Episode 55: The Bedroom Gap with Dr. Mariah Sophocles

Why are so many women feeling disconnected—from their partners, their desire, and even themselves?In this powerful episode of the Wake Her Up Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Mariah Sophocles, gynecologist and author of The Bedroom Gap, to talk about a topic that so many women experience but few openly discuss: the growing disconnect in intimacy during midlife and long-term relationships.We dive into the real reasons this “bedroom gap” is happening and why it’s not just about libido. Dr. Sophocles shares the physical, emotional, and relational factors that impact desire, connection, and confidence for women—especially in midlife.In this conversation, we explore:• Why so many women feel disconnected from intimacy• The surprising biological and emotional contributors to the “bedroom gap”• How communication, curiosity, and self-awareness can rebuild connection• Why this conversation is so important for women in midlifeThis episode is honest, eye-opening, and incredibly validating for any woman who has ever wondered, “Is it just me?”📖 Get Dr. Sophocles’ book The Bedroom Gap:https://a.co/d/06TlKlQb💬 Join the Wake Her Up free community of 60,000+ women having real conversations about midlife:https://www.facebook.com/share/g/18L58RHEVk/🔥For the fun TOYS we talked about, shop at Oboo.love https://oboo.love/discount/WAKEHERUPIf this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend and continue the conversation inside our community. You are not alone in this journey—and together, we’re waking up to what’s possible in midlife.

In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Frew, life coach, author, and bold decision maker, to talk about her remarkable journey through betrayal, healing, and self-rediscovery.Jessica shares the deeply personal story of her first marriage and the life-altering discovery that her husband was gay and had an affair with a man. Instead of allowing the experience to break her, she chose a path of compassion, growth, and radical acceptance. Today, they are close friends and co-parents, offering a powerful example of what healing and emotional maturity can look like.Through her journey, Jessica came to a profound realization: other people do not complete us. We become whole by reconnecting with ourselves. She opens up about releasing expectations, trusting her inner voice, and rebuilding her sense of identity and self-worth. Now, she helps other women do the same by guiding them through betrayal, divorce, and major life transitions.Jessica is also the author of Shove Your Shoulds, a transformative book about letting go of external pressures and making courageous decisions. You can download the book for free on her website.Connect with Jessica:Website: https://heyjessicafrew.com/Instagram & TikTok: @heyjessicafrewThis conversation is honest, empowering, and deeply validating for any woman navigating heartbreak, reinvention, or the journey back to herself.

Leaving Mormonism, Part 2: Marriage, Motherhood, and Reclaiming Our BodiesIn Part 2 of our conversation on leaving Mormonism, I’m joined again by my sister, Sharon Johnson, as we go deeper into what it actually looked like to unravel our beliefs—and rebuild our lives—from the inside out.We talk honestly about our past and present views on marriage, motherhood, and our roles as wives, and how much of who we thought we were was shaped by obedience, fear, and the constant sense of being watched… and corrected.We share what surprised us most after leaving:Realizing how sacred garments kept us hidden, disconnected from our bodies, and numb to ourselvesHow we lived feeling like children who were always in trouble, never quite trusted to make our own decisionsThe deep conditioning of not trusting our own minds—because we were taught they could be hijacked and deceivedThe disorienting realization that many things we were taught were “bad”… actually aren’t bad at allAnd the strange, sometimes funny, sometimes painful experience of learning how to be normal adults—like not knowing how to act at a bar, or navigating everyday things that were once forbiddenThis episode isn’t about bashing a religion. It’s about waking up. About grieving what we lost, questioning what we were taught, and slowly learning how to trust ourselves—our bodies, our instincts, our desires—again.If you’ve ever felt disconnected from yourself, afraid of your own thoughts, or unsure how to live outside the rules you were given… this conversation is for you.You’re not broken.You were trained not to trust yourself.And you can learn how to come home.

So many women are living with pelvic floor dysfunction and have no idea help even exists.In this episode of Wake Her Up, I’m joined by pelvic floor specialist Jana Danielson, founder of Coochball and co owner of Bloom Better Supplements, for a conversation every woman deserves to hear.We talk about the deep frustration of women being dismissed, ignored, or never offered guidance when it comes to pelvic floor health. Jana breaks down why the pelvic floor matters far beyond bladder leaks or postpartum recovery and how a healthy pelvic floor impacts confidence, pleasure, posture, core strength, and overall quality of life.This conversation is about reclaiming power in a part of the body women are rarely taught to understand, let alone care for.If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body, struggled with pain, pressure, or intimacy, or sensed that something wasn’t right but didn’t know where to turn, this episode is for you.Because when women are supported, informed, and embodied, everything changes.🎧 Listen now and learn what’s possible when you prioritize pelvic floor health.Support your pelvic floor and whole body wellness with Bloom Better Supplements:https://bloombetter.life/znw3jqSave 10% with code WAKEHERUPFind more resources and support for Perimenopause at www.WAKEHERUP.CO

What happens to women’s desire during perimenopause—and why are so many women being dismissed, shamed, or told to accept it?In this episode of Wake Her Up, I sit down with Andrea Donsky, a 7-time published menopause researcher and co-owner of Morphus Women’s Nutritional & Supplement Brand, to unpack newly published research on women’s libido during perimenopause and menopause—and the findings demand our attention.📊 The research shows:91% of menopausal women report a noticeable decrease in libido67% report a decreased ability to reach orgasmThese numbers aren’t abstract. They reflect the lived reality of millions of women who feel disconnected from desire, intimacy, and themselves—often while being told by doctors things like:“You’re just getting old.”“This is normal—take one for the team.”In this conversation, we explore:What actually happens to libido during perimenopauseHow hormonal shifts affect desire, arousal, and orgasmThe real-life impact libido loss has on women’s identity, confidence, and relationshipsHow medical gaslighting keeps women silent and stuckThe role of spiritual trauma and limiting beliefs in suppressing women’s desireWhy libido is not just physical—it’s emotional, psychological, and spiritualAnd most importantly, we talk about what women can do.Because if you feel like something’s missing…it is you.You are the answer.This episode is about helping women reconnect to themselves—not fixing something “wrong,” but remembering what’s been ignored, dismissed, or shut down.We also talk about Andrea’s new book, Nourishing Menopause: Powerful Nutrition and Lifestyle Strategies to Feel Your Best, which offers research-backed, practical guidance for women navigating perimenopause and menopause.👉 Pre-order here: https://amzn.to/4rkWikLThis episode is for the woman who:Feels disconnected from her desire or vitalityHas been dismissed or minimized by medical professionalsKnows something feels missing—but hasn’t been given language or directionIs ready to reclaim herself, her body, and her truthIf you feel like something’s missing, it is you.And you are more powerful than you’ve been led to believe.

What happens when your body starts changing—and it wakes you up to the life you’ve been living?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Shannon Klingman, OB-GYN and founder of Lume Deodorant, for a conversation that starts with perimenopause, body odor, and the “why do I smell like onions?” question so many women are quietly asking… and unfolds into something far deeper.We talk about how women’s bodies change in midlife, why those changes can impact our confidence, and how feeling good in your body is often the first step to chasing the life you actually want. But we also go beyond the science.Dr. Klingman shares her experience of profound grief after the loss of a child, the sacrifices required to build a dream, and what it really means to believe in yourself when the path forward is uncertain. We explore the truth that every life direction comes with trade-offs—and that choosing yourself doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it can be worth it.This episode is for the woman who:Feels disconnected from her body or confidence in midlifeIs navigating perimenopause and wondering what the hell is happeningIs grieving something she never expected to loseKnows there’s more for her—but isn’t sure she’s brave enough yetThis isn’t just a conversation about deodorant.It’s about self-trust, confidence, grief, and the courage to go after your dreams anyway.Shop my favorite Lume Deodorant HEREJoin our free community and browse more Perimenopause products at WakeHerUp.co

In this heart-to-heart episode of Wake Her Up, we sit down with Caycie — the hilarious and deeply honest creator behind @black_belt_in_mom on TikTok. As two midlife women navigating perimenopause, we connected instantly with her raw stories of caretaking for her mom in a nursing home, juggling life’s chaos, and still finding moments to laugh through it all.Caycie opens up about her “crash outs” — those moments when everything feels like too much — and how humor, honesty, and her life motto, “have some grace,” keep her grounded. This is real talk, girlfriend to girlfriend — the kind of conversation that reminds you that you’re not alone, even when life feels heavy.Tune in for a dose of laughter, hope, and solidarity. Because yes — there are still friends to be found, your body can feel good again, and crashing out will not kill you.✨ Listen now for connection, compassion, and a few good laughs along the way.As always find more support and community at WakeHerUp.coFind me, Marcella Hill on social media @BeingMarcellaHill

What if creating a magical life isn’t about adding more — but about tuning into what’s already here?In this week’s episode of Wake Her Up, I sit down with Elizabeth Webb, author of Made for Magic, to explore how each of us can step into the extraordinary by embracing the simple.We dive into:The surprising power of nothingness and why stillness creates space for transformation.How awareness shifts everything — from daily choices to big life decisions.The role of intuition in building a life that feels aligned, expansive, and magical.Elizabeth’s wisdom is both grounding and inspiring, reminding us that magic isn’t out there — it’s in us, waiting to be remembered.🎧 Tune in and discover how to awaken to the magic of your own life.READ MADE FOR MAGIC HERE

In this powerful episode of Wake Her Up, I sit down with renowned nutritionist and wellness expert Penny Foskaris, Founder of Foskaris Wellness. Penny opens up about her own journey through years of debilitating pain, dizziness, and unanswered health problems—and how she turned her struggle into a mission to help others reclaim their vitality.With credentials from Cornell University, SDSU, AADE, Fullerton College, and the Functional Nutrition Alliance, plus training in life coaching, mindfulness, and health coaching, Penny has helped over 5,000 people transform their health, achieve lasting weight loss, improve digestion, boost energy, and feel younger from the inside out.We talk about:Why traditional approaches often miss the root cause of your symptoms.The surprising link between poor sleep, cortisol, and stubborn weight gain.How mindfulness and cutting-edge technology work together for permanent results.Simple shifts to jump-start your metabolism and melt away fat naturally.Penny also shares the truths and myths of red light therapy—one of the most exciting modalities in wellness today. We break down:How red light therapy helps with cellular repair, inflammation reduction, faster recovery, improved sleep, and skin rejuvenation.Common misconceptions about its safety and effectiveness.Why having your own at-home device can be a game-changer for long-term results.💡 Ready to experience the benefits for yourself?Check out the same high-quality red light therapy devices we discuss in this episode at RedLightProDevices.com/marcella to start your own at-home treatments today.This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s tired, stressed, dealing with digestion issues, or just ready for a health reset. Penny’s story and expertise will inspire you to take the next step toward a healthier, more vibrant you.

What if midlife could be the season you finally turn yourself back on? 💫 In this episode of the Wake Her Up podcast, Marcella sits down with Amy St. Germain, founder and owner of Oboo.Love, an intimacy toy company designed specifically for midlife women.Amy shares her mission to empower women to reconnect with their bodies, embrace the benefits of orgasm, and rediscover pleasure as a vital part of wellness. Together, we unpack how creating a safe space for women to explore intimacy can inspire confidence, healing, and joy.✨ Ready to explore? Amy is offering Wake Her Up listeners 20% off with code WAKEHERUP at oboo.loveFind the FREE Wake Her Up Community, Products, Education, and Directory at WakeHerUp.co