Women Mastering Midlife

What does it actually look like to support women through menopause at work, and who is responsible for making that happen?In this episode, I sit down with April Haberman, CEO and co-founder of MiDOViA, a workplace menopause support organization working with employers across the United States and drawing on best practices developed in the UK and Australia over the past decade. April was in the room when Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed an executive order directing state agencies to develop menopause workplace accommodations, and she gives us a clear-eyed breakdown of what that order actually requires, who it covers, and why the for-profit sector should be paying close attention.We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, from the practical (what do workplace accommodations look like in a road construction crew versus a corporate headquarters?) to the systemic (why are women visiting seven or more doctors before getting care that should be straightforward?). We also talk about the barriers that keep women from speaking up at work, the role of pharmacists like me in closing the access-to-care gap, and why April believes broad organizational training is more important than any single policy change.If you have ever minimized your symptoms at work, wondered whether your employer is legally required to support you, or felt like the healthcare system is making menopause harder than it has to be, this one is for you.In This Episode:What MiDOViA does and why April and her co-founder Kim Hart saw an unmet need in the workplace four years agoA breakdown of Washington State's executive order on menopause workplace accommodations: what it mandates, who it applies to, and what comes nextWhy accommodations look different across industries, from office environments to construction sites to research labsThe connection between access to care, workplace support, and women's long-term financial stabilityWhy pharmacists are positioned to bridge the menopause care gap and what billing barriers stand in the wayThe role of symptom-tracking apps and wearable data in helping women advocate for themselves at medical appointmentsPractical steps women can take right now to plant seeds for menopause support within their own organizationsWhat is happening legislatively across the country, including Philadelphia, Illinois, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maryland, and CaliforniaAbout April Haberman:April Haberman is the CEO and co-founder of MiDOViA, a menopause-in-the-workplace organization partnered with accredited menopause-friendly workplace programs in the UK and Australia. With a background in PR, marketing, nonprofit health education, and sexual and reproductive health, April brings a uniquely cross-sector perspective to organizational culture change. MiDOViA has worked with more than 600 menopause-friendly member organizations and nearly 200 accredited employers. Learn more at midovia.com.Resources Mentioned:MiDOViA: midovia.comWashington State Women's CommissionWashington State Governor Ferguson's Executive Order on Menopause Workplace AccommodationsNatural Cycles app (perimenopause tracking feature)Oura Ring (wearable health tracking)The Balance docuseriesLet's Keep the Conversation GoingIf this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe to Women Mastering Midlife on your favorite podcast platform to receive weekly conversations that help you navigate perimenopause, menopause, and midlife health with clarity and confidence.Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let's grow stronger together.Get your FREE guides HERE: www.womenmasteringmidlife.com/freeguidesShare your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @misvictoriabyrd. Let's rewrite the narrative together!Find more information on our website: www.womenmasteringmidlife.comBook a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses.menopause in the workplace, perimenopause workplace accommodations, Washington state executive order menopause, menopause policy employers, MiDOViA April Haberman, menopause friendly workplace, women's health at work, midlife women workforce, menopause legislation United States, pharmacist menopause care, perimenopause symptoms at work, women mastering midlife podcastDisclaimerThis podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. Women Mastering Midlife is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

I haven’t lifted a weight in almost a year. And I’m the person who tells women that strength training matters in midlife. In this solo episode, I sit honestly in that tension, because I think a lot of you are living in it too. You know you should be working out, you believe it, and right now, while moving through something hard, you cannot find the way in.We talk about what is actually happening in your body when you are navigating trauma, grief, separation, or sustained stress, why standard fitness advice can backfire in these seasons, and how to fold in gentle movement that protects you instead of depleting you. I also share a change I am making in how I show up online, because I have come to see how daily workout posts and progress pictures feed the same comparison machine that leaves women feeling like they are failing at one more thing.This is not permission to opt out of your health. It is permission to do it differently, for the season you are actually in.What We Cover:Why intense training on an already-stressed nervous system adds load instead of building strengthAllostatic load, and the physiology that gives you real permission to ease off in a hard seasonThe difference between applying exercise research to an ideal life versus a real oneTwo valid responses to stress: movement as medicine, and rest as medicine, with no shame in eitherWhy an off-the-shelf workout program often becomes one more thing to fail atThe case for a responsive, one-on-one approach that meets you where you actually are, week to weekGentle movement as a menu, not a prescription: walking outside, yoga, mobility, ten minutes after a mealProtecting your body while your mind heals: stretching, pain signals, and coming back from injuryWhy nutrition and sleep matter more in a hard season, not lessWhy I chose not to drink alcohol through this chapter, and what it did for my sleep and recoveryThe change I am making in how I show up on social media, in real timeChapters & Timestamps00:00 The tension I haven’t shared01:57 Why summer and social media make this harder04:33 Your nervous system doesn’t care about your workout plan05:30 Allostatic load: the science that gives you permission07:00 Two valid responses: movement as medicine vs. rest as medicine10:42 Why an off-the-shelf program isn’t the answer right now14:11 The case for a responsive, one-on-one approach17:18 Showing up with a real life, not a fantasy17:40 Practical, gentle movement: a menu, not a prescription21:38 Protecting your body: stretching, pain signals, injury recovery23:55 Don’t compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter twenty26:27 What we forget when we’re surviving: nutrition29:18 Why I’m not drinking through this season31:01 The change I’m making in how I show up online33:18 Permission to rest, and the goal that’s still waiting for youMoments Worth Sharing:Your nervous system doesn’t know the difference between a real predator and a divorce attorney’s email.Sometimes structure isn’t support. It’s one more thing we’re failing at.The woman on your feed who swears her 5 a.m. lift saved her life isn’t lying. She’s just not you.We need to start with the truth of life, not the fantasy of it.Don’t compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter twenty.The walk is enough. The rest is enough. Showing up, even quietly, is enough.Mentioned in This Episode:The five pillars of midlife health: nutrition, movement, sleep, stress mitigation, lifestyleAllostatic load and the physiology of chronic stressProtein as the building block for recovery and strengthComing back from injury with slow reps and good formWork With Vicky:If you’re in a hard chapter and you want someone to help you build something that fits your real life, not a fantasy version of it, my DMs are always open. That’s where this kind of work starts.CONNECT● Website: womenmasteringmidlife.com● Substack: Victoriabyrd.substack.com● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msvictoriabyrd● Email: [email protected] podcast is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. Always consult your provider before making changes to medication, exercise, or supplements. Replacing an SSRI or any prescription with exercise should only be done under the supervision of a licensed provider.

This is a conversation that deserves more nuance than a seven-second social media clip. Victoria sits down with Linden Schaffer, psychedelic wellness educator, author, and founder of Reveal, for an honest, evidence-informed discussion on what psychedelics actually are, what the current research says, and how midlife women can think critically about whether any of this belongs in their own wellness journey.Linden is not a hype machine. She has spent more than two decades at the intersection of wellness, transformation, and psychedelic harm reduction, and she brings that same rigor to this conversation. What emerges is a grounded, thoughtful exchange that honors both the science and the complexity, including the parts the headlines leave out.What You'll Hear in This EpisodeA plain-language overview of psychedelics, from classic compounds like psilocybin and LSD to lesser-known substances like ibogaine and MDMAThe history of psychedelic research, from Albert Hofmann's synthesis of LSD in the 1940s to the Nixon-era criminalization that halted decades of promising clinical workWhy the pandemic became an inflection point for renewed interest in these compoundsThe current legal landscape in the U.S., including Oregon and Colorado's regulated frameworks, decriminalization efforts in cities nationwide, and what federal scheduling still means for your personal risk profileHow midlife women in particular are being underserved by a medical system that too often defaults to SSRIs without exploring root causesWhat microdosing is, how it differs from larger dose experiences, and why Linden chose it herself when perimenopause symptoms arrived before she could get a hormone therapy appointmentThe critical importance of preparation, integration, and what Linden calls the "wellness toolbox" — and why the compound alone is never the whole storyHow to evaluate a retreat, a facilitator, or an experience using Linden's five-part Reveal Method: screening, set, setting, support, and sustainabilityThe intersection of psychedelics and GLP-1 medications, including what is and is not yet known about interactions and timingThe ethical and cultural concerns around ibogaine, biopiracy, and what happens when pharmaceutical companies enter sacred spacesRed flags to watch for in a commercializing marketplace, from Instagram-polished retreat brochures to untested compounds sold in smoke shopsA Note from VictoriaAs a licensed pharmacist and certified menopause practitioner, I brought a lot of questions to this conversation, including ones about drug interactions, scheduling law, and what informed consent actually looks like in practice. Linden met every one of them with honesty. This episode is not medical advice, and we are both clear on that throughout. But it is the kind of informed, grounded conversation that I believe midlife women deserve access to, especially as the research and policy landscape continues to shift.Resources and LinksLinden Schaffer's website and one-to-one coaching: revealcommunity.worldReveal Community on TikTok (live education, Q&A, and community building)Linden's online courses: microdosing and large-dose experience preparationGlobal Psychedelic SocietyMAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies)Let's Keep the Conversation GoingIf this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe to Women Mastering Midlife on your favorite podcast platform to receive weekly conversations that help you navigate perimenopause, menopause, and midlife health with clarity and confidence.Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let's grow stronger together.Get your FREE guides HERE: www.womenmasteringmidlife.com/freeguidesShare your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @misvictoriabyrd. Let's rewrite the narrative together!Find more information on our website: www.womenmasteringmidlife.comBook a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses.DisclaimerThis podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. Women Mastering Midlife is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

The word "peptides" is everywhere right now, from your Instagram feed to your doctor's waiting room. But for most women, the information circulating online ranges from genuinely promising science to marketing that moves well ahead of the evidence. In this episode, Victoria sits down with Dr. Jill White, PharmD, a pharmacist with deep expertise in peptide therapy, to have the kind of grounded, evidence-based conversation the topic actually deserves.This is not a conversation about quick fixes or anti-aging trends. It is a conversation about biology, clinical decision-making, and how to ask the right questions of the people who are caring for you.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The basics of peptide scienceWhy peptides are not new The GLP-1 story Compounded vs. FDA-approved medicationsWho is and is not a good candidate for GLP-1 therapyWhy muscle preservation matters more than the number on the scaleInjectable vs. oral peptidesOther peptides worth knowing aboutHow to vet a providerWhy prescription-sourced compounds matterAbout Dr. Jill White, PharmDDr. Jill White is a licensed pharmacist and peptide educator who works with both healthcare practitioners and individual clients. She offers a high-touch, one-on-one GLP-1 mentorship program for women and a group-based peptide membership that helps clients build personalized peptide protocols using prescription-sourced compounds. She also provides dedicated pharmacist training in this emerging space.Connect with Dr. Jill White:GLP-1 mentorship for women (one-on-one): www.JillWhiteCoaching.comPersonalized peptide protocol membership: www.peptidemembership.comUse promo code VICTORIA25 at peptidemembership.com to save 25% on your membership fee.Let's Keep the Conversation GoingIf this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe to Women Mastering Midlife on your favorite podcast platform to receive weekly conversations that help you navigate perimenopause, menopause, and midlife health with clarity and confidence.Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let's grow stronger together.Get your FREE guides HERE: www.womenmasteringmidlife.com/freeguidesShare your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @misvictoriabyrd. Let's rewrite the narrative together!Find more information on our website: www.womenmasteringmidlife.comBook a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses.DisclaimerThis podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. Women Mastering Midlife is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

What if the problem isn’t you?In this powerful conversation, Victoria sits down with clinical psychologist and founder of Risewell Performance Consulting, Dr. Sachi Horback, to unpack why so many high-performing women in midlife feel exhausted, overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, and unable to “push through” the way they once could.Together, they explore the hidden systems failing women in midlife — from workplace expectations and invisible labor to hormonal transitions, decision fatigue, identity shifts, and chronic over-capacity living.Dr. Horback explains why burnout is often misidentified, why “mindset” and productivity hacks are not enough, and how high-achieving women have been conditioned to internalize structural problems as personal failures.This episode is for the woman who feels like she is doing everything right and still feels depleted.Inside this episode, we discuss:Why high-performing women are not failing — the systems around them areThe difference between burnout and chronic capacity overloadHow identity suppression impacts women’s performance and well-beingWhy midlife creates a “perfect storm” of hormonal, emotional, cognitive, and professional demandsThe hidden effects of decision fatigue and invisible laborWhy women often mistake capacity depletion for imposter syndromeThe concept of “pressure loading” and how it silently drains energy reservesHow structured recovery differs from traditional “self-care”Why pushing harder is not the solution for midlife womenWhat sustainable performance actually looks like for women in this season of lifeKey Takeaway: “You are not broken. Your system is overloaded.”This conversation offers a deeply validating and practical reframe for women navigating career demands, caregiving, hormonal changes, leadership roles, and the invisible emotional labor that often comes with midlife.Connect with Dr. Sachi Horback:Website: Risewell Performance ConsultingLet’s Keep the Conversation Going: If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe to Women Mastering Midlife on your favorite podcast platform to receive weekly conversations that help you navigate perimenopause, menopause, and midlife health with clarity and confidence.Join the Women Mastering Midlife Community and let’s grow stronger together.Get your FREE guides HERE: www.womenmasteringmidlife.com/freeguides Share your thoughts and stories on our social channels and tag us @misvictoriabyrd Let’s rewrite the narrative together!  Find more information on our website: www.womenmasteringmidlife.com Book a FREE 1:1 discovery call to learn more about coaching programs and courses Disclaimer  This podcast is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The hosts, guests, and experts featured are not your personal healthcare providers or advisors. The content should not be considered as professional, personalized medical, psychological, or prescriptive advice.  Always consult qualified professionals such as your physician, therapist, pharmacist, or coach for specific concerns and decisions related to your health or lifestyle. *Women Mastering Midlife* is not responsible for any undesired outcomes resulting from actions taken based on the content of this podcast.