Real (Mid)Life

One day you're rocking a newborn, the next day you're watching that same kid graduate from high school. In this episode, Mikala takes us through senior year as a mom watching (and helping!) her teen prepare to leave the nest, and she shares what she's learned after navigating this process twice (so far!) And you'll probably be surprised by one big thing she DID NOT do, that surprisingly hasn't impacted senior year at all.   Don't forget to grab your free copy of 10 Things You Need in Midlife (and 10 things you absolutely do not) here https://www.mikalaalbertsonmd.com/real-midlife-podcast    

Leslie Means is the creator of the wildly popular online site Her View From Home, and in our conversation today we jump right into all things perimenopause, hormones, and teens. Because isn't that what midlife is? Everything all at once? We laugh a lot, cry a little, and we don't hold anything back.  Find more from Leslie here and here. Or look for her books So God Made a Mother and So God Made a Grandma here. And if you're looking for more information from a board certified family practice doctor on all things perimenopause, hormones, and loving the body you actually have, check out Mikala's book Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife on sale for $10 here!

As women, we're constantly being told that something is wrong with the way we look, perhaps especially when our bodies begin to show signs of aging. No wonder the anti-aging industry is a $55 billion industry!! We need to fix those wrinkles and jawlines and bellies—THEN we'll be happy. But we're not buying it. What if we just...lived? In this episode, we talk about ALL the anti-aging "fixes" we're doing without and how what we're really hoping to accomplish has nothing to do with wrinkles or weight. We can't wait for you to listen.   Don't forget to grab 10 Things You Need in Midlife (and 10 things you absolutely do not!) here. And apparently, we really are loving this book: Make Believe: Poems for Hoping Again here.

The world feels like it is on fire, yet we're mostly just going to the grocery store and making dinner and cleaning up our garden beds like everything is fine. It isn't fine. And it feels weird to simply live. It feels selfish. But also, we don't know what else to do. We feel helpless. We feel afraid. And we feel paralyzed. So how do we survive? Today we're talking about ALL of it. Along with actual ways we are getting by. We talk about staying informed, limiting our inputs, noticing small joys, practicing simple acts of kindness, loving our neighbors, creating beautiful things, getting outside and moving our bodies, contacting our representatives, praying, and more. Don't forget to grab 10 Things You Need in Midlife (and 10 things you absolutely do not!) here. Check out Make Believe: Poems for Hoping Again here.    

Today we're talking with Whitney Fleming, author, blogger, and owner of the wildly popular website Parenting Teens and Tweens. In this episode, we deep dive into trusting our teens, navigating the college and young adult years with our kids, and parenting for the long game (play chess not checkers!). Whitney is chock full of wisdom on teenagers, helping us remember that having a relationship our kids long after they live under our roof is the ultimate goal.  Hear more from Whitney at https://parentingteensandtweens.com/author/whitney/ Check out Whitney's books: You're Not a Failure: My Teen Doesn't Like Me Either https://amzn.to/47DCSA8 Loving Hard When They're Hard to Love https://amzn.to/47FoKq5 And don't forget to grab your free copy of 10 Things You Need in Midlife (and 10 things you absolutely do not) here https://www.mikalaalbertsonmd.com/real-midlife-podcast    

Is it just us, or do other women struggle with feeling guilty for...almost everything? In this episode, we consider the root of our guilt, discuss categories of guilt, and ask ourselves "did I actually cause harm?" or "did I actually do something wrong?" Whether the answer is yes or no, what can we do to move forward?   Check out the Psychology Today article, The Guilt That Women Suffer, here.  You can grab 10 Things You Need in Midlife and 10 Things You Absolutely Do Not FREE right here.

“Fun? What’s that?” Many of us are really trying to have fun, but we mostly end up going through the motions. So, where does fun fit into the endless To Do lists of family and work and home life and caregiving older parents plus the endless emails and health concerns or financial constraints alongside the stress of parenting teenagers? In midlife, oftentimes, fun just never makes the cut. So, what can we do? Where can we find fun in midlife? And why does it matter? In today's episode of Real (Mid)life we're talking about ALL of it.  You can read more about fun in midlife (including what's happening in our brains when the blahs set in) here.  You can grab 10 Things You Need in Midlife and 10 Things You Absolutely Do Not FREE right here.

The conversation we seem to be having over and over with our midlife friends involves the question of "Is this it?" In Episode 11, we discuss midlife malaise, the happiness U-curve, and the necessity of female friendships in navigating this season of life.   Find 10 Things You Need in Midlife (and 10 things you absolutely do not here: https://www.mikalaalbertsonmd.com/real-midlife-podcast

Alongside EVERYTHING ELSE that happens in midlife, sometimes caregiving takes center stage. Caregiving our own children, of course, but also caregiving our parents as they age, a phenomenon described as living in the "sandwich generation" by Dorothy Miller, a professor and social worker in the eighties. Today we talk with Angela Repke who is living squarely in the sandwich generation as she navigates the tween and teen years with her kids while also caring for her elderly father and offering her mother emotional support. We discuss stress, guilt, resentment, and how we can care for ourselves while simultaneously caring for just about everyone else. Find 10 Things You Need in Midlife (and 10 things you absolutely do not here: https://www.mikalaalbertsonmd.com/real-midlife-podcast

Is romance still alive in midlife? What about sex in marriage after 20+ years? And how does perimenopause play into it? Today we dive into ALL of it! Mikala wears her doctor hat to talk about hormonal changes, decreased libido, and the genitourinary symptoms of menopause. Jenny offers the best solution for men to get us in the mood. And, as always, we laugh a lot too! We can't wait to share this conversation with you! Find Mikala's book Ordinary on Purpose: Surrendering Perfect and Discovering Beauty Amid the Rubble for only $7 here: https://amzn.to/3MCJx6g Get our free copy of 10 Things You Need in Midlife and 10 Things You Absolutely Do Not here: https://www.mikalaalbertsonmd.com/real-midlife-podcast Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/realmidlifepodcast?igsh=MXU4ZTQ2NmV4eWFzcg%3D%3D

Help! We're swimsuit shopping and aren't exactly sure what we're supposed to be wearing in this stage of life. And seriously, what's the deal with swimsuit pads? Join us for a lighthearted chat, and of course laughter, about midlife swimsuit chaos. Then, join the conversation! Email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @realmidlifepodcast Grab Mikala's book, Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife, to help guide you through the many changes and challenges of living in a midlife body: https://amzn.to/3OaS3d3 And don't forget to download 10 Things You Need in Midlife (and 10 Things You Absolutely Do Not) free right here: https://www.mikalaalbertsonmd.com/real-midlife-podcast

Today we visit with Amy Betters-Midtvedt, author of You'll Make It (and They Will Too): Everything No One Talks About When You're Parenting Teens. We cover the most surprising thing about parenting teens, how to navigate phones and tech with older kids, and an incredible relationship tool she describes as "The Bank of Trust". Amy is a wealth of wisdom. Plus, she's hilarious! Find her book for 30% off right here: https://amzn.to/4bqi2Xz Don't forget to download 10 Things You Need in Midlife (and 10 Things You Absolutely Do Not) free right here: https://www.mikalaalbertsonmd.com/real-midlife-podcast

How do we answer the question "What do you do?" in midlife when we're actually doing a little of everything? And will we ever have balance? Does balance even exist? Today we're talking with Kelsey Scism, a wife and mom of SIX who writes books, wrangles kids in every stage from preschooler to college freshman, and somehow manages to be on the radio, too. We laugh a lot and complain a little. Come listen!

What can we DO about midlife periods? Turns out, we have lots of options for treating symptoms in perimenopause. In this episode, we talk about FDA approved medications, lifestyle changes, and a few questions to consider before starting an over-the-counter supplement for an all-in-one fix.

Today Mikala wears her doctor hat for Midlife Periods Part 1. We discuss: What's happening during a menstrual cycle? What's normal? What can we expect in perimenopause? Why is it all so annoying? And when should we see a provider for help with our symptoms?

This week we're talking about New Year's resolutions versus resignations. Maybe there are some things throughout midlife that we can endure without resisting or attempting to improve. 

Christmas is cumulative, and is there actually such a thing as a holiday hack? (Plus, a smokin' holiday tradition that makes us laugh pretty hard).

This week we're talking about what is on a Real Midlife Christmas wishlist.

Real Midlife is a podcast for women who want to laugh, commiserate, complain, and brave midlife together.