The Next Phase

#32: Midlife Skincare and the Pressure to Age Well

Micropeels. Botox. Retinol. Peptides. Red light masks. 11-step skincare routines. The pressure on women to “age well” right now can feel completely overwhelming — especially when your skin suddenly starts changing seemingly overnight in your late 30s and 40s. In this episode, Stacey sits down with Stephanie DiPisa, founder of Solara Suncare, for a conversation that starts with sunscreen… and turns into something much deeper. After two of Stephanie’s children experienced severe reactions to traditional sunscreen, and while navigating her own health journey with Lyme disease, she found herself deep in the world of ingredients, inflammation, hormones, wellness, and sensitive skin. What started as one mom trying to solve a problem for her family eventually became an award-winning skincare brand trusted by dermatologists, estheticians, beauty editors, and retailers including Bluemercury, Neiman Marcus, Whole Foods, and Target. But this conversation isn’t really about skincare products. It’s about what happens when women enter midlife and suddenly feel pressure to “fix” every part of themselves. In this episode, we talk about: *  why skin changes so dramatically in midlife  *  inflammation, hormones, and sensitive skin  *  sunscreen confusion and what actually matters  *  wellness overwhelm and trying to “age well”  *  simplifying skincare in your 40s  *  the connection between stress, nervous system health, and skin  *  supplements, social media wellness culture, and learning to listen to your body  *  and why sometimes less really is more  If you’ve ever looked in the mirror during this phase of life and thought,  “Who is this woman?”  this conversation is for you. About Stephanie DiPisa Stephanie DiPisa is the founder of Solara Suncare, a mineral sunscreen and skincare brand she created after two of her children experienced severe reactions to traditional sunscreen. While navigating her own health journey with Lyme disease, Stephanie became deeply interested in ingredients, inflammation, wellness, and sensitive skin. Today, Solara is an award-winning skincare brand trusted by dermatologists, estheticians, beauty editors, and wellness-conscious women looking for simpler, cleaner skincare solutions. Find Stephanie + Solara Instagram: @stephdipisa [https://www.instagram.com/stephdipisa] + @solarasuncare [https://www.instagram.com/solarasuncare/] Website: https://solarasuncare.com [https://solarasuncare.com]

#31: Millennial Women Are Drowning in Self-Optimization: Here's What I'm Doing About It

Have you ever felt like your entire life became one giant self-improvement project? In this solo episode, Stacey explores what happens when high-achieving women become trapped in a constant cycle of optimization — always trying to become healthier, calmer, more productive, more healed, more emotionally regulated, more “their best selves.” From self-help books to wellness culture to nervous system work to productivity routines… when does trying to improve yourself quietly become exhausting? Stacey shares: *  the pressure millennial women feel to “have it all”  *  why so many high-achieving women struggle to relax  *  the connection between perfectionism and nervous system overwhelm  *  how endless self-help can disconnect us from our actual lives  *  why silence feels uncomfortable now  *  the surprising ways clutter and unfinished tasks affect anxiety  *  and the shift she’s making toward what she calls “returning to real life”  This episode is for the women who are tired of treating themselves like projects. And maybe… just need a little more quiet.

#30: Why Your Hair Changes in Perimenopause (and What You Can Actually Do About It)

If your hair suddenly feels different in this phase of life… you’re not imagining it. In this episode, I’m talking with Allison Conrad and Jay Small, founders of AREY, about what actually happens to women’s hair in perimenopause — and why so many of us feel completely caught off guard by it. We talk about: *  why your hair suddenly feels completely different in midlife  *  the science behind gray hair (and why it’s not “just genetics”)  *  how stress and inflammation impact aging hair  *  why postpartum can accelerate hair aging  *  the surprising connection between scalp health and overall health  *  what’s actually happening when your hair becomes thinner, drier, or frizzier overnight  *  and why changes to our hair can feel way more emotional than we expect This conversation goes way beyond beauty. It’s really about what happens when we start noticing the physical signs that we’re entering a new phase — and how disorienting that can feel as women who are used to functioning at full speed all the time. And yes… we also talk about what can actually help. Just to be clear: this is not a sponsored episode. AREY is simply something I found while trying to understand what was happening to my own hair in my 40s, and I thought it could help some of you too. 🎉 GIVEAWAY 🎉 I teamed up with AREY to give one listener their AM + PM Duo (a 3-month supply valued at $295). Enter here: Arey + Next Phase Giveaway [https://stacey-noelle-llc.kit.com/7127a184ba] About AREY: AREY creates products designed to support healthier aging hair by focusing on scalp health, oxidative stress, and long-term hair wellness. Learn more: arey.com [https://arey.com/] Follow them: @areyhaircare [https://www.instagram.com/areyhaircare] If this episode resonated with you, send it to a friend who’s been staring at her hair lately wondering what the heck is happening. Have an idea for the next episode? Email me at stacey@stacey-hutson.com DM me @stacehutson [https://www.instagram.com/stacehutson]

#29: High-Achieving Moms—Are You Losing Yourself? (with Jess Ekstrom)

What if success isn’t supposed to cost you yourself? So many of us did everything “right.” We chased the goals. Built the life. Hit the big hairy audacious goals. And then somewhere along the way… we started to feel like we were losing ourselves in the process. In this episode, I’m talking with Jess Ekstrom—speaker, founder, and bestselling author—about what happens when high-achieving women realize the finish line isn’t what they thought it would be. We talk about: *  the pressure to keep chasing the next “summit”  *  how motherhood reshapes your identity in ways you don’t expect  *  why so much self-help leaves us feeling more disconnected, not less  *  and how to start trusting yourself instead of constantly looking outside for answers  This is one of those conversations that doesn’t try to fix you— it helps you see yourself more clearly. About Jess: Jess Ekstrom is a Forbes Top-Rated speaker, bestselling author, and the founder of Headbands of Hope, a company that has donated millions of headbands to children facing illness. She is also the founder of Mic Drop Workshop, where she helps women become paid public speakers and use their voices in a bigger way. Her new book, Making It Without Losing It, explores what it really means to succeed—without sacrificing yourself in the process. If this episode resonated with you… Jess’s new book Making It Without Losing It just released this week, and it goes deeper into everything we talked about today. You can find it here:  🔗 Making It Without Losing It [https://jessekstrom.com/makingit/]

#28: Caregiver Fatigue: Taking Care of Aging Parents While Raising Kids

Many millennial moms are going through something that past generations never had to do: Raise young children while also caring for aging parents. It’s overwhelming, emotional, and (somehow) completely unexpected. In this episode of The Next Phase Podcast, Stacey Hutson sits down with elder care clinician Debra Kooser to talk about what really happens when the roles begin to reverse—and why so many women feel unprepared for this stage. Together, they explore: * what it looks like when aging parents begin to need more support * the emotional impact of role reversal between parent and child * why so many families wait until a crisis to make decisions * and the very real toll of caregiver fatigue and burnout Debra explains why caregiver fatigue is more than just stress—it’s a serious, often unrecognized experience that affects both mental and physical health. This conversation also highlights something many women don’t expect: The guilt, emotional exhaustion, and mental load that comes with trying to balance it all. For listeners who are starting to notice changes in their parents—or already feel overwhelmed by the responsibility—this episode offers both validation and a starting point. About Debra:  Debra Kooser has a Masters Degree in counseling with over 30 years in healthcare, the last 18 years in hospice as a Medical Social Worker and Bereavement Coodinator.  Additionally, she has worked as a Geriatric Care Manager for an estate planning lawfirm. She has a specialty in consulting with adult children navigating their aging parents needs. She coordinates senior living placement from a clinical perspective, as well as offering ongoing case management for busy adult children/relatives who benefit from support and oversight for their family members. Resources & Next Steps: Debra Kooser helps families navigate caregiver fatigue, planning, and next steps. You can reach her here: debra.eldersolutions@gmail.com Local to Colorado? Stacey is speaking at the Golden Women in Business Founder’s Day event next week—an evening celebrating women making real impact in the community. Join us in Golden on April 29th: 🔗 https://www.goldenwomeninbusiness.com/upcoming-events/founders-day-2026 [https://www.goldenwomeninbusiness.com/upcoming-events/founders-day-2026]