The Meaning of Midlife (with Dr. Sarah Baillie, N.D.)

Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.

In the Season 2 closer, Sarah and I revisit our favourite guests and episodes from the last year, and what we’ve learned from hosting Bite-Sized Balance and from each other. I provide my favourite definition of the “meaning of life”, and we consider how it jives with our own approach to midlife. Sarah shares two recent moments of self-discovery and her decision to explore coach training, and I provide an update on my impending empty nest situation. We consider the patriarchal social norms around self-care for women and how those aren’t serving us, along with the problem with women’s overuse of the words “I’m fine" (us included.)

Join Sarah and me for a spirited, fun conversation with an important undercurrent: it’s totally OK to start focussing on you again as you move into your midlife.

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Taking Care of Me: What I Really Needed at 50

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In this short podcast episode, I provide listeners with an update on my commitment to “creating a life I don’t feel the need to escape from” before my transition to empty nester this fall, including my re-discovery of my love of writing. I share a piece called “Taking Care of Me” that will resonate with busy, worn-out women everywhere, where I explore what it really means to take care of yourself and the magic that’s available to you when you finally accept that you’re in the driver’s seat of your own life.

Don’t skip this one – it’s short and sweet but it also might be just thing you need to hear to take back some control over your one wild and precious life!

Does your life look great on paper, but it still feels like something’s missing? Grab your free Blueprint for Change Workbook here: www.wendymccallum.com/blueprint

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What Women Need NOW with Dr. Sarah Baillie, N.D.

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Sarah shares the story of a friend’s recent frustrating experience with her care provider when she asked for support with her post-pandemic exhaustion.

Sarah and I discuss what was so disappointing about her friend's doctor’s response, and what women really need right now, as we emerge from a period of intense stress and caregiving, more burnt out and exhausted than ever.

We need a safe place to land, a chance to rest and connect in a meaningful way after years of distancing and self-isolation.

As always, this is a fun and relaxed conversation between two friends sure to confirm that you’re not alone in it all and get you thinking. Join us!

FREE 5-Day Rewind Alcohol Challenge: www.wendymccallum.com/challenge

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Menopause - How It Started (and How It’s Going) with Wendy and Dr. Sarah Baillie, N.D.

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 Sarah and I provide an update as to what’s changed for us in the last six months or so in our transition post-menopause. The discussion includes how the hormonal and other treatments have worked out for us, how our menopausal symptoms have shifted and improved, and what we’ve learned about ourselves and what we need (and want!) more of as we begin the second half of our lives. As always, this is a candid, relaxed conversation between friends with a few belly laughs inserted for good measure.

Join us!

Grab our free perimenopause/menopause checklist, here: www.wendymccallum.com/perichecklist

FREE 5 Day Alcohol Challenge: www.wendymccallum.com/challenge

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This is 50 Midyear Update

Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.

Following up on Episode 49: “This Is 50”, I provide listeners with an update on my commitment to “trying all the things” and to “filling up my joy bucket” to help smooth the transition to empty nester that is coming soon. 

I share the story of how I re-discovered my love of writing (which I discussed in last week's podcast with author Ann Dowsett Johnston, who is also my writing coach), and I read a piece (*gulp, this was the scariest thing I've done in a while!) that I hope will resonate with many of the busy women who listen to this podcast, about what we miss out on when we rush through life with the goal of always achieving, and don’t slow down enough to get present for the ordinary, in-between days (where all the joy lives.)

Does your life look great on paper, but it still feels like something’s missing? Grab your free Blueprint for Change Workbook here: ...

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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

Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.

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

Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.

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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No More Fu*#s to Give: The Midilife Woman's Anthem (with Dr. Sarah Baillie)

Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.

Inspired by a song called “I’ve Got No More Fuc#$ to Give” that I stumbled across on YouTube,  Sarah and I share how our feeling of having “no more fuc#$ to give” has shown up in our personal and work lives, and how common a headspace this seems to be for all women in midlife.

We discuss why this is happening, from a social, emotional, and hormonal perspective, and what to do about it if you’re feeling guilty about caring less. We also consider whether this midlife phenomenon isn’t really more a “shifting of fuc#$” as opposed to “having less fuc#$”, and how that shifting might benefit you as well as the other people in your life, including your children. Are you the adult you want your kids to become?

Join Sarah and me for a spirited, fun conversation with an important undercurrent: it’s totally OK to start focussing on you again as you move into your...

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