#170 – Dr Lydia Brown on Navigating the Journey of Menopause and Aging

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Lydia Brown about understanding and enhancing well-being during the menopause transition and aging.

Lydia Brown is a Clinical Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at the School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne. She earned her PhD in 2015, focusing on self-compassion and menopause, and subsequently completed postdoctoral training in Healthy Aging at both Harvard Medical School and The University of Melbourne.

Her research centers on understanding and promoting well-being in the second half of life, particularly during the menopause transition. In 2024, she led a Lancet Series paper on menopause and mental health. She is especially interested in how psychological resilience factors, like self-compassion, can help individuals age well, fostering wisdom and happiness despite life's inevitable challenges.

In addition to her research, Lydia is a dedicated meditation practitioner. She has spent several months living in a Sri Lankan Buddhist monastery and is interested in translating traditional contemplative practices into modern contexts without losing their essence.

Lydia’s work on menopause has received international media attention, featuring in outlets such as The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune and Reuters Health. She has appeared as an expert commentator on mental health for Sky News, Nine News Australia, and The ABC. Additionally, she has served on the International Advisory Board for Headspace, one of the world’s leading mindfulness apps.

Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/lydia-brown

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