Well Enough

Elite marathon runner Anya Culling's story will inspire you but maybe not in the way you expect. She shaved nearly two hours off her marathon time and now competes at the highest level, representing her country.In this episode, Anya opens up about teenage health crises that shaped her mentality, the ironic moment she realized elite runners do still have periods, and why her coach refused to train her until she got her health sorted. We discuss wellness overwhelm, how to spot the difference between training hard and overtraining, why women's health issues in sport often go unaddressed, and the recovery principle that changed everything for her.Anya is backing iron supplement brand Active Iron’s campaign to encourage open conversations around women’s health in sport. For more information visit https://activeiron.com/en-gb

This week, clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and content creator Dr. Julie Smith joins us to dismantle the myth of constant happiness and offer practical tools for navigating life's inevitable storms.With over 10 million followers and two Sunday Times bestsellers (Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? and Open When), Julie has made it her mission to make high-quality mental health education accessible to everyone.In this conversation, we explore why young people are struggling despite having "the best it's ever been," the crucial difference between self-compassion and self-indulgence, and how our modern obsession with optimization is setting us up for failure. Julie shares the powerful "predator mindset" that helped her through her own health crisis, explains why feelings are information rather than problems to fix, and introduces the "solid back five" concept - fundamental pillars of mental wellbeing that we constantly underestimate.

In a world of aggressive optimization, morning routines, and relentless pressure to manifest a perfect reality, how do we experience actual joy when life falls apart?This week on Well Enough, we sit down with Kate Bowler - Duke University professor, religion scholar, and author - to explore the profound differences between happiness and joy. At 35, Kate was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, an event that completely shattered her reality and forced her to confront the agonizing platitude that "everything happens for a reason."Kate dismantles toxic positivity and wellness capitalism, explaining why you don't always need to find a silver lining. Get Kate’s book “Joyful, Anyway” here https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/joyful-anyway-9781037202582/Follow Well Enough on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/wellenoughTimecodes:00:00 Why Joy Isn't What You Think03:10 Happiness vs. Joy: What’s the Psychological Difference?06:25 Navigating Rage and Finding Joy After a Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis08:00 "Emotional Appropriateness" & The Myth of Constant Optimization10:45 The Danger of Toxic Positivity and "Everything Happens for a Reason"13:10 The Hidden History (and Harm) of Manifesting17:30 What is "The Ache"? Embracing the Bittersweet Longing of Being Human20:20 Wellness Capitalism and the Absurdity of the 24/7 Morning Routine23:30 Navigating the Seasons of Wanting & Opening Your "Vault of Jewels"29:10 How to Practice Joy: Service, Love, and Hope33:30 How to Experience Joy During a "Light Apocalypse"37:00 Absurdism: Why You Should Lean Into Your Weird Delights39:20 The Surprising Limits of Gratitude Journaling

Sophie Richards spent ten years being dismissed by doctors who said her crippling period pain was "normal" and she'd "get used to it." Six surgeries later, she finally got her endometriosis diagnosis.This week, Sophie joins Emilie to break down inflammation as your body's "first response team," how she discovered it was driving her symptoms, and the dangerous wellness trends she fell for.She also shares the love story of bringing her now fiancé to her fertility appointment on date three, why she wants to create a school curriculum so boys learn about periods too, and her six pillars of anti-inflammatory living that transformed her health.Get Sophie’s book ‘The Anti-Inflammatory 30-day Reset’ here Follow Sophie on Instagram here Follow Emilie on Instagram here Timecodes00:00 Why I Share the Reality of Living with Endometriosis02:46 Six Surgeries & Ten Years of Chronic Pain04:16 The Period Pain Dismissed as "Normal"06:41 Bringing My Boyfriend to My Egg Freezing Appointment09:01 Educating Men About Women's Health: Why It Matters11:26 Why Boys Need Period Education Too13:41 What Is Inflammation? The First Response Team16:01 How I Discovered Inflammation Was the Root Cause18:46 Red Flags in the Wellness Industry21:31 The 30-Day Anti-Inflammatory Reset Explained24:51 You're Not Crazy: Your Pain Is Real27:31 How to Advocate for Yourself at the Doctor30:41 The Doctor Who Finally Diagnosed My Endometriosis34:01 Breaking the Taboo: Men Talking About Periods36:46 Nourish Yourself Like You'd Nourish a Friend

Reality TV star Vicky Pattison opens up about her personal battle with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), a debilitating condition that goes far beyond typical PMS symptoms. She candidly discusses the physical and emotional toll it's taken on her life, and how finally getting diagnosed changed everything.Vicky also shares her experience with egg freezing, offering an honest perspective on the process, the emotions involved, and why she made this important decision for her future. Her vulnerability about fertility and planning for motherhood will resonate with many listeners navigating similar choices.Vicky’s new show ‘Maybe, Baby?’ is available to stream now on Channel 4.Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Follow Vicky on Instagram here Timecodes:00:00 Introduction01:00 What Is PMDD? Understanding the Symptoms03:16 Two Weeks of Hell: Living with PMDD05:51 Five Years to Get a Diagnosis: Medical Gaslighting08:13 "Just a Period" - How Doctors Dismissed My Pain10:21 The Social Media Diagnosis That Changed Everything12:16 Finally Heard: Getting My PMDD Diagnosis14:46 Why Boys Need to Learn About Periods17:31 Antidepressants for PMDD: The Treatment Dilemma20:36 Navigating PMDD as a Couple24:11 Maybe Baby: Our Fertility Journey on TV27:01 Freezing My Eggs at 35: Taking Control30:31 The Hate I Got for Freezing My Eggs33:16 One Message That Made It All Worth It37:21 Can You Be a Good Mum with PMDD?42:01 Feel Your Feels: My Wellness Advice

What does it really mean to navigate womanhood under constant scrutiny? This week on Well Enough, author, DJ and broadcaster Ashley James explains the impossible standards women face.Ashley reveals the truth about misogynistic labels, from the slut-shaming she experienced at an all-boys school to being called 'selfish' both for not having children and then for wanting a life outside motherhood. She shares how becoming a mum forced her to confront her own internalised misogyny - and why birth trauma is dismissed as a 'negative mindset problem' rather than a maternity care failing.We also explore the hidden costs of being a woman, from the £20,000 women spend on menstruation in their lifetime to the double standards that mean female voices are constantly questioned while male commentators speak without proving their credentials.Ashley James’s bestselling Bimbo is available here Follow Well Enough on Instagram here Follow Emilie on Instagram here  Timecodes:00:00 Introduction03:16 The Misogyny Behind Calling Women Influencers05:46 Slut-Shamed at 1408:21 Punished for Having a Woman's Body11:01 Why "Bimbo" Needs Reclaiming14:06 The Impossible Standards of Mothers17:11 Regretting Motherhood20:16 Birth Trauma & the Failure of Maternity Care.22:46 Why C-Sections Shouldn't Be Shamed 26:31 Childcare Costs More Than My Mortgage 28:46 The Pressure to "Bounce Back" After Birth 32:26 Trolls & Misogyny: Refusing to Be Silenced 36:41 The Hidden Cost of Having a Period 40:31 Medical Gaslighting: Why Women's Pain Is Dismissed 43:21 Raising Kids Without Misogynistic Labels

Rosie Viva used to travel the world as a fashion model. It wasn’t until being arrested after a psychotic episode in Stansted Airport that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. On the week of World Bipolar Day, Rosie joins Emilie on Well Enough to ask: what does the world still get wrong about bipolar, especially for women.Rosie’s book ‘Completely Normal and Totally Fine’ charts her journey with bipolar. She documents mania, depression and recovery all whilst navigating relationships, jobs and her new identity. In today’s episode, she also shares her one rule for drinking on medication, how to manage hypomania without losing the magic, and why thinking she was Susan Boyle for a week taught her family not to challenge delusions.Follow the show:Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Useful links:Rosie’s SubstackRosie’s book ‘Completely Normal and Totally Fine’‘Maybe its bipolar?’ test from Bipolar UKSamaritansTimecodes:00:00 What Is Bipolar Disorder? Breaking Down the Basics02:46 Type 1 vs Type 2 Bipolar: Understanding the Difference05:21 Misdiagnosis: When Doctors Miss Bipolar in Women08:16 The Psychotic Episode That Changed Everything10:11 Religious Delusions & Mania: My Breaking Point11:26 Arrested at Stansted Airport: The Baggage Drop Incident13:01 The Shame Around Mental Illness Nobody Talks About15:16 Getting the Right Medication: Why It Takes Time17:26 When Therapy Goes Wrong: My NHS Experience20:01 Managing Hypermania: Practical Tools That Work22:16 Navigating Friendships with Bipolar Disorder24:51 PMDD & Bipolar: The Hidden Connection for Women27:31 Can Women with Bipolar Be Stable? The Answer Is Yes29:56 How to Know If You Have Bipolar: First Steps32:31 Making My Channel 4 Documentary: Telling My Story35:26 Is My Madness Actually Magic? Reframing Bipolar38:01 The Euphoria of Hypermania: Like Astronauts in Space39:21 Drinking with Bipolar: My One Simple Rule

The UK has a nutrition problem, and it's not the one most wellness influencers are shouting about. While TikTok pushes high-protein everything, Britain quietly ranks second-worst globally for fibre intake.Nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert joins Emilie to expose the fibre gap, reveal why Parliament is finally paying attention, and explain how protein hype has distracted us from a genuine public health crisis. Only 4% of Brits meet the 30 gram daily target, and 80% think fibre is just about bowel movements - missing its profound impact on immunity, heart health, brain function, and even longevity.Rhiannon also dismantles dangerous wellness trends, explains why "what I eat in a day" videos are mostly fiction, and shares the changing gender norms behind our lost cooking culture.Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Follow Rhiannon on Instagram hereGet Rhiannon’s book ‘The Fibre Formula’ hereTimecodes00:00 The Pressure to Be a Perfect Nutritionist02:46 The Reality of “What I Eat in a Day” Videos 05:46 The UK's Shocking Fibre Crisis 09:16 Why Diet Culture Destroyed Our Relationship with Food12:01 Rhiannon’s journey: Opera Singer to Nutritionist 15:46 Taking the Fibre Fight to Parliament 18:56 Why Fibre Has Had Such Bad PR 22:11 The Protein Hype Has Done Damage 25:21 How to Eat More Mindfully 28:16 Fibre for Immunity, Heart Health & Your Brain32:46 Why Women Lost Cooking Skills35:01 Wellness Trends to Avoid 37:51 Why Social Connection is as Important as Nutrition 40:26 Simple Swaps for Better Gut Health 41:21 Shut Out the Noise