Insights from the Couch - Real Talk for Women at Midlife
Insights from the Couch is your go-to podcast for smart, self-aware women in midlife navigating perimenopause, burnout, marriage shifts, identity changes, and the emotional chaos of “What now?” Hosted by best friends and seasoned therapists Colette Fehr and Laura Bowman, this is where therapy meets real life — bold conversations, hard truths, and powerful tools to help you get unstuck and come alive.
Whether you're questioning your relationship, struggling with empty nest, battling people-pleasing or perfectionism, or just feeling flat and disconnected from yourself — this show is for you.
Colette and Laura bring decades of clinical experience (and lived midlife wisdom) to every episode. Expect real talk on the things no one prepares you for: midlife reinvention, perimenopause and hormone shifts, marriage and divorce, boundaries, friendships, confidence, identity loss, and what it actually takes to build a life you want at this stage — not just one you tolerate.
This is where smart women get unstuck and come alive.
🎧 New episodes every week
🌟 Join the Midlife Masterclass: insightsfromthecouch.org/group-coaching-program
🩷 Grab your free guide: The Midlife Roadmap — 7 Skills to Get Unstuck and Come Alive
👉 Follow us on Instagram: @insightsfromthecouch
Episodes
100 episodes
Ep. 99: Reinventing Yourself at Midlife: 10 Nuggets of Wisdom from Our Conversation with Sarah Cleveland
Sarah Cleveland joins us for an honest and inspiring conversation about reinvention, midlife, and what happens when women finally start saying yes to themselves. From creating her new series Love in All the Small Places to navigating f...
Ep. 98: The Personality Style That Can Strain Relationships: Understanding OCPD
We’re unpacking a topic that quietly impacts so many relationships but rarely gets talked about: Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD). We break down what it actually is (and what it’s not), especially how it differs from OCD, and wh...
Ep. 97: Beauty After Loss: Rewriting the Next Chapter with Laing Rikkers
Grief has a way of cracking everything open—and in this conversation, we sit down with Laing Rikkers to explore what can emerge from that opening. From unexpected loss to creative awakening, we unpack how life’s hardest moments can become invit...
Ep. 96: When Passion Meets Strategy: Turning Your Calling into a Scalable Business with Allison Walsh
In this energizing conversation, we sit down with Allison Walsh—business consultant, personal branding expert, and founder of She Believes She Could—to unpack what it really takes to build confidence, scale your impact, and turn your personal b...
Ep. 95: When Family Goes "No Contact": The Psychology of Family Cutoffs
Family cutoffs, estrangement, and going “no contact” are everywhere right now—and they’re stirring up a lot of strong opinions. We’re unpacking what’s really going on beneath the surface of this cultural moment, and why this topic is so much mo...
Ep. 94: When Life Happens: Mindset Shifts That Set You Free with Dr. Rachel Goldman
In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Dr. Rachel Goldman to unpack how small, intentional shifts can create powerful change in your life—without the overwhelm of a full overhaul. We dive into the real mechanics behind Cognitive Behav...
Ep. 93: Parenting Teens in a Complicated World with Keesha Scott
Parenting teens today isn’t just challenging—it’s a completely different landscape than what we grew up in. In this episode, Colette explores what it really looks like to raise teenagers in a world shaped by social media, constant comparison, a...
Ep. 92: Dr. Google is Not Your Therapist: How to Cope with Health Anxiety
Health anxiety is one of those things that can quietly take over your mind—and before you know it, you’re stuck in a loop of symptoms, spiraling thoughts, and constant checking. We’re unpacking what this actually looks like in real life, from t...
Ep. 91: The Courage to Commit to Your Creative Vision With Maylen Dominguez
In this episode, we sit down with writer, producer, and longtime friend Maylen Dominguez to talk about what it really looks like to pursue creativity in midlife. From leaving a stable career to producing her independent film Ethan Bloom
Ep.90: Breaking Free From Love Addiction with Dr. Janie Lacy
In this episode, we sit down with trauma psychotherapist Dr. Janie Lacy to talk about a topic many women quietly struggle with—toxic relationships and love addiction. As therapists and women who’ve navigated our own relationship journeys, this ...
Ep. 89: Joy Costs Pain: How to Keep Going When Growth Feels Like Suffering
In this episode, we dive into a conversation that feels deeply personal—especially if you’re in a season of striving, questioning, or quietly wondering, Is this it? Inspired by Colette’s recent reading of A Million Miles in a Thous...
Ep.88: The Selfish Year: How Listening to Yourself Changes Everything With Valerie Jones
This week on Insights from the Couch, we sit down with the fierce and unapologetic Valerie Jones to talk about her powerful book, The Selfish Year. And yes—we mean selfish in the most revolutionary way possible. Together, we u...
Ep.87: Lead Like a Woman: The Hidden Strength of Soft Skills With Fran Hauser
In this episode, we sit down with the brilliant Fran Houser for a conversation that feels especially relevant if you’re trying to be successful at work without losing yourself along the way. We talk about ambition, empathy, boundaries,...
Ep. 86: The Cost of Quiet: How to Have the Hard Conversations that Create Secure Lasting Love
In this episode, we sit down to talk about Colette's new book, The Cost of Quiet, and the patterns we see over and over again in couples therapy. We’ve watched brilliant, capable women slowly lose their voices in relationships, convinc...
Ep. 85: The Cost of Quiet LIVE from the Stage: A VIP Book Launch Experience
Colette Fehr takes the stage during the live launch of her book, The Cost of Quiet, stepping into the role of author in front of a room filled with people who know her work and her...
Ep.84: How to Finally Get the Life You Want with Katherine Woodward Thomas
In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Katherine Woodward Thomas, and honestly—you’re going to feel this one in your bones. We dive into why so many of us do all the insight-oriented healing work, understand our trauma inside...
Ep.83: Healing from Heartbreak: Rebuilding a Life You Love with Cole Zesiger
In this episode, we sit down with dating and heartbreak recovery coach Cole Zesiger for a deeply honest conversation about what really happens after a breakup—and why healing is so much harder than people want to admit. We talk about why heartb...
Ep.82: The New College Admission Reality and How Not to Lose Your Mind
College admissions have changed dramatically since we were applying—and if you’re parenting a teen right now, you probably feel that in your bones. In this episode, we talk honestly about the new reality of college admissions, why even...
Ep.81: The Essential Guide to Divorce at Midlife with Oona Metz
In this episode of Insights from the Couch, we sit down with licensed therapist, writer, and divorce support group leader Oona Metz to have one of the most honest, grounding, and hope-filled conversations we’ve ever had about di...
Ep.80: The Year End Audit: What We're Shedding and What We're Keeping in 2026
As we wrap up the year, we’re inviting you into a different kind of year-end ritual—one that’s less about resolutions and more about reflection. In this episode, we’re doing a midlife audit: looking honestly at what we’re ready to shed...
Ep.79: Ready for a Reboot? How Functional Medicine Gets to the Root of Midlife Health with Dr. Tracy McCarthy
In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Tracy McCarthy, a brilliant functional medicine physician and psychiatrist, to talk about what it really takes to heal—especially in midlife. We explored how functional medicine goes ...
EP 78: The “Superwoman” Trap That Leads to Midlife Burnout with Nora Neiterman
In this deeply honest episode, we sit down with Nora Neiterman, creative director, brand strategist, and founder of Unsweetened New York, to talk about what happens when success comes at the cost of yourself. Nora shares how building a powerful...
Ep.77: Why Holiday Burnout Hits Women Hardest and How to Fix It
The holidays are here, and if you’re already feeling that mix of excitement, pressure, and low-key dread, you’re in good company. In this episode, we dig into why holiday burnout hits women so disproportionately hard, how old expectations keep ...
Ep.76: Mr. Unavailable: Breaking Free From Loving Emotionally Unavailable Men with Dr. Marni Feuerman
In this heartfelt and revealing episode, we dive deep into the patterns, red flags, and emotional toll of loving someone who just can’t meet you emotionally. We’re joined by our brilliant friend Dr. Marni Feuerman—psychotherapist, author of
Ep.75: Thanksgiving Episode: How to Deal with Difficult Family Dynamics
In this Thanksgiving episode, we’re settling in together—just like we would the night before a big holiday—to talk about the messy, heartfelt, complicated world of family dynamics. Even though both of us are having quieter Thanksgivings this ye...