In this episode, I chat with Sian Carter, HR Director for a multi-academy trust in the West Midlands and a certified menopause coach, about the very real ways she’s woven menopause support into school life.

Sian’s own early-onset menopause journey sparked her passion: she knew firsthand how crippling brain fog, night sweats and heavy bleeding could be when you’re standing in front of a classroom full of students.

We talk through:

• The power of top-down buy-in: How her CEO and COO model open conversations, encouraging staff at every level to speak up without fear.
• Small changes, big impact: Why installing discreet fans, ensuring ready access to toilets, or strategically pairing staff for backup can transform someone’s day.
• Beyond teaching staff: Why every adult working in a school - administrators, support teams, site staff - deserves practical guidance, compassionate line-management training, and a clear menu of “reasonable adjustments.”
• Building champions: How Sian is training volunteer “Menopause Ambassadors” in each school so that no one faces this alone.
• This is more than just policy or PowerPoints.
• It’s about human connection.

[00:02:34] Menopause in the workplace.

[00:04:07] Menopause challenges for teachers.

[00:08:20] Normalizing menopause conversations at work.

[00:11:02] Workload challenges in teaching.

[00:15:28] Menopause support conversations.

[00:18:14] Transformational coaching experiences.

[00:20:10] Enhancing listening skills.

[00:25:10] Importance of menopause awareness.

[00:29:13] Menopause awareness in younger women.

[00:30:23] Menopause opportunities and inspiration.

If you lead or work in education (or any people-centered field), you’ll come away inspired to create that same safe, savvy support for the women and everyone around you.

Press play, and let’s reimagine our workplaces as places of genuine understanding, one conversation at a time.

Head over to womenofacertainstage.com for more information on becoming a menopause savvy & supportive organisation.

Book a call to connect and explore opportunities here: https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod

In this inspiring conversation, meet Kirsteen Campbell, endometriosis warrior, community builder and certified Menopause Coach, who has transformed her own decades-long health journey into a mission to uplift every woman in Scotland’s far north. Kirsteen shares:

A Lifespan of Endometriosis

Battling excruciating teen-year periods, multiple laparoscopies and a life-saving hysterectomy by 26.

Miraculous pregnancy stories, heart-breaking loss and a second surgical menopause.

How a lifelong fight with chronic pelvic pain led her to the brink—and back.

Building a Rural Women’s Health Hub

Launching four support groups (Endo, Menopause, Period Health, General Wellbeing) that now serve 1,000+ local women.

Campaigning for gynaecology services in Caithness, so patients don’t face 200-mile round trips.

Why small communities can spark big change when you harness lived experience.

Why Become a Menopause Coach with Women of a Certain Stage?

Discovering the Metamorphosis Culture Program mid-treatment,and feeling “amazed” by the personal transformations it unlocked.

Translating her own pain-to-purpose journey into powerful one-to-one and in-person retreats.

Coaching wins: clients sleeping better, moving more and recapturing hope.

Pain Relief and New Beginnings

How a six-weekly lidocaine infusion turned off 30-years of pelvic pain and reignited her zest for life.

Lessons on self-care: ditching diluted juice for water, rediscovering morning routines and gentle movement.

Planning a silver-anniversary trip, leading the Scottish women’s network at the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists—and finally feeling “pain-free for the first time since I was a teenager.”

[00:03:02] Community support for women's health.

[00:04:44] Diagnosis time for endometriosis.

[00:09:57] Endometriosis and pregnancy challenges.

[00:15:38] Women's health support groups.

[00:17:14] Women's health coaching journey.

[00:20:18] Community and mental health connection.

[00:24:09] Hope in endometriosis journey.

🔗 Links & Resources

Join Kirsteen’s North Highland Menopause Workshops → highlandwellbeinghub.org/events

Become a Women of a Certain Stage Certified Menopause Coach →

https://womenofacertainstage.lpages.co/menopause_coach/

Endometriosis Support & Info → endometriosis-uk.org

Ready to turn your health battles into community-building impact?

Tap into Kirsteen’s journey and learn how you, too, can coach, care and change the lives of women in your world—no matter how remote.

Book a call to explore more today: https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod

Today I’m joined by my awesome Certified Menopause Coach graduate - Sam Mancey, executive coach, former John Lewis leader - who shares how a back-of-house tech glitch, major spinal surgery and a corporate “divorce” all led her to a powerful new calling: supporting women (and the people around them) through midlife transition. In this warm, wide-ranging conversation we explore:

• Why “menopause coach,” when you’re already a coach?

Sam explains what tipped her from leadership development into menopause support, and why adding this specialty makes you a better coach for every client.

• Authenticity in the face of adversity

From taking calls in her hospital bed post-op to diving into the program alongside nurses, nutritionists and startup founders, Sam shows that real coaching is about “papering over no cracks.”

• Cultivating company-wide support

Learn how to weave one-to-one coaching into group rolls-outs that bring cross-departmental mentorship, raise awareness with male allies and spark organic peer networks.

• Beyond the GP script

• Why pointing every woman back to her doctor isn’t enough—and how to coach clients to navigate conflicting HRT guidelines, self-advocate with clinicians and build a holistic self-care toolkit.

• Turning personal setbacks into your biggest strengths

Hear Sam’s story of a constructive exit, broken promises and living through corporate change—and how she used every “messy” moment to fuel her next chapter.

Whether you’re a seasoned coach, an HR leader or someone just starting to feel the impact of perimenopause, Sam’s journey will inspire you to bring empathy, expertise and practical tools into every conversation.

[00:01:08] Coaching and menopause awareness.

[00:03:36] Coaching relationship effectiveness.

[00:09:06] Importance of community in learning.

[00:10:52] Menopause support in coaching.

[00:15:14] Group coaching for menopause support.

[00:18:26] Menopause support through mentorship.

[00:22:08] Men's role in menopause support.

[00:23:50] Menopause as a second adolescence.

[00:27:08] Self-Selection in Program Enrollment.

[00:31:13] Business evolution and opportunities.

[00:33:47] Menopause opportunities and coaching.

Resources & Next Steps

• 🎓 Learn more about our next Become a Menopause Coach Diploma cohort →

• https://womenofacertainstage.lpages.co/menopause_coach/

• 💬 Ready to transform midlife challenges into a springboard for growth - yours or your people’s?

• Let’s talk about how bespoke menopause coaching can unlock resilience, retention and real wellbeing in your world:

• https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod

I’m so pleased to welcome nurse educator Professor Camille Cronin to the podcast today.

Camille has spent over 35 years in clinical practice, research and higher education, and now channels her passion into bespoke menopause coaching. In this candid conversation we explore:

Why a nurse of 35+ years chose menopause coaching.

Camille explains how her frontline work with women in health and social care and her decade of workforce research led her to seek an evidence-based, tailored coaching toolkit.

Bridging research & lived experience

Hear how Camille wrestles with conflicting HRT guidelines, tracks reliable sources like the British Menopause Society and IMS, and helps women take ownership of their own care.

Mental health at midlife

We reflect on what happens when perimenopausal women first enter mental-health services, why single-symptom approaches fail, and how a holistic assessment could save lives.

Breaking down workplace barriers

With 70–85 % of NHS staff female and many in their 40s–50s, Camille shares why online modules alone won’t cut it—and how managers can embed real-time support into shift-based work.

Lifespan health strategy

From heavy periods to hot flushes and brain fog, discover how a unified women’s-health hub might finally replace today’s siloed clinics and why apprenticeships are a game-changer for career-changers in midlife.

Whether you’re a nurse, a line manager, a health coach or simply keen to understand your own journey better, Camille’s insights will inspire you to make menopause support real in your workplace, your community and your own life.

[00:02:51] Midlife career changes and menopause.

[00:05:30] Fear of seeking help at work.

[00:10:02] Tailored coaching for menopause support.

[00:12:41] Evidence-based menopause resources.

[00:19:10] Individual journeys of menopause management.

[00:21:17] Women's voices in menopause research.

[00:25:16] Mental health and menopause experience.

[00:31:04] Menopause coaching importance.

[00:34:12] Women's health and career changes.

[00:37:59] Menopause coaching benefits.

Resources & next steps

Learn about the Become a Menopause Coach diploma → https://womenofacertainstage.lpages.co/menopause_coach/

Free guide: “Top 5 evidence-based menopause resources” → womenofacertainstage.com/menopause-resources

Join our fall cohort for hands-on coaching practice, live expert Q&As and peer support

Ready to support women at work and yourself through midlife health?

Book a free discovery call today and find out how tailored menopause coaching can transform your organisation and your life: https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/lite/tmsh

I’m delighted to welcome my dear friend and business mentor, Chris Williams, back to the mic today.

Chris is the driving force behind Soulful Abundance and one of our diploma’s most resonant experts on relationship-first marketing. In this warm, candid chat, she shares how she pivoted from health and wellness to seven-figure business coaching and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

What you’ll hear:

From massage room to mastermind: how Chris went from bodywork and yoga backgrounds into coaching others on building purpose-led business

The benches, the porch and the mansion: Chris’s powerful metaphor for attract, nurture & invite and why ads alone will never replace real human connection.

Golden hour daily & quarterly retreats: the non-negotiable rhythms that keep Chris energised, creative and ahead of burnout.

Selling high-ticket vs low-ticket: why your first $4k sale is easier than a $47 offer, and what to focus on instead.

Avoiding the fractional trap: true stories of expensive hires gone wrong and what to do when you really don’t want to manage people.

Abundance redefined: why impact + financial freedom is Chris’s true measure of success, and how that overflow fuels everything she gives back.

Throughout, Chris reminds us that building your business is not transactional; it’s deeply relational. If you’re tired of one-hour sales calls and “bright-shiny” tactics, lean into this conversation and discover a more soulful way to grow.

[00:01:10] Building a business is nonlinear.

[00:05:38] Importance of relationships in business.

[00:09:10] Business coaching evolution.

[00:10:19] Outdated coaching methods discussed.

[00:15:34] Ads don't fix broken sales.

[00:17:09] Attraction, nurturing, and sales.

[00:20:18] Attraction vs. Transactional Relationships.

[00:25:34] Empowered choice in conversations.

[00:28:14] Non-negotiables for personal growth.

[00:30:11] Non-negotiables in business planning.

[00:34:38] Obstacles to six-figure income.

[00:38:27] Purpose and meaning in business.

[00:40:15] Definition of abundance.

Feeling inspired?

If you’re ready to step into a business model that feels both heart-led and high-impact, check out Chris’s Soulful Abundance System (links below) and explore the Become a Menopause Coach diploma at womenofacertainstage.com. Let’s build something meaningful, together.

Connect with Chris

Instagram · @iamchriswilliams

Website · shineabundancenow.com

Connect with me...

Instagram · @themenopausecoach

Diploma info · https://womenofacertainstage.lpages.co/menopause_coach

Subscribe & share

If you loved this chat, please leave a review, tag us on social and let us know which “bench” you’re sitting on right now in your business journey.

I’m so delighted to introduce today’s guest, Jane Ayaduray; a global diversity & inclusion leader who never imagined she’d become a menopause coach.

In this warm, honest chat, Jane walks us through the moment she first heard about menopause coaching and thought, “That’s not for me”only to discover a whole new calling.

What you’ll hear

• Why Jane said “yes” to a programme she hadn’t planned for, and how a single question on inclusion sparked her curiosity.
• Life in motion: juggling jet lag, a house move and training, yet still turning up live every week.
• Practice clients unlocked: how a LinkedIn post and a village Facebook group brought twice the clients (and even a few surprises).
• Global insight: Jane’s take on menopause across New Zealand, Singapore, the UAE and beyond and what “community” looks like everywhere.
• Midlife reimagined: why menopause isn’t a downhill slide but the crest before an exhilarating downhill run.
• Next steps: group and one-to-one coaching, weaving menopause into career conversations, and building belonging in every workplace.
• Throughout our conversation, you’ll feel Jane’s passion for making a difference, her belief in holding space rather than having all the answers, and her excitement about the next 30 years of life beyond menopause.

[00:01:06] Community support in menopause.

[00:03:33] Intersectionality in menopause coaching.

[00:09:52] Global career experiences.

[00:11:08] Community support during menopause.

[00:15:04] Shared experience of menopause.

[00:17:11] Menopause support in the workplace.

[00:21:40] Reassessing life during midlife.

[00:25:30] Menopause as a life transition.

[00:27:34] Inclusion and belonging in community.

[00:30:16] Making a difference in life.

[00:34:34] Menopause and career transitions.

[00:34:56] The power of storytelling.

Feeling inspired?

If you’ve ever wondered how to combine your expertise with menopause savvy, or simply want to understand your own journey more deeply, discover how the Become a Menopause Coach diploma can open doors you never knew existed.

For expert Menopause Talks, Training and Qualifications checkout https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/

Ready to find out more?

Head to womenofacertainstage.com to learn more and join a truly supportive community.

💬 Loved this episode?

Leave a review and tag us @themenopausecoach on Instagram or LinkedIn to share your favourite takeaway.

In this week’s conversation, Lauren sits down with Emma to explore what it really means to train as a menopause coach and why it could be the most empowering step you ever take.

Emma opens up about her own menopause journey: from discovering Davina McCall’s book and realising how little she knew about her changing body, to feeling a fierce determination to learn and share the truth.

She explains why a live, two-hour session each week - rather than a self-paced course - was the game-changer for her: the accountability, the expert insights and the chance to practise real coaching with real people.

At first, Emma worried she lacked the biological know-how, but as the weeks passed, she found her confidence grew.

Recruiting practice clients wasn’t just an exercise, it was proof that coaching works.

She witnessed women go from feeling lost in their bodies to feeling in control and hopeful about the future, and that “aha” feedback (one client called her listening skills “incredible”) was a proud moment.

Beyond the diploma itself, Emma highlights the treasure trove of research-backed resources and the year-long support that comes after certification, because menopause is a journey, not a one-off course.

She’s already launched “Embrace the Menopause I Am,” hosting local meet-ups that remind women they’re not alone, and is dreaming up ways to bring menopause savvy and supportive coaching into schools, workplaces and even YouTube.

By the end of their chat, Emma encourages anyone on the fence to take the leap: whether you’re seeking a career change or simply want to understand your own body better, the diploma offers community, clarity and confidence.

If you’ve ever felt unseen or under-informed, listen in—and imagine what you could achieve with the right training and a tribe behind you.

[00:01:05] Personal menopausal journey exploration.

[00:04:38] Community in learning programs.

[00:07:44] Fear of change in coaching.

[00:14:10] Incremental changes in coaching.

[00:17:11] Diverse cohort experiences.

[00:19:51] Supporting women through menopause.

[00:23:14] Self-care during menopause challenges.

[00:27:21] Menopause in education workforce.

For expert Menopause Talks, Training and Qualifications checkout https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/

Ready to find out more?

Head to womenofacertainstage.com to explore the Become a Menopause Coach diploma, grab your free Menopause courses, and discover how we can support you to become truly menopause savvy

💬 Loved this episode?

Leave a review and tag us @themenopausecoach on Instagram or LinkedIn to share your favourite takeaway.

In this empowering episode, our CEO Lauren Chiren sits down with Dr. Ferhat Uddin — a GP with over 20 years of experience in women’s health — to unpack the often-misunderstood landscape of menopause care and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Together, they explore why perimenopause is frequently overlooked in medical training and how tools like the Primary Care Women’s Health Forum and the Balance Menopause App are equipping both clinicians and patients with the knowledge to take control.

Dr. Uddin shares how a three-month symptom tracker can help uncover cyclical hormonal shifts and explains why a short trial of HRT may be the key to confirming menopause-related symptoms. She also breaks down the science of how declining estrogen impacts cholesterol (HDL, LDL), increases insulin resistance, and contributes to wider metabolic changes.

This episode also introduces a holistic menopause toolkit, covering:

-The role of strength training and targeted micronutrient checks (Vitamin D, B12, Ferritin)

-CBT-I for improved sleep

-Practical self-care strategies to boost resilience and energy

Whether you’re a healthcare professional looking to upskill or an individual navigating midlife changes, this conversation offers evidence-based guidance, trusted resources, and actionable steps to reclaim your confidence, optimize your well-being, and extend your health span.

Core Takeaways:

💡 Medical education gaps: seek evidence-based menopause resources.

💡 Symptom tracking + HRT trial clarify hormone-driven issues.

💡 Manage cardiovascular risk: monitor lipid profiles and blood sugar.

💡 Build a menopause toolkit: exercise, nutrition, supplements, CBT-I.

💡 Empowerment through partnership: collaborate with GPs and coaches.

[00:01:29] Women's health and menopause education.

[00:07:04] Patient empowerment and transformation.

[00:09:25] Perimenopause awareness and symptoms.

[00:11:45] Symptom tracking for perimenopause.

[00:17:45] Lipids and menopause relevance.

[00:20:18] HDL and LDL cholesterol explained.

[00:25:45] Vitamins and supplements for women.

[00:27:34] Vitamin deficiencies in midlife.

[00:31:24] Personal responsibility in health.

[00:34:21] Holistic approach to health.

[00:39:04] Insulin resistance in midlife.

[00:44:23] Healthspan vs. Lifespan.

[00:45:58] Social interaction and aging.

For expert Menopause Talks, Training and Qualifications checkout https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/

Contact Dr Uddin: https://libertyhealthclinics.com/

🎟️ Want to become a Certified Menopause Coach?

Visit womenofacertainstage.com or check out our next training dates here: Menopause Coach Diploma

💬 Loved this episode?

Leave a review and tag us @themenopausecoach on Instagram or LinkedIn to share your favourite takeaway.