I generate more in the grey literature area including resources, podcasts and talks, for example corporate input and conferences such as at the Whitehall & Industry group. My frank and open approach and the detail I provide is welcomed and all fees support my ongoing work in this area. I have also authored on this topic for Nursing faculty at the OU and more generally. I am very active currently in relation to this area inside and outside the Open University. A recent focus is on calming the nervous system to enable the hormones we have to work most effectively, and other wellbeing lifestyle elements.
Having been a senior manager and also catalysed two major workplace grassroots menopause movements, nowadays I offer shorter and longer courses in many aspects of the menopause. These include general overview, mental health, exercise, reflecting on your own experience at work, changing workplace culture on menopause, setting up your own workplace programmes, and many more. I am also available to guest lecture, for the normal fees.
2026 finds me collaborating with Theresa Parker in a month long residency in the TURF NPO supported Project Space hosting a collaborative exploration and collaboration on creative responses to menopause. This is situated in an exhibition of Parker's doctoral research Materialising Menopause on textile & clothing responses to menopause. This is taking place during the full month of October, near to East Croydon station which has excellent fast links across London terminals and beyond via the Thames link and crossrails.
In 2024-2025 I developed a Menopause theatre piece with Croydonites Theatre, mentored by dramaturg Hannah Maxwell, as part of their emerging artists programme CroydonBites. Presented initially during Oct 2024 and in a further developed longer form at The Front Room theatre space in July & October 2025 read more - CroydonBuilds . This paid opportunity was kindly supported by Arts Council funding.
A few publications & resources below, and many more slides etc are available:
I co-edited an intersectional poetry anthology with Arachne Press Editor Cherry Potts Menopause - The Anthology – including diverse voices, LGBTQ, neurodivergent people, women of colour and more - you can read more here: Menopause: The Anthology. Signed copies available.
Ageing and Menopause - A section for the SAGE Encyclopaedia of Menstruation and Society (2025). Emphasis on Diversity and Intersectionality.
This has a music and voice focus: Pestano, C. (2021). A Time of Change . In K. S. Hendricks & J. Boyce-Tillman (Eds.), Music and Spirituality Series: Vol. 7. Living Song: Singing, Spirituality, and Wellbeing. Oxford, England: Peter Lang.
This is about the double national award winning diversity and innovation project that I catalysed and led on menopause in a council workplace: Pestano, C. (2018) “An unmentionable change”. In Public Sector Focus. Issue 17 July/Aug 2018. Colourfield Publishing Limited, Bolton, England, UK https://flickread.com/edition/html/index.php?pdf=5b86bd48a793b#42
Me in action talking about menopause, and saying some things that others don't cover -
International Women's Day in March and World Menopause awareness day in October are calendar dates when it can be interesting to schedule a guest speaker, as well as all year round as the issues don't go away!
I can be contacted at Catherine.pestano [at] open.ac.uk
The menopause journey
This menopause transition time is an area where I enjoy a focus as a visiting Honorary Fellow to the RSSH research group at the OU. Reproduction, Sexualities and Sexual Health Research Group | Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies
I generate more in the grey literature area including resources, podcasts and talks, for example corporate input and conferences such as at the Whitehall & Industry group. My frank and open approach and the detail I provide is welcomed and all fees support my ongoing work in this area. I have also authored on this topic for Nursing faculty at the OU and more generally. I am very active currently in relation to this area inside and outside the Open University. A recent focus is on calming the nervous system to enable the hormones we have to work most effectively, and other wellbeing lifestyle elements.
Having been a senior manager and also catalysed two major workplace grassroots menopause movements, nowadays I offer shorter and longer courses in many aspects of the menopause. These include general overview, mental health, exercise, reflecting on your own experience at work, changing workplace culture on menopause, setting up your own workplace programmes, and many more. I am also available to guest lecture, for the normal fees.
2026 finds me collaborating with Theresa Parker in a month long residency in the TURF NPO supported Project Space hosting a collaborative exploration and collaboration on creative responses to menopause. This is situated in an exhibition of Parker's doctoral research Materialising Menopause on textile & clothing responses to menopause. This is taking place during the full month of October, near to East Croydon station which has excellent fast links across London terminals and beyond via the Thames link and crossrails.
In 2024-2025 I developed a Menopause theatre piece with Croydonites Theatre, mentored by dramaturg Hannah Maxwell, as part of their emerging artists programme CroydonBites. Presented initially during Oct 2024 and in a further developed longer form at The Front Room theatre space in July & October 2025 read more - CroydonBuilds . This paid opportunity was kindly supported by Arts Council funding.
A few publications & resources below, and many more slides etc are available:
I co-edited an intersectional poetry anthology with Arachne Press Editor Cherry Potts Menopause - The Anthology – including diverse voices, LGBTQ, neurodivergent people, women of colour and more - you can read more here: Menopause: The Anthology. Signed copies available.
Ageing and Menopause - A section for the SAGE Encyclopaedia of Menstruation and Society (2025). Emphasis on Diversity and Intersectionality.
This has a music and voice focus:
Pestano, C. (2021). A Time of Change . In K. S. Hendricks & J. Boyce-Tillman (Eds.), Music and Spirituality Series: Vol. 7. Living Song: Singing, Spirituality, and Wellbeing. Oxford, England: Peter Lang.
This is about the double national award winning diversity and innovation project that I catalysed and led on menopause in a council workplace:
Pestano, C. (2018) “An unmentionable change”. In Public Sector Focus. Issue 17 July/Aug 2018. Colourfield Publishing Limited, Bolton, England, UK
https://flickread.com/edition/html/index.php?pdf=5b86bd48a793b#42
Me in action talking about menopause, and saying some things that others don't cover -
Library Lunch Web interview - this is very like the workplace talks that I offer: a short webcast interview on this topic https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=1146088889096061&ref=watch_permalink
Giving Back Women's talks - a different take on the menopause transition. Managing the menopause transition. - YouTube 18 mins
International Women's Day in March and World Menopause awareness day in October are calendar dates when it can be interesting to schedule a guest speaker, as well as all year round as the issues don't go away!
I can be contacted at Catherine.pestano [at] open.ac.uk