Podcast Summary: Totally Booked with Zibby | Episode: Samantha Bee, HOW TO SURVIVE MENOPAUSE

Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Samantha Bee
Release Date: May 14, 2025

1. Introduction to Samantha Bee and Her Work

Zibby Owens welcomes Samantha Bee, a renowned comedian, author, and podcast host, to discuss her latest Audible original, How to Survive Menopause. Samantha Bee is widely recognized for her work on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and her engagement in conversations surrounding women's health and societal issues.

Notable Quote:

• Zibby Owens (03:17): "I'm so excited to talk to you about menopause and everything else."

2. Samantha Bee’s Personal Journey with Menopause

Samantha opens up about her personal experiences with perimenopause, detailing the challenges she faced around 2017-2018. She describes the tumultuous period as "white knuckle gripping" her life, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining composure while dealing with significant hormonal changes.

Notable Quotes:

• Samantha Bee (05:02): "I had this incredible writing staff, and they were writing hilarious jokes for me. And a lot of the jokes, I simply couldn't say. They made me cry."
• Samantha Bee (05:46): "I'm actually getting it on the other side."

3. Addressing the Social Stigma of Menopause

The conversation delves into the societal reluctance to discuss menopause openly. Samantha emphasizes the need for rebranding terms like "vaginal dryness" to make discussions more comfortable and less stigmatized.

Notable Quotes:

• Samantha Bee (10:50): "We have to make it nicer for us. You’ve got to make it nicer for us."
• Samantha Bee (11:05): "A rebrand would be nice if we want people to really accept and start talking about it."

4. Creating Community and Open Conversations

Samantha stresses the importance of building a community where women can freely discuss the realities of aging and menopause without embarrassment. She advocates for open dialogue to normalize these conversations, similar to how men's health issues are openly discussed.

Notable Quotes:

• Samantha Bee (09:11): "Your whole show is just a way to make all of us feel a little bit better about aging... and the things that we have to wake up and deal with each day."
• Samantha Bee (12:01): "We are going to make it nicer for everybody else. That's our job."

5. Impact on Family and Relationships

Samantha shares anecdotes about how menopause discussions have permeated her family life, including interactions with her teenage son who is aware of the condition. This highlights the generational shift in openness towards discussing women's health issues.

Notable Quotes:

• Samantha Bee (13:41): "My 16-year-old son has begged me openly to stop saying the word menopause in our household."
• Samantha Bee (14:15): "I have a lot of men in the audience for when I do these live shows."

6. Balancing Career and Personal Health

Transitioning from her personal experiences, Samantha discusses how her career in comedy and writing has been intertwined with her journey through menopause. She highlights the therapeutic aspect of sharing her story and using humor to cope with and communicate her experiences.

Notable Quotes:

• Samantha Bee (24:39): "There's an un... I would love writing about it, and I enjoy it thoroughly."
• Samantha Bee (25:25): "A lot of people want to talk to me about menopause. So many people."

7. Navigating Professional Life and Personal Boundaries

The discussion shifts to Samantha's approach to professional life, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing personal well-being over societal expectations. She shares strategies for saying no and focusing on what genuinely matters.

Notable Quotes:

• Samantha Bee (33:13): "What gives you that understanding that your time on earth is finite?"
• Samantha Bee (35:36): "You can leave. Nobody cares."

8. Samantha Bee’s Career Path and Inspirations

Samantha recounts her unexpected journey into comedy and television, emphasizing the role of perseverance, seizing opportunities, and the influence of her supportive partner. Her story underscores the value of continuous growth and embracing unplanned paths.

Notable Quotes:

• Samantha Bee (26:58): "This was never an aspiration. Never."
• Samantha Bee (33:24): "Ordering priorities very naturally because you do start to understand that your resources are finite."

9. Conclusion: Empowering Women Through Shared Experiences

Zibby and Samantha conclude by reaffirming the importance of collective support and open dialogue in navigating menopause. Samantha expresses her passion for creating content that not only entertains but also empowers women to embrace and discuss their experiences.

Notable Quotes:

• Samantha Bee (24:34): "I'm primarily doing it for myself."
• Samantha Bee (36:14): "Thank you for listening to Totally Booked with Zibby."

Key Takeaways:

• Breaking the Silence: The episode highlights the necessity of openly discussing menopause to reduce stigma and foster community support.

• Rebranding Health Terms: There's a push to rename medical terms related to menopause to make conversations more comfortable.

• Personal and Professional Balance: Samantha emphasizes the significance of setting personal boundaries and prioritizing well-being in professional life.

• Intergenerational Dialogues: The discussion touches on how menopause awareness is becoming more prevalent across different generations, affecting family dynamics.

• Empowerment Through Sharing: Sharing personal experiences with menopause can be a powerful tool for empowerment and community building.

Final Thoughts:

This episode of Totally Booked with Zibby serves as an insightful and heartfelt exploration of menopause through the lens of Samantha Bee's personal journey and professional expertise. It underscores the importance of open dialogue, community support, and the need to reframe societal perceptions around women's health issues.

Follow Zibby Owens:

• Website: zibbymedia.com
• Instagram: @zibbyowens

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