The Henpicked Podcast

What is PMDD — and why does it matter at work? In this Lunch & Learn session, Henpicked's Sally Leech sits down with Phoebe Williams, CEO and founder of The PMDD Project , to open up an important and often misunderstood conversation about premenstrual dysphoric disorder. PMDD affects roughly 1 in 20 people and can be so severe it's classified as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 — yet many...

How to Talk to Your GP About Menstrual Health | with Dr Clare Spencer Do you ever walk into a GP appointment and forget half of what you wanted to say? Or wonder whether your symptoms are "bad enough" to mention? You are not alone — and this episode is here to change that. In this Lunch & Learn session, Henpicked's Sally Leech sits down with Dr Clare Spencer — GP, women's health specialist, and me...

What They Never Taught You at School: Harnessing the Power of Your Menstrual Cycle Did you know your hormones shift through four distinct phases every month — and that understanding those shifts can genuinely change how you work, rest, move, and feel? In this Lunch & Learn session, Deborah Garlick is joined by Emily Smith, Head of Sales at MOONCUP, for an eye-opening conversation about the menstru...

Menopause affects all of us. Half the population experiences it firsthand — and the other half through the people they love. Yet most men feel completely lost when their partner goes through it. In this Henpicked Lunch and Learn session, we're joined by authors Rob Kemp and Joe Warner, who share what drove them to write their practical guide for male partners, what surprised them most in their res...

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women worldwide. Yet for many, it takes years to be diagnosed—and even longer to be understood. In this Henpicked Lunch and Learn session, we're joined by Dr Vickie Williams , who shares both her personal experience and research-led insights into endometriosis and its impact—particularly in the workplace. Dr Vickie Williams recently completed her PhD at The Open Unive...

Autism, ADHD and menopause are being talked about more than ever — but this is still a developing and often misunderstood area of women's health. In this expert-led Henpicked Lunch & Learn, Deborah Garlick is joined by menopause specialist Dr Clare Spencer to explore how neurodiversity and menopause intersect — and why symptoms can feel suddenly overwhelming during this transition. From late diagn...

In this episode of the Henpicked Lunch & Learn podcast, host Sally Leech is joined by menstrual health educator and speaker Talycia Nayee to explore why periods are still surrounded by silence in many workplaces. Despite periods being a normal and natural part of life for millions of people, conversations about menstrual health often remain uncomfortable or avoided altogether in professional envir...

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) remains one of the most talked-about — and often misunderstood — aspects of menopause. In this expert-led Henpicked Lunch & Learn, Deborah Garlick is joined by menopause specialist Dr Clare Spencer to answer the most frequently asked questions about HRT — clearly, calmly and based on current medical evidence. From understanding what HRT actually does in the body,...

In this Henpicked Lunch & Learn session, we explore how ethnicity shapes experiences of menstruation, menopause and access to healthcare — and why understanding these differences is essential for equity, wellbeing and support at work and in life. Sally Leach from Henpicked is joined by Dr Radhika Vohra , NHS and private GP, menopause specialist, and trustee and medical adviser at The Menopause Cha...

Living With Adenomyosis is a Henpicked Lunch & Learn session focused on understanding a common but often misunderstood menstrual health condition that affects millions of women — yet frequently goes undiagnosed for years. In this episode, Deborah Garlick , Founder of Henpicked , is joined by Henpicked's menstrual health expert Sally Leach to explore what adenomyosis is, how it differs from endomet...

How does menopause affect your mindset and how does your mindset affect your menopause? Is there a connection between the way we think and the way we experience menopause? Find out more in this session…   Prof Mary Ann Lumsden is Hon Professor of Medical Education & Gynaecology, at the University of Glasgow. She retired from active practice in Glasgow in 2021 due to commitments as CEO, Internation...

Does taking the Pill affect your mental health? How do hormones change your brain through the menstrual cycle? How can you navigate change and empower yourself? This session tackles what you need to know… Meet the speakers: Kate Muir is a filmmaker and author of Everything You Need to Know About the Pill and Everything You Need to Know About the Menopause. She produced Channel 4 documentaries on m...

Here's Dr Imogen Shaw of Hormone Health. This session tackles one of the most frequently asked and often misunderstood topics around menopause: vaginal health. Whether it's dealing with dryness, discomfort, or changes that come with menopause, this will arm you with expert advice and practical solutions to keep you feeling confident and comfortable. This podcast brings you up-to-date, expert infor...

Here's two inspiring winners from the Menopause Friendly Employer Awards : Lou Furby of Specsavers and Julie Cridland of Aster Group. One of the biggest questions we still get is: How do you get your employer on board? In this session, we heard from these trailblazing menopause legends. Discussed their top tips on convincing stakeholders, getting the conversations started, and, most importantly, k...

Half of women over 50 will experience a fracture, yet bone changes start much earlier, often unnoticed. But there's so much we can do now to stay stronger for longer. In this session, we cover essential insights on bone health and practical steps you can take. Join Henpicked's Deborah Garlick and Dr Bill Robertson-Smith, a dedicated Women's Bone Health Researcherm Campaigner and Senior Surgical Ca...

Did you know that what you eat can significantly impact your menstrual cycle? Did you know your nutritional needs change throughout your cycle and during the menopause transition?  We're joined by Jackie Lynch, founder of the  WellWellWell Nutrition Clinic where she specialises in women's health and the menopause. Jackie is a regular contributor of nutrition features in the media and her clinical...

What's really in the period products you use? How do they impact your health and the planet? And what are the best options available today? For years, mainstream period care has been keeping everyone in the dark, selling period care filled with hidden irritants and plastic. Mooncup believe in period care made only with ingredients that do your vagina and vulva some good. Get right up to date on va...

Can natural approaches help after a menopause and cancer diagnosis? The experience can be devastating, but what steps can you take to support your recovery and get back to good health? Antonia de Gier is a registered nutritional therapist, who has trained at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) to understand the latest research in hormone health. She has a Diploma at the Institute for Optimum...

Balancing work, home life and family pressures, alongside menopause symptoms you might experience, can feel overwhelming. But what can you do about it? We'll be exploring this topic and what we can all do to feel good during our menopause journey. As part of our Lunch & Learn series of webinars, here, Deborah Garlick of Henpicked is joined by  Lavina Mehta MBE of Feel Good with Lavina , author of...

Are you aware of how prolapse and incontinence can impact your daily life and well-being? Do you know the best strategies to manage these conditions effectively, especially in a work environment? Join our FREE Lunch & Learn where Henpicked's Deborah Garlick and Dr Surya Gupta-Wright from My Menopause Centre will be discussing exactly this. Dr. Surya brings years of experience in Obstetrics and Gyn...

We know that around one in four women consider leaving work due to menopause symptoms, and one in ten actually do leave according to the Fawcett Society Report . But many of these women have valuable skills and talent to offer to workplaces. We're joined by Morna Ronnie of the People Portfolio as she explains more about how her returner programmes are supporting women after they're left their care...

What does HRT do? What are the benefits of HRT? Is HRT safe? Can HRT cause cancer? Your questions answered with expert information here. Henpicked Menopause in the Workplace's Deborah Garlick was joined by Dr Clare Spencer of My Menopause Centre . Dr Clare is a registered menopause specialist and an NHS GP. She qualified from Cambridge University and holds membership of the Royal College of Obstet...

We all may have heard the word "endometriosis". But what does it feel like to live with it? What advice might help? How can people be best supported? We're joined by Menstruation Friendly Independent Panel Member Vickie Williams to shine a light on the topic. Vickie, driven by her own experience with endometriosis, pursued a PhD in People and Organisations at The Open University UK, focusing on en...

We frequently hear women say 'I thought I had dementia' when going through the menopause. But do you know what causes this? Do you know whether HRT helps and what the research says? Expert information here. Henpicked Menopause in the Workplace's Deborah Garlick was joined by Dr Clare Spencer of My Menopause Centre . Dr Clare is a registered menopause specialist and an NHS GP. She qualified from Ca...

Do you know the impact the menopause has on your bone health? Do you know how this could affect you? Listen in to hear more and what you can do to improve your bone health for life! Henpicked Menopause in the Workplace's Deborah Garlick was joined by  Kat Bright,  Co-founder of The Health Boost . Kat Bright is a nutritional therapist and co-founder of The Health Boost. She firmly believes that opt...