Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book 

https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_shareWhat if aging well wasn't about fighting your body, but finally learning to work with it?

This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm joined by the wonderful Liz Earle MBE, bestselling wellness author, nutritional pioneer, and one of the most trusted voices in women's health. Her latest book, How to Age, is an instant number one bestseller, and this conversation is a beautiful reminder of why her work resonates so deeply.Liz brings warmth, wisdom, and science together in a way that feels genuinely accessible, and she makes a compelling case that the most powerful tools for longevity are often the simplest and most free

Here's What We Dive Into:

- How mitochondria drive almost every aspect of how we age, and why caring for them is the foundation of lasting health.

- Why the best longevity tools are free: morning daylight, grounding, and filtered water, and how each one fuels cellular energy.

- How disrupted light signals quietly wreck sleep and mood, and why "sky before screens" is a rule worth keeping.

- What structured water and hydrogen water actually are, and how to make your daily hydration work harder.

- Why sunscreen timing matters more than we think, and what the science of UVA and UVB really says.

- How perimenopause, exhaustion, and poor sleep are often connected, and what Liz wishes she had known sooner.

- Why Liz has never said "anti-aging" and why she believes the pro-aging revolution starts with women like us.

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

***

This episode is sponsored by:

DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.

Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.

👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker

Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today

15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/ 

***

The Great British Veg Out

How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out

Reset Your Health

If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.

Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.

https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read

The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/

📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin

📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast

💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:Women's Brain Health: What Science REALLY Says About Hormones, PMS & Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay

***

Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:

Science Simplified, Health Humanised.

Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.

https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Highlights

00:00:00 Intro

00:02:00 The 12 Years of Poor Health Women Accept

00:04:12 How Liz Went from Burnout to Her Healthiest Decade

00:08:17 What Mitochondria Do and Why They Drive Disease

00:11:53 The 3 Free Inputs That Power Your Cells

00:14:12 Sky Before Screens: The Morning Light Habit

00:22:00 Why You Still Can't Switch Off at Night

00:31:42 Structured Water, EZ Water, and Hydrogen Explained

00:39:06 Why Barefoot Time on Earth Reduces Inflammation

00:52:10 When to Skip Sunscreen and What UVB Actually Does

01:01:00 HRT and Perimenopause: What Liz Wishes She Knew

01:06:28 Why Liz Refuses to Say Anti-Aging

01:10:12 The Two-Year Test for Emotional StressSonnet 4.6

Have you ever noticed how a song can instantly change your mood? In this clip, I’m exploring how sound and vibration might influence the body, including stress responses and the way we experience emotions day to day. This clip explores the idea of the body as a “tuning fork”, where music, voice, and environmental frequency may affect us at a cellular level, including through fascia. We also look at visual examples of water and sand responding to specific frequencies and how that connects to the wider conversation about vibration, emotion, and why some people feel others’ energy when they enter a room. Jason Van Blerk in conversation with Sarah Ann

Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

This episode is sponsored by:

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker

Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/

DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/

📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin

📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

Why do your mood, energy, appetite, and sex drive feel different at different points in your cycle? It’s because estrogen and progesterone shift the brain and body between two core reproductive “modes” across the menstrual cycle. This clip explores how the first half of the cycle is more estrogen-driven and tends to orient the brain and behaviour toward mate attraction and sex, including higher sexual desire and greater interest in men. It then looks at what changes after ovulation, when progesterone rises and the body shifts gears toward supporting implantation and pregnancy, affecting everything from the immune system and circulation to energy levels, mood, and appetite.

Sarah Hill in conversation with Sarah Ann

Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

This episode is sponsored by:

NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/

Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

***

Let’s be friends!

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin

📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book 

https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Most of us are far kinder to strangers than we are to ourselves. We offer warmth, patience, and understanding to everyone around us, and yet when we struggle, we reach for the harshest possible voice. Why is that? And more importantly, what can we do about it?

This week on Live Well Be Well, we are exploring the profound and life-changing power of self-compassion, bringing together five extraordinary voices:

- Dr. Kristen Neff, whose 20 years of research built the scientific foundation of self-kindness;

- Professor Paul Gilbert, founder of Compassion-Focused Therapy;

- Philosopher and author Alain de Botton;

- Bestselling author Oliver Burkeman;

- and gut health physician Dr. Will Bulsiewicz.

We dive deep into the biological and psychological reasons why we fight ourselves, and how shifting from a "threat" mindset to one of "care" can fundamentally change our health.

Here’s what we explore together:

- The Three Pillars of Self-Compassion: Dr. Kristen Neff explains why you need kindness, mindfulness, and a sense of shared humanity to truly heal.

- Hacking the Nervous System: Professor Paul Gilbert discusses how to move from a "fight, flight, or freeze" response into a "tend and befriend" state.

- The Origins of the Inner Critic: Alain de Botton reveals how we internalize the voices of authority from our past and how to start a "goodbye ceremony" to those that no longer serve us.

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

***

This episode is sponsored by:

DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.

Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.

👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker

Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today

15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/ 

***

The Great British Veg Out

How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out

Reset Your Health

If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.

Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.

https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read

The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/

📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin

📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast

***

If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:

The #1 BETTER HEALTH Technique You Never Knew Existed! Dr Kristin Neff

https://youtu.be/jKq069w4rjI

***

Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:

Science Simplified, Health Humanised.

Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.

https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Highlights00:00:00 Intro

00:01:13 Dr. Kristen Neff: The three elements of self-compassion

00:04:38 Why our nervous system defaults to self-criticism

00:07:00 The "What would I say to a friend?" reframe

00:10:00 Why self-compassion is a more effective motivator than criticism

00:12:02 Alain de Botton: the inner critical voice and where it comes from

00:14:43 Why some believe harsh self-talk drives them forward

00:18:01 Oliver Burkeman: a personal journey through self-compassion

00:22:25 How childhood patterns shape the way we treat ourselves

00:26:17 The missing step in optimization and productivity culture

00:29:06 Paul Gilbert: compassionate self vs the compassionate mind

00:32:34 Dr. Will Bulsiewicz: gut health is about far more than food

Why does it still feel stigmatised to talk about sex, even when sexual norms are more open than ever? Because for many people, that lingering sense of taboo can feel like the missing piece, no matter how “free” or modern our culture seems.This clip explores why these conversations can still feel difficult and why that silence can carry real weight. As a nutritionist and health communicator, Sarah reflects on the emotional and cultural layers that shape how comfortable we feel discussing sex, intimacy, and what we actually need.

Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann

Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

This episode is sponsored by:

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker

Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/

DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/

📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin

📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

Are you ignoring symptoms that might need a urology check? If you’re unsure what urology actually covers, this conversation breaks it down clearly and explains why getting an evaluation can be so important, including the reminder that it could save your life.This clip explores what urology is, what kinds of health concerns it relates to, and why timely assessment matters. I’m discussing the importance of taking symptoms seriously and not delaying medical evaluation, with a practical, health-first perspective and clear communication you can trust as a nutritionist and wellbeing educator.

Listen to the full episode ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠

***

This episode is sponsored by:

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker

Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/

Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/

📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin

📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

Exciting news - pre-order my debut book 

https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

You are doing everything right. You are eating well, you are exercising, you are optimizing. And somehow, you still aren't feeling as well as you hoped. That was me at 21, before my body finally found a way to make me listen.

This week on Live Well Be Well, I want to talk to you about something I've been sitting with for the last ten years, something I've seen quietly transform the lives of my clients, something that changed the entire direction of my own life, and something I've spent the last year pouring into my new book, Healthy Shouldn't Be This Hard.This episode is a deeply personal one. I trace the thread from my own health collapse at 21 all the way to the $8.5 trillion wellness industry that, despite its size, is leaving most of us feeling worse, not better. We talk about the try-slip-shame-restart cycle so many of us are trapped in, and why we keep mistaking self-criticism for self-improvement. I also dig into two landmark studies that stopped me in my tracks while writing this book: Ellen Langer's hotel maid experiment, which showed that perception alone changed women's weight and blood pressure without a single lifestyle change, and Alia Crum's milkshake study, which revealed that our thoughts directly alter our hunger hormones.The science is clear. Our bodies are listening to everything we think about ourselves.

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

***

This episode is sponsored by:

DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.

Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.

👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker

Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today

15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/ 

***

The Great British Veg Out

How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out

Reset Your Health

If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.

Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.

https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read

The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/

📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin

📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast

💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:

Ellen Langer: The Mind Can Slow Down an Aging Bodyhttps://youtu.be/VGpNMy1VxsY

***

Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:

Science Simplified, Health Humanised.

Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.

https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Highlights

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:25 Sarah's Health Collapse at 21

00:00:53 The $8.5 Trillion Wellness Industry Problem

00:01:17 Comparison Culture and the Shame Spiral

00:02:22 The Try, Slip, Shame, Restart Cycle

00:03:07 The Pizza Moment and Self-Compassion

00:04:39 Self-Criticism Lives in Your Body

00:08:22 Ellen Langer's Hotel Maid Study Explained

00:10:48 How Your Thoughts Change Hunger Hormones

00:12:22 What Self-Compassion Does to Your Body

00:14:31 The Selfie Test: Your Self-Compassion Score

00:18:34 The Mirror Practice and Leaning In

00:19:24 MAP: Mindfulness, Appreciation, Presence Before Meals

00:21:00 The Self-Compassionate Intention Before Eating

00:23:27 Why Wellness Solutions Aren't Making Us Healthier

00:24:41 The History of Dieting Since 1863

00:26:20 The Story You Tell Yourself

Do you ever wonder why both men and women can end up prioritising the man? In this conversation, I’m looking at how that dynamic shows up in real life, and why it matters for both men and women. This clip explores the idea that prioritising the man is not just something men expect, but something women can reinforce too, often without realising it. I’m discussing what that looks like in day-to-day relationships, the assumptions that can sit underneath it, and why it’s worth men listening closely to this conversation as well.

Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann

Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

This episode is sponsored by:

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker

Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/

DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/

📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin

📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/tNoDNnpSkdA

Do men get “period brain” too, or do hormones affect men and women in completely different ways? In this conversation, I explain why men’s primary sex hormone, testosterone, tends to be more dynamic and responsive to immediate environmental cues, while women’s primary sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are generally more cyclical and predictable across the menstrual cycle. This clip explores how testosterone follows a circadian rhythm (higher in the morning, lower in the evening) and can shift with real-life inputs like competition wins or losses, job stress, relationship context, being around an attractive person, and whether someone has children. We also talk about the common assumptions people make about women’s moods and cycles, including why blaming anger on a period often misses what’s actually happening hormonally, since hormone levels are at their lowest during menstruation.

Sarah Hill in conversation with Sarah Ann

Listen to the full episode⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

***

This episode is sponsored by:

NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/

Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

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Most of us have an opinion on porn. Very few of us have actually looked at the evidence.We talk about gut health, hormones, sleep, and stress. But there's one part of our sexual lives that almost nobody is talking about honestly, and it might be quietly shaping our relationships more than we realise.

This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm joined by Silva Neves, an accredited psychosexual and relationship therapist and author. Silva holds deeply taboo topics with total clinical clarity and zero judgment, helping us have the conversation about porn that most people are too afraid to start.

Here's what we explore together:

- How porn is classified as "neither healthy nor unhealthy" by research, and why that nuance changes everything.

- Why there is no proven causation between porn and relationship breakdown, misogyny, or erectile dysfunction.

- What compulsive porn use actually looks like, and when it signals something deeper going on emotionally.

- How shared values around porn can make or break a relationship, and why most couples never have this conversation.

- Why dopamine isn't the villain we think, and how habits around technology and porn really form.

- What research says about fantasies, kinks and fetishes, and why most are far more normal than we realise.

- How shame silently shuts down sexual communication in long-term relationships, and what to do instead.

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

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This episode is sponsored by:

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The Great British Veg Out

How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out

Reset Your Health

If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.

Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.

https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read

The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:Why You Still Can’t Orgasm (The Step-By-Step Guide) | Dr. Laurie Mintz, Sex Therapisthttps://youtu.be/gr6RWK2LFJEBetter Sex EVERY TIME? Dr Rena Malik Tells You Howhttps://youtu.be/C8HJAH5plVw

***

Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:

Science Simplified, Health Humanised.

Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.

https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Highlights

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:20 Is Porn Healthy or Unhealthy? Silva's Honest Answer

00:05:13 Porn Is Not a Monolith: Understanding the Many Types

00:10:18 How Many People Actually Watch Porn?

00:14:23 Is Porn Addiction Real? The Clinical Truth

00:19:01 Porn, Cheating and the Agreements We Never Have

00:22:36 Why Couples With Shared Porn Values Tend to Thrive

00:28:21 Dopamine, Habits and Digital Attachment

00:37:00 What Age Should Young People Be Exposed to Porn?

00:39:13 The Manosphere: Fear, Misogyny and Online Extremism

00:53:06 Fantasies, Kinks and Fetishes: More Normal Than You Think

00:58:24 How Shame Kills Sex in Long-Term Relationships

01:01:00 Talking About Your Erotic Mind With a Partner

01:07:31 Asexuality as a Valid and Underrepresented Orientation

01:11:10 What Good Relationship Vows Really Look Like