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

Urinary (and yes, bowel) leakage isn’t “just part of getting older”—it’s a signal from your core and pelvic floor. In this straight-talk episode, physical therapist Christina Walsh, co-founder of Tighten Your Tinkler, joins me to dismantle the shame around pelvic health and lay out a functional path forward that goes far beyond “just do more Kegels.” 

We cover what’s really driving leaks, pressure, prolapse, urgency, and painful sex...

Your bones, brain, and muscles are having the same conversation—and nutrition is the translator. Duke orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein breaks down how midlife hormone shifts accelerate bone loss, cartilage wear, and muscle decline, and why training + food choices can improve all three at once. 

We cover earlier DEXA timing, the bone–brain crosstalk (osteocalcin, agility, balance), and a practical plan: progressive strength, ...

Want to feel stronger, steadier, and more capable for the next 30 years? In this episode, I sit down with strength coach Megan Dahlman to map out a clear, science-backed path for women 50+ to build real-world strength—without injury, confusion, or intimidation.

We bust common fitness myths (“just lift heavy,” “bash your bones,” “jump every day”) and replace them with smarter, safer strategies that protect joints, support bone densit...

Hitting a metabolic wall in midlife? You’re not alone — and you’re not broken. In this episode, Michele Folan, midlife health coach and former diabetes industry insider, breaks down the science (and the truth) behind microdosed GLP-1 and peptide therapy for women 40+.

Drawing on many years in diabetes and cardiovascular health, Michele explains how incretin hormones like GLP-1 and GIP regulate appetite, satiety, and insulin sensitiv...

Ever feel like you’re doing everything for everyone—and slowly disappearing from your own life?

In this raw and relatable episode, host Michele Folan sits down with writer and coach Jen Butler, author of the forthcoming memoir Mom Rediscovered, to talk about the messy, brave work of finding yourself again—after kids, after moves, and after the coping habits that promised relief but delivered fog.

Jen opens up about her seven-year alc...

Reigniting Desire in Midlife with Dr. Diane Mueller: Stress, Hormones & Real-World Intimacy Fixes

Desire doesn’t vanish in midlife—it evolves. In this episode of Asking for a Friend, certified sexologist Dr. Diane Mueller joins host Michele Folan to unpack what really happens to libido, intimacy, and connection as hormones shift, stress piles up, and long-term relationships get comfortable.

We explore the science of midlife desir...

What’s the Real Cost of That Evening Glass of Wine? A Sobriety Journey with Kate Vitela

Kate Vitela, a registered nurse, shares her powerful journey from physical alcohol dependence to over seven years of sobriety. Her story isn’t defined by a dramatic rock-bottom moment but by a gradual awakening to how daily drinking eroded her sleep, career, and relationships. Now, Kate offers a hopeful perspective on recovery through neuroplasti...

Unlocking the Oral-Systemic Connection with Dr. Mark Burhenne

Did you know your mouth may be the first place chronic disease, hormone imbalances, poor sleep, and even accelerated aging show up? In this powerful episode of Asking for a Friend, functional dentist and bestselling author Dr. Mark Burhenne explains why oral health is the true gateway to whole-body wellness—and why traditional dentistry often overlooks these critical conn...

Steffani LeFevour shares that manifestation isn’t magic—it’s mindset. Learn how to create life on your terms. 

Why do some prayers go unanswered while others manifest with ease? The difference may surprise you. Manifestation mentor and happiness coach Steffani LeFevour joins me on Asking for a Friend to share how women in midlife can stop asking and start becoming—rewriting their stories to create the life they truly desire.

Steffani...

 Hashimoto’s, Hormones, Neck Checks & the Future of Thyroid Screening 

Thyroid cancer is on the rise among midlife women—and most don’t even know they’re at risk. In this eye-opening episode of Asking for a Friend, Dr. Rashmi Roy, Director of Thyroid Surgical Services at the Clayman Thyroid Center and one of the world’s most experienced thyroid surgeons, explains why traditional blood work often misses thyroid cancer completely—...

Breathe Like Your Health Depends On It: Midlife Stress, Sleep, & Cravings with Sandy Abrams

Is your nervous system stuck in overdrive?

Hot flashes, disrupted sleep, mindless snacking, snapping at your spouse—these aren’t just “midlife things.” They’re signs your body is begging for calm. And the fastest way to get there? Your breath.

In this empowering conversation, breath coach and author Sandy Abrams shows us how to use our brea...

Is your shower drain trying to tell you something?
Hair loss is one of the most common and emotionally devastating issues women face in midlife, yet it’s often met with silence—or endless product promises that rarely deliver.

In this episode of Asking for a Friend, board-certified internist Dr. Mary Wendel—a physician who has dedicated over 20 years exclusively to women’s hair loss—joins Michele Folan to break the stigma and sh...

The day my DEXA scan results revealed osteoporosis was a wake-up call I dreaded. No symptoms. No warning signs. Just a family history of poor bone health. The casual “take medication and see you in two years" was a no-go for me. Like so many women in midlife, I knew there had to be another way.

In this episode, I share my personal journey of reversing bone loss and improving my DEXA scan results—without relying solely on pharma...

Is midlife really a crisis, or is it the launchpad to your most vibrant chapter yet? In this empowering episode, Dr. Ellen Albertson, The Midlife Whisperer, brings her infectious energy and groundbreaking wisdom to debunk myths about aging, body image, and what it means to thrive after 50.

At 62, Dr. Albertson radiates confidence that challenges society's obsession with youth. Her secret? Self-compassion. Through transformative...

What if everything you thought you knew about balance and mobility was flat-out wrong?

Dan Metcalfe was a Broadway performer at the top of his game when he suddenly became paralyzed mid-performance. What followed—partial brain death, a long recovery, and a total reinvention—sounds impossible, until you hear him tell it.

Dan didn’t just survive. He discovered something that changed everything: balance isn’t just about strong muscles—i...

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) shouldn't be shrouded in outdated fears and misinformation. When I finally started HRT at 57, I realized I'd spent years unnecessarily suffering through sleepless nights, hot flashes, and night sweats—chalked up to “normal aging”—when effective treatments already existed.

My journey began after a hysterectomy, when a nurse practitioner discovered my testosterone level was critically low (1...

Breast pain is one of the most common—and most ignored—issues women face from puberty through post-menopause. In this episode of Asking for a Friend, I sit down with Debbie and Troy Sutton, the inspiring mother-son duo behind The Healing Bra—a revolutionary product offering real relief for breast discomfort through every stage of life.

From painful mammograms and postpartum nursing to menopause and breast cancer recovery, The Healin...

The mirror doesn’t lie, but it doesn’t have to be your enemy either. As wrinkles, dryness, and sagging skin become a part of your reality, it’s easy to feel betrayed by your reflection. But what if midlife skin changes weren’t a crisis but a chance to evolve your skincare game?

In this episode, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina joins us to share what actually works for skin over 50 – and trust me, it’s probably not w...

What If Your Annual Physical Is Missing the Most Important Clues About Your Future Health?

In this episode of Asking for a Friend, I sit down with Dr. Dave DeMarco—primary care physician and owner of DexaFit Cincinnati—to uncover what most standard medical exams are failing to tell us, especially for adults in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.

Dr. DeMarco is reshaping the landscape of preventative healthcare by using advanced diagnostics to d...