The Next ChaptHER

This isn’t the episode I expected to record. It’s not the topic I had planned. But here we are—and in true Next ChaptHER fashion, I’m showing up and sharing it with you.

Just days before my 48th birthday, I got a phone call that changed everything.

In this episode, I’m opening up about this unexpected chapter, why you haven’t heard a new podcast in a few weeks, and how I’m navigating this plot twist in real time—both personally an...

If you’ve ever said, “I don’t have time,” this one’s for you. In this honest and energizing episode, Andrea unpacks the phrase so many midlife women use—and what it’s actually saying about our priorities.

Spoiler: it’s not about the hours in the day. It’s about reclaiming your power and finally putting yourself on your own damn to-do list.

This episode was recorded before Andrea received her breast cancer diagnosis, making this con...

Episode Summary: Let’s be real—me time often feels like a myth. You carve out a quiet moment, light a candle, maybe even start doing something that brings you joy… and then chaos enters stage left (looking at you, Snoopy 🐶).

In this episode, I’m sharing: ✨ The soup story that perfectly captures how “me time” turns into a press conference ✨ The difference between being alone and actually feeling like something is yours ✨ Four c...

But what if these middle-of-the-night wake-ups aren’t just annoying?

What if they’re actually trying to tell you somet...

"Perfectionism kills intuition. And as a former pastry chef who was a perfectionist, I always call myself a recovering perfectionist." – Melanie (09:49)

Are You Stuck Following the Recipe—In the Kitchen and in Life?

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by cooking, labeled yourself “the worst cook,” or relied on strict rules and recipes just to get through dinner, this episode is about to change the way you think—not just about food, but...

Friendship in midlife can feel unexpectedly hard. Why does it seem tougher to connect, and what can we do about it?

Andrea Hecht sits down with Nina Badzin, a friendship expert who has spent years helping women navigate this stage of life. They unpack why old social circles may no longer fit, why assumptions about who’s available for friendship can hold us back, and why redefining what we expect from relationships might be the ke...

The college admissions process can feel like a whirlwind of stress, emotions, and endless comparisons, but does it have to? In this episode, Andrea Hecht sits down with Kelly Levi, a college admissions expert and mom of three, to unpack the emotional side of navigating college applications. 

From the pressures amplified by social media to the rising number of applications brought on by test-optional policies, Kelly explains why t...

Redefining your path begins with silencing fear, trusting your instincts, and embracing the bold question: “Why not me?” Amber Powers, the founder of Powers Peak Consulting LLC, joins Andrea Hecht to share her journey of career pivots and the lessons learned along the way. How can we overcome limiting beliefs and move forward with confidence when the next step feels uncertain? Amber’s approach, which is rooted in curiosity and the ...

Feeling stuck in autopilot mode—showing up for everyone but yourself? As Andrea Hecht puts it, "When you're constantly giving everything to everyone else, like your family, your career, your friends, it's really easy to feel like you're disappeared from your own life." In this episode, Andrea shares her personal journey of rediscovery and introduces her "This Is Me" coaching framework, designed to help women reconnect with themselv...

Loneliness can linger even in the busiest rooms, but meaningful connections have the power to transform how we feel and thrive. As your host Andrea Hecht says, “Loneliness isn’t really about how many people are around you. It’s really about that quality of connections that we have.” In this episode, Andrea explores the often-overlooked issue of loneliness, especially among women in midlife, who may feel isolated despite living in a...

“What if you spent just $1 a day on yourself an entire year?” Your host, Andrea Hecht, starts this episode with this question. What could that dollar add up to—clarity, confidence, connection, or even joy?

In this episode, Andrea challenges the common hesitation many women feel about investing in themselves. How come we spend so easily on others but second-guess even small acts of self-care? She explains how this mindset sends th...

“When you’re kind and do a kind gesture for a friend, it makes you feel good. When you feel good, you feel confident about yourself. When you do something kind for someone else, they feel good, become confident, and want to pass on that kindness. It creates a chain reaction of kindness, spreading positivity. That’s what I hope to do with the Emmie Effect—affecting the world in a very positive way.”

Emmie Levy, the creator of the ...

“When you curate—starting with your closet, which is always ever-evolving—and continue to let go while bringing things in with intention, you become more aligned,” says Laura P. Barker, a closet curator and personal stylist helping women over 40 redefine their style narratives.

Laura joins Andrea Hecht and invites us to see our closets as more than just a place for clothes. Does your wardrobe truly reflect the person you are today?...

“Fulfillment isn’t about what you do for a living. It’s about how you actually are living. It’s about connecting to what brings you joy and what brings you purpose,” says Andrea Hecht. In this episode, she invites women in midlife to rethink what fulfillment truly means. Is it about the titles you hold, the success you’re chasing, or is it something deeper? 

Drawing from her journey of stepping away from a corporate career and rede...

“The biggest misconception is, ‘Oh my God, I hit 40, and I’m done. My time is over. I peaked in my 20s.’ But that’s completely wrong—a total misconception. The best is yet to come,” says Rachael Goodman, a registered psychotherapist and certified sex and couples counselor at Level Up, who specializes in intimacy and sexual relationships for women in midlife. In this episode, she joins Andrea Hecht to talk about how intimacy evolves...

“With social media, influencers are now at the forefront of who our teens look up to. But how do we, as parents, help them discern which influencers are worthy of their admiration, especially in a world where AI can create perfect yet unrealistic personas?” Andrea Hecht raises this question in the final episode of the series “A Pediatrician's Perspective.” With Dr. Lisa Klein, they talk about the challenge of helping teens navigate...

“The young tween girls today want skincare as birthday gifts at their parties. That’s all they want: skincare, skincare, skincare,” says Dr. Lisa Klein. “This is a problem. It’s the latest craze, and it’s not okay. It’s not just about wasting money; these kids are damaging their skin.”

In this episode, part two of “A Pediatrician’s Perspective” series, Andrea Hecht and Dr. Klein talk about the rise of teen skincare trends driven ...

“We need to be able to have open conversations so they feel comfortable coming to us when they’re in a bad or an uncomfortable situation,” says returning guest Dr. Lisa Klein, a board-certified pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine and co-founder of Turning Teen. Andrea Hecht and Dr. Klein kick off their three-part series, "A Pediatrician’s Perspective” which aims to empower parents to engage in crucial conversations wit...

“I am a very, very big proponent of less is more. I definitely do not think that it is necessary to use a 25-step skincare routine or do all sorts of injections or a million lasers, etc.,” says this week’s guest, Dr. Julia Milman, a board-certified physician and the owner and medical director of Dr. Julia Milman’s Aesthetic Medicine.

In this episode, Dr. Milman discusses her practical advice for aging gracefully, supporting strai...