The Meno Posse Descend into Sydney
Dr Louise Newson, Dr Mary Clare Haver, Dr Kelly Casperson, Dr Vonda Wright, Dr Ceri Cashell and more
Finding My Tribe: The Power of Connection
Something incredible happened this weekend in Sydney.
I walked into a room full of strangers and left knowing I had found my tribe. Women who, like me, have spent months or years wondering what the hell was happening to them—feeling like they were losing themselves—only to realise that what they were experiencing was real, valid, and shared.
The So Hot Right Now events weren’t just about education (though there was plenty of that). They were about social connection—finally seeing and being seen, sharing stories that too many of us have kept to ourselves. Because let’s be clear:
This is not in our heads.
We are not catastrophising.
This is not a ‘meno war’.
For many of us, the first sign of perimenopause isn’t hot flushes—it’s loss of resilience. Crippling exhaustion, creeping anxiety, a sudden disappearance of joy. Some of us are blindsided by midlife depression, whether we’ve never experienced it before or have a history of mental health challenges but suddenly feel like it’s on another level.
What’s become all too common—straight from the mouths of psychiatrists and other medical experts—is that too many women are prescribed antidepressants before their hormone health is even considered. For some, that might be all that was needed.
The Experts Leading the Way
This weekend brought together an incredible lineup of experts, many of whom travelled from overseas and locally on their own dime to be here. That alone speaks volumes about how urgent and important this conversation is.
We were privileged to hear from:
Dr Louise Newson (UK) – A menopause specialist and member of the UK Government’s Menopause Taskforce. Dubbed the “medic who kickstarted the menopause revolution,” she has helped a generation of women better understand and advocate for their health. Sidenote: She was my gateway to self-understanding, advocacy and treatment after disappointing medical advice, and I got a chance to tell her so. She also gives the best hugs
Dr Louise Newson, Robyn Law 
Dr Louise Newson, Robyn Law, Samantha Leith Let’s Be Frank Skincare Dr Mary Claire Haver (USA) – A board-certified OB/GYN, menopause specialist, and best-selling author helping women take control of their midlife health.
Dr Kelly Casperson (USA) – A urologist and host of You Are Not Broken, dedicated to debunking myths about intimacy, hormones, and midlife.
Dr Vonda Wright (USA) – An orthopedic surgeon and longevity expert focused on keeping women strong and thriving as they age.
We were also joined by leading Australian experts and advocates, including:
Prof. Jayashri Kulkarni – A psychiatrist researching the connection between menopause and mental health.
Dr Ceri Cashell – A GP focused on women’s hormones and co-founder of Healthy Hormones, a free online menopause education community.
Michelle Bridges – Best known for The Biggest Loser, she’s now advocating for women’s fitness and health through The Menopause Method.
Prof. Odette Best – A leading Indigenous nurse and academic working to improve health education and care for Indigenous women.
Shelly Horton – Journalist, TV presenter, and menopause advocate, who MC’d the event with her signature energy.
These experts didn’t just talk at us—they armed us with evidence-based insights, busted myths, and gave us the tools to choose our own healthcare journey.
More Than Just Menopause
I also loved that there was a touch on neurodivergence and how it’s finally being recognised as an important factor in women’s health. This intersection—hormones, mental health, and neurodivergence—is something that needs more attention, and I hope to see this conversation grow.
Puberty. Pregnancy. Perimenopause.
The three major hormonal transitions in a woman’s life—yet how many of us had any idea that perimenopause could start in our 30s?
That the first signs are often mental health symptoms rather than hot flushes?
How many of us have walked into a doctor’s office, only to leave feeling like a hypochondriac?
Even the doctors themselves admitted they initially hadn’t been given the training to support us properly. The fact that medical professionals had their own extra special training event the following day? A sign that change is coming.
And that’s why these events were so powerful—because it wasn’t just about the problem; it was about arming ourselves with as much information as possible and choosing our own healthcare journey.
And before anyone says we’re overreacting—let’s be clear: we’re not.
We’re uniting to problem-solve. As women do best.
This weekend was powerful, from the intimate, long lunch at Manly Pavilion on Friday to the game-changing conversations at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday.
And this is just the beginning. Over the coming weeks, I’ll unpack everything—what I learned, what moved me, and most importantly, what we can do next.
Lastly, a huge thank you to the team at So Hot Right Now. You worked tirelessly to make this event happen, and you are changing lives.
Because menopause is inevitable, but suffering is not.
Find your voice. Find your tribe. And if you can, bring a friend.
If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. If you’re searching for answers, keep pushing. If you feel unseen, know that we are finally stepping into the light.
We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.
What a prefect description for what I can only describe as a life changing weekend of events. Women have been seen. Finally!
Thank you for recognising what we put in (mainly blood sweat and tears 😂).
So Hot Right Now is by women, for women. Isn’t it powerful what we can achieve together ❤️