My Bloody Hell

Menopause and a Midlife Crisis: A Conversation with Novelist Dana Spiotta

On episode 4 of the podcast, I’m talking with award-winning novelist, Dana Spiotta about her new novel Wayward. Wayward is a thought-provoking book that centers the life of Samantha “Sam” Raymond, a white American woman whose menopause journey coincides with her midlife crisis...or maybe menopause causes the crisis.

In the story, Sam’s life has just begun to come apart: “Trump has been elected, her mother is ill and her teenage daughter is increasingly remote. At fifty-two she finds herself staring into 'the Mids' - those night-time hours of supreme wakefulness where women of a certain age contemplate their lives. In Sam's case, this means motherhood, mortality, and the state of an unravelling nation."

On a whim, Sam buys a decrepit old house, abandons her family, and tries to build a new life on her own terms.

During my conversation with Dana - which includes no spoilers from the book -  we talk about her motivations for writing a book about menopause, the invisibility of women of a certain age, why we need to normalize conversations about the things that happen to our bodies, and Edith Bunker’s menopause moment on All in the Family. 

It’s an honest and sometimes hilarious conversation that I hope gives listeners some useful food for thought on how we can all reframe menopause and continue the conversation that will liberate us from suffering in silence and alone. 

At the end of the show you’ll hear how you can win a free copy of Wayward, so be sure to listen all the way to the end of the episode.

More Menopause Inspiration and Information Mentioned in the Episode

To find out more about Dana Spiotta and her writing, visit her website at DanaSpiotta.com.

To purchase a copy of Wayward, visit Amazon or try your favorite indie bookseller.

Dana mentioned the book Flash Count Diary: Menopause and the Vindication of Natural Life by Darcy Steinke. It’s a powerful memoir about Steinke’s menopause journey and the natural world. 

To support our wonderful sponsor, check out the delicious snacks and subscription boxes from Yumday. Use the code MBHPOD15 at checkout for 15% off any order.  And don’t forget, supporting Yumday means supporting women and BIPOC-led brands!

Don’t forget you can comment about anything from this episode by visiting My Bloody Hell on Instagram or Facebook. And be sure to follow our social accounts for more inspiration and information about living through perimenopause. P.S. We’re on Twitter too @MyBloodyHell. 

 

If you’d like information about the private My Bloody Hell membership community, which will officially be opening its doors on October 18, visit the My Bloody Hell website. The membership includes access to an inclusive community of women, monthly support group meetings, access to experts in the health and wellness space, and a bundle of resources, activities and inspiration to help you successfully navigate your menopause journey.

Finally, please take a moment to rate and/or review the show on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts so more people can learn about our show. 

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

What‘s the Difference Between Menopause and Perimenopause?

On episode number three of My Bloody Hell, class is in session. And the lesson is: Menopause 101. Specifically, I’m going to be explaining what is the difference between menopause and perimenopause. A lot of people, men and women, have never even heard the word perimenopause before, much less know what it means or where it fits in the menopause process. Sad but true, the word perimenopause isn’t even recognized as a word on some digital platforms. That’s disappointing, but that’s why I started this podcast; to bring awareness and knowledge around the menopause journey. 

It’s a short lesson, but an important one because women need to understand what’s going on in their bodies and why. And we need to know the right language to name our pain. During the show, not only will I be providing an explanation of what menopause and perimenopause are, and how they manifest in the body, but I’m also sharing a brief history of the actual word menopause and how and why it was introduced to the medical community in 1821. Warning, mention of “testicular juice” does come up in this part of the lesson. #gross

In addition to the primer on perimenopause, I’m also sharing a big announcement about The My Bloody Hell brand. Be sure to tune in so you don’t miss it.

 

More Menopause, More Links

If you want more information about perimenopause and menopause, start your search at The North American Menopause Society. 

To read the book that puts menopause in a positive light, historically speaking, check out The Slow Moon Climbs: The Science, History and Meaning of Menopause by Susan Mattern. 

To hear more about the Grandmother Hypothesis, and how post-menopausal women were critical in keeping human civilization alive, listen to this fascinating story on NPR. 

Don’t forget to check out the delicious snacks and subscription boxes from our wonderful sponsor, Yumday. Use the code MBHPOD15 at checkout for 15% off any order.  And don’t forget, supporting Yumday means supporting women and BIPOC-led brands!

Next week, our guest will be award-winning author, Dana Spiotta. She’s going to be joining me on My Bloody Hell to talk about her brilliant new novel about a woman facing menopause, Wayward. Maybe you want to read it before next week! 

Don’t forget you can comment about anything from this episode by visiting My Bloody Hell on Instagram or Facebook. And be sure to follow our social accounts for more inspiration and information about living through perimenopause. P.S. We’re on Twitter too @MyBloodyHell. 

 

If you’d like information about the private My Bloody Hell membership community, which will be opening its doors in October, drop your email address at this link.

 

Finally, please take a moment to rate and/or review the show on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

 

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor any other type of medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

Cervical Cancer, Perimenopause and Cannabis: Karen‘s Story

On episode number two of the podcast, my guest is Karen Campbell. Karen is a Black woman, a mother of a teen daughter, an educator and a yoga enthusiast who was abruptly thrust into perimenopause as a result of her treatment plan for cervical cancer. On the show, Karen shares her emotional story of dealing with a cluster of perimenopause symptoms all at once, while simultaneously going through chemotherapy and radiation.

While Karen’s journey is unique, I’m sure there is somebody out there who will be able to relate to this story. Wherever you are in your perimenopause journey; in the middle, towards the end, or maybe you haven’t even started it yet, I hope Karen’s brave and inspiring testimony helps someone who needs it.

Some of the things Karen talks about in this episode include:

• Perimenopause and anxiety
• Cannabis as an effective treatment for perimenopause symptoms
• Cervical cancer and Black women’s health
• Roller Skating as a form of self-care

If you want to follow Karen on social media, you can find her on Instagram where she most often posts about yoga, dogs, and rollerskating.

If you want to experience snacking for good, where most of the delicious and good for you snacks come from women led and/or BIPOC led businesses, visit our sponsor, Yumday at Yumday.co. And if you use the code MBHPOD15 at checkout, you’ll receive 15% off your first order! Go get snacking!

Don’t forget you can comment about anything from this episode by visiting My Bloody Hell on Instagram or Facebook. And be sure to follow us there for more inspiration and information about living through perimenopause with grace.

And if you’d like information about the private My Bloody Hell membership community, which will be opening its doors in October, drop your email address at this link.

 

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor is she a medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

Lori‘s Story: Menopause or Multiple Sclerosis

Welcome to the very first episode of the My Bloody Hell podcast, the podcast where we share stories from diverse women, about perimenopause. On this short introductory episode, host Lori L. Tharps introduces herself, her reasons for starting a perimenopause podcast, and then she shares her own personal perimenopause story. Lori’s journey will probably resonate with many listeners as she has experienced the classic symptoms of perimenopause including erratic periods, hot flashes, rage episodes and thinning hair. But when she started experiencing numbness in her arms and hands, that’s when her perimenopause story went from a classic tale to a nail-biting, page-turner. 

Tune in to see how it all turned out. 

Thank you to our sponsor, Yumday.co. Check out Yumday's delicious and healthy snacks created by women and POC founders. 

Follow My Bloody Hell on Instagram @My_BloodyHell

And on Twitter @MyBloodyHell

If you would like to be a guest on the My Bloody Hell podcast, send an email to MyBloodyHell50@gmail.com with the words, Share My Story in the subject line. 

Disclaimer: Lori L. Tharps is not a doctor, nor is she a medical professional, therefore do not use anything you hear on this podcast as a substitute for verifiable medical advice and information. Always check with your doctor or health care provider if you have any medical questions or concerns regarding menopause or any other health-related issue.

The Trailer

This podcast is about perimenopause and what it means to go through it as a woman.  Perimenopause refers to the agonizing average 4-7 years marked with hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, erratic periods, etc, before one actually hits menopause.

As a journalist, a community builder and a woman in the midst of her own bloody hell, I decided to create this podcast so we could talk about perimenopause, get some clarity around the experience and stop feeling so alone. 

This podcast was inspired by women looking for a sense of community, and for all of the women suffering in silence who need to tell their stories and have their experiences validated. 

I hope you'll listen to the trailer and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform. We'll be launching in mid-September!