Are you experiencing a hot flash? Maybe you’re a woman of a certain age, somewhere on the shadowy journey to menopause, a previously little-discussed topic of women’s health. Or maybe that heat you’re feeling is from the zeitgeist, as a notable increase in books about menopause and perimenopause is helping a new generation of women navigate a confounding yet significant time of life.
Now, as the Emmy Award-winning comedian Samantha Bee weighs in with her own uniquely hilarious take, it feels like a peak moment for relatable yet informative menopause content. Bee, who rose to fame with The Daily Show and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, first wrote and performed How to Survive Menopause as a one-woman show that ran in October 2024 at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre in New York. Recorded live and adapted for audio, the production is now available to millions of listeners around the world as a new Audible Original.
We had questions for Samantha and, true to form, her answers were both accurate and refreshing. If someone in your life is going through “the change,” Bee’s frank, funny perspective in How to Survive Menopause might be just what they need to hear.
Audible: Why did you choose to create How to Survive Menopause?
Samantha Bee: I can’t really say that I decided to do a project about menopause. I would say that menopause decided that I should do a project about it.
What do you wish people understood about menopause?
They should give themselves grace when it comes to perimenopause and menopause. It’s kind of like a big deal—and it’s also very stupid. You have to laugh at it, or you will absolutely lose it.
Are there any menopause myths you once believed?
I really didn’t believe that I could ever feel better. And I do feel better. You can be, kind of, restored to an even better version of yourself.
What was the biggest surprise about perimenopause?
The biggest surprise about perimenopause was that I was experiencing perimenopause. It was like running face-first into a brick wall. And I was in the middle of it before I really looked up and went, What is happening?
How to Survive Menopause, written and narrated by Samantha Bee, is available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.
