Sparked by Adversity: From Long Covid and Cancer to Menopause Coach | #0111 | The Menopause Unscripted Podcast

2026-03-16

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In this episode of Menopause Unscripted, I’m joined by Dr. Magali, a UK-based medical consultant, public health specialist, and certified menopause coach. Her story is a profound masterclass in resilience, moving from debilitating illness to a complete life transformation.Dr. Magali’s expertise is forged in personal experience. Her health challenges began in 2022 with long COVID and chronic muscle pain so severe she often required crutches. In 2025, at age 37, she faced a second blow: a breast cancer diagnosis.

In this episode of Menopause Unscripted, I’m joined by Dr. Magali, a UK-based medical consultant, public health specialist, and certified menopause coach.

Her story is a profound masterclass in resilience, moving from debilitating illness to a complete life transformation.

Dr. Magali’s expertise is forged in personal experience. Her health challenges began in 2022 with long COVID and chronic muscle pain so severe she often required crutches.

In 2025, at age 37, she faced a second blow: a breast cancer diagnosis.

While treatment saved her life, it triggered "treatment-induced menopause" almost overnight—an experience she describes as "jumping off a cliff."

Because her cancer was estrogen-sensitive, HRT was not an option.

Facing intense hot flushes, anxiety, and cravings, Dr. Magali refused to accept suffering as inevitable.

Reclaiming Health Through Lifestyle Medicine

Dr. Magali dedicated over 500 hours to researching chronic pain recovery and menopause management.

By applying evidence-based lifestyle interventions and mindset practices, she achieved extraordinary results:

Physical Recovery: She transitioned from struggling to walk to running her first 10K race.
Symptom Management: She regained control over menopause symptoms without the use of hormones.
Professional Pivot: Her journey inspired her to found Sparrk Life Coaching, where she helps women navigate menopause using lifestyle medicine, NLP, and sustainable behavior change.

Key Themes of the Conversation

Beyond HRT: For women who cannot take HRT due to medical reasons, Dr. Magali explores essential alternative strategies.
Sustainable Habits: Shifting from generic advice to practical habits that fit into busy, midlife realities.
Identity & Reinvention: How health crises can serve as turning points to rediscover personal style, confidence, and authenticity.
Overcoming Dismissal: Challenging the narrative that menopause symptoms must simply be "endured.

Episode Highlights