Energized with Dr. Mariza

Have you ever looked around at your life and wondered: "When did I stop feeling like myself?"

Maybe you're checking all the boxes, taking care of everyone else, managing your career, your family, your home, and your health—but somewhere along the way, joy, curiosity, desire, and pleasure started to disappear.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with Gabriella Espinosa, women's wellness expert, host of the Pleasure in the Pause podcast, and advocate for redefining pleasure and connection in midlife.

Gabriella shares her own journey through perimenopause, where anxiety, overwhelm, brain fog, low libido, and feeling disconnected from herself led her to explore the missing conversation around pleasure, body awareness, intimacy, and nervous system safety.

Together, they discuss why so many women lose connection with their bodies after years of caregiving, striving, and putting everyone else first—and why pleasure isn't a luxury, but an essential part of feeling alive, energized, and connected.

They also explore how changing hormones, stress, and survival mode impact desire, why intimacy can be rebuilt at any age, and how simple daily moments of joy and sensation can help women reconnect with themselves.

If you've been feeling like the version of you who felt vibrant, playful, confident, or deeply connected has disappeared, this conversation will remind you that she isn't gone—and it's never too late to rediscover her.

GABRIELLA ESPINOSA

Gabriella Espinosa is a women's wellness and pleasure advocate, yoga and breathwork teacher, host of the Pleasure in the Pause podcast, and executive producer of the upcoming documentary Hot. Through her work, she helps women reconnect with their bodies, redefine pleasure, and navigate midlife with greater confidence, connection, and vitality.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why so many women feel disconnected from themselves during midlife

How perimenopause can impact desire, intimacy, and confidence

Why pleasure is an important signal of safety, vitality, and wellbeing

How chronic stress and survival mode affect connection with your body

The importance of learning the language of your own needs and desires

Why intimacy and pleasure can be rebuilt at any age

Simple practices to reconnect with your body through sensation

How to advocate for your pleasure, health, and relationships

QUOTES

“Pleasure has no age limit or expiration date.”

“Pleasure is actually information.”

“Perimenopause doesn't mean the end of pleasure. It can be the beginning of a new exciting chapter.”

“What feels good in my body?”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code DRMARIZA and get 10% off on your Womeness Order

https://www.womaness.com/DRMARIZA

Stop surviving and start thriving, join Midlife on Fire Collective now

https://drmariza.com/firecollective

Pleasure in the Pause Podcast

Get the 7-Day Pleasure Body Journal

Pleasure in the Pause Website

Gabriella Espinosa Website

Gabriella Espinosa Instagram

Gabriella Espinosa Youtube

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758: Why Your Body Can’t Heal Until It Feels Safe: The Nervous System Shift That Changes Everything with Dr. Dave Rabin

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause

Why do so many women reach midlife and suddenly feel like everything is harder than it used to be?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with nationally recognized clinical psychologist, behavioral change expert, and author Dr. Rachel Goldman to explore why so many women feel overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, and stuck during major life transitions.

Dr. Rachel explains how stress, changing responsibilities, shifting identities, motherhood, career demands, and body changes can create a sense of losing yourself—and why the answer isn't pushing harder, but learning how to respond differently.

Together, they discuss the mindset shifts that help women navigate change with more self-compassion, flexibility, and resilience. They also explore the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and how simple tools from cognitive behavioral therapy can help break patterns that keep us stuck.

Dr. Rachel also shares why self-care doesn't have to mean adding another overwhelming task to your list. Instead, small intentional moments like movement, breathing, time outside, connection, and creating a reset can completely shift how you show up in your life.

If you've been wondering whether you'll ever feel like yourself again, this episode is a reminder that change doesn't mean you've lost who you are—it may be an invitation to step into your next chapter with more strength and confidence.

DR. RACHEL GOLDMAN

Dr. Rachel Goldman is a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, behavioral change expert, speaker, and author of When Life Happens: The Mindset Shift You Need to Manage Stress, Build Confidence, and Break Free. She helps people manage stress, improve mindset, navigate life transitions, and build confidence through practical, evidence-based tools rooted in psychology and behavioral change.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why so many women feel disconnected from themselves in midlife

How mindset impacts stress, emotions, confidence, and behavior

The importance of self-compassion during seasons of change

Why routines and small habits help create stability during stressful times

How to stop all-or-nothing thinking and create realistic solutions

The connection between body image, aging, and identity shifts

Why resilience comes from building tools before life gets difficult

How to create a personalized stress management toolbox

QUOTES

“Life can be challenging, but it doesn't have to feel so challenging.”

“We have to create the time.”

“Feeling stuck isn't who you are. It's a signal.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your MitoQ Order

https://www.mitoq.com/energized

Grab the “When Life Happens” book by Dr. Rachel Goldman

https://amzn.to/4aBRJwq

Goldman Website

Dr. Rachel Goldman Instagram

Dr. Rachel Goldman Facebook

Dr. Rachel Goldman Youtube

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759: Tired, Wired & Inflamed? The Sleep Fix Most Women Are Missing with Dr. Michael Breus

758: Why Your Body Can’t Heal Until It Feels Safe: The Nervous System Shift That Changes Everything with Dr. Dave Rabin

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753: The Brain’s Hidden Role in Chronic Pain, Migraines & Fatigue with Dr. Howard Schubiner

Why do so many women suddenly start waking up at 3:00 a.m. during perimenopause?

In this practical and science-backed conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with renowned sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus to unpack why sleep changes so dramatically during perimenopause and menopause, and what women can do to finally get restorative sleep again.

Dr. Breus explains how fluctuating estrogen, progesterone, melatonin, cortisol, body temperature, and blood sugar all collide during midlife, creating the perfect storm for middle-of-the-night awakenings. He shares why waking up at 3:00 a.m. is incredibly common, how modern habits often make it worse, and why women need a layered approach instead of relying on a single solution.

Together, they discuss everything from sleep apnea, hormone replacement therapy, alcohol, caffeine, blood sugar, and evening routines to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), breathwork, thermoregulation, and supplementation.

Most importantly, Dr. Breus offers practical strategies women can begin implementing immediately to improve sleep quality, reduce nighttime wakeups, and build a foundation for better health through every stage of menopause.

If you've been lying awake at 3:00 a.m. wondering what's happening to your body, this episode is packed with answers and actionable solutions.

DR. MICHAEL BREUS

Dr. Michael Breus is a board-certified clinical psychologist, clinical sleep specialist, bestselling author, and founder of The Sleep Doctor. For more than two decades, he has helped millions of people improve their sleep through science-backed strategies focused on circadian rhythms, sleep disorders, behavioral sleep medicine, and overall wellness. He is the author of multiple bestselling books, including Sleep, Drink, Breathe.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why women commonly wake up around 3:00 a.m. during perimenopause

How estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and blood sugar affect sleep

The biggest mistakes women make before bedtime

Why sleep apnea is often overlooked in midlife women

How CBT-I can help retrain the brain for better sleep

The role of caffeine, alcohol, fiber, and evening nutrition

Why cooling the body improves sleep quality

Practical habits that create a healthier nighttime routine

QUOTES

“Everything we do, we do better with a good night's sleep.”

“Sleep is the currency of attention.”

“You need runway to land the plane.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Order my newest book: The Perimenopause Revolution

https://peri-revolution.com/

Get the “Sleep Drink Breathe: Simple Daily Habits for Profound Long-Term Health” book by Dr. Michael Breus.

https://amzn.to/4b6OM75

Take the Chronoquiz nowGet the Home Sleep Study - The at-home sleep study measures key sleep metrics

The Sleep Doctor Website

The Sleep Doctor Instagram

The Sleep Doctor Youtube

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What if the reason you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, exhausted, disconnected, or stuck isn't because you're broken—but because your nervous system no longer feels safe?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with psychiatrist, neuroscientist, inventor, and author Dr. Dave Rabin to explore the science of safety, nervous system regulation, emotional healing, resilience, and what it truly means to be alive.

Drawing from decades of work treating patients with PTSD, anxiety, addiction, and chronic stress, Dr. Rabin shares why many traditional mental health approaches often fall short and why healing begins by helping the body relearn safety.

Together, they discuss how modern life, chronic overstimulation, smartphones, loneliness, and constant stress have created what Dr. Rabin calls a "habitat crisis" that is overwhelming our nervous systems and contributing to rising rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, and chronic disease.

Dr. Rabin also explains why feeling must come before thinking, how many of our limiting beliefs become subconscious programs during childhood, and how simple practices can help rewrite those stories in real time.

The conversation dives into heart rate variability (HRV), vagus nerve health, emotional processing, play, connection, and the remarkable science behind Apollo Neuro—a wearable technology designed to help the body feel safer, sleep better, and recover more effectively from stress.

If you've ever felt trapped in survival mode, disconnected from joy, or exhausted from constantly pushing through, this episode offers a hopeful roadmap back to safety, resilience, and healing.

Dr. Dave Rabin

Dr. Dave Rabin is a board-certified psychiatrist, neuroscientist, inventor, and mental health innovator. He is the co-founder of Apollo Neuro, a wearable technology designed to improve stress resilience, sleep, focus, and recovery through gentle vibrations that activate the body's safety response system. He is also the author of A Simple Guide to Being Alive, which explores the neuroscience of safety, healing, emotional well-being, and human flourishing.

IN THIS EPISODE


Why nervous system dysregulation is driving so many modern health challenges


How chronic stress, smartphones, and overstimulation contribute to a "habitat crisis"


Why feeling emotions is essential for healing and resilience


How subconscious childhood programming shapes adult behavior and beliefs


The connection between vagus nerve function, HRV, and long-term health


Why sleep quality may be one of the most powerful tools for nervous system recovery


The science behind Apollo Neuro and how it supports safety and resilience


How play, connection, and joy help create lasting healing

QUOTES“Feeling is required for healing.”

“Pleasure and joy remind us that we are safe.”

“We all have the ability to heal ourselves.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code ENERGIZED and get 30% off on your first BATCH order

http://hellobatch.com/ENERGIZED

Get the “A Simple Guide to Being Alive” book by Dr. Dave Rabin now

https://apolloneuro.com/pages/a-simple-guide-to-being-alive

Apollo Neuro Website

The Board of Medicine

Dr. Dave Rabin Instagram

Dr. Dave Rabin Facebook

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Why do so many women enter perimenopause feeling like the rug has been pulled out from under them?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Mariza sits down with integrative medicine physician and menopause expert Dr. Melinda Ring to explore why perimenopause often feels so destabilizing and why so many women feel blindsided by symptoms they were never warned about.

Together, they unpack the profound neuroendocrine changes happening during the perimenopause transition and why symptoms like sleep disruption, anxiety, brain fog, overwhelm, stress sensitivity, and feeling "not like yourself" often become some of the earliest signs that something is shifting.

Dr. Ring explains the critical connection between hormones, the stress response system, sleep quality, nervous system regulation, and long-term health outcomes. They also discuss why traditional medical approaches have historically fallen short for women, the growing role of hormone replacement therapy, and why individualized care matters more than ever.

The conversation dives deep into HPA axis dysfunction, trauma, chronic stress, self-compassion, resilience, and the importance of helping women feel safe in their bodies during a time of tremendous change.

If you've ever wondered whether what you're experiencing is normal—or if you've found yourself saying, "I don't feel like myself anymore"—this episode offers both validation and practical guidance.

Dr. Melinda Ring

Dr. Melinda Ring is a board-certified physician, integrative medicine expert, educator, and internationally recognized leader in women's health and menopause care. She serves as Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health and is passionate about helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause through evidence-based, whole-person care that addresses hormones, lifestyle, stress, sleep, and long-term health optimization.

IN THIS EPISODE


Why perimenopause often feels so overwhelming and unexpected


The connection between sleep disruption, hormones, and brain health


Why many women feel like they "don't feel like themselves" anymore


The role of HPA axis dysfunction and chronic stress during midlife


How trauma and long-term stress influence the menopause transition


The evolving conversation around hormone replacement therapy


Why individualized hormone care matters more than one-size-fits-all protocols


How women can build resilience, safety, and self-compassion during perimenopause

QUOTES“Sleep is the force multiplier.”

“You can't heal in survival mode.”

“The brain is reorganizing, not just the ovaries.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Use code ENERGIZED and get 10% off on your Troscription Order

http://troscriptions.com/ENERGIZED

Sign Up Now for the "Advanced Integrative Menopause Care for Clinicians" Course Training with Dr. Melinda Dr. Melinda Website

https://www.drmelindaring.com/signup

Dr. Melinda Instagram

Dr. Melinda Facebook

Dr. Melinda Tiktok

Dr. Melinda Youtube

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756: What Low-Grade Inflammation Is Really Doing to Your Hormones, Brain & Metabolism with Dr. Mariza

755: What If Your Body Isn’t Broken, Just Undernourished? The Missing Link Between Nutrients, Hormones & Energy with Ryan Woodburry

754: How to Find Joy When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan with Amberly Lago

717: “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore”: The Mental & Emotional Reality of Perimenopause