Were you ever taught about the different phases of your menstrual cycle? Do you know why your gut health impacts every single organ in the body? And how do we make decisions about our minds and bodies when everyone is trying to sell us something all the time?
Join Alex & Emi as they chat with experts, unraveling the intricacies of the female body, empowering listeners to make informed choices and embrace self-discovery.
Please write in to us with your questions and follow us on:
Instagram: theroadtoknowher
TikTok: theroadtoknowher
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Were you ever taught about the different phases of your menstrual cycle? Do you know why your gut health impacts every single organ in the body? And how do we make decisions about our minds and bodies when everyone is trying to sell us something all the time?
Join Alex & Emi as they chat with experts, unraveling the intricacies of the female body, empowering listeners to make informed choices and embrace self-discovery.
Please write in to us with your questions and follow us on:
Instagram: theroadtoknowher
TikTok: theroadtoknowher
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Most of us have woken up with the mother of all hangovers at some point in our lives, vowing to ditch the booze or be more mindful next time. In a society where alcohol comes hand in hand with celebrations, commiserations and everything in between, it's very easy to forget our previous declarations of mindfulness while we order the next bottle of wine.
So what's it like to really go full-on sober? Hamish Adam-Cairns is here to share his experience with us, and I have to say, it's really made us consider what alcohol is holding us back from. Hamish co-hosts the award-winning podcast, the Sober Awkward Podcast, and with his co-host Vic, brings a refreshing, honest and hilarious account of what joy and awkwardness being sober brings.
Hamish and Vic have also set up the 'Cuppa Community', a place for you to share, get advice, join groups, create events and meet people that have decided to quit booze.
Head over to their podcast hear more, and you can find resources on their website https://www.soberawkward.com/
IG: @soberawkward
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In this episode, we explore the powerful connection between the mind and body. While it may seem obvious, we often overlook how deeply our mindset influences our physical health. Trauma, stress, and thought patterns can impact our bodies, just as our physical state affects our minds. Joining us is Dr. Sula Windgassen, PhD MSc, a leading health psychologist specialising in women's gut, gynecological, and bladder health. With her expertise in chronic pain and persistent symptoms, Dr. Sula shares how evidence-based bio-psychosocial strategies can help us foster harmony between mind and body, reclaiming wellness from chronic stress and trauma.
https://www.healthpsychologist.co.uk/
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Following last week’s insightful episode with Kate Thornton on her perimenopause journey, we’re bringing in an expert to shed light on what to expect during this transformative phase of life.
Dr. Sohère Roked is one of a kind. Known for her expertise, warmth, and empathy, she’s a leader in the field of integrative medicine, offering a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Dr. Sohère has a rich medical background, having worked in the NHS since 2003 across A&E, women’s health, otolaryngology, psychiatry, and as a GP. While her NHS work was rewarding, she recognised the need to support patients more comprehensively. Today, she blends conventional medical practice with holistic care, focusing on hormone balance and integrative medicine—a practice that considers emotional, spiritual, environmental, social, nutritional, and psychological factors for overall well-being.
Learn more about her work at www.drsohereroked.co.uk
IG: drsohere_hormonesandhealth
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This week, we step away from our usual lineup of medical experts to chat with the wonderful Kate Thornton. A celebrated presenter and broadcaster, Kate first rose to prominence hosting The X Factor in the early 2000s. She has since graced our screens as a regular on Loose Women and This Morning and now leads her own podcast, White Wine Question Time, alongside her work as a radio broadcaster.
But life took a dramatic turn when Kate entered perimenopause, a period she describes as feeling like she’d been completely “burgled.” Struggling with a whirlwind of physical and emotional symptoms, Kate faced a profound sense of losing her identity. Through the support of an incredible doctor and a network of friends, she’s emerged stronger and more passionate than ever about raising awareness of menopause. Now a dedicated advocate for menopause education, Kate is helping to spark crucial conversations on a topic often overlooked.
We absolutely loved hearing Kate’s story and gained so much insight from her journey. We’re deeply grateful for her openness and hope you’ll find this episode as inspiring and enlightening as we did.
Kate's podcast: White Wine Question Time
IG: @thekatethornton
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Many of us have faced anxiety at some point in our lives. Sometimes it feels manageable, but other times it can escalate into something much more overwhelming—panic, intrusive thoughts, OCD, and more.
We’re often offered countless ways to tackle anxiety: meditation, ice baths, CBT, CBD drops, and so on. But what if none of these approaches work for us? What if we don’t need them at all?
That’s where Lily Sais comes in. With over 17 years in the mental health field, Lily began her career as a psychologist but personally struggled with anxiety, panic, and OCD for seven years. She realised she needed a different approach, and when she discovered a transformative approach and power of acceptance, she finally found lasting relief. This led her to found her company "Peace From Within" in 2020. For the past three years, Lily has used her expertise as an anxiety coach, and is also helping masses of people through her insightful social media content.
www.peace-from-within.com
IG @_peacefromwithin
TikTok @peacefromwithin
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Most women only consider their pelvic floor health when it comes to pregnancy & birthing, but it's important for everyone at all life stages - including men!
Our pelvic floor health influences so many of our bodily functions - from how we wee & poo, to our sexual satisfaction - and it's such a key set of muscles to train as we get older. If you don't want to fart as you walk like your nan, it might be an idea to start training those muscles now.
Clare Bourne is a pelvic health physiotherapist, and a passionate advocate, author and speaker on the subject. She has written the book Strong Foundations: The ultimate guide to pelvic floor health and uses her social media to break down barriers to information & empower people to advocate for themselves when it comes to their pelvic floor health. Clare teaches us all about training our pelvic floors, and to our surprise, it's not all about the squeeze and hold!
@clarebournephysio
https://www.clare-bourne.com/
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Sleep: the more you want it, the less you get it. Difficulty with sleep is something a lot of us have in common - 1 in 3 people have experienced insomnia and, in our manic world, time spent working, socialising and scrolling is increasing and our time in bed is decreasing.
Counting sheep, camomile tea, lavender spray, magnesium on your feet - the list of sleep remedies is endless, but do they really work? What do you ACTUALLY need to get a good nights sleep?
Stephanie Romiszewski is a leading sleep physiologist, Insomnia and CBTi expert. Stephanie founded the re:sleep sleep retraining programme and has specialised in the treatment of sleep disorders for the past 15 years.
IG: @stephsleepyhead
https://re-sleep.com/
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'Tis the season to be wrapped up. So join us for the last episode, AKA the wrap up, of season 1!
This started as a podcast about women's health but it has grown into so much more. We have learned SO much about our bodies and our health, but also have learned a deeper appreciation for everything that goes on underneath our skin without us even knowing. We've learned that if we just take a beat, and listen to our bodies a bit more, we have so much knowledge about what we need and how to help ourselves. So join Emi & Alex on the final episode of season 1 to discuss what we've learned over a glass of wine.
Thank you to all the experts who came on this season. Because of you, us and our community know how to check our breasts, what's normal 'down there', how to get the right nutrition for our bodies, what effect our hormones have on us and SO much more.
Thank you also to the listeners who have joined us on this journey - we appreciate you! Please write into theroadtoknowher@gmail.com with feedback and requests for season 2.
See you soon!
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Part 2 of 2.
This week we speak to Sarah Graham, who literally wrote the book on the Gender Health Gap. Rebel Bodies is an inclusive and empowering manifesto for change in women's healthcare. It explores systemic and deep rooted sexism within medicine, merging research and data points with real stories of gaslighting, misdiagnosis and misunderstanding within the healthcare system. The book covers everything from periods to childbirth, autoimmune diseases to menopause, and mental health to transgender care.
We ADORED recording this episode, and it feels like a really important conversation to have. We have all heard of and experienced countless experiences of being fobbed off, not being believed, not taken seriously or gaslighted when having a healthcare issue. So many of us are so overlooked that we begin to question ourselves and our pain. You are not going mad and you are not alone.
If you want to buy the book from bloomsbury.com, we have a discount code: The discount code is REBEL20. Valid for the hardback, UK only. Paperback is out in January!
https://sarah-graham.co.uk/
@sarahgraham7writer
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Part 1 of 2.
This week we speak to Sarah Graham, who literally wrote the book on the Gender Health Gap. Rebel Bodies is an inclusive and empowering manifesto for change in women's healthcare. It explores systemic and deep rooted sexism within medicine, merging research and data points with real stories of gaslighting, misdiagnosis and misunderstanding within the healthcare system. The book covers everything from periods to childbirth, autoimmune diseases to menopause, and mental health to transgender care.
We ADORED recording this episode, and it feels like a really important conversation to have. We have all heard of and experienced countless experiences of being fobbed off, not being believed, not taken seriously or gaslighted when having a healthcare issue. So many of us are so overlooked that we begin to question ourselves and our pain. You are not going mad and you are not alone.
If you want to buy the book from bloomsbury.com, we have a discount code: The discount code is REBEL20. Valid for the hardback, UK only. Paperback is out in January!
https://sarah-graham.co.uk/
@sarahgraham7writer
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today we're diving into a crucial topic that affects the lives of countless women: contraception. We're here to unravel the facts, debunk myths, and empower you with the knowledge that puts you in control of your sexual health journey. To help us along our way, we are joined by Laura Domegan, Head of Nursing at Brook, the sexual health & wellbeing Charity.
Founded by Helen Brook in 1964, Brook blazed a trail by empowering unmarried women to take charge of their sexual health at a time when it was deemed controversial. Despite fierce opposition, Helen Brook refused to let stigma stand in the way of what was needed, and continued to provide free contraception and confidential sexual health advice. Today, Brook is proud to continue in her pioneering footsteps by providing high quality, holistic sexual health and wellbeing services that include frontline services as well as education, training and advocacy. They believe excellent sexual health, mental health and wellbeing is a basic right, so they continue to fight for a society that welcomes everyone and trusts people to make decisions about their health, their bodies and their identities.
https://www.brook.org.uk/
IG: @brook_sexpositive
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This episode is all about breasts!
Half of the population has them, yet they're still this mystical, sexual, misunderstood part of the female anatomy. They’re too often one of two things: sexualised or used for feeding. We’re never actually taught how to care for them, check them & support them, let alone ENJOY them. So this week we speak to Dr Philippa Kaye, a GP, author, presenter and educator who wrote Breasts: An Owner’s Guide.
https://www.drphilippakaye.com/
@drphilippakaye
Breasts: An Owner's Guide
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This episode is all about your foo-foo, AKA your 'bits', down-there, fanny, vajayjay, beaver, muff... the list goes on. We're so afraid to call it by it's anatomical name - our VULVA. So say it loud and say it proud! It's not naughty, it's not explicit, it's purely an anatomical word.
This week we are joined by Dr Aziza Sesay, an NHS GP and GP Educator who has a strong passion for advocacy and empowerment, especially when it comes to women's health. She helps us break down the taboo of our vulvas, equipping us with knowledge on the proper names and what is 'normal' to experience down there. We speak about discharge, the effect of feminine hygiene products & tight clothing, pain during sex & periods, and how important it is to break down the stigma of talking about our vulvas and vaginas. Our bodies are made for pleasure not pain, and we need to be less embarrassed about checking ourselves in intimate areas so we can actually start cherishing our bodies and looking after them.
Resources
https://www.talkswithdrsesay.com/
https://www.instagram.com/talkswithdrsesay/
Book: "This is the Vulva" by Jo Corrall
https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/
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Fertility is a difficult subject for many. For those who haven't yet tried to get pregnant, the idea of fertility hangs over us like a spectre. It's an elusive concept filled with myths and misconceptions.
Furthermore, many of those trying to have a baby often find it isn't as easy to get pregnant as expected, for many reasons. It is at this point people turn to fertility treatments. However, if you are having fertility issues or are in a same-sex couple, the options are often overwhelming and laden with acronyms. IUI/IVF/OI... it's confusing to say the least! So we've got your back.
Today we speak to Kate Maclaran who is a Consultant Gynaecologist and accredited subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. She leads the fertility unit there and is a well of knowledge on fertility, gynaecology and the menopause. She breaks down the different fertility treatments for us & what to expect from each of them, as well as covering some commonly held beliefs about fertility such as age.
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We are two self-confessed skincare junkies. Retinol, AHA’s, Vit C’s… you name it, we have it. But the world of skincare can often be overwhelming, and we can very easily slip into thinking we need more all the time. So today we want to find out what we REALLY need.
Who better to do that with than Dr Natalia Spierings, who has a reputation for having a non-nonsense approach?! Dr Natalia is a UK trained practicing consultant dermatologist with a masters in Aesthetic Medicine. She is a frequent part of the specialist clinic on Channel 5’s Skin A&E and has just written a book Skintelligent which helps people navigate the confusing world of skincare. We ask Dr Natalia what is fact, what is fiction, and what we need in our cupboards. Be warned - if you're a skincare junkie you might not be pleased (but your bank balance and face will be!)
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Growing up we’re often taught to fear our period or hide it away and not talk about it, which eventually leads us to disconnect from our natural cycle. Menstruation is associated with pain, mood swings and wrapped in hygiene language. It's also so commonly seen as a weakness. Claire Baker is trying to reframe everything we know about menstruation and our cycles. If we lean into our cycle and listen closely, we can find so much more about ourselves and discover that we are actually rather predictable (and amazing!)
Claire Baker is a sought-after coach, speaker and author of ‘50 Things You Need To Know About Periods’. For nearly a decade Claire has taught thousands of women how to live in harmony with their menstrual cycle, rather than working against it.
Claire believes menstrual cycle awareness is the missing key in women’s wellbeing, empowerment and creativity, and her immersive online courses and workshops inspire women to know their flow and become the authority in their own lives. Claire’s online program Adore Your Cycle has students in over 35 countries.
We learnt SO much during this episode and found a new found respect for our natural cycles. Bring on Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter!
IG: @_clairebaker_
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The NHS stipulates that a person between the age of 19-64 should do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week. So why do almost 50% of women not exercise at all?
Girls are dropping out of sport at TWICE the rate of boys, and they often never return. Alex is one of those people, so you are not alone if this is you! We speak to Dr Emma Ross about this issue, and why moving our bodies is so crucial for our physical and mental health. We need to reframe female fitness - it should be about taking up space, not getting smaller.
Dr Emma Ross is a science communicator at heart, and has worked with Olympic and Paralympic teams to bring a fresh understanding of what it means to be a female athlete. Emma believes that an understanding of how our biology and anatomy works, and how that influences body, behaviour and emotion has the potential to help women everywhere, in all walks of life, to capitalise on their untapped potential, reduce anguish and anxiety, and experience their life in a new way. She now co-runs The Well HQ which supports women in exercise with science backed findings, from high performance athletes to schoolgirls getting their first period. She has also co-authored the incredible book The Female Body Bible.
https://www.thewell-hq.com/
@thewell_hq
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Welcome to The Road to Know Her's first episode!
Women's Health is so often deprioritised in society, with a huge lack of education and knowledge about our own bodies throughout all stages of life. Join Alex & Emi as they chat with experts, unraveling the intricacies of the female body, empowering listeners to make informed choices about their health and wellness.
Episode 1 is all about Gut Health. Dr Megan Rossi is considered one of the most influential gut health specialists internationally. She is a leading Research Fellow at King's College London, has written 3 fantastic books, is a dietitian, nutritionist AND founded The Gut Health Clinic in London. Her PhD in gut health received the Dean's Award top 5% for Outstanding Research Higher Degree. It's safe to say we're in safe hands with Megan!
Dr Megan Rossi explains what Gut Health is and why it's so important. She gives us some brilliant tips to take away and implement, which can positively affect everything from our skin and immune system to our mental health.
IG: @theguthealthdoctor
https://www.theguthealthdoctor.com/
www.theroadtoknowher.com
Production by Tiffany Lai
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Join Alex & Emi as they take you through what to expect from the brand new Health & Wellness pod, The Road to Know Her.
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