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
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.