The first and only Substack devoted to deeply researching and reporting on perimenopause, menopause and midlife.
I’m Ann Marie McQueen, a journalist with 25 years of experience, a lot of it covering science, health, wellness and the human condition. I’ve decided to make menopause my beat. This newsletter is perfect for anyone who wants to learn about and take responsibility for themselves in midlife, and it’s for the people who love them. It’s also a great resource for entrepreneurs, executives and practitioners of all kinds – anyone who works with people who are going through this transition, and this time of life.
You can keep scrolling for a bit more about me. But first, some praise for Hotflash inc:
“Ann Marie takes the time and effort to bring you all the latest and greatest news on all things menopause. Her newsletter is invaluable to our community.”
Stacy London, co-founder and CEO of State of Menopause, former co-host of What Not to Wear
“Of all the newsletters that I receive each month, Ann Marie's is the only one that I open EVERY SINGLE TIME. I open it with excitement and curiosity and feel more informed and inspired by the end of each issue. Ann Marie does the research, presents the evidence, links to important sites and does this all with wit and compassion. She is vulnerable in sharing her own struggles but also weaves in hope and a sense of calm.”
Kim Vopni, the Vagina Coach and author of Your Pelvic Floor
“Ann Marie is my go-to global authority on all things menopause from the latest research, the must-read literature, and public policy changes. She is truly a gift to our industry, and I'm so glad that she is using her journalistic talents to keep us informed and inspired.”
Sally Mueller, co-founder and CEO of Womaness
"Ann Marie has her finger on the pulse of everything perimenopause and menopause. I really hoped she'd start a Substack, and then she did, yay!"
Lara Briden, naturopathic doctor and author of the Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual
“I’ve been a loyal reader of your newsletter for over a year. I really appreciate the authentic voice you bring to the topic of menopause. It’s also been encouraging to see your platform evolve – congratulations on the growth.”
Jill Angelo, founder and CEO of Gennev
“Ann Marie's thought leadership and writing around perimenopause and menopause is as necessary as it is inspiring. I've been a Hotflash Inc reader and subscriber for years now, and am always impressed with the coverage and perspective."
Alicia Jackson, founder and CEO of Evernow
Hi again! Ann Marie here, a Canada-born, Middle East-residing, perimenopausing journalist.
I'm also the founder of Hotflash Inc, a platform to inform, entertain and encourage everyone connected to this transition, all around the world. By subscribing to this newsletter, you are joining CEOs, celebrities, doctors, researchers, practitioners and a range of people going through peri/menopause in 45+ countries.
When I realized that I was in perimenopause at 48, the prior years made more sense, and everything got easier. I also became obsessed, because I could not find any good content on this major thing that was happening to me, and since I’m obsessed with good content, this bothered me a lot. I also found a lot of darkness in this space, a lot of arguing and polarity, damaging narratives, fear-mongering and marketing-driven messaging. Most of the articles I read (and still read) are shallow, rehashed Google pieces; and a lot of content is biased or designed to sell you something. Good journalism on this is very hard to come by in this space.
And so in June 2020 I turned my obsession into a weekly newsletter.
In December 2021 it became a podcast. And now it’s a Substack.
My aim is to to give you the best information, in the most objective, balanced manner I can muster.
I'll give you access to some remarkable people, cutting-edge information and research, new ideas and viewpoints you may not be used to hearing and a global view that you won’t get anywhere else. Think of this space joining Team Reality. No one is going to tell you what to do. Questions and discussion are welcome. Above all, you are among friends. I want this Substack to be like all those menopause Facebook groups I stalked before I first launched, but minus the air of misery. (You don’t need to be Pollyanna! But we didn’t get this far by being victims or bystanders in our own lives)
There is no one way to go through this transition, because no menopause experience is the same.
I'll always trust that you can use your own open, inquiring mind, education, background, experience and perspective to decide what's right for you.
And I’ll never stop reminding you that while nothing about this peri/menopause-midlife thing is easy, it is temporary, and it is going somewhere good.
Stay up-to-date
You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox (unless you aren’t a paid subscriber: in that case you’ll get the free weekend edition in your inbox).
Join the crew
Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Across social media, the Hotflash inc podcast, and the newsletter, thousands of people are connecting over the very same thing. Subscribers can talk to each other, leave comments and ask questions that I will incorporate into future content.
