Ep. 85 My Perimenopausal Meltdown: The Episode I Didn’t Want to Share

I am nervous posting this podcast…as this was not the episode I planned to release.We spend our lives trying to stay put together and neat. Keeping our hurt hidden and our smiles big.This podcast shows a very different side of me. A side of Heidi that has real insecurities that run deep. A side of Heidi that feels pain and actually does care what others think about her even when she says she doesn’t.While the strong Heidi is me…this is also me, and it’s not easy to share.Today, you are witnessing a real life hormonal meltdown. What was supposed to be an informational conversation turned into something very different...an unfiltered conversation I’m still shocked I’m allowing the world to see.In this episode, I open up about the emotional toll of shifting hormones, irregular cycles, feeling overwhelmed by life, work, motherhood, pressure, aging, and the weight so many women silently carry. I also share why this episode was so hard for me to put out into the world...and why I decided to share it anyway.The truth is, the episodes that feel the hardest to release are often the ones that make the biggest impact. So if you’ve been feeling messy, emotional, stretched thin, less like yourself, or just plain alone in this season...this one is for you.And if you love someone who’s walking through hormonal changes, this episode might help you understand her a little better too.You are not broken. You are not crazy. And you are definitely not alone.We talk about:What it feels like to hit your emotional limit The pressure of being the one who always has the answersHormones, perimenopause, and identity shifts no one prepares you forThe grief of feeling like your best years are behind youBeing judged as a woman and as a mother, no matter what you doThe gap between how life looks and how it actually feelsThis one is part life update, part emotional dump, part honest reminder that even the strong ones have days where they fall apart.And maybe that’s not a bad thing.Want a community of women going through a similar phase as you? Join my FREE 5 Day Better Body Bootcamp here, or go to heidipowell.net/bootcampHere are the key moments from the episode:00:00 This Episode Wasn’t Meant to Go Live 03:11 The Last Straw That Broke Me (It Wasn’t Just One Thing)06:24 Why This Messy Episode Matters 10:07 Hormones, Missing Periods & Feeling Off in My Own Body15:02 Mom Guilt, Doris, & Being Judged Online17:28 Why Women Get Criticized No Matter What They Do 21:04 What Hate Comments Really Say About People 24:13 The Pressure of Running a Business No One Sees 26:07 Carrying Financial Responsibility & Providing for Everyone30:18 Feeling Buried by Your Own Life (I’m Sick of Making Decisions) 34:58 Aging, Identity & What If This Makes Me Unlovable?38:22 Wanting Back What You Once Hated (I Just Want a Normal Period) 41:40 Strong Most Days… But Today I Broke (I Don’t Even Feel Pretty) 44:01 The Moment I Wanted to Quit Everything 47:07 You’re Not Alone in ThisConnect with Heidi:Website: https://heidipowell.net/Email: [email protected]: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/

This episode is a real look at what’s different about me now... and why this next season of life, business, coaching, and creating feels nothing like the last one.I share how trauma, people-pleasing, and desperation fueled so much of what I built before... and how peace, rootedness, and trust are changing everything now.We talk about identity, money, mindset, masks, weirdness, creation, and the freedom that comes when you stop chasing outcomes and actually enjoy the process.Also... bamboo, geckos, Monopoly money, and somehow, all of it makes sense. 😂This conversation is part life update, part philosophy, and part reminder that we’re all creating our lives in ways we don’t always realize.PS: To join the FREE 5 Day Bootcamp we talk about in this episode, head to HeidiPowell.net/Bootcamp or click here! (hyperlink with heidipowell.net/bootcamp)In this episode, Ryan and I talk about:Why I feel less desperate than I used toWhat “bamboo season” means to meHow I see life nowWhy I’m creating again (Hello there is a new Get Fit Challenge starting!)What I hope people experience differently with me this timeThe power of thought, energy, and expectationWhy being fully yourself AND MASK FREE is the freest thing in the worldHere are the key moments from the episode:00:00 Why This Episode Is for You03:02 The Version of Me the Internet Saw06:06 Why Hard Life Experiences Changed Me09:34 Showing Up the Way People Expected11:04 The Hormone Mistake Affecting My Energy14:23 Bringing Back the 60-Day Challenge16:02 Why Weight Loss Alone Doesn’t Work20:10 The Outsourcing Mistake I Made in Business23:19 Rebuilding With the Right Team25:39 The Moment I Started Seeing Life Differently28:24 How That Mindset Makes Hard Things Easier33:05 How This Version of Me Will Help People36:08 When Success Comes From Trauma & People-Pleasing38:29 What Happens When You Drop the Mask41:23 How One Thought Can Change Everything44:30 The Power of Planting Hope Instead45:22 Why This Conversation Is Just the BeginningConnect with Heidi:Website: https://heidipowell.net/Email: [email protected]: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/

If you still pee when you sneeze (hello, me!)...if sex isn’t the same as it used to be…or if your hips, core, and really entire body doesn’t feel like it used to…This conversation is for you.Today I’m chatting with my friend Jana Danielson, movement specialist and creator of the Cooch Ball (yes, I said “cooch” and we’re going there!) to dive into these hard to talk about issues.And you guys… this one blew my mind. -> Jana shares research showing that 90% of pelvic floor dysfunction is a fitness issue — not a medical issue. That means you are not broken. You are trainable.In this ep, we talk about: Why doing more Kegels might actually be making things worseThe difference between weak vs. hypertonic (too tight) pelvic floorsWhy jaw tension, tight hips, and anxiety are connectedHow breathing incorrectly can shut down your coreThe “common vs normal” myth around agingWhy shame lives in this part of the bodyAnd how just THREE minutes a day can start to rewire your systemWe also get very real about:Dribbling in my car (yes, I said it)Doctors dismissing womenChanges in your 40sWhy we deserve education instead of resignationThis is not about pads or “just dealing with it.” This conversation is about understanding your body so you can support it.Ready to support your pelvic floor and hormones? Here are the tools we discussed in this episode:✨ Intimacy Bundlehttps://bloombetter.life/pages/the-intimacy-bundle?bg_ref=y72MYLnTMe✨ Perimenopause Bundlehttps://bloombetter.life/pages/perimenopause?bg_ref=y72MYLnTMe✨ Menopause Bundlehttps://bloombetter.life/pages/menopause-funnel?bg_ref=y72MYLnTMe✨ Cooch Ballhttps://bloombetter.life/heidipowellKey moments from the episode:00:00 The Pelvic Floor Talk We Avoid03:18 Common vs. Normal08:09 Leaking Isn’t Just Aging16:49 Why Kegels Can Backfire23:27 The 3-Part Pelvic Floor Fix28:45 Tight Hips & Pelvic Floor35:21 Build Strength Without Clenching42:37 Posture Mistakes That Cause Dysfunction51:09 Men Have Pelvic Floors Too56:44 Using the Cooch Ball Correctly01:01:21 Pads Don’t Fix the Problem01:08:17 Why It’s All Connected01:09:46 When You’ll See ResultsConnect with Heidi:Website: https://heidipowell.net/Email: [email protected]: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/Connect with Jana Danielson:Instagram: @jana.danielsonAbout Jana Danielson:Jana Danielson is a movement specialist, wellness entrepreneur, and Founder & CEO of Bloom Better, helping women build strong, pain-free, high-performing bodies at every stage of life. After overcoming chronic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction, she turned her healing journey into a mission to teach women how to move smarter, breathe deeper, and reconnect with their bodies. Creator of Terrain Fitness and the Cooch Ball— the first pelvic floor fitness tool. Jana empowers women to reclaim strength, confidence, and control over their health.

Okay ladies… this episode is for every woman who has looked in the mirror and thought:“What is happening to my body?”The weight that won’t budge.The belly fat you’ve never had before.The exhaustion doesn’t match your effort.The cravings, anxiety, bloating, low libido, and inflammation.Doing everything “right” — and nothing works.And then the quiet thought:Is this just aging… or is something actually wrong?Today I wanted a woman on the couch with me because there are things we just don’t want to talk about with men. Things only another woman can understand, normalize, and validate.So I brought on Lauren Douglas, Family Nurse Practitioner and longevity-focused women’s health provider at NuLevel Wellness. Lauren works with women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who feel tired, inflamed, stuck, dismissed, and disconnected from their bodies — and helps them understand what’s happening beneath the surface.This conversation covers perimenopause, menopause, hormones, metabolism, and aging — but it’s also about identity, trust, and learning to support your body instead of fighting it.We talk about why women’s bodies change after 35, why “healthy” stops working the same way, and why so many women blame themselves for shifts that are not their fault.This is not a quick-fix episode.It’s a you’re not broken episode.In this episode, we talk about:Why weight gain, belly fat, and insulin resistance show up in midlifeCravings, food noise, and nighttime hungerDeep exhaustion — even when you’re eating well and exercisingMuscle loss and protecting strength as you ageGLP-1 medications and peptides — where they fit (and where they don’t)Chronic inflammation, joint pain, and “mystery symptoms”Gut issues and bloating during hormone shiftsCortisol, stress weight, and wired-but-tired sleepLibido changes, dryness, and relationship impactHow to know whether you need hormones, peptides, GLP-1s, lifestyle shifts or none of the aboveMost importantly, we talk about agency — advocating for your health, asking better questions, and refusing to accept “this is just how it is.”This season isn’t a decline.It’s a transition.And transitions deserve education, compassion, and real support.Gentle content note:Hormonal changes, weight gain, sexual health, anxiety, inflammation, and medical dismissal are discussed.After listening:Notice where you’ve been blaming yourself instead of listening to your body.Ask: What if my body isn’t failing — it’s asking for something different?Start one conversation you’ve been avoiding.You’re not crazy. You’re not broken. You don’t have to navigate this alone.Key moments from the episode:00:00 When You Don’t Recognize Your Body03:20 Why These Changes Feel Sudden07:05 Early Signs of Perimenopause10:45 Why Weight Won’t Budge14:40 Belly Fat & Insulin Resistance23:55 Hormones, BV & the Gut Link28:20 When Healthy Eating Stops Working37:10 GLP-1s for Women Explained45:55 Brain Fog & Hormones50:10 Libido & Dryness58:50 Inflammation & “Mystery” Symptoms1:03:20 Gut Issues & Hormones1:11:05 Choosing the Right Support PathConnect with Heidi:Website: https://heidipowell.net/Email: [email protected]: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/Connect with Lauren Douglas:Website: https://nulevelwellness.com/Instagram: @laurendouglas_fnp (https://www.instagram.com/laurendouglas_fnp/)About Lauren Douglas:Lauren Douglas, FNP-C, is a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in longevity, hormone, and metabolic health. After beginning in primary care, she shifted her focus to helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause with informed, compassionate support. As part of NuLevel Wellness, she helps patients restore energy, balance hormones, and improve vitality. Her approach bridges science and real life — so women feel informed, empowered, and supported.

Last night, I scrolled all the way back to 2016.Not to reminisce. Not to brag. Not to cringe.But to meet her.The woman who was strong, visible, admired, and constantly performing.The woman who finally felt desirable.The woman who thought perfection would make her safe.The woman who had no idea what was coming.This episode began as a light conversation about the “2016 is the new 2026” Instagram trend. It became something else entirely.It became a mirror. A reckoning. A soft, emotional reunion with every version of myself I’ve ever been. And man… it wasn’t an easy reunion.In this episode, I share (through some tears) what it felt like to scroll through old photos, old captions, and old identities, feel the pain my past caused some, and realize how far I’ve traveled from the life built on validation…to this new life built on peace. <3This is not an episode about social media. It’s an episode about facing and outgrowing who we once were and learning to love the versions of you that you might’ve struggled to be proud of.In this episode, I talk about:Why seeing old versions of ourselves can feel emotional, painful, or embarrassingThe 2016 version of me who lived for validation and performance VS the 2026 version of me who lives for peace and presenceWhat it feels like to realize you were powerful and powerless at the same timeHow I really hurt my last marriage. Ouch.The grief that comes with outgrowing your former identityWhen confidence was actually insecurity in disguisePerfectionism, OCD, and needing control to feel safeThe cost of external validationThe relief of letting go of the masks we thought we neededHow pain, rupture, and failure shaped the peace I feel nowWhy embarrassment about your past self is actually proof of growthMeeting the woman you used to be with compassion instead of shameGentle content note:This episode includes discussion of body image, perfectionism, marriage rupture, emotional vulnerability, and self-reflection.What to do after listening:Scroll back—not to judge, but to witness.Notice what your past self was trying to survive.Ask yourself: What masks am I finally ready to release?Remember: Peace is louder than performance, even when it looks quieter.Here are the key moments from the episode:00:00 Recording bare-faced and what being seen really triggers04:15 Why I avoid seeing my own face on camera09:40 The 2016 trend and why I decided to scroll back14:30 Meeting the woman I used to be18:45 The year everything was built on validation23:40 When gratitude and insecurity lived side by side27:50 The identity built on perfectionism31:10 Realizing the pain I caused and holding compassion36:20 Outgrowing performance-based worth41:00 “Even when I was off track, I was on track”46:10 The peace I never knew I was missing49:40 What 2016 Heidi would think of 2026 Heidi52:00 Closing reflections: Choosing presence over perfectionConnect with Heidi:Website: https://heidipowell.net/Email: [email protected]: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/

This conversation isn’t really about rules.It’s about the moments we don’t look… because looking would require us to choose.In Part 2 of this opening 2026 conversation, I’m back with my best friend, Keira Brinton, and we talk about what happens when awareness replaces avoidance — in love, money, faith, intimacy, and self-trust.This episode is raw. It’s quiet in places. It’s honest in ways that feel slightly uncomfortable — and deeply freeing.We talk about grief that lives in the body, the loneliness that success doesn’t protect you from, the fantasies we fall in love with, and the power we unknowingly give away when we don’t trust ourselves enough to see clearly.Nothing here is polished.Everything here is real.In this episode, we talk about:The subtle ways we give our power to outside authority — and why it feels safer than trusting ourselvesAvoidance as self-protection… and how it quietly costs us intimacy and truth“Anything measured improves” — and what happens when we stop measuring because we’re afraid of what we’ll seeTouch, grief, and the kind of healing the body does without asking permissionThe loneliness that can exist inside successFantasy vs. reality in love — and why both can keep us stuckPower, worthiness, and the stories we tell ourselves about being chosenJudgment, compassion, and what changes when we let people be humanFaith without dogma — truth, love, and integrity as lived experiencesWhat reclaiming your power actually feels like (hint: it’s not loud)Gentle content note:This episode includes discussion of intimacy, grief, sexually transmitted infections, and emotional vulnerability.What to do after listening:Notice one place you’ve been avoiding — not to fix it, just to see it.Ask yourself: Where have I been giving my power to something outside of me?Let one truth you already know guide a single decision this week.Remember: softness and strength are not opposites.Here are the key moments from the episode:00:00 This Isn’t About Rules — It’s About Power04:10 Awareness vs. Avoidance (and Why Not Looking Feels Easier)08:55 “Anything Measured Improves”… Until We Stop Measuring14:20 Exhaustion, Success, and Losing Touch with Yourself19:40 Touch, Grief, and the Body’s Memory26:10 Loneliness Isn’t Fixed by Achievement31:45 Fantasy vs. Reality in Love37:30 When Not Knowing Becomes a Choice43:05 Power, Worthiness, and Being Chosen49:50 Judgment, Compassion, and Letting People Be Human56:35 God as Truth. God as Love.1:02:10 Calling Your Power Back Without Hardening1:08:40 Choosing Reality — Even When It’s Harder1:13:30 Closing Reflections: What Changes When You Trust YourselfConnect with Heidi:Website: https://heidipowell.net/Email: [email protected]: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/Connect with Keira Brinton:Website: https://www.keirabrinton.com/Instagram: @keirabrintonAbout Keira Brinton:Keira Brinton is the CEO & Founder of JOA Publishing, host of the Sacred Wandering podcast, 7x author, and creator of the Book Activator method. She helps visionaries bring their truth into form — blending strategy and spirit, devotion and discipline — and is known for making the impossible feel inevitable.

It’s the first episode of 2026, and we’re flipping New Year’s resolutions on their head. I’m joined by my best friend (and the woman who helped bring this podcast to life), Keira Brinton, on the pod today, where we talk about WHY January pressures set so many of us up to fail!! In this conversation, Keira and I talk about how to start this year in a way that actually matches real life, real energy, and real healing. We go deep on integrity, self-trust, cycles (in nature + in your body), and the mindset shifts that turn “starting over” into steady momentum.In this episode, we talk about:Why “New Year, New You” hits hardest in the coldest, darkest season—and why that mattersThe idea that a 500-year-old calendar system isn’t a good blueprint for motivation (Gregorian calendar history) Encyclopedia Virginia+2HISTORY+2Why most people quit early—and how to stop making that mean something about you.The real foundation: integrity with yourself (and why overcommitting breaks self-trust)“Your pace is allowed to be your pace”—and how cycles apply to reinventionA mindset experiment that shows how your brain “fills in the gaps” based on what you focus onPrayer/gratitude as a frequency shift (moving from “please help me” to “thank you, it’s already here”)The rules that shaped my life (Bob Parsons’ “16 Rules”) and the ones that still guide me today Bob ParsonsThe line I swear by: a good plan executed today beats a perfect plan that never happensGentle content note: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation and mental health struggles.What to do after listening (simple action steps):Instead of a January overhaul, choose one tiny “Kaizen” move you can repeat daily. Wikipedia+1Write your version of: “Thank you for…” (safety, health, support, strength)—and sit in it for 60 seconds.Pick ONE decision you’ve been dragging out and execute a “good plan” today.What’s coming next: Keira is back for Episode 80, and we’re continuing the rest of the 16 Rules (plus some real-life stories that usually stay in our voice memos).Watch this full episode on YouTube here or head to https://www.youtube.com/@RealHeidiPowell.Here are the key moments from the episode:00:00 Why This New Year Needed a Different Conversation02:05 The Origin Story of Heidi’s Lane—and the Woman Who Helped Start It06:45 “Lonely at the Top”—What Success Doesn’t Protect You From10:55 A Raw Conversation About Mental Health, Darkness, and Being Seen14:01 The Night Everything Almost Ended18:12 What Actually Saved Her Life24:45 Winter Is for Rest—Not Reinvention29:40 You Are Literally Not the Same Person You Were Years Ago34:35 Letting Your Ex (and Yourself) Be New37:55 The Mindset Experiment That Proves Focus Shapes Reality40:45 Why Gratitude Changes What You Attract45:30 The Rules That Quietly Shaped My Life49:05 Comfort Zones, Perseverance & Being 10 Feet from Gold54:07 Integrity, Self-Trust, and Lasting Change59:20 A Good Plan Executed Today Beats a Perfect Plan Someday1:04:40 How to Do 2026 Differently—Without Burning OutConnect with Heidi:Website: https://heidipowell.net/ Email: [email protected] Instagram: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/Connect with Keira Brinton:Website: https://www.keirabrinton.com/ Instagram: @keirabrintonAbout Keira Brinton:Keira Brinton is the CEO & Founder of JOA Publishing, host of the Sacred Wandering podcast, 7x author, and creator of the internationally known Book Activator method. She is “The People’s Publisher,” helping visionaries channel, write, and launch the books they were born to lead with. Through her retreats, webinars, TV show Writer’s Island, and her publishing house, Keira has activated thousands of authors into their life’s work. She blends strategy and spirit, business and devotion, and is known for making the impossible feel inevitable.

In this special holiday episode of Heidi's Lane, we are joined by two very special people in my life: Lauri, my mother and Matix, my oldest son! Today we dive into the intimate world of family traditions and the poignant dance with grief during the holidays.My mom and I reminisce about cherished memories, like our lively Polish Christmas Eves and my dad's signature German chocolate cake. We laugh, share stories, and even shed a few tears, acknowledging the bittersweet absence of loved ones. I also explore how traditions evolve, especially in the tapestry of a blended family, and the importance of finding joy in simplicity. This episode is a raw, authentic journey through the joys and sorrows of holiday memories and traditions, inviting you to reflect on your own.Here are the key moments from the episode:5:00 Family traditions and why they are important11:30 Appreciating childhood memories20:30 The importance of creating new traditions26:30 Adapting traditions to life's changes38:00 Our Polish Christmas Eve dinner tradition53:50 Choosing memories over materialism56:30 Dealing with grief during the holidaysConnect with Heidi:
Website: https://heidipowell.net/  Email: [email protected]  Instagram: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/

This week, we’re continuing the conversation about eating disorders, but this time, with a professional who has spent nearly two decades treating eating disorders.After my solo episode (ep. 75) sharing my 15-year battle with anorexia, bulimia, food addiction, and body dysmorphia, you sent in hundreds of questions…and I saved all of them for this conversation.Today, I’m joined by Dr. Morgan Francis, licensed therapist and eating disorder specialist, for a powerful, honest, informative, and definitely-lifesaving conversation that every woman (and every parent) needs to hear.Together, we break down:✨ Disordered eating vs. eating disorders—the difference matters✨ How young it starts (as early as five years old) and why✨ The most commonly missed warning signs✨ How to know if you may be struggling✨ What to do if someone you love has an eating disorder✨ How to help yourself if you’re stuck in the cycle✨ Why “looking healthy” can hide years of pain✨ The role of shame, trauma, comparison, and control✨ What real healing actually looks like, and how you can learn to love your bodyThis episode is equal parts education, compassion, and empowerment. Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or trying to understand your own relationship with food and your body…this conversation is a gentle, grounding place to start.If you or someone you love is struggling, please know: you’re not alone, there IS help, and healing is absolutely possible. 🫶🏼Here are three free, reputable places to get help:💛 NEDA: Free screening tools and a 24/7 crisis text line (text NEDA to 741741).💛 ANAD: Free virtual support groups and one-on-one peer mentoring at anad.org. 💛 Project HEAL: Helps people access treatment when cost or insurance is a barrier at theprojectheal.org. You’re not alone, and real support is available. 🫶🏼Want deeper support from Dr. Morgan?💛 Here’s a link to Dr. Morgan’s Guide to Intuitive Eating and her Trainings for Therapists & Coaches -> CLICK HERE If this episode speaks to you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs it. And if you haven’t listened to Part 1 my story—it’s Episode 75.Watch this full episode on YouTube here or head to https://www.youtube.com/@RealHeidiPowell .Here are the key moments from the episode:02:11 Why I Brought a Therapist On08:30 Dr. Morgan’s Story & Trauma15:45 Body Image Isn’t Vanity21:50 Eating Disorder vs. Dysmorphia29:10 Can You Trust Yourself Around Food?36:15 Disordered Eating vs Diagnosis42:18 Binge Eating & Fitness Culture49:30 Ozempic: Relief or Distraction?56:40 Body Trust, Respect & Appreciation01:00:05 Are You Ready to Heal?01:06:14 The Power of Self-Forgiveness01:13:02 Eating Disorders in Men01:18:55 What Dr. Morgan Wants You to KnowConnect with Heidi:
Website: https://heidipowell.net/  Email: [email protected]  Instagram: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/  Connect with Dr. Morgan Francis:Website: http://www.scottsdalepremiercounseling.com/  Instagram: @drmorganfrancisAbout Dr. Morgan Francis:
 Dr. Morgan Francis is a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and a Licensed Mental Health Therapist. She is the owner of Scottsdale Premier Counseling in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her mission is to break through the mental health shame game. With over 20 years of experience specializing in the treatment of Body Image and Eating Disorders, Dr. Francis can empower you to make peace with your body and food. You can watch her on Wellness Wednesdays as the Mental Health Expert for 12 News Arizona.  She is also a frequent guest on Fox News and serves as public speaker and consultant on mental health helping churches, schools, and community organizations. You can work with Dr. Francis by accessing her online courses or attending her webinars. Dr. Francis lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her three children and husband.

This one feels extra close to home. As Thanksgiving rolls in, Ryan and I cozy up to talk about dating after divorce, the quiet that follows shared holidays, and what it’s really like to rebuild love in your 40s. From last year’s lonely Thanksgiving to navigating real-life quirks, triggers, blended-family chaos, and leaving the honeymoon phase behind, we go there. Honestly, it’s some of our most real conversations yet.✨ We talked about:Dating after divorce when you’ve “lived a lot”Navigating the quiet, the loneliness & the healingWhat shifting out of the honeymoon phase really feels likeHow we communicate through triggers, tension & growthThe messy, beautiful truth about modern relationshipsIf this resonates, please like, comment, subscribe, and share. It helps our little community grow. ❤️Watch the full episode on YouTube here or head to https://www.youtube.com/@RealHeidiPowell.Here are the key moments from the episode:0:00 Why Dating After Divorce Feels So Different3:12 The Thanksgiving That Broke Me Open6:01 Why We Stay in Unhealthy Relationships9:18 The Side of Me Most People Never See12:27 Why I Crave Deep, Real Connection15:06 Feeling “Different” My Whole Life18:10 When Someone Finally Sees the Real You21:05 The DM I Never Replied To24:08 Why This Relationship Feels Different27:01 Leaving the Honeymoon Phase30:22 The Miscommunication That Taught Us a Lot33:42 How We Process Emotions So Differently36:29 Why Real Life Feels Like a Milestone39:41 The Hardest Part of Dating After Divorce42:53 What Healthy Conflict Really Looks Like46:06 Choosing Your Hard in Relationships49:40 Why Communication Matters More Than Chemistry53:11 What Surprised Us About Social Media56:44 The Emotional Crash After Big Life Events1:00:29 When Stress Shows Up in Your Relationship1:03:52 How Honest Talks Build Real Safety1:07:10 Understanding Your Triggers in Love1:10:31 Fighting with Each Other, Not Against Each Other1:13:02 When Speaking Up Helps and When It Doesn’t1:16:15 What Healthy Love Looks Like NowConnect with Heidi:Website: https://heidipowell.net/ Email: [email protected] Instagram: @realheidipowellFacebook: Heidi PowellYouTube: @RealHeidiPowellTrain with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/