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

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

Thank-you for listening, I look forward to seeing you in the next episode.

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