On the Mones

In Part 2 of my conversation with Jean Kittson, we get into the real mechanics of midlife—beyond the punchlines (although there are still plenty of those).We talk about the juggle of full-time work, mortgages, and the mental load of budgeting in a phase of life that’s meant to feel “settled”… but often doesn’t. Jean shares her perspective on working in midlife—what shifts, what matters more, and what we’re no longer willing to tolerate.We dive into perimenopause. The symptoms you expect, the ones you don’t, and how the people around you might be experiencing it just as much as you are. From brain fog to rage to “is this just who I am now?”, we unpack the invisible ripple effects on family, relationships, and identity.Then we go there: HRT, longevity, and the idea of having a libido for yourself—not just sexually, but energetically, creatively, and personally. Why are men handed solutions like Viagra without question, while women still struggle to access testosterone? And what does that say about how we value women’s pleasure and wellbeing?We round things out with a refreshingly honest chat about sex, sex toys, and reclaiming desire in midlife—on your own terms.It’s smart, funny, slightly rebellious—and exactly the kind of conversation we should be having more of.

In Part 1 of this conversation, I sit down with one of Australia’s most loved comedians, Jean Kittson, to explore the unexpected path that shaped her life and career.We start at the beginning — a shy child growing up in a family where her dad’s love of comedy, gags, and joke-shop tricks quietly set the tone for what was to come. Jean shares how she “fell” into drama almost by accident, thanks to a drama teacher at her high school.From there, we dive into her early work teaching drama in disadvantaged schools, and how those experiences shaped her perspective on people, confidence, and communication.We also get into some of the bigger conversations — adult ADHD, menopause, sex education in schools, and what it means to carve out independence as a woman across different stages of life.It’s thoughtful, funny, and full of moments that will make you reflect on how the smallest nudges can change the course of everything.Part 2 drops next episode — where things get even more candid as we talk midlife, sex, and Jean meets Horace 🐾

In this special episode, Kate sits down with her daughter Audrey on the week of her 18th birthday. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by adulthood, or underwhelmed by the milestone, Audrey describes herself as simply “whelmed.”They talk about what turning 18 actually means today: the excitement of voting for the first time, the freedom to walk into an over-18 venue (even if you choose not to), and the strange mix of independence and expectation that comes with being a young adult in 2026.From Sydney Swans fandom to the pressures facing Gen Z, Audrey shares how her generation sees the world, and what they wish older generations understood about growing up today.A thoughtful, funny conversation about coming of age, changing expectations, and the moment between childhood and whatever comes next.

In this episode of On the Mones, Kate reflects on what it means to grow up as a young woman today as her daughter Audrey turns eighteen and prepares to vote for the first time. Named after Kate’s grandmother, born in 1925, Audrey represents three generations of women who have lived through enormous social change.From marriage bars that forced women out of the workforce, to the feminist movements that fought for economic independence and voting rights, the freedoms women have today were hard-won.So why is social media suddenly romanticising a return to “traditional wives”?Kate explores the rise of the tradwife movement, the nostalgic aesthetic that makes it appealing, and the historical realities often left out of the story — including economic dependence and limited choices for women.Along the way she looks at:• why the tradwife aesthetic spreads so easily on social media• the connection between tradwife culture and anti-feminist online movements• the surprising return of anti-suffrage rhetoric• why Australia’s mandatory voting creates a very different political system• and what women’s rights have to do with astronauts flying around the Moon.There’s also a detour into hormone pharmacology, a satirical wellness advertisement for the revolutionary Whole Body RetoX™, and a reminder that sometimes nostalgia looks better from a distance.Because the real achievement of the last century isn’t that women must work, or must stay home.It’s that women get to choose.

This episode starts on a Sydney oval before sunrise.Kate reflects on her weekly Wednesday run — the quiet rituals of turning up, the characters who share the track, the sociology of shared spaces, and the reminder that the ability to move your body is never something to take for granted.From there, the conversation moves into medicine.After watching The Pitt, Kate unpacks a common myth about morphine in palliative care — the persistent idea that opioids given at the end of life hasten death. Drawing on her experience in palliative care pharmacy, she explains how opioids are actually used to relieve pain and breathlessness, why addiction is not the issue people think it is, and how careful dosing can restore comfort and dignity for patients.Finally, with winter approaching, Kate walks through the 2026 influenza vaccine rollout in Australia — explaining why flu vaccines change every year, why all vaccines are now trivalent, and how the different options (Influvac, Flucelvax, Fluzone High-Dose and FluMist) work.Along the way, she explores the idea that healthcare decisions rarely affect just one person — whether it’s medication myths, palliative care, or vaccination — we’re all part of a much bigger chain.Evidence-based medicine, midlife health, and a few observations from running laps in the dark.Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook. 

In this special field-trip episode of On the Mones, pharmacist Kate Thomas heads to the Mind, Body, Spirit Festival in Sydney to explore one of the most fascinating corners of the modern wellness economy.Between handmade pottery and beeswax candles are stalls offering:• EMF harmonisers• orgone energy devices• pet psychics• “structured” frequency water• cannabinoid oils• crystal healingSome of it is beautiful.Some of it is harmless fun.And some of it makes some very ambitious claims about biology and physics.In this episode we wander the aisles together and ask the question we always ask:Prescribe… or Pass?Along the way we unpack:• the strange history of orgone energy and why scientists rejected it• why structured water can’t store “molecular memory”• what rouleaux formation actually means in real haematology• the science behind β-caryophyllene and CB2 receptors• and why the endocannabinoid system — a very real biological system — is so often misunderstood in wellness marketingWe also discuss new calls from the RACGP for national reform of medicinal cannabis prescribing, and use that as a springboard to explain how THC, CBD and the endocannabinoid system actually work in the body.Because somewhere between laboratory research and Instagram captions…the nuance often disappears.And sometimes the best way to understand the wellness industryis simply to walk through it.Plus: crystals, a pet psychic, and possibly the most anatomically accurate granite sculpture you’ll ever see at a health expo.

Can yoga, Pilates, tai chi and breathwork actually help menopause symptoms — or are we all just stretching our way through the placebo effect?In this first official Peri-odical Review, pharmacist Kate Thomas looks at the evidence behind mind-body exercise in perimenopause and menopause. We unpack what the research actually found, where these practices may genuinely help, and where wellness culture tends to get a little bit ahead of itself.In this episode:whether yoga and similar practices improve menopause symptomswhy the biggest benefits may be in mood, stress and wellbeingwhat the evidence says about hot flushes and physical symptomswhy mind-body exercise is a support strategy, not a curehow sex and intimacy fit into the broader conversation about movement, connection and feeling at home in your bodywhy doctors asking you to come back for results is not necessarily a scamthe problem with direct-to-consumer “wellness” testing and health anxiety as a subscription serviceThis is a conversation about menopause, medicine, wellness, evidence, and the blurry space in between.So roll out the mat if you want to.Or leave it in the corner and go for a walk in the bush instead.Because you are not doing menopause wrong. 

In this episode of On the ’Mones, Kate shares a recording from a special event  with women from a women’s shelter.The day began with breathwork and mindfulness overlooking the ocean — a moment to pause, breathe and arrive. For some of the women attending, simply leaving the shelter and coming to the event took enormous courage.Kate then spoke about hormones, perimenopause and what is actually happening in women’s bodies during midlife. From estrogen, progesterone and testosterone to sleep, stress and strength training, this conversation explores the biology behind the changes many women experience — and why understanding our bodies can be empowering.This episode begins with a short guided breathing exercise recorded by the water before moving into part of the talk.Along the way, Kate reflects on the power of knowledge, community and the reminder that sometimes there is less separating our lives than we realise.If you’ve ever cried at an email, an advertisement… or a rescue dog choosing its human on Instagram — this episode is for you.

In this episode of On the ’Mones, Kate explores a word many women recognise instantly: difficult.Recently Australian activist and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame was described publicly as “difficult” after speaking out politically. Whether or not you agree with her views, the label landed because women everywhere know that word — the one that appears when women stop being agreeable.Kate reflects on her own experience navigating leadership, advocacy and midlife reinvention — including the moment she rage-quit a senior hospital pharmacy leadership role at 45. Was she difficult… or simply done?Alongside this reflection, Kate answers listener questions from around the world about perimenopause and menopause, including:• Anxiety, rage and crying at emails in your 40s — hormones or not coping?• Painful sex and vaginal dryness — is that perimenopause?• Why weight gain around the middle happens even when diet and exercise haven’t changed• Falling asleep easily but waking at 3am wiredKate explains the biology of perimenopause, including how fluctuating estrogen affects neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and GABA — and why life in your 40s can suddenly feel harder than it used to.She also breaks down a new non-hormonal treatment for menopausal hot flushes, Veoza (fezolinetant) — how it works in the brain, what the evidence shows, and where it fits alongside hormone therapy.Because menopause doesn’t care what passport you hold.And sometimes being called difficult simply means you’ve stopped being convenient.Follow Kate on social media:TikTok / Instagram / Facebook @prescribeorpassLinkedIn Kate Thomas – MedGov

Pharmacist Kate Thomas interviews Dr Sarah Farrell, GP and principal of Sydney Women’s Wellness, about two major midlife health topics: breast awareness and genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).We break down:• What “breast awareness” means today• How breast self-exams differ from formal breast cancer screening• When to see your GP about a breast lump• Breast density and mammograms• Why midlife breast changes can feel alarmingWe also explore genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), including:• Vaginal dryness in menopause• Pain with sex • Recurrent UTIs after menopause• Bladder symptoms and estrogen decline• Why GSM is common but under-treatedWe discuss the full treatment ladder:• Vaginal moisturisers vs lubricants• Vaginal estrogen• Prasterone• When hormonal treatment is appropriate• Where non-hormonal options like hyaluronic acid vaginal preparations may fitThis evidence-based conversation helps women understand the difference between normal hormonal changes and symptoms that need review — without panic or misinformation.If you’re searching for answers about menopause, vaginal dryness, breast checks, or GSM treatment options, this episode provides practical, medically grounded guidance.

My first baby turns 21.So naturally, I sat him down with a microphone and asked him to explain perimenopause to the boys.What does a 21-year-old man think hormones are?Do young men talk about menopause?If boys had menopause, what would happen?There are one-word answers.There are finish-the-sentence confessions..And somewhere in there, a mother realising her son is now a man.Then we turn into the reassuring comfort of biology with a clear, evidence-based masterclass on melatonin:• What it actually is (hint: not a sleeping pill)• Immediate vs modified release• Dosing that makes physiological sense• Why more is not more• And when melatonin is the right tool — and when it isn’tAnd finally, in Woo of the Week, we plug ourselves into the earth.Grounding mats.Free electrons. USB cords for your doona. Do they reduce inflammation? Lower cortisol? Improve sleep? Or are we mistaking ritual for redox biology?This episode is motherhood, midlife medicine, circadian rhythm, and a gentle but firm unpacking of wellness mythology — all wrapped up like a properly made bed in cotton and cashmere.If you’ve ever:• Rocked a baby at 2am• Woken at 3am in perimenopause• Bought a wellness gadget at midnight• Or wondered what your kids actually think about what you’re going throughThis one’s for you.Send your voice questions to:📩 [email protected](Mones as in hormones. Not whinging.)Until next time, we get on the ’Mones.Kate x

Midlife reinvention isn’t glossy, curated, or hashtag-friendly — it happens while you’re still paying bills, packing lunches, and doing the work you already know how to do.In this episode of On the ’Mones, I reflect on standing on stage at a menopause education event in Sydney and asking myself a quiet but clarifying question: How did I get here? Not because I suddenly became more qualified — but because I finally gave myself permission to be visible.We talk about reinvention as access, privilege, momentum, and integration — not burning everything down, but letting hard-earned skills show up in new places. I unpack what it’s like to hold two truths at once: deep medical experience alongside total digital naïveté — and why learning at midlife is uniquely powerful.From there, we get properly nerdy. I break down testosterone in women — what it actually does, why it’s not a “male hormone,” how it affects drive, energy, cognition, and libido, and how it fits into hormone replacement as part of a team sport with oestrogen. We talk indications, monitoring, side effects, and how to start a sensible, grounded conversation with your prescriber.And in Woo of the Week, I take on oral DHEA — the internet’s favourite almost-hormone — explaining why swallowing raw hormonal ingredients and hoping for the best is not biology, it’s wishful thinking.This episode is about hormones, yes — but it’s also about visibility, work, value, and giving yourself permission to evolve without abandoning who you already are.

Recorded on holiday in Hawaii, this episode of On the Mones starts on a beach and ends deep inside the nervous system.Watching her adult children in the surf, Kate reflects on bodies, confidence, ageing, and the subtle way awareness changes how we move through the world. From instinctive confidence to emerging caution, from physical capability to perimenopausal vigilance, this episode explores what happens when experience collides with embodiment — and how generational mirrors quietly hold us up to ourselves.Along the way, Kate unpacks the emotional charge of family dynamics, teenage daughters, impatience, competence, and the uncomfortable realisation that the traits we judge most harshly may be the ones we’re rehearsing.In the pharmacology deep dive, Kate breaks down clonidine — an elegant, often underrated medication that calms the body’s stress response. From blood pressure and hot flushes to ADHD, anxiety, sleep, and withdrawal syndromes, this is a clear, practical explanation of how clonidine works, when it helps, and why it needs respect.And in Wellness Woo of the Week, Kate tackles main character energy — the seductive belief that calm, health, and regulation are moral achievements rather than states shaped by biology, environment, privilege, and access.This episode is about bodies on beaches, brains on alert, and the humility required to notice when confidence, calm, or competence starts to look like superiority — especially to the people closest to us.Wherever you’re listening from: welcome.Let’s get on the Mones.

What if the thing that makes you feel safest… isn’t actually helping you?In this episode of On the Mones, Kate unpacks a deceptively simple idea with enormous consequences: comfort is not evidence.It starts with a respectful — but confronting — comment thread on a debunking video about naturopathy, vulnerability, and communication. From there, the conversation widens into something much bigger: why women in midlife are so often sold reassurance instead of rigour, validation instead of verification, and how “feeling heard” has quietly become a substitute for clinical outcomes.Kate explores:Why warmth, charisma, and simplification can be persuasive — but dangerous — in healthcareThe lack of regulation around naturopathy and why “my clients love me” is not a defenceReal-world harm, including Australian regulatory cases involving banned health practitionersHow wellness culture targets women — especially during hormonal vulnerability — and why that mattersFrom there, the episode pivots into a clear, evidence-based deep dive on SSRIs:How SSRIs actually work in the brain (and what they don’t do)Why they’re sometimes prescribed for hot flushesAnd how perimenopausal anxiety is frequently treated with antidepressants when estrogen deficiency may be the real driverThrough a clinical lens — and a personal story — Kate makes the case for better questions, better context, and fewer lazy defaults when women in their 40s and 50s present with anxiety.This episode also features a Woo of the Week takedown of “adrenal fatigue” — why it isn’t a diagnosis, why it feels comforting, and how it turns complex physiology into fast food.If you’ve ever been told:“At least she listens”“It can’t hurt”“It makes people feel better”This episode is your pause button.Because feeling cared for matters — but only evidence protects you.

A ninety-year-old man walks into a community pharmacy, forgets his wallet… and pays for his prescriptions with Chaucer. A stranger steps in with quiet generosity. And somehow, that moment lodges — deeper than it would have twenty-five years ago.If you’ve noticed that things land differently in midlife — emotions linger longer, moments feel heavier, meaning matters more — you’re not imagining it.And if, at the same time, your periods have gone completely off the rails — heavier, closer together, unpredictable, exhausting — this episode is for you.And because it wouldn’t be On the Mones without it, we finish with Woo of the Week: magnesium — the mineral that somehow got promoted to nervous-system saviour, hormone therapy, and emotional support supplement. What it actually does, where it helps, where it absolutely doesn’t. If your bleeding is disruptive, your emotions feel deeper, or you’re being told this is “just your age” — this episode is here to remind you: you’re not dramatic, you’re not failing, and you’re allowed care, clarity, and proper answers.

In this episode of On the ’Mones, Kate Thomas — pharmacist, midlife woman, and professional oversharer — tackles one of the most distressing and misunderstood parts of perimenopause: what’s actually happening to your brain.If you’ve found yourself forgetting words, losing focus, feeling anxious “for no reason,” questioning whether you suddenly have ADHD in your 40s, or quietly Googling early-onset dementia at 2am — this episode is for you.Because here’s the truth: You are not stupid. You are not lazy. And you are not losing your mind. Your estrogen has simply stopped doing its full-time job.Kate explains how estrogen functions as the brain’s unseen office manager — coordinating dopamine, serotonin and acetylcholine — and what happens when that system starts running on skeleton staff. The result? Brain fog, anxiety, poor memory, emotional volatility, sleep disruption, and a sudden collapse in cognitive resilience.This episode covers:What estrogen actually does in the brain (spoiler: it’s not just about reproduction)Why brain fog feels cognitive, not emotionalHow perimenopause can unmask ADHD traits in midlife womenThe critical differences between brain fog, anxiety and burnoutWhy treating hormonal symptoms with productivity hacks or “just manage stress” advice backfiresThe role of sleep loss as a cognitive and emotional multiplierWhat estrogen therapy can — and can’t — do for cognitionWhere SSRIs, SNRIs, stimulants and off-label menopause medications do fit (and where they don’t)Kate also shares a brutally honest story from a midlife dinner party that spirals into a candid conversation about libido, testosterone therapy, HSDD, and the unequal way men’s and women’s sexual health is treated in medicine — including why prescribing Viagra or Cialis without considering the partner is clinically short-sighted.And in this week’s Woo of the Week, Kate takes a hard look at black cohosh:What it is (and what it definitely isn’t)What randomised controlled trials and Cochrane reviews actually showWhy “natural” doesn’t mean effectiveAnd how oversold supplements cost women time, money and confidenceIf you’ve ever felt gaslit by your own body, dismissed by well-meaning advice, or ashamed of changes you couldn’t explain — this episode gives you language, biology, and relief.Because desire, clarity and resilience aren’t personality traits. They’re physiological processes — and they deserve real information, real medicine, and real conversations.You’re not broken. You’re early to the conversation.

Is testosterone really making women “ragey”… or is it just giving us fewer f*$ks to give? Or is it all down to age and experience?In Episode 4 of On the ’Mones, pharmacist Kate Thomas dives into one of the most misunderstood hormones in women’s health: testosterone. Along the way, she unpacks a petty (and infuriating) pharmacy encounter that sparks a much bigger conversation about boundaries, ageing, assertiveness, and how much bad behaviour women in healthcare are expected to tolerate.This episode covers:What testosterone actually does in women (hint: it’s not a “male hormone”)Why women naturally produce testosterone — and what happens as levels decline in perimenopause and menopauseThe evidence-based role of testosterone in HRTHypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD): what it is, how common it is, and why it’s so under-treatedWhy HSDD is a clinical diagnosis, not a blood test resultHow testosterone therapy compares to how easily erectile dysfunction is treated in menSafety, side effects, and monitoring of transdermal testosterone (including AndroFeme)Why testosterone doesn’t cause “rage” — but can reduce people-pleasing and tolerance for bullshitThe difference between assertiveness and aggression in midlife womenWoo of the Week: Kate takes aim at “natural testosterone boosters,” DHEA supplements, and adrenal support blends — breaking down why these products are often less safe, less predictable, and less evidence-based than properly prescribed testosterone therapy.You’ll also hear:Why supplements that “boost testosterone naturally” are basically hormone rouletteThe difference between oral DHEA, vaginal DHEA, and prescription testosteroneWhy control and precision — not “natural” — are what actually make treatments saferIf you’re navigating perimenopause, menopause, libido changes, or feeling like you tolerate far less nonsense than you used to — this episode will give you language, clarity, and evidence to back yourself.Key takeaway: Testosterone isn’t a personality transplant. It’s not a cure-all. And it doesn’t fix context.But for the right woman, with the right diagnosis, at the right dose — it deserves a seat at the grown-up medical table.🎧 Listen now to Episode 4 of On the ’Mones — where hormones, healthcare, and real life collide.

In this episode of On the ’Mones, we unpack three things many women quietly worry about — progesterone, memory changes, and the wellness advice that sounds scientific but absolutely isn’t.First, we deep-dive into progesterone — why it’s not always a gentle background hormone, how it acts in the brain, and why some women feel calmer while others feel anxious, flat, or completely unhinged when they start it. We explain the real science behind "progesterone intolerance", PMDD, GABA receptors, and why “just push through it” is terrible advice.Then, I get personal about brain fog — the kind that messes with your confidence and identity. We talk estrogen, cognition, working memory, task overload, and why perimenopause doesn’t steal intelligence — it steals your buffer.Finally, it’s Woo of the Week, and we’re taking on collagen powders and protein marketing. What actually happens when you eat protein? Does collagen really know where your sore knee is? (Spoiler: no.) We separate legitimate nutrition from seductive nonsense and explain what the evidence actually says.This episode isn’t about doing more — it’s about understanding better.If you’ve ever thought:“Progesterone made me feel worse — what’s wrong with me?”“Why does my brain feel different lately?”“Is this supplement actually doing anything?”You’re in the right place.

In Episode 2 of On the ’Mones, Kate starts with a moment many midlife women will recognise: a close friend, a few glasses of wine, a forgotten word — and the immediate dismissal of perimenopause as something “everyone else is doing.”That moment opens the door to a much bigger conversation.This episode explores why many women resist menopause care — even informed, health-literate women — and why perimenopause is often misunderstood as a “trend” rather than what it really is: a long-overdue correction to decades of silence, stigma, and medical neglect.Kate unpacks:Why perimenopause is being talked about more — and why that doesn’t mean it’s overdiagnosedHow menopause mirrors the cultural unmasking we’ve already seen with ADHD in womenWhy HRT is no longer just about hot flushes, but long-term brain, bone, and heart healthThe three types of estrogen (E1, E2, E3) and how oral, transdermal, and vaginal forms differHow to think about estrogen as a toolkit, not a one-size-fits-all prescriptionAnd why resistance to “what everyone else is getting” is often about fear, identity, and agency — not medicineThe episode also features a deep dive into Wellness Woo of the Week, tackling wild yam cream: what it claims to do, why it doesn’t work biochemically, and why women are so often targeted by hormone misinformation in the first place.This is an episode about hormones — but it’s also about psychology, culture, gender bias, and what happens when women finally have language for what they’ve been experiencing all along.Smart, evidence-based, occasionally sweary, and deeply validating — this one is for anyone who’s ever wondered whether midlife medicine is a fad… or long-overdue progress.

On the ’Mones — Episode 1: Welcome to the Hormonal Girl BandIs it just me… or is something seriously happening to my body?In the very first episode of On the ’Mones, pharmacist of 25 years Kate pulls back the curtain on peri-menopause, hormones, rage-quitting jobs, libido loss, bone health, and the quiet suffering so many women carry alone.From estrogen “leaving the group chat” to a friend breaking down in the kitchen whispering “I thought it was just me”, this episode sets the tone for the podcast: honest, evidence-based, funny, messy, and deeply human.You’ll hear:Why peri-menopause catches so many women off guardHow hormones are meant to rise and fall (spoiler: balance is a myth)The Beyoncé–P!nk–Adele explanation your biology teacher never gave youWhy loss of libido isn’t a personal failure — and what options actually existA takedown of seed cycling (sorry, chia pudding)And a new segment: Is it peri-menopause or am I just being a Karen?If you’ve ever felt anxious, irritable, flat, foggy, ragey, invisible, or like your brain “isn’t braining” anymore — this is for you.You’re not broken. It’s not your fault. And you’re definitely not alone.Welcome to On the ’Mones. Let’s get on them.