Heidi’s Lane with Heidi Powell

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 answers * Hormones, perimenopause, and identity shifts no one prepares you for * The grief of feeling like your best years are behind you * Being judged as a woman and as a mother, no matter what you do * The gap between how life looks and how it actually feels This 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/bootcamp Here 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 Body 15:02 Mom Guilt, Doris, & Being Judged Online 17:28 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 Everyone 30:18 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 This Connect with Heidi: Website: https://heidipowell.net/ [https://heidipowell.net/] Email: podcast@heidipowell.net Instagram: @realheidipowell Facebook: Heidi Powell YouTube: @RealHeidiPowell Train with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/ [https://www.showupfit.app/]

Ep. 84 Announcing My Official Comeback! Ryan & I Talk Lottery Syndrome, How Life is a Big Game, and Embracing My Weirdness! (Yes, I Am a Gecko :)

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 [http://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 to * What “bamboo season” means to me * How I see life now * Why I’m creating again (Hello there is a new Get Fit Challenge starting!) * What I hope people experience differently with me this time * The power of thought, energy, and expectation * Why being fully yourself AND MASK FREE is the freest thing in the world Here are the key moments from the episode: 00:00 Why This Episode Is for You 03:02 The Version of Me the Internet Saw 06:06 Why Hard Life Experiences Changed Me 09:34 Showing Up the Way People Expected 11:04 The Hormone Mistake Affecting My Energy 14:23 Bringing Back the 60-Day Challenge 16:02 Why Weight Loss Alone Doesn’t Work 20:10 The Outsourcing Mistake I Made in Business 23:19 Rebuilding With the Right Team 25:39 The Moment I Started Seeing Life Differently 28:24 How That Mindset Makes Hard Things Easier 33:05 How This Version of Me Will Help People 36:08 When Success Comes From Trauma & People-Pleasing 38:29 What Happens When You Drop the Mask 41:23 How One Thought Can Change Everything 44:30 The Power of Planting Hope Instead 45:22 Why This Conversation Is Just the Beginning Connect with Heidi: Website: https://heidipowell.net/ [https://heidipowell.net/] Email: podcast@heidipowell.net Instagram: @realheidipowell Facebook: Heidi Powell YouTube: @RealHeidiPowell Train with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/ [https://www.showupfit.app/]

Ep. 83 Pelvic Floor + Cooch Ball Talk: Why You’re Still Peeing When You Sneeze + How To Get Stronger Orgasms | Jana Danielson

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 worse * The difference between weak vs. hypertonic (too tight) pelvic floors * Why jaw tension, tight hips, and anxiety are connected * How breathing incorrectly can shut down your core * The “common vs normal” myth around aging * Why shame lives in this part of the body * And how just THREE minutes a day can start to rewire your system We also get very real about: * Dribbling in my car (yes, I said it) * Doctors dismissing women * Changes in your 40s * Why we deserve education instead of resignation This 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 Bundle https://bloombetter.life/pages/the-intimacy-bundle?bg_ref=y72MYLnTMe [https://bloombetter.life/pages/the-intimacy-bundle?bg_ref=y72MYLnTMe] ✨ Perimenopause Bundle https://bloombetter.life/pages/perimenopause?bg_ref=y72MYLnTMe [https://bloombetter.life/pages/perimenopause?bg_ref=y72MYLnTMe] ✨ Menopause Bundle https://bloombetter.life/pages/menopause-funnel?bg_ref=y72MYLnTMe [https://bloombetter.life/pages/menopause-funnel?bg_ref=y72MYLnTMe] ✨ Cooch Ball https://bloombetter.life/heidipowell [https://bloombetter.life/heidipowell] Key moments from the episode: 00:00 The Pelvic Floor Talk We Avoid 03:18 Common vs. Normal 08:09 Leaking Isn’t Just Aging 16:49 Why Kegels Can Backfire 23:27 The 3-Part Pelvic Floor Fix 28:45 Tight Hips & Pelvic Floor 35:21 Build Strength Without Clenching 42:37 Posture Mistakes That Cause Dysfunction 51:09 Men Have Pelvic Floors Too 56:44 Using the Cooch Ball Correctly 01:01:21 Pads Don’t Fix the Problem 01:08:17 Why It’s All Connected 01:09:46 When You’ll See Results Connect with Heidi: Website: https://heidipowell.net/ [https://heidipowell.net/] Email: podcast@heidipowell.net Instagram: @realheidipowell Facebook: Heidi Powell YouTube: @RealHeidiPowell Train with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/ [https://www.showupfit.app/] Connect with Jana Danielson: Instagram: @jana.danielson About 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.

Ep. 82 Why “Healthy” Stops Working After 35 and How GLP-1s & Peptides Can Help | Lauren Douglas FNP-C

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 midlife * Cravings, food noise, and nighttime hunger * Deep exhaustion — even when you’re eating well and exercising * Muscle loss and protecting strength as you age * GLP-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 shifts * Cortisol, stress weight, and wired-but-tired sleep * Libido changes, dryness, and relationship impact * How to know whether you need hormones, peptides, GLP-1s, lifestyle shifts or none of the above Most 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 Body 03:20 Why These Changes Feel Sudden 07:05 Early Signs of Perimenopause 10:45 Why Weight Won’t Budge 14:40 Belly Fat & Insulin Resistance 23:55 Hormones, BV & the Gut Link 28:20 When Healthy Eating Stops Working 37:10 GLP-1s for Women Explained 45:55 Brain Fog & Hormones 50:10 Libido & Dryness 58:50 Inflammation & “Mystery” Symptoms 1:03:20 Gut Issues & Hormones 1:11:05 Choosing the Right Support Path Connect with Heidi: Website: https://heidipowell.net/ Email: podcast@heidipowell.net Instagram: @realheidipowell Facebook: Heidi Powell YouTube: @RealHeidiPowell Train 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.

Ep. 81 The 2016 Nostalgia Trend: Meeting and Making Peace with the Woman I Used to Be

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. <3 This 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 embarrassing * The 2016 version of me who lived for validation and performance VS the 2026 version of me who lives for peace and presence * What it feels like to realize you were powerful and powerless at the same time * How I really hurt my last marriage. Ouch. * The grief that comes with outgrowing your former identity * When confidence was actually insecurity in disguise * Perfectionism, OCD, and needing control to feel safe * The cost of external validation * The relief of letting go of the masks we thought we needed * How pain, rupture, and failure shaped the peace I feel now * Why embarrassment about your past self is actually proof of growth * Meeting the woman you used to be with compassion instead of shame Gentle 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 triggers 04:15 Why I avoid seeing my own face on camera 09:40 The 2016 trend and why I decided to scroll back 14:30 Meeting the woman I used to be 18:45 The year everything was built on validation 23:40 When gratitude and insecurity lived side by side 27:50 The identity built on perfectionism 31:10 Realizing the pain I caused and holding compassion 36:20 Outgrowing performance-based worth 41:00 “Even when I was off track, I was on track” 46:10 The peace I never knew I was missing 49:40 What 2016 Heidi would think of 2026 Heidi 52:00 Closing reflections: Choosing presence over perfection Connect with Heidi: Website: https://heidipowell.net/ [https://heidipowell.net/] Email: podcast@heidipowell.net Instagram: @realheidipowell Facebook: Heidi Powell YouTube: @RealHeidiPowell Train with Heidi on her Show Up App: https://www.showupfit.app/ [https://www.showupfit.app/]