After leaving Brisbane, Australia at the age of 21, now almost 50 (Happy Birthday), Melinda McDougall talks to Carey Davis-Munro, about the reasons she (accidentally) left her homeland behind in search of a more tolerant, expansive and diverse society. A journey that led her to London where she’s stayed for the last three decades.
Reflecting back over her decisions and choices, Melinda is surprised to see quite how she’s embraced big life transitions, and how this now helps her in her work to support others. Fast-tracked into British culture via Channel 4, then as a freelance documentary director and producer, it was a close call with burn out that altered Melinda’s path towards the rewarding world of Herbal Medicine.
‘I can’t imagine, being nearly 50, and still being in the media. Now I get a lot of clients from that world who come to me, and I really empathise with what they are going through.’
It was a massive financial and personal commitment (8 years) to retrain, but her ambition to support other women with their health concerns - in particular the menopause - drover her forward, along with the knowledge that for too long, women’s wellbeing had been swept under the carpet. It’s a career she takes seriously and given the love she puts into every medicine she makes, clearly the work loves her too.
To find out more about Melinda and herbal medicine, or to book an appointment, you can find her here at the Soulhub website.
Soulhubber's Podcast Episode 8: Who is Melinda McDougall?