https://realmenopausetalk.com
Real Menopause Talk is an opportunity for everyone to share and hear stories about real life experiences of Peri to Post Menopause and the impact it has on all life has to offer.
Real Menopause Talk is also a platform for the best resources available so you no longer have to do your own research; you can find solutions and support that suit you, from HRT to diet advice from acupuncture to bonafide supplements. It is a resource in itself as simply being part of a trusting, safe community can improve symptoms. Sometimes just knowing you are not the only one, is a step in the right direction.
Be prepared for sharing, maybe over-sharing, some swearing and brutal honesty.There will be laughter, tears and deep connection through shared experience.
Nothing is taboo here so please arrive with an open and willing mind!
Fiona Clark - Menowars - How Menopause's moment went wrong
Fiona Clark is a massively well-respected voice in the Menopause world. She is a journalist and health writer, now with more than 20 years' experience in writing for publications that go to medical practitioners as well as consumers.
She is also the founder of Harley Street Emporium, a practice that focuses on evidence-based information for women in menopause and health in general.
Her new book, 'Menowars' grabbed me by the title because I discovered it at the exact time where I had had enough of the division in the Menospace. When I started the podcast in October 2021, it was a welcoming, ‘come on board and join us all to help one another’ kind of a vibe. Over the past 5 years it has split, sometimes quite viciously, into exclusive camps.
Just opening Menowars, the subheading of ‘Why menopause’s moment has gone wrong & how you can navigate your way through it’ had me hooked.
Today, Fiona and I discuss ( and laugh about) the complexities surrounding menopause, including the need for better education and awareness among healthcare professionals and the public. We explore the emotional and physical challenges women face during this transition, the importance of understanding heart health specific to women, and the necessity of open conversations about women's health issues. Fiona shares her personal experiences (also with some hilarity!) with healthcare and emphasises the need for advocacy and better resources for women navigating menopause.
00:00Introduction to Menopause and Its Challenges
05:22The Need for Education and Awareness
10:51Understanding Menopause Guidelines and Research
16:38Heart Health and Women: A Critical Discussion
22:03Personal Experiences with Healthcare
27:45Mental Health and the Emotional Journey of Menopause
33:12The Importance of Open Conversations
38:58Conclusion and Resources for Women
You can find Fiona on IG @fiona_clark_writes and https://mref.uk (https://mref.uk)
and you can find Menowars here: MENOWARS
Drop me a line to discover more about my coaching - there are only 2 spots available for 2025 in my Strength, Nutrition & Menopause Coaching so get in touch fast.
hatty@realmenopausetalk.com (mailto:hatty@realmenopausetalk.com)
Thank-you for listening, I look forward to seeing you in the next episode.
6 Oct 2025
Lara Briden - You are not broken: The truth about Menopause...
Lara Briden has a refreshingly honest approach to menopause and all that that encompasses. For me, she has always been a person to offer solid, genuine advice based on knowledge and experience so I was delighted when she agreed to join me on the podcast.
You are not broken, you are not deficient and it is not your fault. This is a very important and powerful message that I wish all women could hear from even before Perimenopause all the way through to Post Menopause... and probably for life in general.
We cover a vast range of highly relevant and current topics in our conversation including insulin resistance, what metabolism really means, the role of cortisol (the real role!), testosterone for women, HRT and what menopause even is now!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Women's Health and Menstrual Cycle
02:48 Understanding Female Physiology and Hormonal Differences
05:24 The Role of Cortisol in Women's Health
08:10 Navigating Insulin Resistance and Its Implications
11:11 The Impact of Hormones on Weight Gain
13:51 Addressing Insulin Resistance: Symptoms and Solutions
16:41 Metabolism Myths and Realities
19:21 The Importance of Blood Markers in Health Assessment
22:16 Reversing Insulin Resistance and Improving Health
32:11 Understanding Health Markers
32:43 The Progesterone-Cortisol Connection
35:16 Testosterone's Role in Women's Health
36:33 Navigating Hormonal Replacement Therapy
39:14 Clarifying Menopause Terminology
42:36 Experiences with Hormonal Treatments
49:36 Evolutionary Perspectives on Menopause
52:44 Living Well Through Menopause
56:28 Final Thoughts and Advice
You can find Lara at https://larabriden.com and on all platforms as Lara Briden.
If you have been feeling flat, low and perhaps a bit lost then drop me a line to rediscover your zest and power. My Life and Performance Coaching appoinments are now open. The Real Menopause Method (strength and nutrition coaching for women) remains alive and well and has 2 slots left for this current season.
You can reach me here: https://realmenopausetalk.com and at hatty@realmenopausetalk.com
I look forward to hearing from you xoxo.
Sam Fitzgibbons and I met over Instagram through the weird and wonderful web of algorithms. For some intangible reason, I was instantly drawn to her and once we started actually talking, it was clear why.
Sam is a Spiritual Shadow Coach. I'll let her explain what that means in this episode. What I will tell you is that she is so comfortable to be with, she imparts knowledge in a very down-to-earth manner and what she says simply makes sense.
Perimenopause has a way of shining a light on all the aspects of ourselves that we really need to address - past trauma, shame, the stories we have created for ourselves, our sense of self - and some of these can often bring up more questions than we began with. Who am I? What do I do next? How do I find my purpose? All of which are questions very close to my own heart and ones I struggled with for a while too. I am happy to say, there are answers to all of these and when you get clear on them, you feel like a brand new person - actually, that's not quite accurate: you feel like yourself, just gleaming bright and brilliant as you were meant to be.
Sam and I discuss HRT, how issues can show up, where to begin, what used to work and what works now and so much more.
Look Sam up, @theshadowandtheself Unfu*k Menopause
And get in touch with me about Performance & Life Coaching to get unstuck and live life in true technicolour. hatty@realmenopausetalk.com
Thank you for listening! I look forward to seeing you in the next episode. xoxo
Who has been a guest on Real Menopause Talk
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Gabriel Weston
Tanith Carey
Sherri Dindal
Jenni Smith
Kay Walsh
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
3,752
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 74 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
83
Social presence
0
YouTube
74
Engagement
85
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