What if you stopped comparing yourself to everyone else and simply allowed yourself to be? In this episode, Roberta explores a clip featuring Stephen Fry and Robin Williams, where Fry makes a striking observation: animals don’t try to be other animals — but humans try to be someone else every single day.

During perimenopause and postmenopause, when identity shifts are already happening — physically, emotionally, and socially — comparison becomes even more damaging. Hormonal changes lower resilience, increase cortisol, and intensify symptoms such as anxiety, overwhelm, fatigue, hot flushes, and disrupted sleep. Trying to be your younger self, or trying to match the filtered lives you see online, only ramps up stress.

In this episode, Roberta breaks down why comparison is so corrosive at this stage of life, how it feeds perfectionism and low self-esteem, and why this matters biologically — not just psychologically. More importantly, she explains how to step out of the comparison trap using her EESE Framework™, a practical process for exploring, evaluating, shifting, and embedding new subconscious patterns.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why comparison is heightened during perimenopause
• How cortisol, stress, and hormonal changes worsen symptoms
• Why perfectionism and “keeping up” make midlife feel harder
• How social media distorts reality and fuels low self-worth
• The danger of comparing your “outtakes” to someone else’s “showreel”
• How to shift unhelpful patterns using the EESE Framework™
• Practical tools such as journaling, reframing, visualisation, and affirmations
• Why becoming “more yourself” — not more like others — is key to wellbeing in midlife

This conversation is ideal for women who feel lost, pressured, or not “good enough” as their identity evolves in menopause. It offers both insight and practical, evidence-informed strategies to help you reconnect with who you truly are.

Support Mentioned in This Episode

If you’re ready to change long-standing patterns and let go of comparison:

• Subconscious & Mindset Mini Course — learn the EESE Framework™ step by step https://www.thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk/sc-minicourse
• CONTROL Sessions — 1:1 subconscious work to shift unhelpful patterns
• Menopause MOT — personalised support for your symptoms, mindset, and overall wellbeing

www.thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

Free Masterclass: Is Perimenopause Causing Your Symptoms? → Click here to watch

Supporting women’s health transitions with physiotherapy, menopause mentoring, Pilates and subconscious mindset tools.

Follow, subscribe and share the Making Sense of Menopause podcast to help more women access the support they deserve.

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? In this episode, Roberta explores why laughter isn’t just something that “feels nice” — it has measurable effects on your stress hormones, nervous system, and emotional wellbeing. And during perimenopause, when life often feels heavier and your resilience drops, laughter becomes even more powerful.

Drawing on real moments from her Pilates classes (including giggle fits, seal noises, and the one client who can’t stop laughing during relaxation), Roberta explains how humour plays a vital role in helping women reconnect, release tension, and feel lighter — even when symptoms like low mood, fatigue, anxiety, or overwhelm are at play.

You’ll also hear how hormonal changes during perimenopause affect cortisol, inflammation, sleep, brain fog, and emotional regulation — and why laughter literally counteracts many of these changes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How laughter lowers cortisol and reduces the stress response
• Why perimenopause makes everything feel heavier — and how laughter cuts through it
• The link between humour, connection, oxytocin, and emotional safety
• How shared laughter improves mood, cognition, and tension in the body
• Practical ways to bring more fun and silliness back into midlife
• Why adults laugh far less than children, and why that needs to change
• Real examples from Pilates classes that show how movement + humour support mental wellbeing

This episode is perfect for anyone who feels overstretched, disconnected, or stuck in a cycle of stress and seriousness. A few moments of laughter won’t fix everything — but it gives your nervous system a break, tips a little water out of your stress bucket, and helps you feel more like yourself again.

Support Mentioned in This Episode

If your stress feels constant or you’re struggling to lift your mood:

• Local Pilates classes for movement, connection, and a good giggle
• Menopause MOT for personalised support
• CONTROL sessions for subconscious patterns that feed stress and overwhelm

www.thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

Free Masterclass: Is Perimenopause Causing Your Symptoms? → Click here to watch

Supporting women’s health transitions with physiotherapy, menopause mentoring, Pilates and subconscious mindset tools.

Follow, subscribe and share the Making Sense of Menopause podcast to help more women access the support they deserve.

In this episode, Roberta explores how the small, unnecessary pressures we carry every day—matching socks, tidy houses, perfect routines—quietly overload our stress bucket, especially during perimenopause when hormonal changes reduce resilience.

Through a personal story involving her now-famous odd socks, Roberta illustrates how letting go of perfectionism and unnecessary decisions can create vital space for energy, health, joy, and the things that truly matter.

You’ll learn:

• Why your “stress bucket” overflows more easily during perimenopause
• How invisible loads—like comparisons, guilt, and micro-decisions—erode resilience
• Practical ways to remove unnecessary stressors from your day
• Simple changes that make room for movement, rest, and the things that support your health
• Why reducing small stresses makes it easier to manage symptoms and feel more yourself again

If your stress bucket feels permanently full, there is another way.

Support Mentioned in This Episode:

• Menopause MOT – personalised assessment and support
• CONTROL Sessions – to address subconscious patterns contributing to overwhelm

www.thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

Free Masterclass: Is Perimenopause Causing Your Symptoms? → Click here to watch

Supporting women’s health transitions with physiotherapy, menopause mentoring, Pilates and subconscious mindset tools.

Follow, subscribe and share the Making Sense of Menopause podcast to help more women access the support they deserve.

Most of us would never ignore a flashing light on the dashboard — yet many women ignore the early signs of perimenopause for months or even years. In this episode, Women’s Health Physiotherapist and Menopause Mentor Roberta Bass uses a simple but powerful analogy: if your body were a car, would it pass its MOT?

Roberta explains why women often push through symptoms, how hormone changes can affect everything from sleep to mood to joint health, and why taking action early can make the transition far easier. She also talks through five simple “self-checks” to help you understand what your body needs right now, and what can happen if you leave symptoms until everything feels like it’s falling apart.

If you’ve been feeling tired, achy, overwhelmed, or “not quite yourself,” this episode will help you recognise the early warning signs and understand why your body may need a different kind of care during perimenopause.

www.thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

Free Masterclass: Is Perimenopause Causing Your Symptoms? → Click here to watch

Supporting women’s health transitions with physiotherapy, menopause mentoring, Pilates and subconscious mindset tools.

Follow, subscribe and share the Making Sense of Menopause podcast to help more women access the support they deserve.

Perimenopause can place enormous pressure on relationships, even those that have always felt strong. In this episode, Women’s Health Physiotherapist and Menopause Mentor Roberta Bass explores how fluctuating hormones influence mood, patience, libido, confidence, communication, and emotional regulation — and why so many midlife couples find this stage unexpectedly challenging.

Roberta explains how hormonal shifts can change the way women react to everyday situations, why irritability can seem to appear from nowhere, and how sleep disturbance, anxiety, and fatigue can amplify tension at home. She also discusses how partners may misinterpret symptoms, why intimacy can change during perimenopause, and how to recognise when your reactions are hormonal rather than relationship-based.

This episode offers reassurance, clarity, and practical strategies to help couples stay connected through a turbulent phase. Whether you're feeling more sensitive, disconnected, or overwhelmed — or whether your partner doesn’t fully understand what you’re going through — this conversation will help you make sense of it.

Find support:

www.thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

Free Masterclass: Is Perimenopause Causing Your Symptoms? → Click here to watch

Supporting women’s health transitions with physiotherapy, menopause mentoring, Pilates and subconscious mindset tools.

Follow, subscribe and share the Making Sense of Menopause podcast to help more women access the support they deserve.

Most women reach perimenopause without ever having been taught what menopause actually is, what symptoms to expect, or how to recognise the early signs. In this episode, Women’s Health Physiotherapist and Menopause Mentor Roberta Bass explores why menopause education has been missing for so long — in schools, in healthcare training, and in society — and how this gap leaves many women feeling unprepared and worried when symptoms begin.

Roberta reflects on her own experience through school, university, and professional training, where menopause was barely mentioned despite affecting every woman. She explains how this lack of education contributes to confusion, anxiety, and delayed support, and why understanding the changes happening in your body can make the transition far easier to manage.

You’ll also hear why previous generations may have experienced menopause differently, how modern stress and lifestyle can intensify symptoms, and why open conversations with younger women are essential so they don’t face the same silence.

If you’ve ever thought “Why did no one tell me this?”, this episode will help you understand the bigger picture — and what you can do next to feel more informed and supported.

Find support:

www.thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

Free Masterclass: Is Perimenopause Causing Your Symptoms? → Click here to watch

Supporting women’s health transitions with physiotherapy, menopause mentoring, Pilates and subconscious mindset tools.

Follow, subscribe and share the Making Sense of Menopause podcast to help more women access the support they deserve.

In this heartfelt and empowering episode of Making Sense of Menopause, women’s health physiotherapist and wellness mentor Roberta Bass reflects on the importance of mindset and community in creating lasting change.

Roberta shares honestly about her own journey — from leaving the NHS and starting her clinic to rebuilding her confidence and finding support through community. She explains why mindset underpins every part of the SENSSE® Method and how surrounding yourself with supportive people can transform how you feel, think, and grow.

You’ll hear real-life reflections on overcoming fear, building confidence, and the value of not doing everything alone — whether that’s in business, health, or life in general.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why mindset is the foundation of all meaningful change
• How community connection boosts motivation and confidence
• Why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness
• How Roberta’s own mindset shift transformed her wellbeing and business
• How the SENSSE® Method ties mindset to overall women’s health

Resources & Links:

• Learn more at Thrive and Shine Women’s Wellness
• Follow Roberta on Instagram: @thriveandshinewomenswellness
• Discover the SENSSE® Method for whole-person health and empowerment

Episode takeaway:
You don’t have to do it all alone. Support, connection, and the right mindset can move you further than willpower ever could.

www.thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

Free Masterclass: Is Perimenopause Causing Your Symptoms? → Click here to watch

Supporting women’s health transitions with physiotherapy, menopause mentoring, Pilates and subconscious mindset tools.

Follow, subscribe and share the Making Sense of Menopause podcast to help more women access the support they deserve.

In this honest and inspiring episode of Making Sense of Menopause, women’s health physiotherapist and wellness mentor Roberta Bass shares her personal experience of living with chronic fatigue and hypermobility — and how committing to gentle, consistent morning movement transformed her energy, pain, and mindset.

Roberta reveals what finally made the difference after years of discomfort, frustration, and trial and error, and how simple movement — not perfection — became the key to managing her health.
You’ll learn how exercise supports not just physical strength but also mental wellbeing, better sleep, and emotional balance.

Whether you’re dealing with fatigue, joint pain, or simply struggling to find motivation, this episode will encourage you to start small, stay consistent, and rediscover what your body can do.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why gentle, consistent exercise can reduce fatigue and pain
• How to find a routine that fits your energy levels and lifestyle
• The surprising benefits of Pilates for chronic fatigue and joint health
• Why perfection isn’t the goal — consistency is
• Simple ways to bring movement into your mornings

Resources & Links:

• Learn more at Thrive and Shine Women’s Wellness
• Follow Roberta on Instagram: @thriveandshinewomenswellness
• Discover the SENSSE® Method for whole-person wellbeing

Episode takeaway:
You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel better — start with one small movement. A few consistent minutes each morning can improve pain, boost energy, and change how you feel throughout the day.

www.thriveandshinewomenswellness.co.uk

Free Masterclass: Is Perimenopause Causing Your Symptoms? → Click here to watch

Supporting women’s health transitions with physiotherapy, menopause mentoring, Pilates and subconscious mindset tools.

Follow, subscribe and share the Making Sense of Menopause podcast to help more women access the support they deserve.