New episode of Talking Smack 415 ( ☝️link in bio) and we’re talking ALL things menopause, perimenopause, hormones, HRT, brain fog, weight gain, sleep chaos… basically the “what the f*k is happening to my body?” phase of life
Jamie the Great ( @jamiefaith4444 ) and I sat down with Nikki Pearl & Susannah Wallenstrom, founders of @menopausitiveworkshop ,
We get into:
⚡️Perimenopause symptoms & post menopause changes
⚡️How to talk to your doctor about HRT
⚡️Why many women are still dismissed by the medical community
⚡️Brain fog, anxiety, sleep issues & hormone shifts
⚡️Why protein + strength training matter SO much in midlife
⚡️Hormone health in the workplace
⚡️Why younger women need menopause education NOW so they don’t suffer for years confused like many of us did
I first met these fab women 2.5 years ago at one of their workshops and honestly it was the first time I felt informed. I knew what was going on in my body and I knew what do to about it. Because of them and HRT I am a much stronger 52 year old bad ass. And bonus… they’re offering Talking Smack 415 listeners a special discount to their “Light Me Up!” retreat happening April 23–25, 2027. Email them for details [email protected].
Listen wherever you get your podcasts and please share with the millennials in your life!
#Menopause #Perimenopause #HormoneHealth #MidlifeWellness #TalkingSmack415
✨ We are so honored to be joining an incredible group of women for something really special! ✨
We have been invited to participate as panelists at a screening of **”The M Factor 2”** — a film that takes an honest, courageous look at perimenopause and menopause: the symptoms, the transitions, and everything our bodies go through. 🎬
And if you’re post-menopause, this is absolutely for you too. These experiences don’t just disappear after “the transition.”
After the film, we’ll be joining a powerhouse panel of women’s health experts to share insights on:
💪 Weight Training
🥗 Nutrition ← that’s Susannah!
🌸 Pelvic Health
🧘 Wellness & Mind-Body Practices ← that’s Nikki!
📍 Mill Valley Community Center
🎥 Film Screening: Tuesday May 12, 2026 7pm
🎤 Panel Discussion: 8pm
🍿 Popcorn will be served!
We would LOVE to see you there. Seats will fill up fast — grab yours via the link below!
👇 /e/screening-of-the-m-factor-2-before-the-pause-tickets-1986488004095?aff=oddtdtcreator
Bring a friend, come with an open mind, and let’s have this conversation together. 💕
#Menopause #Perimenopause #WomensHealth #TheMFactor
Tomorrow on Talking Smack 415… Jamie the Great (@jamiefaith4444 ) and I are talking all things menopause.
The real, what is actually happening to my body kind of talk.
We’re sitting down with the founders of @menopausitiveworkshop , Nikki & Susannah, who are helping women navigate midlife with tools, resources and information. Think workshops and retreats that cover everything from your body, brain, sleep, relationships… to why you suddenly can’t remember why you walked into a room.. ( that’s me daily!)
I went to one of their workshops and honestly? It was the first time I felt informed, like OMG this is what’s going on, and I left with real tools to deal with it. DM us your questions about peri + post menopause…
• Brain fog — stress or hormones? • Random itching (yes, even your ears) — normal or not? • Hot flashes, weight shifts, sleep chaos…..irritability?
Yes to all the above⚡️⚡️⚡️
And if you’re past this phase and over the meno convo, send this to your younger sisters, friends, cousins… anyone entering it.
I really wish I knew all of this at 35. Would’ve saved me a whole lot of anxiety.
The more we talk about it, the more we lift each other up. #talkingsmack415 #menopausematters #perimenopause #midlifewomen #womenshealth
Did you know menopause gets as little as 1–2 hours of coverage in medical school? 👇
Your OBGYN means well. But here's something that stopped us in our tracks:
Doctors can graduate medical school having received as little as 1–2 hours of menopause training.
One to two hours.
For a transition that can last up to 14 years.
Menopause education is essentially a self-opt-in program for physicians — meaning your doctor has to actively seek it out beyond what they were taught.
So if you've been dismissed, told "it's just stress," or sent home without answers…
👉️ It's not because something is wrong with you.
👉️ It's a knowledge gap that has been failing women for a long time.
The good news? The Menopause Society has a free searchable directory — by zip code — where you can find a certified menopause specialist near you.
You deserve a provider who takes this seriously. 💙
Full episode with @menopausitiveworkshop in bio — we cover the symptoms, the science, hormone therapy, and a whole lot more.
#perimenopause #menopause #womenshealth #hormonehealth #womenover40
Meet Our Light Me Up! Retreat Leader: Christina Sophie ✨
We’re thrilled to welcome Christina Sophie, Clinical Sexologist (ACS) and Certified Somatica Relationship Coach, to the Light Me Up! Retreat.
With more than 25 years of experience in somatic relationship work and sexuality education, Christina brings incredible depth, wisdom, and warmth to this field. She is core faculty at the Somatica Institute, where she trains relationship coaches, and also teaches at the Institute for Sexuality, Education, and Enlightenment, supporting the next generation of sex therapists and educators.
Christina is certified in multiple modalities including Somatica, Sexological Bodywork, couples therapy, Tantra, and meditation. Through her private practice, she helps individuals and couples deepen intimacy, expand their capacity for pleasure, and build more authentic, connected relationships.
We’re honored to have Christina share her expertise and heart with our retreat community.
🌿 Light Me Up! Retreat March 13–15 Westerbeke Ranch, Sonoma
✨ Limited Saturday Daytripper spots available for $450.
Link in bio to learn more and join us.
#LightMeUpRetreat
#SomaticRelationships
#MidlifeWomen
#WomensRetreat
#IntimacyAndConnection
Three days until we meet at Westerbeke Ranch for Light Me Up! We can’t wait!!
We have one 3-person cabin available. Grab two friends and join us for a special offer of 3 for $3k.
We also have one double cabin and a couple single spots. There’s still time to sign up. Reach out to us for a special — just for you! ✨
✨ Light Me Up! Women’s Midlife Power Retreat
📍 Westerbeke Ranch, Sonoma, CA
📅 March 13–15
🔗 Link in our bio
✨ Late Bird Special: $300 off solo or $1000 off when you bring a friend. 3-person cabin for $3k. Limited Saturday Daytripper spots available for $450.
DM us to take advantage of these offers.
🥗 Wondering which midlife nutrition advice you can actually trust?
You’re not alone — as hormones shift, our bodies need a refresh in how we fuel and nourish ourselves.
That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Katie Morford, MS, RD, creator of Mom’s Kitchen Handbook, to the Light Me Up! Women’s Midlife Power Retreat.
Katie’s a registered dietitian known for her real-world, flavor-forward approach to eating well — blending sound science with simple, delicious meals for busy lives.
At the retreat, she’ll co-lead an interactive session on fueling your changing body, finding food freedom, and rediscovering joy in the kitchen. (Whether you’re looking to reset your eating habits, simplify mealtime, or reconnect with the pleasure of good food, Katie’s wisdom will inspire and empower you every step of the way.)
✨ Light Me Up! Women’s Midlife Power Retreat
📍 Westerbeke Ranch, Sonoma, CA
📅 March 13–15
🔗 Link in our bio
#MidlifeWomen
#WomensRetreat
#SonomaRetreat
#WomenSupportingWomen
#MidlifeWellness
✨ Why midlife women need a retreat ✨
Life in midlife is full — careers, family, transitions, and changes to your body and energy. It’s easy to lose touch with your own needs and vitality.
That’s why Light Me Up!, March 13–15 at Westerbeke Ranch in Sonoma, exists: a weekend to pause, reconnect, and restore your body, mind, and spirit.
During this intimate weekend, you’ll experience: • Yoga and strength training • Sound healing and meditation • Workshops on strength, pelvic health, skincare, sexology, financial wellness and more • Nourishing meals and beautiful time in nature • Deep connection with an incredible group of women
💫 Late Bird Special: $300 off solo, $1000 off for you and a friend.
With just a few spots left, this is your chance to step away, recharge, and embrace this powerful season of life.
👉 Register at the link in our bio. Tag the friend you want to bring! 💛
#MidlifeWomen
#WomensRetreat
#SonomaRetreat
#womensupportingwom
☀️There’s a spot for you! Bring a friend and the two of you get a cozy cabin for two plus an extra special deal. DM @menopausitiveworkshop for details.
✨ Light Me Up! Women’s Midlife Power Retreat 📍 Westerbeke Ranch, Sonoma, CA 📅 March 13–15 🔗 Link in our bio
✨ Use code INSIDER for $300 off! Bring a friend for a special last-minute offer: two for two. DM for details.
#WomensRetreat
#WellnessRetreat
#WomenSupportingWomen
#MidlifeWomen
#MidlifeWellness
✨ Meet KK Holly — Sound Healing at Light Me Up! ✨
We’re thrilled to welcome sound and energy healer KK Holly to Light Me Up! KK will offer a deeply restorative sound bath during our Friday night opening ritual and meditation, and will accompany Nikki’s yoga classes throughout the weekend with healing sound and vibration.
🌿 Why sound healing for midlife women?
Sound helps calm the nervous system, reduce stress, improve sleep, and support emotional and hormonal balance — exactly what many women need during midlife transitions.
You’ll also find KK sharing her resonant skincare line Honne during Saturday’s marketplace.
KK’s passion is helping midlife women cultivate inner peace, balanced living, and vibrant health — the perfect fit for our Light Me Up! weekend. ✨
✨ Light Me Up! Women’s Midlife Power Retreat
📍 Westerbeke Ranch, Sonoma, CA
📅 March 13–15
🔗 Link in bio
✨ Use code INSIDER for $300 off!
#WomensRetreat
#WellnessRetreat
#WomenSupportingWomen
#MidlifeWomen
#MidlifeWellness
💪 Does your midlife fitness routine need a makeover?
You’re not alone. As our bodies change in midlife and beyond, the workouts that once worked for us often need to evolve too — and the good news is, the right approach can help you feel stronger, more energized, and more confident than ever.
That’s why we’re excited to welcome Kristen “Coach Kristi” Swig to the Light Me Up! Women’s Midlife Power Retreat this March.
Coach Kristi is a women’s strength training specialist who understands that fitness for women isn’t one-size-fits-all — especially during midlife. With a personalized, supportive approach, she helps women build strength safely and effectively while honoring hormonal shifts, changing bodies, and real-life demands.
At the retreat, she’ll share her expertise through hands-on training and practical guidance designed to meet you exactly where you are — whether you’re returning to movement, redefining your routine, or ready to feel powerful in your body again.
Because strength in midlife isn’t about pushing harder — it’s about training smarter and showing up for yourself in a whole new way. Come get stronger with us — inside and out.
✨ Light Me Up! Women’s Midlife Power Retreat 📍 Westerbeke Ranch, Sonoma, CA 📅 March 13–15 🔗 Link in our bio
✨ Use code INSIDER for $300 off!
#WomensRetreat
#WellnessRetreat
#MenopauseSupport
#WomenSupportingWomen
#AgePositivity
✨Join us at Light Me Up!✨ A midlife power retreat for women. We still have spots available! This is an enrichment retreat to support, educate, empower and inspire women navigating midlife and beyond. A soulful, playful two-day getaway grounded in wellness and community. Because when women gather to consciously support our well-being, we open the door to feeling more alive — we discover/rediscover our light! ✨ Light Me Up! Women’s Midlife Power Retreat 📍 Westerbeke Ranch, Sonoma, CA 📅 March 13–15 🔗 Link in our bio Use code INSIDER for $300 off
