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 sex
• How menstrual cups work and exactly how to use one 
• The social mission at the heart of Ruby Cup, including their buy one, give one model 
• How they work with their NGO partners to provide menstrual education and to ensure there are the right conditions, including clean water, to use a menstrual cup safely
• And of course, the story of her first period

Amaia says that if you are swimming and a wave comes, you don't argue with the wave. You have to go with the wave. So if your period is coming, get angry, get pissed off, but it's coming, why not go with it and see, maybe it's not the worst thing to have a couple of quiet days once a month with your blanket and your movies and a huge bar of chocolate. 

Thank you, Amaia! 

A transcript is available on www.periodstorypod.com

Get in touch:

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Email 

[email protected]

Get in touch with Amaia:

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Website

Facebook

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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 often
• The difference between good and bad sex education
• What the orgasm gap is and how women can have better orgasms (and sex!) with their partners 
• How to instigate a conversation with your partner about how to have better sex and more pleasure 
• How social media censorship and ‘algo speak’ is impacting the way we speak and learn about gender and sexuality 
• Her advocacy work with UN Women 
• And of course, the story of her first period

Emilie says that why we need to teach people how to connect and how to speak to each other about sex so that we can have conversations with our partners about what we like, not fake orgasms, talk candidly about how we like to pleasure ourselves and then transfer that to a partnered experience.

Thank you, Emilie! 

A transcript is available on www.periodstorypod.com

Get in touch:

Tweet and IG @periodstorypod

Email 

[email protected]

Get in touch with Emilie:

Instagram

Website

Substack

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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 fibroids
• How 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 her to finally be diagnosed and the impact of race in this 
• The impact these conditions have on her fertility and how she’s tackling this 
• And of course, the story of her first period

Natalie says that advocating and speaking up for yourself is never a bad thing and that you should never be scared to ask for a second opinion. 

Thank you, Natalie! 

A transcript is available on www.periodstorypod.com

Get in touch:

Tweet and IG @periodstorypod

Email 

[email protected]

Get in touch with Natalie:

Instagram

Sunday Sip Live Events 

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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 income
• Her fascinating new ghostwriting career
• Her 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 identity
• How she has open conversations with her children about periods 
• And of course, the story of her first period

Annie says there’s value in vulnerability and it’s important to be really honest about how you’re feeling, even if the conversation you’re starting is difficult for other people to hear. She says you don’t have to pretend that you’re feeling fine when you’re not for fear that you’ll destabilise other people. 

Thank you, Annie! 

A transcript is available on www.periodstorypod.com

Get in touch:

Tweet and IG @periodstorypod

Email 

[email protected]

Get in touch with Annie:

Instagram

Website

Substack

Home Podcast

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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 OCD
• What 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 of 4 children  
• And of course, the story of her first period

Shakira says it takes an incredible amount of strength to manage depression, anxiety or any kind of mental health issue on a daily basis and this recognition can help build resilience. 

Thank you, Shakira!

Get in touch with Shakira:

Instagram

Website

Book - The Strong Like Mum Method

A transcript is available on www.periodstorypod.com

Get in touch:

Tweet and IG @periodstorypod

Email 

[email protected]

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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 running 
• How runcations help her explore new cities 
• How she finds running marathons character building 
• The experience of running an ultramarathon 
• And of course, the story of her first period

Matilda says that running has taught her that it’s important for us to be courageous and tackle whatever life may bring. 

Thank you, Matilda!

Get in touch with Matilda:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

A transcript is available on www.periodstorypod.com

Get in touch:

Tweet and IG @periodstorypod

Email 

[email protected]

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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 she did when her doctor that her that she had to do her own research to figure out a non-hormonal treatment strategy 
• How recurring UTIs led to her starting an at-home testing company 
• The importance of the vaginal microbiome and how it’s very different to the gut microbiome 
• What you can do to improve your vaginal microbiome
• And of course, the story of her first period

Golnoush says that learning about how your body works and getting insights into your unique needs will help you make changes that have a powerful impact on your health 

Thank you, Golnoush!

Get in touch with Golnoush:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

A transcript is available on www.periodstorypod.com

Get in touch:

Tweet and IG @periodstorypod

Email 

[email protected]

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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 ADHD
• The value of Right to Choose in helping her get an ADHD diagnosis
• That there’s no blueprint for ADHD but there are commonalities 
• How having a diagnosis gave her an explanation for certain feelings and behaviours 
• How she’s had to move forward with more grace and kindness 
• Her new podcast Late to the Party, which is about navigating neurodiversity as an adult 
• And of course, the story of her first period

Hana says that the big things for her in getting through everything have been to trust and forgive herself. 

Thank you, Hana!

Get in touch with Hana:

Instagram

Twitter

Website

A transcript is available on www.periodstorypod.com

Get in touch:

Tweet and IG @periodstorypod

Email 

[email protected]

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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 PCOS
• How she challenged the Asian cultural norms she grew up to build two successful businesses 
• How she helps other Asian women overcome cultural mindset blocks that get in their way of becoming entrepreneurs
• What she did when she was faced with bullying 
• And of course, the story of her first period

Sharn says that on an entrepreneurial journey, it’s so important to let go of judgement and stop caring about what other people think. This will help you claim your true voice and power. 

Thank you, Sharn!

Get in touch with Sharn:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

A transcript is available on www.periodstorypod.com

Get in touch:

Tweet and IG @periodstorypod

Email 

[email protected]

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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 perimenopause
• The differences between Gen X, millennial and Gen Z women in how they approach menstrual and hormone health 
• How she dealt with perimenopausal rage
• The identity changes that can happen in our 40s that enable us to choose how we want to be 
• What she wants women in their 20s and 30s to know about perimenopause 
• The importance of friendships 
• And of course, the story of her first period!

Lorraine says that whatever age you are, it’s so important to check in on yourself everyday and ask yourself: ‘Do I want to do this?’, ’Is it serving me well?’, ‘How am I really feeling?’.

Thank you, Lorraine!

Get in touch with Lorraine:

Instagram

Podcast

A transcript is available on www.periodstorypod.com

Get in touch:

Tweet and IG @periodstorypod

Email 

[email protected]

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