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Welcome to Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues, where the shimmering heat of real-life truths meets the crackling sparks of creative fantasy. This is not your mother’s menopause manual, nor is it a collection of dreary statistics to send you scrambling for the nearest sage tea. Instead, it’s a brazen celebration of a universal experience that so often goes unspoken, unexplored, and underestimated. This podcast series features monologues collected from the book series ”The Menopause Monologues” written by Helena Jevons, dramatised and performed by actors all with lived experience of menopause. From stories inspired by real-life women to imagined experiences from history and fiction, it’s an emotional rollercoaster - not unlike menopause itself. Look out for bonus episodes, interviews and live events as HOT FLASHES warms up... A Soundliness Production 2025
Episodes
Friday Apr 25, 2025
Friday Apr 25, 2025
The Panel Discussion: Recorded live after the Hot Flashes Menopause Monologues performances, Em Anastasi of In The Flow, Louise Harman, artist and social impact advocate, Mo Kanjilal of Watch This Space and of course Helena Jevons, chat to panel host and Hot Flashes actor Natalie Chisholm about the origins of the monologues, the people impacted by menopause from minority communities and the need for further conversations and awareness - especially in workplaces.
What can and should be done to help improve the lives of those affected?
**Contains some strong language and frank discussion about menopause.**
The Menopause Monologues are written by Helena Jevons. For more about the books, events and the podcast, visit hotflashes.info
Music from Artlist.
With grateful thanks to Ironworks Studios and the team!
Hot Flashes is produced by Helen Quigley and is a Soundliness production.
Friday Apr 25, 2025
Friday Apr 25, 2025
For one night only, Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues took to the stage at Ironworks Studios in Brighton to perform a selection of the monologues live! Going behind the scenes on the day of the show, this episodes takes you right up to when the doors open; with interviews, clips and light-up-letter Wordle. Or at least the mischievous potential for it...
Keep listening, as Part Two is the post-show discussion panel where Natalie Chisholm, Helena Jevons and guests discuss the issues raised in the monologues and the wider impact of menopause in the workplce, home and extended communities.
*Contains some strong language and frank discussions about menopause.*
The Hot Flashers are: Natalie Chisholm, Lisa Fairfield, Ally Fox, Louisa Gummer, Philippa Jevons, Katy Maw, Miranda Morris, Rosie Nalley and Pollie Rafferty.
The Menopause Monologues are written by Helena Jevons. For more about the books (available now), events and the podcast, visit hotflashes.info
Music from Artlist.
Hot Flashes is produced by Helen Quigley and is a Soundliness production.
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Well, we know how these things start. A conversation began between two perimenopausal friends. One an Audio Producer, the other a Creative Branding Expert. What happened next was inevitable...
In this first episode of Hot Flashes, find out how and why writer Helena Jevons was compelled to write The Menopause Monologues. Talking to Producer Helen Quigley, Helena describes how her experiences and conversations with friends manifested themselves as a creative writing process.
Featuring monologue extracts from the series performed by Natalie Chisholm, Katy Maw, Nano Nagle and Gayanne Potter.
WARNING: Frank discussion about menopause, its symptoms and impact.
To find out more about the books, the podcast and upcoming events, visit the Hot Flashes website. Don't forget to like, follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
Hot Flashes is a Soundliness production. Music via Artlist.
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
"Quork-X7" - An alien visitor to Earth reports back to their senior management about a little green planet utterly baffled by the weird biological process called "menopause" which half of its human population endures.
Author Helena Jevons steps behind the mic to record "NuVag TM", a rebranding of the intimate reconstruction process required when giving birth later in life...
Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues features two dramatised monologues each week and the writer's inspiration behind each one.
"Quork-X7" is performed by Helen Goldwyn and "NuVag TM" is performed by Helena Jevons.
The Menopause Monologues are written by Helena Jevons. For more about the books (available now), events and the podcast, visit hotflashes.info
Music from Artlist.
Hot Flashes is produced by Helen Quigley and is a Soundliness production.
Monday Mar 31, 2025
Monday Mar 31, 2025
"The PTA Queen" - She's terrifyingly organised, she can be everywhere at once, she's always smiling! And then... something snaps and it's the cake stall that suffers.
Loosely based on the true story of midwife Ursula Kemp, "Witch!" speculates that hard-working older women of the 1500s – if they lived that long – may have also suffered the mood swings and physical changes of menopause. And angry, outspoken women were often branded with one, powerful word.
Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues features two dramatised monologues each week and the writer's inspiration behind each one.
"The PTA Queen" is performed by Laura Shavin and "Witch!" is performed by Kate Heavenor.
The Menopause Monologues are written by Helena Jevons. For more about the books (available now), events and the podcast, visit hotflashes.info
Music from Artlist.
Hot Flashes is produced by Helen Quigley and is a Soundliness production.
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Monday Mar 24, 2025
"Rosie the Riveter's Sister" - You might know of a certain pin-up wartime icon. But what if she had an older, perimenopausal sister?
Watch out, they're coming for your hormones! When a pandemic, high demand and a departure from the European Union all collide to create some infuriating shortages, in "Brexit Heist".
Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues features two dramatised monologues each week and the writer's inspiration behind each one.
"Rosie the Riveter's Sister" is performed by Tia Dunn and "Brexit Heist" is performed by Kay Eluvian.
Thanks to Em Anastasi from In The Flow, Mo Kanjilal from Watch This Sp ce and Kaye Shane from OneHR for their help and advice in the making of this episode.
The Menopause Monologues are written by Helena Jevons. For more about the books (available now), events and the podcast, visit hotflashes.info
Music from Artlist.
Hot Flashes is produced by Helen Quigley and is a Soundliness production.
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Monday Mar 17, 2025
"Free Dive" - Lena is a professional free diver, but age and perimenopause have impacted her fitness and ability to do the sport she loves. But one thing that will never change is her love of the ocean.
Woe betide anyone who encounters Bethan in her shop on a bad day... In "We've Got Biscuits" she relates the challenges of its running becoming much harder work than it used to be - and don't you dare move the custard creams.
Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues features two dramatised monologues each week and the writer's inspiration behind each one.
"Free Dive" is performed by Amy Rockson and "We've Got Biscuits" is performed by Julie-Ann Dean.
The Menopause Monologues are written by Helena Jevons. For more about the books (available now), events and the podcast, visit hotflashes.info
Music from Artlist.
Hot Flashes is produced by Helen Quigley and is a Soundliness production.
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Monday Mar 10, 2025
"From PMS to WTF" - Even though we know it's coming, perimenopause can still be a surprise.
The female reproductive system can deliver a lifetime of pain and trauma. In "The Silent Garden", menopause was expected to be a hoped-for welcome relief.*
*Some listeners may find this monologue upsetting.
March 2025 is Endometriosis awareness month. For more information regarding Endometriosis support, visit Endometriosis UK, The Endometriosis Foundation.
Inclusion of these organisations does not imply endorsement.
Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues features two dramatised monologues each week and the writer's inspiration behind each one.
"From PMS to WTF" is performed by Ally Fox and "The Silent Garden" is performed by Tanya Rich.
The Menopause Monologues are written by Helena Jevons. For more about the books (available now), events and the podcast, visit hotflashes.info
Music from Artlist.
Hot Flashes is produced by Helen Quigley and is a Soundliness production.