My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Maya Oppenheim, the Women’s Correspondent at the Independent, which is the only role like this at a UK news outlet.  In this episode, Maya shares:  How she pitched and landed her role as the first Women’s Correspondent at a UK news outlet, where she writes stories from a women’s and gender angle The range of topics she covers in this role, including domestic abuse, abortion rights, childcare, poverty, periods, the criminal justice system The...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Ellamae Fullalove, the poet, founder of the shame shaking community, storytelling and events platform, Va Va Womb and MRKH advocate.  In this episode, Ellamae shares:  How not getting her first period led to a diagnosis of MRKH, a condition that affects 1 in 5,000, in which the uterus and cervix is underdeveloped or absent and the vagina is shortenedHow she was diagnosed by the specialist team at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in London The...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Jess Bolton, the opposable thumbs behind Worried Whippet, a social media platform that is a celebration of everyday bravery through the eyes of a small dog. In this episode, Jess shares:  The symptoms and experience that led to her seeking out an ADHD diagnosis What the ADHD tax is and how it has affected her How she’s been able to use her diagnosis to positively benefit her business and the way she works Why she made an Instagram account for...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Kelly Newton. Kelly is the founder and CEO of NIXI Body, a reusable leakproof underwear company.  In this episode, Kelly shares:  The embarrassment she felt when she first got her periodHow playing sports helped her deal with having endometriosis Her menopause storyThe importance of a holistic approach to keeping your pelvic floor healthy How she was able to move from being embarrassed to talking about her period to talking so openly about...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Amaia Arranz. Amaia is the CEO of Ruby Cup, an award-winning social business that works to combat period poverty around the world.  In this episode, Amaia shares:  What it was like getting her period as a teenage girl in Spain in the 90s How getting her period was a combination of being a part of a VIP cool girl club with a big dose of shame attached Some of the myths she learned growing up around tampons, virginity and sexHow menstrual cups...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Emilie Lavinia. Emilie is Cosmopolitan UK’s Sex and Relationships Editor, LGBQT+ sexologist and sex educator and a UK Delegate for UN Women.  In this episode, Emilie shares:  The endocrine condition that means that she doesn’t really have periods that oftenThe difference between good and bad sex educationWhat the orgasm gap is and how women can have better orgasms (and sex!) with their partners How to instigate a conversation with your partner...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Natalie Meagan-Blake. Natalie so generously shares her story and if you think you may have endometriosis, adenomyosis or fibroids, I encourage you to listen to this episode.  In this episode, Natalie shares:  Why she decided to be so open about having endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS and fibroidsHow opening up created a community and safe space for people to talk about their experiences and learn how to advocate for themselves How long it took...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Annie Ridout, author, journalist, ghostwriter, poet and life coach.  In this episode, Annie shares:  Her sober curious journey and how she’s able to find a balance Her writing career, Substack and the diverse ways she’s able to earn an incomeHer fascinating new ghostwriting careerHer new podcast, Home, which explores the idea of whether home is where we were raised, or where we are now and the part this plays in our identityHow she has open...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Shakira Akabusi, the author of The StrongLikeMum Method, women’s health expert and pre and postnatal exercise specialist.  In this episode, Shakira shares:  How a few careless words from a doctor led to post-natal anxiety and OCDWhat her therapist told her that changed her perspective on the anxiety How she tailors the way she exercises depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle How she’s able to do everything she does as well as be a mum...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Matilda Egere-Cooper, an award-winning journalist, podcast host and founder of Fly Girl Collective – a platform and community launched in 2018 to help black women and women of colour level up their wellness and lifestyle. In this episode, Matilda shares:  How eating less sugar reduced her period pain The fitness and wellness journey that led to her getting into running The value of community in helping her stick with running How to start...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Dr Golnoush Golshirazi, a scientist and entrepreneur who advocates for women’s health and equality in the healthcare system. She is the co-founder of ScreenMe, a patient-centric at-home testing company that looks to empower all women with scientific insight and support around their sexual and reproductive health.  In this episode, Golnoush shares:  How it took her £6,000 to find out she had endometriosis The fluke that led to her diagnosis What...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Hana Walker-Brown, a multi-award winning, internationally acclaimed audio documentary and podcast maker, creative director and author of the book, A Delicate Game, which tells the story of the degenerative brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) through first-hand intimate interviews with sufferers and their families.  In this episode, Hana shares:  How lockdown led to her realising she might have ADHDThe value of Right to Choose in...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story is Sharn Khaira, the founder of Asian Female Entrepreneur Collective who shares a powerful story of transformation across many aspects of her life - her health, her business and her personal life.  In this episode, Sharn shares:  What happened when she thought she might have ovarian cancer What she did to manage her symptoms once she was diagnosed with PCOSHow she challenged the Asian cultural norms she grew up to build two successful businesses How...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story podcast is Lorraine Candy, an award-winning journalist, editor and best-selling author. Her new book, What's Wrong With Me? 101 Things Midlife Women Need to Know is out on May 25th and available for pre-order now! In this episode, Lorraine shares:  How she realised the extreme anxiety, panic attacks, heavy periods and night sweats she was experiencing in her late 40s were actually symptoms of perimenopauseThe differences between Gen X, millennial...

My guest on today’s episode of Period Story podcast is Clio Wood, a maternal health advocate and journalist. Her first book, Get Your Mojo Back: Sex, Pleasure & Intimacy After Birth tells her own story and experiences, the experiences of other relatable, real life women and includes lots of information about sex and intimacy after birth from experts and further resources.  In this episode, Clio shares: The negative impact teen magazines and television had on her feelings about her bodyHow...

You’re in for a real treat - on this week’s episode of Period Story, I’m so pleased to share my conversation with Katy Ewen, a reflexologist and fertility awareness educator. Katy so honestly shares her story of the effects her menstrual cycle has had on her mental health, navigating OCD and PMDD and what this means for her in the luteal phase.  In this episode, Katy shares:  How she first became aware of anxiety and OCD symptoms at five years old The effect hormonal changes have on her OCD...

On this week’s episode of Period Story, I’m so happy to share my conversation with Nina Cassells, the founder and managing director of the charity Project Period. Nina started the charity when she was 17 (!!!), with the aim of empowering young women in Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya by providing reusable and sustainable menstrual products.  In this episode, Nina shares:  The epiphany she had that led to her starting Project PeriodHow not having the right period products can affect a girl’s...

 We’re back! It’s Endometriosis Awareness Month and I’m so pleased to share my conversation with Carla Cressy, the founder and CEO of the Endometriosis Foundation. Carla is a true force in the endometriosis community, helping others gain access to care and support and providing insight into the development of national health guidelines. In this episode, Carla shares:  How difficult it was to get doctors to take her symptoms seriouslyHow the focus on her bowel issues finally led to an...

For the last episode of season 6 of Period Story podcast, I’m so thrilled to share my conversation with Claire Baker, the period coach, speaker and author of the book 50 Things You Need To Know About Periods. Claire is a force in the menstrual health community, spreading the message that having a menstrual cycle can be a beautiful thing that can help you know get to know yourself better.  In this episode, Claire shares:  Why she didn’t tell anyone when her period started Her second...

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in the US and the UK and I’m so pleased to share my conversation with Molly Broache, a women’s health nurse practitioner and associate director at BD, the medical technology and diagnostic solutions company.  In the episode, Molly shares:  The number one cause of cervical cancer The symptoms and risk factors for cervical cancer The importance of cervical screening as a cervical cancer prevention tool What happens if abnormal cells are found in the...

I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Tinuke Awe, the co-founder of Five X More - an organisation campaigning for better Black maternal health outcomes in the UK. Tinuke is an absolute powerhouse and was named a ‘Force for Change’ by British Vogue, a ‘Woman changing the World’ by the Evening Standard, and a ‘Future Shaper’ by Marie Claire.  In this episode, Tinuke shares:  What prompted her to start Five X MoreHer campaigning work with the government to help improve Black maternal...

I’m so pleased to share my conversation with Katie Taylor, the founder of the Latte Lounge, an online platform to help women over 40 thrive, at home and in the workplace. This is the perfect bookend to last week’s episode, with Katie sharing a very raw and honest account of her experience of perimenopause and menopause.  In this episode, Katie shares:  How she was misdiagnosed with depressionThe shocking moment that coincided with the start of her perimenopause journeyHow she was finally told...

We’ve got a brilliant episode in store for you today with Fay Reid, the founder of 9to5 menopause. Fay delivers some home truths about the reality of menopause and how companies and organisations can proactively help anyone in their team experiencing menopausal symptoms at work.  In this episode, Fay shares:  The key symptom that signalled the start of perimenopause for herWhat she did to help herself The trial and error process of finding the right HRT for her How she began helping...

I’m so pleased to share today’s episode with Lucy Lettice, the co-founder of &SISTERS, the femcare brand. In this episode, Lucy shares more about her mission to provide a menstrual health ecosystem offering products and services for all stages of the menstrual lifecycle, including better plastic-free period care.  In this episode, Lucy shares:  What happened when she started her period at 17How tracking her menstrual cycle has helped her understand herself more and make better...