Is it burnout or a slow leak of energy you weren't expecting?
In this honest, unfiltered conversation, Kim Romain and Louise Neil explore what it really means to feel drained in midlife, how perimenopause and menopause shift our physical and energetic capacity, and why the old hustle-driven definitions of success no longer apply.
They dive into:
- Why reacting all day long isn’t the same as responding
- How to tell when your “plate” has actually gotten smaller
- The emotional and physical cost of pretending you still have the same bandwidth
- Learning to honor your energy instead of push through it
- What it means to redefine enough on your own terms
Whether you’re navigating midlife, shifting your pace in a world gone wild, or wondering why the drive you used to have just isn’t there anymore... this episode is a permission slip to slow down, tune in, and trust your own rhythm.
"Our brains are rewiring themselves. Estrogen was the fuel, and it’s no longer reliable." - Louise Neil
"When we honor what our bodies need… we stop pushing through things that are actually hurting us." - Kim Romain
Key Moments:
00:00 - Welcome
03:12 – The difference between reacting and responding
04:50 – Burnout, Human Design & sacral fatigue
06:38 – Fireflies, distractions & energy drains
08:00 – Leaky buckets and where the energy goes
12:18 – Midlife, menopause, and the rewiring we don’t talk about
16:00 – Rejecting hustle culture & old expectations
21:52 – How to honor your energy (even when you can’t stop)
23:18 – Grace, seasons, and letting yourself off the hook
28:37 – Accepting your current capacity
33:37 – Discernment vs. responding: the language of self-trust
41:36 – Final takeaways: grace, difference, and your own rules
43:38 – What we’re up to and where to find us
Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program.
Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program.
If you’re loving this show, come check out the Feminist Podcasters Collective, where creators like us are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change. If you’re looking for new shows to fill your feed, head to https://feministpodcasterscollective.com
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