Wellness, Questioned

In this episode of Wellness, Questioned, Katie and Annabel explore the complexities of breathwork and its commercialisation in modern wellness practices. Throughout the episode they discuss how traditional practices like Pranayama are often simplified and sold as one-size-fits-all solutions, potentially stripping away important context and lineage. The conversation also touches on the importance o...

In this episode of Wellness, Questioned, Katie and Annabel dive into cold plunging and saunas to uncover how effective hot and cold therapies really are. They explore the popularity of these activities, discussing their potential benefits and risks and touch on notable figures like Wim Hof and the rise of biohacking, while also considering the social and cultural aspects of these wellness trends. ...

In this episode of Wellness, Questioned, Katie and Annabel explore the complex topic of inflammation, starting with the concept from physical, societal, and individual perspectives. The conversation touches on how our diet, lifestyle, and stress levels can contribute to inflammation in our bodies. They also discuss how societal structures and cultural norms can foster and provoke inflammation. (0:...

In this episode of Wellness, Questioned, Katie and Annabel explore wellness within the workplace. They discuss the effectiveness and impact of these wellness programmes and examine the tendency of companies to implement workplace wellness practices as quick fixes rather than addressing structural issues. (3:04) Workplace wellness in the UK vs US (10:25) Wellness distracting from the real issue (19...

In this episode of Wellness, Questioned, Katie and Annabel delve into the world of Therapy Speak, exploring the impact of wellness language on everyday conversations and relationships. They discuss the prevalence of terms such as 'narcissist', 'gaslighting', and 'boundaries' in our everyday language and how these terms, initially intended for therapeutic contexts, are now being used in casual conv...

In this episode of Wellness, Questioned, Katie and Annabel explore the history of wellness. Through their discussion, they trace the evolution of wellness practices from ancient times to the present day, examining how societal changes and technological advancements have shaped these practices. They also explore the intersection of wellness with healthcare, diet culture, and social media, questioni...

In this episode of Wellness, Questioned, Katie and Annabel question the world of wellness marketing and explore its potential pitfalls. They discuss the phenomenon of ethics-washing, the issue of credibility and other marketing tactics like scarcity marketing, the selling of individual experiences as universal truths, and the use of controversial statements for engagement. (0:26) Wellness Marketin...

In this episode of Wellness, Questioned, Katie and Annabel dive into the world of "Wellness Bros" and wellness influencers. Listen as they explore the spread of misleading information, the unregulated spaces of alternative and complementary practices and the influence of Wellness Bros in the wellness industry.  (3:47) Wellness Bros and Micro Cults (11:43) The search for a definitive answer (13:46)...

The podcast previously known as Selfie Development is back with the classic wellness rebrand, minus the scandal! The wellness industry is as weird and wild as ever, with more of us looking to alternative ways to stay healthy and improve our wellness. But while wellness tells us to drink the green juice, shouldn't we be questioning what's actually in it? Welcome to Wellness Questioned, a podcast lo...

Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in treating chronic pain, migraines, depression, anxiety and insomnia among many other uses, but how does it work? In the final episode of season two, Katie and Annabel discuss the topic of acupuncture with guest Joe Jennings, an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner who runs Holistic Health Oxford and the Community Acupuncture Team, which aims...

Parental rage is something that every parent experiences at one point or another. Despite this, the topic is rarely discussed openly due to the societal and personal expectations around parenting. In this week's episode, Katie and Annabel are joined by Dr. Katy Hill, a clinical psychologist with a specialisation in parental stress and burnout, to explain the concept of parental burnout and rage, t...

With productivity culture and optimisation seemingly permeating every aspect of our lives, does it actually help us do more, or are we more inclined to keep scrolling on our feeds? Moreover, how does productivity culture affect our approach to wellness, and can we find a balance? This week Annabel and Katie explore the world of productivity and wellness with guest Catri Barrett, a coach specialisi...

This week Annabel and Katie are exploring what actually is gut health? With talk of probiotics, prebiotics, the microbiome and even faecal transplants cropping up online, what does it all mean? And is it just an excuse to sell us more? Joined by Rosie Hogg, a specialist gastroenterology dietitian, Annabel and Katie dive into gut health and the microbiome, to uncover how it affects our immune syste...

This week Annabel and Katie are unpacking the difference between movement and exercise, why movement is often discussed less and if too much exercise can be a problem. They are joined by Wendy Welpton, founder of Reclaim Movement, to discuss the benefits of natural movement, the effects of modern sedentary lifestyles on our bodies and the importance of being a generalist when it comes to movement....

This week Katie and Annabel are joined by guest Yasmin Spark, the founder of Align Events, a UK-based mobile bar service that specialises in non-alcoholic options to discuss the rise of the sober curious movement and the societal pressures surrounding drinking culture. (0:31) Sober curiosity (8:33) Yasmin joins the conversation (15:43) The evolution of drinking culture (20:21) Drinking and mental...

This week Katie and Annabel are joined by Dr Valerie Bonelle, Chief Scientific Officer at The Beckley Foundation, to discuss their research and clinical trials into psychoactive drug use to explore how such substances act upon the human brain to explore new avenues for treatment and well-being (0:32) Introduction (9:43) Valerie joins the conversation (11:46) Microdosing (17:42) Potential shortcomi...

A survey conducted in the United States suggested that wearable tech was the number one trend within health and fitness for 2023 . With watches, heart rate monitors and even glucose monitoring growing in popularity, is all this equipment actually helpful? This week Katie and Annabel are joined by fitness and nutrition expert Arj Thiruchelvam to share his thoughts, help explain the jargon and unpac...

Wellness is as confusing as ever. What is the microbiome? Should I be micro-dosing? Is all this stuff really important or just a way to keep us working hard and buying new stuff? Join us for the new season of Selfie Development where we unpack the trillion-dollar wellness and self-development industry to try and figure out how to do wellness well-ish.  This season Katie and Annabel will be joined...

This week, a quick update from Katie and Annabel wrapping up Season One of Selfie Development. Thank you for listening and see you in 2023 for Season Two! The wellness industry is booming, but with all these new classes, experts and ways to heal, how do we know what's fact and what's just good marketing? People are craving community, connection and meaning - adrift from religion, traditional struc...

With Life and Wellness Coaches seemingly dominating social media, how do you find the one that's right for you, and how do you avoid those just looking to make a quick buck? In the final episode of this season, Katie and Annabel explore coaching, what to look out for and how you can get the most out of a coach. (0:54) Introduction to Coaching (5:13) The Problem with Life Coaching (11:20) Coaching...

How can sound help with wellness? Are sound bowls able to heal or do they just provide a calm environment? This week Katie and Annabel explore sound therapies and primal screaming. (0:52) Introduction to Sound Healing (9:12) The Science of Sound Therapies (19:57) Can Sound Baths heal? (32:33) Primal Screaming Resources Discussed on the Episode: The Primal Scream by Arthur Janov  Rage rooms and pri...

To achieve our goals of maximising our productivity, can small daily improvements have a big impact? This week, Katie and Annabel explore Atomic Habits, the problems that can arise from over-productivity and optimisation culture. (0:42) Introduction to Atomic Habits (6:28) Discussion of James Clear (11:54) The Four Laws of Atomic Habits (23:40) The issue of relentless productivity (27:38) Optimisa...

As our lives become busier, particularly in a post-pandemic Britain, even small pleasures can help you to feel mentally and physically refreshed. This week Annabel and Katie explore the little things we do to make ourselves feel better, looking at self-care and wellness practices. (01:00) Katie and Annabel's Small Pleasures (3:30) The Power of Touch (9:37) The Effect of Capitalism on Enjoyment (15...

As EFT continues to grow a following online, Katie and Annabel explore WTF EFT (also know as tapping) is and whether these techniques actually help as advertised. (0:55) What is Tapping and EFT? (9:47) The Founder of Tapping (20:23) Questioning the Effectiveness of EFT (27:28) The Other EFT The wellness industry is booming, but with all these new classes, experts and ways to heal, how do we know w...

This week, Katie and Annabel discuss ethics and boundaries within the wellness industry, helping you to navigate the wellness world to find therapists, trainers and teachers that will best suit your needs. (1:49) What are Ethics Within Wellness? (9:41) Working Within the Scope of Practice. (15:51) Nutritionist vs Dietician (20:36) Power Dynamics Within Wellness (24:37) What is Transference? (32:39...