Her Discussions by Dr Faye

What if the reason you’re struggling isn’t you, but the systems around you?

This week, I sat down with Jenny Okolo, a mental health occupational therapist and TEDx speaker, who has worked across forensic mental health and the prison system, to talk about ADHD, autism and what happens when neurodivergent people are expected to fit into environments that weren’t designed with them in mind.

We also talk about:

⚡ The 70% rule that can make life with ADHD easier
🏫 How schools, healthcare & prisons can fail neurodivergent people
💼 What your workplace can actually do to support ADHD
📱 When self diagnosis helps VS when it can become harmful
👀 Why someone’s worst behaviour doesn’t tell you their whole story

Resources & links mentioned:

-Jenny’s TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMg_s4mGjVY

-Jenny’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenokolo/?hl=en

-Faye’s ADHD book recommendation: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0971460973?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

💌 Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/herdiscussions

🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==

📱 Find us on socials:

Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate

Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod

📩 Want to reach out?

Email: [email protected]

🛑 Disclaimers:

Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.

Another Thursday, another mini episode!

Every Thursday, we’re sharing the Buy or Bye Bye segment from one of your favourite Her Discussions episodes - a breakdown of what actually works for your health. 

This week, we're revisiting our episode with Amy Watson, founder of HASSL, a social enterprise working to tackle harassment and violence against women and girls.

In the full episode, we discuss:

📱 #1 reason why safety apps aren't the solution

🤝 what men can actually do to help women feel safer

🚨 why women's safety isn't a women's issue

🚩 the biggest myth about women's safety

💬 how to talk about misogyny without making men defensive

Listen to the full podcast here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1iSxMCol0sGCzwXOcGn7BX?si=9B8OOkMOQJCzit60n638gw

YouTube: https://youtu.be/PqR2mM8dXEA

Can I ask you a BIG favour? 💙

Please leave a review or rating. It helps us grow the podcast and bring you more amazing guests.

🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==⁠

📱 Find us on socials:

Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate

Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod

📩 Want to reach out?

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

🛑 Disclaimers:

Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.

What aren’t women being told about pregnancy and birth?

From birth plans and epidurals to C-sections and postpartum mental health, there are so many decisions women may have to make, often without really knowing what their options are until they’re already in the middle of it.

Today I’m talking about exactly that with Dr Kenga Sivarajah, a consultant obstetrician specialising in high-risk pregnancy and perinatal mental health, who has led labour ward care at King’s College Hospital since 2018.

You’ll also learn:
💉 Why you don’t get a medal for giving birth without an epidural
🧠 7 postpartum mental health warning signs you shouldn’t ignore
🌸 Does perineal massage actually reduce your risk of tearing?
📝 3 questions to ask yourself before making a birth plan
🤰 Does pregnancy really have to ‘destroy’ your body?
Set your reminder for MONDAY, 7AM 🔔

Resources & links mentioned:

• Dr Kenga’s website: https://mskengasivarajah.co.uk/
• Episode mentioned at 58:53: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ArQVZIC_A&t=2s

🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==

📱 Find us on socials:

Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate

Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod

📩 Want to reach out?

Email: [email protected]

🛑 Disclaimers:

Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.

Another Thursday, another mini episode!

Every Thursday, we’re sharing the Buy or Bye Bye segment from one of your favourite Her Discussions episodes - a breakdown of what actually works for your health. 

This week, we're revisiting our episode with Lily Silverton, founder of The Priorities Method.

In the full episode, we discuss:

🧠 the 2 question mindset to shift your priorities

💼 how to separate work from your identity

⏰ the truth about 5am mornings

💭 how to analyse where your time goes

✨ why chasing perfection can backfire

Listen to the full podcast here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6aqkTbdRWLfFer515zRGwS?si=TZuEbTy4SJ6uHWYTVoxjGQ

YouTube: https://youtu.be/-9AynHB4Vu4

Can I ask you a BIG favour? 💙

Please leave a review or rating. It helps us grow the podcast and bring you more amazing guests.

🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==⁠

📱 Find us on socials:

Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate

Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod

📩 Want to reach out?

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

🛑 Disclaimers:

Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.

Are you training and eating as a woman, or a man?

In today’s episode with Dr Hazel Wallace, we breaking down what women actually need to know about fuelling for exercise, periods, PMOS, endometriosis, iron deficiency and hormone health without falling for every wellness trend online.

Dr Hazel Wallace is a former NHS doctor, registered associate nutritionist, author, and the founder of The Food Medic, a platform she launched over 14 years ago to make evidence-based health and nutrition information accessible, practical, and easy to implement. Through her work, Hazel aims to challenge outdated narratives around women’s health and empower women with the knowledge and tools to better understand and support their bodies.

We also talk about:

🩸 The #1 red flag you might be under-fuelling
🧘‍♀️ Why cycle syncing your workouts isn’t as evidence-based as it sounds
⚡ What to eat 30–60 minutes before a workout
🥗 The diet linked with less endometriosis pain
🏃‍♀️ Why HIIT isn’t the problem for women’s hormones
🫘 The iron trick to know if you don’t eat meat

ad this episode is sponsored by @larocheposay & focusing on La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ for damaged skin barrier & Dr Faye’s go-to dry skin favourite.

As a dermatologist-recommended option for skin barrier repair, this ultra-soothing, rich cream is enriched with Vitamin B5 (panthenol) and helps to speed up the natural repair process for dry, irritated skin and scarring - making it a go-to solution when you are searching for the best barrier repair cream for sensitive skin.

Useful links for skin barrier repair:

Best La Roche-Posay skin barrier repair cream → Cicaplast Baume B5+ https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/cicaplast-baume-b5-repairing-balm/LRP_035.h
Complete guide to the Cicaplast range → Repair your skin’s moisture barrier with Cicaplast

https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/repair-your-skin-s-moisture-barrier-with-cicaplast.html
What is panthenol? → What is panthenol? Benefits & uses for skin https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/en_GB/panthenol.html

Resources & links mentioned:

• Dr Hazel’s book ‘Not Just a Period’:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Not-Just-Period-Reclaim-Hormones/dp/1035049597
• Dr Hazel’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drhazelwallace/?hl=en
• 36:20 clarification: A 2022 review found that reproductive health accounted for 44% of topics in women’s health journals overall (PMID: 35333604)
• Inositol reference: Duan M, Yang M, Li C, Wu X, Yin X, Zhu H. Effects of inositol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: an umbrella review of meta-analyses from randomized controlled trials. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2026 Feb 11;17:1741509. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2026.1741509. PMID: 41757236; PMCID: PMC12932251.

🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==

📱 Find us on socials:

Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate

Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod

📩 Want to reach out?

Email: [email protected]

🛑 Disclaimers:

Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.

Another Thursday, another mini episode!

Every Thursday, we’re sharing the Buy or Bye Bye segment from one of your favourite Her Discussions episodes - a breakdown of what actually works for your health. 

This week, we're revisiting our episode with Dr Florence Comite, an endocrinologist, longevity expert and the founder of the first Women's Health Clinic at Yale.

In the full episode, we discuss:

🤍 the hormone women start losing in their 30s

🧬 the 5 biomarkers every woman should know

💊 are peptides actually worth the hype?

🌸 what birth control could be telling you about your future health

Listen to the full podcast here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3M6njfi8v1hbffmGkE82Uf?si=mUU3qGeQRrSWaKkwCrD9Kg

YouTube: https://youtu.be/DXP_MyN7w_4

Can I ask you a BIG favour? 💙

Please leave a review or rating. It helps us grow the podcast and bring you more amazing guests.

🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==⁠

📱 Find us on socials:

Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate

Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod

📩 Want to reach out?

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

🛑 Disclaimers:

Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.

📚Win a FREE BOOK! 📚

Deborah is giving away a copy of ‘Bad Influence: How the Internet Hijacked Our Health’ to two of you!

To enter, comment the most shocking fact you learned from this week’s episode. We’ll announce the winner next Monday on @herdiscussions Instagram stories 🏅

What health advice can you actually trust?

This week, I’m joined by Dr Deborah Cohen, a medically trained investigative journalist, to unpack how health misinformation spreads and why women are especially vulnerable to it.

We talk about:

🩻 The hidden harms of full body MRI scans
😳 Why finding something wrong on a scan isn’t always a good thing
🤖 The right way to use AI for health advice
💸 How to spot health advice that’s actually marketing
💊 Why social media can be a risky place to get advice on weight loss drugs

Resources & links mentioned:

Deborah’s book ‘Bad Influence: How the Internet Hijacked Our Health’: ****https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Influence-Internet-Hijacked-Health/dp/0861549880 ****

Our episode with sleep expert Dr Lindsay Browning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5VAf__TgA&t=1890s

🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==

📱 Find us on socials:

Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate

Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod

📩 Want to reach out?

Email: [email protected]

🛑 Disclaimers:

Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.

Another Thursday, another mini episode!

Every Thursday, we’re sharing the Buy or Bye Bye segment from one of your favourite Her Discussions episodes - a breakdown of what actually works for your health. 

This week, we're revisiting our episode with Dr Madusha Peiris and Dr Rubina Aktar, who are leading experts in the gut-brain connection, with over a decade of research focused on how the gut senses nutrients and communicates with the brain through hormone signalling.

In the full episode, we discuss:

🥦 the reason you shouldn’t be buying probiotic supplements🔬 the truth behind “nature’s ozempic”🤤 why you never feel full🥣 what to buy to * actually * heal your gut🍽️ how to moderate your appetite control

Listen to the full podcast here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FXpyJ0RfoOzfvtJ4Gp3WG?si=OyucAfafQf6XqSgswLbUhw

YouTube: https://youtu.be/dLEliGrzHpk

Can I ask you a BIG favour? 💙

Please leave a review or rating. It helps us grow the podcast and bring you more amazing guests.

🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==⁠

📱 Find us on socials:

Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate

Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod

📩 Want to reach out?

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

🛑 Disclaimers:

Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.

Have we made gut health way more complicated than it needs to be?

This week, I’m joined by Dr Emily Leeming, a gut microbiome scientist at King’s College London and registered dietitian, to unpack the gut health advice that’s actually worth listening to.

What you’ll learn:

🍽️ The easiest way to hit 30g of fibre in a day
🎈 The difference between normal and concerning bloating
💩 What should healthy poo actually look like?
🫃 Why a flat stomach isn’t a sign of a healthy gut
🧬 The link between your hormones and your gut
🥝 2 kiwi trick for constipation
🩸 How does your menstrual cycle affect your gut?

Resources & links mentioned:

• Dr Emily’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dremilyleeming/?hl=en
• Dr Emily’s book ‘Fibre Power’ - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/476519/fibre-power-by-leeming-dr-emily/9780241804520
• Poop Map App - https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/poop-map-pin-and-track/id1303269455

🔔 Join the HERd* broadcast channel here: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==

📱 Find us on socials:

Instagram & Tiktok - @drfayebate

Podcast Instagram & Tiktok: @herdiscussionspod

📩 Want to reach out?

Email: [email protected]

🛑 Disclaimers:

Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.

Another Thursday, another mini episode!

Every Thursday, we’re sharing the Buy or Bye Bye segment from one of your favourite Her Discussions episodes - a breakdown of what actually works for your health. 

This week, we're revisiting our episode with Stefanie Sword-Williams, TEDx Speaker and Forbes 30U30, founder of F*ck Being Humble, bestselling author and career confidence expert.

In the full episode, we discuss:

🤝🏻 the 10 questions trick for networking

❤️‍🩹 how to keep your self-worth and career success separate💭 why introverts are better at networking than extroverts💗 how to train yourself to feel like you’re not running out of time

✨ why you SHOULD move jobs constantly

Listen to the full podcast here:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4b3XacPHHd3zxc2AmMDbpJ?si=ihwdyQydTDC183f5BDOnpg

YouTube: https://youtu.be/kUnYe7PBoSo

Links to subscribe / follow:

* Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/her-discussions-by-dr-faye/id1835829612⁠⁠⁠

* Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5viLYizHD4Zy6J42iqtPRo⁠⁠⁠

Can I ask you a BIG favour? 💙

* Please leave a review or rating. It helps us grow the podcast and bring you more amazing guests.

* Share with someone who needs this; it might help them live a happier, healthier life.

* Follow us on social media or join the broadcast channel to send us your questions for our guests. I'll leave the link here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbY4liwxlLnewx4H/?igsh=MWhuaXFweGtucTB3cA==⁠⁠⁠

🛑 Disclaimers:Opinions are my own. This content is for educational / entertainment purposes and not medical or financial advice.