In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with award-winning producer, video confidence coach, and midlife advocate Rosie Faulkner for an honest conversation about confidence, identity, aging, and rediscovering yourself during perimenopause and beyond.

Rosie shares her personal experience navigating midlife changes — including weight gain, depression, shifting identity, and the emotional impact of no longer recognizing herself in the mirror. What followed was a powerful realization: accepting your current self doesn’t mean giving up — it means meeting yourself with compassion while still taking steps toward feeling better.

Together, Dr. Soma and Rosie explore the pressure women face around aging, appearance, and “anti-aging” culture — and how authenticity, style, mindset, movement, and small daily actions can help women feel confident and visible again.

• Why so many women feel disconnected from themselves in midlife
• How perimenopause can impact confidence, body image, and identity
• The emotional toll of clothes no longer fitting — and what it represents
• Why accepting your body and wanting change can coexist
• Practical ways to rebuild confidence through style, movement, and mindset
• How small daily actions create lasting transformation
• Why self-care becomes essential during the “sandwich generation” years

• Aging gracefully vs. anti-aging culture
• Positive self-talk and personal style
• Visibility, authenticity, and fear of being seen
• Midlife reinvention and confidence rebuilding
• Walking, weightlifting, and sustainable wellness routines
• Prioritizing yourself without guilt

Rosie Faulkner is an award-winning producer, speaker, and video confidence coach who helps women — especially those in midlife — show up confidently on camera and in life. Through coaching, workshops, and online programs, she empowers women to embrace authenticity, rediscover confidence, and stop hiding themselves during seasons of transition.

She is also the creator of the upcoming intimacy-focused course: 🔥 Reclaim Your Sexy

Rosie is based in the Washington, DC area and works with clients virtually.

• Website: https://www.rosiefaulkner.com
• YouTube: https://www.instagram.com/faulkner_rosie/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosiefaulkner/

00:00 – Disclaimer and Introduction 00:52 – Meet Rosie Faulkner 02:03 – Her Midlife Wake-Up Call 04:39 – Positive Self-Talk and Style 06:01 – Why Identity Shifts in Midlife 07:36 – Getting Unstuck Through Action 09:36 – Who Rosie Helps Most 11:27 – Understanding Perimenopause 12:11 – The Aging Gracefully Mindset 16:28 – Accepting Change Without Giving Up 19:11 – Self-Care During the Sandwich Years 23:11 – Starting Small: One Step at a Time 24:31 – Client Transformation Story 27:24 – Where to Find Rosie 27:58 – New Course + Wrap-Up

Now streaming on:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube

• Website: https://www.somamandalmd.com
• Instagram: @drsomamandalmd