Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me This?

Season 4, #13: Professor Audrey Gaskins: Trying to Conceive: Diet, Supplements and Lifestyle - What Really Matters?

Audrey Gaskins is Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. She is an environmental and reproductive epidemiologist who goal is to conduct research that can better enable people to achieve healthy pregnancies, babies and families. Her research looks at how environmental, dietary and lifestyle factors experienced through the life course influence reproductive health in men and women.  A key aim of Audrey's work is to elucidate the biological mechanisms through which diet and environmental exposures influence fertility, strengthening causal inference in observational research.  Link: https://www.audreygaskins.com/  In this episode, Joyce is joined by Professor Audrey Gaskins, a leading reproductive epidemiologist, to explore what really matters when trying to conceive. Together they unpack the evidence behind diet, lifestyle and fertility, moving beyond myths and quick fixes to focus on what the science actually shows. Audrey explains how nutrition influences key biological processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress and hormone function, and highlights the benefits of a Mediterranean-style diet rich in whole foods, seafood, fruits and vegetables.  The conversation also covers the role of supplements, emphasising that folic acid is essential and while simple, affordable prenatal vitamins can be beneficial for women, there is little evidence to support expensive or heavily marketed fertility products, particularly for men. They also tackle some of the biggest areas of confusion in fertility, including ultra-processed foods, alcohol and caffeine, exercise, weight, and environmental exposures such as plastics and vaping. Audrey brings clarity to common misconceptions, from viral fertility “rituals” to influencer-driven misinformation, stressing the importance of evidence-based advice over social media trends.  The episode reinforces that there is no magic solution, good fertility health comes from consistent, manageable lifestyle habits, alongside realistic expectations and informed decision-making. This is a reassuring and practical discussion for anyone trying to conceive, whether at the start of their journey or undergoing fertility treatment.

Season 4, #12: Dr Julie Angel - Move more and dare to be creative in everything you do

Julie Angel is a movement coach, artist, award winning filmmaker and author. After completing the world's first parkour themed PhD, she continued to move and learn from some of the best teachers and coaches in different movement worlds. An eternal optimist she now focuses on helping midlife women break free from the negative cycle of extreme workouts, diets, anxiety and injuries to find sustainable strength and balance in life. She uses movement snacks, strong resting, positive ageing and tools from parkour, natural movement, animal flow, original strength, the oxygen advantage and many more to help people connect to and create a strong body and strong mind.  Finding and creating your own sustainable movement culture should be a fun practice that feels good. It's a holistic approach to mind and body.  https://julieangel.com/  Instagram: @julieangel  In this inspiring episode, Joyce talks to Dr Julie Angel who is a movement coach, filmmaker, and creative thinker, for a powerful conversation about movement, ageing, and how women can rethink their relationship with their bodies. Julie sees the world as a playground, encouraging people to move through it with curiosity, creativity, and a sense of play. Drawing on her work in parkour and movement coaching, she challenges the idea that exercise must be structured or prescriptive, instead highlighting how movement can be exploratory, adaptable, and energising when it reflects individual needs and preferences.  A central message of the episode is Julie’s belief that women should create their own “movement culture”, finding ways to move that genuinely fit their lives and give them energy. Rather than following routines that feel restrictive or unenjoyable, she advocates for experimentation and personalisation, with a focus on removing barriers to movement. Importantly, she emphasises that meaningful change comes from small, consistent steps, whether through simple “movement snacks”, breathing, or everyday activity. It is a reassuring and empowering reminder that it is never too late to begin, and that movement, approached creatively, can build strength, confidence, and joy over time.

Season 4, #11: Dr Nitu Bajekal - Finding Me in Menopause: why lifestyle matters

Nitu Bajekal is a gynaecologist with over 40 years experience in women’s health and is the author of Finding me in Menopause and co-author of Living PCOS free. She has created a web site packed with free resources to empower women to take charge of their own health. Link: https://nitubajekal.com/  Instagram: @drnitubajekal  Nitu and Joyce explore the key pillars of healthy ageing: nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental health, and social connection. Nitu emphasises the importance of strength training for bone and muscle health, plant based nutrition focused on colour and protein, and the profound impact of sleep, stress management, and self compassion.  She highlights how confidence built through physical activity, especially from a young age, supports both mental and physical resilience later in life.  Above all, she stresses that there are no quick fixes, but small, sustainable changes can have powerful effects. Her core message is clear: if you don’t make time for wellness, you will have to make time for illness.

Season 4, #10: Jinty Sheerin and Lou Hockings-Thompson – The Womenkind Collective

Jinty Sheerin and Lou Hockings-Thompson – The Womenkind Collective; spilling the tea on taboos Jinty Sheerin and Lou Hockings-Thompson are best friends and hosts of the WomenKind Collective Podcast, delivering a weekly mix of real talk, education, and humor centered on women’s health, menopause, relationships, and smashing the patriarchy. They are active campaigners, founding Exmouth's first Menopause Café and launching the #WheresMyClinic campaign for better Devon-based NHS menopause care. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/womenkindcollective/  In this episode, Joyce is joined by the brilliant and hilarious Jinty and Lou, best friends and hosts of the WomenKind Collective Podcast. Their friendship, humour and warmth shine through from the very start, setting the tone for a conversation that is both uplifting and deeply honest.  Together, they reflect on how their podcast began during lockdown as a way to stay connected and has since grown into a much-needed space for open conversations about women’s health, menopause, relationships and the subjects that are too often left unspoken. With humour, humanity and refreshing candour, they make complex and taboo topics feel relatable and accessible. The conversation explores the changing nature of female friendship in midlife, the importance of creativity, and the value of making time for joy. Mental health, anxiety, saying no, finding comfort in simple rituals such as making tea, and the restorative power of nature all feature in this rich discussion. There is also a strong message about giving women permission to prioritise themselves, seek adventure, and embrace this stage of life with curiosity and courage.  Honest, funny and full of wisdom, this episode is a celebration of friendship, self-discovery and the many ways women can find joy as they grow older.

Season 4, #9: Breeda Bermingham, Midlife Women Rock

Breeda is a former Midwife and Community/Public Health Nurse who became interested in menopause in 2018 while completing a psychology degree. Realising how little she knew about this life stage, and how under-researched midlife women are, she went on to complete a master’s in 2020. Her dissertation, “Silence, Taboo and Midlife Women,” explored Irish women’s experiences of menopause, a topic long clouded by stigma. Breeda views menopause as a societal and cultural issue and believes that everyone, women, men, girls, and workplaces, needs better education. Having supported hundreds of women, she is convinced that education is the key to navigating this significant life stage. Her mantra is: educate, educate, educate, its life changing. Breeda is the author of the book Midlife Women Rock. She is now a sought-after speaker on menopause and midlife women, contributing to conferences and seminars across the UK and Ireland and helping to break the long-standing taboo. https://midlifewomenrockproject.com/ Instagram @midlifewomenrock  Breeda shares how her own menopause journey led her to question the silence, shame and negativity surrounding this life stage, and why education is so important in helping women understand what is happening to their bodies and minds.  Together, Joyce and Breeda discuss the need to challenge outdated narratives around ageing, the empty nest, retirement and invisibility, and instead encourage women to see midlife as a time to rediscover themselves, explore new passions and embrace freedom, purpose and growth. They also explore the practical side of thriving in midlife, including the importance of movement, strength, rest, social connection and self-care, as well as the reality that women’s experiences of perimenopause and menopause are not all the same. Breeda speaks honestly about HRT, why it can be life-changing for some women but is not the right choice for everyone, and the need to move beyond one-size-fits-all messaging. This is an uplifting and thoughtful conversation about courage, curiosity and finding joy in the years beyond fifty, with inspiring reflections on nature, adventure, health, happiness and what it really means to rock midlife.