Why chronic stress leaves so many midlife women burnt out and how nervous system regulation can restore energy, boundaries and intimacy. In this episode of Sage Women, therapist and professor Dr Julie Merriman explains why so many women experience burnout, chronic stress, and disconnection from their bodies.

We explore how nervous system dysregulation affects women’s health, relationships, and intimacy, especially during midlife. Dr Merriman shares practical tools including grounding exercises, body awareness and breathing techniques to help regulate the nervous system and restore balance.

Connect with Julie:

Julie Merriman - Freebie: Reignite Your Desire & Fire https://colossal-speaker-6707.kit.com/62dfb355a6,

www.juliemerrimanphd.com,

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julie-merriman-wellness-llc-b9a332155/

In this episode, Melanie sits down with business storytelling expert Gabrielle Dolan to explore how midlife women - especially those navigating menopause, perimenopause, hormonal shifts, and confidence challenges like brain fog or self-doubt - can stop overpreparing and self-editing and start leading with their authentic voice.

In a world saturated with AI-generated content, Gabrielle explains why personal storytelling is a leadership superpower. She shares her four types of stories and practical tools to build credibility in meetings, job interviews, and everyday leadership, while using AI as a creative support without losing your unique voice.

Connect with Gabrielle:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielledolan/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gabrielledolan.1/

Universal Podcast Link -

https://podfollow.com/keeping-it-real-with-jac-and-ral

Free storytelling starter kit - https://gabrielledolan.com/starterkit/

Books - https://gabrielledolan.com/books/

Website - https://gabrielledolan.com/

Today, Melanie and registered dietitian and coach Amanda Mannes explore midlife nutrition challenges and how women's dietary needs evolve during this pivotal life stage. They discuss the impact of stress and sleep on overall health, with Amanda sharing a candid account of weight gain during a stressful period - even while eating clean - to remind us that non-food factors can influence the scale. The conversation dives into practical nutrition, including protein needs for midlife women (Amanda suggests about 1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight) and easy swaps like high-protein yogurt, pairing carbohydrates with protein to stabilise blood sugar and curb cravings, and a quick look at cholesterol management with plant sterols. They also highlight a crucial strategy: making one effective dietary change at a time to build sustainable, lasting habits.

Connect with Amanda here: https://www.amandamannes.com.au/

Learn more about protein intake in midlife & menopause here: https://www.sagewomenshealth.com/menopause/weight-gain-loss/prioritising-protein-drop-size-menopause

Learn more about cholesterol management here: https://www.sagewomenshealth.com/menopause/cholesterol-and-menopause

Australia is facing an ongoing HRT patches shortage, leaving many women asking: Are HRT patches available in Australia? In this episode of The Sage Women Podcast, we speak with Johanna Wicks and Raisa Montero from Lorai Health, the Australian women’s health startup working to solve the hormone replacement therapy patch shortage.

For more than 20 years, only three HRT patches have been available in Australia - contributing to repeated supply disruptions. Combined with PBS pricing pressures and global pharmaceutical market dynamics, Australian women navigating menopause and perimenopause have been left without reliable access to essential treatment. Lorai Health is developing a two-generation innovation strategy: A faster-to-market patch using advanced medical materials, followed by next-generation materials and adhesives designed specifically for women.

In this conversation, we explore:

- Why HRT patches are in short supply in Australia

- The impact on menopause and perimenopause care

- Cost and access challenges

- The difference between continuous and combined HRT patches

- The funding barriers female founders face in women’s health

- How broader access to HRT could translate into billions of dollars of savings, in preventable age-related healthcare challenges.

If you’re searching for answers about HRT patches in Australia, menopause treatment options, or the future of women’s health innovation, this episode delivers clarity and hope.

Visit Lorai Health: loraihealth.com

Support Lorai with a donation: loraihealth.com/donate

Follow in Instagram: instagram.com/loraihealth

Follow on Substack: The Patch Report: thepatchreport.substack.com

What happens when ADHD meets perimenopause — and no one’s talking about it? In this honest, empowering episode of Sage Women, host Melanie White is joined by executive coaches Simone Outteridge, Lisa Allen, and Tara Blanchy to unpack the unique experience of women navigating ADHD in midlife — often without a diagnosis, a roadmap, or the language to explain what’s going on.

Drawing on their coaching practice and personal stories, these women explore:

✅ The symptom overlap between ADHD and menopause

✅ Why so many midlife women are misdiagnosed — or missed entirely

✅ How masking and perfectionism drain energy and self-worth

✅ Practical, brain-based strategies for executive function and focus

✅ Tools for embracing change, owning your story, and building a new narrative

From digital tools and mindset shifts to the power of self-compassion, this episode is a must-listen for women navigating neurodiversity, hormonal transitions, and the complex demands of midlife.

Midlife isn’t the end - it’s a chance to rewire, reframe and rise.

Listen to the Fog and the Fury Podcast series here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ6K1-HJt3_0K875N6jCtCQ

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4FzOJ6xIJofH5ogcWXrwED

What if the way we design work could directly improve mental health, confidence, and long-term career wellbeing - especially for women navigating midlife transitions?

In this episode of Sage Women, Michelle Hasani, Rebecca Hannan and Mel share a bold, evidence-based conversation shaped by their collaboration, Work by Design. Together, they explore how cognitive and relational shifts in midlife -including those brought on by menopause - intersect with neuroscience, work culture, and gendered systems.

We dive into why job design isn't just about productivity — it's a health intervention and equity strategy. Through real-world stories and stats, we unpack how autonomy, allyship and psychological safety can transform workplaces.

You’ll hear about practical strategies like job crafting, co-created wellbeing plans, and how relational intelligence can build stronger, more inclusive teams. This episode is rich with insights for leaders, people practitioners, and anyone ready to reimagine how we show up, support each other, and succeed at work - by design.

On this episode, Melanie sits down with Kylie Ingram, CEO of Wizer Business, to explore Wizer Snaps, a smart communication tool that helps users tailor their messages based on decision profiles. They discuss how women often use the tool to prepare for meetings and craft messages with care, while men are increasingly using it for sales and business development. The conversation highlights the importance of effective communication, especially for women in midlife who may face ADHD and communication anxiety. Kylie shares three practical steps to improve communication: understand the recipient's decision profile, lead with what they want to hear first, and be bold about your goals rather than chasing harmony. They also explore how the tool reframes difficult conversations around decision-making frameworks rather than emotional responses. The episode addresses the way women's communication is judged differently, and the double bind of being too soft or too tough - emphasising how Wizer offers a smart, supportive way to plan and shape conversations for better leadership and collaboration.

WizerBusiness: Learn more here

YouTube Link: The Science of Yes - 7 Decision Profiles that Lift Donor Response

Paper: Fear of Backlash Moderates Female Senior Executives' Communion (but Not Agency) as Compared to Female Lecturers

Quantum Impact Group article: Embracing Your Power: A Guide for Women in Leadership

Midlife is a crossroads where caring for others can come at our own expense. This reflective episode dives into the burnout that can follow and challenges the old labels of selfish and selfless. Is there a healthier middle ground? Join us as we explore what women really need - to find a new language and to start considering the concepts of the middle ground - self-care, self-love, and self-compassion. If you’re ready to reframe care as a sustainable act of kindness toward yourself, this is the podcast for you.

How likely are you to put others first? Take the Four Tendencies Quiz, which I use with many of my clients: https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz/the-four-tendencies-quiz/

Listen to the previous episode on this topic by Melanie White: https://melaniejwhite.com/episode-71-selfish-vs-selfless/