Women of a Certain Stage

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

In this episode, I sit down with Bridgette — known to everyone as Bee — for an honest, heartfelt, and deeply inspiring conversation about what happens when multiple sclerosis and perimenopause collide. Bee shares her remarkable journey from being completely bedbound to completing the Great North Run, and how lifestyle changes, community, and a refusal to give up transformed her life.
We unpack the frustration of being told "you're too young" for perimenopause while already managing an MS diagnosis, and why the medical system so often fails women when two complex conditions overlap. We explore how nutrition, movement, hydration, and self-compassion became Bee's most powerful tools — and why consistency beat intensity every single time.
We also talk about Bee's transition from dog groomer to menopause coach, the creation of her group coaching programme The Hive, and why she believes no woman should have to navigate menopause — or MS — without a community around her.
And if you've ever struggled to say no, invest in yourself, or ask for help… this episode is for you.

00:00 Introduction
00:37 When MS and Perimenopause Hit at the Same Time
03:00 Getting the MS Diagnosis First — and Perimenopause Being Overlooked
04:25 What Support from the MS Team Actually Looked Like
05:08 Disease-Modifying Treatments and the Quality of Life Cost
07:26 Going Medication-Free and What Made the Difference
09:11 The Psychological Impact of Chronic Illness
10:00 Duvet Days, Fatigue, and Learning to Rest Without Guilt
12:07 MRI Results and Where Bee Is Today
13:15 The Decision to Train as a Menopause Coach
15:34 From Fence-Sitting to Full Commitment
16:30 Finding Fulfillment Beyond the Dog Grooming Salon
20:36 Lifestyle Changes Before and During the Diploma
22:16 Small, Consistent Changes That Moved the Needle
23:43 From Bedbound to the Great North Run
26:19 Running for MS and Menopause — Raising Money and Awareness
28:00 The Power of Atmosphere, Community, and a Good Partner
29:15 Building The Hive — A Group Coaching Programme
31:00 Why Community at Midlife Is So Powerful
32:44 What Makes the Women of a Certain Stage Diploma Stand Out
36:57 What's Next — Events, Radio, and Marketing the Hell Out of It
40:42 It's Okay Not to Be Okay — Invest in Yourself
43:05 The NHS Mindset and Why We Struggle to Pay for Our Own Health
44:28 Why the Menopause Plan Matters Whether You Take HRT or Not
45:03 Hydration, Energy Protection, and Learning to Say No
47:44 Closing Thoughts

Connect with Bee:
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgette-lowe-a9912869/

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

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.
Find out more: https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/