Well Enough

What if the life you thought you wanted was never really yours to begin with?

This week on Well Enough, journalist, author and broadcaster Poorna Bell joins Emilie Lavinia for a conversation about mid-life, relationships, ageing and the pressure women face to follow a script - fall in love, get married, have children and stay desirable.

Poorna opens up about why turning 40 felt unexpectedly powerful, the anti-ageing narratives designed to keep women feeling small, how losing her husband reshaped her understanding of love, and why she ultimately chose not to have children. Together, they discuss midlife reinvention, modern dating, emotional resilience and what it really means to “want more” from life.

Poorna’s latest book She Wanted More is out now.

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For decades, women have been sold the idea that exercise is about shrinking themselves — flattening stomachs, toning arms, and chasing the elusive “beach body.” But personal trainer and author Elizabeth Davies thinks it’s time for a rethink.

In this episode, Elizabeth joins Emilie Lavinia to unpack why strength training matters so much as we age, how women can protect their muscles and bones in midlife, and why fitness culture still often repackages body shame as empowerment. We discuss menopause, gym confidence, cardio as punishment, the problem with arbitrary strength standards, and why one workout a week really can be enough.

Elizabeth is the founder of This Woman Lifts and author of Training For Your Old Lady Body, a practical guide to building strength, resilience and confidence for the long game.

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Comedian, presenter and Off Menu co-host Ed Gamble has spent more than 25 years living with Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at just 13 years old, he describes managing the condition as "like having another job" - a constant balancing act of food, insulin, exercise, stress and everyday life.

In this episode, Ed opens up about growing up as a self-described "fat kid", the complicated relationship with food that inspired his memoir Glutton, and how living with a chronic condition has shaped his understanding of health, control and wellbeing. We discuss the mental load of diabetes management, male body image, perfectionism, social media wellness trends, and why trying to optimise every aspect of your life can sometimes make you feel worse, not better.

Ed also shares how technology has transformed diabetes care, the realities of performing stand-up while managing blood sugar levels, his experiences with weight loss and fitness, and why finding balance matters more than chasing perfection.

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Elite marathon runner Anya Culling's story will inspire you but maybe not in the way you expect. She shaved nearly two hours off her marathon time and now competes at the highest level, representing her country.

In this episode, Anya opens up about teenage health crises that shaped her mentality, the ironic moment she realized elite runners do still have periods, and why her coach refused to train her until she got her health sorted. We discuss wellness overwhelm, how to spot the difference between training hard and overtraining, why women's health issues in sport often go unaddressed, and the recovery principle that changed everything for her.

Anya is backing iron supplement brand Active Iron’s campaign to encourage open conversations around women’s health in sport. For more information visit https://activeiron.com/en-gb

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This week, clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and content creator Dr. Julie Smith joins us to dismantle the myth of constant happiness and offer practical tools for navigating life's inevitable storms.

With over 10 million followers and two Sunday Times bestsellers (Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? and Open When), Julie has made it her mission to make high-quality mental health education accessible to everyone.

In this conversation, we explore why young people are struggling despite having "the best it's ever been," the crucial difference between self-compassion and self-indulgence, and how our modern obsession with optimization is setting us up for failure. Julie shares the powerful "predator mindset" that helped her through her own health crisis, explains why feelings are information rather than problems to fix, and introduces the "solid back five" concept - fundamental pillars of mental wellbeing that we constantly underestimate.

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In a world of aggressive optimization, morning routines, and relentless pressure to manifest a perfect reality, how do we experience actual joy when life falls apart?

This week on Well Enough, we sit down with Kate Bowler - Duke University professor, religion scholar, and author - to explore the profound differences between happiness and joy. At 35, Kate was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, an event that completely shattered her reality and forced her to confront the agonizing platitude that "everything happens for a reason."

Kate dismantles toxic positivity and wellness capitalism, explaining why you don't always need to find a silver lining. 

Get Kate’s book “Joyful, Anyway” here https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/joyful-anyway-9781037202582/

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https://www.instagram.com/wellenough

Timecodes:

00:00 Why Joy Isn't What You Think

03:10 Happiness vs. Joy: What’s the Psychological Difference?

06:25 Navigating Rage and Finding Joy After a Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis

08:00 "Emotional Appropriateness" & The Myth of Constant Optimization

10:45 The Danger of Toxic Positivity and "Everything Happens for a Reason"

13:10 The Hidden History (and Harm) of Manifesting

17:30 What is "The Ache"? Embracing the Bittersweet Longing of Being Human

20:20 Wellness Capitalism and the Absurdity of the 24/7 Morning Routine

23:30 Navigating the Seasons of Wanting & Opening Your "Vault of Jewels"

29:10 How to Practice Joy: Service, Love, and Hope

33:30 How to Experience Joy During a "Light Apocalypse"

37:00 Absurdism: Why You Should Lean Into Your Weird Delights

39:20 The Surprising Limits of Gratitude Journaling

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What if the most powerful medicine was right outside your front door? In this episode, we explore the transformative role nature plays in healing, recovery and everyday wellness. 

Our guest is Julia Bradbury - TV presenter, Sunday Times bestselling author and one of the UK's most passionate advocates for the healing power of the outdoors. After a breast cancer diagnosis in 2021 and a subsequent mastectomy, Julia rebuilt her health from the ground up and nature was at the heart of it.

She joins Emilie to talk about her diagnosis journey, the science behind nature snacks, resistance training, morning light, walking backwards, and why the single most important wellness habit starts with what you say to yourself.

Get Julia’s book Hack Yourself Healthy

Julia Bradbury is supporting Vista Health’s Signs of Clarity campaign. Visit www.vista-health.co.uk

00:00 The Healing Power of Nature & Movement

02:07 Functional Medicine: Finding the Root Cause

04:50 How Walking Calms Your Nervous System

06:40 Breast Cancer Diagnosis & The Promise of Nature

08:15 How to Take Daily "Nature Snacks"

10:00 The Emotional Toll of Surgery 

12:35 Finding Comfort & Life Lessons from Trees

15:00 Redefining Health vs. Toxic Resilience

17:36 How to Make Time for Your Wellbeing

19:31 Strength Training for Women & Hope Molecules

22:21 Building Non-Negotiable Healthy Habits

24:35 Overcoming Vulnerability After a Health Scare

27:15 An Emotional Expedition to Antarctica

29:18 Healthy Travel Hacks & Plane Snacks

32:19 The Ultimate Slow Morning Routine

34:27 The Power of Positive Affirmations & Self-Talk

36:01 Why You Should Start Walking Backwards

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Sophie Richards spent ten years being dismissed by doctors who said her crippling period pain was "normal" and she'd "get used to it." Six surgeries later, she finally got her endometriosis diagnosis.

This week, Sophie joins Emilie to break down inflammation as your body's "first response team," how she discovered it was driving her symptoms, and the dangerous wellness trends she fell for.

She also shares the love story of bringing her now fiancé to her fertility appointment on date three, why she wants to create a school curriculum so boys learn about periods too, and her six pillars of anti-inflammatory living that transformed her health.

Get Sophie’s book ‘The Anti-Inflammatory 30-day Reset’ here

Follow Sophie on Instagram here

Follow Emilie on Instagram here

Timecodes

00:00 Why I Share the Reality of Living with Endometriosis

02:46 Six Surgeries & Ten Years of Chronic Pain

04:16 The Period Pain Dismissed as "Normal"

06:41 Bringing My Boyfriend to My Egg Freezing Appointment

09:01 Educating Men About Women's Health: Why It Matters

11:26 Why Boys Need Period Education Too

13:41 What Is Inflammation? The First Response Team

16:01 How I Discovered Inflammation Was the Root Cause

18:46 Red Flags in the Wellness Industry

21:31 The 30-Day Anti-Inflammatory Reset Explained

24:51 You're Not Crazy: Your Pain Is Real

27:31 How to Advocate for Yourself at the Doctor

30:41 The Doctor Who Finally Diagnosed My Endometriosis

34:01 Breaking the Taboo: Men Talking About Periods

36:46 Nourish Yourself Like You'd Nourish a Friend

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Reality TV star Vicky Pattison opens up about her personal battle with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), a debilitating condition that goes far beyond typical PMS symptoms. She candidly discusses the physical and emotional toll it's taken on her life, and how finally getting diagnosed changed everything.

Vicky also shares her experience with egg freezing, offering an honest perspective on the process, the emotions involved, and why she made this important decision for her future. Her vulnerability about fertility and planning for motherhood will resonate with many listeners navigating similar choices.

Vicky’s new show ‘Maybe, Baby?’ is available to stream now on Channel 4.

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Follow Emilie on Instagram here 

Follow Vicky on Instagram here 

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction

01:00 What Is PMDD? Understanding the Symptoms

03:16 Two Weeks of Hell: Living with PMDD

05:51 Five Years to Get a Diagnosis: Medical Gaslighting

08:13 "Just a Period" - How Doctors Dismissed My Pain

10:21 The Social Media Diagnosis That Changed Everything

12:16 Finally Heard: Getting My PMDD Diagnosis

14:46 Why Boys Need to Learn About Periods

17:31 Antidepressants for PMDD: The Treatment Dilemma

20:36 Navigating PMDD as a Couple

24:11 Maybe Baby: Our Fertility Journey on TV

27:01 Freezing My Eggs at 35: Taking Control

30:31 The Hate I Got for Freezing My Eggs

33:16 One Message That Made It All Worth It

37:21 Can You Be a Good Mum with PMDD?

42:01 Feel Your Feels: My Wellness Advice

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What does it really mean to navigate womanhood under constant scrutiny? This week on Well Enough, author, DJ and broadcaster Ashley James explains the impossible standards women face.

Ashley reveals the truth about misogynistic labels, from the slut-shaming she experienced at an all-boys school to being called 'selfish' both for not having children and then for wanting a life outside motherhood. She shares how becoming a mum forced her to confront her own internalised misogyny - and why birth trauma is dismissed as a 'negative mindset problem' rather than a maternity care failing.

We also explore the hidden costs of being a woman, from the £20,000 women spend on menstruation in their lifetime to the double standards that mean female voices are constantly questioned while male commentators speak without proving their credentials.

Ashley James’s bestselling Bimbo is available here

Follow Well Enough on Instagram here

Follow Emilie on Instagram here 

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction

03:16 The Misogyny Behind Calling Women Influencers

05:46 Slut-Shamed at 14

08:21 Punished for Having a Woman's Body

11:01 Why "Bimbo" Needs Reclaiming

14:06 The Impossible Standards of Mothers

17:11 Regretting Motherhood

20:16 Birth Trauma & the Failure of Maternity Care.

22:46 Why C-Sections Shouldn't Be Shamed 

26:31 Childcare Costs More Than My Mortgage 

28:46 The Pressure to "Bounce Back" After Birth 

32:26 Trolls & Misogyny: Refusing to Be Silenced 

36:41 The Hidden Cost of Having a Period 

40:31 Medical Gaslighting: Why Women's Pain Is Dismissed 

43:21 Raising Kids Without Misogynistic Labels

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.