In this cosy autumn episode of Wild, Wise & Curious, we chat with Charlotte - a narrowboater joining us from her twinkly canal home as fireworks crackle in the Diwali night sky. Though we’re not there in person (sadly!), the warmth of the conversation travels across the water.

Charlotte had never even heard the word perimenopause until a friend mentioned it, and like so many women, she’s now full of questions. Together, we talk through some of them - from brain fog and breast tenderness to periods, coils, HRT and yes, even dry vaginas (and how do we even know what a normal vagina is, when many of us only have our own as reference?).

It’s a funny, open and honest conversation about what it means to stand on the threshold of perimenopause at 39 - with no roadmap, little education and a whole lot of curiosity. As we remind Charlotte (and our listeners), we’re not experts - we’re just women figuring it out together, learning from the stories we share on and off the podcast.

So, grab a blanket, imagine the gentle rock of the canal and settle in for a chat that’s as real as it is reassuring.

Show Notes:

* There are some areas of feedback and as mentioned above, fireworks popping off during this episode.

In Celebration of World Menopause Day… Embracing Every Change, Challenge & Charmed Chapter

It’s World Menopause Day and we’re pausing to celebrate - every change, every challenge and every charmed chapter of this wild midlife ride.

Since January, Wild, Wise & Curious has been a space for women to share their stories of perimenopause, menopause and beyond - the laughter, the tears, the surprises and the strength. Today, we’re reflecting on all we’ve learned, the wisdom our guests have offered and the incredible community that’s grown around these conversations.

This year’s theme from the International Menopause Society focuses on how evidence-based lifestyle changes - from nourishing food and movement to rest, relationships, and joy - (pretty much what we talk about here on the show) can support women’s wellbeing during and after menopause.

So come join us - a cuppa (or glass of something sparkly) in hand - as we chat, laugh and breathe a little gratitude for the journey so far. Here’s to being wild, wise and wonderfully curious through every change, challenge and charmed chapter.

Show Notes:

International Menopause Day 2025 website - https://www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day-2025/

In this episode of Wild, Wise & Curious, we hear from Tash, who was just 34 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Chemotherapy brought on a chemical menopause, and soon after, genetic testing revealed the BRCA gene — leading to surgery and a surgical menopause in quick succession.

With little guidance from medical professionals, Tash turned to her sister-in-law — who had undergone a total hysterectomy after her own early diagnosis — for support and practical guidance. Today, they run a support group for women navigating early and surgical menopause, providing the community and conversation they once needed themselves.

Tash shares how she is trying to embrace a holistic life while navigating the ongoing changes: simplifying daily demands as much as possible while raising four children, staying positive when energy is low, making mindful choices about what goes in and onto her body, and finding strength in movement — including training for a half marathon.

This episode is a grounded, honest conversation about navigating chemical and surgical menopause after cancer, highlighting how self-awareness, community, and holistic practices can help women move forward with clarity and resilience.

If you're interested in finding out more, please see Tash's support group details below - including a link to donate to her marathon run!

Episode Blurb: Our guest, Claudia, shares her journey through the often confusing landscape of perimenopause. For years, it felt like a process of elimination — heightened anxiety, forgetfulness and shifts that didn’t seem tied to her period. “I didn’t even know what perimenopause was,” she admits.

Over time, Claudia began piecing things together: planning her life in line with her cycles, leaning into her energy when she felt dynamic and allowing herself to rest — or even cancel plans — when she didn’t. What began as survival grew into a deeper connection with the natural world and with herself.

Claudia also reflects on her career pivots — from HR to paralegal, and now embracing the Reiki she had studied years earlier, not knowing why. Today, that early curiosity makes sense, as she steps into the work that truly lights her up. Her story is a reminder that when we stop forcing what doesn’t fit and start following our bliss, we make space for renewal, possibility and joy.

Episode Blurb:

When perimenopause arrived, Emily felt as though the map of her life had been snatched away. Her energy waned, emotions surged and the life she once knew no longer fit. Searching for a way forward, she turned inward — not realising that what she’d discover would transform everything.

In this soulful and inspiring conversation, Emily shares how navigating the shadows of midlife led her to discover her “inner house” — a sacred space of truth, creativity and joy. Guided by her higher self, she began writing a book, composing music and — most movingly — returning to a lifelong love of singing. Though she hadn’t sung since childhood, reconnecting with her voice opened a new chapter of expression and aliveness. Today, she leads singing circles, is preparing to publish her first book, and has recorded two albums that reflect her radiant spirit.

This story is full of life, hope, and the courage to begin again.

Show Notes:

You can find out more about Emily's journey and her offerings over on her website www.emilydoe.com

Emily also talks about Human Design - Ra Uru Hu

Sarah started her periods at 9. Years later, she had a uterine ablation to manage heavy bleeding — and then, in her late 30s, everything began to shift. Mood swings, vertigo, anxiety, an internal thermostat gone rogue, and a nervous system that completely rejected driving in the dark.

In 2019, she was told it was perimenopause. But a question kept nagging: Did the ablation bring it on early? Or did it all start long before — with a body that switched on far too soon?

Our guest — a radio DJ, teacher, and mum of three boys — shares her raw and honest journey through unexpected hormonal chaos and the challenge of navigating it all without HRT. She’s not against HRT, but feels that if this transition is inevitable, it might as well be faced now rather than put off.

Told with sharp humour and vulnerability, it’s a story of learning how many ways women can fall apart — and how we somehow start piecing it all back together.

🔥 Expect real talk, raw honesty, and plenty of “why didn’t anyone tell me this?” moments.

⚠️ Warning: May cause moments of “OH MY GOD, ME TOO.”

This week on Wild, Wise & Curious, we meet Lainey, who hit her breaking point—and then chose to rebuild. A seasoned therapist, she had all the tools... but when rage and emotional chaos took over, even her best practices weren’t enough. After trying HRT and realising it wasn’t her path, a chance encounter with Dr. David Hamilton’s work on How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body flipped a vital switch.

What followed? A radical journey of self-healing, deep self-care, and shedding the layers of a life that no longer fit. Post-divorce, she’s now selling her house, eyeing land abroad and courageously crafting a whole new chapter—wild, wise and deeply curious about what comes next.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt lost in the storm and dared to imagine something better on the other side. Prepare to be inspired.

Show Notes:

How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body (book) by David R Hamilton

Velvet Crisis - formed through the Unglamourous project in Leicester - The Unglamorous Project is a grassroots music initiative in Leicester that empowers women—regardless of prior experience—to form bands, learn instruments and perform live. Founded by Ruth Miller, it sprang to life with the bold "66 Days to Your Debut" challenge, and has since flourished into a vibrant, supportive community, sparking a wave of all-female bands across the city. Discover more at unglamorous.co.uk

If you are interested in chatting with Lainey about being a part of her book which focuses on finding the magic in menopause, please email her at lainywills1@gmail.com

What happens when menopause doesn’t knock gently, but kicks the flipping front door down?

In this powerful episode, we meet Lisa—a woman who was catapulted into surgical menopause overnight, with no roadmap, no guidance and a body she no longer recognised.

From battling crippling anxiety, tinnitus and skin-crawling sensations, to navigating the chaos of finding the right balance of HRT, Lisa had to relearn herself—physically and emotionally. And instead of staying silent, she turned her experience into action.

Now, she’s part of a team supporting thousands of women through their own surgical menopause journeys—making sure no one is left in the dark the way she was. Because no one knows if they—or someone they love—could be thrust into surgical menopause at any moment.

This is raw, real and soooooo important. To find out more about Lisa's support group, check them out on Instagram @surgicalmenouksupportgroup