A Certain Age

Katie Fogarty
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Oct 27, 2025 • 51min

What's the Deal with Estrogen Skincare Products? Anne Fulenwider Explains

Your expensive serums aren't working like they used to—and there's a scientific reason why. Understanding what's actually happening to your skin in perimenopause is the key to finding products that deliver real results. Meet Anne Fulenwider, former Marie Claire editor-in-chief who left magazines to co-found Alloy Health, which offers menopause telehealth and buzzy prescription-strength estrogen skincare. Get ready to upgrade your beauty bag! We explore: Why estrogen is the "original biohack" for skin and overall health. Why did it disappear from beauty products? How do we add it to our routines? Plus, Anne shares her reinvention story and her viral essay about the parallel roller coasters of perimenopause and empty nest. Tune in for real talk, skin care fun, and ideas for upping your glow! SPECIAL CODE: Get $25 off a first time purchase at myalloy.com with code ACA25. FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AGE BOLDLY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 20, 2025 • 44min

Modern Empty Nesting and the Revolving Door with Kari Cardinale

Empty nesting isn't what it used to be—kids boomerang, transitions can stretch a decade (wait, what?!?) , and parents need new tools. Kari Cardinale, Chief Content Officer at Modern Elder Academy and empty nest expert, reframes this messy middle with her "revolving decade" approach. Why do launches take so long now? How do you build your "transitional quotient" (TQ) for these uncertain years? What's the trick for shifting from manager to consultant parent? Kari shares the three developmental stages of young adulthood (18-28) and reveals how to embrace this chrysalis moment—messy middle and all—while giving your kids room to grow. Time to reimagine this chapter, beauties. FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AGE BOLDLY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 13, 2025 • 44min

The Lab Work Every Midlife Woman Needs (And the Expensive Tests You Don't) with Dr. Jila Senemar

Managing menopause shouldn't feel like guesswork, yet many women walk into their doctor's office unprepared and walk out confused. Dr. Jila Senemar, founder of Jila MD and menopause specialist, is changing that. After realizing conventional training left her without answers for perimenopausal patients—including herself—she went down the research rabbit hole. What five labs reveal your longevity roadmap? Why are you wasting money on unnecessary "Instagram famous" tests? Which supplements actually move the needle? Learn Dr. Senemar's "ice cream sundae" approach to building optimal health from the foundation up. Ready to be a smarter patient and partner with your doctor more effectively? This one's for you, beauties! FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AGE BOLDLY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 6, 2025 • 52min

Stop Mastering, Start Dabbling: Karen Walrond on the Joy of Being Amateur

What if the secret to a richer life isn't mastering anything—but dabbling in everything? Author Karen Walrond (In Defense of Dabbling) returns to champion the lost art of amateurism—doing what you love without needing to excel. In a culture that turns hobbies into hustles, we can easily forget how to be interesting to ourselves. From swim class struggles to wonky candle holders, Karen shares why intentional dabbling as we age sparks joy, powers self-compassion, and stretches our comfort zones. Midlife is made for getting unstuck. What will you try just for the joy of it, beauties? FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AGE BOLDLY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 29, 2025 • 47min

Look, Getting Sick Isn’t Always Optional. Rebecca Bloom Wants You to Get the Support You Need

Midlife straight talk alert! Hitting midlife means health scares become reality—for you or someone you love. Rebecca Bloom, lawyer and 26-year patient advocate, wrote "When Women Get Sick" after navigating her mother's breast cancer journey and helping thousands of other cancer patients do the same in a healthcare system that wasn't built for women. Look, no one wants to think about illness and disease. But when the sh*t hits the fan, you want to know how to get, afford, and keep the health care, insurance and workplace benefits needed to help you survive. We cover must-know info like—How do you choose insurance that protects what matters? What's your script when bills are wrong? How do you turn your doctor into an ally? What creative solutions exist beyond insurance? How do you appeal denied coverage successfully? Why should you "assume partnership" with HR? Listen in for a conversation on being a smarter patient—knowledge is power and peace of mind! FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AGE BOLDLY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 22, 2025 • 43min

Memoirist Stacy Waldman Bass on Loss, Legacy and the Art of Family "Lightkeeping"

Sudden loss reveals how much we never knew about someone's inner life—and midlife brings the urgency to ask deeper questions while we still can. Photographer Stacy Bass faced this reality twice: losing her father in a 1995 seaplane crash, then watching her mother battle pancreatic cancer 25 years later. Her memoir "Lightkeeper" reveals how she transformed devastating grief into active remembrance through photography and storytelling. We explore: Why are photographs "powerful portals" to forgotten stories? How do we actively keep someone's "light" alive instead of passively grieving? What does it mean to become your family's "lightkeeper"? Stacy shares why slowing down to truly see our photographs and excavate memory and family stories can transmute grief, plus practical ways to preserve the voices and stories that matter most before time runs out. FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AGE BOLDLY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 15, 2025 • 1h 9min

Bonus Episode: Novelist Cleyvis Natera Unpacks the True Cost of Paradise and Sisterhood

What are you willing to sacrifice for security? Author Cleyvis Natera invites readers to explore this question and more on a breathless seven-day trip to The Grand Paloma Resort, a Dominican Republic luxury resort where White Lotus-esque thriller meets sharp social commentary. As two local girls go missing and a hurricane approaches, sisters Laura and Elena live and work amidst stark class distinctions. The resort siphons water for lush gardens while local communities face drought, tourists operate under systems of private justice, and staff navigate knotty power dynamics for survival. Join host Katie Fogarty and Natera as they wander The Grand Paloma and explore the complexities of midlife: are we obligated to take responsibility for others, what is the moral cost of compromises for security, and how to thread the delicate balance between protecting those we love and allowing them autonomy. Bonus! We also crack open Natera's critically acclaimed debut Neruda on the Park, uncover how aspiring authors can get the most out of writing workshops, and discover why Natera credits "getting lost" as essential to building a creative, values-driven midlife. FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AGE BOLDLY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 8, 2025 • 53min

Stop the All-or-Nothing Fitness Cycle: Megan Dahlman's Sustainable September Reset

Anyone else have a summer of rosé and disrupted routines? Time to (re)enroll in the school of sustainable fitness and create habits that stick. Fitness trainer Megan Dahlman returns to teach her proven syllabus for women over 40—no cramming or gym all-nighters required. Discover the difference between "regress," "progress," and "maintenance" exercise modes and how to avoid falling into the "all-or-nothing" exercise trap. Longevity alert: Megan schools us in three balance exercises that protect future you from life-changing falls, plus how to build a happy back in just 5 minutes daily. Plus, what's the "magic number" of weekly exercise hours that truly works? We cover simple, doable fundamentals that keep you strong, steady, and unstoppable for decades. Class is in session, beauties! FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AGE BOLDLY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Aug 25, 2025 • 47min

Build Lifelong Strength, Age with Power, and Fight Off Frailty with Dr. Vonda Wright of 'Unbreakable'

Feel like your midlife body has betrayed you? Stiffer joints, mysterious aches, less energy—these aren't just inconveniences, they're warning signals about your future independence. Dr. Vonda Wright, orthopedic surgeon, and author of "Unbreakable," returns to the show with a science-backed blueprint to prevent the broken hips, osteoporosis, and frailty plaguing too many women. As the country's leading voice on menopause's musculoskeletal impacts, she reveals why 70% of women experience debilitating joint pain and muscle loss. Plus, what are the six "time bombs" of aging you can control? How does your "unbreakable score" predict independence at 90? Why is muscle your literal longevity factory? Get the tools to stay strong, mobile, and unbreakable for decades ahead, beauties! FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AGE BOLDLY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Aug 18, 2025 • 59min

Five Years of Aging Out Loud! A Certain Age Birthday Bash with Katie Fogarty and Co-Host Liz Plosser

Five years of aging out loud—let's celebrate! Katie hands the mic to special co-host Liz Plosser, former Women's Health Editor-in-Chief, for our biggest birthday bash yet. We're diving deep into how the menopause conversation has exploded (finally!), why reinvention is the ultimate midlife superpower, and what it really means to "age exuberantly." Plus, how Katie's preparing for empty nest life with a big move back to NYC. Stick around for Liz’s summer and travel tips: confidence-boosting swimsuits, smart travel gear, and why she's doing the downward dog in boarding areas (and doesn't care who's watching). It's a party packed with wisdom, amazing giveaways, and real talk. Thank you for making A Certain Age part of your weekly routine, for tuning in from around the world—cheers to aging boldly together! FOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET INBOX INSPO: Sign up for our newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AGE BOLDLY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We share new episodes, giveaways, links we love, and midlife resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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