Women of a Certain Stage

HRT, Burnout, Brain Fog: Menopause Support Strategies That Actually Help

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Sarah — a former gardener turned academic turned menopause coach — for an honest and inspiring conversation about burnout, brain fog, and finding your way through menopause while doing a PhD. Together, they explore how nature and the outdoors can be a powerful tool for managing menopause symptoms, and why giving women agency — through workplace menopause plans and access to outdoor spaces — can be truly transformative. Sarah shares her deeply personal journey through perimenopause, loss, and exhaustion, and how all of it ultimately led her to train as a menopause coach with Women of a Certain Stage. They also dig into the real difference between academic study and coach training, why authenticity matters when building your coaching practice, and how small, considered steps — not big dramatic leaps — are often the most powerful way forward. And yes — there's a moment early on involving an ironing board and some kitchen utensils that perfectly captures the spirit of getting the work done, whatever it takes. 00:00 Introduction & Behind-the-Scenes Chaos 01:12 Sarah's Background: From Gardener to PhD 02:17 Experiencing Menopause During Academic Study 03:25 The Woman Who Worked Outside — and Why It Stuck 04:30 Discovering Menopause Coaching as a Career 05:16 Why Sarah Chose Women of a Certain Stage 06:38 Taking Time to Be Ready: No Pressure, No Rush 07:57 The Decision-Making Journey 08:52 Burnout, Grief & Mental Bandwidth 10:00 Comparing PhD Study with the Menopause Coach Diploma 13:08 Advice for Anyone Sitting on the Fence 15:04 Flexibility, Autonomy & Reaching More People 15:28 What's Next: Website, LinkedIn & Getting Out There 16:19 Showing Up Authentically in Your Practice 17:28 Johari's Window & Self-Awareness in Coaching 18:27 Brain Fog, the Woods & Talking to Yourself Like a Coach 19:49 Working with Businesses: Outdoor Menopause Plans & Legislation 20:41 The Science Behind Nature & Menopause Meet your host Lauren Chiren Lauren Chiren is a leading voice in menopause awareness and workplace inclusion, dedicated to ensuring no one navigates menopause alone. As the Founder and CEO of Women of a Certain Stage, she works with organisations worldwide to create menopause-savvy and supportive environments. With a background in psychology, sports therapy, and nutrition, and an extensive suite of coaching certifications, Lauren is on a mission to train 20,000 Menopause Coaches and Champions, equipping them with the tools to support individuals and workplaces through this transformative life stage. Join her as she breaks the silence, challenges the stigma, and empowers people to thrive at midlife and beyond. About Women of a Certain Stage We are committed to transforming the menopause experience — both for individuals and the organisations that support them. Our mission is to empower people through education, advocacy, and expert-led training, ensuring menopause is no longer a barrier to confidence, health, or career success. Join us and our global network of professionals dedicated to breaking the stigma, improving workplace culture, and ensuring no one navigates menopause alone. Find out more here: https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ [https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/] Connect with Lauren LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/ [https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStagehttps://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStage [https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStage] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstagehttps://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstage [https://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstage] Twitter/X: https://x.com/LaurenChirenhttps://x.com/LaurenChiren [https://x.com/LaurenChiren]

3 Menopause Times: Chemical, Surgical & Recovery. HRT & Becoming a Coach

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Lucy, a newly graduated Women of a Certain Stage Menopause Coach, for an honest and deeply personal conversation about living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, and PCOS — and navigating menopause not once, but three times. Twice chemically, and once surgically following a full hysterectomy and oophorectomy at just 33. Lucy shares the raw reality of years of misdiagnosis, debilitating pain, and a medical system that too often left her without answers or adequate support. Together, Lauren and Lucy unpack what chemical and surgical menopause actually feel like, what recovery really looks like beyond the four-to-six week advice, and why the conversation around different types of menopause is so critically missing from mainstream awareness. They explore the psychological impact of surgical menopause, the importance of asking better questions before going into theatre, and why workplace menopause policies need to go beyond awareness sessions to create real, meaningful change. And through it all — with warmth, humour, and hard-won wisdom — Lucy explains why she chose to turn her experience into a career supporting other women through their own menopause journeys. 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Lucy's background — from financial services to menopause coaching 05:46 The beginning of Lucy's journey — periods, pain, and being told to crack on 07:15 Early diagnosis of precancerous cervical cells and PCOS 08:44 Understanding PCOS — what it is and why it's so often missed 09:06 Diagnosis of endometriosis and adenomyosis 10:21 Explaining the difference between endometriosis and adenomyosis 13:01 The fertility miracle — having children against the odds 13:22 The decision to have a full hysterectomy at 33 18:51 Life after hysterectomy — the good, the challenging, and the things nobody tells you 20:10 Vaginal cuffs, cervical removal, and recovery beyond six weeks 22:27 What Lucy wishes she had known before surgery 25:21 Chemical menopause — what it is and why Lucy went through it twice 27:09 HRT during chemical menopause — and a severe reaction to the Mirena coil 29:27 Why Lucy chose menopause coaching over endometriosis advocacy 31:23 Being turned away from counselling and local support groups for being "too young" 33:28 Why different types of menopause need to be part of the conversation 35:25 Choosing Women of a Certain Stage — and what made it stand out 38:03 Why Lauren trains others to do the same work 38:58 What's next for Lucy — podcasts, corporate sessions, and the Employment Rights Bill 40:19 The importance of context in workplace menopause conversations 44:32 Lucy's biggest takeaway from the Menopause Coach Diploma 47:04 What Lucy would say to someone sitting on the fence about training 50:54 Lucy's message to anyone facing perimenopause, chemical menopause, or hysterectomy Connect with Lucy: TikTok | Instagram | Facebook: @themenopausemom Business: Black Mirror Advisory Meet your host Lauren Chiren Lauren Chiren is a leading voice in menopause awareness and workplace inclusion, dedicated to ensuring no one navigates menopause alone. As the Founder and CEO of Women of a Certain Stage, she works with organisations worldwide to create menopause-savvy and supportive environments. With a background in psychology, sports therapy, and nutrition, and an extensive suite of coaching certifications, Lauren is on a mission to train 20,000 Menopause Coaches and Champions, equipping them with the tools to support individuals and workplaces through this transformative life stage. Join her as she breaks the silence, challenges the stigma, and empowers people to thrive at midlife and beyond. About Women of a Certain Stage We are committed to transforming the menopause experience — both for individuals and the organisations that support them. Our mission is to empower people through education, advocacy, and expert-led training, ensuring menopause is no longer a barrier to confidence, health, or career success. Find out more: https://www.womenofacertainstage.com [https://www.womenofacertainstage.com] Connect with Lauren LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/ [https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStage [https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStage] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstage [https://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstage] Twitter/X: https://x.com/LaurenChiren [https://x.com/LaurenChiren]

Menopause Coach Training For Educators: Supporting Teachers Through Perimenopause

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Susan, a former secondary school teacher of nearly 30 years turned menopause coach, for an honest and eye-opening conversation about what it's really like to navigate perimenopause and menopause in the classroom. Together, they explore the unique and often overlooked challenges that teachers face — from hot flushes mid-lesson and brain fog affecting lesson prep, to joint pain from standing for hours and the impossible reality of skipping toilet breaks. Susan shares her deeply personal experience of being one of the first teachers in her school to openly name menopause as the reason for her struggles — and the dismissive, damaging response she received from her head teacher. They discuss why the education sector has a long way to go in creating truly supportive environments for menopausal staff, why generic workplace menopause policies often fail teachers, and why experienced menopausal educators are leaving the profession in numbers that go uncounted. They also explore how menopause coaching — offered proactively from the late thirties and early forties — could transform retention, reduce absences, and help teachers maintain their identity, dignity, and confidence through this life stage. Susan shares what drew her to train as a menopause coach with Women of a Certain Stage, how she is making the transition from teacher to coach, and why her lived experience gives her a unique and powerful connection with the women she now supports. 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Susan's background — nearly 30 years as a languages teacher in Glasgow 02:16 The unique challenges of managing menopause symptoms in the classroom 02:56 Hot flushes, holding onto the filing cabinet, and carrying on 03:38 Going on HRT — and what it did and didn't help with 04:03 Joint pain and the reality of standing for seven hours straight 04:53 Noise sensitivity, constant interruptions, and the impact on anxiety and brain fog 06:26 Brain fog and the loss of identity — when your sharpness disappears 07:10 The hidden workload of teaching that people don't see 09:08 Why Susan decided to train as a menopause coach 09:45 The wellbeing meeting that went badly wrong 11:10 How far workplaces have come — and how far they still have to go 12:12 What Susan looked for in a menopause coach training programme 13:11 Why Women of a Certain Stage felt like a proper educational setting 14:05 Making the transition from teacher to coach — holding silence and asking better questions 15:46 Working with three teachers and finding her coaching voice 17:01 What Susan would add to nutrition education for menopausal women 20:22 Susan's plans — reaching the women themselves, not just writing policies 23:24 The culture in schools — pushing through and not showing weakness 24:40 How experienced teachers are being pushed out of the profession 27:25 The missing statistics — how many teachers are leaving because of menopause? 29:03 Naming the menopause — why calling it what it is matters 30:06 Preparing women for perimenopause the way they were prepared for periods 30:43 Susan's poster campaign for school staff rooms 31:44 Menopause in the education curriculum — progress and what's still needed 33:19 What Susan would say to teachers sitting on the fence about coach training 34:50 The power of support — and why talking lightens the burden Connect with Susan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-bremner-099018326/ Meet your host Lauren Chiren Lauren Chiren is a leading voice in menopause awareness and workplace inclusion, dedicated to ensuring no one navigates menopause alone. As the Founder and CEO of Women of a Certain Stage, she works with organisations worldwide to create menopause-savvy and supportive environments. With a background in psychology, sports therapy, and nutrition, and an extensive suite of coaching certifications, Lauren is on a mission to train 20,000 Menopause Coaches and Champions, equipping them with the tools to support individuals and workplaces through this transformative life stage. Join her as she breaks the silence, challenges the stigma, and empowers people to thrive at midlife and beyond. About Women of a Certain Stage We are committed to transforming the menopause experience — both for individuals and the organisations that support them. Our mission is to empower people through education, advocacy, and expert-led training, ensuring menopause is no longer a barrier to confidence, health, or career success. Join us and our global network of professionals dedicated to breaking the stigma, improving workplace culture, and ensuring no one navigates menopause alone. Find out more here: https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ Connect with Lauren LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStage YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstage Twitter/X: https://x.com/LaurenChiren

Perimenopause Strength Training: How a Menopause Coach helps active women rebuild muscle, confidence, and identity

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Nicole, a personal trainer based in the Peak District with over 11 years of experience, who has recently completed her Menopause Coach certification with Women of a Certain Stage. Together, they explore how perimenopause can shake an active woman's identity, training motivation, and mental wellbeing — and how the right support can help her find her way back to strength, confidence, and herself. They dive into the shift from telling clients what to do to truly coaching them, why strength training is non-negotiable during the menopausal transition, and how building real connection with clients unlocks results that go far beyond the gym floor. Nicole also shares her own perimenopause journey, her transition from a corporate career to personal training, and her exciting plans to build an online community for active women navigating this life stage — plus a wonderfully candid moment about farming, six-packs, and dating advice between bench press sets. 00:00 Introduction 01:04 Nicole's Background and Journey into Personal Training 06:37 Life in the Peak District and the Power of the Outdoors 07:02 How Perimenopause Affects Motivation and Training 09:06 The Shift from Telling to Coaching 12:09 Creating Space for Clients to Open Up 13:24 Who Nicole Works With and What They're Really Looking For 17:36 What Drew Nicole to Menopause Coaching 19:21 Why She Chose Women of a Certain Stage 21:52 Key Takeaways from the Diploma Programme 24:20 The Impact on Practice Clients — Mindset Breakthroughs 28:20 From Corporate to Personal Trainer — Nicole's Story 34:26 The Many Skills Nicole Brings to Her Clients 36:11 How Nicole Structures Her Week and Business 37:37 Nicole's Vision for the Year Ahead 39:15 Why Strength Training Matters During Perimenopause 41:53 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Nicole Connect with Nicole: (Add Nicole's website, Instagram, and any other relevant links here) Meet your host Lauren Chiren Lauren Chiren is a leading voice in menopause awareness and workplace inclusion, dedicated to ensuring no one navigates menopause alone. As the Founder and CEO of Women of a Certain Stage, she works with organisations worldwide to create menopause-savvy and supportive environments. With a background in psychology, sports therapy, and nutrition, and an extensive suite of coaching certifications, Lauren is on a mission to train 20,000 Menopause Coaches and Champions, equipping them with the tools to support individuals and workplaces through this transformative life stage. Join her as she breaks the silence, challenges the stigma, and empowers people to thrive at midlife and beyond. About Women of a Certain Stage We are committed to transforming the menopause experience — both for individuals and the organisations that support them. Our mission is to empower people through education, advocacy, and expert-led training, ensuring menopause is no longer a barrier to confidence, health, or career success. Join us and our global network of professionals dedicated to breaking the stigma, improving workplace culture, and ensuring no one navigates menopause alone. Find out more here: https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ [https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/] Connect with Lauren LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/ [https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStagehttps://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStage [https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStage] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstagehttps://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstage [https://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstage] Twitter/X: https://x.com/LaurenChirenhttps://x.com/LaurenChiren [https://x.com/LaurenChiren]

Menopause at Work: One Woman’s Perimenopause Wake-Up Call and the Path to Menopause Coaching

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Catherine — communications professional, newly accredited Menopause Coach, and passionate advocate — for an honest and inspiring conversation about what happens when perimenopause hits fast, hard, and without warning. Catherine shares how a deeply personal health crisis became the catalyst for a powerful new direction, and how she's already making waves in her workplace and beyond — before she's even officially launched her coaching business. Together, Lauren and Catherine explore the importance of proper training and certification in an unregulated industry, the courage it takes to share your story publicly, and how one intranet article led to BBC Radio, national press, and a 400-person webinar. They also dig into the real value of community learning, the power of visibility, and why workplaces have a critical role to play in supporting women through menopause. Whether you're considering menopause coaching as a career, navigating perimenopause yourself, or looking to create a more menopause-aware workplace, this conversation is packed with practical insights, warmth, and a few laughs along the way. In This Episode We Cover: 00:00 Introduction 01:19 How Catherine discovered perimenopause — and why it changed everything 03:07 Why lived experience alone isn't enough: the case for proper training 04:27 The appointment that sparked a career pivot 05:01 Choosing the right menopause coaching certification 06:10 The power of cohort learning and global community 08:01 Bringing menopause awareness into a 4,000-person organisation 09:47 Writing your story publicly — and the ripple effects that follow 12:16 BBC Radio, Metro Online, and a 400-person webinar: visibility in action 13:19 How to build your presence before you're ready to launch 16:41 Menopause Action Plans, workplace legislation, and what's coming next 17:57 Visioning the future: what does success look like in 18 months? 23:33 The unexpected richness of a career in menopause coaching 27:12 Making the coaching scripts your own 28:28 Why coaching practice matters — even when it's hard Connect with Lauren Chiren LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/ [https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStagehttps://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStage [https://www.facebook.com/WomenOfACertainStage] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstagehttps://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstage [https://www.youtube.com/@womenofacertainstage] Twitter/X: https://x.com/LaurenChirenhttps://x.com/LaurenChiren [https://x.com/LaurenChiren] About Women of a Certain Stage Women of a Certain Stage is committed to transforming the menopause experience — both for individuals and the organisations that support them. Their mission is to empower people through education, advocacy, and expert-led training, ensuring menopause is no longer a barrier to confidence, health, or career success. Find out more: https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ [https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/] Interested in becoming a Menopause Coach? Lauren is on a mission to train 20,000 Menopause Coaches and Champions. If this episode has sparked something in you, find out more about the Menopause Coach Diploma at https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ [https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/]