In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kate Muir, an investigative journalist who has made it her mission to bring awareness to the often-overlooked issues of menopause and hormonal health.
Kate's journey from a film critic to a passionate advocate is truly inspiring, and I'm excited to share some of my favourite parts of our conversation.
Kate opened up about her personal struggle with unscheduled bleeding. She described it as one of the most bewildering and distressing experiences of her life.
Despite visiting multiple doctors, finding the right solution was not easy.
This chaotic period, however, led her to a transformational discovery - once she found the right treatment, it became the best thing that ever happened to her. Her journey really shows the need for better education and resources for women going through similar experiences.
Shocked by her own lack of knowledge as an investigative journalist, Kate felt compelled to create a documentary after meeting several women who had suffered significantly due to unrecognised hormonal issues. Her path was fraught with challenges, including multiple rejections and the cancellation of the project during lockdown.
However, her persistence paid off when she managed to secure a collaboration with Davina McCall, a well-known celebrity and menopause advocate. The resulting documentary had a profound impact, raising awareness and sparking important conversations about menopause.
Kate's career took a significant turn after the documentary's success. She shifted from being a film critic to focusing on more meaningful work related to menopause.
This new direction has been incredibly fulfilling for her, and she attributes much of her current well-being to her deepened understanding of hormonal health.
Not only did she find professional satisfaction, but she also found personal happiness, culminating in a new relationship and an upcoming second marriage.
One of the most important takeaways from our conversation was Kate's advocacy for better education on menopause for both women and healthcare providers.
She emphasised the need for information about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to be included in women's health appointments and criticised the outdated misconceptions that still pervade medical practices. Kate pointed out the shocking disparity in healthcare availability, contrasting the ease of access to Viagra with the unavailability of vaginal estrogen in UK pharmacies.
Beyond her advocacy work, Kate has embraced several personal passion projects.
She enjoys wild swimming, an activity she’s been indulging in with her friend Deborah Ross for the past three years. Their year-round swims, including bracing December dips, have offered her both physical and social benefits. Additionally, Kate mentioned that she had stopped consuming alcohol during menopause, finding that it no longer suited her.
Currently, Kate is writing two books. The first, "How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis," covers a variety of topics, from longevity and psilocybin experiments to divorce and NDAs, all with a humorous twist.
The second project is an island novel, though details about it are still under wraps. These creative pursuits bring her immense joy and satisfaction.
A particularly fascinating part of our discussion centred around the impact of hormones on brain plasticity and overall health.
Kate explained how hormonal changes during menopause can affect brain function, from producing less glucose to altering both grey and white matter.
Despite the importance of this knowledge, there is a glaring lack of comprehensive research on the topic, which Kate advocates should change.
Kate's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of persistence, education, and advocacy. Her journey from confusion and struggle to becoming an influential voice in the conversation about menopause is truly inspiring. If there's one thing to take away from this episode, it's that understanding our hormonal health can lead to profound changes in our well-being and quality of life.
I hope you find Kate's story as enlightening and motivating as I did. Be sure to tune into the full episode for her full story here: Podcast
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