Hot Flushes & High Performance: Building Your Business Through Perimenopause with Shelly Horton

Big Dreams Great Teams® with Paula Maidens

In this powerful episode of Big Dreams Great Teams, Paula Maidens is joined by Shelly Horton – journalist, TV presenter, women’s health advocate, and founder of ShellShocked Media. Shelly brings her trademark humour, candour, and energy as they dive into an essential and often overlooked topic: navigating perimenopause whilst running a business and leading a team.

Shelly shares her deeply personal journey through perimenopause, including the hidden challenges she faced with brain fog, anxiety, and depression. Together, they discuss why education is critical, how workplaces can better support women, and practical strategies for managing the mental load, rebuilding confidence, and speaking with impact – even on difficult days.

The conversation also explores how Shelly’s advocacy work is transforming discussions about women's health in businesses across Australia, and how her upcoming book I’m Your Peri Godmother aims to be the guide she wished she had.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to normalise conversations around women’s health, support themselves and their team better, and show up as their most powerful self.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• How perimenopause affects the brain and business performance
• The warning signs many women miss and why education matters
• Practical strategies to manage brain fog without losing momentum
• How to manage negative self-talk (and the hilarious method Shelley recommends)
• Simple public speaking techniques to present with confidence at any stage of life
• How workplaces, big and small, can create more supportive environments
• Why taking a ‘Zero Day’ can recharge your mental health and productivity

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Shelly Horton and Perimenopause

01:38 Shelly's Personal Journey Through Perimenopause

08:31 The Importance of Awareness and Education

12:14 Understanding Brain Fog and Its Impact

18:39 Strategies for Managing Perimenopause in the Workplace

24:36 Speaking with Confidence: Techniques and Tips

31:20 Overcoming Negative Self-Talk and Performance Anxiety

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Pre-order Shelly’s Book: I'm Your Peri Godmother
• Join Shelly’s Workshop: Speak with Impact
• ShellShocked Media Website: https://shellshockedmedia.com
• Follow Shelley on Instagram: @shellyhorton1
• Australasian Menopause Society (Find a Doctor Tool): https://menopause.org.au

CONNECT WITH PAULA:

Website:https://paulamaidens.com/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/paulamaidensconsulting/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulamaidensbuildingawesometeams

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulamaidens/