Chasing Life: How Samantha Bee Is Surviving Menopause

Hosted by CNN’s Meg Tyrrell, this episode of "Chasing Life" delves into the personal and public journey of comedian and writer Samantha Bee as she navigates the challenges of menopause. Through candid conversations, Samantha shares her struggles, insights, and the importance of destigmatizing menopause for women everywhere.

1. Introduction to Samantha Bee and Her Mission

Timestamp: [00:50]

Meg Tyrrell introduces Samantha Bee, highlighting her fearless approach to comedy and her transition from "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" to a new one-woman show focused on menopause. Samantha is portrayed as a trailblazer who is using her platform to shed light on a topic that affects half the world's population but remains largely taboo.

Samantha Bee: “At this point, you might be having a negative opinion. Which brings me to my next lesson. I don't give a shit about your personal opinion.” ([00:57])

2. Samantha’s Personal Experience with Menopause

Timestamp: [04:36]

Samantha opens up about her personal journey through menopause, outlining the physical and emotional symptoms she endured. She describes severe hair loss, emotional turmoil, sleeplessness, and physical pain, emphasizing how these changes disrupted her life both personally and professionally.

Samantha Bee: “It was a really long road, to be perfectly honest. When I first started to notice changes in my body, I was probably like 40, like late 40s, 46, 47-ish.” ([04:36])

3. The Stigma and Lack of Awareness

Timestamp: [06:21]

Samantha discusses the societal silence surrounding menopause, noting that less than a decade ago, it wasn’t even a topic of conversation. This lack of discourse led to confusion and shame, making it difficult for women to recognize and address their symptoms.

Samantha Bee: “Less than 10 years ago, nobody was talking about menopause. And I mean, like, zero people.” ([06:21])

4. The Turning Point: Seeking Medical Help

Timestamp: [08:20]

Facing debilitating symptoms, Samantha sought medical advice, leading to her diagnosis of perimenopause. She describes the relief and clarity that came from finally understanding what she was experiencing, even though it took two years to fully grasp her condition.

Samantha Bee: “Finally, I went to my doctor, my gynecologist, who I love, and I really confessed her.” ([08:20])

5. Creating a Community and Sharing Her Story

Timestamp: [14:48]

Samantha emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community to openly discuss menopause. By sharing her experiences humorously, she aims to normalize conversations around menopause and alleviate the shame that many women feel.

Samantha Bee: “You have to find a community of people that you can talk to, even if it's just one person.” ([14:48])

6. Overcoming Shame and Embracing Humor

Timestamp: [16:48]

The episode explores Samantha’s battle with shame related to menopause symptoms, such as hair loss and emotional instability. She highlights how humor became a vital tool in coping with these changes and making the topic less intimidating.

Samantha Bee: “It was a really a journey to get to a place where I could talk about it with total humor.” ([16:48])

7. Breaking Industry Barriers and Pushing Conversations Forward

Timestamp: [21:28]

Samantha describes the initial resistance she faced when proposing a show about menopause, with many wanting to avoid the topic. Undeterred, she continued to push for open discussions, contributing to a gradual shift in how menopause is perceived in media and society.

Samantha Bee: “People said, 'Can you just take the word menopause out of it?'” ([21:28])

8. The Role of Gen X Women in Destigmatizing Menopause

Timestamp: [22:49]

Samantha credits Gen X women for their role in breaking the silence around menopause. She believes that her generation's willingness to confront uncomfortable topics has paved the way for greater acceptance and understanding.

Samantha Bee: “We are just used to talking about it forever. Let’s talk about it and push out the contours.” ([22:49])

9. Hopes for Future Generations

Timestamp: [23:38]

As a mother, Samantha expresses her hopes that her daughters will navigate menopause without the shame she felt. She envisions a future where menopause is openly discussed and embraced, allowing women to understand and celebrate their bodies at every stage of life.

Samantha Bee: “I hope that they don't have any of the residual shame that I had.” ([23:38])

10. Conclusion and Resources

Timestamp: [25:38]

The episode concludes with a promotion of Samantha’s one-woman show, “How to Survive Menopause,” available on Audible. Meg hints at future episodes that will continue to demystify menopause with expert insights from Dr. Jen Gunter.

Meg Tyrrell: “If you want to hear more about Samantha's journey through menopause, her one woman show is now on Audible, it's called How to Survive Menopause.” ([25:38])

Key Takeaways

• Open Dialogue is Crucial: Samantha Bee’s experience underscores the importance of openly discussing menopause to reduce stigma and provide support.

• Humor as a Coping Mechanism: Using humor to address personal challenges can make difficult topics more approachable and less isolating.

• Community Support: Building a community where women can share their experiences is essential for mental and emotional well-being during menopause.

• Generational Shift: Current generations are pivotal in transforming the conversation around menopause, ensuring that future women face it with understanding and acceptance.

Notable Quotes

• Samantha Bee on Emotional Turmoil: “It was just an emotional roller coaster.” ([04:36])

• On Finding a Community: “Just saying the words out loud makes me feel less insane.” ([14:48])

• On Breaking the Silence: “We’re pushing out the contours. Let’s get very uncomfortable in conversations.” ([22:49])

Final Thoughts

This episode of "Chasing Life" serves as both a personal narrative and a call to action for society to embrace and understand menopause. Through Samantha Bee’s honest and humorous storytelling, listeners are encouraged to engage in conversations that lead to greater awareness and support for women experiencing menopause.

For those interested in Samantha’s journey, her show “How to Survive Menopause” on Audible offers an in-depth exploration of her experiences and coping strategies.