Women of a Certain Stage

• HR to Menopause Coach: Alison Allen on Menopause Talks & Building Support Groups

  In this episode of the Women of a Certain Stage Podcast, host Lauren Chiren sits down with Alison Allen, founder of Sparks HR Consultancy and a Women of a Certain Stage and CPD certified menopause coach, to explore how organisations can embed effective menopause training, menopause talks, and workplace strategy. Drawing on 25 years in HR and L&D, Alison shares how a 2003 TV segment first ignited her passion for supporting menopausal women on the job, and how during the pandemic she championed policy, support groups, and menopause toolkits in her corporate role.Since launching her own practice in 2023 and completing the Women of a Certain Stage Certified Menopause Coach Diploma, Alison now blends one-to-one and group menopause coaching with bespoke workplace strategy workshops.Discover how she’s setting up corporate menopause champion networks, coaching leaders through the “Menopause Plan” framework, and gearing up to launch menopause wellness days, journals, and even her own podcast. Key TakeawaysEmbed Menopause Talks & Training into HR StrategyDesign “safe space” sessions for leaders and colleagues—cover symptoms, reasonable adjustments, and inclusive policy updates.Leverage Coaching FrameworksUse a structured coaching model (like the Menopause Plan) to turn awareness into action, empower clients with self-coaching tools, and track outcomes.Set Up Support Groups & ChampionsLaunch on-site or virtual menopause champion networks; train local advocates to keep conversations alive and drive cultural change.Blend One-to-One & Group CoachingOffer bespoke individual coaching for deep dives, and cost-effective group coaching for peer support and shared accountability.Continual Learning & Resource LibraryKeep your menopause toolkits and training materials up-to-date with the latest research, expert interviews, and downloadable guides.[00:01:39] Supporting menopausal women in workplaces.[00:06:04] Menopause coaching training journey.[00:09:05] Enhanced knowledge in coaching.[00:14:57] Menopause and coaching effectiveness.[00:18:16] Menopause support in business.[00:19:36] Menopause support in workplaces.[00:23:44] Menopause coach program benefits.[00:29:15] Future of menopause support.[00:30:27] Building a personal menopause plan. Ready to Take Action? Visit https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ today to: Enrol in our Accredited Menopause Coach Diploma certification Book workplace strategy workshops & keynote menopause talks Download turnkey menopause toolkits & resource bundlesBuild your own Menopause Champion networkBook a free strategy call with our expert team 👉 https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/podEmpower your organisation and start delivering life-changing menopause support now!

  --------  

  30:42

  --------

  30:42
• How Menopause Hijacks Your Sleep: Circadian Rhythms, Melatonin & 'Simple' Fixes

  I’m Lauren Chiren, CEO of Women of a Certain Stage and your guide to mastering menopause. Today I’m thrilled to welcome sleep scientist Dr Katharina “Kat” Koltermann to unpack why so many of us struggle to rest during perimenopause and beyond.As a GP and certified menopause strategist, I know that disrupted sleep worsens hot flushes, mood swings and metabolic changes.Kat shares evidence-based insights on how ageing eyes and reduced daytime blue light weaken your circadian rhythm, why melatonin is a timing signal—not a sedative—and which lifestyle “time-cues” reset your body clock.You’ll discover why the pressure to “must sleep” backfires and how morning light exposure, strategic movement, balanced meals and clearer home-life communication restore your rest. Join us for practical tips to reclaim deep, restorative sleep at every stage of menopause. Core TakeawaysPrioritise morning light to strengthen your circadian rhythm as lenses age and blue light perception drops.Melatonin signals help time sleep but aren’t a cure—get medically-graded doses and respect natural darkness.Drop the “must sleep” mindset: replace pressure with curiosity, self-compassion and flexible rituals.Design daytime cues—exercise timing, mealtimes, social connection—to support effortless night-time rest.Align home schedules through open communication so everyone’s sleep needs—from teens to partners—are honoured. [00:02:13] Sleep and aging challenges.[00:05:02] Sleep needs and individual rhythms.[00:08:48] Importance of sleep for interaction.[00:11:34] Exercise and sleep quality.[00:19:09] Control during menopause changes.[00:20:03] Thoughts and emotions at night.[00:25:00] Teenagers and sleep patterns.[00:27:35] Impact of sleep on performance.[00:32:30] Sleep duration and individual needs.[00:37:21] Don't worry about sleep.[00:38:15] Letting go of control.Connect with me and checkout menopause talks, training and toolkits https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ Contact Dr Kat https://drkatsleep.com/meet-dr-kat/

  --------  

  39:28

  --------

  39:28
• Hands-on healing to hormone harmony: Julia Oyeleye’s journey into Menopause Coaching

  When seasoned bodyworker and educator Julia Oyeleye realized her lifelong clients were struggling through menopause with nowhere to turn, she knew her next chapter had to bridge that gap.In this episode, I chat with Julia as she shares how an unexpected career pivot, from executive PA to massage therapist, then teacher, author and reflexologist, led her to discover the one missing piece in her toolkit: a deep, science-backed understanding of perimenopause and beyond.Julia takes us behind the scenes of her own menopause experience, explaining how rewriting reproductive system materials for her teaching role highlighted a startling blind spot in conventional health education: menopause ends the cycle, but where’s the support afterward? She walks us through the “aha” moment that steered her to Women of a Certain Stage’s Diploma in Menopause Coaching, and why the blend of expert-led lessons, weekly practice coaching calls and peer breakout sessions feels like uncovering a new family of fellow changemakers. You’ll hear how Julia’s uniquely blended background - anatomy, aromatherapy, sports injury rehab, reflexology and adult-education pedagogy - makes her ideally suited to help others reclaim their balance.She reveals the gentle lifestyle shifts and empathetic listening skills that empower women to rebuild energy, improve sleep, and regain confidence, and why she’s now determined to bring these breakthroughs back to her beloved education sector. Tune in for a warm, illuminating conversation that proves real transformation happens when expertise meets curiosity and when a community of committed women joins you on the journey.[00:01:14] Bodywork and natural health therapies.[00:05:58] Career transition to therapy.[00:10:16] Educational journey fit.[00:12:12] Communication in teaching and assessment.[00:17:34] Menopause education and awareness.[00:22:05] Coaching in menopause education.[00:24:14] Experiential learning in coaching.[00:29:20] Aromatherapy for Mental Wellbeing.[00:33:08] Education and menopause support.[00:36:39] Community in menopause coaching.Ready to take control of your menopause journey? whether you’re looking for one-on-one coaching, in-workshop training, or support for your whole team—let’s chat. Whether you’re ready to become a certified Menopause Coach or Champion, eager to deepen your own journey with our signature 1:1 or group programs, or a corporate leader looking to ignite true culture change with tailored training and keynote talks - let’s make it happen. Head over to womenofacertainstage.com to: Train with me: Explore our Menopause Coach Diploma, Champion workshop. corporate “Menopause in the Workplace” strategy, workshops, and toolkits.Book a Discovery Call: Chat through your goals and discover the perfect package, whether it’s one-on-one coaching, a bespoke team retreat, or an inspiring all-staff keynote: https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod I can’t wait to partner with you to create healthier, happier workplaces and empowered, unstoppable coaches.

  --------  

  39:03

  --------

  39:03
• Transforming Schools From The Staffroom: How HR Director Sian Carter Champions Menopause Wellbeing

  In this episode, I chat with Sian Carter, HR Director for a multi-academy trust in the West Midlands and a certified menopause coach, about the very real ways she’s woven menopause support into school life. Sian’s own early-onset menopause journey sparked her passion: she knew firsthand how crippling brain fog, night sweats and heavy bleeding could be when you’re standing in front of a classroom full of students. We talk through:The power of top-down buy-in: How her CEO and COO model open conversations, encouraging staff at every level to speak up without fear.Small changes, big impact: Why installing discreet fans, ensuring ready access to toilets, or strategically pairing staff for backup can transform someone’s day.Beyond teaching staff: Why every adult working in a school - administrators, support teams, site staff - deserves practical guidance, compassionate line-management training, and a clear menu of “reasonable adjustments.”Building champions: How Sian is training volunteer “Menopause Ambassadors” in each school so that no one faces this alone.This is more than just policy or PowerPoints.It’s about human connection.[00:02:34] Menopause in the workplace.[00:04:07] Menopause challenges for teachers.[00:08:20] Normalizing menopause conversations at work.[00:11:02] Workload challenges in teaching.[00:15:28] Menopause support conversations.[00:18:14] Transformational coaching experiences.[00:20:10] Enhancing listening skills.[00:25:10] Importance of menopause awareness.[00:29:13] Menopause awareness in younger women.[00:30:23] Menopause opportunities and inspiration.If you lead or work in education (or any people-centered field), you’ll come away inspired to create that same safe, savvy support for the women and everyone around you. Press play, and let’s reimagine our workplaces as places of genuine understanding, one conversation at a time. Head over to womenofacertainstage.com for more information on becoming a menopause savvy & supportive organisation. Book a call to connect and explore opportunities here: https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod

  --------  

  31:03

  --------

  31:03
• From endometriosis to empowerment: How Kirsteen Campbell became the North Highland’s go-to Menopause Coach

  In this inspiring conversation, meet Kirsteen Campbell, endometriosis warrior, community builder and certified Menopause Coach, who has transformed her own decades-long health journey into a mission to uplift every woman in Scotland’s far north. Kirsteen shares: A Lifespan of EndometriosisBattling excruciating teen-year periods, multiple laparoscopies and a life-saving hysterectomy by 26.Miraculous pregnancy stories, heart-breaking loss and a second surgical menopause. How a lifelong fight with chronic pelvic pain led her to the brink—and back.Building a Rural Women’s Health HubLaunching four support groups (Endo, Menopause, Period Health, General Wellbeing) that now serve 1,000+ local women.Campaigning for gynaecology services in Caithness, so patients don’t face 200-mile round trips.Why small communities can spark big change when you harness lived experience.Why Become a Menopause Coach with Women of a Certain Stage?Discovering the Metamorphosis Culture Program mid-treatment,and feeling “amazed” by the personal transformations it unlocked.Translating her own pain-to-purpose journey into powerful one-to-one and in-person retreats.Coaching wins: clients sleeping better, moving more and recapturing hope.Pain Relief and New BeginningsHow a six-weekly lidocaine infusion turned off 30-years of pelvic pain and reignited her zest for life.Lessons on self-care: ditching diluted juice for water, rediscovering morning routines and gentle movement.Planning a silver-anniversary trip, leading the Scottish women’s network at the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists—and finally feeling “pain-free for the first time since I was a teenager.” [00:03:02] Community support for women's health.[00:04:44] Diagnosis time for endometriosis.[00:09:57] Endometriosis and pregnancy challenges.[00:15:38] Women's health support groups.[00:17:14] Women's health coaching journey.[00:20:18] Community and mental health connection.[00:24:09] Hope in endometriosis journey.🔗 Links & Resources Join Kirsteen’s North Highland Menopause Workshops → highlandwellbeinghub.org/events Become a Women of a Certain Stage Certified Menopause Coach → https://womenofacertainstage.lpages.co/menopause_coach/ Endometriosis Support & Info → endometriosis-uk.org Ready to turn your health battles into community-building impact? Tap into Kirsteen’s journey and learn how you, too, can coach, care and change the lives of women in your world—no matter how remote. Book a call to explore more today: https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod

  --------  

  27:32

  --------

  27:32

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Women of a Certain Stage