On the Mones is where pharmacist, menopause myth-buster, and accidental midlife icon Kate Thomas breaks down the chaos of hormones, perimenopause, aging, wellness woo, and the medical misinformation flooding your feed. Equal parts science and sass, Kate gives you evidence-based clarity with zero judgement and just the right amount of swearing. Featuring: 🔬 Prescribe or Pass Deep Dives — real evidence, made simple 🔥 Woo of the Week — the latest miracle cure getting roasted 😂 Honest stories from midlife, pharmacy, and motherhood 🤷♀️ Peri or Petty — the viral quick-fire segment with Kate’s kids 🔧 The Tradie Brother-in-Law — asking the bloke questions all men are dying to ask Smart, funny, heartfelt, and refreshingly human, On the Mones is the women’s health podcast you’ll actually look forward to each week. Facts you can trust. Conversations you’ll replay. Validation you didn’t know you needed.
What happens when On the Mones , Why Smart Women and The Skeptic Zone all end up around the same café table? You get Smart Moans Zone. Recorded at Calibrate Coffee, we’re joined by our very special guest Dr Angie from Atlanta, USA, for a conversation that somehow manages to cover cutting-edge medicine, pseudoscience, social etiquette and Australia’s noisiest birds. In this episode we chat about: The recent Four Corners investigation into peptides, including Dr Norman Swan’s reporting on the rapid rise of peptide clinics, the evidence, the hype and the challenges of regulation. Ear candling—why it continues to be popular despite the evidence (or lack of it). One of life’s great social dilemmas: you’ve just met a group of new people, you’ve been enthusiastically eating bruschetta, and only later discover an enormous basil leaf has been decorating your front tooth the entire time. Would you want someone to tell you? And if you’re the observer… do you say something? And, because we’re recording outdoors in Sydney, we also wage a losing battle against the soundtrack provided by some particularly enthusiastic sulphur-crested cockatoos. It’s science, scepticism, friendship, coffee and complete conversational chaos, in exactly the proportions you’d expect. Grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and join us.
Going Back, But Not Backwards
This week I am recording from my deck in the Sydney rain, wearing an Oodie, accompanied by the dog and a one-week-old baby goat called LeBron because apparently this is adulthood now. In this episode, I reflect on starting a new job in the same hospital, and the same physical department, where I worked for 15 years. It made me think about what it means to return to an old place without becoming the person you were when you left. I also talk about being new again, the irritation of competency hurdles, and learning to manage my own ego when a role involves more process than I might like. From there, I move into a careful educational discussion about the NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Act, what is publicly available in the legislation, and why voluntary assisted dying needs to be understood as a regulated process rather than a slogan. And because no conversation about voluntary assisted dying is complete without it, I also talk about palliative care: what it is, what it is not, and why it should never be framed as simply “giving up.” This episode is about work, parenting adult children, goats, legislation, palliative care, and the strange relief of realising that going back to an old place does not mean going backwards.
Looksmaxxing, Menopause and Taking a Hammer to Your Jaw
Recorded in the car with Annie, this episode begins with a very important question: why is Kate wearing a star-shaped pimple patch on her forehead? The answer leads us into testosterone treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder, hormonal changes through menopause, and the potential role of menopausal hormone therapy and testosterone replacement for appropriately selected women. Then we enter the strange world of looksmaxxing : soft maxxing, hard maxxing, Botox, injectables, plastic surgery, gym memberships, hair dye, expensive clothes and, at the more extreme end, people taking a hammer to their own jaw in pursuit of a sharper face. Women have been encouraged to modify their appearance forever, so is looksmaxxing genuinely something new, or is it old beauty pressure repackaged in internet language? And where is the line between looking after yourself, changing something you dislike, trying to prevent ageing and becoming convinced that your perfectly ordinary human face is a problem that needs to be solved? We also ask what people really mean when they talk about longevity . Is it living longer, living better, staying attractive for longer, or simply another wellness word that can be used to sell almost anything?
Heaven on a Stick: Misinformation, Uncertainty and Sausage Fingers
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Annie to talk about misinformation in science and healthcare and why the most confident explanation is not always the most accurate one. We unpack the difference between misinformation and disinformation, the idea of “inoculating” people against misleading claims, and why becoming more comfortable with uncertainty might actually make you happier. We also talk about what science really is: not a fixed collection of facts, but a process of testing claims, challenging hypotheses and continually correcting itself. Along the way, we venture into COVID vaccine conspiracies, the false claim that Professor Richard Scolyer’s brain cancer was caused by vaccination, the vague promise that a multivitamin can make an already healthy person somehow “weller,” and the surprisingly difficult question: what does optimum health even mean? There is also a discussion about reinventing yourself in a room where nobody knows you, and the revelation that Annie has digits like chipolatas.
Can You Market Medicine Without Losing Trust? Part 2
In Part 2 of my conversation with my dad, former marketing professor Graham Dowling, we turn to a deceptively difficult question: how do you market medicine? We talk about the decline of trust in medicine and mainstream media, why people often struggle to interpret numbers and risk, and how the same data can appear to tell very different stories depending on how it is analysed or presented. We also explore an uncomfortable tension inside community pharmacy: tightly regulated medicines are supplied from the dispensary, while wellness products with far weaker evidence are sold only metres away often borrowing credibility from the pharmacist and the pharmacy itself. Along the way, we discuss “costless opinions,” misleading polls and why the way a question is framed can shape the answer.
Can Medicine Compete with Big Wellness? Part 1
In part one of this conversation, I’m joined by Professor Graham Dowling; former professor of marketing at the Australian Graduate School of Management and Macquarie Graduate School of Management, branding expert, and my dad. We talk about what “big wellness” actually means, how health has expanded from something purely physical into something mental, emotional and social, and why wellness marketing has become so powerful. We also explore whether evidence-based medicine has a marketing problem, why science can struggle to compete with simple promises and emotional branding, and whether I may need to give my pharmacy degree back. And we end with the question that leads us into part two: How would you market medicine? Maryanne Demasi. “From FDA to MHRA: are drug regulators for hire?” The BMJ , 2022;377:o1538 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.o1538 Published: 29 June 2022 Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
Kate And Annie on Immunity. Can You Really Knock a cold on the head? And what is an appropriate amount of butter?
In this episode, pharmacist Kate Thomas is joined by Annie McCubbin from the Why Smart Women podcast to unpack the myths, marketing and medicine behind cold and flu season. Together, they explore what the evidence really says about popular cold and flu remedies, including vitamin C, zinc, echinacea, andrographis, pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine. They discuss: • Can you actually shorten a cold? • Do “immune boosters” work, and do we even want a boosted immune system? • The role of stress, sleep and lifestyle in immune function • Why symptom relief still has value, even when it doesn’t cure the virus • The TGA warning on andrographis-containing products • Which cold and flu tablets are worth your money and which aren’t • Why spreading your virus around the office, gym, or Sydney tram is not a public service Most importantly, Kate and Annie discuss one of the least popular but most useful pieces of health advice: Lower your expectations. A practical, evidence-based conversation for anyone who’s ever stood in the cold and flu aisle, wondering what actually works. Oh, and how much butter is appropriate on a piece of toast? Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
A Day in the Life of a Medical Oncologist
Most people think oncology is about chemotherapy. In reality, it’s also about uncertainty, teamwork, difficult conversations, and helping people navigate some of the hardest moments of their lives. In this episode, Kate talks to her husband David, a medical oncologist with more than 20 years of experience, about what the job actually looks like behind the scenes. They discuss multidisciplinary team meetings, treatment decisions, palliative care, the emotional weight of the work, and why cancer care is never the work of a single doctor. It’s an honest and deeply human conversation about modern medicine, good colleagues, and the privilege of caring for people when they need it most. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
Bread & Butter Sex Deserves Better PR! Part 2 with Georgina Whelan from Sexual Psychology
Part 2 of my conversation with sex therapist Georgina Whelan and we’re talking about the stuff people rarely say out loud about sex in long-term relationships. What is “bread and butter sex” and why does it probably deserve better PR? Why people need a transition phase between everyday life and intimacy? And why do we expect ourselves to go from work emails, school lunches, dishes, stress and Antiques Roadshow… straight into feeling spontaneously sexy? In this episode we talk about: - desire and arousal in long-term relationships - why sex often changes every 5–10 years - how to introduce toys and novelty without awkwardness - responsive vs spontaneous desire - why relaxation, safety and connection often come before desire - toys and how to introduce them without feeling awkward - and why “good sex” doesn’t always look like the movies This is funny, honest, occasionally spicy, and deeply reassuring for anyone who has ever wondered if their relationship is “normal.” If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, go back and start there. We covered libido, desire discrepancy, the “ick,” rejection, and why women wanting more sex than men is far more common than people realise. Your taboohub.com.au (http://taboohub.com.au/) website 10% coupon code is: GEORGE https://maxblack.com.au/ Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
Libido, The Ick & The Sexual Scripts We Never Questioned | Georgina Whelan Part 1
What actually is libido? Why do so many couples end up with mismatched desire? And why are so many people quietly convinced their relationship is the only one struggling with sex? In part one of this conversation, I sit down with Georgina Whelan from Sexual Psychology to talk about the reality of sex and desire in long-term relationships without the cringe, the wellness fluff, or the unrealistic movie version of intimacy. Georgina shares her journey from mental health nursing into sex therapy, and we unpack low libido, sexual desire discrepancy, painful sex, “the ick,” resentment, selfishness in bed, and why libido is about far more than hormones alone. We also talk about the sexual scripts men and women grow up with, how men can also be harmed by patriarchal expectations around sex and performance, and the desire/arousal scale that explains why couples are often mismatched without even realising it. This episode is thoughtful, funny, and deeply reassuring for anyone who has ever wondered whether their sex life is “normal.” Stay tuned because in part two, we get even more practical: talking to your kids about sex, sex toys, introducing novelty into long-term relationships, and the concept of “bread and butter sex.” Find Georgina at https://www.sexualpsychology.com.au/ Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
Creatine, Nicotine & Big Wellness: Where the Science Ends
This week on On the Mones, Kate sits down with Annie McCubbin for a conversation about what happens when real science collides with wellness marketing. They unpack: why creatine isn’t just for gym bros how creatine actually works in muscle and in the brain what the evidence does, and doesn’t show for cognition why “mechanism” is not the same thing as “proof” They also dive into the growing online claims that nicotine is a cure for dementia: how nicotine acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors why nicotine patches were studied in Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment what the trials actually found and how wellness culture can take a tiny grain of scientific plausibility and inflate it into certainty. Along the way, Kate and Annie talk about mental endurance, physical endurance, resilience, and why pushing through hard things, whether that’s running long distances, navigating midlife, or learning to think critically, changes the way you move through the world. A conversation about science, scepticism, stamina, and why “interesting” is not the same thing as “proven.” Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
Jean Kittson (Part 2): Midlife, Money, Hormones and having a Libido for Yourself
In Part 2 of my conversation with Jean Kittson, we get into the real mechanics of midlife, beyond the punchlines (although there are still plenty of those). We talk about the juggle of full-time work, mortgages, and the mental load of budgeting in a phase of life that’s meant to feel “settled”… but often doesn’t. Jean shares her perspective on working in midlife; what shifts, what matters more, and what we’re no longer willing to tolerate. We dive into perimenopause. The symptoms you expect, the ones you don’t, and how the people around you might be experiencing it just as much as you are. From brain fog to rage to “is this just who I am now?”, we unpack the invisible ripple effects on family, relationships, and identity. Then we go there: HRT, longevity, and the idea of having a libido for yourself , not just sexually, but energetically, creatively, and personally. Why are men handed solutions like Viagra without question, while women still struggle to access testosterone? And what does that say about how we value women’s pleasure and wellbeing? We round things out with a refreshingly honest chat about sex, sex toys, and reclaiming desire in midlife, on your own terms. It’s smart, funny, slightly rebellious, and exactly the kind of conversation we should be having more of. Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
Jean Kittson (Part 1): From Shy Kid to Comedy Icon - Accidents, ADHD & Independence
In Part 1 of this conversation, I sit down with one of Australia’s most loved comedians, Jean Kittson, to explore the unexpected path that shaped her life and career. We start at the beginning, a shy child growing up in a family where her dad’s love of comedy, gags, and joke-shop tricks quietly set the tone for what was to come. Jean shares how she “fell” into drama almost by accident, thanks to a drama teacher at her high school. From there, we dive into her early work teaching drama in disadvantaged schools and how those experiences shaped her perspective on people, confidence, and communication. We also get into some of the bigger conversations, adult ADHD, menopause, sex education in schools, and what it means to carve out independence as a woman across different stages of life. It’s thoughtful, funny, and full of moments that will make you reflect on how the smallest nudges can change the course of everything. Part 2 drops next episode, where things get even more candid as we talk midlife, sex, and Jean meets Horace 🐾 Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
Turning 18: Feeling “Whelmed” - Episode 18
In this special episode, Kate sits down with her daughter Audrey on the week of her 18th birthday. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by adulthood, or underwhelmed by the milestone, Audrey describes herself as simply “whelmed.” They talk about what turning 18 actually means today: the excitement of voting for the first time, the freedom to walk into an over-18 venue (even if you choose not to), and the strange mix of independence and expectation that comes with being a young adult in 2026. From Sydney Swans fandom to the pressures facing Gen Z, Audrey shares how her generation sees the world, and what they wish older generations understood about growing up today. A thoughtful, funny conversation about coming of age, changing expectations, and the moment between childhood and whatever comes next. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
From the Kitchen to the Moon: Women, Choice, and the Tradwife Myth
In this episode of On the Mones, Kate reflects on what it means to grow up as a young woman today as her daughter Audrey turns eighteen and prepares to vote for the first time. Named after Kate’s grandmother, born in 1925, Audrey represents three generations of women who have lived through enormous social change. From marriage bars that forced women out of the workforce, to the feminist movements that fought for economic independence and voting rights, the freedoms women have today were hard-won. So why is social media suddenly romanticising a return to “traditional wives”? Kate explores the rise of the tradwife movement, the nostalgic aesthetic that makes it appealing, and the historical realities often left out of the story, including economic dependence and limited choices for women. Along the way she looks at: • why the tradwife aesthetic spreads so easily on social media • the connection between tradwife culture and anti-feminist online movements • the surprising return of anti-suffrage rhetoric • why Australia’s mandatory voting creates a very different political system • and what women’s rights have to do with astronauts flying around the Moon. There’s also a detour into hormone pharmacology, a satirical wellness advertisement for the revolutionary Whole Body RetoX™, and a reminder that sometimes nostalgia looks better from a distance. Because the real achievement of the last century isn’t that women must work, or must stay home. It’s that women get to choose. Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
Things I Think About When I Think About Running (and Morphine)
This episode starts on a Sydney oval before sunrise. Kate reflects on her weekly Wednesday run, the quiet rituals of turning up, the characters who share the track, the sociology of shared spaces, and the reminder that the ability to move your body is never something to take for granted. From there, the conversation moves into medicine. After watching The Pitt, Kate unpacks a common myth about morphine in palliative care, the persistent idea that opioids given at the end of life hasten death. Drawing on her experience in palliative care pharmacy, she explains how opioids are actually used to relieve pain and breathlessness, why addiction is not the issue people think it is, and how careful dosing can restore comfort and dignity for patients. Finally, with winter approaching, Kate walks through the 2026 influenza vaccine rollout in Australia, explaining why flu vaccines change every year, why all vaccines are now trivalent, and how the different options (Influvac, Flucelvax, Fluzone High-Dose and FluMist) work. Along the way, she explores the idea that healthcare decisions rarely affect just one person — whether it’s medication myths, palliative care, or vaccination, we’re all part of a much bigger chain. Evidence-based medicine, midlife health, and a few observations from running laps in the dark. Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au Follow Kate for more no-nonsense health education at @prescribeorpass on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook.
In this special field-trip episode of On the Mones, pharmacist Kate Thomas heads to the Mind, Body, Spirit Festival in Sydney to explore one of the most fascinating corners of the modern wellness economy. Between handmade pottery and beeswax candles are stalls offering EMF harmonisers, orgone energy devices, pet psychics, structured frequency water, cannabinoid oils and crystal healing. Some of it is beautiful. Some of it is harmless fun. And some of it makes some very ambitious claims about biology and physics. In Episode 15, Kate wanders the aisles and asks the question she always asks: Prescribe or Pass? Along the way she unpacks: The strange history of orgone energy and why scientists rejected it Why structured water cannot store molecular memory What rouleaux formation actually means in real haematology The science behind beta-caryophyllene and CB2 receptors Why the endocannabinoid system, a very real biological system, is so often misunderstood in wellness marketing Kate also discusses new calls from the RACGP for national reform of medicinal cannabis prescribing, using that as a springboard to explain how THC, CBD and the endocannabinoid system actually work in the body. Because somewhere between laboratory research and Instagram captions, the nuance often disappears. And sometimes the best way to understand the wellness industry is simply to walk through it. Plus: crystals, a pet psychic, and possibly the most anatomically accurate granite sculpture you will ever see at a health expo. Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au
Can yoga, Pilates, tai chi and breathwork actually help menopause symptoms, or are we all just stretching our way through the placebo effect? In this first official Peri-odical Review, pharmacist Kate Thomas looks at the evidence behind mind-body exercise in perimenopause and menopause. What does the research actually show, where do these practices genuinely help, and where does wellness culture get a little ahead of itself? In Episode 14 of On the Mones, Kate covers: Whether yoga and similar practices genuinely improve menopause symptoms Why the biggest benefits may be in mood, stress and overall wellbeing rather than physical symptoms What the evidence actually says about hot flushes and mind-body exercise Why mind-body exercise is a support strategy, not a cure How sex and intimacy fit into the broader conversation about movement, connection and feeling at home in your body Why doctors asking you to come back for results is not necessarily a scam The problem with direct-to-consumer wellness testing and health anxiety as a subscription service This is a conversation about menopause, medicine, wellness, evidence and the blurry space in between. So roll out the mat if you want to. Or leave it in the corner and go for a walk in the bush instead. Because you are not doing menopause wrong. Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au
In Episode 13 of On the Mones, Kate shares a recording from a special event held with women from a women's shelter. The day began with breathwork and mindfulness overlooking the ocean, a moment to pause, breathe and arrive. For some of the women attending, simply leaving the shelter and coming to the event took enormous courage. Kate then spoke about hormones, perimenopause and what is actually happening in women's bodies during midlife. From estrogen, progesterone and testosterone to sleep, stress and strength training, this conversation explores the biology behind the changes many women experience and why understanding our bodies can be genuinely empowering. This episode begins with a short guided breathing exercise recorded by the water before moving into part of the talk. Along the way, Kate reflects on the power of knowledge, community and the reminder that sometimes there is less separating our lives than we realise. If you have ever cried at an email, an advertisement, or a rescue dog choosing its human on Instagram, this episode is for you. Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au
In Episode 12 of On the Mones, Kate explores a word many women recognise instantly: difficult. Recently Australian activist and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame was described publicly as difficult after speaking out politically. Whether or not you agree with her views, the label landed because women everywhere know that word. The one that appears when women stop being agreeable. Kate reflects on her own experience navigating leadership, advocacy and midlife reinvention, including the moment she rage-quit a senior hospital pharmacy leadership role at 45. Was she difficult? Or simply done? Alongside this reflection, Kate answers listener questions from around the world about perimenopause and menopause: Anxiety, rage and crying at emails in your 40s: hormones or not coping? Painful sex and vaginal dryness: is that perimenopause? Why weight gain around the middle happens even when diet and exercise have not changed Falling asleep easily but waking at 3am wired Kate explains the biology of perimenopause, including how fluctuating estrogen affects neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and GABA, and why life in your 40s can suddenly feel harder than it used to. She also breaks down a new non-hormonal treatment for menopausal hot flushes, Veoza (fezolinetant): how it works in the brain, what the evidence shows, and where it fits alongside hormone therapy. Because menopause does not care what passport you hold. And sometimes being called difficult simply means you have stopped being convenient. Whether you are in perimenopause, approaching menopause, or simply trying to understand your hormones, I've got you. Read more about this episode at Medication Clarity Clinic, Kate's own medication education and telehealth consulting site: https://medicationclarity.com.au
