Is It Hot In Here? Midlife Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to the brand new podcast, Is It Hot In Here? Be sure to follow so you'll be notified when new episodes drop! Part open-clinic, part talk show, this podcast is for all the women seeking insight, reassurance, empathy and answers while navigating midlife. Your host is the woman's health and menopause specialist Dr Naomi Potter. Each week, Naomi is joined by a high-profile guest in an open clinic. Together, they unpick the physical, mental and emotional changes that so many of us relate to, while Naomi’s guests share their personal stories, open up about their difficulties, and laugh about some of their more bewildering challenges. But best of all, Naomi and her guests offer explanations and solutions to issues experienced by so many women, but very rarely talked about. They will also answer questions sent in by listeners with empathy, humour and medical insight. Upcoming guests include Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes talking about the difficulty a world class faces when her body stops functioning the way it always has, former Hello! magazine editor Rosie Dixon explaining how she dealt with mid-life career burn out, broadcaster Lisa Snowdon on how an early menopause diagnosis hit when she was still considering whether to have children and many, many more. All with their own, unique stories. Episode 1 will be out on Monday 24th February. Follow now so you don't miss it! Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr For more information and support about menopause, go to: ​​https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

How did Dame Kelly Holmes go from a world-class runner to unable to do a single press-up? In today’s episode of ‘Is It Hot In Here?’ Dr. Naomi Potter is joined by one of the UK’s most-loved athletes, two-time Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes. Kelly talks Dr. Naomi through her hormone journey – starting in the military, where women’s health was not discussed, and as an international athlete suffering from periods so excruciating she would be “crawling off the track” and “carried to the doctor’s.” She also shares her struggles to accept the change in her body’s performance and, after years of strict medical monitoring in international athletics, why she rejected the idea of taking the hormones so many women rely on in mid-life. Together, Dr. Naomi Potter and Kelly unpick the ups and downs of Kelly’s career and the resilience that has driven her to achieve greatness and how understanding the medical, physical, and emotional changes has helped her to regain her strength (both mental and physical) and embrace the future. Follow Dame Kelly Holmes below: Kelly’s Instagram: @damekellyholmes Kelly’s TikTok: @damekellyholmes Learn more about Kelly’s mission to empower more women with The Athena Effect: https://athenaeffectevents.co.uk/ Follow Athena Effects on Instagram: @athenaeffectevents Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/ Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com #HotInHere #Menopause #KellyHolmes Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:16 Dame Kelly Holmes' early career 00:03:29 An Olympian's mindset 00:08:27 A fear of ageing 00:11:20 "I don't feel strong anymore" 00:14:41 Feeling weaker during menopause 00:18:27 Considering HRT 00:22:49 How much HRT should I be taking? 00:23:49 Bleeding after menopause 00:26:07 Feeling strong and healthy in midlife 00:32:18 How do I know if I need HRT? 00:36:14 Testosterone during menopause 00:40:22 Can you come on and off HRT? 00:43:25 Will past women's health issues affect your menopause? 00:45:38 Excruciating period pains during Olympic races 00:50:06 Preparing for midlife earlier 00:51:05 Does your ethnicity affect menopause? 00:54:04 What's next for Kelly? 00:56:01 Will your menopause experience by the same as your mum's? 00:58:17 Could menopause hide other symptoms? 01:00:12 Exercise recommendations during menopause 01:04:01 Outro

If you are trying to balance parenting teenagers while experiencing your own hormone rollercoaster, you are not the only one. In today’s episode of ‘Is It Hot In Here?’ Dr. Naomi Potter is joined by journalist, author, and podcaster Lorraine Candy. Lorraine rose through the ranks on Fleet Street to become editor of Elle magazine and Sunday Times Style, but her biggest challenge was parenting four teenage/tweenage children while she was experiencing perimenopause—“It was just so hard.” Her insomnia, rage, and brain fog were so extreme that she thought she had a brain tumour that ran up against her children’s hormones, so how did she find a way to keep peace at home? Naomi and Lorraine discuss what happens when mid-life and adolescence collide and how “medical misogyny” has led to a lack of research into ways to help support women in mid-life and normalises the idea that they are less valuable than they once were. “We have a whole row of greeting cards saying we’re idiots” says Lorraine. Together, Lorraine and Naomi shed light on how things are gradually improving and what needs to happen next. Further reading and resources: Workplace support with Amazing If: https://www.amazingif.com/ Job transition support with Careers Can Change: https://careerscanchange.co.uk/ Career coaching with Rachel Schofield: https://rachelschofield.co.uk/career-development Women over 50 represent the fastest growing segment of the UK’s workforce: https://helptogrow.campaign.gov.uk/hr/menopause-and-the-workplace/#:~:text=Women%20make%20up%20nearly%20half,someone%20in%20their%20immediate%20circle. HRT protecting women from diseases such as heart disease: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9178928/#:~:text=Initiated%20in%20women%20%3C60%20years,lowering%20fail%20to%20do%20so. Cardio Vascular Disease as a leading cause of death for women: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4834856/ Follow Lorraine below: Lorraine’s Instagram: @lorrainecandy Lorraine’s podcast Postcards From Midlife: https://www.postcardsfrommidlife.com/ Lorraine’s books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Lorraine-Candy/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ALorraine%2BCandy Lorraine’s new YouTube series about parenting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTXUyXW-xCE&list=PL7hzTyTZynYc7IGdaXNq5UAVyKpbeLEXI Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/ Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com #hotinhere #lorrainecandy #naomipotter

Ready to join the self love revolution? In today’s episode of ‘Is It Hot In Here?’ Dr. Naomi Potter is joined by Lou Featherstone – or as she’s better known online, Lu in Luland. Lou is a podcaster, life coach, and “accidental influencer” on a mission to help as many women as possible to find confidence during midlife. Lou’s own self-love journey started when she went for a hike up a mountain in the USA. As she reached the summit, she felt “emboldened” and decided to snap a nude photo of herself in all her glory. It’s only now that she looks back at this moment that she realises this was “a cry for help” as “she needed to be seen”. She felt ignored in her marriage, she felt that her life was stagnating as she approached her 50s, and she was desperate for me! Aren’t we all? You might not relate to the boldest of Lou’s own wakeup call. However, most women watching this will relate to aspects of this story. Of feeling lost within your 40s and 50s. Of trying to find who you are outside of being a wife or a parent or a caregiver. Of feeling that you’re getting older and leaving your confident, sexiest self in the past. Well, it doesn’t have to be like this. Together, Lou and Naomi will be talking all about how to be the best version of yourself during midlife. Despite all the hormonal changes, menopausal night sweats, and other curveballs life throws our way, there is zero reason why you cannot love yourself and embrace life – no matter your age. Further reading and resources: People over 55 are the new “problem generation” with the most STDs: https://www.economist.com/international/2025/01/02/why-people-over-the-age-of-55-are-the-new-problem-generation Survey about sex in menopause https://www.instagram.com/p/DBQinoRtUez/?hl=en&img_index=1 Follow Lou below: Lou’s Instagram: @luinluland Lou’s podcast The Self Love Revolution: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lIX9aMw18XRzsk2fX2R5o?si=5234206a4d6041c8 Lou’s website: https://luinluland.com/ Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/ Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com #loufeatherstone #luinluland #hotinhere Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:12 Introducing Lou Featherstone 00:13:54 How to find your voice 00:16:47 Menopause and rage 00:28:57 Lou's relationship with menopause 00:30:34 How to not get in your own way 00:37:25 Coping with criticism 00:43:39 Post natal depression 00:48:06 Lou's next chapter 00:50:28 What is self love? 00:51:47 Listener questions 01:03:19 Outro

How does your genetic, social and racial heritage affect your menopause? And how can you future proof your body right now? In today’s episode of ‘Is It Hot In Here?’ Dr. Naomi Potter is joined by Lavina Mehta MBE, who shares her deeply personal and compelling story about embracing menopause in the face of it being a “taboo subject” socially and culturally. She tells how making her husband do an IG Live about what she was experiencing saved many marriages. And how, as an award-winning personal trainer and wellness coach, she has developed multiple one-minute tricks to future proof her body and brain during mid-life. Join Naomi and Lavina as they play with armchair exercise and deep-dive into the ways our cultures can affect our experiences. Further reading and resources: Follow Lavina below: Lavina's Instagram: @feelgoodwithlavina Lavina's YouTube channel: ⁨@feelgoodwithlavina⁩ Lavina's book The Feel Good Fix: https://feelgoodwithlavina.com/lavina-shop/ Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Is It Hot In Here's Instagram: Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/ Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com #lavinamehta #drnaomipotter #menopause Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:30 South Asians go through menopause 5-6 years earlier 00:02:36 Menopause and fitness 00:03:08 Anxiety and perimenopause 00:03:30 Brain fog 00:06:51 Women's health being taboo 00:08:19 South Asian experience of menopause 00:10:10 Involving men in the menopause conversation 00:11:38 A fear of judgement within Lavina's culture 00:13:45 "We need trust" 00:14:59 Lavina's journey to becoming a personal trainer 00:18:24 Exercise snacking 00:19:54 Making exercise accessible 00:20:52 You only need 11 minutes of exercise 00:22:22 We're all sitting for too long 00:23:41 How to future proof your body 00:24:27 Lowering stress levels 00:25:07 Exercise vs HRT 00:25:31 Strength training is the answer (start now) 00:26:56 Resetting your nervous system 00:27:35 Lavina's experience on HRT 00:31:00 Talking to your mum about menopause 00:32:18 Entering menopause 00:34:37 Lavina is having a menopause party! 00:35:35 Periods being a "shameful thing" 00:36:37 Will my menopause symptoms go away? 00:38:14 Dealing with hot flushes 00:39:59 Exercises for joint pain 00:43:03 Exercises for back, neck and shoulder pain 00:44:41 Outro

How can you bounce back from burnout and is it really possible to reinvent yourself mid-menopause? In today’s episode of Is It Hot In Here? Dr Naomi Potter is joined by the former Editor of Hello! magazine, Rosie Nixon. Rosie is no stranger to an intense, highly demanding job. While at Hello! Magazine, she was facing press nights every Friday, deadlines against the clock, and covering exclusive stories with A-List celebs. Robbie Williams, the Royal Family, you name it! For a long time she thrived… until she didn’t. In her late 40s “I collapsed on the bed in a pool of tears,” she recalls. “And I just thought: I am done.” The timing was not a coincidence. Although she didn’t, at the time, recognise the symptoms, Rosie was also experiencing peri-menopause. So how much of this work-related stress was exactly that – and how much was being exacerbated by midlife hormonal turbulence? Rosie’s journey to psychological, social and professional reinvention is emotional, inspiring and educational. Want to know how you could do the same? This episode is just for you. Follow Rosie Nixon below: Rosie’s Instagram: @rosiejnixon Rosie’s TikTok: @rosiejnixon Rosie’s website: https://www.rosienixon.co.uk/ Rosie’s book Be Kind: https://www.rosienixon.co.uk/be-kind Rosie’s reinvention retreats: https://www.rosienixon.co.uk/reinvention-retreats Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Is It Hot In Here's Instagram: Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/ Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com #rosienixon #drnaomipotter #menopause Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:15 Who is Rosie Nixon? 00:03:06 What was it like working for big magazines? 00:04:01 Robbie Williams' secret wedding 00:06:54 The end of Rosie's magazine career (the peak of burnout) 00:09:38 Learning to listen to your body 00:11:19 A spark of excitement for change 00:12:30 How to make such a drastic career change (separating your work from your identity) 00:16:04 Recognising that menopause was contributing to work stress 00:17:55 Advocating for yourself with your GP 00:19:56 Will antidepressants help during menopause? 00:20:50 The 'perfect storm' of work burnout and menopause 00:22:06 Rosie's experience on HRT ("they weren't for me") 00:23:54 HRT causing bad skin 00:25:40 HRT alternatives 00:28:59 Work life balance 00:30:44 Should women get a blood test during menopause? 00:35:19 Menopause symptoms can come and go 00:37:07 Advice on how to change careers during menopause 00:40:53 Outro

​In this episode of Is It Hot In Here?, Dr. Naomi Potter sits down with George Smart, fiancé of TV presenter Lisa Snowdon who appeared on the podcast last episode, to explore the often-overlooked role of partners during menopause. Lisa claimed George was her rock throughout years of pain, fear , anxiety and confusion, so this week George explains how he set out to help her as best he could. He also offers advice to the many listeners who messaged us after listening to Lisa talk about him. He discusses the scarcity of resources available for men to understand menopause and offers practical advice for partners striving to provide meaningful support during this transformative period. Follow George Smart below: George’s Instagram: @i_smarticus Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Is It Hot In Here's Instagram: Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/ Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com #drnaomipotter #menopause #georgesmart Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:09 Meeting Lisa Snowden & becoming “that guy” 00:02:29 Lisa’s symptoms hit hard 00:03:22 How George supported her (without trying to fix it) 00:04:36 “It wasn’t Lisa being Lisa anymore” 00:05:10 The no-kids talk: George’s calm clarity 00:06:47 Why men have zero resources on menopause 00:08:38 The power of communication in tough times 00:10:51 When George realized this wasn’t just Lisa’s journey 00:13:27 Listener Q&A: “She’s changed. Do I just accept it?” 00:16:47 “You’re doing them a favor”: speaking up at work

I see so many women, with so many symptoms and confusion about what is happening to them, and why, that I wanted to break it down for you. So here is a Clinic Cheat Sheet to help break it down for you! In this episode of my Is it Hot in here? podcast, I break down the signs and symptoms we go through in clinic to establish if they are related to perimenopause, general ageing, or other medical conditions - be they psychological, physical or emotional – and clarify the different symptom management and treatment options. From brain fog and burnout to skin and hair changes, low libido, joint pain and allergies, we cover it all. So whether you are wondering if what you’re feeling is “just ageing,” or you’ve already started HRT and want to understand more, this episode will really help. Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Is It Hot In Here’s Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/ Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com #menopause #perimenopause #menopausesymptoms Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:23 What Dr Naomi asks women in clinic (are they perimenopausal?) 00:01:19 What are you currently experiencing? 00:01:52 Spotting menopause symptoms 00:02:33 Physical menopause symptoms (eye changes, hearing changes, skin changes, gut changes, libido etc.) 00:03:33 Psychological menopause symptoms (low mood, anxiety, dementia-like symptoms, brain fog etc.) 00:04:32 Rage in menopause 00:05:15 Other medical conditions alongside menopause 00:06:14 Medications alongside menopause 00:06:41 How your lifestyle impacts menopause 00:07:15 Family history and menopause 00:09:20 Hair changes during menopause 00:10:41 Skin changes during menopause 00:12:50 Libido changes during menopause 00:14:00 Loss of motivation during menopause 00:15:02 Brain fog during menopause 00:16:52 Allergies during menopause 00:18:12 Is it menopause or just ageing? 00:19:05 How to get help 00:19:57 What does HRT do in menopause? 00:20:37 Why you should take yourself seriously (you DO matter!) 00:21:19 What to do if you have more questions about menopause

Feeling isolated in midlife? You’re not alone — and today’s guest, Nadia Nagamootoo, knows exactly how that feels. Nadia is a chartered psychologist, CEO of Avenir Consulting Services, and host of the Why Care? podcast. In this episode, she opens up to Dr Naomi Potter about her long, emotional journey with fertility struggles — and how those years shaped not just her 30s, but her experience of perimenopause. Doctors told Nadia she had a low ovarian count, which resulted in her struggles to conceive. So the question is: do fertility struggles also suggest that Nadia will have menopause struggles? Can the two be connected? Dr. Naomi Potter is here to explain. Nadia confesses she was “in denial” about hitting perimenopause. Together, she and Naomi explore how hormone changes intersect with mental health, identity, and the weight so many women silently carry. They also speak candidly about why menopause support needs to be more inclusive. As a South Asian woman, Nadia highlights how healthcare research and treatment often overlooks diverse experiences — and why that has to change. This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt lonely, misunderstood, or overwhelmed in midlife. It’s a powerful, personal conversation — with practical insights and hope woven throughout. Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter Follow Nadia Nagamootoo below: Nadia’s Instagram: @nadianagamootoo Nadia’s website: https://www.nadianagamootoo.com/ Nadia’s podcast Why Care?: https://www.nadianagamootoo.com/podcast Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below: Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/ Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com #menopause #DrNaomiPotter #perimenopause

We've released 10 episodes of Is It Hot In Here? so far, so today we're looking back at some of the biggest lessons our guests have shared. Featuring Lorraine Candy discussing how community got her through menopause, Dame Kelly Holmes on top fitness tips for midlife women, and Lou Featherstone on body confidence. #menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter