Dear Listeners,
Welcome to the My Legacy Podcast & Syndicated Radio Show, where we explore timeless lessons, meaningful connections, and the power of creating a living legacy. Hosted by Arndrea Waters King and Martin Luther King III, alongside Marc Kielburger and Craig Kielburger, our show brings you transformative conversations that inspire impact, fulfillment, and healing.
This week, we welcome Tamsen Fadal- Emmy-winning journalist, podcast host, bestselling author, and now, a revolutionary voice in women's midlife health. Tamsen is on a mission to change the conversation around menopause, empowering women to rewrite the narrative of aging with boldness, clarity, and connection. She is joined by her husband and co-advocate Ira Bernstein, the co-founder of Debmar-Mercury, offering a rare and heartfelt perspective from the partner's seat.
Together, they share their midlife love story, the challenges and revelations of navigating menopause, and the power of curiosity, communication, and community in building a legacy that lifts others.
Episode Summary
In this vibrant and vulnerable conversation, Tamsen Fadal invites us into her personal journey-from losing her mother at 20, to a decades-long career in journalism, to receiving a menopause diagnosis on a flight at 49 that would change everything. With humor, grace, and candor, Tamsen shares how silence around women's health, especially menopause, led her to create a global movement of education, empowerment, and support.
Alongside Ira, they reflect on love, aging, and how couples can move through life’s transitions together. Tamsen also discusses launching her podcast and documentary, her powerful interview with Halle Berry, and how her advocacy is creating a sisterhood across generations.
This episode isn’t just about menopause- it’s about agency, audacity, and embracing the bold new chapters of life.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Deep Dive: Science, Silence & Social Change
Tamsen's mission challenges the decades-long silence surrounding menopause. In 2002, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study created fear around hormone therapy, leading many doctors to avoid menopausal treatment altogether. Despite updates and clarifications, myths persist. Source
Research now confirms that menopause education among physicians remains shockingly low. A 2017 Mayo Clinic study found that only 6.8% of medical residents felt adequately prepared to manage menopause. Tamsen’s interviews with experts like Dr. Sharon Malone underscore this crisis—and the critical need for women to advocate for informed care. Source
Neurologically, estrogen affects cognitive clarity. Brain fog, mood changes, and sleep disruption during perimenopause are tied to the loss of estrogen receptors in the brain. Yet these symptoms are often dismissed.
On the relational side, polyvagal theory explains how changes in our nervous system impact our ability to co-regulate with others. Menopause, then, is not just hormonal- it’s deeply emotional and relational. Ira’s role as a "man of the pause" offers a model for male partners learning to listen, support, and adapt.
Tamsen’s work has helped bring menopause from whispered sidelines to center stage- creating a global chorus of women (and their partners) standing tall in their truth.
Reflection & Discussion Questions
Journal Prompts
Group or Partner Reflections
Family Conversations
Additional Resources
Next Week: In the next episode, we continue our exploration of legacy, leadership, and impact. We’ll hear from another extraordinary guest who is reshaping the way we think about storytelling, social justice, and personal transformation.
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Thank you for being part of this movement. Let’s keep building our legacies- together.
