Episodios

  • Reclaiming Your Vitality Through Perimenopause and Beyond - with Dori Martin
    Feb 11 2026
    I sit down with Dori Martin, a functional health practitioner who has turned her own experience with severe burnout and caregiving into a mission to help women navigate the complexities of midlife. If you've been feeling depleted, overwhelmed, or stuck, Dori’s approach will offer you a profound sense of hope, as we dive deep into the real drivers behind the symptoms of perimenopause. We explore everything from stress chemistry and mineral status to metabolism and nervous system health, moving beyond generic advice, and empowering you to rebuild your energy, resilience, and confidence from the inside out Dori Reveals Why true healing begins when we prioritise the health of our nervous system, and why being in a constant state of "fight or flight" prevents the body from effectively absorbing nutrients and managing hormones. How our mineral balance acts as the "spark plugs" for our cellular energy, and how replenishing these can drastically shift how we feel daily. The benefits of functional lab testing, such as Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis, and how it can provide a blueprint of what is actually happening in the body rather than relying on trial and error. Why we should reframe self-care not as a luxury but as a biological necessity. BEST MOMENTS "What if perimenopause is not the start of decline, but the moment your body finally demands a deeper way of living?" "We are so nutritionally and minerally depleted that we can’t create the energy to do what we need to do." "You are not what you eat, but what you can absorb." "It's not just about putting the stuff in; it's about how we receive it." EPISODE LINKS Dori Martin - www.dorimartin.com HOST BIO Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops. A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website www.panaceapause.co.uk
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    49 m
  • One Year of Menopause: The Real Deal. The Biggest Myths, Facts, and Breakthroughs From the First Year
    Feb 4 2026
    In this special anniversary episode, I’m taking a moment to pause and reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared over the past twelve months. From my first conversation to now, my mission has remained the same: to provide clear, honest information about perimenopause and menopause so that no woman feels she is imagining her symptoms or walking this path alone. In this very special edition I’ve revisited some of the most powerful lightbulb moments from my guests this year, and the insights that connect the dots between our hormones, immune systems, and emotional well-being. Whether you are just starting your journey or are well through it, I hope this retrospective reminds you that knowledge is your greatest power and that a supportive community is always right here waiting for you. You’ll Hear How fluctuations in oestrogen during perimenopause can up-regulate the immune system, leading to chronic inflammation, brain fog, and a fight or flight state. A clinical breakdown of how sex hormones, thyroid, stress hormones, and insulin are all interlinked Personal accounts of how menopause can impact career and family life, even when a woman appears fine on the outside while struggling with exhaustion and cognitive confusion. An exploration of how the body stores tension and trauma in the pelvic space and how reconnecting with our bodies through self-compassion can alleviate midlife anxiety. BEST MOMENTS "My immune system was very much on the brink of being over-reactive... it just took one little drop in the ocean, which was COVID... and it was like fireworks went off." "Inside, it was not me at all... I’m a worker, I've always been a worker, and although I looked okay from the outside, inside, it was not me at all." "75% of women feel symptoms of menopause. 25%—that's one in four—have really severe symptoms. And there's no amount of acrobatic learning that is going to improve that... the root cause is that your hormones have been whipped away." "I think midlife and menopause is a key stage... because our bodies are going through such significant changes... this is just a further invitation to reinforce that positive language." EPISODE LINKS Sarah Law Lucinda Weston Lindsey Lester Julie White HOST BIO Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops. A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website www.panaceapause.co.uk
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    32 m
  • Turning the Tipping Point: Brenda Winkle On Redefining Your Path Through Menopause
    Jan 28 2026
    I sit down with leadership guide, Brenda Winkle to discuss the moment when she reached a tipping point that could no longer be ignored, a medical crisis that finally forced her to listen to her body after years of being dismissed by the medical community. We explore how perimenopause and menopause can feel like the moment the mask finally slips, revealing a deep urge for high-functioning, empathic women to stop shrinking and instead start building meaningful impact and community. Brenda shares how this stage of life doesn't have to be something you simply push through. It can be a powerful turning point where you learn to trust your intuition, manage nervous system overload, and reclaim your energy. Whether you are navigating a late ADHD diagnosis or feeling exhausted by the weight of lifelong caretaking, this conversation offers a roadmap to honouring your own needs and celebrating the fierce, unapologetic woman inside. Brenda Reveals How perimenopause often acts as a "loudspeaker" for ADHD or ADHD-type traits Why this stage of life frequently triggers a deep urge for high-functioning, empathic women to stop people-pleasing or "shrinking" and instead focus on creating meaningful impact. Why women often experience a "tipping point" where symptoms can no longer be ignored How these symptoms are frequently mislabeled by medical professionals as mere "stress" or "anxiety". How the body carries a "somatic load" of accumulated stress and suppressed emotions that must be discharged BEST MOMENTS "Perimenopause can feel like the moment the mask finally slips." "Your intuition will never lead you astray. A lot of us just have been taught we can't trust it." "If we are pouring from empty cups, we are pouring from resentment, overwhelm, depletion, and fatigue." "Healing is not linear, it is not a box that we can check off... it’s like I have integrated my experience and I know that as I continue to evolve, this may come back up again." GUEST LINKS brenda@brendawinkle.com WEBSITE: https://www.brendawinkle.com/ INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/brendawinkle/ FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/brenda.winkle.empowerment LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendawinkle/ HOST BIO Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops. A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website www.panaceapause.co.uk
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    52 m
  • The Middle-Life Chrysalis: Finding Freedom Beyond Menopause
    Jan 21 2026
    We’ve been taught to view the arrival of menopause as a slow fade into the background, but what if it’s actually the moment you finally take centre stage? In this powerful conversation, Mel Dickinson sits down with Michelle to dismantle the myths that have left millions of women feeling invisible and powerless. This isn’t just a medical breakdown of hormones; it’s a roadmap for anyone who has ever felt like their body was becoming a stranger and wondered, "Is this just how it’s going to be?". Focusing on hope and radical relatability, they reveal that while hormone decline is inevitable, suffering is not. From the surprising science of "belly fat" to the psychological liberation that comes when reproductive expectations are off the table, you’ll discover that you aren't "losing it" you’re evolving. Mel Reveals Why you are likely to spend a full third of your life in a post-menopausal state How menopause isn't just hot flashes; it can manifest as "frozen shoulder," ear ringing, body odour, and joint pain Why female ovaries age at twice the rate of the rest of the body, meaning our endocrine systems are often in decline while our careers and personal lives are still in high gear. Why there is a profound lack of funding and training which is why you must be your own best health advocate. How “Belly fat" in menopause is often a biological response to oestrogen loss, and standard "diet and exercise" advice often fails because the body's internal chemistry has fundamentally changed. BEST MOMENTS "Menopause and oestrogen decline is inevitable... but suffering through it and having to just put up with it or dismissing it as a sign of aging is not." "After reproductive options are taken off the table, it's almost like medicine leaves us behind." "I want to be an 80-year-old climbing that mountain, kicking ass, having a career, healthy. If I don’t implement changes today, I’m not going to be able to reach that goal." "One of the reasons why so many of you feel so powerless about your hormones is because your doctor is probably not informed about this topic either." GUEST LINKS Email melissa.dickinson@menopausevitamincompany.co.uk Name Mel Dickinson Business Name The Menopause Vitamin Company & Menopause Support Suffolk Websites www.menopausevitamincompany.co.uk www.menopausesupportsuffolk.co.uk Socials Instagram: @menopausevitamincoFacebook: @menopausevitamincoPinterest: @menopausevitamincoLinkedIn: Melissa Neisler Dickinson Menopause Vitamin Company HOST BIO Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops. A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website www.panaceapause.co.uk
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    58 m
  • Why You Feel “Normal” on Paper but Exhausted in Real Life During Perimenopause with Angeles Grover
    Jan 14 2026
    Many women enter perimenopause feeling unlike themselves long before they ever connect it to hormones. Blood tests come back “normal”, reassurance is given, yet the fatigue, anxiety, weight changes and sleep disruption continue. In this episode of Menopause – The Real Deal, Michelle Rowlinson is joined by integrative women’s health practitioner Angeles Grover to explore why so many women feel dismissed and what may be happening beneath the surface. With a background in the pharmaceutical industry and integrative health, Angeles explains why symptom management alone often falls short, and why factors such as stress physiology, digestion, mineral balance and everyday environmental exposures can quietly influence how women feel in midlife. Rather than offering quick fixes, this conversation encourages curiosity, asking better questions, and understanding the body as a connected system, especially during perimenopause and menopause. This episode is for you if you feel like you are doing “all the right things” but still feel off, and you want to understand why. Angeles Shares Insights On Why reassurance and “normal” results do not always match lived symptoms How stress patterns and energy regulation can change in midlife The connection between digestion, hormones and how the body copes with change Why modern lifestyles may place extra load on the female body during perimenopause Where many women unknowingly add more pressure instead of support BEST MOMENTS “Just because something is within range does not mean it is working optimally for that woman.” “We are not made of chemicals, we are made of food, minerals and information.” “Most women are not broken, they are just running on empty.” “Sleep is often the first place the body asks for help, long before anything shows up on a test.” GUEST LINKS Website : www.angelesgrover.com Free clarity call link : Hormone health:https://l.bttr.to/muif6 Gut health : https://l.bttr.to/WfMmy HOST BIO Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops. A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website www.panaceapause.co.uk
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    56 m
  • Holding Up The Menopause Mirror: Reflecting on Identity, Career, and the Path to Self-Discovery
    Jan 7 2026
    Michelle sits down with executive coach Jo Ibbott to peel back the layers of the menopause experience that often remain hidden behind closed office doors. For many women, the physical symptoms are only half the battle; the true challenge lies in the quiet erosion of confidence and the sudden, disorienting shift in professional identity. Jo shares her personal "aha" moment and explains how the "brain fog" of menopause is more than just forgetfulness, it is a psychological hurdle that can lead even the most successful leaders to question their worth. By moving away from a culture of silent apologies and "masking" symptoms, women can reclaim their power through community and informed advocacy. Michelle and Jo share practical advice for workplace communication and the reminder that prioritising your own "oxygen mask" isn't just an act of self-care, it’s a vital strategy for thriving in your next chapter. Jo Reveals How even highly successful women often fail to connect their workplace struggles to menopause, leading to unnecessary self-doubt and the urge to resign. How menopause affects approximately 300 systems in the body, meaning psychological symptoms like anxiety and loss of focus are as medically valid as hot flashes. Why creating "safe spaces" at work like simple posters or open dialogues, can stop women from feeling like they need to apologise for their biology. Why taking time to pause and invest in your own health is a survival strategy that allows you to continue caring for others and performing at your peak. BEST MOMENTS "It’s not you, it’s perimenopause... You’re not getting less capable; it’s just that our energy levels can dip by around 30 percent." "I thought I had onset dementia... I’d burst out crying for stupid reasons. We don’t think about things like that being linked to our hormones." "Putting the oxygen mask on yourself first... it’s not selfish to do that; it’s actually survival." "I want women to stop apologising for what they’re going through. This is real, it’s medical, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of." GUEST LINKS Website: https://courage-coaching.co.uk/ Facebook group: What the Fog? https://www.facebook.com/groups/740710540001100/ Email: jo@courage-coaching.co.uk HOST BIO Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops. A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website www.panaceapause.co.uk
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    53 m
  • The Big Root Cause Reset: How To Identify the Missing Links Driving Your Menopause Symptoms
    Dec 31 2025
    Kate Driver is a naturopath specialising in perimenopause and menopause, who combines functional testing, personalised nutrition, and herbal medicine to get to the root of the symptoms so many women face. If you’ve ever felt like a failure after doing all you could to feel less exhausted and foggy, then hope is at hand! Kate is here this time to share 25 years of her invaluable experience in shining a light on the crucial missing links many women are desperate to identify. You'll learn about the signs of adrenal fatigue, how prolonged stress and environmental factors quietly throw your body out of balance, and the powerful, yet often overlooked, gut-hormone connection. You’ll soon be armed with real, lasting insights into how to move through midlife with clarity and confidence, and a practical set of steps to go from surviving to thriving. Kate Discusses How the adrenal and thyroid glands work together to regulate stress and metabolism, so when one is out of balance, the others will be affected Everyday environmental factors, including electromagnetic radiation (EMFs), blue light from devices, chemicals in personal care products, and even water additives like fluoride and chlorine, and how they act as major stressors that increase cortisol and inflammation, putting the body in a constant state of "fight or flight". Gut health and how it’s crucial for hormone balance. If the gut microbiome is imbalanced, it affects the conversion of thyroid hormones and the metabolism of oestrogen, which can lead to issues like constipation, gut inflammation, and hormone-driven symptoms How deep breathing, meditation, and grounding can help re-tone the vagus nerve which connects the brainstem to the organs How insulin resistance is exacerbated by high cortisol and can cause that troubling weight gain around the middle BEST MOMENTS "I just think starting with the basics as well... getting out in the morning, getting morning sunlight, getting as much [grounding] or being out in nature as much as possible compared to being inside. That's going to actually help your health the most." "Your body is giving you these symptoms because it's telling you that you're out of balance, not because perimenopause should be symptomatic. It's actually a recalibration." "You can't heal and you can't balance your hormones, you can't stay healthy if you're constantly in this sympathetic state or the fight or flight state of stress." "You've got to trust that your body can actually heal itself. Your body knows how innately to heal itself." GUEST LINKS Kate Driver - https://theperimenopausepractitioner.com/about/ HOST BIO Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops. A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website www.panaceapause.co.uk
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    56 m
  • Busting The Four Myths That May Be Hijacking Your Menopause Journey
    Dec 24 2025
    Are you tired of being told "It's just your age" or "You're probably stressed" while your body feels like it's been hijacked? In this episode, Michelle drops the taboos and tackles four common myths that mislead women and even health professionals about perimenopause and menopause. Discover the scientific truth about when the hormonal transition can truly begin (spoiler: it's often earlier than you think), and why a "normal" blood test doesn't mean your symptoms are imaginary. Most critically, she addresses the fear surrounding HRT, clarifying the risks and benefits of modern body-identical treatments. By the end of this episode, you will have the knowledge to advocate for yourself! Michelle Reveals How the hormonal transition is driven by ovarian aging and fluctuating hormones, not a birthday rulebook. How a single blood test that catches a normal moment in between the storms does not mean your symptoms are dismissed or that "nothing is happening" Why society has defined menopause by the hot flash stereotype, yet around 30% of women never get them. How perimenopause can present in countless other ways, including severe anxiety, brain fog, joint pain, mood swings, and gut/skin changes How the pervasive fear surrounding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) originates from a badly reported and interpreted 2002 study (the Women's Health Initiative) that used older, synthetic forms on a generally older, higher-risk population Why all women deserve conversations and informed choice, not shame or scare tactics BEST MOMENTS "Imagine being told that when you feel like your entire personality has been hijacked by a deranged hormonal demon." "Your body doesn't read the textbooks to find out when it should start perimenopause, and it knows what stage of life it is in, even if the healthcare system is still catching up." "Your blood test isn't living your life. You are." "The myth that has overstayed its welcome by about two decades... If misinformation was furniture, this one would be the mouldy armchair we should have thrown out years ago." HOST BIO Michelle is a highly respected Physiotherapist and Menopause Wellbeing Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry. After experiencing seven years of debilitating symptoms herself before realising it was perimenopause, Michelle has since dedicated her career to helping other women navigate this transformative stage of life. Her personal journey fuels her passion for educating and empowering women, as well as training businesses and health professionals through her specialised menopause and wellbeing workshops. A best-selling author and sought-after speaker, Michelle combines deep clinical expertise with relatable, real-world experience. Through her podcast, "Menopause - The Real Deal," she offers evidence-based guidance, authentic conversations, and practical strategies. Listeners trust Michelle for her empathetic understanding and her commitment to helping women thrive, making her a leading voice in the menopause space. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.kimp.9/ Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@michelle_rowlinson Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rowlinson-38330b21a Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@MenopauseTheRealDeal My Book: You, me conquering perimenopause & menopause https://amzn.eu/d/hCcbjag Website www.panaceapause.co.uk
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    24 m