In this episode, we explore why muscle may become increasingly important as women age, how menopause and hormonal changes can affect metabolism and recovery, why traditional dieting may sometimes work against long-term strength, and how women can become smarter consumers in a wellness world filled with supplements, trends, trackers, and conflicting advice.

Rachel also shares a deeply human side of her story, from delivering more than 1,000 babies as a certified nurse midwife to finally earning her private pilot’s license at 55 after a journey that took 15 years.

Her story is a reminder that there is no arbitrary age at which curiosity, adventure, growth, or reinvention has to stop.

Rachel Smith, DNP, FNP-C, CNM, NBC-HWC, is the founder of Aspect Wellness and a specialist in obesity medicine, hormone optimization, and midlife performance.

With nearly two decades of clinical experience, Rachel helps high-performing women build the physiological and psychological capacity to live fully, not simply live longer.

Her work brings together evidence-based medicine and real-world performance, translating complex science around muscle, metabolism, hormones, cognition, sleep, resilience, and longevity into practical strategies women can use in everyday life.

A former certified nurse midwife who has delivered more than 1,000 babies, Rachel is also a private pilot and outdoor enthusiast. She speaks nationally on midlife performance, longevity, and what it takes to create what she calls a high-capacity life.

Rachel is also the author of the forthcoming:

CALIBRATED: A Precision Medicine Guide to Hormones, Cognition, and Peak Performance in Midlife.  Due Fall 2026

🎥 Watch the full conversation with Rachel Smith:  https://youtu.be/xF-C2sy1ieQ 

Chapters:

0:00 Promo Video
4:45 Intro and the importance of professionalism
8:30 Meet Rachel Smith: Midwife and health expert
11:55 A personal journey through family illness
16:15 Transitioning into midwifery and nursing
20:45 Recognizing the signs of perimenopause
25:00 Moving from midwifery to metabolic health
29:15 The biology of aging and insulin resistance
33:45 Why weight loss isn't the only goal
39:05 Muscle as a foundation for longevity
43:45 Starting a fitness routine in your 50s and 60s
49:00 Evaluating supplements and wellness marketing
54:15 Rebuilding trust with your healthcare provider
58:45 Learning to listen to your body's warning signs
1:04:00 Using biohacking tools like the Oura Ring
1:08:45 How alcohol impacts sleep and recovery
1:13:30 Lessons from the cockpit: Flying and health
1:17:45 Closing thoughts and Rachel's new book Calibrate

CONNECT WITH RACHEL

Aspect Wellness:
https://aspect-wellness.com/

Email:
contact@aspect-wellness.com

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-smith-cnm-aprn-nbc-hwc-407462b9/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/rachel.smith.dnp

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@RachelSmithDNP

Instagram:
@rachelsmithdnp

If this conversation resonated with you, I highly encourage you to connect with Rachel Smith and explore her work further.

And if you’re someone who has been looking at health from a different angle, especially from a cellular perspective, feel free to reach out. I love bringing these conversations to you because they expand how we think about health and sometimes challenge what we thought we knew.

www.third-chances.com

or reach out to me:
vera@third-chances.com

Vera Czerny
Third Chances Podcast
Conversations that challenge how we think about health