Women of a Certain Stage

In this dynamic conversation, host Lauren is joined by Carey Peters , who shares her incredible 20-year entrepreneurial journey from being a professional actress to co-founding a multi-million dollar coaching business. Carey opens up about her initial, unsteady start as a coach, realizing her first training didn't teach her how to coach effectively. She discusses the turning point where she commit...

In this game-changing episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren sits down with Laura Mzhickteno, a copywriting expert with a decade of experience helping coaches, authors, and speakers translate their expertise into clear, compelling messages. If you've ever stared at a blank Instagram post wondering "how do I say this?" or felt paralyzed by your own messaging, this conversation is your per...

In this crucial episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren speaks with Fiona Clark, Australian journalist, medical publisher, and founder of the Menopause Research & Education Fund (MREF). Fiona pulls back the curtain on the menopause landscape, revealing why doctors are openly arguing on social media, how a £15 trillion market is driving commercialization, and why the UK's National Inst...

In this insightful episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren Chiren reconnects with Dr Kelly Dixon, Associate Professor in Global Health and Wellbeing at UCL and integrative psychotherapist in private practice. Kelly shares her personal journey of discovering the profound impact of cycle awareness—beginning with a pivotal moment at age 24 when a friend noticed her monthly pattern of overwhe...

n this inspiring episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren connects with Shannan Hanson, who transformed her 25-year corporate career in customer success into a thriving menopause coaching practice. Just months after completing her certification, Shannan organized a groundbreaking community summit that brought together 75+ women, 15 exhibitors, and 7 speakers—proving that passion, determina...

In this powerful episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren speaks with Julie about her journey from running a successful recruitment business for 13 years to retraining as a menopause coach. Julie shares the raw reality of perimenopause hitting at 49, the burnout that followed, and the moment everything changed when she finally started HRT at 51. With 23 years in recruitment—a fast-paced, s...

In this inspiring episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren speaks with Liz Lay about her journey from over three decades in payroll management to becoming a menopause coach. Liz shares her experience of managing payroll for 47,000 employees while navigating undiagnosed perimenopause, the imposter syndrome that crept in, and the pivotal moment she decided to take a sabbatical that changed e...

In this profound episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren speaks with Tara Ferguson about her journey from a breast cancer diagnosis at 41 to founding her own consultancy focused on supporting businesses managing cancer in the workplace. Tara shares the raw reality of her diagnosis, treatment, and the medical menopause that followed, while highlighting the critical gaps in workplace suppor...

In this deeply moving episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren speaks with Valeria Sardenberg, a Brazilian psychologist and supervisor now living in Greece. Valeria shares her powerful journey from a difficult childhood through devastating loss to finding purpose in supporting women through perimenopause and menopause. After losing her first son to cancer and navigating her own divorce dur...

In this episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren speaks with Susie about her incredible experience climbing Kilimanjaro with her 16-year-old daughter. Susie shares her motivations for taking on the challenge at 54, emphasizing the importance of both physical and mental strength during such an endeavor. She reflects on how the climb was not only a test of her physical limits but also a sign...

In this episode, host Lauren 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 anthropolo...

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...

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,...

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...

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 need...

In today’s episode, Lauren Chiren sits down with Delilah, a Dutch-born Yoga Therapist who reinvented her career after a dismissive doctor’s appointment sparked a decade-long self-study into perimenopause symptoms.  Fueled by her own journey, from “mistreated” patient to intuitive menopause guide, Delilah discovered the need for a structured, heart-led approach to supporting women through horm...

In this episode of the Women of a Certain Stage Podcast, host Lauren Chiren welcomes Amanda Carlile, formerly a senior leader in Australia’s women’s empowerment sector and now a certified menopause coach, who’s blending menopause training and one-to-one coaching to transform workplaces and individual lives. After her own perimenopause challenges nearly derailed her worklife, Amanda came home to th...

In this episode of the Women of a Certain Stage Podcast, host Lauren Chiren sits down with Alison Allen, founder of Sparks HR Consultancy and a Women of a Certain Stage and CPD certified menopause coach, to explore how organisations can embed effective menopause training, menopause talks, and workplace strategy.  Drawing on 25 years in HR and L&D, Alison shares how a 2003 TV segment first...

I’m Lauren Chiren, CEO of Women of a Certain Stage and your guide to mastering menopause. Today I’m thrilled to welcome sleep scientist Dr Katharina “Kat” Koltermann to unpack why so many of us struggle to rest during perimenopause and beyond. As a GP and certified menopause strategist, I know that disrupted sleep worsens hot flushes, mood swings and metabolic changes. Kat shares evidence-based in...

When seasoned bodyworker and educator Julia Oyeleye realized her lifelong clients were struggling through menopause with nowhere to turn, she knew her next chapter had to bridge that gap. In this episode, I chat with Julia as she shares how an unexpected career pivot, from executive PA to massage therapist, then teacher, author and reflexologist, led her to discover the one missing piece in her to...

In this episode, I chat with Sian Carter, HR Director for a multi-academy trust in the West Midlands and a certified menopause coach, about the very real ways she’s woven menopause support into school life.  Sian’s own early-onset menopause journey sparked her passion: she knew firsthand how crippling brain fog, night sweats and heavy bleeding could be when you’re standing in front of a class...

In this inspiring conversation, meet Kirsteen Campbell, endometriosis warrior, community builder and certified Menopause Coach, who has transformed her own decades-long health journey into a mission to uplift every woman in Scotland’s far north. Kirsteen shares: A Lifespan of Endometriosis Battling excruciating teen-year periods, multiple laparoscopies and a life-saving hysterectomy by 26. Miracul...

Today I’m joined by my awesome Certified Menopause Coach graduate - Sam Mancey, executive coach, former John Lewis leader - who shares how a back-of-house tech glitch, major spinal surgery and a corporate “divorce” all led her to a powerful new calling: supporting women (and the people around them) through midlife transition. In this warm, wide-ranging conversation we explore:   Why “menopaus...

I’m so pleased to welcome nurse educator Professor Camille Cronin to the podcast today. Camille has spent over 35 years in clinical practice, research and higher education, and now channels her passion into bespoke menopause coaching. In this candid conversation we explore: Why a nurse of 35+ years chose menopause coaching. Camille explains how her frontline work with women in health and social ca...

I’m delighted to welcome my dear friend and business mentor, Chris Williams, back to the mic today. Chris is the driving force behind Soulful Abundance and one of our diploma’s most resonant experts on relationship-first marketing. In this warm, candid chat, she shares how she pivoted from health and wellness to seven-figure business coaching and the lessons she’s learned along the way. What you’l...