We’re thrilled to welcome back Carmen Stansberry, a double board-certified nurse practitioner, for a conversation all about perimenopause. With more than 20 years of experience across women’s health, fertility, hormones, and functional medicine, Carmen brings a wealth of knowledge to help us better understand what’s happening in our bodies during this transition. We’re breaking down the symptoms we might not recognize, how hormonal changes can affect everything from our sleep and mood to our metabolism and mental health, and why our experiences can look so different from one woman to the next. Carmen also shares lifestyle changes that can help us support our bodies, what to know about hormone therapy, and how to advocate for ourselves when seeking care.

Key Topics Covered

• Early signs and stages of perimenopause
• The connection between hormones, blood sugar, and sleep
• Lifestyle habits that support long-term health
• The role hormone therapy can play during perimenopause
• Finding knowledgeable providers and advocating for our health

CONNECT WITH CARMEN:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmen.stansberry.np

Substack: https://carmenstansberry.substack.com/

Listen to Carmen’s previous episode on HERself:

348: The Longevity Tips Every Woman Needs to Hear with Carmen Stansberry, NP: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/herself/id1489878793?i=1000778517524

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

BETTERHELP: 10% off first month at: http://betterhelp.com/herself

LMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase: drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Making mom friends can look different as we get older and our kids get more involved in sports, school, and other activities. Today, we’re talking about how we’ve learned to put ourselves out there, build connections in our community, and make room for new friendships without feeling like every person needs to become a best friend. We’re sharing what’s worked for us, what we’ve had to work on, and why making the effort is worth it.

Key Topics Covered

• Getting out of your comfort zone and making small efforts to connect
• Not taking it personally when someone doesn’t seem interested
• Knowing the difference between your inner circle and other friendships
• Following up and finding simple ways to build stronger connections
• Being a friendship builder and helping others feel included

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

LMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase: drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF

AMAZON STOREFRONT: https://amzlink.to/az0BrkLl5pX9u

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Our kids’ friendships can be complicated, and as moms, it’s hard to know when to step in and when to let them figure things out on their own. Today we’re talking with Amy Miller, an elementary school counselor who has worked with more than 500 kids, about how we can help our kids navigate friendship changes, rejection, and conflict while building the confidence to work through challenges themselves. Plus, we’re learning why friendship struggles are a normal part of growing up and how the lessons our kids are learning about friendship are ones we can use in our own lives, too.

Key Topics Covered

• The four types of “friends” to stay away from
• Navigating friendship groups of three and feelings of being left out
• How to recognize the difference between conflict, mean behavior, and bullying
• Teaching kids about trust, privacy, and sharing personal information

CONNECT WITH AMY:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/school_counselor_mama

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/School-Counselor-Mama-61561534478910/

Check out Amy’s resources and ebooks here: https://beacons.ai/school_counselor_mama

Codes for her ebooks:

Calm Minds, Happy Homes, use code CALM20 for 20% off

From Guessing to Knowing: How To Raise An Emotionally Open Kid, use code OPEN20 for 20% off

Amy’s Friendship Freebie: https://schoolcounselormama.com/shop/c52ca413-3a83-428c-96e9-3c5fab5b0a89

Amy’s children’s book, Made of Strong Stuff: https://www.boundtobetold.com/stories/made-of-strong-stuff/overview

Use code PODCAST15 for 15% off

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Patreon Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

SITKA SEAFOOD: Visit https://sitkaseafoodmarket.com/pages/herself for $35 Off + free salmon burgers for a year with a continuous subscription. The code HERSELF25 should auto-apply when using this link

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Today we’re talking about resilience and what it actually looks like to become a more resilient person, especially on the days when life feels overwhelming. After listening to a podcast about what mentally strong people do on their worst days, we pulled out the ideas that really resonated with us and shared how we’re applying them to our own lives. We’re talking about why avoiding the things that stress us out usually doesn’t make us feel better, how questioning our thoughts can help us get out of black-and-white thinking, and why taking small steps forward can make a bigger difference than waiting for time to heal everything. We also get into the difference between feeling our feelings and ruminating on them, and how the hard things we’ve experienced can ultimately show us just how capable we are.

Key Topics Covered

• Why “mental health days” might not be as restorative as we think
• Moving from avoidance to small, manageable action
• How the way we label ourselves can shape how we see ourselves
• Scheduling time to worry instead of letting worry take over
• Finding the gift in experiences we never would have chosen

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

AMAZON STOREFRONT: https://amzlink.to/az0BrkLl5pX9u

LMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase: drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF

Listen to the podcast that inspired this episode: What Mentally Strong People Do on Their Worst Days with Psychotherapist Amy Morin on A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-mentally-strong-people-do-on-their-worst-days/id1515385282?i=1000791062156

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

We all have those little tasks that we say we’ll do later, but what if there were a simple way to finally get them done? In this episode, we’re breaking down the idea of a “dreadsprint,” a simple way to batch those annoying, lingering tasks and finally get them off your mental list. We’re talking about why these unfinished tasks can take up so much mental energy, how we each approach them very differently, and how you can create a system that actually works for your personality. If you’ve got a list of things you’ve been avoiding, this might be the motivation you need to knock them out.

Key Topics Covered

• The difference between a dreadsprint and a typical to-do list
• Finding the right approach based on your personality and tendencies
• Using batching, timers, and small rewards to make dreaded tasks easier
• Why completing a task fully can help close the loop in your brain
• Making your own health, appointments, and responsibilities a priority

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

BETTERHELP: 10% off first month at: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Patreon Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

Listen to episode 337: Do You Actually Want to Change? Listen to This with Karin Nordin: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/herself/id1489878793?i=1000767168604

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

In this episode, we’re diving into something that Abby has struggled with for most of her life: the feeling that she’s never doing enough. Whether it’s parenting, work, or her home, she shares how she can hit one goal and immediately move the bar higher, which makes it hard to actually feel proud of what she’s accomplished or be present in the moment. We talk about where this drive comes from, how it can turn into overfunctioning and burnout, and what it looks like to start letting go of the constant pressure to do more. She's still figuring this out, but Abby's learning that being “enough” isn’t something she can achieve. It’s something she has to decide.

Key Topics Covered:

• The connection between achievement, praise, and belonging
• How comparison can fuel negative self-talk
• Why rest and play can feel uncomfortable for high achievers
• Prompts to help redefine your priorities and recognize when you’re already doing enough
• Letting go of perfection without losing the parts of yourself that make you a high achiever

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

LMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase: drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF

FORAGE KITCHEN: Check out your nearest location

Grab a copy of the book The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level: https://amzlink.to/az0Vz8f52wrL6

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

We often think communication is the key to a strong marriage, but what if the real secret is friendship? In this episode, we’re talking about what it looks like to actually be friends with your spouse, how that can get lost when life gets busy and kids need more from you, and the ways we’ve each seen this play out in our own marriages. We’re also sharing some simple ways to rebuild connection that can help you find your way back to liking each other again.

Key Topics Covered:

• How to show genuine interest in your partner’s hobbies and interests
• The mental load and how sharing responsibilities can create more room for connection
• Why small acts of kindness and quick repairs matter
• Ways to turn toward your partner instead of away during frustrating moments
• Creating more opportunities for fun and shared experiences

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

BETTERHELP: 10% off first month at: http://betterhelp.com/herself

MOMCOZY: 20% off with code HERSELF https://momcozy.com/

Listen to episode 10 with Molly Millwood: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/herself/id1489878793?i=1000466502777

Grab the books mentioned in the episode:

To Have and to Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma by Molly Millwood: https://amzlink.to/az0O8mPASBGdi

Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less by Tiffany Dufu: https://amzlink.to/az0xopPThIfNo

Fair Play by Eve Rodsky: https://amzlink.to/az0P01tackqJA

Read the blog post from The Gottman Institute: https://www.gottman.com/blog/thirty-years-later/

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Today, we’re talking all things motherhood, mindset, and youth sports with Chandler Ashcraft, the creator behind @chanwiththeboys and founder of Moms Away. Chandler brings her background in education and her experience raising four boys to the conversation, sharing why perspective can help us take the pressure off, how to set developmentally appropriate expectations for our kids, and why confidence often comes from being willing to do hard things. We also get into the reality of youth sports, from the pressure to do more to the mental load that comes with keeping everyone’s schedules moving, and how to make choices that actually fit your family.

Key Topics Covered

• How exposure to hard moments builds confidence and resilience
• Teaching kids to take ownership of their attitude, effort, and response
• Why confidence, especially for women, is built through failure and trying again
• How to evaluate the tradeoffs that come with youth sports
• Keeping the long game in mind when making decisions for your family

CONNECT WITH CHANDLER:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chanwiththeboys

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chanwiththeboys

Learn more about Moms Away:

Website: https://www.momsaway.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moms.away

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

LMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase: drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF

SITKA SEAFOOD: Visit https://sitkaseafoodmarket.com/pages/herself for $35 Off + free salmon burgers for a year with a continuous subscription. The code HERSELF25 should auto-apply when using this link

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.