The Change Makers by Over The Bloody Moon

For our final episode, we chat to neuroscientist, Dr Sara McKay, based in Sydney, author of 'A Woman's Brain' and hear how menopause, along with other transitions, impacts on those assigned female at birth, in terms of their cognitive state and health. ​Sara explains the role of hormones on temperature regulation, sleep, stress and mood, during menopause, as well of course, 'brain fog'. This is a fascinating listen and you'll also get some Power Tools to take away with you, to boost your brain function. 

In celebration of World Menopause Day, we chat to Sam Simister, a Board Executive at Innocent drinks and co-founder of Gen-M, an amazing platform that signposts people impacted by menopause to the best available resources and specialists in the UK for individuals and organisations (we're on there!).​In her honest account, Sam shares her experience of perimenopause in the workplace, as a senior leader, and how she cultivated those important conversations to her team and CEO. Lots of great tips for anyone transitioning through menopause at work.If you'd like to learn more on how to manage your menopause, check out our Menopause Management workbooks in our Shop with Power Tools to help you thrive through your transition.

Nutrition as a Menopause Power Tool to boost sleep, stress and moodIn this episode, we catch up with Emma Bardwell, Over The Bloody Moon's Nutrition Advisor, menopause nutritionist and co-author of The Perimenopause Solution, focusing on mental health to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.Sleep, stress, and mood can take a nose dive due to hormonal changes, but we can take back some control by being more strategic about the way we eat, and what we put into our bodies. We learn how the mind and body are interconnected, and how we can keep both healthy in menopause through our diet. Pick up tools of the trade from Emma Bardwell, including the importance of 'rest and digest'.If you like this podcast, why not visit our Shop to pick up Over The Bloody Moon's menopause self-care cards - your menopause Power Tools to help you thrive through this time of life.

In this episode we travel to Melbourne, Australia to meet Dr Amy Silver, psychologist talking about her book, The Loudest Guest which explores how to change and control our relationship with fear. We hear from many women in our community about how the menopause transition can cause fear to dominate thoughts and situations. Dr Silver is so engaging as she explains her model of working through fear. The first part of the podcast focuses on understanding and acknowledging fear whilst the second part is about how to live a full life with fear.If you are someone struggling with change or has a fear lurking in the shadows, this episode is for you! And even if you don't, it's a witty and interesting listen.If you'd like to lead and own your menopause, our Shop, to pick up Over The Bloody Moon's menopause self-care cards and get menopause Power Tools to help you thrive through this time of life.

In this episode, we join Maisie Hill, hormone health specialist and author of best selling books, Period Power and Perimenopause Power.Maisie is a walking, talking encyclopedia when it comes to hormones, and we loved chatting to her, exploring the variances of the menopause spectrum, in all its shades. You'll learn about surgical and induced menopause and how that may be different from natural menopause. You'll also discover how different hormones start to shift through the stages of menopause, and the impact this may have physically and emotionally for different people. We continue our theme of menopause diversity for those with endometriosis, thyroid imbalance and insulin resilience, as well as the impact menopause can have for those with a history of pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).Along the way, Maisie gives lots of tips and Power Tools from both her book and years of experience, working to help women manage hormone imbalance. This is a fascinating conversation and you'll walk away feeling more empowered about how to manage menopause.If you'd like to lead and own your menopause, visit our Shop, to pick up Over The Bloody Moon's menopause self-care cards and get menopause Power Tools to help you thrive through this time of life.

Following last week's episode, on Intimate Self-Care where we explored libido changes, we thought it a great follow-on to then chat with Susan Quilliam. Susan is an experienced psychotherapist and relationship coach, and author of seven books including best sellers, "Joy of Sex" and "Stop Arguing, Start Talking" so she has plenty to say on how to navigate relationships in times of turbulent change. Shifts in sex desire, incontinence, re-occurring urinary tract infections and vaginal atrophy, can all have an impact on intimacy. Susan provokes us to reframe intimacy and provides some golden nuggets in opening up communication and deepening connections with loved ones around us. You'll come away learning about the 4 C's and how to apply them to your life. If you'd like to discover more ways to transform your life and menopause, why not sign up to The House, our digital menopause wellbeing platform, packed with videos, podcasts, and other resources to inspire you, all laid out in themed rooms.

Intimate Self-Care and MenopauseIn this episode, we chat to Dr Angela Sharma and Dr Angela Wright, co-founders of virtual Spiced Pear Health Clinic who are advanced menopause specialists and clinical sexologists to learn more about common issues impacting on our intimate self-care, both during and beyond, the menopause transition. If you've noticed your libido change, are experiencing itchiness or soreness in your vulva-vaginal area or penetrative sex has become uncomfortable, you are not alone! Hear from the dynamic doctor duo about support options - medical, lubes, vibrators and other gadgets, as well as lifestyle and mind-related tools, and when to see a specialist - to keep sexual and intimate health maintained. If you liked this episode and would like to learn more, join us and Dr Sharma and Dr Wright, September 15th, at 20:00-21:00, for Over The Bloody Moon's 60-minute, virtual Menopause Masterclass 3: Pelvic & Sexual Health. Tickets are absolutely free, sponsored by Always Discreet and available here.

In this episode, we chat to Jane Simpson, Over The Bloody Moon's Continence Advisor and specialist at The London Rooms, as well as author of international best seller, "The Pelvic Health Bible".We learn what good pelvic health is and why this region matters, not just through our menopause transition, but beyond. We chat about what support options there are for anyone experiencing a pelvic organ prolapse, urinary tract infections and incontinence. Did you know that 1 in 3 women over 18, experience bladder leaks and postmenopause, this increases to 60%. And yet, it's a topic rarely spoken about and most don't seek help until it's too late. This episode removes the mystery and stigma and provides you with self-care rituals, products, bio feedback gadgets and apps, as well as medical support available.  If you liked this episode and want to learn more, why not join Over The Bloody Moon for a 60-minute virtual Masterclass 3: Pelvic and Sexual Health in menopause, sponsored by Always Discreet. The session will be held September 15th, 20:00-21:00 BST on Zoom and you can sign up here to get your free tickets.

Are you tired of feeling tired?Do you find it hard to get off to sleep, or wake up throughout the night? Maybe you're an early riser?In this episode, we chat to Kathryn Pinkham, OTBM Insomnia Advisor, and founder of The Insomnia Clinic to learn how we can retrain the brain and reform habits to increase sleep drive, reset our body clock, and introduce cues to help improve sleep association. You'll learn more about the impact that sleep can have on mental health and how it can be leveraged as a Power Tool for menopause."The good news is that because we can learn to sleep poorly, we can also relearn how to sleep well."Kathryn is a well respected insomnia specialist who worked for many years within NHS mental health and sleep programmes, before setting up her own clinic and evidence-based online programmes.If you'd like to further your learning around sleep and get tips on improving your energy, as well as brain fog, join Over The Bloody Moon for a 60-minute virtual Menopause Masterclass 2, sponsored by Always Discreet and get your free tickets here If you'd like to lead and own your menopause, visit our Shop, to pick up Over The Bloody Moon's menopause self-care cards and get menopause Power Tools to help you thrive through this time of life.