Health, Fitness & Personal Growth Tips for Women in Midlife: Asking for a Friend

Have you ever been told your labs are “normal” — but you don’t feel normal?
In this episode, I sit down with integrative and functional medicine physician Aaron Hartman, author of Uncurable, to unpack the dangerous gap between normal and optimal — especially for women in midlife.
We cover:
What lab reference ranges really mean
The cardiovascular markers every woman should know (hs-CRP, LDL particle number, Lp(a), ApoB, homocysteine)
Why LDL alone is outdated thinking
Thyroid testing beyond TSH (free T3, free T4, reverse T3, antibodies)
Ferritin, B12, iodine & nutrient blind spots
Estrogen, progesterone & testosterone — when to start and what actually protects your brain and heart
Statins, diabetes risk, and mitochondrial health
Gut health, inflammation & autoimmune triggers
Why lifestyle is foundational — and where advanced longevity tools fit in
Dr. Hartman explains how heart disease begins decades before symptoms appear, why hormone replacement therapy dramatically reduces risk when used appropriately, and how women can advocate for themselves in a system that often dismisses midlife symptoms.
If you care about your brain, your bones, your heart — and living strong into your 80s and 90s — this conversation is essential.

Did you miss something? Check out the transcripts of the episode!

You can find Aaron Hartman, MD at https://richmondfunctionalmedicine.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aaronhartmanmd/
His book, Uncurable: From Hopeless Diagnosis to Defying All Odds, is available where you buy books. 
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If you’re doing “all the right things” and still feel stuck, adding a layer of support may be an option. I’ve partnered with a trusted telehealth platform offering modern solutions for women in midlife—including micro-dosed GLP-1 and other peptide therapies.
https://elliemd.com/michelefolan - Create a free account to view all products.
Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/askingforafriend_pod/
✨ Sign up for my weekly newsletter:
https://michelefolanfasterway.myflodesk.com/i6i44jw4fq
Like to connect? Email me at [email protected]
Transcripts are created with AI and may not be perfectly accurate.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

We spend a lot of time and money chasing better skin.
But what actually matters after 50?
In this episode of Asking for a Friend, I sit down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy for a practical, no-nonsense conversation about midlife skin health.
We focus on what truly moves the needle:
• The non-negotiables of an effective skincare routine
 • Retinol vs. tretinoin — do you need a prescription?
 • Sunscreen myths and why protection still matters decades later
 • What early melanoma can look like — and why vigilance matters
 • Hair loss in menopause and what actually helps
We also discuss Korean Beauty (K-Beauty) and why this segment is intriguing to Brooke.
Dr. Jeffy also shares how her own recent melanoma diagnosis has reshaped her perspective on prevention and patient care.
This episode isn’t about 12-step routines or viral trends.
It’s about protecting your skin, making smarter decisions, and avoiding expensive hype.
Because midlife skin health isn’t just cosmetic, it’s preventative.
You can find Dr. Brooke Jeffy at https://www.brookejeffymd.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brookejeffymd/
Dr. Jeffy's teen skincare line, bwtn, can be found at https://www.instagram.com/meetbtwn/
Her favorite eye cream can be purchased at https://retrouve.com/https://retrouve.com/
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If you’re doing “all the right things” and still feel stuck, adding a layer of support may be an option. I’ve partnered with a trusted telehealth platform offering modern solutions for women in midlife—including micro-dosed GLP-1 and other peptide therapies.
https://elliemd.com/michelefolan - Create a free account to view all products.
Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/askingforafriend_pod/
✨ Sign up for my weekly newsletter:
https://michelefolanfasterway.myflodesk.com/i6i44jw4fq
Like to connect? Email me at [email protected]
Transcripts are created with AI and may not be perfectly accurate.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

Midlife can feel destabilizing.
The kids are leaving. Careers are shifting. Parents are aging. Hormones are changing. And somewhere inside, a quiet voice says, “I’m not done yet.”
In this conversation, Michele sits down with fellow podcaster Kim Benoy, host of Midlife Courage: Flourishing After 40, to explore what courage actually looks like in the second half of life.
After a 27-year nursing career, Kim made a bold pivot — not because she had everything figured out, but because she felt called to something more. Together, they unpack:
Why confidence doesn’t come before action — it comes from it
The hidden identity shifts women experience in midlife
Why losing weight won’t fix what’s happening internally
The power of small acts of courage (setting boundaries, speaking up, trying something new)
How community accelerates confidence
Why “someday” is not a strategy
This isn’t about Instagram quotes or overnight reinvention.
It’s about quiet bravery.
Tiny steps.
And remembering that you don’t need permission to evolve.
If you’ve been feeling restless, stuck, or quietly unhappy — this conversation will remind you that courage is already in you. It just needs to be activated.
Join Kim's next Midlife with Courage Community Circle - March 3, 2026
You can find Kim Benoy at https://www.midlifewithcourage.com/podcast
https://www.instagram.com/midlife_with_courage/
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If you’re doing “all the right things” and still feel stuck, adding a layer of support may be an option. I’ve partnered with a trusted telehealth platform offering modern solutions for women in midlife—including micro-dosed GLP-1 and other peptide therapies.
https://elliemd.com/michelefolan - Create a free account to view all products.
Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/askingforafriend_pod/
✨ Sign up for my weekly newsletter:
https://michelefolanfasterway.myflodesk.com/i6i44jw4fq
Like to connect? Email me at [email protected]
Transcripts are created with AI and may not be perfectly accurate.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

Anxiety often feels like it comes out of nowhere in midlife—especially during perimenopause and after menopause. You’re doing “all the right things,” yet your nervous system feels constantly on edge. Racing thoughts. Poor sleep. A sense that something isn’t right… but you can’t quite name it.
In this episode of Asking for a Friend, I’m joined by Dr. Lori Davis, licensed psychologist, clinical instructor at Weill Cornell Medicine, and author of the upcoming workbook This Is Your Anxiety on Menopause. Together, we unpack why anxiety often intensifies in midlife—and what women can actually do about it.
Dr. Davis shares both the science and the lived experience behind anxiety, explaining how hormonal shifts, nervous system changes, sleep disruption, perfectionism, and decades of “pushing through” collide in this season of life. We also talk about why anxiety may feel different now than it did earlier in life—and why you are not broken.
In this conversation, we cover:
Why anxiety often spikes during perimenopause and menopause
Whether menopause causes anxiety or unmasks an existing vulnerability
The role of hormones, cortisol, sleep, and the nervous system
Why worry loops and nighttime anxiety are so common
Evidence-based tools to calm anxiety (including breathing, exposure, and cognitive strategies)
When therapy or medication may be helpful—and when lifestyle alone isn’t enough
How to stop fighting anxiety and start working with your nervous system
This episode is grounding, practical, and deeply validating for women navigating midlife changes. If you’ve ever thought, “Why am I suddenly anxious when nothing is technically wrong?”—this conversation will help you connect the dots.
👉 Share this episode with a friend who needs reassurance that they’re not alone—and not failing.
You can find Dr. Lori Davis at https://www.drloridavis.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drloridavis/?hl=en
_________________________________________
If you’re doing “all the right things” and still feel stuck, adding a layer of support may be an option. I’ve partnered with a trusted telehealth platform offering modern solutions for women in midlife—including micro-dosed GLP-1 and other peptide therapies.
https://elliemd.com/michelefolan - Create a free account to view all products.
Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/askingforafriend_pod/
✨ Sign up for my weekly newsletter:
https://michelefolanfasterway.myflodesk.com/i6i44jw4fq
Like to connect? Email me at [email protected]
Transcripts are created with AI and may not be perfectly accurate.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

Emotional eating isn’t about willpower — and for many women, midlife is when it finally becomes impossible to ignore.
In this powerful episode of Asking for a Friend, Michele Folan sits down with emotional eating expert, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author Tricia Nelson to unpack what emotional eating really is, why it intensifies during midlife and menopause, and how women can finally break free from decades of dieting, shame, and self-blame.
Tricia shares her deeply personal story — from childhood emotional eating and binge drinking to sobriety at 21 — and explains why food is often used as a coping mechanism for stress, unprocessed emotions, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and burnout. Together, Michele and Tricia explore how hormonal shifts, caregiving roles, identity changes, and boundary struggles collide in midlife, making emotional eating patterns louder and harder to manage.
This conversation goes far beyond food rules and meal plans. You’ll learn how emotional eating shows up as pain-killing, escape, and self-punishment, why dieting alone never solves the problem, and what it actually takes to heal your relationship with food — without restriction, guilt, or obsession. Tricia also addresses the misunderstood link between emotional eating, addiction, alcohol, and highly processed foods, and explains why healing requires addressing emotions, stress, and daily habits together.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of “doing everything right” but still struggling with food, weight, or self-trust — this episode will feel like someone finally put words to your experience.
Tricia is the author of Heal Your Hunger and founder of Heal Your Hunger, a proven program helping women end emotional eating by addressing the root causes — not just the symptoms.
🎧 If you’re ready for a more compassionate, sustainable path forward with food, this episode is a must-listen.
Take the quiz - https://healyourhunger.com/quiz-splash/?nav=yes
Free live masterclass with Tricia Nelson on January 29th at 2:30pm PT / 5:30pm ET, focused on helping women stop emotional and binge eating around sugar in a sustainable, compassionate way.
Here is the link to join - https://go.healyourhunger.com/stop-sugar-bingeing?am_id=michele6703
_________________________________________
If you’re doing “all the right things” and still feel stuck, adding a layer of support may be an option. I’ve partnered with a trusted telehealth platform offering modern solutions for women in midlife—including micro-dosed GLP-1 and other peptide therapies.
https://elliemd.com/michelefolan - Create a free account to view all products.
Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/askingforafriend_pod/
✨ Sign up for my weekly newsletter:
https://michelefolanfasterway.myflodesk.com/i6i44jw4fq
Like to connect? Email me at [email protected]
Transcripts are created with AI and may not be perfectly accurate.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.