Honest conversations about the emotional, psychological, and cultural shifts of midlife—from mental health and menopause to rediscovering yourself.​​​​

In this first episode, I share my personal and professional journey that led me to this space — one shaped by aging, navigating perimenopausal symptoms, confronting gaps in mental health knowledge, and advocating for myself along the way.

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I talk about what Pause Culture really means, why I created this platform, and how taking control of my midlife narrative has become an active, ongoing process. This episode is an invitation to reflect, connect, and engage in honest conversation about what it means to live fully and intentionally in this season.

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This isn’t just my story — it’s a dialogue I hope inspires your own.

Welcome to the pause that changes everything.

In this episode of The Pause Culture Podcast, we explore what it means to accept — and claim — the midlife payoff.

After decades of proving, pleasing, and pushing through, midlife offers us the chance to shift from survival to self-honoring.

But why do so many of us delay that shift? And what changes when we stop waiting for permission?

I unpack the emotional and cultural reasons we hesitate to accept and claim the payoff, share my personal story, and offer journal prompts to help you reflect on what you truly owe yourself in this season.

Why do so many women in midlife feel anxious, foggy, or emotionally flat — even when “nothing’s technically wrong”? In this episode, we’re naming what’s really going on beneath the surface.

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From hormone shifts and hidden caregiving labor to identity whiplash and allostatic load, we explore the emotional and neurological weight that midlife brings — and why it’s not all in your head. You’ll also learn how health psychology helps us connect the dots between mood, memory, and meaning.

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Plus: a free Midlife Mental Health Check-In to help you reflect, reset, and reclaim your emotional clarity. Download it at dialoguewithdiseph.com/checkin.

Menopause isn’t a one-way street—and for many women, the road is anything but straightforward. In this episode, we explore the many ways women enter menopause: naturally, medically, surgically, prematurely, and everything in between. Whether your experience came gradually, suddenly, or left you feeling unprepared, your story matters.

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You’ll hear about:

• Natural vs. early vs. premature menopause

• The impact of surgical menopause and chronic illness

• The emotional, relational, and physical weight of transition

• Why cultural silence does more harm than good

• How to ask for what you need—and why you absolutely deserve to

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This is a compassionate, honest look at what it really means to cross the bridge into menopause—and a reminder that however you got here, you’re not alone.

Midlife can be a breaking point — or a breakthrough.

In this episode, I explore what I call a Case of the Done-Being-Nices: that moment when the mask slips, the performance stops, and you finally stop bending for expectations that no longer fit.

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This isn’t about apathy — it’s about alignment.

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I share my own experience of choosing clarity over confusion, peace over people-pleasing, and freedom over performing.

Whether you’re just beginning to feel this shift, or deep in your own Done-Being-Nices era, this episode is a permission slip to honor what’s true — even if it’s still unfolding.

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Let it be messy. Let it be yours. And let that be enough.

Feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or like you're just trying to hold it all together? You’re not alone — and you’re not losing it. This episode explores how midlife changes impact the nervous system, what “fawn” really looks like (especially for women), and why your old coping tools may not be working anymore.

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I’ll walk you through five simple nervous system “rescue tools” — or as I like to call them, nervous system snacks — to help you reset, soothe your stress, and return to your body with more ease. No perfection. No performance. Just small, powerful steps toward regulation and repair.

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Because midlife isn’t just about pushing through.
It’s about waking up to yourself — grounded, aware, and finally in charge of your story again.

We often associate grief with death, but in midlife, loss wears many faces. In this episode, we explore the quiet, often unspoken grief that comes with life transitions — the relationships that shift, the dreams we set aside, the roles we outgrow, and the versions of ourselves we leave behind.

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From ambiguous loss to unmet expectations, this is a gentle, grounded reflection on how grief shows up in everyday midlife moments — and why naming it can be the beginning of healing. Whether you’re grieving something you can’t quite explain or finally giving language to something long buried, you’re not alone here.

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Take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s tend to the invisible weight we carry.

This week, I’m joined by Dr. Jasmine McClendon, board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Minding Up Psychiatry, to talk openly about the role of psychiatric medication in midlife mental health.

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We explore how to recognize when therapy alone may not be enough, common mental health challenges in midlife, misconceptions about medication, and how stigma and identity often intersect for women navigating this season of life. Dr. McClendon also shares what to consider before starting medication, what to look for in a provider, and how to advocate for yourself—bringing clinical expertise and grounded wisdom to a conversation many of us are afraid to have out loud.

Stress in midlife can feel relentless — from juggling family responsibilities and work to navigating the changes in our own bodies and minds. In this episode, I open up about my own recent struggles with mental and emotional exhaustion and explores why rest isn’t a luxury we earn, but a necessity we need. I share practical ways to pause — from quick micro‑breaks to deeper practices that restore body, mind, and soul. If you’ve ever felt guilty about slowing down, this conversation will help you see rest in a whole new light.

In this season finale of The Pause Culture Podcast, I reflect on the journey through midlife — the mess, the magic, and everything in between. Join me for a heartfelt look back at the ten key lessons learned across the season, and discover the one powerful thread tying it all together: permission. Permission to rest, grieve, set boundaries, dream, and rewrite your story.

Plus, get a sneak peek at what’s coming in Season 2, including new topics, surprises, and how to stay connected during the break.

Whether you’re deep in midlife or just beginning to explore this transformative season, this episode is your invitation to take up space, embrace your story, and lean into the turning point that midlife offers.

Season 2 of The Pause Culture Podcast is here! In this opener, I reflect on a summer of connection, balancing work and family, and noticing what truly brings joy — and what’s ready to be released.

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This episode sets the tone for a season of pausing, reflecting, and harvesting midlife wisdom. Learn how small moments can hold the biggest insights and how to slow down intentionally in your life.

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Plus, discover my Half-Day Pause & Harvest retreat, an intimate space to pause, reflect, harvest what’s ready, and connect with women of like mind.

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Step into this season of midlife with intention.

Fall is here, and with it comes a natural invitation to slow down, reflect, and embrace change with grace.

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In this episode of The Pause Culture Podcast, we explore the “Autumn Pause”—how midlife, like the season, brings shifts in our bodies, minds, and priorities.

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Join me as we dive into:

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Noticing what's ready to be harvested—lessons, growth, and joys.  Letting go of habits, expectations, and patterns that no longer serve us.  Using mindfulness, CBT and ACT-inspired practices to navigate transitions with intention.  Small, practical ways to pause, reflect and embrace change gracefully in your life today.

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Step into this Autumn pause and cultivate the quiet strength, clarity, and grace that midlife offers.

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And if you'd like to go deeper, my Half-Day Pause & Harvest retreat this fall offers an intimate space to reflect, harvest insights, and connect with like-minded women.

Learn more and reserve your spot at dialoguewithdiseph.com

In midlife, release isn’t about loss — it’s about creating space for what’s next. In this episode, we explore the mindsets and habits that no longer serve us and how letting go can open the door to growth, freedom, and new possibilities.

Whether it’s old narratives, limiting beliefs, or patterns you’ve outgrown, this conversation will help you pause, reflect, and realign with what matters most.

Midlife is a season of harvesting what truly nourishes us—and that includes our friendships.

In this episode, we explore how your inner circle reflects your inner life, and why curating relationships in this season isn’t about loss, but about depth and alignment.

Some friendships are ripe and ready to enjoy now, some are winding down and offering their lessons, and others are like seeds waiting to sprout again in the future.

Join me as we talk about preparing for the stillness of winter, the renewal of spring, and how friendships can become one of the richest parts of your midlife story.

Midlife is full of crossroads—and the choices we make can shape the life we actually want to live. 

In this episode, I explore the delicate balance between self-care and self-destruction, sharing personal stories, practical strategies, and the surprising connection between protecting your well-being and unlocking creativity.

From recognizing patterns of self-sabotage to embracing micro-choices that preserve energy, restore clarity, and awaken courage, this episode is a guide to choosing yourself—every single day. 

Discover how midlife isn’t just about surviving—it’s about creating, evolving, and stepping into the next chapter with intention.

Whether you’re navigating career changes, empty nests, or life transitions, this episode will remind you that your choices are powerful—and that midlife is the perfect time to lean into them.

In this episode of The Pause Culture Podcast, I sit down with Susie Stonefield — transformational creativity coach, grief midwife, and expressive artist — for a soulful conversation about grief, loss, and the healing power of creative expression.

Together, we explore how art can become a refuge, a reckoning, and a rebirth in midlife.

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Through stories, laughter, and truth-telling, Susie invites us to see creativity not as performance, but as a courageous act of self-discovery — one that helps us face our shadows, honor what we’ve lost, and reclaim what’s been waiting to come alive.

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Join us for Part One of this heart-centered dialogue on creating through courage, healing through art, and embracing the midlife journey with open hands.