Emmy Award-winning journalist Tamsen Fadal made a bold midlife career transition from the newsroom to menopause advocacy. After a 15-year tenure at PIX11, she left her anchor position in 2023 to focus on empowering women navigating menopause and midlife challenges. This shift was inspired by her personal experiences with menopausal symptoms, which she openly shares to foster awareness and support.
We had the opportunity to interview Tamsen about her journey, her new documentary The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause, and her upcoming book How To Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life, and Feel Even Better than Before, set for release in March 2025. In our conversation, she shared why midlife isn't a time to slow down—it's a time to reinvent.
Read on for her insights on breaking the silence around menopause, taking charge of your health, and embracing a powerful next chapter.
EvolveMe: You had a successful career in journalism before becoming a menopause advocate and author. What prompted this transition in midlife, and were there any pivotal moments that led to writing How to Menopause?
Tamsen: My transition from journalism to menopause advocacy was sparked by a incident while I was anchoring the evening news in 2019, which turned out to be a symptom of menopause. This pivotal moment was followed by 4 words in my patient portal: “in menopause, any questions.” As a journalist, I was shocked by stigma surrounding menopause and the lack of information, not to mention the shame. All this motivated me to write "How to Menopause." The book and my advocacy aim to empower women with knowledge and to challenge the existing narratives around aging and health.
EvolveMe: As someone transitioning from being in front of the camera to becoming an author and thought leader, what have been the most challenging and rewarding aspects of this career shift?
Tamsen: Wow, it’s just been an incredible experience because at the end of the day the work I do is based on storytelling. It is perhaps one of the biggest stories I have ever told. The challenging part is that I want to see change happen faster – but we are getting there!
EvolveMe: You've become an entrepreneur in many ways, building your brand around menopause advocacy. What do you feel are the unique challenges and/or advantages of starting a company in midlife compared to younger entrepreneurs?
Tamsen: I have had the advantage and challenge of understanding mistakes and failure and achievement, and I have learned from all of those.
As a 53-year-old woman – this season is more exciting than most because I am talking with women daily and know what they need - as I did. I love that we have galvanized a movement in menopause with the goal that no woman suffers in silence. Over 1 million people have viewed our film, and we continue to bring it into communities to make sure everyone has access to the information.
EvolveMe: What skills or experiences from your previous careers proved most valuable in launching your brand?
Tamsen: Without question, storytelling. I love every part of it because I know it creates change in a very real way.
EvolveMe: How do you hope How to Menopause and your advocacy will change the narrative around midlife for women, and what's your vision for the future of menopause education and support?
Tamsen: I hope that How To Menopause helps women in perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Menopause doesn’t just happen in the doctor’s office – it happens in our lives from the bedroom to the workplace and beyond. We need to show women that it is not a time to fear but a time to look inward, put our healthcare first, and use it to empower us going forward into a beautiful, bold, new season.
Through "How to Menopause" and my advocacy, I hope we can transform how society views midlife and menopause, fostering a more informed, supportive, and positive environment. My vision is for a future where menopause education is widespread, symptoms are openly discussed and addressed, and women feel empowered and supported throughout their menopausal journey.
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