Women of a Certain Stage

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

In this episode, I sit down with former NBA star Cuttino "Cat" Mobley for a candid conversation about fatherhood, discipline, and what it really means to listen. Cuttino opens up about the "tough love" upbringing that shaped him — two father figures who taught him that easy choices now lead to hard consequences later, and vice versa.
We dig into how becoming a father shifted his sense of purpose, why he believes children need boundaries as much as love, and how the lessons from his own childhood — "you can make all the mistakes you want, but you don't get to choose the consequences" — now guide how he parents his own four children across very different life stages.
We also explore the tension between ego and purpose, why he believes the goal is to put purpose before ego as you mature, and his philosophy on facing life's storms head-on rather than running from them — the cow versus the buffalo.
It's a warm, reflective conversation about presence, patience, and the quiet discipline of learning to really listen — to your kids, and to yourself.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:37 Welcome and Opening Reflections
01:01 How Fatherhood Changed His Perspective
01:29 Growing Up with Two Fathers and Tough Love
02:03 Structure, Discipline, and Life in the NBA
02:28 "There's Hard and There's Easy" — Choosing Your Path
02:53 Learning to Listen as a Parent
03:20 Parenting Kids at Different Ages and Stages
03:47 Living with Purpose vs. Living Without Responsibility
04:06 Shadow Work and Self-Awareness as a Parent
04:26 Balancing Coaching Others with Parenting at Home
05:07 Setting Boundaries with Your Own Children
05:23 Owning Your Mistakes and Their Consequences
06:04 Balancing a Full Life Across Different Roles
06:16 The Pavlov's Bell Analogy — Breaking Cycles of Catering
06:55 Making Boundaries Like a "Hot Pot"
07:16 Teaching Kids to Manage Boundaries Early
08:06 Empathy, Ego, and Perspective in Children
08:21 Defining Success Today
08:39 Ego Before Purpose, Then Purpose Before Ego
09:03 The Meryl Streep Analogy on Self-Assurance
09:29 The Cow and the Buffalo — Facing the Storm
09:57 Closing Thoughts
Connect with Cuttino Mobley:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cuttino-mobley-94a8b0b0/

In this episode, I sit down with JT Foxx — the world's #1 wealth and business coach — for a refreshingly honest conversation about what it actually takes to build a coaching business from the ground up. JT has never taken menopause coach training himself, but as someone who has shared stages with me at the Sydney Opera House and events around the world, he's seen firsthand how big an issue menopause has become in workplaces globally.
We dig into the real fundamentals of building a personal brand, why "brutal honesty" beats chasing approval every time, and why so many new coaches get stuck trying to convince clients of what they think the problem is instead of listening to what the client actually wants solved. JT also breaks down his "three-three rule" for pricing and building a client base from scratch, and shares his take on where AI fits into starting a business today.
Whether you're a newly certified Menopause Coach or Champion stepping into business for the first time, or an established entrepreneur looking to sharpen your branding, this conversation is packed with straight-talking, practical advice.

In this episode we cover:
00:00 Introduction
00:37 JT's relationship to menopause coaching — and why he's never taken the training
01:31 Branding as the first step to being taken seriously in business
03:31 Why "all press is good press" isn't always true
03:49 Doing the work yourself before trying to teach it
04:12 Giving clients what they want vs. what you think the problem is
05:42 "Brutal honesty" and why people want the truth — as long as they agree with it
05:47 Documenting the journey and using YouTube to build trust
06:00 Where AI fits in for new entrepreneurs
06:17 The "three-three rule" for pricing your services
07:00 Why track record and proof matter more than confidence alone

Meet JT Foxx
JT Foxx is a global entrepreneur, investor, and business coach who has built and partnered with businesses across more than 50 countries, and worked alongside billionaires, world leaders, and public figures. Long known as the "World's #1 Wealth & Business Coach," JT has more recently turned his focus toward AI-driven business transformation, helping companies integrate AI infrastructure to scale faster. YouTubeYouTube

Connect with JT Foxx:
Website | jtfoxx.com
Instagram | @jtfoxxofficial
Facebook | JT Foxx Official
YouTube | JT Foxx

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.
About Women of a Certain Stage
We are committed to transforming the menopause experience — 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/

Connect with Lauren:
LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren
Instagram | @themenopausecoach
Facebook | Women of a Certain Stage
YouTube | @womenofacertainstage
Twitter/X | @LaurenChiren

In this episode, I sit down with licensed therapist and private practice owner Jennifer for a warm, wide-ranging conversation about menopause, mental health, and the power of slowing down. We talk about her path from solo counselor to running a practice with eight clinicians, and how the skills she built through the Menopause Coach Diploma helped shape that growth.
Jennifer opens up about her own early menopause at 41, the isolation she felt before finding community, and how a COVID infection years later unexpectedly intensified her menopause symptoms. We dig into the mental health side of menopause that often gets overlooked — anxiety, identity shifts, and the pressure so many high-achieving women put on themselves — and why Jennifer now centers her work, and her own life, around slowing down.
We also get into the practical side of running a private practice: referral sources, hiring her first VA, navigating US insurance and state licensure, and the ongoing challenge of keeping therapy chairs filled. And we talk about why a community — having a tribe that simply understands — can be just as healing as any clinical intervention.
00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
01:08 From Solo Practice to Eight Clinicians
02:45 A Holistic, Broad-Based Practice
05:08 Blending Coaching Skills with Counseling
07:36 Finding the Confidence to Bring People In
09:13 How Women Use Menopause Coach Training
09:36 Building Referral Relationships
10:55 Splitting the Week as a Business Owner
12:27 Designing a Business Around Your Own Life
14:15 A UK Heatwave Tangent
16:19 The Power of Slowing Down
16:52 Rediscovering Community in Midlife
18:24 The Next Five to Ten Years
19:36 Becoming a Continuing Education Provider
20:16 Navigating US Insurance and State Licensure
22:11 Biggest Business Challenge: Filling Therapy Chairs
23:49 Going Broad vs. Going Deep
26:47 Key Takeaways from the Menopause Coach Diploma
26:59 Early Menopause at 41
28:23 How COVID Worsened Menopause Symptoms
30:25 Closing Thoughts: The Message of Slowing Down