Lately, you might be noticing small things…

You’re asking people to repeat themselves. Restaurants feel louder than they used to. You leave conversations feeling more drained than connected. Or maybe there’s a subtle ringing, buzzing, or just an “off” feeling you can’t quite explain.

And you’re wondering… Is this just normal? Or is something actually going on?

In this episode, I’m joined by my longtime friend and audiologist, Dr. Rhee Nesson of Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, to talk about something we don’t often connect to this chapter of life: hearing health.

It’s about understanding the subtle shifts happening in your body and knowing what to do next.

We talk about:

• Why hearing changes are often so gradual you don’t notice them at first
• The connection between hearing, brain health, and mental load
• How perimenopause and menopause can show up in ways like ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness, or sensitivity to noise
• Why feeling overwhelmed or exhausted in social settings might not just be “in your head”
• The emotional side of it — confidence, connection, and how you show up in conversations
• What it actually looks like to get a baseline and be proactive without spiraling

Because this isn’t just about hearing.

It’s about how you move through your life. How you connect with people. How you feel in your own body.

And if something feels off, you don’t have to ignore it.

If you’re experiencing ringing, buzzing, or changes in your hearing, this is a helpful place to start:

https://hearingdoctorsofnj.com/tinnitus-during-menopause-what-women-need-to-know/

For more comprehensive tinnitus support and treatment options: https://tinnitusdoctorsofnj.com/

Explore hearing health resources or schedule an evaluation with Dr. Rhee Nesson and her team at Hearing Doctors of New Jersey: https://hearingdoctorsofnj.com/

Follow along on Social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hearingdoctorsofnj/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearingdoctorsofnj/

If you’re noticing changes — physically, emotionally, or just that sense of “something feels different” — this is exactly the space I support women through.

Not just what is happening… but how to process it, understand it, and move forward without feeling stuck in it.

Because sometimes it’s not one big thing. It’s a lot of small shifts happening all at once.

And having someone to talk it through with changes everything.

Learn more about working together: https://www.fullyinformedlife.com

Read more reflections from this past year on Substack: https://thenextchapther.substack.com/

Follow along on Instagram: @fullyinformedlifecoaching

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

And as you listen, just notice: What have I been brushing off that might actually be worth paying attention to?

One year ago, I was sitting in a parking lot when I got the call that would change my life.

But this episode isn’t just about that moment. It’s about what happens after. What a year like that teaches you. And why this conversation matters even if you haven’t faced a diagnosis like mine.

Because most of us will go through a year that changes us. A year where life splits into before and after. A year where something happens that we didn’t plan, didn’t want, and didn’t see coming.

In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on the past year and sharing the questions I’ve been asking myself:

• What do I know now that I wish I had known then?
• What does the one-year mark actually mean?
• What did I get wrong about how hard this would be?
• And what does it look like to keep living while going through something hard?

I talk about the part no one really sees. The invisible part. The part where you look fine on the outside but are carrying so much on the inside.

And I share what actually helped me navigate this messy middle. Not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too.

This episode is not just about cancer. It’s about identity, resilience, community, and what it means to move through something hard and still find yourself on the other side.

If you’re in your own version of a messy middle right now, you’re not alone.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to keep moving forward.

Read more reflections from this past year on Substack: https://thenextchapther.substack.com/

Follow along on Instagram: @fullyinformedlifecoaching

Learn more about working together: https://www.fullyinformedlife.com

Episode Title: Perimenopause, Menopause, and the Chapter No One Prepared Us For

In this episode, Andrea sits down with menopause coach Susie Weinberg to talk about perimenopause and menopause, a stage of life that affects almost every woman, yet many still feel confused and alone when it begins.

They talk about common symptoms many women don’t realize are hormone-related, the frustration of being told “everything is normal,” the emotional impact of this stage of life, and why support and self-advocacy are so important.

This conversation is about more than hormones. It’s about identity, relationships, confidence, and learning how to navigate this chapter with more information, support, and compassion for yourself.

Resources Mentioned: https://menopause.org/ https://www.letstalkmenopause.org/

Connect with Susie Weinberg: Website: www.susieweinbergmenopausecoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susiemenopausecoach

Connect with Andrea: Website: https://www.fullyinformedlife.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullyinformedlifecoaching Substack: https://substack.com/@thenextchapther