Mad With The Menopause

Join me in conversation with Andrea Clare, the visionary and organiser of Scotland’s first ever Pause Summit, taking place in Glasgow on October the 18th 2026.

Andrea is a Creative Menopause Coach. helping women understand, navigate, and thrive in midlife through creativity, drawing on her own terrible experience of the perimenopause.

 

KEY TAKE AWAYS:

The three stages of menopause and hormonal impact

The importance of hormone education and awareness

How menopause affects relationships and intimacy

Self-advocacy in healthcare and the role of GPs

Lifestyle choices and holistic approaches to menopause

The significance of support groups and community

The upcoming Scottish Paws Summit details and speakers

Personal experiences with hormone therapy and medication

 

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Get your tickets here:  https://scottishpausesummit.co.uk/

LinkedIn: Andrea Clare Unlimited

 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Anel’s passion to help others, is evident from her professional life, having worked extensively within Recruitment, Human Resources, and the Third Sector.

This passion is predominately the inspiration for her podcast.

Blindsided by the perimenopause, when it took hold with a vengeance at the start of Lockdown, Anél is fiercely passionate about raising more awareness of the perimenopause, menopause and post menopause, and will tackle many taboo subjects head on, as she is a strong believer in ‘knowledge is power’.

 

CONTACT ME:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7252979209604673536/

E-mail:  info@madwiththemenopause.com

Instagram: @anel.quilliam

 

DISCLAIMER: 

The views of mine and those of my guests are just that. I therefore urge you to take advise from your medical practitioner, who knows your medical history and can therefore provide advice specific to your needs.

 

 

Tile Art by:  Shawn Bennett (Rockingham Media CIC)

Alexander Perry is the founder of Alexander Clementine, a women’s health underwear brand creating soft, breathable underwear from seaweed and eucalyptus.

After studying Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry, Alexander went on to work in fashion before founding Alexander Clementine, inspired by his mother Alison’s experience with breast cancer treatment and recovery. The brand continues to innovate in her name and memory.

Alexander Clementine exists to rethink the first layer for women navigating menopause, sensitivity, recovery and everyday discomfort - combining science-led fabric innovation with beautiful, comfort-first design.

Alexander is passionate about opening more honest conversations around women’s health, menopause and the role better materials can play in supporting women’s bodies.

 

KEY TAKE AWAYS:

00:00 - Introduction to Alex and her journey

02:21 - The evolution of Alexander Clementine

04:16 - Sourcing fabrics and the benefits of eucalyptus

07:01 - Why Icelandic seaweed was chosen

12:14 - The product presentation and customer experience

14:08 - Range of garments and target use

17:09- - Website and shopping experience

21:00 - Future plans and industry outlook

24:30 - Most surprising learnings about menopause

26:07 - Supporting Alex's business and final thoughts

 

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Instagram:  @alexanderclementineltd

LinkedIn:   Alex Perry

Website:   www.alexanderclementine.com

 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Anel’s passion to help others, is evident from her professional life, having worked extensively within Recruitment, Human Resources, and the Third Sector.

This passion is predominately the inspiration for her podcast.

Blindsided by the perimenopause, when it took hold with a vengeance at the start of Lockdown, Anél is fiercely passionate about raising more awareness of the perimenopause, menopause and post menopause, and will tackle many taboo subjects head on, as she is a strong believer in ‘knowledge is power’.

 

CONTACT ME:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7252979209604673536/

E-mail:  info@madwiththemenopause.com

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Dr. Gilly Kahn, a licensed clinical psychologist and author specialising in neurodiversity, emotion regulation, and executive functioning. Dr. Kahn is a leading voice on ADHD - especially when it comes to the often-overlooked emotional side of living with a neurodivergent brain. She is the author of 'Allow Me to Interrupt: A Psychologist Reveals the Emotional Truth Behind Women’s ADHD.'

What makes her perspective so powerful is that she bridges rigorous clinical psychology with her own personal journey with ADHD.

 

KEY TAKE AWAYS:

00:00 - Introduction to Gilly Kahn and her work

01:56 - Gilly’s early interest in working with autistic children

04:00 - Recognizing social withdrawal and non-anxious withdrawal in children

06:00 - Personal experiences with undiagnosed ADHD

09:00 - The journey of writing her book about women’s ADHD

12:02 - The significance of self-compassion and psycho-education

15:03 - The story behind the book’s title and stereotypes

17:01 - Advice for navigating life with ADHD

21:59 - Hormonal influences on women with ADHD and perimenopause

28:00 - Personal health experiences and the impact of stress

30:50 - Final thoughts and encouragement for self-acceptance

 

 

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Instagram:  @drgillykahn

 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Anel’s passion to help others, is evident from her professional life, having worked extensively within Recruitment, Human Resources, and the Third Sector.

This passion is predominately the inspiration for her podcast.

Blindsided by the perimenopause, when it took hold with a vengeance at the start of Lockdown, Anél is fiercely passionate about raising more awareness of the perimenopause, menopause and post menopause, and will tackle many taboo subjects head on, as she is a strong believer in ‘knowledge is power’.

 

CONTACT ME:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7252979209604673536/

E-mail:  info@madwiththemenopause.com

In this milestone episode, Anél breaks down the 5 Pillars of Health, showing why prioritising your wellbeing matters now, more than ever as you enter perimenopause and menopause.

 

KEY TAKE AWAYS:

00:00 - Introduction to Menopause and the 5 Pillars of Health

02:19 - Strength Training and Bone Health

03:06 - Prioritising Sleep for Cellular Repair

04:00 - Managing Stress and Nervous System Health

04:54 - The Power of Connection and Self-Compassion

05:10 - Final Thoughts: Thriving in Menopause

 

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Instagram:   @anelquilliam

 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Anel’s passion to help others, is evident from her professional life, having worked extensively within Recruitment, Human Resources, and the Third Sector.

This passion is predominately the inspiration for her podcast.

Blindsided by the perimenopause, when it took hold with a vengeance at the start of Lockdown, Anél is fiercely passionate about raising more awareness of the perimenopause, menopause and post menopause, and will tackle many taboo subjects head on, as she is a strong believer in ‘knowledge is power’.

 

CONTACT ME:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7252979209604673536/

E-mail:  info@madwiththemenopause.com

In today’s episode, I am speaking with Simon Salt, a writer, speaker, and Certified Menopause Coach whose work explores how menopause shapes relationships, communication, and workplace wellbeing. Through ‘The Quiet Transition’, Simon helps couples and organisations navigate one of life’s most overlooked transitions.

 

KEY TAKE AWAYS:

00:00 -  Introduction and guest introduction

01:12 -  How Simon's wife entered perimenopause

02:22 - The emotional toll and relationship changes

03:49 -  Diagnosis and understanding symptoms

04:44 -  The importance of emotional intimacy

06:10 -  Men's lack of information and support

07:16  - The shift from fixing to partnering

08:12  - Navigating identity and aging

09:20 -  The importance of lived experience

10:48  - Research and understanding the biological aspects

12:08  - Creating a new relationship dynamic

13:35 -  Providing tailored information for men

14:32 -  Sit, listen, believe framework

15:28 -  Learning from lived experiences

16:54 -  Adapting to unpredictable symptoms

18:07 -  Reframing aging as transition, not end

19:44 -  Supporting through flexibility and patience

21:14 -  The societal view of aging and menopause

22:33 -  Practical support and shared responsibilities

24:18 -  Stepping back and allowing mistakes

26:51 -  Recognizing emotional triggers and timing

28:21 -  Reading the room and emotional cues

30:54 -  The role of continuous information gathering

31:47 -  The 'Quiet Transition' content platform

32:19 -  Upcoming book and future plans

 

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Substack: https://substack.com/@thequiettransition

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonsalt/

Website:  https://www.thequiettransition.com/

Podcast:  https://www.thequiettransition.com/podcast

 

 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Anel’s passion to help others, is evident from her professional life, having worked extensively within Recruitment, Human Resources, and the Third Sector.

This passion is predominately the inspiration for her podcast.

Blindsided by the perimenopause, when it took hold with a vengeance at the start of Lockdown, Anél is fiercely passionate about raising more awareness of the perimenopause, menopause and post menopause, and will tackle many taboo subjects head on, as she is a strong believer in ‘knowledge is power’.

 

CONTACT ME:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7252979209604673536/

E-mail:  info@madwiththemenopause.com