The Core Connect Podcast

Most women are asking the wrong question when it comes to diastasis recti. It’s not: “How big is my gap?” It’s: “Is my body actually not functioning?” Because those two things are not the same. In this episode, Marianne walks you through 8 cases: 4 where surgery  can  be the right call. And 4 where it absolutely isn’t. So you can stop guessing. And start recognising where you actually stand. From...

Earlier return to running. Later return. Symptom-free standards. Mental health. The guidelines for postnatal women keep shifting - and so does the debate. In this episode, Dr. Rachel Selman helps us ask smarter questions. What are signs to look out for to ensure that physiological healing and mental health are respected?  Are women's requests still dismissed? Is the push for earlier postpartum...

Day 3 you're sobbing at nothing. Week 6 you're told you're cleared. Month 4 you still don't feel like yourself. The hormones are hard enough. But the story we tell ourselves  about  the shifts we experience postpartum, whether it's baby blues, breastfeeding irritability, or full-blown postpartum anxiety, that's where much of the real suffering lives. We tell ourselves that...

What if you could train your brain to notice more than stress, urgency, and what could go wrong? Not through toxic positivity. Through a simple exercise in neuroplasticity. The average person is estimated to have between 60,000 and 70,000 thoughts per day, many of them repetitive. Over time, the brain strengthens the pathways it uses most often. In this solo episode, Marianne explores why writing ...

How much of postpartum recovery is about the body… and how much is about the systems around us? Can recovery truly happen when healthcare, fitness, and support systems are working in separate lanes? Why are women still being underserved, unheard, and overlooked in the perinatal space? --- In this episode, Marianne sits down with physical therapist and Dr. Lashonda Jones for a conversation that goe...

Should everyone who  can  take GLP-1s… actually take them? What do these medications really change and what do they leave untouched? And how can busy families practice breathwork? In this episode, Marianne sits down with weight management specialist Rose O’Donovan to bring nuance back into a conversation that’s quickly becoming black and white. Rose has recently completed research on the use of GL...

Most women are asking the wrong question when it comes to diastasis recti. It’s not: “How big is my gap?” It’s: “Is my body actually not functioning?” Because those two things are not the same. In this episode, Marianne walks you through 8 cases: 4 where surgery  can  be the right call. And 4 where it absolutely isn’t. So you can stop guessing. And start recognising where you actually stand. From...

More squeezing, more exercises, more control. We’ve been taught to “fix” our core with more effort. But what if better core function and aesthetics didn’t come from doing more, but from doing a few things differently, consistently, throughout your day? In this short solo episode, Marianne shares  3 simple shifts  that can support: Reduced lower back discomfort Better pelvic floor function  Improve...

What does it really take to build a Pilates business with integrity? How (and why) has Pete Pallai made Pilates more accessible to men?  What does it mean to be "a real man"? In this conversation, ever so slightly interrupted by the conflict in Dubai, you’ll hear how a former athlete found Pilates at a time of both personal and professional crisis, and how that moment quickly reshaped th...

From peptides to protocols, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out on the “next best thing.” But Dr Tamara brings a different perspective, one rooted in clinical experience, holistic care, and a deep understanding of how the body actually responds over time. Dr Tamara is a chiropractor, back pain specialist, and founder of DISC, with multiple clinics across the Gulf. In this episode, she and Ma...

Some of us are learning what it means to shelter. Some of us are packing boxes and moving homes. Some of us are struggling to tolerate the sound of alerts on our phones. Some of us are trying to stay calm for our children - sometimes succeeding… and sometimes not. And that’s okay. If you’re in the UAE right now, this short episode is for you. In moments of uncertainty, our nervous system needs sim...

Have you found yourself going to the loo more often lately… despite smooth births in the past? Have you been told to  “just do Kegels”,  but nothing changed Today on the  Core Connect Podcast , Marianne sits down with Sandra, mother of four, business owner, active woman, who’s been dealing with mild urge and stress incontinence for the last couple of years. She did what most women are told to do....

Meet Dr. Reza Hosseini Ghomi, a Boston-based neuropsychiatrist, engineer, 4x health tech founder, and cancer survivor whose story and insights are nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, Marianne and Reza cover everything from the surprising #1 risk factor for Alzheimer’s (it’s not your genes), to simple morning routines for brain health, to why your 40s are the decade to invest in yourself. ...

In this episode, Marianne sits down with fellow studio founder Mila Aleshina, owner of a boutique Pilates studio in Fournex, Switzerland, mobility expert, and creator of  Incorpo Studio , a digital movement platform to explore the deeper questions shaping the wellness industry. Together, they unpack what Mila calls the  “McDonald’s era of Pilates”  where factory-style classes, aesthetic-driven mar...

In this episode, Marianne is joined by Dr Margie Davenport to explore themes ranging from preconception to postpartum timelines, including how women can best return to running after childbirth. One of the world’s leading researchers in women's health, Margie has played a pivotal role in advancing evidence-based guidelines for physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum.  While her work i...

Confused by conflicting advice on abdominal exercises and postpartum core recovery?  In this solo episode, Marianne Tafani explores four key research studies on diastasis recti and abdominal training, including the role of crunches in postpartum rehabilitation. Drawing on both the evidence and her clinical experience supporting 2,300+ postpartum women, Marianne breaks down how research translates...

How much of what parents are told is “normal,” “best,” or “necessary” is shaped less by evidence - and more by culture, productivity, and pressure? What does the research  actually  say about co-sleeping and sleep training? Breastfeeding? Babywearing and carrying? In this episode, Marianne is joined by Emily Little, PhD, infancy researcher, myth-debunker, and founder of Nurturely, a platform dedic...

Are vasectomies truly reversible? What really changes after the procedure? How can women bring up this, and other men’s health topics, without conflict or pressure? In this myth-busting episode, Dr. Tracy Gapin, men’s health specialist, urologist, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author, joins Marianne to bridge a crucial conversation between men’s and women’s health. Dr. Gapin unpacks the real scien...

You’ve seen the word everywhere:  Flexibility & Mobility ,  Hyrox & Mobility ,  Mobility Flow. But what does it actually mean? In this short solo episode, Marianne breaks it down for you: where the term comes from, how it fits into modern fitness, and why it’s so much more than stretching. You’ll learn: The real difference between  mobility  and  flexibility How your  nervous system  plays...

In this episode, Marianne welcomes Ava Rodriguez, industry titan, fine educator, powerhouse of mobility and inspiring mother of two teenage daughters. Together, Ava and Marianne explore what it really takes to: Rise above industry trends and be recognised for your expertise Balance raising a family with teaching and mentoring other instructors Build a method that truly changes lives But beyond her...

Fatigue, Hair Loss, Poor Concentration—Could You Be Iron Deficient? Did you know that iron deficiency can develop years before anemia sets in? Or that you'd need anywhere between  8 to 30 kilograms of spinach  just to meet your recommended daily iron intake? In this episode, Dr. Dheeraj Khiatani, a Singapore-based General Practitioner and one of Asia's leading experts on iron deficiency, j...

In this deeply honest conversation, Marianne is joined by Brit Williams, Personal Trainer, author, and mum of 3  for a nuanced discussion about postnatal recovery, identity, and the long game of women’s strength. Brit and Marianne speak candidly about how much grace women need to give themselves after birth and why the  “boring stuff”  is essential, and even exciting! They also discuss navigating...

“Is it really dangerous to birth on my back?” “I heard side-lying is great if I take the epidural.” “Should I birth in KIKO?” In this solo episode, Marianne breaks down one of the most common questions she receives in prenatal reformer class:  “What’s the best birth position?” She offers: 3 simple recommendations to guide your thinking around birth positions. The benefits and disadvantages of the...

Did you know that up to 1% of each filler injection is not eliminated from your body? Or that Botox can lead to major facial distortions over time (and why)? This week, Marianne sat down with Dr Rabia Malik, a GP and skin health doctor known for her  no-injectables  approach and fabulous results at The Harrods Wellness Clinic.  Together, they explored how to age confidently without relying on Boto...

Struggling with a lower-ab pooch that won’t budge? Wondering if diastasis is still the reason your core feels weak? Thinking about a tummy tuck, but not sure if you actually need one? Before you go down the surgical rabbit hole, this episode walks you through the 5 essential steps every woman should take first. The ones that can dramatically change your core, your waistline, your healing, and keep...