Beauty, self-care, and relatable wellness, without the overwhelm. Trying, testing & talking all things to help you feel best.
Wellness Junkies is a weekly podcast for women 40+ who care about feeling good in their bodies, aging well, and making smarter choices around beauty and wellness. We cover wellness, beauty, self-care, beauty and wellness product recs and reviews, tips, hacks, skin and hair care, fitness, hormone health, peri-menopause and menopause wellness, midlife wellness, and lifestyle in a way that’s grounded, practical, and refreshingly honest. Think calm, credible conversations like you’d have in your kitchen with friends over a glass of wine!
You’ll hear fun and relatable conversations about self-care tips and hacks for real life, beauty routines for busy women, and everyday wellness and beauty advice that actually fits into your life. We talk about lifestyle shifts that support long-term health and longevity (without asking you to wake up at 5 a.m. or buying 17 supplements)!
We’re also serious about beauty and wellness products. Expect honest wellness product reviews and recs, beauty advice, skincare tips, and no-fluff beauty product recs you can trust. Hear our favorite beauty MVPs and wellness MVPs.
Welcome to your cozy corner of wellness and beauty. Come hang with us. New episodes every week.
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Données mises à jour le 11/09/2026
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HRT, Hormones, Bones, and Cholesterol: Everything No One Explained About Midlife & Menopause | EP232
Épisode 232
jeudi 10 septembre 2026 • Durée 57:12
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 Health
01:21 Why Perimenopause Symptoms Get Dismissed As Normal Aging
08:23 When Estrogen Decline Actually Begins And Why Timing Varies
09:40 Breaking Down HRT, Bioidentical Hormones, And Dosing Options
15:41 Testing Methods And Debunking Common Hormone Myths
22:56 Exploring Peptides For Gut Health And Weight Loss
30:52 Cholesterol, LDL, And Heart Health In Midlife
39:43 Bone Health, DEXA Scans, And Preventing Osteoporosis
49:33 Working With Doctors Plus Jennifer's Wellness And Beauty Hacks
The College Admissions Expert Who Finally Makes the Process Feel Less Overwhelming | EP231
Épisode 231
jeudi 3 septembre 2026 • Durée 58:07
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.
Stop Overthinking Your Closet: The Sunday Outfit Formula for Effortless Styling | EP230
Épisode 230
jeudi 27 août 2026 • Durée 43:49
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 Background
You Have Permission to Pivot - Wendy Valentine on Midlife Reinvention | EP229
Épisode 229
jeudi 20 août 2026 • Durée 54:45
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 Bio
01:35 Weekly High That Started With Surgery and Grief
05:08 Wendy's Meltdown and the Start of Midlife Reinvention
11:02 How Her Podcast Led to Writing Her Book
Dance Parties for Women Over 40 Reveal the Wellness Tips We Keep Overcomplicating | EP228
Épisode 228
jeudi 13 août 2026 • Durée 38:45
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 Junkies
01:03 The Idea Behind Earlybirds Club
04:29 Laura's Career Before Dance Parties
05:37 The Blizzard That Almost Sank Launch Night
Simple Health Habits That Ease Low Energy in Midlife, With Lindsey Kaszuba | EP227
Épisode 227
jeudi 6 août 2026 • Durée 54:10
REPLAY! You can be doing everything right and still feel wiped out by 2 p.m. That drained, running-on-empty feeling is one of the most common complaints Lindsey hears from the women she works with, and it usually has nothing to do with willpower. This episode gets into what's actually driving low energy in midlife.
Amy sits down with Lindsey Kaszuba, wellness mentor and founder of Health Club Collective, for a conversation about mindset and health that goes beyond another meal plan or supplement stack. Lindsey has spent years helping women simplify wellness without losing their minds in the process.
She breaks down her energy bank concept, the idea that everything you eat, watch, and do either fills your tank or drains it. Lindsey also shares why she stopped weighing herself and what that choice uncovered about her own relationship with the number on the scale. It ties directly into the mindset shift around health she now teaches her clients.
If low energy in midlife has you searching for answers, this episode offers simple health habits you can actually stick to, no complicated morning routine required. Amy and Lindsey talk through practical wellness hacks and what it really takes to learn how to feel better in your body at this stage of life.
Tune in to the full conversation and start making small shifts that actually stick.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Welcome and Meet Lindsey Kaszuba
01:25 What a Wellness Mentor Actually Does
02:55 Why the Mental Work Is Hardest
06:38 Lindsey's Disordered Eating and Path to Coaching
10:36 Fighting Your Body Less in Midlife
The Skincare Habits Worth Building Before a Deep Plane Facelift Becomes the Conversation | EP226
Épisode 226
jeudi 30 juillet 2026 • Durée 56:23
REPLAY! This is a favorite episode from the archive, back by popular demand.
Most of what slows aging happens years before anyone considers surgery. That's the case Dr. Ruslan Zhuravsky makes in this episode of Wellness Junkies, and it starts with skincare tips most women skip entirely.
Dr. Zhuravsky is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon and founder of Z Face Plastic Surgery in South Florida. He's known for pushing back on the trend of copying celebrity faces instead of building beauty routines around your own anatomy. He joins host Amy Sherman for a warm, honest conversation about what works.
He shares the exact wellness and beauty hacks he uses himself, including what sits next to his toothbrush every morning. He explains why microneedling only works if you layer the right ingredients underneath it, what exosomes do, and why some popular under-eye treatments deliver far less than the marketing suggests.
For anyone curious about surgery down the line, he explains the real difference between a mini facelift and a true deep plane facelift, why some surgeons perform the procedure on patients in their thirties, and why chasing natural facelift results too early may not deliver the outcome you expect. Press play for the skincare tips worth stealing long before you consider anything more invasive.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet Dr. Ruslan Zhuravsky and His Natural Approach
02:12 Defining Aging Well Beyond Quick Fixes and Trends
03:34 The Three Pillars of Skin Laxity and Volume
07:05 Microneedling, PRP, and Exosomes Explained
14:12 A Crash Course in Lasers and Their Targets
K-Beauty Products Worth Buying (and the Biggest Skincare Mistake to Avoid) | EP225
Épisode 225
jeudi 23 juillet 2026 • Durée 39:44
REPLAY! Some episodes deserve a second run. Korean skincare keeps trending across feeds and store shelves, and this conversation remains the one listeners quote back to us. So we brought back a favorite. You get skincare product recommendations from someone whose routine started in elementary school. On this replay of Wellness Junkies, host Amy Sherman sits down with Elle Choi Son, a Korean American content creator with a background in professional makeup and social media marketing, for beauty tips rooted in decades of practice.
Elle walks through her full AM and PM beauty routines product by product. She names the toner she has repurchased for over five years, the PDRN serum she tested one week before recording, and the jar she describes as microneedling at home. She also explains which four skincare products form a complete starter routine, so beginners know exactly where to begin.
You also hear the story behind her start, which began when she competed in a Miss Korea pageant at age eighteen. Plus, Elle shares the K-beauty influencer habit she finds cringeworthy. Amy and Elle trade skincare tips on masks, sunscreens, and where to shop for authentic Korean skincare online.
Press play for skincare product recommendations worth screenshotting, plus beauty product recommendations for the days you have five minutes to look put together.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Welcome To Wellness Junkies With Elle Choi Son
01:18 Elle's Miss Korea Pageant Story And Path Into Beauty
04:13 Korean Skincare Vs Western Skincare Philosophy
09:57 Skincare Basics For Beginners
12:06 Elle's Full AM And PM Skincare Product Recommendations
17:13 Eye Cream And Night Cream Picks
GLP-1s for Perimenopausal Weight Gain: What a Top Bariatric Surgeon Wants You to Know | EP224
Épisode 224
jeudi 16 juillet 2026 • Durée 49:08
REPLAY! Bariatric surgery is the most effective tool for lasting weight loss, and her experience performing thousands of procedures has given Dr. Betsy Dovec a clear understanding of what can help patients succeed.
In this episode of Wellness Junkies, host Amy Sherman sits down with Dr. Dovec, a top female bariatric surgeon and founder of BodyByBariatrics, to break down the decision between bariatric surgery vs GLP-1 medications from the perspective of someone who treats patients with both options every day. Dr. Dovec explains what gastric bypass surgery involves, why some patients go home the same day, and who may be an ideal candidate.
The conversation then turns to GLP-1 weight loss medications. Amy and Dr. Dovec compare Ozempic and Zepbound, the often-overlooked side effects, and explain why weight regain is common after patients stop taking these medications. Dr. Dovec also shares why some post-surgery patients respond well to GLP-1 medications and how the combination may help support their long-term results.
For women in midlife, this episode examines how GLP-1 medications may fit into treatment for weight gain during perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Dovec explains why the habits you once relied on may become less effective as your hormones shift. She also discusses the health risks associated with visceral fat and the potential role of GLP-1 treatment in reducing the internal fat linked to heart attacks, strokes, and fatty liver disease.
If you have tried every diet and still feel stuck, this conversation about bariatric surgery and GLP-1 medications offers a clearer framework for understanding your options.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Meet Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Betsy Dovec
01:28 What Gastric Bypass Surgery Actually Involves
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, Hormone Disruptors, and How to Detox Your Home | EP223
Épisode 223
jeudi 9 juillet 2026 • Durée 45:54
REPLAY! This episode deserves a second listen, so we are bringing back a conversation you do not want to miss.
Your body carries a hidden chemical load, and most of the sources sit in your kitchen, your bathroom, and your grocery cart.
On Wellness Junkies, host Amy Sherman talks with Jenna Hua, PhD, CEO and founder of Million Marker, about endocrine-disrupting chemicals and how these hidden toxins can interfere with hormones, fertility, and long-term health. Jenna started Million Marker in 2019. The company offers a mail-in urine test for hormone disruptors, informed by her fertility struggles and her research as an environmental health scientist.
Jenna explains why BPA-free products can fall short, since manufacturers may swap one molecule for another and leave the label unchanged. She breaks down how phthalates in cosmetics can hide under the single word “fragrance” and shares the moment she found phthalates in her own vitamins and packaging tape.
The conversation connects fertility, toxins, and long-term health with clear science, showing why these exposures can build slowly over time. Jenna closes with simple ways to detox your home, from stainless steel cookware to glass food storage to a reverse osmosis water filter. This replay hands you a real plan reducing endocrine-disrupting chemicals at home.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Wellness Junkies Welcomes Jenna Hua Of Million Marker
02:02 What Million Marker Tests For In Your Body
06:30 How Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Affect Your Hormones
10:07 Why BPA-Free Labels Do Not Guarantee Safety
14:06 Why Manufacturers Still Use BPA And Phthalates
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Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Amy Introduces Alexis White and Why This Episode Matters
07:45 Staying Sane During the College Process
14:30 The Importance of Passion Over Grades
21:06 Personal Statements and Supplemental Essay Strategy
24:14 Staying on Top of Deadlines and Application Scheduling
26:53 How Test Optional Rules for the SAT and ACT Keep Shifting
33:44 Leadership Advice for Quieter and Introverted Kids
39:22 The Anti College Movement and Why Alexis Pushes Back
45:12 Underrated Schools, Scholarships, and Alexis's Beauty Hack
Jenna Hua, RD, MPH, PhD. Chief Executive Officer and Founder. A registered dietitian and environmental health scientist by training, Jenna's past research has focused on how our surrounding environment impacts our behaviors and health. An ardent believer in disease prevention, she wants to provide personalized preventive strategies for everyone to lead a healthier life.
