Menopause, Midlife and Mayhem

Thank you so much for spending your time with us on the podcast. A big thank you to my awesome guest, Nicole Bedford.I really enjoyed our chat, and here are my top takeaways:The power of connection – my former colleague saw a post on Facebook, reached out to me and introduced me to Nicole – she generously joined me on the podcast, and I am going to be part of the Beyond the Pause project. Building community is based on creating connections.Beyond the Pause is a multi-layered project focused on sharing people’s stories and experiences of menopause – the documentary, the Youtube channel, and the mini-documentary series which will be stories of the menopause transition as a catalyst for reinvention.The project started as a reaction to the perimenopausal symptoms that Mylene was experiencing. They wanted to reduce the stigma around the menopausal transition, which is often just ignored or not taken seriously. They wanted to draw attention to it and as creative souls, they decided to use their voices in the most natural way.Newsflash – women don’t disappear after menopause. They don’t become meaningless. They wanted to change the narrative around menopause so it is not as scary for women. Because the invisible woman syndrome is a thing.Beyond the Pause is an opportunity for people to truly share what their personal experience with menopause has been or is. It’s a gift for people have space held for them.This project also shows people that they are not alone going through this – the aging parents, the raising of children, the working, all while dealing with the most challenging of symptoms.It’s also for women on the brink of or experiencing perimenopause and menopause to learn how to deal with these challenges. It is for everyone. Because everyone is going to either experience it themselves or they will have a partner, a parent, a sibling, a relative, a colleague, or a child or a friend go through it. Menopause impacts everyone’s life.Women have to advocate for their own health. Don’t just accept – it’s your hormones, it’s that time of life. We are the ones who are experiencing our own health. We know our bodies, and what is right and what is wrong.Menopause has been so stigmatized. We need to take control of the narrative. We need to share information. We need to help each other – and ourselves. We need to talk about it. We need to see beyond the pause.Thank you so much Nicole for sharing your vision, your mission and your passion with us today.And thank you for spending your time together with us. Please share the podcast with a friend so we can help grow the community and learn with and from each other.Links:Beyond the Pause FilmNicole Bedford | AboutKilam MediaUnderstanding and Overcoming Invisible Woman Syndrome(2) Instagram(16) FacebookBeyond The Pause Film - YouTube

Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast today. I really appreciate you spending your time with us.I really appreciate you sharing your insight and knowledge with us Gineen. What a rich conversation we had! We talked about a whole of things – here are some takeaways –For women in middle age – we are the people who look after our family, our friends, our children – but how often do we look after ourselves? We press the gas pedal. We just keep going. We may not have the coping skills we need, we may be living off caffeine and sugar and gaining weight.In menopause, we don’t know our bodies anymore. Our weight is distributed differently and we have to learn how to accept this new body we have.As a coach and fitness professional, Gineen works predominantly with women trying to help them feel empowered and learn they how they can support their body as it transitions through menopause.During perimenopause we start to see our hormones shifting and we see changes in our menstrual cycles. We experience join soreness and stiffness (among many, many things).For some women, including Gineen and me, we chose to start hormone therapy – and it made a huge difference for both of us.Gineen suggests we need to come into the space with a lot of kindness and compassion for ourselves and then really learn to understand our bodies in a much different way. Are we chasing unrealistic expectations of how our bodies should be? Or how they once were?Women are speaking up. We are not okay with just getting through it and suffering and struggling through this time of our lives. Because when we look at perimenopause, it can last eight to 10 years.Many women (including me) are not big into exercise, or they may have been exercising throughout their lives but suddenly it feels like they are starting all over. Gineen suggests that we need to meet ourselves where we are.She offers one on one coaching to her clients, and she also has a group coaching platform called the M-Powered Shift which includes a lot of education about why strength training is so important. She suggests we need to focus on how we want to feel versus how we want to look. Her hope is every woman feels amazing in her skin – regardless of her body shape or size.Reframe our perspective of what our body can do for us, and what we GET to do.After 35 we actually lose muscle at a fairly significant rate. And then women can end up with sarcopenia, which again is that muscle loss as they head into post-menopause.We want to look at bone density because this helps women stay strong later in life, and women who have stayed active have a better chance at healing and returning to daily life activities after any kind of surgery.As women enter into later perimenopause and post-menopause, they are less insulin sensitive, so it's much easier for the body to store fat. Muscle acts as an amazing glucose sponge so when we do strength training and by training muscle and gaining strength and increasing muscle size, that's when we can really tap into that glucose regulation.Women are at a really high risk of cardiovascular illness so it is really important for us to keep our hearts healthy too.Start with something that makes sense for your lifestyle, something that feels doable. Something that brings you joy.And it helps to know your why- why do you want to work out? Ask yourself – is it because you want to stay healthy and mobile longer? Or because you want to be able to pick up your grandchildren?A combination of strength training and nutrition can help you see changes in your body composition. And it’s important to build your new habit through repetition. Just like when your parents taught you to brush your teeth. You just got used to doing it.Think about you about using different equipment or try a new workout. It helps keep you mentally stimulated.Gineen taught us about the concept of cycle syncing – so working with her clients based on the different phases of their menstrual cycle. The idea of truly listening to your body.And start early!! Trust me, age sneaks up on you and before you know it, all of a sudden you are 48 to 52 year old seeing sudden sees major changes in your body.Gineen is the exact person I would like to have on my journey towards health and wellness as I continue along this crazy menopausal journey!Links:Gineen Nicholls - Women's Holistic Hormone Health PractitionerGineen Nicholls | LinkedInMenopause - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Thank you so much for joining us today! Thank you for sharing your passion and your knowledge with us Firdaus.Peri just means around – so perimenopause means around menopause. According to the American Heritage Dictionary it is the period of a woman's life characterized by physiological changes associated with the end of reproductive capacity, terminating with the completion of menopause.Women deal with symptoms such as:hot flashesmoodinessmemory lossbrain fognight sweatsacnethinning hairirregular periodssuper heavy periodslow libidomigrainesAll while working. All while being a part of relationships – with families, friends and work colleagues. All while raising children and or dealing with the realities of aging parents. All while possibly being confronted with a mounting anxiety that can develop during these years.This is why I loved this video. I am certain that many women in their 30s and 40s will be able to relate with the animated characters.This feeling that “there is something wrong with me” but not being able to put your finger on it. Worried that you have dementia because you are forgetting your words or people’s birthdays, women worry about being a failure.But could you imagine what it would be like if employers were understanding and offered women in perimenopause flexibility at work – offering benefits such asexpanding paramedical coverage to include menopause-informed practitioners such as naturopaths, registered nurses, and hormonal health specialistsreviewing drug plan coverage to ensure hormone therapy options are accessible and affordablestrengthening mental health supports related to anxiety, mood disruption, sleep challenges, and cognitive changesWhat if employers created workplace flexibility through scheduling adjustments, temperature accommodations, and workload support and like this video – provides education that helps reduce stigma creates opportunity for conversationsThat’s what this video does. It promotes awareness and starts the conversation. So, if you are in perimenopause, this video is for you. Watch it, relate to it and mostly share it.Thanks again to Firdaus and Chocolate Moose Media for everything!Links:Firdaus Kharas | LinkedInHomepage | Chocolate Moose MediaChocolate Moose / Firdaus Kharas - Director, Executive Producer & Video ProducerPerimenopause at WorkPerimenopause in the workplace: Benefits support that mattersUnpacking the perils and the gifts of perimenopause and menopause with Professor Madeline Toubiana.

Thank you so much for spending your time with us, and thank you Sharon for such an authentic and honest talk about what can happen to our hair during perimenopause, menopause and even earlier.We tackled a subject that affects a lot of women – statistics vary some say 40% to 50%, and in menopause around 80% of women experience some kind of hair loss or thinning…but it’s something that is still taboo. We talk about hot flashes, a lack of libido but no one talks about our hair.Hormones are pretty much to blame when it comes to losing our hair, and stress and cortisol are right there along with the plummeting estrogen. There could be nutritional deficits and there is also a possibility of a thyroid imbalance.One thing we wanted to talk about was alternative hair solutions. And that women should have the freedom to choose exactly how they want to wear their hair. You should not be called brave because you opt for short hair.And why it is okay to get extensions, but anything that goes on top of the hair is a different story?We need to think critically when it comes to investing in our hair, and ultimately women need to be able to support other women as we all face the challenges and distresses that we are confronted with through the peri and menopausal transition.Bottom line – let’s keep talking about hair loss so that we can feel less alone during this kind of scary and totally crazy time of life.Big thanks to Sharon for coming on to the podcast and really sharing her story with us.I tell you each month that the next episode is going to be a good one. And it is! Please join me for my conversation with Firdose Kharas, the founder of Chocolate Moose Media as we talk about his video Perimenopause: Be Cool and Aware.Let’s keep doing this!! Let’s keep talking about peri and menopause and let’s take control of the narrative.Until next time, let’s take a pause – together.Show Notes:Canada's #1 Invisible Halo l Topper l Wigs – Mulberry Hair Extensions | #1 Rated 100% Human Remy HairSharon Mejia | LinkedInCan Hair Loss Be a Symptom of Menopause?

Show Notes:Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast today. I really appreciate you being part of our growing community.And thank you Naomi for such a truly interesting and informative conversation. It was packed with information and here the top 5 takeways I would love to share with you:1) When I read her substack about the menopause industrial complex, I knew I needed to interview Naomi on the podcast. She describes the MIC as the array of products, services and ads that are targeted at middle aged women who are going through perimenopause, menopause and post menopause.2) It’s a system thing, not just a woman thing. The system includes a severe lack of menopause training and education in our medical systems. This needs to change and it should not come down to women having to do their own research in order to tell their doctors (if they are lucky enough to actually have a provider). It’s a structural challenge.3) Women are still impacted by the nasty symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, regardless of the lack of information and support from the medical field, so this creates the confluence between social media (and the algorithm) where women can share their symptoms and commiserate and the MIC which targets their products and services at these women. So yay, our power is being acknowledged as a consumer sector, but at the risk of being targeted in a very ruthless way. Naomi underscores the importance of research and skeptism when you are looking into the different supplements and finding a healthcare professional with menopause training and experience.4) We can use the power of our consumer sector to change the system. There needs to be public education to counter all the misinformation, more education of medical providers, and better advice and guidance to women navigating the new world of perimenopause and menopause.5) We need to learn how to embrace aging with grace and beauty, and in so doing, resist the targeting by the MIC. Think of celebrities like Jamie Lee Curtis, Paulina Porizkova, Helen Mirren, Gillian Anderson.Links:The Gender Nerd | SubstackNaomi Darom | LinkedInDesiderata: Original TextJamie Lee Curtis Says Turning 60 Made Her Realize I 'Have No Time to Waste on Toxic People'Helen Mirren Opens Up About Embracing Aging at 80 - ParadePaulina Porizkova on Aging and Being ‘Terrified’ of WrinklesLesson of Worth - Gillian Anderson

Thank you so much for joining us on the podcast today. I hope you enjoyed the chat as much as I did. Thank you so much to Dr. Brotto for sharing her passion, her knowledge and her dedication and commitment to women’s health and equity with us.Wow!!Trust me, there are WAY more than 5 takeaways from today’s chat, but here are my top 5 takeways:Mindfulness – it’s a combination of training our attention, focusing said attention on one target in a very particular way. It’s doing that with kindness and without judgement. It’s a way of being in the present moment.Mindful sex – When we bring the concept of mindfulness and bring it to sexuality. I don’t know about you, but I can remember how I felt when I first heard that. I was intrigued and needed to read on!Sexual concerns can be really prevalent during the menopause transition – so basically perimenopause and menopause. With vaginal dryness, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, low desire, a huge amount of changes in body image and emotions – there is a direct bearing on sexual function. And guess what? The vasomotor symptoms and even cognitive symptoms get better over time, but the sexual symptoms continue to persist over time.This is super important – a lack of desire is common. You are not alone! Women can have pain during sex because of vaginal dryness because of the decline in estrogen – the vaginal tissue can be more prone to tearing. And that can be painful. And when something causes pain, it’s just not something we are inclined to want to do.Not really a takeway, but I wanted to share this – I really enjoyed the book. I found it interesting, easy to access, relatable and helpful. For me, it’s a must read and I am looking forward to getting that workbook!The bottom line – there is a serious lack of research into women’s health – and when Dr. Brotto said that 2025 was the first time that menopause was included in the curriculum for medical students, I was gob smacked. How is this even possible?The conversation was so rich and I very much appreciate Dr. Brotto for sharing her time with us.Links:Dr. Lori BrottoInstagramLori Brotto | LinkedIn

Show Notes: Thank you so much for spending your time with Lisa and me today. And Lisa, thank you for sharing your insight, knowledge and compassion. We really appreciate you!This was a huge show with so much helpful information, but here are just some of the takeways I am getting from the chat with Lisa:Redirection in your career for any reason – including something medical – does not have to be the end. It can be a wonderful opportunity to nurture another part of yourself – and to ultimately help others nurture themselvesEveryone’s perimenopausal and menopause journey is unique to themselves. For Lisa, it did not start with hot flashes and mood swings. It started with a nagging toothache.Research and talking to other women helped Lisa determine what was causing all the difference symptoms she was experiencing. It was what she heard – that women were thinking about ending their lives because they were not being heard that changed everything for her.Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are doing enough, that we are enough.Nutrition and gut health are the drivers of many physical and emotional symptoms during perimenopause and menopause.As women, sometimes we forget the importance of getting the right nutrients and making sure we are actually eating throughout the day.There is also a relationship between what we eat and our mental health.Food is just food – it is neither good or bad.The importance of eating mindfully, not under stress. If that piece of chocolate or cup of ice cream is going to bring you joy, eat it. But think about it first. Figure out what you can do during your day in order to be able to enjoy the treat guilt-free. And then, when you are eating this treat, do it mindfully. Appreciate the taste, the way it feels in your mouth, the way it smells. Notice these things. Take the time.Take time for yourself. We can’t be all go, go, go all the time. Women give to others all the time – we need to give time to ourselves. To calm down, to breathe.Perimenopausal and menopausal women do not live in a bubble – we have partners, families, colleagues – we need to be understanding of each other and ourselves.Links:linkedin.com/in/[email protected] Feveck's Substack | Lisa Your Menopause Dietitian | Substack(1) InstagramSTOP Eating These 11 Vegetables After 40 They’re Making You Fatter!

Thank you so much Chandan for sharing your story on the podcast with us today. I really enjoyed our chat, and here are some of my top takeaways:No two women experience the same perimenopausal or menopausal journey. What works for your sister or your friend may not necessarily work for you. It’s important to listen, to read and to talk and share.Friends, we need to see our doctors during this time of our lives. Hopefully you will have a doctor that will understand the very real changes and challenges you may be dealing with.For Chandan, discovering aromatherapy was a game changer. She felt crushed, and through self-care and aromatherapy, she found herself again.One thing that really stuck with me during the chat was when Chandan said that she knew what was going on, but she was not ready to accept it.Although there are many cultural differences when it comes to the menopausal journey throughout the world, I think it is fair to say that until very, very recently menopause the world over was a taboo topic.We need to come forward and have these kinds of conversations. Women need to know what to do when it happens. Girls and boys need to be educated about the menopausal journey.Chandan’s Siya Wellness is a commitment to helping others as they navigate the mayhem of middle age.Many thanks Chandan for coming onto the podcast and really talking with us.Siya WellnessChandan Rathaur | LinkedInWhat is Ayurveda? A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Principles, Doshas & Healing

Thank you so much for spending your time with us. I am so grateful to be part of this growing community with you. A big thank you to Dr. Paschal for sharing her knowledge, experience and wisdom with us. Here are some nuggets I am taking away from our conversation.  To Dr. Paschal, HRT is simply giving back the body the hormones (most often we speak of estrogen) that stop being produced with menopause. Dr. Paschal’s thirst for knowledge was a critical catalyst throughout her career. It compelled her to keep training, get more certifications and developing her professional experience.  She saw that some women were still feeling badly, even while taking the hormones, she wanted to see just why the hormones themselves weren’t enough.  She focused on the importance of taking a holistic approach to the perimenopause and menopausal journey. She saw that not only were women not getting the optimum dose of hormones they required, but they were also not being counselled in a holistic manner.Dr. Paschal is not just talking to individual women, she is training and sharing her knowledge and experience with service providers. The optimal window for people to start taking HRT is within 10 years of starting menopause. The medical community says that during those 10 years without estrogen therapy, your blood vessels have slightly changed, the elasticity has changed. And then when you add back in estrogen therapy after 10 years without it, especially after 20 years without, it can cause an increase, a slight increased risk of cardiovascular events. So potentially a heart attack.Taking hormones can also help improve cognitive decline – so helps decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.  Conducting a risk vs benefit analysis is an important exercise for women trying to decide what path they want to travel during menopause. The bottom line is that a decline in estrogen increases women’s risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and certain cancers. The risk of breast cancer drastically increases after menopause.Dr. Paschal believes that women who are 18 need to understand their menstrual cycle. They need tounderstand how stress plays a part in their progesterone production, and how their fertility is affected by their hormones, how their diet and their exercise and their lifestyle factors all affect fertility, which then affects perimenopause and menopauseWomen need to have this conversation sooner so that women don’t miss the optimal 10-year window to start hormone therapy.The importance of sleep, stress, exercise, learning to say no, diet.Fruits, vegetables and grains. And fiber – lots and lots of fiber! And protein – protein is hugely important for a healthy diet and life. And as part of exercise – you need to be lifting weights. Heavy lifting. Lifestyle is a critical component of a healthy life. And when you are perimenopausal, that is the time to learn these things and put them into practice. That is the time to do a deep dive into the different options that are available for you  on your menopausal transition. Links:Heather Rae Paschal, PharmD, ABAAHP | LinkedInHome | Seaside Pharmacy ConsultingRevelation Pharma | Revelation Pharma Home Page

Show Notes:Thank you for spending your time with us, and Justin, thank you so much for coming on to the podcast and sharing your book and your support for people and women on the menopausal journey.Like you said, many times middle-aged women are ignored and overlooked. There is not enough research done to support us during this crazy time in our lives, and your compassion and understanding goes a very long way.From this middle-aged woman’s perspective, this book is absolutely full of important information presented in an entertaining and thought-provoking way. You said this book was the why for your Rebalance Health products – the menomints, manmints and mellomints to help people navigate through the overwhelm of our stressful lives.To come up with only a few takeaways is a big ask, but here goes:We need to become more mindful of the way we use technologyWe need to respect the natural endings (and beginnings) of our days and nightsSleep is non-negotiable. We need it to replenish our hormones so we can stay sharp – for the next day and for the rest of our livesWhen you wake up in the middle of the night, DO NOT reach for your device.We need to truly connect with people, not just mindlessly scroll through lifeCreate an effective sleep hygiene routineYou know I loved the book, and I loved having this conversation. Thank you so much Justin!Links:Stress Nation Book by Justin HaiBalance Hormones Naturally with Rebalance Health™ SupplementsClinically Proven Natural Supplement for Menopause Hot Flashes: 80% Reduction in Hot FlashesJustin H. | LinkedIn

Show notes:Thank you so much for spending your time with us! Thank you so much Loreto - here are my top takeaways from our chat:People are born creative, and creativity is not just writing or painting. We need to stop telling ourselves we are not creative. We are naturally creative.Creativity shows up in the most untraditional of places – like financial planning or paddle boarding.Women need to spend time alone with their thoughts and ask themselves what they really want out of life. What makes them tick?We are unique people, we aren’t cookie cutters – and sometimes our careers don’t fit with our personalities – this is an opportunity to change careersHow can women be creative at this time in their lives? It’s the perfect time – kids are leaving home, you have more time for yourself – more time to be creative.Financial planners are some of the most creative people out there.For Loreto, she has found the humour of this time of life that she translate into her work of creating greeting cards and post cards women can be shared by women and the people who love them.She is proud of the perimenopausal journal she has created, and I am definitely looking forward to the next one – Married Life. Loreto expresses her creativity through her gardening – and a newfound lack of censorship.At this point, at this time, she doesn’t care – she advises women to let the shackles go and ask themselves what’s the worst that can happen?She highlights the importance of letting go that sense of control and restraint that many of us have – and if things don’t work out like you would like them to, just turn the page. And that is kind of a metaphor for this age and stage, women are turning the page, we are not the same person we were. The gift of having a supportive partner.Be kind to yourself & change your languageWe need to be able to laugh at this time of our lives.Sit down, put a 20 minute timer on your phone and make an exhaustive list of all the things you think you may like to do – archery, ball room dancing, cooking, etc.Try it out. You won't be excellent at it, but you will get better. Or maybe not. It does not matter. You can always turn the page.A positive aspect of menopause is the realization that we are on the other side of the hill. We need to ask ourselves what else do we want to accomplish and how else do we want to enjoy life. Menopause can act as a catalyst.And to be thankful for the abundance of positive things in our livesThings you want to do – better get on it. Don’t be afraid to look into the mirror and see what’s really there.Need to develop self-awareness – it is a skill.Links:(2) Loreto Cheyne | LinkedInSassy Greetings | Printed Greeting Cards | CanadaHOME | Lola DesignCreativity in Menopause: It's Time! – Women’s Health Network

Show Notes:Thank you so much for spending your time with us. It really means a lot to me. And a big thank you to Edi Pasalis for sharing her thoughts, reflections, guidance and compassion with us.The episode was so rich, it was hard to narrow down the takeways, but here are some important points I am taking with me:Edi considers menopause a developmental era which can definitely be full of mayhem, and looks at it through the lens of personal and leadership development.She sees menopause as the end of the youthful operating system transitioning to the wise elder operating system which is rooted in compassion.One of the reasons that menopause creates mayhem is because it is the confluence between the youthful and elder ways of walking in the world. But maybe menopause is an invitation to change the strategies we have been using throughout our lives and embrace a new way of walking in the worldIn fact, Edi suggests that menopause is akin to the same kind of developmental era akin to adolescence. Just as adolescence is a time of profound growth and transformation at every level – physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. A part of the menopausal transition is saying good bye to the person who we have been up until this point in our lives. We grieve for the things we used to do but can no longer do. We grieve for the loss of our exterior physical beauty and fundamentally, the ability to bear children. Even if you never wanted to be a mother yourself, you can still grieve this transition in your life.Women are also losing value in the eyes of societyJust as in puberty, hormones are the drivers of this transformation and in fact the world middlescence has been coined to describe this time of life.Grief can be accompanied by rage and anger when women finally see how we have bought into the story of what it means to be a good woman, and how we may have suppressed ourselvesThe grief can also include coming to terms with regret of what we have done to ourselves in our younger years.We also grieve when we start losing people, characters in our lives.We need to learn how to truly feel grief – not just stay busy or get over it. Emotions are energy and that if we allow them to move through us, then that brings in new energy and new opportunities for love.We need practices/spaces in our lives where we can really deeply feel and hold ourselves in our grief, be seen and witnessed and support in our grief. We need letting go rituals and rituals of grief – such a lighting a candler, writer your grief on paper and then burn that paper or dig a hole and speak all your grief into the earth and et her hold your grief. And there are many resources for grief rituals as simple as light a candle, write your grief on a paper, and then burn the paper or dig a hole and, speak all of your grief into the earth and let her hold your grief.The menopause transformation is a deepening capacity to meet grief and all our emotions more fully.Edi’s hope for all women going through menopause is that we become more friendly with ourselves.There are many, many reason to grieve during the menopausal transition – but maybe by meeting the suffering and honouring it we are able to grow into the wise, compassionate women we want to become.Links:Edi Pasalis | LinkedInTackling Taboo Topics: A Review of the Three Ms in Working Women’s Lives - Alicia A. Grandey, Allison S. Gabriel, Eden B. King, 2020https://edipasalis.comMIDDLESCENCE definition | Cambridge English Dictionary

Thank you so much for being part of this special conversation with Darlene and me today! Big thanks to Darlene and I hope you found a lot of value in our chat - I know I did.Here are my top takeways:Darlene created the group after going through a lot of challenges herself and feeling unsupported at work. She is a trailblazer and after taking medical leave and conducting a ton of research, she wanted to create a group that would help build a sense of community, that would empower and support her daughter and other younger members of the public service and that would provide evidence-based resources to the members.She chose the name My Menopause at Work because it speaks to the personal journey that is each person’s menopausal journey within the workplace.Darlene really appreciates the support she received from Lynne Lamarche who was the group’s executive sponsor, something she cited as essential for anyone wanting to create their own group at their own workplace. She cites improved retention, increased productivity, and engagement for reasons to create a My Menopause at Work group.It is an inclusive group, and gender diverse folks and allies are welcome to join. The group is focused on supporting everyone, and although the majority of the close to 1,800 members are part of the public service, in fact, anyone can become a member. Darlene also gave a shout out to Diane, a UK- based member of the group.The group meets virtually on Teams on the second Thursday of every month from 12 pm to 1 pm EST.They welcome knowledgeable and passionate experts on menopause, and Darlene conducts a lot of due diligence in identifying speakers who can share evidence-based information and resources with the members.If someone is interested in creating their own My Menopause at Work group, she suggests supporting your business case by using reports and statistics such as the Menopause Foundation of Canada’s report, Menopause and Work in Canada (which actually features the group My Menopause at Work).Darlene also shared that women over 40 make up one quarter of our workforce, and it is estimated that the unmanaged symptoms of menopause cost the economy $3.5 billion per year. This represents a huge opportunity for employers to provide support for what is a universal experience. The bottom line is that women aged 40 plus are a valuable resource employers simply cannot afford to lose.Big thanks to Darlene for joining us on the podcast, and thank you for everything you are doing for so many other people.Thank you for sharing this time with us, and remember to please share the podcast with someone you think would appreciate joining the community.Looking forward to next month’s podcast when we will be tackling the topic of menopause and grief. Get ready for a fabulous conversation with the amazing Edi Pasalis, another inspiring menopause leader. Until then, let’s take a pause together.Resources:Darlene Mulcahey | LinkedInDarlene: Menopause Champion and Changemaker - The Menopause Foundation of CanadaMenopause in the Workplace with Darlene Mulcahey - CPHR NLMy Menopause at Work : Upcoming events / Ma ménopause au travail : Prochains événements | LinkedIn

Thank you so much for sharing your time with us today! And thank you to Christine Jenkins for sharing her perspective, experience and passion with us and for showing us how autistic and neurodivergent women and non-binary people can experience the perfect storm that is perimenopause and menopause.My takeaways from our conversation:Autistic and neurodivergent women and non-binary folks experience a more amplified and intense perimenopause and menopause transition. It’s like the wheels start falling off the cart, and there can be a lack of early diagnosis. So not only are you dealing with the challenges of perimenopause, you could be given a diagnosis of autism. And interestingly this can happen during an autism diagnosis of their sons. They notice – hey, this is how I was when I was his age and that gets the ball rolling in order to get their own diagnosis.  It is typically young boys who are diagnosed with autism while their sisters are ignored.Often times the medical system misses diagnosing autism in young girls until a potential meltdown during puberty.People report a lack of accessible and relevant information about perimenopause and menopause, and there is also an absence of diverse perspectives.There can be a struggle for well-being when you are dealing with the intersectionality – joblessness, poverty, general aging.Another relevant factor is getting stuck in the medical system – and dealing with clinicians who are not well-educated and may not listen – or may be perceived to be not listening. There can be a mistrust and avoidance of the medical system. The communication challenges can make it more difficult to ask for and receive help, and there is a lack ongoing support and continuity of care. As Christine said, people can be left in the lurch.In fact, some people actually choose to go it alone as they feel different and experience stigma and social isolation. They opt not to seek support.But, we also talked about this time in life being a catalyst for healthy change. It provides people with the opportunity to develop a positive self-identity, to truly learn how to accept oneself and adopt an attitude and strategy of self-care.And of course, not having one’s monthly period is a pretty big (and I would say one of the best) parts of menopause. Perimenopause is a different story because you are dealing with all of the other ridiculousness PLUS still getting your period. Not fun.This time also gives people the chance to find services and supports – and for changes like lowering the temperature at work places. Small things can make a huge difference when you are dealing with hot flashes, and not sleeping well and for many people, parenting their children and navigating the challenges and pain of watching your parents getting older.Christine cautioned autistic and neurodivergent women and non-binary people when it comes to making life-changing decisions during this time of life. She cited brain fog, anxiety and sensory loads as important factors that can negatively influence decision-making and lead to potentially challenging situations in the future.Resources:Shared Stories, Shared Experiences: International Research on Autism and Menopausehttps://linktr.ee/christineajenkinsAutistic people face additional menopause challenges | BPSThe Psychologist, January/February 2024 | BPS(5) Christine A Jenkins | LinkedIn

Show Notes:Women’s voices not only need to be heard but paid attention to.Madeline and her team are listening and taking note and sharing the feedback they are receivingEveryone needs be at the table to discuss the realities of women experiencing perimenopause and menopause at the workplace – men, partners, leadershipIt is important to understand this change in order to be understanding of it. This is just one way our bodies will be changing and we need to learn to reflect on what our bodies are asking us to reconsider what we are asking of themWe are forced into a new relationship with our bodies –It is a shift – painful because we don’t like to let go of parts of ourselves who have served us well in our lives to this pointMadeline wants to make women feel less alone and hear the voice of othersThere is a lack of culture about this phase of life in a woman’s life – but it is coming!!Share tools and strategies that other people are using and they may help other people – to help women know they don’t have to suffer – there are resources and tools and to helpWomen in perimenopause and menopause are bringing so much value to the labour market – it’s about talent retention – when women don’t feel supported, they leave the company or the labour market before they want to – some tips Madeline would like to offer leadership:Don’t try and control bodiesThe importance of flexibility in scheduling etc.Give resources – do your benefits cover HRT? Do your employees have access to supports?Do your employees have a safe environment to talk about their struggles?This is not an ending, but a beginning – listen to your body – seek the resources that will support you through whatever means –Research indicates the changes that happen in the brain and other bodily changes are consistent with things that happen when you go through puberty and pregnancy.It is so destructive because it is threatening to our identity as women and workers – but there are leadership opportunities that come out of menopauseThis is the time that you leave things behind, but when you do that, it leaves you lighter for new things and growthWe may not be able to change what is happening to our bodies, but we can absolutely change what we say to ourselves. And we can be part of a movement that sees the possibility and promise, transformation and growth this time of life can bring.Links:The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen GunterThe (Peri)menopause Project website  Madeline Toubiana on LinkedIn

Thank you so much for joining us today! It was a pleasure sharing this time with you.A big thanks to Joanne for sharing her menopause expertise with us today.Here’s what I am taking away for our chat:It’s good to be able to let go of our younger self with grace and no judgementSleep, nutrition, activity, exercise, energy, self-awareness, weight training and adventurous mindset are crucial for a healthy midlife and menopause.Thank you Joanne for these tips – much appreciated!Links: Joanne Savoie Malone – LinkedIn profile(Peri)Menopause Project | Home10 Menopause Care Tips: How to Take Care of Yourself During Menopause12 Essential Self-Care Practices for Thriving During Menopause -

Welcome to the Menopause, Midlife & Mayhem podcast!It's a safe place to talk all things menopause (and perimenopause), midlife and the craziness that comes with all of this. Join me as I chat with women who are truly experts in the field. If you are like me and looking for information about menopause and mental health, diet, activity, sleep, exercise - the list goes on - please take a listen. And just in keeping with the theme, the podcast will be released once a month. Let's take a pause on the 25th of every month!