Show Notes
I’m Jette, your host, a single mama living in Scotland, and a Pilates studio owner. I am currently 43, and babe, things have changed. I didn't get a gradual transition into my forties; I woke up one morning and thought, what is going on with my body? From cellulite, mood changes, and weight gain to unexplainable headaches and clitoral atrophy, I found myself crying to doctors who simply told me, "You're just getting old. Welcome to perimenopause." In this inaugural episode, I share my personal story and set out the mission for This is 40. We are done being told that feeling this way is just something we have to accept. I want to create a collective, shared space where we dive into the language, tests, and self-advocacy tools we need to start feeling like ourselves again. We’re going to cover health, money, sex, relationships, and all the juicy stuff in between. Welcome to the ride! Episode Highlights:
00:00:00 – Welcome to Episode One of This is 40!
00:00:50 – Who I am: 43, single mom, Pilates studio owner, and living in Scotland.
00:01:20 – The sudden shift: Sudden physical changes, perimenopause symptoms, and doctor visits.
00:02:10 – The frustration of being told "You're just getting old".
00:02:40 – The mission of the podcast: Learning to advocate for our health and demand tests.
00:03:30 – Why women's health is severely under-researched.
00:04:10 – What to expect from future episodes: Experts, real women, money, sex, and health.
00:05:00 – Breaking the taboos: Experiencing clitoral atrophy in your 40s.
00:05:50 – Join the community and connect on social media.
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk). If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5* rating and review!
More from This is 40
This week I'm joined by Naomi Gale, a pelvic health educator, former teacher and author of two books. Naomi specialises in nervous system-led holistic pelvic care, and we cover a lot of ground, from why we should all be using the proper anatomical words to what vaginal steaming actually involves. We talk about the pressure women are under to say yes when our bodies are saying no, why your symptoms might be feedback rather than a problem to fix, and how Naomi's first book ended up shadow-banned on Amazon. I loved this conversation, and I hope you leave it feeling a little more connected to your body. Key Takeaways
This week I'm joined by my friend Jen Bianchi, a dentist with nearly 20 years' experience, to talk about something we hardly ever hear in the perimenopause and menopause conversation: our teeth. Jen explains why the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body, what bleeding gums can tell us, and why getting the basics right beats any miracle product. We also dig into dry mouth, the sneaky sugars hiding in squash and herbal teas, burning mouth syndrome, and what we do (and don't) know about HRT and gum health. It's an honest chat about science, stress and why we so often put ourselves last on the list. Key Takeaways
Perimenopause crept up on me, and I genuinely didn't know it was a thing until I was in the middle of it. So for this episode I've invited my friend Dr Caroline McKenzie Hill, known to me as Caz, to give us the GP's view. We keep things broad today. We cover when perimenopause can start, how to tell it apart from burnout, the symptoms nobody warns you about, where HRT fits in, and how to prepare for a GP appointment so you feel properly heard. Please send in your questions too, as Caz will be back to answer them! Key Takeaways
This week I'm joined by Nikki, a much-loved old family friend, who has just turned 50. She's a former primary school teacher and senior leader who now supports women to show up in their lives in a connected, embodied and powerful way. Nikki shares how her forties turned into a deep invitation to come back to herself. We talk about learning to hold firm, warm boundaries, and about perimenopause as a paradigm shift rather than something to fear. We also get into why women still have to advocate so hard for themselves, and how the simplest acts of connection can be the most powerful. Nikki finishes by guiding us through a short somatic practice you can try at home. Key Takeaways
Everyone online is telling us to lift weights, but nobody seems to explain why. In this episode I'm joined by my friend Aoife, a personal trainer and group fitness instructor who specialises in strength training through perimenopause and menopause. I worked with Aoife before I'd ever picked up a weight, and her passion for helping women feel strong is completely infectious. We talk about what's happening with our hormones, why keeping our lean muscle mass matters so much, and how to fit strength work into a busy life without the guilt. We also get into bone density, jumping, pelvic floor health and the "I'll get bulky" myth. If you've ever felt unheard when you've said "something doesn't feel right", this one is for you. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Lifting weights isn't a trend. Maintaining lean muscle mass supports our strength, posture and independence, and helps us to live well for longer.- Something is better than nothing. The textbook says two to three sessions a week, but ten minutes counts, so don't set yourself up to fail.- Bones need impact as well as muscle. Bone density peaks around 30, and jumping (even off the bottom stair) helps.- Think "engage" rather than "brace" for your core and pelvic floor, and get your pelvic floor checked if you have any concerns.- Talking about perimenopause matters. Sharing stories helps us to advocate for ourselves, and you are worth showing up for. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS - 02:00: Why we should be lifting weights, and why perimenopause can begin as early as 35- 04:00: Oestrogen "dipping and diving" like the sea, and why lean muscle mass is the goal- 08:00: How often should we lift? Aoife on why any amount beats none- 16:00: Bone density, the Aero versus Crunchie analogy, and why jumping matters- 19:00: Pelvic floor, breathing and core: why engaging beats bracing- 28:00: Busting the "I'll get bulky" myth and taking up space ABOUT THE GUEST Aoife is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor who specialises in strength training for women in perimenopause and menopause.- Website: - Instagram: MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE Instagram @aoifemeldonpt