Ever wonder what happens when a menopausal woman and a deeply unprepared man get locked in a studio together to record a holiday episode? Congratulations — you’re about to find out.
In this special Christmas episode of Hot Flash Files: After Dark, Aussprey gets abandoned by the rest of the team and stuck in the recording booth with the only man brave (or unlucky) enough to stay behind: John. Everyone else is out partying, eating cookies, and pretending they understand holiday boundaries. Meanwhile, these two are trapped under fluorescent lights discussing menopause, marriage survival, emotional turbulence, and why standing in front of the freezer is a death wish.
John arrives with a notebook, a trembling sense of optimism, and absolutely no idea what he’s about to walk into. Within minutes, he learns the first rule of menopause: do not attempt to fix anything unless you’re ready to experience emotional consequences usually reserved for Greek tragedies. He also learns why “calm down” should be federally banned, why sweaters are a threat, and how a woman can go from volcanic heat to Arctic helplessness in the time it takes him to blink.
Together, they dive into every uncomfortable, hilarious, and painfully honest truth about midlife: the hot flashes that hit like surprise lightning, the mood swings that feel like emotional whiplash, the mental load women carry without applause, the intimacy shifts no one talks about, and the deep exhaustion that makes even the nicest mother-of-the-year reconsider hosting Christmas ever again.
Aussprey brings the hard truths.
John brings the fear.
Raine (the judgmental cat) brings the side-eye from a distance.
And somehow, in the chaos of fans, sweat, bad decisions, and frantic note-taking, John actually becomes the unlikely spokesperson for men everywhere: the ones who love their partners but don’t understand what’s happening inside those hormonal fireworks. He asks the questions men are too scared to ask, admits the mistakes he’s made, and walks right into the line of fire so the rest of the male population doesn’t have to.
Will he survive? Will he learn anything? Will he ever be allowed near the thermostat again?
By the time he escapes — leaving Aussprey alone to sign off, drenched, glowing, and narratively victorious — listeners are left with laughter, honesty, practical advice, and the reassurance that menopause might be chaotic, but women aren’t losing it. They’re simply navigating a biological circus while still running their lives, households, and holiday schedules.
If you’re a woman in this season of life, this episode will make you feel seen, understood, and absolutely justified in threatening people who block your cold air.
If you’re a man listening… take notes. Take them seriously. And maybe bring home chocolate.
Merry Christmas to all our listeners — may your season be peaceful, your boundaries respected, your thermostats responsive, and your coworkers braver than John.
