Episodi

  • The Virtuous Woman Trap (and Why You Feel So Damn Empty) with Dr. Julie Merriman

    The Virtuous Woman Trap (and Why You Feel So Damn Empty) with Dr. Julie Merriman
    Jun 18 2026
    What if your burnout isn’t about doing too much…but about believing your value comes from being needed? This week on Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with Dr. Julie Merriman—PhD, Certified Sex Counselor, trauma specialist, and creator of Soul Joy™—for a conversation that goes way deeper than “self-care.” They unpack the virtuous woman trap: the lifelong conditioning that teaches women to over-function, over-give, and override their own needs… until they don’t even feel themselves anymore. This episode is about nervous system survival, emotional numbness, identity loss—and what it actually takes to come home to yourself again. 🎧 New episodes drop every Thursday Listen on all podcast platforms + YouTube In this episode we talk about: The “good girl” conditioning that wires women for burnout Why high-achieving women feel empty (even when they’re successful) What “functional freeze” actually looks like in real life The moment Lisa realized: “I don’t feel my feet” Why you can’t think your way out of a feeling problem How disconnection impacts intimacy, desire, and relationships The truth about masculinity, safety, and emotional regulation Empty nest grief and identity loss in midlife What it means to “have a homecoming” back to yourself Key Takeaways: You are not broken. Your nervous system adapted to keep you safe. But the life you want? It requires more than survival—it requires coming back into your body. Connet with Julie Merriman: Dr. Julie Merriman, Ph.D., LPC-S, CSC is a counselor educator, author, speaker, and clinician with over 25 years of experience helping high-achieving women break free from burnout and self-sacrifice. She is the creator of Soul Joy™, host of the Compassion Fatigue Cure podcast, and author of: In Pursuit of Soul Joy Are We Gonna Have Sex or What? (Spring 2026) Her work blends neuroscience, somatics, and real-life application to help women reconnect to desire, identity, and pleasure in midlife. 🔗 Learn more: https://juliemerrimanphd.com 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.juliemerriman/ 🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjuliemerriman 🔥 In This Episode, We Talk About:💥 Key Takeaway👤 About Julie Merriman🎙️ Let’s Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467📩 Email: lisa@liberatedmenopause.ca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 min
  • What Wine Can Teach Us About Parenting, Pressure & Letting Go with Danielle Frank

    What Wine Can Teach Us About Parenting, Pressure & Letting Go with Danielle Frank
    Jun 11 2026
    What do wine and parenting have in common? More than you think. In this insightful and surprisingly funny conversation, Lisa sits down with luxury wine expert and author Danielle Frank to explore how the language of wine can help us rethink how we raise humans. From control and expectations to identity, independence, and imperfection—this episode challenges modern parenting norms and reminds us that growth isn’t about perfection… it’s about becoming. What We Explore: Why kids (like wine) need space to breathe The hidden pressure of “perfect parenting” How expectations can quietly damage relationships Why community—not control—raises healthy humans The power of letting go and trusting the process What “faults” teach us about identity and resilience Standout Moments: “The majority of your relationship with your child will be with them as an adult.” “Sometimes the best thing you can do… is step back and let it breathe.” “We teach kids how to behave—but also what to expect from others.” “It’s not failure. It’s evolution.” “Imperfection doesn’t ruin the bottle—it makes it unique.” About Danielle: Danielle Frank is a luxury wine and spirits expert with over 20 years of experience, including leadership roles at Moët Hennessy and Bacardi. She is the author of A Wine Lover’s Guide to Parenting—a witty, insightful book that blends wine terminology with real-life parenting wisdom. 🔗 Connect with Danielle: instragram @createagreatstory website: www.daniellefrankauthor.net Available on all podcast platforms + YouTube Connect with Lisa: Website: https://liberatedmenopause.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 📩 Email: lisa@liberatedmenopause.ca Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 min
  • Burnout, Body Wisdom & The Midlife Rebellion with Maria Angelova

    Burnout, Body Wisdom & The Midlife Rebellion with Maria Angelova
    Jun 4 2026
    What if exhaustion isn't the price of success? This week on Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with Maria Angelova, creator of the Angelova Method, fitness professional, former corporate leader, and passionate advocate for helping people reconnect with their bodies. After years of pushing through stress, sleeplessness, anxiety, and burnout, Maria experienced a series of wake-up calls that forced her to question everything she thought she knew about achievement, productivity, and wellness. Together, Lisa and Maria explore: ✔ Why so many high-achieving women mistake burnout for success ✔ The hidden ways stress shows up in the body ✔ How perimenopause invites us to rethink our priorities ✔ The connection between movement, emotions, and nervous system regulation ✔ Why self-awareness is the foundation of healing ✔ Small daily practices that create profound change ✔ The role of rebellion in becoming your authentic self ✔ How to stop living on autopilot and start living intentionally Memorable Takeaways: Your body is not working against you. The symptoms, tension, exhaustion, and emotional overwhelm many women experience are often signals pointing toward what needs attention, healing, and change. Midlife isn't the end of your story. It may be the first time you're finally writing it for yourself. Connect with Maria: Website: www.rebelliousstudio.com/ LI: www.linkedin.com/in/mariamangelova/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/mind.body.expert YT: https://www.youtube.com/@themindbodyexpert FB: https://www.facebook.com/maria.angelova.39750 Freebie: https://www.rebelliousstudio.com/opt-in Connect with Lisa: Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 Email: lisa@liberatedmenopause.ca New episodes drop every Thursday on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 min
  • Braless, Out of Gas, and Finally Free with Kara @mediocremom76

    Braless, Out of Gas, and Finally Free with Kara @mediocremom76
    May 28 2026
    What happens when you stop trying to hold it all together… and start laughing instead? This week, Lisa sits down with Kara Murray—aka MediocreMom76—former teacher turned viral content creator and now stand-up comedian. Kara built a massive audience by telling the truth about motherhood, menopause, and the absolute chaos of midlife—and people felt it. In this episode, we explore what happens when you stop striving for perfection and start embracing “good enough.” What You’ll Hear: The accidental creation of the “Menopause Hotline” (and why it exploded) Why midlife unlocks confidence you didn’t have before Teacher ➡️ creator ➡️ comedian: how reinvention actually happens The mental load, brain fog, and identity shifts of menopause Body image, generational patterns, and what we pass to our kids Why comedy might be one of the most powerful forms of advocacy Letting go of perfection and embracing “mediocre” Key Takeaways: You don’t have to suffer in your body Reinvention isn’t reckless—it’s necessary “Good enough” is more powerful than perfect Midlife isn’t shrinking you—it’s expanding you Laughter is connection—and we need more of it About Kara Murray: Kara Murray (MediocreMom76) is a former teacher turned social media personality and emerging stand-up comedian. She shares honest, hilarious takes on motherhood, menopause, and midlife identity, building a community through truth and humour. Connect with Kara: Instagram: @mediocremom76 Merch Shop: https://mediocremom76.com/ Let’s Stay Connected: Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 Email: lisa@liberatedmenopause.ca #Menopause #MidlifeTransformation #Perimenopause #WomenOver40 #Transforming45 #MidlifeReinvention #MenopauseSupport #Podcast #WomenInMidlife #Confidence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 min
  • The Menopause Industry Wants You to Buy More. Your Body Wants Less with Dr. Nayan Patel

    The Menopause Industry Wants You to Buy More. Your Body Wants Less with Dr. Nayan Patel
    May 21 2026
    This week on Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with pharmacist, wellness expert, and author Dr. Nayan Patel for a powerful conversation about the missing pieces in the menopause and longevity conversation. Please note - this episode was recorded before the term PCOS was evolved to PMOS. Together they unpack: Why hormones are only one piece of the puzzle The connection between stress, insulin, and hormone imbalance GLP-1 medications and the concerns women need to understand Oxidative stress and cellular health What glutathione actually does in the body Why prevention matters more than “fixing” The emotional overwhelm women are carrying in midlife This conversation moves beyond quick fixes and into a more nuanced understanding of energy, aging, and wraparound care. Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome + introducing Dr. Nayan Patel 01:40 — What’s missing from the hormone conversation 03:00 — Stress, insulin & the “real” drivers of symptoms 05:50 — Environmental toxins, xenoestrogens & PCOS *This was recorded prior to the change to PMOS. 09:30 — Why hormone therapy isn’t the full solution 12:00 — “The lion is chasing us 24/7” 15:00 — Coaching, behaviour change & emotional patterns 18:45 — The truth about GLP-1 medications 25:10 — Muscle loss, resistance training & midlife health 27:00 — What glutathione actually is 33:00 — Why oxidative stress matters 37:00 — The body needs less, not more 39:30 — Wraparound care & prevention 43:00 — Aging is not the enemy 45:00 — Closing thoughts Transforming 45 drops every Thursday. Connect with Lisa: Website: Liberated Menopause Instagram: @lboate Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 YouTube: Transforming 45 lisa@liberatedmenopause.ca Connect with Dr. Patel: Website: http://aurowellness.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Aurowellness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aurowellness TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@auro.wellness?_t=8nrXA1jnFeM&_r=1 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aurowellness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 min
  • We Are Not Falling Apart: The Truth About Midlife Identity, Relationships & Letting Go with Angela Burk

    We Are Not Falling Apart: The Truth About Midlife Identity, Relationships & Letting Go with Angela Burk
    May 14 2026
    What if nothing is going wrong… but everything is changing? In this deeply honest and unfiltered conversation, Lisa sits down with Angela Burk—author, marketing strategist, and self-proclaimed midlife hell-raiser—to talk about what it actually feels like to move through midlife. From confronting the mirror to redefining relationships, navigating shifting identities, and parenting adult children, this episode names the things so many women feel—but struggle to articulate. This is a conversation about grief, growth, desire, partnership, and the quiet (and not-so-quiet) realization that you are no longer who you used to be. And maybe… that’s the point. In this episode, we explore: Why midlife can feel so confronting—and why that matters The identity shift no one prepares you for How relationships evolve (and strain) in this phase What changes in partnership, intimacy, and communication Parenting adult children and the grief no one talks about The power of saying what you need—out loud Why you’re not falling apart… you’re becoming About Angela Burk: Angela Burk is a writer, marketing strategist, and author of Real Girl’s Guide to Midlife. She is a fierce advocate for women reclaiming their stories and building bold, unapologetic lives in midlife. A mom of seven in a beautifully blended family, Angela splits her time between California and Australia. Connect with Angela: 🔗 Learn more: www.realgirlsguide55.com Website: ttps://www.realgirlsguide.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realgirlsguide/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realgirlsguide55/ 📩 Follow Angela on Substack Connect with Lisa 🌐 Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lboate👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/liberatedmenopause📧 Email: lisa@liberatedmenopause.ca 🎙️ Transforming 45 releases new episodes every Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 min
  • What School Could Be — If We Had The Courage To Imagine Differently with jeewan chanicka and Alison Bradshaw

    What School Could Be — If We Had The Courage To Imagine Differently with jeewan chanicka and Alison Bradshaw
    May 12 2026
    What School Could Be — If We Had The Courage To Imagine Differently Lisa is joined by jeewan chanicka and Alison Bradshaw for a powerful conversation about the future of public education in Ontario and beyond. The conversation explores: Ontario’s new attendance and standardized testing policies Why students are disengaging from school The impact of policy on neurodivergent learners The difference between education as a public good vs workforce pipeline Indigenous approaches to learning and community The role of governance, trustees, and privatization What education could become if rooted in humanity and belonging Key Takeaways: Behaviour is communication, not defiance Attendance problems are often symptoms of deeper systemic issues Standardized exams frequently measure stress and privilege more than intelligence Public education should develop humans, not just workers Indigenous knowledge systems challenge industrialized education models Hope requires imagination and action Connect wtih Lisa: Website: Liberated Menopause Consulting & Coaching Instagram: @lboate Email: lisa@liberatedmenopause.ca Connect with jeewan chanicka: Website: https://jeewanchanicka.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacredreturnjourney/ Connect with Alison Bradshaw: https://www.instagram.com/alison8958/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 min
  • 103 Perimenopause Symptoms Later… Here’s What Every Woman Needs to Know with Andrea Donsky

    103 Perimenopause Symptoms Later… Here’s What Every Woman Needs to Know with Andrea Donsky
    May 7 2026
    What if everything you’re feeling… actually makes sense? In this powerful episode of Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with Andrea Donsky—nutritionist, 7x published menopause researcher, and co-founder of Morphus—to break open the conversation women were never taught to have. From the shocking reality that menopause is completely absent from school curriculum to the 100+ symptoms most women don’t even know exist, this conversation is equal parts validating, eye-opening, and empowering. If you’ve ever thought “I don’t feel like myself anymore”—this episode is for you. What You'll Learn: Why menopause education is still missing globally The 103+ symptoms of perimenopause (beyond hot flashes) Why so many women feel dismissed by healthcare providers The emotional impact of body changes (and how to navigate it) How to communicate what’s happening—to doctors, partners, and yourself Why “you don’t have to suffer” can feel so uncomfortable (and why it matters) The #1 place to start if you want to feel better now Key Moments: The moment Lisa’s pants didn’t do up—and what it revealed Phantom smells, itchy ears, and symptoms no one talks about The cultural conditioning that equates success with suffering Why menopause is impacting your relationships more than you think The power of naming what’s happening in your body Key Takeaways: You are not broken. You are not alone. And you do not have to suffer. Connect with Lisa: Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboateFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 Email: lisa@liberatedmenopause.ca Free Guide: How To Reignite Your Purpose Without Feeling Overwhelmed or Guilty Connect with Andrea Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn: @andreadonsky @wearemorphus 📖 Book: Nourishing Menopause: Powerful Nutrition and Lifestyle Strategies to Feel Your Best: nourishingmenopausebook.com 🌐 Website: www.wearemorphus.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 min