Rage Against The Vagine

• Why (the F*ck) Didn’t Anyone Tell Us? | Shame, Silence & Systems Against Us

  In this episode, we dive into the silence, shame, and broken systems that have left half the population unprepared for perimenopause.  We explore the historical and cultural reasons behind the lack of information, from medical paternalism and misogyny, to workplaces not designed for women.  The episode features honest conversations about why previous generations stayed quiet, the alarming lack of menopause training for GPs, and how this societal invisibility impacts women's careers, finances, and overall health.  We also shine a light on the unique challenges faced by disabled, rural, and Indigenous communities, and look at the fight to make things better. The Voices You’ll Hear   Dr Kerryn Drysdale | Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Kirstin Bouse | Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, Founder All About Her @the_midlife_psychologist @allabouthercentre Myf Warhurst |  Presenter, Broadcaster, Journalist, Writer, @myfwarhurst Wil Stracke | Assistant Secretary of Victorian Trades Hall Council, @wilstracke Dr Hannah Chapman | PMDD & Perimenopause expert @dr_hannah_chapman  A/Prof Nellie Torkamani | Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, Endocrinologist at Austin Health, @nilou_far123 Melissa Leong | Journalist, Presenter, Writer, @fooderati Lizzy Hoo | Comendian, @lizzyhoo  Ella Hooper | Singer/Songwriter, @ella_hooper Dr Neville Fields | Obstetrics & Gynaecology Clinician–Researcher Dr Stacy Sims | Researcher, Author and Scientist, @drstacysims Dr Fatima Kahn | Woman's Health Doctor & Hormone Expert, @drfatimakhan_  Dr Kelly Teagle | GP, Founder and Principal Clinician of WellFemme, @wellfemme Grace Molloy | Registered Nurse and Co-Founder of Menopause Friendly Australia, @gracecmolloy  @menopausefriendly_au Karni Liddell | Disability Advocate, Inclusive Employment Leader, Social Worker & Paralympian, @karniliddell Dr Nicole Higgins | Practice Principal (Health on Central, Mackay), GP and former President of  RACGP Professor Odette Best | Pro Vice-Chancellor (First Nations Strategy), University of Southern Queensland A/Prof Caroline Gurvich | Clinical Neuropsychologist, Associate Professor (Research), HER Centre Australia and Head of Cognition and Hormones Group, Monash University, @hercentreaustralia    Dr Yvonne McCartney | GP and Co-Founder Menopause Health Geelong, @menopause_health_geelong Rage Committee | ~1000 total legends in the thick of it Resources, References & Rabbit Holes  Myf Warhurst's ABC series | The Truth About Menopause Wil Stracke's online kit | It’s For Every Body Menopause Friendly Australia | Resources HCF Study | Women Feel Unprepared for Menopause  Reminder This isn’t medical advice. It’s information, validation, and the conversations we wish we’d heard sooner. Everyone’s experience of perimenopause is different, so take what’s useful, leave the rest, and always check in with your doctor or care team before making any changes. If at any point you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to turn, remember there’s support available: Lifeline | 13 11 14 | Text 0477 13 11 14 (24/7) | lifeline.org.au  13 YARN | 13 92 76 | 13yarn.org.au Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service available 24/7 Beyond Blue | 1300 224 636 | beyondblue.org.au/forums  QLife | 1800 184 527 | qlife.org.au | LGBTIQ+ service available 3pm – midnight NEXT: Ep 4 - Why (the F*ck) Don’t I Feel Like Me Anymore - drops Monday 8 September  Rage Against the Vagine is proudly brought to you by Wotif — it’s Aussie for travel. To help you take ‘me time’, Wotif is offering listeners a 10% discount off select hotels. Enter promo code Listen10 at checkout when you book at wotif.com or on the Wotif app. See wotif.com/listen for t&cs.

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• What (the F*ck) Is Perimenopause? | Hormones, head games & “so many” symptoms

  Think perimenopause is just hot flushes?  THINK. AGAIN. In this episode, Em and a powerhouse lineup of doctors and experts unpack what’s really going on in your body… because, get this, there are hormone receptors every-f*cking-where! We’re talking body-wide chemical chaos, brain rewiring, and the weird, blindsiding symptoms that make you second-guess your own sanity.  It’s science-meets-storytelling with clarity, validation, and the occasional swear word to get you through - plus the truth about why this hormonal storm is not “just aging.” The Voices You’ll Hear   A/Prof Nellie Torkamani | Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, Endocrinologist at Austin Health, @nilou_far123 Dr Kelly Teagle | GP, Founder and Principal Clinician of WellFemme, @wellfemme Dr Nicole Higgins | Practice Principal (Health on Central, Mackay), GP and former President of  RACGP Dr Alecia Macrow | GP, Founder Thrive Family Practice & Endo Untangled Podcast, @dr_alecia_macrow @thrive_family_practice @endo_untangled Dr Fatima Kahn | Woman's Health Doctor & Hormone Expert, @drfatimakhan_  A/Prof Caroline Gurvich | Clinical Neuropsychologist, Associate Professor (Research), HER Centre Australia and Head of Cognition and Hormones Group, Monash University, @hercentreaustralia    Dr Hannah Chapman | PMDD & Perimenopause expert @dr_hannah_chapman  Professor Odette Best | Pro Vice-Chancellor (First Nations Strategy), University of Southern Queensland Dr Kerryn Drysdale | Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Karni Liddell | Disability Advocate, Inclusive Employment Leader, Social Worker & Paralympian, @karniliddell Rage Committee | ~1000 total legends in the thick of it Resources, References & Rabbit Holes  Lifeline | 13 11 14 | Text 0477 13 11 14 (24/7) | lifeline.org.au  13 YARN | 13 92 76 | 13yarn.org.au Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service available 24/7 Suicide Call Back Service | 1300 659 467 | suicidecallbackservice.org.au  Beyond Blue | 1300 224 636 | beyondblue.org.au/forums  StandBy Support After Suicide | 1300 727 247 QLife | 1800 184 527 | qlife.org.au | LGBTIQ+ service available 3pm – midnight A/Prof Carolion Gurvich Article | How hormones and the menstrual cycle can affect women with ADHD: Five common questions Her Centre | Menopause Depression | Cognition and Hormones WellFemme | Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Webinar  | ADHD In the Menopausal Transition | Menopausal Treatments after Early Menopause or Cancer Endo Untangled | Podcast Jean Hailes | Medically Induced Menopause Reminder This episode of Rage Against the Vagine touches on themes of mental health and suicide. If it brings anything up for you, know you're not alone and support is always available. You can reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 any time. This isn’t medical advice. It’s information, validation, and the conversations we wish we’d heard sooner. Everyone’s experience of perimenopause is different, so take what’s useful, leave the rest, and check in with your doctor or care team before making any changes. NEXT: Ep 3 - Why (the F*ck) Didn’t Anyone Tell Us - drops Monday 1 September  Rage Against the Vagine is proudly brought to you by Wotif — it’s Aussie for travel. To help you take ‘me time’, Wotif is offering listeners a 10% discount off select hotels. Enter promo code Listen10 at checkout when you book at wotif.com or on the Wotif app. See wotif.com/listen for t&cs.

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• You Are Not (F*cking) Alone | Famous friends, unfiltered stories & the real talk you’ve been missing

  Welcome to the first full episode of Rage Against the Vagine. We originally planned to start with the symptoms and the science, but after connecting with our Rage Committee, we realised we had to start by breaking the silence. The most important thing you told us you needed: connection and to feel seen. This episode is dedicated to that, featuring Em's friends, Myf Warhurst, Ella Hooper, Melissa Leong and Lizzy Hoo, plus our brilliant experts and the amazing Rage Committee who set us on this path, to ensure you know that whilst no one's perimenopause journey is the same, you are most certainly 100% NOT  f*cking alone. The Voices You’ll Hear Dr Alecia Macrow | GP, Founder Thrive Family Practice & Endo Untangled Podcast, @dr_alecia_macrow @thrive_family_practice @endo_untangled Wil Stracke | Assistant Secretary of Victorian Trades Hall Council, @wilstracke A/Prof Caroline Gurvich | Clinical Neuropsychologist, Associate Professor (Research), HER Centre Australia and Head of Cognition and Hormones Group, Monash University, @hercentreaustralia Professor Odette Best | Pro Vice-Chancellor (First Nations Strategy), University of Southern Queensland Dr Hannah Chapman | Women's Health GP / PMDD & Perimenopause Expert, @dr_hannah_chapman Dr Yvonne McCartney | GP and Co-Founder Menopause Health Geelong, @menopause_health_geelong Lizzy Hoo | Comedian, @lizzyhoo Ella Hooper | Singer/Songwriter, @ella_hooper Melissa Leong | Journalist, Presenter, Writer, @fooderati Myf Warhurst | TV Presenter, Broadcaster, Journalist, Writer, @myfwarhurst Rage Committee | ~1000 total legends in the thick of it Resources, References & Rabbit Holes Myf Warhurst's ABC series - The Truth About Menopause Ella Hooper's solo track - "Oh My Goddess" Melissa Leong’s new book - Guts Reminder This is not medical advice. It’s validation, solidarity, and hopefully a shove towards finding the support you deserve. Everyone’s experience is different. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and talk to your doctor or care team about what’s right for you. NEXT: Ep 2 - What (the F*ck) is Perimenopause - drops Monday 25 August Rage Against the Vagine is proudly brought to you by Wotif — it’s Aussie for travel. To help you take ‘me time’, Wotif is offering listeners a 10% discount off select hotels. Enter promo code Listen10 at checkout when you book at wotif.com or on the Wotif app. See wotif.com/listen for t&cs.

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• Prologue | Your Rage Warm-Up & How to Get the Most from This Perimenopause Series

  Before we dive headfirst into the chaos of perimenopause, patriarchy and medical gaslighting, this prologue is your 101 guide to Rage Against the Vagine - the six-part podcast series from Em Rusciano that’s here to help you feel less alone and a lot more informed. Think of this episode as your pre-game warm-up: what the podcast’s about, why we made it, and how it might just give you the language, clarity and validation you’ve been missing. This isn’t medical advice,  but it is a fierce, funny, and honest look at what so many of us are going through. Episode 1, You Are Not (F*cking) Alone, drops on August 18 with new episodes every Monday through August and September. Rage Against the Vagine is proudly brought to you by Wotif — it’s Aussie for travel.

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• Trailer - Rage Against The Vagine

  Official trailer for Rage Against the Vagine. Em Rusciano, alongside top experts and her Rage Committee, unpacks perimenopause, patriarchy, and the medical gaslighting we’re done putting up with. Prologue drops Monday 11 August. Episode 1 follows the week after. Six episodes. One massive midlife wake-up call.

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