The Menopause Monologues: Bringing Menopause Into the Spotlight

Description

Menopause is universal. Silence around it has been cultural. In this episode, Dvora Citron (RN, MS, NBC-HWC) sits down with Lulu Braunstein, Carrie Vanhouten, and Lisa Anne Morrison — the creators of The Menopause Monologues, a live theatrical movement bringing menopause out of the darkness and into the spotlight, one real-life story at a time. We talk about perimenopause, menopause symptoms, midlife identity shifts, medical dismissal, humor, storytelling, and why live performance creates a kind of healing that information alone cannot. This isn’t just a show. It’s built on three pillars: Listening. Sharing. Serving. And yes, it includes a pink vagina puppet. In This Episode We Discuss: Perimenopause and menopause symptoms women aren’t prepared for Why menopause is still stigmatized in healthcare The emotional, physical, and identity shifts of midlife Medical gaslighting and the need for better menopause care Why theater creates community in ways podcasts and books cannot Humor as a tool for navigating rage, grief, and body changes Post-show Q&A sessions with menopause-trained clinicians Healthcare equality across race, income, and gender identity Redefining what “sexy” means after 50 At the end of the episode, each creator answers one final question. *A Note About the Closing Due to a technical glitch at the end of our recording, the final segment of our live conversation was lost. I reached back out to each of the creators, and they graciously recorded their responses to the question I ask every guest. What does sexy mean to you right now? You will hear their individual reflections at the close of this episode. I am grateful for their generosity, and I think their answers are worth the extra effort. About The Menopause Monologues The Menopause Monologues is a groundbreaking theatrical movement based on three pillars: Listening. Sharing. Serving. Their mission is to build community by sharing women’s menopause stories — stories our mothers and grandmothers couldn’t share — and to advocate for