Brain fog, memory lapses, disrupted sleep and mood changes can be deeply unsettling. For many women, these symptoms begin during perimenopause. They can appear years before menopause itself and are often dismissed as stress, ageing or simply not coping.

This topic matters because perimenopause can affect far more than physical health. It can influence confidence, relationships, work performance and everyday decision-making. Despite how common these experiences are, many women still receive very little information about what is happening or where to seek support.

In this episode I’m joined by Tiffany Bernical a psychology researcher, PhD candidate and health and fitness professional. Her work focuses on cognition, hormones and menopause-related brain fog.

We talk about what perimenopause actually is, why it can last for several years and how hormonal changes may affect the brain. Tiffany explains how these changes can influence memory, attention, processing speed and word retrieval. We also look at the broader impact this can have on someone’s confidence and daily life.

We touch on sleep, stress, emotional regulation, ADHD, hormone therapy, cycle syncing, nutrition and exercise. We also discuss practical ways to reduce cognitive load and better manage brain fog.

One of the biggest parts of the conversation is the gap that still exists in women’s health research. We talk about the lack of a clear definition for menopause-related brain fog and why current cognitive testing may not fully capture what women are actually experiencing.

This is an honest and practical discussion about the female brain and the realities of perimenopause. We also look at why women deserve clearer information, earlier support and greater understanding from healthcare professionals, workplaces, families and the wider community.

This episode is proudly sponsored by GEE Recovery the Central Coast’s leading destination for recovery, wellness and performance. Explore infrared and traditional saunas, hot and cold therapy, massage and compression therapy at https://geerecovery.com.au/

The future of cancer treatment may already exist.

In this episode of The Applied Mind I sit down with Professor Nikola Bowden, a cancer researcher at the University of Newcastle whose work focuses on personalised cancer treatment, DNA repair, melanoma, ovarian cancer and drug re-purposing. Her research explores how existing drugs can be used in new ways to treat cancers that are resistant to standard therapies.

We unpack what cancer actually is, why it is so difficult to treat, and how DNA damage, UV exposure, immune response, and treatment resistance all play a role. Nikola explains how melanoma develops, why ovarian cancer is often detected late and why repurposing older drugs may offer a faster and more patient-centred path forward than waiting decades for entirely new treatments.

We also explore the realities of cancer research funding, the role of pharmaceutical companies, philanthropy and government, the unexpected history of drug repurposing and what it takes to move a discovery from the lab into a clinical trial.

This conversation is a clear and accessible look at the science of cancer, but also the human side of research: patients, urgency, hope and the drive to find better options when current treatments are not enough.

Topics covered include: cancer basics, melanoma, ovarian cancer, UV damage, DNA repair, immunotherapy, drug repurposing, clinical trials, patient-centred research, funding, personalised medicine and the future of cancer treatment.

Link to Professor Bowden's University Profile:
https://www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/nikola-bowden

In this episode of The Applied Mind, I sit down with Dr Jay Raman, a Clinical Psychologist, Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle and Founder/Director of the Three Squares Lab. We explore the psychology of body image, eating disorders, weight, shame, comparison and self-worth.

Jay brings over 18 years of clinical and supervision experience, along with research expertise across body image, eating disorders, cognitive remediation, obesity, emotion regulation and health psychology. We unpack why body image concerns are so common, when they can become clinically serious and why eating disorders are never as simple as “just eat more” or “just stop worrying about your body.”

We also explore the role of social media, photo editing, comparison, control, emotional regulation, family support and the deeper psychological mechanisms that can keep people stuck.

This conversation is for anyone who has struggled with food, body image, exercise, appearance, or self-worth, as well as parents, partners, friends and future clinicians wanting to better understand how to support someone through these challenges.

Listen to the full episode of The Applied Mind with Dr Jay Raman on Spotify.

https://www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/jay-raman

https://www.threesquareslab.com.au/