Women of a Certain Stage

In this episode, I sit down with Emma Trueman for a candid and deeply personal conversation about navigating perimenopause while maintaining a senior career in the technology and professional services sector. Together, we unpack the confusion and frustration that often accompany symptoms like extreme sleep deprivation and debilitating brain fog—and why Emma decided to move from being a mental health advocate to a certified menopause coach.
We explore how Emma integrated menopause awareness into her corporate role, including a successful workplace panel that reached over 400 people. We discuss the importance of formal education and "chemistry checks" in coaching, and how lifestyle choices like movement and nutrition remain key pillars of her wellbeing.
Importantly, we shine a light on the power of community—how connecting with others, even at 1:00 AM from Australia, can empower women to navigate this stage with confidence. We also talk about the cultural and lifestyle differences between the UK and Australia and how they impact the menopause experience.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and Reflections on Sydney
01:15 – Creating Workplace Awareness and Symptom Tracking
02:26 – Emma’s Background: Tech Career and Mental Health Advocacy
03:36 – Personal Experience: Navigating Sleep, Hot Flushes, and HRT
05:50 – Overcoming Hesitation: Starting Testosterone and Managing Brain Fog
06:52 – Career Evolution: From E-commerce to AI Solutions
08:56 – The Future: How AI Can Support Menopause Health
10:56 – Why Formal Coaching Credentials and "Chemistry Checks" Matter
12:52 – Global Community: Attending 1:00 AM Classes from Australia
15:19 – Key Program Takeaways: Experts, Tapping, and Business Building
19:18 – Advocacy in Action: Gym Talks and the 400-Person Workplace Panel
22:42 – Cultural Perspectives: Lifestyle Differences Between the UK and Australia
24:54 – Future Projects and Closing Thoughts

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, Lauren sits down with Alice, a nutritional therapist and newly qualified menopause coach based near Brighton, whose life changed dramatically when her mother was diagnosed with dementia in 2020. That experience — combined with her own perimenopause journey — ignited a deep commitment to longevity, brain health, and helping women age well.
Alice brings a unique dual perspective to her work: blending evidence-based nutrition with menopause coaching to offer a whole-body approach to this life stage. She's also a six-time marathon runner training for her first ultra, and a passionate Park Run ambassador — and she's proof that you can completely reinvent your career at 50.
What We Discuss
Alice's path to menopause coaching Alice's route to this work was anything but linear. When her mother was diagnosed with dementia in 2020, she became a carer almost overnight — and her priorities shifted completely. She left a demanding corporate job at 50, retrained in nutrition, and then discovered the Menopause Coach Diploma. She describes it as everything clicking into place.
The dementia diagnosis that changed everything Watching her mother's quality of life at 83 — sharp wit intact, but no longer knowing who Alice is — gave Alice a visceral motivation to help people age well. She's not talking about skin; she's talking about brain health, physical function, and being able to tie your own shoelaces. Running became her lifeline through the grief of caring, and she's since completed six marathons and signed up for her first ultra.
Why nutrition and menopause go hand in hand Alice merges her nutritional therapy practice with her menopause coaching, seeing them as one whole package. She's cautious about the noise online — supplementation trends, influencer-backed products — and emphasises the importance of evidence-based advice. Her approach is collaborative and client-led: food diaries, macronutrient analysis, and even supermarket trips and cooking together at home.
The supplement question Alice's view has evolved: with a genuinely balanced diet, most people can get what they need from food. The one exception she backs wholeheartedly is Vitamin D, particularly in the UK. Her word for good nutrition? Curiosity — being willing to try new things and add to your plate, rather than overhaul it.
Budget-friendly nutrition tips Alice's top three tips for eating well on a tight budget: embrace frozen food (often more nutritious than fresh, especially out of season), prioritise fibre by swapping beige processed food for whole grains, and make the most of tinned food — always choose water over syrup. She also champions using vegetable peelings for stock and making batch soups from leftover veg at the end of the week.
The reset cleanse in the Menopause Plan as someone with a nutrition background, Alice appreciated the logic of the reset — cutting back on dairy, alcohol, processed food, and red meat as a blank canvas to work from. It also introduced her to rice milk, which she now has on her porridge every morning.
What drew her to the diploma Alice first spotted Lauren on LinkedIn and attended a free workplace-focused webinar. What set this programme apart was how personal it felt — Lauren's clear investment in every cohort member succeeding, the ongoing community after graduation, and the sense of having colleagues again after going it alone. The group chat has become her go-to for questions, ideas, and support.
Key takeaways from being coached Boundaries came up as a major personal theme — moving from a structured office environment to working from home with family interruptions made this live and relevant. Alice also took away the power of silence in coaching: allowing pauses rather than rushing to fill them opened people up in ways she hadn't expected.
The power of saying things out loud In a spontaneous moment mid-episode, Alice discovers Lauren is running the Brighton Marathon — and Lauren admits she'd been on the verge of pulling out. Just having that conversation out loud shifts the decision. It becomes a live example of what coaching actually does.
Her plans going forward Alice is working with practice clients, plans to expand into workplace menopause education, and is developing a couples-focused strand of her work. She'll soft-launch her full coaching offering once she's ready, growing largely through word of mouth.
Key Takeaways
What we eat in midlife directly affects brain health and how we age — starting now matters
Frozen and tinned food are underrated, affordable, and genuinely nutritious — don't overlook them
Moving away from beige, ultra-processed food and towards whole grains and colour is the single most accessible shift most people can make
Most nutritional needs can be met through a balanced diet — but Vitamin D supplementation is backed by the evidence, particularly in the UK
The power of a coach isn't just in the advice — it's in creating the space for someone to say something out loud, hear themselves, and move forward
Community — whether through a cohort, Park Run, or a workplace — is not a nice-to-have; it's essential for wellbeing
Guest: Alice
Alice is a nutritional therapist and certified menopause coach based near Brighton on the UK's south coast. After leaving a high-pressured corporate career to care for her mother, she retrained in nutrition and went on to complete the Menopause Coach Diploma. She works face-to-face and online, is planning to take menopause education into workplaces, and has a special focus on couples and longevity. She's also a core member of her local Park Run community — you'll find her cheering at Mile 20 of the Brighton Marathon.
Concerned about your brain health in midlife? A great first step is tracking your symptoms and speaking to a healthcare professional. For support with nutrition or menopause coaching, visit womenscoachingschool.com.

In this episode, Lauren Chiren sits down with Sharon Watson for an high-energy and heart-centered conversation about finding one’s calling during the menopause transition. Together, they explore the profound impact of community and why shared experiences are the antidote to the isolation many women feel when "falling apart" during perimenopause.
We delve into Sharon’s personal journey—from navigating "Menopause Mandy" alter egos to transforming her frustration with lackluster training into a mission for genuine advocacy. We discuss how lifestyle resets, structured coaching, and finding the right mentors can turn a small spark of passion into a "burning phoenix" of purpose.
Importantly, we highlight Sharon’s incredible community fundraising efforts for Alzheimer's, illustrating the power of connection and the ripple effect of taking action. We also look ahead to the launch of Sharon’s new movement, MenoM8s, which aims to provide the education and support network that millions of women are currently lacking.

Timestamped Breakdown
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:03 Celebrating a Phenomenal Fundraising Achievement
02:29 Personal Connections: Alzheimer’s and Menopause
04:40 Sharon’s Journey into the Menopause Space
05:07 Navigating "Menopause Mandy" and Alter Egos
05:34 The Frustrations of Poor Professional Training
07:38 Discovering a Different Approach to Coaching
09:11 Life-Changing Realizations within the Cohort
11:06 Implementing Personal Lifestyle Resets
12:34 Turning a Spark into a Burning Phoenix
13:44 Authenticity in a Saturated Market
15:33 Highlights of the Menopause Coach Diploma
18:55 Launching MenoM8s: A Supportive Community
19:21 A Partner’s Perspective: The Guy’s Guide
20:20 From Entertainer to Speaker: Future Ambitions
21:19 Advice for Aspiring Menopause Coaches
22:45 Geography and Accessibility
24:01 Navigating Social Media: From Facebook to TikTok
25:00 Introverts vs. Extroverts in Business
26:07 Closing Thoughts and Future Check-ins


Connect with Sharon Watson:
Facebook | [Search MenoM8s]
Instagram | [Search MenoM8s]
TikTok | [Search MenoM8s]
Website | www.menom8s.com
Email | [email protected]


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/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themenopausecoach/

In this episode, Lauren is joined by Christelle, a French-born, Switzerland-based graduate of the Menopause Coach Diploma, whose perimenopause journey sparked a passion for educating women around her. Christelle shares how she pieced together her own experience in hindsight, what drew her to menopause coaching, and the niche she's carving out — including working with couples navigating perimenopause together.
Christelle grew up in France and has spent over 20 years living abroad — in Germany, the United States (Colorado), and now Switzerland, where she's been based for a decade. With a background in marketing and experience in the medical industry, she's now training as a menopause coach, planning a soft launch of her coaching business in May, and bringing a unique focus on couples and communication to her work.
What We Discuss
Christelle's international background Christelle has lived in France, Germany, Colorado, and Switzerland — speaking French, German, and English fluently. She moved to Switzerland in 2015 to give her children the opportunity to grow up bilingual in French and English, and has been there ever since.
How she found the Menopause Coach Diploma After attending a menopause webinar in the Zurich area, Christelle noticed a presenter who described herself as a certified menopause coach. She tracked down the contact via LinkedIn and eventually discovered Lauren's work — attending all eight of Lauren's webinars before deciding to join the diploma programme.
Her own perimenopause experience Christelle's perimenopause experience was something she only fully understood in hindsight. She'd been reading widely, listening to podcasts, following US-based doctors advocating for women, and became passionate about making sure the women around her knew they weren't going crazy — that there's a clear explanation for what they're experiencing.
What stood out about the programme Christelle had experienced plenty of pre-recorded, self-paced learning in her career and found it ineffective. What attracted her to the diploma was its practical, live structure — particularly being taken through the Menopause Plan as a coachee as well as learning to coach. She found the experience of being coached through the programme herself gave her a deeper understanding of what she'd be offering her own clients.
Changes she made through the Menopause Plan Being coached through the plan prompted real, practical changes: more awareness around hydration, reducing coffee intake (with the help of a mushroom-based adaptogen drink she discovered), and actively cultivating a more positive mindset. Lauren's opening question — "What's going well for you since we last met?" — stuck with her and shifted her default lens.
Finding practice clients Christelle's first practice client came organically — a friend who said "you've helped me so much, I want to do this for you." Others took more time, as people were interested but hesitant when coaching was mentioned directly. By the time of recording, she had three practice clients and was in conversations with a potential fourth.
Her niche: working with couples One of the most distinctive aspects of Christelle's vision is her focus on couples. Having noticed the impact of perimenopause on communication within relationships — and the fact that the 45–60 age bracket has the highest divorce rates, most often initiated by women — she wants to create a space for couples to open up dialogue about what's happening. Not couples therapy, but an opening of communication around a normal phase of life.
Her plans going forward Christelle is planning a soft launch of her coaching business in May, after completing a social media training course in April. She's building a bank of content ideas, posting gradually on Instagram and LinkedIn, and hopes to grow through word of mouth from her practice clients. Longer term, she's interested in expanding into couples workshops.
Key Takeaways
Perimenopause often only makes sense in hindsight — many women piece it together after the fact
Practical, live learning is far more effective than watching pre-recorded videos alone
Being coached through the programme yourself is one of the most powerful parts of the diploma — it builds genuine empathy for future clients
Telling people what you're doing is essential — clients won't come if they don't know you exist
The 45–60 age bracket has the highest divorce rates, and menopause may be an under-recognised factor — creating a real need for couples-focused coaching
Starting small, with practice clients, is a natural and effective way to build confidence as a new coach

Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction — Lauren welcomes Christelle
[00:01] Christelle's background: growing up in France, living in Germany, Colorado, and Switzerland
[00:02] Meeting her husband, starting a family, and building a career in Colorado
[00:03] Moving to Switzerland in 2015 — raising bilingual children and feeling at home
[00:04] Skiing in Colorado — Lauren and Christelle find common ground
[00:05] How Christelle discovered the Menopause Coach Diploma via a webinar in Zurich
[00:06] Lauren on why she runs free webinars before people commit to the programme
[00:07] What drew Christelle to menopause coaching — her own perimenopause experience in hindsight
[00:08] The importance of talking openly so menopause stops being a taboo
[00:09] What Christelle learned in the programme that went beyond books
[00:10] The value of the live, practical format — being both coachee and coach
[00:11] Finding practice clients — what worked and what slowed down
[00:12] What clients really want: to be heard about something they've never talked about
[00:13] Learning from coaches from other disciplines within the cohort
[00:14] Being taken through the Menopause Plan — embracing the process even when you think you know the content
[00:15] Real changes: hydration, reducing coffee, adaptogen drinks, and positive mindset shifts
[00:16] Lauren on starting sessions with "what's going well?" — and why she baked caramel shortbread
[00:17] Childhood joy revisited: baking with mum, and cycling in Colorado
[00:18] A cycling accident and the anxiety that followed — losing something you loved
[00:19] Building confidence back up — and the joy of wind in your face, cycling or skiing
[00:20] Plans for launch: part-time job search, social media training, and a soft launch in May
[00:21] Building a content bank before going public on Instagram and LinkedIn
[00:22] Lauren on visibility — why telling people what you do matters
[00:23] Christelle's niche: working with couples, and the link between menopause and divorce rates
[00:24] How couples coaching might look in practice — workshops and validation with early clients
[00:25] What Christelle would say to someone on the fence about the diploma
[00:26] Final advice: attend the free webinars and treat the diploma as an investment in yourself
[00:27] Wrap-up and farewell

Interested in working with Christelle, or finding a menopause coach near you? Visit womenscoachingschool.com to find out more about the Menopause Coach Diploma and our graduate community.

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Sara Beattie, a former primary school teacher turned menopause coach, whose powerful personal journey through perimenopause led her from forgetting her own lessons mid-class to becoming a qualified coach, master's researcher, and fierce advocate for women navigating the menopause transition.
Sara shares the raw reality of living with unrecognised perimenopause symptoms while teaching in Hong Kong — from debilitating driving anxiety and extreme dizziness to standing in front of a classroom with a pen in her hand, unable to remember what she was teaching. Her story is one of confusion, isolation, and ultimately, transformation.
Guest: Sara Beattie
Sara is a former educator with over two decades of international teaching experience across Asia and the Middle East. After completing a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, she pivoted to menopause coaching — a path sparked by her own difficult perimenopause journey and a desire to give other women the support she never had.
📸 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-beattie/ 🌐 Website: sarabeattiecoaching.com 📧 Email: [email protected]

What We Discuss
Sara's perimenopause story Sara experienced a range of confusing and frightening symptoms while living overseas — extreme dizziness that meant she could only turn right when getting out of bed, sudden and severe driving anxiety, brain fog so intense she'd forget she was teaching mid-lesson, disrupted sleep, hot flushes, sweats, and anxiety. For years, she didn't connect these experiences to perimenopause.
The impact of brain fog on her career One of the most striking moments Sara describes is standing at the whiteboard teaching maths to eight and nine-year-olds and simply forgetting what she was doing — mid-sentence, pen in hand. She also recalls forgetting children's names, addressing the wrong parents, and losing her thread in staff meetings. The experience shook her confidence deeply: "Have I still got this? Can I still do this?"
Dark thoughts and the turning point Sara opens up about experiencing dark thoughts during this period — including a particular stretch of her walk to school she privately renamed "Permission Street." It wasn't until hearing a radio segment that she recognised how serious things had become. She found Dr. Louise Newson's first book, took it to her GP, and credits an open-minded young male doctor who read it cover to cover and restarted the conversation — leading to Sarah choosing HRT, which made a significant difference for her.
The role of positive psychology Alongside HRT, Sara began her master's programme in applied positive psychology. Simple practices — gratitude, reflective writing, her "best self" letter — helped her feel more level and more like herself again.
Her master's research on perimenopause and brain fog Prompted by a supervisor who asked what she was truly passionate about, Sara redirected her dissertation to focus on perimenopausal women experiencing brain fog. She interviewed women across five time zones, hearing how much they valued having a space to talk about the real, lived experience of menopause — not just the medical facts.
What drew her to the Menopause Coach Diploma Sara was drawn to Lauren's programme because of its depth and rigour — a live, diploma-level course rather than a self-paced quiz. She valued the structure of being coached as well as learning to coach, and initially wondered if she really needed the personal coaching element (she did). She found the process of experiencing the programme as a client gave her profound insight into what she would be offering her own clients.
Finding practice clients Sara reached out to former workplaces, friends, and family — not to ask directly, but to ask if they knew anyone who might benefit. She also used Instagram and LinkedIn. Her advice: just tell people. If you don't, nobody knows.
What's next for Sara
Launching a group version of her coaching programme
Running a creative research project called "Age of Renewal" — inviting women of any age to share their experience or perception of menopause through whatever medium speaks to them: poetry, photography, collage, ceramics, nail art, doodles. The project was presented at the World Congress for Positive Psychology in Brisbane to a standing ovation, and is being launched again for a conference in Dublin.
Exploring workplace menopause education in the Middle East, including a potential move to Saudi Arabia

Key Takeaways
Perimenopause symptoms can be wide-ranging, unexpected, and frightening — especially when you don't know what's causing them
Cognitive symptoms like brain fog can have a serious impact on professional confidence and identity
Dark thoughts and low mood are real symptoms of perimenopause, driven in part by the role of oestrogen in psychological wellbeing
Finding the right GP makes all the difference — as does advocating for yourself and bringing information to appointments
Positive psychology tools (gratitude, reflective writing, future-self exercises) can complement medical treatment
Being coached — not just learning to coach — is a valuable part of professional training

Timestamps
[01:00] Sara's career in education and how menopause changed everything
[02:00] Unexpected symptoms: extreme dizziness and driving anxiety in Hong Kong
[04:00] Moving back to London, starting her master's, and the world changing in 2020
[05:00] Brain fog in the classroom — forgetting how to teach mid-lesson
[06:00] Loss of sleep and the knock-on effect on everything
[07:00] What we were taught about menopause at school (and how little it was)
[08:00] Dark thoughts and "Permission Street" — recognising how serious things had become
[09:00] Finding Dr. Louise Newson's book and a GP who actually listened
[10:00] Choosing HRT and the difference it made; starting positive psychology practices
[11:00] Lauren reflects on oestrogen's role in emotional and cognitive wellbeing
[12:00] Lauren opens up about her own experience with mental health during menopause
[13:00] Sara starts speaking openly at school — running a menopause café and writing policy
[14:00] A pivotal supervisor question leads to Sara's master's research on brain fog in perimenopause
[15:00] Searching for a menopause coaching course and finding the Menopause Coach Diploma
[16:00] What stood out about the diploma: live, rigorous, diploma-level training
[17:00] The value of being coached as well as learning to coach
[1800] Learning from fellow cohort members across different experience levels
[19:] Client outcomes: agency, empowerment, and trusting the process
[20:00] How Sara found her practice clients — and why you have to tell people
[21:00] Favourite parts of the programme: the cohort, Lauren's expertise, expert guest sessions
[22:00] The importance of up-to-date knowledge and weekly reflective practice
[23:00] The value of reflective practice for coaches working with clients over time
[24:00] Launching a group programme and the "Age of Renewal" research project
[25:00] Presenting at the World Congress for Positive Psychology in Brisbane — standing ovation
[26:00] Re-launching the research project for a Dublin conference; how to get involved
[27:] Coaching workplaces in the Middle East and plans to move to Saudi Arabia
[28:00] The disparity in HRT access for expats and people moving between countries
[29:00] Why the project is called "Age of Renewal" — reframing menopause in the Middle East
[30:00] Rediscovering joy and getting back to who you truly are
[31:00] Sara's love of cross-cultural learning and life as an expat
[32:00] Sara's message to anyone considering the Menopause Coach Diploma

Resources Mentioned
The Haynes Manual to Menopause by Dr. Louise Newson
Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology (MSc)
World Congress for Positive Psychology, Brisbane
The Menopause Coach Diploma — womenscoachingschool.com

If anything in this episode resonated with you and you're experiencing dark thoughts or low mood, please reach out to a healthcare professional or a trusted person in your life.