The Dokkcast

In this episode of the Dokkcast, host Nara sits down with Professor Piers Daubeney, a world-renowned Consultant Paediatric and Fetal Cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital and Imperial College London. Together, they untangle the complexities of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)—a frequently misunderstood condition that primarily affects teenagers and young adults.Prof. Daubeney breaks down the underlying physiology of POTS, explaining why the heart races when standing and how gravity affects circulation. He highlights the crucial differences between pediatric and adult POTS, details the standard diagnostic toolkit (including ECGs, Holter monitors, and tilt table tests), and outlines a structured ladder of treatment. From simple lifestyle shifts like increased salt intake and targeted hydration to advanced pharmaceutical interventions like Midodrine and Ivabradine, this episode provides a comprehensive roadmap for patients, parents, and healthcare providers. Prof. Daubeney also shares a powerful message of hope, reassuring families that the long-term prognosis for pediatric patients is exceptionally bright.00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:44 - What is POTS?00:01:59 - Who gets POTS?00:02:29 - Adults vs teenagers00:03:45 - Symptoms overview00:05:03 - How circulation fails00:07:55 - Why symptoms vary00:09:09 - Diagnosing POTS00:10:13 - Ruling out other causes00:11:41 - Key tests: ECG, echo, Holter00:12:58 - The tilt table test00:13:57 - Diagnostic criteria00:16:11 - POTS vs orthostatic intolerance00:18:12 - Life after diagnosis00:19:06 - Fluids and salt intake00:20:29 - Periods, iron and teenage girls00:21:13 - Compression and movement00:22:46 - Staying active00:24:19 - POTS vs anxiety00:25:02 - Prognosis and outlook00:25:52 - Treatment: sodium tablets00:26:21 - Medication options00:27:11 - Slowing a racing heart00:28:14 - Achieving good outcomes00:29:02 - Referral pathways00:30:31 - Reliable resources00:31:09 - Adult vs paediatric POTS00:33:13 - Autonomic dysregulation00:35:21 - COVID-19 and POTS00:37:30 - Myths and coexisting conditions00:38:56 - The Netflix documentary00:41:04 - Final advice

What actually happens when we speak, sing, or lose our voice entirely? In this episode of the Dokkcast, host Nara is joined by Mr. Declan Costello—one of the UK’s leading ENT surgeons, laryngologists, and a classical singer himself.Declan demystifies the complex anatomy of the vocal folds, explaining how a simple "buzzing" sound is modulated into the rich timbres of speech and song. Drawing from his unique dual background as a Cambridge choral scholar and a specialist surgeon, he shares vital insights into vocal pathology, the profound impact of emotion on speech, and why the aging voice is a "use it or lose it" muscle. Whether you are a professional performer or someone who simply relies on your voice for everyday communication, this episode is an essential masterclass in vocal care, debunking common myths (like gargling salt water) and highlighting when a hoarse voice is actually a sign to see a specialist.Chapters00:00 Intro — meet Declan Costello, ENT voice surgeon00:43 What is the voice and how is it produced?02:04 Vocal folds vs "vocal cords" — the real anatomy03:42 Harmonics, overtones and vocal timbre explained07:23 Vibrato — what it is and how singers control it08:44 Singing in different languages10:23 Declan's path from music at Cambridge to ENT surgery13:38 What shows up on a singer's vocal cords15:34 Stroboscopy — seeing the vocal cords in slow motion16:16 Voice frequency and how voice is assessed (GRBAS scale)18:18 Singers vs non-singers — why pathology differs19:53 Vocal cord polyps — the Harry Kane example21:31 Laryngeal papillomatosis — vocal cord warts23:04 Hoarseness — when it could be something serious24:21 Key takeaway: persistent hoarseness needs checking out25:09 Emotional trauma and voice loss (aphonia)27:17 Why getting checked early matters28:24 Speech and language therapy — "physiotherapy for the voice"29:34 Chronic throat clearing and the persistent cough cycle30:50 Reflux, PPIs and throat symptoms32:26 Hydration and vocal health33:34 Steam inhalation for voice care34:10 The "singer's formant" explained35:58 Tonsillectomy considerations for singers38:01 Globus pharyngeus — that "lump in the throat" feeling39:54 How the voice changes with age41:38 Retirement, muscle tone and "use it or lose it"43:41 When should you actually see someone?45:18 Common voice myths — gargling, aspirin, voice rest46:13 Closing thoughts and wrap-up

In this episode of The Dokkcast, host Nara is joined by Stacey Zimmels, a highly specialized pediatric speech and language therapist and lactation consultant. Together, they dive deep into the often confusing, advice-heavy world of infant feeding. From untangling the coordination of "suck, swallow, breathe" to busting the biggest myths around breastfeeding pain, tongue-ties, and baby-led weaning, this conversation provides a grounded, evidence-based roadmap for parents. They also tackle recent social media trends around mouth breathing, explaining the real science behind nasal breathing, large adenoids, and pediatric sleep. Whether you are navigating the early days of nursing, preparing to introduce solids, or wondering if your child's tongue-tie actually needs dividing, this episode offers compassionate, expert guidance without the guilt.Chapters00:00 Welcome & Stacey's background (SLT + lactation consultant)01:09 What speech and language therapists actually do05:07 Becoming a lactation consultant07:16 How breastfeeding problems present in clinic09:47 Suck-swallow-breathe coordination & what's "normal"14:29 What breast milk is (colostrum, foremilk/hindmilk, immunology)19:08 When to seek help & the WHO breastfeeding guidelines20:30 Breastfeeding myths (pain, hindmilk, "natural = easy")27:38 Tongue ties: what they are & how they're assessed44:09 Weaning: developmental readiness signs46:50 Weaning myths (sleep, hunger, early starting)51:43 Baby-led weaning vs. spoon-feeding vs. combination55:48 Choking risk & food safety60:00 Mouth breathing, nasal cycle & the "mouth taping" trend69:30 Wrap-up

Jenny Halpern-Prince built a PR agency from her kitchen table into a WPP-backed business — then co-founded Lady Garden, the charity breaking the silence around gynaecological cancers.In episode 9 of Dokkcast, Jenny joins us to talk about her career, her own health journey, and why 60 women being diagnosed and 21 dying every day in the UK from gynaecological cancers isn't talked about nearly enough.00:00 Introduction00:00:51 Early career: choosing Joseph over university00:02:24 Lessons from a tough fashion retail culture00:02:50 Setting up her own PR & comms agency at 2300:06:59 Selling the business and growing with WPP00:08:56 The charitable thread: Women's Aid, Great Ormond Street00:10:12 Founding Access Aspiration (2012)00:12:26 Lady Garden: the name and the mission00:15:07 The origin story: Tamara Beckwith's mother00:15:55 The numbers: 60 diagnosed, 21 deaths a day00:17:36 Chelsea Flower Show: the gold-winning "Silent No More" garden00:21:20 Male allyship and designer Darren Hawkes00:23:27 Jenny's own health journey00:25:46 The fertility journey begins00:27:03 Twelve IVF rounds and twin daughters via surrogacy00:27:35 A second surrogacy journey: son Marcus00:28:02 Breaking the silence on pregnancy loss00:30:13 The ambassador programme and the HPV vaccine gap00:32:23 Celebrating ambassadors at the House of Commons00:33:42 Access Aspiration's networking impact00:37:41 How organisations can get involved00:38:32 Emily Blaine's story and the Chelsea garden's inspiration00:39:15 Gynae cancer symptoms to watch for00:40:56 Lady Garden's NHS-backed chatbot00:42:06 Launching the Lady Garden Tea Party00:42:30 The T-shirt: names for the vulva, and losing the fear factor00:43:41 Closing thoughts and what's next with UdokkJenny Halpern-Prince is the co-founder of Lady Garden, a charity dedicated to raising awareness of gynaecological cancers, and founder of Access Aspiration, an education charity supporting social mobility through work placements.🎧 Subscribe to Dokkcast for more conversations on health, wellbeing, and the people driving change.

Losing weight can be tricky. We explore the risk of significant muscle loss during dieting and regaining fat, potentially leading to sarcopenic obesity (a condition characterized by the concurrent presence of excess body fat (obesity) and a low mass, quality, and function of skeletal muscle (sarcopenia). It creates a vicious cycle: muscle loss reduces mobility and energy expenditure, which promotes further fat gain.) Learn the hidden dangers and what to watch out for.Chapters00:00 Introduction to GLP-1 and Women's Health12:15 Nutritional Impacts of GLP-122:51 Protein Needs and Muscle Preservation34:11 Long-term Considerations and Self-Image

Perimenopause Nutrition: Why Weight Changes in Your 40s (Protein, Fiber, and Metabolism)00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:25 Marcella’s Career Journey02:30 Focus on Women in Their 40s03:33 Menopause and Perimenopause Explained05:54 Hormone Fluctuations and Symptoms08:38 Weight Gain Complaints and Causes10:56 Aging vs Menopause Metabolism12:56 Visceral Fat and Heart Risk16:22 Diet Patterns Protein and Fiber19:57 Food Diaries and Evening Pitfalls21:35 Balance Meals Early22:01 Realistic Planning Tips22:21 Protein Basics Explained23:54 Plant vs Animal Protein26:17 Vegetarian Protein Combos27:25 Protein Needs in Menopause28:33 Fiber 101 and Sources30:33 Why Fiber Matters32:09 Build Better Plates Fast34:09 Sleep Stress and HRT36:40 DIY Food Diary Method38:49 Myth Bust Eat Less Move More42:38 Reset Expectations and Wrap