Many of us grew up with people telling us not to be angry or not to be "ridiculous" - this idea that we can show some emotion, but we have to suppress others.Dr Marny Lishman is a psychologist who joins me this episode to talk about adaptability, wellbeing and change. After the last couple of years, many of us have become more stressed, unhappy, and ultimately mentally unwell. And unfortunately, we have been grown up without being taught to properly process negative emotions, leaving us...

In this thought-provoking episode, join us as we venture into the multifaceted world of Suzanne Storrie, a former corporate executive turned dairy farmer and executive coach. Suzanne takes us through her incredible life transformation, sharing insights on how cultivating a meaningful routine can anchor us in the present and direct us towards a future filled with intention and purpose. Suzanne is a former high-profile executive with a diverse career at NRL, Layton, CBA, and Qantas. Amidst the...

Midlife comes with a whole heap of angst, worries, concerns, confronting changes, all of it. In this episode, I take a look at how to handle all the changes that are going on without losing your mind (too much!) Find out more here: lifeaftermenopause.net/ep228

In this episode, Karen reflects on her personal journey of self-discovery and shares their thoughts on gratitude and forgiveness. She explores the idea of gratitude being linked to the patriarchy and how it may be used to suppress women's power. She also discuss forgiveness and express her skepticism towards the concept of "fake forgiveness" and emphasises the importance of honesty and setting boundaries, rather than avoiding confrontation and pretending to forgive.   Key Takeaways:  How...

Dr. Ivana Matic Stanson discusses the importance of taking a holistic approach to perimenopausal health. She also highlights the societal messages and expectations that can add to the stress and overwhelm experienced by women during this transition. By providing education, support, and guidance, Dr. Stanson helps women navigate perimenopause and embrace the next stage of their lives with confidence and well-being.Dr. Ivana Matic Stanson is a perimenopausal health specialist, she also provides...

Lyndal Sterenberg, founder of Es Una, talks about her journey in creating a swimwear brand that focuses on body confidence and comfort. Lyndal emphasises the importance of finding swimwear that takes away the anxiety many women feel about their bodies and allows them to enjoy summer activities without self-consciousness. She also discusses the impact of social media on body image and the need for women to embrace their bodies and share their stories.   In addition to her work with Es Una,...

In this episode, Karen reflects on her personal experiences over the past year and discusses the importance of trusting one's gut instinct and recognising toxic relationships. She shares her journey of post-menopause and how it has brought clarity and a sense of liberation.  She also delves into her recent business experiences, highlighting the importance of trusting her instincts and recognising toxic relationships.   Key Takeaways: How to trust your intuition Why sharing personal...

In this episode, Karen O'Connor reflects on her podcast journey and shares updates on her life over the past year. She discusses the vulnerability and challenges of sharing personal thoughts and experiences. Karen explores the concept of finding purpose in life and the pressure society places on individuals to have a singular purpose. She also delves into her decision to take a break from her long-term marriage to rediscover herself and her desires. Karen highlights the importance of...

Karen O'Connor reflects on the most popular episodes of her podcast from the past year. She highlights snippets from interviews with various guests, covering topics such as aromatherapy for menopause symptoms, managing hormones in menopause, toxic relationships, essential oils, and the importance of self-awareness, setting boundaries, and finding ways to cope with trauma and stress.Key Takeaways: How aromatherapy can be helpful for managing menopause symptoms, hormone levels and...

In this episode, Sylvia North discusses the impact of insulin resistance on women's health during perimenopause and menopause. If you have gained weight and are having difficulty losing weight, you may have a resistance to insulin. As we get older we lose a lot of estrogen which can lead to this resistance, and increases the risk of heart problems, bone density issues, and diabetes. Sylvia shares how best to manage blood sugar levels and the best diet for menopausal women. She also delves...

In this episode Nancy Diaz, shares her journey of moving to Australia and finding her calling in working with this specific population. Nancy emphasizes the importance of self-care and the challenges faced by women in balancing cultural expectations and their own desires. She also discusses the impact of separation on migrant families and offers advice on how to navigate relationships with ex-in-laws during special occasions. Nancy highlights the power of mindfulness and the effectiveness of...

In this episode Laura Petrie talks about how to navigate relationships with ex-in-laws after a separation or divorce, particularly during the holiday season. Laura shares five tips for managing these situations, including setting up for success, putting the children first, setting boundaries, thinking long term, and taking care of oneself. She emphasises the importance of planning, self-awareness, and maintaining a positive mindset when dealing with challenging family dynamics. Laura is a...

It's one of the dreaded symptoms of menopause: The Menopause Belly, the weight that can't be shifted no matter what you do. It's as though suddenly, everything that used to work, no longer works anymore, it actually makes things worse.Which leads to the question: what can we do? Not just to stay healthy but to lose that belly fat and begin to feel good about ourselves again?In the quest for better health and fitness, particularly during menopause, it's crucial to understand why traditional...

In this episode, Mairi Thomson talks about a little known side effect of peri-menopause and menopause: bone density loss. There is a huge need for women to become aware of this condition and be proactive in managing their bone density before any loss becomes irreversible. In this episode, Mairi Thompson shares her own experience of being diagnosed with osteopenia, a condition that can lead to osteoporosis, and how it prompted her to find out as much as she could about the topic and then teach...

Woke or not? Do you understand the term? Do you know what it's talking about? In these days of fast-changing terminology, a common work can change its meaning, and whether it's a compliment or an insult, in an instant. "Woke" is a classic example of that. Nina Thom, author of “Woke or Not: A Guide to Woke for Older People,” joins Karen O’Connor to discuss the concept of “woke”. Nina explains that her book is a reference guide for those who are unfamiliar with the term woke and want to...

Did you know that Jet Lag can have a much wider impact beyond just being tired for a few days?  Most of us know that jet lag disrupts our body clock, leading to daytime sleepiness, brain fog, and mood changes, but how many of us have considered the wider impact that these disruptions can have on those around us? Dr Steven Jasper explains so many things about jet lag that you may not be aware of: preventing jet lag, recovering from jet lag as quickly as possible, minimising the impact of jet...

Many of us do things to "improve" ourselves, whether that's personal development courses, reading self-help books or listening to podcasts (thanks!), but how many of us do those things because we believe there's something wrong with us?The problem is the person we have to spend the most time with is ourselves, so let me ask you this: how much do you like yourself?Do you focus on what you've done wrong, on what you did or didn't do when you should or shouldn't have done it? Are you one of...

When trauma of any kind descends on us, it can be very difficult to keep from sinking into depression, hopelessness and apathy but some people seem to manage it.How do you manage your emotions, take responsibility while being open to other people's ideas, and allow your loved ones to support you without taking onboard their upset and pain? Also, how do you make the best decisions for yourself and your life while you're in the middle of all fear, pain and upset? Anyone who's ever been told...

Menopause can be a very stressful time but imagine what it's like when that's compounded with a healthcare system that's biased against you.   Studies show that women of colour experience menopause at an earlier age and with much stronger symptoms than their caucasian counterparts.   Menopause can be daunting and challenging enough because it's still not openly discussed or understood by many women or healthcare professionals. When you add into that mix the lack of representation and research...

Our voices naturally change over time through age, hormones and all the different life experiences that we have. But what happens when your voice changes to the point where you have difficulty being heard in conversation or you sound timid or uncertain? How do you overcome that? When singer and voice coach, Emmanuela Grace, started coaching other people on how to make the most of their voices, she soon realised that some people needed more than voice coaching to be able to speak comfortably...

Australia is coming up to The Voice Referendum and apparently becoming more of a "divided nation" by the day. But why do First Nations people need a special mention in the constitution? Shouldn't the constitution cover them already?Have you ever tried to explain to someone what sexism is but they just can't see what you're saying? The sexism is so ingrained that it's invisible? What if racism is the same? That it's so deeply ingrained in our culture that we can't see it?  This is a hot topic...

We've probably all heard the term "carbon footprint" but how many of us know what our carbon footprint is, why it matters and what we can do about it?And minimising or negating our carbon footprint goes way beyond planting a few trees. Carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, emitted by an individual, organisation, or community over a specific period. All creatures on earth have a carbon footprint, i.e. they produce carbon in many forms, and...

In most Western countries, there's no requirement for GPs to have any knowledge of menopause and the complications it can cause. Indeed, in Australia, until recently, any study of Menopause was an optional extra in a medical degree even though 50% of women will suffer symptoms that impact their lives.A group of women have launched a petition to send to the government to request that keeping up to date with the latest research on menopause becomes compulsory for all GPs You're at work, in a...

The average separation/divorce takes three years to complete and 70% of people leave the relationship emotionally two years before they leave the relationship physically. Yet very few of us spend that time thinking about how the process will go and what they want the future to look like.How much easier would the process be if we could map the whole thing out and really think about all the possible variations of who gets what, who does what and when, how we're going to respond when our partner...