WW&C The Beginning – Lou’s Perspective

Oohhh where do I start from? When I think of where WW&C began, it was way before it actually began. Michelle and I were interwoven within each other’s lives from secondary school. I knew who she was, but we were never friends ‘per se’. As the years went by, we would see each other in the street for a quick ‘hello’ or have a chat whilst our kids were at karate. I worked with her sister – who always said Michelle and I should hang out (I am laughing so hard because I incorrectly wrote hag out, which feels very apt!). Michelle inspired me, I always thought she was ‘cool’ and when she told me she was doing a university degree, I realised that it was something I wanted to do too.

So, we went our separate ways again, our kids grew older, we both went on to do further education and with work and families, we didn’t bump into each other so much, apart from the odd dog walk in the park. But when we did, boy did we talk! It was on a windy day at the local park that Michelle uttered the words perimenopause to me as she described the difficulties she had been having. Perimenopause. What even was that? Could that be why I was struggling so much at that time? 

Another chance meeting at our local shop (we only live around the corner from each other), had us chatting for over an hour. It was at this point we decided that the universe had been colluding to get us together for a long time and we should give in to it. We arranged a dinner date with our husbands and that’s where our friendship really began.

It was only a couple of months afterwards, that Michelle asked me to co-host a podcast with her. She was now working on a PHD about menopausal representation on tv and because all we tended to talk about was how we were coping with this transition, it felt like a natural progression. I thought she was joking at first! Me…on a podcast? Not on your nelly! Imposter syndrome reared its ugly head, and I couldn’t see why anyone would want to listen to me talking. Michelle didn’t need me, she could do this on her own. I have to say, it did take me a while to come around to the idea.

Our friendship was blossoming and Michelle was fast becoming a very important person in my life. I’m sure our friends and family must’ve thought it was a bit weird to go from hardly knowing each other to be in each other’s pockets…but that was just how it was. I started to do things that I wouldn’t have done on my own like ziplining, driving to Wales, going on a radio show, talking to journalists and joining a singing group. Being with my mate gave me just that little bit more confidence.

So, we began the podcast. We had no money to start, so we researched the cheapest options available to us. It was never about being a polished podcast. The most important thing to us was having conversations with other women about their experiences and putting it out for others to listen to so they felt less alone. At first, we spoke to friends, family and friends of friends. The conversations were sporadic, so we didn’t upload episodes regularly. But this suited us. We were learning a lot at super speed (we still are!)

We moved to YouTube during our second year, with all of the worry that comes with showing our faces. It had felt almost anonymous just doing the audio podcast, but to be on video…that brought a whole other element to it. Would I have done it if I hadn’t been with Michelle? Definitely not. We bounce off each other. We often go to ask the same question. We prop each other up when one of us is feeling tired and we laugh! Boy, do we laugh! There is something very special about doing a project with your bestie. We both bring something different to the table, we are each other’s biggest cheerleader and we both love talking to other women and showcasing how fabulous they all are.

And the response has been fantastic. The community of women who support us warms our hearts. Having this thing that we created from nothing is really quite special and at the very heart of it, is women sharing stories. Something we have done for centuries.

Thank you for being a part of our story.

Lou xx