Confessions, comedy, and the chaos of aging: Satori Shakoor breaks the menopause stigma with fearless humor
George Clinton’s former “Bride of Funkenstein” and Detroit’s queen of storytelling, Satori Shakoor, turns the taboo of menopause into a bold, musical, laugh-out-loud, and deeply vulnerable journey in her stand-up concert film Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale, now streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and Google Play. Filmed live at the Detroit Public Theatre, the 101-minute solo performance is equal parts catharsis and call to arms, blending music, memory, and menopause into an unforgettable narrative.
“If we are lucky enough to live, we will always be in some stage of menopause.”
That raw truth drove Shakoor to create the film after years of silence around her own journey. The symptoms were mystifying; the stigma worse. Her only roadmap? A promise to her younger self: write it down for the women coming after. The result is not just a film but a movement.
Secrets await revelation
Returning to Hawaii—where her journey began—reopened old wounds and unearthed long-buried truths.
“On the plane I thought I was having a panic attack… I was triggered by the fact that I was returning to a place I had escaped to.”
And so, Confessions begins. What follows is a symphony of truth-telling: tales of postpartum depression, addiction, and the lonely chaos of self-reinvention—each woven with humor, heart, and song.
Uncover the hidden truth
“My story was a roller coaster of emotion, like mood swings and hot flashes.”
Menopause, she argues, remains misunderstood by the public and ignored by the medical system.
“Medical doctors have one hour of training in menopause… women are defined through a patriarchal lens.”
Discover what lies ahead
Shakoor’s artistic foundation was forged on the biggest stages in funk. Touring with George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic, she earned her Ph.D. in performance.
“The stage was my living room. I often felt more like my true self there than walking around in ‘real’ life.”
But it wasn’t until the devastating loss of her mother and son that her story took a sharp emotional turn.
Unveil new horizons
“I had no anchors. I literally had to invent myself.”
And still, she persisted. She wrote, she performed, she funded the film herself. Why now?
“I was tired of hiding achievements by not aging myself.”
Embrace your true self
The result is a bold act of radical self-acceptance.
“I don’t have to edit or manage myself in the world. I can just be—and that is radical for a Black woman.”
The energy of the Detroit audience shaped her delivery. Every gasp, laugh, and silence became part of the rhythm.
Find joy beyond
“Their reactions inspire improvisational moments. It becomes a joyful thing.”
That joy is palpable on screen—and that joy is healing.
“My memories don’t haunt me anymore. My memories edify me.”
Unlock what’s next
Younger audiences have been unexpectedly captivated.
“Her niece was only going to stay a few minutes… she watched the whole thing and called me to say she ‘loved’ the film.”
Storytelling was always part of her healing—especially through her platform, The Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers, now in its second decade.
Hear the story now
“After 13 years of coaching others to tell their stories, I thought it was time to tell my own.”
As the public conversation around menopause explodes—thanks to Oprah’s special—Shakoor’s film gives it rhythm and soul.
“Some of the most powerful women in America are in some stage of menopause—and we won’t suffer in silence anymore.”
Step into the unknown
In Michigan, that conversation is state-sanctioned. Shakoor was invited to Governor Whitmer’s mansion to join Halle Berry and others in shaping menopause policy. She’s on the frontlines of what’s now being called:
“Menopause: It’s a Movement.”
So what’s next for this veteran of funk and truth?
Experience the unexpected now
“I’m going to sit down and breathe. Celebrate birthing this baby.”
Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale is now streaming. Watch the trailer and join the movement.
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