In this heartfelt podcast, Carrie shares her personal journey through the challenges of perimenopause and menopause, from battling palpitations that felt like a heart attack, and extreme anxiety, to coping with hot flushes. As she navigated these struggles, Carrie discovered a sense of balance and well-being, ultimately finding that her 50s have been the happiest decade of her life. Through honest storytelling, Carrie explores how embracing the changes, and having the right tools in your toolkit, can lead to newfound strength and peace. Tune in for a raw, relatable look at the realities of perimenopause and menopause, and how one woman learned to thrive through it all!

Show Notes:

Carrie talks about palpitations which felt like she was having a heart attack and for which she had several ECGs to have her heart checked out. As we always state, we are not medical professionals, we are just women sharing their stories. If you're unsure whether you're having a heart attack or palpitations or panic attacks, it's always a good idea to get checked out by your medical professional for your own peace of mind.

Welcome to this special episode, where today, in celebration of International Women's Day, we’re diving into a powerful and thought-provoking question: What does it mean to be a woman?

We’re chatting with a few incredible women from Norton Housing and Support as they reflect on their personal experiences and what it truly means to be a woman in today’s world. From cleaning to leadership, the phrase 'If not you, then who?' echoes through their stories, embodying the spirit of resilience and empowerment. We’ll also explore what it means to be a ‘phenomenal woman’ in all its unique and diverse forms.

So, grab a cuppa, sit back and relax, and join us for this inspiring conversation and the laughs. Let’s get into it!

In this episode, we chat with Philippa about her journey with perimenopause. She opens up about how struggling with her weight made her feel low, and how finding ways to address it has been a turning point. Philippa also shares the positive experiences she’s had with the coil, along with hypnotherapy that helped her quit smoking and regain balance. Along the way, she navigated the many symptoms of perimenopause. One exciting highlight? After losing weight with the help of a weight loss medication, she’s planning to revisit Go Ape and climb the treetops with her son. Tune in to hear how Philippa is embracing this new chapter of wellness and feeling empowered along the way.

*Philippa has also asked us to reiterate that using the weight loss medication should only be done by prescription through an authorised provider.

** We also want to remind our listeners that the weight loss medication mentioned in our guest's story is part of their personal experience, and we do not endorse or recommend any specific treatments. The information shared in this episode is for general entertainment purposes only. Please consult with a healthcare professional, like Philippa did, before making any changes to your health regime.

Show notes:

Lou mentioned Jessie Inschauspe's (The Glucose Goddess) YouTube short - https://m.youtube.com/shorts/NVsfN50J6pQ

In this episode we talk to Maria about her experiences of perimenopause. Maria talks to us about her journey from anxiety, rashes on her feet and not tolerating magnesium, to the benefits (to her) of collagen, HRT, exercise and laser hair removal. And as always, there are lots of laughs along the way.

Show Notes:

Sindy Bond - https://www.sindybond.com/

Ancient & Brave Collagen - https://ancientandbrave.earth/

Newson Menopause Clinic - https://www.newsonhealth.co.uk/

Shakti mats discussed available from multiple sellers

This episode starts with a quote by the powerhouse that is Jane Fonda;

'We're still living the old paradigm of age as an arch, that's the old metaphor, you're born, you peek at midlife and decline into decrepitude, but a more appropriate metaphor for ageing is a staircase, the upward ascension of the human spirit bringing us into wisdom, wholeness and authenticity.'

We'll certainly be taking the stairs from here!

We also delve into...

What clothing is considered too young for 'our' age?

More perimenopausal and menopausal women represented in films and on TV, please!

Flexing our compassion muscles

Healing circles, anyone?

And much more.

Oh... and twenty other ways to say 'Absolutely'.

Jane Fonda was Barbarella in the 1968 controversial film of the same name. At the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, she said of the film that she; "took the easy road for a while" with roles she now considers to be less than flattering. "I would say that ended with Barbarella," . Jane Fonda was also in Grace & Frankie, the series Michelle couldn't remember!

In this episode, we talk to Lisa, a mother to two young children, about navigating the complexities of this time in our lives. If you're in peri, or ever have been, you'll get it! Is it lack of sleep from the kids keeping me up at night? Worry for older family members or our own health issues... Or maybe, it's all of those and more! How do we work it all out? Who knows...

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Curious, we explore the power of sharing stories during perimenopause — why they matter and how they can support and inform other women on this journey. These stories are a gift, offering connection, healing, and support, not just for you, but for others walking the same path. With over 60 symptoms to navigate, we also discuss a helpful checklist to identify both common and lesser-known signs of the transition.

This is our second episode and talks about how as perimenopausal women, we have fared over the festive period. There's always so much more to do. We also talk about how when there's even more pressure on us than normal (and we know some of that pressure we put on ourselves), we perhaps have to look after ourselves that little bit more.