The SHE Word

30 year old Rebecca is a new Mum, wife and in full time work. That sounds like the tough role of many women today, but to add to the list, Hon Rebecca Buttigieg is a member of parliament responsible for Equality and Reform.

In this very candid and open interview, Host Trudy Kerr and guest Rebecca Buttigieg discuss the role of Parliamentary Secretariat, the purpose of Equality and Reform, but also take a deep dive into the life as a woman in Parliament.

Rebecca shares her passion for the job, but the challenges of being a woman and bringing up a family in an environment not geared up for catering for childcare or accommodating a woman’s perspective.

Rebecca also addresses what she believes are the biggest challenges facing women today both in the world, and in Malta. The two women discuss how we need to protect our young women, dealing with the ongoing horrors of domestic abuse, how we can empower women to be all they can be, and why we need more women involved in the decisions influencing politics, our country and our culture.

Tune in to this power-packed interview and be surprised, empowered and inspired.

Let’s face it, quite literally, our appearance is important and really does affect how we feel and our faces are particularly are important to us. Our skin is the largest organ of our body, and whilst most of us take it for granted, it is complex and changes throughout our life.

In this brilliantly lively fourth show with the Vivian Corporation, show we take a look at skin and all the challenges that our skin can face - scuse the pun. From the ideal skin care routine to dealing with problem skin, these ladies guide us through the solution to every scenario - promising that there is always a solution to every skincare challenge…

In this show we also take a deep dive into the frequently requested topic of adult acne. Clinical trial data reveals that approximately 50% of women in their 20s, 33% of women in their 30s, and 25% of women in their 40s suffer from acne, but help is on hand, offering sound advice and guidance.

Host Trudy Kerr is joined by Dr Marie Claire Bartolo - Aesthetic doctor and owner of a med- aesthetic clinic, Dr Monique Cachia Dermatologist and skin specialist, and Sarah Mifsud Pharmacist and Bioderma Vivian business unit lead.

Tune in to this brilliantly engaging and entertaining show to find out all you need to know to achieve a beautiful complexion and feel good about yourself.

Globally, over 280 million people suffer from depression, and in Europe, the numbers are even more alarming. One in seven people experiences depressive symptoms at some point in their lives, with the highest rates found among young adults aged 18-34. But women - specifically young women - are disproportionately affected, with 25% of young adults in Europe at risk of depression — a situation worsened significantly by the pandemic.

In the third episode of Season 3 of the Young Women’s Edition of The SHE Word, Young Women dealing with Depression, host Sasha Vella is joined by three incredible women who bring their unique perspectives to this crucial conversation.

Designer and creative Kelly Muscat shares her journey with depression and for the first time ever, opens up on losing her mother at a very young age.

Psychology student Andrea Mifsud reflects on her experiences with depression and mental health from a young age, and how this ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in the mental health sector.

And finally, Health psychology practitioner and yoga teacher Giulia Bertone offers her professional insights, drawing from her work in mental health and mindfulness.Listen to these incredible women as they share their deeply personal stories and unpack the emotional and societal challenges faced by young women with depression.

If you or someone you love is affected by mental health challenges, this episode is a must-watch.

Warning, this show includes open discussion about depression and suicide, should you need help, please contact the Richmond Foundation on 1770 or +356 21 224580, or Olli Chat: https://olli.chat/

Women’s Safety is a subject that has frequently requested by SHE-Worders, and with good reason.

To give this matter context, 1 in 3 women in Malta will experience Intimate Partner Violence, or Domestic Abuse. Forty-eight women were murdered in Malta in the past 22 years, 32 being femicides; with nine in just the past 5 years. Globally, online violence against women and girls has increased from 16% to 58% since 2018, with one in 10 young women and girls experiencing online violence almost daily, with 40% being harassed at least once a month.

These figures are quite simply shocking and not acceptable. Whilst Women’s Safety becomes a hot topic for discussion when another case tragically hits the headlines, little is making a difference to the long term safety of women, young women and girls.

This is a huge topic to tackle, but in this first show on the subject looking at safety, Trudy and her guests discuss the size of the issue and the areas were women are vulnerable. The discussion starts to look at practical ways for us to protect ourselves, and the conversation steers towards how we can fight for women to be more protected.

Joining Host Trudy Kerr is Lorleen Farrugia - a child rights & child protection researcher and consultant, and an expert in online safety; Dr Marceline Naudi - a social worker, Senior Lecturer at the University of Malta and active on the issues of gender equality and violence against women; and Dr. Clarissa Sammut Scerri, University Senior Lecturer, Counseling Psychologist and Family Therapist, and expert relating to the topic of domestic violence and the impact it can have on families.

Join these women in understanding the issues behind the threat to women’s safety, what we can do to improve our own safety, and what we can do to protect the women and girls around us.

This show is one of The SHE Word’s most frequently requested; Single Mums. The term ‘Single Mum’ can mean different things; it can mean that a mum who lives by herself - bringing up a family without partner support; it can mean that the other parent in the family unit is involved but not nearby, or might mean that the other parent is active in a child’s life and co-parenting, and in some instances women and men become single parents through death and loss.

Whatever the definition, whatever the reason - this show is dedicated the Mums who are pulling a double shift, taking most of the load, or doing it by themselves, and by the very nature of single parenting, these mums are super women.

This show takes a look at the pressures, the dynamics, added responsibilities - and restrictions of single parenting. We also delve into the effects of single parenting on mental health, career, relationships, love life and so much more.

Joining Host Trudy Kerr on the show is Monika Schembri, Monika was part of the absolutely epic show Women, Separation and Divorce and the vitally crucial Breast Cancer Special with Mercury. Monika is a mother of three, and a hero and - a breast cancer survivor - Monika has a passion for sharing the positive. Also joining the show is Mirelle Muscat who chose to have a family above all other life choices, an older mum who decided to single parents a beautiful little girl through IVF. And finally joining the table is Debbie Cachia, career woman who found herself as a single parent after her and her ex husband decided to head in separate directions.

Watch and hear these women’s wisdom through their journeys and the life choices they have made for themselves and their children.

SHE-Worders, Perimenopause and Menopause are some of the biggest changes your body will ever experience, and if you make it to your 40s there is NO ESCAPING this - it will affect you in one way or another.

Most women would agree that there just isn’t enough information, or even research, into Perimenopause and Menopause. The medical profession is now stating that perimenopause can last up to 7 years and may start as early as the beginning of your 40s. Some doctors attribute over 60 physical symptoms to the menopause, many of which most would never think of. More than 90% of postmenopausal women were never taught about the menopause at school and over 60% only started looking for information about it once their symptoms had started, and no surprise, but a recent study found that researchers don’t properly consider menopause in 99 percent of studies of the biology of aging.

HRT has been proven to have life-changing results as a method of combating the effects of falling Estrogen and Progestogen levels, but hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was halted for many women decades ago because of cancer fears. It has now been found to be an effective and safe treatment for post-menopausal women in new studies that suggest earlier warnings were overblown.

Since early 2000, most women were advised to stop HRT because research suggested it could increase the risk of breast cancer, as well as heart attacks and stroke.

It is now stated that The Women’s Health Initiative, or WHI, was flawed from the beginning and it deprived women of hormones that could have helped them.

In this edition of The SHE Word, Host Trudy Kerr sits down with psychologist and HFT user Karen Schranz, Gynaecologist Dr Theresa Galea Testa, and

Daniela Magro, Pharmacist and Women’s Health specialist to look at Perimenopause, Menopause, the treatments and the truth about HRT.

This is a topic frequently requested by SHE-Worders and we are grateful to our friends at Vivian Corporation for supporting this conversation and helping us make this happen.

In this important and deeply personal episode of The She Word: Young Women’s Edition, we dive into a difficult but crucial conversation about Young Women and Eating Disorders, an issue most prevalent among women aged 15-24.

Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, affect up to 9% of young women in this age group. Social media and societal pressures significantly impact the development of eating disorders, with 70% of young women reporting that these pressures contribute to their disorder.

Host Sasha Vella is joined by three incredible guests who bring unique perspectives to the discussion. Maia Fraser, a 22-year-old who has struggled with anorexia for most of her life, shares her deeply personal journey of coping with the disorder. Rosalie Muscat, a former bodybuilder, opens up about her battle with an eating disorder at the age of 27 and how she overcame it at 35. Lastly, Rosanne Buhagiar, a psychologist working closely with eating disorders at Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek, provides expert insights on the complexities and challenges surrounding these conditions.

This episode sheds light on the harsh reality of eating disorders and highlights the urgent need for greater awareness, support, and treatment options for young women.

Tune in for a moving and eye-opening discussion that addresses the hidden struggles young women face when battling eating disorders.

Break ups affect us all. Absolutely everyone. No one is immune.

Even if you were to marry your first love and stay with them your entire life, even if you were to keep every single friend you have ever made, you still can’t count for everyone else - and in some way or another a break up is going to affect you.

In this show three guests join Trudy to discuss the topic of breakups - all kinds of break ups; the affects, the fall out, and the light that comes after the metaphorical darkness.

During a work meeting with Trudy, Yasmine Busuttill mentioned that; ‘I didnt feel the effects of the break up with my ex husband at the time. I experienced the grief much later when I was with my now long time partner’ and it was at that point that Trudy knew there had to be a show on break ups and Yasmine had to be at the table.

Claire Borg is Psychotherapist and Co-Founder at Indigo Psychology Services and a long term friend of The SHE Word, Claire was part of the amazingly powerful series on Narcissists which reached over 25,000 plays. Claire brings wisdom to the topic of Breakups, along with practical helpful advice.

Daniela Pellegrini replied to a call out on The SHE Word Community Page for guests for this show. Daniela described herself as ‘Single as a Pringle’ and shared that not only had she had a painful break up, but a break up that involved the loss of friendships, and the life that she knew.

Join the women as they navigate this powerful and far-reaching topic of breakups and share their own breakups survival guide. Laugh with the ladies, maybe cry, but know that you have been seen.

Almost everyone will know that October is traditionally pink; a month dedicated to bringing awareness to Breast Cancer - a disease that will affect one in eight women worldwide.

In Malta, over 300 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, making it the most common cancer on our islands, so The SHE Word jumped at the opportunity to make a difference this year, and teamed up with Mercury to host a live show with two brave Breast Cancer Survivors; Lorinda Mamo & Monika Schembri and a Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator

The SHE Word - Women and Breast Cancer, more than a diagnosis, who has dedicated her life to working with women navigating Breast Cancer.

In this powerful and moving live show, cancer survivors share emotional their journeys both on stage and from the audience, along with some great advice for both those facing Breast Cancer and their loved ones.

Mariella breaks down the three types of breast cancer, the difference and how they typically progress.

Trudy demonstrates a self breast exam in the middle of the Mercury Piazza as Mariella guides us all as to what we should be doing to check ourselves, and how often. Audience questions reach deep into the topic, and Lorinda and Monika share their take aways and what life after cancer looks like.

Watch this potentially life saving show and be moved, educated and empowered LIVE from Mercury Towers.

Breast Cancer Clinic Mater Dei: +356 2545 4573

Breast Cancer · Call the Screening Centre on +356 21227470/1 or email [email protected]

Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre +356 2545 2360

Action for Breast Cancer: https://www.actionforbreastcancer.com/

Europa Donna Malta: https://www.europadonnamalta.org.mt/

Pink October Malta: https://pinkoctobermovember.mt/

We ended Season 2 of the Young Women’s Edition with Young Women and Health, and now we’re kicking off Season 3 with Young Women and Health, Part 2 — because one part simply wasn’t enough for such an important conversation.

Health challenges among young women are increasingly concerning. In Europe, cancer rates are rising sharply for young women, particularly for breast, thyroid, and colorectal cancers. Despite its prevalence, Endometriosis—which affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age globally—is often left undiagnosed, leading to years of chronic pain and infertility struggles. Meanwhile, around 20-25% of young women report experiencing chronic pain, often due to being misdiagnosed or inadequately treated.

In this powerful episode, Host Sasha Vella is joined by three brave women who open up about their personal battles with health.

Cheyenne Muscat, a 26-year-old dancer and graphic designer, has been living with Thyroid Cancer for the last few years. She opens up about how she continues to pursue her passion while living with this life-changing diagnosis.

Carla Galea, a 19-year-old student at the University of Malta, has just been diagnosed with Endometriosis after suffering chronic pain for years. She highlights the importance of early diagnosis and the impact this condition has on young women's lives.

And finally, Debbie Cachia brings a unique perspective to the conversation as she reflects on battling cancer after being pregnant at just 28 years old. Probably one of the oldest guests ever on the Young Women’s Edition, her story is a testament to the strength and resilience women show in the face of unimaginable challenges — and what it’s like to be on the other side.

Listen to these incredible women as they share their deeply personal stories of health struggles, resilience, and hope, as they give us a glimpse of their reality.

If you or someone you love is affected by health challenges, this episode is a must-watch.