Are you feeling the tension between wanting to speak up… and wondering if it’s “too much”? Or maybe you’ve noticed your confidence shifting in midlife—at work, at home, or even in your own body?

In this powerful and deeply honest episode, Sara is joined by two incredible leaders—Gloria Feldt and Heather Florio—for a conversation that goes far beyond menopause. Together, they explore what it truly means to own your power as a woman today—especially in a world that still challenges, questions, and often undervalues it. From workplace dynamics to menopause advocacy, this episode will leave you thinking differently about your voice, your value, and your next bold move.

This conversation is also a behind-the-scenes look at the Take The Lead “Power Up” Conference—where the theme of audacity takes center stage. And trust me… you’ll walk away inspired to take action in your own life.

In this episode:

[03:04] – What “audacity” really means in leadership—and why speaking up matters more than ever

[04:22] – Why progress for women isn’t linear (and how pushback can actually signal growth)

[08:35] – What real workplace support for women looks like (beyond performative DEI policies)

[13:49] – Redefining power—and why many women unknowingly give theirs away

[16:10] – The subtle ways women communicate at work (and how language can undermine confidence)

[17:52] – Menopause in the workplace: why this conversation is finally gaining momentum

[21:02] – How gaps in women’s healthcare directly impact leadership and career longevity

[23:34] – The challenge to take one audacious action—and why it matters

[25:10] – The most underrated obstacle women face: expectations (and how they hold us back)

[26:48] – Why the traditional “ladder” model of success may be the real problem

Links and Resources:

• Power Up Conference: https://www.thepowerupconference.com
• Take The Lead: https://www.taketheleadwomen.com

Connect with Gloria Feldt:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gloriafeldt/

Connect with Heather Florio:

• Website: https://www.desertharvest.com

The Power Up Conference takes place in Washington, DC on August 25–26, centered around the theme of Audacity: Leadership in Action.

Expect a full day of inspiring speakers, including Margaret Atwood, powerful panels on women’s health and wealth, and meaningful conversations that go beyond inspiration—into real action. ✨ Plus… it ends with a dance party (because joy is part of the revolution too).

🎟️ Early bird pricing is available through April 30—so if this episode finds you before then, now is the time to grab your ticket. https://lead.taketheleadwomen.com/event/power-up-conference-and-concert-2026/e774818/register/new/select-tickets

Connect with me, Dr. Sara Poldmae:

Website: https://risingwomanproject.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarapoldmae

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with someone who needs to hear it. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and leave a review—it helps more women find this space so we can all rise and thrive together

Have a question I can answer? Send me a message! I love to hear from my listeners!

This episode explores what it truly means to feel at home in your body—something many women realize they’ve rarely, if ever, experienced. I reflect on my own journey with body image, including how early influences shaped my perception and how those patterns carried into midlife and perimenopause.

We discuss the shift from viewing the body as something to evaluate or “fix” to approaching it with greater awareness, curiosity, and partnership. I also address the often unspoken sense of grief that can arise during this stage of life, and how it can coexist with appreciation for the body you have today. Throughout the episode, I offer simple, practical ways to begin rebuilding a more supportive and connected relationship with your body.

In this episode:

[00:01] – Opening the conversation and asking: when did you last feel truly at home in your body?

[02:00] – Sharing my personal history with body image and early conditioning

[05:30] – Why midlife changes can intensify body criticism—and how to start reframing it

[07:15] – Moving from “what’s wrong with me?” to “what does my body need?”

[10:01] – Making space for grief around your younger body while still moving forward

[12:30] – How joy and play help you step out of body monitoring and back into living

[14:45] – Three simple invitations to begin rebuilding your relationship with your body

Connect with me, Dr. Sara Poldmae:

Website: https://risingwomanproject.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarapoldmae

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with someone who needs to hear it. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and leave a review—it helps more women find this space so we can all rise and thrive together

Have a question I can answer? Send me a message! I love to hear from my listeners!

Are your emotions feeling a little… unpredictable lately? One moment you’re fine, and the next you’re overwhelmed, irritable, or wondering why everything suddenly feels so heavy. If you’re in perimenopause or menopause, you’re not imagining it—and you’re certainly not alone.

In this episode, Dr. Sara Poldmae opens up about the emotional toll that midlife hormonal shifts can take. She breaks down what’s happening in the body—from fluctuating estrogen to declining progesterone—and why these changes can create mood swings, anxiety, loneliness, or even guilt around intimacy. More importantly, she shares compassionate, practical ways to support your emotional well-being during this transition so you can move through midlife with more awareness, support, and self-compassion.

In this episode:

• Why perimenopause and menopause can feel like an emotional roller coaster—and why that experience is completely normal
• How fluctuating estrogen, declining progesterone, and shifting testosterone levels influence mood, anxiety, sleep, and libido
• The role of cortisol (the stress hormone) and why stress can feel more intense during midlife
• How Chinese medicine concepts like liver Qi stagnation and declining kidney Qi may help explain emotional imbalance during menopause
• The emotional impact of low libido, including guilt, shame, and relationship tension—and why open communication matters
• Why loneliness can become more common in midlife as friendships shift and we enter a more reflective phase of life
• Simple practices that can support emotional balance, including meditation, movement, therapy, and connecting with other women

Links and Resources:

• If you are in Maryland, my concierge clinic is now offering a hormone assessment for $249. Includes at home hormone test and a 45-minute visit with myself, or Nurse Practitioner Monique: Hormone Assessment
• Please join me in Tuscany this October: Restore Again in Tuscany in 41013 Panzano, Province of Modena, Italy
• Insight Timer Meditation App: https://insighttimer.com

Connect with me, Sara Poldmae:

• Website: https://risingwomanproject.com
• Email: hello@risingwomanproject.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarapoldmae

Ready to feel more empowered in midlife? Explore Sara’s resources and programs designed to help you navigate perimenopause and menopause with clarity, support, and confidence.

And if this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with a friend who may also be navigating the emotional side of this transition.

Have a question I can answer? Send me a message! I love to hear from my listeners!