Why do women over 40 disappear from our screens? This week, Dr Naomi Potter is joined by actress, writer, and producer Sally Lindsay to unpack why midlife women — and their real experiences with menopause, motherhood, and ageing — are still invisible in TV and film.

You might know Sally best from her role as Michelle in The Royle Family, or Shelley Unwin in Coronation Street, or even Piella Bakewell in Wallace and Gromit! But most recently, she's been starring, writing and producing the Madame Blanc Mysteries, in which Sally plays antique dealer Jean White. Sally talks about how important this job is to her – how she's putting midlife women in the limelight – and how women can bring far more to the table both on camera and behind the scenes compared to men.

This is an empowering, funny, and honest conversation reminding us that women in midlife deserve to be seen — and heard.

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Sally Lindsay below:

Sally's Instagram: @sallylindsay73

Watch The Madame Blanc mysteries on Channel 5: https://www.channel5.com/show/the-madame-blanc-mysteries/season-3/d5639acf-4ec1-4a52-b4a8-6fdf7ed378cf

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF...

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com

00:00 – Welcome & introduction

02:02 – Why TV still prefers men in key roles

03:01 – The struggle to get female-led dramas made

04:34 – Where are all the female writers in TV?

05:42 – Motherhood, childcare & losing women in the industry

07:05 – Midlife women and missing roles on screen

08:33 – Why Sally writes roles for women over 50

10:05 – The reality of casting women in midlife

11:04 – Bringing menopause and hot flushes to TV

12:32 – The power (and freedom) of menopause

14:09 – Sally’s personal perimenopause journey

16:02 – Brain fog, anxiety & the fear of losing yourself

18:03 – The life-changing impact of HRT

20:02 – Managing anxiety during menopause

22:04 – The battle women face getting HRT

24:03 – Sally’s experience starting HRT

26:03 – Travelling with HRT & the stress of access

28:04 – If men went through this, it would be everywhere

30:05 – Why has progress on menopause care stalled?

32:02 – Support (or lack of) from friends who didn’t struggle

33:04 – Listener question: Balancing career & family life

36:02 – Listener question: Anxiety, brain fog & confidence at work

39:01 – Final thoughts & where to find support

#sallylindsay #madameblanc #naomipotter

If you could ask menopause specialist Dr Naomi Potter anything, what would it be?

Is It Hot In Here podcast has hit 100,000 downloads! Thank you all for being part of our community. As a way of giving back, Naomi is sitting down today to answer as many questions sent in from all of you about menopause, perimenopause, HRT, midlife, and so much more.

From “What does the future of HRT look like?” to “How did you first gain interest in menopause?”, Naomi shares all. She also chats about future dream guests and more updates about the podcast itself.

What milestone do you think we should aim to reach next? 200K? 500K? Let us know in the comments below!

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

00:00 – Intro

0:15 – Why did Dr Naomi Potter start this podcast?

0:42 – How did Dr Naomi Potter end up specialising in menopause?

2:15 – Who would Naomi like to have as a guest on the podcast?

3:16 – Will menopause ever get the level of support it deserves?

4:42 – What's Naomi's secret to balancing podcasting, being a Doctor, and a mum?

5:12 – Is brain fog curable?

6:05 – What does the future of HRT look like?

6:33 – How to get testosterone in the UK?

7:40 – How do we know if oestrogen is working?

8:51 – Can HRT help my skin?

9:27 – What alternatives can I use for HRT if I have had breast cancer?

11:27 – Can you use HRT with epilepsy?

12:20 – Is it OK to cut my HRT oestrogen patch in half?

13:06 – Am I too old for HRT?

14:35 – How do you know if you need more progesterone with a mirena coil?

15:27 – How to stop waking up in the night?

16:58 – Who can you trust online about menopause?

18:00 – Outro

#menopause #hrt #naomipotter

Can you be a boss AND handle menopause?

What’s the secret to balancing a busy worklife, family life AND menopause?

This week on Is It Hot In Here? Dr. Naomi Potter is joined by Executive Director of The National Theatre, Kate Varah.

This woman is no stranger to managing intense workloads, parenting teens, spending evenings at countless lobbying events and networking exercises, navigating marriage life… all while trying to find your feet in menopause.

Kate’s story is a refreshing look at how any of us can thrive when our calendars are full and our hormones are in flux. Naomi even jokes that Kate might be part robot – but as the layers peel back, we get a deeply honest insight into how she really does it.

Together, they explore how workplaces are beginning to talk more about menopause, the reality of being a high-achieving woman in a C-Suite role, and how to manage symptoms while still showing up in high-pressure environments.

Stay up to date with Is It Hot In Here? podcast on Instagram: @hotinherepodcast_drnaomipotter

Find out more about The National Theatre: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/home/

Follow Dr. Naomi Potter below:

Naomi’s Instagram: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s TikTok: @dr_naomipotter

Naomi’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18evLF7Fep/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For more information and support about menopause, you can go to: https://www.menopausecare.co.uk/

Submit a question for Naomi to read at: naomipotterpodcast@gmail.com

#menopause #DrNaomiPotter #perimenopause