I Spent Years Hating Myself - Now I'm Finally Free | Vicky Pattison

Vicky Pattison joins Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson on Just As Well to share the powerful story behind her journey to Strictly Come Dancing. From crippling anxiety and toxic relationships to therapy, self-acceptance, and learning to give herself grace, Vicky opens up about how she rebuilt her confidence and turned years of self-doubt into strength. Now a Women’s Health cover star and Strictly contestant, she talks about why her 30s have been her happiest years, how she manages PMDD, and what it really takes to thrive in the public eye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karen Carney has already changed women’s football forever - 144 England caps, an OBE, and a government review that’s reshaping the future of the game. But now, she’s stepping into something completely different: Strictly Come Dancing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From tabloid headlines to bestselling author and founder, Divinia Taylor shares the routines and mindset shifts that transformed her life. Seventeen years sober, she’s now passionate about making “biohacking” simple and relatable - whether it’s focusing on better sleep, experimenting with nutrition, or finding small daily habits that bring more energy and focus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Just As Well, Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson sit down with Professor Tim Spector — one of the world’s leading experts on gut health, co-founder of Zoe, and author of the new book Ferment.We talk about:The two-week gut reset and how fast your microbiome can improveThe surprising links between gut health, mood, energy, and sleepWhy fermented foods are powerful (and how to start with simple recipes)The truth about calorie counting, ultra-processed foods, and the 80/20 ruleWhy even checking your poo can give you clues about your healthTim also shares his personal health scare, the research that changed his career, and why looking after your microbes might be the most important thing you can do for your long-term wellbeing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caroline Idiens – better known as Caroline’s Circuits – joins Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson on Just As Well. From launching her online workouts during lockdown to building a global community of 2.3 million women, Caroline has transformed how midlife fitness is seen and celebrated. In this inspiring conversation, she shares: Why training in your 40s and 50s needs a different approach than your 20s. The importance of recovery, sleep, and nutrition for long-term health. How short, effective strength workouts can change your body and your mindset. The story behind her Sunday Times bestselling book Fit at 50 and her Caroline’s Circuits app. Whether you’re just starting out or adapting your training for a new decade, Caroline’s message is clear: it’s never too late to start – and all movement counts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr Hazel Wallace—better known as The Food Medic—joins Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson for one of our most inspiring conversations yet. Hazel shares how losing her father to a stroke at 14 set her on a mission to change medicine from the inside. After years working on NHS wards, she realised healthcare too often overlooks the importance of nutrition and lifestyle—and decided to do something about it. In this episode, Hazel opens up about Why she quit hospital medicine to focus on women’s healt The truth about carbs, stress, and longevit How she built The Food Medic into a platform of over 1M follower Her fight against viral health misinformation Whether you’re passionate about women’s health, curious about preventative medicine, or just want evidence-based advice on living well, this episode has something for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadcaster and author Emma Barnett joins Just As Well with her trainer Frankie Holah to speak candidly about living with endometriosis and adenomyosis, enduring 30 years of chronic pain, and the impact of IVF. Emma shares the reality of working in high-pressure live broadcasting while coping with debilitating symptoms, and explains how she reframed her body from enemy to ally. Frankie offers practical advice on movement, training, and supporting women through endometriosis and postpartum recovery. This is a powerful conversation about resilience, women’s health, and why female pain should never be ignored. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this deeply emotional episode of Just As Well, GP and BBC Morning Live's Dr. Punam Krishan opens up about the birth trauma that nearly took her life and how it transformed her mission in medicine. From ICU and sepsis to postnatal depression, Dr. Punam shares what so many women experience but too few talk about. We discuss the gaps in postnatal care, the stigma around maternal mental health, especially in South Asian communities, and how she's championing compassionate, preventative care for every new mum. For support, contact @pandas_uk who offer mental health services for parents from conception, birth and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sex drive isn't constant and it's definitely not one-size-fits-all. In this episode of Just As Well, we sit down with psychosexual therapist and host of the Sexual Wellness Sessions podcast, Kate Moyle, to talk libido, painful sex, relationship mismatches, mental health, and everything in between.   Whether you’re struggling with desire, feeling pressure to “perform”, or simply wondering if what you’re feeling is normal—this is for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ellie Kildunne is officially the best women’s rugby player in the world but her journey from playing with the boys in Yorkshire to leading England’s Red Roses is anything but ordinary. In this inspiring conversation, Ellie opens up about chasing World Cup glory, training around her hormone cycle, smashing stereotypes about women’s strength, and why she believes pressure is a privilege. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices