The Dr Louise Newson Podcast11 Nov 2025

33 - Menopause and the making of Riot Women with Sally Wainwright

Content advisory: this episode contains themes of mental health and suicide

Many women experience menopause as more than hot flushes and periods stopping. It can also bring a deep sense of flatness, loss of joy, anxiety or even thoughts of hopelessness.

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson speaks with Sally Wainwright OBE, the multiple BAFTA-winning writer and director known for Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack and Last Tango in Halifax. Her new BBC drama Riot Women has already had amazing reviews. Louise was the Medical Consultant for Riot Women.

Sally discusses her personal experience of menopause, and how being prescribed hormones has transformed her wellbeing and how those truths shaped her latest BBC drama, Riot Women. She also talks openly about her mother, who had both osteoporosis and dementia.

Together, they explore the link between menopause and mental health, the cost of silence around hormonal symptoms and the power of honest storytelling to change how women think and talk about menopause, as well as how they access hormone treatments. .

Disclaimer: This podcast is not connected to the BBC.

In the UK, you can contact Samaritans 24/7 at 116 123 or visit samaritans.org. If you're outside the UK, please reach out to a local crisis support service or emergency medical help.

LET'S CONNECT

Subscribe here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@menopause_doctor

Website 👉 https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/

Instagram 👉 / @drlouisenewsonpodcast

Download balance app 👉 / https://www.balance-menopause.com/balance-app/

LinkedIn 👉 / https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlouisenewson/

TikTok 👉 / https://www.tiktok.com/@drlouisenewson

Spotify 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/7dCctfyI9bODGDaFnjfKhg

LEARN MORE

Watch Sally’s latest BBC Drama, Riot Women 👉

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002hd7x

Take my online education course, Hormones Unlocked 👉 https://www.learningwithexperts.com/products/hormones-unlocked-dr-louise-newson

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(368)

45 - Inflammation, hormones and the hidden cause of chronic disease

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Professor Robert Lufkin, physician, medical school professor and author, to explore how inflammation and metabolic dysfunction lie at the heart of many o...

3 Feb 28min

44 - Testosterone and why the UK is falling behind

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by urologist and sexual medicine specialist Prof Mohit Khera to talk about testosterone in women and why it remains one of the most misunderstood and underu...

27 Jan 29min

43 - Kate Muir on the power and pushback in menopause care

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined once again by journalist, author and friend Kate Muir to reflect on where the menopause conversation really stands. From the science behind body-identical h...

20 Jan 30min

42 - Exposing the failures faced by perimenopausal women

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Jain monks and filmmakers Sadhvi Siddhali Shree and Sadhvi Anubhuti to discuss their new docuseries, Balance, which follows their personal experiences of...

13 Jan 38min

41 - How small lifestyle changes can transform your health

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson sits down with GP and lifestyle medicine lead Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi to talk about the everyday habits that shape long-term health. Hussain shares his own story of bei...

6 Jan 35min

40 - How hormones reduce inflammation and keep you healthier for longer

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson speaks with longevity expert and patient advocate Leslie Kenny about health span, inflammation and why prevention matters more than ever.Leslie shares her experience ...

30 Dec 202531min

39 - Looking back at 2025: progress, pushback and what still needs to change

As 2025 comes to a close, Dr Louise Newson reflects on the progress that’s been made this year, as well as the ongoing frustration of knowing too many women are still not being listened to or supporte...

23 Dec 202524min

38 - Why hormone education matters for every clinician

In this episode, Dr Louise Newson and Dr Rebecca Lewis discuss the role of hormone education in modern clinical practice and why so many women are still affected by gaps in training. Drawing on their ...

16 Dec 202532min