Shows
Far 2 FabulousWhen Life Stops Overnight: Maddy Harland’s Journey From Stage to StillnessEpisode 99: When Life Stops Overnight. Maddie Harland’s Journey From Stage to Stillness. What happens when the show must go on collides with a diagnosis that stops everything? We sit down with Maddy Haaland—once a West End performer, now an acupuncturist and coach in Whitstable—to trace a life that moved from bright lights to deep healing without losing its song. Her story begins with ballet dreams, shifts into musical theatre, and confronts the pressure most audiences never see: relentless auditions, constant feedback, and the quiet toll of perfectionism. Then comes stage four lymphoma on press night—e...
2025-12-0448 min
Far 2 FabulousDoing Everything ‘Right’ and Still Gaining Weight? Here’s Why.A woman joins the gym, grinds 30–40 minutes of cardio every day, keeps the weights light, fasts four days a week, relies on laxatives, and gains two kilos. Familiar? We’ve seen this pattern again and again, and we break down why it happens—and how to turn it around with a plan that respects stress, hormones, and real life.We start by dismantling the “eat less, do more” script that pushes women into chronic stress: steady-state cardio in the middle zone, under-fuelling, and long-term constipation that signals deeper gut and thyroid issues. Then we map a smarter training a...
2025-11-2725 min
Far 2 FabulousFire, Trapeze, And A Midlife Marathon with Louisa McShaneEpisode 97: Fire, Trapeze, And A Midlife Marathon with Louisa McShane. What happens when you mix marathon grit, firefighter standards, and a fear-conquering leap on the flying trapeze? We invited Louisa to the mic to share how a ten-week sprint to the London Marathon collided with a life-changing bid to join the fire service, and how both journeys reshaped her strength, mindset, and identity in her mid-40s.We start with the rebuild after Covid, when group classes vanished and habits fell apart. Louisa walks us through rediscovering endurance via Parkrun and run coaching, t...
2025-11-2044 min
Far 2 FabulousAuthenticity, Identity, And The Courage To Say No with Pauline BuckleyEpisode 96: Authenticity, Identity, And The Courage To Say No with Pauline BuckleyWhat if the truest version of you isn’t a fixed label but the choice you make right now? We sit down with guide and former HR leader Pauline Buckley to unpack authenticity, identity, and the courage it takes to live in alignment when culture nudges you to conform. Growing up as the hearing child of deaf parents, Pauline learned to listen in a way most of us never do. That deep stillness now shapes how she helps people remember who they are, wh...
2025-11-1347 min
Far 2 FabulousInside The Joe Wicks Protein Bar Controversy And What It Reveals About Ultra-Processed FoodEpisode 95: Inside The Joe Wicks Protein Bar Controversy And What It Reveals About Ultra-Processed FoodWhat happens when a “healthy” label hides a legal sleight of hand? We sat down to watch Joe Wicks’ new documentary and found ourselves peeling back the bright colours, influencer endorsements, and protein promises to examine what ultra-processed foods really deliver to our bodies. From the first glossy montage to the cigarette-style warnings on a prototype bar, the story exposes how taste engineering and health halos pull us toward products that can be lawful yet still linked to serious health risks...
2025-11-0636 min
Far 2 FabulousFrom ME To Mighty: How Jo Mayes Rebuilt Energy, Confidence, And Community Through Strongman TrainingEpisode 94. From ME To Mighty: How Jo Mayes Rebuilt Energy, Confidence, And Community Through Strongman TrainingA decade ago, Jo Mayes rationed every ounce of energy just to manage the school run. Today, she’s stepping onto an invite‑only stone lifting field and carrying a 103‑kilogram rock for 36 metres—proof that small, repeatable steps can build a life you want to live.We unpack the full arc of Jo’s transformation: pacing during COVID, daily walks that slowly grew, and the first gentle strength sessions that left her wiped out yet hopeful. She shares...
2025-10-3039 min
Far 2 FabulousHow does stress show up in your digestion (and what can you do about it)? Episode 93: How does stress show up in your digestion (and what can you do about it)? Your body might be doing everything right—just at the wrong time. We dive into the overlooked power of how you eat: the timing, the pace, the breath between bites, and the simple rituals that flip your system from stress to digest. Drawing on lessons from French and Spanish lunch culture, we explore why protected mealtimes lead to steadier energy, calmer guts, and better sleep, even before you change your menu.We talk frankly about the gaps in o...
2025-10-2322 min
Far 2 FabulousAbs-urd: Why a Flat Stomach Isn’t the PointEpisode 92Abs-urd: Why a Flat Stomach Isn’t the Point.A single moment in a shop—two women, three stone lost, and still “not enough”—opened a bigger conversation about why so many of us measure our worth by a flat tummy. We take you inside the subconscious, where safety and belonging outrank motivation, and show how decades of programming and social media filtering make “smaller” feel like the only path to approval. This isn’t a willpower problem; it’s an identity problem. And identity, thankfully, can be upgraded.We unpack the...
2025-10-1641 min
Far 2 FabulousThe Gallbladder & Menopause: Why This “Forgotten” Organ MattersEpisode 91Most of us don’t give the gallbladder a second thought — until it becomes a problem. But this small organ has a big role to play in women’s health, especially during perimenopause and menopause.In this episode, I dive into the hidden connection between the gallbladder, bile flow, and hormone balance. You’ll learn why bile isn’t just for digestion, how sluggish clearance can fuel estrogen dominance, and the early warning signs your gallbladder may be struggling — before it becomes an emergency. I also unpack why gallbladder removal rates have skyrocketed...
2025-10-0926 min
Far 2 FabulousIs this perimenopause… or is it burnout?Episode 90Your body thinks there's a tiger in the room, but it's just your overwhelming to-do list. That constant state of fight-or-flight is driving you toward burnout, even if you're still functioning on the outside.Most midlife women don't recognise the subtle signs of burnout until they're completely exhausted. You wake feeling unrefreshed despite sleeping. Small irritations trigger disproportionate reactions. You catch every cold. Sugar, salt, and caffeine become necessary fuels. Your libido vanishes. Yet you dismiss these warning signals as "normal life" because everyone around you is experiencing the same struggle.
2025-10-0242 min
Far 2 FabulousWellness Washing: Products that pretend to be good for usEpisode 89. Wellness Washing: Products that pretend to be good for usThat "healthy" product you're buying might be anything but. Catherine and Julie pull back the curtain on the deceptive world of wellness washing – products claiming health benefits while potentially causing harm.The conversation ignites when Julie shares her frustration over a Dettol laundry detergent advertisement targeting parents with fear-based marketing about germs on children's clothes. Despite everything we now understand about the importance of a healthy microbiome, these chemical-laden products promise to "kill all known germs" – introducing harmful substances to our skin while...
2025-09-2538 min
Far 2 FabulousWhy would I pay for a coach when I can just use ChatGPT or YouTube?Episode 88Ever wondered if you could replace your wellness coach with ChatGPT or just follow along with YouTube videos? In this eye-opening episode, we tackle the provocative question: "Why should I use fitness, wellbeing, and nutritional professionals when I have AI and social media?"Through candid conversation and revealing personal anecdotes, we explore the limitations of technology in the wellness space. We share stories of AI making potentially dangerous health recommendations—like misreading high iron levels as low and suggesting supplements that could damage the liver. The truth is, while technology offers convenient ac...
2025-09-1825 min
Far 2 FabulousHow do I prioritise my health when everyone else needs me first?Episode 87: How do I prioritise my health when everyone else needs me first?Ever feel like your well-being is the last item on an endless to-do list? You're not alone. This candid conversation tackles the reality of being a busy woman trying to prioritize health in a world that expects you to do everything for everyone else first.Julie and Catherine cut through the noise to address what's really happening when women put themselves last – it's not laziness or lack of willpower, but programming we've received since childhood. That "guilt button" that seems per...
2025-09-1143 min
Far 2 FabulousBeyond the Scale: 7 Simple Ways to Measure Your Health & VitalityEpisode 86Have you ever wondered what your body is really telling you about your health? Beyond the numbers on a scale or your clothing size, there are simple physical indicators that reveal far more about your longevity and quality of life.This week, Julie and Catherine dive into seven DIY health assessments that provide valuable baseline information about your overall wellbeing. From the surprising importance of your waist-to-hip ratio (ideally under 0.8 for women) to the revealing chair stand test that predicts lower body strength, these simple checks require no special equipment and take...
2025-09-0435 min
Far 2 FabulousAugust Reruns: A Holistic Approach to Future-Proofing Your Well-being with Helen LauerEpisode 85: August RerunsA Holistic Approach to Future-Proofing Your Well-being with Helen LauerWhat if your brain's remarkable ability to rewire itself could be harnessed to transform your health? In this captivating episode, we're joined by Helen Lauer, an occupational therapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation and a qualified shiatsu practitioner who bridges Western medicine with Eastern healing traditions.Helen takes us on a fascinating journey through the inner workings of our brains, explaining how our 86 billion neurons and 150 trillion synapses are constantly remodelling themselves through neuroplasticity. With vivid analogies, such as navigating roadworks t...
2025-08-2859 min
Far 2 FabulousAugust Rerun - Embracing Sobriety: Redefining Social Norms and Enhancing Wellness with Sarah WilliamsonEpisode 84August Rerun - Embracing Sobriety: Redefining Social Norms and Enhancing Wellness with Sarah WilliamsonHave you ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, even though you don't consider yourself to have "a problem"? This eye-opening conversation with Sarah Williamson, life and sober coach, challenges everything we've normalised about drinking culture.Sarah's story begins not with hitting rock bottom, but with simple curiosity. After 15 years coaching young people about substance misuse while never examining her own drinking habits, a particularly brutal hangover in 2017 sparked her journey. What makes this conversation so...
2025-08-2157 min
Far 2 FabulousAugust Reruns - Healing Through Harmony: The Miraculous Power of Craniosacral Therapy and Vagal ToneEpisode 83August Reruns - Healing Through Harmony: The Miraculous Power of Craniosacral Therapy and Vagal ToneWhy do so many of us feel perpetually on edge, even when there's no immediate danger? The answer might lie in your vagus nerve - the master switch of your nervous system.When craniosacral therapist Sarah Johnson joined us to discuss this remarkable nerve, we uncovered profound insights about how our bodies process stress and trauma. With over a decade of experience helping everyone from newborns to the elderly, Sarah explains how many of...
2025-08-1437 min
Far 2 FabulousAugust Reruns - Thrive Through Menopause: A Holistic Guide to WellnessEpisode 82. August Reruns - Thrive Through Menopause: A Holistic Guide to WellnessThe journey through menopause doesn't have to be a struggle of hot flushes and mood swings. This comprehensive episode uncovers the foundational approach to navigating hormonal changes with grace and vitality.Before reaching for supplements or hormone therapy, Julie and Catherine emphasize establishing what they call "the four legs of a chair" – balanced nutrition, regular movement, quality sleep, and proper hydration. These fundamentals create an environment where your body can better manage hormonal fluctuations naturally. Particularly crucial is str...
2025-08-071h 09
Far 2 FabulousJoy, Community and Breath: Uncovering the Magic Behind SingingEpisode 81: Joy, Community and Breath: Uncovering the Magic Behind SingingWhat brings genuine joy to your life, and when did you last allow yourself to fully experience it? In this soul-stirring episode, we're joined by Abi Gilchrist, founder of UK Soul Choirs, who reveals how the seemingly simple act of singing together creates profound transformation. Far beyond hitting the right notes, community singing builds connection, resets your nervous system, and opens pathways to joy that many of us have forgotten how to access."The singing is what brings people in, but th...
2025-07-3152 min
Far 2 FabulousBalancing Indulgence and Wellness: How to Enjoy Your Vacation Without RegretsEpisode 80Ever returned from holiday feeling like you need another holiday just to recover? You're not alone. That "sod it" holiday mindset can leave us feeling sluggish, bloated, and exhausted – the complete opposite of the rejuvenation we crave.In this practical episode, we explore how to genuinely enjoy your holiday indulgences without sacrificing your wellbeing. From rich restaurant meals and tempting desserts to disrupted sleep patterns and travel stress, holidays present unique wellness challenges that can derail even our best intentions.We dive into real strategies that work, starting with digestive su...
2025-07-2431 min
Far 2 FabulousFinding Your Path in the Overwhelming World of Wellness AdviceEver felt paralysed by contradicting wellness advice? One expert swears by intermittent fasting while another warns against it. A fitness guru promotes one approach while doctors recommend something entirely different. Welcome to what Catherine aptly calls "wellness noise"—that overwhelming cacophony of health information that leaves many midlife women feeling more confused than empowered.This candid conversation cuts through the clutter to reveal why so much wellness advice feels contradictory yet simultaneously correct. The missing piece? Context. Those experts aren't necessarily wrong—they're simply speaking to different audiences without making that distinction clear. Dr. Mindy Peltz's fasting prot...
2025-07-1730 min
Far 2 FabulousPreventing Injuries During Hormonal ChangesEpisode 78Have you ever wondered why you seem more prone to injuries as you navigate perimenopause or menopause? That twinge in your knee, the persistent ache in your shoulder, or the way your body feels stiffer during certain weeks might all be connected to your changing hormones.As a 54-year-old competitive gymnast, I've had to rethink my entire approach to training after experiencing injuries that seemed to come out of nowhere. The truth is, they weren't random at all – they were perfectly predictable based on my hormonal fluctuations. When estrogen rises during the fi...
2025-07-1030 min
Far 2 FabulousCould Listening to Your Body Be the Ultimate Midlife Hack?Episode 77 Could Listening to Your Body Be the Ultimate Midlife Hack?Have you ever felt like your body is trying to tell you something important, but you can't quite understand the message? You're not alone.After 40, our bodies begin communicating in new and sometimes confusing ways. What's fascinating is that we've been culturally conditioned to ignore these signals – dismissing our intuition as "woo" or "too alternative" when it's actually millions of pieces of information being processed by our subconscious every second.In this eye-opening episode, we explore the fascinating disconnect between our...
2025-07-0347 min
Far 2 FabulousMindset Matters: Why You're Stuck Despite "Doing Everything Right"Episode 76Ever wonder why you're stuck in your weight loss journey despite seemingly doing everything right? The answer may lie deeper than your diet and exercise routine.In this eye-opening episode, Julie and Catherine explore the powerful connection between mindset and weight management, particularly for women over 40. When hormonal changes make traditional weight loss methods less effective, addressing psychological barriers becomes essential for progress.We dive into why the term "weight loss" itself works against us. Your brilliant subconscious, which runs 96-98% of your bodily functions, actively resists losing things it...
2025-06-2630 min
Far 2 FabulousWould you trade ten years of your life to be thin?Episode 75What would you give up to be thin? A shocking survey reveals some people would sacrifice ten years of their life, accept blindness, or choose infertility over being overweight. This startling reality forms the backdrop of our deeply personal conversation about weight loss injections and society's toxic relationship with body image.As health care professionals, we initially approached weight loss medications with skepticism, focusing on their concerning side effects. However, we've come to recognize something more troubling – the emotional desperation driving people to these solutions despite the risks. When feelings about weight ov...
2025-06-1945 min