109 That Was 2022
Women What Whistle
In this episode I talk with Michaela Hyde from Marriage Foundation. It's more of a personal chat and debrief of 2022 really in which we cover empty nest syndrome, long term relationships, living with chronic pain, Michaela's menopause journey and my return to education. We also talk about HRT and also other techniques for resilience that help us survive the ups and downs of life. As promised, here are the menopause-specific episodes: 104 To HRT or Not with Sharon Hartmann (this is an edited-down version of 91, Menopause HRT and your GP) 103 - Diane Danzebrink talks about her surgical...
info_outline
108 Cliteracy and The G-Spot
Women What Whistle
Sex therapist Emma Waring joins me for part 2, following on from episode 107, ‘Is Your Sex Life Dutiful or Beautiful?’ to discuss the more intimate side of pleasure and our sexual relationships. We discuss orgasms, how the clitoris works, how vibrators can improve our sex lives and she reveals the all-important location of the not-so-elusive G-Spot. (Did you know that 96% of women need clitoral stimulation to orgasm? Hollywood might have us think otherwise). Emma shows various vibrators during this episode which we describe for audio-only purposes, however we did also film the conversation...
info_outline
107 Your Sexlife, Dutiful or Beautiful?
Women What Whistle
In this episode we talk about equality in sex and relationships. We delve into the roots of cultural and religious writings that have informed a male superiority over the centuries, where women's shame around sex, nakedness and physical desire comes from, how we can recognise if our sexual script is skewed/damaged, and what to do about it. NB trigger warning at 15 minutes where Emma describes the action of rape, it is no more than one minute long. Once again, Emma is fantastic and gives us lots to think about. If you've not heard the first episode she did, Episode 94 'What is Good Sex?'...
info_outline
106 Helena Croft: Once a Shy Girl, Now A Warrior For Women
Women What Whistle
10 years ago, Helena Croft founded Streetlight UK. Prostitution and trafficking is a very real issue. It’s quite of the moment to suggest that sex work is empowering, but Helena has a very different and experienced take on this narrative which is currently being pushed about. This episode is a conversation of two halves. First is about how Helena overcame terrible shyness and uncontrollable blushing that often held her back in life. And then how her faith helped her find her voice, which began her transition into politics. 10 years ago, she then founded Streetlight UK which gives support to...
info_outline
105 Not Scary For Cary
Women What Whistle
In this podcast episode, author talks to me about her epic midlife adventure in which she went back to university, already as a mum of twins, and having also navigated divorce. She accidentally fell in love and decided to relocate to Sweden once she graduated… and then found out she was carrying more than suitcases! I’m not so sure she set out for it to be an adventure but it really was, and then, of course, hormones began to change so she had some more navigating to do. During that time, she’s raising twins, a new baby, paddleboarding, cold water swimming and writing short stories and...
info_outline
104 To HRT or Not?
Women What Whistle
This is an edited-down version of podcast episode 91 in which Menopause specialist Sharon Hartmann discusses hormone change with me and how we can best navigate it. She covers things like when hormone change begins, what can instigate it outside of the natural rhythm of life, and then she covers various symptoms, some more unknown than others. We also discuss natural v HRT (spoiler: topically applied HRT IS a natural product), the difference between gel, patches and spray; the importance of how you apply, testosterone, the Mirena coil, and also the length of time to take HRT and if it's ever...
info_outline
103 Diane Danzebrink on menopause, breaking point and activism
Women What Whistle
This week we talk with Diane Danzebrink, campaigner, psychotherapist and menopause expert about her experience of menopause which was brought on by surgery for a hysterectomy, after discovering she had ovarian cysts, endometriosis, adenomyosis and a large fibroid. So severe were the psychological effects of menopause that it almost resulted in Diane ending her life. She tells the story in this episode. Her website is and you can sign the petition (please do because it’s getting very close to the all-important 200k) . There are also extensive available on her website, she also records a...
info_outline
102 Brave Enough
Women What Whistle
Grief is something that we’ve all found ourselves talking about with the loss of Queen Elizabeth. It has a profound impact on us and during this collective time, many of us have experienced the pain of other losses rise to the surface. In this episode, we talk to Jo Moseley, who found herself feeling at the end of herself after her own journey of grief and in the midst of menopause. Almost accidentally she turned it around and literally paddled her way out. She’s now a filmmaker, podcaster and writer, and the first woman to stand up paddleboard the 162 coast-to-coast trail from the west to...
info_outline
101 What Is Normal? Does it even exist?
Women What Whistle
Here we go, the first episode of Women What Whistle, renamed and revamped and very much about not falling in line or fading away. It’s about finding our brave through the stories of other women who’ve had to find theirs. We start this week with a conversation laying out the concept that challenges our perception of normal. We so often berate ourselves for not being like someone else, but ultimately, normal is most beneficial when measured against ourselves. Dr Sarah Chaney, historian of nursing and emotions, joins me for a conversation in which we talk about how this concept of...
info_outline
100 Coming Out and The Story So Far
Women What Whistle
THE STORY SO FAR: Welcome to our final episode from inside the wardrobe. We are relaunching with a slightly new focus in the Autumn which I explain about in this episode The previous episodes I signpost are: Menopause: 72, 78, 79, 91, 92, 93 The 5 love languages: 25 What is good sex: 94 Eating disorders or food related: 29 76 92 95 Grief and depression: 49 84 85 The link to my website is The link for subscribing to Women What Whistle is And the link to our Facebook group page is As ever, thank you so much for listening – much love all round!!
info_outlineWith all the events going on across the world at the moment following the murder of George Floyd, I realised how little comprehension I have had of racism in Britain and so wanted to have an open discussion on the podcast to hear more. There is no denying that this is an absolute atrocity that continues to play out under our noses and I have felt deeply challenged for not taking it more seriously and for not realising the impact it has been having on those I love.
For this episode, I invited my good friend, Ayozie Pollendine and her 2 daughters, Daniella 18 and Kezia 16 to talk with me. Ayozie moved from Nigeria to Britain when she was 15 and until then, had never experienced racism, or not being seen as normal. Hearing Ayozie’s experiences in the UK shocked me, I had no idea of my white privilege until now.
Racism, both conscious and unconscious is going on everywhere. It’s not enough to say be kind, we need to do better at talking about it, at looking under the surface and at educating ourselves. I will never again hold racism at arm’s length. It is relevant to us all, we are responsible together to create change.
“I’ve never seen in all my time in this country, a willingness to address this head on. Such a great number of people are engaging with this issue and willing to speak up and willing to say “I don’t know everything I should know, but I want to know” and it gives me so much hope. I reay do feel that there is something happening, yes for a while it might be ugly – you know when a wound is open and its been there a long time, it is ugly, it’s messy, it’s not tidy, it doesn’t look nice, it doesn’t smell nice, but for that wound to be cleaned out, and to be out in the open so it can heal, takes time. I definitely feel hopeful and I do feel like there is an opportunity for change” AP
"When you look at the way racism is ingrained in institutions, you realise that it is just as much an ugly problem here as it is in the States. It might look different, but it's the same." AP
Suggested books:
How to be an Anti-racist - Ibram X.Kendi
So you want to talk about race - Ijeoma Oluo
Don’t Touch My Hair - Emma Dabiri
Notes of a Native Son - James Baldwin
Dark Days - James Baldwin
Africa’s Tarnished Name - Chinua Achebe
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Renni Eddo-Lodge
Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie
Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
Other Links:
Please do come and join us on our Facebook group page and all other links are on my website.
Thank you for listening 😊