The answers to these questions are helpful for anyone who has considered intuitive eating before but maybe got bogged down by the most common challenges and misconce...
Jun 26, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 73
If you’re navigating any stage of midlife right now, there’s a good chance wellness culture has made an impact on your relationship with food. While the principles of wellness culture tote the appearance of supporting your physical health, the moralization of food can wreak havoc on your mental health by heaping on unnecessary guilt and shame. In this Story Session episode, a Midlife Feast Community Member joins me to share her journey of un-dieting from wellness culture. She’s learned the impor...
Jun 19, 2023•31 min•Season 3Ep. 73
Along with hot flashes, sleep challenges in midlife and menopause can take a toll on your well-being. If you have struggled with sleep in midlife you know firsthand that the lack of sleep makes normal daily tasks feel very taxing. As if that weren’t enough, the anxiety of not being able to sleep takes the exhaustion to the next level. If getting a good night’s sleep feels hopeless, I invite you to join me and my guest this week, Dr. Leigha Saunders ND. Leigha is a naturopathic sleep doctor who u...
Jun 12, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 71
