The Prescription Strength Podcast

None of us gets to choose every turning point in our lives.

For GP and author Dr Clara Doran, that turning point came during maternity leave when persistent symptoms eventually led to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

But this isn't really a conversation about MS.

It's about what happens when life suddenly stops following the plan you thought you had.

We talk about the uncertainty before a diagnosis, the pressure many of us feel to keep going even when we're struggling, and why carrying on isn't always the same thing as coping.

Clara also shares how her diagnosis led her to explore brain health, sleep, rest, creativity and the everyday habits that quietly shape how we think, feel and function.

If you've ever faced a life change you didn't choose or simply feel exhausted by trying to keep all the plates spinning, I think you'll find something here.

• Why uncertainty is often harder than certainty
• Returning to work after a life-changing diagnosis
• The hidden cost of "just coping"
• Why rest is not a luxury
• Brain health beyond supplements and biohacks
• The importance of creativity and joy
• Learning to accept a different future without giving up hope

Books mentioned

• Doctor Interrupted — Dr Clara Doran
• Heads Up: How to Look After Your Brain So It Will Look After You — Dr Clara Doran

Are collagen, magnesium and greens powders really worth your money?

If social media has convinced you that every woman over 45 needs a cupboard full of supplements, you’re not alone.

In this episode, GP and strength coach Dr Lynette Ewart looks at why midlife women have become such a major target for supplement marketing, what the evidence actually says, and which supplements may genuinely be worth considering.

You’ll hear about:

• Why supplement companies target midlife women
• The difference between marketing claims and scientific evidence
• Creatine, vitamin D and vitamin B12
• Why “natural” doesn’t automatically mean effective
• Three simple questions to ask before buying any supplement

This isn’t an anti-supplement rant. Some supplements have an important place in healthcare. But before you spend money on the latest powder, gummy or capsule, it’s worth knowing what the evidence really shows.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a rating or review—it really helps more people find evidence-based health information.

Have you been offered a statin and wondered why? Perhaps your cholesterol hasn’t changed very much, you feel perfectly well, and suddenly your GP practice wants to discuss cholesterol or cardiovascular risk.

In this Pocket Prescription I explain how statin decisions are made in primary care, why age has such a powerful influence on risk calculations, and why the conversation is usually about future cardiovascular risk rather than cholesterol alone.

Topics covered include:

• Why statins are offered even when you feel well
• How cardiovascular risk calculators work
• The difference between cholesterol levels and overall cardiovascular risk
• Why two people with similar cholesterol results can receive different advice
• The role of blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, age and lifestyle
• Absolute risk reduction and why context matters
• Common misconceptions about statins
• How to think about the balance between potential benefits and side effects

This episode focuses on primary prevention—people who have not previously had a heart attack, stroke or established cardiovascular disease.

As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as personal medical advice.

If you have concerns about your own health or medication, please speak to your healthcare professional.

Have you ever been told that your metabolism is broken, damaged, or slowing down with age?

Social media often blames metabolism for everything from weight gain to low energy, but the reality is usually much more complicated. In this episode, I cover the difference between metabolism and appetite, why the two are often confused, and why that distinction matters if you’re trying to lose weight or improve your health.

Topics covered include:

• What metabolism actually is
• Why metabolism is often more stable than people think
• The research on metabolism and ageing
• Why appetite changes far more dramatically than metabolism
• The impact of sleep, stress, hormones and environment on hunger
• Menopause, weight gain and common misconceptions
• Why some medications can lead to weight gain
• The role of protein, fibre and lifestyle habits in appetite regulation
• Why “fixing your metabolism” is usually the wrong goal

If you’ve ever worried that you’ve damaged your metabolism or that age has made weight loss impossible, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on.

As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as personal medical advice. If you have concerns about your own health, please speak to your healthcare professional.

Have you been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and found yourself confused by conflicting advice online?

Perhaps you’ve heard that T3 is the “active” thyroid hormone, wondered why you’re prescribed thyroxine (levothyroxine), or been tempted by thyroid supplements, private testing, or claims that conventional treatment is missing something.

In this episode, I cover how thyroid hormones work, why thyroxine remains the standard treatment for hypothyroidism, why T3 isn’t routinely measured, and where much of the confusion around thyroid health comes from.

Topics covered include:

• The difference between T4 and T3
• Why levothyroxine is usually prescribed
• Why T3 isn’t routinely tested
• How thyroid blood tests are interpreted
• Thyroid supplements, selenium and zinc
• Why some people still feel unwell despite treatment
• The role of fatigue, sleep, menopause and other health conditions
• How to approach thyroid information online with a critical eye

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting messages about thyroid health, this episode will help you understand the basics and make sense of the conversation.

As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as personal medical advice. If you have concerns about your own health or treatment, please speak to your healthcare professional.

Fish oil used to be seen as universally “good for the heart.” Then suddenly the headlines said it might be dangerous.

So what’s actually true?

In this Pocket Prescription episode, GP Lynette Ewart explains what recent fish oil studies really showed, why different heart conditions matter, and why nutrition science so often gets reduced to simplistic headlines.

A practical, evidence-based guide to making sense of the confusion — without the hype.

Cortisol has become the internet’s favourite explanation for almost everything.

Poor sleep? Cortisol.
Weight gain? Cortisol.
Waking at 3am? Cortisol.
Tired all the time? Apparently also cortisol.

But what does cortisol actually do, when is it genuinely a medical problem, and how much of the online conversation is misunderstanding mixed with marketing?

In this Pocket Prescription episode, GP and strength coach Lynette Ewart explains what cortisol really is, why the wellness industry became obsessed with it, and what people often miss when they blame stress hormones for everything.

This isn’t a “stress doesn’t matter” episode. It absolutely does. But the internet version of cortisol has drifted a long way from reality.

In this episode:

• What cortisol actually does in the body
• Why cortisol rises normally during stress
• The difference between chronic stress and true cortisol disorders
• Why “hormone imbalance” is often used as a vague catch-all term
• The problem with random online hormone testing
• Why sleep, recovery, activity and overall health still matter more than hacks

No hacks.
No supplements being pushed.
Just a calm, evidence-based explanation from clinic reality.

You can also watch the video version on the  Prescription Strength YouTube channel

Most people think their eating habits come down to discipline. I don’t think that’s true.

In this Pocket Prescription episode, I talk about one of the biggest things people overlook when they’re struggling with food, weight, or health habits: their environment.

Because whether it’s the food in your cupboards, the people around you, your stress levels, your routine, or simply what’s constantly within arm’s reach, your environment quietly shapes your behaviour all day long.

And if you’re relying on willpower alone while surrounded by things working against you… that’s a very difficult battle to win.

In this episode, I explore:

• Why eating habits are rarely just about motivation
• The hidden influence of your home and daily surroundings
• Why “nothing has changed” often isn’t actually true
• How modern environments make overeating incredibly easy
• The difference between blame and understanding
• Simple ways to make healthier choices feel easier without relying on constant self-control

A short, practical episode about why behaviour makes a lot more sense once you stop viewing it as a personal failing.

The video version of this episode is also available on YouTube.

If your weight is creeping up and you’re convinced nothing has changed—you’re probably right. But that doesn’t mean nothing has changed.

In this Pocket Prescription episode, I break down why weight gain in midlife often feels confusing and unfair. We cover:

• Why weight gain tends to happen in seasonal spikes, not a straight line
• How muscle loss (and body composition changes) quietly shifts the rules
• The reality of busier lives, less movement, and more sitting
• Why sleep and recovery matter more than you think

This isn’t about blame or “trying harder.” It’s about understanding what’s actually going on so you can decide what’s worth changing.

No hacks. No shortcuts. Just the basics—done properly.

Losing weight is often seen as the hard part. It isn’t.

In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist Dr Courtney Raspin, co-author of The Weight Loss Prescription, to talk about what actually happens after the weight comes off—and why this is where most people struggle.

We explore the gap between weight loss and weight maintenance, particularly in the context of weight loss injections. Because while these medications can be incredibly effective, they don’t solve the underlying behaviours, habits, and psychological patterns that determine what happens next.

This is the part of the conversation that often gets missed: the “exit plan.”

About the book

The Weight Loss Prescription by Dr Courtney Raspin and Dr Max Pemberton brings together the medical and psychological sides of weight loss—particularly in the context of modern treatments like GLP-1 medications.

It’s not a quick fix guide. It’s a framework for what happens after.