Wellness Junkies | Beauty & Wellness Tips, Hacks, Recs & Reviews for Women 40+

Your cholesterol climbs. Your bone density drops. And you may not hear how much changing hormones can affect both. Jennifer Gularson, a board-certified physician assistant and functional medicine practitioner, joins Amy Sherman on Wellness Junkies to break down HRT and clear up some of the questions women have about hormones in midlife.Jennifer breaks down the difference between bioidentical and synthetic HRT and explains why she tells patients that birth control pills can involve about ten times the estrogen dose she uses for HRT. She tackles common concerns about HRT and breast cancer and shares her perspective on what newer research says about risk.The conversation turns to perimenopause and why symptoms can start up to a decade before menopause. Jennifer explains how she uses testosterone in her practice, where peptides may fit for concerns such as gut health, inflammation, and weight management, and where bone health and heart health fit into the bigger picture of women's longevity.There's a lot packed into this hour. Press play to hear Jennifer's practical guidance and figure out what your next conversation with your doctor should sound like.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Meet Jennifer Gularson And Her Approach to Women's Midlife Health01:21 Why Perimenopause Symptoms Get Dismissed As Normal Aging08:23 When Estrogen Decline Actually Begins And Why Timing Varies09:40 Breaking Down HRT, Bioidentical Hormones, And Dosing Options15:41 Testing Methods And Debunking Common Hormone Myths22:56 Exploring Peptides For Gut Health And Weight Loss30:52 Cholesterol, LDL, And Heart Health In Midlife39:43 Bone Health, DEXA Scans, And Preventing Osteoporosis49:33 Working With Doctors Plus Jennifer's Wellness And Beauty HacksConnect with Jennifer Gularson:Visit Jennifer's websiteFollow Jennifer on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠For More on this Episode: Read the full show notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉🏻 Join the Wellness Junkies community: • Follow us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wellnessjunkiesofficial ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram • Subscribe to our newsletter • Shop this episode + our faves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMyShop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • NEW! Follow us @wellnessjunkies on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok • Follow Amy @amynicolle on TikTok • Visit ⁠www.wellnessjunkiesofficial.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • Say hi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠Please subscribe, rate, review + share to help us grow the community 🙏🏻✌🏻See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

REPLAY! We're bringing this one back because college admissions season rolls around every year, and the questions parents ask never really change. Your kid's grades are fine. Their activities are fine. So why does the college process still feel like it's swallowing your whole house?That's the question Amy Sherman digs into with Alexis White, nationally recognized college admissions expert and founder of A-List Admissions and Tutoring, in this episode of Wellness Junkies. If you are looking for college admissions advice for parents that calms the noise, this conversation is the reset button.Alexis has worked with students for more than 20 years, with her tutoring business eventually expanding into college admissions. She opens with a mindset shift most parents never hear, then explains why tenth grade is such an important year for narrowing priorities and starting to think more seriously about the college process.She also breaks down a piece of high school college prep most people skip. Alexis shares her honest take on touring safety schools before junior year, and why the reaction almost always surprises parents.Later, Amy and Alexis get into staying sane during college applications when the comparison spiral hits, why parents need to tune out everyone else's opinions, and a specific college essay mistake Alexis sees English teachers make again and again.The conversation also gets into the anti-college movement gaining traction online, plus a few under-the-radar schools Alexis is loving right now.Press play if you want to walk away from this one feeling steadier than when you hit start.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Amy Introduces Alexis White and Why This Episode Matters07:45 Staying Sane During the College Process14:30 The Importance of Passion Over Grades21:06 Personal Statements and Supplemental Essay Strategy24:14 Staying on Top of Deadlines and Application Scheduling26:53 How Test Optional Rules for the SAT and ACT Keep Shifting33:44 Leadership Advice for Quieter and Introverted Kids39:22 The Anti College Movement and Why Alexis Pushes Back45:12 Underrated Schools, Scholarships, and Alexis's Beauty HackConnect with Alexis White:Follow Alexis on TiktokFollow Alexis on InstagramVisit the Alexis College Expert website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For More on this Episode: Read the full show notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉🏻 Join the Wellness Junkies community: • Follow us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wellnessjunkiesofficial ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram • Subscribe to our newsletter • Shop this episode + our faves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMyShop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • NEW! Follow us @wellnessjunkies on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok • Follow Amy @amynicolle on TikTok • Visit ⁠www.wellnessjunkiesofficial.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • Say hi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠Please subscribe, rate, review + share to help us grow the community 🙏🏻✌🏻See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

REPLAY! This is a replay of one of our favorite conversations, back in your feed because Bethany's take on styling is worth hearing twice.Getting dressed shouldn't feel like a decision that drains you before 8 a.m. Bethany Gursky, the NYC-based wardrobe stylist behind @bethanyannstyles, sits down with Amy Sherman on Wellness Junkies for a styling conversation that treats getting dressed as an act of self-care. Bethany works with women to build wardrobes that support how they actually live, and she explains why she believes fashion is wellness.Bethany built her viral Sunday outfit formulas because she got tired of making the same decision every morning. She shares how she plans a full week of looks in fifteen minutes, why a strong personal style comes from repetition rather than more shopping, and how to elevate a basic outfit with one small styling shift.They also get into the emotional side of a closet. Bethany explains why so many women dress for other people instead of themselves, gives her test for catching an impulse buy before it happens, and walks through her 21-day wardrobe refresh for anyone who feels stuck staring at a closet full of clothes with nothing to wear.This is a relatable wellness conversation for anyone who wants their closet to work harder for their actual life, with practical tips on denim brands, white tees, and building a capsule wardrobe you will reach for on repeat. Press play and get dressed with a little more ease this week.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Welcome and Bethany Gursky's Styling Background01:22 Why Fashion Is Wellness Not Vanity03:04 Why Getting Dressed Feels Emotionally Loaded06:27 The Story Behind Sunday Outfit Formulas08:55 Bethany's Everyday Styling Formula and Layering13:13 Breaking the Habit of Impulse Buying17:06 Inside the 21 Day Wardrobe Refresh19:24 Balancing Trends With Personal Style24:53 Investment Pieces Worth the Splurge39:12 Rapid Fire Beauty and Wellness HacksConnect with Bethany Gursky:Follow Bethany Ann Styles on InstagramFollow Bethany Ann Styles on TiktokVisit the Bethany Ann Styles websiteSubscribe to Bethany Ann Styles on SubstackShop this episode: You know we love to give you the best of the best in wellness products and resources to help you learnmore about our podcast topics. In this week’s episode, here are the products and brands that we talked about:Shop everything mentioned hereAYR | The Secret Sauce JeansAYR | The Legend Jeans - SkyscraperAYR | The Bud Jeans  - Yada Yada AYR | The High Hopes Pants - Black Levi's Reformation BUCK MASON | Pima Slim Crew TopNegative Lounge SetsSET Sweats QUINCE | Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Quarter Zip Sweater Veronica Beard Veronica Beard | Fenix Shearling Mule Frame Tops & BlousesSalomon Shoes New Balance Shoes Asics Shoes Loafers GUCCI | Ankle Boot with Horsebit Margaux Shoes The Blue Cocoon OSEA | Salts Of The Earth Body Scrub Oura RingEIGHT SLEEP | Pod Cover Shop more of my favorite products here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For More on this Episode: Read the full show notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉🏻 Join the Wellness Junkies community: • Follow us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wellnessjunkiesofficial ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram • Subscribe to our newsletter • Shop this episode + our faves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMyShop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • NEW! Follow us @wellnessjunkies on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok • Follow Amy @amynicolle on TikTok • Visit ⁠www.wellnessjunkiesofficial.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  • Say hi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠Please subscribe, rate, review + share to help us grow the community 🙏🏻✌🏻See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

REPLAY! We're bringing this one back because Wendy Valentine's midlife reinvention story is the one you keep asking us to replay.Wendy Valentine was 45, in the middle of her second divorce, deep in debt, and dealing with black mold toxicity and chronic Lyme disease, on top of menopause, when her dog, her cat, and her brother all died within six weeks of each other. She hit her breaking point crying on a cold bathroom floor. That is where her midlife reinvention began. On Wellness Junkies, host Amy Sherman sits down with Wendy to talk through how she rebuilt her entire life from there.Wendy is an internationally published author of Women Waking Up, founder of Midlifology™, and host of The Midlife Makeover Show. She has appeared on Good Day New York and CBS News Los Angeles. She walks Amy through the vision that pulled her off that bathroom floor, and the plan she built from it that led to a job offer within four weeks.The two dig into self-care for women over 40 during midlife reinvention, from the exact words Wendy tells herself when her inner critic gets loud to the ACE method she uses for grief and anxiety. She also connects boundary setting for women to how you talk to yourself first, especially on the hard days.Press play to hear how Wendy went from a U-Haul and a new job in Chicago to an RV crossing the country, and why she says giving yourself permission to pivot matters more than having a plan.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Welcome and Wendy Valentine's Impressive Bio01:35 Weekly High That Started With Surgery and Grief05:08 Wendy's Meltdown and the Start of Midlife Reinvention11:02 How Her Podcast Led to Writing Her Book15:29 Knowing When Midlife Reinvention Beats Pushing Harder19:53 Be Your Own Best Friend and the B3 Method26:15 The ACE Method for Emotional Overload30:47 Boundary Setting for Women and Learning to Say No41:45 Curly Hair Routine for Women Over 4046:52 Favorite Self Care Hack and Where to Find WendyConnect with Wendy Valentine:Visit Wendy's websiteFollow Wendy on Instagram Read Women Waking Up by Wendy ValentineShop this episode: You know we love to give you the best of the best in wellness products and resources to help you learnmore about our podcast topics. In this week’s episode, here are the products and brands that we talked about:Shop everything mentioned: https://shopmy.us/collections/4531450 ELEMIS | Superfood Glow Priming MoisturizerIT COSMETICS | Celebration Foundation IlluminationLANCÔME | Cils Booster XL Enhancing Lash & Mascara PrimerLANCÔME | Hypnôse Drama Waterproof MascaraGRANDE COSMETICS | GrandeBROW 2-In-1 Tinted Brow Gel + Brow Enhancing Serum - MediumCLINIQUE | Almost Lipstick Bundle: Black Honey + Pink Honey + Nude HoneyMOROCCANOIL | Curl Defining CreamMOROCCANOIL | Restorative Hair MaskMOROCCANOIL | Hydrating ConditionerDEVACURL | No-Poo Decadence Zero Lather Cleanser For Ultra-Rich MoistureDEVACURL | One Condition Original Rich Cream ConditionerBUMBLE AND BUMBLE. | Curl 3-In-1 ConditionerBUMBLE AND BUMBLE. | Curl Moisturizing ShampooShop more of my favorite products here: https://shopmy.us/amynsherman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For More on this Episode: Read the full show notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉🏻 Join the Wellness Junkies community:• Follow us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wellnessjunkiesofficial ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram• Subscribe to our newsletter• Shop this episode + our faves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMyShop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• NEW! Follow us @wellnessjunkies on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok• Follow Amy @amynicolle on TikTok• Visit ⁠www.wellnessjunkiesofficial.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Say hi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠Please subscribe, rate, review + share to help us grow the community 🙏🏻✌🏻See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

REPLAY! This fan favorite episode is back and it's just as good the second time around.Most workouts don't come with a bass drop and a room full of women who have stopped caring what they look like. Dance parties for women over 40 have become a popular way to blow off steam without a late night or a guilt trip. On this episode of Wellness Junkies, host Amy Sherman talks with Laura Baginski, co-founder of Earlybirds Club, the sold-out dance party movement now running in 40 cities nationwide.Laura built the club with her high school friend Susie Lee while Susie was living with stage four cancer. Laura shares the origin story, the blizzard that almost canceled their first event, and the phrase Susie asked every guest to live by, one that still opens every party today.Expect relatable wellness conversations about why an all-women dance floor changes how people move, plus the one detail on every venue rider that has nothing to do with music. It is one of the small touches that keeps people coming back to these dance parties for women over 40. Laura also shares her own wellness tips, from her real sleep routine to the one skincare product she reorders on autopilot.If you want proof that a dance party for women 40+ can double as therapy, a workout, and a reunion with your own joy, press play. Find more episodes like this on Wellness Junkies, one of the best wellness podcasts for women chasing midlife friendship and joy without the overwhelm.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Welcoming Laura Baginski To Wellness Junkies01:03 The Idea Behind Earlybirds Club04:29 Laura's Career Before Dance Parties05:37 The Blizzard That Almost Sank Launch Night07:37 Selling Out And Expanding To Forty Cities09:44 Why An All Women Dance Floor Feels Different17:07 Running The Business Through Local Ambassadors21:16 Remembering Co-Founder Susie Lee's Legacy25:41 Advice For Women Who Hate Dancing34:06 Laura's Wellness And Beauty Rapid FireConnect with Laura Baginski:Follow Earlybirds Club on InstagramFollow Earlybirds Club on TiktokVisit the Earlybirds Club website⁠⁠⁠⁠For More on this Episode: Read the full show notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉🏻 Join the Wellness Junkies community:• Follow us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wellnessjunkiesofficial ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram• Subscribe to our newsletter• Shop this episode + our faves on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ShopMyShop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• NEW! Follow us @wellnessjunkies on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and TikTok• Follow Amy @amynicolle on TikTok• Visit ⁠www.wellnessjunkiesofficial.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Say hi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] ⁠⁠Please subscribe, rate, review + share to help us grow the community 🙏🏻✌🏻See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.