Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

This week’s podcast is a first for me – my guest is a former patient of mine, Nicola Singleton. I met Nicola back in September 2016 on the second series of my BBC1 TV documentary, Doctor In The House. Since then, she has completely transformed her health and I’m so pleased she’s agreed to share that story with you. 

Nicola was, in her own words, ‘aged 38 but feeling 98’. She had a list of 10 different health diagnoses and was taking 20 different pills a day. Her main issues were feeling crippled with the exhaustion of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) along with the debilitating, widespread pain of fibromyalgia – both complex and misunderstood conditions from which she’d been told there was no hope of recovery. She couldn’t work, couldn’t play with her kids, could barely get out of bed. Nicola also suffered from anxiety, depression, IBS and more.

She was so desperate to feel better and start living again that she allowed me, and a BBC television crew, to practically move in with her, her husband and three young children for six weeks. In this podcast, we revisit what happened and how, by removing the illness labels and focusing on creating health, rather than treating disease, Nicola was pain free by the end of those six weeks. 

Even more enlightening though, is our chat about everything that Nicola has achieved since then, without me. I know you’re going to find it fascinating, whether you saw the TV show or not. Nicola is a remarkable woman and her story a truly inspirational one.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/87

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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CAUTION ADVISED: this podcast contains swearing.

What’s holding you back in life at the moment? Is there a problem – be it practical or emotional, to do with your health, relationships, work, finance or anything else – that seems insurmountable? Whatever your struggle, my guest on this week’s Feel Better Live More podcast believes that the solution is already within you – that you have what it takes to transform or transcend any challenge you face.

She’s Marie Forleo, a US entrepreneur, writer, philanthropist and, above all, an unshakeable optimist. I caught up with Marie on the London leg of a promotional tour for her new self-help book, Everything Is Figureoutable. The title is quite a promise but after listening to what she has to say, I think you’ll be inspired to think the same way.

We discuss perfectionism and why comparing ourselves unfavourably to others – so common in this age of social media – can really threaten our creativity. We also discuss the truth about excuses, the liberating difference between ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t’, and why a growth mindset is preferable to a fixed mindset if we want to make changes in our lives. Whatever it is that you want from life, I think Marie’s strategies will shift you into a more positive mindset and help you take action. This is a really energising and inspiring conversation – I hope you enjoy it!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/86

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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How does alcohol fit into your life? Have you ever given it any thought?

My guest on this week’s podcast is Andy Ramage, a performance coach and author. He’s also one of the founders of One Year No Beer, a habit-changing programme that invites people to try 28, 90 or 365 days alcohol free – and see what it does for them. Andy was like many of us, he was not an alcoholic but he was what he calls ‘a middle lane drinker’. He would drink a little bit to unwind, at work events, when he saw his friends and probably a little bit more on the weekends. Andy started off on a 30 day trial without alcohol and now hasn’t drunk any alcohol for six years and says he can’t envisage doing so again. But his agenda is not to make you stop drinking for good. It’s to demonstrate that taking a break from the booze can bring a surprising host of benefits, even if you don’t think of yourself as a problematic drinker.

Andy and I delve into just what some of those benefits might be. We discuss how alcohol is so ingrained in our social lives and often our work culture that often we don’t even consider what life would be like without it. It’s linked to every part of our lives from relaxation and fun to social bonding or even just relieving boredom. We talk about societal expectations and peer pressure and both of us share our own individual stories and our own journeys with alcohol. Finally, Andy shares some brilliant, practical tips to help anyone who maybe considering tactical break from alcohol.

This is a really inspiring conversation. Whether you’re already thinking of cutting down, it’s not something you’ve considered, or even if you’re already abstaining, I hope you’ll find some life-enhancing lessons in this podcast. 

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/85

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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When was the last time you gave any real thought to walking? It’s so easy to put one foot in front of the other. Yet this unique, underrated activity sets us apart from other species, and brings incredible advantages – yes, superpowers – if we do it enough.

My guest on this week’s podcast is the neuroscientist Shane O’Mara, a professor of experimental brain research at Trinity College Dublin. After reading his remarkable new book, In Praise of Walking: The New Science of How We Walk And Why It’s Good For Us, I couldn’t wait to talk to him about the topics it raises. Shane has always been a keen walker and aims to clock 15,000 to 17,000 steps each day on his pedometer. But as we discuss, the positive effects of walking go way beyond the fitness benefits we all know about.

Walking helps more than our hearts and lungs, our muscles and posture, yet modern, sedentary lives mean we’re doing far less of it than nature intended. It can increase creativity and problem solving, lift our mood and protect us from depression. Shane reveals how it helps learning, memory and cognition and how it can slow and even reverse the functional ageing of the brain. All this science, he hopes, will help convince town planners and public health officials that we must redesign our environments with pedestrians in mind.

This is such an enlightening conversation and I know you’ll gain some fascinating new perspectives on how you could (and why you should) fit more walking into your life. Why not head out for a stroll as you listen?

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/84

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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This week, the microphones are turned and it’s me in the hot seat. This conversation was recorded at The Festival of Politics 2019 on World Mental Health Day in The Scottish Parliament with Deputy Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Mental Health, Annie Wells MSP. I was invited to speak about my mission to inspire people to make small sustainable changes to their lifestyles, which as many of you know, I believe is the secret to having a healthier and happier life. We discuss how my own experience as a carer shaped the way I practice medicine and I talk about my passionate belief that everybody should have access to good quality health information. We also delve into a wide variety of different topics from breathing and sleep to this podcast and how it has grown so rapidly. Finally, the floor is opened up to the attendees of the event and I answer their questions – including being put on the spot at the very end as to what my top tips would be for reforming the NHS. I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/83

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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What is preventing you from living the life of your dreams? Are you waiting for the right person to come along? Will you be happy when you get a pay-rise? Or perhaps you just aren’t capable of getting what you really want? The truth is, that your perfect life is right here waiting for you to discover it. The only thing separating you from it is the dialogue that exists within your subconscious mind. Guest on this week’s podcast is writer, speaker and thought leader in human potential, Peter Crone, a.k.a The Mind Architect. Peter believes that resistance to the way life is, is not only futile, but it is the pre-curser to dis-ease both psychologically and emotionally, which can then manifest physiologically. He believes that to attain true freedom and joy, we need to release ourselves from the prison of our subconscious mind – those limiting thoughts that tell us we are not enough. When we understand that our behaviours and thoughts are a result of our subconscious programming, we can deconstruct where those limiting beliefs came from and we are able to free ourselves from them and experience true liberation. Peter demonstrates how we can deconstruct our own negative thought patterns by talking to me about some of the things that have affected me in my life. We discuss how our subconscious programming can affect our intimate relationships and question whether the Hollywood ideal really exists. This is a really powerful conversation and I really hope it helps you to find more happiness in your life. 

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/82

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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RE-RELEASE - This episode originally aired as a 2-part episode almost 18 months ago and has been one of the most popular episodes to date. After releasing Episode 77, I have had many requests for more information on the impact of circadian clocks on our health. I have therefore decided to re-release this conversation with world-leading expert in circadian biology, whose research in this area is truly ground-breaking. So, here it is!

We know that snacking late at night isn’t a good idea, but until recently, there was little research into what health benefits we could gain from avoiding it. This week, I talk to world leading expert in circadian biology, Professor Satchin Panda, whose research has shown that mice who were restricted to eating within an 8-10 hour window were completely protected from obesity, type-2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease! Professor Panda discusses the findings of his ground-breaking research and explains that when we eat really may be more important than what we eat. We delve into sleep, how research in this area may influence the timing that pharmaceutical drugs are given in the future, why we should wait an hour after waking before eating or drinking anything and much more. Professor Panda’s wealth of knowledge in this area is amazing and this is a really fascinating conversation.

CAUTION: If you have diabetes or are on any blood sugar lowering medications, talk to a healthcare professional before you go for prolonged periods without eating.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/81

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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Loneliness is an epidemic. We are surrounded by people yet many of us feel empty. Why is this? This week, one of my best friends, entrepreneur and podcast host, Dhru Purohit explains that many of us are craving deep meaningful connected friendships and we don’t even know it. We have the feeling that we are in control of our lives, that we are surviving, but we miss the fact that we need a deep connection to others to truly thrive. We discuss the power of touch and how having someone to open up to about the way you feel literally calms your nervous system down. We talk about why making friendships is harder as an adult and why this is a particular problem for men – a fifth of whom say they don’t have any close friends. We chat about our own personal experiences and what works for us.

These days, many of us expect our partner to be everything to us – from confidant to our best friend – Dhru explains why having friendships outside of our intimate relationships is essential. Finally, we delve into how we can deepen the friendships we have and how communication is essential to maintain them. Dhru’s insights are invaluable and I think they will really make you examine the relationships in your life. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, I hope it inspires you to take some time out to sit down and talk to one of your friends.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/friendship

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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CAUTION ADVISED: this podcast contains mild swearing.

When we think about running, most of us think of it as a form of physical exercise – something that we do to lose weight, look better or stay healthy. Some of us like to measure how far and how quickly we can run. But running can be so much more than that. What if someone told you that running could be a tool to transform your life? This week, film-maker and inspirational human being, Sanjay Rawal, is here to do just that.

Whilst making his latest film (3100: Run and Become), Sanjay followed the most elite multi-day race in the world - the 3,100 mile race, which takes place on the streets of Queens, New York City each summer. He also followed the Kalahari Bushman and a group of Japanese Monks. What was common amongst all three groups of people was that they performed superhuman feats with the sole goal of spiritual growth. Sanjay talks about their individual journeys and what we can all learn from them.

Through physical exertion, Sanjay believes that we can all understand who we are and connect to something bigger than ourselves. We discuss how modern life presents many obstacles for us, but Sanjay explains how we can all achieve self-expansion, whether we are running or simply walking down the road. This is an incredible conversation – I think you will really enjoy it. 

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/79

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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SPECIAL EPISODE FOR WORLD OBESITY DAY to support a charity called HENRY, which is doing amazing work to combat childhood obesity.

The statistics look gloomy. 1 in 10 children are obese when they start school and the odds are stacked against them. Only 1 in 20 children who starts school obese, will be a healthy weight when they leave primary school. But finally, there is a glimmer of hope. Have HENRY found a solution to reverse the trend? Their results so far are extremely promising. Today, I talk to Chief Executive of HENRY, Kim Roberts about the amazing work that HENRY does and what they have achieved so far. HENRY believes that the problem doesn’t just lie in what people are eating and tries to work with parents to create healthy environments. Kim explains that empathy before education is key and that HENRY takes a holistic approach to helping families become healthier and happier. The practitioners that HENRY trains have reported that they too have benefited from the training and have made positive change in their lives. HENRY’s approach echoes my own approach when tackling health of families and I believe that if it was available to all families, we would be a happier, healthier nation. At a time when childhood obesity is on the rise and we are at risk of our children having a lower life expectancy than their parents, it has never been more imperative to talk about these issues. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/henry

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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