The Educate & Empower Podcast

In this episode of The Educate & Empower Podcast, Bec goes back to the basics of perimenopause, unpacking what it is, why symptoms can feel so unpredictable, why a “normal” blood test doesn’t always tell the whole story, and why not every symptom in your 40s should automatically be blamed on hormones.

Most importantly, Bec explores what you can actually do about it, from tracking your symptoms and understanding your health to exploring the different treatment and lifestyle options available.

Because you don’t have to simply grit your teeth and get through it.

Understand what’s happening. Ask better questions. And choose one thing to do differently.

In this episode of The Educate & Empower Podcast Bec reflects on our 2026 Womens Health Week event - "In Conversation With Rebecca East - Do It Anyway".

Bec reflects on the theme of Do It Anyway and encourages us to ask ourselves the questions we often avoid, "what am I putting off?" and "what am I waiting for?".

This episode is for those of us who are always putting everyone and everything else before ourselves. This episode is about making and taking some time for YOU. 

Stop waiting for the "right" time. Do it anyway.

Coming off the back of Women's Health Week last week, we're throwing it back to an old radio segment with Bec and Darcy around women's health checks. 

They discuss the importance of early detection, and why routine health checks matter. Not sure when or what you should be getting checked? Bec and Darcy break down key health screenings by age, making it easier to stay on top of your health.

In this solo episode of The Educate & Empower Podcast, Bec breaks down the weight management medications currently available in Australia, who they may be suitable for, potential side effects, contraindications, breastfeeding considerations, contraception, dosing, costs and what long-term weight management can look like.

Bec also shares her own experience with weight management and why she believes these medications should be viewed as a tool, rather than something to feel ashamed about.

This episode is designed to help you understand your options and have more informed conversations with your healthcare professional.

Because weight loss isn't a willpower problem, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

This episode is for education and general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.

In this mini episode, Bec shares a concept she calls “The Ladder Approach”, an idea that guides the way she approaches care with her patients every day.

Whether you're navigating weight management, perimenopause or another health concern, there isn't always one single pathway that works for everyone.

Sometimes you start with the foundations. Sometimes you need a little extra support. And sometimes you already know the treatment you want to pursue.

The important thing is that where you start is up to you.

Bec talks about why she believes women should be given all of their options without shame or stigma, and why choosing medication, MHT, weight loss medication or even surgery doesn't mean you've failed at the steps that came before it.

Healthcare shouldn't be about forcing everyone to take the same path. It should be about understanding your options, making informed decisions and finding the level of support that is right for you.

In this solo episode of The Educate & Empower Podcast, Bec opens up a conversation that many women may feel too embarrassed, uncomfortable or ashamed to have: libido, sexual pleasure and painful sex.

From hormonal changes and contraception to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, stress, sleep, relationships and how we feel about our own bodies, there are so many factors that can influence our sexual health throughout our lives.

Bec explores why a change in libido isn't necessarily a problem, unless it is causing you distress, and why women shouldn't feel like they simply have to accept painful sex or a lack of sexual desire as a normal part of getting older, having children or going through hormonal changes.

Whether you're experiencing a change in your libido, finding sex painful, navigating hormonal changes, or simply wanting to better understand your sexual health, this episode is a reminder that you are allowed to ask questions, seek answers and want more from your intimate life.

Because when it comes to your health, nothing is TMI.

In this solo episode of The Educate & Empower Podcast, Bec explores the often-overlooked intersection between women's health and the workplace. From painful periods and endometriosis to fertility treatment, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause and menopause, women's health can have a profound impact on how they experience work, but it's a conversation that's still too often met with silence, misunderstanding or stigma.

Bec shares why it's time to challenge the outdated expectation that women should simply "push through" symptoms, and why creating workplaces that better understand female health isn't about lowering standards, it's about supporting women to perform at their best.

In this episode Bec shares some tips for both employees and employers to help navigate women's health in the workplace.

Whether you're an employee navigating your own health, a leader wanting to better support your team, or simply someone passionate about improving women's health, this episode is an invitation to rethink what a truly inclusive workplace looks like.

Because when women are understood, supported and empowered, everyone benefits.

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions about fertility and pregnancy loss. Please take care while listening.

In this deeply honest and heartfelt episode, Bec welcomes back Rachel Barnes for a powerful conversation about pregnancy after loss.

Many of you will remember Rachel from her previous two episodes (11 & 19 - if you haven't already listened), where she courageously shared the story of her losses and the health journey she embarked on while navigating infertility and trying to conceive. This time, Rachel joins Bec to reflect on what it has been like to become pregnant again and to carry a pregnancy to full term.

Together, they explore the emotional complexity of pregnancy after loss, including the constant mental balancing act between hope and fear, and the way grief can continue to exist alongside joy even when a healthy pregnancy is progressing. Rachel opens up about the practical and emotional steps she took to support her body and mind during this pregnancy, and the strategies that helped her feel more grounded throughout the journey.

This episode is a gentle reminder that pregnancy after loss is not simply a "happy ending" it is a unique journey that deserves compassion, understanding and support. Whether you have experienced pregnancy loss yourself, are currently pregnant after loss, or are supporting someone who is, Rachel's openness and wisdom will make you feel less alone.

Healthy relationships aren't built on never disagreeing, they're built on knowing how to communicate through life's challenges.

In this episode of The Educate & Empower Podcast, Bec is joined by counsellor Dani O'Brien for an honest conversation about what healthy communication really looks like, why so many couples find themselves having the same arguments, and the practical tools that can help strengthen connection.

Whether you're navigating the mental load of family life, struggling to feel heard, or simply wanting to build a stronger relationship, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you communicate with greater understanding, empathy and confidence.

Healthy communication isn't about saying the perfect thing, it's about creating a space where both people feel safe, respected and understood.

If you've ever thought, "We're having the same argument over and over," this episode is for you.

In this deeply personal solo episode, Bec shares her own fertility journey and opens up about the challenges, heartbreak, uncertainty, and resilience that shaped her path to motherhood.

With honesty and vulnerability, she reflects on years of navigating symptoms, seeking answers, advocating for her health, and ultimately receiving diagnoses of Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and PCOS, now known as PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome).

Conditions discussed in this episode:

Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus. These endometrial-like growths usually occur in the pelvis on structures like ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the outer surface of the uterus, but can spread to other areas.

Adenomyosis
A condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows into the muscle wall of the uterus, often leading to heavy periods, pelvic pain, and other symptoms.

PMOS (formerly PCOS)
Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome is a lifelong condition involving hormonal and metabolic imbalances. It is one of the most common yet underdiagnosed conditions affecting women's health.

This episode contains discussion of infertility, pregnancy loss, chronic pain, and women's health conditions. Please listen with care and seek support if needed.

If this episode resonates with you, we'd love for you to share it with another woman who may need to hear that she is not alone.