In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by her daughter Jessica for a very personal conversation about living with chronic migraine, PMDD and the long journey toward feeling well again. Jessica talks openly about the years of debilitating symptoms, the medications that helped (and those that didn’t), the impact on her studies and music, and the frustration of not being fully heard in medical consultations.

They explore how hormonal fluctuations contributed to Jess’s symptoms, the role of HRT in stabilising her health and the difference that careful, holistic care made after a long period of uncertainty. They also reflect on the importance of being listened to, the small incremental changes that add up, and why young women deserve better recognition and support when experiencing severe hormonal or chronic health issues.

It’s an emotional conversation about resilience, advocacy and the steady work of rebuilding quality of life with a chronic condition.

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Thank you to Vevobarefoot for sponsoring this episode. To get 20% off your first order, use code NEWSON20: https://www.vivobarefoot.com/uk/

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Learn more about Jessica and her music here 👉

https://www.theroyalsackbutcollective.com/

Follow Jessica on Instagram here 👉

https://www.instagram.com/jessbullanderson/

https://www.instagram.com/jessbullanderson.art/

https://www.instagram.com/jessbullanderson.music/

Download my balance app 👉

https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/

Get tickets for my new theatre tour, Breaking the Cycle 👉

https://www.nlp-ltd.com/dr-louise-newson-breaking-the-cycle/

In this conversation, Dr Louise Newson sits down with Matt Jones, Managing Director of Balance app, for an honest look at how a simple idea grew into a global tool supporting over a million women. They talk about the real stories behind the app, the messages from women who feel unheard, the gaps in medical care regarding hormones and why accessible, trustworthy information can make such a difference to women.

Matt shares what drew him to the project, what he’s discovered and why the scale of unmet need has surprised him. Together they explore the future of Balance app expanding beyond menopause to hormonal health across a woman’s whole life, harnessing technology without losing the human touch and keeping the app free so knowledge remains within reach for every woman who needs it.

It’s a thoughtful discussion about purpose, equity, and how digital tools can help women advocate for themselves with clarity and confidence.

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Download my balance app 👉

https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/

Get tickets for my new theatre tour, Breaking the Cycle 👉

https://www.nlp-ltd.com/dr-louise-newson-breaking-the-cycle/

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by urologist and sexual medicine specialist Dr Rachel Rubin for a clear look at how hormonal changes can often worsen both urinary and vaginal health. The conversation examines why recurrent urinary tract infections are so common in women, how prevention with vaginal hormones is often overlooked and what current evidence shows about the safety and effectiveness of vaginal hormone treatments.

They also explore the impact of inaccurate hormone labelling, the role of androgens in genitourinary tissues, and the growing push for updated regulatory guidance. Grounded in clinical experience and research, this discussion offers practical insight for anyone seeking to understand menopause care, hormone therapy and the broader health implications that follow when symptoms are dismissed or untreated.

Note: This podcast was recorded before the FDA's announcement that it is removing the black box warnings on estrogen products.

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Take my online education course, Hormones Unlocked 👉 https://www.learningwithexperts.com/products/hormones-unlocked-dr-louise-newson

Get tickets for my new theatre tour, Breaking the Cycle 👉

https://www.nlp-ltd.com/dr-louise-newson-breaking-the-cycle/

Download my balance app 👉
https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/

Every day we hear from women whose symptoms are being misdiagnosed, which makes Penny Lancaster’s story hit close to home. She talks with Dr Louise Newson about the months she spent thinking she was depressed, the antidepressants she was offered in lockdown and the moment she realised her symptoms were linked to menopause.

They touch on a bigger cultural shift too. Menopause is being mentioned more often now, yet many women still struggle to get clear guidance or access HRT. Old fears linger, and too many people feel pushed aside in their working and home lives just when they need support.

Penny reflects on how getting the right information changed everything for her, and how the themes in her book Someone Like Me echo the resilience so many women quietly build. It’s a straightforward, reassuring listen for anyone trying to make sense of their own symptoms or wanting to understand this stage of life a little better.

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Buy Penny’s book, Someone Like Me 👉

https://www.waterstones.com/book/someone-like-me/penny-lancaster/9781526686978

Take my online education course, Hormones Unlocked 👉 https://www.learningwithexperts.com/products/hormones-unlocked-dr-louise-newson

Get tickets for my new theatre tour, Breaking the Cycle 👉

https://www.nlp-ltd.com/dr-louise-newson-breaking-the-cycle/

Download my balance app 👉

https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/

Content advisory: this episode contains themes of mental health and suicide

Many women experience menopause as more than hot flushes and periods stopping. It can also bring a deep sense of flatness, loss of joy, anxiety or even thoughts of hopelessness.

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson speaks with Sally Wainwright OBE, the multiple BAFTA-winning writer and director known for Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack and Last Tango in Halifax. Her new BBC drama Riot Women has already had amazing reviews. Louise was the Medical Consultant for Riot Women.

Sally discusses her personal experience of menopause, and how being prescribed hormones has transformed her wellbeing and how those truths shaped her latest BBC drama, Riot Women. She also talks openly about her mother, who had both osteoporosis and dementia.

Together, they explore the link between menopause and mental health, the cost of silence around hormonal symptoms and the power of honest storytelling to change how women think and talk about menopause, as well as how they access hormone treatments. .

Disclaimer: This podcast is not connected to the BBC.

In the UK, you can contact Samaritans 24/7 at 116 123 or visit samaritans.org. If you're outside the UK, please reach out to a local crisis support service or emergency medical help.

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Watch Sally’s latest BBC Drama, Riot Women 👉

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002hd7x

Take my online education course, Hormones Unlocked 👉 https://www.learningwithexperts.com/products/hormones-unlocked-dr-louise-newson

Sign up for my Confidence in Menopause Course 👉 https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/education---confidence-in-menopause

Despite increased awareness, misinformation around menopause is still everywhere with outdated fears about hormone therapy, confusion over types of hormones and mixed messages about risks leaving many women unsure where to turn.

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson sits down with Amy Alkon, an American author and science writer, for a clear-eyed look at what the evidence really shows. Amy’s book, Going Menopostal, unpacks the research behind menopause and exposes how gaps in medical education still affect women’s care.

Their conversation covers the differences between hormone types, the importance of scientific literacy in medicine and the value of personalised, evidence-based treatment. It’s an honest, informative discussion that helps separate fact from assumption in menopause care.

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LEARN MORE

Buy Amy’s book, Going Menopostal 👉

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Going-Menopostal-Science-Menopause-Perimenopause/dp/1637742452

Take my online education course, Hormones Unlocked 👉 https://www.learningwithexperts.com/products/hormones-unlocked-dr-louise-newson

Sign up for my Confidence in Menopause Course 👉 https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/education---confidence-in-menopause

Many women reach their 40s and start feeling different. They find themselves more anxious, tired, forgetful or prone to migraines, without realising these are often early signs of perimenopause. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson speaks with Dr Mariza Snyder, a functional medicine doctor and hormone specialist, about how to recognise the subtle and often overlooked symptoms of hormonal change.

They discuss how fluctuating levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone can influence mood, cognition and sleep, and why these shifts can trigger or worsen migraines. The conversation also covers the importance of hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle strategies in restoring balance and protecting long-term health.

This episode helps women connect the dots between how they feel and what their hormones are doing, offering clarity, reassurance and practical next steps.

LET'S CONNECT

Subscribe here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@menopause_doctor

Website 👉 https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/

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Download balance app 👉 / https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/

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Spotify 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/7dCctfyI9bODGDaFnjfKhg

LEARN MORE

Take my online education course, Hormones Unlocked 👉 https://www.learningwithexperts.com/products/hormones-unlocked-dr-louise-newson

Sign up for my Confidence in Menopause Course 👉 https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/education---confidence-in-menopause

Learn more about Dr Mariza and buy her book 👉

https://drmariza.com/

Content advisory: this episode contains themes of suicide

Too many women reach perimenopause and menopause only to feel unheard, unseen and underserved by the healthcare system. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by wellbeing pioneer Liz Earle MBE to confront that invisibility and explore how knowledge, improved access to hormonal treatments and open conversation can change the future of women’s health.

Together, they discuss the barriers women still face when seeking care, the lack of research into female biology and the consequences of ignoring hormonal health as we age. Liz shares her personal experience of finding renewed strength and purpose later in life, while Dr Newson highlights what needs to shift in medicine to truly support women through menopause and beyond.

In the UK, you can contact Samaritans 24/7 at 116 123 or visit samaritans.org. If you're outside the UK, please reach out to a local crisis support service or emergency medical help.

LET'S CONNECT

Subscribe here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@menopause_doctor

Website 👉 https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/

Instagram 👉 / @drlouisenewsonpodcast

Download balance app 👉 / https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/

LinkedIn 👉 / https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlouisenewson/

TikTok 👉 / https://www.tiktok.com/@drlouisenewson

Spotify 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/7dCctfyI9bODGDaFnjfKhg

LEARN MORE

Take my online education course, Hormones Unlocked 👉 https://www.learningwithexperts.com/products/hormones-unlocked-dr-louise-newson

Sign up for my Confidence in Menopause Course 👉 https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/education---confidence-in-menopause

Learn more about Liz Earle MBE and buy her book 👉

https://lizearlewellbeing.com/