A New Year’s Eve reflection on attention, endurance, and choosing less

Episode Description

This New Year’s Eve episode of Second Opinion is not about resolutions or reinvention.

It’s about clarity.

Host Rosemarie Beltz—medical journalist and clinician with nearly 30 years in healthcare—offers a grounded, reflective look at what midlife quietly clarifies as one year closes and another begins. Drawing from clinical insight, lived experience, and years inside complex systems, she explores why midlife isn’t asking us to do more, but to carry less.

This episode examines attention as a finite resource, the cost of open loops, and why subtraction—not addition—often becomes the most intelligent move in the second half of life. With calm authority and journalistic restraint, Rosemarie reframes common assumptions about midlife, productivity, and endurance—without hype, self-improvement language, or pressure to change.

A thoughtful listen for anyone ending the year awake, reflective, and interested in entering the next season with precision rather than performance.

In This Episode, We Explore

• Why midlife is less about reinvention and more about discernment
• How attention, energy, and mental load shape midlife decisions
• The hidden cost of carrying too much—cognitively and physically
• Why subtraction often creates more progress than addition
• The role of sleep, focus, and protected time as infrastructure—not habits
• What it means to close the year without resolution culture

Who This Episode Is For

• Midlifers (40+) who value science, clarity, and lived experience
• Listeners who are tired of motivational noise and optimization culture
• Anyone seeking a calm, intelligent way to reflect at year’s end
• Professionals navigating complexity, responsibility, and transition

About the Host

Rosemarie Beltz is a medical journalist and clinician with nearly 30 years in healthcare. She is the host of Second Opinion and creator of Midlife Minute, where she explores health, clarity, reinvention, and decision-making in midlife through evidence-based insight and thoughtful conversation.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Season 2 starts here. And we’re coming in hot—with clarity, comedy, and one of the most misunderstood topics in modern medicine: cholesterol.

In this Season Two premiere, I’m joined by Josh Wageman, PhD, DPT—lipid specialist, former Ivy League athlete, and yes… a youth pastor—who has a gift for making complex science feel human (and finally understandable). His core message? Cholesterol isn’t just “good vs. bad.” It’s a system. And midlife is when the system starts telling the truth.

We break down why your labs may not “add up,” why insulin is the quiet driver behind so many chronic diseases, and why the goal isn’t obsessing over one number—it’s protecting your heart, your brain, and your future.

If you’ve ever stared at your lipid panel and thought, “Wait… what does this actually mean for me?” — this episode is your reset.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why cholesterol stays confusing (even for proactive, educated patients)
• Josh’s “home security system + lipid neighborhood” framework for prevention
• The connection between insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk (even with “normal” glucose)
• Why fasting insulin can reveal what standard labs miss
• “Got plaque, get a CAC”: why a coronary artery calcium score can change the entire conversation
• HDL, LDL, triglycerides, ApoB, Lp(a): what matters, what’s misleading, and what needs context
• The statin conversation—without fear, drama, or tribalism
• Why alcohol can raise HDL (and why that doesn’t always mean “better”)
• How to think like a high performer: movement, prevention, and the long game of longevity

My Season Two intention:

 My goal for my life is complete longevity—living my most optimal life. And this season, I’m bringing you with me: my curiosity, my questions, and the conversations I wish every mid-lifer had access to sooner.

Because getting a second opinion isn’t just smart medicine.
 It’s smart living.

Connect and  follow the show:

• Website and  listener submissions: RosemarieB.com
   Send your questions, guest suggestions, and story ideas—I read every one. 

If this episode supported you, please follow the show and leave a quick review. It helps more mid-lifers find better answers.

Signed with love and a dash of Midlife Magic,
  ✨ Rosemarie 

Book mentioned:
The Home Security System and the Lipid Neighborhood by Josh Wageman (available on Amazon and Audible)

The Home Security System and the Lipid Neighborhood: Un-Complicating Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Disease: Wageman, Josh: 9798992169218: Amazon.com: Books

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In this intimate bonus holiday episode, Rosemarie records from Brooklyn during the final days of December — a week that holds both Christmas and the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year and the turning point toward returning light.

This episode is a permission slip for mid-lifers who feel stretched, reflective, or quietly exhausted at the end of 2025.

Blending science, symbolism, and lived experience, Rosemarie explores why midlife mirrors the Winter Solstice so closely — a season of stillness, truth, release, and renewal — and why peace has become more important than performance.

You’ll hear a personal reflection on perfection paralysis, nervous system wisdom, and why waiting until January is old energy. Rosemarie also shares why she’s releasing Season Two early, including a powerful kickoff conversation designed to help listeners get a head start on their 2026 health.

This episode is not about pushing, fixing, or optimizing.
 It’s about arriving.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear :

• Why midlife is its own “solstice season” — and why clarity often comes through slowing down
 • How perfection paralysis disguises itself as high standards and productivity
 • The biology of stress, rest, and why December hits the nervous system differently
 • A simple Solstice reflection ritual: Release / Keep / Seed
• How Christmas evolves in midlife — from performance to meaning, boundaries, and legacy
• Why Season Two of Second Opinion is starting early (and why your health doesn’t need to wait until January)

Who This Episode Is For:

• Mid-lifers who feel reflective, tired, or “behind” at year’s end
 • Anyone craving peace, clarity, and intention instead of hustle
 • Listeners navigating health, reinvention, and personal recalibration
 • Those ready to begin 2026 with wisdom — not pressure

What’s Next

Season Two of Second Opinion begins with a powerful conversation focused on preventive health, clarity, and midlife longevity — dropping earlier than planned because better health doesn’t start on January 1.

Stay close.

If This Episode Resonated

Please follow, subscribe, and share Second Opinion with someone who needs a softer landing into the end of the year.
Your support helps this independent show reach more people who are seeking better questions — and better answers — in midlife.

With gratitude, reflection, and love,
 Rosemarie Beltz 🤍
Host of Second Opinion
Where science meets story — and age is always your advantage.

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💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

If midlife feels louder, more stimulating, or more exhausting than it used to — you’re not imagining it.

In this solo episode of Second Opinion, host Rosemarie Beltz explores why midlife truly hits different and how the nervous system plays a central role — especially during perimenopause, menopause, and the end-of-year season.

Drawing on neuroscience, stress physiology, and hormonal health, Rosemarie breaks down what the nervous system actually does, why stress tolerance changes after 40, and why the holidays often amplify fatigue, emotional reactivity, and overwhelm.

This is not about fixing yourself.

 It’s about understanding the system you’re living in — and learning how to work with it, not against it.

Blending science with personal reflection, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and practical insight for anyone navigating midlife with curiosity and intention.

🧠 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN

• What the nervous system does and why it governs stress, sleep, mood, and energy
• Why midlife stress feels different after 40
• How perimenopause and menopause affect nervous system sensitivity
• What neuroception is and why you can feel on edge “for no reason”
• Why the holidays don’t break your nervous system — they expose cumulative load
• The difference between “resetting” and recalibrating the nervous system
• Science-backed ways to support nervous system regulation in midlife
• Why misalignment — not lack of motivation — often leads to exhaustion
• End-of-year reflection questions to carry into 2026

❄️ A PERSONAL MOMENT

Rosemarie shares a quiet winter morning in New York City during the first snowfall of the season — and how a brief pause with a cup of coffee helped calm her nervous system, even while being called into work for an emergency.

A reminder that regulation isn’t about escaping life —
 it’s about learning how to move through it with awareness.

✍️ END-OF-YEAR REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• Where am I running on adrenaline instead of alignment?
• What identity am I clinging to that my body is done sustaining?
• What’s one daily signal of safety I can practice consistently?
• What would my future self choose today — not in January?
• What gets to be simpler next year so my nervous system can be stronger?

🎧 ABOUT SECOND OPINION

Second Opinion is a podcast where science meets story — and midlife is not a problem to solve, it’s a system to understand.

Hosted by Rosemarie Beltz, journalist and cardiovascular perfusionist, the show explores health, hormones, longevity, reinvention, relationships, and resilience through credible science and lived experience.

🔔 FOLLOW & SHARE

If this episode resonated, please follow or subscribe wherever you listen, and share it with someone who might need this conversation.

Your support helps Second Opinion reach more midlifers looking for real answers — not more distractions and noise.

Take care of your nervous system — it’s been taking care of you for decades.

~I'm Rosemarie, coming to you from Brooklyn.
This is Second Opinion — where science meets story, and age is always your advantage.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

If you don’t want to start January feeling behind, exhausted, or like you abandoned your own wellbeing… this episode is for you.

Today I’m breaking down why midlifers should glow up NOW — not later. December is actually the most powerful time to support your health, immunity, stress, confidence, and clarity, especially in our 40s, 50s, and 60s.

Inside this episode:
 ✨ Why holiday stress hits harder in midlife
 ✨ Adrenaline vs. authenticity — and how to shift
 ✨ The science of sleep, immunity, boundaries, and decluttering
 ✨ Why glow-ups are now inner and outer
✨ Essentialism during the busiest month of the year
✨ Real stories from my week: hospital cases, Sutton Café, Bloomingdale’s, my sister’s 50th
✨ And the 5-part Midlife Holiday Glow-Up Plan (health, wealth, beauty, declutter, love)

If you’re ready to treat December as your launch pad, not your loophole — this is your reset.

5 Glow-Up Pillars We Cover

1. Health: sleep, immunity, appointments, movement
2. Wealth: quick year-end financial clarity
3. Beauty + Longevity: skincare, strength, red light, mocktails
4. Declutter: closet, fridge, inbox, environment
5. Love + Connection: celebration, rituals, meaningful rest

Who This Episode Is For

Midlife men and women who want:
 • Less stress
 • More energy
 • Better sleep
 • Stronger immunity
 • A clearer, more grounded start to 2026

If this helped you…

💛 Like the video
 📝 Comment & tell me your December glow-up pillar
 📩 Share with a friend who keeps saying “I’ll start in January”
 🎧 Follow Second Opinion on Apple & Spotify

Season Two is coming — guests are booked, interviews are rolling, and we are glowing up together.

✨ Thanks for watching!
💛 Rosemarie

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💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Most people wait until January to “start fresh,” but midlifers know better:
 December is where the real reset begins.

In this solo episode, Rosemarie invites you to reimagine the holiday season through the lens of inner peace, intentionality, boundaries, and the neuroscience of joy. Blending personal storytelling from New York City, science-backed insights, and wisdom inspired by Deepak Chopra, she offers a practical and soulful guide to navigating the holidays without abandoning yourself.

If you’re feeling stretched, overwhelmed, or emotionally overextended this time of year — this episode is the permission slip you didn’t know you needed.

🌟 Episode Highlights

• Why midlifers cannot wait until January to prioritize their health and emotional wellbeing
• The real reasons the holidays feel heavier in midlife (sleep disruption, emotional labor, caregiving, hormonal shifts)
• Deepak Chopra’s insight: your outer world reflects your inner world
• How to stay grounded around family or friends with different values, expectations, or energy
• A simple Mindful Listening practice to help you stay present without absorbing other people’s stress
• How small moments of connection (“micro-resets”) protect your cardiovascular and emotional health
• A spontaneous NYC moment that became Rosemarie’s “first miracle of the season”
• The Midlife Holiday Recalibration: five shifts that support inner peace and presence
• Rituals and tools to regulate your nervous system during a demanding month
• Why looking for everyday miracles is neuroscience — not woo

✨ The Midlife Holiday Recalibration: Five Shifts That Truly Serve You

1. Simplify + Delegate
   Let traditions evolve. Let people help. Make the season 20% easier.
2. Set Real Boundaries (With Others + Yourself)
   Protect your sleep, your energy, and your emotional bandwidth.
3. Support Your Nervous System
   Quiet mornings. Hydration. Gentle movement. Mindful alcohol choices.
4. Make Intentional Decisions
   Ask: Does this support the holiday I actually want?
5. Look for Everyday Miracles
   Gratitude rewires the brain and transforms your experience.

🧘‍♀️ Simple Actions to Anchor These Shifts

• The 3-Question Check-In:
  1. What matters most this month?
  2. What drains me?
  3. What miracle am I open to?
• One Morning Ritual + One Evening Ritual to bookend your nervous system
• Presence Over Perfection — because people remember how it felt, not how it looked

✨ Science Sources Mentioned

• Harvard Health
• American Heart Association
• Rutgers Health
• Psychology Today
• Neuroscience of gratitude and stress regulation
• Deepak Chopra: Mindful Listening & mindset practices

⚜️Key Quote from the Episode

“Midlife isn’t about controlling the season — it’s about navigating it without abandoning yourself.”

📍 Recorded in New York City

Back from California and immersed in the energy of holiday-season NYC, Rosemarie shares reflections from a city that gets louder and brighter — even as your inner world grows clearer.

🎧 Enjoying the Show?

If this episode supported you:
 ✔ Follow the podcast on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you listen
 ✔ Leave a quick review — it helps more midlifers find the show
 ✔ Share this episode with someone who needs a calmer, more grounded December

Thank you for being part of the Second Opinion community.
Where science meets story… and age is your advantage.

💫 Merry and Happy Holidays, 
💛 Rosemarie

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💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

The Frequency of Gratitude: What Thanksgiving Teaches Us About Midlife

Second Opinion with Rosemarie Beltz

Gratitude isn’t just a feeling — it’s a frequency.
A scientifically-backed, midlife-shifting recalibration that can lower cortisol, boost happiness chemicals, and literally rewire the brain for resilience and joy.

In this Thanksgiving solo episode, Rosemarie brings you to Manhattan Beach, California, where an unexpected encounter with a community “Gratitude Tree” reveals the deeper truth about gratitude — and why midlife is the moment it all hits differently.

Warm, reflective, science-backed, and personal, this episode invites you to rethink what gratitude really means… especially when life has been loud, messy, or beautifully complicated.

In This Episode, We Explore:

✨ The science of gratitude — dopamine, serotonin, cortisol, neuroplasticity
✨ Why midlife changes how we experience gratitude
✨ The Manhattan Beach Gratitude Tree and the message it delivered
✨ The unexpected things Rosemarie is grateful for (yes, even the difficult people + $500 rent hikes)
✨ How gratitude shifts the brain from reactivity to regulation
✨ Why gratitude is a health strategy, not just a holiday theme
✨ Three tiny gratitude prompts to start today — especially if this year was heavy
✨ A global reflection for listeners around the world

Key Takeaways:

✔️ Gratitude lowers stress hormones and strengthens emotional resilience
 ✔️ Midlife clarity comes from contrast — the “before and after” moments
 ✔️ Even hard experiences can redirect us toward better things
 ✔️ Gratitude grows through awareness, appreciation, acceptance, and action
 ✔️ You don’t need a perfect year to find meaningful gratitude — you just need one small thing to start

Questions to Reflect On (Midlife Diaries Forward):

1. What challenged you this year that you’re secretly grateful for?
2. Who showed up for you — even in small ways — and have you told them?
3. What’s one thing you appreciate about yourself right now, without fixing anything?

Sources Mentioned:

Harvard Health • Mayo Clinic Health System • PositivePsychology.com • PMC • Psychology Today

If You Enjoyed This Episode:

✨ Follow or subscribe to support the show — it genuinely helps us reach more midlifers
✨ Share this episode with a friend who might need a moment of grounding
✨ Leave a review — your words help others find conversations that matter

And if it’s not your vibe later?
 You can always unsubscribe — that’s the beauty of midlife. We don’t cling… we choose.

About the Show:

Second Opinion is where science meets story — hosted by healthcare professional and journalist Rosemarie Beltz.
This podcast empowers midlifers with credible insights, personal reinvention stories, and research-backed tools for longevity, vitality, and meaningful living.

Connect with Rosemarie:

🌐 Website: RosemarieB.com
📸 Instagram: @rosemariebeltz
🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Everywhere you get your podcasts
Produced By Rosemarie Beltz

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💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Feeling the pull to change careers in your 40s or 50s? Journalist and healthcare professional Rosemarie Beltz breaks down the science, strategy, and soul of starting over — without starting from scratch. This solo episode of Second Opinion dives into data, purpose, and the personal story behind rewriting your next chapter without burning it all down.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

A midlife reflection on clarity, nervous-system balance, and rebuilding from peace — not pressure.

What if the hardest part of starting over isn’t what you rebuild — but what you release?
 In this solo episode, Rosemarie opens up about the messy, beautiful process of beginning again after a year of pivots and personal reinvention. Drawing lessons from Atomic Habits, she explores how focus—not hustle—creates sustainable growth, why your nervous system is the real gatekeeper of success, and how aligned action outperforms perfection every time.
If you’ve felt scattered, behind, or burned out, this episode will remind you: you don’t need to finish strong—you just need to finish aligned.

 Second Opinion — where science meets story, and age is your advantage.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Welcome to Season Two of Second Opinion — the podcast where science meets story, and curiosity just might be the real fountain of youth.

Hosted by Rosemarie Beltz — broadcast medical journalist, cardiovascular perfusionist, and midlife reinvention truth seeker — Second Opinion dives into the truth behind health, longevity, and purpose in midlife.

If you’ve ever thought, “Wait… is this it?” — it’s absolutely not.

This season, we’re cutting through the noise to get real about what matters now — from cellular health and hormones to reinvention, relationships, resilience, and the science of starting over.

Our guests? Clinicians, innovators, and real midlifers redefining vitality — people who make you laugh, think, and rethink what’s possible.

Because this isn’t your parents’ midlife — it’s ours.
 Smart. Bold. Beautifully unapologetic.
 And we’re just getting started.

So grab your coffee, your collagen, maybe your reading glasses — and join us.
 Second opinions aren’t just for medicine anymore — they’re for everything: your health, your work, your relationships, your next chapter.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Because midlife isn’t the end of the story — it’s the plot twist.

About the Host:
Rosemarie Beltz is a Columbia-trained journalist and nationally certified perfusionist who bridges the gap between medicine, media, and modern midlife. Her work has appeared on NBC, CBS, and The Today Show. She’s the creator and host of Second Opinion and Midlife Minute, empowering the forty-plus community to live longer, stronger, and more intentionally.

🌐 Learn more: www.RosemarieB.com

 📱 Follow on Instagram: @midlifeminute
 | @rosemariebeltz

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💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Episode Summary:

In this special behind-the-scenes update, Rosemarie shares what’s really been going on since wrapping Season One of Second Opinion. From buying a new home (yay!) to navigating contractor chaos and creative timelines, this honest check-in is all about embracing imperfection, staying in motion, and showing up anyway.

You’ll hear how Season One reflections, life transitions, and literal dust have shaped what’s coming next for the podcast—and why Second Opinion is more personal, powerful, and needed than ever.

This is midlife in progress. No filters. No fluff. Just truth, momentum, and meaningful moves.

What You’ll Hear:

• The real-life reason Season Two hit a (slightly dusty) delay
• How being "under construction" became both metaphor and reality
• What Rosemarie learned from unboxing Season One
• The beauty of pausing, reflecting, and resetting
• A global milestone: 13 episodes, 10 countries (!)
• Why Second Opinion is just getting started

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Season One is officially a wrap—and it’s been real. In this honest and energizing solo episode, Rosemarie Beltz reflects on the journey that inspired Second Opinion, the lessons she’s learned behind the mic, and what’s coming next for this growing midlife community.

You'll hear about:

• Why midlife isn’t a crisis—but a recalibration
• Highlights from Season One: from cellular health to financial wellness
• What to expect in Season Two—new segments, new voices, and a smarter approach to thriving at any age
• Why second opinions can be life-saving—far beyond the doctor’s office

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

What if the first diagnosis… isn’t the right one?

In this episode, Rosemarie sits down with Dr. Paula Sauer—a physical therapist, breath coach, and global educator—to explore the life-saving potential of asking more questions and trusting your gut. From preventable medical errors to unnecessary surgeries and cultural norms that silence patients, this candid conversation reveals why speaking up can save your life. Whether you’ve ever felt dismissed by a doctor or unsure of your next step, this episode arms you with real strategies and insider insight on:

• Why second opinions aren’t rude—they’re essential
• How misdiagnosis happens, even in the best hospitals
• Tips for preparing for your next appointment (and how to advocate with confidence)
• The cultural and systemic reasons behind medical silence, especially in women and older adults
• What every patient needs to know about shame, time pressure, and modern healthcare traps

If you’ve ever wondered, “Should I get a second opinion?” — this episode is your answer.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

What if your cravings had nothing to do with willpower—and everything to do with what you’re truly hungry for?

In the season one finale, Rosemarie sits down with Dr. Adrienne Youdim, triple board-certified internist, obesity medicine specialist, and author of Hungry for More. Together, they dive deep into the emotional and biological roots of hunger, the truth about GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, and why midlife metabolism is more complex—and more revealing—than we’ve been led to believe.

They explore the science of epigenetics, how emotional stress shows up as physical hunger, and what it really takes to make lasting change in your health. Plus: the connection between ancestry and appetite, the hidden power of self-compassion, and why stillness—not striving—might be your greatest tool for transformation.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Second Opinion is a production of Earfluence.

Think you know your numbers? Think again. Rosemarie sits down with board-certified cardiologist and lipidology expert Dr. Ian Riddock to crack open the truth about cholesterol, statins, and what’s really driving heart disease.

We go way beyond “good” vs. “bad” cholesterol—diving into the world of lipoproteins, triglycerides, Apolipoprotein B, and Lipoprotein(a). From fit athletes with hidden plaque to patients whose labs look “normal” but are walking time bombs, Dr. Riddock reveals how outdated testing and blind spots in care are putting us at risk—especially in midlife.

Plus, we talk GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, debunk sugar vs. fat myths, and give you the checklist you need to truly understand your risk (and advocate for better care). Because when it comes to heart disease, what you don’t know really can hurt you.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Second Opinion is a production of Earfluence.

If you’ve ever stared at your supplement shelf and thought, “Why do I still feel like garbage?”—this episode is for you. Steve Hoffart, a pharmacist, compounding specialist, and certified expert in anti-aging medicine, joins Rosemarie for a deep dive into personalized health that actually works. From why your mitochondria might be tanking your energy to how supplements and peptides are being used (and misused) in today’s wellness world, Steve breaks it all down with all the clarity and none of the fluff.

You’ll learn:

• Why cellular health is the foundation of everything—and how to support it
• What your bloodwork might be missing
• The truth about the supplement industry and how to choose wisely
• How peptides are shaking up the longevity space
• What role pharmacists can (and should) play in precision health

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Second Opinion is a production of Earfluence.

Think financial freedom means cutting out your daily latte? Think again. In this episode, Rosemarie's getting real about money with financial advisor Billy Zerillo, aka The Money Talk Advisor. Billy’s got the inside scoop on why women are often sold budgeting tips while men get investing advice — and how to flip that script. From tackling financial overwhelm to shaking off shame and embracing your financial power, we cover it all. Whether you’re crushing it in your career, plotting your next big life change, or just wondering where your cash keeps disappearing to, this episode is your sign to take a second opinion on your finances.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Second Opinion is a production of Earfluence.

Think your best sex is behind you? Think again.

In this refreshingly honest episode, Rosemarie sits down with internationally trained sexologist and therapist Emily Power Smith to break down the myths, shame, and silence around sexuality—especially in midlife. From understanding the difference between sexuality and sensuality (hint: it’s not just semantics) to navigating menopause, low libido, body image shifts, and solo pleasure, this conversation covers it all with science and compassion.

Emily unpacks the surprising stats about sexual satisfaction, how our biology and busy lives intersect, and why sex doesn’t have to be a three-course meal—it can be tapas. Whether you’re partnered, single, or somewhere in between, Emily offers empowering insight on how to reconnect with pleasure and redefine what sex looks like at any stage of life.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Second Opinion is a production of Earfluence.

Women are having children later, working harder, and carrying more responsibilities than ever before. In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of motherhood, career, and mental health with Dr. Cliona Cosgrove, a clinical psychologist, mediator, and meditation teacher.

Dr. Cosgrove shares her journey from aspiring artist to mental health expert and how she blends mindfulness, psychology, and lived experience to support parents and professionals alike. Together, Rosemarie and Cliona discuss the pressures of perfectionism, the emotional toll of balancing family and career, and how women are rewriting the narrative on aging, self-care, and resilience. Tune in to learn how mindfulness and self-awareness can help you manage stress, set boundaries, and prioritize your well-being amid life’s many demands.

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💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Second Opinion is a production of Earfluence.

Ever had to deal with a toxic boss, a workplace bully, or a narcissistic coworker? You’re not alone—and this episode is for you. Rosemarie's talking with communication expert, best-selling author, and "Wizard of Words" Dan O’Connor to unpack the art of shutting down toxic people with confidence and clarity. Dan shares game-changing strategies for reclaiming your power, handling workplace bullying, and navigating difficult interactions—whether it's with a gaslighting boss or a passive-aggressive coworker.

We’ll also dive into: 
✔️ Why workplace bullying has skyrocketed in the past decade
✔️ How to set boundaries and stand up for yourself without escalating conflict
✔️ The surprising role of forgiveness in moving forward
✔️ Practical scripts to respond to toxic behavior in real time

If you're ready to level up your communication and stop toxic people in their tracks, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.

🔗 Follow & Subscribe to never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review—it helps others get a second opinion!

💡 Have a topic you’d love for us to cover? Reach out at www.rosemarieb.com.

Second Opinion is a production of Earfluence.