The Emma Guns Show

If you've been with me and this podcast for a while, you'll know that a lot has happened in the nearly 10 years I've been publishing the show. Back in 2016 I was a very different version of myself; bruised from broken friendships, toxic workplaces and a type of slow erosion of myself caused by a rainbow of life's experiences. I was chatting to a friend recently during a road trip about how life can sometimes feel as though it kicks you when you're down, how the pain of broken friendships is sharp, hideous and heart-breaking and she made the comment that she didn't want these experiences of make her 'hard-hearted'. Now, while I might have had one ear on her and one ear on the sat nav, this cut me to the quick. As much as I like to think I've made huge progress and am no longer a soft-hearted, easily bruised person, I had to ask myself, 'have I become hard-hearted'? I don't want to have sharp edges and a brittle exterior but in becoming better able to deal with life, have I lost the parts of myself that made me

For a little while now, I've been feeling professionally frustrated. I am, as a reminder, a journalist who has specialised in health and beauty and interviewing. However, the landscapes within which I've worked for nearly 25 years have changed so drastically that it can sometimes feel as though you're always on the back foot. In the past 12 years, I've gone from being a print journalist to embracing social media, podcasting, video and now Substack and the need to be constantly aware of what the next big thing might be means one thing can fall by the wayside - quality.Luckily, I've been struck down by a virus over the last week, which has given me the space and time to actually take a look at what I'm doing, what I think I should be doing differently, what I'm doing too much of and what I'm not doing enough of. The main takeaway though has been how constantly going back to the drawing board and trying to reinvent the wheel is draining, overwhelming and exhausting. No wonder I have professional fatigue.So, for

Let's talk about the different kinds of exhaustion, from the emotional and mental fatigue that comes from life's sudden curve balls to the physical strain that can flatten your energy reserves even when everything else feels pretty steady.For me, 2024, brought a sudden, sink or swim situation that left me emotionally depleted and mentally drained. I managed to appear, in fact I wanted to appear 'fine' to the outside world and somehow managed just that. Recently though, a short virus flipped everything on its head. My mind was clear and calm but my body was limp.In this episode, I explore:why exhaustion is more than just being 'tired'the difference between surviving something heavy and recovering from something physical. how the body and mind take turns 'carrying us' through.why different forms of tired ask for different kinds of rest.what both types of tiredness taught me about listening to myself sooner.Let's face it, we've all been there and it can be rough, but we're all human and we all have limits.If you

‘Tis the season of excess and, for many years, I would fall head-first into trays of canapés, tubs of chocolates and large bowls of steaming hot Christmas pudding and custard. It's the time of year when food is everywhere and it's as though we've been given license to loosen our belts and enjoy as much as possible. Which is fine, of course, unless you struggle with over-eating, binge-eating, weight management or just lose yourself in all the tantalising delights of festive far and find yourself feeling low, sluggish and regretful come January.I've come out of plenty of festive seasons many pounds heavier, feeling rubbish and ashamed that I couldn't just, well, stop. And yet, after completely recalibrating my relationship with food, I now enjoy it more than I ever did before. I know what I like, I know my indulgences and I also know what makes me feel good and what keeps me on track with my health and fitness goals.So, in this episode, I share how I’m approaching the festive season now that I’m someone who gen

This week, I’m diving into a fascinating piece of research I spotted in The Week; a meta-analysis of 82 studies from University College London looking at how physical activity affects menstrual pain and PMS. The findings are striking: women who move less have a 67% higher risk of painful periods and a 22% higher risk of PMS symptoms.But this episode isn’t just about the data, it’s about how it intersects with real life. I’m sharing my own PCOS story, from being diagnosed at 17 and barely moving, to being 47, active, and experiencing far fewer symptoms. We’ll also unpack the confused (and sometimes misleading) world of cycle-syncing advice online, including what’s genuinely helpful and what’s been oversimplified by social media.Plus, I’m talking about the growing role of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy: where they can fit into women’s hormonal and metabolic health, and why it’s not a choice between medication or movement. For many women, the two work beaut

Creatine isn’t just for gym bros and bodybuilders, it’s one of the most researched, safest, and most effective supplements for supporting strength, energy, and brain health.In this episode, I break down a brand-new study that found women in perimenopause and menopause who took a small daily dose of creatine saw faster reaction times, better cholesterol levels, and even a 16% increase in brain creatine.We’ll cover:

This week, I’m talking about food noise... That constant chatter about what, when, and how much to eat. The kind that has you circling the kitchen even when you’re not really hungry.I share how a simple early dinner (yes, an enormous salad out of a mixing bowl) completely quieted the noise in my head, and what that moment taught me about feeding myself properly instead of fighting myself.As someone in recovery from binge eating disorder, I also touch on how GLP-1 medications like Ozempic have changed the conversation around food noise, and what it’s like to re-learn peace around food without them.It’s about nourishment, compassion, and remembering that healing isn’t linear, but it is possible.

Have you noticed that success has started to look… uniform? The slick-back bun, the gold hoops, the structured blazer, and the calm, composed tone of someone who’s perfectly 'aligned'. In this week’s episode, I look at how ambition has become an aesthetic, how this new era of women is blending success with balance, and what that says about the pressures we still carry.From the 1980s dream of 'having it all' to Gen Z’s obsession with boundaries and self-care, I explore whether this polished image of success serves us or simply hides the work still happening beneath the surface.It’s not a critique as such, more a reflection on what success really looks like when we strip away the uniform.

Recently, we talked about how wellness has become performative. How it was more about looking serene than actually feeling or being it.This week, I’m taking that idea further. Because wellness isn’t just performative, I think it has become exclusive. It’s a club with an unspoken dress code, a price tag, and a very specific aesthetic.From £300 yoga mats to Alo tracksuits and the sacred Stanley cup, the modern wellness world isn’t about health, it’s about belonging. We’ll talk about:Why 'inclusive' wellness is often just clever marketingThe new uniform of wellbeing (and why trainer socks are apparently an indicator of age/being out of fashion)How thin privilege and class still shape who gets to be 'well'Why you never see wellness marketed to men - and what that says about who the industry’s really servingAnd how ancient cultural practices became content for InstagramThis isn’t a takedown of self-care, it’s a reality check on what wellness culture has become: a glossy perf

Worry can be motivating. It can be a driving force that spurs you into motion but then worry can also bring you to a sudden and grinding halt. In this episode, I talk about what happens when worry tips from useful to paralysing, and how I’ve been learning to worry less and act more.I explore:How worry often disguises itself as diligenceWhy even small tasks can feel heavy when your mind is busyThe moment motivation turns into paralysisAnd what it means to move with the worry instead of waiting for it to go awayA calm, honest reflection on overthinking, stillness, and quiet courage.Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or read more on Substack: https://emmaguns.substack.com/Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I did something I’ve never done before - I walked out of a sound bath halfway through. Then I went to a breathwork session that felt eerily like a cult. Both experiences made me realise how far modern wellness has drifted from its purpose.In this episode, I unpack why so many wellness practices now feel performative rather than healing; more about being seen to be “working on yourself” than actually feeling better. I talk about the way movements like clean eating and body positivity started as genuine acts of self-care, only to be hijacked by branding, aesthetics, and algorithms.What happens when wellness becomes performance? And what would it look like if no one could see it?Connect with me:

On my last trip to San Francisco, something unexpected happened: I didn’t get jet lag. Normally, I’d spend the first few days wide awake at 3 a.m. and desperate for a nap by lunchtime — but this time, my body adjusted almost instantly.In this episode, I share the two surprisingly simple things that made all the difference: moving my body and drinking chia seeds. We’ll talk about why exercise acts like a reset button for your internal clock, how chia seeds can keep you hydrated and regular while travelling, and the three “anchors” your body uses to sync with a new time zone — light, movement, and meals.Plus, I share practical, easy-to-remember travel habits that genuinely make you feel human again:How to use sunlight and exercise to reset your circadian rhythmThe chia-seed hydration trick that supports digestion, skin, and energyWhy timing your meals and caffeine can make or break your recoveryAnd small tweaks - like magnesium, electrolytes, and morning walks — that make

Failure. We all fear it, but what if it isn’t the end? What if failure is the secret ingredient to resilience, confidence, and real personal growth?In this episode of The Emma Guns Show, I explore why failure doesn’t have to derail you and how to use setbacks as stepping stones. Whether it’s in your career, relationships, or personal goals, learning how to fail well is the ultimate self-development tool.Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:Why failure is feedback, not finality.The importance of resilience over perfection.How to separate your self-worth from your setbacks.My take on “glow-up gurus” and why lived experience matters more than a curated aesthetic.Practical mindset shifts and tools to bounce back stronger.✨ This episode is for you if:You’ve recently faced rejection or disappointment.You’re tired of comparing yourself to online “success stories.”You want strategies to reframe failure as growth.Failure isn’t fatal, it’s formative. And once you stop being felled by it, you’ll see that ev

Polly Vernon has written the most incredible book and, if you are a woman, you should probably read it. Sooner rather than later. In this episode, Polly and I discuss the female body in all its weird, wonderful and miraculous ways and how getting to know it better is a wonderful journey on which to embark. How the Female Body Works by Polly Vernon is available now.Follow and subscribe to Polly over on Substack -- Broad with Polly Vernon.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Of all the podcasts I’ve ever recorded, it’s this one with motivational speaker, celebrity therapist and pioneering hypnotherapist that has generated the most feedback from listeners saying ‘this conversation changed my life’. Indeed, when I left Marisa’s house, I immediately bought all her books from my parked car and devoured all of them in a matter of days. Marisa uses her various skills to help people become ‘unstuck’ from the patterns that cause stagnation, frustration and in action. And, while you might think this would involve deep work, some of her observations and techniques can be quick and easy to apply. It’s why her technique has been dubbed ‘rapid transformational therapy’. At the core of her messaging is this idea of ‘being enough’ something which many of us don’t feel as has almost becoming a belief that we just aren’t good enough. Marisa explains how to untangle that untrue belief and move forward believing that you are not only enough but you are worthy.This conversation was or

I'm reading two snippets from the internet to you today. One, from the brilliant Holly Tucker about podcasts and why she believes they are so strong as an audio-only medium and secondly something I read on Substack about how to properly relax. I'd love to hear your thoughts on both of these.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s handy to look on the bright side of life, right? Who doesn’t love an optimist? But, what if by always looking for a fix or the silver lining, you’re actually invalidating perfectly reasonable and logical emotions.More than that, what if being positive is actually making you toxic?In this conversation with Whitney Goodman, the radically honest psychologist, we explore how always being hopeful or trying to be helpful can actually be confusing and dissatisfying.It’s something we’ve seen creep into our vocabulary more and more with things like manifesting, but actually all this ‘looking on the bright side’ can make you vulnerable to failures and make you wonder what you’re doing wrong. Fear not though, in this conversation, we explore some valuable tools to help you eradicate toxic positivity, the ways in which you can be helpful and constructive and why a little negativity isn’t actually a bad thing…This conversation with originally published in 2022.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to mak

Sure, I may be a little late to the party on this one but when Rylan Clark spoke about immigration on This Morning, why did no one in government use the opportunity to state facts and finally put to bed some of the falsehoods and misconceptions around asylum seekers and immigration? I'd love to hear your views on this.Also, why are women so judgemental about what other women eat? And I'm being specific here because it's a women-on-woman crime...This is brilliant feature Polly Vernon wrote on the subject that you may find interesting.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raphael Rowe has every right to be the most bitter man in Britain. Convicted for a crime he didn’t commit, despite eye-witness evidence that couldn’t have possibly put him near the scene of the crime, Raphael spent 12 years in prison with no hope of parole. While his story is jaw-dropping, it’s actually Raphael’s resolve, how he maintained hope and how he has been able to make peace with what happened to him and more forward positively. If you listen to our conversation, you can’t hear an ounce of hate, regret or bitterness in his voice and I wonder if I’d be able to be the same if I had walked in his shoes. Could you?Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You could be fooled into thinking Keeley Hazell’s memoir, Everyone’s Seen My Tits, would be a nostalgic romp through the Noughties, featuring salacious gossip and saucy behind-the-scenes insights from a time when the Red Tops - the tabloid newspapers - loomed large. What you actually get is a soul-bearing account of what it was like to grow up in a tough environment, both behind closed doors and on the streets of South East London, navigating revenge porn before people really knew was revenge porn was and what it was like to have the world open up to you in ways you could have never imagined only for the way you’d made that happen be the reason that all the doors you wanted to open, seemed firmly locked to you.As soon as I started reading Keeley’s book, I found it a challenge to put it down. I was hooked. I was stunned by the honesty and, more than once, was waiting for the bit at the end of the chapter where she either apologised for her feelings or somehow minimised them to make her real feelings more