Jinty Sheerin and Lou Hockings-Thompson – The Womenkind Collective; spilling the tea on taboos Jinty Sheerin and Lou Hockings-Thompson are best friends and hosts of the WomenKind Collective Podcast, delivering a weekly mix of real talk, education, and humor centered on women’s health, menopause, relationships, and smashing the patriarchy. They are active campaigners, founding Exmouth's first Menopause Café and launching the #WheresMyClinic campaign for better Devon-based NHS menopause care.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/womenkindcollective/ 

In this episode, Joyce is joined by the brilliant and hilarious Jinty and Lou, best friends and hosts of the WomenKind Collective Podcast. Their friendship, humour and warmth shine through from the very start, setting the tone for a conversation that is both uplifting and deeply honest. 

Together, they reflect on how their podcast began during lockdown as a way to stay connected and has since grown into a much-needed space for open conversations about women’s health, menopause, relationships and the subjects that are too often left unspoken. With humour, humanity and refreshing candour, they make complex and taboo topics feel relatable and accessible. The conversation explores the changing nature of female friendship in midlife, the importance of creativity, and the value of making time for joy. Mental health, anxiety, saying no, finding comfort in simple rituals such as making tea, and the restorative power of nature all feature in this rich discussion. There is also a strong message about giving women permission to prioritise themselves, seek adventure, and embrace this stage of life with curiosity and courage. 

Honest, funny and full of wisdom, this episode is a celebration of friendship, self-discovery and the many ways women can find joy as they grow older.

Breeda is a former Midwife and Community/Public Health Nurse who became interested in menopause in 2018 while completing a psychology degree. Realising how little she knew about this life stage, and how under-researched midlife women are, she went on to complete a master’s in 2020.

Her dissertation, “Silence, Taboo and Midlife Women,” explored Irish women’s experiences of menopause, a topic long clouded by stigma. Breeda views menopause as a societal and cultural issue and believes that everyone, women, men, girls, and workplaces, needs better education. Having supported hundreds of women, she is convinced that education is the key to navigating this significant life stage.

Her mantra is: educate, educate, educate, its life changing.

Breeda is the author of the book Midlife Women Rock. She is now a sought-after speaker on menopause and midlife women, contributing to conferences and seminars across the UK and Ireland and helping to break the long-standing taboo.

https://midlifewomenrockproject.com/ Instagram @midlifewomenrock 

Breeda shares how her own menopause journey led her to question the silence, shame and negativity surrounding this life stage, and why education is so important in helping women understand what is happening to their bodies and minds. 

Together, Joyce and Breeda discuss the need to challenge outdated narratives around ageing, the empty nest, retirement and invisibility, and instead encourage women to see midlife as a time to rediscover themselves, explore new passions and embrace freedom, purpose and growth. They also explore the practical side of thriving in midlife, including the importance of movement, strength, rest, social connection and self-care, as well as the reality that women’s experiences of perimenopause and menopause are not all the same.

Breeda speaks honestly about HRT, why it can be life-changing for some women but is not the right choice for everyone, and the need to move beyond one-size-fits-all messaging. This is an uplifting and thoughtful conversation about courage, curiosity and finding joy in the years beyond fifty, with inspiring reflections on nature, adventure, health, happiness and what it really means to rock midlife.

S4, #8. Jackie Lynch: Nutrition for a happy menopause Jackie Lynch is an award-winning nutritionist, menopause specialist, author, and workshop facilitator. In 2010, she founded the WellWellWell nutrition clinic, specialising in women’s health and the menopause. Named the Menopause Nutrition Clinic of the Year 2020-21, Jackie is also the host of the lifestyle podcast The Happy Menopause, and is a successful author, and TV guest expert. She has appeared on programmes including Channel 4’s Superfoods. Jackie’s podcast was shortlisted for the 2021 and 2022 International Women’s Podcast Awards. She is the author of The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish, which was highly commended at the 2021 UK Health & Wellbeing Awards. And her latest book was published in 2025 - The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy: Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. 
https://www.well-well-well.co.uk/about/ 
@wellwellwellUK 

In this episode, Joyce is joined by nutritionist Jackie Lynch to explore how food and lifestyle can support women through perimenopause, menopause and beyond. Jackie shares her own menopause journey, explains how stress shaped her symptoms, and describes why she became so passionate about menopause nutrition. They unpack why there is no true “quick fix” for menopause symptoms. Instead, they focus on practical, evidence-based steps such as getting the basics right with protein, fats and carbohydrates, supporting energy through balanced meals, and recognising the powerful effects of stress, self-care and good nutrition on physical and mental wellbeing. They also tackle some of the biggest myths and trends in women’s health, including the dangers of social media misinformation, the booming menopause supplement market, ultra-processed foods, sugar cravings, weight-loss jabs, smoothies, soya, and the fear-driven messaging around weight gain in midlife. Jackie offers a refreshingly realistic view of healthy ageing, emphasising that longevity is not just about living longer, but about extending health span through nourishing food, movement, sleep and stress reduction. The episode closes on a warm and inspiring note, with Jackie reflecting on ageing, adventure, happiness and the advice she would give her younger self: trust your instincts, try new things, and make the most of life.

The Big Retreat Festival Amber is the founder of The Big Retreat Festival, a four-day wellbeing and adventure festival set in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Since launching in 2018, the festival has grown into one of the UK’s most inspiring feel-good events, blending yoga, wild swimming, music, talks, food, nature, community and much more. Amber created The Big Retreat to offer people space to reset, reconnect and rediscover joy in a supportive, unpretentious environment. 

https://www.thebigretreatfestival.com/ https://www.bigretreatcambridgeshire.com/ 
Instagram: @thebigretreatfestival 

How can you improve your wellbeing? What is the best way for you to relax and reset? You may have tried yoga, sound baths, and meditation, but what other ways are there? In this podcast – Amber and Joyce give you some ideas of ways to do this. 

The Big Retreat offers more than 300 events in a safe, welcoming space, so you can shape your own experience. It’s a brilliant place to try new wellbeing practices, meet like-minded people, and feel part of a supportive community — especially as around 20% of attendees come on their own. 

Joyce and Amber did a research study with the festival-goers in 2025 to explore their experience of the festival and see what events improved their mental and physical health, decreased stress and increased happiness. Rated highly were the setting itself, the Feel Good Field, the yoga and soul space, the sense of community and the friendly atmosphere of the festival. 2026 will be the first year Amber organises two events – one in the traditional site in Pembrokeshire plus a new event in Cambridgeshire.

Edele has been DJing for almost 20 years with an impressive resume to fit the bill. Her passion has always been Trance which she has played all over the UK, Europe and Internationally. In the UK she has played at Ministry of Sound, KOKO (formally Camden Palace), Passion, Studio 338, Lakota, The Custard Factory, The Plug, The End to name a few. Since 2020 she has been working with Graham Gold and Chris Bayne as one of iconic club Peach's residents. 

Edele has become a cornerstone of the UK’s Trance community, delivering electrifying performances that embody the spirit of the genre. She is also making waves in the studio, with the release of her debut track 'First Promise'. 

Instagram: @thisisedele 
Facebook: Edele Andaya 
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/edele-andaya In this episode 

Edele discussed how she fell in love with DJing as a teenager, taught herself on vinyl, and eventually found herself on the other side of the booth at iconic venues like Camden Palace (now KOKO). She explains what makes a great set (reading the room, feeding off the crowd), the reality of DJ nerves, and the joys and stresses of modern tech (USB back-ups, dark booths, and the occasional mishap). A big theme is the rise of the day rave: more energy, more connection, better sleep, and a safer journey home. 

Edele also reflects on being a woman in a male-dominated scene, why line-ups still need a fairer split, and how raving, dancing, and community can be a genuine boost for mental health. Plus: cats, cups of tea after big gigs, and what’s next—new events (including XOYO in September) and new music in the studio this March.

Joe is a breathwork teacher, Wim Hof Method Certified Instructor and assistant freediving coach. He is the founder of the Coggeshall Cold Water Dippers; a community group passionate about the benefits that cold water immersion can bring, whether that is out dipping in nature or in ice baths. In addition to teaching breathwork and guiding ice baths, Joe also runs a mobile “Finnish style” sauna which hosts weekly contrast therapy sessions. 

Instagram: @a.matter.of.ice.and.breath 

In this episode, Joyce speaks with Joe about three practical reset tools that can support mental health and day-to-day stress: breathwork, cold exposure (including cold water dipping/ice baths), and sauna. They explore how these practices can help you shift out of overwhelm, feel calmer in your body, and build resilience over time. Joe describes breathwork as a spectrum, from gentle awareness and slow belly breathing to more structured techniques such as box breathing. He explains that breath work is a simple, accessible tool you can use anywhere to help settle the nervous system. When getting into cold water, focusing on deep, steady breathing can also help regulate the body and ease the initial shock. Joe explains why sauna and cold dips complement each other, and why there is no set routine. 

The conversation highlights consistency, safety, and enjoyment, as well as the underestimated value of doing these practices with others: community, connection, and a sense of play can be part of what makes the reset so powerful. 

Here is a link to the guided walking meditation that Joe suggests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4aXWW2_zv4

Petra is a qualified Yoga Therapist, Senior Teacher and Trainer for the British Wheel of Yoga and Yoga Alliance Professionals and Yoga Australia and has been a member of the British Menopause Society for health practitioners since 2017. She lives in the UK but trains teachers and supports women worldwide in her weekly public classes and monthly courses. Petra is the founder and creator of Menopause YogaTM, the world's first specific style of yoga practice and teacher training course to support women and people on their journey from perimenopause to postmenopause. 

She is the author of two books: Petra Coveney, Menopause Yoga: A Holistic Guide to Supporting Women on Their Menopause Journey. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2021. Petra Coveney, Menopause Yoga™ and Wellbeing: A Daily Practice Guide for Perimenopause to Second Spring - a practical practice guide for daily wellbeing through perimenopause to post-menopause. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2025. 

Instagram: @menopause_yoga 
https://www.menopause-yoga.com/ 

This is the first episode in the mini-series on way to look after our mental health. Joyce and Petra explore what yoga really is, its origins as a practice designed to prepare the body for meditation, and how breathwork and yoga can calm the nervous system and help us manage modern-day stress. Petra explains how yoga becomes a practical, adaptable tool for women throughout their lives, supporting mental wellbeing, easing physical symptoms, and helping us stay strong, balanced, and connected to ourselves, from adolescence and pregnancy to perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. They also discuss the importance of community, including women’s circles that reduce isolation, rebuild confidence, and offer a sense of grounding. The episode ends with reflections on ageing, purpose, and Petra’s advice to her younger self: trust yourself, and put yourself first more often.

In this International Women’s Day special, Joyce Harper is joined by Big Swim organiser Nicky Chisholm, cold-water physiology researcher Dr Heather Massey, wild swimming author Tash Sones, and paddleboard author Jo Moseley to explore why women swim, what it gives them, and how community in the water can support wellbeing. They discuss the Big Swim (Brighton and Poole), a joyful, costume-filled mass dip that brings women together to celebrate International Women’s Day and raise money for Surfers Against Sewage. The group shares personal stories of how their love of water began, the sisterhood and sense of belonging that comes from swimming together, and why the sea can feel like a shortcut to deeper, more honest conversations. 

Tickets for the Big Swim Brighton are available from: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-swim-brighton-2026-tickets-1977302107832 

And The Big Swim Poole are available from: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-swim-2026-sandbanks-poole-celebrating-international-womens-day-tickets-1979854382755 

Tickets for the Meet the Authors panel discussion in Brighton before the Big Swim: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-swim-meet-the-authors-tickets-1977700994914 

Follow us on Instagram @pinknicky1 @ProfJoyceHarper @Natashastarseeker @Jomoseley @drheathermassey 

Books: Natasha Sones: Swimming Wild in South East England by Vertebrate Publishing is available to pre-order from 10 February 2026. * Visit https://bit.ly/49LVoHX to pre-order the book from 10 February 2026, and you could win a 33L Waterproof Tote Bag from Red Equipment, worth £99.95 

Jo Moseley: Stand Up Paddleboarding in Great Britain - Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in England, Scotland and Wales (2022) Shortlisted for The Great Outdoors Magazine Book/Writer of the Year 2022 Stand Up Paddleboarding in the Lake District - Beautiful Places to Paddleboard in Cumbria (2024) Winner of the Lakeland Book Awards Zeffirellis Prize for Guides and Places 2025 Adventures on the Water - the Power of Paddleboarding to Change Lives - Shortlisted for The Great Outdoors Writer/Book of the Year 2026 All with Vertebrate Publishing! 

Joyce Harper: Your Fertile Years: What you need to know to make informed choices. Sheldon Press, 2021 Your Joyful Years: empowering good health and happiness beyond 50: Out on 20th March followed by a UK tour talking to women about how they can lead their best lives ever.

Dr. Lauren is a researcher and science communicator specializing in female physiology, exercise, and nutrition, and a former seasoned fitness professional with extensive hands-on experience helping hundreds of women in all stages of life. She is a co-owner of the MASS Research Review, which helps bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical fitness strategies for coaches and trainers. Lauren works to dismantle fitness and nutrition myths perpetuated without a scientific basis by fact checking claims made by online influencers. Lauren's scientific expertise and real-world experience as a fitness professional helps practitioners provide evidence-based recommendations to women in all stages of life. If you use social media for any of your health advice, this is an episode you need to hear. Joyce and Lauren explore how health and fitness misinformation spreads online — and why, once it takes hold, it can be surprisingly hard to “unlearn”. They break down how to judge the quality of evidence, including the differences between mechanistic studies, observational research and human clinical trials, and why correlation is not the same as causation. They also tackle some of the major myths Lauren works hard to debunk: fasted training, protein obsession, weighted vests, grip strength, collagen and creatine hype, vibration plates, and the way supplements are often marketed with exaggerated claims. Throughout, Lauren explains what the evidence does (and does not) support — and why mastering the basics matters far more than chasing the latest trend.

Episode description: 

S4, #1: Professor Joyce Harper, Your Joyful Years: let’s make looking after your good health and happiness sexy 

Joyce is the host of this podcast, Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, and the author of several books, including Your Fertile Years and Your Joyful Years (out 1 May 2026). 

Welcome to season four of Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? In this opening episode, Joyce reflects on what she has been working on throughout 2025 and shares her plans for 2026. Her new book, Your Joyful Years, brings together the wisdom of 50 women over 50, exploring the five pillars of health and what truly makes us happy. Joyce hopes the book will inspire women beyond midlife and is looking forward to taking it on tour. Joyce has loved producing the podcast in 2025, covering topics such as understanding reproductive anatomy, female icons, reclaiming joy, and living with chronic health conditions. In 2026, she is excited to explore social media health misinformation with Dr Lauren Colenso-Semple, followed by a series linked to Your Joyful Years, including conversations with some of the women featured in the book. She will also be tackling gynaecological and breast cancers in upcoming episodes. Alongside the podcast, Joyce continues her research into global reproductive health education, including co-leading the InTune project, which aims to provide inclusive, evidence-based menopause education and support across the UK. 

Date of episode recording: 2026-01-06
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Producer: Joyce Harper
Music:  David Krysko - with thanks for the new music for my podcast
Transcript link:   www.joyceharper.com/podcasts