The emPOWER Breakfast
The emPOWER Breakfast
Podcast Description
The emPOWER Breakfast founded by host Athene Parker celebrates leaders in the Media, Advertising and Communication space. The live events and podcast are designed to discover and uncover the personal story behind the job title. A celebration of the incredible achievements of our wonderful speakers, despite the challenges they have overcome on their journey of life. A peek behind the curtain as an opportunity to increase empathy, support and understanding in the workplace, a mirror for subjects less explored in a working environment to create community. Ultimately the emPOWER Breakfast aim is to create a network of support, alongside authentic business connections, that will help our businesses to thrive.While The emPOWER Breakfast live event began as a women’s networking event, designed to emPOWER women in business, an emPOWER Men series launches in 2025. If you would like to attend the events or discuss bringing The emPOWER Breakfast to your industry please contact [email protected] and emPOWER Breakfast founder Athene Parker has worked both in front of and behind the camera, she is a voiceover @Vocalpoint and has worked as a freelance New Business in music and advertising for 25 years. Athene is an Autism advocate, being a parent to a pre-verbal autistic legend, and is founder of theSENmumma a volunteer mentoring network to support Mum’s at the beginning of their families diagnosis pathway.This podcast is sponsored, produced and recorded by sound studio, String and Tins Producer: Esi JonuziEngineer: Livy WicksMD: Rachel HoughBespoke Music Composition - Livy Wicks, String and Tins Track Name - The emPower Breakfast Theme Tune, String and Tins Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes such as personal resilience, diversity in the workplace, mental health challenges, and empowerment through networking. Episode highlights include discussions on navigating professional challenges as a single mother with Selma Nicholls, tackling mental health journeys with Jody Allison, and exploring racism and professional pivots with Nishma Patel Robb, enriching the narrative around less-explored workplace topics.
The emPOWER Breakfast founded by host Athene Parker celebrates leaders in the Media, Advertising and Communication space. The live events and podcast are designed to discover and uncover the personal story behind the job title. A celebration of the incredible achievements of our wonderful speakers, despite the challenges they have overcome on their journey of life. A peek behind the curtain as an opportunity to increase empathy, support and understanding in the workplace, a mirror for subjects less explored in a working environment to create community. Ultimately the emPOWER Breakfast aim is to create a network of support, alongside authentic business connections, that will help our businesses to thrive.
While The emPOWER Breakfast live event began as a women’s networking event, designed to emPOWER women in business, an emPOWER Men series launches in 2025. If you would like to attend the events or discuss bringing The emPOWER Breakfast to your industry please contact [email protected].
Host and emPOWER Breakfast founder Athene Parker has worked both in front of and behind the camera, she is a voiceover @Vocalpoint and has worked as a freelance New Business in music and advertising for 25 years. Athene is an Autism advocate, being a parent to a pre-verbal autistic legend, and is founder of theSENmumma a volunteer mentoring network to support Mum’s at the beginning of their families diagnosis pathway.
This podcast is sponsored, produced and recorded by sound studio, String and Tins
Producer: Esi Jonuzi
Engineer: Livy Wicks
MD: Rachel Hough
Bespoke Music Composition – Livy Wicks, String and Tins
Track Name – The emPower Breakfast Theme Tune, String and Tins
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Series 2 Episode 2 Summary:
Athene Parker talks to the indomitable Melissa Robertson, CEO, Director of Menopause Mandate and Director of the Women’s Sports Trust. In a refreshingly frank conversation about Melissa’s experience of peri menopause and how she managed debilitating symptoms while CEO at Dark Horses, where she also wrote an open source menopause policy later adapted by Menopause Mandate.
Melissa takes us through defining and challenging moments of her impressive career and we get a glimpse of the fearless, entrepreneurial schoolgirl Melissa once was. The chat is woven around a trip down a musical memory lane. Sit back, relax and enjoy!
Tracks:
- Oliver’s Army – Elvis Costello
- Days Like This – Van Morrison
- Sisyphus – Andrew Bird
- Rise – Gabrielle
- Give Me One Reason – Tracy Chapman
The emPOWER Breakfast – Melissa Robertson Spotify Playlist
Melissa is a Director of Menopause Mandate, a movement founded by Mariella Frostrup to push for policy change for women in peri menopause and menopause in both workplaces and GP surgeries. Here is Melissa’s open source Menopause Policy, written while CEO at Dark Horses.
Did anyone mention Menopause: It’s a Right Laugh!? A one off show with an all female line up of top comedy, introduced by MM chair Mariella Frostrup and compéred by the one and only Davina. Menopause Mandate are looking for a sponsor to cover artist costs so that we can get this CORKER on air. If that sponsor could be YOU then click here.
The emPOWER Breakfast created a giveaway PDF with tips, information and testimonials from members for Melissa’s talk which we wanted to share with you.
Lifestyle & Symptom Management:
Nutrition: Manage symptoms by eating phytoestrogen-rich foods (soy, flaxseed, legumes), a balanced diet with extra protein, and reducing sugar and refined carbs. Stay hydrated.
Exercise: Focus on weight-bearing and strength training, yoga, walking. High cardio can increase cortisol in peri menopause.
Sleep: Practise good sleep hygiene and mindfulness before bed.
Stress: Meditation, breathing exercises, journaling.
British Menopause Society: Guidance on symptom management and treatment options.
HRT options:
Progesterone – Tablets (can be used as pessaries if you react to progesterone)
Estrogen – Gel or patches
Testosterone – Access Androfemme via the Newson Clinic, or ask your GP for male testosterone in the UK.
Quick fact: During peak fertile years your ovaries make more testosterone than estrogen so don’t take no for an answer if you feel it could help.
Holistic methods: nutrition, meditation, breathwork and practitioner-led support.
For some, HRT is life changing when physical and emotional symptoms impact mental health. Every woman should have the right to choose what works for her. Connecting with communities, therapists or menopause specialists can provide practical tips and emotional support.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.