In the final episode of this series, Natalie is joined by GP & Menopause Specialist Dr Louise Newson to debunk the myths and misinformation around perimenopause and menopause. From menopause being labelled a disability to the idea of it being over medicalised, Natalie and Louise bring their individual thoughts to the table with Dr Newson providing expert insight and advice on how to manage symptoms.

Whilst the conversation covers various aspects of Louise’s role as a specialist and pioneering doctor, we are also given a more personal view of Louise as the woman behind the public persona and how she has dealt with difficult situations in her own life, including shedding light on her own perimenopause experience.

Throughout the chat the pair discuss the rise of menowashing and the unfairness of companies preying on desperate women for financial gain and how medical professionals are also falling prey to the commercialisation of menopause. Elsewhere Louise talks frankly about how cycle tracking, lifestyle changes and open conversations in our personal relationships can help us feel more empowered during the perimenopause transition and how hormonal treatment across our reproductive and post reproductive years needs to be discussed on a wider level, with frequent reform to ensure women are receiving the best possible care.

Listen in for an informative and personal conversation with one of the leading voices in menopause care.

For more from Dr Newson you can follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/menopause_doctor or visit the Newson Health website at www.newsonhealth.co.uk

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This week Natalie is joined by actor, life coach & entrepreneur Gemma Merna to talk all about her journey with anxiety and building her wellbeing community Mind & Wellness.

From her days as a shy young singer to stepping into the spotlight on C4 soap Hollyoaks, Gemma nostalgically looks back at her younger years and notes how during one of the most prominent parts of her career as an actor she was struggling with overwhelming anxiety. She recalls how the passing of her Dad exacerbated what she had already struggled with as a young performer and that during the end of her tenure at Hollyoaks she no longer felt tough enough to be immersed in the competitive world of TV. It was at this point that she came to discover the importance of self compassion and care. As an avid yoga fan Gemma trained to become a practitioner and followed on her wellness education with qualifications as a life coach and hypnotherapist. Gemma details how this personal journey lead her to create her wellbeing platform Mind & Wellness as a way to empower others dealing with anxiety, stress and trauma.

During the conversation Gemma notes how helping others feels like her purpose and that by working through her own struggles she is adamant about passing on everything she’s learned to help other people feel less alone. She talks at length about how her work in the wellbeing sector has allowed her to move away from the polished veneer of the entertainment world and to a place of self acceptance and that whilst she still loves acting building her online community has enabled her to feel confident and empowered.

Listen in for an inspirational conversation that unpacks anxiety and healing.

For more from Gemma you can find her on Instagram www.instagram.com/gemmamerna or visit the Mind & Wellness website www.mindandwellness.co.uk

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This week Natalie is joined by Dr Shahzadi Harper to talk the transition from post natal to perimenopause and how to manage hormonal weight gain. A dynamic doctor interested in optimising women's health and wellbeing Dr Harper is the founder of the designated Harper clinic, a registered menopause clinic in the heart of London that has a 360 approach to women’s wellbeing and she is also the co author of the hugely successful book ‘The Perimenopause Solution’ alongside being a member of the British Menopause Society. During this episode she brings her expertise to the table whilst discussing a number of topics as she is passionate about helping women take control of their hormonal health and wellbeing.

Noting the large number of symptoms many women may experience with a variety of women’s health issues Dr Harper suggests that our 40’s are a great time to ask for an overall health check so that we can take control of our mental and physical health as we journey towards menopause and that by being better informed we will be able to manage symptoms better.

Dr Harper highlights how lifestyle and stress factors can have a huge impact on symptoms and that by analysing and taking charge of these areas early on we can combat the more frustrating symptoms associated with perimenopause such as hormonal weight gain. Dr Harper discusses how as part of a personal challenge she has also developed a lifestyle programme aptly named ‘Let’s Get Waisted’ to help women understand what may be leading to unexpected weight gain as we age.

Listen in for a hugely informative chat with one of Britains best women’s health specialists.

For more from Dr Harper please visit www.theharperclinic.com

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This week Natalie is joined by TV personality Tanya Bardsley to talk the complexities of ADHD and how being diagnosed as an adult has ignited Tanya’s passion to make change for others. In a deeply honest and informative conversation, Tanya reflects on her life as a teenager and how she always felt like an outsider or different to her peers, noting that it was at home with her family where she sought solace from school bullying. She details her early battles with anxiety, depression and imposter syndrome and how now with an ADHD diagnosis she recognises that these were traits of the condition that were unrecognised at that time. Tanya talks frankly about the dark moments leading up to seeing a doctor and the relief she felt when finally she was given answers and a diagnosis of ADHD. In an informative part of the chat Tanya breaks down the symptoms, behaviours and mis conceptions of the condition and the first steps towards managing it, highlighting however that she is currently campaigning for diagnosis referral waiting times to be reduced in order to help more people. In managing her own symptoms, Tanya attributes going sober with having one of the biggest impacts and how being alcohol free allows her to feel more in control of her mental health and wellbeing.

Elsewhere in the episode Tanya discusses her passion for manifestation and how using the techniques which she first began practicing as a teenager have enabled her to create a life she always dreamed of. When discussing her journey with The Real Housewives franchise, Tanya notes how the show allowed her to be her most authentic self and gave her the opportunity to be open about her mental health struggles, her honesty resonating with millions of other women. From this Tanya has built a prominent platform where she is able to inform, educate and shed light on various mental health issues.

Listen in for an informative, honest and inspiring conversation with one of our most loved TV faces.

For more from Tanya you can follow on Instagram at www.instagram.com/tanyabardsley7 or visit her website www.tanyabardo.com

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This week Natalie is joined by acclaimed beauty editor and podcast host Emma Guns to talk the rise of menowashing, building back better after hitting rock bottom and the highs and lows of 90’s nostalgia. As the host of the hugely successful Emma Guns Show and OK! Magazine’s former beauty editor of 10 years, Emma takes us on a trip down memory lane as we discuss 90’s beauty and the popularity of iconic products such as Rimmel’s Heather Shimmer and Mac’s Spice lip liner. We talk how diet and pop culture shaped our beauty ideals in the 2000’s and how the dark side of the decades recent resurgence is prompting conversations around disordered eating and the use of medications such as ozempic amongst those looking for quick fix weight loss solutions. Elsewhere Natalie and Emma discuss the rise in the commercialisation of menopause, with Emma bringing her expertise to the table and noting that many of the so called menopause products available online and in store today are actually products with unchanged formulations but clever brand marketing that preys on the desperation of women looking to ease symptoms. On a more personal note Emma speaks openly about her struggles with anxiety and depression and how in her late 30’s she hit rock bottom. She notes how this was a time of reflection and taking accountability and that in doing so it has enabled her to build back better and have a deeper understanding of herself and the things she needs to prioritise to protect her mental health and wellbeing. Join us for a dynamic and candid conversation that takes us behind the scenes of the beauty industry with one of the UK’s most trusted voices in women’s health & beauty. For more information on Emma you can follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/emmaguns or stream the acclaimed podcast The Emma Guns Show on all podcast platforms.

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This week Natalie is joined by TV presenter & property expert Laura Hamilton to talk seizing opportunity, understanding the growth mindset and continuous learning for success.

Discussing Laura’s entry into the world of television she notes how her first role came as a runner at Channel 4 before working her way up to being on the production team for the hit show Big Brother’s Little Brother with Dermot O’ Leary, a position that would enable her to learn the ropes and understand the many technical aspects of entertainment from behind the camera. Learning from the ground up, Laura highlights it was in this period of time that firmly instilled in her the notion than in order to have success you have to understand every role within the machine, a concept she has applied to her own entrepreneurial endeavours, notably qualifying as a post mistress in order to open her then coffee shop business ‘Lord Roberts on The Green’ in 2017.

Laura passionately discusses the importance of pushing past your comfort zone in order to achieve success and that continual learning and a growth mindset has enabled her to move from behind the camera to the coveted position of prime time television, landing her a dream presenting role on A Place in The Sun, a show which sees Laura combining her love of property development with her love of travel and adventure. Opening up on the realities of developing 19 properties and a successful coffee shop business alongside her TV work, Laura explains that she gets excited by the challenge of spinning plates but that she has to prioritise her mental health in order to stay focused and well. Listen in for a positive, empowering conversation with one of the UK’s most recognisable talents that will leave you feeling inspired and energised.

For more from Laura Hamilton please visit www.laurahamiltonofficial.com

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This week Natalie is joined by best selling author and poet Donna Ashworth. Discussing Donna’s rise to global success we uncover the key moments in her life that acted as stepping stones to her reaching the number 1 spot. From song writing and singing in a band during her teenage years, to bravely reaching out to an unknown community in her early years of motherhood, this conversation allows us the opportunity to understand the woman behind the words.

Noting her struggles with perfectionism and eating disorders, Donna candidly opens up about her difficult adolescent years and describes how despite her incredible literary success she was forced to leave her education early in order to receive the help and support she needed to get better. As a result Donna highlights how having no formal literary qualification she can sometimes succumb to imposter syndrome, however, in being authentic and busting the myths of perfection it has enabled her to reach an audience who similarly need help and support expressing difficult emotions.

From grief, parenting, self worth and love Donna’s powerful words have reached millions across the world who turn to her when they simply can’t find the words themselves, the most notable taking place during the pandemic when her poem ‘History Will Remember When The World Stopped’ went viral. Donna reflects on her surprise at the poem’s reception and notes how it paved the way for her to truly live out her dreams of offering support through her artistic passions.

Listen in for an enlightening and inspiring conversation with one of the UK’s most exciting authors.

For more from Donna please visit www.instagram.com/donnaashworthwords

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In this powerful episode Natalie is joined by former breast surgeon Dr Liz O’ Riordan to talk all about her experiences as a female surgeon and receiving the diagnosis that she herself had developed breast cancer at the age of 40.

Detailing her initial reaction, going through chemo and eventually a mastectomy she highlights each of the different physical and mental stages with deep insight and gives an in depth account of how it impacted her confidence and mental health. Liz goes on to candidly talk about how despite overcoming her initial breast cancer she has since gone on to experience it another two times with the most recent diagnosis that her cancer had returned occurring in 2023.

Aptly naming herself the breast surgeon with breast cancer Liz is now using both her social platforms and expertise to share much needed information and support with others experiencing or feeling the impacts of cancer. She has penned 2 books, developed her highly acclaimed podcast ‘So Now I’ve Got Breast Cancer’ and regularly contributes to seminars and events as a guest speaker, however she notes that sometimes she needs to remember that she herself is a patient. During the chat Liz also expertly describes how to check your breasts and what women can expect from a mammogram and highlights the impacts of cancer and menopause.

Elsewhere in the conversation Liz reveals the difficulties of working as a female surgeon in a predominantly male environment and how she navigated sexual harassment in the workplace. Listen in for a truly inspiring and informative chat that tells a story survival, self acceptance and the importance of being in tune with our bodies.

For more help and support concerning breast cancer care please visit www.breastcancernow.org

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