Create The Best Me

What if getting stronger didn’t require completely changing your life overnight?

What if it started with one push-up?

In this episode of Create The Best Me, I sit down with Kari Fraser, former All My Children actress turned fitness and longevity advocate, whose daughter unknowingly helped her discover a new passion when she suggested that Kari try boxing.

Kari walked into a boxing gym at 58. Four years later, boxing has become one of the ways she continues challenging herself physically and mentally, and an example of why she believes women sh...

You can be getting everything done and still be burned out.

For many high-achieving women, burnout does not look like falling apart. It looks like continuing to work, care for other people, meet expectations, and handle responsibilities while feeling emotionally numb, mentally foggy, or disconnected inside.

And when you finally stop to rest, you may discover that rest does not make you feel restored.

In this episode, I sit down with transformational coach, author, and speaker Laura Cardwell to talk about functional freeze and what may be happening when your nervous system has...

Have you ever told yourself that you would take the photo, attend the event, wear what you wanted, or become more visible after losing weight?

That belief can quietly place years of your life on hold.

In this episode, I’m joined by body image expert and certified intuitive eating counselor Anne Poirier for an honest conversation about body shame, food guilt, negative self-talk, and the “when I, then I” bargain so many women make with themselves.

Anne explains how early labels and comments about our bodies can become part of our id...

What happens when the surgery, medication, or number on the scale does not create the lasting change you expected?

In this episode, I’m joined by Shenelle Green, founder of Bariatric Rewrite, for an honest conversation about weight regain, food noise, sugar cravings, emotional eating, and the realities many people are never prepared for after bariatric surgery or while taking a GLP-1 medication.

Shenelle shares how getting sober in 2020 eventually led to bariatric surgery and why changing her stomach did not automatically change her relationship with food. When her hunger returned seven months after surgery, sh...

You can do everything right, hold everyone and everything together, and still wonder why you feel so far away from yourself.

In this episode, I sit down with psychotherapist, licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and sexuality educator Todd Malloy to explore why high-achieving women can remain in survival mode long after the original danger or hardship has passed.

Todd explains how unresolved childhood wounds, emotional neglect, imposter syndrome, and family-of-origin patterns can follow us into adulthood. These experiences can affect how we value ourselves, communicate with our partners, respond to conflict, and...

Have you ever wondered why your joints suddenly feel achy, stiff, or even “old” long before you imagined they would? If every morning feels like you’re waking up in someone else’s body, you’re not alone, and you’re not simply “getting older.”

In this episode, I break down the hidden, hormonal reasons behind perimenopausal joint pain. From unexplained stiffness and tendon pain to frozen shoulder, I reveal how estrogen decline and the body’s inflammatory response are hijacking your mornings and what you can actually do about it.

I’ll walk you through the three mo...

In this episode, I speak with Elana Auerbach, author of The Sure Thing: A Pleasure Practice to Revive the Spark, about intimacy, desire, shame, body confidence, communication, and reconnecting with yourself in midlife.

Elana shares how a simple weekly practice helped transform her marriage after years of frustration, resentment, and emotional distance. But this conversation goes far beyond physical intimacy. It is about learning what you want, understanding how desire can change, feeling more comfortable in your body, and giving yourself permission to stop disappearing from your own life.

Elana and I also discuss spontaneous...

Are you spending more money on skincare over 40 but still feeling like your skin looks dry, dull, or irritated? You are not alone.

In this episode, I’m joined by Lindsay Nahmiache, owner and CEO of Veriphy Skincare, for a real conversation about what happens to our skin in perimenopause, menopause, and midlife, and why buying more products is not always the answer.

Lindsay shares how she first discovered Veriphy as a customer, what made her believe in the brand enough to take it over, and why the line has only five products on purpose. We...

Have you ever felt like your brain was replaced overnight, focus gone, memory slipping, and a fog you just can’t clear? As someone who’s navigated both adult ADHD diagnosis and the rollercoaster of perimenopause, I’ve experienced firsthand how the intersection of hormones and brain chemistry can turn your world upside down.

In this episode of Create The Best Me, I break down the real science behind why so many women over 40 are suddenly being diagnosed with ADHD (or thinking they have it), why your medication may have stopped working, and the role estrogen plays in kee...

Are you tired of being told your labs are “normal” when you know something is off? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Will Haas, founder and CEO of VYVE Wellness in Charlotte. Together, we discuss the frustrations so many high performers (especially women) face when they hit that midlife wall: unexplained fatigue, brain fog, stubborn weight, and a new reality where old routines just don’t work anymore.

We dive into:

The difference between burnout and perimenopause (and why they so often overlap)Why standard labs don’t always reveal the real cause behind your sym...

Is it just brain fog or something more serious?

In this episode, I dive into one of midlife’s most misunderstood and frightening symptoms: perimenopause brain fog. If you’ve ever lost your train of thought mid-sentence, missed a word that was right there, or worried that these slips mean you’re starting to lose your memory for good, you’re not alone.

Together, we cut through the confusion between brain fog and true memory loss. I give you a clear checklist of what’s a normal (if frustrating) part of perimenopause and what signs signal it’...

How can you be a rockstar at work, run a household, and still find love completely bewildering? If you've ever felt like your love life is a cluttered pantry full of outdated stories and expired patterns, this episode is for you.

I sat down with a powerhouse guest, board-certified integrative Neurosomatic practitioner and identity architect, Riana Malia, to tackle the unconscious patterns that keep high-achieving women single (and what to do about them). We cover why doing more doesn’t work in love, how to break free of old cycles fast, and the simple shift that will ch...

Is your stubborn belly fat refusing to budge, even though you’re eating right, moving your body, and getting good sleep? In this episode, I break down the real reason so many women in midlife struggle with “cortisol belly” and the exact morning shift that can help you finally end the cycle.

Forget blaming willpower. Instead, I’ll walk you through the unseen hormone connection sabotaging your efforts and share the science-backed five-step morning protocol I use to reset my cortisol, reclaim my metabolism, and give my body permission to let the belly fat go.

If you’v...

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, especially for women, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of delaying big decisions or thinking “we” have it covered, when it turns out your name might not even be on that 401(k).

In this episode, I sit down with retirement consultant and consumer advocate Marcia Mantell, who has spent over 30 years translating Social Security, Medicare, and retirement rules into clear, practical guidance.

We explore why women face a retirement gap, debunk Social Security myths, and discuss delaying planning until it’s urgent. Marcia offers practical steps to boost yo...

What if you could launch a business with just $500, no viral dances, no endless hustle on social, and no second mortgage, and grow it to seven figures? In this episode, I’m diving deep with a true unicorn, Lindsay Pinchuk, who did exactly that. Lindsay breaks down how simple, old-school marketing still wins, why nurturing a real community beats chasing followers, and what actually happens “after the big win,” including the story behind selling the business and discovering the dream exit isn’t always a fairytale.

Whether you’re wondering if you’re too old to start over or conv...

Is it really possible to get stronger, healthier, and more independent as we age without living in the gym or going under the knife? In this episode, I sit down with world champion weightlifter, poet, and co-creator of The Happy Body program, Jerzy Gregorek, to challenge everything you think you know about aging.

Forget Botox and fillers today, we're talking about the real secret to "aging backwards" and reclaiming vitality at any age. Jerzy Gregorek shares the surprising science behind muscle, strength, and micro progression, revealing how you can transform your body and mindset, starting right where...

Ever wonder why you always seem to crash at 3 PM, eyelids heavy, brain fog taking over, and the only solution your body screams for is sugar or caffeine? You’ve probably been told it’s just getting older or a willpower issue, but that’s not the real story.

In this episode, I break down the real science behind the 3 PM energy crash, especially for women over 50. We’ll talk about how hormone changes, stress, and hidden “energy vampires” drain your tank before lunch and, most importantly, what you can do to fix it. Spoiler: It doesn’t involve anot...

Are you applauded for having it all together, but deep down you feel like you’re running on empty? In this episode, I'm joined by award-winning psychotherapist and self-esteem expert Lisa Skeffington to finally put words to the hidden struggle so many ambitious women face: high-functioning anxiety.

We unpack why being the "strong one" isn’t always a compliment – it’s often a heavy, lonely role that leaves you unable to “wobble,” even when you desperately need support. Lisa Skeffington explains how high-functioning anxiety can look like success on the outside but quietly drains you, why midlife cracks the m...

How do you help your tween or teen build confidence with skin care that’s actually made for them, not influencers or adults? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Angela Casey, double board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon, and a mom of three teens and tweens, to unravel the best approach to skincare for younger generations.

We dive into what makes tween and teen skin unique, why adult products aren’t the right fit, and the overwhelming impact of social media “skincare trends.” Dr. Casey breaks down the must-have ingredients for healthy, glowing skin, explains the power of preve...

Is a 7-step skincare routine doing more harm than good for your midlife skin?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Angela Casey, a double board-certified dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon, to strip back the noise and bring you the science-backed truth about caring for your skin during perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.

We dive deep into what actually changes at the cellular level (yes, those hormonal shifts are real!), why your “holy grail” products suddenly start to betray you, and what a truly simple, effective routine looks like for radiant, resilient skin. From viral tren...

Are you over 50 and starting to feel invisible in your own life or out in the world? This episode is dedicated to breaking that silence and reclaiming your spotlight.

I tackle the reality of gendered ageism and why women over 50 often feel overlooked, not just in public but even in their own families and workplaces. If you’ve ever stood at a counter and watched the world pass you by, you’re not imagining this. Today, I share practical ways to rip off the invisibility cloak and step back into your power with my 3-step toolkit.

I’...

Ever wondered why your emotions suddenly feel louder, your patience thinner, and old childhood wounds are resurfacing as you move through midlife? In this episode, I sit down with attachment and menopause specialist Bev Mitelman to connect the dots between hormonal shifts, stress tolerance, and the emotional legacies we carry.

We break down why perimenopause and menopause can hit like a freight train, not just physically, but emotionally. Most of all, we unpack how your attachment style (secure, anxious, avoidant, or fearful) influences how you respond to relationships, stress, and change at this stage of life.

<...

Ever had a moment where you’re in mid-sentence and the right word just… disappears? If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or 60s and are wondering whether those lapses are just menopause brain fog or something more serious, this episode is for you.

In today’s episode, I open up about the real reasons behind midlife memory glitches and explain why what you’re experiencing is almost always part of a normal biological transition (not early dementia). 

We dig into what’s really going on in your brain during menopause, how to spot the difference be...

Have you ever found yourself saying “yes” when every fiber of your body is begging you to say “no”? In this episode, I sit down with Margarita Kogan, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Honor and Heal, to unpack the true cost of self-abandonment and how midlife isn’t about “reinventing” yourself, but about rediscovering who you really are.

We dive deep into the ways we lose ourselves under the weight of expectations, people-pleasing, and burnout. Margarita shares how to listen to your body’s wisdom, regulate your nervous system, and find your most authentic self not with a...

In this episode, I dive deep into the surprising science behind midlife wake-ups with pounding heart, sweaty sheets, and a mind that just won’t stop. Forget what you’ve heard about anxiety or aging, this is a biological “fuel gauge error” and your body’s desperate call for help while you sleep.

I’ll reveal exactly why these wake-ups happen at 2 or 3 AM, the hormonal shifts that set you up for sudden adrenaline surges (not panic attacks!), and my three-part nighttime rescue protocol, including the one simple evening routine change that can finally break the cycle.

If you’...

Is it too late to reinvent your life and pursue your deepest passion, or is the real risk waiting for “someday” that never comes?

In this episode, I sit down with a guest who walked away from the security of a police badge, pension, and career to chase his lifelong dream of becoming a full-time artist. His courage, setbacks, and breakthrough moments will inspire you to rethink what’s possible, no matter your age or skill level.

We dive into the emotional rollercoaster of trading stability for creativity, the practical steps you need to put moment...

Ever feel like you’re doing everything “right,” clean eating, cutting sugar, keeping up with workouts, but your stubborn midsection just won’t budge? In this episode, I share my story of how stress, not lack of willpower, was secretly fueling my menopause belly. I unpack the three biggest mistakes I made that kept my body in chronic alarm mode, leading to weight retention, and reveal the gentle shifts that finally helped me let go.

Tune in to learn why your midlife metabolism responds differently to calories and stress, how cortisol sabotages your waistline, and simple strategies to resto...

Wake up feeling anxious or overwhelmed? You are not alone. In this video, I share my simple 5-minute "Anti-Stress" Morning Routine designed to lower cortisol and stop morning anxiety before it starts.

If you are a woman over 50 dealing with menopause stress, the "aftermath" of holiday chaos, or just a racing mind, this routine is for you. We aren't just talking about it; we are doing it together. Join me for a real-time nervous system reset, including a cortisol flush, 4-4-4 breathing, and gentle tension release to help you find calm.

What You’ll...