Why I Started My Bloody Hell
My name is Lori L. Tharps and I created the My Bloody Hell brand - the podcast and the upcoming membership - because I saw a pain point that wasn’t being addressed in society. Women of a certain age were going through perimenopause without any knowledge or understanding as to what was happening to their bodies. Even worse, once they found themselves in the midst of the madness, they realized they had nowhere to turn for answers or support. I was shocked by the seemingly universal cries of frustration, rage and loneliness, and felt compelled to act.
My Second Act is all about Your Second Act
Creating the podcast, meant creating a space to share women’s stories.
Fun fact, in May 20221, I walked away from an excellent job in academia and a comfortable life in the United States, to move to Spain with my husband and two of my three children. My plan was to dedicate my working hours to my creative writing career and perhaps take up painting or try my hand at piano lessons. In other words, I was ready to live a fully creative life. But then I got this idea to start the My Bloody Hell podcast and membership community. It was literally one of those ideas that hit me full on in the shower. I wasn’t planning on making my second act to be all about perimenopause and menopause and yet, I’m loving the opportunity to bring my creative self to righting a wrong in the world. I’ve always loved community building and I’ve started many different support groups in my life, so this doesn’t feel like a departure from my true self. On the contrary, it feels like a calling that I had to answer.
An Inclusive Space for Women of Diverse Backgrounds
You are welcome here.
I know My Bloody Hell is not the first or only podcast or membership community for women going through perimenopause. But it may be the first community that really understands the meaning of inclusivity for women. As a Black woman married to a Spanish man who is raising multicultural children, and who is now living as an immigrant in another country, I am very aware of what it means to be marginalized and silenced because of one’s identity. Also, as someone who has spent her professional life researching, writing, and speaking about racism, diversity and equity, you better believe that any community or sacred space I create, will be based on a foundation of equity, inclusion and respect for difference. I’m not perfect and I’m sure I will make mistakes along the way, but I want My Bloody Hell to be known as a safe space for women of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds; women of diverse religious backgrounds; women of all sizes, shapes, and identities. You are all welcome here.
More than a Membership, I’m Building A Movement
The My Bloody Hell brand has one main objective and that is to ensure that my generation, Generation X is the last generation of women to suffer through perimenopause and menopause in silence. It’'s absolutely ridiculous that in the year 2021, women are still whispering and hiding when it comes to all things menopause. It’s a heavy lift to change a societal norm, but I think we can do it. We’ve done it with issues like depression, body acceptance, natural hair in the Black community, and many more. The secret is to stand together and speak our truth. My Bloody Hell is here to make that happen.