E.142 Periods, Contraception and Cycle Tracking with Empower Periods

Explicit content warning

02/25/25 • 45 min

In My Kitchen This Week I’m joined by Victoria, the founder and creator of Empower Periods—a platform and community where girls can connect and talk openly about all things periods. Think of Empower Periods as your online big sister, always ready to share honest, helpful advice about your time of the month.

Victoria’s own journey includes a decade of struggling with chronic period pain, only to be offered contraception as a quick fix—a common recommendation that often masks the problem rather than solving it. But here’s the truth: chronic period pain isn’t normal.

In this episode, we break down what should feel normal, what shouldn’t, and share practical tips to help ease period pain. We also dive into the power of cycle tracking—highlighting the best apps to use and how understanding your cycle can transform everything from your workouts to your relationships and overall well-being.

It’s a real, unfiltered girl talk about the topics we often think about but rarely discuss. Don’t miss it!

The topics include:

Your journey with your periods
1 in 4 women don’t understand periods - so shall we break it down into the different phases of the menstrual cycle and what that mean?
Contraception what did you do - did it make it better or worse?
I know doctors sometimes prescribe people with contraception in order to help the battle with period pain - this seems backwards - thoughts on this?
What symptoms are “normal” to feel on your period and what’s “not normal”?
What has helped you when your experiencing bad periods? Any tips that people listening could take away from this?
Tracking your period - has this helped? What app do you use and
How have you changed your lifestyle according to tracking your cycle?
When did you have the idea to start empower periods and what impact has it had on you and also the community
What are some of the best things that have come out from it?
Talking about it with your housemates - the socials..let’s talk about it because it’s great

Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Wylde

Use code KITCHEN15 to receive £15 off your order

To follow Empower Periods - click here

This episode was hosted and produced by Georgia Symonds

Georgia’s Instagram - click here!

For more information and other interesting articles check out our website: www.catchupsinmykitchen.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a real, unfiltered girl talk about the topics we often think about but rarely discuss. Don’t miss it!

The topics include:

Your journey with your periods
1 in 4 women don’t understand periods - so shall we break it down into the different phases of the menstrual cycle and what that mean?
Contraception what did you do - did it make it better or worse?
I know doctors sometimes prescribe people with contraception in order to help the battle with period pain - this seems backwards - thoughts on this?
What symptoms are “normal” to feel on your period and what’s “not normal”?
What has helped you when your experiencing bad periods? Any tips that people listening could take away from this?
Tracking your period - has this helped? What app do you use and
How have you changed your lifestyle according to tracking your cycle?
When did you have the idea to start empower periods and what impact has it had on you and also the community
What are some of the best things that have come out from it?
Talking about it with your housemates - the socials..let’s talk about it because it’s great

Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Wylde

Use code KITCHEN15 to receive £15 off your order

To follow Empower Periods - click here

This episode was hosted and produced by Georgia Symonds

Georgia’s Instagram - click here!

For more information and other interesting articles check out our website: www.catchupsinmykitchen.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

E.141 Cold Water Therapy and The Female Cycle with Laura Fullerton Founder of Monk

This week in my kitchen, I’m joined by Laura Fullerton, the founder of Monk, the first SMART ice bath and cold water therapy app. We dive into the fascinating world of cold water therapy, exploring the science-backed mental and physical benefits and why it’s becoming a must-have practice in so many wellness routines.

Cold water therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation, boost circulation, improve recovery, enhance mood, and even support resilience to stress—but did you know that for women, the key to unlocking these benefits lies in timing it with their cycle?

In this episode, we focus on how women can harness cold water therapy in alignment with their hormones, breaking the myth that ice baths are off-limits for women. In fact, when used strategically, cold exposure can enhance hormonal balance, metabolism, and energy levels, making it an incredibly powerful tool for female wellness.

Laura, a biohacking and data enthusiast, created Monk to bring a smarter, more immersive ice bath experience into the home—integrating seamlessly with wearables so you can track and optimize your cold exposure.

If you're curious about how ice baths can support your mind and body, and how to incorporate them safely and effectively into your routine, this is the episode for you!

The topics are:

The benefits of cold water therapy:

Mental Health Benefits
Immunity Benefits
Fat Loss and Metabolism Benefits (Brown fat and white fat)
Muscle Recovery
Neuroprotection

Can cold water therapy be too much for people? Is the shock too intense?

How often would you recommend someone to do a cold plunge?

Females and their cycles and how to use cold water therapy effectively

Pairing cold water therapy with heat therapy

Cold shower vs cold plunge?

MONK is taking cold water therapy to the next level through providing a SMART Ice bath

Can you share what makes Monk so different?

The best way to biohack cold water therapy - breathwork, meditation

Your relationship with cold water therapy and how it has impacted your life?

Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Wylde

Use code: KITCHEN15 to receive £15 off your first order

This episode was hosted and produced by Georgia Symonds

Georgia’s Instagram - click here!

For more information and other interesting articles check out our website: www.catchupsinmykitchen.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

E.143 Building Long Lane; A Wellness Hotel and Members Club with Loui Blake and Harrison Hide

This week in the kitchen, I'm joined by Loui Blake and Harrison Hide to discuss the creation of Long Lane, a groundbreaking wellness hotel and members’ club where wellbeing, longevity, and health take center stage. By blending the elegance of hospitality with the essence of wellness, they are crafting an experience that’s never been so in demand.

While Long Lane’s journey has been shared on social media, this is Loui and Harrison's first podcast together, where they open up about their path to creating this unique space.

Having grown up together in Norfolk, Loui and Harrison have followed different career paths—Loui has thrived in the hospitality industry, managing multiple restaurants, while Harrison transitioned from a football career to Wall Street, only to discover that true fulfillment comes not from wealth, but from feeling his best.

In this episode, we dive deep into the process of building Long Lane, the experiences so far, the offerings of the venue, and what makes it the first of its kind.

Topics discussed:

What is Long Lane

Harrison can you share your wellness journey?

Why do you think an alcohol free wellness hotel and members club is in demand?

What can we expect at Long Lane?

Food - what is the focus?

What wellness rituals will be on offer?

The wellness movement - what are you guys seeing that excites you that you want to bring to Long Lane?

The journey been to date in creating awareness for this?

How did you guys come together?

Inspiration for the concept?

The books Harrison and Loui were reading: