This is episode (8) of our special nine-part series entitled It’s Not Too Late. Our hosts Julie Flakstad & Dr. Taz Bhatia, welcome Gabby Reece - volleyball legend, inspirational health and fitness leader, podcast host, corporate speaker, New York Times bestselling author, wife, and mother. In this conversation, Gabby shares her own personal experience navigating midlife and her perspective and advice on fostering a positive mindset, prioritizing self-care + the power of taking personal inventory. Together we discuss why it’s "never too late" for anything; new pursuits, fitness, relationships and instead how to lean into curiosity and play with flexibility and grace.

Here are some key themes + takeaways …

• Midlife + Adolescence: similar to adolescence, we can either buy into what society tells us that we should be thinking and feeling in midlife, or we can avoid the noise and take charge of what we can control.

• We’re not invisible, it’s simply nature: at the end of the day, humans are animals. As we reach midlife, we’re not emitting signals to make people look at us, because we’re NOT having babies anymore. That doesn’t mean we’re invisible. Midlife is nature’s way of freeing us up, so we can move on and add value in different ways.

• Preserve your inner ‘girl’: as we age, remember to have fun, not just on Saturday nights but also on everyday afternoons. Lety’s “sharpen the blade of being ‘naughty’ and be more playful, have more levity and take ourselves less seriously.

• The distinction between curiosity and searching: recognize that the answer is not “out there” for us to search for, it’s ‘within’ us. Ultimately there really aren’t any ‘answers’ anyway. Curiosity is about waking up everyday with your beliefs but being willing to question them, listen to other ideas and learn new concepts.

• As long as you’re ALIVE, be ALIVE: don’t fall into the trap of ‘you’re either young or old’. Instead, lean into the fact that you’re either ALIVE or DEAD, and as long as you’re alive, BE ALIVE. We’re all here to connect and contribute something for as long as we’re alive.

• Life is school: we’re learning - let go of all the expectations and live.

• All you need is 90 days: Create a plan for movement + nutrition. There is nothing more painful than not moving. You can change anything if you give it 90 days

About Our Guest, Gabby Reece

Gabby Reece is a former professional volleyball player, fitness icon, model, and entrepreneur known for her powerful presence both on and off the court. With a career that began in sports and extended into wellness advocacy, she has inspired countless individuals to pursue active, healthy lifestyles. Beyond her athletic achievements, Reece is a successful businesswoman, author, and podcast host who champions the importance of mental resilience, self-care, and balance. As a wife and mother, she seamlessly integrates her experiences and insights into relatable discussions about navigating life’s transitions, emphasizing that it’s never too late to embrace growth and transformation.

Connect with Our Hosts and Conversation Partner!

Gabby Reece

• Podcast 
• Book 
• Laird Superfood
• XPT
• High X
• Gabby Apparel   
• Website: https://gabriellereece.com/
• Instagram: @gabbyreece  

Julie Flakstad

• https://julieflakstad.com/ 
• Instagram @julieflakstad 
• Facebook @thejulieflakstad

Dr. Taz Bhatia

• YouTube: @DrTazMD
• Instagram: @drtazmd
• Website: doctortaz.com
• Order The Hormone Shift book HERE
• Practice - Centre Spring MD: https://centrespringmd.com/ 

Tune in next week when we drop our next episode in this special (9) part series, called “Connect The Dots” with celebrated entrepreneur and founder of Spanx and more recently Sneex, Sara Blakely. In this episode, our hosts, Julie Flakstad and Dr. Taz Bhatia, get valuable perspective and practical advice on the sometimes overwhelming question of ‘what’s next?’. Available on Audio and on YouTube!

Thanks so much for tuning in! Before you leave, please make sure to subscribe to the show so you’ll receive updates on new episodes. Also, let us know how we’re doing by providing a rating and review!

This series is presented by Womaness

Created by women for women, Womaness (https://womaness.com/) offers clinically and doctor tested supplements, sexual wellness, and skincare products that help you navigate hot flashes, changing skin, vaginal dryness, sleepless nights, and more—empowering you to live your life fully and age well.

Just for you… Womaness is offering all our future podcast listeners 20% off any purchase of $50 or more. Use code: Midlife20 and Shop Now

Production:

This show is produced by Rainbow Creative with Evy Bjorn and Matthew Jones as Executive Producers, and Nathan Wheatley as Lead Video and Audio Editor. Learn more about them at rainbowcreative.co.