The Iconic Midlife with Roxy Manning

Is that daily glass of red wine actually helping your heart… or hurting it?

In this quick-fire game, Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum puts common “heart health” habits to the test—separating what actually supports your body from what’s just hype.

From menopause myths to everyday wellness habits, we’re calling it out: heart health… or heart nope?

In This Episode:

Why This Matters

There’s a lot of...

Heart disease is the #1 health threat to women—and yet it’s still the one most overlooked.

In this episode of The Iconic Midlife, I sit down with leading cardiologist Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum to unpack the connection between menopause, hormones, and cardiovascular health—and why so many women are missing the warning signs.

We talk about what hot flashes may actually signal, how hormonal shifts impact your heart, and the subtle symptoms that are too often dismissed or misdiagnosed. Dr. Steinbaum also shares what women should be doing now to protect their long-term health—and the crit...

Not every relationship is meant to last forever.

But not every relationship needs to end either.

Sometimes the real question isn’t stay or go — it’s something more nuanced.

In this game episode, Dr. Darcy Sterling joins me for Cut, Keep or Redefine — where we break down real-life relationship scenarios and decide what’s actually worth holding onto… and what isn’t.

From friendship breakups to dating after divorce, these are the kinds of situations that don’t have easy answers — but say a lot about what we value, what we tolerate, and w...

Relationships don’t just end in midlife — they evolve, fracture, and sometimes quietly fall away.

Friendships that once felt effortless can start to feel misaligned. Long-term relationships shift in ways you didn’t expect. And if you find yourself dating again after a divorce or breakup, it’s often with a completely different perspective — and a completely different set of questions.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Darcy Sterling, licensed therapist and host of We Need To Talk with Dr. Darcy Sterling, to explore what’s really happening beneath the surface of relationships in midlife.

Trust your doctor's guidance or trust your own instincts—it's a dilemma that many of us face, and honestly, it can feel like choosing between a rock and a hard place. In this episode, we dive deep into that very question, weighing the merits of medical advice against our gut feelings, especially when something feels off. With a captivating blend of personal anecdotes and thoughtful insights, we explore the landscape of health awareness, particularly for women, and the importance of proactive measures like low-dose chest CT scans. Our guest, who has a family steeped in medicine, shares her journey th...

She did everything right.

Healthy. Active. A mother of four. A non-smoker.

And still—she had lung cancer.

In this episode of The Iconic Midlife, Roxy Manning sits down with investor, healthcare policy advocate, and lung cancer survivor Shira Boehler to unpack a diagnosis that wasn’t supposed to happen—and what it reveals about the gaps in modern healthcare.

At 43, Shira went in for a preventative full-body scan with no symptoms, no warning signs, and no reason to believe anything was wrong. What she found instead was Stage 1 lung cancer—caught e...

Are your symptoms being missed… or misunderstood?In this bonus episode of The Iconic Midlife, I’m joined again by Dr. Eboni Cornish for a rapid-fire game we’re calling “Missed or Misunderstood?”I throw out real symptoms and scenarios that so many women experience in midlife—and she breaks down what might actually be going on beneath the surface.From brain fog and fatigue to anxiety, hormone shifts, and everything in between, this is a fast, eye-opening look at why so many women are told they’re “fine”… when they don’t feel it.It’s quick. It’s sharp. And it might change...

So many women hit a point in midlife where something just feels… off.The fatigue, the brain fog, the anxiety, the sense that you’re not quite yourself anymore.You run the labs. You’re told everything looks “normal.”And yet—you don’t feel normal at all.In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Eboni Cornish, a physician specializing in neuroinflammation and complex, often “invisible” illnesses like Lyme disease and autoimmune conditions.We unpack what’s really going on beneath symptoms that are often dismissed or misdiagnosed—especially in midlife—and why Lyme disease is far more widespread than most people realize.T...

Cold plunges. Intermittent fasting. Daily cardio. Peptides. Supplements.

There’s no shortage of wellness advice right now — especially for women in midlife.

But what’s actually worth your time?

And what might be overhyped?

In this bonus episode of The Iconic Midlife, we’re playing “Overrated or Underrated” with Dr. Chris Asandra, a longevity physician and hormone health expert, and Maria Chase, founder of BURN LA.

It’s a rapid-fire breakdown of some of the most talked-about fitness and wellness trends — where they land, what actually works, and where women may be ove...

What happens when the workouts that used to work… stop working?

So many women hit their 40s and feel like the rules suddenly changed.

Energy shifts. Sleep becomes unpredictable. Muscle feels harder to maintain. And despite doing all the “right” things, the results don’t always follow.

In this episode of The Iconic Midlife, we’re breaking down what’s actually happening in the body during midlife — and how women can rethink fitness, metabolism, and recovery in a way that actually works.

I’m joined by Dr. Chris Asandra, a physician specializing in...

What’s actually worth it when it comes to midlife skin?

Because between facials, lasers, injectables, luxury creams, and every trending treatment in between… it’s easy to spend a lot of money without really knowing what’s working.

So instead of another long conversation, we did something different.

In this episode of The Iconic Midlife, Roxy Manning puts skin specialist Erica Marie Gatt, founder of EM Skin Studio, in the hot seat for a rapid-fire game of Face Off—where she has to choose between two options… and defend her answer.

No “it dep...

If your skincare routine suddenly feels like it stopped working overnight… you’re not imagining things.

During perimenopause and menopause, hormonal shifts can dramatically change the skin. Collagen production slows, elasticity decreases, dryness increases, and breakouts can return even if you haven’t had acne since high school. Products that once worked beautifully may suddenly feel ineffective.

In this episode of The Iconic Midlife, host Roxy Manning sits down with esthetician and skin specialist Erica Marie Gatt, founder of EM Skin Studio in Hermosa Beach, to break down what’s actually happening to women’s skin durin...

Menopause Myths vs Facts: What’s Actually True?

Menopause is having a moment — but with all the conversation comes a lot of confusion.

From hormone therapy fears to hot flash folklore, women have been told a lot of things about menopause… and not all of them are true.

In this fun game-style episode of The Iconic Midlife, we separate fact from fiction and put some of the most common menopause myths to the test.

Because midlife shouldn’t be navigated with outdated information.

Together, we tackle questions women hear all the...

For decades, women have been told a very incomplete — and often misleading — story about menopause.

Hot flashes. Mood swings. Just “power through it.”

But according to menopause specialist Dr. Louise Newson, much of what women have been taught about hormones, HRT, and midlife health is outdated, misunderstood, or simply wrong.

In this powerful conversation, we unpack the myths that have shaped women’s understanding of menopause for years — and what the science actually says about hormones, brain health, mental health, and longevity.

This episode is especially timely as I’m attending the National C...

What happens when you take real-life financial decisions women face in midlife… and turn them into a game?

In this bonus episode of The Iconic Midlife, I’m joined again by wealth advisor and financial life designer Hayley Dickson for a rapid-fire round of “Worth It… or Not?”

We put some of the most common midlife money dilemmas on the table — the kinds of choices many women quietly wrestle with:

Should you prioritize experiences now or build more long-term wealth?

Is it worth staying in a high-paying job you’ve outgrown?

How much...

By the time we reach our 40s and 50s, money stops being theoretical.

It becomes personal.

It’s no longer just about income — it’s about security, freedom, legacy, reinvention, marriage, divorce, risk, and the quiet question so many smart women ask themselves:

Am I actually building wealth… or just maintaining a lifestyle?

In this episode, I sit down with wealth advisor and financial strategist Hayley Dickson to talk about what midlife women often get wrong about money — and how to reset your financial life with clarity and intention.

We unpack...

The IDGAF attitude of midlife is a refreshing perspective that really takes center stage in our chat today with supermodel Veronica Webb. We're diving into the idea that as we age, we tend to care less about the little things that used to weigh us down, and honestly, it’s liberating! We share some wild stories from the modeling world, like a scorching Vogue shoot in Times Square that left one of us literally passing out—thank goodness for the pre-cell phone era, right? We also dish on the glamorous and not-so-glamorous moments of our careers, from rubbing elbows with...

Supermodel Veronica Webb joins The Iconic Midlife for a thoughtful and honest conversation about beauty, aging, and what perspective really looks like after decades in fashion.

As one of the most recognizable faces of the ’90s fashion world — and the first Black model to land a major exclusive cosmetics contract with Revlon — Veronica helped redefine representation in the beauty industry. But beyond the campaigns and runway moments, this conversation focuses on what happens after the spotlight, and how confidence, identity, and power evolve over time.

Roxy and Veronica talk about the reality behind the fashion indust...

Overwhelm is the name of the game in our latest chat, and trust me, we’re all feeling it! Today, we dive deep into the world of organization with Vogue and ELLE Decor-featured Meaghan Kessman Home Organizer, tackling that sneaky hidden clutter that lurks behind our closet doors, causing low-grade stress we didn’t even know we had. We chat about how the constant demands of life can paralyze us, making it harder to tackle the messes we’ve accumulated. But fear not, because we’ve got some nifty tricks up our sleeves to help break things down into bite-siz...

Clutter isn't just a collection of things; it’s a manifestation of decisions left unmade, and today's guest, Vogue and ELLE Decor-featured home organizer Meaghan Kessman, dives deep into how to tackle that mess head-on. After experiencing a life-altering fire that stripped her of all her possessions, Meaghan has emerged with a fresh perspective on organization—less about aesthetics, more about sanity. In our chat, we explore the emotional weight of clutter and how creating simple systems can genuinely change our daily lives. Plus, we discuss practical tips for decluttering, including how to get your family on board without turn...

Still married — but are you actually still in it?

In this companion game episode of The Iconic Midlife, we take the conversation around “quietly quitting” out of theory and into real life.

Joined by journalist Monica Corcoran Harel and style influencer Melissa Chataigne, we play a rapid-fire game designed to test the line between emotional disengagement and active commitment in long-term relationships.

I read a series of scenarios many women will instantly recognize — and for each one, we ask:

Is this quietly quitting… or are you still in it?

No advice...

Why are women quietly quitting their marriages?

In this episode, I’m joined by journalist Monica Corcoran Harel, author of the viral Cut article that sparked a national conversation, and Melissa Chataigne, one of the women featured in the piece who lived this experience firsthand.

We unpack what “quietly quitting” actually means — and what it doesn’t. Is it emotional self-preservation? Avoidance? A midlife reckoning? Or a sign that traditional marriage itself is evolving?

We talk about:

Midlife doesn’t make women quieter.

It makes us feral.

In this bonus game episode, Suzette and Lisa of The Midlifers play “Finish the Sentence: Feral After 40 Edition” — and the answers go exactly where you think they will.

No overthinking. No soft answers. No editing.

From the most overrated midlife “shoulds” to the social rules we’ve quietly burned to the ground, this rapid-fire round proves one thing: the older we get, the less interested we are in pretending.

If you like your midlife smart, unfiltered, and slightly unhinged — this one’s for y...

Midlife isn’t a crisis. It’s a power shift.

In this episode, Roxy sits down with Suzette and Lisa of The Midlifers — the sharp, hilarious duo redefining what it means to be a woman over 40.

Together, they unpack why women don’t get quieter in midlife — we get more honest. More selective. More unavailable for nonsense.

This conversation explores the cultural myth of “aging gracefully,” the exhaustion of emotional labor, the liberation of stronger boundaries, and what really happens when women stop performing for approval.

If you’ve ever been called “too much...

Evolving your style is the name of the game, and in this episode, we dive deep into the world of fashion, addressing the all-too-common wardrobe dilemma: feeling like you have nothing to wear despite a closet full of clothes. We chat about the importance of visibility in your wardrobe—if you can't see it, you can't wear it! Plus, we tackle the fun yet tricky terrain of trends, encouraging listeners to think critically about what to keep, evolve, or just say goodbye to. With insights from my fabulous supermodel friend Kathy Douglan, we explore the magic of accessories and ho...

This chat dives into the transformative power of personal style, emphasizing that fashion is not just about trends but rather a reflection of who we are at any given moment, especially in midlife. Our guest, Kathy Duglin, a savvy personal stylist, shares her journey of using clothing as a tool for self-discovery and confidence. We explore how the closet becomes a space for emotional exploration, akin to therapy, where we shed the old and embrace what truly resonates with us. With a light-hearted twist, we discuss the importance of editing our wardrobes, letting go of items that no longer...

Intermittent fasting isn't just a one-size-fits-all approach; it works differently for women compared to men, and that's one of the key takeaways from our chat today. We dive into the nuances of how factors like hormones, stress, and lifestyle play a significant role in weight management, especially for women over 40. It's not merely about the number on the scale, but rather how your body composition can shift, leaving you looking and feeling different even if the scale doesn't budge. Consistency is the name of the game—it beats intensity any day, and we explore how making this a lifestyle ra...

Today, we dive deep into the world of health and wellness for women navigating the glorious chaos of midlife. Our guest, Sara Preston, a menopause-certified fitness and nutrition coach, shares invaluable insights on how to truly nourish our bodies while embracing the changes that come with age. We tackle the often confusing relationship between hormones, nutrition, and fitness, aiming to shed light on why traditional approaches might be leaving us feeling frustrated and stuck. It's all about working smarter, not harder, and finding joy in the process—because feeling good is addictive! So grab your favorite beverage, settle in, an...

We dive right into the heart of the matter: recognizing when we've lost ourselves, a realization that often hits us on one of those seemingly mundane Tuesdays when we ask, "What am I even doing here?" The conversation flows from the signs of burnout to the surprisingly simple antidote—like giving ourselves a bedtime! Yes, you heard that right; bedtime isn’t just for kids anymore. As we unravel the layers of midlife, it becomes clear that our biggest hurdle isn't about finding ourselves again, but rather returning to the essence of who we really are, buried under the clut...

The conversation today dives deep into the pressing issue of self-care, particularly the guilt many women feel about prioritizing their own needs, especially in midlife. Dr. Emma Jones brings a refreshing perspective, challenging the notion that we must sacrifice our well-being for others, highlighting that neglecting self-care can lead to burnout or worse. We explore how societal expectations often set an impossible standard of "having it all," and the necessity of defining what "it all" truly means for ourselves. Emma’s insights encourage us to embrace small, meaningful changes instead of drastic overhauls, fostering a sustainable approach to self-care. Jo...

Join us as we dive into the pulse of the fitness world with our riveting discussion on the latest legree moves and the art of keeping workouts engaging. Today, we play the Megaformer Lightning Round, where we share our favorite and most challenging exercises, revealing the love-hate relationship many have with the runner's lunge. Ever wondered who our dream celebrity client would be? Spoiler alert: it’s none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger, a nod to our admiration for the golden era of bodybuilding. We also tackle workout trends that should be left in the past, and I can’t help...

In this episode of The Iconic Midlife, Roxy sits down with physician and regenerative medicine expert Dr. Amy Killen for a smart, honest conversation about women’s health in midlife — without fear tactics, trends, or one-size-fits-all answers.

Dr. Killen breaks down what women actually need to know about hormones, sexual health, skincare, longevity, and wellness — and why there is no single “magic fix.” From hormone testing and libido to brain health, sun protection, and consistency over perfection, this episode is about informed choices, realistic expectations, and reclaiming agency over your health.

This is a grounded, empowering...

You can’t make up for lost sleep, and that’s the cold, hard truth we’ve unraveled in this episode. We dive deep into the myths and realities surrounding sleep, tackling everything from the infamous eight-hour myth to the surprising truths about melatonin and blue light. With a mix of personal anecdotes and expert insights, we explore how our sleep patterns shift, especially for those of us navigating the wild world of midlife. Plus, we sprinkle in some light-hearted games to keep things lively while we bust those sleep-related myths wide open. So grab your favorite cozy blanket and se...

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Chely Wright joins The Iconic Midlife to talk about what it really means to own your truth — even when it’s terrifying.

Chely opens up about the years she spent living in fear, carrying secrets, and navigating the pressure to stay silent in order to survive. She reflects on the moment she decided she was done with whispers — and why telling the truth publicly wasn’t just brave, but necessary.

Together, Roxy and Chely explore:

In this Midlife Manifesto game episode, I’m joined by Cynthia Bailey and Dana Hill-Robinson for a candid, no-holds-barred conversation about the rules we’re done following — and the power we’re reclaiming in midlife.

Through rapid-fire prompts, honest confessions, and plenty of laughs, we unpack red flags we no longer ignore, truths we wish we’d learned sooner, and what it really means to stop performing and start living on our own terms.

This episode is about clarity, confidence, and choosing yourself — without apology.

Consider this your permission slip to rewrite the rules.

Friendship in midlife isn’t about reading between the lines — it’s about telling the truth.

In this episode, Roxy sits down with real estate mogul, bestselling author, and longtime friend Tracy Tutor for an unfiltered conversation about what female friendship actually looks like after 40. From outgrowing relationships to learning how to ask for support, Tracy doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of connection, loneliness, and emotional honesty in midlife.

They talk about why expecting friends to “just know” how you feel doesn’t work, how shame and silence quietly erode relationships, and why community is more than a bu...

What really happens when the cameras are rolling?

In this game-style episode, Roxy is joined by TV host Samantha Harris for a fun, behind-the-scenes look at life on camera. From red carpet wardrobe malfunctions and unexpected co-host moments to live-TV mishaps you definitely don’t see on air, this episode is all about thinking fast, rolling with it, and laughing through the chaos.

In this game episode of The Iconic Midlife, Roxy sits down with longtime TV host Samantha Harris for a rapid-fire, behind-the-scenes conversation about what really happens when you’re live on camera.

What if the version of you that kept the peace, followed the rules, and carried everyone else… isn’t the version you’re meant to be anymore?

In this powerful and deeply resonant conversation with Unapologetic author, Annalie Howling, we unpack one of the most persistent midlife patterns women struggle to release: the “good girl” narrative — and the shame that comes with outgrowing it.

This episode is about what happens when you evolve in a direction that no longer fits your old roles, relationships, or expectations. When softness is mistaken for weakness. When power feels like a dirty...

Get ready for one of the most fun and revealing bonus games we’ve ever played on The Iconic Midlife. Sasha Alexander takes on our “Say It Without Saying It” fill-in-the-blank game, and the answers are equal parts surprising, honest, funny, and deeply relatable.

From midlife truths to friendships, identity shifts, confidence, and everything we think but rarely say out loud, Sasha doesn’t hold back. This quick-hit bonus episode gives you a lighter, playful side of Sasha—while still delivering the kind of real talk our audience loves.

If you enjoyed her full episode, this bonus...

From Hollywood stardom to the deeply personal reinvention that midlife demands, Sasha Alexander opens up in a way you’ve never heard before.

In this conversation, Sasha and Roxy go far beyond the usual Hollywood narrative. They get real about the quiet identity shifts that sneak up on women in their 40s and 50s—the career pivots, the friendship shake-ups, the hormone changes, the moments when your old life simply doesn’t fit anymore.

Sasha shares what it’s really like to rebuild your sense of purpose after decades in the entertainment world, how she’s navigati...