Ep. 6 - "Friendship Matters" with Paige Nolan

10/23/24 • 68 min

This is episode (6) of our special nine-part series entitled Friendship Matters. Our hosts Julie Flakstad & Dr. Taz Bhatia, welcome Paige Nolan - life coach, writer and podcast host of I’ll Meet You There. This episode explores the importance of meaningful connection as we age, as well as the sometimes painful reality of needing to take inventory of our friendships and the mutual work that’s required. We’ll also delve into what happens when things get bumpy in a friendship, how to have uncomfortable conversations, and the idea of opening yourself up to new friendships in this new season of our lives.

Here are some of the themes we discuss ...

How friendship evolves as we age. How our lives shift raising children, changing jobs, or with a move, or divorce, leaving some suddenly feeling more disconnected or lonely.
Midlife as an opportunity to become more intentional about who + how we spend our time. The power of taking inventory of our relationships, nurturing those that are more meaningful to us while allowing more space for those less fulfilling.
Friendship is like a garden: There are oak trees (deeply rooted friends), flowers (beautiful, meaningful connections with sometimes shorter seasons), and weeds (yes, weeds, those relationships that no longer serve us + need pruning).
The importance of vulnerability + time: True intimacy in friendship requires showing up, being present and vulnerable as well as daring to have "hard conversations" that cultivate even stronger bonds. Ultimately, we have to take responsibility for the relationships and experiences we want.
Lead with love: In difficult situations, remind yourself, it’s not you against them, it’s the two of you against the distance you both feel.
It’s never too late to forge new relationships or deepen existing ones. Lean into common hobbies or community groups, be curious and interested (and don’t underestimate the power of Pickleball!)

Added bonus - Paige shares her thoughts about life coaching vs therapy, her approach, what to look for, and who may benefit from this work.

About Our Guest, Paige Nolan

Paige Nolan is a life coach, podcaster, speaker, and writer who guides people to discover and focus on what matters most – so they can experience deeply fulfilling lives.

As a former guidance counselor and teacher, Paige’s coaching programs began as an offering to busy mothers who needed to pause and get more intentional about their lives. After sitting with thousands of women with her “Live What Matters Workshop,” Paige landed on the guiding principle of her work today: living what matters doesn’t take more time, it takes more courage.

Paige supports individuals, couples and organizational teams to make the brave, and sometimes hard, conscious choices they need to make to change. Her podcast “I’ll Meet You There” celebrates the joys, challenges and extraordinary journey of building an everyday life aligned to one’s truest values. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three teenage-children and two beloved rescue dogs. Visit www.paigenolan.com to learn more.

Connect with Our Hosts and Conversation Partner!

Paige Nolan

Julie Flakstad

Dr. Taz Bhatia

YouTube: @DrTazMD
Instagram: @drtazmd
Website: doctortaz.com
Order The Hormone Shift book HERE
Practice - Centre...

Here are some of the themes we discuss ...

How friendship evolves as we age. How our lives shift raising children, changing jobs, or with a move, or divorce, leaving some suddenly feeling more disconnected or lonely.
Midlife as an opportunity to become more intentional about who + how we spend our time. The power of taking inventory of our relationships, nurturing those that are more meaningful to us while allowing more space for those less fulfilling.
Friendship is like a garden: There are oak trees (deeply rooted friends), flowers (beautiful, meaningful connections with sometimes shorter seasons), and weeds (yes, weeds, those relationships that no longer serve us + need pruning).
The importance of vulnerability + time: True intimacy in friendship requires showing up, being present and vulnerable as well as daring to have "hard conversations" that cultivate even stronger bonds. Ultimately, we have to take responsibility for the relationships and experiences we want.
Lead with love: In difficult situations, remind yourself, it’s not you against them, it’s the two of you against the distance you both feel.
It’s never too late to forge new relationships or deepen existing ones. Lean into common hobbies or community groups, be curious and interested (and don’t underestimate the power of Pickleball!)

Added bonus - Paige shares her thoughts about life coaching vs therapy, her approach, what to look for, and who may benefit from this work.

About Our Guest, Paige Nolan

Paige Nolan is a life coach, podcaster, speaker, and writer who guides people to discover and focus on what matters most – so they can experience deeply fulfilling lives.

Connect with Our Hosts and Conversation Partner!

Paige Nolan

Julie Flakstad

Dr. Taz Bhatia

YouTube: @DrTazMD
Instagram: @drtazmd
Website: doctortaz.com
Order The Hormone Shift book HERE
Practice - Centre...

Previous Episode

Ep. 5 - "Sex is Complicated" with Kelly Casperson MD

This is episode (5) of our special nine-part series entitled Sex is Complicated. Our hosts Julie Flakstad & Dr. Taz Bhatia, welcome celebrated urologist, author, and podcast host, Dr. Kelly Casperon to unravel why sex + intimacy becomes more nuanced as we age. Kelly’s direct and approachable style provides valuable perspective and much needed advice on all things adult sex-ed. In this episode, Kelly breaks down:

Why sex + intimacy is nuanced + layered as we transition into midlife
What's happening physically + emotionally and how to navigate it both in and out of the bedroom
Advice + perspective on how to take charge of your sexual wellness including the importance of vaginal estrogen, knowing your anatomy, and how to talk more openly with your partner and/or spouse
The importance of rethinking sex + intimacy as ‘PLAY’

About Our Guest, Kelly Casperson MD.

Dr. Casperson is a board-certified practicing urologist interested in the power of the mind and science to change our views on sexuality. After years in medical practice, she had a life-changing patient who fueled not only her interest in learning everything she could about female sexual wellness but ultimately, her passion for educating women everywhere that they are not broken in the bedroom. They just didn’t get a proper education (and neither did their partners).

She created a podcast called You Are Not Broken which consistently ranks in the top 10 in the Apple “sexuality” category in multiple countries. It has been nominated for an AASECT award for three years running.

She went on to develop online courses teaching women the fundamentals of their anatomy and physiology, discussing their limiting beliefs, and normalizing their normal female sexual function, so that they are empowered to live their best love lives yet. She has a premier, private podcast/group coaching experience, which started in July 2022 to help people create desire and agency in their intimate lives.

Certified through the Life Coach School and the North American Menopause Society, she now combines her medical knowledge with mind-work to help women have more understanding and agency over their sexuality.

An engaging and humorous storyteller, she is a nationally recognized speaker, known for being approachable (like your big sister who is a doctor), making people feel comfortable with these often-uncomfortable topics, and changing lives in and out of the bedroom with her practical and useful tips.

She is opening The Casperson Clinic in October 2024

Connect with Our Hosts and Conversation Partner!

Kelly Casperson

Julie Flakstad

Dr. Taz Bhatia

YouTube: @DrTazMD
Instagram: @drtazmd
Website: doctortaz.com
Order The Hormone Shift book HERE
Practice - Centre Spring MD: https://centrespringmd.com/

Tune in next Wednesday, 10/23, when we drop our next episode in this special (9) part series, called “Friendship Matters” with podcaster and life coach, Paige Nolan. In this episode, our hosts, Julie Flakstad and Dr. Taz Bhatia, get into the ever changing landscape of adult friendships as we age.. Available on Audio and on YouTube!

Thanks so much for tuning in! Before you leave, please make sure to subscribe to the show so you’ll receive updates on new episodes. Also, let us know how we’re doing by providing a rating and review!

This series is presented by Womaness

Created by women for women, Womaness ...

Next Episode

Ep. 7 - "Plan Ahead" with Jean Chatzky

This is episode (7) of our special nine-part series entitled Plan Ahead. Our hosts Julie Flakstad & Dr. Taz Bhatia, welcome Jean Chatzky - CEO and Founder of HerMoney, journalist, author, and former financial editor of NBC’s Today Show. The conversation addresses both the practical and emotional aspects of financial planning, especially for women in their 40s and 50s. Chatzky shares insights into why financial planning is inherently challenging, particularly due to human behavioral tendencies, and emphasizes the importance of understanding personal "money types" to overcome financial roadblocks.

Here are some of the themes we discuss ...

What ‘planning ahead’ means in our 40s + 50s: Jean offers perspective on why we’re not necessarily wired to plan ahead ahead, how planning ahead has evolved, and what we should be thinking about today.
Emotional and Behavioral Aspects of Money Management The episode underscores that money management isn’t just numbers—it’s tied deeply to emotions and behaviors, and understanding this connection can help individuals make better, less reactive financial decisions.
Understanding Personal “Money Types” She explains that one of the first steps to planning ahead is to better understand your relationship with money and finances. Jean recommends taking a money personality quiz (see link below) to provide insight on why you are the way you are, and, if you’re in a relationship, how your partner is wired too.
Building an Emergency Fund Jean highlights the importance of a dedicated emergency fund (aka the “oh shit” fund) for life’s unexpected expenses, including tips on how much we should have saved for unforeseen circumstances.
Empowering Women in Financial Decision Making The conversation explores how many women in midlife feel unprepared to handle or even talk about personal finances, the need to insert oneself in financial conversations, and advice on how to take a more active role in managing day-to-day finances.
Setting Realistic Financial Goals Jean offers valuable benchmarks for savings and retirement, insight on how to talk more openly with your partner/spouse about your future goals, and broader perspective on how to avoid FOMO relative to what one can and can’t afford.

About Our Guest, Jean Chatzky

Jean Chatzky, CEO and co-founder of HerMoney is the former financial editor of NBC’s Today Show, a coach on the PBS show Opportunity Knocks, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author, the financial ambassador for AARP and the host of the HerMoney podcast. Through decades of reporting on personal finance, she learned that a) the jargon-filled speak of the financial industry was created (largely by men) to sell you stuff you don’t need, and b) if you eliminate the jargon there is absolutely no rocket science to money. She knows that a full, successful financial life is within every woman’s grasp — and with the HerMoney team, she’s on a mission to help you get it.

Connect with Our Hosts and Conversation Partner!

Jean Chatzky

Resources noted

Julie Flakstad

Dr. Taz Bhatia

YouTube: @DrTazMD
Instagram: @drtazmd
Website: doctortaz.com
Order The Hormone Shift book HERE
Practice - Centre Spring MD: https://centrespringmd.com/

Tune in next Wednesday, 11/6, when we drop our next episode in this special (9) part series, called “It’s Not Too Late” with former professional volleybal...