What do you do to relax? It’s a question I ask all the time in my nutrition clinic, because making time to decompress from the daily stresses and strains can have a profound effect on how you experience the menopause. And yet, you’d be surprised how often it’s met with a slightly awkward pause, as someone tries to remember the last time they consciously made space to relax.

In this final episode of Season Six of The Happy Menopause, we’re exploring a wonderfully creative and therapeutic way to unwind: sewing. And yes, the health benefits are real, tangible, and backed by research.

I’m joined by two inspiring women - Jenni Smith and Kay Walsh - experienced sewing and quilting teachers based in Yorkshire. They’re passionate about empowering women through creativity, one stitch at a time. Their new book, Menopause Makes, is packed with beginner-friendly projects designed to support your wellbeing during menopause. Tune in to find out how sewing could become your new secret weapon for self-care.

If you’d like to find out more about Jenni and Kay’s online sewing workshops and books, you’ll find all the links in the show notes on the podcast page of my website: well-well-well.co.uk.

And don’t forget to sign up for The Happy Menopause Club for bonus content, videos, articles, and my monthly nutrition Q&A, where you can ask me anything you like. It’s my favourite bit of the club and it’s all waiting for you at thehappymenopause.com.

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!

🎉 Win a free 1-hour menopause nutrition consultation with Jackie!
Pre-order The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy and enter the prize draw.
👉 Click here to choose your retailer and upload your proof of purchase.

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.

For ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrion Q&A and a whole host of other exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club for just £6 per month.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.

In this episode, I explore one of the simplest, most overlooked tools for boosting our health – walking.

We spend a fortune on gym memberships, personal trainers, and high-tech fitness gadgets – yet sometimes forget that our bodies are already brilliantly equipped for one of the best forms of exercise out there. 

My guest is researcher and author Annabel Streets who’s just released her latest book, The Walking Cure. Drawing on a wealth of scientific evidence, Annabel explores how different landscapes can actively change our brain chemistry, reduce stress, and support both mental and physical health.

It’s not just about personal preference – there are real, measurable benefits to walking in particular places, at particular times.  This episode is all about unlocking those benefits, and rethinking the way we move through the world. 

We discuss:

·      The mental health benefits of mountain landscapes

·      The impact of walking by the sea on your sleep

·      Forest bathing vs. static bathing

·      The beneficial chemicals released by walking amongst trees

·      How city landscapes can restore your vitality

This is a fascinating episode, so give yourself a treat!

 If you love The Happy Menopause, why not share it with your friends and family? And don’t forget to follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!

Your support helps more women discover the podcast - because every woman deserves a happy menopause.

🎉 Win a free 1-hour menopause nutrition consultation with Jackie!
Pre-order The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy and enter the prize draw.
👉 Click here to choose your retailer and upload your proof of purchase.

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.

For ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrion Q&A and a whole host of other exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club for just £6 per month.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.

Hot flushes have been the butt of not very funny jokes for years, but it’s no fun when it’s happening to you. A hot flush can cause huge distress, especially if it catches you in a professional or social situation, where you might already be feeling a bit vulnerable.

In this episode, I’ll be diving deep into the science and solutions behind hot flushes and night sweats – those classic menopause symptoms that can leave you flustered, exhausted and very miserable.

I’ll be unpacking what’s really going on in your body during a flush, how your internal thermostat gets hijacked by falling oestrogen levels, and why stress, sugar and sleep (or lack of it) can make everything worse.

You’ll learn how simple shifts in your diet, lifestyle and mindset – including the surprising power of CBT – can help you take back control. From balancing your blood sugar and boosting your fibre to harnessing herbs and hydration, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you feel calmer, cooler, and more in charge of your body.

Whether you’re mid-flush, lying awake with night sweats, or just want to be prepared, this one’s for you.

 If you love The Happy Menopause, why not share it with your friends and family? And don’t forget to follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!

Your support helps more women discover the podcast - because every woman deserves a happy menopause.

For even more expert advice and exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club! You'll get access to bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrition Q&A, articles, video masterclasses, and more. Visit www.thehappymenopause.com

🎉 Win a free 1-hour menopause nutrition consultation with Jackie!
Pre-order The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy and enter the prize draw.
👉 Click here to choose your retailer and upload your proof of purchase.

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.

For ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrion Q&A and a whole host of other exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club for just £6 per month.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.

Do you experience a range of unexplained symptoms - eczema, skin rashes, fatigue, headaches, IBS, joint pain, poor sleep, or random allergic reactions with no clear trigger? If HRT isn’t helping - or even making things worse - or if your blood tests keep coming back normal but you still feel awful, histamine intolerance could be the missing piece of the puzzle.

This little-understood condition is tricky to diagnose but more common than you might think. For some women in menopause, an underlying intolerance can escalate into a serious problem. To help unravel this mystery, I’m joined by a leading expert on histamine intolerance, Dr Tina Peers, who also happens to be a menopause specialist, so we’re in the best possible hands.

Tina first became interested in histamine intolerance through her daughter’s long history of unexplained illness. She shares their journey to diagnosis and treatment, which ultimately led her to specialise in this field. Since then, she’s helped thousands of people through her clinic.

In this episode, we cover:

• The essential role of histamine in the body and what happens when you can’t metabolise it properly
• The typical symptoms of histamine intolerance
• The difference between mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and histamine intolerance
• Why these conditions are so difficult to diagnose
• The connection between oestrogen and histamine metabolism
• How an underlying intolerance can become severe during menopause
• Managing histamine intolerance - including the role of a low-histamine diet

Tina is an absolute mine of information. If you’re struggling with a range of unexplained symptoms and finding it hard to get a diagnosis, this episode might just be your lightbulb moment.
 
 If you love The Happy Menopause, why not share it with your friends and family? And don’t forget to follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!

Your support helps more women discover the podcast - because every woman deserves a happy menopause.

For even more expert advice and exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club! You'll get access to bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrition Q&A, articles, video masterclasses, and more. Visit www.thehappymenopause.com

🎉 Win a free 1-hour menopause nutrition consultation with Jackie!
Pre-order The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy and enter the prize draw.
👉 Click here to choose your retailer and upload your proof of purchase.

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.

For ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrion Q&A and a whole host of other exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club for just £6 per month.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.

Do you have a dream? I bet you do - most of us do! But do you dare to make it happen? It’s easy to feel stuck at this stage of life and wonder, Is this it? The truth is, it’s never too late to make a change, whether big or small.

My latest podcast guest, Sally Evans, is living proof of that. An award-winning wine producer with a small vineyard near Bordeaux, France, Sally turned her life upside down at 52. When her youngest child left home, she sold her property, studied winemaking, and before she knew it, she’d bought a small estate with a few vines. The rest, as they say, is history!

She’s written a brilliant book - Make the Midlife Move - packed with practical advice on identifying and pursuing your dream. It might be exactly what you need!

In this episode, we dive into Sally’s fascinating journey and the lessons she’s learned along the way. If you’ve ever dreamed of shaking things up, this one’s for you.

We discuss:

• How to figure out what you really want
• The key things to consider before taking the leap
• Finding the courage to make a big change
• Why change is important at any stage of life
• Overcoming obstacles and self-doubt
• Letting go of what other people think
• How change can be a tonic

Come and join us—you won’t regret it!

If you love The Happy Menopause, why not share it with your friends and family? And don’t forget to follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!

Your support helps more women discover the podcast - because every woman deserves a happy menopause.

For even more expert advice and exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club! You'll get access to bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrition Q&A, articles, video masterclasses, and more. Visit www.thehappymenopause.com

🎉 Win a free 1-hour menopause nutrition consultation with Jackie!
Pre-order The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy and enter the prize draw.
👉 Click here to choose your retailer and upload your proof of purchase.

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.

For ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrion Q&A and a whole host of other exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club for just £6 per month.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.

In this episode, we’re talking about strength - not weight, not size, but pure, functional strength. Because let’s be honest, we can spend way too much time worrying about one and not nearly enough about the other!

Strength is vital at any age, but as we hit midlife and beyond, it becomes essential. It boosts confidence, protects our bones, and keeps us active for longer. After all, what’s the point of making it to 90 if you’re too frail to enjoy it?

To explore this, I’m joined by the brilliant Christien Bird, a familiar voice on The Happy Menopause podcast. A women’s health physiotherapist with a passion for strength, Christien is in her early 60s, represents Team GB in triathlon for her age group, and has just signed up for an Ironman challenge - because she loves pushing herself! If anyone can inspire us to embrace strength, it’s her.

Together, we discuss:

-       The barriers holding women back from exercise – and when they start

-       Why strength is so important in midlife

-       How it plays a key role in avoiding frailty

-       Three different exercise personas - find out which one you are!

-       Practical tips for getting started, even if you’re feeling shy

Tune in for an inspiring and empowering conversation that will change the way you think about strength!

If you love The Happy Menopause, why not share it with your friends and family? And don’t forget to follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!

Your support helps more women discover the podcast - because every woman deserves a happy menopause.

For even more expert advice and exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club! You'll get access to bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrition Q&A, articles, video masterclasses, and more. Visit www.thehappymenopause.com

🎉 Win a free 1-hour menopause nutrition consultation with Jackie!
Pre-order The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy and enter the prize draw.
👉 Click here to choose your retailer and upload your proof of purchase.

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.

For ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrion Q&A and a whole host of other exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club for just £6 per month.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.

Weight loss can feel like an uphill battle for us midlife women. What worked before no longer seems effective, and that’s often due to a slowing metabolism. Years of yoyo dieting may have played a role, but this shift is also a natural part of this life stage. If your body is stuck in fat-storage mode, no amount of eating less will bring the results you’re after.

But there’s hope! In this episode, I’m joined by Petronella Ravenshear, nutritionist and author of The Human Being Diet. She shares her simple yet clever approach to resetting your metabolism and escaping the frustrating plateau.

We cover:

• How your metabolism really works
• The crucial role of diet in influencing metabolism
• Why crash diets are counterproductive
• Why intermittent fasting might not suit everyone
• Tips to prevent weight regain
• What makes The Human Being Diet so effective

Petronella’s advice is packed with insights and practical tips. It’s reassuring to know there’s a way forward - one that helps you achieve sustainable weight loss while embracing a new, healthier lifestyle through midlife and beyond. Trust me, the benefits will ripple through every aspect of your life!

If you enjoy The Happy Menopause, please spread the word to your friends and family. Don’t forget to hit follow or subscribe on your favourite platform to ensure you never miss an episode. Your support helps the podcast reach more women, because every woman deserves a happy menopause. 

🎉 Win a free 1-hour menopause nutrition consultation with Jackie!
Pre-order The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy and enter the prize draw.
👉 Click here to choose your retailer and upload your proof of purchase.

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.

For ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrion Q&A and a whole host of other exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club for just £6 per month.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.

Feeling a little apprehensive about the festive season? It’s not just one day, is it? The celebrations seem to start in early December and go on... and on. Your calendar fills up fast – often with events you’re not even excited about!

And let’s face it, most of these involve endless food and drink, which can take a toll on your waistline, sleep, and overall wellbeing in just a few weeks.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. I’m sharing some of my best tips and tricks to help you keep on track, so that you sail through the festive season, without piling on the pounds, disrupting your sleep or triggering those pesky hot flushes.

Tune in for all my best advice on navigating parties; smart buffet choices; surviving Christmas dinner; mindful indulgence, and hangover hacks. This episode really is a must to help you cope with the festive season!

This is the third in a series of three podcasts designed to support you through the challenges of the festive season. Check out the other episodes Pause, Stretch, Breathe: 2-Minute Yoga Tips for a Calmer Christmas, and The Overworked Woman's Guide to a Stress-Free Christmas. That way you'll get the full package of support!

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. 

🎉 Win a free 1-hour menopause nutrition consultation with Jackie!
Pre-order The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy and enter the prize draw.
👉 Click here to choose your retailer and upload your proof of purchase.

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.

For ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrion Q&A and a whole host of other exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club for just £6 per month.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.

The build-up to Christmas can be hectic and stressful, and the thought of carving out a full hour for a yoga class (or any workout) when there’s so much to do can just add to the pressure. 

This is the 2nd in my 3-part series to help you cope with the challenges of the festive season. I’m releasing them on Thursdays through December or you can listen to all of them straight away, by signing up at www.TheHappyMenopause.com

In this episode, I chat with menopause yoga expert Libby Stevenson, who’s full of tips to help us stay calm and balanced during this busy time of year.

Libby shares simple, discreet yoga stretches and breathing techniques that you can do at your desk or even in the supermarket queue. No one will notice, and you’ll get the lift you need to manage looming deadlines or tackle festive tasks. We cover a series of 2-minute tips to target everything from back ache to insomnia, as well as how to manage overwhelm and find calm and balance. There are some brilliant quick wins here that suit everyone, whether you’re new to yoga or an old hand at the practice. 

This episode is full of practical advice. and I love how simple and discreet Libby’s suggestions are. I’m sure you’ll find them useful!

This is the second in a series of three podcasts designed to support you through the challenges of the festive season. If you’re a member of The Happy Menopause Club, you can listen to the whole series right away. For non-members, the next episode, Christmas Nutrition Tips: Your Guide to a Balanced Festive Season to help you navigate parties,  dinners, and all the food and drink challenges, will drop on 19th December. And go back and check out the first one: The Overworked Woman's Guide to a Stress-Free Christmas. If you can't wait until 19th December, you can get access to all the advice straight away, so that you sail through the season stress-free. Just head to The Happy Menopause.com and join for just £6 per month.

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. 

🎉 Win a free 1-hour menopause nutrition consultation with Jackie!
Pre-order The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy and enter the prize draw.
👉 Click here to choose your retailer and upload your proof of purchase.

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.

For ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrion Q&A and a whole host of other exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club for just £6 per month.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.

Christmas can be a lot of fun and create some wonderful memories. But let’s face it, all that festive joy doesn’t happen by accident. Behind the scenes, pulling all the strings and juggling all the plates, there’s usually a woman making the magic happen. We really do take on a lot at this time of year. So, if you’re already feeling overwhelmed by all the planning, shopping, wrapping, prepping, and cooking that lies ahead, don’t worry—help is at hand.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Chartered Psychologist Jess Baker, the author of the excellent book The Super Helper Syndrome: A Survival Guide for Compassionate People. She’s here to help us establish some boundaries, banish guilt and avoid overloading ourselves - just what we need at this time of year.

Jess has some brilliant advice to get you through the season while still having fun. Tune in we dive into some tricky festive scenarios—I’m pretty sure you’ll recognise them! —now you’ll learn how to handle them with confidence and ease.

This is the first in a series of three podcasts designed to support you through the challenges of the festive season. If you’re a member of The Happy Menopause Club, you can listen to the whole series right away. For non-members, the next episode - 2-Minute Yoga Tips for a Calmer Christmas —will be available on 12th December, and the final one, Christmas Nutrition Tips: Your Guide to a Balanced Festive Season to help you navigate parties,  dinners and all the food and drink challenges, will drop on 19th December. But if you’d like access to all the advice straight away, so you can sail through the season stress-free, head to The Happy Menopause.com and join for just £6 per month.

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. 

🎉 Win a free 1-hour menopause nutrition consultation with Jackie!
Pre-order The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy and enter the prize draw.
👉 Click here to choose your retailer and upload your proof of purchase.

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.

For ad-free listening, bonus episodes, a monthly live nutrion Q&A and a whole host of other exclusive content, join The Happy Menopause Club for just £6 per month.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my latest book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish.