Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me This?

UCL
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  • EDUCATION
Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me This?

Welcome to season 2 of the podcast - Why didn’t anyone tell me this? This podcast is about health education with an emphasis on reproductive health. We do not cover these topics enough in school or beyond. Joyce Harper and her guests want to give you the tools to empower you to live a healthy, happy and fulfilled life. And on the way, we will debunk some of the myths around our health. This podcast will include a wide range of amazing guests, discussing topics such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental health, happiness, cancer, periods, fertility, infertility, fertility treatment, preconception health, pregnancy, miscarriage, PCOS, endometriosis, menopause and much more. Joyce is a cold-water swimmer so expect some episodes about swimming! They will tell you about their work and life journey, what are the key messages they want you to know, their motivation, what makes them happy and their advice to their younger self. Joyce Harper is an award-winning author, educator, academic, and scientist with over 30 years’ experience in reproductive health. She is Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London where she heads the Reproductive Science and Society group. Her latest book, Your Fertile Years, is published by Sheldon Press, 2021. She is chair of the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (www.eshre.eu/IRHEC) and co-chair of the UK Fertility Education Initiative. She is founder of Reproductive Health at Work. Further information at www.joyceharper.com.

  1. NOV 13

    S2 #E23: Eleanor Mills: Much more to come

    Eleanor is the former Editorial Director of The Sunday Times and one of Britain’s most high profile commentators. In March of 2021 she launched an online community platform for women called Noon. She began her journalistic life on the Guardian and Observer and at only 26, she was the Daily Telegraph’s youngest ever Features Editor. During her long Fleet Street career, Eleanor was the Sunday Times’s main interviewer. In 2014 she became Chair of Women in Journalism, the industry’s cross media network for female hacks, and launched a series of high profile events on media sexism and empowering women. Eleanor won the 2012 International Alliance of women’s World of Difference Award for her “contribution to women’s economic empowerment” and was one of only four journalists in Europe to be shortlisted for Journalist of the Year at the European Diversity Awards 2012. She appears regularly on television – you can catch her most weeks on ITV and on Sky News reviewing the newspapers and commentating on politics and society. She has written two books, Cupcakes and Kalashnikovs: An Anthology of the best Journalism by Women and Much More to Come and is currently working on a new book Birds and the Bees: 2.0, Talking Sex with Generation XXX.  In this episode, Eleanor shares her extensive knowledge on empowering women. We discuss positive aging, her coining of the term "Queenager," and how her community at Noon has enabled her to support women. While many find life over 50 to be the best time of their lives, this isn't the case for everyone. So, what can we do to help those who are struggling? Eleanor believes we need to invest time and resources into ourselves—finding our tribe, managing our finances, and especially focusing on our pensions. As mothers of university students, we talk about coping with an empty nest and offer insights on how women can navigate this transition more easily. We also share a mutual passion for cold-water swimming, with Eleanor explaining why she loves it. Eleanor reminds us that there’s still so much more to come.   Date of episode recording: 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z Duration: 00.52.44 Language of episode: English Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper Guests: Eleanor Mills Producer: Joyce Harper

    53 min

  2. OCT 30

    S2 #E22 Bukky Ayoade: Your Vibrant Midlife

    Bukky is the Principal Consultant at Vibrant Midlife Wellness Practice. She helps motivate women in midlife to overcome the disruption of hormone chaos that can accompany the menopause transition and develop their personalised menopause care plan so they are happier, fitter, healthier, more confident, and fabulous. Aside from being a Certified Health and Wellness Coach to midlife women, her wellness coaching is underpinned by over 35 years of experience as a Pharmacist working at various Blue-Chip pharmaceutical companies. Bukky is currently sharing her expertise with NHS England helping to improve women's health and lead a workstream on the National Menopause programme. She has been responsible for the launch of 2 Key products to help support the NHS workforce going through the menopause transition: National Menopause Guidance for staff and line managers, and a core Menopause Awareness e-learning module for all staff. She also helps organisations support and retain highly skilled female talent through menopause training, coaching, and consultancy. She has recently published an amazing self-care tool for midlife women: The “Vibrant Midlife Wellness and Affirmation Journal” https://vibrantmidlife.com/  Bukky views aging as a privilege, though she acknowledges that not all women feel vibrant during this stage of life. In our discussion, we explored the importance of key pillars of well-being that support healthy aging: nutrition, movement, sleep, mental health, and friendships. Bukky offers a free eBook titled 5 Keys to Help Lose Midlife Weight & Keep it Off! and regularly writes blogs on topics such as gratitude, affirmations, meditation, and journaling. She also runs workshops to support women in these areas. Additionally, Bukky and I conducted a study on Black women’s attitudes toward menopause to ensure their voices were represented. She also explains her ongoing work with the NHS to improve menopause education.   Date of episode recording: 2024-09-24T00:00:00Z Duration: 00.54.09 Language of episode: English Presenter:Prof Joyce Harper Guests: Bukky Ayoade Producer: Joyce Harper

    54 min

  3. OCT 16

    S2 #E21 Dr Stella Duffy, OBE: What is it like to be postmenopausal?

    Stella Duffy has written seventeen novels. Her last novel, Lullaby Beach was published by Virago in February 2021.She has also written and devised fourteen plays and written over seventy short stories, including several for BBC Radio 4. Her collected stories are published by Salt in Everything is Moving, Everything is Joined. She has won many awards. She wrote and presented the BBC4 documentary How to Write a Mills and Boon. In addition to her writing work, she worked in theatre for over thirty five years. Stella is a regular speaker and campaigner around LGBTQ+, women’s and arts equality and inclusion issues. She was awarded the OBE for Services to the Arts in 2016. She is a qualified yoga teacher, running workshops in yoga for writing, and this year was awarded a doctorate in existential psychotherapy. Her research was in the embodied experience of postmenopause.  Instagram: @stellduffy and @stelladuffytherapy Twitter: @stellduffy  Stella has experienced a lot. She has been a comedian, actor, writer, speaker, campaigner, yoga teacher and is now a therapist. Also framing her life has been numerous health problems, many more than most of us will ever go through. She went through cancer in her 30s, which lead her into early menopause, is childless by circumstance, had another round of cancer when she was 50, had a mastectomy, a ruptured brain aneurysm, brain haemorrhage, two lots of brain surgery, a hip replacement, and a knee replacement. She had a seriously shit perimenopause. But she is a woman who is truly embracing age, so much so that she has just finished her PhD in existential psychotherapy – which we talk about in the podcast. She wants to change the negative narrative around life post menopause. Menopause is not the end, and Stella is excited how we can live post menopause as the best years of our lives. It is our time to make life choices. And she loves cold water swimming and Saturday night pizza!   Date of episode recording: 2024-10-04T00:00:00Z Duration: 01.13.10 Language of episode: English Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper Guests: Dr Stella Duffy, OBE Producer: Joyce Harper

    1h 13m

  4. OCT 2

    S2 #E20 Rachel Peru: Liberté - Free to Be

    Rachel is a silver haired curve model, body confidence activist, midlife influencer, and the woman behind Liberte Free to Be. She began a new career as a model at the age of 46, something that she does not feel she would have had the confidence to do earlier in life. She is doing amazing work representing older women in the fashion industry and has worked with some amazing people and brands including JDWilliams, F&F Clothing with Davina McCall and alongside my body confidence icon Ashley Graham for Swimsuits for All. Her favourite shoots are always swimwear and lingerie and now in her 50s, she finally feels at ease with my body which is liberating. And if you have been following Rachel you would have seen her giving lectures in her underwear which I think is so empowering. Rachel has built a dynamic community to revitalise, inspire, motivate, and support women to get the best out of life. Liberté Free to Be was created to spread some positivity around midlife and share inspiration to others who may be feeling a bit lost as they hit their forties and beyond. Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things in life can lead to all sorts of opportunities and bring a new lease of life to this next chapter. She runs a Liberté Lifestyle Hub, and for many years ran the Liberté Free to Be podcast, and a weekly newsletter and blog. https://liberteltd.com/ Instagram: @rachelperu1  Rachel has an incredibly positive outlook on aging and feels that this is the best time of her life. She stands out as a powerful role model, embracing her body and not feeling invisible despite working in an industry that has often been criticised for its lack of body positivity and its inherent ageism. Rachel has experienced frustrations, such as being part of photoshoots where her images were never used, but she acknowledges that things are gradually improving. A fan of social media, Rachel believes the conversation around aging is slowly becoming more positive. She offers advice to women struggling with body confidence, encouraging them to focus on body acceptance. She suggests looking in the mirror daily and learning to love your body for what it is - it tells the story of your life. We also talked about the importance of taking care of your health as you age, and the value of women’s circles and friendships. This episode will leave listeners feeling uplifted and empowered.   Date of episode recording: 2024-09-24T00:00:00Z Duration: 00.46.28 Language of episode: English Presenter:Prof Joyce Harper Guests: Rachel Peru Producer: Joyce Harper

    46 min

  5. SEP 18

    S2 #E19 Kate Codrington: Second Spring

    Kate Codrington is a pioneering, pro-ageing activist, author, menstrual health menopause mentor, speaker, workshop facilitator, artist, yoga Nidra guide, podcaster and has been a therapist for nearly 30 years. She is author of two books: Second Spring: the self-care guide to menopause and just out - The Perimenopause Journal. Kate’s mission is to change the way we regard menopause and show how we can relax into our own, inner authority through our cyclical nature and menopause process. She refuses to take herself too seriously and try to never take on anything that is not pleasurable and delicious. She is also an artist currently weaving textiles, words, story and stitch. She’s in her second spring, which means post-menopause, and has deep gratitude for the education that the menopause process has gifted her. It was ouchy for sure, but it did what years of therapy did not; took her head out of her arse. Kate has a hugely positive view of life post menopause – she says it is the best time of her life. Kate also feels that we can gain a lot from our perimenopause transition – she has deep gratitude for the education that the menopause process has gifted her. Kate does not feel that the menopause is a disorder or that everyone needs to take HRT. We discussed why there is such a negative narrative around menopause in the UK. Kate’s work is centred on the cycles of the seasons, and she explains how this works through a woman’s life, and how we enter our second spring. Kate also explains the three processes in Second Spring: separation, surrender and emergence. We are both very happy people, and Kate explains how happiness is U-shaped. Kate feels that it is important for women to chart and track their feelings, which women can explore more in the Perimenopause Journal. We also discussed the importance of relaxing, meditation such as with yoga Nidra, movement and being in nature. Kate and I are both huge fans of women’s circles. It is so powerful to be with other women, sharing stories and giving support. Presenter:  Professor Joyce HarperGuests:      Kate CodringtonProducer:  Professor Joyce Harper Free resource library including Yoga Nidras: https://mailchi.mp/a8a0fa08678a/resource-library  30% off a year of live Yoga Nidras: https://bit.ly/yoga-nidra-year  Website: https://www.katecodrington.co.uk/  IG: https://www.instagram.com/kate_codrington/

    57 min

  6. SEP 4

    SE, #E18 Jody Day: Childlessness

    This podcast is part of the series on Motherhood and is coming out just before World Childless Week. https://worldchildlessweek.net/ Jody Day is the founder of Gateway Women, the global advocacy network for childless women, founded in 2011. She’s the author of what many professionals consider to be the 'go-to' book on the topic, ‘Living the Life Unexpected: How to Find Hope, Meaning and a Fulfilling Future Without Children’. Chosen as one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2013 and as a UK Digital Woman of the Year in 2021, she’s a global thought leader on female involuntary childlessness, a psychotherapist, a 2017 and 2022 TEDx speaker, a founding and former board member at UK Charity Ageing Well Without Children and a former Fellow in Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School. Often referred to as the founder of the ‘childless movement’ she’s been an Ambassador for World Childless Week since its inception in 2017. Since 2018 she has lived in rural Ireland, where she’s working on two new books and nurturing her emerging Gateway Elderwomen project, which includes developing local, non-kin, intergenerational support networks for those ageing without children. https://gateway-women.com/  Jody on Instagram: @GatewayWomen  What is the difference between childfree and childless? In several countries, about 20% of women do not have children. Joyce and Jody discuss why women might be childless, such as not being able to find the right partner, not being able to get pregnant or failure of fertility treatments. All of these situations can result in women experiencing trauma, which needs to be resolved. And this is where Jody can help. In 2011 Jody shared her story and since then she has been working with women to encourage them to share their stories through Gateway Women. Her book has helped so many, as well as her women’s circles, therapists and Gateway Women Reignite Weekend workshops. She wants women to find their meaningful life without motherhood. With menopause, comes the realisation that getting pregnant is no longer an option and in 2014, Jody wrote a blog called ‘The Childless Menopause’. This is a powerful podcast.   Date of episode recording: 2024-08-21T00:00:00Z Duration: 01.15.07 Language of episode: English Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper Guests: Jody Day Producer: Joyce Harper

    1h 15m

  7. AUG 21

    S2 #E17 Dr Zeynep Gurtin: Motherhood over 40

    Dr Zeynep Gurtin is a Lecturer in Women’s Health at the Institute for Women’s Health at UCL and an Authority Member at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.  Zeynep is a sociologist of reproduction and family life, and for the past two decades her work has focused on women’s experiences of infertility, fertility treatments, and family building. She completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge and worked there with Professors Sarah Franklin and Susan Golombok. She also spent 2 years working at a fertility clinic, focusing on researching the social and emotional aspects of egg freezing and single women's fertility options and experiences. Zeynep is an experienced public communicator; she has spoken about fertility, assisted reproduction and gender relations at schools, City firms, arts festivals and women's groups, both nationally and internationally. Her work has been extensively covered in the media, including BBC News, Women's Hour, the Guardian, the Independent, Sky News, Stylist Magazine, Glamour, and Grazia.  In this emotional episode, which is part of the podcast series on Motherhood, Zeynep and Joyce recount their difficult fertility journeys that led both to have children over age 40. This was not plan A for either of them, so reliving it brought tears. Globally we have seen the age that women have their first child increase, and it is now over age 30 in many countries. And the total fertility rate, the number of children a woman has, is decreasing globally, hovering just above 1 in several EU countries. But many people wish for a family size of 2-3 children. Why are women having children, later, how does egg freezing affect their choices, and what challenges affect women trying to conceive over 40? How does society view the older mother? And what issues could arise for women going through the perimenopause with small children?   Date of episode recording: 2024-08-16T00:00:00Z Duration: 01.05.15 Language of episode: English Presenter:Prof Joyce Harper Guests: Dr Zeynep Gurtin Producer: Prof Joyce Harper

    1h 5m

  8. AUG 7

    S2, #E16: Dr Lucy van de Wiel: Freezing fertility: is egg freezing the answer?

    Lucy van de Wiel was a Research Associate in the Reproductive Sociology Research Group (ReproSoc) at the Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge. She is currently a Lecturer and Postgraduate Research Director in Global Health and Social Medicine at King’s College London. She has founded and is chair of the Reproduction Research Group at King’s. Her research focuses on the introduction of new reproductive technologies such as egg freezing, time-lapse embryo imaging and Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A).  Lucy explores how these technologies give insight into broader developments within the sector, including the datafication of reproduction and the financialisation of fertility. She also researches telemedical abortion in the post-Roe landscape. She has published an Open Access booked on egg freezing with New York University Press titled Freezing Fertility: Oocyte Cryopreservation and the Gender Politics of Aging. Freezing Fertility has inspired a feature documentary, also called Freezing Fertility.  In this episode, Lucy explains all aspects of egg freezing. She discusses what happens when a woman undergoes the procedure, how successful it is, and how much it costs. It is not a simple procedure to go through, it is not that successful with no guarantee of a baby and it is expensive, with multiple rounds usually being recommended. So why would any woman want to freeze her eggs? Joyce and Lucy answer this question and discuss the interesting fact that few women have come back to use their frozen eggs. And what does the future hold – is this a procedure that will become common place or are other technologies being developed that will replace egg freezing?   Date of episode recording: 2024-07-29T00:00:00Z Duration: 01.18.05 Language of episode: English Presenter: Joyce Harper  Guests: Dr Lucy van de Wiel Producer: Joyce Harper

    1h 18m
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About

Welcome to season 2 of the podcast - Why didn’t anyone tell me this? This podcast is about health education with an emphasis on reproductive health. We do not cover these topics enough in school or beyond. Joyce Harper and her guests want to give you the tools to empower you to live a healthy, happy and fulfilled life. And on the way, we will debunk some of the myths around our health. This podcast will include a wide range of amazing guests, discussing topics such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental health, happiness, cancer, periods, fertility, infertility, fertility treatment, preconception health, pregnancy, miscarriage, PCOS, endometriosis, menopause and much more. Joyce is a cold-water swimmer so expect some episodes about swimming! They will tell you about their work and life journey, what are the key messages they want you to know, their motivation, what makes them happy and their advice to their younger self. Joyce Harper is an award-winning author, educator, academic, and scientist with over 30 years’ experience in reproductive health. She is Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London where she heads the Reproductive Science and Society group. Her latest book, Your Fertile Years, is published by Sheldon Press, 2021. She is chair of the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (www.eshre.eu/IRHEC) and co-chair of the UK Fertility Education Initiative. She is founder of Reproductive Health at Work. Further information at www.joyceharper.com.

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