What if the silent impact of menopause on a woman's career costs up to $15 billion in lost income and superannuation? Prepare for an eye-opening conversation as I sit down with Mel Birks from the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees to dive into this under-discussed issue. From the startling statistic that the average Australian woman retires at 52.1 years to the role of the gender pay gap and time taken out of the workforce to care for others, this episode is a deep dive into how the...
Jul 06, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 66
When life throws unexpected challenges our way, how do we rise above them and find gratitude amidst adversity? Join me as I sit down with the inspiring Kathryn Elliott, a breast cancer thriver and mother of three teenage boys, who shares her powerful journey through the battlefields of cancer and induced menopause. Together, we peel back the layers of our remarkably similar experiences and discuss how these challenges have shaped our lives and relationships with our bodies. Navigating the comple...
Jun 29, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 65
Are you tired of sifting through the world of supplements, unsure of what's best for your midlife, perimenopausal, or postmenopausal needs? Join me for an enlightening conversation with the amazing Angelique Clark, an advanced accredited sports dietitian and exercise physiologist, as we uncover the truth about supplementation for women in midlife and beyond. We promise you'll walk away with valuable knowledge to take charge of your health and confidently navigate the multi-billion-dollar supplem...
Jun 22, 2023•57 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Can you imagine the power of nature transforming your mental health and well-being, especially during menopause? Join us for a captivating conversation with Jeff Johnson, host of the Nature Junkie Radio podcast, as we explore the incredible benefits of getting outdoors for menopausal women and the benefits it has on stress, sleep, and mental health. Learn from Jeff's inspiring journey of discovering nature's healing power and the science behind it. Discover the importance of: breaking down menta...
Jun 15, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 63
Today we draw back the curtain on the research that goes into providing clinicians and GPs with the best evidence-based information to support their patients. Join me as I chat with Dr Fiona Li, an obstetrics and gynecology trainee in Sydney and PhD candidate with the Grace Team at UNSW. With a refreshing and hopeful outlook, Fiona shares her passion for menopause and her dedication to understanding and managing postmenopausal vaginal symptoms. And Fiona shares information on her recent study in...
Jun 08, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 62
Worried that you've started drinking too much but know that you're still a long way from needing an intervention? Rachael Layton went through years of questioning her relationship with alcohol, knowing that she was drinking too much and worried that she was heading down a dangerous path. While she knew she wasn’t an alcoholic (although that didn’t stop her from occasionally Googling “Am I an alcoholic?”), she also wasn’t someone who was happy with just a glass or two every now and then. So, what...
Jun 01, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 61
Have you had this thought? Hang on a minute, I've done so much for others for such a long time, when will it be my time? My guest this week, Kirstin Bouse says, "If not now, when." Kirstin is a Clinical (and Forensic) Psychologist with over 25 years of experience. She has always had an interest in supporting women through significant periods of transition in their lives (motherhood and menopause). Now, having begun her own journey of perimenopause around 5 years ago, and with a few challenges al...
May 25, 2023•41 min
Has the whole "to MHT or not" conversation left you completely confused and even a little wary? MHT. HRT. WTF?! First off, you're not alone. Secondly, this episode with Dr Ginni Mansberg is for you. The author of the bestseller, " The M Word, How to Thrive in Menopause " and founder of science-based Evidence Skincare (ESK), Dr Ginni is an Australian GP, TV presenter, podcaster, author and columnist. As a GP she specialises in all things menopause and all things skin. As a member of both the Aust...
May 18, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Are your menopause symptoms really in your head? Or more precisely, in your brain? This week I chatted with my good friend, selfie buddy and fellow Kiwi, Dr Sarah McKay. Sarah is an Oxford University-educated neuroscientist, presenter of ABC Catalyst, director of The Neuroscience Academy, and author of The Women's Brain Book and her latest book, Baby Brain. Who loves nothing more than deep diving into the neuroscience of health, hormones and happiness. We explore menopause from a brain health pe...
May 11, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Have you been told to just “power through” your midlife transitions, only to find yourself stuck and feeling hopeless? Meet Angela Raspass, a dedicated coach, mentor, and speaker with a passion for empowering women to embrace their potential. Her expertise lies in self-leadership and a strength-based approach honed through 25 years of experience and education in positive psychology and neuroscience. Angela is also an author and podcast host, sharing her insights with a wider audience. Her own ex...
May 04, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 57
" You can't be what you can't see, and so representation matter s." Sandy Lowres is a fierce advocate of women's rights and empowerment and is determined to bring the often-ignored voices of women over 40 to the forefront while challenging hypocrisy and taboos. Sandy is the innovative founder of Women Beyond 40 (WB40), a platform dedicated to uplifting and empowering women through community and storytelling. As the host of The Good Girl Confessional podcast, Sandy interviews inspiring women who ...
Apr 27, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Are you tired of going through peri and menopausal symptoms without getting the support you need? Have you heard that increased awareness and advocacy of menopause support is the key to getting the help you need? My special guest in this episode is Zali Steggall MP. Zali is an influential figure in the Australian political landscape, serving as the independent member for Warringah in New South Wales. With a background in athletics and a strong focus on her own health, fitness, and wellness, Zali...
Apr 20, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Are you tired of the same old ineffective and unrelatable advice for improving your health and well-being in midlife? Roma van der Walt, an entrepreneurial women's health expert and exercise professional, seeks to establish a common-sense approach to healthy living for midlife women by challenging the extremes of highly qualified but unrelatable doctors and influential celebrities to find the balance between metabolic health and health span advice. The goal should really be to live those extra 2...
Apr 13, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Get the most out of appointments with your doctor or GP by following these great tips from Dr Marita Long. In our chat, Marita was open to answering all of my questions and was honest about gender bias and education gaps that exist in the field of primary care. And then gives brilliant tips for every woman to consider when talking to her GP or doctor about perimenopause and menopause. Dr Marita Long is a GP based in Victoria, Australia, specialising in women's health and medical education. Marit...
Apr 06, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 53
How can we measure the true impact of perimenopause and menopause? By giving women a voice. Dr Linda Dear crafted and launched the most extensive online survey for women to share the impact of menopause on their lives with data being collected across both NZ and Australia. And the results of these surveys will be shared with the respective governments and health and employment sectors to craft much-needed change. In her own words, Dr Dear is a doctor, menopause specialist, perimenopausal woman, ...
Mar 30, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 52
How would you cope if your career and life's purpose rely on a strong, healthy functioning body and seemingly overnight menopause threatened to take all of that away from you? Allie Pepper is an Australian mountaineer with 23 years of climbing experience. Mountaineering is not only Allie's passion but also her business; Allie Pepper Adventures. In 2021, amongst the chaos of COVID and a relationship breakdown, Allie was 45 and had no idea that she was perimenopausal. Then seemingly overnight she ...
Mar 23, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Where can you learn everything you need to know about changes to your vulva and vagina during menopause, in one place? Right here!! Sitting down to record an episode with Dr Ardelle Piper was an absolute blast. Ardelle is generous with her time and her knowledge as we touched on topics including vulva and vaginal care during perimenopause and into post-menopause. No area of this topic is left untouched including maintaining a healthy sex life, managing internal and external dryness and discomfor...
Mar 16, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Professor Jayashri Kulkarni is one of Australia's leaders in the research and treatment of menopausal depression. I believe this episode, is the most important episode I have been able to bring to my Dear Menopause audience. Professor Kulkarni speaks about mental health and the part women's hormones play in this area, in a way that makes the topic easy to understand and relatable. We discuss why the fluctuation of hormones during the menopausal transition has such a significant impact on mental ...
Mar 09, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Imagine having not just one but two extraordinary women on a mission to fire other women up for their lives post-menopause cheering you on. That's precisely what you got when Lisa Kiebzak and Adrienne Kramer teamed up, not only as life partners but as business partners in Age Like A Renegade. Chatting with Lisa and Adrienne was such fun and I know you'll enjoy hearing all about their crazy challenges, their individual menopause experiences and the difference that they make in the lives of the wo...
Mar 02, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Do you know the signs of histamine intolerance? Joanne Kennedy is a Naturopath and specialist in MTHFR, histamine intolerance, gut health (SIBO), and women’s hormones. Joanne runs a successful clinical practice in Sydney, Australia and sees patients online worldwide. Joanne’s approach is to identify the root cause of illness. This is done by using functional pathology testing, assessing each patient's biochemical individuality, environmental exposures, and individual genetic testing if required....
Feb 23, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 47
How cool would it be if this was a radio show and you could call in and ask me questions?! Unfortunately, that's not an option, although I hope it might be something we can play with soon. In today's episode of Let's Chat, I'm experimenting with a new way to connect with you and bring you a broader range of topics and info. In this episode you'll learn: Why I've started the Let's Chat episodes and what you can expect in the future How you can help the Australasian Menopause Society shape its Emb...
Feb 16, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 46
"I think that there's a great missed opportunity for trainers, professionals, nutritionists, and coaches to step down off of Mount Olympus and mingle with the mortals." Ren Jones was raised in a multi-generational female household and heard all the conversations that young men don't usually get exposed to. He learned that there was a cloud of shame associated with menopause and how it was seen historically. He experienced a powerful reminder of his own mortality when he lost his brother, sister ...
Feb 09, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 45
"Break the stigma, take a stand - join the movement to normalise being human in the workforce!" "Share from the scar, not from the wound" - Lou Johnson (not the original source) Lou Johnson is an almost 55-year-old publishing professional with over 30 years of experience. She is a feminist and advocates for normalising conversations around menopause, menstruation, motherhood and more in the workplace. Lou wrote an article about menopause, menstruation, life, and work to process her own feelings ...
Feb 02, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 44
"We want to give women the power and the agency to understand their health - wholly." In this episode of the Dear Menopause podcast, Roma van der Walt, founder of Vitelle, chats with Sonya Lovell about why it's important for women to understand and manage their metabolic health to improve their life span. Through science-backed tools and technology, women have the agency to improve their health and longevity and with her company Vitelle, Roma is making this possible. Roma is a sport scientist wi...
Jan 26, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 42
"When women come together, magic happens." In this episode of the Dear Menopause podcast, Faith Agugu, a psychotherapist and empowered aging expert, chats with Sonya Lovell about the global positive ageing movement. Faith is a psychotherapist and empowered aging expert. She founded Silver Sirens, a community of women over 50 seeking to change the narrative around women and aging. Through her psychotherapy practice, Faith witnessed women's distress around ageing and the loss of their value. This ...
Jan 19, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Find out why I'm chatting with a middle-aged man with a passion for perimenopause and menopause. "I think that the constant challenge for people working in science and medicine in particular is the way that that evidence gets translated. And I think that what you've mentioned before is a classic example of research not being communicated well that has such profound implications for women everywhere of that age." Phil Hayes-St Clair is a business leader and advocates for women's health. He is the...
Jan 12, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Discover the power of female voices to create a better future for the next generation. "I just took it on as my job, to go and do the research for them, connect them with the people that I knew, research who was a good person to talk to, who wasn't." In this episode, I invite my friend Yvette Meyer to chat with me and to help share more about my experience with menopause and my mission to help other women navigate this time with more knowledge and support. In this episode, you will learn: 1. How...
Jan 05, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Who will take the honour of the most downloaded episode in 2022? In this episode, we revisit the top 5 episodes you chose to listen to. Join me as I count them down, from five to one, and share a short extract from each. I loved pulling this episode together. With such diverse topics and guests brought to you throughout the year, reviewing what resonated with you the most was fascinating. Enjoy! Thank you for listening to my show! Join the conversation on Instagram...
Dec 29, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 38
How do we change the narrative around menopause in the workplace? Professor Rebecca Mitchell, of Macquarie Business School, is leading a study that draws together Macquarie Business School’s Health & Wellbeing Research Unit and Psychological Sciences researchers of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, to answer that question. The project explores the intersection of menopause and women’s careers through a positive psychology lens. Professor Mitchell says... "women are to some ...
Dec 22, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Has menopause led to you shutting up shop on your sexuality? A few years ago, Susan Jarvis (in her own words) went from being a very horny, lustful ‘wench’ to someone who had virtually shut up shop on their sexuality. She once thrived on being a hot-blooded woman, it gave her confidence and energy knowing that she had a lust for life and lived a life with passion. Wearing red lipstick every day with pride, Susan went from feeling euphoric about going to work wearing the smile on her face from th...
Dec 15, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 36
