Naked Insights Podcast - musing all things health, relationships and trauma

At first glance, Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder can look remarkably similar. Both can involve intense emotions, impulsive behaviour, relationship difficulties, and periods of crisis. But beneath the surface, these are fundamentally different conditions and understanding the difference can be life-changing. In this episode, Adele and Dr Lindsay Aikman cut through the confusion...

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), is one of the most misunderstood and stigmatised diagnoses in mental health. Too often, people are labelled as manipulative, attention-seeking, or difficult, without anyone asking a far more important question: In this episode, Adele and Dr Lindsay Aikman explore the deeper reality behind the dia...

Depression. It’s a word often used loosely to describe a bad day, but the clinical reality is far more complex than just "feeling sad." In this episode, Adele and Lindsay peel back the layers of one of the most common yet misunderstood mental health conditions to explore what’s really happening when "the color is sucked out of life." We unpack: 🧠 The Clinical Reality: Understa...

Self-Compassion. Is it just "soft and fluffy" indulgence, or is it actually the ultimate tool for high performance and resilience? In this episode, Adele and Lindsay challenge the myth that being hard on yourself is the only way to succeed. They dive into why true self-compassion is a "wise system" that requires immense courage. We unpack: 🧠 Myth-Busting: Why self-compassion i...

"Everything happens for a reason." "Just look on the bright side." We’ve all heard it, and we’ve all said it, but when does optimism become harmful? In this episode, Adele and Lindsay explore the phenomenon of Toxic Positivity: the minimization and invalidation of real human emotions in the name of "staying positive." We unpack: 🧠 Intention vs. Impact: Why well-meani...

Not all manipulation is obvious and not all of it is chaotic. Some of it is calculated, under wraps and highly strategic. In this episode, Adele and Lindsay unpack Machiavellianism, one of the “Dark Triad” traits, and explore how it shows up in real life, relationships, and systems of power. We dive into:  🧠 What Machiavellianism actually is and how it differs from narcissism and psychopathy  ♟️...

Psychopath. It’s a word that instantly conjures fear, danger, and “otherness.” But how much of what we believe about psychopathy is actually true? In this episode, Adele and Lindsay cut through the headlines and Hollywood portrayals to explore what psychopathy really is and what it isn’t. We unpack:  🧠 The clinical reality of psychopathy vs the “monster” stereotype  ⚖️ The difference between psyc...

“Narcissist” has become one of the most overused (and misunderstood) terms in modern psychology. But what happens when clinical language gets turned into a weapon? In this episode, Adele and Lindsay unpack the growing trend of labelling difficult people as narcissists and why this can do more harm than good. We explore:  🧠 What narcissism actually is and how it differs from everyday difficult beh...

Welcome back to the podcast. This first episode marks the beginning of a new season, and it feels important to say that this one is a little different. Not louder. Not shinier. But more grounded, more honest, and more clinically anchored. Over the last few years, conversations about mental health have exploded and in many ways that’s a good thing. But alongside that, we’ve also seen a lot of overs...

In this deeply personal season finale, Sam shares the raw truth behind stepping back, slowing down, and honouring her own limits. After facing a series of personal losses, she opens up about what it really means to choose yourself - even when it means disappointing others. We explore:  💔 The hidden cost of keeping promises that tip you over the edge  🌱 Why sometimes the bravest thing you can do...

Are you always the one fixing, pleasing, or holding everything together, even when it hurts? In this raw and revealing episode, Adele dives into the hidden psychology of codependency and pathological accommodation - the deep, often unconscious patterns that make us sacrifice our own needs to keep the peace. We explore:  🌀 The difference between healthy empathy and self-erasure  ❤️‍🩹 Why “helping...

Your attachment style is running the show, whether you realise it or not. In this episode, Adele unpacks the powerful science of attachment theory and how early experiences wire the way you love, fight, and connect. We dive into:  💞 The three core attachment styles - anxious, avoidant, fear attached and secure - and how they play out in adult relationships 🔥 Why opposites attract… and then drive...

Should you fight for your relationship, or walk away? In this episode, Adele and Sam break down a clear, research-backed process to help you decide with data, not just feelings. We cover:  💔 The cost of skipping compatibility “due diligence” and why many couples do it too late  ⚡ The Gottman Four Horsemen: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling — early warning signs your relationsh...

This episode is raw, real, and deeply personal. Sam opens up about her journey of becoming a young mum: the challenges, the resilience it demanded, and how those early experiences shaped her into the health professional she is today. We explore:  👶 The struggles and lessons of navigating motherhood at a young age  💡 How those challenges sparked her passion for functional medicine  🌱 The transfo...

What if your body isn’t failing you… but protecting you? In this episode, Adele, Sam are joined by Dr. Karen Baikie as they unpack the science of metabolomics - the study of your body’s real-time chemistry - and how it reveals why so many people with trauma, chronic illness, or burnout can’t heal. Dr Karen Baikie (PhD, MClinPsych, MAPS, FCCLP, CHT, SEP) is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Certi...

This episode pulls back the curtain on something rarely shared: a real therapy session where Adele’s body diagnosed an injury before doctors did. Featuring our guest Dr. Karen Baikie on this episode, she talks about using Hakomi , a powerful somatic therapy, where Adele’s child state of consciousness revealed exactly what was happening in her foot, long before medical tests confirmed it. Dr Karen...

Born into pain. Raised in resilience. In this deeply personal episode, Adele shares how a traumatic birth, childhood surgeries, and years of chronic pain shaped her path into trauma therapy, trauma-informed coaching psychology and health psychology. Her story takes you through:  🩺 Surviving congenital hip dysplasia and the medical system’s blind spots  🧠 How early trauma fuels lifelong patterns...

99% of your DNA isn’t human — and it’s running the show. In this mind-bending episode, Adele and Sam uncover how the trillions of microbes in your gut influence:  🧠 Mood, anxiety & trauma recovery  💡 Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine & GABA  🔥 Inflammation, cravings & even your body clock We bust outdated myths (goodbye serotonin hypothesis of depression) and explore how st...

When your stomach is talking, your mind should listen. In this eye-opening episode, Adele and Sam pull back the curtain on the powerful gut–brain axis and why IBS isn’t “just in your head,” but deeply connected to your mental health. We dive into:  🧠 Why 90% of your serotonin is made in your gut, not your brain  ⚡ How trauma and chronic stress rewire your microbiome  🌸 The link between endometr...

Still staring at the ceiling at 2am? It’s time to stop patching and start healing . In this eye-opening episode, Adele and Sam break down:  🧠 Why sleep is your brain’s detox system - and how insomnia messes with memory, mood, and long-term health 💤 The truth about REM vs. non-REM - and how your glymphatic system clears toxins overnight 🚫 Why sleep meds (like zopiclone or melatonin) may be backf...

Episode 9: How we Resource ourselves during Trauma Part 2: Growth Resources — Your Toolkit for Long-Term Resilience Ready to stop stress spirals before they start? This episode is your roadmap. Adele and Sam unpack:  🌱 What growth resources are — and why they’re different from survival coping  🧘‍♀️ How practices like breathwork, movement & meditation rewire your nervous system 🧠 The DREAM F...

Episode 8: How we Resource Ourselves during Trauma Part 1: Survival Mode vs. Real Healing If you’re coping, not thriving — this one’s for you. In this episode, Adele and Sam unpack:  ⚠️ What “survival resources” really are — and why they’re keeping you stuck  🧠 Polyvagal theory explained: how your nervous system drives fight, flight, freeze & fawn  🚩 Coping habits like people-pleasing, overw...

Episode 7: Core Beliefs — The Hidden Rules Running Your Life By age 7, your brain wrote a rulebook. The problem? You’re still living by it. In this powerful episode, Adele and Sam explore:  🧠 What core beliefs really are — and how they secretly shape your choices  👶 How childhood experiences wire deep beliefs about safety, love, and worth  📉 How trauma reshapes your beliefs without you even kno...

Episode 6: Why Compassion is the Game-Changer in Trauma Therapy Forget the “tough it out” approach — real trauma healing starts with compassion . In this heartfelt episode, Adele and Sam explore:  💔 Why trauma survivors carry shame, fear, and self-blame  🧘‍♀️ How compassion-based therapy creates safety and actually works 🌱 The power of mindfulness, loving presence, and nonjudgmental care 🛠️ Too...

Episode 5: PTSD Isn’t What You Think PTSD isn’t just “mental health” — it’s your brain’s survival system on overdrive. In this raw and real episode, Adele and Sam unpack:  🧠 The difference between PTSD and PTS — and why it matters  ⚠️ What trauma actually does to your brain (think amygdala hijack & hippocampus shutdown)  🔥 Why PTSD symptoms feel like you're stuck in a loop 👩‍🔬 Why wom...