Feeling drained, mistaking burnout for menopause, or trapped in relentless stress? In this episode of the Owning Your Menopause podcast, I am joined by Kelly Swingler, burnout expert and founder of The Chrysalis Crew. Kelly shares her raw, powerful story: collapsing in agony from a toxic job, ignoring her body’s cries until her sons pleaded, “Mum, your job’s killing you.” Once an HR leader, she’s now a fierce advocate for human-first workplaces, speaking directly to midlife women balancing work, family, and hormonal shifts.

We dive into how burnout and menopause symptoms blur, fuelled by societal expectations and outdated work cultures. Kelly makes it clear: burnout isn’t your fault, it’s systemic, often rooted in misaligned values. She shares practical steps to set boundaries, release impossible standards, and advocate for change.

Find out more about Kelly’s work here and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Owning Your Menopause is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Can colourful, whole foods transform your menopause experience? In this episode, Dr. Linia Patel, a dietitian and author of Food for Menopause, shares clear, science-backed advice with her PhD expertise and no-fluff approach.

Together, we explore how menopause shifts your body’s needs; gut health, blood sugar, and inflammation, and how to eat well without restrictive diets.

Ditching fads, Linia promotes a vibrant diet rich in fibre, offering practical tips on fasting, protein, pre-workout nutrition and breaking free from yo-yo dieting’s emotional strain.

Learn more with Dr Linia Patel (PhD), RD, MBDA

Linia is a leading Dietitian, Sports Nutritionist and public health researcher with extensive experience in several nutrition settings including women’s health, performance nutrition, corporate wellness and public health. She also has a PhD in Public Health. Her passion is translating nutritional science into easy-to-digest and practical advice. She is the author of the bestselling book Food for Menopause. Outside of work Linia is a big foodie and loves to socialise over good (and nutritious!) food.

Buy Linia's book.

Join Midlife Mastery.

Owning Your Menopause is produced by Urban Podcasts.

How can we reframe aging and menopause as a vibrant, bold chapter instead of a decline? In this episode, I sit down with Georgia Zaris, a former actress turned speaker and content creator who’s smashing midlife myths. Georgia’s journey—from battling self-doubt in a cutthroat industry to embracing midlife with authenticity—hits hard. Having faced cancer, a hysterectomy, and menopause, she’s living with humour, grit, and a fierce rejection of society’s “fading worth” narrative.

We explore the messy beauty of midlife: gender health gaps, the backhanded “you look good for your age,” and why blaming menopause for everything might hold us back. Georgia shares practical tools—drawn from her own struggles and wins. She cuts through the noise, urging us to trust our bodies and the wisdom we’ve earned. This isn’t about surviving midlife; it’s about owning it, unapologetically.

Follow Georgia on Instagram.

Owning Your Menopause is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of Owning Your Menopause, I sit down with Shakira Akabusi—pre and postnatal fitness guru, Mum of four, and founder of Strong Like Mum—who, after twins via caesarean and battling anxiety, is on a mission to empower women through movement, with strength training as her go-to for tougher bones, calmer minds, and owning pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause.

We unpack Move the Gap, our collab with Jenny Stout and Shakira’s pull-up-master Mum, smashing the gender health gap with real strength at any age.

Shakira keeps it raw: listen to your body, embrace the chaos, and thrive. No fluff—just honest, inspiring talk for anyone juggling life’s wild ride.

Learn more about Shakira here.

Owning Your Menopause is produced by Urban Podcasts.

How does a cancer diagnosis at 39, with triplets in tow and medically induced menopause, redefine resilience? I sit down with Emma Campbell, speaker, author, podcast host and long-term cancer survivor, for her raw, unfiltered story. From necrotising fasciitis after her first child to recurrent miscarriages, then breast cancer just six months after triplets, she’snavigated a 15-year journey of survival, recurrence, and hope.

Emma reveals how she faces the fear and mental toll of being a ‘patient for life,’ the unspoken struggles of menopause after treatment, like intimacy challenges and a body she barely knows, and how running marathons became her lifeline.

Emma Campbell is a speaker, author, podcast host, and content creator with a passion for inspiring others to rise above life’s toughest challenges. As a long-term cancer survivor, she illuminates what’s possible—even in the face of adversity—offering hope and guidance to those navigating their own difficult journeys, whatever form they may take.

With honesty, vulnerability, and an unshakable belief in the limitless potential within us all, Emma encourages people to rise, thrive, and live bold, beautiful, and joyful lives—no matter the challenges that come their way.

Follow Emma on Instagram, and listen to her podcast.

Contribute to Emma’s Just Giving marathon efforts in aid of the BowelBabe Fund.

Owning Your Menopause is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Why is menopause still so misunderstood? In this episode of Owning Your Menopause, I sit down with Dr. Aziza Sesay, a GP with over 10 years of experience and a passionate advocate for women’s health. She’s a doctor, storyteller, and educator who’s worked from Sierra Leone to her own practice, breaking taboos with every chat.

We dig into the messy truth of menopause-why it blindsides so many, how cultural stigmas hush women up and what we can do about it. Dr. Sesay shares real talk, from teaching her daughter to say ‘vulva’ loud and proud to tackling the gender health gap that leaves us in the dark. With raw honesty and practical tips, she fuels a push for better education. More than just symptoms, this is a call to embrace menopause with grit and clarity.

Dr. Aziza Sesay is a multi-award winning GP, Educator, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer and medical broadcaster celebrated for her contributions to health education, awareness, and advocacy. As the founder of "Talks with Dr. Sesay," she empowers audiences with evidence-based health information, focusing on women’s health, cancer awareness, mental health, and health inequity. Dr. Sesay serves as Vice Chair and Creative Director of Black Female Doctors UK and is an Ambassador for leading health charities, including The Eve Appeal and Wellbeing of Women. Featured in major media outlets, she is a regular GP on BBC Breakfast. She has also collaborated with numerous organisations including NHS England, the Department of Health, YouTube Health, and WHO, contributing to national and global public health campaigns. Recognised with the prestigious Point of Light Award and others, Dr. Sesay is a trusted voice in healthcare, committed to improving outcomes and addressing health inequities.

Owning Your Menopause is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Why’s menopause still a whispered secret? I’m joined by Tamsen Fadal, Emmy-winning journalist turned advocate, behind The M Factor documentary and her book How to Menopause (out March 2025). She exposes the raw truth: her brain fog struggles, dismissive doctors, and the staggering fact that a billion women navigate this, yet we’re left in the dark.

We dig into the taboo, how menopause shakes up work and relationships, and those unexplainable heavy, sweaty moments. Tamsen flips it with real fixes—morning walks, strength training, and rejecting ageism. It’s a gritty, joyful call to own this wild chapter of mid-life.

Get your copy of Tamsen’s much anticipated book here.

Follow Tamsen on Instagram.

Owning Your Menopause is produced by Urban Podcasts.

How does poor sleep affect your mental and physical health during menopause, and what can you do about it? In this episode, I chat with sleep expert Kathryn Pinkham, founder of the Insomnia Clinic, to uncover the real connection between menopause and sleep.

Kathryn explains how hormonal shifts—particularly the drop in progesterone and oestrogen—can seriously mess with your sleep. Many women get stuck in a frustrating loop of stress, anxiety, and fatigue, making restful nights even more elusive.

She shares practical, research-backed tips to improve your sleep, like resetting your body clock and changing your sleep mindset. Plus, we talk through common challenges like hot flashes and anxiety, and how they can keep you awake.

If menopause has been stealing your sleep, Kathryn’s advice—on everything from bedtime routines to managing stress, diet, and exercise—can help you finally get the rest you deserve.

Kathryn Pinkham is the founder of The Insomnia Clinic, the UK’s leading service for insomnia. She has been featured on ITV, partners with David Lloyd Clubs and worked with major organisations including Lloyd Bank, JP Morgan, Deloitte and the NHS, to help individuals and employees improve their sleep and overall well-being.

You can follow Kathryn on Instagram.

Owning Your Menopause listeners will benefit from Kathryn’s Sleep Well Live Better coursefor £99 at this link.

Owning Your Menopause is produced by Urban Podcasts.