Women of a Certain Stage

• From The Military To Menopause Coach: Beth Fotheringham On Reclaiming Power, Purpose and Performance After 50

  In this episode, host Lauren Turin welcomes Beth Fotheringham, an inspiring graduate of the Women of a Certain Stage Menopause Coach program who brings a unique perspective shaped by her diverse life experiences.Beth shares her remarkable journey from childhood dreams of acting inspired by the Bionic Woman, through nearly 15 years of Canadian military service, to university studies in social anthropology including field research in Madagascar, and finally to pursuing her acting career at age 50+ while becoming a certified menopause coach.The conversation explores how the entertainment industry's treatment of aging women mirrors broader societal attitudes toward menopause, and how Beth discovered her calling to help women refuse to accept that suffering through menopause is "just the way it is." She emphasizes the power of questioning why we accept limitations and the importance of embracing this life stage as a time of freedom and wisdom rather than invisibility.Beth discusses her business "A Menopause PATH" (Power, Action, Truth, Health) and her mission to help women reclaim their power and recognize their continued value beyond their reproductive years.Key Points Covered:Career Transition at 50+: How Beth courageously pursued acting in film and television after military service, proving it's never too late to follow your dreams and challenge ageist assumptions about women's capabilities and visibility.The Power of Questioning "Why": Drawing from social anthropology research (including the famous monkey experiment), Beth emphasizes the importance of challenging accepted norms rather than blindly following traditions—especially regarding how women are expected to suffer silently through menopause.Industry Ageism and Societal Parallels: Exploring how the entertainment industry's treatment of women over 35 reflects broader societal attitudes, where women are expected to "disappear" until they re-emerge as grandmothers, and why we must reject this narrative.Menopause as Empowerment: Reframing menopause from something to fear into an opportunity for freedom, wisdom, and embracing elder status. Beth advocates for women to stop "tying the babushka around our heads and disappearing into a corner."The Importance of Community Learning: Why Beth chose a live, interactive coaching program over self-study courses, emphasizing the value of peer support, expert interaction, and the ability to ask "why" in real-time learning environments.Building Authentic Professional Identity: How to show up authentically in business while maintaining professionalism, and why being genuine attracts the right clients rather than trying to appeal to everyone. Take Action!Help rewrite period policy and infrastructure in your community:Join the conversation: Follow Beth Fotheringham on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-fotheringham-85547b4a/Transform your career in women’s health:Visit https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ to enroll in the CPD Certiifed Menopause Coach Diploma, book workplace strategy workshops & keynote talks, download menopause toolkits, build your Menopause Champion network.Schedule your free strategy call at https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod.

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• From Corporate Leader to Menopause Coach: How Jo Reclaimed Her Identity & Purpose

  In this episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren Turin sits down with Jo Moran, a seasoned professional with a remarkable 39-year career in financial services. Jo reflects on her journey, sharing insights from her early beginnings in the 80s to her current role, emphasizing the importance of people-first leadership. With a passion for empowering individuals, Jo discusses her experiences of working with diverse teams, traveling, and the transformative power of prioritizing people in business. Tune in for an engaging conversation that highlights the intersection of professional growth and personal empowerment, especially during the significant life stage of menopause.[00:02:10] Interest in menopause space.[00:04:51] Menopause coaching journey.[00:10:26] Coaching through menopause challenges.[00:14:07] Education about menstrual cycle stages.[00:20:02] Menopause coaching and leadership.[00:20:24] Imposter syndrome during menopause.[00:24:42] Balancing work and family life.[00:29:52] Setting boundaries for clients.[00:32:01] Self-care for coaches. Take Action!Help rewrite period policy and infrastructure in your community:Join the conversation: Follow Jo on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jomoran/Transform your career in women’s health:Visit https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ to enroll in the CPD Certiifed Menopause Coach Diploma, book workplace strategy workshops & keynote talks, download menopause toolkits, build your Menopause Champion network.Schedule your free strategy call at https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod.

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• Rethinking Period Products: Normalizing Menstrual Care With Niamh D’Arcy of Pads On a Roll

  On this episode, Lauren Chiren welcomes Niamh D’Arcy - menstrual equity advocate, researcher and UK lead for Pads on a Roll - to discuss how menstrual education and product access shape our health journey from first bleed through perimenopause.Niamh shares her path from master’s dissertation on global menstrual education gaps to pioneering a simple innovation: individually-wrapped pads on a roll, just like toilet tissue, in every bathroom stall.Discover why reframing menstrual care as a facilities issue (not just a “women’s issue”) can eliminate period stigma, boost dignity and ensure everyone who menstruates has what they need, wherever they are.Whether you’re looking for menstrual education, period product accessibility, or a fresh perspective on normalizing menstruation in schools, workplaces and public spaces, this conversation delivers practical insights - and a bold vision - for the future of menstrual equity. Key TakeawaysLanguage & Empowerment: Why using precise terms like “dysmenorrhea” (painful periods) and understanding estrogen vs. progesterone can transform our ability to advocate for proper care.Global Education Gaps: Findings from Niamh’s master’s research - across 12 countries - revealed universal lack of menstrual education, fueling shame, misinformation and missed support.Facility-Level Solutions: How installing Pads on a Roll in every bathroom - alongside toilet tissue - shifts period products from “hidden” to essential public fixtures.Designing for Access: The importance of neutral branding, inclusive of all who menstruate, and accessible dispenser height so that pads are reachable to everyone, whether in schools, restaurants or offices.Collaboration & Advocacy: The power of women supporting women (and allies) from school mandates to workplace volunteer days, to build lasting, budget-protected infrastructure for free period products. [00:02:35] Menstrual health education movement.[00:05:32] Understanding polycystic ovarian syndrome.[00:08:40] Menstrual education and empowerment.[00:12:21] Understanding menstrual cycles in education.[00:14:48] Empathy in menstrual education.[00:17:13] Period products accessibility innovation.[00:22:08] Gender-neutral period product accessibility.[00:24:37] Changing toilet infrastructure for periods.[00:27:53] Facilities issue, not women's issue. Take Action!Help rewrite period policy and infrastructure in your community:Join the conversation: Follow Niamh on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/niamhdarcyRequest Pads on a Roll: Email [email protected] to bring dispensers to your facility - school, workplace or public venue Educate & Normalise: Share this episode and these ideas with your HR, facilities or health-education teams.Transform your career in women’s health:Visit https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ to enroll in the CPD Certiifed Menopause Coach Diploma, book workplace strategy workshops & keynote talks, download menopause toolkits, build your Menopause Champion network.Schedule your free strategy call at https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod.Together, let’s normalise menstrual and menopausal care - making access to period products and expert support as routine and stigma-free as toilet paper, because it’s fundamental workplace care for half the...

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• From Nurse to Menopause Coach Bridging Mental Health & Menopause Support with Caroline Milne

  Join Lauren Chiren on this inspiring episode as she speaks with Caroline Milne, a 20-year veteran nurse turned certified Menopause Coach [with Women of a Certain Stage] about her journey from district nursing and sexual health into specialised menopause support. Discover how Caroline collaborated with Rethink Mental Illness to publish a pioneering Menopause & Mental Health pamphlet, and learn about her free community meetups “Menopause Chat Group” and “Menopause Mingle” designed to empower peri- and post-menopausal women through peer support, coaching, and actionable wellness strategies. Whether you’re looking for menopause talks, menopause training, or a path to become a certified menopause coach, this episode delivers powerful insights into combining clinical expertise with one-to-one coaching frameworks. Find out how Caroline’s “UnMenopause” approach is transforming local communities, and why building your menopause champions network can be the game-changer for both individuals and workplaces. Key TakeawaysIntegrating Clinical & Coaching Expertise: How Caroline used her nursing background + hands-on menopause coach training with the Women of a Cetain Stage coaching framwork “The Menopause Plan” and community pamphlets for mental health charities. Bridging Menopause & Mental Health: The importance of training frontline mental-health staff to recognize menopausal symptoms and provide proper referrals, culminating in a jointly authored Rethink Mental Illness pamphlet.Leveraging Small Group Coaching: Why starting with intimate groups (4–8 people) on focused topics - like emotional decluttering - can drive rapid “aha” moments and sustainable habit change.Making Menopause Coaching Your Next Step: How to decide if formal coaching skills and an evidence-based framework are the missing piece for nurses, teachers, HR pros, or anyone passionate about helping women navigate menopause. [00:01:34] Menopause and mental health booklet.[00:06:03] Menopause care challenges in healthcare.[00:09:25] Coaching skills in menopause support.[00:12:47] Coaching and personal development.[00:14:08] Mentorship through scripted guidance.[00:18:27] Finding clients as a coach.[00:21:13] Menopause support meetups.[00:24:36] Small group coaching success.[00:27:09] Menopause coaching and business basics.[00:30:50] Social media engagement strategies.[00:36:26] Passion for singing and support.[00:38:15] Embracing joy in menopause.Ready to Make an Impact? Visit https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ to unlock:Accredited Menopause Coach Diploma - learn the “The Menopause Plan” coaching framework Workplace Strategy Workshops & Keynotes - build a menopause-savvy culture Downloadable Toolkits & Resources - from hormone basics to mental-health integration Menopause Champion Network - connect with global experts & peers Free Strategy Call—book your 1:1 session with our team:https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod Empower yourself and your community, with the knowledge and confidence to transform your menopause journey into a powerful chapter of growth.

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• From QA to Certified Menopause Coach: How Sarah Burchall Is Driving Workplace Menopause Changes

  In this episode, Lauren Chiren chats with Sarah Burchall, a 30-year veteran in pharmaceutical quality assurance who’s leveraging her upcoming redundancy package to become a Certified Menopause Coach.|Sponsored by her employer’s retraining program, Sarah dove into the Women of a Certain Stage Menopause Coach Diploma to gain the menopause training, coaching frameworks and business toolkit she needs to run menopause talks and workplace awareness sessions for both men and women.Sarah shares her journey from fascinated learner, tracking hydration, sleep hygiene and diet tweaks, to confident coach delivering real-world pilot sessions and practice client engagements.She reveals how she balanced a full-time QA role with coursework, practice clients and live cohort calls, and why joining an international community of fellow menopause champions gave her the accountability and ideas to turn passion into practice. Key TakeawaysLeverage Corporate Retraining: Use employer-sponsored learning budgets or redundancy grants to gain an accredited menopause coach certification.Blend Science & Coaching: Anchor your menopause training in evidence-based research (hydration, sleep hygiene, nutrition) while mastering active listening and non-judgmental coaching skills.Pilot Workplace Talks: Start small, run free or low-cost menopause awareness sessions in your current organization to build credibility and refine your menopause toolkit.Tap Peer Wisdom: Join a live cohort and ongoing alumni community for accountability, fresh ideas and shared resources on everything from digital marketing to session design.Plan for Part-Time Pivot: Balance your existing role with client work, then gradually transition to a mix of corporate workshops and private menopause coaching. [00:02:18] Passion for menopause coaching.[00:05:42] Interest in menopause science.[00:10:28] Workplace awareness sessions on menopause.[00:12:43] Coaching program feedback and insights.[00:15:13] Community and diverse personalities.[00:22:11] Sleep hygiene and diet improvements.[00:23:40] Benefits of the decluttering program.Ready to Become a Menopause Ally? Visit www.womenofacertainstage.com to explore our CPD Certified Menopause Coach Diploma, workplace strategy workshops & keynote talks, downloadable menopause toolkits & resources, and how to build your own Menopause Champion network.👉 Book your free strategy call with our expert team:https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod

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