The podcast is not to replace therapy

In this conversation, Melinda Porter and Lindsay Goldwert discuss themes of empowerment, sexuality, and the challenges women face in reclaiming their identities and desires. They explore the importance of confidence, self-advocacy, and the societal pressures that influence women's experiences in both personal and sexual contexts. In this conversation, Lindsay Goldwert discusses her book 'The Midlife Plot Twist,' focusing on the intertwined themes of sex and money, and the challenges women face in midlife regarding intimacy and self-identity. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of open communication in relationships and the societal pressures that often lead to dissatisfaction in both personal and sexual lives.Links:Lindsay Goldwert: InstagramLindsay Goldwert: WedsiteTakeawaysEmpowerment through self-advocacyUnderstanding personal pleasure Embrace open communicationChallenge societal pressuresChapters00:00 Introduction to Empowerment and Pleasure03:05 The Journey of Self-Discovery06:04 Navigating Sexuality and Confidence09:55 Midlife Plot Twists and Reclaiming Identity14:08 The Power of Language and Apologies19:53 Becoming a Sex Educator and Challenging Assumptions21:23 Exploring Sex and Money in Midlife24:32 Navigating Relationships and Intimacy26:57 Understanding Midlife Changes30:00 The Role of Women in Relationships32:50 The Importance of Gratitude and Self-Reflection35:20 Cultural Perspectives on Sexuality

Kelsey Madenwald is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate and sex therapist at Redefined Intimacy Therapy. She supports adults, couples  and polycules with concerns around intimacy, desire, communication, and relationship patterns—bringing a calm, grounded presence that helps clients feel safe being real (even when the topic feels awkward, tender, or taboo). Kelsey is also actively working toward her sex therapy certification through the Sexual Health Alliance, deepening her training in evidence-based, pleasure-positive, and trauma-informed care.In the therapy room, Kelsey’s style is warm, collaborative, and practical—like having a skilled guide beside you with a flashlight and a map, not someone shouting directions from the mountaintop. She helps clients build clarity, confidence, and tools they can actually use between sessions, whether they’re navigating mismatched desire, sexual concerns, identity exploration, healing from shame, or creating healthier connection.We’re grateful to have Kelsey on our team, and I’m excited for you to get to know her work.Support the showJust a quick note: this show is for education and conversation. It isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for therapy. Sometimes I’ll have therapists and other professionals on the show, but this still isn’t personal clinical care. If you need support, please reach out to a licensed professional in your area. And if you’re in crisis or there’s an emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.

Support the showJust a quick note: this show is for education and conversation. It isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for therapy. Sometimes I’ll have therapists and other professionals on the show, but this still isn’t personal clinical care. If you need support, please reach out to a licensed professional in your area. And if you’re in crisis or there’s an emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.

Sandra Reynolds is originally from western Maryland. She moved to Utah to attend Utah State University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude from their dietetics program. Sandra discovered her passion for helping people recover from eating disorders while employed at the Center for Change in Orem, Utah. She has been working with and inspiring the eating disorder population for four years. She specializes in anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, orthorexia, and general disordered eating and practices with Doherty Nutrition.Sandra incorporates Intuitive Eating and Health at Every-Size principles into her practice to help clients find joy in their relationship with food and their body. Sandra believes that all foods have value and have a place in your diet.Doherty Nutrition:Doherty Nutrition is a nutrition counseling practice with locations in North Dallas, Southlake, Lakewood, and Forth Worth Texas. They have dietitians specializing in medical nutrition therapy, diabetes, pediatrics, oncology, sports nutrition, eating disorders and more.This is a conversation is about the relationship with food it is not to replace therapy or working with you RD. Support the showJust a quick note: this show is for education and conversation. It isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for therapy. Sometimes I’ll have therapists and other professionals on the show, but this still isn’t personal clinical care. If you need support, please reach out to a licensed professional in your area. And if you’re in crisis or there’s an emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.

Melinda Chats with individuals about their personal opinions on Roe vs Wade.Support the showJust a quick note: this show is for education and conversation. It isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for therapy. Sometimes I’ll have therapists and other professionals on the show, but this still isn’t personal clinical care. If you need support, please reach out to a licensed professional in your area. And if you’re in crisis or there’s an emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.

Sarah graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Master’s degree in Counseling and Development. She is on her journey as an LPC- Associate under the supervision of Melinda Porter, LPC-S, CST. She has experience in working with all age groups, including children, adolescents, and adults. She specializes in helping adolescents and adults who have experienced trauma. Sarah has a background in an early childhood education as well as financial counseling. Experience in these diverse settings, along with extensive education in counseling, has enabled her to help clients that are facing a broad array of issues in their life, whether they be rooted in trauma or elsewhere.          Sarah’s counseling modality is humanistic, meaning that she emphasizes the importance of finding meaning in the experiences that clients have had throughout their lives. She believes in creating a collaborative partnership with clients in order to explore the issues that they are facing. While she offers a great deal of knowledge and insight, she firmly believes in the client’s power to influence change in their own life. Sarah utilizes a wide variety of therapeutic techniques in order to assist clients in processing emotions as well as traumatic experiences including art therapy techniques, bibliotherapy techniques, narrative therapy techniques, as well as helping clients to enhance their own self-awareness. Support the showJust a quick note: this show is for education and conversation. It isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for therapy. Sometimes I’ll have therapists and other professionals on the show, but this still isn’t personal clinical care. If you need support, please reach out to a licensed professional in your area. And if you’re in crisis or there’s an emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.

This week Melinda Chats with Dr. Stacy Sutton PT, DPT, WCS, CLTBoard-Certified Women’s Health Clinical Specialist (WCS) | Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) | Certified ReVital Cancer Rehabilitation Specialist | Advanced Certificate in Women’s Health Physical Therapy“I believe that only you can heal yourself. My job is to guide you and provide you with the resources you need to accomplish that mission. I want to help walk with you through that process.”Dr. Stacy Sutton, PT, DPT, WCS, CLT is originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, and began her journey towards becoming a physical therapist because she wanted to help other women who experience pain and discomfort find real solutions without feeling alone in their health journey. Her clinic, Sutton Health Advocacy, makes its mission to empower women to heal themselves.Sutton Health Advocacy Pelvic Physical Therapy Clinic Plano TexasSupport the showJust a quick note: this show is for education and conversation. It isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for therapy. Sometimes I’ll have therapists and other professionals on the show, but this still isn’t personal clinical care. If you need support, please reach out to a licensed professional in your area. And if you’re in crisis or there’s an emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.

Maïkan is a person who's had to figure a few things out the hard way. He now hosts S podcast (Spotify, Apple, iHeart, and other platforms via https://si.buzzsprout.com ) based on life experiences and studies in massage, somatics, and tantra. He has a unique no-hype style for you to know, accept, love, desire and be curious about yourself and, from there, an intimate partner and life in community and in nature. He shares here some simple questions and games you can play solo and duo to really be your fullest wildest loveliest sexiest self, and the value of sitting with all the powerful feelings and desires.https://www.instagram.com/satisfying.intimacy/Support the showJust a quick note: this show is for education and conversation. It isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for therapy. Sometimes I’ll have therapists and other professionals on the show, but this still isn’t personal clinical care. If you need support, please reach out to a licensed professional in your area. And if you’re in crisis or there’s an emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.

New Episode today! Great chat with Peter about his experiences in a polyamorous relationship. #Polyamorous #CNM #podcast #melindachatspodcastPeter describes himself as a goofy nerd, who keeps learning more and more about himself. Poly is a way of life for him. There are struggles, that the family still faces on a daily basis. However, being poly has made those struggles easier, because there are more minds to think about any and all issues and get the different perspectives. Peter stated that he is who he is, and his family supports him, and encourages him to find his own path. Facebook link:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002137240378Support the showJust a quick note: this show is for education and conversation. It isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for therapy. Sometimes I’ll have therapists and other professionals on the show, but this still isn’t personal clinical care. If you need support, please reach out to a licensed professional in your area. And if you’re in crisis or there’s an emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.

This week on Melinda Chats, I visited with Janice Leonard about relationships and connections.  Janice Leonard is the host and creative director of Her Sexual Space podcast, a carefully designed podcast that creates space to facilitate dialogues on women’s mental and sexual health. Janice is a Licensed Professional Counselor and an inclusive sex therapist at her private practice- Cognitive Shifts Psychotherapy, where she serves individuals and consensually non monogamous partners in Texas and Colorado. Janice has strategically combined her passion for mental health, sexual health, women, connection, and community. Her mission is to create awareness, model dialogues, and provide resources to her listeners. www.hersexualspace.comSupport the showJust a quick note: this show is for education and conversation. It isn’t therapy, and it’s not a substitute for therapy. Sometimes I’ll have therapists and other professionals on the show, but this still isn’t personal clinical care. If you need support, please reach out to a licensed professional in your area. And if you’re in crisis or there’s an emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.