Is midlife going exactly as you expected it would? Yeah… me neither.

And it certainly didn’t for Teyonna Bowman.

At 35, she was a young mom who thought she was doing everything right — eating healthy, staying active, raising her kids — until she found a lump in her breast that changed everything. After surviving breast cancer twice and enduring chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone-blocking treatment, Teyonna entered medically induced menopause at 40.

In this episode, Teyonna shares what it’s really like to navigate early menopause after cancer — the physical symptoms, the emotional whiplash, the loss of connection with her body and her husband — and how she ultimately reclaimed her strength and purpose.

You’ll hear:

•The emotional side of breast cancer and recovery — body image, intimacy, and identity

•How early menopause can affect mental health, libido, and relationships

•The healing power of strength training, journaling, and community

•How Teyonna turned her experience into advocacy and founded Pausitive Outlook

•Her recent work on Capitol Hill lobbying for women’s health and early cancer detection

Whether you’re in perimenopause, post-menopause, or simply trying to make sense of your midlife body, this conversation is a powerful reminder that women are resilient, resourceful, and capable of incredible reinvention.

✨ Listen now and please share this episode with someone who’s facing breast cancer or navigating early menopause. It might be exactly the encouragement they need today.

Connect with Teyonna:

pausitiveoutlook.com | @pausitiveoutlook

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Turns out, those ‘I’m past my prime’ thoughts aren’t harmless—they can literally change your hormones, heart, and health. 😱

Functional nutritionist and narrative-medicine practitioner (yes, we will cover what that means) Andrea Nakayama explains how age beliefs influence inflammation, cortisol, heart health, memory, recovery, and even longevity.

If you’re a midlife woman trying to feel your best during this wacky season of life and want some practical midlife advice for how to evolve into one badass “old” lady, this one’s for you.

We cover:

✔️The 7.5-year advantage: how positive aging beliefs can extend your life

✔️Why negative beliefs can affect cardiovascular health, memory, and recovery

✔️How mindset and culture influence midlife women’s health

✔️Andrea’s thoughts on Menopause Hormone Therapy

✔️Sleep, elimination, and blood sugar—the three pillars of midlife health

Why midlife women should listen:

This episode blends science, mindset, nutrition and lifestyle for women navigating hormonal changes, perimenopause, and the mental side of midlife. Andrea and Jessica unpack what every midlife woman needs to know about how her beliefs, not just her biology, can change her health trajectory.

Guest:

Andrea Nakayama—Functional Medicine Nutritionist, educator, host of 15-Minute Matrix, founder & former CEO of Functional Nutrition Alliance

andreanakayama.com | fxnutrition.com | @andreanakayama

Resources mentioned:

•Becca Levy, PhD — Breaking the Age Code (age beliefs & longevity)

•Ellen Langer, PhD — The Mindful Body (mindset & health)

•Daniel Levitin, PhD — Successful Aging (how memory changes with age)

CHAPTERS:

02:31 What is Narrative Medicine?

06:48 How Your Perceptions About Aging Affect Longevity

08:34 How Our Beliefs Impact Our Physical Health

10:31 What We Can Do About Society's Negative View of Aging

15:56 How To Improve Our Views of Aging

19:32 Andrea's Thoughts on Menopause Hormone Therapy

24:37 3 Pillars of Midlife Nutrition

27:09 Is There a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy About Aging?

36:56 How to Shift Your Negative Beliefs

39:30 Our Memories Are Changing, Not Declining

41:52 Key Takeaways

⭐️ If this episode gave you new insight into midlife women’s health or helped you reframe your thoughts on getting older, please leave a quick rating and review on Apple or Spotify. Your positive reviews are the best way to help me book expert guests to share actionable midlife advice with those of us who need it most.

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

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Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com

My midlife mom friends—If you’ve ever needed a vacation after your family vacation, this one’s for you.

In this playful mini-sode, I reflect on my recent family “vacation,” and how I’m getting closer to dropping the quotes. I talk five-hour flights with no iPads, the magic of kids’ clubs, Yoto players, hotel spas, and share tips (and a few silly wins) for traveling with little kids while keeping your sanity intact.

You’ll hear:

•Tips that make family travel a little easier

•How to actually squeeze in some guilt-free “me time”

•The power of being spontaneous and seizing the day

•And the reminder every mom needs

If you have your own family trip survival tips, text me through the link below! It would be so exciting to get a text from you. ;)

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:07 Listener Shout Out

02:12 Family "Vacation" Reflections

02:49 Tips for Optimizing Family Trips

05:01 Get A Yoto Player

06:23 Kids' Club for the Win

08:14 Book The Spa Appointment

09:27 Celebrate How Far You've Come

10:54 Carpe Diem

14:37 A Reminder for All Midlife Moms

I want to hear from you. Send me a text!

Let's stay in touch:
Join my email list and I will send you my three favorite protein-rich smoothie recipes!

Follow me on Instagram: @belongwellness
Check out my website: belongwellness.com