Professor Neil Gittoes is Consultant Endocrinologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham and Honorary Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Birmingham with honours in medicine and anatomical studies and has a PhD in molecular endocrinology. Neil is recognised nationally and internationally for his work in metabolic bone diseases including osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency and disorders of calcium homeostasis. He has co-authored recent international guidance on management of parathyroid diseases and UK guidance on osteoporosis. Neil was awarded the Goulstonian Lectureship at the Royal College of Physicians, London and has had many key roles, including being the current chair of the Royal Osteoporosis Society. https://theros.org.uk/

Did you know you can check your risk of osteoporosis with a quick online tool from the Royal Osteoporosis Society? Just pop onto their website and try the risk checker. If it shows you’re at high risk, it’s worth speaking to your doctor, who may suggest a bone density scan. The good thing is that osteoporosis is largely preventable. Neil talked us through how our bones change as we get older. Half of all women over 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis, and so will one in five men. Genetics play a big part—about 70 to 80% of our risk comes from our genes—so it’s important to know your family history. But lifestyle matters just as much. Doing regular weight-bearing exercise, cutting down on alcohol, not smoking, keeping vitamin D levels up, and eating enough protein and calcium can all help protect your bones. The tricky thing about osteoporosis is that it’s a silent disease—you don’t feel it happening. But the good news is that there are effective treatments. Some are one-off or short courses, and you don’t need to be on lifelong medication. We also touched on whether women should take HRT to prevent osteoporosis, and Neil had some interesting views. He also explained why getting a diagnosis of osteopenia isn’t something to panic about. Another key point Neil made is how important lifestyle is before the age of 25—that’s when we reach our peak bone mass. So if there’s one message for younger people, it’s that the choices you make in your teens and twenties, especially around exercise, can shape your bone health and your risk of chronic conditions later in life.

 Date of episode recording: 2025-09-26
 Duration: 01.04.57
 Language of episode: English

 Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Professor Neil Gittoes
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Dr Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist and science communicator and runs The Neuroscience Academy – which provides online training in brain health and applied neuroscience for health.

Sarah was born in New Zealand. She obtained her MSc and PhD from Oxford University then moved to Australia, where she conducted five years of postdoctoral research on spinal cord injury. Sarah shares brain science with a clear, science-first voice ... no fluff, no headlines ... just solid research, translated into useful, real-world insights.

She has written three books: Baby Brain, The women’s brain book, and brain health for dummies. Her 2015 TEDx talk espoused the virtues of afternoon naps.

She lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where she writes, teaches, swims in the ocean year-round, and turns complex neuroscience into practical tools and accessible stories. https://drsarahmckay.com/ Instagram: @drsarahmckay 

Most of us know someone living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. In this podcast, we separate fact from myth: what are the symptoms, can we reduce our risk, are women more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s, and much more. One of the most striking findings is that around 45% of dementia cases are considered preventable. 

The choices we make around lifestyle—nutrition, exercise, limiting alcohol, staying mentally and socially engaged, and looking after our hearing and eyesight—can all play a role, according to major dementia and Alzheimer’s organisations. We also address some of the claims circulating on social media about menopause and dementia/Alzheimer’s —for example, the idea that hormone therapy can prevent dementia. Sarah sets the record straight: unfortunately, this isn’t true. She has faced criticism online for challenging this myth, but calling out misinformation is not about women undermining women; it’s about ensuring we share facts rather than perpetuate inaccuracies. That said, research does suggest that frequent hot flushes may be linked to an increased risk. There’s still much more to learn, but what we do know is already powerful. By understanding the evidence on dementia and Alzheimer’s today, we can start taking steps to lower our risk. 

 Date of episode recording: 2025-09-10
 Duration: 01.20.12
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Dr Sarah McKay
 Producer: Joyce Harper

Lucy Ward is a writer and journalist. Growing up near Manchester, she studied Early and Middle English at Oxford University, before becoming a journalist first working on education for The Independent then becoming a Lobby correspondent for The Guardian. She spent over five years at Westminster, campaigning for greater female representation, securing the first Lobby job-share and discovering that you could climb to the illuminated roof of the Palace and project your dancing shadow onto Big Ben. After a few years in Russia, she worked as a Communications Manager at the University of Cambridge, where she developed her interest in communicating complex research for lay audiences. Her first book is The Empress and the English Doctor which was shortlisted for the Pushkin House Book Prize 2022. 

Instagram and X: @lucymirandaward Web site: https://www.lucyward.uk/ 

Welcome to another podcast in the mini-series on Female Icons. During a chance meeting in the school playground, Lucy discovered a compelling story she felt driven to share — how Catherine the Great joined forces with a Quaker doctor from Essex to lead a ground-breaking public health campaign introducing smallpox inoculation in Russia. Catherine invited Dr. Thomas Dimsdale to St Petersburg on a secret mission that would ultimately change both their lives. It was an extraordinary act of bravery to undergo the inoculation herself before asking others to do the same. Lucy began writing this book just before the COVID-19 outbreak — timing that could have been disastrous but instead proved serendipitous. The contemporary debates around vaccination echoed those of Catherine’s time, where science, politics, and personal risk intersected in powerful ways. Despite the early death of her husband, Catherine defied expectations to become one of the greatest monarchs in history.

Date of episode recording: 2025-04-11T00:00:00Z
Duration: 01.16.11
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Lucy Ward
Producer: Joyce Harper

Lucy has always had a passion for medicine and history and through her career, she has spent time studying both. First Lucy studied medicine at University College London (UCL), graduating in 2013. And during her 3rd year of medicine, she took an intercalated year studying the History of Medicine at the Wellcome Library in London. After working full-time as a medical doctor for four years, she decided to pursue her interest in history further, undertaking a Masters in History and Philosophy of Science at UCL. Since then she has continued to juggle her career as a doctor with her passion for history and she completed an Early Modern History MPhil at the University of Cambridge in 2019. 

Lucy has almost completed her PhD which builds on her MPhil study to examine the early modern home as a space for knowledge-making. In 2021 Lucy was awarded an extraordinary Blue at the University of Cambridge for triathlon. A couple of weeks ago she led the Cambridge women’s rowing team to victory against Oxford in her role as President. X: @lucyjanehavard 

Welcome to another podcast in the mini-series on Female Icons. 

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was the first woman to qualify as a doctor in the UK, beginning her journey with her first medical lecture in 1860. She faced enormous resistance from men—first as a medical student, then as a practicing doctor—but she paved the way for generations of women to follow. When no one would employ her, she founded her own institution: the New Hospital for Women, where she provided care specifically for women and children. A true pioneer for women’s rights, her achievements extended far beyond medicine. In 1908, she became the first female mayor in the UK when she was elected Mayor of Aldeburgh. She married later in life and had her three children in her late 30s and early 40s. 

Lucy, too, is a modern-day role model—an inspiration for women pursuing their passions. With a deep love of both medicine and history, she has successfully built a career that combines these interests. She explains that her current research looks at manuscript recipe books from the 17th century which are collections of recipes, but also contained information about remedies, cleaning solutions, poems, stories and much more. Alongside her academic pursuits, she also excelled in sport, enjoying a brilliant athletic career while at Cambridge University. I hope the stories of these two remarkable women will inspire others to follow their own unique paths.

Date of episode recording: 2025-04-23T00:00:00Z
Duration: 00.47.40
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Dr Lucy Havard
Producer: Joyce Harper

Clare Mulley is an award-winning public historian, author and broadcaster, primarily focused on female experience during the Second World War. Clare’s most recent book Agent Zo: The Untold Story of courageous Second World War resistance Fighter, Elżbieta Zawacka, is the critically-acclaimed biography of the only woman to parachute from Britain to Nazi German-occupied Poland. Previous titles include the award-winning The Woman Who Saved the Children, on Eglantyne Jebb, founder of Save the Children; The Spy Who Loved a biography of the first woman to serve Britain as a special agent in the Second World War and The Women Who Flew for Hitler, which tells the story of Nazi Germany’s only two female test pilots. Clare’s books are widely translated and have all been optioned for film or TV. 

Clare regularly appears in the press and on TV. Clare is a brilliant storyteller, bringing to life the remarkable stories of extraordinary women who made significant contributions during the world wars—women whose legacies deserve to be known. She shares the inspiration behind her first book about Eglantyne Jebb, the founder of Save the Children, and the journey that guided her in choosing her next subjects. Clare offers insight into her meticulous research and writing process, striving to create biographies that are both historically accurate and deeply engaging. Many of these women were often judged by their appearance rather than their achievements—a bias that remains relevant in today’s society. These women were true female icons.

Transcription link:

www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Date of episode recording: 2025-02-27T00:00:00Z
Duration: 00.54.35
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Clare Mulley
Producer: Joyce Harper

Glenn Stout is a freelance writer, author, and editorial consultant, served as series editor of The Best American Sports Writing since its inception, and was Founding Editor of The Year’s Best Sports Writing. He is the author of Young Woman and the Sea, Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid, Fenway 1912, and many others. Glenn began as a free-lance career in 1986 and has been a full-time author since 1993. He has written, ghostwritten or edited one hundred books representing sales of more than three million copies. Glenn has also served as a writing coach for private clients, given presentations to groups of editors, writers and students about writing books, the writing process and the editorial process he uses for longform journalism. He also serves as Director of the Archer City Writer’s Workshops at the Larry Mac Mur try Literary Center in Archer City, Texas Glenn grew up in Ohio, graduated from Bard College in New York, and lived in and around Boston for 20 years before moving to Vermont in 2002. He is a citizen of both the United States and Canada. 

Glenn has been a sportswriter for decades, and when he discovered that Gertrude (Trudy) Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel on August 6, 1926, he was compelled to tell her story. She is one of many remarkable female pioneers whose achievements remain largely unknown. Before trailblazers like Trudy, Annette Kellerman, and Charlotte Epstein, women’s participation in swimming was rare, partly due to societal restrictions on modesty and concerns about the sport’s safety for women. However, these women defied expectations, with Trudy proving beyond doubt that women could not only swim—but excel. In this podcast, we uncover some of the astonishing facts about swimming during this era.

Date of episode recording: 2025-02-24T00:00:00Z
Duration: 01.01.59
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Glenn Stout
Producer: Joyce Harper

Professor Helen O'Connell is a leading researcher in the area of female pelvic anatomy and was the first woman to complete training as a urologist in Australia in 1994. She did her Fellowship training in the US in 1994-5 in the management, including surgery, of all problems affecting function of the lower urinary tract in men and women. In 2023 she became the President of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand. She uses state of the art medical imaging to treat a long list of conditions. Helen was the first person to accurately describe the structure of the clitoris. 

Instagram: @profhelenoconnell 

It is astonishing that before Helen’s work in the 1990s, the anatomy of the clitoris was not fully understood. Through her ground-breaking research, she published two key papers in 1998 and 2005 that revealed the intricate structure of the clitoris. Her findings showed that the visible glans, rich in thousands of nerve endings, is only a small part of a much larger organ. The crura (two internal arms) wrap around the vaginal canal, while the vestibular bulbs sit on either side of the vaginal opening. Apart from the glans, the clitoris is composed of erectile tissue, designed to facilitate female orgasm. It is there for a reason – for women to have an orgasm. If achieving orgasm is difficult, seeking medical advice can be beneficial. Helen also explores the diversity of female anatomy, the misleading portrayal of sex in pornography, and the risks of labial surgery for cosmetic reasons. We discuss how female genitals change throughout life, the impact of female genital mutilation (FGM), and the controversial question—does the G-spot really exist?

Transcription link:

www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Date of episode recording: 2025-03-13T00:00:00Z
Duration: 01.06.28
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Professor Helen O'Connell
Producer: Joyce Harper

Pippa is a consultant urologist at University College London Hospital (UCLH) and is the lead for the male infertility service. A urologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the urinary tract and reproductive system for men, women, and children. Pippa qualified from Guy’s and St Thomas’s Medical School, London in 2001. She has further degrees in Psychology (BSc) and was awarded the gold medal in the Urology MSc. She holds an Honorary Associate Professor post within reproductive health. Her main area of expertise is Andrology. An andrologist is someone who focuses on male sexual health and the male reproductive system. 

Pippa particularly works with men suffering with infertility, erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease and associated endocrine related issues. In addition to medically improving men’s sperm counts and health, she performs surgical sperm retrieval and is a world-renowned expert at MicroTESE and varicocele repair. 

Instagram: @pippa_sangster 

How much do you know about the anatomy and function of the penis and testicles? Does penis size matter? Pippa says the answer is no! We explored the role of testosterone in men, debunking some common myths about it. Sex for men is complicated – getting an erection, sustaining an erection, not coming too soon, or too late. Pippa explains the ladder of medical treatments that men can use to help with erections and the link between the lack of erection and heart disease, primarily due to the role of blood flow and vascular health in both conditions. If a man has any problems with getting an erection, he should see his doctor. However, ejaculation problems are often more difficult to treat. Pippa has encountered many men resorting to black market treatments to solve these issues, including injecting unregulated substances into their penis. 

We also discuss what men need to consider if they want to have children. And Pippa explains testicular, penile, and prostate cancer. Men's reproductive health remains a taboo subject, and it's time to break the silence—encouraging men to talk openly, both with each other and with their doctors.

Transcription link:

www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Date of episode recording: 2025-02-28T00:00:00Z
Duration: 01.10.22
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Dr Pippa Sangster
Producer: Joyce Harper

Dr Anita Mitra is a renowned Dr in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and is also known as The Gynae Geek on social media. With over 160k followers on Instagram, she is a trusted source of information, in a time rife with many self-proclaimed experts and internet gurus. Her medical journey began at the University of Leicester, where she first earned a BSc in Medical Biochemistry and then a degree in Medicine. Anita is presently a Clinical Research Fellow in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Imperial College London, alongside practising as a Subspecialty Fellow in Gynaecological Oncology at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. In 2019 Anita published her book The Gynae Geek, which seeks to empower women by dispelling myths and educating them about how their body works using scientific research. The book also tackles topical issues, such as menopause, contraception, and cancer. When not in the lab, or solving mysteries between someone’s legs, Anita can be found in a gym perfecting her deadlift technique, drinking overpriced coffee in various London cafes, or running around after her two year old twins.

Instagram: @gynaegeek https://www.gynaegeek.com/ 

How much were you taught at school about the womb, fallopian tubes, and ovaries? In this podcast, Anita explains what these structures look like (you can find more images on her website) and how they work together. We explore how the menstrual cycle is driven by hormones affecting these organs, leading to periods and ovulation, and delve into what happens during pregnancy. Anita guides us through how these organs change throughout a woman’s life—from before puberty to post-menopause—and highlights some of the health conditions that can affect the womb, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. She explains the warning signs we should all be aware of, when to seek help, and the tests available to identify potential issues. 

While we may not have cures for many women’s health conditions, Anita discusses the treatments available to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Maintaining the health of our reproductive system starts with preventative care. Anita emphasizes the importance of lifestyle factors like nutrition, sleep, exercise, and mental health, showing how interconnected these aspects are. Anita tells us about her amazing work as the Gynae Geek and shares insights from her two brilliant books and her extensive experience as a doctor treating patients. She also offers real stories from her practice that shed light on the challenges and triumphs in women’s health. This is a podcast where everyone will learn something valuable. 

 Date of episode recording: 2025-01-15T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.19.52
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Dr Anita Mitra, The Gynae Geek
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Dr Tasha is a highly-respected consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at The Holly Private Hospital and also practices for the NHS in Chelmsford. Her specialisms include breast cancer surgery, breast lumps and breast pain, alongside breast reconstruction, nipple discharge and breast surgery. Dr Tasha has an MBBS from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, an MEd in Surgical Education from Imperial College London and a BSc and PhD from University College London. She also has a FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Dr Tasha shares her expert knowledge via her 'My Breast, My Health' blog and podcast. She has dedicated her life to helping people navigate through breast cancer.

Instagram: @drtashag YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_6rR4QmTy8gXa5wWppxwTQ 

The structure of the breast is relatively simple, with two primary functions: breastfeeding and pleasure. Dr. Tasha sheds light on why men have nipples and debunks many common myths surrounding breasts. Together, we explore why breastfeeding rates are decreasing while breast surgeries are on the rise. Dr. Tasha also explains how breasts change throughout the menstrual cycle, as well as from puberty to menopause. We dive into the topic of bras—are you one of those people who can’t wait to take your bra off the moment you get home? Dr. Tasha discusses whether you’re wearing the right bra, particularly for proper support during exercise. We also address key issues such as breast pain, breast cancer, and other common breast health concerns. Dr. Tasha provides practical advice on how often and how to perform a proper breast examination. As with many areas of health, lifestyle choices are crucial for maintaining breast health. This might make you think twice before drinking that glass of wine! 

 Date of episode recording: 2025-01-22T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 00.53.08
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Dr Tasha Gandamihardja
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Dr. Aziza Sesay is a GP, GP educator, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Host, Speaker and a well-regarded health content creator. Aziza is particularly noted for her work in health education, awareness, advocacy, and empowerment through her platform, "Talks with Dr. Sesay." This platform shares evidence-based health information, with a focus on women's health, cancer awareness, mental health, and health inequity. Aziza has been a GP for the last 10 years. She is the Vice Chair and Creative Director of Black Female Doctors UK and serves as an Ambassador for multiple health charities, including The Eve Appeal, Wellbeing of Women, FSRH, Hatfield Vision and Keep it Fax. Aziza is regularly featured in the media such as on BBC News, The Guardian, and Women's Health UK. She has played a pivotal role in several national public health campaigns. Her commitment to improving health outcomes and addressing health inequities has earned her recognition and respect including receiving a Point of Light Award.

Instagram: @talkswithdrsesay YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYTBJMSf_g-2h0kcmkFjCgQ 

It’s no surprise that misconceptions about the vulva, vagina, and cervix are so common, given how basic and limited education on these topics is in schools. The word vulva is still frowned upon by many, treated as if it’s inappropriate or taboo. This needs to change. In this discussion, Aziza explains the anatomy of the vulva, vagina, and cervix, covering what they look like, their functions, what can go wrong, and how to keep them healthy. Did you know women actually have seven openings in the genital area? These include the urethra, vagina, anus, and four openings from glands that secrete fluids. Aziza highlights the importance of understanding the "4 Ps": protection, passageway, pleasure, and policing. And yes, let’s make full use of the 10,000 nerve endings in the vulva designed for pleasure! We also tackle the problems with porn, particularly its portrayal of unrealistic vulvas, which can distort perceptions. Aziza dives into the vaginal microbiome, the implications of genital surgery, and how these structures change throughout the menstrual cycle and across life stages, from puberty to menopause. Throughout her career, Aziza has been asked countless questions about these topics—it’s time everyone truly understands their reproductive anatomy. 

 Date of episode recording: 2025-01-20T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.17.39
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Dr Aziza Sesay
 Producer: Joyce Harper 
 

In this episode, Joyce shares that her podcast is now listened to in over 90 countries. She reflects on the highlights from 2024, including the launch of a mini-series featuring episodes on Motherhood, Embracing life post menopause, and Beyond the Bleed: Exploring Menstrual Health. She has some incredible guests lined up for 2025. And thanks to Dave Krysko for creating the new podcast music.

On the very first episode of Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This?, Joyce revealed that her advice to her younger self would have been to beat her sugar addiction and spend more time being still. Fast forward to today, and she shares her triumph—nearly five months without eating chocolate, cakes, biscuits, sweets, or pastries. Joyce reflects on how challenging this is in today’s society and discusses why breaking these habits is so important. She also recounts her attempts at silent days in 2024, admitting they weren’t a total success but is a work in progress for 2025.

Joyce has been hard at work on her upcoming book, which she hopes will empower women to live their best lives. She provides a sneak peek into the chapters on health and happiness, including the development of her Wheel of Health and Happiness. This framework, which she has shared in her blogs, will also feature in the retreats she is organizing in Brighton and the South of France.

In this episode, Joyce also delves into her ongoing projects, including the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration, the InTune menopause education and support program, and her work with the SwimHer team, focusing on cold-water swimming and women’s health. She also highlights her research into menstrual health. Now an ambassador for Wellbeing of Women, Joyce looks forward to collaborating with the WoW team in 2025. On a more personal note, Joyce opens up about her twins leaving home, how her campervan has transformed her life, navigating her financial challenges, and her journey to find love. She also shares how creating a vision board has profoundly impacted her life.

Joyce has been writing blogs on many of the topics discussed in this episode, which can be found on her Global Women Connected section of her website. In 2025, she is relaunching her newsletters, which you can sign up for at www.joyceharper.com. 

 Date of episode recording: 2025-01-05T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 00.51.31
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Professor Joyce Harper
 Producer: Joyce Harper

Nerina is a physiologist, Sleep Expert, Author & keynote speaker, who is dedicated to helping people and organisations to thrive, sleep more deeply and live more joyfully. 

Nerina spent a decade conducting sleep and wellness programmes at Nightingale Hospital in London, coaches on burnout prevention at Ashridge Business School and is the original founder of BUPA’s Corporate Wellbeing Solutions. Nerina works with individuals as well as numerous corporate clients from various industries including sport (Chelsea Football Club). She is particularly interested in how, post-pandemic, organisations and individuals can thrive rather than merely survive. Her recently published 4th book Finding Inner Safety (Capstone, 2022) suggests that an important way forward in these volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) times is to tap into our deepest sources of resilience and inner safety. Many of her keynotes and presentations are focused on showing organisations and individuals how to do this. 

Nerina is the author of three other books: Tired But Wired (Souvenir Press, 2010), Fast Asleep, Wide Awake (Thorsons, 2016), and The Little Book of Sleep: The Art of Natural Sleep (Gaia, 2018). Her work is often featured in the media including TV and Radio. 
www.drnerina.com @drnerina 

Joyce and Nerina have known each other for over 40 years, since they first met while doing their PhDs — which makes this episode particularly special. Both are deeply passionate about the idea of reclaiming joy. In this conversation, Nerina explores what joy really is. It’s not always easy to define. ChatGPT describes it as a deep feeling of happiness, delight, or contentment that often arises spontaneously — not always triggered by something external. Nerina expands on this, explaining why joy is so essential for both our physical and mental wellbeing. Of course, joy looks different for everyone. We each have to discover what brings us joy in our own way. Nerina argues that joy should be recognised as a priority not just in our personal lives, but also in schools and workplaces — right alongside sleep. This is the final episode in the mini-series on reclaiming joy for 2025. I hope it’s sparked some ideas and inspiration for how you might reconnect with your own sense of joy. I’ll be back with another mini-series on joy and happiness next year — so stay tuned.

Date of episode recording: 2025-07-30T00:00:00Z
Duration: 01.14.09
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Dr Nerina Ramlakhan
Producer: Joyce Harper

Sheree Hargreaves is a campaigner to improve awareness of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). At just 15 years old, Sheree was diagnosed with POI, which is a condition that drastically altered the course of her life. Now, at 24, Sheree is using her story to raise awareness about this often-misunderstood condition and to support others who may feel isolated by their diagnosis. Sheree holds a Master's degree in Gender, Society and Representation from University College London, where she explored societal, political, and cultural structures. She is an Early Menopause Educator, Research and Engagement Lead and Menopause Ambassador. Sheree often appears in the press to talk about POI and is very active on social media with her Instagram account – Life of POI.

Instagram @lifeofpoi and https://www.pauseandunite.co.uk/Sheree-Hargreaves-early-menopause-ambassador
https://www.eshre.eu/-/media/sitecore-files/Guidelines/POI/2024/POI-GUIDELINE_Patient-version_2024_12_10.pdf

Sheree’s story is heartbreaking. She never had a period, and at age 15, her mother insisted on blood tests. The results revealed that she was infertile and was suffering from what was then called primary ovarian failure – now failure has been replaced with insufficiency. Can you imagine being given such life-changing news at just 15? 

Sheree suffers from primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), a rare condition that affects about 1% of women aged 15 to 44, though it is more common in women over 30. In this podcast, Sheree shares personal details of her journey so far — the medications she takes to stay healthy, and what POI means for her chances of starting a family in the future. We also discuss the causes of POI, its symptoms, diagnosis, and available treatments. Sheree has been working tirelessly to connect women experiencing POI and raise awareness through her Instagram account, @lifeofpoi. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-12-11T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 00.55.10
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Sheree Hargreaves
 Producer: Joyce Harper 

PCOS Professor Teede is the Director of Monash Centre for Health Research Implementation, Monash University and an Endocrinologist at Monash Health. She holds an Order of Australia for services to Women’s Health. Through decades of research, Helena is considered one of the world leaders in women’s health including PCOS, healthy pregnancy and menopause. She is a strong advocate for advancing women in leadership in healthcare and research and leads the International “Advancing Women in Healthcare and Health and Medical Science” initiative with 22 partners. She is dedicated to impact and equity, based on genuine partnership with the community, patients and carers in research and health service codesign and delivery. Her work reaches all 195 countries, and she has been awarded for international engagement.

Useful links: https://www.askpcos.org/ TikTok - @pcosvitality
https://www.eshre.eu/Guidelines-and-Legal/Guidelines/Polycystic-Ovary-Syndrome

Did you know that PCOS affects more than 1 in 10 women? Early diagnosis can significantly improve quality of life. In this podcast, Helena explains what PCOS is, its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. PCOS is a complex syndrome that is often misunderstood. Many believe it is solely a disorder of the ovaries or just about having infrequent periods, but it is much more than that. PCOS can impact metabolism, mental health, and fertility, leading to both short- and long-term health challenges. Women with PCOS face an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, sleep issues, endometrial cancer, fertility difficulties, weight problems, and mental health struggles. Lifestyle management plays a crucial role, and we discussed how challenging it can be to maintain a healthy weight in today’s society. 

Helena highlights the importance of early recognition, especially in adolescents. Symptoms like irregular periods, severe acne, and excess body hair are enough to diagnose PCOS. For younger women, further tests are often unnecessary, but for older women, scans and blood tests may be recommended. Alongside lifestyle changes, the contraceptive pill can be a useful tool for managing symptoms. Everyone should know about PCOS. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-12-18T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.06.37
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Professor Helena Teede
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Ertan is a Professor at University College London and a consultant in reproductive medicine and minimal access surgery at University College London Hospitals. He is a past president of the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy and current President of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy. His clinical interests include laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery for benign gynaecological conditions, reproductive surgery, endometriosis, fibroids and outpatient hysteroscopy. His research interests include non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis, clinical outcomes following endometriosis surgery, outpatient hysteroscopy, and the place of screening and risk-reducing surgery in women with a history of familial cancer. Ertan has been working on endometriosis since 1983. He is considered one of the world leaders in endometriosis and has co-authored the three versions of the ESHRE guidelines on endometriosis and invited to speak about endometriosis at international conferences. 

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside the womb. This condition often causes significant pain and can lead to infertility. Symptoms vary widely; some women may never realize they have endometriosis, while for others, the pain can severely impact their quality of life. Education is crucial for raising awareness and reducing the burden of endometriosis. Too many women endure severe pain, mistaking it for normal period pain. Unfortunately, a lack of awareness and the requirement for invasive procedures often delay diagnosis, leaving women without the help they need for many years. There are various treatment options with differing levels of success, including TENS machines, hot water bottles, medications, and surgery. Looking ahead, experts like Ertan emphasize the need for preventive measures, advancements in surgical techniques, and the development of non-hormonal treatment options to improve care and outcomes for women with endometriosis. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-11-13
 Duration: 01.15.06
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:  Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Professor Ertan Saridogan
 Producer: Joyce Harper

 Transcription link: www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Dr Jackie Maybin is a Reader and Consultant Gynaecologist at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian. She runs a specialist menstrual disorders service offering medical and surgical treatments. Her research team aims to develop better preventative and therapeutic strategies for problematic menstrual bleeding, a common and debilitating symptom. She holds a Wellcome Clinical Career Development Fellowship to investigate the role of hypoxia in menstrual physiology and pathology. She is also examining the potential link between COVID and menstrual disturbance. Jackie is also president of the RCOG Blair Bell Society, a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Young Academy of Scotland and Chair the National Menstrual Clinical Network for the Scottish Government.

In this episode, Understanding your menstrual cycle and period, we delve into menstrual disorders, including heavy menstrual bleeding and its significant impact on women's health.  Jackie explains the importance of understanding what constitutes a normal menstrual cycle: a typical cycle lasts 24 to 36 days, with bleeding lasting fewer than eight days. She highlights the urgent need for better menstrual health education, particularly in schools. At present, most girls receive only two lessons on periods—one in primary school and one in high school. In some schools, boys are still separated during these lessons, resulting in men having little to no understanding of menstruation. Jackie discusses the critical importance of addressing heavy menstrual bleeding to prevent conditions such as anaemia. She explores the role of hormones in regulating menstrual cycles and examines the complexities of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). She discusses her work on the impact of COVID-19 on menstrual health. We also discuss the need for improved workplace policies for menstruating women. 

Important web sites
www.ed.ac.uk/hope
https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/womens-health/girls-and-young-women-puberty-to-around-25/periods-and-menstrual-health/periods-menstruation/
https://reproductive-health.ed.ac.uk/ 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-11-14
 Duration: 00.57.59
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Dr Jackie Maybin
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 
Transcription link: 

www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Eleanor is the former Editorial Director of The Sunday Times and one of Britain’s most high profile commentators. In March of 2021 she launched an online community platform for women called Noon. She began her journalistic life on the Guardian and Observer and at only 26, she was the Daily Telegraph’s youngest ever Features Editor. During her long Fleet Street career, Eleanor was the Sunday Times’s main interviewer. In 2014 she became Chair of Women in Journalism, the industry’s cross media network for female hacks, and launched a series of high profile events on media sexism and empowering women. Eleanor won the 2012 International Alliance of women’s World of Difference Award for her “contribution to women’s economic empowerment” and was one of only four journalists in Europe to be shortlisted for Journalist of the Year at the European Diversity Awards 2012. She appears regularly on television – you can catch her most weeks on ITV and on Sky News reviewing the newspapers and commentating on politics and society. She has written two books, Cupcakes and Kalashnikovs: An Anthology of the best Journalism by Women and Much More to Come and is currently working on a new book Birds and the Bees: 2.0, Talking Sex with Generation XXX. 

In this episode, Eleanor shares her extensive knowledge on empowering women. We discuss positive aging, her coining of the term "Queenager," and how her community at Noon has enabled her to support women. While many find life over 50 to be the best time of their lives, this isn't the case for everyone. So, what can we do to help those who are struggling? Eleanor believes we need to invest time and resources into ourselves—finding our tribe, managing our finances, and especially focusing on our pensions. As mothers of university students, we talk about coping with an empty nest and offer insights on how women can navigate this transition more easily. We also share a mutual passion for cold-water swimming, with Eleanor explaining why she loves it. Eleanor reminds us that there’s still so much more to come. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 00.52.44
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Eleanor Mills
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Bukky is the Principal Consultant at Vibrant Midlife Wellness Practice. She helps motivate women in midlife to overcome the disruption of hormone chaos that can accompany the menopause transition and develop their personalised menopause care plan so they are happier, fitter, healthier, more confident, and fabulous. Aside from being a Certified Health and Wellness Coach to midlife women, her wellness coaching is underpinned by over 35 years of experience as a Pharmacist working at various Blue-Chip pharmaceutical companies.

Bukky is currently sharing her expertise with NHS England helping to improve women's health and lead a workstream on the National Menopause programme. She has been responsible for the launch of 2 Key products to help support the NHS workforce going through the menopause transition: National Menopause Guidance for staff and line managers, and a core Menopause Awareness e-learning module for all staff. She also helps organisations support and retain highly skilled female talent through menopause training, coaching, and consultancy. She has recently published an amazing self-care tool for midlife women: The “Vibrant Midlife Wellness and Affirmation Journal” https://vibrantmidlife.com/ 

Bukky views aging as a privilege, though she acknowledges that not all women feel vibrant during this stage of life. In our discussion, we explored the importance of key pillars of well-being that support healthy aging: nutrition, movement, sleep, mental health, and friendships. Bukky offers a free eBook titled 5 Keys to Help Lose Midlife Weight & Keep it Off! and regularly writes blogs on topics such as gratitude, affirmations, meditation, and journaling. She also runs workshops to support women in these areas. Additionally, Bukky and I conducted a study on Black women’s attitudes toward menopause to ensure their voices were represented. She also explains her ongoing work with the NHS to improve menopause education. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-09-24T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 00.54.09
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Prof Joyce Harper
 Guests: Bukky Ayoade
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Stella Duffy has written seventeen novels. Her last novel, Lullaby Beach was published by Virago in February 2021.She has also written and devised fourteen plays and written over seventy short stories, including several for BBC Radio 4. Her collected stories are published by Salt in Everything is Moving, Everything is Joined. She has won many awards. She wrote and presented the BBC4 documentary How to Write a Mills and Boon. In addition to her writing work, she worked in theatre for over thirty five years. Stella is a regular speaker and campaigner around LGBTQ+, women’s and arts equality and inclusion issues. She was awarded the OBE for Services to the Arts in 2016. She is a qualified yoga teacher, running workshops in yoga for writing, and this year was awarded a doctorate in existential psychotherapy. Her research was in the embodied experience of postmenopause. 

Instagram: @stellduffy and @stelladuffytherapy 
Twitter: @stellduffy 

Stella has experienced a lot. She has been a comedian, actor, writer, speaker, campaigner, yoga teacher and is now a therapist. Also framing her life has been numerous health problems, many more than most of us will ever go through. She went through cancer in her 30s, which lead her into early menopause, is childless by circumstance, had another round of cancer when she was 50, had a mastectomy, a ruptured brain aneurysm, brain haemorrhage, two lots of brain surgery, a hip replacement, and a knee replacement. She had a seriously shit perimenopause. But she is a woman who is truly embracing age, so much so that she has just finished her PhD in existential psychotherapy – which we talk about in the podcast. She wants to change the negative narrative around life post menopause. Menopause is not the end, and Stella is excited how we can live post menopause as the best years of our lives. It is our time to make life choices. And she loves cold water swimming and Saturday night pizza! 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-10-04T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.13.10
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Dr Stella Duffy, OBE
 Producer: Joyce Harper 
 

Rachel is a silver haired curve model, body confidence activist, midlife influencer, and the woman behind Liberte Free to Be. She began a new career as a model at the age of 46, something that she does not feel she would have had the confidence to do earlier in life. She is doing amazing work representing older women in the fashion industry and has worked with some amazing people and brands including JDWilliams, F&F Clothing with Davina McCall and alongside my body confidence icon Ashley Graham for Swimsuits for All. Her favourite shoots are always swimwear and lingerie and now in her 50s, she finally feels at ease with my body which is liberating. And if you have been following Rachel you would have seen her giving lectures in her underwear which I think is so empowering.

Rachel has built a dynamic community to revitalise, inspire, motivate, and support women to get the best out of life. Liberté Free to Be was created to spread some positivity around midlife and share inspiration to others who may be feeling a bit lost as they hit their forties and beyond. Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things in life can lead to all sorts of opportunities and bring a new lease of life to this next chapter. She runs a Liberté Lifestyle Hub, and for many years ran the Liberté Free to Be podcast, and a weekly newsletter and blog. https://liberteltd.com/ Instagram: @rachelperu1 

Rachel has an incredibly positive outlook on aging and feels that this is the best time of her life. She stands out as a powerful role model, embracing her body and not feeling invisible despite working in an industry that has often been criticised for its lack of body positivity and its inherent ageism. Rachel has experienced frustrations, such as being part of photoshoots where her images were never used, but she acknowledges that things are gradually improving. A fan of social media, Rachel believes the conversation around aging is slowly becoming more positive. She offers advice to women struggling with body confidence, encouraging them to focus on body acceptance. She suggests looking in the mirror daily and learning to love your body for what it is - it tells the story of your life. We also talked about the importance of taking care of your health as you age, and the value of women’s circles and friendships. This episode will leave listeners feeling uplifted and empowered. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-09-24T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 00.46.28
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Prof Joyce Harper
 Guests: Rachel Peru
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Kate Codrington is a pioneering, pro-ageing activist, author, menstrual health menopause mentor, speaker, workshop facilitator, artist, yoga Nidra guide, podcaster and has been a therapist for nearly 30 years. She is author of two books: Second Spring: the self-care guide to menopause and just out - The Perimenopause Journal.

Kate’s mission is to change the way we regard menopause and show how we can relax into our own, inner authority through our cyclical nature and menopause process. She refuses to take herself too seriously and try to never take on anything that is not pleasurable and delicious. She is also an artist currently weaving textiles, words, story and stitch.

She’s in her second spring, which means post-menopause, and has deep gratitude for the education that the menopause process has gifted her. It was ouchy for sure, but it did what years of therapy did not; took her head out of her arse. Kate has a hugely positive view of life post menopause – she says it is the best time of her life. Kate also feels that we can gain a lot from our perimenopause transition – she has deep gratitude for the education that the menopause process has gifted her. Kate does not feel that the menopause is a disorder or that everyone needs to take HRT.

We discussed why there is such a negative narrative around menopause in the UK. Kate’s work is centred on the cycles of the seasons, and she explains how this works through a woman’s life, and how we enter our second spring. Kate also explains the three processes in Second Spring: separation, surrender and emergence. We are both very happy people, and Kate explains how happiness is U-shaped. Kate feels that it is important for women to chart and track their feelings, which women can explore more in the Perimenopause Journal. We also discussed the importance of relaxing, meditation such as with yoga Nidra, movement and being in nature. Kate and I are both huge fans of women’s circles. It is so powerful to be with other women, sharing stories and giving support.

Presenter:  Professor Joyce Harper
Guests:      Kate Codrington
Producer:  Professor Joyce Harper

Free resource library including Yoga Nidras: https://mailchi.mp/a8a0fa08678a/resource-library 

30% off a year of live Yoga Nidras: https://bit.ly/yoga-nidra-year 

Website: https://www.katecodrington.co.uk/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/kate_codrington/ 

This podcast is part of the series on Motherhood and is coming out just before World Childless Week. https://worldchildlessweek.net/

Jody Day is the founder of Gateway Women, the global advocacy network for childless women, founded in 2011. She’s the author of what many professionals consider to be the 'go-to' book on the topic, ‘Living the Life Unexpected: How to Find Hope, Meaning and a Fulfilling Future Without Children’. Chosen as one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2013 and as a UK Digital Woman of the Year in 2021, she’s a global thought leader on female involuntary childlessness, a psychotherapist, a 2017 and 2022 TEDx speaker, a founding and former board member at UK Charity Ageing Well Without Children and a former Fellow in Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School. Often referred to as the founder of the ‘childless movement’ she’s been an Ambassador for World Childless Week since its inception in 2017. Since 2018 she has lived in rural Ireland, where she’s working on two new books and nurturing her emerging Gateway Elderwomen project, which includes developing local, non-kin, intergenerational support networks for those ageing without children. https://gateway-women.com/ 

Jody on Instagram: @GatewayWomen 

What is the difference between childfree and childless? In several countries, about 20% of women do not have children. Joyce and Jody discuss why women might be childless, such as not being able to find the right partner, not being able to get pregnant or failure of fertility treatments. All of these situations can result in women experiencing trauma, which needs to be resolved. And this is where Jody can help. In 2011 Jody shared her story and since then she has been working with women to encourage them to share their stories through Gateway Women. Her book has helped so many, as well as her women’s circles, therapists and Gateway Women Reignite Weekend workshops. She wants women to find their meaningful life without motherhood. With menopause, comes the realisation that getting pregnant is no longer an option and in 2014, Jody wrote a blog called ‘The Childless Menopause’. This is a powerful podcast. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-08-21T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.15.07
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Jody Day
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Debbie is a spiritual coach, certified grief recovery specialist, teacher of multiple Yoga lineages, menopause coach and much more. She is a certified in many types of yoga and is accredited by the Yoga Alliance, with over 25 years' yoga experience. Debbie is also trained in Mental Health, and Occupational Safety and Health. Debbie was born into an environment marked by dysfunction and has navigated a world without safety or guidance. From this experience she brings together the transformative power of movement, mindfulness, spirituality, and healing into a cohesive experience that truly supports people in their journey. She has created something that is both essential and expansive, a sanctuary for those seeking not just physical wellness but a deeper connection to themselves. She runs 1:1 sessions, workshops and retreats and offers eco-conscious yoga accessories and a range of sustainable clothing, embodying her commitment to the environment. 

Website www.theyogajunkie.co.uk/ Instagram: @theyogajunkie 

After meeting Debbie at the Big Retreat Festival and experiencing her incredible 90-minute sound bath, I knew I had to invite her onto the podcast. Many people still don’t know what a sound bath is or why they might want to attend one — so in this episode, Debbie walks us through the whole experience. She explains what a sound bath actually is, the instruments she uses, and how these sounds can affect both the body and the mind. She also describes what to expect from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. For many, it can be a deeply calming and even transformative experience — I personally feel completely relaxed and reset after one. I especially love floating sound baths, which we also talk about. In Debbie’s studio in Wales, participants are suspended in hammocks for a truly unique experience. We also explore what yoga means to Debbie, and how she supports people navigating menopause and grief through her practice. If you’ve never tried a sound bath before, I hope this episode inspires you to give it a go. I’d love to hear what you think.

Date of episode recording: 2025-07-31T00:00:00Z
Duration: 01.07.09
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Debbie Robinson - the Yoga Junkie
Producer: Joyce Harper

Dr Zeynep Gurtin is a Lecturer in Women’s Health at the Institute for Women’s Health at UCL and an Authority Member at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. 

Zeynep is a sociologist of reproduction and family life, and for the past two decades her work has focused on women’s experiences of infertility, fertility treatments, and family building. She completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge and worked there with Professors Sarah Franklin and Susan Golombok. She also spent 2 years working at a fertility clinic, focusing on researching the social and emotional aspects of egg freezing and single women's fertility options and experiences. Zeynep is an experienced public communicator; she has spoken about fertility, assisted reproduction and gender relations at schools, City firms, arts festivals and women's groups, both nationally and internationally. Her work has been extensively covered in the media, including BBC News, Women's Hour, the Guardian, the Independent, Sky News, Stylist Magazine, Glamour, and Grazia. 

In this emotional episode, which is part of the podcast series on Motherhood, Zeynep and Joyce recount their difficult fertility journeys that led both to have children over age 40. This was not plan A for either of them, so reliving it brought tears. Globally we have seen the age that women have their first child increase, and it is now over age 30 in many countries. And the total fertility rate, the number of children a woman has, is decreasing globally, hovering just above 1 in several EU countries. But many people wish for a family size of 2-3 children. Why are women having children, later, how does egg freezing affect their choices, and what challenges affect women trying to conceive over 40? How does society view the older mother? And what issues could arise for women going through the perimenopause with small children? 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-08-16T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.05.15
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Prof Joyce Harper
 Guests: Dr Zeynep Gurtin
 Producer: Prof Joyce Harper
 

Lucy van de Wiel was a Research Associate in the Reproductive Sociology Research Group (ReproSoc) at the Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge. She is currently a Lecturer and Postgraduate Research Director in Global Health and Social Medicine at King’s College London. She has founded and is chair of the Reproduction Research Group at King’s. Her research focuses on the introduction of new reproductive technologies such as egg freezing, time-lapse embryo imaging and Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A). 

Lucy explores how these technologies give insight into broader developments within the sector, including the datafication of reproduction and the financialisation of fertility. She also researches telemedical abortion in the post-Roe landscape. She has published an Open Access booked on egg freezing with New York University Press titled Freezing Fertility: Oocyte Cryopreservation and the Gender Politics of Aging. Freezing Fertility has inspired a feature documentary, also called Freezing Fertility. 

In this episode, Lucy explains all aspects of egg freezing. She discusses what happens when a woman undergoes the procedure, how successful it is, and how much it costs. It is not a simple procedure to go through, it is not that successful with no guarantee of a baby and it is expensive, with multiple rounds usually being recommended. So why would any woman want to freeze her eggs? Joyce and Lucy answer this question and discuss the interesting fact that few women have come back to use their frozen eggs. And what does the future hold – is this a procedure that will become common place or are other technologies being developed that will replace egg freezing? 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-07-29T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.18.05
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Joyce Harper 
 Guests: Dr Lucy van de Wiel
 Producer: Joyce Harper 

Mel is a solo mother and has used her experience to help others on this journey. She can be found on social media @the_stork_and_i and is The Solo Parenthood Coach ™

Mel is an experienced Life Coach, with a coaching qualification from CoachMatch and over 15 years of personal development and leadership coaching, with the last 6 years focusing solely on Solo Parenting. She uses the blended approach of coaching, research based information and resources, and personal insights from her own journey to provide support to explore options and to help support those who are deciding to go down the same path. She has grown a like minded community full of amazing women who are all here to help and support each other, and through the content she shares, 1:2:1 coaching, group coaching programmes and through her membership, she supports women from around the world to feel empowered and in control of their route to parenthood.

Mel talks about why she decided to become a solo mother, what her friends and family thought about it, and the biggest challenges she has faced.  For solo mothers – there are various ways to obtain donor sperm such as through a fertility clinic, with a friend, or through meeting someone on line. The latter option can be problematic as highlighted in the Netflix series – The Man with 1000 kids. Most solo mothers are honest with their children from the start and tell them that they were conceived using donor sperm.  The donor conception network produces excellent books called Our Story which help different types of families explain how they conceived to their children. Mel explained that it can lead to problems if families are not open.  

Further information can be found at https://www.dcnetwork.org/ and https://www.eshre.eu/irhec

 Date of episode recording: 2024-07-04T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 00.45.55
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Mel Johnson
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Tim is Associate Professor of Reproductive Medicine in the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford. Tim studied medicine at the Universities of Cambridge and London, followed by postgraduate training in Oxford and a 2 year Fellowship at McGill University in Montreal where he worked on oocyte In Vitro Maturation, a drug-free version of IVF. He then returned to Oxford and in 2007 led the team behind the first UK babies born using the technique – twins. He got his research MD from the University of London, with a thesis titled 'Clinical and ultrasound prediction of outcome in unstimulated oocyte in-vitro maturation cycles. Tim is on the Board of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and Chairs the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC). Tim was a member of the 2013 NICE Fertility Guidelines Group. He is co-author of the UK’s highest selling Obs and Gynae textbook and has published over 100 research papers and chapters. Tim is a firm believer in Evidence Based Medicine and has undertaken many trials assessing assisted conception interventions. Tim runs regular patient-focussed Instagram Lives on his channel @drtimchild  

Tim explains how to get pregnant naturally and how to get pregnant using fertility treatments. We discuss when the fertile window is, how fertility declines with age, how to prepare for pregnancy, what Tim thinks about nutrition, supplements and lifestyle, and what to do if there are problems. Tim explains how long couples should try naturally before they seek medical help. the most common causes of infertility, the different types of fertility treatments and the success rates. We discuss the role of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and how they have regulated IVF add-ons – additional treatments that usually claim to increase your chances of getting pregnant. We finish the podcast talking about some of the new technologies being developed such as using adult cells to make eggs and sperm which would totally revolutionise how we have children in the future.  

Further information about some of the topics we discussed can be found at https://www.eshre.eu/irhec

Transcription link: www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

 Date of episode recording: 2024-07-04T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.01.37
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
 Guests: Professor Tim Child
 Producer: Joyce Harper

Athena Lamnisos is CEO of the leading women’s health charity, The Eve Appeal which is focused education about the five gynaecological cancers and their prevention.

Athena is experienced at forging partnerships between private, public and not for profit sectors. She has a track record of directing successful change programmes in the arena of public health and oncology and is passionate about making the publics voices heard. Her career spans working for Friends of the Earth where she led the communications and fundraising directorate through to leading public sector campaigns as a founding Board director of Forster. She has held numerous trustee roles including at food waste charity FareShare and as a founding trustee of restorative justice charity The Forgiveness Project.

In this podcast we discussed the importance of raising awareness about the 5 gynaecological cancers: womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal. Athena shared her experience as CEO of the Eve Appeal, highlighting the charity's focus on prevention and early diagnosis through partnerships with private, public, and non-profit sectors and some of the amazing research they have supported. We also discussed the importance of educating children and adults about female anatomy, using proper terminology, and avoiding shame or embarrassment to prevent cancer.  Athena stressed the importance of early detection and prevention of gynaecological cancers and the need for more awareness and education and the HPV vaccination. She gives some important tips to help women identify when something might be wrong.

Transcription link: 

www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

 Duration: 48:53
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Joyce Harper
 Guests: Athena Lamnisos
 Producer: Joyce Harper

Susan Saunders is a health coach helping women over 50 reduce dementia risk and optimise brain health with science-backed habits. She's the author of three books about healthy ageing and longevity. She co-wrote the bestseller The Age-Well Project (and the blog of the same name) and authored The Age-Well Plan. Her most recent publication is The Power Decade: how to thrive after menopause - and it's out now. She has a high-level qualification as a dementia prevention coach with neuroscientist Dr Dale Bredesen (author of The End of Alzheimer's) and was one of the first coaches in the UK to qualify as a coach on his programme. She's coached hundreds of people globally to build habits scientifically-shown to reduce dementia risk. SOCIALS: Instagram @susansaundershealth Website https://susansaundershealth.com 

How can we age well? Susan says it is in our hands. If we look after our lifestyle – we can age well and reduce the risk of dementia. Susan has dedicated her life to examining aging well since her mother got dementia. In The Power Decade she talks about the '3 Ms' - mindset, meals and movement', and in her coaching practice she talks about six pillars of better brain health - nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, cognitive engagement and environment (social and built). We discuss these topics, from the myths around nutrition, to the myths around which exercise post menopausal women should do. Susan feels that managing stress is an essential life skill, and exercise is no longer an option. It is time to rediscover our creativity and find our tribe. This podcast is filled with brilliant advice on how to age well. 

Transcription link: 

www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

 Date of episode recording: 2024-05-15T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.14.22
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Joyce Harper
 Guests: Susan Saunders
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Mel Berry is co-founder of Her Spirit with her friend Holly Woodford. Mel is an experienced triathlon and swimming coach and leads the swimming coaching groups and the development of the overall Her Spirit coaching programme. Mel has worked with some of the best athletes, coaches and business owners in the world. Supporting these experiences has been her chance to help so many people transform their lives. She believes that anyone can achieve anything they want to. But to enable this to happen, you need good people around you to realise this. This is one of many reasons she set up Her Spirit. Mel loves to swim and currently training to swim the length of Coniston twice in one weekend and Lake Windermere one way for charity. 

Exercise is so important for our physical and mental health and reduces the risk of many major diseases such as cancer, dementia, and more. But women around the world do not do enough exercise and movement. Her Spirit is here to help. Through the Her Spirit app and web site, Mel and the team are trying to make communities of women who can enjoy exercise together. Her Spirit also lead a number of campaigns including the 4-week virtual swim challenge to help raise funds for Breast Cancer Now. And in July, they are launching the Her Spirit Women’s Sports Fund to increase the accessibility to sports. 

Transcription link: 

www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

 Date of episode recording: 2024-05-17T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.00.23
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter:Joyce Harper
 Guests: Mel Berry
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Laura Spoelstra has been involved in the fertility sector as an expert in donation issues for almost 15 years. During that time, she was involved in various national policy working parties including the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the Nuffield Council on BioEthics and the Joint Committee on the Human Tissue and Embryos Bill. More recently she has been focusing on wellbeing of young people and mental health. And she’s been a listening volunteer for Samaritans, a national organisation providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide.

Laura is a Samaritans Branch Deputy Director, a Regional Officer and a qualified Mental Health First Aider. Mental health is, in a sense, the same as physical health. It’s intrinsic to who we are, and it’s our ability to cope with life. A third of illnesses are caused by poor mental health as this can impact our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. And as we go through life, we face different challenges that affect our mental health. Covid caused a big spike in mental health issues. Young people are facing huge challenges for their mental health, with pressures from social media and hectic lifestyles. Suicide has increased over recent years and the data shows that men are more likely to commit suicide than women, at all ages. But there are ways to improve your mental health, including talking to people if we have issues, but also lifestyle changes such as being outside, exercise, nutrition good sleep and friendships. There are also several medications that can be used. The Samaritans are there ‘’Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We're here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year." https://www.samaritans.org/ 

Transcription link: 

www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

 Date of episode recording: 2024-05-09T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 00.49.03
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Joyce Harper
 Guests: Laura Spoelstra
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Tessa is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the University of Sydney School of Public Health. Her research focuses on the psychosocial impacts of disease labels, overdiagnosis and evidence-based reproductive healthcare for women. Her PhD research examined the benefits and harms of a polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis, and this research has been published in high impact journals in the field. In this episode Tessa explains what women’s health tech and Femtech are, and ideally how they should be developed, with a basis on evidence-based medicine. Health tech companies probably have two aims – to improve health and to make money but maybe along the way, they get hijacked by making money. There is a saying that health tech fakes it until they can make it. Which is what happened with Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, who is now in prison for fraud. Tessa explains that regulation of tech is inadequate, and it may confirm that a test is testing what it says it is, but it does not mean that the test is of any use to the public. With social media and celebrities endorsing health tech, it makes it difficult for people to know what will be valid. But does it matter – surely health tech does no harm, except on the wallet? Tessa explains that it can do harm, using the example of Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) testing. Tessa discusses her recent paper titled Marketing empowerment: how corporations co-opt feminist narratives to promote non-evidence based health interventions. We also discuss period tracker apps, IVF add-ons and menopause. Will anyone take any notice of research such as Tessa’s, or will marketing take over allowing unproven health tech to thrive? 

Transcription link: www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

 Date of episode recording: 2024-04-11T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 00.56.49
 Presenter: Joyce Harper
 Guests: Dr Tessa Copp
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

Dame Lesley Regan is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Imperial College, St Mary’s Hospital, London. Having graduated from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London in 1980, Professor Regan pursued her career at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, where she first became enthused by clinical & laboratory research, completing an MD on miscarriage, the commonest complication of pregnancy. She went on to set up the world’s largest recurrent miscarriage clinic at St Mary’s. Professor Regan was the 30th President (2016-2019) of the RCOG, during which time she co-chaired the national Women’s Health Task Force and published the RCOG Better for Women report which highlighted the need for an NHS led women’s health strategy. Lesley was awarded a DBE for her services to women’s health in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List. She was appointed chair of the WoW charity in October 2020 and became the first ever Women’s Health Ambassador for England in July 2022, to help implementation of the Government’s recently launched Women's Health Strategy to improve the health and wellbeing of girls and women nationally. 

In this episode we discuss some of the key topics in women’s health as Lesley’s interests span from the cradle to the grave. As well as her pioneering work on miscarriage, Lesley has been helping women with menstrual issues, fertility and infertility and menopause. She has been trying to deal with the many obstacles and myths around women’s health. In 2009 she presented a TV series called Professor Regan Investigates looking into how some companies use science to sell. This issue is even more important now, as women’s health tech has become a booming industry. Through her work, education has been key for Lesley to ensure all women lead their best and healthiest lives. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-03-15T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.14.35
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Joyce Harper
 Guests: Professor Dame Lesley Regan
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 

What can I say about this woman? Lu in Luland, AKA Lou Featherstone is a 50-something mom on a mission to help women of all ages unlock their potential and become as confident as they can be. Hence, the Self Love Revolution Tour! She is a founding member of the Zero F*s Club, a sex-positive movement that helps others grow old disgracefully!

To do that, Lou is touring the WORLD in her beloved vintage Bluebird bus, busting myths about midlife and menopause along the way. After emigrating from the UK to Portland, Oregon, she found herself extremely unhappy, she’d lost touch with her sexy self. Through small groups of AMAZING women in Portland, and her incredible Instagram community, she began to speak out more, and soon rediscovered her own voice. That process led to two huge discoveries: first, she mastered solo sex, which changed her relationship with her body and was a huge part of re-finding her confidence. Second, it led her to feel less connected to her husband, and she made the incredibly difficult, but incredibly bold, decision to separate.

At this time, she was a track-and-field tutor at a local high school, but they did not approve of her social media presence – so, naturally, she walked away and didn’t look back. Sustainable fashion is another HUGE passion of Lou’s, check out her Instagram to see her wild style. She has an array of fantastic clothes on her bus which she gives women permission to play with, involving a lot of fun and liberation. Every day she wakes up more in love with who she is. “I love myself more today than I did yesterday, and tomorrow I’ll love myself more than I do today.” And she’s a TEDX speaker – helping women find their roadmap to self-love. Rip up the rule book! Lou has reclaimed her joy.

https://luinluland.com/ @luinluland

Warning – we swear a lot!

This podcast is full of laugher, fun and outrageousness. This woman is so inspiring. Lou grew up in a vicarage and has worn many hats over the years – including heading up the PTA (yes, picture her with a clipboard, shaking things up). A major turning point came when she moved from the UK to the USA with her husband. It was there that she realised something was missing – and that it was time to make a radical change. That awakening was sparked when Lou realised the power of her vagina, vulva, orgasms, and menopause.

For many women, menopause becomes a superpower – the moment they truly let go of societal limitations. Lou embraced this shift. She left her husband, bought a vintage bus, started a YouTube channel, launched an Instagram account, and hit the road across America, inspiring women everywhere to reclaim their joy. Today, she’s performing a one-woman show and running her own festival in August 2025 in the UK. If you get the chance, go and see her. She’s unforgettable. She has some brilliant quotes, besides the one in her bio. Here is another – “Give up on the destination. Embrace the journey.” What more can I say?

Lavina Mehta, MBE, is an award winning personal trainer, wellness coach, mum of 3, was awarded an MBE in 2020 for her work in health and fitness over the pandemic and she is on a mission to help all ages feel good physically and mentally. Her slogan is Exercise for sanity not vanity. She has also done a great TED talk in a school to encourage young people to exercise. And is a patron of menopause mandate and an ambassador for diabetes UK, the Alzheimer’s society and Wellbeing of Women. The Feel Good Fix by Lavina Mehta is publishing on 30th May 2024 and is available for pre-order now (Penguin Life, £16.99) Follow Lavina on social media: @feelgoodwithlavina Lavina has not always been into exercising. She was the arty kid at school and had a very successful career in the corporate world. But over recent years she has been doing a huge amount of work to encourage everyone to exercise – exercise snacking whenever they can: whilst cleaning your teeth, cooking, on an aeroplane. Her work has also taken her into schools to talk about how exercising can help reduce mental health. Of course we talked about the importance of exercising during the perimenopause and beyond. And the importance of exercising outside, with friends. We can all do this – exercise snacking works and helps lead us to the Feel Good Fix. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-02-20T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 00:47:44
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Joyce Harper
 Guests: Lavina Mehta. MBE
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 
Transcription link: www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Mike Tipton, MBE, PhD, MSc, FTPS is Professor of Human & Applied Physiology, In the Extreme Environments Laboratory, School of Sport Health & Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, UK. Mike has worked at the University of Surrey and University of Portsmouth. In addition, he was based at the Institute of Naval Medicine (INM) from 1983 to 2004 and was Consultant Head of the Environmental Medicine Division of the INM from 1996. He has published over 800 scientific papers, reports, chapters, abstracts and books in his research areas of drowning, thermoregulation, environmental and occupational physiology, and survival in the sea. He is an honorary life member of Surf Lifesaving GB and was a Trustee/Director for ten years, he is a member of the Council of the RNLI as well as a Consultant to the Medical Director of the RNLI. He has been a consultant in survival and thermal medicine to the Royal Air Force, UKSport and the English Institute of Sport (EIS). He chaired UKSport’s Research Advisory Group and sat on the EIS Scientific and Ethics Advisory Group. He sits on the QinetiQ ethics committee. Prof Tipton as edited several scientific journals including The Physiological Society’s “Experimental Physiology”. Mike is a visiting Professor at King’s College, London, and an Adjunct Professor at Waterford Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and The Physiological Society. He was awarded his MBE for services to physiological research in extreme environments; the Ireland Medal for saving lives from drowning worldwide; and the H&L Swiftwater rescue lifetime achievement award from the USA. 

Why do people swim in cold water – and what are the benefits and dangers? Mike explains what happens to our body when we immerse ourselves in cold water and if this is good for our health. It can make us ill and even cause death. He gives important tips for those who are thinking of starting. As always there are many myths. Cold water swimmers religiously drink a hot drink after swimming. Mike says it is a myth that it is warming us up. And eating cake is lovely, but we do not need it! And the best way to warm up after cold water swimming? A warm bath or sauna. We discuss our latest research on cold water swimming and menstrual and menopause symptoms. And what’s it like training for Ironman when you are in your mid 60s! 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-02-23T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01:08:20
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Joyce Harper
 Guests: Professor Mike Tipton
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 
Transcription link: www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Philippa is a GP, author, journalist and mother. She is a Londoner and only moved away for three years while studying at Downing College Cambridge, before returning to Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ medical school for her clinical training. Once qualified she started having babies all in the midst of training in paediatrics, gynaecology, care of the elderly and acute medicine, psychiatry and then general practice. She now works as a GP in both privately and for the NHS, before running home to the chaos of a house with a husband and three children. She is the author of 8 books, including: Doctors Get Cancer Too is her memoir of being 39 years old, a busy doctor and mother when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer and was an Amazon bestseller, and The M Word: Everything you need to know about the menopause which reached number 2 in the Amazon charts. Breasts: An Owner’s Guide was released in 2023. She is the medical expert for Woman, Woman & Home, That’s Life and My Weekly Special magazines and regularly contributes to the print and online press as well as having a role as the Ann Summers sexual health GP. She is regularly seen on the sofa on television on This Morning, Talk TV and various news programmes on both radio and television. Below is a link to Dr Philippa explaining what happens during cervical screening, a smear test. The clip has been viewed worldwide more than 15.4 million times!
 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-42774652/what-happens-during-a-smear-test
The M word - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Word-Everything-Need-About-Menopause-ebook/dp/B0BRQWQJLX/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=philippa+kaye&qid=1706691623&s=instant-video&sr=1-2
Breasts, an owners guide - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breasts-Owners-Guide-Philippa-Kaye-ebook/dp/B0B92JXBX7/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=philippa+kaye&qid=1706691772&s=instant-video&sr=1-1 

What a pleasure to release this podcast on International Women’s Day 2024 with the theme of inspire inclusion. Being a GP has allowed Philippa to work in all the areas of medicine she is interested in. Writing books, and being on social media and TV, has allowed her to reach a wider audience to share her immense knowledge. In this very powerful podcast, we discuss a better world for women. Education is key, so they can understand their health and know when to contact their GP. Women often wait too long to visit their GP putting up with painful periods, miscarriage, menopause symptoms and more. She says we should not feel we are disturbing our GPs – “The time for you to bother me is the time when it bothers you.” We discuss Philippa’s advice on infertility, menopause, breasts, cervical screening and cancer. And what it is like to juggle being a working mother. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-02-09T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01:04:22
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Joyce Harper
 Guests: Dr Philippa Kaye
 
Transcription link: www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Dr Neil Stanley started working on sleep when he was 16 – working at the neurosciences division of the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine in Farnborough. Since then he has been involved in numerous research studies, a notable one being a study in Pakistan where the team recorded sleep in 8 people for 6 nights at 18500 feet. In 1993 Neil took up a position in the human psychopharmacology research unit, university of Surrey, where he became the director of sleep research. There he created and ran a 24 bed trials sleep laboratory, primarily doing clinical trials into the effects of medications on sleep. He also set up and developed the sleep service at the London Clinic. If Neil is not talking about sleep, he is writing about sleep, if he is not writing about it, he is reading about it, and if not reading about it – he is probably asleep. He is author of the book – How to sleep well. The science of sleeping smarter, living better and being more productive which I highly recommend – as well as being full of evidence-based information about sleep – it is very funny. His latest book is coming out on 24th Feb 'Sleep Divorce: How to Sleep Apart, Not Fall Apart'. Everyone needs to sleep. Virtually every major disease has been linked to sleep. Sleep affects our work, school performance, relationships, emotional wellbeing and our health. But in today’s society we take in so much information - the need for good quality sleep is key to our wellbeing. In this podcast we discuss what happens when we sleep and how much sleep we should get - 8 hours a night is a myth. We are all individual and what works for us is what is important. What is your sleeping environment like and what do you do before you go to bed? How can coffee, alcohol and tech affect our sleep? Neil says that the issue with blue light is a myth. What about sleep during the life course? Should babies cry themselves to sleep? Are teenagers nocturnal? What about the perimenopause? And do we need less sleep as we age? There were so many questions to discuss, this is my longest podcast to date. Sleep well. 

 Date of episode recording: 2024-02-22T00:00:00Z
 Duration: 01.23.46
 Language of episode: English
 Presenter: Joyce Harper
 Guests: Dr Neil Stanley
 Producer: Joyce Harper
 
Transcription link: https://joyceharper.com/podcasts/

Naomi Sutton graduated from Sheffield Medical School in 2003 and has been working as a Consultant Physician for the NHS at Rotherham Sexual Health Services since 2016. Throughout her career she has developed a passion for education and raising awareness of sexual health, both for other health professionals and the general public. Naomi starred in series 1 and 2 of the E4’s ‘The Sex Clinic’ which “helps young people get their sex lives back on track” and, as well as other media roles, she has talked frankly about vulvas, sex in old age, HIV and other sexual health subjects, on C4’s ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’. In conjunction with the charity ‘You Before Two‘ Naomi has recently developed PHSE accredited Sex Education materials, strongly believing fun, clear and accurate education is key to combatting a lot of the struggles she sees people presenting with in her clinics. Naomi is proud to be a Trustee for the charity Saving Lives UK https://www.savinglivesuk.com/ which exists to raise awareness of HIV and STI testing and reduce associated stigma – and is an Ambassador for the Eve Appeal, a charity that raises awareness of the five gynaecological cancers and is now thrilled to also be an FPA Ambassador.

Naomi and Joyce talked a lot about sex. Do you know your vulva from your vagina? What words would you teach your child to use for their genitals? Are you having enough orgasms? They are really good for your health and you can have them on your own or with your partner, with or without sex toys. But how we orgasm often changes as we age and we may have to alter the way we have sex. We discussed the worrying increase in some STIs and how easy it is to get tested, even at home. Both Joyce and Naomi are passionate about ensuring everyone knows about sex and reproductive health and we discussed how this should be taught and normalised. Some useful web sites: https://www.outspokeneducation.com/ https://www.labialibrary.org.au/ https://youbeforetwo.co.uk/ 

Date of episode recording: 2024-01-26T00:00:00Z
Duration: 01.01.58
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Joyce Harper
Guests: Dr Naomi Sutton
Producer: Joyce Harper

Baz, together with Dr Bella Smith and Dr Emma Ross, has set up the Well HQ to ensure we have a future where no woman lacks knowledge and understanding of her body, across the life stages. They are on a mission to ensure that everything that makes us extraordinarily females shouldn’t be medicalised or considered niche, but be fully considered in making us fitter, healthier and happier humans. In this episode, Baz explains why all women need to look after their wellbeing including exercise, nutrition, sleep and their mental health. But women are all individual and need to do what is right for them and this will probably change at different stages of their lives. Are you looking after your body? Read the Female Body Bible written by the Well HQ team.

Presenter: Joyce Harper
Guests: Baz Moffat
Producer: Joyce Harper 

Date of episode recording: 2023-12-14
Duration: 00.53.51
Language of episode: English
 
Transcription link: 

www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Welcome to season 2 of Why didn’t anyone tell me this?
This podcast is about health education with an emphasis on reproductive health. We do not cover these topics enough in school or beyond. Professor Joyce Harper and her guests want to give you the tools to empower you to live a healthy, happy and fulfilled life. And on the way, we will debunk some of the myths around our health. This podcast will include a wide range of amazing guests, discussing topics such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental health, happiness, cancer, periods, fertility, infertility, fertility treatment, preconception health, pregnancy, miscarriage, PCOS, endometriosis, menopause and much more. Joyce is a cold-water swimmer so expect some episodes about swimming! They will tell you about their work and life journey, what are the key messages they want you to know, their motivation, what makes them happy and their advice to their younger self. Joyce Harper is an award-winning author, educator, academic, and scientist with over 30 years’ experience in reproductive health. She is Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London where she heads the Reproductive Science and Society group. Her latest book, Your Fertile Years, is published by Sheldon Press, 2021. She is chair of the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (www.eshre.eu/IRHEC) and co-chair of the UK Fertility Education Initiative. She is founder of Reproductive Health at Work. Further information at www.joyceharper.com. 

Joyce is going to start each podcast season with a podcast by herself where she will update you on what she has been up to in the previous year. In 2023 she started the podcast and had 25 guests, plus herself, talking about many health topics, but mainly reproductive health. The podcast has been listened to in 72 countries. Joyce explains her main research projects. Her work as chair of the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (IRHEC) has resulted in 6 videos of personal stories, the teachers educational resource, an update of the fertility education poster and the preparation of 12 public information leaflets (www.eshre.eu/IRHEC). In 2023 her research on menopause led her to set up the development of the UK menopause education and support programme with Shema, Polly, Nicky and Florrie. The project will be inclusive and co-designed with the public. Joyce also shares how difficult juggling our work:life balance can be. In 2024, she will be interviewing 50 women over 50 who feel they are (mostly) happy to discuss a range of topics which she will share in her next book.

Date of episode recording: 2024-01-10
Duration: 00.46.56
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Producer:  Professor Joyce Harper 
Transcription link: 

www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Clare is an holistic, lifestyle chartered physiotherapist, motivational health and fitness speaker, having qualified from Guys Hospital in 1984 with distinction. She has a diploma in Health Education. Clare runs a number of PhysioYogaLates (a name devised by her!) exercise classes in East Sussex, where she lives and offers one off classes for corporate companies. Clare has just recently sold her practice The Westminster Physiotherapy and Pilates Centre, after 29 years, where she specialised in pain management, women’s health and all musculoskeletal conditions. She is now concentrating on corporate lecturing, Lifestyle coaching and teaching her PhysioYogaLattes classes. She has recently established men only PhysioYogaLattes classes, which are proving incredibly popular and beneficial. Clare has always had a specific interest in prevention and aimed to resolve the cause of pain in all her patients and bring about lifestyle changes, through understanding the why’s and how’s of the 5 pillars of health. In this episode Clare talks about the 5 pillars of health; exercise, nutrition, sleep, mental fitness and purpose, community connectivity, family, friendships, spirituality. And how the earlier we look after these, the better our health will be. Our body needs nutrition, water and oxygen and the best way to feed our body is through movement. We cannot dissociate mind from body with any condition and we need to do a range of movements. Why not turn your day into a fun workout? Clare gave us many great ideas – she did the podcast standing up and explained why sitting down is bad for us. Are you sitting down most of the day? Clare talked about the importance of getting outside and how this is beneficial to our health. When you get up – spend 10 minutes outside. And break up your working day by going for a walk. Instead of meeting someone for a coffee and sitting in a coffee shop, why don't you go for a walk instead, and take your coffee with you? What about dancing around your kitchen? We also talked about women working with their bodies at different times of their lives – we need to be body intuitive. When women have a menstrual cycle, they may feel physically and emotionally different throughout the month and how they want to exercise may vary. And when they get to the perimenopause, how they want to exercise may change. Clare’s advice is when you have lots of energy – go with it. When you don’t, work with that. We are all individual and how we exercise is individual. But one thing for sure – it is good for our health. 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://joyceharper.com/podcasts/

Date of episode recording: 2023-11-29
Duration: 01.24.26
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Joyce Harper
Guests: Clare Fone
Producer: Joyce Harper

Nicky studied medicine at the University of Cambridge. She was part of the international medical team that developed an anti-doping test for growth hormone. Nicky is an honorary clinical lecturer in the division of medicine, UCL. She lectures and researches in the areas of exercise endocrinology. She works mainly with exercisers, dancers and athletes and with women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. She is part of the UCL team developing a UK menopause education and support programme. Nicky is medical advisor to the Scottish Ballet. She is author of the book Hormones, health and human potential which we will talk about today. In this episode Nicky talks about her passion for dance and explains why she is fascinated by the amazing dance our hormones perform throughout our lives. Exercise is key for our mental and physical health. Nicky explains the importance of looking after our heart, bones, muscles, flexibility and balance. She talks about how exercise can help women with menstrual and menopause symptoms and why it is important to exercise when trying to get pregnant and throughout pregnancy. Nicky suggests different ways women can exercise, especially exercising in nature and with friends. Our social connections, our gut health and our sleep are also important for good health. 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://joyceharper.com/podcasts/ 

Date of episode recording: 2023-11-20
Duration: 01.16.12
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Joyce Harper
Guests: Nicky Keay
Producer: Joyce Harper 

Claire is a renowned leadership development professional, performance coach and author with over 21 years’ experience as a facilitator, thought leader and global speaker innovating in the field of Physical Intelligence. With a background in science, executive coaching and Contemporary dance Claire created the Physical Intelligence® methodology to bring together neuroscientific research on embodiment, practical knowledge of movement and physiology, and a lifetime of study researching how human beings behave. Her book ‘Physical Intelligence®’ won Business Book of the Year award in 2020. In this episode, Claire explains why she developed the Physical Intelligence methodology, and what it is. There are 4 elements of physical intelligence and we discuss all of them: strength, flexibility, resilience and endurance. Hormones, nutrition, fitness, sleep, relaxation, reflection and relationships are threaded through these. We discuss how working at home can hugely affect our wellbeing and that we have to address this. Work:life balance is more important now than ever, and we need to prevent burn out. 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://joyceharper.com/podcasts/ 

Date of episode recording: 2023-09-28
Duration: 01.11.55
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Joyce Harper
Guests: Claire Dale
Producer: Joyce Harper

For Harrison Ward, otherwise known as the Fell Foodie, the mountains are his solace, his gym and his kitchen. Harrison began suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts during puberty and discovered alcohol, whilst working in multiple roles in the hospitality trade, as a coping mechanism, drinking up to 20 pints a day and taking up smoking full time as he battled his mental illness. In 2016, when his relationship broke down, he vowed to get sober, remove alcohol from his life, stop smoking and really try and turn things around. He filled the void left by alcohol with the combination of hiking and cooking, gradually tackling more and more of the Lake District fells. 

He has always loved cooking from a very young age and used to cook with his grandmother. From the age of 10 he studied cookbooks and cooking shows quite religiously. Harrison began sharing his culinary adventures via social media in 2017 and soon captured people’s imaginations, using a stove and simple ingredients to create hearty but delicious meals. After being sober for two years in 2018, Harrison shared the full background to his story with his followers, including how he had lived with mental health issues and struggled with alcohol.

Harrison’s profile on social media has continued to grow as he also gained coverage in the news and on TV. He now has thousands of followers and continues to share his experience of mental health and open-air cooking online and via the media, as well as to corporate clients and schools. 

www.fellfoodie.co.uk 
Instagram @fellfoodie 

Many people struggle with life’s challenges and their mental health — some sadly lose that battle, while others find a way to turn things around. I’m not someone who cries easily, but listening to Harrison’s story moved me to tears, twice. Harrison has lifted himself out of depression and alcohol addiction and now lives with a remarkable sense of joy and purpose. He’s discovered his passions — being in nature, cooking, adventure, taking on new challenges, and building community — and his zest for life is truly infectious. After hearing this conversation, I hope it inspires everyone to take small, positive steps to reclaim their own joy. 

Spending time in nature is a gift we all have access to, and creativity lives within us all. What better way to express that than cooking and sharing a meal outdoors, surrounded by fresh air and good company? Harrison’s story is a reminder that even when life feels dark, there is always a path back to light, connection, and hope.

Date of episode recording: 2025-06-24T00:00:00Z
Duration: 01.11.16
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Harrison Ward, The Fell Foodie
Producer: Joyce Harper

Dr. Elina Berglund Scherwitzl is the co-founder and CEO of Natural Cycles, the women’s health company that developed the world’s first birth control app. The app is powered by an algorithm that uses body temperature to determine each user’s daily fertility status.  As a Class II medical device, the NC° app is cleared by the FDA in the United States and certified to be used as a contraceptive in Europe, Australia, and Singapore. It has also received regulatory clearances to integrate with third party wearables. Prior to founding Natural Cycles, Elina was part of the team that discovered the Higgs boson at the CERN laboratory, which led to the Nobel Prize in physics in 2013. Following this success, Elina was looking for an effective, natural birth control and decided to apply her skills from particle physics to create a unique algorithm that could accurately pinpoint when a woman was fertile using body temperature. From there, Natural Cycles was born. Today, Natural Cycles has over 3million registered users.

In this episode Elina tells us about the amazing start to her career, working in the CERN laboratory and why she wanted to develop a contraception app. Natural Cycles went through many issues to become the only contraceptive app to be certified, being both CE marked and FDA cleared, which was not an easy process. Elina explains how the app works as a form of contraception or is flipped to be a fertility app. It is important for new techniques to have academic and scientific collaborations. Natural Cycles have published many scientific studies, including two with me. And Natural Cycles have now joined with the Oura Ring and Apple Watch to make it easier for women to determine when they are ovulating and when is their fertile time. We discuss how apps generate big data and how this can be used for scientific studies.

For more information and to access the transcript: https://joyceharper.com/podcasts/

Date of episode recording: 2023-09-15
Duration: 00.55.44
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Joyce Harper
Guests: Dr Elina Berglund Scherwitzl
Producer: Joyce Harper

Rachel Lankester is the author of Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond, and host of the Magnificent Midlife podcast. After a shocking early menopause diagnosis at 41, she scratched her own itch and created what she wasn't able to find to help herself. This includes 1-1 and group midlife mentoring, courses and educational resources to help women vibrantly transition through the sometimes messy middle of life. She’s also a founder of MenoClarity, the information hub about menopause. In her spare time, she’s doing a Masters in Gerontology! In this episode, we discuss why Rachel wrote a book called Magnificent Midlife. The podcast is in two parts – our discussion of the menopause and then a discussion of positive aging. We start with big questions, such as why Rachel does not think menopause is a hormone deficiency disorder and why she does not think everyone should take hormone therapy. Rachel is often misquoted about her views of hormone therapy – she took it for 7 years and feels it has a place for some women. But will it prevent dementia and other disorders? Rachel and I both feel that for us, the fog lifted when we hit post menopause and there are many advantages of being post menopause. It is not a mid-life crisis – it is the upward part of the U curve of happiness. Now is our time. 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://joyceharper.com/podcasts/

Date of episode recording: 2023-10-12
Duration: 01.07.22
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Joyce Harper
Guests: Rachel Lankester
Producer: Joyce Harper

Mr. Vikram Talaulikar is an associate specialist at the reproductive medicine unit in University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and hon. associate professor at University College London. 

In this episode, Vikram is asked similar questions to the previous 2 clinicians; Susan Davis and Isaac Manyonda. How does Vikram define the perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause? He explains what he thinks about menopause testing and what are the main menopause symptoms. Vikram explains why he thinks that lifestyle is really key to help control menopause symptoms. We tackle the controversial topics such as whether HRT will reduce the risk of dementia and what Vikram thinks about high doses of HRT. Vikram does a lot of important research on menopause and we discuss some of his current studies. Vikram has been working hard on education and it is great to hear his clear and concise answers to these key questions. 

He graduated in medicine in India in 2003 and completed postgraduate degree in obstetrics and gynaecology in 2007. He was awarded FRCOG in 2022 and completed PhD degree at St. George's University of London in 2016. He cares for women and couples who have difficulty conceiving, and his clinical interests include reproductive endocrinology, premature ovarian failure, polycystic ovary syndrome, recurrent miscarriage, menopause and male factor subfertility. He is a certified ‘menopause specialist’ by the British Menopause Society. He has published widely in the area of reproductive medicine. His research focuses around events at the embryo-maternal interface in early pregnancy, ovarian response to stimulation in various endocrine conditions and menopause. Vikram is the co-founder of the Menopause Clinic London on Harley Street along Professor Isaac Manyonda.

Sian lives at Pencarnan where her family have been for over 100 years. She runs a campsite above the clifftop and all of her five children, and grandchildren, have all chosen to build their lives here too. Sian is the Founder and Director of The Bluetits Chill Swimmers Ltd. With over 100,000 members worldwide, the Bluetits has become a global phenomena. Sian loves a challenge and has done triathlons, cyclosportive events, marathons, ultramarathons, Ironman, and the ice mile. With so many worldwide followers, this episode will be of interest to all Bluetits swimmers. Sian tells us about her amazing life living on a clifftop and how it came to be that she set up the Bluetits. We discuss the wonders of cold-water swimming, from the smiles on everyone’s face, to the beautiful friendships that are made. Sian talks about body confidence, and how Bluetits lose their inhibitions and feel relaxed to walk around in a swimming costume. Sian gives important advice to those who want to start swimming. She has done so many challenges through her life, and we talk about the most difficult one she did – the ice mile. 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://joyceharper.com/podcasts/

Date of episode recording: 2023-08-30
Duration: 1.20.51
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Joyce Harper
Guests: Sian Richardson
Producer: Joyce Harper