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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
3 days ago
3 days ago
"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.
Monday Mar 03, 2025
Monday Mar 03, 2025
In this episode released in the week of International Women's Day on 8th March, a perimenopausal woman has more hormones than she knows what to do with as they channel themselves into her libido in "Awakening the Fire".
Then a young woman senses the growing isolation from her peer group as she learns she’s entered an irreversible early menopause in "Not the Same Clock". Some listeners may find this monologue upsetting.
Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues features two dramatised monologues each week and the writer's inspiration behind each one.
"Awakening the Fire" is performed by Zoë Tapper (Cleo Morey, ITV's Grace) and "Not the Same Clock" is performed by Bhavnisha Parmar (Sonya Khan, Doctor Who).
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 Feb 24, 2025
Monday Feb 24, 2025
"Out, Damned Menopause" - Anxiety and insomnia force Lady Macbeth to wander the halls of the castle. But is she wracked with guilt or is it perimenopause?
"The Soy Secret" is no secret at all. For Yumi, it's a lifestyle, not a menopause miracle cure-all.
Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues features two dramatised monologues each week and the writer's inspiration behind each one.
"Out, Damned Menopause" is performed by Philippa Jevons and "The Soy Secret" is performed by Rebecca Yeo.
The Menopause Monologues are written by Helena Jevons, with contributions from Philippa Jevons to "Out, Damned Menopause". For more about the books, events and the podcast, visit hotflashes.info
Music from Artlist.
Hot Flashes is produced by Helen Quigley and is a Soundliness production.
Monday Feb 17, 2025
Monday Feb 17, 2025
"Mirror Mirror" is a realisation that fairy tale evil stepmothers might not be evil - perhaps they're just too hot, irritated and lacking sleep?
"Memory Lane is Closed for Repairs" charts a day in the life of brain fog and a head full of so many things, that they fall out indiscriminately.
Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues features two dramatised monologues each week and the writer's inspiration behind each one.
"Mirror, Mirror" is performed by Louisa Gummer and "Memory Lane is Closed for Repairs" is performed by Gayanne Potter.
The Menopause Monologues are written by Helena Jevons. For more about the books, events and the podcast, visit hotflashes.info
Music from Artlist.
Hot Flashes is produced by Helen Quigley, and is a Soundliness production.
Monday Feb 10, 2025
Monday Feb 10, 2025
Some welcome menopause, learn from it and accept it - It's an act of "Rediscovering Joy".
"Seven Equal Dabs" is a tirade about the difficulties in getting hold of testosterone on prescription for use during menopause isn’t just difficult – it’s a battle.
Hot Flashes: Menopause Monologues features two dramatised monologues each week and the writer's inspiration behind each one.
"Seven Equal Dabs" is performed by Natalie Chisholm and "Rediscovering Joy" is performed by Nano Nagle.
The Menopause Monologues are written by Helena Jevons. For more about the books, events and the podcast, visit hotflashes.info
Music from Artlist.
Hot Flashes is produced by Helen Quigley and is a Soundliness production.