Well Enough
Well Enough

Well Enough

The Independent

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Episodes

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WELL ENOUGH is here to make sense of the wild world of health and wellness, answering the biggest questions and busting myths and misinformation wide open. How do I know if my gut is healthy? Should I freeze my eggs? What is manifestation? Do I really need therapy? And why is everyone telling me to just be grateful?Join Fitness and Wellbeing Editor Emilie Lavinia and inspiring expert guests as we uncover the truth about mindfulness, the microbiome, fertility, relationships and more. Each episode will tackle a new subject with the help of household names and leaders in their fields, dispelling the nonsense you might have read on TikTok and giving you peace of mind.Fascinated by the pursuit of wellness Emilie Lavinia is one of the UK’s leading health and wellbeing journalists. She’s tried every trend, treatment and life-altering practice, reported on it and lived to tell the tale.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent Episodes

Why 96% lack this nutrient: Rhiannon Lambert on the UK's food crisis
MAR 25, 2026
Why 96% lack this nutrient: Rhiannon Lambert on the UK's food crisis
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  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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42 MIN
Emma Barnett on motherhood, IVF and endometriosis
MAR 11, 2026
Emma Barnett on motherhood, IVF and endometriosis
This week, award-winning BBC broadcaster, journalist and author Emma Barnett joins us to challenge everything we think we know about the newborn bubble. Emma's new book, Maternity Service, tears through the toxic positivity of early motherhood with refreshing - and often hilarious - honesty.From the physical reality of recovering from a C-section to the quiet grief of losing your pre-baby identity, Emma holds nothing back. She also opens up about 21 years without an endometriosis diagnosis, six rounds of IVF, and how she's learned to survive - and thrive - with a chronic pain condition while raising two children and fronting some of the UK's biggest radio programmes.Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Timecodes:00:00 Introduction: Why Maternity Leave Is a Lie01:01 What Is Maternity Service? The Book Explained01:31 Six Rounds of IVF and 21 Years Without a Diagnosis02:01 Matrescence: How Your Identity Shifts When You Become a Mother04:10 Can You Ever Really Prepare for Becoming a Mother?05:03 Toxic Positivity in Motherhood06:30 Reframing Motherhood as a Tour of Duty07:35 The Physical Reality: Healing a Broken Body After Birth08:57 C-Sections, Too Posh to Push, and the Stigma of Stomach Surgery09:50 What Is a Hypertonic Pelvic Floor? What No One Tells You11:25 The Loneliness of New Motherhood Nobody Talks About12:22 Identity Loss: Your Maternity Uniform and the Flattening of Self14:01 IVF, Bruising, and the Hidden Uniform of Fertility Treatment16:29 Delayed Gratification: The Survival Skill Every Mother Needs18:20 Perimenopause, Grief, and the Pressure to Have It All21:23 Maternity Discrimination and the Psychology of Being Replaced23:30 Is Boredom on Maternity Leave Normal? Yes, and Here's Why24:40 Writing a Letter to Your Pre-Baby Self26:35 Ready to Talk: Emma's New BBC Podcast on Women's Interior Lives30:50 The Best Books on Motherhood Emma Recommends39:00 Living With Endometriosis: The Diagnosis That Took 21 Years42:20 Endometriosis and IVF: When Getting Pregnant Becomes a Crisis49:30 Emma's Tip for Feeling Well Enough: The Power of MusicEpisodes of Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett are available every Friday on BBC Sounds.Buy Emma’s book Maternity Service - out in paperback March 12th Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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52 MIN
Endometriosis warning signs you should know PLUS how to ask your GP
MAR 4, 2026
Endometriosis warning signs you should know PLUS how to ask your GP
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women - yet it still takes an average of eight years to be diagnosed. Why are so many living with debilitating pain for so long?In this episode, Emilie sits down with GP, TV doctor and endometriosis advocate Dr Raj Arora to unpack the reality of living with a chronic condition that is too often dismissed as “just bad periods”.We explore the early warning signs of endometriosis, why painful and heavy periods should never be normalised, and how cultural stigma can delay women from seeking help. Dr Raj also explains how the historical exclusion of women from medical research has shaped everything from diagnosis to pain management - and what needs to change.Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here Follow Dr Raj on Instagram hereTimecodes:00:00 What Is Endometriosis? 01:15 Endometriosis Explained: What’s Happening in the Body02:55 Why Does It Take 8 Years to Get an Endometriosis Diagnosis?04:00 The Gender Pain Gap & Why Women’s Pain Is Ignored06:05 Dr Raj Arora’s 11 Year Diagnosis Journey09:20 Painful Periods vs Endometriosis: What’s Normal?10:45 Medical Misogyny & The Lack of Women in Research14:35 How to Advocate for Yourself at the GP17:40 Endometriosis Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore20:40 How Is Endometriosis Diagnosed? (Laparoscopy, MRI & Tests)22:05 Endometriosis Treatment Options: Surgery & Hormonal Therapy23:10 Is There a Cure for Endometriosis?24:10 How Common Is Endometriosis in the UK?25:40 Endometriosis, Work & Menstrual Leave28:20 Fertility, Egg Freezing & Why Doctors Take It Seriously31:45 Why Doctors Need Better Training in Women’s Health33:40 Managing Endometriosis: Lifestyle, Diet & Exercise35:00 Natural Pain Relief, Heat Therapy & TENS Machines38:20 Finding Support: Endometriosis Community & Online ForumsResources mentioned in today’s episode:The Endometriosis Foundation helpline 0808 808 2227Symptom Checker to create a letter to take to your GP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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46 MIN
Tim Spector on ferments, cheese and food packaging myths
FEB 25, 2026
Tim Spector on ferments, cheese and food packaging myths
In this episode of Well Enough, we’re joined by the man who effectively pioneered the British gut-health revolution: Professor Tim Spector. As a leading genetic epidemiologist and the force behind ZOE, Spector has spent decades deconstructing why health outcomes are not all about genetics - it turns out our microbes are the ones calling the shots.Tim explains why a sanitized modern life is making us miserable and how the simple act of fermentation can act as a "vaccine" for the immune system. We’re talking about the "Four Ks" - Kefir, Kombucha, Kimchi, and Kraut - and why your expensive probiotic supplement might be a waste of money compared to a wedge of raw-milk cheese.Follow Well Enough on Instagram hereFollow Emilie on Instagram here 00:00 Introduction: Meeting Professor Tim Specter00:27 What is Fermentation? A Simple Definition01:21 Science Behind the Health Benefits of Ferments01:58 How Microbes Stimulate Your Immune System02:37 The Zoe Study: Why 3 Portions a Day Matters03:45 Real Results: Mood, Energy, and Hunger Improvements04:53 From Genetics to the Microbiome Revolution06:03 Why Identical Twins Have Different Gut Microbes06:48 How Modern Life Is Killing Our Good Bacteria07:31 The Hidden Cost of Overusing Antibiotics08:36 The "Four Ks" of Fermented Foods09:24 Beware of "Wellness Washing" in Supermarkets10:18 Prebiotics vs. Probiotics: What’s the Difference?11:15 Pickled vs. Fermented: How to Tell the Difference12:47 Postbiotics: The Benefit of "Dead" Microbes13:49 How to Choose a High-Quality Kefir16:38 Foods to Avoid: Artificial Sweeteners & Fake Fruits17:47 Why You Should Introduce Ferments Slowly19:10 Supplements vs. Whole Foods: Which is Better?20:41 Best Cheeses for Gut Health (Unpasteurized & Raw)23:13 Choosing the Right Kombucha: Sugar & Stevia26:38 Tim Specter’s Daily Gut Health Routine30:16 Alcohol and the Gut: Red Wine vs. Spirits32:13 Budget Tips: Fermenting Scraps at Home34:58 Explaining the Gut-Brain Axis41:53 The #1 Tip: Diversity of 30 Plants a WeekMore from Tim:Find Tim on InstagramBuy Tim’s new book ‘Ferment’More from ZOE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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44 MIN