Is It Hot In Here? Midlife Podcast

What happens when you stop drinking in midlife – and everything starts to change?

In this episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by acclaimed crime author, former criminal barrister and The Traitors star Harriet Tyce. Harriet opens up about the turning points that led her to quit alcohol, why it became the “bedrock” for feeling better, and the mindset shifts that helped her rebuild confidence in her 50s.

They also dive into what The Traitors is really like behind the scenes – plus the simple, practical tools Harriet relies on when anxiety or rumination hits.

Follow Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotter

Follow Harriet Tyce on Instagram: @harriet_tyce
Order Harriet's new book Witch Trial: https://www.waterstones.com/book/witch-trial/harriet-tyce/9781035411917

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 Welcome Harriet Tyce + The Traitors intro
03:02 Middle-aged women on The Traitors (strategy + being heard)
06:01 Stepping into power in midlife
09:03 From English degree to choosing law
12:02 Criminal Bar realities + drinking culture
15:04 Motherhood, leaving the Bar, and finding writing
18:03 Blood Orange breakout success + why books struggle to cut through
21:05 Pressure after success + writing process + audience growth
24:01 Witch Trial plot, research, and the “dark imagination”
27:02 Alcohol history + last drink (6 June 2022)
30:01 How sobriety transformed health, routines, and self-worth
33:03 Therapy, resources, and why it’s hard without support
36:00 Social life shifts + what might’ve happened otherwise
39:02 Midlife challenges: access, misinformation, and information overload
42:04 Listener Qs: anxiety hacks + sober socialising tips
49:08 Wrap + final reflections

#thetraitors #traitorsuk #drnaomipotter

The internet is full of menopause advice. But how much of it can you actually trust?

In this solo episode, Dr Naomi Potter explores the growing world of menopause misinformation online – from social media 'experts' to AI-generated health advice and even deepfakes. She explains why menopause care is never one-size-fits-all, and why personalised medical advice still matters more than ever.

With more women turning to Instagram, Google and AI for answers, this episode gives you practical tools to help you question what you see online, spot red flags, and feel more confident navigating menopause information safely.

Menopause is complex, individual, and deeply personal. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice online, this episode will help you cut through the noise.

Follow Dr Naomi Potter:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

More info and menopause support at:
https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Why menopause advice online is rising
00:24 – Social media and menopause information boom
00:48 – Why menopause advice isn’t one-size-fits-all
01:08 – How to safely navigate menopause advice
01:36 – Why women use Instagram for menopause advice
02:04 – HRT vs lifestyle: dangers of extreme advice
02:56 – Why menopause clickbait works
03:23 – Why personalised menopause care matters
04:25 – Can AI give safe menopause advice?
04:51 – Why AI menopause answers can be wrong
05:25 – The risks of AI medical misinformation
05:56 – What menopause deepfakes actually are
06:26 – How menopause experts are faked online
06:56 – 3 ways to spot fake menopause advice
08:26 – How to check menopause specialist credentials
09:07 – Can anyone call themselves a menopause expert?
09:56 – Why quick online health answers feel reassuring
10:29 – Why doctors still matter in menopause care
10:54 – When AI gives unsafe HRT advice
11:20 – The safest way to get menopause advice

#menopause #drnaomipotter #fakenews

For years, these women were told they were depressed. Anxious. Burnt out. Even bipolar.

In this powerful compilation episode of Is It Hot In Here?, we share eight moments from past celebrity guests where the penny finally dropped — the real cause of their symptoms wasn’t a psychiatric disorder, stress, or personal failure… it was perimenopause.

From fears of early-onset dementia and brain tumours, to antidepressants prescribed as a quick but ineffective fix, these stories expose how often women’s hormonal transitions are misunderstood, dismissed, or missed entirely.

If you’ve ever been told “it’s just anxiety”, “it’s probably stress”, or “this happens to everyone” — this episode is for you.

Follow Is It Hot In Here? on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotter

Follow Dr Naomi Potter:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Lorraine Candy: mistaking perimenopause for a brain tumour
00:54 – Lisa Snowdon: perimenopause being overlooked by depression
01:47 – Cally Beaton: perimenopause misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder
05:17 – Lavina Mehta: a fear of Alzheimer's overshadowing perimenopause diagnosis
06:08 – Kate Lawler: mistaking perimenopause for heart problems
07:01 – Naga Munchetty: Women's pain not being taken seriously
07:56 – Rosie Nixon: menopause symptoms being shrugged off as anxiety
09:58 – Bryony Gordon: perimenopause causing OCD to flare up

Watch Naomi's full conversation with:

Lorraine Candy: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oPlBmuiw0mI7yPEU3Ez6Z?si=io10fuoHT8y5zbZfWjOdLw
Lisa Snowdon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WJEhycgRWgk6QqZqdhcMm?si=4gvi2yhCQ5GdAovMPxKtWQ
Cally Beaton: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6l6DH9H9VyfR8Wz9kgvZR1?si=0evUO6oxSxqu86dKyWfkjw
Lavina Mehta: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UNeIYs6QhMFTjTqnSU1pk?si=cBLu6umbRFKYYljT8U7_6A
Kate Lawler: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1eSbAVhA0ymFYWkGWzV5QP?si=CDhKbqL3QCOmD_J0h8AmXg
Naga Munchetty: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1kSIqsjmTaxELkjGiv3Ojh?si=7HYXdgmnRLeI8jWn-CdkzQ
Rosie Nixon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zWwGun1xjFISmV2hI6FHY?si=SQObyoaYS-mIOR04U53fNA
Bryony Gordon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2HvWsF9n00VTSyRVDqutLQ?si=PRuD7GFXST26J_Ow3oeUKQ

#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter

Nobody warns you about half of the symptoms that come with menopause.

In this solo episode, Dr Naomi Potter talks through some of the more surprising, and often unspoken, symptoms women experience during perimenopause and menopause. The ones that don’t always make it onto the usual checklists, but regularly show up in clinic.

From itchy ears and tinnitus to heart palpitations, sudden bladder urgency and even unexpected changes in libido, Naomi explains why these symptoms happen, how hormones influence them, and when to seek reassurance or support.

Oestrgoen affects every organ system in the body, so it's not surprising that menopause can show up in various weird and wonderful ways. If you’ve ever felt confused, worried, or brushed off because a symptom didn’t seem 'menopausal enough', this episode is for you. You’re not imagining it – and you’re certainly not alone.

Follow Is It Hot In Here? on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotter

Follow Dr Naomi Potter:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Surprising menopause symptoms nobody warns you about
00:22 – Is tinnitus a sign of menopause? Ringing ears explained
01:24 – Are itchy ears linked to perimenopause and menopause?
02:50 – What is lightning fanny? Sharp vaginal pains in menopause
04:21 – Can menopause cause a sudden increase in libido?
05:26 – Burning mouth syndrome and menopause: what to know
07:13 – Body odour changes in menopause: why you smell different
08:25 – New allergies and sensitivities during menopause
10:54 – Heart palpitations in menopause: when to worry
12:12 – Sudden urinary urgency and menopause explained

#menopause #perimenopause #drnaomipotter

Is testosterone something every menopausal woman needs, or is it being overhyped?

In this highly requested episode, Dr Naomi Potter is joined once again by menopause specialist Dr Liz Andrew to answer your real-life questions about testosterone in menopause. No trends, no fear-mongering – just clear, evidence-based answers to the things women are genuinely worried (and confused) about.

From whether you actually need testosterone, to testing, side effects, and those persistent myths about aggression and excess hair growth, Naomi and Liz break it all down.

Follow Is It Hot In Here? on Instagram at @podcast_naomipotter

Follow Dr Liz Andrew:
Liz's Instagram: @drlizandrew

Follow Dr Naomi Potter:
Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter
Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

More info and menopause support at: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Testosterone for women: why there’s still so much confusion
02:32 – Testosterone side effects in women (hair, skin, aggression myths)
05:12 – Do women need testosterone blood tests before menopause?
07:34 – Can testosterone help urinary symptoms and vaginal health?
10:01 – What “low libido” really means in menopause
12:33 – Do all menopausal women need testosterone?
15:02 – When doctors add testosterone to HRT (and why timing matters)
17:36 – Testosterone in surgical menopause and early menopause
20:04 – Can testosterone make you angry or aggressive?
22:34 – Female testosterone products explained: Androfeme vs Testogel
25:03 – Safe prescribing, dosing errors and monitoring testosterone
27:31 – Final thoughts: personalised testosterone care for women

#testosterone #drnaomipotter #menopause