The Dr Louise Newson Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Content advisory: this podcast contains themes of mental health and suicide

‘You're not just losing a person. You're losing all of those memories’

In this week’s episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by mental health campaigner and author, Ben West. At 17, Ben’s world was turned upside down when he lost his younger brother, Sam, to suicide at just 15 years old. What followed was a life-altering journey through grief, resilience, and purpose.

Ben transformed personal tragedy into powerful advocacy – raising awareness around mental health, challenging stigma, and driving real change in how we support mental wellbeing, especially within the education system.

Together they explore how hormones, medication, stress and lifestyle can all impact mental health, and why understanding these factors could change how we approach conversations around suicide and depression.

Ben also completed an ultra-marathon to raise funds for Shout, a 24/7 text messaging service providing support for mental health and suicide prevention. To find out how you can volunteer or donate, visit their website here.

Contact the Samaritans for 24-hour, confidential support by calling 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

To learn more about Ben West, visit his Instagram here and check out This Book Could Save Your Life, available here. If you would like to make a change to the way schools train their teachers on mental health issues, sign the petition here.

Available to watch on YouTube 

We hope you're loving the new series! Share your thoughts with us on the feedback form here and if you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to leave a 5-star rating on your podcast platform.

Email dlnpodcast@borkowski.co.uk with suggestions for new guests!

Disclaimer

The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.   

LET'S CONNECT

Website: Dr Louise Newson

Instagram: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast (@drlouisenewsonpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: Louise Newson | LinkedIn

Spotify: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

YouTube: Dr Louise Newson - YouTube

CONNECT WITH BEN WEST

Website: Ben West

Instagram: Ben West (@iambenwest) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: Ben West | LinkedIn

'Haemorrhoids is one of those embarrassing problems that a lot of people suffer from. There's a lot of taboos surrounding it, because people don't want to own up that they've got haemorrhoids. A lot of people listening or watching this probably have haemorrhoids, they're probably sitting on them right now. That video is not a sexy topic, but it got over 2 million views... that is a huge amount of people that I could see across 100 clinics, and still not get to that number.'   

In this week’s episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dr Karan Rajan, a doctor, health educator, and host of the Dr Karan Explores podcast. With millions of followers across his social media platforms, Dr Karan showcases the power of social media to ‘de-taboo the taboo’, tackling topics including menopause, women’s health, and bowel issues. He stresses the harm caused by shame and silence, reminding us that ‘taboo should not be associated with any disease or condition’. 

A passionate advocate for accessible, jargon-free medical education, Dr Karan believes that everyone deserves to feel confident in understanding and managing their own health. Together, he and Dr Louise challenge persistent myths, like the notion that testosterone is a male-only hormone – exploring how such misconceptions reinforce outdated ideas that negatively impact patient care.  

They also address how misinformation, stigma and a one size fits approach to medicine creates barriers to care, particularly in women’s health such as menopause and endometriosis. This episode explores the evolving role of medical educators, and is a call for more open, informed conversations – because great medicine should never settle for ‘good enough’. 

Watch on YouTube 

We hope you love the new series! Share your thoughts with us on the feedback form here and if you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to leave a 5-star rating on your podcast platform. 

Email dlnpodcast@borkowski.co.uk with suggestions for new guests! 

Disclaimer 

The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.     

LET'S CONNECT  

Website: Dr Louise Newson 

Instagram: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast (@drlouisenewsonpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos 

LinkedIn: Louise Newson | LinkedIn 

Spotify: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast | Podcast on Spotify 

YouTube: Dr Louise Newson - YouTube

CONNECT WITH DR KARAN 

Website: Dr Karan Rajan 

Instagram: Dr Karan Rajan (MRCS MBBS BSc) (@drkaranrajan) • Instagram photos and videos 

LinkedIn: Dr Karan Rajan | LinkedIn 

Spotify: Dr Karan Explores | Podcast on Spotify 

YouTube: Dr Karan - YouTube

Content advisory: This episode contains themes that some listeners may find distressing.

Kicking off a brand-new series, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Gina Miller, founder of MoneyShe, co-founder of SCM Direct, who famously took the government to court over Brexit, for a powerful conversation about standing up for yourself, supporting others, and the financial struggles faced by menopausal women.

Gina shares what fuels her determination, the values instilled in her from childhood, and her experiences challenging injustice – whether in politics, finance, or education. She speaks candidly about the backlash she has faced, the importance of resilience, and why she refuses to stay silent in the face of inequality.

Together, Louise and Gina explore why women are often judged more harshly than men, how curiosity and questioning the status quo are essential for progress, and why empowering women is crucial for a fairer society. This inspiring discussion highlights the need for systemic change and the importance of speaking out—even when it’s difficult.

To learn more about the research and insights on closing the gender investment and pension gap discussed in this episode, visit: MoneyShe.com 
Available to watch on YouTube  

LET'S CONNECT  

• Website: Dr Louise Newson 
• Instagram: @drlouisenewsonpodcast
• LinkedIn: Louise Newson | LinkedIn 
• Spotify: The Dr Louise Newson Podcast | Podcast on Spotify 
• YouTube: Dr Louise Newson - YouTube 

Email dlnpodcast@borkowski.co.uk for any media enquiries

LEARN MORE 

• Sign up to my Menopause Masterclass Here 
• Sign up for my Confidence in Menopause Class Here 
• Sign up to my Upcoming Webinar Here 

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group. 

Consultant dermatologist Dr Sajjad Rajpar returns to the podcast this week for a special summer episode about melasma, a condition that leads to darkening or brown patches developing on the skin.

Up to 85% of those affected by melasma are women – and there is a connection between this condition and female hormones.

Dr Sajjad and Dr Louise delve into what is known about this chronic complex condition, why it is crucial to protect your skin from the sun and the wide range of treatment options available, including topical treatments and laser therapy.

Dr Sajjad’s three top tips on what to do if you suspect you have melasma, plus advice on self-management:

1. Educate yourself on how to tell the difference between melasma and freckles – look at the areas of the face where it occurs. Family history and background may mean you are more susceptible.
2. Sun protection is crucial in managing melasma. This means being really disciplined with using sunscreen, and seeking out a tinted version that will block visible as well as ultraviolet light.
3. There are a wide range of active skin ingredients that can help with melasma; Dr Sajjad suggests starting with azelaic acid or arbutin to treat your condition.

For more information about Dr Sajjad, visit www.midlandskin.co.uk

How do you work out what the right dose of HRT is for you and balance the benefits with any potential risks?

In this episode, Dr Louise talks about HRT doses with Corinna Bordoli, who began experiencing menopausal symptoms when she was just 10 years old.

Corinna shares her experience of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) – menopause before the age of 40 – and of the challenges she faced in getting a prescription for a higher dose of estrogen to help both her symptoms and future health.

Dr Louise and Corinna discuss why hormone needs and absorption can vary from woman to woman, particularly for those with POI.

Corinna’s three tips for those who may suspect they have POI: 

1. Keep track of your perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms so that you have evidence when you go to see your doctor.

2. If you are diagnosed with POI make sure you seek out a specialist in the condition to get the best care.

3. If you have POI, find a community of other people with similar experiences for support, such as through the Daisy Network. Sharing your story and hearing other people’s stories can make a huge difference and be healing.

Find out more about the charity the Daisy Network mentioned in the podcast here, or on Twitter  @thedaisynet.

On this week’s episode of the Dr Louise Newson podcast, Dr Louise welcomes Sharon Saunders.

Sharon is a menopausal woman with learning disabilities and is a wheelchair user.

During the episode, Sharon talks about when she first learned about the menopause from her mum, and her menopause symptoms, including joint aches and pains and headaches. She describes how these symptoms make her feel and the impact on her daily life, and Dr Louise and Sharon also talk about treatment options.

Finally, Sharon offers some important advice to other women with learning disabilities who are going through the perimenopause and menopause: speak up about how you are feeling, and don’t give up.

Sharon is supported by Dimensions, a not-for-profit organisations supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, behaviours of distress and those with complex health needs.

Click here for more information more about Dimension or on Twitter @DimensionsUK.

And click here for an easy read booklet on the perimenopause and menopause by balance and Dimensions.

Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of Leon, food campaigner and writer, joins the podcast this week to talk about the dangers of a diet high in ultra-processed foods – that is, foods with a long list of ingredients such as preservatives and emulsifiers not typically found in home cooking.

While convenient, ultra-processed foods such as breakfast cereals and mass-produced breads do not fill us up, encourage us to eat more and contribute to weight gain, Henry says.

‘Food is by far the biggest thing making us sick,’ he says.

In this episode, Henry talks to Dr Louise about breaking the ultra-processed food cycle, ignoring calories and eating more food cooked from scratch. They also discuss his new book Ravenous, which looks at how to eat in a way that is better for you and the planet.

Henry’s three tips: 

1. Exercise has huge benefits for your health, so find an enjoyable form. Don’t think about it as being for weight loss, but for other health benefits.
2. Cook from scratch as much as you can and include lots of fibrous green veg and pulses in your dishes.
3. Try and reduce ultra-processed, plastic-wrapped food packed with mystery ingredients in your diet. Getting rid of breakfast cereals is a good place to start.

Find out more about Henry’s work here and follow him on Twitter @HenryDimbleby

Laura Bibby joins Dr Louise to share her experience of managing the perimenopause shortly after a life-changing spinal cord injury.

A senior nurse and an ambulatory wheelchair user, Laura shares her struggles to have urinary symptoms, crippling anxiety and joint pain recognised as being due to her perimenopause, and not just attributed to her injury.

In an empowering conversation, Laura and Dr Louise discuss the importance of persistence, and speaking out to help women with disabilities overcome barriers preventing them getting the menopause care and treatment they deserve.

Laura’s three tips: 

1. Be persistent – If something doesn’t feel right with your health, keep pushing and seeking for the right treatment. Even if a healthcare professional dismisses your request, keep going and explore other options
2. Speak up and don’t feel ashamed. Menopause affects everyone
3. Normalise conversations around women’s health, don’t have them in secret. Discuss periods and the menopause openly so that it is easier to go and ask for help when needed

Follow Laura on Instagram @blue__brick_disability and you can read more about her story in this article on the balance website.

The supply of HRT medication Utrogestan is being restricted by the UK government because of shortages amid increase demand.

Pharmacies will only dispense two months’ worth of Utrogestan 100mg capsules per prescription to help ensure continued access for women.

In this special episode, Newson Health pharmacist prescriber and menopause specialist Faiza Kennedy joins Dr Louise to talk about the restrictions, and where and how to seek advice and help.

They talk about the importance of taking a progesterone as part of your HRT regime if you still have a womb, as well as alternatives to Utrogestan, including progesterone in pessary form, the Mirena coil and combined forms of HRT containing both estrogen and progesterone.

Faiza’s top three tips: 

1. Only order the amount of Utrogestan you need to help everyone get through the shortfall
2. Be organised about ordering your HRT prescriptions. Do it about two weeks before you run out so you have time in case you have any difficulties getting your supply or need to seek an alternative
3. Reach out for help if you are struggling with your supply

Click here for a balance article for more information about the current Utrogestan supply restrictions, plus alternatives.

You can read more about Faiza here.

Bestselling author of Chocolat Joanne Harris joins Dr Louise Newson to talk about her latest book, Broken Light.

Broken Light’s protagonist is Bernie, a 49-year-old who has given her life to her family and friends, and feels invisible. But Bernie finds her supernatural powers as she reaches the menopause, which becomes a metaphor for the anger of women in later life who are too often silenced in art and reality.

In this episode, Joanne talks about her own menopause experience, and her and Dr Louise discuss their work in ensuring the voices of women are heard as they get older – and the progress that still needs to be made.

Joanne’s four reasons to read her new novel: 

1. Menopause is a universal experience that needs to be understood. The way women feel shapes our world and shouldn’t be ignored
2. Because if you are a woman you will experience the menopause
3. If you are man, menopause will also be part of your experience at some point, and you need to be informed
4. Because it is a fun read!

Click here to find out more about Joanne Harris, and follow her on Twitter at @Joannechocolat