Women Aging Well with Michele Hawkins

Women Aging Well with Michele Hawkins

Are you feeling lost in the caregiving roles you’ve spent years filling for everyone but yourself? In this episode, we explore what it truly means to break free from the "hidden load" and begin speaking life back into your own spirit. Our guest today is Michele Hawkins, a transformational force in holistic wellness dedicated to helping women 40+ turn midlife into their ultimate power zone. With over 25 years of experience in beauty, wellness, and functional nutrition, Michele empowers women to reshape their mindset and self-image to unlock bold confidence. A recipient of the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, Michele’s work is about elevation, reinvention, and living a life that is unapologetically powerful. In this episode, we discuss: * Breaking the cycle of losing yourself to your roles. * The profound impact of speaking life into yourself and other women. * A special, deeply moving segment where Michele shares the exact words she speaks to her 12-year-old granddaughter—a message for your own inner child. Resources Mentioned: * The Hidden Load Map: Life feeling heavier than it used to? Access the first map in my Atlas of Authentic Identity. This guided orientation experience helps you uncover how your roles, identity, and adaptive capacity interact so you can gain clarity, reclaim self-trust, and confidently choose your next step.https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1195126 [https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1195126]    Connect with Michele Hawkins: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelehawkins/ [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelehawkins/] About the Women’s Well-Being Movement This is more than a podcast; it’s a movement. We reject the myth that exhaustion is the price of success. We are women who lead in boardrooms, communities, and families—without losing ourselves. Read our manifesto and join the movement at: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/womenswellbeingmovement [https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/womenswellbeingmovement]    Together we rise, together we stand, together we lead.

Bridging the Healthcare Gap with Natalie Benamou (Part 1 Beyond Hormones Series)

Stop apologizing for your pain. Too many high-performing women are being told their symptoms are just "part of the process." That ends now. In this powerful conversation, we dive beneath the surface of the current healthcare landscape to address a systemic issue that impacts far too many women: the dismissal of our voices and our pain. Join us as we explore how to move beyond the "surface" symptoms to advocate for our own health, our families, and our future. Key Highlights: * The Power of Being Heard: Discover why being "witnessed"—having your symptoms and concerns truly acknowledged—is a critical, non-negotiable component of healing and overall well-being. * Navigating Systemic Bias: Natalie shares her personal journey of navigating healthcare obstacles and offers strategic insights on how to prepare for medical appointments as you would for a business meeting to ensure your voice is taken seriously. * Redefining Health Advocacy: Learn how to shift from feeling diminished by the healthcare system to reclaiming your agency, ensuring that your health needs are prioritized rather than dismissed as "part of the process". Connect With Our Guest Natalie Benamou is the Founder of HerCsuite® and the Board President and CEO of HER HEALTHX, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the care communication gap to improve health outcomes for women. A serial podcast host and sought-after speaker, Natalie empowers executive women to navigate their next chapters with confidence and strategic alignment. * Learn more about HerCsuite® and connect with Natalie here [https://hercsuite.com/] * Her book, Power of What's NEXT: Bold Moves By Design  [https://hercsuite.com/books/] Whittington Institute & Your Next Best Step Are you currently navigating a transition or feeling the weight of uncertainty? You don’t have to do it alone. Gain the clarity you need to make your next move with ease by exploring The Hidden Load Map [https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1195126], part of The Atlas of Authentic Identity. This tool is designed to help you identify where your energy is truly going, allowing you to stop "powering through" and start stepping into the light of your own authentic leadership. This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. Join the Women’s Well-Being Movement [https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/womenswellbeingmovement]and read our manifesto to stand for success without self-sacrifice.

Finding Clarity in the Middle of Transition

I’ve been a keynote speaker and stood on global stages, yet I still find myself hitting moments where the old map no longer works. If you’re at a juncture where you’re excited to shine but uncertain how to step into the light, you’re in good company.  In today’s episode, The Map of the Unseen, we’re ditching the pressure to "power through." I’m sharing my personal tools for staying grounded in the present, finding clarity amidst the noise, and reclaiming your inner wisdom.  Tune in to discover the bridge to our new series, Beyond Hormones, Going Beneath the Surface, and grab your first orientation too, a deep dive into the hidden load behind high performance. Let’s stop falling into the trap of more data and begin by listening within..  I’ve opened up the first map in the Atlas of Authentic Identity. It’s called 'Orientation Experience One - Mapping Your Role Capacity [https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1195126]' It’s an invitation to stop powering through and to  gently orient you to your current experience by helping you understand how your energy, responsibilities, and identity work together so your own clarity, discernment, and next steps can naturally emerge. Whittington Institute and Whittington Well-Being  This is more than a podcast, it’s a movement. Join the Women’s Well-Being Movement and read our manifesto to stand for success without self-sacrifice. https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/womenswellbeingmovement [https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/womenswellbeingmovement]

The Power of Generations of Women in the Workforce with Dr. Summer Watson

With up to five generations currently sharing the modern workplace, older operational systems are colliding with a brand-new generation of value-centric digital natives. In this episode of the Women’s Well-Being Movement Podcast, host Carole Jean Whittington sits down with Doctor of Psychology and founder of KORE Women, Dr. Summer Watson, to explore the incredible potential hidden within cross-generational collaboration. Together, they unpack why traditional hierarchies are failing and how leaders can build corporate cultures where wisdom flows between generations rather than over them. Carole Jean and Dr. Watson dive deep into the specific, systemic friction points facing Gen Z women today, from the communication disconnect caused by pandemic-era remote learning to the troubling trend of young talent being "hired fast and fired fast." Ultimately, they share the ultimate psychological and structural tool needed to fix a fractured workplace: Gemeinschaftsgefühl—the profound human need for community, shared humanity, and true belonging. In this episode, you will discover: * Why organizational success completely fails without centering human well-being and relational leadership. * The root causes behind Gen Z's current workplace integration struggles and how remote learning altered their foundational communication styles. * Actionable strategies for modern organizations to transform cross-generational friction into a powerful collaborative advantage. * How to leverage Dr. Watson’s KORE framework to ensure workplaces become spaces of active career growth instead of burnout and harm. About Our Guest: Dr. Summer Watson, MHS, PhD, is a Doctor of Psychology, Community Mentorship and Leadership Consultant, Podcaster, Event Producer, Author, and Military Spouse of over 21 years. As the founder of KORE Women, LLC, she empowers leaders and businesses through two transformational programs: KORE Mentorship Solutions (KMS), a cross-generational leadership framework fostering collaboration and retention, and KORE Business Solutions (KBS), a Virtual Assistant program helping entrepreneurs reclaim time and focus on growth. Connect with Dr. Summer Watson: * Website: korewomen.com [https://www.korewomen.com] * LinkedIn: Summer Watson, MHS, PhD * Instagram / TikTok / Facebook: @KOREWomen Special Resources & Freebies: Explore resources curated for our audience at https://pensight.com/x/korewomenpensight.com/x/korewomen [http://pensight.com/x/korewomen] Whittington Institute & Whittington Well-Being ResourcesWhittington Institute: Is your voice being suppressed by the heavy weight of roles you weren't meant to carry? Check out the Role Load Inventory [https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1195126] to identify your energy drains and lighten your load. Whittington Well-Being: Voicing heavy emotions requires a safe place to land. Grab The Stillness Guide [https://energyuplevel.kit.com/44cc9b27c0] to cultivate internal peace and ground your nervous system before stepping into your power. Join the Women’s Well-Being Movement now: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/womenswellbeingmovement [https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/womenswellbeingmovement]  Listen & Subscribe: Available now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If this episode sparked something in your leadership style, please leave us a review and share it with your network!

The “I’m Fine” Difference between Gen Z & Gen X with Guest Raquel Borras

How many times a day do you use the phrase "I'm fine"? In this episode of the Women’s Well-Being Movement Podcast, host Carole Jean Whittington sits down with youth advocate, filmmaker, and host of Rated Gen Z, Raquel Borras, to unpack how two words can mean completely different things depending on your generation. Together, Carole Jean and Raquel look through the lens of Gen X mothers raising Gen Z young adults to explore the profound communication and mental health shifts happening in today's multi-generational world. Raquel openly shares how navigating her own darkest chapters during her college years fueled her life's calling: creating spaces where youth voices flourish and proving that the most powerful way to heal is to become who you needed when you were younger. In this episode, you will discover: * The stark contrast between the Gen X "grit-and-power-through" mentality and Gen Z's radically open approach to mental wellness. * How Gen Z women are actively reshaping corporate norms, defining strict personal boundaries, and demanding authenticity. * Practical strategies for legacy leaders to check their egos, adapt to modern communication styles, and build cross-generational support systems. * A sneak peek into Raquel’s upcoming cross-country RV documentary, I Hear You, Gen Z. Tune in to discover how we can stop hiding behind "I'm fine" and start building communities rooted in true belonging, vulnerability, and legacy leadership. ***Discussion of suicide briefly included About Our Guest: Raquel Borras is a youth advocate, corporate leader, and the creative force behind the YouTube channel Raq The Boat and the podcast Rated Gen Z. Her upcoming documentary film, I Hear You, Gen Z, follows her journey across America to capture authentic, diverse conversations with the changing faces of the youth cohort. Connect with Raquel: Explore RaqVision [https://raq.vision/] * Instagram: @raquel.borras | @raq_the_boat | @ratedgenz | @i_hear_you_gen_z * YouTube: Raq The Boat Whittington Institute & Whittington Well-Being Resources * Whittington Institute: Is your voice being suppressed by the heavy weight of roles you weren't meant to carry? Check out the Role Load Inventory [https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/products/courses/view/1195126] to identify your energy drains and lighten your load. * Whittington Well-Being: Voicing heavy emotions requires a safe place to land. Grab The Stillness Guide [https://energyuplevel.kit.com/44cc9b27c0] to cultivate internal peace and ground your nervous system before stepping into your power. * Join the Women’s Well-Being Movement now: https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/womenswellbeingmovement [https://energize.whittingtonwellbeing.com/womenswellbeingmovement]  Listen & Subscribe to the Women’s Well-Being Movement Podcast: Available now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts in the comments!