Real Menopause Talk

After 6 years of struggling with fertility issues and 2 rounds of IVF, Sarah Banks created the IVF Positivity Planner. After much research, most recently she has come up with the Menopause Positivity Planner - a coaching programme in a book, designed to help women navigate their way through Perimenopause. Entering her forties, Sarah herself is acutely aware of the potential rigors of Perimenopause and keeping a beady eye out for signals and symptoms. She is as keen to talk about Menopause as we are here at Real Menopause Talk so that everyone can have the information they need to make choices that help them. In this episode, we cover some of the surprising similarities between IVF and HRT and we discuss emotional aspects of Menopause, how to regain control, boost your confidence and find support so that overwhelm doesn’t overtake you. You can find Sarah on IG @menopausepositivityplanner and on her website https://positivityplanners.com

As well as her stellar fashion pedigree, and understanding of women as a whole, Gloria has positivity in abundance. A born and bred Londoner with Caribbean parents, Gloria brings vibrancy and life, innovation and thoughtfulness to her work. She looks at the whole person before she starts to style them and pays careful attention to cut, colour and personality. In this episode, we discuss her attitude to Menopause, “The more I fought it, the more it raged against me, so I had to stop and embrace it.” , the dreaded trouser try-on and how it’s not you, it’s them and simple tricks to make dressing easy and fun again, even in the face of hot flashes. She also has a free e-book that she is happy to share! “Don’t let the Menopause define us, it should be us defining the Menopause.” You can find Gloria on IG @themenopausestylist and on her website https://gloriasmythe.com

Knickers, pants, undies, skims, lingerie - what ever you call it - there are deep life lessons in your knicker drawer. Kerry Hales is a highly skilled Transformation Coach, a great person to have a chat with and her insight into underwear is second to none! Her Perimenopause symptoms were wide ranging like many of us: night sweats, insomnia, bone aches, fatigue and really low periods of time thinking, “What’s the fucking point?” In this episode, we talk about coming off HRT, weight gain and fluid retention, why you don’t want to mess with a woman in her 50s and the transformational properties of overhauling your undies. You’ll never look at your knicker drawer in the same way again. You can find Kerry on IG @kerry_hales and her book ‘Life Lessons From Your Knicker Drawer’ is readily available.

Louise Pitman has a deep connection to her own body and a great understanding of others. She is the one person I have met who instinctively knew she was having her final period and could therefore predict her day of Menopause. When you hear how she moved from working in the criminal justice system, supporting men, to teaching yoga and giving womb massage, supporting women, you can see how supporting others is deeply rooted in her psyche. In this episode, we talk menopause symptoms, how Louise knew she was in Menopause and how she wants more men to understand and get involved. You can find Louise at https://louisepitmanyoga.com and on IG @louisepitmanwellbeing

Emma Skeates is not your average Menopausal woman and yet, if you’ve ever had a day where everything feels like it’s falling apart, she’ll make you feel like you’re in good company. Emma has a knack of making you laugh at all the mishaps that brain fog and insomnia can cause. She openly and candidly shares her mishaps and laughs at herself as much as anything. I mean, you’d have to if you went to the vet and forgot the dog, right?! In this episode, we discuss her Menopause symptoms, post hysterectomy, her forgetfulness, her solutions and her phenomenally popular books: ‘Confessions of a Menopausal Mayhem Mother’ and Mad Dogs and a Menopausal English Woman’. At the time of recording, she was just about to go on holiday, I think Greece had quite an adventure! You can find Emma on IG @menopausalmayhemmothers

Rhian Stephenson is a busy woman who manages to make other women’s lives less busy, less complicated and more vital. Formerly CEO of Psycle, she now runs her own company, ARTAH, as well as a young family, including a two year old daughter and a brand new baby girl. She grew up in Canada in a natropathic environment and was an accomplished athelete so it comes as no surprise that she lives and breathes fitness and overall health. In this episode, we discuss her keen interest in keeping women wonderful through Perimenopause and beyond, recognising that it is a demanding time of life when we need to feel our best and how nutrition and simple, highly effective supplements are at the core of great health. Rhian is offering all Real Menopause Talk listeners 10% off when they visit Artah: To access Rhian’s generous discount go to https://bit.ly/ARTAHRMT You can find Rhian at artah.co and on IG @artahhealth

Dr Shahzadi Harper started her career as an NHS GP but knew she had more to achieve in the future. She now runs The Harper Clinic which specialises in Menopause and is co-author of The Perimenopause Solution, which I highly recommend. Symptoms she sees in clients every day include low sex drive, low confidence and a general sense of having lost a sense of self, “Why should women lose their sparkle?” she asks. Women’s health needs greater attention. For example, erectile dysfunction has been addressed as a matter of importance over the years but Menopause affects every single woman, not just a select few. In this episode, we learn how Dr Harper set up her clinic - it’s probably not what you’re expecting! - and her vital ingredients for re-building confidence and how to feel lighter and brighter. You can find Dr Shahzadi Harper on IG @drshahzadiharper (The Perimenopause Doctor) and @theharperclinic

Laura Shuckburgh is the very embodiment creating a fresh start by following your instinct, heart and soul. She discovered Perimenopause when she found herself crippled by sudden out-of-the-blue anxiety, to the point where she had to stay in bed. After a lot of research and soul searching she took control and began her “Part 2” living life in a way she wanted and that fulfilled her and made her happy. In this episode, we find her in her camping car in the South of France on her great big adventure, coaching women through Perimenopause and Menopause, travelling and falling in love. You can find Laura on IG @marvellous_midlife and https://marvellousmidlife.co.uk

Linda Davidson enjoyed an acting career that spanned fifteen years, with enduring success in television and theatre. She retired from acting and entered the world of the internet and tech at a prime time when the world wide web was on the brink of world domination. She is now in Global Transformation, is a mentor to many and runs ground breaking programmes in tech and education as you will hear. In this episode, we talk anxiety, the disappearance of libido, the media’s role in normalising Menopause and the fact that, nearing her 58th birthday, she’s still kickin’ it.

Dr Nichola Conlon has cracked the code to reversing some of the effects of Perimenopause plus a whole lot more. “The effect that Perimenopause has on us in terms of ageing is quite shocking in terms of biological age.” She talks us through the science behind the role of estrogen in whole body function and what NAD+ can do for humans. Spoiler alert… reverse biological signs of decline in the brain and the whole of the physical body. It is a fascinating and exciting listen. As a younger woman, she shares her insights into Menopause which is food for thought for the generation coming up behind us. She has given all our listeners a Discount code to see the results from Nuchido Time + for ourselves. Just use code RMT10 at the checkout. https://nuchido.com You can find Nichola on IG @nuchido and @drnicholaconlon