In this heartfelt conversation, Robin sits down with Michelle to talk about what real healing actually looks like—especially in midlife. Together, they explore mindset, fear, food sensitivities, rest, and the power of small, intentional shifts. This episode is a reminder that healing isn’t linear, perfection isn’t required, and your story matters. If you’re navigating midlife changes and craving a more empowered, whole-body approach to wellness, this one is for you.

1. How fear and mindset can directly impact health
2. Why healing takes time (and why that’s okay)
3. Food sensitivities, experimentation, and listening to your body
4. The importance of rest, recovery, and slowing down
5. Whole-life nourishment beyond just food
6. Lifestyle medicine and holistic health practices
7. Community, accountability, and celebrating small wins
8. Finding balance and defining your non-negotiables

00:00 – Introduction & Journey to Health

07:55 – Overcoming Fear & Mindset Shifts

16:00 – The Importance of Healing & Rest

24:00 – Navigating Midlife & Hormonal Changes

30:00 – Food Sensitivities & Personal Experiments

33:08 – Mindset & Nutrition

35:54 – Building Community for Support & Healing

37:49 – Pillars of Whole-Life Nourishment

42:12 – Small Shifts for Big Changes

44:46 – Accountability & Commitment

49:02 – Integrating Lifestyle Medicine

52:00 – Balance & Life Non-Negotiables

1. Everybody’s story matters.
2. Fear can keep the body stuck in sickness.
3. Healing requires patience and compassion.
4. Mindset shifts are foundational to wellness.
5. Rest is not optional—it’s essential.
6. Good enough truly is better than perfect.
7. You get to choose what you eat and how you feel.
8. Self-care is not selfish.
9. Empower yourself to say “no.”
10. Your body is always communicating—listen and experiment.
11. Community support accelerates healing.
12. Small shifts create big, sustainable change.
13. Accountability deepens commitment.

In this episode of Healthy Habits for a Healthier Home, Robin gets real about the big shifts happening in women’s health and the food world.

We dive into the FDA’s major update on Hormone Replacement Therapy, the new conversations opening up for women in peri and menopause, and why lifestyle still leads the way.

We also unpack the changes happening in the food industry — from dye-free Doritos and Cheetos to what this reveals about consumer advocacy. And yes, we talk about school lunches, food dyes, and how the food pyramid is changing (finally).

This is an invitation to stay informed, stay curious, and keep using your voice. Because when we speak up as a community, things change — and they change fast.

• The FDA officially removed the black box warning from HRT — a major moment in women’s health.
• Study that created fear around hormones was deeply flawed and has since been debunked.
• HRT works best when started in perimenopause or early menopause, using bioidentical hormones.
• The M Factor documentary is a must-watch for understanding women’s hormones and midlife health.
• Synthetic food dyes have zero nutritional value and can impact behavior, attention, and mood.
• PepsiCo and other major brands are beginning to remove dyes — proof that consumer pressure works.
• The old food pyramid was shaped by industry, not by what the body actually needs.
• Changing the food pyramid influences school lunch policy and children’s nutrition.
• Reading ingredients is one of the most powerful things you can do for your home.
• Community, education, and shared advocacy create real change for our families.

00:00 — Introduction to Women’s Health & HRT

Why the FDA change matters, what the updated research really shows, and how women can finally have informed conversations with their providers.

09:20 — The Impact of Food Dyes in School Lunches

What’s changing in the food industry, what’s still marketing, and how to stay empowered as a label-reader.

20:13 — Revising the Food Pyramid for Better Nutrition

Why the old pyramid was upside down, how policy shapes school lunches, and the shift toward whole-food guidance.

28:40 — Closing Thoughts & Staying Empowered

Your reminder that awareness + community = powerful, lasting change.

S7E91 Navigating Lipedema, Inflammation & Manufacturing a yummy snack with Siouxie

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s7-e91-navigating-lipedema-inflammation-manufacturing/id1687175600?i=1000691402064

S2E15 — Transforming Your Wellness Through Food with Loverbird Cereal

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2e15-transforming-your-wellness-through-food-with/id1687175600?i=1000629369166

Books

• How to Menopause —

In this heart-opening conversation, Dr. Nicole Cain, author of Panic Proof invites us into her world of anxiety, panic, and the deep healing that unfolds when we learn to listen to our bodies. She walks us through the layers of fear, the common misconceptions about anxiety, the importance of understanding the “why” beneath our symptoms, and the powerful role that self-awareness plays in emotional regulation.

Together, we explore interoceptive awareness, root-cause medicine, gut health, and the obstacles that often stand between us and true healing. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, overwhelmed, or lost in your anxiety journey, this episode will help you feel grounded and empowered.

• Anxiety is part of the human experience, and something we can learn to navigate with grace.

• Understanding the “why” behind your emotions is foundational for healing.

• Anxiety often shows up physically, not just mentally.

• Interoceptive awareness strengthens the connection between your body and your emotions.

• Many healthcare systems miss the interconnectedness of symptoms.

• Identifying personal obstacles to healing unlocks progress.

• The chemical imbalance theory of anxiety is outdated and being challenged by new research.

• Gut health has a major influence on mental health and anxiety.

• Mindfulness and body-awareness practices support emotional regulation.

• Healing takes time, patience, and a lot of self-compassion.

00:00 Introduction to Anxiety and Healing

02:50 The Journey to Panic Proof

06:06 Understanding Anxiety and Panic

08:45 The Spectrum of Fear, Anxiety, and Panic

12:07 Awareness and Body Connection

15:06 The Importance of Interoceptive Awareness

17:47 Exploring Root Causes of Anxiety

20:58 Empowering Self-Advocacy in Healthcare

30:20 Understanding the Immune System and Its Impact

34:02 Exploring Anxiety: Signs and Symptoms

39:42 The Nine Types of Anxiety

44:29 Debunking the Chemical Imbalance Myth

51:21 Overcoming Obstacles to Healing

https://integrativepainscienceinstitute.com/test/anxiety-quiz/

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📬 Email: robin@livelifebalancedwithrobin.com

💚 Grab your free Non-Toxic Living Guide: 👉 Download Here

Nicole Cain, ND, MA, author of acclaimed book Panic Proof, is a leading expert in trauma-informed, and integrative approaches for mental and emotional wellness. With a degree in clinical psychotherapy, training in EMDR, and a license as a Naturopathic Physician in the state of Arizona, her approach to mental health is multidisciplinary: medical, psychological, and...