Severe period pain? Vomiting? Fainting? It’s not just “one of those things.” These can be symptoms of endometriosis - a condition far more complex than many realise, and which often goes undiagnosed and unsupported, affecting 1 in 10 women. 

In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Janice Rymer, consultant gynaecologist, and endometriosis nurse specialist Claudia Tye from Guy’s Hospital, London. Between them, they bring years of clinical experience and research, helping women navigate the many challenges of endometriosis.

We discuss what endometriosis is, why it happens, how it’s diagnosed, treatment options, and how it can change during perimenopause and menopause. We also share self-help strategies and advice on getting the right support. If you’ve ever struggled to understand what your body is telling you - or want to support a loved one with endometriosis - this episode is packed with insight, guidance, and reassurance.
 
If you’re enjoying The Happy Menopause, please share it with friends and family, leave a 5* review, and don’t forget to hit follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. Your support really helps others discover the show, because every woman deserves to have a happy menopause.

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

How’s the January diet going? By this time of the month, things can often start to unravel, so I’m offering a little bonus episode to help you get things back on track. 

This time last year, I chatted to the brilliant Petronella Ravenshear about metabolism, menopause and sustainable weight loss. Petronella is a nutritionist and author of the excellent Human Being Diet, which is an incredibly effective approach to managing your weight, while eating good food and - dare I say it?  - actually enjoying the process!

If you haven’t listened to that episode, I’d highly recommend that you check it out – you can find it in Season 6, Episode 11. 

But weight loss is such a big topic that I couldn’t resist recording this additional conversation with Petronella, to give anyone who’s struggling this January some extra support tools. 

In this episode, we explore:

• The 3 most common mistakes women make when trying to lose weight
• Petronella’s 3 top tips for achieving sustainable weight loss

Petronella’s advice is practical, insightful, and truly inspiring - I could chat with her all day! I hope this episode gives you the confidence to take the first steps toward lasting, positive change.

If you’re enjoying The Happy Menopause, please share it with friends and family, and don’t forget to hit follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. Your support really helps others discover the show, because every woman deserves to have a happy menopause.

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

As we step into a new year, this episode of The Happy Menopause explores what it really means to age creatively – and how we can rediscover joy, confidence and adventure as we grow older.

I’m delighted to welcome back Jo Moseley, six years after she first shared her story of breaking down in a Tesco biscuit aisle during perimenopause - a moment that became the catalyst for a powerful midlife transformation. Since then, Jo has become the first woman to paddleboard coast-to-coast across England, written award-winning books, made short films and championed joyful, adventurous ageing.

In this warm and inspiring conversation, we talk about the healing power of nature, the confidence that comes from gentle challenges, and why being a beginner can be one of the most liberating things we do in mid and later life. Jo also shares how the outdoors has supported her through grief, heartbreak and major life changes, and why small, consistent steps matter far more than big resolutions.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, tired or stuck at the start of the year, this episode offers reassurance, perspective and practical inspiration. You don’t need to be fearless or fit -just willing to begin, exactly where you are.
 
If you’re a fan of The Happy Menopause, please tell your friends and family about it, and make sure you click the follow or subscribe button on whichever platform you listen on to make sure you never miss an episode. It really does make a huge difference to the algorithms which influence the visibility of the podcast, so that more women can find the show. After all, every woman deserves to have a happy menopause. 

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

This is a brilliant follow on to the Alcohol & the Menopause episode from Season 6 Episode 7 with Sarah Williamson, coach and author of Drink Less, Live Better. 

We all know how tricky it can be as the Christmas party season gets underway and our schedule fills up with all manner of seasonal celebrations. 

In this bonus episode, Sarah joins me again to share some excellent advice and sneaky quick wins on ways to moderate your alcohol intake and still enjoy all your social engagements, during the frantic festivities of December.

She shares 7 excellent tips so that no one will even notice that you’re being careful. Not that it’s anyone else’s business, but we all know how awkward peer pressure can be at this time of year! There are some really good ideas here and I guarantee that you’ll find them helpful. 

Tune to find out more about stealth ordering, managing rounds, smart drinking options and NO-vember!

If you’re a fan of The Happy Menopause, please tell your friends and family about it, and make sure you click the follow or subscribe button on whichever platform you listen on, to make sure you never miss an episode. It really does make a huge difference to the algorithms which influence the visibility of the podcast, so that more women can find the show. After all, every woman deserves to have a happy menopause. 

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

Struggling with bloating, cramping, unpredictable bowels or that sudden dash-to-the-loo urgency? You’re certainly not alone. In this episode of The Happy Menopause, I take a deep dive into Irritable Bowel Syndrome — a condition that affects a huge number of women, and one that often gets worse during perimenopause and menopause.

I’ll explain what IBS actually is, how it’s diagnosed, and why hormonal changes can make your gut so much more reactive at this stage of life. We’ll look at the gut–brain axis, food sensitivities, FODMAPs, stress, dysbiosis and the key factors that might be driving your symptoms.

Most importantly, I share 10 practical nutrition and lifestyle strategies you can start using straight away to calm your digestion, reduce discomfort and feel more confident in your gut again.

If you’re tired of feeling bloated, uncomfortable or out of control with your symptoms, this episode is packed with clarity, reassurance and actionable steps to help you feel better.

If you love The Happy Menopause, please tell your friends and family, and don’t forget to hit follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. It makes a huge difference to the algorithms that decide whether more women get to find the show -  after all, every woman deserves to have a happy menopause! 

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

Urinary tract infections — or UTIs — aren’t the most glamorous topic, but they’re incredibly important, and we just don’t talk about them enough. If you’ve ever had one, you’ll know how miserable they can be: the burning, the stinging, those endless trips to the loo, the pain, and that bone-crushing fatigue. They can really knock you sideways.

For many women, UTIs become more common — and more stubborn — during perimenopause and menopause.

In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Helen Lake, a specialist urology nurse, to help us understand why UTIs happen, why they mustn’t be ignored, and what you can do about them — from medical treatments to nutrition and supplements.

Helen explains everything you need to know about identifying, understanding, and managing UTIs — and hopefully banishing them for good. We cover the key symptoms, prevention strategies like staying hydrated and double-voiding, why test results aren’t always conclusive, and when antibiotics are needed. We also look at the role of beneficial bacteria, cranberry and D-mannose, vaginal moisturisers, topical oestrogen, and how to advocate for yourself with your GP.

If you’ve found this episode helpful, please share it with a friend who might benefit too. And if you love The Happy Menopause podcast, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a five-star rating and a quick review on Apple Podcasts — or wherever you like to listen.

And don’t forget to subscribe, so you don’t miss out on upcoming episodes. These small steps make a huge difference to the algorithm, and help more women find the show.

After all, every woman deserves to have a happy menopause.

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

What exactly are ultra-processed foods – and could they be making your menopause symptoms worse? Nutritionist and bestselling cookbook author Jenny Tschiesche joins Jackie to unpack the truth about what’s really in our food, how it affects our hormones, mood and metabolism, and why those clever additives can make it so hard to stop eating once we start.

Jenny shares simple, practical ways to cut back on ultra-processed foods without the guilt or overwhelm – and explains why the key to thriving through menopause is focusing on real, whole foods rather than calorie counts. Plus, as the author of Air Fryer Cookbook and The Unprocessed Air Fryer, she reveals her favourite time-saving kitchen hacks and why your air fryer might just be the ultimate tool for healthy home cooking.

If you’ve ever wondered what all the fuss about ultra-processed foods is really about, this episode is packed with empowering, down-to-earth advice you can actually use.

If you love The Happy Menopause, please tell your friends and family, and don’t forget to hit follow or subscribe and to give it a 5-star rating on your favourite podcast platform. It makes a huge difference to the algorithms that decide whether more women get to find the show -  after all, every woman deserves to have a happy menopause!

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

October is Menopause Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is Lifestyle Medicine — a subject that’s right at the heart of my work as a nutritionist. In this solo episode of The Happy Menopause, I’ll be exploring how simple, sustainable changes in the way we eat, move, sleep, and manage stress can transform your menopause experience.

We’ll look at the six key pillars of lifestyle medicine — nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, healthy relationships, and avoiding harmful substances — and how they apply specifically to perimenopause and postmenopause. From the power of protein for energy, muscle and mood, to the benefits of leafy greens, vitamin C, and phytoestrogens, I’ll share practical diet tips that can ease symptoms such as hot flushes, brain fog, low mood, weight gain, and poor sleep.

But lifestyle medicine is about more than food. We’ll also explore the role of exercise for bone health, cardiovascular fitness and hormone balance, why stress management is so crucial for symptom control, and the sleep strategies that can help you finally get some rest. These small steps don’t replace medical treatments, but they work beautifully alongside them, helping you to address the root causes of symptoms and protect your long-term health.

Whether you’re just starting your perimenopause journey, navigating postmenopause, or supporting someone you love, this episode is packed with evidence-based advice to help you feel stronger, more resilient and more in control.

If you love The Happy Menopause, please tell your friends and family, and don’t forget to hit follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform. It makes a huge difference to the algorithms that decide whether more women get to find the show -  after all, every woman deserves to have a happy menopause!

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

Caring responsibilities often fall heavily on women in midlife. You’re juggling work, family life, menopause — and now, the care of ageing parents or elderly relatives too. It’s a huge emotional and physical load, and it can take a real toll on your wellbeing.

In this episode of The Happy Menopause, I’m joined by psychologist and neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan, author of Still Me, a compassionate, evidence-based guide for anyone caring for someone with dementia. But while dementia is a focus, the practical tips and emotional insights she shares apply to anyone caring for an elderly loved one.

We discuss the emotional impact of caring, the early signs that someone might need more support, and how to communicate with empathy and confidence when things get difficult. Sabina explains why it’s so easy to lose yourself in the caring role and shares practical strategies to protect your own health, manage stress, and avoid burnout or compassion fatigue. We also talk about the guilt so many carers feel — and how to handle it in a constructive way — as well as her top tips for staying resilient and hopeful in the face of such a demanding role.

If you’re caring for an elderly loved one in midlife, this conversation offers clarity, comfort, and a wealth of practical advice to help you look after yourself while caring for someone else.

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.

Feeling stuck in a style rut as you navigate perimenopause or menopause? You’re not alone. Changing bodies and shifting skin tones can make getting dressed feel like a bit of a minefield, and before you know it, you’re hiding behind a sea of black, shapeless clothes.

In this episode of The Happy Menopause, award-winning personal stylist Chantelle Znideric joins us to share her expert tips on what really works for midlife women. From finding the right colours to boosting body confidence and avoiding common style mistakes, Chantelle will help you rediscover your personal style and start loving your wardrobe again.

Because the truth is, you can wear anything you like. It’s all about making fashion work for you.

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.