Tess Talks

Episode 50 marks a major milestone for Tess Talks, and in this solo episode, Tess takes a more personal, unfiltered approach.Moving away from the usual questions around routines, beauty and motherhood, this episode is delivered as a diary-style reflection — sharing what’s been on her mind lately. From the response to her pre-conception content, to the rise of “quick fix culture”, to how healthy living has become labelled as extreme, Tess explores the tension between modern life and long-term wellbeing.Rather than offering perfect solutions, this conversation invites listeners to think more deeply, take ownership, and reconnect with what truly matters in a world full of noise.In this episode:Why healthy living is increasingly viewed as “extreme”The reaction to her pre-conception and fertility contentSocial media pressure, comparison and internal triggersThe rise of “quick fix culture” and instant gratificationFertility, long-term thinking and preparing the body for pregnancyBeauty standards, ageing and the conversation around BotoxThe reality of success and the work ethic required to build something meaningfulLessons from Shaun’s experience building a global brandThe impact of clickbait culture and online misinformationWhy discernment is essential in today’s digital worldSocial media overwhelm and creating healthier boundariesBalance, discipline and respecting your future selfFuel your body the way nature intended with Foraged For You — real, nutrient-dense supplements for every stage of life. Use code TESSTALKS10 for 10% offwww.foragedforyou.comFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

Feeling a little off track, stuck, or disconnected from the version of you you know you can be? This is your 5-minute reset. Grab a pen, your journal and 5 minutes of uninterrupted you time. Mimi Bouchard breaks down a simple but powerful way to reconnect with your future self.If you’ve set big goals for 2026 but don’t feel fully there yet… this is the pep talk (and practical tool) you need to come back to yourself.In this 5-minute activation, you’ll learn:How to define your “future self frequency”The 3–5 emotions that can shift your entire stateHow to layer and embody that energy in real timeA simple way to reset when you feel out of alignmentSave this, come back to it, and use it whenever you need to reset your energy and step back into the version of you you’re building.Because your future self isn’t something you chase… it’s something you choose.Buy Mimi's book: HereDownload the ACTIVATIONS app: Here Follow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

Olga Newman is the founder of the FaceUp Method, a globally recognised, holistic approach to facial rejuvenation that focuses on fascia, muscle patterns and posture to restore natural lift and vitality. Her work moves beyond traditional beauty treatments, exploring how stress, emotions and tension are held in the face, and how physical touch, massage and alignment can transform not just how we look, but how we feel.Tess sits down with Olga to unpack how ageing is influenced by far more than just skin. From “natural Botox” to the emotional patterns we hold in our jaw, this conversation dives into the everyday habits that could be making you age faster, and how to shift them.In this episode, we cover:What facial fascia is — and why it’s key to how we ageHow emotions and stress get stored in the faceThe real reason you’re holding tension in your jawThe surprising link between your jaw and pelvisEveryday habits that could be ageing you fasterThe shift away from Botox and injectablesWhat “natural Botox” actually meansHow facial massage and physical touch can lift and support the faceWhy posture (and tech neck) matters more than you thinkThe rise of somatic beauty practicesSimple ways to support your face naturallyFollow: @olga_faceupFind more: HereFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

Hormones aren’t static, they shift throughout the month. Yet most of us were never taught how our cycle actually works, or how nutrition can support it.Tess sits down with Melissa Kovacevic, founder of The Seed Cycle and a practitioner in functional nutrition, to explore the growing conversation around seed cycling — a food-first ritual that aligns nutrition with the different phases of a woman’s cycle.Online, women are claiming seed cycling has helped reduce PMS, improve hormonal acne, support fertility, and bring more awareness to their cycle. But what’s actually happening in the body, and what does the current science say?In this episode we cover:• What seed cycling is and how it works• The four phases of the menstrual cycle explained• Why women’s hormones are cyclical (not linear)• How nutrients in seeds may support hormone balance• Seed cycling and fertility — what we know so far• Hormonal acne and what may be driving it• Coming off the pill and reconnecting with your cycle• The role of nervous system health in hormone balance• Reducing endocrine-disrupting chemicals in everyday life• Practical ways to support your cycle through food and lifestyleMentioned in the episode:The Seed Cycle WebsiteUse code TESSTALKS for 15% off your first purchaseFollow @the_seed_cycleBuy Mels’ Book ‘Seeds of Sisterhood’: HereFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

Your baby’s health doesn’t start at birth. It starts before conception. Tess sits down with registered dietitian and bestselling author Lily Nichols — author of Real Food for Pregnancy, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes, and Real Food for Fertility — to unpack the science behind pregnancy nutrition and why so much of what we’ve been told might be outdated.From gestational diabetes to seafood fears, liver, folate, nausea and “eating for two” — this conversation challenges conventional guidelines and gives women practical, evidence-based tools to nourish themselves and their future babies.If you’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or simply want to understand how food shapes the next generation — this is essential listening.In this episode we cover:Why 90% of women experience nausea — and what might really be happening physiologicallyThe truth about eggs, runny yolks & food safetyWhy you’re more likely to get food poisoning from fresh produce than eggsThe real risk–benefit conversation around “foods to avoid” in pregnancyVitamin A: deficiency vs excessHow much liver is actually safe to eatThe folate vs folic acid debate (especially if you have MTHFR)Why seafood intake is linked to higher IQ and better neurodevelopmentMercury, selenium & what fish are safest during pregnancyOmega-3 vs omega-6 fats — and why seed oils are controversialWhat gestational diabetes actually isWhy 1 in 5 women are now diagnosedHow Lily’s real food approach reduced insulin use by 50%The intergenerational impact of blood sugar in pregnancyWhy preconception nutrition matters more than we thinkThe one simple habit that could improve your health immediatelyIf this episode resonated, share it with a friend who’s trying to conceive or currently pregnant.Follow Lily Nicholes: @lilynicholsrdnBuy Lily’s Books: HereLily’s Website: lilynicholsrdn.comFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

What if healing doesn’t always start with talking? Tess sits down with sound healer and breathwork facilitator Jadyen McGrath to explore how frequency, breath and nervous system regulation can support mental health in a modern world that rarely slows down. Jadyen shares his personal experience with depression, how therapy supported him, and why discovering breathwork and sound became a turning point in his healing.They explore how sound works physiologically in the body, why certain frequencies can ground or energise you, and what happens when the body finally feels safe enough to release stored stress.In the episode: • Jadyen’s experience with depression and finding healing through therapy, breathwork and sound • How sound impacts the nervous system and vagus nerve • Grounding vs activating frequencies (and when to use each) • The difference between live sound, speakers and binaural beats • Can music lyrics affect your psyche? • Why silence feels uncomfortable in modern life • Trauma release and emotional responses during sound healing • What Jadyen learned from Indigenous cultures and traditional songlines • Practical breath techniques you can use daily • How to regulate your nervous system in just a few minutesFollow Jayden: @jaydenmcgrath_Follow Jaydens’ App: @next_step_collectiveFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

What if the reason you’re tired, foggy, anxious, or constantly getting sick… isn’t stress, hormones, or burnout — but your home?Raphael from EcoLibria, specialises in testing homes and workplaces for mould, indoor air quality issues, EMFs (electromagnetic fields) and EMR (wireless radiation). This episode is practical, science-backed insight into what’s actually worth paying attention to… and what’s not.Raphael has worked in this space for 20+ years and shares real case studies that will make you think differently about Wi-Fi routers, baby monitors, smart metres, hidden water leaks and even where you place your bed.If you’re building, renovating, pregnant, raising kids, working from home, or just tired of feeling tired… this episode will open your eyes.We cover:The real difference between EMF (electricity-based fields) and EMR (wireless signals)Whether living near powerlines or 5G towers is something to worry aboutWhy distance and duration matter more than panicThe simple swaps that can dramatically reduce EMF exposure in your homeWhy your bedroom should be the “quietest” room in the houseThe truth about baby monitors and sleeping near electrical metre boxesElectrical hypersensitivity — and why some people react more than othersHow EMF exposure may impact sleep, oxidative stress, melatonin and inflammationWhy mould is often hidden (and how moisture is always the root cause)Symptoms of mould exposure: fatigue, hormonal disruption, depression, gut issues, skin flare-upsWhy one family member can be severely affected by mould while others feel fineThe connection between inflammation, environment and long-term healthPractical air quality upgrades: ventilation, HEPA filters, rangehoods and reducing VOCsWhether air purifiers are actually necessaryMentioned in this episode:Find Raphael at EcoLibria: HereFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

In this episode of Tess Talks, Tess sits down with Annabel Karmel, one of the world’s most trusted voices in children’s nutrition and the author of over 50 books that have helped millions of families feed their kids with confidence.Annabel shares the deeply personal story behind her career — from the devastating loss of her first daughter to building a global food and wellness brand rooted in helping parents feel calm, informed, and empowered at the table.This is a real, honest conversation about feeding babies and toddlers without the pressure, guilt, or constant second-guessing.In this episode:Natasha’s storyWhy feeding kids feels so hard — and why it’s not your faultBaby-led weaning vs purées (and why doing both often works best)Finger foods, gagging vs choking, and how to feed with confidenceWhen to start weaning — and why flexibility mattersAllergies, eczema, and why early exposure can be protectiveThe truth about fussy eaters (spoiler: it’s often genetic)Why bland food isn’t the answer — and how flavour builds adventurous eatersIron, healthy fats, protein & what babies actually need from six monthsSensible snacking, lunchbox swaps & real-life food winsHow to take the pressure off mealtimes and stop power strugglesParenting guilt, trusting your intuition, and letting go of perfectionThis episode is for new parents, parents-to-be, and anyone who’s ever felt anxious, confused, or overwhelmed by feeding advice,  especially in the age of social media.Mentioned:Annabel Karmel Books: hereAnnabel Karmel App: hereGROW tableware range: hereFollow Annabel: @annabelkarmelFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

The Chinese New Year isn’t just a cultural moment, it’s an energetic reset. And this year? It moves fast.In this powerful episode of Tess Talks, Tess is joined by accredited Feng Shui Master and Chinese astrologer Kelly McCloskey to break down what the Year of the Horse really means — and how to work with its energy instead of burning out or being left behind.Horse energy is bold, fiery and high-momentum. It rewards confidence, leadership and action, but it also exposes chaos, impatience and misalignment. This episode is your guide to navigating the year with clarity, strategy and intention.In this episode, we cover:Why Chinese New Year is a more powerful energetic reset than January 1What Horse energy represents — and why this year feels faster, louder and more intenseHow to use Horse energy to your advantage in career, business and lifeThe biggest mistakes people make during high-momentum years (and how to avoid burnout)Why your Chinese zodiac animal matters more than you thinkA high-level breakdown of what each zodiac animal can expect this yearSimple feng shui shifts to support momentum, health and balanceHow to stay grounded while still making bold movesFollow @kellymccloskey_fengshuiFind Kelly at www.kellymccloskey.comFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan