Ann Dowsett Johnston (Author of Drink): Writing Your Recovery

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Ann Dowsett Johnston is an award-winning journalist and the bestselling author of Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol, a book named one of the top 10 of the year by the Washington Post. Ann is also now a psychotherapist, and my mentor and writing coach. 

Ann joins me for a discussion about the new face of women’s recovery, and the powerful role that writing can play for women recovering from addictions and over-drinking, eating disorders, illness, and trauma. We also discuss the new ending Ann has planned for the 10th-anniversary edition of Drink and what Ann is exploring in her second book, which she’s hard at work on now.

We discuss why, almost 10 years later, as Ann so aptly stated in Drink, alcohol is still “the modern woman’s steroid”, and how the overwhelm and stress of the pandemic has spiked drinking levels and continued to normalize women’s drinking as a...

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Kathryn’s Story: Binge Drinking and Breast Cancer

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Join me as I interview Kathryn Elliott, a heavy binge drinker for over 20 years and recent breast cancer survivor. Kathryn shares her story of binge drinking including her frequent blackouts and resulting guilt and shame. She explains why binge drinking often goes unchecked for too long. She also shares the breast cancer diagnosis that came on the heels of her decision to go alcohol-free, and the tremendous gifts that have come from that challenging time in her life.

Now an alcohol-free certified coach through This Naked Mind, Kathryn helps others break the binge drinking cycle and find their own freedom. She provides some helpful strategies for anyone struggling to control their binge drinking. Find out more about Kathryn at: www.thealcoholmindsetcoach.com

Are you questioning your own drinking? Start here (it’s free!): www.wendymccallum.com/myths

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The Midlife Therapy Every Woman Should Know About with Erika Burger

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Sarah and I (finally - we've been patiently waiting for this chance!) interview Erika Burger, a pelvic floor physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience.

We discuss the role of pelvic floor health for women (men, and children), why we’re not talking about it enough, and the surprisingly long list of common midlife women’s wellness conditions that this specialized yet rarely discussed branch of physiotherapy can support, including vaginal pain, sciatica and back pain, bladder issues, and frequent urination.

Sarah and I share our personal stories of pelvic floor physio treatment and the incredible results we had.

This was an eye-opening conversation for both of us, so we know you will find it invaluable!

Erika Burger: https://www.thepelvichealthclinic.ca/

Grab Wendy and Sarah’s free peri/menopause checklist, here: https://www.wendymccallum.com/perichecklist

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Midlife Desire Debrief: The Burnout Connection

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Sarah and I reflect on our recent mind-blowing interview with Dr. Lori Brotto, psychologist, professor, and renowned sexual health researcher about women’s desire in midlife.

We dig into:

   the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire

   the connection between desire and stress

   the challenge that burnt-out, overwhelmed women have when it comes to responsive desire and

    our thoughts on how women can lay the groundwork for increased desire with self-care and boundary-setting.

It's a good one! 

Free Burnout Checklist: www.wendymccallum.com/checklist

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Women’s Desire in Midlife with Dr. Lori Brotto

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Let's talk about sex, baby!

Sarah and I interview Dr. Lori Brotto, psychologist, professor, and renowned sexual health researcher about women’s desire in midlife.

This is a discussion you won’t want to miss! Topics include the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, the impact of midlife hormonal changes on desire, the connection between stress and lowered desire, how to identify your personal “gas pedals v brakes” when it comes to desire, the importance of scheduling intimacy and sex, and the impact of mindfulness on desire. This is a jam-packed episode that will give you a brand-new perspective on desire!

Grab Wendy and Sarah’s free perimenopause/menopause checklist, here: www.wendymccallum.com/perichecklist

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Your One Big Thing (and 3 Keys to Lasting Change)

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What is your “one big thing”?

That one area of desired mental or behavioural change that you have been struggling with for years?

How would achieving the permanent change you desire in that area make everything else in your life that much easier?

In this episode, I discuss why we struggle with making lasting change and the three keys to approaching your “one big thing” differently in 2022 so that you finally achieve the outcome you desire.

Tired of making resolutions that only last a few weeks? Lasting change is possible – try different this year, not harder!

 Start changing the beliefs that are keeping you stuck in drinking now: www.wendymccallum.com/myths

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Navigating Midlife Health Care with Dr. Sarah Baillie, N.D.

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Sarah and I discuss the key things women need to know to advocate effectively for themselves and navigate our complex health care system in midlife, particularly with respect to their perimenopause and menopausal symptoms. Sarah explains why women often require a team of caregivers instead of one doctor, your rights as a patient, the difference between conventional pharmaceutical BHRT and compounded hormones, and what to do if you’re questioning the advice you’ve been given. I share my experience building my own team and navigating the health care system since dropping into full menopause very suddenly in 2020. There are so many great tips in this episode – don’t skip this one!

Grab Wendy and Sarah’s free peri/menopause checklist, here: www.wendymccallum.com/perichecklist

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Pam's Story: Midlife Uterine Prolapse

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I interview my friend and colleague Pam, who suffered a severe uterine prolapse in October 2018 while at a spin class. Pam shares her story of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery in the hope it might help other women who are struggling with prolapse and feeling alone and unsupported. Pam and I discuss the piecemeal nature of women’s health care, the importance of candid conversations around women’s reproductive health, and the role a good pelvic floor therapist can play when it comes to thriving in midlife. If you don’t know what a uterine prolapse, pessary, or vaginal vault suspension is, listen to this episode. To improve women’s pelvic floor wellness, we need to start talking about it more!

 

Prolapse Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/184143085606

Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support: https://www.pelvicorganprolapsesupport.org/

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Wendy’s Open Adoption Story (with special guest Megan, the BFF)

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My soul sister, Megan, joins me as I share m son’s open adoption story. Duncan is now almost 18, so it felt like the right time to publicly share (with permission of Duncan and his birth family) the story of how my husband Rob and I came to the decision to adopt and how that process unfolded. Open adoption includes a continuing relationship with the child’s birth family, which makes my family’s case is very special. There were many moments of serendipity, shared joy, and intimate grief in this journey to starting a family – get ready to hear an amazing story that will reaffirm your belief that some things are just “meant to be”.

 

Grab Wendy’s free Blueprint for Change, here: www.wendymccallum.com/blueprint

 

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Alcohol-Related Liver Disease in Women: Shelley’s Story

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Join me as I interview Shelley Tait, a mom of three and recovering drinker living with Stage 4 liver disease. Women’s drinking has been rising during the pandemic, and with it, liver disease. Alcohol-related liver disease typically takes years to develop, but as Shelley’s terrifying story evidences, it’s not nearly as many years as you think. You’ll be absolutely amazed by Shelley’s story, which she tells with great honesty and humour. Shelley and I discuss mommy wine culture, kids’ team sports and the parent drinking culture that’s often present there, and how easy it is for women’s “normal” drinking to escalate into a dangerous and destructive pattern.

Are you questioning your own drinking? Start here (it’s free!): www.wendymccallum.com/myths

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