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The Women's Running Podcast
Ep 97. Running as punishment, sport addiction, disordered eating, psychology
In this episode, Holly and I are delving into the psychology of running and nutrition. We have a special guest with us for much of the episode, Josephine Perry, a sports psychologist who has genuinely blown our tiny minds. Josie got into sports psychology after doing an Ironman, while facing a scary ocean for the swim section. The tannoy shouted out to the assembled athletes: “You guys can’t change those waves, but you can change the way you feel about them” and it switched her brain into gear, gave her a triathlon PB, and motivated a change in career. And it’s lucky for us that she has. We have so many questions for Josie, and she talks to us here about how the brain is connected to our bodies, and she explains the part of the brain, the Amygdala, which is the bit that notifies us about threats. We talk about how this can affect us on the start line of races (a lot, it turns out). And we also talk about sports and exercise addiction, and the unhealthy attachment of sport and food. Holly and I both found this chat extremely revealing, and a little bit emotional if I’m honest. What Josie reveals about the dynamic between exercise, food, and historical unhelpful behaviours and thinking feels like a light switching on. What we need to be doing, it turns out, is discovering what our values are, and making sure we run for those things, rather than as a negative punishment. Sounds obvious – often isn’t. This feels like a really illuminating and important podcast – I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Please take care here, there are some potentially triggering mentions of eating disorders and sporting addiction.
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278. Ep 278. Christmas chaos & gifts for runners
01:18:48||Season 1, Ep. 278We launch straight into Christmas stress and then we’re on to my exciting weekend at the footie, followed by some actual run content. Wish Hol luck for her 10K PB attempt this weekend! Eventually, we get on to our 2025 unofficial Christmas Gift Guide – links below.Do join us on Patreon for £2 and you can come along to our Christmas special on December 15th. Just head to patreon.com/womensrunning. CompressSports Jacket / BAM yoga top / BAM Contour / BAM fleece / Ronhill Tights / Bimble & Bolt leggings / B&B advent calendar / Step One pants / Nixi pants / Maaree Empower bra / Coopah membership (use WOMENSRUNNING) / Absolute mugs, NB FuelCell Rebel / NB Fresh Foam 1080v14 / Mizuno Neo Vista 2 / Veja Condor 3 / PF&H marathon taster pack
7. Ep 7. Am I Nuts... to worry about having kids?
45:03||Season 7, Ep. 7Welcome to the second series of Am I Nuts. This is the seventh episode in a series of ten weekly podcasts from us at the Women’s Running podcast. I am your host Esther Newman, and she is your other host Holly Taylor. In this series, we wanted to explore some of the things that we’ve talked about on our big podcast – that’s the Women’s Running podcast – that don’t necessarily have anything to do with running. Hol and I are natural born worriers, and we’ve realized that in almost every episode, we talk about at least one of those worries – and we also realized that with many of them, we’ve thought we were the only ones. We thought we were nuts.Having kidsTrigger warning: in this episode we discuss pregnancy and miscarriage.In this episode we want to find out if we’re nuts to worry about having kids. There’s a lot of huge topics here; so many we think we could do a whole series on this. There’s a lot to unpack and worry about: the societal (and familial) pressure to have kids at a certain age, the concerns and struggles with fertility, the question of how to tell people you have chosen not to have kids, the conversations about miscarriage, and the prejudice around fertility, motherhood and women in general.If you have thoughts on this, or any other subject we’ve talked about this series , then please email us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk ----- Thank you so much for listening. Do please like and subscribe, so that you’ll be first to know when the next episode in this special series dropsAm I Nuts has been brought to you by the Women’s Running podcast – do please check it out wherever you listen to your podcasts for longer episodes to keep you company while you run. And if running is your thing, or you’d like it to be your thing, check out Women’s Running magazine – right now you can save up to 50% off the cover price. Just go to shop.womensrunning.co.uk to find out more. Helpful linksTommy’s – the pregnancy and baby charityNCT – the UK’s leading charity for parentsMaternity Action – the UK’s maternity rights charityThe pregnancy page on the NHS websiteMaternal Mental Health AllianceGingerbread – the single parent charity
277. Ep 277. Awards, Raynaud's, Hidden Race, Gift Guide
01:44:13||Season 1, Ep. 277Welcome to episode 277 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running.First up, we have some exciting news about awards, and some honest thoughts on the wine we were served. Then we talk about The Hidden Race, produced by SportsShoes.com and Hoka that's all about the crews behind the runners. Raynaud's syndromeWe talk to Louise Parker from the Raynaud’s Clinic. We ask all the questions to find the answers – how can we keep warm, is it dangerous, what can women who run do to help themselves, and how does it affect us as we get older. Also, she confirms that one treatment path does include a well-known blue pill… Gift guideDo continue to listen in to the second half of our general chat, as we also have the start of our gigantic Pod Gift Guide. All the links to some brilliant products are in the show notes below. Lovely extra bitsWatch The Hidden Race here Check out the Raynaud's Clinic for more info, and fyi you can self-refer...Our Gift Guide top picksBlack Friday Women’s Running deal! Save a whopping 62%! It's MADNESS!Gym+Coffee Industry Fleece, £80Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro, £399Petzl SWIFT® LT, £53Monkey Sox Classic Quin Sports Socks, £17Garmin Forerunner 570, £459.99Asics Novablast 5, £134.99Higher State Allover Reflect Women's Hooded Jacket, £39.99 PLUS:Get tickets to our live event ahead of the Bath Half 2026!Setting up your own podcast? Try Zencastr – we’ve been using it for ages and LOVE ITDo join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories
6. Ep 6. Am I Nuts... to worry about UPFs
43:25||Season 7, Ep. 6Welcome to the second series of Am I Nuts. This is the sixth episode in a series of ten weekly podcasts from us at the Women’s Running podcast. I am your host Esther Newman, and she is your other host Holly Taylor. In this series, we wanted to explore some of the things that we’ve talked about on our big podcast – that’s the Women’s Running podcast – that don’t necessarily have anything to do with running. Hol and I are natural born worriers, and we’ve realized that in almost every episode, we talk about at least one of those worries – and we also realized that with many of them, we’ve thought we were the only ones. We thought we were nuts. If you have something you think we should talk about, then please email us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.ukUltra processed foodsWe’re talking about ultra processed foods, otherwise known as UPFs – are they the devil incarnate? Can we avoid them? Should we be as worried as the media is making us?Thank you so much for listening. Do please like and subscribe, so that you’ll be first to know when the next episode in this special series dropsAm I Nuts has been brought to you by the Women’s Running podcast – do please check it out wherever you listen to your podcasts for longer episodes to keep you company while you run. And if running is your thing, or you’d like it to be your thing, check out Women’s Running magazine – right now you can save up to 50% off the cover price. Just go to shop.womensrunning.co.uk to find out more. LinksFind out more about the food you’re buying at Open Food Facts – you can download the app Holly talks about there.
275. Ep 276. The Hidden Race
01:24:57||Season 1, Ep. 275Welcome to episode 276 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running.This episode is sponsored by Coopah, the running app. Find out how you can bag 20% off the annual subscription with us!The Hidden RaceApols for the start of this podcast which is very scatological, as you’ll soon find out. Moving quickly on, this episode we have a special guest in the shape of Hannah from Hoka, a field experience rep. She’s talking to us about The Hidden Race, a film that’s been created in collaboration with SportsShoes and Hoka to focus on the crew behind the runners. This is where you find all the love and support that fuel the people who run these big races like UTMB. Hannah has crewed for her partner Darren, and she explains how she got into doing that, what you have to do as a crew member, and how she ended up featuring in this film, and what we can expect when we watch it this weekend – it airs for the first time at the Kendal Mountain Festival, but will be available to everyone on the SportsShoes Youtube channel.After the interview, we’re back in the room to talk about how rubbish we’d be at crewing (obviously). Right at the end, we talk about a controversial race that never happened…Am I Nuts?Don’t forget to listen to Am I Nuts on a Monday – this week we’re talking about whether we should be worried about getting married, and it is all kicking off.Join us on PatreonIf you aren’t a patron yet do join us on Patreon for just £2 a month, through which you can join Discord, our forum just for you. You also get to come along to our Live Pods! Just head to patreon.com/womensrunning and join us for just £2 a month.Lovely extra bitsGet 20% off an annual subscription to Coopah with Women's Running!Find out more about SportsShoes and Hoka - we'll link to the film next week when it's releasedSubscribe to Women’s Running – and you can save 50%Get tickets to our live event ahead of the Bath Half 2026!Setting up your own podcast? Try Zencastr – we’ve been using it for ages and LOVE ITDo join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories
5. Ep 5. Am I Nuts... to worry about getting married?
39:15||Season 7, Ep. 5Welcome to the second series of Am I Nuts. This is the fifth episode in a series of ten weekly podcasts from us at the Women’s Running podcast. I am your host Esther Newman, and she is your other host Holly Taylor. In this series, we wanted to explore some of the things that we’ve talked about on our big podcast – that’s the Women’s Running podcast – that don’t necessarily have anything to do with running. Hol and I are natural born worriers, and we’ve realized that in almost every episode, we talk about at least one of those worries – and we also realized that with many of them, we’ve thought we were the only ones. We thought we were nuts. If you have something you think we should talk about, then please email us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk Are we nuts to worry about getting married?In this fifth episode, we wonder if we’re nuts to worry about getting married. We talk about the societal pressure, the peer pressure, the conformity of it, and the struggles with gender norms and expectations. Am I Nuts has been brought to you by the Women’s Running podcast – do please check it out wherever you listen to your podcasts for longer episodes to keep you company while you run. And if running is your thing, or you’d like it to be your thing, check out Women’s Running magazine – right now you can save up to 50% off the cover price. Just go to shop.womensrunning.co.uk to find out more.
275. Ep 275. Ultras, 10Ks, Traitors
01:16:59||Season 1, Ep. 275Welcome to episode 275 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running.Parenting woesFirst a shout out to all parents navigating the November/December schooltime panic, which I’m getting my knickers in a twist about. Then we catch up on what you’ve been saying about how to get to the start of your first ultra.TraitorsBefore a whacking great spoiler alert, cos of Traitors. We talk about the final a LOT, which we both loved.Training loadThen we’re on to current training load – Hol’s on the road to a 10K PB (wish her luck!), while I’m on the road to injury (also wish me luck)Don’t forget to listen to Am I Nuts on a Monday – this week we’re talking about flexibility, next week we’re moving on to booze.Join us!If you aren’t a patron yet do join us on Patreon for just £2 a month, through which you can join Discord, our forum just for you. You also get to come along to our Live Pods! Just head to patreon.com/womensrunning and join us for just £2 a month.Lovely extra bitsSubscribe to Women’s Running – and you can save 50%Get tickets to our live event ahead of the Bath Half 2026!Setting up your own podcast? Try Zencastr – we’ve been using it for ages and LOVE ITDo join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories
4. Ep 4. Am I Nuts... to worry about booze?
54:30||Season 7, Ep. 4Welcome to the second series of Am I Nuts. This is the fourth episode in a series of ten weekly podcasts from us at the Women’s Running podcast. I am your host Esther Newman, and she is your other host Holly Taylor. Are we nuts?In this series, we wanted to explore some of the things that we’ve talked about on our big podcast – that’s the Women’s Running podcast – that don’t necessarily have anything to do with running. Hol and I are natural born worriers, and we’ve realized that in almost every episode, we talk about at least one of those worries – and we also realized that with many of them, we’ve thought we were the only ones. We thought we were nuts. If you have something you think we should talk about, then please email us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk AlcoholIn this fourth episode, we wonder if we’re nuts to worry about booze. Trigger warning here: we’re talking about alcohol and addiction. Do we drink too much? What does alcohol do to our bodies? How does that change as we age? What do we think about sobriety? In this episode we’re talking about our own relationships with booze and how that’s changed over the years – there is no advice or judgement. I’ve listed a few brilliant places to go online in the show notes for support and advice if you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol. Pick up Women's RunningThank you so much for listening. Do please like and subscribe, so that you’ll be first to know when the next episode in this special series dropsAm I Nuts has been brought to you by the Women’s Running podcast – do please check it out wherever you listen to your podcasts for longer episodes to keep you company while you run. And if running is your thing, or you’d like it to be your thing, check out Women’s Running magazine – right now you can save up to 50% off the cover price. Just go to shop.womensrunning.co.uk to find out more. Find support hereDrinkaware offers support and advice for you or someone you care aboutBoozeAlcoholic Anonymous offers free and confidential adviceAlcoholChange offers lots of tips about cutting down alcohol, as well as menopause and fertility
274. Ep 274. Traitors and 10Ks
01:09:58||Season 1, Ep. 274Welcome to episode 274 of the Women’s Running podcast. I’m your host Esther Newman and she’s your other host Holly Taylor. On this podcast we talk about health, politics, stuff on TV and what we ate last night. Occasionally, we talk about running.Viral loadHolly’s got a stonking cold, but struggles through this regardless. Apologies for the sniffling. She talks about even in the depths of the cold, she’s still carrying on her training, and how her 10K plan is making her feel like an elite runner.Traitors!And then we’re on to the main event – not marathons, not ultras, not 10Ks. It’s Celebrity Traitors. Big old spoilers here if you’re watching on catch up, or watching in different countries – maybe skip from about 19 minutes to 38 minutes.Ultra accessibilityWe then talk about my current bugbear, which is the inaccessibility of ultra marathons in terms of geographical location. Please let us know how you’re getting to the start of these things!Am I Nuts?Don’t forget to listen to Am I Nuts on a Monday – this week we’re talking about flexibility, next week we’re moving on to booze.Join us!If you aren’t a patron yet do join us on Patreon for just £2 a month, through which you can join Discord, our forum just for you. You also get to come along to our Live Pods! Just head to patreon.com/womensrunning and join us for just £2 a month.Lovely extra bitsSubscribe to Women’s Running – and you can save 50%Get tickets to our live event ahead of the Bath Half 2026!Setting up your own podcast? Try Zencastr – we’ve been using it for ages and LOVE ITDo join us on Patreon so you can come and chat in our new Pod Squad community on Discord! Go to patreon.co.uk/womensrunningEmail us at wrpodcast@anthem.co.uk with any questions or running stories