From The Military To Menopause Coach: Beth Fotheringham On Reclaiming Power, Purpose and Performance After 50

In this episode, host Lauren welcomes Beth Fotheringham, an inspiring graduate of the Women of a Certain Stage Menopause Coach program who brings a unique perspective shaped by her diverse life experiences.Beth shares her remarkable journey from childhood dreams of acting inspired by the Bionic Woman, through nearly 15 years of Canadian military service, to university studies in social anthropology including field research in Madagascar, and finally to pursuing her acting career at age 50+ while becoming a certified menopause coach.The conversation explores how the entertainment industry's treatment of aging women mirrors broader societal attitudes toward menopause, and how Beth discovered her calling to help women refuse to accept that suffering through menopause is "just the way it is." She emphasizes the power of questioning why we accept limitations and the importance of embracing this life stage as a time of freedom and wisdom rather than invisibility.Beth discusses her business "A Menopause PATH" (Power, Action, Truth, Health) and her mission to help women reclaim their power and recognize their continued value beyond their reproductive years.Key Points Covered:Career Transition at 50+: How Beth courageously pursued acting in film and television after military service, proving it's never too late to follow your dreams and challenge ageist assumptions about women's capabilities and visibility.The Power of Questioning "Why": Drawing from social anthropology research (including the famous monkey experiment), Beth emphasizes the importance of challenging accepted norms rather than blindly following traditions—especially regarding how women are expected to suffer silently through menopause.Industry Ageism and Societal Parallels: Exploring how the entertainment industry's treatment of women over 35 reflects broader societal attitudes, where women are expected to "disappear" until they re-emerge as grandmothers, and why we must reject this narrative.Menopause as Empowerment: Reframing menopause from something to fear into an opportunity for freedom, wisdom, and embracing elder status. Beth advocates for women to stop "tying the babushka around our heads and disappearing into a corner."The Importance of Community Learning: Why Beth chose a live, interactive coaching program over self-study courses, emphasizing the value of peer support, expert interaction, and the ability to ask "why" in real-time learning environments.Building Authentic Professional Identity: How to show up authentically in business while maintaining professionalism, and why being genuine attracts the right clients rather than trying to appeal to everyone. Take Action!Help rewrite period policy and infrastructure in your community:Join the conversation: Follow Beth Fotheringham on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-fotheringham-85547b4a/Transform your career in women’s health:Visit https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ to enroll in the CPD Certiifed Menopause Coach Diploma, book workplace strategy workshops & keynote talks, download menopause toolkits, build your Menopause Champion network.Schedule your free strategy call at https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod.