Women of a Certain Stage

In this episode, I sit down with Kirstie Walker Poole for an empowering and deeply moving conversation about navigating menopause after a cancer diagnosis, handling identity shifts in midlife, and learning to advocate for yourself in healthcare and the workplace. Together, we discuss the nuances of hormone therapy, early menopause, and why midlife can be a powerful opportunity for personal transformation. We dive into Kirstie’s personal and professional journey—from her background in corporate operations and change management to her breast cancer diagnosis at age 37, which triggered an sudden menopausal transition due to hormone-blocking treatment (Tamoxifen). We explore the hidden physical and emotional impacts of cancer treatment, the loneliness of facing early menopause ahead of your peer group, and the critical importance of informed consent and self-advocacy when navigating medical choices. Importantly, we address the unique challenges of experiencing menopause in corporate environments and why policy alone is not enough to support women in leadership. Kirstie shares how her journey led her to become a transformational menopause and cancer coach, helping women navigate midlife transitions, rediscover their identity, and find joy in the everyday. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast & Guest 00:37 Kirstie’s Journey: Breast Cancer Diagnosis & Early Menopause 01:34 The Menopause Transition & Identity Shifts in Midlife 03:35 Midlife as an Opportunity for Reflection & Reinvention 05:04 Cancer Treatment, Tamoxifen, and Hormone-Blocking Side Effects 06:29 The Isolation of Early Menopause & Lack of Evidence-Based Resources 08:15 From Corporate Operations to Transformational Coaching 10:52 How Kirstie Supports Clients: 1-to-1, Group Coaching, & Community 12:22 Finding Joy, Solitude, and Balance Post-Diagnosis 14:33 The Impact of the Women of a Certain Stage Coaching Diploma 16:12 The Gap in Medical Training & the Role of Menopause Coaches 17:26 Self-Advocacy & Making the Decision to Stop Tamoxifen 21:00 What to Expect When Working with Kirstie 22:57 Menopause in the Workplace: Beyond Policies & Action Plans 25:07 Retaining Midlife Female Talent & Closing Thoughts Connect with Kirstie Walker Poole: Location: Chesham, Buckinghamshire (In-person & Online support) 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

In this episode, I sit down with Emma Stronell for an inspiring and deeply candid conversation on how personal style, color, and wardrobe confidence can help women navigate the challenges of perimenopause and menopause. Together, we explore how sudden health shifts—such as medical menopause and severe endometriosis—can impact self-esteem, and how clothing can be used as a powerful tool to regain control and identity. We dive into Emma’s professional journey, from her early passion for design and two-decade career in high-end retail management to facing severe health struggles that altered her life path. Emma shares her personal experience going through medical menopause and seven laparoscopies, the workplace stigma she hid for years, and how training as a menopause coach empowered her to rebuild her confidence. We discuss practical ways to dress for changing bodies, the role of color and fabrics during hot flushes, and how small style shifts can transform how women feel inside and out. 00:00 Episode Introduction 00:37 Early Career in Fashion Retail 03:42 Store Management & Visual Styling 05:27 Endometriosis & Medical Menopause 07:31 Workplace Stigma & Erosion of Confidence 09:16 Career Burnout & Health Challenges 11:34 Self-Advocacy in Healthcare 12:41 Transition to Menopause & Style Coaching 16:34 "Small Hinges Swing Big Doors" 18:10 Personal Styling & Color Analysis 21:43 Underwear, Foundations & Shapewear 23:59 Managing Symptoms with Fabrics & Layering 25:12 Surgical Menopause & Peer Support 28:30 Connecting with Emma Stronell Connect with Emma Stronell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theforward_edit 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

In this episode, I sit down with Vicki Jakes for an insightful conversation about digital marketing, social media, and how they intersect with building a business in the health and wellness space. Together, we break down Vicki's transition from corporate marketing to running her own business, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the importance of prioritizing sales and visibility. We dive into Vicki’s professional journey—from working on London-based magazines and big corporate websites to becoming a social media consultant and ad specialist. We explore the balance between organic content and paid advertising, the necessity of appearing on camera to build trust, and the specific challenges of marketing in the menopause space in 2026, where platforms often deprioritize women's health content. Importantly, we discuss practical tips for new business owners to get their name out there and the value of testing different "hooks" and niches on social media. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast & Guest 01:32 Vicki’s Journey: From Publishing and Corporate Websites to Social Media Consultant 03:54 The Challenges of Leaving Corporate for Entrepreneurship 08:07 Fusing Healthcare with Marketing and Understanding Client Needs 13:58 Top Tips for New Business Owners: Prioritizing Sales and Marketing 17:58 Introducing the "Ad Room" and Entry-Level Marketing Strategies 19:51 Organic Content vs. Paid Ads: Finding Your Niche and Hooks 24:06 The Importance of Being on Camera to Showcase Expertise 27:26 Navigating Social Media Censorship in Women's Health and Menopause 30:26 Using Instagram "Trial Reels" for Practice and Testing 31:57 The Best (and Worst) Times of Year to Run Healthcare Ads 34:02 Closing Thoughts: Have Fun with Marketing Connect with Vicki Jakes: LinkedIn: Search for Vicki Jakes Instagram: Search for Vicki Jakes (Vicki with an I) Membership: The Ad Room 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 organizations 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

In this episode, I sit down with Helen Bligh for an eye-opening and deeply insightful conversation about GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic and Mounjaro), weight loss, and how they intersect with menopause. Together, we break down the science, dissect the stigma, and unpack why sustainable health goes so much deeper than simply "calories in, calories out" or relying on willpower alone. We dive into Helen’s personal and professional journey—from working as a dietician in the NHS and training healthcare professionals in life sciences to her own lived experiences with perimenopause and weight management. We explore how GLP-1s actually work in the body, why they have surged in popularity, and the hidden risks of buying these medications through unverified online providers or gray markets. Importantly, we address the critical missing link in weight management: behavior change, psychological awareness, and holistic health. Helen shares why GLP-1s should be viewed as a tool for broader health and anti-inflammatory benefits—not just a quick fix—and introduces her book, It Was Never About Willpower. We also touch on shifting trends like microdosing, off-label usage, and what the future of weight management holds for women entering midlife and beyond. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast & Guest 01:03 Helen’s Journey: From NHS Dietician to Life Sciences & Coaching 02:12 Early History and Science of GLP-1 Medications 03:50 The Myth of Willpower and the Stigma Around Weight Loss 04:53 Perimenopause, Mirena Coil, and Misdiagnosed Symptoms 06:59 What Exactly is a GLP-1? How Gut Signaling Hormones Work 08:10 Why GLP-1s Are Surging in Popularity Among Midlife Women 10:00 Food Beliefs, Social Media Myths, and the Joy of Mindful Eating 12:32 The Internalized Stigma and Secrecy Surrounding Weight Loss Drugs 13:40 Online Pharmacies, Unethical Prescribing, and the "Gray Market" 18:06 Beyond Weight Loss: Blood Pressure, Inflammation, and Health Markers 19:57 The Danger of Rapid Weight Loss & Metabolic Slowdown 21:28 Understanding Visceral Fat, Body Composition, and Muscle Retention 24:40 The Future of Weight Management and Women’s Health Research 27:32 Helen’s Mission: Her Book, Group Coaching, and Health Literacy 30:20 "Microdosing" GLP-1s, Fitness Influencers, and Safety Concerns 33:21 Where to Connect with Helen Bligh and Closing Thoughts Connect with Helen Bligh: Book: It Was Never About Willpower LinkedIn: Helen Bligh on LinkedIn Instagram: Helen Bligh on Instagram Facebook: Helen Bligh on Facebook 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

In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca Cooper—the very first dual certified menopause coach and menopause trainer with Women of a Certain Stage. Together, we discuss her personal journey navigating early menopause and hysterectomy in her late 30s, as well as how her 20 years of HR experience inspired her to advocate for better support in the workplace. We explore the urgent need to retain female talent, particularly within STEM and male-dominated industries, where women often leave around age 44. Rebecca breaks down why addressing menopause support isn't just about compliance or policy—it's a critical commercial differentiator that impacts culture, talent retention, and the bottom line. We dive deep into the UK government's upcoming requirement for Menopause Action Plans for larger employers, shifting the conversation from simple tick-box exercises like handing out desk fans to implementing meaningful internal infrastructure, line management training, and continuous measurement. And… for a fun peek behind the curtain, you’ll hear about Rebecca's "many paws" at home, how shifting her daily working schedule restored her energy, and why saying "yes" to a spontaneous 10-minute talk sparked a brand-new path in community workshops. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & Welcome to the First Dual Certified Coach and Trainer 01:22 Rebecca’s Personal Journey: Early Menopause & Workplace Challenges 03:45 Supporting Women in STEM and Male-Dominated Industries 05:23 Engaging Employers and Focusing on Female Retention 08:30 The Average Age Women Leave Engineering Roles 09:44 Why Formal Qualifications & Credibility Matter 11:08 What UK Employers Need to Know About Menopause Action Plans 2027 14:13 The Importance of Employee Surveys and Open Conversations 15:15 Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone: Community Talks & Local Workshops 18:33 Building Confidence, Energy, and Community Connection 20:38 Small Lifestyle Wins: Hydration and Restructuring the Work Day 22:09 Preview of the Upcoming Authority Maker Programme 22:53 Life Outside Work: Dogs, Books, and Managing Energy 25:18 Closing Thoughts and How to Connect Connect with Rebecca: LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccacooperhr/ 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