Degrees of Health

Why are we scheduling dentist appointments but not sex? How do we tackle desire discrepancies—when one of us is in the mood while the other is wondering what’s on Netflix? And why is "performance anxiety" such a thing?! Ready to dive into the nitty-gritty of what really makes relationships tick? We sit down with Ian Kerner - he’s got the answers to all those questions you probably didn’t ask at yo...

This podcast episode features an in-depth conversation on metabolic therapies and their potential in cancer treatment, particularly focused on glioblastoma and other glycolytic cancers. Our guest, Dr Dom D'Agostino, a researcher and professor with a diverse background in neuroscience, molecular pharmacology, nutrition and physiology, has a particular interest in metabolic therapies. Dr Dom shares...

Are you struggling with hair loss and not sure where to start? Or perhaps you have a hormone profile back that you want to work to improve? Whether you’re dealing with hair loss, want to optimise your hormonal profile towards a specific goal, or just want to feel at your best, this episode is packed with a science-backed medical perspective to provide you with the information to make decisions tha...

PART 2! If you or someone you love is affected by Alzheimers, this is for you. If you believe you’re at risk genetically or you want to prevent your own cognitive decline, this is also for you. If you’re curious about the role of ketones and the ketogenic diet in brain health, this is absolutely for you. Find Mary Newport: Website and Books Mentioned in this episode: Use of medium chain triglyceri...

PART 1! If you or someone you love is affected by Alzheimers, this is for you. If you believe you’re at risk genetically or you want to prevent your own cognitive decline, this is also for you. If you’re curious about the role of ketones and the ketogenic diet in brain health, this is absolutely for you. Dr. Mary Newport, neonatologist, author and certified Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist, shares h...

If you feel like life is slipping by and you're unsure how to live with purpose or intention, this episode is for you. William B. Irvine - author, philosopher, teacher and practicing Stoic - shares profound insights on how Stoicism offers a coherent framework for living a fulfilled life. Bill encourages us to embrace discomfort, fail forward, and live authentically—not for social approval but for...

Mental health - we all have it. Yep, even you. We are all getting so good at looking after the various aspects of our physical health - nutrition, types of exercise, light exposure, cold baths - whatever your bag is, we're here for it. And many are catching on that the same approach can be used to look at aspects of our mental health. There are things we know make us feel great and then things we...

If you use a red or near-infra red light and you don’t really know why or what wave length you’re working with - this is for you. If you don’t even know why you would use a red light or want/need exposure to it, this is also for you.  Glen Jeffery Professor of Neuroscience at UCL, explains the profound impact of light on our cellular health, particularly through the lens of mitochondria—the e...

We all have that tendency to go against our own better judgement when it comes to making decisions for our health - but why do we do it when we know there’s a better option there for us? The frustration it incurs! Not to mention the time wasted… and the guilt. It most certainly isn’t a lack of information available on how to be happy and healthy - that’s abundant. So, why is it that we often don’t...

Thomas Seager joins us again for a conversation challenging the conventional understanding of cancer. Thomas argues that the war on cancer, launched over 50 years ago, has failed to make significant strides in combatting the disease due to a fundamental misunderstanding of its origins. With scientific clarity, Dr. Seager explains: 🔬the theory of cancer as a metabolic disease, beginning with defec...

We can all talk a good game - but how often do we actually deliver on the goods? If we know what we need to do to feel good, to attain and maintain good health, and achieve our goals and desires - why is that we find ourselves not doing the things?! Professor John Parkinson and Ben dive head first into the theories of behavioural psychology behind these patterns in us - where they come from, why t...

Dr. James Kinross, a leading consultant surgeon and lecturer at Imperial College London, isn’t just at the forefront of gut microbiome research—he’s also written the book on it. Dark Matter delves into the vital role micro-organisms play in our bodies and the profound impact their balance (or imbalance) has on our health. Dr. Kinross’ research explores how the gut microbiome seemingly influences e...

Kristi Storoschuk couldn't sit back on her laurels and only write about science, she followed her academic curiosity into conducting the research herself, to deepen all of our understanding of metabolic health, healthy ageing and prevention of chronic disease. Kristi is active in developing a career around science communication and truly believes understanding why we make a lifestyle change dictat...

Here, with globally recognised women’s health expert Dr Felice Gersh, we talk about PCOS. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is on the rise with 1 in 10 women currently suffering with or managing the condition - sadly, most are the former. The imbalance affects the entire metabolic system and leads to inflammation, fatigue, and perhaps most prevalent in the reproductive era, fertility issues - it is the nu...

The opportunity to sit down with an Olympic gold medallist is a rare one - but an even rarer opportunity is to speak with an Olympic athlete-naturopath-nutritionist-performance coach-author-keynote speaker in one. Don't believe us? Introducing Dr Lauren Burns, PhD OAM OLY. Lauren has a unique perspective of how we can each tap into our inner resources to bring about desired outcomes in our lives a...

Russell Foster is a Professor of Circadian Neuroscience and the Head of Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford. Russell has received globally renowned prizes, medals and awards for his discovery of non-rod, non-cone ocular photoreceptors - which he explains in this episode is revelatory in our understanding and application of circadian biology. Here, we learn: 😴 Disrupted sleep-w...

Dr Gabrielle Fundaro, PhD, is educated in several areas of academia including human physiology in exercise and sport, skeletal muscle and hyper trophy, microbiome and metabolism, and gut health. More recently, Gabrielle has aggregated this knowledge and turned her focus to dismantling diet culture and weight stigma through nutritional coaching. Gabrielle supports her clients to build confidence ou...

Dr. Luana Colloca disseminates the value, practical and ethical use of placebos. How powerful are they and how much influence do they hold in our lives? Luana holds an MD, a masters degree in Bioethics and a PhD in Neuroscience. From her contribution and research, she has developed an international reputation as a leading scientist on the neurobiological mechanisms of placebo and nocebo effects. I...

Anna Schaffner, PhD, is a former academic who, after suffering the impact of burnout herself, turned her experience into a much-needed support for others to overcome burnout and reclaim a sense of balance in their work and life. This episode is for you if: •you think you’re burnt out - it will help you identify it and offer ways to support you shift out of it •you’re an employer looking to improve...

Dr Michael Platt is known for asking some of the most challenging questions in 21st century neuroscience—and conceiving innovative ways to find the answers. His principal questions focus on the biological mechanisms that underlie decision-making in social environments - why do we make the decisions we do and how conscious of these processes are we? This episode covers: 📉The value of reciprocity a...

Dr Wendy Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University. Here, we cover how to get a big, fat, fluffy hippocampus (nb: you want one!) and bubble baths for your brain. No hidden agendas - it sounds as fun as it is, and it's just as good for you. Dr. Wendy Suzuki oozes energy and enthusiasm, guiding us how to embrace the potential of ou...

We all carry misconceptions about brain development, learning and adaptation - the fact that it can't change is the biggest of them all. Enter neuroplasticity and Dr Tommy Wood - a walking google scholar whose message is simple - we can change how our brain is ageing at any time. This discussion on cognitive function explores: -the significance of physical movement and mental stimulation -the impa...

Most of us think social connection is a squishy topic—subjective and hard to define. And while there's much truth to this, there is no doubting the profound scientific data highlighting just how critical social connection is for all aspects of our health. It’s in our bones. We are wired to connect. Here with Dr Julie Radlauer, we discuss the social influences of mental health - namely Social Conne...

“The goal is not to destroy yourself”. Through his career with high level athletes and his research publications related to endurance training and intensity distribution, Dr Stephen Seiler, PhD, realised the damage in the ‘no pain no gain’ narrative. Here, we explore why the most effective training regimens emphasise sustainability over intensity and why rest days and consistent "Green Zone" activ...

This episode explores the 3-P model of insomnia (Predisposition, Precipitation, and Perpetuation), the effects of sleep deprivation and disturbance on cognitive function, and the risks faced by shift workers and healthcare professionals from chronic sleep loss. The conversation also details the intricate relationship between our natural circadian rhythms, guided by light exposure, that are disrupt...