The Little Things

Heart disease is the biggest killer of people in New Zealand, including women, yet it is still often seen as a male issue. This episode, Francesca and Louise discuss their own heart and cholesterol journeys and get advice and insight from leading cardiologist, Dr Cara Wasywich. 

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The Little Things usually talks about the issues facing women of a certain age - but sometimes, those issues can be caused by their husbands or partners.

So today, Francesca and Louise are turning their attention on middle-aged men - why do men get so down as they get older, how can they open up, and is 'male menopause' really a thing?

To discuss this, their joinged by broadcaster and A Life Less Punishing author, Matt Heath, and clinical psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland. 

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When it comes to nutrition and what you put into your body, there is so much information out there about what not to do and what to do instead that it can be difficult to know the truth. 

This week, Francesca and Louise are joined once again by NZ-based leading expert on women's health and fitness, Dr Stacy Sims, to discuss all things nutrition, hydration, food and gut microbiome. 

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Making friends as a kid is easy work. As an adult? Not so much. From knowing how many friends you should have, to working through relationships that might be too toxic, juggling friends in adulthood is sometimes as complicated as your playground relationships.

This week, Francesca and Louise are joined by Dr Hannah Korrel, author of How to Break Up With Friends, to discuss all the advice you need to know for navigating, maintaining and building friendships in adulthood. 

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Parents always want to keep their kids safe in any circumstance, and always have. But with the rise of social media, that has become a more difficult task.

Today, Francesca and Louise talk with US-based Kiwi journalist Olivia Carville on her investigation into the extent of sextortion scams targeting teen boys there, and then get advice on what parents can do to help their kids navigate the internet safely with NetSafe's Sean Lyons. 

Suicide and depression help services:

If it is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

For counselling and support:

• Lifeline: http://www.lifeline.co.nz, call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: www.lifeline.org.nz/services/suicide-crisis-helpline, or call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

Youth services:

• Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234
• What's Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)
• Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)
• Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737
• Aoake te Rā (Bereaved by Suicide Service): Call 0800 000 053

For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team, or counselling service.

The Mental Health Foundation has more helplines and service contacts - click here for information

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The physical effects of ageing can be difficult for many of us to accept. Whether we’re going grey or starting to develop wrinkles, a lot of us will do anything to avoid watch our bodies change.

But there are plenty of cosmetic procedures available to help slow down those signs of ageing, from botox to dying your hair, that can help people feel more comfortable in their own bodies.

For this week’s episode, Francesca and Louise speak first with acclaimed hairdresser and stylist Brad Lepper about all things related to ageing and greying hair, and then from the 30 minute mark onwards, with founder of The Face Plce and expert in non-surgical cosmetic procedures, Dr Cat Stone, to discuss all the advice and tips you need for cosmetic procedures - including sexual rejuvenation.

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It’s a topic no one ever wants to think about, but people are being urged to plan early for their parent’s care as they got older. New Zealand’s population is continuing to grow - Stats NZ estimated in 2022 that the number of people 65 years or older would hit 1 million by 2028, which would equate to 1 in 5 New Zealanders.

With more of us getting older and living for longer, it also means more families working out how to care for their loved ones. This week, Francesca and Louise are joined by Esther Perriam, director of the Eldernet Group, to find out all the information you need for caring for loved ones as they get older. 

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There are plenty of barriers in place when it comes to women in the workplace - not just from the gender pay gap, but the way mothers and middle-aged women are treated by their employers. 

To discuss how to break down those walls and be valued by your employer, this week Francesca and Louise are joined by women's employment advocate and head of her consulting agency, Jo Cribb. 

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The Little Things is back for Season 3, and for the first episode, Francesca and Louise are digging into one of the most contentious topics in women's health at the moment - Hormone Replacement Therapy. Dr Samantha Newman joins to discuss all you need to know about the treatment and hormone changes in women, and why she thinks HRT is worth trying. 

For more from Dr Newman, head to: https://allaboutus.teachable.com/p/is-it-hormones-discuss-perimenopause-with-your-gp and use discount code LITTLETHINGS for 20% off the course. 

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Season 3 of The Little Things is coming out soon - but before that happens, Francesca and Louise are catching up on everything they've learnt from the first two seasons - what have they changed, what are they still working on, and what do they still need to learn?

Season 3 returns from August 3rd. 

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