Helen Christoni on Child Loss, Brain Health & Rebuilding a Meaningful Life

Helen Christoni on Child Loss, Brain Health & Rebuilding a Meaningful Life

What happens when life changes in an instant—and you have to find a way to keep moving forward? In this deeply personal episode of The Iconic Midlife, Roxy Manning sits down with entrepreneur, wellness executive, and Make Time Wellness co-founder Helen Christoni for a powerful conversation about grief, resilience, caregiving, women's brain health, and rebuilding a meaningful life after unimaginable loss. After losing her daughter Bella and witnessing the devastating impact of dementia and cognitive decline on loved ones, Helen found herself reevaluating everything—from how women care for themselves to the emotional burdens so many carry in silence. Together, Roxy and Helen discuss the realities of child loss, navigating grief in midlife, supporting aging family members, protecting cognitive health, and why women must stop waiting until they are completely depleted before prioritizing themselves. This is a conversation about heartbreak, healing, purpose, and finding strength you never knew you had. Listener Note: This episode contains discussion of child loss, grief, caregiving, dementia, and mental health. Please listen with care if these topics are sensitive for you. IN THIS EPISODE: * Helen's journey through the loss of her daughter Bella * How grief changes your perspective on life * The emotional realities of caregiving * Why women are at greater risk for cognitive decline * The connection between brain health, stress, and overall wellness * The invisible emotional labor many women carry * Reinvention after loss and adversity * Building purpose through pain * Practical ways women can prioritize themselves in midlife THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY DEFENAGE If you're looking for smarter, science-backed skincare, you'll want to check out DefenAge. DefenAge's award-winning products are powered by Age-Repair Defensins®, proprietary technology designed to help support your skin's natural ability to renew itself and address multiple visible signs of aging. And listeners of The Iconic Midlife can receive the DefenAge Fly Kit for just $29 (a $98 value). Use code ROXY29 at checkout. Visit: DefenAge.com/Renewal CONNECT WITH HELEN CHRISTONI Instagram: @helenchristoni CONNECT WITH ROXY MANNING & THE ICONIC MIDLIFE Social Media: @theiconicmidlife Social Media: @redcarpetroxy Website: theiconicmidlife.com If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show, download the episode, and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music. Your support helps us continue bringing you meaningful conversations with extraordinary women redefining midlife on their own terms. #TheIconicMidlife #HelenChristoni #ChildLoss #Grief #BrainHealth #Caregiving #MidlifeWomen #Women'sWellness #MentalHealth #Resilience #DefenAge #RoxyManning Mentioned in this episode: DefenAge Special Offer for The Iconic Midlife Listeners This episode is sponsored by DefenAge. DefenAge's award-winning skincare is powered by Age-Repair Defensins®, proprietary technology designed to help support your skin's natural renewal process and address multiple visible signs of aging. As a listener of The Iconic Midlife, you can receive the DefenAge Fly Kit for just $29 (regularly $98) using code ROXY29. Visit: DefenAge.com/Renewal Offer valid while supplies last. DefenAge Special Offer for The Iconic Midlife Listeners This episode is sponsored by DefenAge. DefenAge's award-winning skincare is powered by Age-Repair Defensins®, proprietary technology designed to help support your skin's natural renewal process and address multiple visible signs of aging. As a listener of The Iconic Midlife, you can receive the DefenAge Fly Kit for just $29 (regularly $98) using code ROXY29. Visit: DefenAge.com/Renewal Offer valid while supplies last.

Game Episode: Joanna Krupa Plays Hot or Unhinged!

Joanna Krupa is back—but this time we're putting her to the test. In this bonus game episode of The Iconic Midlife, Joanna plays Hot or Unhinged?, where she weighs in on dating, relationships, red flags, modern romance, animal rescue, and some seriously questionable life choices. No overthinking. No filter. Just instant reactions and plenty of laughs. IN THIS EPISODE: • Dating younger: Hot or Unhinged? • Sliding into DMs • Sleeping with your ex • Reality TV drama • The biggest dating red flags • Animal rescue and relationship deal-breakers • Joanna's funniest rapid-fire takes SPECIAL OFFER FROM OUR PARTNER: DEFENAGE If your skincare isn't working like it used to, it may not be your products—it may be your skin. DefenAge's patented defensin technology helps awaken your skin's natural ability to renew itself. ✨ Exclusive for The Iconic Midlife listeners: Get the DefenAge Fly Kit—a $98 value for just $29. Visit DefenAge.com/Renewal and use code ROXY29 at checkout. FOLLOW JOANNA KRUPA Instagram: @joannakrupa Join the Inner Circle: https://the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning.kit.com/3433416614 [https://the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning.kit.com/3433416614] Want bold guests, unfiltered stories, and iconic midlife insight in your inbox? Listen & Follow The Iconic Midlife is where smart, stylish women over 40 come to rebrand midlife on their terms. New episodes every Tuesday. Bonus game episode drops on Thursdays. Tap “Follow” so you never miss a moment. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning/id1817484587 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning/id1817484587] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4FRDzq3AalXaqfpfWq7dlm?si=7e91db12ba1f4bfa [https://open.spotify.com/show/4FRDzq3AalXaqfpfWq7dlm] Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ff905ad8-332f-430e-a040-ce1ba5047483/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ff905ad8-332f-430e-a040-ce1ba5047483/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning] Let’s Connect Social media: @theiconicmidlife (show) | @redcarpetroxy (host) • YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theiconicmidlife [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGk0JYq3aGyTMmTjtrUl2eA] If you laughed, gasped, or found yourself yelling at your phone, be sure to follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with a friend. And if you haven't listened to Joanna's full interview yet, go back and catch the Season 2 premiere—you won't want to miss it.

Joanna Krupa: Beauty, Fame, Divorce & Starting Over

What happens when the world knows your face—but not your story? For years, Joanna Krupa has been recognized as a model, television personality, entrepreneur, and passionate animal advocate. But behind the glamour is a woman who has navigated love, heartbreak, public scrutiny, motherhood, reinvention, and the pressure of living so much of her life in the spotlight. In this candid Season 2 premiere of The Iconic Midlife, Joanna opens up about what it's really like to age in the public eye, the misconceptions people have about reality television, dating after divorce, motherhood, beauty standards, confidence, loneliness, and why animal rescue has become one of the most meaningful parts of her life. This is a conversation about rediscovering yourself, letting go of outside expectations, and embracing the woman you've become. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • The truth about beauty, attention, and public perception • Dating, divorce, and relationships in midlife • Why reality TV doesn't always tell the whole story • Motherhood and how it changed her perspective • Aging with confidence in an image-driven industry • The emotional impact of animal rescue and advocacy • Reinvention after life's biggest chapters • What women finally stop tolerating in midlife SPECIAL OFFER FROM OUR PARTNER: DEFENAGE If you've noticed your skincare isn't delivering the results it once did, it may not be your products—it may be your skin. DefenAge's patented defensin technology helps awaken your skin's natural ability to renew itself, addressing one of the biggest changes that happens as we age. For a limited time, you can get the DefenAge Fly Kit—a $98 value for just $29. Visit DefenAge.com/Renewal and use code ROXY29 at checkout. CONNECT WITH JOANNA KRUPA Instagram: @joannakrupa Join the Inner Circle: https://the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning.kit.com/3433416614 [https://the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning.kit.com/3433416614] Want bold guests, unfiltered stories, and iconic midlife insight in your inbox? Listen & Follow The Iconic Midlife is where smart, stylish women over 40 come to rebrand midlife on their terms. New episodes every Tuesday. Bonus game episode drops on Thursdays. Tap “Follow” so you never miss a moment. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning/id1817484587 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning/id1817484587] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4FRDzq3AalXaqfpfWq7dlm?si=7e91db12ba1f4bfa [https://open.spotify.com/show/4FRDzq3AalXaqfpfWq7dlm] Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ff905ad8-332f-430e-a040-ce1ba5047483/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ff905ad8-332f-430e-a040-ce1ba5047483/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning] Let’s Connect Social media: @theiconicmidlife (show) | @redcarpetroxy (host) • YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theiconicmidlife [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGk0JYq3aGyTMmTjtrUl2eA] If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with a friend. Your support helps us continue bringing you honest, inspiring conversations with remarkable women redefining what midlife can look like. And don't forget to come back Thursday for Joanna's hilarious "Hot or Unhinged?" game episode! Mentioned in this episode: Special Offer from DefenAge: Get the Fly Kit for $29! If your skincare isn't working like it used to, it may not be your products—it may be your skin's natural renewal process slowing down. DefenAge's patented defensin technology is designed to help awaken your skin's ability to renew itself, addressing one of the biggest changes that happens as we age. 🎉 Exclusive for The Iconic Midlife listeners: Get the DefenAge Fly Kit—a $98 value for just $29. Visit DefenAge.com/Renewal and use code ROXY29 at checkout. Experience why DefenAge is redefining what's possible in age-defying skincare.

Game Episode: Skin Truth or Myth? Dr. Jessica Weiser Debunks Midlife Beauty Myths

Skin Truth or Myth? Dr. Jessica Weiser Debunks Midlife Beauty Myths Can you actually damage your skin barrier without realizing it? Do women in menopause need a completely different skincare strategy? And are we all overdoing skincare in the pursuit of looking younger? In this rapid-fire “Skin Truth or Myth?” episode, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jessica Weiser joins Roxy Manning to separate beauty fact from fiction — tackling some of the biggest misconceptions women hear about aging skin, retinol, exfoliation, injectables, skincare trends, collagen loss, and midlife beauty pressure. They also discuss: • Why “more” skincare is often the wrong approach • The truth about overusing active ingredients • Why neck aging can happen faster than facial aging • The skincare trends dermatologists secretly hate • What women waste money on constantly • The most underrated thing for great skin that has nothing to do with products Smart, funny, honest, and packed with genuinely useful information for women navigating midlife skin changes. ✨ SPECIAL OFFER: Listeners of The Iconic Midlife can get the DefenAge Fly Kit for just $29 (normally $98) at: DefenAge.com/renewal Use code: ROXY29 Follow: @weiserskinmd @defenageskincare @theiconicmidlife @redcarpetroxy 🎧 Listen & Follow The Iconic Midlife is where smart, stylish women over 40 come to rebrand midlife on their terms. Join the Inner Circle: https://the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning.kit.com/3433416614 [https://the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning.kit.com/3433416614] Want bold guests, unfiltered stories, and iconic midlife insight in your inbox? Listen & Follow The Iconic Midlife is where smart, stylish women over 40 come to rebrand midlife on their terms. New episodes every Tuesday. Bonus game episode drops on Thursdays. Tap “Follow” so you never miss a moment. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning/id1817484587 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning/id1817484587] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4FRDzq3AalXaqfpfWq7dlm?si=7e91db12ba1f4bfa [https://open.spotify.com/show/4FRDzq3AalXaqfpfWq7dlm] Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ff905ad8-332f-430e-a040-ce1ba5047483/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ff905ad8-332f-430e-a040-ce1ba5047483/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning] Let’s Connect Social media: @theiconicmidlife (show) | @redcarpetroxy (host) • YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theiconicmidlife [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGk0JYq3aGyTMmTjtrUl2eA]

Your Skincare Didn’t Stop Working. Your Skin Changed. | Dr. Jessica Weiser

At a certain point in midlife, many women start noticing something frustrating: the skincare routine that used to work suddenly… doesn’t. You buy better products. Add more steps. Spend more money. Maybe even consider lasers or injectables. And yet your skin still feels duller, thinner, drier, more reactive, or somehow just not like you anymore. So what’s actually happening? In this episode of The Iconic Midlife, Roxy sits down with renowned board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jessica Weiser for a smart, nuanced conversation about what really happens to skin during perimenopause and menopause — and why pushing your skin harder may actually be the wrong approach. They discuss: * Why skincare routines plateau in midlife * The hormonal shifts affecting collagen, hydration, elasticity, and recovery * Why “more aggressive” skincare can backfire * The overlooked middle ground between topical products and cosmetic procedures * Why many women feel disconnected from their reflection during this stage * The emotional side of skin changes and identity * How practitioners are rethinking skin renewal and resilience * The difference between “pushing” the skin and supporting its natural renewal process * What Dr. Weiser would simplify immediately in most midlife routines * The biggest myths women still believe about aging skin If what we talked about resonates with you — the idea that your skin still has the ability to renew, it just needs the right support — DefenAge has put together a breakdown of exactly how this works and what makes their approach different. ✨ Visit: defenage.com/renewal ✨ Use code ROXY29 to get the DefenAge Fly Kit for just $29 (normally $98)-a special starter set designed to support midlife skin renewal. FOLLOW DR. JESSICA WEISER Instagram: @weiserskinmd FOLLOW DEFENAGE Instagram: @defenageskincare Join the Inner Circle: https://the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning.kit.com/3433416614 [https://the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning.kit.com/3433416614] Want bold guests, unfiltered stories, and iconic midlife insight in your inbox? Listen & Follow The Iconic Midlife is where smart, stylish women over 40 come to rebrand midlife on their terms. New episodes every Tuesday. Bonus game episode drops on Thursdays. Tap “Follow” so you never miss a moment. Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning/id1817484587 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning/id1817484587] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4FRDzq3AalXaqfpfWq7dlm?si=7e91db12ba1f4bfa [https://open.spotify.com/show/4FRDzq3AalXaqfpfWq7dlm] Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ff905ad8-332f-430e-a040-ce1ba5047483/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ff905ad8-332f-430e-a040-ce1ba5047483/the-iconic-midlife-with-roxy-manning] Let’s Connect Social media: @theiconicmidlife (show) | @redcarpetroxy (host) • YouTube: https://youtube.com/@theiconicmidlife [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGk0JYq3aGyTMmTjtrUl2eA] Mentioned in this episode: Exclusive Offer from DefenAge Skincare Today’s episode is brought to you by DefenAge — advanced skincare powered by patented defensin technology designed to help rejuvenate the look of aging skin. ✨ Right now, listeners of The Iconic Midlife can get the DefenAge Fly Kit for just $29 (normally $98) at DefenAge.com/renewal using code ROXY29. If you’ve been curious about DefenAge’s breakthrough defensin technology, this is an incredible way to try it. Follow: @defenageskincare Shop here: www.DefenAge.com/renewal Exclusive Offer from DefenAge Skincare Today’s episode is brought to you by DefenAge — advanced skincare powered by patented defensin technology designed to help rejuvenate the look of aging skin. ✨ Right now, listeners of The Iconic Midlife can get the DefenAge Fly Kit for just $29 (normally $98) at DefenAge.com/renewal using code ROXY29. If you’ve been curious about DefenAge’s breakthrough defensin technology, this is an incredible way to try it. Follow: @defenageskincare Shop here: www.DefenAge.com/renewal