Age Like a Badass Mother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

What should women eat during menopause to protect their heart, maintain strong bones, and build muscle as they age? Registered dietitian and Cooking for Peanuts creator Nisha Melvani joins Lauren Bernick to share practical, plant-based nutrition strategies that make healthy eating delicious, affordable, and easier to maintain.

With more than 1.3 million Instagram followers, Nisha is known for her creative vegan recipes, nutrient-packed sauces, and simple ways to get more nutrition into everyday meals. In this episode, she explains how foods like oats, barley, legumes, and psyllium can help lower LDL cholesterol, why cholesterol and ApoB deserve attention during menopause, and how to build meals that support bone health and muscle maintenance.

Nisha also shares her approach to getting enough protein from plants, the greens and other foods she prioritizes for bone health, why she eats prunes, and how broccoli sprouts can add a nutritional boost to everyday meals. Plus, we discuss creatine for muscle and energy, the supplements Nisha takes, why she looks for rigorous third-party testing, and how she creates delicious, nutrient-dense sauces without relying on oil.

If you want to eat well for longevity without spending hours in the kitchen or sacrificing flavor, this conversation is packed with practical ideas to try.

In this episode, we discuss:

- How to lower LDL cholesterol through food, including oats, barley, legumes, and psyllium
- Why cholesterol and ApoB levels can change during menopause
- How genetics influence heart disease risk, even in people who are thin and eat well
- How to build plant-based meals that provide enough protein for muscle and bone health
- The best plant-based calcium sources, including low-oxalate greens and fortified soy milk
- Why Nisha eats prunes and pumpkin seeds for bone health and other nutritional benefits
- How broccoli sprouts provide glucoraphanin, which can be converted into sulforaphane
- How to make flavorful, creamy sauces using nuts, seeds, and vegetables
- Creatine for muscle performance, energy, and body composition
- Nisha's approach to supplements and why third-party testing matters
- How to eat enough nutrient-dense food during menopause without overly restricting calories
- About Nisha Melvani

Nisha Melvani, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian, recipe creator, and author of Cooking for Longevity and Practically Vegan: More Than 100 Healthy, Easy, Delicious Vegan Dinners on a Budget. Through Cooking for Peanuts, she helps people make plant-based eating approachable with delicious recipes, practical nutrition advice, and smart cooking techniques.

https://cookingforpeanuts.com/how-to-sprout-seeds/
https://cookingforpeanuts.com/links/
https://cookingforpeanuts.com/cholesterol-lowering-meals/
https://cookingforpeanuts.com/strong-bone-foods/
https://cookingforpeanuts.com/menopause-diet/

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains
Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)
https://www.ancientgrains.com/?a_aid=agelikeBAmom&a_bid=4130b16b
Use code Healthy10 at checkout for 10% off your purchase

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch
https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/
https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/
https://wellelephant.com/
Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:
Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com
Facebook: @WellElephant
Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother
https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#NishaMelvani, #CookingForPeanuts, #PlantBasedNutrition, #MenopauseHealth, #HealthyAging, #BoneHealth, #CholesterolManagement, #LongevityNutrition, #SupplementSafety, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #Podcast,

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Going after what you want is vulnerable. Whether it's starting a business, writing a book, changing careers, finding love, or finally admitting what you're longing for, putting yourself out there means risking rejection. But there's a bigger risk: letting fear make your decisions until one day you realize you never really went for it.

In this solo episode, I'm sharing one of the wildest stories from my own life: how I met my husband at 15, spent years believing we were meant to be together, walked away when he wasn't treating me the way I deserved, and watched everything change when I finally chose my own self-respect over chasing him.

I'm also talking about why I'm publicly chasing a dream right now through the Top Host contest, and why I've decided I'd rather be seen trying than spend the rest of my life wondering, "What if?"

If you've been waiting for the perfect moment, this is your reminder that momentum starts with one brave step.

We talk about:

• Why admitting what you want is one of the bravest things you'll ever do
• Why "everything's always working out in my favor" became my lifelong mantra
• How taking imperfect action creates opportunities you can't predict
• The surprising dating advice I used to give when I owned a singles business
• Why failure isn't the opposite of success
• The hidden cost of playing it safe

My challenge for you:
Pick one thing you've been wanting and take the first step. Tell a friend. Send the email. Apply. Sign up. Start writing.

You don't have to know exactly how it'll work out.

You just have to be brave enough to begin.

Resources:

• Vote for Lauren in the Top Host contest (through December 10, 2026):

https://tophost.org/2026/lauren-bernick

• Follow Lauren on Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother
• Watch on YouTube: @agelikeabadassmother
• Sponsor: Grand Teton Ancient Grains visit https://www.ancientgrains.com/?a_aid=agelikeBAmom&a_bid=4130b16b Use code HEALTHY10 for 10% off at ancientgrains.com

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

How often do you put what you want on the back burner because someone else needs something from you? Women are taught to be accommodating, pleasing, helpful, and easy to get along with. But what happens when you stop planning your life around everyone else and start paying attention to your own longings and enthusiasm?

Barrie Zucal is 80, and she has some things to say. She started a global coaching company at 60, took up powerlifting at 68, and broke two Maryland state records at 70.

She just released a new book, Bold: How Women PLAY BIG by Leading Instead of Pleasing, and her life is a pretty convincing argument for its message.

We talk about why women so often abandon themselves to keep everyone else happy, how to stop being overly accommodating, and three questions that can help you figure out how you actually want to live.

Her advice? Stay generative. Keep moving. Pay attention to what you're enthusiastic about. And don't ignore what you're longing for.

Buy her book: https://www.amazon.com/Bold-Women-Leading-Instead-Pleasing/dp/B0HHRGKVRK

https://barriezucal.com/

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains
Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)
https://www.ancientgrains.com/?a_aid=agelikeBAmom&a_bid=4130b16b
Use code Healthy10 for 10% off

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch
https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/
https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/
https://wellelephant.com/
Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:
Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com
Facebook: @WellElephant
Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother
https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#BarrieZucal, #WomenEmpowerment, #StopPeoplePleasing, #HealthyAging, #WomenOver50, #MidlifeReinvention, #StrengthTrainingForWomen, #PersonalGrowth, #LiveBoldly, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #Podcast,

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Grief isn’t just an emotion. It can affect the body, too. In this monthly check-in, Dreena Burton explains the connection between grief, the lungs, the immune system, and the body’s ability to defend itself. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, fall is the season of letting go, and Dreena explains why holding on to grief may show up physically, including through the lungs and even the skin.

We talk about what the fall season can teach us about releasing what no longer serves us, why the lungs and large intestine are the organs associated with this time of year, and how to support them with warming foods, ginger, garlic, soups, breathwork, and simple body-care practices. Dreena also explains the surprising connection between the lung meridian, fascia flow, and grip strength, which has important implications for healthy aging.

And if you're grieving, Dreena has an important message: letting go doesn't mean forgetting or “getting over” someone. It means giving yourself permission to actually feel the grief, process it, and allow it to move through you. Sometimes making space for what comes next begins with releasing what you're carrying.

Follow along with Dreena's lung and large-intestine fascia flows at fasciaflo.com/badass.

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Use code Healthy10 for 10% off your order at checkout

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Want to eat more plant-based for your health but have no idea where to start? You don't need to become vegan overnight, learn a hundred new recipes, or give up the foods you love. Andrea Corbi Fein says the easiest way to begin is to eat more plants, make simple swaps, and start with one plant-based meal a day.

Andrea is a certified professional plant-based cook and founder of Ingreened, where she works with people to make eating more plant-forward practical and approachable. Her own journey began after a brain tumor and AVM diagnosis at 34 and a growing realization that she needed to take her health seriously. A few years later, she watched a Dr. Michael Greger presentation, decided to try eating plant-based for two weeks, and never stopped.

Now Andrea helps others do the same without making food miserable. We talk about easy swaps for meat and dairy, how to make tofu actually taste good, why beans deserve a much bigger role in your diet, and how to build simple meals around foods you already enjoy. She also explains why eating plant-based doesn't have to mean giving up your favorite foods or relying on a refrigerator full of specialty products.

If you've been thinking about eating more plants for your health but keep getting stuck on “Okay, but what am I actually supposed to eat?" start with this podcast episode and see how easy it can be.

Find Andrea:

https://www.ingreened.com/

https://www.acfportfolio.com/ (Video editing portfolio)

Handle for IG and TikTok is @ingreened

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Use code Healthy10 for 10% off your order at checkout

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#AndreaCorbyFine, #WholeFoodPlantBased, #PlantBasedNutrition, #BrainTumorSurvivor, #HealthyAging, #PlantForwardEating, #FoodAsMedicine, #LongevityLifestyle, #PlantBasedCooking, #AgeLikeABadassMother,

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

What if eating more fruits and vegetables could help you look healthier in just four to six weeks?

A new peer-reviewed review says it might.

In this mini episode, I break down fascinating research showing that eating more colorful fruits and vegetables may improve your skin's appearance, give you a healthy glow, and even affect how you smell.

You'll hear:

• Why we've been selling healthy eating all wrong
• The surprising science behind the "plant glow"
• How much produce researchers say may make a visible difference
• Why refined carbs may show up on your face
• A simple challenge to see what happens when you add three extra servings of colorful fruits and vegetables every day for a month

I've spent years talking about how plants can help prevent heart disease and diabetes. But if I'm being honest, this might be the most motivating nutrition research I've seen in a long time.

Because sometimes "eat your vegetables so you can live longer" isn't nearly as compelling as "eat your vegetables because you'll probably look better."

Sometimes the quickest motivation is seeing the benefits reflected right back in the mirror.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who thinks healthy eating is only about preventing disease.

Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 44: Glow with dermatologist Dr. Katta
• 2026 peer-reviewed review: The Role of Plant-Forward Diets in Physical Attractiveness: Integrating Facial, Olfactory, and Morphological Signals for Behavior Change

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Use code Healthy10 for 10% off at checkout

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Sexual vitality is about more than sex. It’s about feeling alive, connected, present in your body, and engaged with the person you are, not the person you were 20 or 30 years ago.

And if your sex life has changed as you've gotten older, you'll want to hear this conversation before you decide there's something wrong with you. Maybe you want sex more often than your partner. Maybe they want it more than you do. Maybe you rarely feel spontaneous desire anymore and assume your libido has disappeared. Or maybe hormones, medications, stress, health, or changes in your body have made sex feel different than it used to.

Dr. Christina Tracy Stein, author of The Accomplished Woman and a clinical sexologist, explains what's actually going on and offers some surprisingly practical ways to think about desire and intimacy differently. We talk about spontaneous versus responsive desire, why you don't necessarily have to feel horny first to want sex, and why scheduling sex can sometimes reduce rejection and create anticipation instead of killing the romance.

We also get into the bigger picture. Christina talks about sex as life-force energy and why sexual vitality can be an important part of aging well. We talk about novelty, mindfulness, body image, friendship, emotional intimacy, and how couples can stay connected when their bodies, desires, and relationships inevitably change.

Your sex life doesn't have to look like it did at 30 to be satisfying at 58, 68, or 78. And you don't have to be “in the mood” in the way you may have assumed you did.

If you've ever wondered whether your changing desire is normal, why you and your partner seem to be on completely different sexual schedules, or how to keep intimacy alive in a long-term relationship, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• Why desire discrepancy is so common between partners
• Spontaneous vs. responsive desire, and why the distinction matters
• Why you don't have to wait until you're spontaneously turned on to initiate intimacy
• Why scheduling sex can actually reduce rejection and increase anticipation
• How novelty and mindfulness can reignite long-term intimacy
• The impact of hormones, medications, health, and lifestyle on sexual desire
• How body image can affect intimacy
• Why emotional intimacy and friendship matter to a sexual relationship
• What Christina means when she calls sex life-force energy
• How to maintain sexual vitality as you age
• And why normalizing sexual changes can help us let go of shame

https://www.christinastein.com/

https://www.drchristinatracystein.com/

https://www.instagram.com/drchristinatracystein/

https://www.instagram.com/dearsexdoctors/

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Use code Healthy10 for 10% off your order at checkout

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#DrChristinaTracyStein, #SexualHealth, #SexAfter50, #MidlifeSexuality, #HealthyRelationships, #MenopauseAndSex, #IntimacyAfter50, #WomensSexualHealth, #HealthyAging, #AgeLikeABadassMother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Who the Hell Is Lauren Bernick? Meet the Host

There are millions of people out there vying for your attention, telling you what’s wrong with you so they can sell you something to fix it. I don’t want to be one of them.

I want Age Like a Badass Mother to be a place where women can get smart, honest information about health and aging without being made to feel broken, inadequate, or like they need to chase youth.

But if you’re new here, or you’ve been listening for a while and realized you don’t actually know much about the woman behind the microphone, it’s time to answer the question:

Who the hell is Lauren Bernick?

I’m 58, married to Andy Bernick, with whom I fell in love at first sight, mom of three grown kids, former pharmaceutical advertising executive, and someone who was diagnosed with serious coronary artery disease at 46. That diagnosis sent me down a rabbit hole that completely changed the way I eat, think about health, and think about aging.

I changed my diet, lost 20 pounds and kept it off for 11 years, and testing showed that I had actually reversed my heart disease. That experience is a big reason I started this podcast, and why I became obsessed with questioning what we're told about health.

But that's only part of my story.

In this personal “meet the host” episode, I talk about what I’ve learned from interviewing doctors and other experts, why I’ve changed my mind about some of the rules I once followed, my 36-year marriage, my three kids, my very Gen X childhood, the complicated relationship I had with my mother, and why watching her age became a cautionary tale for how I want to live my own life.

I also talk about something I’m still figuring out: how to pursue better health without turning your life into one giant list of rules.

Because yes, I want you to live longer and feel better. But I also want you to enjoy your life.

You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to follow every health rule. And you don't need another person telling you everything you're doing wrong.

You need good information, a little perspective, and the freedom to figure out what makes you feel strong, healthy, and alive.

So, welcome to Age Like a Badass Mother. Whether you've been here from the beginning or you're brand new, I'm really glad you're here.

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Use code Healthy10 for 10% off your order at checkout

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Margaret Cho has been making people laugh, making people uncomfortable, and saying things that other people probably wish she wouldn’t for a very long time.

In this conversation, we get into menopause, aging, sex, body image, queerness, Hollywood, and the weirdness of watching your parents get older.

Margaret talks candidly about her own experience with menopause, including hot flashes, insomnia, low libido, and vaginal dryness, and what happened when she started hormone therapy. She also talks about why she thinks menopause gets framed as something women should dread when it can actually bring a surprising amount of clarity.

We visit her childhood in San Francisco, where Margaret spent much of her time in her parents’ gay bookstore. She grew up around gay men, lesbians, nightlife and conversations about Harvey Milk, and she witnessed the devastating impact of AIDS on the community around her. Lauren and Margaret compare notes on what it was like to grow up around queer adults and hear things kids probably weren't supposed to hear.

Margaret is also remarkably candid about what Hollywood did to her relationship with her body. She revisits All-American Girl, including being told she was too fat to play herself, and how the pressure to lose weight spiraled into severe anorexia and hospitalization.

We also talk about aging parents, the pressure women face to stay thin and young and partnered, and the strange freedom that can come with getting older and caring a little less about meeting everyone else's expectations.

And because no Margaret Cho conversation would be complete without some wonderfully random cultural detours, she tells us what she's been reading and watching lately, including celebrity autobiographies and Wife Swap.

It's funny, candid, occasionally dark, and very Margaret Cho.

Margaret's photo credit: Nick Spanos

Tickets to Choligarchy Tour and all things Margaret:

https://margaretcho.com/

The Kaye Ballard show we referenced: The Mothers-in-Law

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Use code Healthy10 for 10% off your order at checkout

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#MargaretCho, #Menopause, #MenopauseHealth, #HormoneReplacementTherapy, #HealthyAging, #WomenOver50, #MidlifeWomen, #AuthenticAging, #LGBTQVoices, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #Podcast,

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Why are you suddenly so bloated, gassy, or uncomfortable after eating? In this episode, Lauren Bernick and Dreena Burton explore bloating, gas, digestion, fascia, jaw tension, stress, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, including the Chinese medicine concept of “dampness” and its connection to the Spleen and Stomach.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, late summer is associated with the Earth element, the Spleen and Stomach, and the emotion of worry. Dreena explains the concept of “dampness” and how, within this framework, it can be associated with digestive complaints such as bloating, gas, IBS, fatigue, and a heavy, sluggish feeling.

We also explore the surprising connection between jaw tension and the quads. If you've been seeing all those jaw-release videos on social media, Dreena explains why working on the fascia in your legs may sometimes help release tension in your jaw.

Lauren and Dreena talk about their views on self-care. Are we nourishing ourselves, or have we simply created another giant list of things we're supposed to do?

And lastly, Lauren shares a pretty hilarious self-care confession involving a video game for your vagina. 😂

Flows for today's podcast

https://fasciaflo.com/badass/

Dreena's Main pages: http://fasciaflo.com/app and https://dreenaburton.com/

Jujube Tea post: https://bit.ly/jujubetea

https://www.instagram.com/dreenaburton/

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Use code Healthy10 for 10% off

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

How much of what we’ve been told about food, nutrition, and disease is actually true? Nelson Campbell joins Lauren Bernick to unpack the health misinformation that has shaped how we eat, think about disease, and understand what it means to be healthy, as well as the powerful interests that may have influenced what we've been told.

In this fascinating conversation, Lauren Bernick talks with Nelson Campbell, co-author of The Whole Truth with his father, legendary nutrition researcher Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study.

Nelson takes us behind the scenes of his father’s decades of research into nutrition, cancer, and chronic disease, and the forces he says have helped keep that information from reaching the public.

But this conversation isn't just about what’s wrong with our healthcare system. It’s about what we can do differently.

Nelson explains the difference between reductionism and biological wholism, and why trying to treat the body like a machine made up of isolated parts may be fundamentally flawed. We talk about his father’s research showing the relationship between animal protein and the cancer process, the enormous follow-up study that never received funding, and why Nelson believes our current healthcare paradigm is overdue for a major shift.

We also dig into Nelson’s decades of work helping people experience the effects of a whole food, plant-based diet for themselves. His Plant Pure Nation programs produced dramatic changes in participants’ cholesterol and other biomarkers, and his documentary From Food to Freedom follows people with type 2 diabetes as they changed their diets.

And then the conversation takes a surprising turn.

Nelson challenges some of the rigidity and confusion that have surrounded the whole-food, plant-based movement, including the tendency to obsess over individual food components rather than viewing the diet as a whole. He makes a compelling case that whole foods like nuts, seeds, avocado, and coconut shouldn't automatically be treated like dietary villains, and that making healthy food delicious matters if we want this message to reach the mainstream.

The Whole Truth: The Hidden Agendas Behind Decades of Health Misinformation - and What to Do About itby T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Nelson Campbell

https://nelsoncampbell.com/

https://campbellretreats.com/

PlantPure Cookbooks by Kim Campbell

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Use code Healthy10 for 10% off

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#NelsonCampbell, #TheWholeTruth, #PlantBasedNutrition, #WholeFoodPlantBased, #HealthMisinformation, #ChronicDiseasePrevention, #FoodAsMedicine, #PlantBasedHealth, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #PlantPureNation, #Podcast,

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Holy sh*t. Lauren is 58.

And for a minute, she has some feelings about that.

Sixty suddenly feels close. And Lauren realizes that some of what she's feeling isn't actually about how she feels at all; it's about how she thinks society expects a 58-year-old woman to feel.

The truth is, this is Lauren's happiest, most productive time. Tune in to hear this mini-episode where she takes you on the brief roller coaster ride of her birthday.

The main thing is that she feels like a badass, and she wants to normalize women talking about what makes them badasses.

So what makes you a badass? Comment on the YouTube Video Version of this podcast at: https://youtu.be/81hIW9CX7hg

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Healthy10 for 10% off

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Dr. Ellen Langer is a Harvard professor who literally wrote the book on Mindfulness in 1989. She has been referred to as the “Mother of Mindfulness.”

Through her famous counterclockwise study, where she put men in their 70’s and 80’s in an environment that was 20 years in the past, she illustrates how our mindset can influence our physical health. Spoiler, they all became “younger” and measurably healthier.

We talk extensively about the mind-body connection and how stress can impact health and longevity. She schools us in the power of language especially when it comes to chronic disease.

This is a rare experience to learn from someone who has devoted her life to the transformative power of mindfulness and its impact on health and aging.

Her latest book, The Mindful Body is available now.

Mindfulness (25th anniversary edition) (A Merloyd Lawrence Book)

On Becoming an Artist: Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity

https://www.ellenlanger.me/

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Healthy10 for 10% off

Websites, Cookbook, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#DrEllenLanger, #MindfulAging, #HealthyAging, #MindBodyConnection, #Mindfulness, #PsychologyOfAging, #AgingMindset, #LongevityMindset, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #TheMindfulBody, #Podcast,

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Between face yoga, red light therapy, lymphatic drainage, dry brushing, supplements, meditation, strength training, and the endless stream of health advice flooding social media, taking care of ourselves has become a full-time job.

In this solo episode, Lauren asks a question many of us are wondering: Has healthy aging gone too far?

Using biohacker Bryan Johnson's highly publicized quest to reverse aging as a jumping-off point, Lauren explores whether our pursuit of longevity has crossed the line into obsession. She also shares her own struggle to balance staying healthy after reversing heart disease with making room for the things that truly matter: family, friends, travel, laughter, and simply enjoying life.

This isn't about abandoning healthy habits. It's about recognizing that you don't have to do every wellness practice, every day, to age well. The healthiest life isn't necessarily the one with the longest checklist; it's the one you actually enjoy living.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why today's wellness culture can leave us feeling overwhelmed instead of healthier
• What Bryan Johnson's recent health diagnosis reveals about the limits of biohacking
• How Lauren is simplifying her own health routine after years of pursuing optimal wellness
• Why perfectionism may be doing more harm than good
• The surprising longevity habits that science continues to support: community, purpose, movement, laughter, and meaningful relationships
• How to create a realistic, sustainable approach to healthy aging without feeling like you're constantly falling behind

If you've ever felt guilty for skipping your supplements, missing a workout, or not keeping up with the latest longevity trend, this episode is your reminder that good health is meant to support your life, not become your life.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Episode 48: How Lauren Reversed Heart Disease with a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet
• Episodes 82 & 91: Lower Your LDL Cholesterol Naturally with Dr. Michael Greger
• Recipes: WellElephant.com

If this episode made you think, please share it with a friend who could use the reminder to slow down and enjoy life. And if you have ideas for future guests or topics, Lauren would love to hear from you.

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Healthy10 for 10% off

Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

What do toxins, psychedelics, and authenticity have in common?

More than you might think.

Dr. Nikki Siso shares her personal and professional journey toward deeper self-awareness and healing. We explore how environmental toxins, emotional burdens, and even the roles we play in everyday life can disconnect us from who we truly are.

She discusses the impact of toxic load on health, and the lessons she's learned from the psychedelic experience with 5-MeO-DMT, a potent, fast-acting psychedelic found in plants and the venom of the Sonoran Desert toad. Inhaling it causes profound ego dissolution and non-duality states within seconds.

We talk about why authenticity isn't something we achieve once and for all; it's an ongoing practice of becoming more honest with ourselves. Nikki feels that she wasn't on the path to true authenticity until she had her breast implants removed.

Whether you're curious about holistic health, healing through psychedelics, personal growth, or what it really means to live authentically, this conversation offers plenty of insight and food for thought.

Dr. Nikki built a Total Toxic Load Assessment, what she calls TOX, to investigate the three things no one looks at together: the toxins in your food, your home, and your own thoughts. It finally connects the dots. She's giving our listeners $50 off. Use discount code BADASS at checkout so you can go from running on fumes to clear and happy in your body again."

TOX Assessment: http://consciouskitchenatx.com/tox

Detox Program: http://consciouskitchenatx.com/ckm

https://consciouskitchenatx.com/

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Healthy10 for 10% off

Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#DrNikkiSiso, #PsychedelicHealing, #HolisticHealth, #AuthenticLiving, #MindBodyHealing, #ConsciousLiving, #IntegrativeWellness, #SelfHealingJourney, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #ConsciousKitchenATX, #Podcast,

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

In this mini-episode, Dreena Burton joins Lauren Bernick to explore the surprising connection among fascia, lymphatic health, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dreena explains the role of the San Jiao, also known as the Triple Burner meridian, and how stimulating this energetic pathway may help improve fluid movement throughout the body.

You'll learn how fascia, the body's connective tissue network, responds to resistance and movement, why healthy lymphatic flow is essential for immune function, and a simple technique you can try to encourage circulation and reduce swelling. Whether you're interested in Chinese medicine, fascia health, or natural ways to support your body's internal systems, this short episode offers practical insights you can start using today.

In This Episode:

• What the San Jiao (Triple Burner) meridian is and why it matters
• How fascia influences fluid movement throughout the body
• The connection between fascia work and lymphatic drainage
• Why lymphatic health is important for immune function
• A simple movement technique to help reduce swelling and support circulation

Connect with Dreena Burton

Visit Dreena's websites:

https://dreenaburton.com/

https://app.fasciaflo.com/

Find out more about lymphatic drainage on ep. 102 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-102-whats-the-deal-with-lymphatic-drainage/id1727889073?i=1000769640017

Subscribe & Review
If you're enjoying Age Like a Badass Mother, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend. Your support helps more women discover evidence-based, empowering conversations about aging, health, and living well.

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Healthy10 for 10% off

https://www.ancientgrains.com/shipping-policy

Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Hormones can feel like a mystery, especially when symptoms like brain fog, weight gain, hot flashes, low libido, UTIs, and even frozen shoulder seem to come out of nowhere. In this episode, I sit down with hormone specialist and pharmacist Dr. Tiffany Ruder to separate fact from fiction and help you understand what may really be happening inside your body.

Dr. Ruder explains how hormonal changes can affect nearly every aspect of health, why brain fog isn't something women should simply accept as a normal part of aging, and how personalized hormone therapy may help address common midlife symptoms. We also explore the growing interest in peptide therapy, what the science currently shows, and the questions women should ask when evaluating treatment options.

Whether you're curious about hormone replacement therapy, pellets, creatine, or struggling with symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, or simply want a clearer understanding of your body's changing needs, this conversation offers practical insights and evidence-based information to help you make informed decisions.

Get your free cortisol reset guide from Dr. Ruder

https://tiffanyruder.myflodesk.com/cortisolreset

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/optimizeherpharmacist/

Find a compounding pharmacist

https://www.pccarx.com/Resources/FindACompounder

https://a4pc.org/find-a-compounder

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Get 10% off with coupon code Healthy10 at checkout

Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#DrTiffanyRuder, #MenopauseHealth, #HormoneHealth, #Women'sWellness, #LibidoAfter40, #PerimenopauseSupport, #HealthyAgingForWomen, #MidlifeHealth, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #MenopauseMatters, #Podcast,

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Julieanna and Lauren talk about the concept of healthspan versus lifespan, the mechanisms of aging, the importance of a plant-based diet, and the role of phytonutrients. Then they get into a deep conversation about new evidence that women do need extra protein as they age. This is brand new information and the first time that Julieanna is speaking about this evolving topic. This is a lively conversation that covers the topic of marriage and matchmaking, to gratitude, to the six daily threes to help you get all the nutrients you need to live a long and healthy life.

https://healthspandietitian.com/

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains
Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)
Get 10% off with coupon code Healthy10 at checkout

Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch
https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/
https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/
https://wellelephant.com/
ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:
Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com
Facebook: @WellElephant
Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother
https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

#JulieannaHever, #Healthspan, #HealthyAging, #PlantBasedNutrition, #ProteinMyths, #WholeFoodPlantBased, #LongevityScience, #EvidenceBasedNutrition, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #PlantBasedLiving, #Podcast,

01:27 Journey to Plant-Based Nutrition
05:21 The Evolution of Plant-Based Diets
09:52 The Choose You Now Diet
14:23 Understanding Aging and HealthSpan
15:46 Understanding Healthspan vs Lifespan
16:48 The Mechanisms of Aging and Inflammation
18:58 The Importance of a Plant-Based Diet
19:17 Phytonutrients and Their Benefits
21:59 Rethinking Protein Needs
33:13 The Concept of Hara Hachibu and Eating Mindfully
35:53 The Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods
40:22 Understanding Metabolic Winter
44:22 The Role of Methionine in Health
47:32 Advice for Aging Well and Beyond

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Have you ever wondered why you keep repeating the same patterns, even when you know better?

Maybe you struggle to speak up for yourself, set boundaries, stop people-pleasing, or finally go after what you want. You know what to do. You've read the books. You've listened to the podcasts. Yet somehow, nothing really changes.

According to belief expert Shelly Lefkoe, the problem isn't a lack of willpower. It's the beliefs you've been carrying since childhood.

In this eye-opening conversation, Shelly explains how the meanings we assign to childhood experiences become beliefs about ourselves, and how those beliefs quietly shape our relationships, careers, parenting, confidence, and happiness for decades.

We discuss why evidence rarely changes deeply held beliefs, the five limiting beliefs most people carry, and why so many of us spend our lives trying to prove we're good enough, lovable enough, or worthy enough.

Shelly also shares powerful insights into parenting, including how well-meaning parents unintentionally create limiting beliefs in their children and how we can do things differently.

If you've ever felt stuck, self-critical, or trapped in patterns that don't make sense, this episode may completely change the way you see yourself and what's possible for your future.

The Lefkoe Institute:

https://www.mortylefkoe.com/

Eliminate a limiting belief - go to @shellylefkoe on IG https://www.instagram.com/shellylefkoe/

and comment Lauren27

Shelly will send you a link to eliminate a limiting belief

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains

Grand Teton Ancient Grains (ancientgrains.com)

Use code Healthy10 for 10% off your order

Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch

https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/

https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/

https://wellelephant.com/

ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/

Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:

Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com

Facebook: @WellElephant

Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother

https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother

01:31 The Lefko Method and Its Origins
08:30 Understanding Limiting Beliefs
18:15 The Impact of Beliefs on Behavior
23:08 The Meaning We Assign to Events
31:10 Understanding the Meaning Behind Emotions
31:21 Eliminating Negative Emotions
33:18 Common Limiting Beliefs
37:17 The Impact of Beliefs on Relationships
41:19 Effective Parenting Strategies
45:28 Raising Confident Children
47:17 Steps to Eliminate Limiting Beliefs
50:24 Introduction and Appreciation
50:46 The Importance of Reviews and Community Support

#ShellyLefko, #LimitingBeliefs, #MindsetTransformation, #PersonalGrowth, #SelfWorthJourney, #EmotionalHealing, #SubconsciousMind, #BreakThroughBarriers, #AgeLikeABadassMother, #MindsetMatters, #Podcast,

Question or comment? Send a one-way text to Age Like a Badass Mother. Include your email so I can answer you back.

Could your sleep struggles be connected to your heart meridian?

In this week's mini-episode, Dreena Burton returns to explore the wisdom of Chinese medicine for summer, the season associated with the fire element, joy, connection, and the heart. Dreena explains how excess "fire" in the body may make it difficult to settle into sleep, why the heart is considered the home of the spirit, and how simple acupressure techniques may help calm the mind before bed.

You'll also learn about the Chinese organ clock, the fascinating connection between waking at specific times during the night and different organ systems, and how seasonal foods can help support balance during the hottest months of the year.

Plus, Dreena shares a simple heart-meridian fascia flow and an acupressure point you can try tonight.

In This Episode:

• Why summer is associated with the fire element in Chinese medicine
• The connection between the heart, joy, and sleep
• How excess internal "heat" may interfere with falling asleep
• The Heart 7 ("Spirit Gate") acupressure point for relaxation
• What waking at 1 a.m., 3 a.m., or 5 a.m. may reveal about your body
• The Chinese organ clock explained
• Foods that help support heart energy during summer
• Why bitter greens, seasonal fruit, and cooling foods matter
• A simple heart-meridian fascia flow you can practice at home
• The importance of balancing activity, connection, and quiet time during summer

https://dreenaburton.com/
https://app.fasciaflo.com/

This episode is sponsored by Grand Teton Ancient Grains
https://www.ancientgrains.com/
Free Shipping
https://www.ancientgrains.com/shipping-policy
Websites, Cookbook, Classes, and Merch
https://wellelephant.com/ecookbook/
https://www.agelikeabadassmother.com/
https://wellelephant.com/
ACE Plant-based Eating Course https://discover.wellelephant.com/ace-plant-based-eating-course-reg/
Shop Merch https://age-like-a-badass-mother-shop.fourthwall.com/

Follow us and reach out at:
Email: lauren@agelikeabadassmother.com
Facebook: @WellElephant
Instagram: @agelikeabadassmother
https://www.youtube.com/@agelikeabadassmother