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Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition
Health shouldn’t feel this hard. I’ve lived it, studied it, and now I’m here to help make it make sense. A smarter, more human way to live well. Subscribe now, and start living well, for real. Instagram: @sarahannmacklin Newsletter: https://substack.com/@sarahannmacklin Website: sarahannmacklin.com #LiveWellBeWell
- 426 - 5 Experts: Burnout Starts Earlier Than You Think | Sarah Ann Macklin
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book
Most of us are far kinder to strangers than we are to ourselves. We offer warmth, patience, and understanding to everyone around us, and yet when we struggle, we reach for the harshest possible voice. Why is that? And more importantly, what can we do about it?
This week on Live Well Be Well, we are exploring the profound and life-changing power of self-compassion, bringing together five extraordinary voices:
- Dr. Kristen Neff, whose 20 years of research built the scientific foundation of self-kindness;
- Professor Paul Gilbert, founder of Compassion-Focused Therapy;
- Philosopher and author Alain de Botton;
- Bestselling author Oliver Burkeman;
- and gut health physician Dr. Will Bulsiewicz.
We dive deep into the biological and psychological reasons why we fight ourselves, and how shifting from a "threat" mindset to one of "care" can fundamentally change our health.
Here’s what we explore together:
- The Three Pillars of Self-Compassion: Dr. Kristen Neff explains why you need kindness, mindfulness, and a sense of shared humanity to truly heal.
- Hacking the Nervous System: Professor Paul Gilbert discusses how to move from a "fight, flight, or freeze" response into a "tend and befriend" state.
- The Origins of the Inner Critic: Alain de Botton reveals how we internalize the voices of authority from our past and how to start a "goodbye ceremony" to those that no longer serve us.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.
Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.
👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
The #1 BETTER HEALTH Technique You Never Knew Existed! Dr Kristin Neff
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights00:00:00 Intro
00:01:13 Dr. Kristen Neff: The three elements of self-compassion
00:04:38 Why our nervous system defaults to self-criticism
00:07:00 The "What would I say to a friend?" reframe
00:10:00 Why self-compassion is a more effective motivator than criticism
00:12:02 Alain de Botton: the inner critical voice and where it comes from
00:14:43 Why some believe harsh self-talk drives them forward
00:18:01 Oliver Burkeman: a personal journey through self-compassion
00:22:25 How childhood patterns shape the way we treat ourselves
00:26:17 The missing step in optimization and productivity culture
00:29:06 Paul Gilbert: compassionate self vs the compassionate mind
00:32:34 Dr. Will Bulsiewicz: gut health is about far more than food
Wed, 13 May 2026 - 42min - 425 - Why Telling Your Partner What You Need Is the Most Loving Thing Women Can Do | Dr. Laurie Mintz
Why does it still feel stigmatised to talk about sex, even when sexual norms are more open than ever? Because for many people, that lingering sense of taboo can feel like the missing piece, no matter how “free” or modern our culture seems.This clip explores why these conversations can still feel difficult and why that silence can carry real weight. As a nutritionist and health communicator, Sarah reflects on the emotional and cultural layers that shape how comfortable we feel discussing sex, intimacy, and what we actually need.
Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 11 May 2026 - 06min - 424 - 1 in 3 Women Live With Incontinence and Most Never Ask for Help | Dr. Rena Malik
Are you ignoring symptoms that might need a urology check? If you’re unsure what urology actually covers, this conversation breaks it down clearly and explains why getting an evaluation can be so important, including the reminder that it could save your life.This clip explores what urology is, what kinds of health concerns it relates to, and why timely assessment matters. I’m discussing the importance of taking symptoms seriously and not delaying medical evaluation, with a practical, health-first perspective and clear communication you can trust as a nutritionist and wellbeing educator.
Listen to the full episode here
Watch the full episode on YouTube here
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 08 May 2026 - 08min - 423 - Why Diets Don’t Work (Even When You Follow Them Perfectly) | Sarah Ann Macklin
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book
https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
You are doing everything right. You are eating well, you are exercising, you are optimizing. And somehow, you still aren't feeling as well as you hoped. That was me at 21, before my body finally found a way to make me listen.
This week on Live Well Be Well, I want to talk to you about something I've been sitting with for the last ten years, something I've seen quietly transform the lives of my clients, something that changed the entire direction of my own life, and something I've spent the last year pouring into my new book, Healthy Shouldn't Be This Hard.This episode is a deeply personal one. I trace the thread from my own health collapse at 21 all the way to the $8.5 trillion wellness industry that, despite its size, is leaving most of us feeling worse, not better. We talk about the try-slip-shame-restart cycle so many of us are trapped in, and why we keep mistaking self-criticism for self-improvement. I also dig into two landmark studies that stopped me in my tracks while writing this book: Ellen Langer's hotel maid experiment, which showed that perception alone changed women's weight and blood pressure without a single lifestyle change, and Alia Crum's milkshake study, which revealed that our thoughts directly alter our hunger hormones.The science is clear. Our bodies are listening to everything we think about ourselves.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.
Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.
👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Ellen Langer: The Mind Can Slow Down an Aging Bodyhttps://youtu.be/VGpNMy1VxsY
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:25 Sarah's Health Collapse at 21
00:00:53 The $8.5 Trillion Wellness Industry Problem
00:01:17 Comparison Culture and the Shame Spiral
00:02:22 The Try, Slip, Shame, Restart Cycle
00:03:07 The Pizza Moment and Self-Compassion
00:04:39 Self-Criticism Lives in Your Body
00:08:22 Ellen Langer's Hotel Maid Study Explained
00:10:48 How Your Thoughts Change Hunger Hormones
00:12:22 What Self-Compassion Does to Your Body
00:14:31 The Selfie Test: Your Self-Compassion Score
00:18:34 The Mirror Practice and Leaning In
00:19:24 MAP: Mindfulness, Appreciation, Presence Before Meals
00:21:00 The Self-Compassionate Intention Before Eating
00:23:27 Why Wellness Solutions Aren't Making Us Healthier
00:24:41 The History of Dieting Since 1863
00:26:20 The Story You Tell Yourself
Wed, 06 May 2026 - 32min - 422 - The Sex Education That Failed Women (And What Your Body Actually Needs) | Dr. Laurie Mintz
Do you ever wonder why both men and women can end up prioritising the man? In this conversation, I’m looking at how that dynamic shows up in real life, and why it matters for both men and women. This clip explores the idea that prioritising the man is not just something men expect, but something women can reinforce too, often without realising it. I’m discussing what that looks like in day-to-day relationships, the assumptions that can sit underneath it, and why it’s worth men listening closely to this conversation as well.
Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 04 May 2026 - 08min - 421 - Your Cycle Is More Predictable Than His Testosterone | Sarah Hill
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/tNoDNnpSkdA
Do men get “period brain” too, or do hormones affect men and women in completely different ways? In this conversation, I explain why men’s primary sex hormone, testosterone, tends to be more dynamic and responsive to immediate environmental cues, while women’s primary sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are generally more cyclical and predictable across the menstrual cycle. This clip explores how testosterone follows a circadian rhythm (higher in the morning, lower in the evening) and can shift with real-life inputs like competition wins or losses, job stress, relationship context, being around an attractive person, and whether someone has children. We also talk about the common assumptions people make about women’s moods and cycles, including why blaming anger on a period often misses what’s actually happening hormonally, since hormone levels are at their lowest during menstruation.
Sarah Hill in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 01 May 2026 - 04min - 420 - Is Porn Healthy or Unhealthy? A Psychosexual Therapist Tells the Truth | Silva Neves
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book
Most of us have an opinion on porn. Very few of us have actually looked at the evidence.We talk about gut health, hormones, sleep, and stress. But there's one part of our sexual lives that almost nobody is talking about honestly, and it might be quietly shaping our relationships more than we realise.
This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm joined by Silva Neves, an accredited psychosexual and relationship therapist and author. Silva holds deeply taboo topics with total clinical clarity and zero judgment, helping us have the conversation about porn that most people are too afraid to start.
Here's what we explore together:
- How porn is classified as "neither healthy nor unhealthy" by research, and why that nuance changes everything.
- Why there is no proven causation between porn and relationship breakdown, misogyny, or erectile dysfunction.
- What compulsive porn use actually looks like, and when it signals something deeper going on emotionally.
- How shared values around porn can make or break a relationship, and why most couples never have this conversation.
- Why dopamine isn't the villain we think, and how habits around technology and porn really form.
- What research says about fantasies, kinks and fetishes, and why most are far more normal than we realise.
- How shame silently shuts down sexual communication in long-term relationships, and what to do instead.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.
Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.
👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:Why You Still Can’t Orgasm (The Step-By-Step Guide) | Dr. Laurie Mintz, Sex Therapisthttps://youtu.be/gr6RWK2LFJEBetter Sex EVERY TIME? Dr Rena Malik Tells You Howhttps://youtu.be/C8HJAH5plVw
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:20 Is Porn Healthy or Unhealthy? Silva's Honest Answer
00:05:13 Porn Is Not a Monolith: Understanding the Many Types
00:10:18 How Many People Actually Watch Porn?
00:14:23 Is Porn Addiction Real? The Clinical Truth
00:19:01 Porn, Cheating and the Agreements We Never Have
00:22:36 Why Couples With Shared Porn Values Tend to Thrive
00:28:21 Dopamine, Habits and Digital Attachment
00:37:00 What Age Should Young People Be Exposed to Porn?
00:39:13 The Manosphere: Fear, Misogyny and Online Extremism
00:53:06 Fantasies, Kinks and Fetishes: More Normal Than You Think
00:58:24 How Shame Kills Sex in Long-Term Relationships
01:01:00 Talking About Your Erotic Mind With a Partner
01:07:31 Asexuality as a Valid and Underrepresented Orientation
01:11:10 What Good Relationship Vows Really Look Like
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 - 1h 26min - 419 - Only 20-40% of Women Squirt: What the Research Actually Shows | Dr. Rena Malik
Are you comparing what you see on YouTube to what feels normal in your own life? If you’ve ever watched online content and thought it looks like a very different scenario than what’s actually normal, this conversation will feel familiar.This clip explores the gap between what’s presented on YouTube and what someone considers a more typical, real-world situation, highlighting how online examples can shape expectations and perceptions.
Listen to the full episode here
Watch the full episode on YouTube here
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 27 Apr 2026 - 06min - 418 - Why Most Women Can't Orgasm During Intercourse (And What the Science Actually Says) | Dr Laurie Mintz
Do you ever feel a bit awkward talking about vibrators? Because even in a light, laughter-filled moment, it can be clear there’s still a lot to say and a lot of discomfort around the topic. This clip explores a candid exchange about vibrators, capturing how quickly the conversation can move from hesitation to humour and openness.As a nutritionist and health communicator, Sarah brings a grounded, educational tone to wellbeing conversations, even when the topic feels a little taboo. Here, that comes through in a simple but telling moment: acknowledging there’s “quite a lot” to discuss, and then leaning into how “fabulous” and “amazing” it can be to talk about it more honestly.
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 - 05min - 417 - Why You're Always Wired, Tired, and Can't Switch Off | Dr. Arielle Schwartz
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book
That feeling of being utterly exhausted but somehow unable to switch off. The tight chest. The 3am wake-ups. The gut that never quite settles. Most of us have been quietly living with these signs for years, chalking them up to a busy life or just the way we are. But what if they were your body trying to tell you something far more specific?
This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm sitting down with the brilliant Dr. Arielle Schwartz, somatic psychologist, certified yoga therapist, EMDR trainer, and one of the leading voices in nervous system healing and complex trauma. Arielle has this rare gift of translating some of the most intricate neuroscience into something you can actually feel in your own body. She is warm, grounded, deeply wise, and this conversation genuinely moved me.
Here's What We Dive Into:
- What a dysregulated nervous system actually feels like in the body
- Why stress and dysregulation are not the same thing
- What polyvagal theory is and why your vagus nerve matters more than you think
- How the body moves through fight, flight, and freeze responses
- Why ADHD may be a nervous system regulation challenge as much as a cognitive one
- How to stimulate your vagus nerve using just your own hands
- Why crying is one of the most healing things you can do for your nervous system
- How self-compassion directly improves vagal tone
- Why breathwork is the fastest nervous system reset available to all of us
- What EMDR is and how it helps the brain finally let go of trauma
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.
Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.
👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:30 Signs of a Dysregulated Nervous System
00:05:00 How Dysregulation Affects Your Gut, Hormones and Immunity
00:12:00 Polyvagal Theory Explained Simply
00:17:00 The Vagus Nerve and the Mind-Body Connection
00:21:00 Fight, Flight and Freeze: The Three Nervous System Responses
00:24:00 Wired and Tired: Why You Can't Switch Off
00:29:00 ADHD and Nervous System Dysregulation
00:38:00 Somatic Healing, Yoga and Complex PTSD
00:43:00 Free Vagus Nerve Stimulation Techniques
00:49:00 Why Crying Is Good for Your Nervous System
00:53:00 How to Feel Safe in Your Own Body
00:57:00 Self-Compassion and Vagal Tone
01:01:00 Breathwork for Nervous System Regulation
01:07:00 What Is EMDR and How Does It Heal Trauma
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 - 1h 16min - 416 - The Importance of Variety in Sex and Why Repeating the Same Thing Isn’t Enough | Rena Malik
Have you ever wondered why sexual education rarely talks about variety? It’s often treated as a topic we skip over, even though it can be a key part of a healthy, enjoyable sex life and better communication with your partner. This clip explores why doing the same thing every time can become limiting, and why introducing variety matters. Sarah discusses how this is something many people are never taught in sex education, and how changing things up can help keep intimacy feeling more connected and responsive rather than repetitive. As a nutritionist and health communicator, Sarah brings her practical, supportive approach to a topic that sits within wider wellbeing, relationships, and how we learn about our bodies.
Listen to the full episode here
Watch the full episode on YouTube here
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 20 Apr 2026 - 07min - 415 - The Reason Sex Feels So Hard to Talk About in Relationships (It Is Not You) | Dr. Laurie Mintz
Most women were never taught how to talk about sex — not really — and a therapist with over 35 years of couples work makes one thing clear: faulty communication has contributed to every single relationship problem she has ever seen, without exception. In this clip, you will hear the three communication rules that change not just your sex life but the entire emotional architecture of your relationship, including why asking "do you want to have sex?" may be doing more harm than you think. If intimacy has started to feel like another area of your life where you are somehow getting it wrong, this conversation will reframe that completely.
Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 17 Apr 2026 - 06min - 414 - Matt Haig: What Doctors Called Depression Was Actually Autistic Burnout - Here's The Difference
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book
This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm sitting down with bestselling author Matt Haig. Over two decades, he has written with raw honesty about depression, anxiety, and neurodiversity. Diagnosed with ADHD and autism in his mid-40s, he writes not to have the answers, but to make you feel like your questions are valid.
Here's what we dive into:
- How Matt's crisis at 24 in Ibiza, including agoraphobia, panic attacks, and suicidal despair, became the turning point that made him a writer.
- Why writing about mental health was never about being an expert, but about finding language so a younger, suffering version of himself could feel less alone.
- What a late ADHD and autism diagnosis in midlife actually feels like, and why understanding your brain does not mean you suddenly understand everything about yourself.
- How ADHD can be quietly advantageous when you stop fighting it, and why an interest-driven brain can lead to a deeply authentic life.
- Why the opposite of depression is not happiness. It is the boring, beautiful neutrality of a mind that can spend one minute thinking about an ordinary email.
- How the word "impossible" became Matt's greatest source of motivation: if you survived the most impossible thing, everything else becomes possible too.
- How running, routine, and the most unglamorous physical basics were the things that actually brought Matt back.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.
Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.
👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
ADHD or Depression? Watch This! Kelly Williams Brown on Feeling Stressed & Overwhelmedhttps://youtu.be/lz7-R_TlJg4
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
00:00:00 Intro00:02:47 Writing Reasons to Stay Alive before therapy, before diagnosis
00:06:49 The "two for one" diagnosis: ADHD and autism in midlife
00:10:11 Why Matt hates the word diagnosis and how language shapes recovery
00:14:40 Shoplifting, dopamine, and an undiagnosed ADHD brain
00:22:25 Why Matt would not take his suffering away: darkness and light
00:27:25 The breakdown in Ibiza at 24 and the crisis within the crisis
00:31:58 Recovery counted in lampposts from his front door
00:36:00 The boring email moment and why neutrality is the goal
00:41:16 The word "impossible" and how surviving it opened everything
01:01:09 Winnie the Pooh as the wisest mental health book ever written
01:09:18 Social media, authenticity, and losing followers as exfoliation
01:29:46 The body budget and why physical basics are the real medicine
01:33:00 Matt's definition of Live Well Be Well***
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 - 1h 43min - 413 - Why Being Truly Seen Feels So Terrifying for Women | Paul Brunson
Are you wondering how dating has changed since 2008, and why authenticity now matters so much? In this conversation, we explore how the main way people met partners used to be through work or church, compared with today where online dating is the most common route and communication often starts through a phone screen.
Listen to the full episode here
Watch the full episode on Youtube here
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 13 Apr 2026 - 11min - 412 - Why Women Feel Ashamed of Pleasure (And What the Science Says to Do Instead) | Dr. Laurie Mintz
Most women were never taught the most basic, scientifically supported thing they can do for their own wellbeing — and the shame around that silence is doing real damage. In this clip, Dr. Laurie Mintz, sex therapist and researcher, shares the study showing that 93% of women who had never experienced orgasm became orgasmic with one straightforward intervention — and why that statistic has been hiding in plain sight. If you have ever felt broken, ashamed, or simply uninformed about your own body, this is the conversation you didn't know you needed.
Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 - 07min - 411 - Ozempic: The Truth About What Happens When You Stop | Weight Loss Doctor | Dr Jack Mosley
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book
https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
You've seen the headlines. You've watched the celebrities transform. Maybe you've even wondered, quietly, if it could be for you. But what is the science really saying?
This week on Live Well Be Well, I sit down with Dr. Jack Mosley, GP registrar, and author of Food Noise. Jack brings a perspective that is honest, nuanced, and completely free of hype. We get into what these drugs can genuinely do, who they are truly for, and why taking them without lifestyle support is like putting on noise-cancelling headphones without ever learning to listen to yourself.
Here's What We Dive Into:
- Why up to 40% of weight lost on GLP-1 medications can come from lean muscle, not fat, and why that matters more than the number on the scale.
- What "food noise" actually is and why silencing it with medication is only half the story.
- The 80% reality: why most people regain all their weight within 20 months of stopping and what the 20% who don't have in common.
- Why these are not cosmetic medications, who they are genuinely for, and the real risks of microdosing without clinical need.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
Want to put what Jack shared into practice? The Fast 800 combines intermittent fasting, nutrition, and guided lifestyle support in one place. Co-founded by his father Dr. Michael Mosley. Try it free for 7 days:
👉 www.thefast800.com
***
This episode is sponsored by:
DIOME: Rest deeper. Stay grounded.
Rested is available now and Grounded lands later this month.
👉 Get 20% off with code SARAH20 at DIOME.CO
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Fat Loss, Metabolism & The Myth Holding You Back | Dr Andy Galpin
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
00:00:00 Intro00:01:45 The obesity crisis: how we got here and what's driving it
00:04:10 The string test: a simple way to assess your metabolic health
00:06:30 Muscle loss on GLP-1 medications and the stat no one is talking about
00:10:20 Benefits of GLP-1 drugs: heart disease, sleep apnea, and beyond
00:12:00 Food noise explained and how these drugs work like noise-cancelling headphones
00:15:00 GLP-1 and addiction: alcohol, opioids, and the reward system
00:20:30 Side effects, hair loss, and the dangers of unregulated sources
00:23:30 Microdosing Ozempic: what you really need to know
00:35:00 Shame spirals and the role of self-compassion in sustainable change
00:41:00 Managing cravings without medication: urge surfing and habit stacking
00:47:00 Weight regain after stopping: the 20-month reality check
00:50:30 The Mediterranean diet, the 5:2, and the Fast 800 programme
01:05:30 What live well, be well means to Dr. Jack Mosley
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 - 1h 07min - 410 - Why Creatine Is the Most Overlooked Supplement for Women's Health | Dr Stacy Sims
Most women have heard of creatine — but only as something for gym bros loading up before a workout. What the sports science research actually shows is that creatine monohydrate may be one of the most important supplements for women navigating perimenopause, brain fog, gut issues, and mood changes — and almost no one is talking about it outside of performance circles. This clip breaks down exactly which form to take, how much, why it takes three weeks to work, and what the collagen supplement industry isn't telling you about protein intake and joint health.
Dr. Stacy Sims
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
Mon, 06 Apr 2026 - 14min - 409 - The Saturday Test: The One Question That Reveals What You Actually Value in Life
Most of us can list our values on demand — family, health, kindness — but do we actually live by them? This clip introduces the Saturday Test, a deceptively simple tool from relationship psychology: where you spend your free time and discretionary money on a Saturday reveals your true values far more accurately than anything you'd write in a journal. If you've ever wondered why your relationships keep hitting the same walls, or why you feel quietly out of alignment with your own life, this one question might be the most clarifying thing you do this week.
Listen to the full episode here
Watch the full episode on Youtube here
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 03 Apr 2026 - 10min - 408 - I Reviewed the 7 Most Popular Supplements: Here Is What Actually Works | Sarah Ann Macklin
We're living in a $150 billion supplement industry, where every scroll through social media tells you you're missing something. A pill for your gut, your sleep, your hormones, your brain. It's exhausting. And more often than not, people are spending real money on things they can't fully explain, chasing solutions to problems they haven't properly diagnosed.
As a nutritionist, these are the questions I get asked about the most, so I wanted to sit down and give you my honest, evidence-based verdict on the supplements that are everywhere right now. Not hype. Not fear. Just clarity, so you can make decisions that are actually right for you.
Before we dive into the individual supplements, I want to give you a framework that I think changes everything. Before taking anything, ask yourself three questions: Why do I actually need this? How will I know if it's working? And could food solve this instead? These questions alone can save you a small fortune and a lot of confusion.
Here's What We Dive Into:
- Why most people are taking supplements without a clear reason, and the three questions that change everything.
- What creatine research is now revealing about women's brain health, mood, and aging.
- Why vitamin D is the one supplement that food genuinely cannot replace.
- How your gut microbiome actually thrives, and why a probiotic pill usually is not the answer.
- The honest truth about collagen, NAD+, and where your money is better spent.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.
Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.
15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
76% of People Don’t Get Enough Omega-3 - And It Affects Your Brain | Philip Calder
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:31 The 3 questions to ask before any supplement
00:01:07 Magnesium: which form actually gets absorbed
00:04:25 Creatine for women: brain, mood, and aging
00:06:00 Creatine and depression: what the research found
00:08:10 Creatine in menopause: muscle, sleep, and strength
00:09:17 Omega-3: the label number that actually matters
00:11:30 Why today's salmon has less omega-3 than it used to
00:12:46 NAD+: hype or worth it?
00:15:04 Vitamin D: the one supplement food cannot replace
00:17:23 Probiotics: why your gut needs more than a capsule
00:19:40 Collagen: what the research actually says
00:22:00 Final verdict: what surprised me most
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 - 26min - 407 - Alain de Botton: Happiness Only Lasts 15 Minutes. Stop Trying to Make It Permanent.
If you've ever felt like you're failing because you can't hold it together all the time — this conversation with philosopher and author Alain de Botton will change how you see yourself. Science confirms that happiness comes in 15-minute bursts, and the relentless pursuit of permanent calm is the very thing driving burnout in high-achieving women. You'll also discover the simple eight-minute text that could transform how you ask for help — and finally let the people who love you actually show up.
Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 30 Mar 2026 - 08min - 406 - The Real Reason You're Exhausted: Body Budgeting, Hormones, and Burnout | Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett
You're not exhausted because you're bad at managing stress — you're exhausted because modern life is designed to bankrupt your body's energy budget, and hormonal transitions like perimenopause make it exponentially harder to recover. Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett explains why fight-or-flight doesn't work the way you've been told, why fatigue is often confused for hunger, and what a simple check-in question can do to interrupt the shame spiral before it starts. If you've ever hated yourself for being tired, this is the science that finally puts the blame where it belongs.
Dr Lisa Feldman in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 - 05min - 405 - The Men Named in the Epstein Files: Gurus, Healers & Their Hidden Lives | Dr Gemma Newman
Why is it that the loudest voices in health are often the ones we trust the most — even when they’re not the most qualified? In a world where confidence travels faster than evidence, it can feel almost impossible to know who to believe.
This week on Live Well Be Well, I’m joined again by the brilliant Dr. Gemma Newman. Gemma is a GP, author, and deeply thoughtful voice in the wellness space, known for her ability to bridge science, psychology, and compassion. In this conversation, we explore the uncomfortable truths behind power, influence, and the psychology that shapes who we trust. From the Epstein files to spiritual gurus, we unpack how easily admiration can turn into blind faith — and what it really takes to stay grounded in your own truth. This is a conversation about discernment, integrity, and learning to trust yourself in a world full of noise.
Here’s what we explore together:
Why confident health advice often outperforms true expertise — and how algorithms amplify this. The psychology behind why we trust powerful, successful, or attractive people more easily. How the “halo effect” can blind us to red flags in health, wellness, and beyond. What the shadow self really is — and why ignoring it can lead to harmful behaviour.
How spiritual teachings like non-attachment can sometimes be misused or misunderstood.
The dangers of hero worship — and why “never meet your heroes” can sometimes ring true.
How to spot misalignment between someone’s public persona and private behaviour.
Why women’s voices can feel diluted in health conversations — and how to reclaim them.
The impact of movements like MeToo in helping women reconnect with their instincts.
How overwhelm, misinformation, and “chaos tactics” can keep us stuck and disconnected.
The ethical tension between doing good and holding too much power (from
gurus to billionaires).
Why accountability, humility, and multiple perspectives are essential in health leadership.
How cancel culture can sometimes do more harm than good — and what to do instead.
A practical framework for discernment: using your brain, heart, and gut together.
Why the most important work always starts with integrating your own shadow.
Love, Sarah Ann 💛
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahma...
This episode is sponsored by:
Further Reading & Resources:
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Highlights
00:00 Epstein Files Opener
00:08 Power and the Shadow
00:51 Spiritual Guru Hypocrisy
01:30 Book Announcement Break
02:50 Confidence Beats Expertise
24:22 Spotting False Prophets
37:37 Humility Signals Wisdom
38:06 Trusting Gut After MeToo
39:24 Publishing Vulnerable Substack
42:22 Overwhelm and Chaos Tactics
45:22 Gurus, Cults and Non-Attachment
51:03 Shadow Integration and Values
56:10 Billionaire Power and Accountability
58:53 Health Guidelines and Money
01:00:45 Building Inner Trust
01:03:34 Cancel Culture and Kindness
01:06:22 Practical Discernment Checklist
01:09:24 Live Well Be Well Closing
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Wed, 25 Mar 2026 - 1h 11min - 404 - Brain Fog, Weight Gain, Poor Sleep: Dr. Stacy Sims on Why Women Are Given SSRIs Instead of Answers
You're in your mid-30s, gaining weight, losing sleep, and foggy in a way no amount of coffee fixes — and your doctor handed you an antidepressant. What if it wasn't stress, anxiety, or lack of discipline? What if it was perimenopause, starting years earlier than anyone told you? This clip breaks down the real biology behind "tired but wired," gut microbiome changes, and why brain fog in women is often a hormonal signal the medical system keeps missing — and keeps misdiagnosing.
Dr. Stacy Sims
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
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***
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Mon, 23 Mar 2026 - 07min - 403 - Alain de Botton: Your Inner Critic Is Borrowed (And Here's How to Give It Back) | Be Well Moments
Do you speak to yourself as kindly as you would to a friend? We examine how harsh inner voices are often carried from childhood and how a kinder stance can help when you mess up. This clip explores naming and dismissing that internal critic, the role of the ‘super ego’, the limits of relying on a motivational whip, the creative costs of self-censorship, and why our biology makes criticism stick, even online.
Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 - 05min - 402 - The Gut & Poo Doctor: You Have A Gut Problem And Don’t Know It | Dr Will Bulsiewicz
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book
https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
I've never spoken publicly about my polyposis syndrome. About the bowel obstruction. About spending years doing everything right. The diet, the supplements, the appointments, and still ending up in hospital. I share it in this episode, because Will said something that made it impossible not to. Healing, he told me, didn't really begin until he fixed his relationship with his father. Not his diet. His dad.
This week on Live Well Be Well, I sat down again with the brilliant Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, gastroenterologist, gut health researcher, and author of the brand new Plant Power Plus, for a conversation that starts in the gut and ends somewhere far more human. Will has this extraordinary ability to make the most complex science feel personal and urgent, and this one, our third conversation together, might be the most honest we've ever been.
Here's What We Dive Into:
- How half the population has normalised a damaged gut microbiome without ever realising it.
- Why your symptoms, health history, and poop tell a more complete story than any expensive gut test.
- Why fiber is the longevity nutrient and how to introduce it without the bloating and pain.
- How colorectal cancer became the leading killer of millennials and Gen Z, and the screening
steps that can protect you.
- What one evening of drinking does to your gut lining within the hour.
- Why unresolved trauma, stress, and your closest relationships may be the missing piece in your gut healing.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.
Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.
15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Akkermansia, Cancer & GLP-1: How Your Gut Microbiome Shapes Immunity & the Brain | Dr William Lihttps://youtu.be/yZDzsfNjG_M
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
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***
(00:00) Intro
(00:03:49) How to Know If Your Gut Is Healthy
(00:06:25) What Your Poop Says About Your Health
(00:08:02) Signs You're Constipated (And Don't Know It)
(00:13:00) Why Antidepressants Are Prescribed for Gut Problems
(00:18:39) How to Fix Chronic Constipation
(00:24:32)How to Choose a Fiber Supplement
(00:30:56) Akkermansia: The Gut Bacteria That Fights Cancer
(00:41:28) How Stress Destroys Your Gut Microbiome
(00:46:38) Polyps, Bowel Obstruction & Why I Changed My Diet
(00:58:13) How to Add Fiber Without Bloating or Pain
(01:05:49) Why High Protein Diets Harm Your Gut
(01:15:55) How to Repair Your Gut Lining in 3–5 Days
(01:26:57) Why Hangovers Are a Gut Problem (Not Just Alcohol)
(01:41:54) Why Diet Alone Won't Heal Your Gut
(01:51:13) What It Means to Have an Authentic Self
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 - 1h 55min - 401 - Can You Orgasm From Penetration? The Clitoris, Vaginal Nerves, and Arousal | Dr Laurie Mintz | Be well Moments
Do you want to understand why the clitoris is often central to orgasm? Because the clitoris is the anatomical counterpart to the penis, with a highly sensitive external tip and a much larger internal structure made of erectile tissue. This clip explores how the clitoris develops, how the inner labia and clitoral hood relate to penile anatomy, and why the glans can be too sensitive for direct touch for many people due to its concentration of nerve endings.This segment examines what arousal looks like physically, including how the clitoris enlarges during arousal as blood flows into erectile tissue and is released through rhythmic pelvic floor contractions. We also talk about why penetration alone often is not enough for orgasm, including the difference between touch-sensitive and pressure-sensitive nerve endings in the vagina, and why some orgasms during intercourse may still be driven by clitoral stimulation, including internal clitoral structures that surround the vagina.
Dr Laurie Mintz in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 16 Mar 2026 - 05min - 400 - Alain De Botton: Can Radical Honesty Save Your Relationship?: Communication, Trust, and Emotional Safety | Be Well Moments
How can couples talk about hard feelings without hurting each other? This clip explores building a therapeutic atmosphere where jealousy, mixed feelings, and the need for space can be shared gently. Here, I’m discussing why self-understanding must come before communication, how “I feel” language respects two realities, and what an examined relationship means beyond formal therapy. We also consider going to bed on an argument, avoiding freeze-outs by returning to the table quickly, and setting WhatsApp rules to avoid aggravating anxious or avoidant attachment.
Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 13 Mar 2026 - 06min - 399 - Why Doctors Keep Ignoring Women’s Symptoms | Dr. Nighat Arif
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book
https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
This week on Live Well Be Well, I'm joined by the extraordinary Dr. Nighat Arif, NHS GP, women's health advocate, author of The Knowledge and the brand new The Family Health Bible, and one of the most courageous voices in medicine today.
Dr. Nighat has spent nearly two decades in the NHS holding space for the women the system has failed and she's built an online community of millions by doing exactly what she does in her surgery: speaking honestly, clearly, and without shame about the things nobody else will say.
Here's What We Dive Into:
- How a dare from Dr. Nighat's sister during lockdown sparked a global conversation about vaginal dryness and why she chose to begin it in Punjabi.
- Why perimenopause can begin as early as 38 to 40, and what the research says about Black and Asian women going through this transition two to five years earlier than average.
- How medical gaslighting and medical misogyny show up in real consultations including Dr. Nighat's own experiences of being dismissed as a patient, both for PCOS and for lichen sclerosis.
- Why Dr. Nighat now recommends that women start moisturising their vulva and vagina from the age of 20, and which ingredients to avoid.
- How the vaginal ring works, why it's barely spoken about, and why the seven-day pill break has more to do with the Pope than with medicine.
- Why Trump's defunding of women's health research and the framing of female bodies as a "business opportunity" is one of the most urgent issues facing medicine right now.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.
Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.
15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Like:
Why You Still Can’t Orgasm (The Step-By-Step Guide) | Dr. Laurie Mintz, Sex Therapist
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Intro (00:00)
A Sister's Dare That Started It All (03:24)
Your Hormonal Journey from Puberty to Perimenopause (09:45)
When Your GP Won't Prescribe HRT (12:18)
Gaslighting and Misogyny in the NHS (21:32)
Why the NHS Wasn't Built for Women (26:59)
Why Your GP Is Both Scientist and Human (35:09)
Why Midlife Is the Bottom (And It Gets Better) (44:06)
The Neuroscientist Who Reframed Menopause (47:45)
Why Googling Your Symptoms Isn't the Enemy(50:36)
Who Actually Owns the Vulva? (58:22)
Vulva Cancer and the HPV Vaccine Gap (01:03:25)
How to Moisturise Your Vulva (01:11:50)
The Vaginal Ring Nobody Talks About (01:17:33)
When Governments Defund Women's Health (01:28:58)
Pockets, Suffragettes, and Silencing Women (01:34:56)
Stop Doomscrolling, Start Living (01:40:11)
Why Spiritual Connection Matters (01:50:09)
The Fight for Equity in Women's Healthcare (01:53:25)
Wed, 11 Mar 2026 - 2h 01min - 398 - Does the Birth Control Pill Change Who You're Attracted To? | Be Well Moments
Can your cycle and contraception influence who you find attractive? This clip explores how rising estrogen near ovulation aligns with stronger preferences for facial, vocal, and behavioral masculinity, why testosterone can signal immune robustness, and what happens when ovulation is suppressed by the pill. It also examines data on changes in attraction after stopping hormonal birth control, including the 25 percent less, 25 percent more, 50 percent no change pattern, and reported differences in sexual frequency among women depending on when they chose their partner.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/tNoDNnpSkdA
Sarah Hill in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 09 Mar 2026 - 11min - 397 - New Year Wellness Reset: The Simple Beverage Habit That Actually Supports Healthy Aging | Be Well Moments
Want a simple way to reset your health in the new year? Start with your beverages: water, tea and coffee can support hydration, polyphenols and healthy aging. This clip explores filtered water to limit microplastics and metals, avoiding plastic bottles, loose leaf tea and an easy steeping tip, medium roast and organic coffee for more polyphenols, what changes with decaf, skipping dairy milk and added sugar, and why to avoid artificial sweeteners. We also cover thirst vs hunger, keeping water in sight, water before meals for fullness, and how cold water can activate brown fat. Watch the FULL podcast here
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/yZDzsfNjG_M
William Li in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 06 Mar 2026 - 10min - 396 - 76% of People Don’t Get Enough Omega-3 - And It Affects Your Brain | Philip Calder
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book
Did you know that 76% of the world is failing to meet even the minimum intake of Omega-3?. It’s a staggering number that honestly stopped me in my tracks. We often hear about "healthy fats" in a vague way, but when you realize we are living in a global deficit crisis, it changes how you look at your dinner plate. This isn't just a "nutrition fact", it is a fundamental building block of our health that most of us are simply missing.
I’m joined by Professor Philip Calder, a world-leading expert in nutritional immunology. He has spent decades researching how what we eat literally communicates with our immune system, and today, he’s breaking down the science of Omega-3 in a way that is so practical and easy to understand.
Here’s What We Dive Into:
- The Global Omega-3 Deficit: Why 76% of the world is failing to meet basic requirements and what that means for our long-term health.
- Fire Brigade vs. Firewall: A genius analogy to help you understand how Omega-3s actually "put out the fire" of inflammation rather than just masking the symptoms.
- The Truth About Intake: Why the government recommendation of 450mg might not be enough, and why Philip suggests aiming for at least 1g a day.
- Silent Inflammation: Understanding the "low-grade" inflammation that could be happening in your blood vessels or brain without you even knowing it.
- Cognitive Health & Alzheimer’s: The deeply personal connection between fatty acids and protecting our brains as we age.
- The "Dimmer Switch" Effect: How Omega-3 acts as a specialized mediator to resolve inflammation and return your body to balance.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.
Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.
15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Dr. Zach Bush on Glyphosate, the Microbiome & What Modern Medicine Gets Wrong
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
Highlights
Intro (00:00:00)
How Much Omega-3 Do You Actually Need Every Day? (00:01:47)
How Fatty Acids Put Out Internal Fires (00:09:40)
Omega-3, Brain Health, and Alzheimer’s (00:12:22)
How to Spot Misinformation Online (00:18:22)
Why You Should Avoid Omega 3-6-9 Supplements (00:24:23)
EPA vs. DHA Ratios: Which One Should You Prioritise? (00:30:19)
How Feed Affects Nutritional Value (00:38:14)
Balancing Risk vs. Nutritional Reward (00:43:43)
GLP-1 (Ozempic) Concerns (00:47:52)
Can Healthy Fats Prevent Muscle Loss? (00:51:44)
Why Home Cooking is the Ultimate Act of Self-Care (00:57:05)
Wed, 04 Mar 2026 - 1h 00min - 395 - Why You Can’t Stop Scrolling & The Simple Fix That Actually Works | Anders Hansen
Are your habits helping or hijacking your brain? This clip explores how learned routines like toothbrushing, with oral health linked to heart disease and dementia, contrast with habits we never learned for our minds.
This segment examines why calorie-rich foods and constant phone access exploit evolved instincts, why Christmas grazing happens, and how removing cues helps. Practical ideas include keeping junk food and phones out of reach, placing your phone in another room for meetings or class, and exercising daily despite excuses unless you’re genuinely ill.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/HHvG8HEYdjA
Anders Hansen in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book 👇😆✌🏻https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/471807/healthy-shouldnt-be-this-hard-by-macklin-sarah-ann/9780857509970
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 02 Mar 2026 - 05min - 394 - Alain de Botton: Why You're Drawn to the Wrong People and How Attachment Styles Explain It
Do anxious and avoidant partners keep finding each other? Often, we’re drawn to familiar dynamics and hope to solve old problems as adults.
This clip explores the anxious-avoidant pattern, repetition compulsion, and why styles rarely change but can be managed. We discuss dialing conflicts down, naming your pattern early, and setting firm boundaries such as asking for regular check-ins. It also considers choosing calmer relationships over intense fireworks to support your nervous system.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/eTbA81qNYt4
Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book 👇😆✌🏻https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/471807/healthy-shouldnt-be-this-hard-by-macklin-sarah-ann/9780857509970
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 27 Feb 2026 - 08min - 393 - How To Heal From Heartbreak (Backed by Science) | 5 Experts on Love & Heartbreak
Exciting news - pre-order my debut book https://linktr.ee/HealthySBTH?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=9db12bc6-b7d3-4df4-bc5c-260e0303792c
This episode is a deeply personal one for me because I know exactly how it feels to have your sense of self completely dismantled by a loss. I wanted to bring together the voices that helped me navigate the wreckage of my own heart, moving away from the clichés and toward a real, compassionate understanding of what it means to truly heal.
I’m joined by some of the world’s leading minds on philosophy, psychology, and human connection, including:
- Alain de Botton, a world renowned philosopher and the founder of The School of Life who has spent his career making the complexities of the human heart accessible, helping us find meaning in the most painful parts of our existence.
- Mo Gawdat, the former Chief Business Officer at Google [X] and author of Solve for Happy who combines a logical mind with a deeply soulful perspective to help us navigate grief and find a path back to peace.
- Paul Brunson, a global relationship expert and master matchmaker who understands the intricate dynamics of connection and the vital importance of self-respect when choosing to walk away.
- Guy Winch, a clinical psychologist and celebrated TED speaker who is a leading voice on emotional health, providing us with the practical "emotional first aid" tools we need to fix a broken heart.
- Dr. Emilia Vuorisalmi, a brilliant medical doctor and expert in the science of love who bridges the gap between our emotions and our biology, explaining how our hormones and nervous system respond to loss.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.
Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.
15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Why Compatibility is Overrated: Alain de Botton’s Guide to Relationships That Last | Alain De Botton
https://youtu.be/eTbA81qNYt4
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
00:00:00 Intro: My personal journey through heartbreak
00:04:15 Alain de Botton on losing the version of ourselves
00:12:30 Mo Gawdat: Why heartbreak is lived and not just academic
00:18:45 The definition of true love and how to audit your relationship
00:26:10 Paul Brunson on the power of choosing to walk away
00:34:20 Why keeping your heart open is your greatest strength
00:42:05 Guy Winch: How to fix a broken heart and reclaim control
00:55:12 Dr. Emilia Vuorisalmi: The science of love hormones and the brain
01:05:30 Final reflections: Finding your way back to yourself
Wed, 25 Feb 2026 - 1h 06min - 392 - Why Do Women Leave Partners in Their Late 30s? The Science of Female Desire | Sarah Hill
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/tNoDNnpSkdA
What really happens to attraction and relationships as women enter their late 30s, perimenopause, and menopause? This clip explores how shifts in estrogen and a late 30s testosterone surge can reshape desire, partner preferences, and satisfaction, while men’s attraction often tracks cues tied to fertility. This segment examines why some couples grow closer and why many divorces are initiated by women, the reproduction expediting idea, and how hormones can nudge orientation, including late-life female partnerships. Understanding these patterns can help women contextualise feelings and make steadier choices during temporary changes.
Sarah Hill in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 23 Feb 2026 - 08min - 391 - The #1 Science-Based Way To Improve Focus Starting Today | Anders Hansen
Struggling to focus in a tech-filled world?
Here, I’m discussing why our brains evolved to be easily distracted and how simple habits can protect attention. This clip explores exercise-driven brain benefits: about 20% higher blood flow, sharper focus and creativity for roughly an hour after, and better memory for study. We also cover the long-term mental health gains from three pulse-raising sessions a week of around 45 minutes, why daily movement still matters, and practical tips like keeping your phone out of the room and building movement into your day with walking, cycling, or stairs.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/HHvG8HEYdjA
Anders Hansen in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 20 Feb 2026 - 08min - 390 - The Nutrition Advice Making You Less Healthy: Four Signs To Watch | Nutritionist Sarah Ann Macklin
Do you ever find yourself standing in front of the fridge at 6 PM just staring into the light? It is that heavy feeling of being completely "done" for the day. It is not just physical fatigue. It is your brain telling you it has nothing left to give. I have been there so many times and I want you to know that it is not a failure of willpower.
This week is a little different because it is just you and me. I wanted to sit down and have a real heart to heart about why staying healthy feels so incredibly hard right now. We are living in such a loud and polarizing world when it comes to nutrition and honestly it is exhausting. I am sharing the concept of the Brain Bank Account which has been a total game changer for how I manage my own energy. We are moving away from the "shoulds" and looking at how to build gentle systems that actually hold you up when life gets messy.
Here’s what we dive into:
- Why the world of nutrition feels so loud and confusing and how to find your own quiet center again.
- How to use the Brain Bank Account method to stop overdrawing your internal energy.
- What happens to our brains when we hit that 3 PM slump and how to nourish our way through it.
- Why making decisions about food is actually one of the most taxing things we do every day.
- How to align your natural biological rhythms with your busy social life without the stress.
- What the Great British Veg Out is all about and why adding more is always better than taking away.
- Why your health is individual and how to stop comparing your "off days" to someone else's highlight reel.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.
Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.
15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:Your Brain on Food, Sleep & Stress: What Top Experts Want You to Know | Brain Health Masterclasshttps://youtu.be/1WhdVRiaHqA
Anxiety Explained: Top Neuroscientist Says It’s a Predictive Error | Dr. Lisa Feldman Barretthttps://youtu.be/Es2i3oLj6Nw
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
Intro (00:00)
The Complexity of Nutrition (00:59)
Listening to Your Body's Signals (01:53)
Personal Anecdotes and Practical Tips (04:34)
Understanding Energy and Body Budget (09:11)
Impact of Stress on Eating Habits (17:15)
Sensory Awareness and Eating Habits (21:01)
The Importance of Self-Talk and Building Systems (29:47)
Final reflections: Learning to listen to your own system (36:53)
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 18 Feb 2026 - 40min - 389 - Alain De Botton: How Do You Heal a Broken Heart? The Importance of Closure & Self-Compassion
How long does heartbreak really last and what actually helps you heal? This clip explores heartbreak as a trauma that can take years, the call for real closure, and how unexplained breakups shatter trust and sense of self. I’m exploring with my guest the quieter, tragic view that not all pain becomes growth, even while we may learn boundaries and ask sharper questions. Here, I’m discussing the slow turn toward self-compassion, moving from siding with the rejector to being on your own side, and what recovery realistically looks like.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/eTbA81qNYt4
Alain De Button in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 16 Feb 2026 - 06min - 388 - Estrogen vs. Progesterone: Why Women Need Both for Brain Protection | Sarah Hill
FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/tNoDNnpSkdA
Do you feel like two different people across your cycle? Understanding the brain effects of estrogen and progesterone can help you trust both advisors within you. This clip explores the often overlooked luteal phase, why progesterone matters for mood, sleep, and decision making, and how it's used after concussion to protect the brain. We also touch on perimenopause care and why progesterone isn't just for the uterus, plus emerging questions about neuroprotection and Alzheimer's. Watch the
Sarah Hill in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 13 Feb 2026 - 06min - 387 - Why You Still Can’t Orgasm (The Step-By-Step Guide) | Dr. Laurie Mintz, Sex Therapist
Why is it that we often feel like we need to solve the mystery of our own bodies in total silence? For so many of us, the path to pleasure has been paved with confusion or even shame, leaving us feeling like there is something broken within us when there truly isn't.
This week on Live Well Be Well, I am sitting down with the pioneering Dr. Laurie Mintz. Laurie is a psychologist and author who is on a mission to close the orgasm gap and help us reclaim our right to feel alive and connected in our most intimate moments.In this conversation, we dismantle the cultural lies that have taught us to prioritize everyone's pleasure except our own.
Here’s what we explore together:
- What the clitoris actually is and why it has been linguistically and scientifically erased for centuries.
- How the myth of the penetrative orgasm is keeping women from experiencing true fulfillment.
- Why your brain is your most powerful sexual organ and how to stop overthinking in the bedroom.
- How to bridge the orgasm gap by moving away from patriarchal scripts and toward pleasure equality.
- Why masturbation is a vital first step in understanding your own unique biological language.
- What it means to be truly in your body and how play can transform your adult health.
- How to navigate the honest and awkward conversations that lead to the most meaningful connections of your life.
- Why information is the ultimate power in reclaiming your body and your joy.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Women's Brain Health: What Science REALLY Says About Hormones, PMS & Menopause | Dr Sarah McKayhttps://youtu.be/aKnS1McNVm8
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:Science Simplified, Health Humanised.Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
00:00 Debunking Myths About Female Orgasm
01:49 The Orgasm Gap: A Cultural Issue
06:43 Understanding the Clitoris
21:44 The Importance of Masturbation
38:23 The Importance of Communication in Relationships
39:38 Key Skills for Effective Communication
41:36 Applying Communication Skills to Sexual Relationships
42:48 Addressing Common Sexual Misconceptions
43:51 The Role of Therapy in Enhancing Communication
45:42 Empowerment Through Sexual Honesty
49:02 The Impact of Socialization on Sexual Communication
01:02:59 Mindfulness and Sexual Pleasure
01:12:24 The Connection Between Mind and Body
***
Love what you’re hearing?My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 11 Feb 2026 - 1h 19min - 386 - Why do healthy people still get Alzheimer’s disease? | Dr Darshan Shah
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/qHFymGgsYyE
Can you do everything right and still face Alzheimer’s risk? It can happen, and we discuss how environmental toxins, metabolic health, and shifting hormones may play a role. This clip explores two grandmothers with opposite lifestyles, highlighting possible factors like hemoglobin A1c, menopause-related drops in estrogen, and other hormones including IGF-1 and thyroid. We also consider genetic resilience and detox capacity, and why relying on luck isn’t wise. Women are addressed directly, with advice to see a good hormone doctor during perimenopause and menopause.
Dr Darshan Shah in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
**
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 09 Feb 2026 - 04min - 385 - This One Gut Microbe Could Decide If Cancer Treatment Works | William Li
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/yZDzsfNjG_M
Curious what Akkermansia actually does for your health? It’s discussed here as a keystone gut microbe linked to improved insulin sensitivity, lower A1C in clinical studies, GLP-1 release and healthier blood vessels, with associations to cancer immunotherapy response. This clip explores the gut brain circulation connection, how metabolism and energy relate to this microbe, and why people considering immunotherapy might also focus on gut health. We also touch on the importance of discussing immunotherapy with an oncologist and staying within medical advice boundaries.
William Li in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 06 Feb 2026 - 10min - 384 - Why Compatibility is Overrated: Alain de Botton’s Guide to Relationships That Last
We spend so much of our lives trying to be impressive. We polish our edges and hide our cracks because we’re terrified that being "real" means being weak. But what if the very things we are hiding are actually the only bridges to real connection? It is a scary thought, but one that completely changes how we show up in the world.
Here’s what we explore together:
- Why being "invulnerable" is sometimes just as important as being open and how to know the difference.
- How accepting your own foolishness can actually make you invincible to humiliation.
- Why we feel "boring" with some people and alive with others and why it is not your fault.
- How to use curiosity to metabolize pain and crisis into understanding.
- Why following your "gut" in love can sometimes lead you straight into disaster.
- Why the truth sometimes needs to be delivered in "small pieces" to be heard.
- Why a functioning relationship is the most difficult achievement of a human life.
- How to find a path that fits your unique nature in a world that wants you to conform.
Love, Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.
Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.
15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
The 7 Pillars to Finding Genuine Love Beyond Dating Apps | Francesca Hogihttps://youtu.be/aGqlB61ldoA
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
00:00 Intro
02:03 The Vulnerability Paradox: When to Put Your Wall Up
05:26 Why You Should Embrace Being an “Idiot” & Letting Go of Shame
10:22 Mastering Open Communication in Any Relationship
15:36 The Hard Truth About Modern Relationship Challenges
26:16 The Best Question to Ask on a First Date
28:40 Heartbreak and Its Aftermath
37:22 Dealing with Criticism & Managing High Sensitivity
41:12 Reconnecting with Our Bodies
47:38 The Importance of Therapy and Self-Awareness
52:26 The Role of Compassion in Psychotherapy
57:53 Why We Run from Ourselves
01:05:11 Friendship and Emotional Support
01:09:55 The Gift of Vulnerability: Building Deeper Connections
01:14:28 Redefining Success Beyond Money and Status
01:20:17 Communication Secrets for Healthy Long-Term Relationships
01:26:46 Navigating Attachment Styles
01:34:45 The Power of Love and Practice***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 04 Feb 2026 - 1h 40min - 383 - How much social connection do we actually need? Loneliness, stress, and midlife health | Anders Hansen
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/HHvG8HEYdjA
Are we built to manage only about 150 meaningful relationships, and what does that mean for our health? It matters because small, real-world connections help lower loneliness-driven stress that can worsen heart disease prognosis and raise some cancer risk. This clip explores the 150-person social limit, why in-person cues beat screens, a call-based study that eased loneliness, concerns about AI companions and hyper-independence, and lessons from hunter-gatherers on movement, sleep, and mood. Together we consider balancing fast tech with our unchanged human needs.
Anders Hansen in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 02 Feb 2026 - 11min - 382 - Can gut bacteria influence brain disease? The microbiome, Parkinson’s and dementia | William Li
Can specific gut and mouth bacteria influence brain health and conditions like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's? We look at early clinical work on Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 and its potential to slow Parkinson's progression, links between gum disease and dementia, and how Lactobacillus reuteri may stimulate oxytocin. This clip explores the gut-brain and oral-brain connections, the idea of a brain microbiome, and emerging views on brain regeneration and healthy aging.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/yZDzsfNjG_M
William Li in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 30 Jan 2026 - 07min - 381 - Why Women Feel Like TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE Every Month (The Science of Hormones) | Dr. Sarah Hill
Ever feel like you’re waking up as two different people depending on the week of the month? One week you’re taking on the world with total confidence, and the next, you’re second-guessing every decision you’ve ever made. It turns out, that isn’t just "you being emotional", it’s actually a sign of your brain responding to a very specific biological rhythm.
This week on Live Well Be Well, I’m sitting down with the brilliant Dr. Sarah Hill. She’s an evolutionary psychologist and the author of This Is Your Brain on Birth Control and The Period Brain. Sarah has this incredible way of explaining how our hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, aren’t just about reproduction; they are actually "wise advisors" that shape how we think, who we’re attracted to, and how we show up in our work and relationships.
Here’s what we explore together:
- Your Hormones as Information: How these biological signals act as internal guides for your behavior and motivation.
- The "Two Advisors" Theory: Why feeling different across your cycle actually makes you a better, more well-rounded decision-maker.
- The Power of Progesterone: Why this often-ignored hormone is actually a neuroprotective "superpower" that helps your brain slow down and recover.
- Cycle Variability: Why your "symptoms" can change every month based on everything from sleep to stress.
- The Male Perspective: A fascinating look at how men’s testosterone is actually more reactive to the environment (like sports or competition) compared to the predictable cycles of women.
- Bridging the Cultural Gap: How to stop overriding your body’s natural cues in a world that expects you to be the same person every single day.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/ Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.
Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.
15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Women's Brain Health: What Science REALLY Says About Hormones, PMS & Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay
https://youtu.be/aKnS1McNVm8?list=PLfXKbjBGaUhb7iE0BaE2PZINeLZ3Ybb0M
***
Highlights
Intro (00:00:00)
The Wisdom of the Menstrual Cycle (00:01:55)
The Luteal Phase: The Dark Side of the Cycle (00:04:42)
Men's Hormones vs. Women's Hormones (00:11:46)
The Impact of Hormones on Behavior (00:17:37)
Tracking Your Cycle for Better Understanding (00:23:25)
PMS: Understanding and Reframing (00:29:49)
Evolutionary Perspectives on Attraction (00:36:38)
Research on Birth Control and Relationship Satisfaction (00:41:29)
Scent and Attraction (01:01:00)
Sexual Orientation and Hormonal Influence (01:07:51)
Menopause and Attraction (01:11:02)
Communication and Understanding in Relationships (01:19:03)
The Importance of Recognizing Biological Differences (01:28:35)
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 - 1h 34min - 380 - Is Your Phone Killing Your Creativity? 3 Ways to Boost Brain Health | Tj Power
Can boredom and daydreaming actually boost creativity and calm? Here, I’m discussing how a solo writing sprint in nature left my HRV higher and my mind clearer, then we examine the default mode and executive networks, task switching, and screen-free habits. This clip explores the Meals, Bedroom, Bathroom rule for no phones, the value of nature time, and reframing boredom as daydreaming to restore the brain. We talk practical steps for dopamine-heavy habits, why reflection improves decisions, and how daydreaming can spark ideas and support mental health.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZoyEJ0WD99g
Tj Power in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimagined
Know your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 - 07min - 379 - Longevity Doctor: Alzheimer’s Is Preventable If You Do These 5 Things Early | Dr Darshan Shah
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/qHFymGgsYyE
Worried about Alzheimer’s and what you can do now? You’ll hear practical, testable steps to lower risk by targeting metabolism, inflammation and toxins, plus daily habits for brain rest and sleep. This clip explores the idea that Alzheimer’s can have different drivers, the importance of early testing (continuous glucose monitors, hs-CRP, urine toxin tests), and simple changes like meditation, less phone time, better sleep, air purifiers, filtered water, non-toxic skin products, and eating organic while avoiding ultra-processed foods.
Dr Darshan Shah in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Thu, 22 Jan 2026 - 04min - 378 - We Weren't Designed to be Happy: The Scientific Reason You Feel "Off" | Anders Hansen
This week on Live Well Be Well, I’m joined by Dr Anders Hansen, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and bestselling author of The Real Happy Pill and Brain Blues, to explore how modern life is reshaping our mental health, focus, and emotional resilience.
In this conversation, Anders explains why anxiety, low mood, and restlessness are not failures of the mind, but evolutionary responses that no longer fit our current environment. We discuss how movement, boredom, attention, and social connection shape brain chemistry, and why understanding our evolutionary wiring can help us respond to stress with more compassion and clarity.
Here’s What We Dive Into:
- Why the human brain evolved for survival, not constant happiness or comfort.
- How modern environments amplify anxiety, low mood, and attention problems.
- Why physical movement is one of the most effective interventions for mental health.
- How boredom and mental rest support creativity, emotional regulation, and focus.
- What social connection does to the brain, and why isolation increases psychological distress.
- How dopamine, serotonin, and stress hormones respond to modern stimulation.
- Why chasing happiness can backfire, and what a healthier goal looks like.
- How understanding evolution helps reduce shame around mental health struggles.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/What if many of the mental health struggles we face today are not signs that something is wrong with us, but signals from a brain designed for a very different world?
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
The Uncomfortable Truth About Why We Can't Commit | Mo Gawdat
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Why modern life feels mentally overwhelming (00:00:00)
The evolutionary purpose of anxiety and low mood (00:03:40)
Why the brain struggles with constant comfort (00:08:20)
Movement and its impact on brain chemistry (00:12:55)
Why physical activity reduces anxiety and depression (00:18:30)
Boredom, focus, and mental recovery (00:24:10)
Social connection and the brain’s safety signals (00:30:05)
Dopamine, stimulation, and emotional balance (00:36:40)
Why happiness is a poor long term goal (00:42:15)
Reducing shame through evolutionary understanding (00:48:30)
Practical ways to support everyday mental wellbeing (00:54:10)
The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health (00:55:31)
The Science of Happiness (01:09:00)
Curiosity: The Engine of Growth (01:17:57)
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 - 1h 20min - 377 - Why Women Face Higher Alzheimer’s Risk (And The One Thing That Lowers It) | Dr Tommy Wood
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquU
Are women at higher risk of Alzheimer’s, and can life roles influence dementia risk? This clip explores why two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases are in women, how vascular dementia differs, and how age-specific dementia risk has fallen over recent decades. We discuss factors like improved nutrition, better heart health care, and environmental complexity, jobs, education, and social engagement, linked to maintaining cognition into our 80s. A long-running study found lower environmental complexity, common among midcentury housewives, tracked with greater decline. We also touch on the importance of keeping the mind stimulated.
Dr Tommy Wood in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 19 Jan 2026 - 07min - 376 - The Brain Has Bacteria? What the Brain Microbiome Means for Health and Longevity | William Li
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/yZDzsfNjG_M
Could your brain host healthy bacteria? This clip explores how parts once taught as sterile, such as breast milk, the bladder, and the brain, contain beneficial microbes, and what they might be doing. We touch on gut and brain communication through the vagus nerve, the idea of dysbiosis versus infection, and why modern findings ask for humility in medicine. Here, I’m discussing practical takeaways like paying attention to how your body feels and using biohacking to monitor health when tests fall short.
William Li in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 16 Jan 2026 - 05min - 375 - The Hardest Thing I’ve Learned About Self-Talk — and How to Stop Beating Yourself Up
A quick note before we begin
This year, I’m doing something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.
I want to start this year by sharing something a little different.
After four years of Live Well Be Well, I’m introducing regular solo episodes. It’s taken me a long time to get here. Not because I didn’t have things to say, but because it’s taken a lot of belief in myself to sit here and share my own thoughts, reflections, and opinions, alongside the voices of the people I speak to on the show.
These episodes aren’t about giving answers or telling you what to do. They’re about making sense of the patterns that keep showing up — in science, in health, and in ourselves.
And I feel incredibly privileged to say that. I speak to some of the most respected, iconic people in this field a few times a week, and over the years, I’ve accumulated such a breadth of knowledge through those conversations. That breadth really matters when it comes to health, because nothing exists in isolation.
These solo episodes are a way for me to distill all of that. To share what’s staying with me, what’s shaping the way I think, and what’s been on my mind each month.
I also want this to feel like a conversation. Use the comments. Ask me questions. Tell me what you want to hear more about. These episodes, and this space, are where I want to respond.Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Neuroscientist’s 3 Proven Steps to Improve Brain Health & Prevent Cognitive Decline | Dr Tommy Woodhttps://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquU
The Brain Immune Expert: ALERT! Social Media Is Reprogramming Your Immune System | Prof Nicolau
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
Intro (00:00:00)
Why Vulnerability Is the Real Starting Point (00:01:41)
Brain vs Immune System: What Actually Came First (00:04:36)
Negative Social Media Causes Inflammation (00:09:24)
Burnout Permanently Changes Your Immune System (00:08:38)
Dopamine Addiction, Phones, and Brain Overload (00:10:42)
Why Boredom Is Essential for Brain Health (00:11:27)
Fascia, Movement, and the Mind-Body Link (00:14:13)
Emotional Granularity: A Hidden Health Tool (00:17:07)
Redefining Success Through Mind-Body Health (00:19:58)
What “Living Well, Being Well” Actually Means (00:20:58)
Building a Health Community and Looking Ahead to 2026 (0:22:20)
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 - 23min - 374 - The Three S Model: Stimulus, Supply and Support for Cognitive Health and Dementia Risk | Dr Tommy Wood
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquU
Can nutrition and supplements meaningfully lower dementia risk or mainly boost day-to-day focus? They matter within a broader Three S model that links stimulus, supply, and support for brain adaptation. This clip explores why cognitive challenge is the primary stimulus, how supply depends on blood flow, oxygen, and fuel, and how support includes sleep and less chronic stress. We discuss omega-3s, B vitamins, choline, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, iron, and hydration, the heart-brain connection, and vascular dementia overlap, plus associations showing compounded risk from low D, poor omega-3 and B status, anemia, and homocysteine.
Dr Tommy Wood in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 sarahannmacklin.com/vegoutReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 sarahannmacklin.com/reset-your-health
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 12 Jan 2026 - 05min - 373 - Human Performance Scientist: Are GLP-1 weight loss drugs a solution or a risk? | Andy Galpin
Are GLP-1 weight loss drugs a smart first step for obesity? They’re helping many people lose significant weight, yet concerns remain about side effects, muscle loss, cost, and regaining weight after stopping. This clip explores the promise and limits of GLP-1s, the call for long term data, and the need to pair medication with nutrition education, counseling, and strength training. It also considers real world access and whether short term success can translate into lasting health.
Andy Galpin in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 sarahannmacklin.com/vegout
Reset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 sarahannmacklin.com/reset-your-health
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 09 Jan 2026 - 05min - 372 - Akkermansia, Cancer & GLP-1: How Your Gut Microbiome Shapes Immunity & the Brain | Dr William Li
In this episode of Live Well Be Well, I’m joined by Dr. William Li, physician scientist, bestselling author, and president of the Angiogenesis Foundation. William is one of the world’s leading voices on food as medicine, and together we explore how nutrition, immunity, and brain health are deeply connected, often in ways we underestimate.
In this conversation, Dr. William Li shares how the body’s defence systems are constantly communicating with the brain, influencing inflammation, cognition, mood, and ageing. Drawing on decades of research, he explains how everyday foods can strengthen immunity, protect blood vessels, and support brain function, not through restriction or perfection, but through consistent, nourishing choices.
We discuss why immune health matters far beyond avoiding illness, how inflammation silently impacts mood and cognition, and why nourishing the body is one of the most accessible tools we have for long term resilience. This episode is an invitation to move away from fear based nutrition and toward a calmer, evidence led understanding of how the body heals, adapts, and thrives when supported consistently over time.
Here’s What We Dive Into:
- How the immune system influences brain health, mood, and cognitive ageing.
- Why chronic inflammation quietly undermines wellbeing long before symptoms appear.
- What angiogenesis is and why healthy blood vessels matter for brain function.
- How specific foods support the body’s natural defence and repair systems.
- Why food as medicine is about consistency, not restriction or perfection.
- What the science really says about nutrition and disease prevention.
- How everyday dietary choices shape long term resilience and longevity.
- Why empowering people with knowledge creates healthier relationships with food.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Intro (00:00)
Why Social Connection Is Essential for Longevity and Brain Health (02:11)
Reframing Ageing and Letting Go of the Decline Narrative (04:26)
How Metabolism Shapes Ageing, Energy, and Disease Risk (11:03)
Why Biohacking Misses the Bigger Picture of Longevity and Health (15:26)
The Brain Microbiome and How Gut Bacteria Affect the Mind (19:12)
Probiotics and Brain Health What the Science Shows (23:29)
How to Choose the Right Probiotic Based on Evidence (30:40)
Akkermansia and Its Role in Metabolism and Diabetes (35:46)
Gut Health, Immunity, and Cancer Treatment Support (40:02)
How to Increase Akkermansia Naturally Through Diet (41:37)
Do Restrictive Diets Support or Harm Gut Microbiome Health? (47:56)
Hydration, Polyphenols, and Healthier Beverage Choices (50:54)
The Simple Hydration Habit That Prevents Mindless Eating (57:12)
Balancing Longevity Goals With Joy and Simplicity (1:01:42)
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 07 Jan 2026 - 1h 07min - 371 - Neuroscience Explains: Can You Prevent Alzheimer’s If It Runs In Your Family? | Dr Tommy Wood | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquU
Does having APOE4 mean Alzheimer’s is inevitable? It doesn’t, and I explain how genes interact with lifestyle and environment to shape risk. This clip explores early-onset familial mutations versus common late-onset cases, APOE4 as a risk multiplier, population data from some Indigenous groups, Nigerians, and Sicilians, key lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol, poor diet, and sedentary behavior, polygenic risk scores, and why an estimated 40 to 50 percent of dementia may be preventable at a population level.
Dr Tommy Wood in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 sarahannmacklin.com/vegout
Reset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 sarahannmacklin.com/reset-your-health
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
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💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 05 Jan 2026 - 06min - 370 - Why Do You Wake Up at 2–3am? The Real Sleep Physiology Most People Miss | Dr Andy Galpin | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZXLWY5HcPXE
In this conversation, I sit down with Andy Galpin to talk about sleep, and why so many of us are still struggling with it despite doing “all the right things”.
We unpack why sleep is getting worse globally, even as awareness and spending on sleep continue to rise. Andy explains why focusing on sleep duration alone misses the bigger picture, and why exhaustion is not the same as being physiologically ready for sleep. We also explore why waking up around 2–3am is so common, and how stress, heart rate, and nervous system regulation before bed play a bigger role than most people realise.
Andy Galpin in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
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Fri, 02 Jan 2026 - 14min - 369 - What We Learned About the Brain in 2025 | Stress, Perception & Healing
What if the qualities you’ve been taught to override are actually the ones keeping you well?
To round of 2025, I’m joined by world-leading thinkers including Simon Sinek, Dr. Rick Doblin, Robin Sharma, Professor Nicolau, and Dr. Sarah McKay to explore what truly shapes our wellbeing when the noise fades and the signal becomes clearer.
This episode weaves together some of the most powerful moments from conversations across the year. From introversion and energy boundaries, to trauma, inflammation, digital overload, recovery, and the stories we tell about our bodies, this is a reminder that health is not about optimisation, it’s about understanding cost, context, and care.
Across neuroscience, psychology, leadership, and physiology, a shared truth emerges. Our systems are intelligent. But they are not limitless. And when we listen earlier, we protect ourselves from paying a higher price later.
Here’s What We Dive Into:
- How introversion can be a strength in leadership, communication, and meaningful connection.
- Why wellbeing is less about right versus wrong, and more about understanding personal cost.
- How MDMA
-assisted therapy works in the brain to support healing from PTSD — and why context matters more than the compound.
- What recovery actually looks like in a world that rewards constant output.
- Why strategic rest and “going ghost” can unlock creativity, clarity, and long-term performance.
- How social media content — not just screen time — may drive inflammation and immune stress.
- Why chronic stress and burnout can permanently shift our inflammatory baseline.
- How cultural narratives shape emotional experiences, including PMS and mood changes.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
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💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:Science Simplified, Health Humanised.Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Simon Sinek on Leadership, Energy, and Meaningful WorkSimon Sinek: The ADHD Superpower - Why It’s My Greatest Advantage
Dr. Rick Doblin on Trauma, Healing, and Psychedelic ScienceHow Psychedelics Change the Brain: MDMA, Psilocybin, Benefits & Risks | Dr. Rick Doblin
Dr. Sarah McKay on Women’s Brains, Hormones, and Emotional HealthWomen's Brain Health: What Science REALLY Says About Hormones, PMS & Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay
***
Highlights:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:00 My ADHD Superpower - Why it’s my greatest advantage | Simon Sinek
00:11:23 How Psychedelics Change the Brain: MDMA, Psilocybin, Benefits and Risks | Dr Rick Doblin
00:18:51 Stop Chasing Money: 8 Hidden Forms of Wealth You Need Now | Robin Sharma
00:24:05 The Brain Immune Expert: Alert! Social Media is Reprogramming Your Immune System | Dr Dan Nicolau Jr
00:39:24 Women’s Brain Health: What Science Really Says About Hormones, PMS, and Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 31 Dec 2025 - 47min - 368 - How Do You Know You’re in Zone 2? Finding the Right Training Intensity Without a Wearable | Inigo San Milan | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/7kfykswH6Io
This clip explores how to identify zone two intensity without relying on a wearable. I discuss the link between breathing rate, conversation ability and the underlying metabolic changes that define this training zone. We take a closer look at why many people unintentionally drift into higher intensities, suppress fat oxidation and struggle to lose weight despite working hard.
The conversation also touches on fat max, mitochondrial function and the practical implications for long-term weight management.
Inigo San Milan in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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Mon, 29 Dec 2025 - 07min - 367 - The Biology of Health & Longevity | Top Expert Insights from 2025
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
👉 Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
As we wrap up another incredible year of Live Well Be Well, I found myself asking one simple question. What truly stayed with me?
In this conversation, I’m joined by world-leading voices who helped shape some of the most meaningful discussions of 2025, including:
Dr. Stacy Sims, exercise physiologist redefining how women should train, fuel, and recover
Dr. Andy Galpin, performance scientist translating elite physiology into everyday health
Doug Evans, longevity thinker exploring how nutrition and lifestyle shape long-term vitality
Dr. Iñigo San Millán, physiologist uncovering the role of mitochondria in metabolic health and endurance
Jason Van Blerk, founder of Human Garage, offering a new lens on fascia, movement, and healing
This episode is a reflection not only on science, but on perspective. Across these conversations, a shared message emerged. Our bodies are not machines to override. They are intelligent systems that respond to care, context, and consistency.From female specific physiology and metabolic flexibility to recovery, fascia, and longevity, these voices bring clarity to a crowded wellness space. Together, they remind us that sustainable health is built through understanding rather than optimisation alone.
Here’s What We Dive Into:- How female physiology changes the way women should train, fuel, and recover.
- Why performance science must move beyond one size fits all advice.
- What metabolic flexibility really means and why it matters beyond elite sport.
- How mitochondrial health underpins energy, endurance, and long term wellbeing.
- Why recovery is an active biological process, not simply rest.
- What fascia reveals about pain, movement, and whole body connection.
- How modern lifestyles disrupt our biology and what helps restore balance.
- Why longevity depends more on fundamentals than shortcuts.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
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💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
00:00:00 The question that shaped this year end reflection
00:04:18 Female physiology and outdated fitness narratives
00:09:42 Performance science beyond extremes
00:15:06 Metabolic flexibility explained simply
00:20:31 Mitochondria and sustainable energy
00:26:47 Recovery as a biological skill
00:32:10 Fascia, pain, and whole body communication
00:37:58 Longevity through fundamentals
00:43:21 What listening to the body really means
***
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My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Sun, 28 Dec 2025 - 1h 01min - 366 - Are You Recovering Enough? Stress,Sleep, and Daily Homeostasis Explained | Joana De Calheiros Velozo | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/IIenBH9xAEk
This segment explores how stress affects the body and why recovery matters just as much as the stress itself. The discussion makes clear that stress is normal, but what truly impacts health is how quickly we return to homeostasis once the moment has passed.
Here, we examine the difference between ongoing strain and healthy regulation, the role of sleep in stress resilience, and why two people with the same workload can experience completely different levels of overwhelm. The conversation also looks at locus of control, daily demands, and why recovery is more about how you respond than what’s in your “stress bucket.”
Joana De Calheiros Velozo in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 26 Dec 2025 - 05min - 365 - Happy Holidays | Thank You for Being Part of This Journey
👉 Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
During this special holiday, I wanted to pause for a moment. Not to teach or analyse, but simply to say thank you.
This is a short and heartfelt message from me to you. A moment to reflect on the year we’ve shared together, the community we’ve built, and the conversations that continue to shape what it means to live well and be well.
This year has been one of growth, experimentation, and learning. But more than anything, it has been about connection. Building this community has become one of the most meaningful parts of my work, and I wanted to take this moment to acknowledge that, to honour it, and to wish you rest, warmth, and wellbeing over the Christmas period.Here’s What I Reflect On:
- How grateful I am for the time and trust you bring to this space each week.
- Why this community has become such a meaningful part of my life and work.
- What we’ve learned together through curiosity, openness, and conversation.
- Why taking time to rest matters, especially at the end of a full year.
- How important it is to recognise those working through the holidays.
- What I’m quietly preparing to share with you in 2026.
- Why living well looks different for everyone, and why that’s something to honour.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
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***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 24 Dec 2025 - 02min - 364 - How To Reduce Toxic Exposure At Home Without Going Extreme | Dr. Darshan Shah | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/qHFymGgsYyE
Want to reduce everyday toxins at home without overhauling your life? This conversation shares practical swaps for cleaners, pest control, and plastics that lower exposure while keeping things simple. This clip explores why antibacterial cleaners and strong fragrances aren’t necessary, how a single non-toxic concentrate can replace multiple products, and using peppermint to deter bugs. We also touch on microplastics, an 80/20 approach to detoxing your routine, and how your liver eliminates toxins through bile, stool, sweat, and hydration.
Dr Darshan Shah in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimagined
Know your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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Mon, 22 Dec 2025 - 05min - 363 - The #1 Mistake Women Make Trying to “Get Healthy” in Midlife | Dr. Andy Galpin | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZXLWY5HcPXE
Finding it hard to stay healthy in your 40s while raising kids? This clip explores choosing one non-negotiable habit to protect your time, the midlife mental load, and why what worked in your 20s may not now. This segment examines childbirth’s lasting impacts on sleep, mood, and body composition, plus staged sleep strategies for conception, pregnancy, the third trimester, and the nine months after birth. Here, I’m discussing nutrition too: protein targets, post-pregnancy taste shifts, and taking a flexible, low-stress approach when foods trigger nausea or aversion.
Andy Galpin in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
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Fri, 19 Dec 2025 - 07min - 362 - Neuroscientist’s 3 Proven Steps to Improve Brain Health & Prevent Cognitive Decline | Dr Tommy Wood
👉 Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
What if cognitive decline is not inevitable, but quietly shaped by how we live, think, and engage with the world each day?
This week on Live Well Be Well, I’m joined once again by Dr Tommy Wood, neuroscientist, researcher, and author of The Stimulated Mind, for a deeply hopeful conversation about brain health, ageing, and dementia prevention.
In this episode, Tommy brings clarity to one of our biggest modern fears: losing our minds. Drawing on decades of human research, he explains why up to half of dementias may be preventable, how genetics interact with lifestyle, and why stimulation, not resignation, plays a central role in protecting the brain across a lifetime.
Here’s What We Dive Into:
- Why dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing, and what the evidence actually shows about prevention.
- How genetic risk factors such as APOE4 interact with lifestyle, environment, and daily behaviours.
- Why women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease, and how education and cognitive stimulation influence risk.
- How believing you are “too old” can accelerate cognitive decline through reduced engagement and agency.
- Why mental and physical stimulation protect the brain, and how learning, novelty, and effort preserve neural networks.
- What artificial intelligence may be doing to memory, attention, and critical thinking when it replaces effort.
- How sleep quantity, quality, and regularity support long term brain health and repair.
- Why hearing, vision, and smell loss increase dementia risk, and how restoring them protects cognition.- How sensory input, movement, and recovery work together to support lifelong brain resilience.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter:https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
About Dr. Tommy Wood📘 Book - The Stimulated Mind
A science-backed guide to boosting mental sharpness, preventing cognitive decline, and future-proofing your brain at any age (available for preorder).
https://www.drtommywood.com/stimulated-mind
📸 Instagram:@drtommywood
🐦 Twitter: @DrRagnar
🌐 Website: https://www.drtommywood.com
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
A 7-Step System to Unlock Your Brain’s Full Potential | Nicole VignolaNicole Vignola: The 7-Step Process to Rewire Your Brain
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:Science Simplified, Health Humanised.Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
00:00:00 Why dementia is widely misunderstood
00:02:05 Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and what is actually preventable
00:06:40 Genetics, APOE4, and lifestyle as a risk multiplier
00:09:35 Why women face higher Alzheimer’s risk
00:13:55 Education, work, and declining dementia rates
00:17:30 How mindset and self talk shape cognitive ageing
00:21:10 Autonomy, movement, and brain resilience
00:26:55 AI, effort, and the future of thinking
00:32:05 When technology supports cognition, and when it erodes it
00:39:45 Hearing, eyesight, and dementia risk
00:47:10 Smell, memory, and sensory stimulation
00:55:20 Sleep, recovery, and how the brain adapts
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 17 Dec 2025 - 1h 29min - 361 - Why Zone 2 Matters for Mitochondria: The training intensity that improves cellular health | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/7kfykswH6Io
Why is zone two training so important for mitochondrial health? It’s linked with improvements in fat oxidation and lactate clearance, which are used as surrogates of mitochondrial function in sports science.
This clip explores how different exercise intensities drive distinct metabolic responses, why athletes are useful models for understanding cellular energy, and how laboratory testing with metabolic carts and lactate measurements led to practical training zones from easy efforts to sprints.
I’m exploring with my guest how zone two work consistently improved fat oxidation and lactate clearance in testing, while higher intensities remain essential for performance and VO2, since competitions are decided at the top end.
Here, I’m discussing the balance between building a metabolically efficient engine at the mitochondrial level with zone two, and training the “turbo” at zones four and five plus sprint work for race demands, all in clear, everyday language you can apply.
As a nutritionist and health communicator, my aim is to translate these lab insights into practical training decisions that respect both mitochondrial function and cardiorespiratory adaptations.
Inigo San Milan in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
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***
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***
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Mon, 15 Dec 2025 - 06min - 360 - The Seed Oil Debate: Evidence, Context, and Public Messaging | Dr. Andy Galpin | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/XXwgXDeOYJI
Are seed oils the real issue, or are we missing the bigger picture? We examine the weak evidence for harm, the role of rancidity and context, and why blanket bans miss the mark. This clip explores public health messaging, the push for simple slogans, and claims about beef tallow versus seed oils. We also touch on how activism, diet context, and overconsumption shape risk, and why nuance matters.
Andy Galpin in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
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***
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Fri, 12 Dec 2025 - 06min - 359 - Why You’re Tired, Gaining Weight & Aging Faster - Fix Metabolic Health | Dr Darshan Shah
👉 Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Longevity is everywhere right now, but has it become a trend instead of a truth?
In a world overflowing with health hacks, supplements, and promises of a longer life, it has never been harder to know what actually works. Beneath the noise, there is a clear science to living well for longer, but only if we learn to tune out the hype and return to what our biology has been asking of us all along.
Today I am joined by Dr. Darshan Shah, medical doctor, longevity expert, and founder of Next Health. Dr. Shah became a doctor at 21 and has since guided thousands of patients through metabolic healing, functional medicine, and evidence-based longevity. Together, we explore what truly extends your healthspan and what does not.
This conversation is a practical and compassionate look at longevity, what it means, where to begin, and why most people focus on the wrong things. Dr. Shah breaks longevity into a simple health pyramid, starting with foundational habits, then biomarkers, hormones, detoxification, brain health, and emerging therapies such as peptides.
Here’s What We Dive Into:
- What longevity truly means, and why adding years is different from adding healthy years.
- Why metabolic health is the most important predictor of long term wellbeing.
- How simple habits before and after meals support better blood sugar regulation.
- Why quarterly biomarker testing may be the most effective prevention tool we have.
- What optimal blood ranges look like, and why normal ranges are not always healthy.
- How functional medicine identifies the eight root causes behind most chronic disease.
- Why toxins, microplastics, and everyday chemicals affect long term health.
- How women’s hormones, menopause, and brain health relate to Alzheimer’s risk.
- What creatine offers for muscles, cognition, and healthy aging.
- Why peptides are rising in popularity, and how to approach them with safety and clarity.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
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***
Let’s be friends!
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***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Improve Your Health With Biohacking: Expert Tips From Dr Molly Maloof
No.1 Gut Scientist: Insane Fiber Benefits to HEAL YOUR GUT & Beat Disease | Dr Will Bulsiewicz
***
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***
Highlights
What real longevity means and why it matters (00:00:00)
The rise of chronic illness and metabolic decline (00:03:12)
The eight root causes behind most modern diseases (00:06:58)
How continuous glucose monitors reshape daily habits (00:09:41)
Using data without falling into overwhelm (00:13:28)
The biomarkers that matter most for preventive health (00:16:44)
Why normal blood sugar is not always optimal (00:20:26)
Muscle mass and metabolism across the ageing process (00:20:26)
Creatine for strength, cognition, and longevity (00:28:14)
Toxins, microplastics, and their impact on long-term health (00:32:48)
Alzheimer’s risk and the role of women’s hormonal health (00:38:07)
Peptides, benefits, and precautions for safe use (00:47:22)
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 10 Dec 2025 - 1h 18min - 358 - Zone 2 vs HIIT: How Athletes Structure Sessions and Avoid Overtraining | Inigo San Milan | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/7kfykswH6Io
Are you getting the balance between Zone 2 and HIIT right? I’m exploring how an 80/20 split by sessions, with most training at lower intensity and select high-intensity work, supports results without burning you out.
This clip explores why all-HIIT programs often feel unsustainable and can lead to fatigue or injuries, what 80/20 really means when you count sessions rather than minutes, and why only about 5 to 10 percent of total minutes across a season tend to be truly high intensity in athletic programs. We discuss how Zone 2 should be harder than easy cruising to drive mitochondrial adaptations, practical ways for busy people to blend mostly Zone 2 with a small dose of intensity toward the end of some sessions, and why complete off days can be more restorative than so-called active recovery. I also share my experience of feeling awful doing fasted HIIT, and we touch on how women may find certain efforts tougher due to muscle fibre differences related to ATP production. As a nutritionist and health communicator, I connect the training plan with recovery needs, including the role of rest for immune health.
Inigo San Milan in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimagined
Know your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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Mon, 08 Dec 2025 - 08min - 357 - How Wearables Affect Your Mindset and Long Term Health Tracking | Dr. Joana De Calheiros Velozo | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/IIenBH9xAEk
Are wearables helping you understand your health or making you feel more stressed?
This clip explores how our relationship with daily health scores can shape how we feel and why long term trends matter more than single-day data.
This discussion focuses on the mindset behind using wearables, why subjective sleep quality often predicts wellbeing better than objective scores, and how even small changes in reported data can alter mood. Sarah reflects on her own experience of becoming overly focused on sleep scores and explores how relying too heavily on metrics can distance us from our internal signals.
Dr Joana De Calheiros Velozo in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
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Know your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
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💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 05 Dec 2025 - 08min - 356 - Dr. Andy Galpin: Why You’re Not Losing Fat & How Metabolism Really Works
👉 Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
What if everything you’ve believed about “fast” and “slow” metabolism has quietly been steering you off course? And what if the real barriers to sustainable fat loss have less to do with willpower, and far more to do with how your body protects you when it senses scarcity?
This week on Live Well Be Well, I’m joined once again by Dr. Andy Galpin, professor of kinesiology and one of the world’s leading experts on human performance and metabolism. Together, we explore the truths behind fat loss, metabolic rate, weight cycling, and the misunderstandings that keep so many people stuck in frustration.
Here’s What We Dive Into:
- Why the idea of “fast versus slow metabolism” misleads us and what metabolic rate actually reflects.
- How fat oxidation differs from real fat loss and why marketing often blurs the line.
- What boosts metabolism acutely versus chronically and why most fat burners rarely matter.
- How basal metabolic rate, thermal effect of food, exercise and NEAT interact to shape long-term weight outcomes.
- Why sustainability is the strongest predictor of successful and lasting fat loss.
- How the body adapts to caloric deficit and why NEAT drops more than most people realise.
- What strategic refeeds can support and when they matter most for mood, hormones and motivation.
- Why GLP-1 medications are reshaping obesity treatment and what gaps still concern experts.
- How food confusion, ultra-processed marketing and seed oil panic distract from the fundamentals.
- What whole food patterns, education and self-awareness offer that shortcuts cannot replicate.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter:https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:How HRV, Sleep & Hydrogen Water Impact Longevity | Dr Andy GalpinHow HRV, Sleep & Hydrogen Water Impact Longevity | Dr Andy Galpin
Your “Healthy” Food Is the Problem | How Ultra-Processed Foods Affect Women’s Hormones & Gut HealthYour “Healthy” Food Is the Problem | How Ultra-Processed Foods Affect Women’s Hormones & Gut Health
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
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***
Highlights:
The myth of fast and slow metabolism (00:00:00)
Fat oxidation versus real fat loss (00:04:12)
Why most metabolism boosters fall short (00:06:45)
Thermal effect of food and what it contributes (00:10:21)
Why exercise alone often does not result in expected fat loss (00:13:47)
NEAT and the invisible drop that happens during dieting (00:16:30)
Strategic refeeds and how they support hormones and motivation (00:19:48)
Healing disordered eating patterns through flexibility (00:25:12)
The obesity epidemic and the role of metabolic health (00:31:03)
GLP-1 medications and the future of weight loss treatment (00:33:42)
Seed oil panic and why it misses the point (00:38:01)
Navigating whole foods and processing confusion (00:55:27)
The problem with choosing the least bad option (01:03:10)
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 03 Dec 2025 - 1h 31min - 355 - How Fascia Work and Daily Rotation Changed His Face: Posture, Skin and Eye Clarity | Jason Van Blerk | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/HQepDqbCIyI
How can changes in fascia and daily movement influence the face and overall wellbeing? This clip explores a four-year journey shown through photos, highlighting shifts in facial alignment, skin tone and emotional expression as he adjusted lifestyle habits. This discussion focuses on reducing everyday chemical exposure, addressing past injuries, and using rotational fascia movements to ease tension and restore flow. He also explains how posture, breathing and restricted fascia can affect the eyes, jaw, and complexion.
Jason Van Blerk in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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Mon, 01 Dec 2025 - 08min - 354 - Is VO2 Max Enough? Why Mitochondrial Function Matters for Longevity | Inigo San Milan | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/7kfykswH6Io
This clip explores why VO2 max, despite being a long-standing marker of fitness, does not capture the full picture of our metabolic and longevity potential. We take a closer look at how oxygen is actually used at the cellular level and why mitochondrial function is emerging as the next frontier in understanding performance and healthy ageing.
The discussion moves into how mitochondrial health can be assessed in a practical, non-invasive way, including the use of gas exchange measures and lactate as proxies for cellular efficiency.
Inigo San Milan in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
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***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
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Fri, 28 Nov 2025 - 05min - 353 - Stress Researcher: What Person A Does That Person B Doesn’t (Avoid Burnout) | Joana De Calheiros Velozo
👉 Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Here's the thing about stress that nobody tells you: it's not actually happening to you. You're actively participating in creating it.
That sounds provocative, maybe even annoying if you're genuinely stressed right now. But stay with me, because what Dr. Joana de Calheiros Velozo reveals in this conversation genuinely changed how I think about stress—and it might do the same for you.
Joana is a researcher in biomedical science who specialises in stress and mental health. But here's what makes her perspective unique: she's not just studying this from an ivory tower. She personally experienced panic disorder so severe that she couldn't leave her house. Agoraphobia. Panic attacks. The full experience of feeling like your body has completely betrayed you.
We go deep on why daily micro-stressors (spilling coffee, traffic, emails) matter more than occasional crises. Why recovery is more important than the stress itself. Why most people can't even identify how they're feeling (seriously—emotional granularity is a genuine skill most of us lack). And why wearables, despite being everywhere, often make our relationship with stress worse by creating dependency on scores instead of a connection to our bodies.
Here’s what we dive into:
- What stress truly is, and why perception shapes biology.
- Why two people experience the same event but respond so differently.
- How upbringing and genetics influence stress sensitivity from birth.
- Why emotional vocabulary is essential for stress regulation and mental health.
- How daily micro-awareness can reshape the stress system.
- What resilience means scientifically, and why it is not just pushing through.
- How the body warns us before burnout, and when to listen.
- Why letting go, not control, may support recovery.
- How technology can help or harm our relationship to stress.
- What just-in-time interventions are, and how timing shapes healing.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
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***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:Why Being ‘Strong’ Is Making You Weak | Sophie ScottSophie Scott on Breaking Free from Anxiety: Practical Strategies That Work
4 Types of Stress: How To Manage Each One | Mo Gawdat & Alice LawWhat's the REAL Reason Stress is Making You Sick? | Mo Gwadat
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights:
The Stress Question That Changes Everything (00:00:00)
Why Stress Feels So Different for Everyone (00:06:55)
When Stress Becomes Too Much (00:15:18)
The Emotions We Forgot How to Name (00:23:03)
Her Story: Panic, Fear… and a Turning Point (00:31:13)
What Your Body Is Really Doing Under Stress (00:37:59)
How Two People Live the Same Day… Differently (00:42:06)
The Mindset Shift That Alters Your Stress Response (00:49:30)
Technology That Knows When You're Stressed (00:55:31)
A New Kind of Wearable: Compassion in Tech (01:02:50)
A Different Way to Live With Stress (01:13:33)
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 - 1h 00min - 352 - The Freedom You Find When You Stop Trying to Control Everything | Oliver Burkeman | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/KO_kNTtWahU
Do you want to feel more alive without having to earn it by ticking everything off first? I’m exploring how the natural drive to improve is healthy, but using it to reach a standard so you can finally relax keeps you gripping for certainty you can’t get.
This clip explores the relief of seeing that the future can’t be made certain, why “getting everything done” is impossible, and how simple permission slips can loosen that grip. I’m exploring with my guest practical ways to regain perspective during the day: step away, move your body, change your physical context, and then ask, as Jung put it, “What is the next most necessary thing?” We also look at mindfulness as presence of mind in everyday life — repeatedly calling yourself back, noticing when you’ve drifted into control-seeking, and returning without self-criticism. As a nutritionist and health communicator, I connect these ideas to sustainable wellbeing habits that fit busy days: short breathers, physical movement, and realistic self-permission that supports focus and energy.
Oliver Burkeman in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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Mon, 24 Nov 2025 - 06min - 351 - Hydrogen Water vs Alkaline Water: What the Science Says About Antioxidants and pH | Andy Galpin | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/XXwgXDeOYJIIs
hydrogen water worth the hype? I look at what it is, how it differs from alkaline water, the simple chemistry behind it, and what early human research does and does not show. This clip examines how hydrogen water is not the same as alkaline water, why changing pH via drinking water is unlikely to matter, and the proposed mechanism where added hydrogen could help neutralize excess oxidative stress by forming water.
I’m exploring with my guest the limited but emerging human evidence suggesting possible antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects, alongside many open questions on performance outcomes, dosing, timing after activation, acute versus chronic use, who might benefit most, and how it compares with vitamin C or antioxidant-rich foods. We also note a clear conflict of interest, since my guest’s lab is running an ongoing study funded by a hydrogen water company, and he does not recommend routine use until better data are available. As a nutritionist and health communicator, I aim to keep this balanced, practical, and evidence-led.
Andy Galpin in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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Fri, 21 Nov 2025 - 08min - 350 - Zone 2 Training Explained: The Single Best Workout for Your Mitochondria | Dr. Inigo San Millan
We often think fitness is about pushing harder. More miles. More sweat. More effort.
But what if the real secret to lifelong performance and metabolic health lies not in intensity, but in understanding the quiet signals your body sends every day?
This week on Live Well Be Well, I’m joined by world renowned physiologist Dr. Iñigo San Millán, director of performance for UAE Team Emirates and one of the leading experts in mitochondrial health, endurance physiology, and chronic metabolic disease. Iñigo has spent decades studying elite athletes and everyday patients, and his work reveals a striking truth. The systems that help world champions thrive are the same systems that protect us from illness, fatigue, and burnout.
We explore the science behind training zones, lactate, and metabolic flexibility, but also the human side of energy, longevity, and self trust. Because understanding your physiology is not only about performance. It is about reclaiming your capacity to feel strong, stable, and well in your own life.
Here’s What We Dive Into:
- How mitochondria underpin long-term health and signal metabolic resilience.
- Why Zone 2 training improves energy stability and protects against chronic disease.
- What lactate truly reveals about your physiology beyond exercise performance.
- How elite athletes teach us about metabolic dysfunction and adaptation.
- Why nutrition shapes mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity.
- What drives burnout and fatigue at the cellular level and how to reverse it.
- How to train smarter by listening to heart rate, breath, and internal cues.
- Why most people are unintentionally overtraining or undertraining and how to find balance.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter:https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Exercise, Nutrition & Women’s Health | Dr. Stacy Sims
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Build Muscle to Lose Weight? This Will Burn Fat, Increase Longevity & Heal The Body | Dr Gabrielle LyonWant to Live Longer? EAT THIS and Keep Your Brain Young | Dr Gabrielle Lyon
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
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***
Highlights:
Quick fire questions and opening reflections (00:00:00)Why VO2 Max is useful but incomplete (00:01:23)
A new frontier in understanding health (00:04:34)
Can we measure cell health without being invasive (00:05:05)
Rethinking what lactate really tells us (00:07:41)
Exercise as a tool for cellular repair (00:12:57)What zone training actually looks like (00:19:39)
Finding balance between intensity and endurance (00:25:37)
Simple ways to train with more purpose (00:39:23)
The role recovery plays in long term health (00:59:34)
What metabolic flexibility means for everyday life (01:03:48)
Looking ahead to the future of disease prevention (01:17:20)
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 19 Nov 2025 - 1h 28min - 349 - Depression, Anxiety and Fascia: What One Self‑Myofascial Release Session Changed | Jason Van Blerk | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/HQepDqbCIyI
Could releasing tight fascia really shift mood and reduce anxiety? I’m exploring research and real‑world practice linking fascia tension with depression and stress, including a randomized controlled trial with a small sample (around 67 participants) that found people with depression had stiffer fascia in the neck and upper back, and that one session of self myofascial release reduced negative memory bias and improved mood.
This clip explores how daily movement and gentle rotations may help ease tension, the idea that restricting the ribcage (including tight bras) can drive a stress response, and why working on the body can influence how we feel and think. I’m taking a closer look at a three‑part approach my guest suggests: addressing the body, emotions, and thoughts together rather than focusing on only one. You’ll also hear a simple seated rotation drill for the shoulder and upper back that can be done in a meeting to help unwind tension. As a nutritionist and health communicator, I’m interested in how evidence and practical tools meet, especially when it comes to mood, anxiety and day‑to‑day wellbeing.
Jason Van Blerk in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
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Mon, 17 Nov 2025 - 06min - 348 - Love vs Logic: Why Finding “The One” Feels Impossible | Mo Gawdat | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/2WeffWLvdbo
Can love be both spiritual and logical? In this clip, we look at love as two souls belonging together while also examining how finding a partner can be approached with mathematics and market dynamics.
This clip explores a definition of love as a spiritual connection that seeks expression in the physical world, contrasts love and fear, and considers why falling in love feels easy while “finding the one” is a complex equation with thousands of parameters and weightings. I’m exploring with my guest how a “best friend” style perspective could help people notice their recurring patterns and talk openly about the areas that need work, rather than getting carried away by early positives. This segment examines the dating market through a supply and demand lens, including the 80-20 pattern where many women focus on a small pool of men, how that skews behavior and expectations, and why so many good matches are missed.
As a nutritionist and health communicator, I’m interested in how these emotional frameworks shape day-to-day wellbeing and decision-making around relationships.
Mo Gawdat in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
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🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
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💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 14 Nov 2025 - 03min - 347 - How Much Protein Do You Really Need for Strength, Hormones & Longevity? | Be Well Moments
We’re told protein is the key to building muscle.But what if it’s also the key to a sharper mind, balanced hormones, and a longer, more vibrant life?
This week’s episode brings together four of the world’s most respected voices in nutrition and longevity to break down the science of protein, metabolism, and healthy aging. Because it’s not about chasing more grams or quick fixes. It’s about understanding how to nourish your body with intention, quality, and care.
In this masterclass conversation, I’m joined by:
Dr. Rupy Aujla – NHS GP, author, and founder of The Doctor’s Kitchen, sharing how protein supports longevity, energy, and blood sugar balance.
Dr. Stacy Sims – exercise physiologist and researcher challenging the myths holding women back in nutrition and training.
Simon Hill – nutritionist and host of The Proof, explaining how protein quality, source, and timing influence muscle synthesis and long-term health.
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon – functional medicine physician and author of Forever Strong, describing why muscle is the organ of longevity and why protein is its foundation.
We explore:
How to use a simple four-step formula to calculate your optimal protein intake for energy, recovery, and healthy aging.
Why women’s protein needs change across their cycle, perimenopause, and menopause, and how to adapt with confidence.
How protein timing affects muscle repair, mental clarity, and appetite regulation.
What makes animal and plant protein different, and how to combine them for complete nourishment.
How building lean muscle mass supports metabolism, bone density, and cognitive health.
Why fasting, under-eating, and low-protein diets can accelerate aging and hormone imbalance.
What the latest science reveals about protein’s role in longevity and brain health.
How to design balanced meals that keep you strong, focused, and satisfied every day.
This isn’t just a nutrition class. It’s a reframe of how we view food as fuel for strength, mood, and vitality. Whether you’re starting your health journey or fine-tuning longevity habits, these insights will change the way you think about every meal.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
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🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
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💌 Newsletter:https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
Are You Eating Enough Protein? The 4-Step Formula That Boosts Health & Longevity | Dr Rupy AujlaAre You Eating Enough Protein? The 4-Step Formula That Boosts Health & Longevity | Dr Rupy Aujla
Protein Masterclass: Protein Amount, Quality & Timing with Simon HillProtein Masterclass: Protein Amount, Quality & Timing with Simon Hill
Dr. Stacy Sims EXPOSES the Myths Hurting Women's Health | Fasting, Protein & ExerciseDr. Stacy Sims EXPOSES the Myths Hurting Women's Health | Fasting, Protein & Exercise
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights:
00:00 – Intro
***Love what you’re hearing? My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 12 Nov 2025 - 1h 12min - 346 - Dopamine vs Oxytocin: How Our Phones Are Rewiring the Brain’s Reward System | Tj Power | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZoyEJ0WD99g
Do you feel less connected after time on your phone? I’m exploring why chasing dopamine from short-form content can crowd out the oxytocin we get from face-to-face moments.
This clip explores a real-life dinner table moment where parents scroll while a teenager and grandmother wait for conversation, and how that habit can erode connection and leave us feeling flat later. I’m exploring with my guest how oxytocin brings deep fulfillment from human contact, while dopamine drives the urge for “more” with quick hits from feeds and alcohol. We map the brain’s dopamine pathway, highlighting the ventral tegmental area as the dopamine factory and the nucleus accumbens as the reward center, then contrast effort-based rewards like cleaning the house with effortless scrolling. You’ll hear why effort allows the dopamine system to replenish, while passive hits flood the reward center without refilling the system, which can contribute to irritability, procrastination, and low motivation. As a nutritionist and health communicator, I connect these neuroscience basics with practical choices, like keeping phones out of reach during meals to support oxytocin-rich connection.
Tj Power in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 10 Nov 2025 - 06min - 345 - Why Productivity Will Never Make You Feel Fulfilled | Oliver Burkman | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/KO_kNTtWahUDo
you feel torn between sticking to a plan and staying spontaneous? Recognising that you’re always choosing in the present can make it easier to keep a commitment when it matters and to pivot when it’s wiser.This clip explores planning versus spontaneity, why busyness can make us more unconscious, how self-compassion can support genuine time off, and why efficiency gains, including AI tools and better systems, often lead us to fill freed-up hours with more work.Here, I’m discussing the mindset of treating every moment as a choice, so the freedom we fear losing to strict schedules is already there, and the uncertainty of spontaneity is simply the basic state we live in. We look at the expansion trap in creative work and content, the impossibility of being on every platform, and the importance of deciding where to stop rather than waiting to be told you’ve done enough, much like choosing to finish a book.As a nutritionist and health communicator, I connect these habits to sustainable wellbeing: less frantic doing, more intentional decisions, and kinder boundaries with your time
Oliver Burkman in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
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💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 07 Nov 2025 - 08min - 344 - Your Body Stores Emotion - This Is How Movement Heals It | Jason Van Blerk
You think your posture is just muscles and bones. But what if the “scaffolding” that holds you together is also storing your emotions, shaping your face, and quietly dictating how you move through the world?
This week on Live Well Be Well, Jason Van Blerk - biomedical physiologist, kinesiologist, and co-founder of Human Garage - joins me to explore fascia: the body’s intelligent, water-rich network that connects everything. We unpack how rotation, breath, and vibration can unwind tension, release emotion, and restore flow - often in minutes.
Jason shares his journey from injured athlete to fascia educator, the simple daily maneuvers he teaches, and the surprising science that links stiffness, mood, and the nervous system. We also talk barefoot living, grounding, and why “be the change” is more than a quote - it’s biology.
Here’s what we dive into:
How fascia functions as an intelligent, water-based organ that sends and receives information.
Why emotions like fear and desire shape movement, posture, and even facial structure.
How counter-rotation and breath unwind restrictions more effectively than linear stretching.
What a living fascia looks like under magnification, and why dead-tissue dissections miss the point.
Why stiffness in the neck/upper back correlates with low mood, and what one session can shift.
How daily micro-manoeuvres (15 minutes) restore flow, reduce stress, and change how you see the world.
What vibration and sound do at a cellular level, and how your words “program” your body.
How barefoot walking and grounding re-charge cellular voltage and improve whole-body mechanics.
Why self-care comes first: the limits of quick fixes, and the power of simple, repeatable practices.
How to start today with one shoulder release and a gentle rotation sequence you can do anywhere.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today.
15% off with code LWBW15 atnowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
Low HRV: Should You Worry? Making Sense of Baselines, Trends, and Daily Swings | Dr. Andy Galpin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5any9P3bTG4
NAD+, NMN and Longevity: What Human Studies Actually Show | Dr Rupy Aujla | Be Well Momentshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBKdIkBmKwU
***
Guest
Jason Van Blerk - Co-founder, Human Garage
Instagram: @jasonvanblerk
YouTube:@HumanGarage
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
Introduction to Fascia(00:00)
Exploring the Quantum Nature of Fascia(04:11)
Fascia Magnified: A Visual Insight(10:51)
Fascia and Trauma: Storing Emotions(14:00)
Personal Transformations Through Fascia Work(18:42)
Fascia and Posture: Realigning the Body(31:30)
The Impact of Stress on the Body(36:43)
Practical Exercises for Reducing Tension(40:17)
Understanding Vibration and Its Effects(44:18)
The Importance of Barefoot Walking(01:03:45)
Concluding Thoughts on Self-Care and Healing(01:10:48)
***
Love what you’re hearing? My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 05 Nov 2025 - 1h 13min - 343 - The Most Effective Ways to Improve Your Heart Rate Variability | Sarah Ann Macklin & Andy Galpin | Be Well Moments
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/XXwgXDeOYJI
Can you actually improve your heart rate variability? Understanding HRV helps reveal how balanced your nervous system really is.This clip explores the most effective ways to increase HRV, from improving sleep quality and consistent exercise to understanding where cold plunges and saunas truly fit in. Sarah discusses how core health habits like rest, movement, and nutrition have the strongest impact on HRV, while short-term stressors such as cold exposure or heat can cause temporary changes but not lasting improvements.
Andy Galpin in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 03 Nov 2025 - 07min - 342 - The Link Between ADHD, Dopamine, and Our Hunter-Gatherer Past | TJ Power | Be Well Moments
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/ZoyEJ0WD99g
Are rising ADHD diagnoses caused by genetics or by our modern environment? This clip explores how dopamine, attention, and lifestyle interact in today’s overstimulated world.This discussion focuses on whether ADHD stems from inherited traits or if modern habits, like constant phone use, social media, and quick dopamine hit , are influencing attention and focus. Sarah shares her own recent ADHD diagnosis and reflects on how evolutionary factors may have once made these traits beneficial for survival. The conversation also delves into dopamine regulation, the challenges of deep work in a distraction-filled environment, and the importance of self-awareness in managing focus and energy levels.
TJ Power in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 31 Oct 2025 - 06min - 341 - This Is Why You’ll Never Feel Truly Alive (Until You Let Go of Control) | Oliver Burkeman
Most of us are busier, more “optimized,” and more connected than ever - yet somehow feel less alive. Why? And what would it look like to reclaim a deeper, wilder sense of humanness in a world obsessed with control?
This week, Oliver Burkeman, bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mere Mortals, returns to explore the paradox at the heart of modern life: the more we chase mastery, certainty, and perfect systems, the more we squeeze out the very aliveness we’re craving. From the illusion of control to the quiet courage of letting go, we dig into how to live fully now, not “one day when everything’s sorted.”
Together we explore:
Aliveness vs. optimization: why feeling in control can be the enemy of feeling alive — and how to make room for vitality again.
“Letting go” without giving up: Elizabeth Gilbert’s reframe you’re not losing control; you never had it, only anxiety.
Productive discomfort tolerance: sitting with the first five messy minutes, parenting, deep work, reading, and why difficulty isn’t a personal failing.
Resilience as release: from kintsugi to self-trust, why strength often arrives after the break, and why gripping harder rarely works.
Plans that don’t kill the work: using structure as a North Star, not a taskmaster, so projects keep their spark.
Spontaneity on schedule? The weird trap of “time-boxing serendipity,” and the liberating truth that every moment is a choice.
Comparison culture: inside vs. outside, and why someone else’s serene grid may mask chaos you can’t see.
AI, therapy, and the human need to be held in mind: where tools help, and where only a person will do.
This is a conversation about refusing to postpone life until after the emails, the crises, or the algorithm say you’re done, and choosing to show up, human and imperfect, right now.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today.
15% off with code LWBW15 atnowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
Why We’re Feeling Less Alive in a World That Never Stops (00:00)
Aliveness vs. Control: Escaping the Productivity & Optimization Trap (04:18)
Letting Go Without Losing Control: Finding Freedom in Uncertainty (10:06)
The Art of Productive Discomfort: Building Focus, Patience & Presence (15:27)
Structure Without Strangling the Spark: Creative Flow & Sustainable Work (24:21)
Comparison Culture: Social Media, Self-Worth & Perspective (36:36)
AI, Therapy & the Human Need to Be Truly Seen (45:43)
The Role of Trust in Therapy (50:59)
Self-Compassion and Personal Growth (56:08)
The Importance of Small, Consistent Efforts (01:15:52)
Living Well and Being Well (01:19:33)
***
Love what you’re hearing? My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 29 Oct 2025 - 1h 20min - 340 - Low HRV: Should You Worry? Making Sense of Baselines, Trends, and Daily Swings | Dr. Andy Galpin | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/bj0-zUDFkxc
Worried that your HRV looks “low” on your wearable? I ask what a low HRV actually means, why different devices produce different numbers, and when a change is worth paying attention to.
This clip explores how to interpret heart rate variability without getting lost in the daily noise. We discuss why HRV is a legitimate health metric with decades of research behind it, yet the absolute score is not comparable across devices or people because different technologies use different calculations. I’m taking a closer look at establishing a personal baseline over 21–30 days, why a four-day rolling view can reduce anxiety, and why consistent shifts over seven or more days matter more than one-off dips. We cover the role of genetics (around 20 percent of HRV), how lifestyle often explains age-related changes, and sex differences including a dip in the 40–50 window likely linked to menopause that later rebounds in the dataset referenced. You’ll also hear why stability can reflect resilience, why big swings can be a red flag even when the number is “high,” and how resting heart rate and overnight respiratory rate fit into the bigger picture. I share my own readings (HRV around 10–13 on one device, resting heart rate at 45) and experiences using No Watch, Oura, and Eight Sleep, plus a mention of devices commonly used for HRV. As a nutritionist and health communicator, I focus on practical takeaways: use one device consistently, track trends, and avoid cross-device comparisons.
Andy Galpin in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
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💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Mon, 27 Oct 2025 - 10min - 339 - TRT: Who Actually Needs It? Risks, Benefits, and Fertility Considerations | Dr. Suks Minhas | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/Lw6iZbZBiw8
Thinking about TRT for low testosterone? This clip takes a closer look at who genuinely benefits from testosterone replacement therapy, what current evidence suggests about safety, and why fertility planning is crucial.
I’m exploring with my guest how to distinguish primary from secondary hypogonadism, why symptoms plus true biochemical low testosterone are needed for a diagnosis, and the point that if total testosterone is above 12, TRT isn’t indicated. This discussion focuses on updated data around prostate and cardiovascular risk, key contraindications such as active prostate cancer, polycythemia, and heart failure, and the reality that exogenous testosterone suppresses FSH and sperm production, acting like a male contraceptive and not always fully reversible. We also cover off-label options like clomiphene and hCG to support endogenous testosterone when fertility is a priority, the importance of screening for metabolic issues like dyslipidemia and prediabetes, lifestyle considerations, and the social pressures that drive recreational use. There’s a brief reflection on age-related declines, the idea that testosterone may drop after men have children, and how broader environmental factors might fit into the picture.
As a nutritionist and health communicator, I aim to connect the science with practical, balanced advice so you can discuss options confidently with your clinician.
Dr Suks Minhas in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Fri, 24 Oct 2025 - 08min - 338 - Dopamine Expert: You Check Your Phone 175 Times a Day. The Shocking Truth About Dopamine | TJ Power
You’ve been told your phone is just a tool. But what if it’s quietly rewiring your motivation, eroding your focus, and crowding out the single chemical your brain craves most - connection?
This week on Live Well Be Well, neuroscientist and author TJ Power joins me to explore the science of dopamine, focus, and digital balance. TJ, who developed the DOSE model - dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins - reveals how our screen habits are reshaping the brain’s chemistry and stealing the satisfaction we once got from real connection.
Drawing on his research in neuroscience and mental wellbeing, TJ explains how constant notifications, multitasking, and morning scrolling deplete dopamine, dull our motivation, and even affect emotional regulation. We discuss how to retrain your attention, protect your mornings, and strengthen the part of your brain responsible for self-control and flow.
Here’s what we dive into:
The real data on phone addiction: how an average of 5.5 hours a day and 175 pickups rewires your dopamine system, and why under 3 hours supports better focus and happiness.
Dopamine vs. Oxytocin - the neuroscience behind loneliness in the digital age, and how conversation and physical presence can restore deep fulfilment.
Serotonin and sleep - how screen time late at night blocks natural serotonin cycles, sunlight absorption, and mood regulation.
What is “brain rot”? TJ explains the neuroscience of effortless dopamine, gray matter changes, and why too much stimulation can damage attention networks.
ADHD, attention, and environment - how our hunter-gatherer brains are struggling in a high-dopamine world, and what to do about it.
AMCC (anterior mid-cingulate cortex) - your brain’s “willpower muscle.” Learn how small acts of resistance build real discipline and creativity.
Morning habits for dopamine balance - why checking your phone first thing drains focus, and how “computer before phone” rewires productivity.
Practical digital boundaries - from the app TJ uses to track pickups (aiming for 50 a day) to phone-free meals that boost oxytocin and presence.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today.
15% off with code LWBW15 atnowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
Stop Chasing Money: 8 Hidden Forms of Wealth You Need NOW | Robin Sharma
https://youtu.be/ga2k2sK16L4?si=ff6sw-5UVCNtzdFP
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
HighlightsHow phone use alters brain chemistry and affects dopamine, focus, and motivation. (00:00)Why human connection releases oxytocin and protects our wellbeing. (04:15)How screen time disrupts serotonin, mood, and sleep quality. (07:52)The structural brain changes linked to chronic screen exposure. (15:25)How dopamine imbalances contribute to ADHD and distraction in modern life. (28:11)Training the brain’s willpower centre to build focus and discipline. (35:33)Finding nutritional balance in an overstimulating and tempting world. (40:54)Morning habits that stabilise dopamine and improve mental health. (45:52)The creative and emotional benefits of boredom and daydreaming. (51:39)How awareness and intentional living can restore balance with technology. (01:00:53)
***
Love what you’re hearing? My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 22 Oct 2025 - 1h 06min - 337 - Is Your Period Normal? Signs Every Woman Must Know | Hazel Wallace | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/C--vYFyHAEw
What if your PMS symptoms aren’t just about hormones? In this episode, we dive into the cultural, biological, and emotional influences that shape your period experience - from why girls often grow up ashamed of their first cycle to how partners can play a powerful role in reducing PMS stress. You’ll learn what a “normal” period really looks like, the green flags that indicate a healthy cycle, and the red flags that may signal something more serious. We also cover practical solutions for painful periods, from heat therapy and yoga to gentle movement that actually helps reduce inflammation. Whether you’re struggling with cramps, irregular cycles, or simply want to feel empowered in understanding your body, this conversation offers knowledge every woman should have.
Hazel Wallace
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
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📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
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Mon, 20 Oct 2025 - 11min - 336 - Where Should You Start With Health? Identify the One Habit Holding You Back | Dr. Andy Galpin | Be Well Moments
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/XXwgXDeOYJI
Not sure where to start with your health?
The most effective first step, as I discuss here, is to identify the single habit acting as your biggest performance anchor and remove that brake before adding more tips and hacks.
This clip explores the “brake vs accelerator” approach to health, why a singular focus outperforms scattered efforts, and how to choose the one area that’s genuinely holding you back.
As a nutritionist and health communicator, I’m exploring with my guest how to pinpoint your biggest thorn in the side - whether that’s body composition, mental health, sleep, eating practices, or even micronutrient habits - and make that your priority.
We discuss coaching insights from elite athletes and everyday people, the value of setting six-week, six-month, yearly and decade-long goals, and when it makes sense to overhaul lifestyle as one action-focused goal rather than chasing outcomes.
The conversation also touches on immediate vs delayed gratification and why removing anchors reduces wear and tear before you ever need the accelerator.
Dr. Andy Galpin
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTubehere.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
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📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
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Fri, 17 Oct 2025 - 07min - 335 - Ex-Google Exec Reveals Why 95% of Relationships Fail (and How to Fix It) | Mo Gawdat
This week’s guest, Mo Gawdat, former Google [X] Chief Business Officer and author of Solve for Happy, returns with a world-first: EMMA, an AI designed to help humans find and nurture true love. Why? Because loneliness is now epidemic, love has been commercialised, and so many of us feel burnt out by dating. EMMA aims to change the economics of love by deeply getting to know you, matching on values and compatibility (not just looks), and then coaching the relationship that follows. It’s about repairing the system and reminding AI what makes humanity worth protecting: our capacity to love.
Together we explore:
The real crisis in modern love: short relationships, high divorce, and “dating fatigue,” plus Mo’s stark maths on why ~95% of romantic encounters now end in breakup.
EMMA’s purpose: an AI that explicitly refuses to be your “AI girlfriend/boyfriend,” and instead helps you fall in love with another human - while learning, at scale, how humans love.
How EMMA works: a gentle onboarding (seven questions, one short video intro), minimal photos to avoid the “meat market,” and a best-friend style of matching and follow-up.
Matching for depth, not dopamine: EMMA narrows 30,000 swipes to a handful of highly compatible options - turning each date into an enjoyable, insight-rich experiment.
The Empathy Observer: coaching you to consider the other person’s experience and strengthen the “you-with-you” relationship first - the foundation for any love that lasts.
Why India’s relationship outcomes look so different from the West, and how expectations shape love.
Expert Modes (including GRACE): support for conscious breakups, co-parenting, and even money - one of the top reasons couples split.
Mo’s own lessons in vulnerability, presence, and what it means to truly “show up.”
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today.
15% off with code LWBW15 atnowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
Stop Chasing Money: 8 Hidden Forms of Wealth You Need NOW | Robin Sharma
https://youtu.be/ga2k2sK16L4?si=ff6sw-5UVCNtzdFP
Simon Sinek: The ADHD Superpower - Why It’s My Greatest Advantage
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
Mission for Happiness: Mo Gawdat’s “1 Billion Happy” movement (00:00)
Addressing Unhappiness: How love and AI became central to Mo’s new mission. (00:54)
The State of Modern Relationships: Why dating culture is broken and commitment is declining. (04:09)
Comparing Eastern and Western approaches to marriage and connection. (10:32)
Emma AI: The world’s first AI designed to help humans find and sustain true love. (12:31)
Lessons from heartbreak and what he learned about showing up in love. (32:46)
Why finding “the one” is a math problem and how AI can solve it. (49:52)
The Epidemic of Loneliness & Online Addiction (52:41)
The economics of love and why dating markets are broken. (55:06)
Commitment & Long-Term Love (01:00:20)
Building emotional safety and understanding in partnerships. (01:05:22)
Healing the inner relationship before finding the outer one. (01:21:51)
The Future of AI in Love: Can machines teach us to be more human? (01:28:25)
How to live and love well in the age of AI. (01:30:34)
***
Love what you’re hearing? My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 15 Oct 2025 - 1h 25min - 334 - NAD+, NMN & Longevity: What the Science Really Says | Dr. Rupy Aujla | Be Well Moments
Are NAD+ drips or NMN supplements a smart way to support longevity?
I connect what NAD+ actually is with what current human studies show and why dosage, delivery and safety still have big question marks.
This clip takes a closer look at what NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) does in cellular energy, why interest has grown around aging, and how much of the hype is based on animal data rather than robust human trials.
I’m exploring with my guest the difference between oral supplements and IV drips, including why IV bypasses digestion but still may not deliver NAD+ where it’s needed inside cells, and the fact that effective dosing schedules are unknown.
We discuss reported side effects from IV drips like flushing and rapid heart rate, the theoretical concern that excessive NAD+ could support cancer cell proliferation in certain contexts, and how high-dose single nutrients can disrupt balance when nutrients normally work in synergy.
As a nutritionist and health communicator, I weigh the evidence against the costs and risks, and point to practical options with stronger support for mitochondrial health: exercise such as HIIT and zone 2 training, possibly cold exposure, investing in mental health, and dietary precursors from foods like green vegetables, fish, mushrooms and edamame.
Dr Rupy Aujla in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
Mon, 13 Oct 2025 - 12min - 333 - What Glucose Trackers Get Wrong About Women’s Bodies | Dr. Stacy Sims | Dr. Stacy Sims
Watch the FULL video here: https://youtu.be/hsaGZXiEbNs
Most women don’t realize how much their hormones shape their metabolism and recovery or how wearables often get it wrong. In this clip, Dr. Stacy Sims breaks down what really happens to your insulin sensitivity and immune system throughout your cycle, why progesterone makes you temporarily more insulin resistant, and why that’s completely normal.She also exposes how continuous glucose monitors and fitness trackers often mislead women built on male-based data, their algorithms can cause unnecessary stress and confusion.
Dr. Stacy Sims
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
Fri, 10 Oct 2025 - 07min - 332 - The Human Performance Dr Explains HRV, Performance Anchors & Hydrogen Water | Dr Andy Galpin
From growing up on food stamps to becoming one of the youngest full professors in the US, Dr. Andy Galpin’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. A world-leading human performance scientist, Andy shares the values of hard work and ambition instilled by his parents and how those principles carried him from adversity to academic success.
But this isn’t just a story of resilience. Andy takes us deep into the science of human performance – from understanding what truly anchors your progress, to why consistent habits matter more than hacks, and how sleep remains the most powerful (and overlooked) tool we have for health and longevity.
Together we explore:
The importance of addressing ‘performance anchors’ before chasing optimisation
Nervous system health, stress load, and what HRV really tells us
Cold plunges, saunas, and whether they actually improve resilience
Hydrogen water: hype or help?
Why sleep is the cornerstone of health, and the environmental factors that shape it
Practical strategies to improve recovery, energy, and performance
This conversation is both deeply human and highly practical - inspiring you to re-think how you approach your health, performance, and success.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today.
15% off with code LWBW15 atnowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights
Introduction & Early Career Achievements (00:00)
Identifying & Removing Performance Anchors (02:12)
Overcoming Adversity: From Food Stamps to Full Professor (09:16)
How systemic load and stress accumulation affect recovery and overall health. (09:16)
The truth about HRV scores, device differences, and why variability, not the score, is key (31:57)
Cold Plunge, Sauna & HRV Myths (42:45)
Hydrogen Water: Hype or Help? (42:45)
The Science of Sleep & Its Impact on Health (01:02:57)
Concluding Thoughts on Health & Wellbeing (01:17:16)
***
Love what you’re hearing? My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 08 Oct 2025 - 1h 19min - 331 - Eat to Beat Inflammation | The Science of the Inflammatory Index | Be Well Moments
Inflammation isn’t always the enemy, it’s your body’s defense system. But when it gets out of control, it can silently drive arthritis, heart disease, gut issues, and even mental health struggles. In this episode, we break down what the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) actually shows, why plant protein and fiber lower inflammation, and how animal protein may raise it.
Discover the foods with the strongest anti-inflammatory effects from herbs and spices like turmeric and oregano, to olive oil, nuts, seeds, oily fish, berries, and polyphenol-rich vegetables. Learn why balance is key, and how simple daily habits (movement, stress management, sleep) impact your inflammation levels just as much as diet.We also unpack why the Mediterranean diet remains one of the best-studied anti-inflammatory eating patterns worldwide.
Rupy Aujla
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
How to Increase Protein in Your Diet and Why It Matters for Longevity & Hormone Health | Dr Rupy
https://youtu.be/AySFUeR1pw8
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
Mon, 06 Oct 2025 - 16min - 330 - Collagen, Magnesium & Creatine: What Science Really Says | Stacy Sims Explains | Be Well Moments
Are your supplements actually helping you, or just draining your wallet? In this episode, Dr. Stacy Sims breaks down the truth about three of the most popular supplements women buy: collagen, magnesium, and creatine.You’ll learn which type of collagen (if any) really supports joint health, why most collagen powders don’t count toward your daily protein, and the surprising reason women should be cautious with “vegan collagen.” Dr. Sims also explains which form of magnesium actually improves sleep and muscle relaxation — and why so many products don’t deliver results. Finally, she reveals why creatine is one of the most powerful yet overlooked supplements for women, especially in perimenopause, supporting energy, mood, gut health, and performance.
Dr. Stacy Sims
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
Dr. Stacy Sims EXPOSES the Myths Hurting Women's Health | Fasting, Protein & Exercise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1uksGzoick
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
Fri, 03 Oct 2025 - 10min - 329 - The Truth About Male Infertility & Low Testosterone | World’s Leading Men’s Health Doctor
Most conversations about fertility focus on women.
But here’s the truth: up to 50% of infertility cases are male, and men’s reproductive health is a powerful window into their overall wellbeing, longevity, and disease risk.
This week’s guest, Professor Suks Minhas, world-leading consultant urologist and expert in male fertility, is here to change how we think about men’s health. With decades of clinical and research expertise, he reveals why sperm counts are falling, what it really says about men’s health today, and the practical steps every man can take to protect his future.
Together we explore:
– Why male infertility makes up half of cases and why it’s rarely discussed
– The surprising links between sperm health, testosterone, and metabolic disease
– DNA fragmentation: the overlooked cause of “unexplained infertility”
– How lifestyle, stress, alcohol, and obesity directly affect fertility
– The role of endocrine disruptors and environmental toxins in declining sperm quality
– Fertility preservation: should men also consider freezing their sperm?
– Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT): who it helps, who it harms, and why it can act as a male contraceptive
– Actionable, evidence-based ways to optimise male fertility and long-term health
This isn’t just a conversation about reproduction. It’s a wake-up call for men’s health, fertility, and longevity. Whether you’re thinking about children, or simply want to future-proof your health, this episode gives you the clarity to take action.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
🌟 The Heracles Project 🌟
What does it mean to truly live well? Discover the UK’s first evidence-based longevity platform, designed to help you optimise your health, performance, and potential.
Launching this month - Sign up now for early access 👇
🌐 Sign up: https://heracles.health📷 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/heracleshealth/
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimagined
Know your body, trust yourself.
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
Your Period Isn’t Just a Period | Hormones, Red Flags, Fertility & Women’s Health | Dr Hazel Wallace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C--vYFyHAEw
Could Your Daily Meals Be Loaded With Microplastics? Hormone Disruptors & Health Risks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-GtzRoNm18
ExplainedHow Psychedelics Change the Brain: MDMA, Psilocybin, Benefits & Risks | Dr. Rick Doblinhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL7pZgcIp9A
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Highlights:
Is Male Infertility Linked to Men’s Health? (00:00:00)
Does Age Affect Male Fertility Too? (00:06:20)
Lifestyle and DNA Damage in Male Fertility (00:12:10)
Sperm Quality, Fertility and Cancer Risk (00:18:46)
What Are Endocrine Disruptors Doing to Fertility? (00:23:30)
Nutrition and Supplements for Male Fertility (00:28:14)
The Impacts of Stress and Sperm Freezing (00:36:50)
Natural Ways To Increase Testosterone (00:43:34)
When Should Men Consider TRT? (00:47:05)
How Men Can Protect Fertility and Longevity (00:56:46)
***
Love what you’re hearing? My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Wed, 01 Oct 2025 - 59min - 328 - How Your Menstrual Cycle Affects Workouts | Science vs Myths with Dr Hazel Wallace | Be Well Moments
Can your menstrual cycle really change how you train, recover, and build strength - or is that just fitness hype? In this clip, we dive deep into the latest research on exercise and the menstrual cycle. While some studies suggest a small dip in performance during your period and more strength potential around ovulation, the evidence is mixed and often misunderstood. The real takeaway? Every woman’s body responds differently. This conversation explores how athletes and everyday women can use cycle awareness as a guide - not a strict rulebook - when it comes to training, recovery, and performance. Whether you’re running marathons, lifting weights, or fitting workouts around work and family, this discussion will help you understand what’s fact, what’s myth, and how to tune into your own body.Hazel Wallace
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by Spatone – the No.1 iron-rich water supplement.
This is a product I genuinely believe in — one I’ve used personally and recommended in the clinic for years. Spatone is a natural iron-rich water that’s incredibly gentle on the stomach. No harsh tablets, no digestive upset — just one naturally sourced ingredient that works.
If you’re looking for iron support that actually feels good to take, this is the one I trust. You can pick up Spatone at Boots: Spatone Apple Daily Iron Shots + Vitamin C 28 Sachets - Boots
**
This episode is also sponsored by London Nootropics, the best-in-class adaptogenic coffee I trust. Made with Hifas da Terra mushroom extracts, it supports focus, calm, and energy, and helps you stay sharp throughout the day.
Enjoy 20% off with code LIVEWELLBEWELL at londonnootropics.com
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
What Men AND Women Must Know About Women’s Hormones, Periods & Fertility | Dr Hazel Wallacehttps://youtu.be/C--vYFyHAEw
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3rUbHyS#Cordyceps
Mon, 29 Sep 2025 - 09min - 327 - Protein Per Body Weight Explained: What 1.2g/kg REALLY Means | Dr Rupy Aujla
How much protein do you actually need per day? In this clip, we break down the science of protein requirements by body weight and show what that looks like in real food examples. From Greek yogurt and nuts to tempeh and chicken, here’s a practical, evidence-based guide to daily protein intake.
Rupy Aujla
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by Spatone – the No.1 iron-rich water supplement.
This is a product I genuinely believe in — one I’ve used personally and recommended in the clinic for years. Spatone is a natural iron-rich water that’s incredibly gentle on the stomach. No harsh tablets, no digestive upset — just one naturally sourced ingredient that works.
If you’re looking for iron support that actually feels good to take, this is the one I trust. You can pick up Spatone at Boots: Spatone Apple Daily Iron Shots + Vitamin C 28 Sachets - Boots
**
This episode is also sponsored by London Nootropics, the best-in-class adaptogenic coffee I trust. Made with Hifas da Terra mushroom extracts, it supports focus, calm, and energy, and helps you stay sharp throughout the day.
Enjoy 20% off with code LIVEWELLBEWELL at londonnootropics.com
***
If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:
How Much Protein Do You Really Need for Longevity? | Evidence-Based Guide with Dr. Rupy Aujlahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AySFUeR1pw8
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3rUbHyS
#ProteinIntake #NutritionScience #HealthyEating
Fri, 26 Sep 2025 - 10min
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