Naomi Watts
Appearances
Fresh Air
After A Friend's Suicide, A Writer Inherits His Grieving Dog
She's lovely, she's bright, I like to work by myself. She's very bright. I just said that, didn't I?
Fresh Air
After A Friend's Suicide, A Writer Inherits His Grieving Dog
Right, but she hardly knows you, she doesn't know your work, your relationships.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
Well, I think we're more experienced at everything and we know what we want and what we like and don't like. And I think at this age, you just are more, you know, leaning into that truth and more authentic and just able to say, you know, sorry, I've just got to get the lube. Or, you know, let's do it this way, you know.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
And I think there's something very sexy about a woman who knows what she wants. And we still have desire. We just need to get a little bit more organized.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
Thank you for joining us.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
Yeah, I was told at 36 when I was trying to start a family that I was going to be going into early menopause and that I was close to it and probably wouldn't be able to have children naturally. So it sent panic through me. I had heard from my mother long ago.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
I remembered that she had said I went into menopause at 45, but I didn't know she had a multitude of symptoms that carried on for years and years. So again, to Dr. Malone's point, hi, Sharon. There just was no conversations anywhere, no preparation with your doctor, no real details from your mother, and certainly friends weren't talking about it.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
Well, I had been having night sweats and ticking those medical questions, those boxes for night sweats for several years before the doctor told me that. So that meant I had disrupted sleep, which can lead to all kinds of things, anxiety, depression. I had, I certainly had brain fog and I had migraines.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
And then the worst one that was kind of intolerable was dry skin because I was on camera all the time and it wasn't just dry, but it was itchy and aggravated and red and sensitive all the time. And being under hot lights and makeup, everything aggravated it. And I didn't know that was connected to menopause at all.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
I went to multiple dermatologists who gave me ointments, which worked for a day or two, but then the same thing would just keep cycling. Was HRT hormone replacement therapy recommended to you? Yes, it was, and very early on, and mercifully, because my doctor understood it, and he gave me the full education.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
As I understand it, still to this day, doctors are gatekeeping that because of the bad studies in 2002. But my doctor was ahead of the curve, and I've been on HRT successfully and safely for over 10 years.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
I would say the first step is communication and then education, like owning your story and sharing it with those around you. We come with experience. The workplace needs us there, whatever industry we're talking about. So it's important to own your story and say what it is that you're going through so people know how to behave and help.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
I find most of the time people want to be, they're curious and they want to act with compassion. So for me, it certainly felt like a big risk to tell my story. But once I named it and owned it, I feel nothing but embrace actually from my industry, despite the fact that I was told I should conceal my secret.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
Yes, I think that is the real sign of intimacy, to be able to share your truth, no matter how vulnerable it makes you feel. And as I said before, even not just in the workplace, but your partner, your life partner. And obviously, I had to share this with Billy at a very, very early stage, much more earlier than I was prepared for. But I just was like, what am I going to do?
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
Like, am I going to hide? No. And it was met with compassion and curiosity. And, you know, he wanted to help. And that sort of opened up me in ways that led me to start a company, Stripes Beauty, which is creating hydration from scalp to vag. And then led me to having the confidence to write the book.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
And then the book I did, I wrote because it was the manual, the guide that I wished I'd had when I was flailing around trying to navigate bits of information from wherever I'd go.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
It's been amazing, Oprah. Honestly... I've been, you know, out on the streets and stopped by people who I think they're going to ask me for a selfie because they've seen me in King Kong or The Ring or something. And they, in fact, are coming at me with tears in their eyes and joy saying thank you for everything.
The Oprah Podcast
Oprah and Dr. Sharon Malone on Everything You Need to Know About Menopause
giving me the dialogue, the permission to speak with my partner, my family, and making it easier by sharing your story. And also, thanks for the badge of honor because now the walls of my vagina are not so... dry and sensitive.