Live Like a Girl with Dr. Mindy Pelz

Have you ever wondered why you feel the need to prove yourself, struggle to set boundaries, or constantly put everyone else's needs before your own? In this episode of Live Like a Girl, I'm joined by licensed psychotherapist and bestselling author Terri Cole to discuss her new book, Father Wound, and how our relationships with our fathers can shape our self-worth, relationships, and behaviors long into adulthood. Terri explains why so many high-achieving women struggle with perfectionism, people-pleasing, and overfunctioning. I also open up about my own father wound, the childhood experiences that shaped me, and what I'm learning about healing these patterns during midlife. _ IN THIS EPISODE: What a father wound is and how to recognize the signs Why childhood criticism can lead to perfectionism and people-pleasing How father wounds influence relationships and boundaries The connection between childhood experiences and nervous system patterns Why old emotional wounds may become more apparent during menopause…

What if one of the simplest ways to support your weight loss journey is already sitting in your refrigerator? In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy Pelz breaks down a fascinating study examining how probiotic-rich yogurt may influence hunger, blood sugar, and your body's natural GLP-1 production. The findings offer a closer look at why the bacteria in your food matter and how certain fermented foods may support your metabolic health. Dr. Mindy explains the connection between your gut microbiome and two important appetite-related hormones, GLP-1 and ghrelin, including why hunger can become more challenging as you lose weight. She also shares what to look for on a yogurt label, why she prefers protein-rich Greek yogurt, and how pairing fermented foods with fiber can help you build more satisfying meals. You'll walk away with practical ways to incorporate yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and other fermented foods into your eating window, along with a better understanding of how food and fasting can work together. In this…

Have you reached a point in your marriage where you feel like you've changed, but your relationship hasn't? In this episode of Live Like a Girl, I'm joined by renowned couples therapist Terry Real to explore why so many women begin questioning their relationships during midlife and menopause, and what it takes to reconnect when you've grown apart. We talk about resentment, emotional intimacy, the childhood patterns that shape how we handle conflict, and how to communicate your needs without pushing your partner further away. Terry also shares his approach to relational empowerment and why reinventing your relationship may be another option worth exploring. IN THIS EPISODE: Why marriage can feel different after menopause How resentment builds when your needs go unspoken The difference between individual and relational empowerment How childhood experiences influence relationship conflicts Practical ways to communicate, reconnect, and repair DON'T LEAVE IT – REINVENT IT | LIVE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP | October 27,…

Insulin resistance can develop gradually, sometimes long before you notice changes in your blood sugar. And while genetics and other health factors play a role, the habits you practice every day can have a meaningful impact on your metabolic health. In this solo episode of Live Like a Girl, Dr. Mindy Pelz shares six practical habits that can help support insulin sensitivity, particularly for women navigating midlife and hormonal changes. She explains why the quality of your carbohydrates matters, how a 10-minute walk after meals can influence your blood sugar response, and why building muscle is one of the most valuable things you can do for your metabolism as you age. You'll also learn how fiber and fermented foods support gut health, why sugary beverages deserve a closer look, and how your sleep routine can affect the way your body responds to insulin. In this episode, you'll learn: What insulin resistance is and how it develops Why carbohydrate quality matters for blood sugar regulation How pairing…

Food activist and Food Babe founder Vani Hari returns to Live Like a Girl to break down what's actually hiding in many of the foods we buy every day. We get into ultra-processed foods, ingredient labels, added flavors, artificial sweeteners, food dyes, MSG, cooking oils, food noise, and the simple grocery-store habits Vani uses with her own family. Vani also shares how to make the transition toward more real food without making food boring or giving up birthdays, holidays, French fries, pizza, and the traditions you love. _ IN THIS EPISODE: How to identify ultra-processed foods What Vani looks for on ingredient labels Ingredients she personally avoids Food noise and highly palatable foods Helping kids develop a wider palate Easy real-food swaps Navigating holidays and celebrations _ RESOURCES MENTIONED Food Babe Feast Cookbook Vani’s speech at HHS in Washington DC Vani’s speech at HHS in Washington DC Vani’s Senate Testimony _ MORE ON VANI HARI Vani Hari, widely known as the Food Babe, is a food activist,…

GLP-1 is a hormone your body naturally produces, and the foods you eat can influence its release. In this episode, I'm walking you through 10 everyday foods that support your natural GLP-1 response, satiety, and gut health, with practical ways to start adding them to your meals. We get into fiber, protein, resistant starch, fermented foods, polyphenols, and why I've become increasingly focused on building meals around protein and fiber. I'll also show you what happens when you cook and cool potatoes, why plant variety matters, and some of the foods currently sitting in my own refrigerator. _ IN THIS EPISODE: How your body naturally produces GLP-1 10 foods to add to your grocery list Fiber and food noise Protein and satiety Supporting your gut microbiome Why plant diversity matters How I build a protein-and-fiber-forward meal Simple ways to put these foods together _ RESOURCES MENTIONED: Fasting 101 Guide Dr. Ben Bikman Episode Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Wise Goat Organics MyFitnessPal For more resources related…

Leanne Morgan spent more than 20 years pursuing comedy before her career exploded in her 50s. Now, at 60, she's selling out arenas, starring in her own Netflix series, and living a life that once felt almost impossible. In this conversation, we talk about what changed when Leanne stopped worrying so much about what everyone else thought and started trusting herself. We get into menopause, imposter syndrome, aging, ambition, health, family, and what happens when a woman's life gets bigger at the exact age she was taught it should start getting smaller. In this episode: Leanne's 27-year road to success Almost giving up in her early 50s Menopause and finding confidence Prioritizing health while touring Aging, body image, and longevity Why Leanne won't “fake peace” anymore Family, friendship, and learning to say no Reinventing yourself later in life _ MORE ON LEANNE MORGAN Leanne Season 2 Airing on Netflix The Time of Our Lives Tour What in the World?! by Leanne Morgan Instagram: @leannemorgancomedy Facebook:…

Chronic stress can influence your metabolism, sleep, appetite, blood sugar, and where your body tends to carry fat—which makes your nervous system an important part of the belly-fat conversation. In this solo episode, I’m breaking down what happens to cortisol after you wake up and sharing the simple 10-minute morning routine I want you to try for the next 30 days. We’ll talk about morning light, your phone, breathwork, movement, hydration, exercise, and how to identify the stressors that may be setting the tone for your entire day. I’ll also explain what I mean by becoming “cortisol flexible” and how you can start working with your stress response instead of constantly feeling controlled by it. In this episode: Cortisol, chronic stress, and belly fat What happens to cortisol after waking Why morning light matters The problem with reaching for your phone immediately A five-minute breathing practice When to move and exercise How to perform a morning stress audit Becoming more "cortisol-flexible" My 10-minute…

So many women believe they’ll finally feel better about themselves when they lose the weight, change their body, or reach the goal. But changing the outside doesn’t always change how we feel on the inside. Psychologist and author Dr. Marisa G. Franco joins me to explore where our sense of self-worth actually comes from and how old experiences can continue shaping the way we see ourselves years later. We talk about body image as we age, menopause, insecurity, nervous system patterns, reparenting, vulnerability, and why learning to acknowledge the parts of ourselves we’d rather push away may be an important part of building genuine self-worth. In this episode: Self-worth vs. confidence Body image and menopause How old memories shape the way we see ourselves Why insecurity can feel protective Reparenting and Internal Family Systems Interrupting negative thought spirals Vulnerability and deeper relationships Learning to value who you are now _ RESOURCES MENTIONED FREE Nervous System Questionnaire NEW! Book Worth…

Think creatine is only for bodybuilders or worried it's going to make you bulky or gain weight? Let's talk about what creatine actually does. In this episode, I'm breaking down the research on creatine, including studies looking specifically at women, and showing you how I personally use it as part of my strength and muscle-building routine. We'll talk about creatine monohydrate, dosage, consistency, water retention, resistance training, protein, loading phases, and why maintaining muscle becomes increasingly important as we age. I'm also giving you a simple challenge you can start today: 30 days of consistent creatine paired with two strength-training sessions each week. In this episode: What creatine actually does Why creatine isn't just for men Does creatine make you gain weight? Creatine and water retention Why training matters The type of creatine I use How much creatine to take Why I take creatine every day Whether you can put creatine in coffee Creatine and protein Simple resistance exercises you can…

Are carbs actually bad for you, or have we been asking the wrong question? In this episode, I'm sitting down with metabolic scientist Dr. Ben Bikman to unpack one of the most confusing nutrition conversations happening right now. We talk about how to know how many carbs your body can handle, why your muscle mass and activity level matter, how carbohydrate quality changes your metabolic response, and why the answer may be different depending on where a woman is in her hormonal life. Ben also explains what happens to insulin sensitivity across the menstrual cycle and after menopause, why fiber matters, how he thinks about food pairing, what a CGM can tell you, and why his perspective on GLP-1 medications has evolved. In this episode: Are carbs actually bad for you? How many carbohydrates should you eat? Good carbs vs. highly refined carbs Why fiber changes the conversation Why muscle gives you more metabolic “wiggle room” Carbohydrates, blood sugar, stress, and sleep Can food naturally stimulate GLP-1? More on…

Fasting gets a lot of attention for what happens while you’re not eating, but what happens when you start eating again deserves just as much attention. In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy breaks down one of the most overlooked parts of fasting: the refeed. She explains why longer isn’t always better when it comes to fasting, how the eating and fasting windows work together, and why protein, carbohydrates, fiber, fermented foods, and plant diversity can all have a place in your fasting rhythm. She also takes on some of the biggest conversations happening around fasting right now, including thyroid health, muscle loss, the gut microbiome, fasting after 45, GLP-1, autophagy, meal timing, and whether women really need to eat protein first thing in the morning. In This Episode Why fasting longer isn’t necessarily fasting better Why your first meal after a fast deserves more attention What happens to thyroid hormones during extended fasting and refeeding Why carbohydrates and protein matter after longer fasts What…

Why can changing the way you eat feel so emotional, even when you know exactly what you want to change? In this conversation, I sit down with therapist and Mother Hunger author Kelly McDaniel to explore the deeper emotional and relational layers that can become intertwined with food. Through Kelly’s Mother Hunger framework, we look at how early experiences with nurturing, safety, attachment, and caregiving may influence the way some of us relate to food later in life—and why food can sometimes become connected with comfort, connection, routine, and relief. We also talk about emotional eating, body image, nervous system regulation, fasting, food noise, GLP-1 medications, and the messages about our bodies that can be passed from one generation to the next. This conversation gave me an entirely new way to think about some of the struggles I’ve seen women experience when changing how they eat, because sometimes there may be more happening beneath the surface than what’s on the plate. In this episode: Kelly’s…

You’re exercising more, fasting more, changing what you eat, and trying everything you know to support your weight, and yet the scale still doesn’t seem to move. In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy breaks down five foundational habits she wants you to look at before assuming your body simply isn’t responding. She explores how fibre-rich foods can support satiety and your gut microbiome, why walking after meals can benefit blood sugar, how meal timing interacts with your circadian rhythm, and why sleep and consistency deserve a much bigger place in the weight-loss conversation. She also explores GLP-1, food noise, nervous system state, and what research tells us about maintaining weight loss after stopping GLP-1 medications. The takeaway is refreshingly practical: instead of chasing another complicated strategy, start by looking at the everyday rhythms you can actually repeat. Resources Mentioned FREE Nervous System Questionnaire Time & Light: Missing Pieces of a Healthy Lifestyle with Dr. Satchin Panda The…

Women spend so much time trying to change their bodies, but how often are we taught how to actually experience and enjoy them? In this conversation, I sit down with Emma-Louise Boynton to explore what happens when we begin reconnecting with our bodies through pleasure, presence, and curiosity rather than constant criticism. We talk about body image, intimacy, sex therapy, self-pleasure, mindfulness, and the small everyday practices that can help you feel more at home in your body. Because your relationship with your body affects far more than how you see yourself, it shapes how you experience your life. _ MORE ON EMMA-LOUISE BOYNTON Pleasure: The Reclamation of my Body by Emma-Louise Boynton Instagram: @emmalouiseboynton LinkedIn: Emma-Louise Boynton Substack: @emmalouiseboynton Pleasure: The Reclamation of my Body Audiobook: Spotify Website: emma-louseboynton.com For more resources related to today’s episode, visit the podcast episode page: drmindypelz.com/ep367 Connect with Dr. Mindy: Join Reset Academy…

If you’re constantly thinking about food, battling afternoon cravings, or struggling to feel satisfied after eating, your fullness hormones may be an important part of the conversation. In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy breaks down the foods that can support your body’s natural GLP-1 production and explains how fiber, protein, resistant starch, fermented foods, and omega-3-rich foods influence satiety. You’ll learn practical ways to build meals that help you feel fuller longer, support your gut microbiome, and work with your body’s natural appetite signals. Resources Mentioned Qualia Magnesium+, use code MINDY for 15% off Reset Academy Wise Goat Organics Fermented Foods, use code MINDY for 20% off Eat Like a Girl For more resources related to today’s episode, visit the podcast episode page: drmindypelz.com/ep366 Connect with Dr. Mindy: Join Reset Academy Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Dr. Mindy on Instagram Subscribe to Dr. Mindy’s newsletter Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and…

What if a healthier relationship with food started with enjoying it more? In this episode of Live Like a Girl, Dr. Mindy sits down with acclaimed chef and Next Level Chef mentor Nyesha Arrington for a conversation about food that goes far beyond calories, macros, or following the “perfect” diet. Nyesha shares how cooking with her grandmother shaped her relationship with food from childhood, why recipes can carry memories and identity across generations, and how years in professional kitchens taught her to see food as art, connection, and eventually, fuel. They also get practical: cooking oils, salt, spices, kitchen tools, meal prep, fasting, strength training, hydration, and the small upgrades Nyesha has made that helped her feel dramatically better in her body. Plus, Nyesha opens up about leadership in high-pressure kitchens, working alongside Gordon Ramsay, earning the title of “Chef,” and why she refuses to fit into anyone else’s definition of what a woman should look like. In This Episode, You’ll Learn…

What if the changes you’re experiencing after 40 are asking you to look at more than your hormones? In this solo episode of Live Like a Girl, Dr. Mindy walks through how she believes women can use the menopausal transition to better understand their nervous systems, reconnect with parts of themselves they may have lost, and begin building the next chapter of life more intentionally. She explores why so many women arrive in midlife already overwhelmed, why learning to regulate your nervous system may need to come before another health protocol, and how years of putting everyone else first can shape the way women experience this transition. Later in the episode, LeAnn Rimes joins Dr. Mindy for a candid conversation about overwhelm, perfectionism, boundaries, HRT, nutrition, self-care, and what it looks like to listen to your body while living a very full life. And for a limited time, you can get Age Like a Girl for $7 with free shipping in the U.S. and Canada only, while supplies last. In This Episode, You’ll…

Women are far more likely than men to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and Dr. David Perlmutter believes one of the most important pieces of that story is metabolic health. In this episode of Live Like a Girl, Dr. Perlmutter joins Dr. Mindy to explain what happens when the brain’s immune cells shift from protective to destructive, why menopause may increase vulnerability, and how blood sugar, insulin resistance, visceral fat, inflammation, mitochondrial health, and lifestyle all influence brain aging. They also discuss HRT, GLP-1 medications, ketones, fasting, fiber, exercise, BNDF, sleep, and what women can begin doing in their 30s, 40s, and 50s to support long-term cognitive health. In This Episode, You’ll Learn Why women face a higher risk of Alzheimer’s How menopause may affect brain metabolism Why belly fat and insulin resistance matter for brain health The blood markers Dr. Perlmutter watches most closely What emerging research says about GLP-1 drugs and the brain The lifestyle habits Dr. Perlmutter…

If you’re eating less, exercising more, and fasting harder but still struggling to lose weight after 40, Dr. Mindy wants you to approach fat loss differently. This solo episode of Live Like a Girl is a special compilation of two of Dr. Mindy’s teachings on fat burning and metabolic health after 40. In the first half, she breaks down why fat loss can become more challenging as estrogen changes and shares five strategies for training your body to become more metabolically flexible, from strength training and walking to fasting, protein pacing, and sleep. Then she turns to dietary fat and explains why the type of fat you eat matters. She walks through visceral fat, omega fatty acids, and five foods she uses to support a healthier metabolic environment. The common thread throughout both conversations: fat loss after 40 requires a strategy that works with your changing metabolism. In This Episode, You’ll Learn Why fat loss can become harder after 40 How estrogen influences metabolism and body-fat distribution…

Laila Ali spent years training to win. As an undefeated professional boxer, her body was her career. She knew exactly how to train harder, eat less, and make weight when she needed to. Then perimenopause changed the rules. In this episode of Live Like a Girl, Laila joins Dr. Mindy for an honest conversation about what happened when her old strategies stopped working, why she eventually stopped trying to outwork her hormones, and how fasting helped her build a completely different relationship with her body. They talk about long fasts, exercising while fasting, food noise, refeeding, sugar cravings, body image, the scale, stress, and what it means to train for health instead of performance. Laila also shares how she talks to her teenage daughter about fasting, why she refuses to make healthy eating feel like punishment, and the lesson she learned from becoming a boxer against Muhammad Ali’s wishes: sometimes the most important thing you can do is listen to the spark inside you. In this episode, you'll learn:…

Healing your nervous system does not always feel peaceful at first. In this solo episode of Live Like a Girl, Dr. Mindy explains why fatigue, crying, irritability, digestive changes, and even discomfort with stillness can sometimes show up as your nervous system begins moving out of a chronically activated state. She breaks down the relationship between heart rate variability, vagal tone, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, and why learning to move more easily between stress and recovery may be one of the most important skills you can build for your health. Resources Mentioned FREE Nervous System Questionnaire Qualia Magnesium Reset Academy Find a Fast Like a Girl Coach In this episode you'll learn: Why increased fatigue may appear when your body finally begins resting Why crying and irritability can surface during nervous system healing How your digestion reflects your nervous system state Why stillness can feel unsafe when your body is accustomed to constant activation How 4-7-8 breathing…

I’ve been teaching fasting for years, but this conversation with Dr. Jason Fung made me rethink a few things. Dr. Fung joins me to share how his thinking has evolved since publishing The Obesity Code, including what newer research suggests about longer fasts and why modified fasting may be more useful than many people realize. We talk about whether a strict water-only fast is always necessary, how fasting aids such as bone broth, avocado, or olives may help someone continue longer, and why using a little support during a fast is not automatically “cheating.” Dr. Fung also breaks down the three types of hunger and explains why food noise is not always a sign that your body needs fuel. Sometimes hunger is physical. Sometimes it is emotional. And sometimes it is simply a pattern your brain has learned from your environment. This conversation reminded me that fasting does not have to be rigid to be effective. The goal is not to win at fasting. The goal is to use it in a way that supports your metabolic health…

For decades, women have been taught to lose weight by eating less, doing more cardio, and watching the number on the scale. But losing weight is not always the same as becoming healthier. In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy breaks down a recent meta-analysis showing that adults between 60 and 75 years old were able to lose body fat, gain lean muscle, improve blood pressure, and build functional strength through resistance training. She also challenges five of the most persistent weight-loss myths women have been taught, including the idea that cardio is the best way to burn fat, hunger is a willpower problem, and the scale is the most important measure of progress. You’ll learn how protein, resistance training, sleep, blood-sugar tracking, and progressive challenge can help you improve body composition without sacrificing your muscle or metabolic health. Weight loss is not a character test. It is a strategy, and most women were simply given the wrong one. Resources Mentioned Continuous Glucose Monitor Ketone…

Most women know they should move their bodies, eat well, and protect their sleep. But creativity rarely makes the list. In this conversation, Dr. Mindy sits down with Dr. Daisy Fancourt to explore the growing body of research showing that art is far more than entertainment or decoration. Music, reading, dancing, crafting, storytelling, and even spending time with a painting can affect stress, mood, cognition, connection, and the nervous system. Daisy explains why creative activities can help the brain enter a state of flow, how music can slow the heart rate, and why reading fiction may strengthen empathy by allowing us to experience the world through another person’s perspective. She also shares why knitting, singing, dancing, and other so-called “grandmother hobbies” are finding their way back into modern life. In this episode you'll learn: Why creativity became separated from everyday life How to choose music that meets your nervous system where it is How regular creative activity may support healthier…

If you are hungry all the time, exhausted after meals, craving sugar, or suddenly gaining weight around your middle, your body may be signaling something deeper than a need to eat less. In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy explains why nearly four in ten American adults now meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome—a collection of warning signs that can include elevated blood sugar, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, increased waist circumference, and changes in liver health. She breaks down four common drivers that can quietly push the body toward metabolic dysfunction: unstable blood sugar, chronic stress, poor sleep, and inflammation associated with excess body fat. You will also learn why crash dieting, excessive cardio, and relying on appetite-suppressing supplements rarely address the real problem. Instead, Dr. Mindy shares five practical ways to support your metabolism through food order, walking after meals, resistance training, better sleep, and a more flexible approach to fasting. Your body is…

LeAnn Rimes joins Dr. Mindy for a deeply honest conversation about what perimenopause has brought to the surface in her life. She opens up about the unpredictability of her hormones, the exhaustion of trying to maintain the same pace she has carried for decades, and the difference between anxious thoughts and anxiety that lives in the body. Together, LeAnn and Dr. Mindy explore why perimenopause can make old wounds feel louder, why hormone therapy can help without solving everything, and what it looks like to slow down when your identity has always been tied to performing, producing, and pushing through. This is a conversation about hormones, but it is also about identity, capacity, anger, rest, and the question so many women begin asking in midlife: who do I want to be now? In this episode you'll learn: The difference between mental anxiety and physical “body anxiety” Why LeAnn has had to change her relationship with rest What happens when your life still demands more than your body can give The grief women…

Why are so many women doing everything "right" and still struggling to lose weight? In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy explains why the missing piece may not be your diet or workout routine, it may be your nervous system. When your body is stuck in chronic fight-or-flight, it prioritizes survival over fat burning, making weight loss feel impossible despite your best efforts. You'll learn how chronic stress impacts cortisol, cravings, digestion, sleep, and metabolism, the five signs your nervous system may be keeping you stuck, and practical ways to help your body shift back into a state where healing and sustainable weight loss become possible. From fasting and food to movement, sleep, and simple daily habits, Dr. Mindy shares actionable strategies to help your body feel safe enough to finally let go of stubborn weight. Resources Mentioned Free Nervous System Guide Fast Like a Girl Burn Fat Like a Girl Reset For more resources related to today’s episode, visit the podcast episode page: drmindypelz.com/ep354…

Millions of women have been told they have PCOS. Millions more have been told nothing is wrong at all. Now, one of the most common hormonal conditions affecting women has a new name: PMOS, Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome. The change reflects what experts have long understood, this condition is about far more than the ovaries. It's deeply connected to metabolism, insulin resistance, inflammation, and hormone balance. In this episode, Dr. Mindy is joined by Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, renowned OB-GYN and co-host of the She MD podcast, along with entrepreneur and women's health advocate Mary Alice Haney. Together, they unpack why so many women go undiagnosed, why insulin resistance isn't always visible on the outside, and how lifestyle, nutrition, and early intervention can dramatically change a woman's health trajectory. They also discuss the growing impact of environmental toxins, breast cancer risk, fertility, metabolic dysfunction, and what every woman should know before walking into her next doctor's…

Losing weight is one challenge. Keeping it off is another. Research shows that most people regain the weight they've lost within a few years, not because they lack willpower, but because they were never taught what comes after weight loss. In this episode, Dr. Mindy breaks down the science behind weight regain and shares the eight most common reasons people struggle to maintain their results. From metabolic flexibility and hormone balance to muscle, stress, and sleep, she explains why lasting success requires a different approach than simply losing weight. You'll also learn five practical steps to help your body adapt to its new weight, support a healthy metabolism, and build habits that last long after the scale changes. If you've ever lost weight only to gain it back, this episode will help you understand why and show you a different path forward. Key Takeaways Why losing weight and maintaining weight loss require different strategies What "catch-up fat" is and how it influences weight regain How your fat…

What if the biggest thing standing between you and better health isn't your diet, your workout routine, or your hormones? What if it's the relationship you've built with yourself? In this conversation, I sit down with psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Nicole LePera to explore how our earliest experiences shape the way we move through adulthood. From emotional eating and food noise to perfectionism, people pleasing, burnout, and the struggle to trust ourselves, so many of the habits we think are personality traits are actually learned survival strategies. We also explore why healing isn't about becoming someone new. It's about reconnecting with the parts of yourself that have always been there. If you've ever wondered why you know what to do for your health but still struggle to follow through, this conversation offers a completely different way to understand yourself. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the first five years of life shape the way your nervous system responds to stress Why food noise and…

For years we've been told that if fasting is good, then fasting longer must be better. That simply isn't true. Fasting is one of the most powerful healing tools we have, but it's also a stressor. Like exercise, the benefits don't come from the stress itself. They come from how well your body recovers afterward. In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy explains how to tell whether fasting is supporting your metabolism or pushing your nervous system beyond its limits. You'll learn the five green lights that signal your body is adapting well, the five red flags that tell you it's time to pull back, and simple ways to adjust your fasting practice based on your hormones, stress levels, and stage of life. Whether you're new to fasting or you've been doing it for years, this episode will help you stop guessing and start working with your body instead of against it. In this episode you'll learn: Why fasting is a beneficial stressor, but only in the right dose The difference between metabolic stress and chronic stress How…

What if the biggest obstacle to better health isn't your diet and instead it's the relationship you've built with your body? In this conversation, I sit down with psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldman to unpack why so many women struggle with body image, emotional eating, food noise, and self-worth, especially during midlife. We explore why lasting health isn't built through shame or punishment. It's built through curiosity, compassion, and learning to work with your body instead of constantly fighting against it. We also discuss the psychology behind food noise, body neutrality, GLP-1 medications, menopause, emotional eating, and why your relationship with yourself influences every health decision you make. If you've ever felt like your body has betrayed you, this episode offers a different perspective. In this episode, you'll learn: Why body image goes far beyond what you see in the mirror The difference between body positivity and body neutrality Why food noise develops and how to begin quieting it naturally…

Americans spent more than $69 billion on supplements last year, yet nutrient deficiencies are still widespread. Somewhere along the way, wellness became a cabinet full of pills, powders, and promises. But what if better health isn't about taking more? In this episode, I share the five supplements I would prioritize if I had to start over today. These aren't trendy products or quick fixes. They're foundational nutrients that support metabolism, hormones, muscle, brain health, and healthy aging, especially for women in midlife. You'll also learn why supplements should never replace a healthy lifestyle, how soil depletion and processed foods have changed the nutrient quality of our food, and simple ways to get more of these nutrients through whole foods first. If your supplement routine feels overwhelming, this episode will help you simplify it. Resources Mentioned Age Like a Girl Nervous System Reset Guide Standard Process Cod Liver Oil BEAM Minerals LMNT Redmonds Real Salt Qualia Creatine Qualia Magnesium For…

For years we've been told that healing trauma means talking about it. But what if talking isn't enough? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Harvard-trained psychiatrist and world-renowned trauma expert Dr. Frank Anderson to explore why trauma isn't simply stored in your memories. It's stored in your body. We discuss why so many women find old wounds resurfacing during perimenopause and menopause, why food often becomes a coping mechanism for unresolved trauma, and why traditional talk therapy doesn't always create lasting healing. Dr. Anderson shares the science behind trauma, nervous system regulation, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, psychedelics, and the small daily experiences that help your brain and body finally feel safe again. If you've ever wondered why you keep reacting the same way despite years of personal growth, this conversation will help you understand what your body has been trying to tell you all along. In this episode you'll learn: • Why talking about trauma doesn't always heal it…

Right now, millions of women are stuck in a cycle of constant hunger, food noise, energy crashes, stubborn weight gain, and frustration. Most have been told they need more willpower, but the truth is often much simpler. Your metabolism may be stuck in sugar-burning mode. In this episode, I break down one of the most important concepts I’ve taught over the last decade: the metabolic switch. You'll learn the difference between your body's sugar-burning and fat-burning systems, why blood sugar crashes drive cravings, and the five simple steps I use to help women become more metabolically flexible. If you've struggled with fasting, weight loss, or constant cravings, this conversation will help you understand why and show you where to start. In this episode, you'll learn: • The difference between sugar-burning and fat-burning metabolism • Why blood sugar crashes create cravings and food noise • How meal order affects your metabolic health • The role of protein, fiber, and healthy fats in blood sugar regulation •…

For our very first guest on the The Live Like a Girl podcast, I sat down with the woman who taught generations of us how to take back our financial power: Suze Orman. Here’s why I had to start here. I spend my life helping women with hormones, weight loss, menopause, and underneath almost all of it sits one thing – cortisol. And when you scratch beneath the “cortisol surface,” so often what you find is money stress. So I brought in the icon herself to talk about what’s really keeping women sick and stuck, and what to do about it. We get into self-worth and net worth, why women hand over their financial power, the spender-to-saver shift, divorce and the sandwich generation, the truth about your home and your car, what AI is about to do to all of us, and the money moves that matter most in 2026. Suze also shares her origin story – from waitress to financial icon and I know it will light a fire in you. This one is a masterclass. So bring a notebook and get ready. If you’re wanting the deeper dive on exactly how…

After five years as The Resetter Podcast, everything changes. Welcome to Live Like a Girl. In this first episode, Dr. Mindy Pelz explains why she retired a name she loved and what she's building in its place. The truth driving it all: women aren't thriving, and most of the health advice out there was never written for us to begin with. She opens with the numbers on Alzheimer's, depression, anxiety, cancer, and heart disease, then digs into why the science behind "evidence-based" wellness has left women out, and why fifteen-minute doctor visits and almost no nutrition training can't fix it. From there she lays out the five principles that shape this whole new season: mindset matters, regulate first, honor your rhythms, everything is health, and collaboration over competition. It's a conversation about the body, but also about culture, conditioning, and finally taking up space. A preview of what's coming this season, including Suze Orman on money and wellbeing and Frank Anderson on trauma and metabolism. If it…

After 30 years in health, Dr. Mindy is calling time on the rules. This solo episode is one of the most personal things she's shared on this podcast. It covers two big ideas: the science and story behind why she stopped fasting for most of the past year and the five health habits she's deliberately walking away from in 2026. First, flex fasting. When cortisol is high from grief, trauma, illness, perimenopause, or chronic stress rigidly pushing through long fasting windows doesn't support the body. It depletes it. Dr. Mindy shares what happened when she lost a close friend and found herself in an acute stress state, what the research says about prolonged fasting and the HPA axis, and how she developed a new approach she's calling flex fasting: a more intuitive, body-led way to use fasting as a tool without turning it into a rule. Then the five things she's giving up: counting (macros, biometrics, followers, all of it), the gym, other people's urgency, productivity over health, and information overconsumption.…

Lately, it feels like women are carrying more than ever, mentally, emotionally, hormonally, and neurologically. In this week’s conversation, Dr. Mindy sits down with internal medicine physician and brain health expert, Dr. Austin Perlmutter, to talk about what modern life is doing to our brains and why so many people feel overstimulated, foggy, anxious, disconnected, and exhausted. Together, they discuss: Why chronic stress changes on the brain The impact of ultra-processed foods on mood and cognition Why women in midlife are especially vulnerable to burnout How nature helps regulate the nervous system in minutes How inflammation and depression can lead to Alzheimer’s Why simple habits matter more than most people realize One of our favorite parts of this conversation was the reminder that healing doesn’t always need to be complicated. Sometimes the most powerful changes are the ones that bring us back to how humans were designed to live in the first place. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Lichen Air:…

GLP-1 medications are changing the conversation around weight loss, metabolism, and women’s health. But are we asking the right questions about long-term health? In this solo episode, Dr. Mindy Pelz breaks down the science behind GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, including what they do well, where concerns are emerging, and how fasting mimics many of the same metabolic benefits naturally. Dr. Mindy explores: • The connection between GLP-1 drugs and muscle loss • Why women over 40 need to think differently about metabolism • New research linking GLP-1s to declining bone density • How fasting impacts glucagon, ketones, and fat burning • The importance of protein, refeeding, and resistance training • Why metabolic flexibility matters more than rapid weight loss • Natural ways to stimulate your body’s own GLP-1 production This episode is not about fear or shame. It’s about helping you understand your options so you can make informed decisions for your body, your hormones, and your long-term health.…

Caroline Alan, co-founder of BEAM Minerals and author of the new book The Mineral Reset, joins Dr. Mindy to unpack why minerals are the missing foundation of every health plan, and why you can eat organic, take supplements, and still be profoundly deficient. They go deep on glyphosate, the "Trojan Horse method," and why fulvic and humic acids are the only molecules on Earth that can go inside your cells and carry glyphosate back out. If your hair is falling out, your sleep is off, your energy is low, or you're cramping for no reason, this conversation may be the missing piece. In this episode: Why eating organic is no longer enough for mineral replenishment The symptoms of mineral deficiency most people never connect to minerals How glyphosate mimics glycine and what that does to your sleep, collagen, and nervous system How fulvic acid goes inside your cells, delivers minerals, and carries glyphosate out What humic acid does in the bloodstream and why it supports autophagy RESOURCES MENTIONED: Beam Minerals,…

If you've been trying to figure out what's actually happening with our food system right now — what's rhetoric, what's real, and what you need to know, this is the episode you've been waiting for. Award winning food journalist, Helena Bottemiller Evich has covered food policy in Washington for over 15 years. She's the founder of the Food Fix newsletter and the host of the new podcast American Dish, and she has a rare gift: she can separate the noise from the action in a news cycle that makes both very hard to tell apart. For more resources related to today’s episode, visit the podcast episode page: https://www.drmindypelz.com/ep339 Connect with Helena Bottemiller-Evich: Sign up for Helena's newsletter: foodfix.co Helena's Instagram: @heleenabena American Dish Instagram: @americandishpodcast LinkedIn: Food Fix Co LinkedIn: Helena Bottemiller-Evich X: @foodfixco X: @hbottemiller Connect with Dr. Mindy: Join Reset Academy Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Dr. Mindy on Instagram Subscribe to Dr. Mindy’s…

If you’ve ever felt like you were failing at something you were supposed to be naturally good at – this conversation will set you free. Elinor Cleghorn is a feminist historian and the author of A Woman’s Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering, and in this deeply personal, wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Mindy, she unpacks one of the most important questions of our time: why has motherhood been so diminished, misunderstood, and so weaponized against the very women who do it? From the myth of the perfect maternal instinct to the constructed guilt that has silenced women for centuries, from the empty nest to the role of fatherhood in healing the masculine wound, this conversation goes everywhere. It's equal parts history lesson, permission slip, and love letter to every woman who has ever given everything to raising a family and wondered whether she was doing it right. Spoiler: you were. A Woman's Work by Elinor Cleghorn is available in bookshops and online now. Find Elinor on Instagram at…

The anxiety hits at 3am. The spiraling thoughts won't stop. You know logically that everything is fine, but your body won't believe it. And the more you try to think your way out of it, the worse it gets. Jessica Ortner is a bestselling author, co-creator of The Tapping Solution app, and one of the world's leading experts on EFT tapping — a technique that combines ancient acupressure with modern psychology to send a direct safety signal to your nervous system. And in this conversation with Dr. Mindy, she unpacks exactly why perimenopause and menopause create a perfect storm of nervous system dysregulation, and how tapping can interrupt the cycle in minutes — no therapist, no appointment, no special equipment required. Dr. Mindy's fasting tapping meditations are available in The Tapping Solution app. And Jessica's new book — The Tapping Solution — is available wherever books are sold. For more resources related to today's episode, visit the podcast episode page: https://www.drmindypelz.com/ep337 Connect with…

We've had a lot of important menopause conversations, but nobody's given us the manual for the gut until now. Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, host of the Everyday Wellness podcast, and author of the brand new book, The Menopause Gut. And in this conversation, she and Dr. Mindy pull back the curtain on one of the most overlooked and misunderstood pieces of the entire menopause puzzle: the estrobolome. This conversation is a must-listen for any woman in perimenopause or beyond who feels like she's doing everything right and still not feeling better. It's also essential if you've ever taken the pill, struggled with gut issues, or wondered whether your mood, sleep, and waistline might have more to do with your microbiome than your hormone panel. For more resources related to today's episode, visit the podcast episode page: https://www.drmindypelz.com/ep336 Connect with Cynthia Thurlow: The Menopause Gut: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777129/the-menopause-gut-by-cynthia-thurlow-np/ Instagram:…

If you've ever felt like the self-care conversation has become just another "to-do list," this episode is going to change everything. Dr. Melissa Sonners, author of The Connection Code, and a dear friend, walked me through the most practical, science-backed, and genuinely achievable approach to self-care I've ever encountered. Just two minutes, three times a day – and a completely new way of understanding what your brain actually needs. We dig into the five brainwave gears we move through every day, why most of us are stuck in a high-beta state from the moment we wake up until we crash at night, and how to use simple, free tools to give your nervous system the reset it's been craving. If you've ever said "I don't know how to relax," this one is for you. For more resources related to today's episode, visit the podcast episode page: https://www.drmindypelz.com/ep335 Connect with Dr. Mindy: Join Reset Academy Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Dr. Mindy on Instagram Subscribe to Dr. Mindy's newsletter for…

People with pre-diabetes are 2.7 times more likely to develop major depression. People with new bipolar disorder are 3.5 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome. If that stopped you in your tracks, good – it stopped me too. I brought Dr. Georgia Ede back to The Resetter Podcast to dig into her new expert consensus on ketogenic diets and mental health, and this conversation is one every woman needs to hear. Dr. Ede is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and one of the world's leading experts in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry. What she laid out in this episode completely reframed how I think about brain health, brain energy, and what it actually means to feed your mind. We get into why the brain is a hybrid engine that runs best on a mixture of glucose and ketones and what happens when it runs on glucose alone. If you've ever wondered whether what you eat is affecting how you think, feel, and function – this one will give you the science and tools to find out. For more resources related to today's…

What if the reason you don't trust yourself was engineered centuries ago — on purpose? In this episode, Dr. Mindy Pelz sits down with feminist theologian and author Meggan Watterson to uncover the deliberate suppression of women's inner authority and what reclaiming it looks like right now. Meggan draws on 30 years of scholarship — including the long-buried Gospel of Mary and the Acts of Paul and Thecla — to show that the most powerful women in early Christianity weren't lost to history by accident. They were erased because their message was too dangerous: that the greatest power doesn't come from institutions, hierarchies, or external permission. It comes from within. In this conversation you'll learn: Why women's self-doubt has roots in a 4th-century political decision What the Gospel of Mary teaches about the "spiritual eye of the heart" Why ending the war with your body is the first act of reclaiming your power Why rage is sacred — and why feeling it fully is healing What it means to "baptize yourself"…

Have you ever blamed menopause for your inability to focus — only to wonder if something bigger is going on? I know I did. For years I thought brain fog was just about hormones, but this conversation cracked that wide open for me. I sat down with Dr. Zelana Montminy, positive psychologist and author of Finding Focus, and what she shared genuinely stopped me in my tracks. Focus isn't a character flaw. It's a biological state. And most of us, especially women in midlife, have been operating in chronic nervous system dysregulation for so long, we don't even know what regulated feels like anymore. In this episode, we unpack why distraction is so often dysregulation in disguise, how the cultural expectation of multitasking has wrecked our brains, and why the "brain fog" you're experiencing might have less to do with estrogen and everything to do with decades of cognitive overload. We also talk about grief — the big kind and the micro kind — and how unprocessed loss quietly tanks our ability to show up and focus.…