Amanda's Wellbeing Podcast

Do you struggle with adapting to unwanted change like an illness or being in lockdown?⁠⁠This week I interview neuro-wellbeing writer and educator, Jessica Lee. Jess shares some neuroscience based strategies to help you accept change, which she calls empowered acceptance. Rather than giving up, accepting the reality of a situation we many not want but we cannot change will help open our minds and broaden our perspectives. Empowered acceptance can help us find solutions, build resilience and create greater meaning and purpose in our lives.⁠Jess is also the founder of The Spark Effect where she offers courses and coaching. She is passionate about helping women and one of her courses, The Spark Effect Academy, is designed to help women reach their goals.JESSICA LEEThe Spark Effect: https://thesparkeffect.com.auInstagram handle @the_spark_effectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSparkEffectAULINKS MENTIONED IN THE PODCASTKwik Brain podcast wtih Jim Kwik: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kwik-brain-with-jim

This is the third episode of my 4 part series about dietary fats. Today I look at saturated fats including where we find them in our diets and ways to approach consuming saturated fats.I discuss how the low fat message went wrong and why nutrition can be notoriously hard to study.HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE PODCASTPlease tell your friends about the podcast and share it with them.Follow me on Instagram @vibrant_lives_podcastFollow my Facebook page: @vibrantlivespodcastIf you could rate and review the podcast on iTunes, that would be super helpful.

My guest this week, public health physician and specialist in addiction medicine, Associate Professor Dr Robert Ali, is very well qualified to discuss the health impacts of alcohol consumption.Our conversation ranges over the short and long term health effects of alcohol consumption including increased risk of certain diseases, some of which may surprise you. We look at what constitutes a standard drink and the public health recommendations in Australia about alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of harm. We discuss public health measures that are taken and could be taken to education the population about reducing the risk of harm associated with alcohol, particularly in relation to teenagers.Dr Ali’s speaks to his area of expertise, alcohol as an addictive substance, including which people or groups in society are more vulnerable to alcohol addiction, how to recognise if you or someone you care about has a problematic relationship with alcohol and where to seek help.I put the “French paradox” (that small am

This is the second episode of my 4 part series about dietary fats. Today I focus on unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, and explain their health benefits. Some unsaturated fats are essential, meaning our bodies can't make them and we need to obtain them from our diet so I touch on that, on cooking with unsaturated fats and oils, and on the difference between processed and unrefined oils.Tune in and join me to sort out fat from fiction.MENTIONED IN THE PODCASTFive Minute Food Facts - Antioxidants: https://media.whooshkaa.com/show/5757/episode/372163.mp3HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE PODCASTPlease tell your friends about the podcast and share it with them.Follow me on Instagram @vibrant_lives_podcastFollow my Facebook page: @vibrantlivespodcastIf you could rate and review the podcast on iTunes, that would be super helpful.

This week I have great pleasure in talking with chiropractor, Dr Russell Hanna. There seems to be some misunderstanding in the community about what chiropractors do and how they are trained so we start our chat by dispelling some myths around that.Russell explains how chiropractic treatments, in particular spinal adjustments, work. I was interested to learn about the neurological effect of adjustments. My personal experience as a patient of Russell’s has been very positive but I did not really understand how all the prodding, pushing and adjusting worked. Now I have a greater appreciation of how my body responds to treatment. Also, we touch generally on collaboration between allied health professionals such as physiotherapists and chiropractors working in tandem on a patient, and how that can really enhance results.To finish off we talk about one of our shared passions, trail running, although Russell is far more accomplished than I am having recently completed the Ultra-Trail Australia 100km race in the Blue

In this, the first episode of my 4 part series about dietary fats, I will describe to you what fat is, the different types of dietary fats, a brief overview of fat digestion and why our bodies need fat. When you've listened to this episode you'll know the difference between saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat and why they are described the way they are.I think it is helpful to understand what fat is from a scientific point of view as the is so much in the media about fat – eat it, don’t eat it, eat this fat not that fat etc etc. It is confusing. So, starting from a solid knowledge base is always helpful.Tune in and join me to sort out fat from fiction.HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE PODCASTPlease tell your friends about the podcast and share it with them.Follow me on Instagram @vibrant_lives_podcastFollow my Facebook page: @vibrantlivespodcastIf you could rate and review the podcast on iTunes, that would be super helpful.

This week, I have the honour of speaking with well known author and Professor of Kinesiology (that is, human movement) at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, Dr Martin Gibala. Martin studies the mechanisms behind human responses to exercise and the associated health benefits. His area of expertise is time-efficient exercise and he has been involved in pioneering research on interval training showing that brief, intense bouts of physical exercise, also known as "exercise snacks" or "activity snacks", can enhance physical fitness. Happily this can apply to both healthy individuals and those with chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes. This is music to the ears of time poor people!I would say just about everyone from the couch potato to the elite athlete could learn something from Martin’s research. Tune in (do a wall sit) and enjoy.FOLLOW DR MARTIN GIBALAMartin's website: https://martingibala.comProfile page, McMaster University: https://www.science.mcmaster.ca/kinesiology/component/comprofiler/userprofile

Dr Amanda Hutchinson is a clinical psychologist with roles in both research and teaching at the University of South Australia. Amanda's research interests include sun exposure and skin cancer prevention which we discuss with a focus on our teens and young adults. We talk about finding the right balance between avoiding damaging sun exposure but getting enough UVB exposure to produce vitamin D. Another issue we talk about skin appearance in the context of social pressures to meet certain ideals and how that can impact safe sun behaviours.Amanda has dedicated much of her professional life to improving the quality of life of cancer survivors and reducing the psychosocial burden of cancer. Many cancer survivors, understandably, face psychological issues such as fear of cancer returning, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Amanda shares her knowledge in relation to the best approaches to minimise and deal with these issues. She also explains the changes in cognitive function that may occur as a

Have you ever wondered why anyone would do a triathlon? I used to wonder too, until I tried one.In this episode, I give a brief overview of what constitutes an Ironman Triathlon and a 70.3 triathlon, the participation of women in the sport and a wrap-up of my recent 70.3 race in Cairns.HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE PODCASTPlease tell your friends about the podcast and share it with them.Follow me on Instagram @vibrant_lives_podcastFollow my Facebook page: @vibrantlivespodcastIf you could rate and review the podcast on iTunes, that would be super helpful.Purchasing a book from my website is an easy way to support the podcast too. Here is a link to the books page: https://amandaswellbeingpodcast.com/books/Link to the Donate page on my website: https://amandaswellbeingpodcast.com/contribute/

This week I chat with nutrition scientist, Associate Professor at Monash University Maxine Bonham, about how shift work impacts health, in particular the relationship between circadian rhythms (body clock) and weight gain.Shift workers are at increased risk of adverse health outcomes such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease simply because of the hours they work. When normal circadian rhythms, that is waking when the sun rises and sleeping at night, are disrupted, the body responds differently to food intake. Maxine is an expert in this field and has conducted studies to research strategies such as meal composition that are beneficial to shift workers from a health point of view.Currently Maxine and her colleagues are recruiting for the SWIFt Study, investigating a range of weight loss strategies for shift working populations to try and identify one that may be better suited to their lifestyle. If you are interested in finding out more, please click on the link below.LINKS MENTIONED IN THE PODCASTB

This week I chat with former Australian road cycling champion, Kristin Lewis, about his cycling career, the importance of fitness, especially as we age, what you can get out of indoor spin classes (whether you’re a pro cyclist or a beginner) and much more.Kristin explains how the smart spin bikes he has at his studio, Echelon Cycling Studio, work - it is the first studio of its kind in South Australia. The spin classes, suitable for any level as you can set your own degree of resistance (watts), are designed to be high intensity interval style training sessions. It can hurt, I say from experience, but it is also fun and you feel great afterwards! I promise.Kristin is insightful, organised, modest and kind. I ask him how he crams parenting four daughters, being a husband, cycling, being a business owner and personal trainer into his life...it seems an awful lot. The answer is routine and Kristin shares how he approaches that with us.LINKS MENTIONED IN THE PODCASTEchelon Cycling Studio: https://echeloncycling.c

What are the health benefits of chocolate?Is dark chocolate a super food?What is the difference between cocoa and cacao?How is chocolate made?In this Five Minute Food Facts episode I take a look at the science and answer all the above questions and more.FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATEGreen & Balck's: https://www.greenandblacks.com.auDivine Chocolate: https://ukshop.divinechocolate.com/uk/shop/Lovingearth: https://lovingearth.netHOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE PODCASTPlease tell your friends about the podcast and share it with them.Follow me on Instagram @vibrant_lives_podcastFollow my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/amandaswellbeingpodcast/?modal=admin_todo_tourIf you could rate and review the podcast on iTunes, that would be super helpful.Purchasing a book from my website is an easy way to support the podcast too. Here is a link to the books page: https://amandaswellbeingpodcast.com/books/Link to the Donate page on my website: https://amandaswellbeingpodcast.com/contribute/

Nicole Avery is one of those rare people who seamlessly crams so much into her life that you wonder if she ever sleeps…yes, she does! We will hear about the reason for her ability to run a wildly successful blog (Planning With Kids), produce a podcast (This Family Life), run marathons, raise 5 children and succeed at her latest venture, the production of a line of healthy drinks called Adapt Drinks.Nic and I discuss how she developed her organisational skills to the point that she has become a sought after expert in this field - giving talks, running courses and blogging regularly with practical tips. From there we dive into her most recent venture, Adapt Drinks, forged out of a passion to help women cope with the stresses of daily life. Adapt Drinks contain adaptogenic herbs that help the body adapt to stress. Nic explains how they work in our bodies and candidly shares with us some of the ups and downs of launching a new business during the COVID pandemic.LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODENic’s website, Planing

Women and men experiencing pelvic pain often suffer in silence. Dr Jane Chalmers is an expert on pelvic pain and hopes we can open the conversation and raise awareness.Jane and I chat about the causes of pelvic pain, interventions and treatment options, and we delve into an area she is passionate about - women’s health.Our discussion encompasses; endometriosis, vulvodynia, period pain, the pelvic floor, the importance of Kegel exercises with a few examples, and Krumping (I had no idea what that was either!)To end on a positive note, Jane and I discuss the female orgasm.SOME MEDICAL TERMS USEDEndometriosis - a condition in which bits of the tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grow in other parts of the body. Like the uterine lining, this tissue builds up and sheds in response to monthly hormonal cycles. However, there is no natural outlet for the blood discarded from these implants. Instead, it falls onto surrounding organs, causing swelling and inflammation.Laparoscopy - examination of th

B12 is the star of today's episode. For a vitamin we need in minuscule amounts, it has an enormous role to play in our wellbeing. I will talk about what B12 does in the body, where we obtain it in our diets and the potentially dire consequences of B12 deficiency.Understanding B12 is crucial if you follow a vegan diet because it is only found in animal products. Luckily, plant based eaters and vegans can obtain vitamin B12 through supplements and fortified foods but it is very important to stay on top of your levels.Other Five Minute Food Facts episode mentioned in the podcast:Vitamins & Minerals: https://amandaswellbeingpodcast.com/vitamins-and-minerals/HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE PODCASTPlease tell your friends about the podcast and share it with them.Follow me on Instagram @vibrant_lives_podcastFollow my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/amandaswellbeingpodcast/?modal=admin_todo_tourIf you could rate and review the podcast on iTunes, that would be super helpful.Purchasing a book from my website is an

In this episode, renowned mindfulness and meditation teacher, Alexis Guttridge, shares with us her take on meditation and mindfulness. Alexis believes in demystifying meditation and making it accessible and practical in our modern world. She teaches meditation to both businesses and individuals plus she has an excellent meditation library on her website, Pause With Alexis (link below).You can sense how calm and grounded Alexis sounds during our chat but she was not always like that, far from it, in fact! Before finding meditation Alexis lived a fast-paced, hectic life in the hospitality industry where she thrived on long work hours, partying hard and pushing herself to the limits in a male-dominated industry, ultimately owning a very successful restaurant in Boston. And then, at the peak of her career, she walked away from it all.This is a fascinating story about listening to your intuition and finding your calling.LINKS MENTIONED IN THE PODCASTPause With Alexis: https://pausewithalexis.comAlexis' social medi

Today I have a delightful chat with British-Japanese author, Erin Niimi Longhurst, who shares her insights into aspects of Japanese culture that bring contentment and good health.Erin is the author of two books I greatly admire. The first, “Japonisme”* explores the Japanese traditions and practices such as wabi-sabi, appreciating the transient nature of life, that contribute to living well. Erin's second book, “Omoiyari, the Japanese art of compassion”, is about finding joy in your own life by brining about happiness in the lives of others. The books are not only beautifully presented with gorgeous illustrations but are really practical too.*Japonisme is a French term to describe the influence of Japanese art, culture and design on European art, especially on impressionism. In relation to Erin’s book, the term Japonisme is used more broadly to refer to an admiration and appreciation of Japanese culture, style and traditions.Enjoy this episode with a cup of green tea!LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODEErin’s websit

For all appearances, Karen McCall was the successful professional with an excellent corporate job, designer wardrobe, lovely home and fast car. However, underneath this facade, Karen was jugging credit card debt and dodging calls from the tax office all the while having no clue how to manage money and feeling like she had nowhere to turn. Her deep denial about her precarious financial situation was impacting her health both physically and mentally.Fast-forward, with a desire to change her circumstances and some support in the form of therapy, Karen taught herself to save her way out of debt and for over 30 years, she has been helping others do the same. Karen founded the Financial Recovery Institute where people work with Money Coaches and learn how to not only manage money but understand their, often emotional, relationship with money. Not knowing or understand how to manage your financial affairs and finding yourself in a cycle of debt and despair, a problem Karen likens to an addiction, can profoundly impa

The Community Grocer (TCG), founded by current CEO, Russell Shields, is a social enterprise with a mission to provide weekly affordable fresh food markets in areas where access to such produce is limited. Of equal importance is the creation of healthy connected communities around those markets. Today, I speak with General Manager, Tess Gardiner about where and how the markets operate and how TCG had to pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to provide fresh produce at a time when it was needed more than ever.You may be surprised to learn about the food insecurity statistics in Australia… and the figures mentioned are based on pre-COVID estimates! Tess and I discuss how justice, equity and dignity are fundamental drivers for TCG model and some of the amazing results they have seen.The problem of food insecurity is a grave one but this is an uplifting episode because TCG brings together a group of people with passion and commitment who are making a tangible difference in the communities they serve.LINKS

This week I have an informative discussion with Professor Alison Coates about the health benefits of nuts. Nuts are packed full of healthy monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, vitamins and dietary fibre. Nut consumption is associated with improved cholesterol profile and reduced risk of heart attack to name a few health benefits and, to top it off, they are a relatively inexpensive source of protein.Alison and I also discuss the numerous roles nutritionists can play in the health space and some of the fascinating research she has been involved with during her career. Alison is currently the president of the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) the mission of which is to promote the scientific value and relevance of nutrition science in Australia so she shares some of the excellent ways the NSA does that.LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODEAlison’s University of South Australia home page: https://people.unisa.edu.au/alison.coatesAlison’s Twitter handle: @AlisonCoates1NSA:ARENA: https://www.unisa.edu.au/research/arena