Eleanor is the former Editorial Director of The Sunday Times and one of Britain’s most high profile commentators. In March of 2021 she launched an online community platform for women called Noon. She began her journalistic life on the Guardian and Observer and at only 26, she was the Daily Telegraph’s youngest ever Features Editor. During her long Fleet Street career, Eleanor was the Sunday Times’s main interviewer. In 2014 she became Chair of Women in Journalism, the industry’s cross media network for female hacks, and launched a series of high profile events on media sexism and empowering women. Eleanor won the 2012 International Alliance of women’s World of Difference Award for her “contribution to women’s economic empowerment” and was one of only four journalists in Europe to be shortlisted for Journalist of the Year at the European Diversity Awards 2012. She appears regularly on television – you can catch her most weeks on ITV and on Sky News reviewing the newspapers and commentating on politics and society. She has written two books, Cupcakes and Kalashnikovs: An Anthology of the best Journalism by Women and Much More to Come and is currently working on a new book Birds and the Bees: 2.0, Talking Sex with Generation XXX.
In this episode, Eleanor shares her extensive knowledge on empowering women. We discuss positive aging, her coining of the term "Queenager," and how her community at Noon has enabled her to support women. While many find life over 50 to be the best time of their lives, this isn't the case for everyone. So, what can we do to help those who are struggling? Eleanor believes we need to invest time and resources into ourselves—finding our tribe, managing our finances, and especially focusing on our pensions. As mothers of university students, we talk about coping with an empty nest and offer insights on how women can navigate this transition more easily. We also share a mutual passion for cold-water swimming, with Eleanor explaining why she loves it. Eleanor reminds us that there’s still so much more to come.
Date of episode recording: 2024-11-01T
00:00:00Z
Duration: 00.52.44
Language of episode: English
Presenter:Professor Joyce Harper
Guests: Eleanor Mills
Producer: Joyce Harper
What is Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me This? ?
Welcome to season 2 of the podcast - Why didn’t anyone tell me this? This podcast is about health education with an emphasis on reproductive health. We do not cover these topics enough in school or beyond. Joyce Harper and her guests want to give you the tools to empower you to live a healthy, happy and fulfilled life. And on the way, we will debunk some of the myths around our health. This podcast will include a wide range of amazing guests, discussing topics such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental health, happiness, cancer, periods, fertility, infertility, fertility treatment, preconception health, pregnancy, miscarriage, PCOS, endometriosis, menopause and much more. Joyce is a cold-water swimmer so expect some episodes about swimming! They will tell you about their work and life journey, what are the key messages they want you to know, their motivation, what makes them happy and their advice to their younger self. Joyce Harper is an award-winning author, educator, academic, and scientist with over 30 years’ experience in reproductive health. She is Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London where she heads the Reproductive Science and Society group. Her latest book, Your Fertile Years, is published by Sheldon Press, 2021. She is chair of the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (www.eshre.eu/IRHEC) and co-chair of the UK Fertility Education Initiative. She is founder of Reproductive Health at Work. Further information at www.joyceharper.com.