The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

For women living with epilepsy, times of hormonal changes can all bring unexpected changes in seizure patterns. Yet many are never told that fluctuating hormones could be playing a role. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by women’s hormone specialist nurse Sian Rees to explore the complex relationship between epilepsy and hormones. Together they discuss why around one in three women with...

What’s the difference between natural and synthetic hormone treatments, and why does it matter? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by pharmacist and hormone expert Sara Hover, who has spent more than 30 years helping women understand hormone health. Together, they explore one of the most misunderstood topics in medicine: why natural, bioidentical hormone treatments are fundamentally diffe...

Many people only think about hormones in relation tomenopause, puberty or fertility. But hormones influence every cell in yourbody, affecting everything from your energy and metabolism to inflammation, sleep and long-term health. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by consultant endocrinologist and author Dr Saira Hameed to uncover the extraordinary roles hormones play throughout the body,...

For years, Jenny was wrongly told she had depression. She was prescribed antidepressants, saw multiple healthcare professionals and even underwent a hysterectomy, yet no one addressed the underlying hormonal changes driving her symptoms. In this powerful episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Jenny Potkins, who shares her deeply personal experience of living with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (P...

Millions of women were prescribed Primodos as a pregnancy test even though there were concerns that it was associated with many different and often devastating birth defects. More than 60 years later, many of the questions surrounding the drug - which contains synthetic hormones that are still prescribed to women today - remain unanswered. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by ProfessorNe...

For many women diagnosed with cancer, conversations about hormones end before they’ve even begun. They’re often told they can never take hormone treatment again, without being given the evidence, the options or the opportunity to make an informed choice. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by women’shealth nurse and educator Jill Chmielewski to discuss why so many women are denied balanced...

Migraine is one of the most common causes of disability worldwide, yet it’s still widely misunderstood and often dismissed as “just a headache”. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by neurologist and migraine specialist Dr Eli Sader to explore what migraine really is, why it happens and why it affects so much more than pain alone. Dr. Elie Sader is a double board-certified neurologist and...

We often talk about living longer, but what about living better? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by award-winning technology journalist, broadcaster and author Lara Lewington to explore the difference between lifespan and health span, and why the future of healthcare needs to focus on preventing disease rather than simply treating it. They discuss how advances in technology and artific...

For decades, women have been told to fear hormones. But what if understanding them is one of the most important steps you can take for your current and future health? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by South African GP and functional medicine specialist Dr Mary Atkinson to discuss the vital role hormones play throughout the body and why women deserve better information to make informed...

So many women are wrongly told they need to stop takinghormone treatments when they reach a certain age, yet there is noevidence-based age limit for natural hormone treatments. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Paula Keats who previously worked in the City as a Head ofHR for an international investment bank. Paula has been taking hormone treatments for 33 yearsand is still benefiting...

Why are so many women only discovering they have ADHD during perimenopause? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by wellbeing coach, author and host of the ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast, Kate Moryoussef, for an important conversation about ADHD in women and the often overlooked role hormones can play. Kate shares how she was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 40 after recognising the same s...

So many women notice changes in their skin and hair duringtimes of hormonal change, yet hormones are rarely discussed as part of the conversation. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by consultantdermatologist Dr Sajjad Rajpar to explore the powerful relationship between hormones, skin health and ageing. Together they discuss why the skin is far more than just appearance, how declining hor...

What happens when women finally realise they’re not “going crazy”, but experiencing hormonal changes? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by comedian and content creator Matt Hyams, whose viral social media videos about perimenopause have resonated with millions of women around the world. Together, they discuss the reality of living throughperimenopause, why so many women feel dismissed or...

Why do we wait for people to become ill before we help them get better? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by GP and preventative health specialist Dr Harpreet Sood for a conversation about why healthcare needs to move beyond firefighting disease and towards a more proactive, personalised approach. Together, they discuss the importance of hormones in long-term health, why so many women gl...

Why are so many women denied testosterone? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by US menopause specialist Dr Susan Hardwick-Smith for a vital conversation about testosterone and why so many women are still being denied treatment that could transform their lives. Drawing on both personal and clinical experience, Louise and Susan discuss the widespread misunderstanding surrounding testostero...

Ahead of the publication of her new book The Power ofHormones, Dr Louise Newson sits down with journalist and Balance editorial director Kat Keogh to explore the hidden history of hormones and why women’shealth has been misunderstood for decades. Together, they discuss the stories and research behind the book, from the origins of HRT and hormonal contraception to the wider impact hormones have on...

What if severe changes in your mental health were being driven by your hormones? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dr Isabella Sillar, an Australian doctor, who shares her powerful and deeply personal experience of living with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Despite being in medical training, Isabella struggled for years with severe symptoms including suicidal thoughts, repeat...

What if improving your health could start with what’s on your plate? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Dave and Steve Flynn, also known as The Happy Pear, for a refreshing and practical conversation about food, lifestyle and long-term health. Together, they explore how modern diets have changed, why so many of us feel overwhelmed by nutrition advice and how simple, whole foods can hav...

Why are so many women still being told estrogen is dangerous? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by oncologist and author of Estrogen Matters, Dr Avrum Bluming, to explore how fear around hormones took hold and why it persisted for so long. They also revisit the evidence behind the Women’s Health Initiative and discuss what it actually shows about risks and benefits. Together, they unpack...

What happens when you know something isn’t right, but no one will listen? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Laura Dallison, who shares her experience of navigating hormonal changes while living with a physicaldisability. After a spinal cord injury, Laura began experiencing symptoms including brain fog, insomnia and recurrent infections, but was repeatedly dismissed and told she was to...

What if the symptoms women are told are down to stress or hectic lifestyles are actually coming from hormone changes in the brain? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by board certified neurosurgeon, Dr Jay Jagannathan, for a fascinating and eye-opening conversation about the role hormones play in brain health. They explore what’s really happening during times of hormonal change such as pe...

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Penny Pijnenburg for a powerful conversation about genitourinary syndrome , a condition that affects most women but is still rarely talked about. Penny shares her experience of living with severe symptoms for more than 14 years before realising they were linked to perimenopause, and the frustration of not being offered the right treatment. Together, t...

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Liz Earle for a refreshing and empowering conversation about ageing, and why the way we think about it needs to change. Drawing on the science behind her new book How to Age, Liz explains how factors like hormones, inflammation, circadian rhythm and even light exposure influence how we feel as we get older. She shares simple, accessible ways to suppor...

So many women are denied hormone replacement because they are told they are “too old”. In this special solo episode, Dr Louise Newson explains why this is wrong. She covers what happens when hormone levels stay low as women age and why this long-term deficiency affects everything from cardiovascular health to bone strength and cognitive function. She clarifies why the WHI study created so much con...

What happens when a woman is finally diagnosed with ADHD, only to be blindsided by perimenopause making everything harder? In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Sarah-Jane Ayers for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about ADHD, perimenopause and the devastating impact hormonal changes can have on mental health. Sarah-Jane shares her experience of feeling dismissed, desperate and...