The Next ChaptHER

Why Am I Saying ‘What?’ More? Hearing & Hormones in Midlife

Lately, you might be noticing small things… You’re asking people to repeat themselves. Restaurants feel louder than they used to. You leave conversations feeling more drained than connected. Or maybe there’s a subtle ringing, buzzing, or just an “off” feeling you can’t quite explain. And you’re wondering… Is this just normal? Or is something actually going on? In this episode, I’m joined by my longtime friend and audiologist, Dr. Rhee Nesson of Hearing Doctors of New Jersey [https://hearingdoctorsofnj.com/], to talk about something we don’t often connect to this chapter of life: hearing health. It’s about understanding the subtle shifts happening in your body and knowing what to do next. We talk about: * Why hearing changes are often so gradual you don’t notice them at first * The connection between hearing, brain health, and mental load * How perimenopause and menopause can show up in ways like ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness, or sensitivity to noise * Why feeling overwhelmed or exhausted in social settings might not just be “in your head” * The emotional side of it — confidence, connection, and how you show up in conversations * What it actually looks like to get a baseline and be proactive without spiraling Because this isn’t just about hearing. It’s about how you move through your life. How you connect with people. How you feel in your own body. And if something feels off, you don’t have to ignore it. Resources + Connect with Dr. Rhee Nesson If you’re experiencing ringing, buzzing, or changes in your hearing, this is a helpful place to start: https://hearingdoctorsofnj.com/tinnitus-during-menopause-what-women-need-to-know/ [https://hearingdoctorsofnj.com/tinnitus-during-menopause-what-women-need-to-know/] For more comprehensive tinnitus support and treatment options: https://tinnitusdoctorsofnj.com/ [https://tinnitusdoctorsofnj.com/] Explore hearing health resources or schedule an evaluation with Dr. Rhee Nesson and her team at Hearing Doctors of New Jersey: https://hearingdoctorsofnj.com/ [https://hearingdoctorsofnj.com/] Follow along on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hearingdoctorsofnj/ [https://www.facebook.com/hearingdoctorsofnj/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearingdoctorsofnj/ [https://www.instagram.com/hearingdoctorsofnj/]   If this resonated… If you’re noticing changes — physically, emotionally, or just that sense of “something feels different” — this is exactly the space I support women through. Not just what is happening… but how to process it, understand it, and move forward without feeling stuck in it. Because sometimes it’s not one big thing. It’s a lot of small shifts happening all at once. And having someone to talk it through with changes everything. Learn more about working together: https://www.fullyinformedlife.com [https://www.fullyinformedlife.com] Stay connected + continue the conversation Read more reflections from this past year on Substack: https://thenextchapther.substack.com/ [https://thenextchapther.substack.com/] Follow along on Instagram: @fullyinformedlifecoaching Listen wherever you get your podcasts. And as you listen, just notice: What have I been brushing off that might actually be worth paying attention to?

The Year That Changes You: Navigating the Messy Middle

One year ago, I was sitting in a parking lot when I got the call that would change my life. But this episode isn’t just about that moment. It’s about what happens after. What a year like that teaches you. And why this conversation matters even if you haven’t faced a diagnosis like mine. Because most of us will go through a year that changes us. A year where life splits into before and after. A year where something happens that we didn’t plan, didn’t want, and didn’t see coming. In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on the past year and sharing the questions I’ve been asking myself: * What do I know now that I wish I had known then? * What does the one-year mark actually mean? * What did I get wrong about how hard this would be? * And what does it look like to keep living while going through something hard? I talk about the part no one really sees. The invisible part. The part where you look fine on the outside but are carrying so much on the inside. And I share what actually helped me navigate this messy middle. Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too. This episode is not just about cancer. It’s about identity, resilience, community, and what it means to move through something hard and still find yourself on the other side. If This Episode Resonated: If you’re in your own version of a messy middle right now, you’re not alone. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to keep moving forward. Connect + Continue the Conversation: Read more reflections from this past year on Substack: https://thenextchapther.substack.com/ [https://thenextchapther.substack.com/] Follow along on Instagram: @fullyinformedlifecoaching Learn more about working together: https://www.fullyinformedlife.com [https://www.fullyinformedlife.com]

Perimenopause, Menopause, and the Chapter No One Prepared Us For with Susie Weinberg

Episode Title: Perimenopause, Menopause, and the Chapter No One Prepared Us For In this episode, Andrea sits down with menopause coach Susie Weinberg to talk about perimenopause and menopause, a stage of life that affects almost every woman, yet many still feel confused and alone when it begins. They talk about common symptoms many women don’t realize are hormone-related, the frustration of being told “everything is normal,” the emotional impact of this stage of life, and why support and self-advocacy are so important. This conversation is about more than hormones. It’s about identity, relationships, confidence, and learning how to navigate this chapter with more information, support, and compassion for yourself. Resources Mentioned: https://menopause.org/ [https://menopause.org/] https://www.letstalkmenopause.org/ [https://www.letstalkmenopause.org/] Connect with Susie Weinberg: Website: www.susieweinbergmenopausecoach.com [http://www.susieweinbergmenopausecoach.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemenopausecoach [https://www.instagram.com/susiemenopausecoach] Connect with Andrea: Website: https://www.fullyinformedlife.com [https://www.fullyinformedlife.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullyinformedlifecoaching [https://www.instagram.com/fullyinformedlifecoaching] Substack: https://substack.com/@thenextchapther [https://substack.com/@thenextchapther]

Reclaiming Authorship: Finding Your Voice After Coercive Control with Dr. Andrea Hogan

In this episode of The Next ChaptHER Podcast, Andrea sits down with Dr. Andrea Hogan — known to her students as “Dr. Dre” — for a powerful conversation about losing your voice without losing it physically. Together, they explore coercive control, what it looks like beyond physical abuse, and how identity can slowly erode through gaslighting, power imbalances, and survival mode. Dr. Dre shares her personal journey of recognizing coercive control, navigating mental health recovery, and reclaiming authorship of her life. This conversation also turns toward rebuilding — letting new things in, rediscovering joy, finding community, and stepping into advocacy and purpose. In This Episode We Discuss: * What coercive control is and why it’s often invisible * How women lose their voice and sense of self over time * Mental health recovery and removing stigma around seeking help * Post-traumatic growth and reclaiming authorship * Finding identity and joy beyond survival Connect with Dr. Andrea Hogan LinkedIn: Andrea Hogan, PhD Instagram: @thegolfingprofessor TikTok: @dreahogan329 YouTube: @TheGolfingProfessor Book: Lucky Lion (available on Amazon) [https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Lion-Feelings-Bravery-Rainbow/dp/B0GP33W2JC/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2Z9GTBDSBEN7S&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nkrS9iB1LtkILE0Bw6gUjMq8cHzHfzBXsxHvNj3OSQsbOUwKffRvo-QGDrgyTA_yGSL_W0WJVdc1l1U_cDY0At9VXn9hYCl4xNLlZlZ9s_NKtqhTVoikAOgyfJIn4CDs3yNGbxqTTT0IVd9ydNUO7hScRrbHhwkg9I1THQG9ZrYLuztos5ScumhdBJL5x6Jfp0HitTlKu_zxWW1FTOB4dQoF7dxgeaiuqBDcpKztNWFgiKSTQvYl79r4u1n8rvXOD6FragTzLxwwCSz0xu02sUzXdvnuLKs6MD_qn4XTGdc.VhBxt5i5koKXW5z1cUjJ_0MCRTvrhMT6QOQpa7vQA2g&dib_tag=se&keywords=lucky+lion&qid=1772049203&sprefix=lucky+lion%2Caps%2C229&sr=8-3] Domestic Abuse Advocacy Resource: https://www.crystalfedeli.com/ [https://www.crystalfedeli.com/] Connect with Andrea Hecht & The Next ChaptHER Host: Andrea Hecht Certified Professional Life Coach | Fully Informed Life Instagram: @fullyinformedlifecoaching Podcast: The Next ChaptHER [https://fullyinformedlife.com/the-next-chapther-podcast] Substack: The Next ChaptHER [https://thenextchapther.substack.com/] Website: https://fullyinformedlife.com [https://fullyinformedlife.com] If this episode resonated with you, share it with another woman who may need language, validation, and hope for her next chapter.

The “Fuck It” Moment

Sometimes life hands you a moment where everything shifts. In this episode of The Next ChaptHER, Andrea Hecht sits down with Amy Schwartz, founder of Fuck It Inc., to talk about what “fuck it” really means — not giving up or being reckless, but choosing yourself when life feels out of control. Amy shares how her personal “fuck it” mantra was born when her life shifted unexpectedly and what it’s taught her about choice, boundaries, and living fully. Andrea also reflects on her own “fuck it” moment during her breast cancer experience, and why this conversation resonates far beyond health crises. This episode is for any woman navigating a curveball, an identity shift, burnout, caregiving, loss, or the messy middle of real life. In This Episode, We Talk About * What “fuck it” really means (and what it doesn’t) * Choosing joy while still grieving what could have been * Reclaiming choice when life feels out of control * Boundaries, saying no, and protecting your sanity * Why choosing yourself doesn’t require permission About the Guest Amy Schwartz is the founder of Fuck It Inc., a jewelry and lifestyle brand turned movement — created as a reminder to keep living fully, even when life doesn’t go according to plan. Website: https://www.fuckitinc.com [https://www.fuckitinc.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fckit.inc [https://www.instagram.com/fckit.inc] About the Host Andrea Hecht is a Certified Professional Life Coach & Well-being Specialist and the founder of Fully Informed Life. Through her coaching and The Next ChaptHER podcast, Andrea helps women reconnect with themselves and find their Roadmap Back to J.O.Y. (Journey of You) — especially in life’s messy middle. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullyinformedlifecoaching [https://www.instagram.com/fullyinformedlifecoaching/] Learn more: https://www.fullyinformedlife.com [https://www.fullyinformedlife.com]