I have a lot of folders. Over the years I’ve organized my feeds into categories like News, Tech, Cooking, and Comics. But when I’m scanning my feed list, they all look the same—just folder icons with text. I wanted a way to make certain folders stand out at a glance, especially the ones I check most often.
That’s why I built custom icons for both folders and feeds. You can now personalize any folder or feed with an emoji, a preset icon in any color, or even upload your own image.
How it works
Right-click on any folder or feed in your feed list and select “Folder settings” or “Site settings”. You’ll see a new “Folder Icon” or “Feed Icon” tab where you can customize the icon.
There are three ways to set a custom icon:
Preset icons: Pick from over 240 icons (a mix of outline and filled styles) and colorize them with any of 84 colors organized by hue. Want a red heart for your favorites folder? A blue code bracket for programming feeds? It’s all there.
Emoji: Choose from 180 emojis organized by category. A basketball for sports feeds, a fork and knife for cooking, a newspaper for news—you get the idea.
Upload your own: Have a specific image in mind? Upload any image and it will be automatically resized to fit perfectly in your feed list.
Great for feeds without icons
Many feeds don’t have favicons, or they have generic RSS icons that all look the same. Custom feed icons let you give these feeds distinctive icons so you can spot them instantly. I’ve been using this to add icons to older blogs and newsletters that never bothered setting up a proper favicon.
Custom icons are available now on the web for all NewsBlur users. Folders and feeds both support the same icon options of emoji, preset icons with colors, or uploaded images.
If you have feedback or ideas for additional icon options, please share them on the NewsBlur forum.
When I am stressed, overwhelmed or trying to switch my brain off after a long day, I do not meditate. I do not do breathwork. I am rarely mindful. Instead, I watch YouTube videos of draining boils and earwax extraction.
Deeply satisfying. Genuinely calming. Extremely unsettling to anyone who happens to walk into the room.
I am not alone, although my husband tells me I soon will be if I continue watching acne “removal” videos in bed, particularly at full volume. Gross-out health content is everywhere, and it is wildly popular. Videos of extractions, parasites, clogged pores and bodily “build-ups” rack up millions of views. Articles about strange symptoms, mystery lumps and alarming bodily discoveries consistently top health reading lists.
This is not because people like me are weird. Or at least, not only because we are weird.
It is because bodies are strange, unpredictable and often poorly explained. When something feels embarrassing, frightening or just plain confusing, curiosity kicks in hard.
As a health editor, I commission articles from experts about the parts of the body we are usually taught not to talk about. Time and again, the most-read stories are the ones that make people recoil slightly before clicking anyway. Worms. Smells. Leaks. Stones. Toxins. The things you Google at midnight and hope nobody ever finds in your search history.
Behind the gag reflex, there is usually a serious question. Is this normal? Is this dangerous? Has the internet just convinced me I am dying?
That is why we have launched Strange Health, a new podcast series from The Conversation. In it, I’m teaming up with Dan Baumgardt, a practising GP and lecturer in health and life sciences at the University of Bristol, to decode wellness trends and explore what’s weird and wonderful about the body.
On Strange Health, Dan and I will take the health questions people are already obsessing over online, especially the bizarre, gross or misunderstood ones, and examine them properly. In each episode we’ll also be talking to academic experts who are actively researching these issue. We ask where these ideas come from, what the science really says, and why misinformation spreads so easily when bodies get involved.
That popularity tells us something important. People are not just looking for reassurance. They are looking for explanations that make sense of what their bodies are doing, and what might genuinely help, without judgement or jargon.
It also explains why misinformation thrives here. The more uncomfortable the topic, the less likely people are to ask a professional, and the more tempting it is to trust a confident stranger online.
Each episode of Strange Health focuses on a single strange or controversial health topic. Some are familiar. Some are genuinely disgusting. All of them have been circulating widely online. There will be gross details. There will be moments of disbelief. There will also be solid science and practical explanations.
If you have ever found yourself spiralling after watching a TikTok, reading a wellness blog, or eyeing up a suspicious supplement advert, Strange Health is designed for you. And we want you to become part of the conversation by submitting your own burning questions about the human body – no matter how strange they may be – to strangehealth@theconversation.com.
Strange Health launches on 20th January and the first episode is about detoxing. New episodes will be available every Tuesday throughout February and March. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube and Spotify.
Strange Health is hosted by Katie Edwards and Dan Baumgardt. The executive producer is Gemma Ware, with video and sound editing by Sikander Khan. Artwork by Alice Mason.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript is available via the Apple Podcasts or Spotify apps.
Dan Baumgardt does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Katie Edwards works for The Conversation.
Menopause is often described as “the change”, but for millions of women worldwide it is more than a biological milestone. It is a cultural, social and medical turning point. While most women experience menopause, their journeys are not the same. Ethnicity, culture and access to healthcare shape how symptoms are felt, understood and treated. These differences are rarely acknowledged, leaving many women invisible in public conversations about midlife health.
Menopause marks the end of reproductive years and is defined clinically as 12 months after the final menstrual period. Natural menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age in the UK being 51. The transition that leads up to it, known as perimenopause, can last several years and is characterised by fluctuating hormone levels, particularly oestrogen.
Up to 80 percent of women develop symptoms linked to falling levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Researchers have identified more than 40 possible symptoms. Because oestrogen acts on receptors throughout the body, its loss is associated with increased risks of long-term health issues such as osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes and mood disorders.
Symptoms vary widely. Hot flushes, night sweats and sleep disturbances are common, as are mood changes, joint pain, vaginal dryness and reduced libido. Symptoms can last an average of seven years. Although these effects are widespread, their intensity and meaning differ across cultures. Research including the The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation and further work by the British Menopause Society highlights notable variations in how menopause is experienced. There appear to be some differences in hormonal patterns across ethnic groups, although more research is needed to understand why symptoms differ.
Women of African and Caribbean descent tend to experience more severe and longer-lasting vasomotor symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats. Sleep problems, mental health issues and weight gain are also reported more often. Cultural expectations and stigma can make open discussion difficult, leaving many women without appropriate support.
Women of South Asian descent (India, Pakistan and neighbouring regions) tend to reach menopause earlier, with average ages around 46 to 47 years compared with 51 in western populations. Earlier menopause increases the risk of long-term health conditions such as heart disease. South Asian women also report more urogenital symptoms, such as vaginal dryness, urinary issues and reduced libido. However, conversation about sexual health is often limited due to cultural norms.
Women of East Asian descent (China, Japan and others) often report fewer hot flushes but more musculoskeletal pain, forgetfulness and low libido. In many East Asian cultures, menopause is viewed as a natural stage of ageing, which reduces the likelihood of seeking medical support.
Women of White European heritage report vasomotor symptoms more frequently than East Asian women, but often with less intensity than those experienced by African and Caribbean women. Although access to healthcare is generally greater, inequalities still affect diagnosis and treatment.
Across many minority communities, social stigma and cultural silence remain significant barriers. In some cultures, menopause is associated with loss of femininity or fertility, discouraging women from discussing symptoms. In others it is viewed as a natural process that does not require medical input. Some women prefer natural approaches to symptom management, often due to cultural beliefs or limited trust in medical interventions.
Practical barriers make access to care even more difficult. Language barriers can prevent effective communication with clinicians. Health literacy gaps mean many women are unaware of options such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Educational materials often lack representation, with leaflets failing to depict women from diverse backgrounds. Many women report feeling dismissed when seeking help. Socioeconomic inequalities including lower income and limited access to healthcare further widen gaps in symptom management and long-term health outcomes. These issues are compounded by mistrust of the healthcare system, often rooted in historical and ongoing inequities.
For the first time, women aged 40 to 74 attending NHS health checks will now be asked about menopausal symptoms. By embedding menopause into routine checks, policymakers hope to normalise discussion, improve diagnosis and ensure that all women receive appropriate support. However, the benefits may not be evenly distributed. Evidence shows that some women from ethnically minoritised communities are less likely to access these health checks, particularly those who already face barriers to recognition and treatment. If uptake remains unequal, the policy may unintentionally reinforce disparities rather than address them. The challenge for the NHS will be to adapt outreach and service delivery so that menopause support reaches the women who need it most.
Addressing these inequalities requires culturally sensitive healthcare. Information needs to be available in multiple languages and formats, including clear explanations of symptoms, consequences and treatment options, both hormonal and non hormonal. Healthcare professionals must be trained to recognise cultural differences in how symptoms are described and interpreted. Women also need safe spaces to discuss their experiences without judgement.
Menopause is not only a phase of symptom management. It is a critical stage for long-term health. Menopause is universal, but its experience is not. Biological variation, cultural norms and systemic inequalities shape how women navigate this transition. Recognising these differences is essential for building equitable healthcare that supports all women, regardless of ethnicity or culture, through one of life’s most significant milestones.
Dipa Kamdar does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
It's important to teach yourself to feel responsible for random events, because with great responsibility comes great power. That's what my wise Uncle Ben told me right before he died; he might still be alive today if only I'd said rabbit rabbit that year!
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