Skip to main content

Women's Journal

Menu

Tom Arnold Watched a 10-Year-Old Stop Listening in Class. That Moment Changed How He Thought About Teaching Cybersecurity

Women's Journal Staff on July 11, 2026

By: Ryan Mitchell

There’s a particular frustration that builds slowly in anyone who has spent years knowing something critical and watching people ignore it. Tom Arnold felt that frustration in two very different rooms. The first was an investigation room, where he spent more than two decades in digital forensics watching young people fall victim to online schemes that were entirely preventable. The second was a classroom, where he watched students tune out the moment the words “cyber safety” came up.

Neither room was working. So he built a third one. He called it fiction.

The Digital Detective: First Intervention is the result of that decision, a coming-of-age cyber thriller built on real cases, real tools, and real techniques, wrapped in a story fast-paced enough to keep a kid reading through a road trip without looking up once. Which, according to at least one parent reviewer, is exactly what happened.

The Grandson on Roblox

The professional frustration was one thing. The personal catalyst was another. Tom’s grandson was approached by a stranger on Roblox despite parental controls being active. That moment, the realization that it could happen that close to home despite every reasonable precaution, crystallized something that had been building for years.

Families needed better tools. Kids needed better information. And the existing approaches, classroom lectures, pamphlets, parental warnings, weren’t sticking. The attention wasn’t there.

Fiction, he believed, could do what instruction couldn’t. If a story was good enough, the lessons would follow the reader home without them even noticing.

A Character Built From Real Observation

Jason Palmer, the teenage protagonist at the center of the series, didn’t emerge from imagination alone. Tom drew him from years of observing young people with a genuine pull toward technology, the kind of kid who takes apart a phone not because he was told to but because he needed to understand how it worked.

JP’s backstory carries real emotional weight. His mother died in a tragic accident when he was young. He found solace in technology, immersing himself in it the way some kids lose themselves in music or sport. When his father, a police detective, remarried and took an exchange position in the United States, Jason’s world expanded and his adventures began.

The character’s relationship with his father matters too. Jason’s dad is his personal idol, a police detective whose cases involving technology JP finds himself quietly, then not so quietly, advising on.

What a 10-Year-Old Proved

After the book was released, one piece of feedback stood out above everything else. A 10-year-old reader told Tom that the story had caused him to start a conversation with his dad about how wireless technology worked and to learn more about being safe online.

That single response, Tom says, is a big success. Not because it’s impressive on paper, but because it’s exactly what the book was designed to do. Not to replace parental conversations. To start them.

If you’ve been looking for a book that gets your kid genuinely excited about online safety without feeling like a lecture, The Digital Detective: First Intervention by Tom Arnold is available now on Amazon. The conversation it starts might be the most important one you have this year.

Mark Kaplan Thought He Was Healthy Until a Heart Attack Forced Him to Question Everything

Women's Journal Staff on July 11, 2026

By: Inma Hollis

For most of his life, Mark Kaplan believed he understood what health looked like. He exercised consistently, stayed lean, competed athletically, and carried himself like someone who had mastered the fundamentals of wellness. By almost every visible measure, he appeared to be doing everything right. Then, at 52, a heart attack shattered that assumption and sent him down a path that would eventually become the foundation of his book, Unplugged: How a Heart Attack at 52 Woke Me Up to the Biggest Lie in Medicine.

What Mark discovered was unsettling. The image he had built of health was largely based on outward appearance and physical performance. The reality inside his body told a very different story. That gap between what people see and what is actually happening beneath the surface has become one of the central messages of his work.

When Fitness Creates a False Sense of Security

One of the most powerful ideas in Mark’s story is that fitness and health are not interchangeable. Society often treats them as if they are the same thing. A person with visible muscle definition, strong athletic performance, and an active lifestyle is automatically assumed to be healthy. Mark believed it too.

Looking back, he now sees how dangerous that assumption can be. While he was maintaining a high level of fitness, arterial disease was developing quietly in the background. Routine blood tests were conducted over the years, but important questions were never asked and deeper investigations never happened. Certain warning signs existed, yet they were never connected into a bigger picture.

For Mark, this realization was frustrating because it revealed how easy it is for both patients and healthcare providers to become distracted by appearances. Physical fitness is visible. Health is often invisible. The body can look strong while important biological systems are moving in the wrong direction.

The Problem With How We Define Wellness

Mark often describes himself as the fittest person in the room at the very moment he was facing a life threatening medical crisis. That statement sounds contradictory, but it perfectly captures the misunderstanding he believes exists around modern wellness.

Athletic achievement measures what the body can do. It does not necessarily reveal what is happening inside the body. Someone can run long distances, compete at a high level, and maintain impressive strength while still dealing with inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, or cardiovascular disease.

According to Mark, performance can become a costume that hides deeper problems. The engine may appear powerful, but that does not mean the internal systems supporting it are functioning properly. This distinction became impossible for him to ignore after his heart attack, and it now sits at the center of his efforts to educate others.

Why High Performers Often Miss the Warning Signs

Ironically, the people who appear healthiest may sometimes be the least likely to investigate potential problems. Mark believes athletes and high achievers are especially vulnerable because they are conditioned to push through discomfort rather than stop and ask questions.

Competitive environments reward resilience, discipline, and persistence. Those qualities can be incredibly valuable in business, sports, and life. The downside is that many people learn to view fatigue, discomfort, and even physical decline as obstacles to overcome rather than signals worth exploring.

Mark also points to another challenge. Doctors often see a physically fit patient and assume lower risk. As a result, important conversations may never happen. Certain tests may never be ordered. Assumptions take the place of curiosity. In Mark’s case, that combination created a dangerous blind spot that lasted for years.

A Family Story That Changed the Stakes

While the book focuses on Mark’s personal experience, it also tells a larger story about genetics, awareness, and prevention. After his heart attack, he learned that certain genetic factors played a role in his cardiovascular risk. What struck him most was not the discovery itself, but what happened next.

His son carried the same genetic markers and was able to learn about them decades earlier than Mark did. That difference transformed the way Mark thinks about inherited risk. He rejects the idea that genetics determine a person’s future. Instead, he sees genetics as valuable information that can help people make smarter decisions long before a crisis occurs.

The contrast between his experience and his son’s became one of the most meaningful lessons in the book. The difference was not destiny. It was timing. One person received critical information early enough to act on it. The other learned it while lying on an operating table.

Curiosity Became a Survival Tool

After surviving the heart attack, Mark found himself dissatisfied with simple explanations. When people suggested bad luck was responsible, he felt the answer was incomplete. He wanted specifics. He wanted evidence. Most importantly, he wanted to understand exactly what had happened.

That mindset came naturally from his competitive background. Athletes study losses because they want to improve. Mark approached his medical crisis the same way. He started digging into research, asking harder questions, and challenging assumptions that had previously gone unquestioned.

What began as personal investigation eventually grew into something much larger. The more he learned, the more he realized how many people are relying on incomplete definitions of health. His search for answers evolved into a mission to encourage others to become more informed participants in their own healthcare.

The Bigger Lesson Behind Unplugged

At its core, Unplugged is not a book about fear. It is a book about awareness. Mark is not arguing that exercise is unimportant or that fitness lacks value. Rather, he believes fitness should be viewed as one piece of a much larger health picture.

His experience serves as a reminder that visible strength does not always reflect internal health. It also highlights the importance of asking better questions, seeking deeper information, and refusing to assume that looking healthy automatically means being healthy.

For Mark, the heart attack was a wake up call that arrived later than it should have. Through Unplugged, he hopes others can receive that message much earlier. The goal is simple. Replace assumptions with understanding, replace blind confidence with curiosity, and recognize that the most important health story is often the one nobody can see.

Discover the story behind Unplugged: How a Heart Attack at 52 Woke Me Up to the Biggest Lie in Medicine and learn why true health goes beyond appearance, performance, and a single number on a test. Find Mark Kaplan’s book on Amazon and explore the lessons that could change the way you think about your own health.

Menopause Rage Sparks Calls for More Clinical Research

Womens Journal Staff 2 on July 11, 2026

A clinician has called for more research and clinical guidance on menopause-related rage, arguing that the symptom remains underrecognized despite increased attention to menopause health. The discussion follows recent workplace policy initiatives and ongoing research into emotional symptoms during perimenopause.

Key Takeaways

  • A clinician says menopause-related rage lacks dedicated clinical guidance.
  • Existing menopause guidelines primarily address depression and anxiety symptoms.
  • Researchers are studying irritability during perimenopause in an ongoing clinical trial.
  • Recent workplace menopause policies have largely focused on physical symptoms.
  • Experts say more research is needed to better understand severe emotional symptoms.


Menopause rage has become the focus of discussion after clinician Dr. Sarah Berg called for more research and clearer clinical guidance on severe emotional symptoms experienced during perimenopause. Berg argues that while public awareness and workplace policies addressing menopause have expanded, intense emotional reactions described by some women remain insufficiently studied and are not addressed through dedicated clinical recommendations.

The discussion follows several recent developments related to menopause health. Philanthropist Melinda French Gates announced a $215 million commitment to women’s health research and advocacy in June. During the same month, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed an executive order directing state agencies to incorporate menopause accommodations into workplace policies, while Illinois lawmakers advanced legislation that would require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for menopause-related conditions.

Although these initiatives address menopause more broadly, Berg said severe emotional symptoms require additional attention from researchers and healthcare professionals.

What Prompted the Discussion About Menopause Rage?

The current discussion began after Berg published an opinion piece urging the medical community to recognize what she described as an overlooked aspect of perimenopause. She stated that many women report experiencing episodes of intense emotional distress that they identify as rage rather than ordinary irritability.

According to Berg, many patients describe sudden emotional reactions that appear disproportionate to the situation and differ from mood changes they experienced earlier in life. She argues that existing discussions about menopause tend to emphasize physical symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disruption, and cognitive difficulties. Separate reporting has also examined how menopause symptoms can affect employment and productivity, including recent findings on menopause workplace research and work ability.

Her comments also point to workplace implications. Berg stated that some women report modifying career plans, reducing travel responsibilities, or avoiding leadership opportunities because they are concerned about managing severe emotional symptoms during perimenopause.

The discussion has also included concerns about how workplace expectations may affect women differently depending on their personal and professional circumstances.

What Does Current Research Say About Emotional Symptoms During Perimenopause?

Researchers have long studied mood changes associated with menopause, although the evidence specifically examining severe anger or rage remains limited.

Hormonal changes during perimenopause, particularly fluctuations in estrogen levels, are known to influence neurotransmitter systems involved in mood regulation and stress responses. Healthcare professionals recognize that these hormonal changes can contribute to emotional symptoms alongside physical changes experienced during the menopause transition.

Findings From the SWAN Study

One of the largest sources of evidence is the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a long-running research project examining the menopause transition among women in the United States.

SWAN has reported that depressive symptoms become more common during perimenopause than during earlier reproductive years. Separate analyses have also examined symptoms including irritability, nervousness, fearfulness, and episodes of a racing heart.

Researchers found that women without a previous history of anxiety were more likely to report elevated levels of these symptoms during and after the menopause transition, even after accounting for factors such as hot flashes, stress, and general health.

Although irritability has been included in these analyses, researchers have generally evaluated it alongside other anxiety-related symptoms rather than treating severe emotional outbursts as a distinct clinical condition.

Ongoing Clinical Research

Research into emotional symptoms during perimenopause continues.

An ongoing federally funded clinical trial at the University of North Carolina is examining the neurophysiology of irritability during perimenopause. The study is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and seeks to improve understanding of emotional symptoms that many women identify as particularly disruptive.

Investigators involved in the study have stated that many participants experiencing affective symptoms report irritability as one of their primary concerns. The research is intended to improve understanding of how hormonal changes affect emotional regulation during the menopause transition.

While this work addresses irritability, Berg argues that additional research specifically examining severe episodes commonly described by patients as rage remains limited. The discussion also comes as access to menopause care remains an issue for some patients, including those affected by the estrogen patch shortage that has limited availability of hormone therapy in some areas.

Why Do Experts Say Clinical Guidance Is Limited?

Current menopause clinical guidance includes recommendations for identifying and treating depression and other mood-related conditions, but experts note that specific guidance addressing menopause rage has not been established.

The Menopause Society released consensus guidance in 2018 focused on perimenopausal depression. Those recommendations advise clinicians to screen for depressive symptoms using validated assessment tools and to consider treatments such as psychotherapy or antidepressant medication when appropriate.

The guidance does not establish menopause-related rage as a separate diagnostic category.

Researchers have also noted that many published studies evaluate emotional symptoms using broader measures of anxiety or depression instead of examining severe anger independently. As a result, evidence specifically addressing diagnosis, treatment approaches, and long-term outcomes for menopause rage remains comparatively limited.

Berg argues that this gap makes it more difficult for healthcare providers and patients to identify the symptom consistently or determine the most appropriate clinical response.

Experts generally agree that additional research is necessary before new diagnostic criteria or treatment recommendations can be developed.

How Could Menopause Rage Affect Women in the Workplace?

Emotional symptoms associated with perimenopause can influence workplace experiences in several ways, according to clinicians and researchers.

Berg argues that some women may reduce professional responsibilities because they are uncertain about managing unpredictable emotional responses. She stated that some patients have reported stepping away from leadership positions or limiting work travel due to concerns about experiencing severe emotional reactions in professional settings.

Workplace Accommodation Policies

Recent workplace initiatives addressing menopause have largely concentrated on physical symptoms.

Washington state’s executive order directs agencies to incorporate menopause accommodations into workplace policy. Illinois lawmakers have also advanced legislation that would require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for menopause-related conditions if enacted.

Examples of workplace accommodations discussed in policy initiatives include access to temperature control, scheduling flexibility, and occupational health resources.

These measures primarily address physical aspects of menopause rather than emotional symptoms.

Concerns About Career Impact

Berg also argues that workplace consequences may differ among employees because expectations surrounding emotional expression are not experienced equally by everyone.

She cited concerns raised by women of color who reported feeling additional pressure to avoid displaying anger in professional settings. Berg referenced research examining workplace expectations surrounding emotional expression, particularly studies exploring how race and gender can influence perceptions of professional behavior.

Although evidence examining menopause rage and career outcomes remains limited, Berg said additional occupational health research could improve understanding of how emotional symptoms affect employment decisions during midlife.

Researchers have acknowledged that workplace effects related specifically to severe emotional symptoms remain an area requiring further investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is menopause rage?

Menopause rage is an informal term used to describe episodes of intense anger or emotional distress that some women report experiencing during perimenopause. It is not currently recognized as a separate medical diagnosis.

How is menopause rage different from irritability?

Some clinicians distinguish menopause rage from irritability by describing it as a more intense emotional response. However, most clinical research currently measures irritability rather than treating menopause rage as its own research category.

What research exists on menopause rage?

Research has examined mood changes, depression, anxiety, and irritability during perimenopause through studies such as the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. An ongoing clinical trial is also investigating irritability during perimenopause, but research specifically focused on menopause rage remains limited.

Are there clinical guidelines for menopause rage?

No dedicated clinical guidelines currently address menopause rage as a separate condition. Existing menopause guidance primarily focuses on screening and treating depression and related mood disorders.

Royston G King and the Case for Trust in an Age of Manufactured Credibility

Women's Journal Staff on July 11, 2026

In an online economy where anyone can claim almost anything, the scarcest asset is no longer information. It is trust. That idea, in one form or another, runs through much of the work of Royston G King, the Malaysia-based entrepreneur whose ventures span media, digital publishing, education and online reputation. Viewed together, they are less a collection of unrelated businesses than a series of attempts to answer a single question: in a marketplace flooded with claims, how does anyone tell what is real?

King’s career resists a tidy industry label, which may be part of the point. Based in Malaysia, he has moved between content and media, digital publishing, admissions coaching and reputation work. On the surface those look like separate worlds. Underneath, they share a preoccupation with how credibility is built, signalled, and sometimes manufactured. Each of his ventures, in a different way, deals with the machinery of reputation, and with the growing gap between appearing credible and actually being so.

His public profile carries the sort of markers that tend to open doors, including recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and a background that, according to his profile, includes study at the University of Southern California and Columbia University. In the way he talks about his own work, though, those credentials are less the point than the problem they illustrate. A credential, after all, is exactly the kind of signal that has become easy to imitate, and King’s interest lies in what happens to trust once its usual markers can be faked.

That problem, in his telling, has sharpened with the arrival of generative artificial intelligence. King has argued that AI has quietly lowered what might be called the expertise floor. Where producing a polished article, a competent analysis or a professional-looking body of work once required real skill and time, comparable outputs can now be generated in seconds by almost anyone. The consequence, he suggests, is a kind of credibility inflation. When the surface signals of expertise become cheap to produce, they stop reliably separating the genuine from the imitation, and audiences are left less certain about whom to believe.

King has given this broad shift a name, describing it as a trust recession. The phrase captures his central claim: that the erosion of reliable credibility signals is not a minor inconvenience but a structural change in how attention and belief are earned online. In a trust recession, he argues, the old shortcuts stop working. A confident claim, a slick presentation or an impressive-sounding title no longer does the persuasive work it once did, because everyone now has access to the same tools for producing them.

His response to that diagnosis is consistent across his ventures, and it tends toward verification rather than louder assertion. Rather than competing to make bigger claims, King’s businesses lean toward the less glamorous work of substantiating them. One of his ventures, for instance, builds verification directly into public profiles, treating a checkable claim as more valuable than an impressive but unproven one. The underlying logic is that in a saturated market, the willingness to be checked becomes its own signal, a way of standing apart precisely by inviting scrutiny.

There is a certain discipline in that posture that is worth noting. It would be easier, commercially, to trade on the boldest possible claims, and much of the digital economy does exactly that. King’s framing runs the other way, treating restraint and evidence as the more durable strategy. Whether or not every audience rewards it, the stance reflects a bet that trust, once genuinely earned, compounds in a way that hype does not.

That bet also shapes how he discusses his own credentials and record. He tends to present his background as context rather than proof, and to frame recognition as a byproduct of work rather than the point of it. It is a framing that fits the broader argument. If the thesis is that unverified signals are losing their power, then leaning too heavily on one’s own unverified signals would be self-defeating.

None of this makes King a detached theorist. He remains an operator running businesses in competitive markets, and the trust recession is, for him, as much a commercial opportunity as an intellectual one. But the through line is clear enough. Across media, publishing, education and reputation, his work returns repeatedly to the same terrain: the mechanics of credibility in an age when credibility has become easy to fake.

For anyone trying to make sense of the current moment online, in which artificial intelligence can produce endless plausible content and audiences grow steadily more wary, that focus feels timely. King’s wager is that the businesses and individuals who thrive next will not be the ones who shout loudest, but the ones who can prove what they say. In a trust recession, by his account, being checkable may turn out to be the most valuable position of all.

About Royston G. King

Royston G. King writes and advises on brand authority, strategic publicity, and reputation management. Learn more about his work at his website. You can also follow his insights on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.