Midlife, Hormones & Speaking Up: Tracey Willingham on Self-Trust, Advocacy & Being Unladylike

Episode 7 Show Notes — Tracey Willingham (That Hormone Girl)Episode Title:When Your Body Changes the Rules: Hormones, Self-Trust, and Speaking Up in Midlife---About This EpisodeHave you ever walked out of a doctor's appointment feeling more dismissed than when you walked in? Or spent months second-guessing yourself, wondering if you were making it all up — only to realize that the second-guessing itself is a symptom?In Episode 7, host Jenn Fast welcomes Tracey Willingham — hormone health advocate, licensed social worker, and host of the That's Not Very Ladylike podcast — for a conversation that is equal parts permission slip and practical toolkit.Tracey left her VP role at a nonprofit after years of unaddressed perimenopause symptoms and a healthcare system that kept telling her everything was normal. She built her work, her brand, and her "Speak Up Membership" from that lived experience — and she is boldly, unapologetically not here to make anyone comfortable.This is not just a hormone conversation. It's a conversation about identity, burnout, self-trust, and what it means to stop shrinking yourself to stay comfortable for everyone else.---What You'll Hear- Why women who are already on HRT still seek Tracey out — and what that reveals about what's missing- How hormonal shifts affect far more than physical symptoms: identity, relationships, work, and self-trust- Why the self-doubt and second-guessing you feel right now is a symptom, not a character flaw- Practical tools for speaking up in medical appointments — including the power of silence, bringing an advocate, and how to use the patient portal to create a paper trail- Why HR works for the company (and what to do instead)- What "unladylike on purpose" actually means — and what it costs women to stay ladylike- Tracey's "Speak Up Membership" — combining AI-based coaching tools, human support, and community for healthcare, workplace, and personal conversations- The concept of "second puberty" — and why midlife is actually your most powerful reinvention window---Key Takeaway"Whatever you're experiencing right now — it is real. It doesn't have to make sense to exist."— Tracey Willingham---Timestamps- 00:00 — The moment the old rules stopped working- 00:49 — Meet Tracey Willingham (That Hormone Girl)- 02:16 — Why she quit her nonprofit VP job- 04:08 — What "unladylike on purpose" really means- 07:07 — Hormones beyond physical symptoms- 09:31 — Self-blame, shame, and why women carry everyone else's feelings- 11:38 — Second-guessing as a symptom- 13:21 — What "speaking up" actually looks like (with yourself, your doctor, your partner, at work)- 17:22 — How to prepare for a doctor's appointment so you don't leave feeling dismissed- 21:05 — Advocacy scripts that work: silence, pausing, pushing back on "normal"- 25:01 — The Speak Up Membership: what it is, who it's for, and how the AI coaching works- 31:44 — Midlife as a "second puberty" — and what that means for you- 34:10 — Final thoughts and how to connectIf today's episode resonated with you, please subscribe, share it with a woman who needs to hear it, and leave a five-star review. It helps other women find this show.Connect with Tracey:* Speak Up Membership* Instagram: @thathormonegirl* That’s Not Very Ladylike Podcast* Tracey’s Everything PageWant support with your own midlife hormone foundation?I put together the Menopause Foundations Program for exactly this moment — when you know something has shifted and you’re ready to understand it, address it, and build from it.👉 Learn more hereConnect with Jenn FastWebsite: reinventionwithjennfast.comIf you have any questions or are interested in being on this show, please reach to me at [email protected]: @reinventionwithjennfastAs always — I’m glad you’re here.Jenn Fast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit comebackletter.substack.com