Episode description:

S4, #1: Professor Joyce Harper, Your Joyful Years: let’s make looking after your good health and happiness sexy

Joyce is the host of this podcast, Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, and the author of several books, including Your Fertile Years and Your Joyful Years (out 1 May 2026).

Welcome to season four of Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? In this opening episode, Joyce reflects on what she has been working on throughout 2025 and shares her plans for 2026. Her new book, Your Joyful Years, brings together the wisdom of 50 women over 50, exploring the five pillars of health and what truly makes us happy. Joyce hopes the book will inspire women beyond midlife and is looking forward to taking it on tour. Joyce has loved producing the podcast in 2025, covering topics such as understanding reproductive anatomy, female icons, reclaiming joy, and living with chronic health conditions. In 2026, she is excited to explore social media health misinformation with Dr Lauren Colenso-Semple, followed by a series linked to Your Joyful Years, including conversations with some of the women featured in the book. She will also be tackling gynaecological and breast cancers in upcoming episodes. Alongside the podcast, Joyce continues her research into global reproductive health education, including co-leading the InTune project, which aims to provide inclusive, evidence-based menopause education and support across the UK.

Date of episode recording: 2026-01-06
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Producer: Joyce Harper
Music: David Krysko - with thanks for the new music for my podcast
Transcript link: www.joyceharper.com/podcasts

Our Favourite Drug Professor David Nutt is a psychiatrist and the Edmond J. Safra Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology in Imperial College London and Chief Research Officer of Awaknlifesciences. He is currently Founding Chair of the charity DrugScience.org.uk and has been president of the European Brain Council, the BAP, BNA, and ECNP. David has published 35 books and over 1000 research papers that define his many landmark contributions to psychopharmacology including GABA and noradrenaline receptor function in anxiety disorders, serotonin function in depression, endorphin and dopamine function in addiction and the neuroscience and clinical utility of psychedelics.

Some of his research has been made into films e.g. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8661404 on Netflix and https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000w7bq on the BBC and a play https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43887749-all-you-need-is-lsd . He broadcasts widely to the general public on pharmacology and psychiatric matters, has over 60k followers on twitter and has his own very popular podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-drug-science-podcast/id1474603382 . Some of his key books are: Drugs Without the Hot Air: Minimising the Harms of Legal and Illegal Drugs Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health Nutt Uncut Brain and Mind Made Simple Cannabis (Seeing through the Smoke): The New Science of Cannabis and Your Health Psychedelics: The Revolutionary Drugs That Could Change Your Life — A Guide from the Expert David Nutt’s landmark Lancet paper in 2010 compared 20 legal and illegal drugs across 16 types of harm and found that, overall, alcohol was the most harmful drug.

Large studies show that among people aged 15–49, alcohol is one of the leading risk factors for death and disability worldwide, and in England it is the biggest risk factor for ill health, disability and death in this age group. Yet drinking is still normalised in today’s society. There is some good news: young people are, on average, drinking less than previous generations. At the same time, older adults are now the most likely to exceed the UK low-risk guidelines. From this podcast we hope people can make more informed choices about why they drink alcohol – and feel encouraged to reduce their drinking to safer levels.

Credits:
Date of episode recording: 2025-11-26
Duration: 01.22.13
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Professor David Nutt
Producer: Joyce Harper
Podcast owner: Joyce Harper

Pauliina Damdimopoulou is a Professor of Reproductive Biology at the Department of Women's and Children's Health at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. With over 15 years of experience in endocrinology, reproductive biology and toxicology, Pauliina’s team are investigating the effects of chemicals on female fertility.

Her ambition is to generate evidence-based information on the risks of chemical exposures and pharmaceutical treatments to human ovaries and oocytes, and to thereby contribute to the development of a chemically safer society. She co-leads the Environmental Endocrinology Focus Area of the European Society of Endocrinology. Instagram: @damdimopoulou_lab https://ki.se/en/people/pauliina-damdimopoulou

Do you know how many untested or minimally tested chemicals there are in our environment, how they are tested, and how they can affect our health, fertility and the health of our children? Pauliina knows the answers to these questions. And it’s really worrying to hear her talk about this.

She said we should be upset, we should be angry, and we need to act. Plastics are a major issue, and they’re everywhere. But it doesn’t stop there — many of the products we use daily, including make-up, perfume, clothes wash, cleaning products and much more, contain chemicals like phthalates and parabens which can affect our hormones and health. These are all around us, yet we can take steps to reduce our exposure. I hope this podcast gives you the insight and confidence to cut down the chemicals in your life and support your long-term health.

Credits:
Date of episode recording: 2025-11-21
Duration: 01.08.01
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Professor Pauliina Damdimopoulou
Producer: Joyce Harper
Names of the podcast owner: Joyce Harper

Nerys is a human nutrition scientist with a strong interest in clinical trial methodology and evidence-based medicine. Nerys has worked at the University of Manchester and the New York Obesity Research Center at Columbia University in New York City. She is currently Associate Professor in diet and obesity in the Health Behaviours Team at the University of Oxford. Her main interests are how dietary manipulations impact weight management and the regulation of energy intake. She leads a programme exploring the effect of dietary interventions and weight management before, during and after pregnancy can influence health of mothers and their children.

Nerys explains why maintaining a healthy weight is so important. Obesity is a major global health concern, increasing the risk of many chronic diseases and reducing quality of life. Yet today, we are constantly bombarded by clever marketing of unhealthy, ultra-processed foods. Perhaps it’s time to focus on eating for quality rather than quantity. Nerys also explores how a healthy weight supports fertility, pregnancy, and the health of our children, as well as the challenges of weight gain as we age — for both men and women. We discuss the many approaches people take to lose weight — from diet plans and exercise to weight-loss medications — and emphasise the importance of finding a sustainable nutrition plan that truly works for you.

Date of episode recording: 2025-11-03
Duration: 00.58.44
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Dr Nerys Astbury
Producer: Joyce Harper
Podcast Owner: Joyce Harper

Partha is the National Specialty Advisor on Diabetes with NHS England and co-author of the national Diabetes GIRFT report. He has been a Consultant in Diabetes & Endocrinology at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust since 2008- and pioneer of the Super Six Diabetes Model which is recognised as one of the good examples of integrated care. He has helped to expand use of technology in Type 1 Diabetes- namely use of Flash Glucose and continuous glucose monitoring in pregnancy and online digital self-management platforms- while recently leading on real world data collection on Closed Loops for subsequent NICE review. He has many other projects including recently helping to create an overview of Diabetes care in Primary Care Networks, Co-creator of TAD (Talking About Diabetes) – TED talks from those with T1Diabetes and Co- creator of Type 1 Diabetes comic (Volume 1 to 3).

He received an OBE in the New Years Honours List in 2021 for “services to diabetes care” He is one of the leading users of social media in diabetes care- and writes a monthly blog for the BMJ, has a personal blog (“Sugar and Spice: Wish all things were nice”) and along with a podcast (“Sweet Talking”) Beyond diabetes, he also recently taken a role in tackling issues of racial disparity in the medical workforce as the Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard lead for NHS England.

He has also been named as one of the most influential BAME individuals in healthcare in 2020,2021 and 2022. Over four million people in the UK are living with diabetes, with Type 2 being the most common form. In this podcast, we’ll explore the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes — including their symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments — and discuss gestational diabetes. We’ll look at why diabetes is more common in certain populations and what can be done to reduce the risks. There have been major advances in diabetes care, from insulin pumps to continuous glucose monitors. Partha will also share insights into the vital role of lifestyle in managing Type 2 diabetes and how new treatments, including weight-loss injections, are transforming diabetic care.

Date of episode recording: 2025-10-20
Duration: 00.41.57
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Professor Partha Kar
Producer and Podcast Owner: Joyce Harper

Navigating the Wild West of Menopause Amanda Thebe is a Fitness and Women’s Health Expert. She is the author of the Amazon best-selling book, Menopocalypse: How I Learned to Thrive During Menopause and How You Can Too! With nearly 30 years of experience in the fitness industry, Amanda is a highly-regarded expert on women’s fitness and health. She is the co-founder and Chief Wellness and Branding Officer at Nyah Health, a complete healthcare solution for menopausal women in Canada. She is Canada’s first menopause workplace educator. She is a popular guest on podcasts, radio, TV and online summits, and she brings a refreshing humour and no-nonsense approach to subjects usually shrouded in shame. Her exercise workouts, health and fitness tips have been featured in Oprah, Shape, Prevention, Health Line, CBC Radio, Global News Canada, The Doctors and many more. https://amandathebe.com/ Instagram: @amanda.thebe

Are you ready for this? Amanda and Joyce leave no stone unturned. They begin with an honest, evidence-based discussion of hormone therapy, aligning with the guidance from menopause societies. Together, they explore why some influencers and even doctors go rogue, creating two very different camps. One promotes hormone therapy as a preventative medicine, which would suggest that all women should take it. The other, supported by the menopause societies, recognises its proven benefits: hormone therapy can be effective for hot flushes, night sweats, some vaginal and vulval issues, and possibly certain psychological symptoms—but it is not a preventative medicine. It has an important role, but it is not for everyone.

Amanda shares how she struggled with hormone therapy, and how her doctor astonishingly suggested a hysterectomy so she could take oestrogen-only therapy. Joyce and Amanda explain why that advice was, frankly, insane. They also stress that menopause is not a hormone deficiency disorder. The conversation moves on to the clever marketing aimed at women of a certain age. From supplements to face creams, shampoos to chocolate, Amanda and Joyce discuss how the placebo effect can be powerful—many women truly believe these products make them feel better.

This year’s theme for World Menopause Day is lifestyle medicine. Amanda highlights how vital lifestyle is for health but also points out the misleading claims women are bombarded with—from weighted vests to warnings that postmenopausal women should avoid cardio and only lift heavy weights. The message here is clear: let’s make lifestyle sexy by embracing nourishing food and regular exercise. In the wild west of menopause, women are often criticised for calling out misinformation. But this is not about women failing to support each other—it is about challenging medical inaccuracies. Their message is simple: beware of anyone trying to sell you something, whether it’s a prescription, a supplement, or even “menopause chocolate.” Trust the advice from the menopause societies. And, as Joyce jokes, hopefully they won’t get sued for saying so!

Date of episode recording: 2025-09-11
Duration: 01.22.57
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Amanda Thebe
Producer: Joyce Harper
Podcast owner: Joyce Harper

Professor Neil Gittoes is Consultant Endocrinologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham and Honorary Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Birmingham with honours in medicine and anatomical studies and has a PhD in molecular endocrinology. Neil is recognised nationally and internationally for his work in metabolic bone diseases including osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency and disorders of calcium homeostasis. He has co-authored recent international guidance on management of parathyroid diseases and UK guidance on osteoporosis. Neil was awarded the Goulstonian Lectureship at the Royal College of Physicians, London and has had many key roles, including being the current chair of the Royal Osteoporosis Society. https://theros.org.uk/

Did you know you can check your risk of osteoporosis with a quick online tool from the Royal Osteoporosis Society? Just pop onto their website and try the risk checker. If it shows you’re at high risk, it’s worth speaking to your doctor, who may suggest a bone density scan. The good thing is that osteoporosis is largely preventable. Neil talked us through how our bones change as we get older. Half of all women over 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis, and so will one in five men. Genetics play a big part—about 70 to 80% of our risk comes from our genes—so it’s important to know your family history. But lifestyle matters just as much. Doing regular weight-bearing exercise, cutting down on alcohol, not smoking, keeping vitamin D levels up, and eating enough protein and calcium can all help protect your bones. The tricky thing about osteoporosis is that it’s a silent disease—you don’t feel it happening. But the good news is that there are effective treatments. Some are one-off or short courses, and you don’t need to be on lifelong medication. We also touched on whether women should take HRT to prevent osteoporosis, and Neil had some interesting views. He also explained why getting a diagnosis of osteopenia isn’t something to panic about. Another key point Neil made is how important lifestyle is before the age of 25—that’s when we reach our peak bone mass. So if there’s one message for younger people, it’s that the choices you make in your teens and twenties, especially around exercise, can shape your bone health and your risk of chronic conditions later in life.

Date of episode recording: 2025-09-26
Duration: 01.04.57
Language of episode: English

Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Professor Neil Gittoes
Producer: Joyce Harper

Dr Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist and science communicator and runs The Neuroscience Academy – which provides online training in brain health and applied neuroscience for health.

Sarah was born in New Zealand. She obtained her MSc and PhD from Oxford University then moved to Australia, where she conducted five years of postdoctoral research on spinal cord injury. Sarah shares brain science with a clear, science-first voice ... no fluff, no headlines ... just solid research, translated into useful, real-world insights.

She has written three books: Baby Brain, The women’s brain book, and brain health for dummies. Her 2015 TEDx talk espoused the virtues of afternoon naps.

She lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where she writes, teaches, swims in the ocean year-round, and turns complex neuroscience into practical tools and accessible stories. https://drsarahmckay.com/ Instagram: @drsarahmckay

Most of us know someone living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. In this podcast, we separate fact from myth: what are the symptoms, can we reduce our risk, are women more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s, and much more. One of the most striking findings is that around 45% of dementia cases are considered preventable.

The choices we make around lifestyle—nutrition, exercise, limiting alcohol, staying mentally and socially engaged, and looking after our hearing and eyesight—can all play a role, according to major dementia and Alzheimer’s organisations. We also address some of the claims circulating on social media about menopause and dementia/Alzheimer’s —for example, the idea that hormone therapy can prevent dementia. Sarah sets the record straight: unfortunately, this isn’t true. She has faced criticism online for challenging this myth, but calling out misinformation is not about women undermining women; it’s about ensuring we share facts rather than perpetuate inaccuracies. That said, research does suggest that frequent hot flushes may be linked to an increased risk. There’s still much more to learn, but what we do know is already powerful. By understanding the evidence on dementia and Alzheimer’s today, we can start taking steps to lower our risk.

Date of episode recording: 2025-09-10
Duration: 01.20.12
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Dr Sarah McKay
Producer: Joyce Harper