Beauty From Within: Gina Cloud on Aging, Sex, and Self Worth

In this episode of the Get Obsessed podcast, Julie Lokun and Mika sit down with Gina Cloud, who has spent more than 25 years teaching women to strip away the lies they've absorbed about their bodies, sex, aging, and worth. Gina opens by reframing the idea that a woman's power expires at 40, explaining that her work spans every stage of a woman's life starting with her first period, and that women actually grow more powerful with age once they stop absorbing the messaging fed to them since girlhood. She and Julie trace that conditioning back through generations of mothers, media, and advertising, and touch on the added layer that racialized beauty standards place on women of color. The conversation then moves into the shame surrounding menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause, the medicalization of women's bodies, and a ritual Gina teaches for honoring menstrual blood rather than treating it as something to hide. Gina and the hosts also dig into what she calls the masculinization of women in corporate life and modern dating, the loneliness she sees in how men and women relate to each other now, and her frustration with a version of feminism she feels has drifted into resentment rather than partnership. The conversation turns personal as Gina reflects on raising her daughter Alana, the values she tried to model rather than simply lecture about, and closes with a call for listeners to honor both their feminine and masculine sides instead of choosing one over the other. In this episode, we discuss: Why a woman's power has no expiration date, starting with her first period Generational conditioning around beauty, aging, and self worth The added layer of racialized beauty standards for women of color Shame and stigma around menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause The medicalization of women's bodies and a ritual for honoring menstrual blood The masculinization of women in corporate life, dating, and modern relationships Rethinking feminism, independence, and wanting to be protected and provided for Raising her daughter Alana and modeling rather than lecturing about self worth ABOUT THE GUEST: Gina Cloud has spent more than 25 years teaching women, working across every stage of a woman's life beginning with her first menstrual period. She has appeared on the Ricki Lake Show, been interviewed on Playboy Radio, delivered a TEDx talk, and written a book called WOMAN that reframes what it means to be a woman. Her work focuses on helping women release the shame attached to their bodies, sexuality, and aging, including the stigma surrounding menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause. She created the Sacred Facts of Life workshop to give young girls an honoring framework around their bodies before they get their first period, and she coaches women, including executives and former military service members, on reconnecting with their feminine power. Gina also hosts her own podcast, where she has been doing deep personal work with her daughter Alana ahead of a mother daughter episode the two of them are recording together. MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: (Book) WOMAN by Gina Cloud - https://ginacloud.com/book/ (Book) Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret - https://judyblume.com/middle-margaret/ CONNECT WITH GINA CLOUD: Website: https://ginacloud.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Gina-Clouds-All-Things-Women/61560726219305/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/GinaCloud Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginacloud/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/redefiningwoman/videos ABOUT GET OBSESSED Website: www.getobsessedpodcast.com Be a Guest! http://www.getobsessedguest.com Reach Out To Us! [email protected] The Get Obsessed podcast is dedicated to exploring the passions, mindsets, and habits that drive high performers. We believe that what you obsess over defines your future. LISTEN, RATE, REVIEW AND SUBSCRIBE - Get Obsessed : With Living Your Best Life - Podcast - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-obsessed-with-living-your-best-life/id1559480972 TIMESTAMPS 00:01 - Welcome to Gina Cloud, and why a woman's power has no expiration date 02:36 - Generational conditioning around beauty, aging, and self worth 05:21 - The added layer of racialized beauty standards for women of color 05:59 - Shame and stigma around menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause 07:52 - The medicalization of women's bodies and a ritual for honoring menstrual blood 13:20 - The masculinization of women in corporate life, dating, and modern relationships 15:51 - Rethinking feminism, independence, and wanting to be protected and provided for 29:05 - Raising her daughter Alana and modeling rather than lecturing about self worth Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.