The Health Connection Podcast

Be honest. Have you ever looked at your dinner and thought, is this good enough? With Instagram full of beautifully balanced, colour-coded, apparently effortless meals, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling short. This week Amy and Mari get refreshingly real about the health journey… the spirals, the swing from “I’ve got this” to “forget it”, and why letting go of the pressure to be perfect might...

If mealtimes in your house feel like a daily battle of wills, this episode is for you. This week Mari shares an incredible win from a family she's been supporting - a child who was barely eating and is now gaining weight, thriving, and actually getting involved in cooking. How? Not through anything drastic. Through small, gentle shifts that made all the difference. She also shares her number one p...

Episode 28 - One Little Word That Changes Everything How a single word can transform the way you communicate with your kids (and the people around you!) There are some parenting wins that feel almost too simple to be true. This week, Amy and Mari are talking about one of them - a tiny word that takes the confrontation out of everyday requests and gets your kids, (and let's be honest, the adults in...

Episode 27 - Why Looking After Yourself Isn't Selfish When You're a Parent So many mums are running on empty, putting their children's needs first, their own health last, and somehow wondering why everything feels so hard. This week Amy and Mari have an honest, heartfelt conversation about why looking after yourself isn't selfish - it's ESSENTIAL. And more importantly, how to actually do it within...

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Episode 26 - Why Movement Might Be the Missing Piece for Better Mood, Sleep and Mental Wellbeing We all know movement is good for us but this week Amy and Mari explore a side of it we don't talk about nearly enough. Not the calories burned or the fitness goals, but what movement does for our minds . From quieting racing thoughts to improving sleep and lifting mood, this episode is a gentle nudge t...

Episode 25 Too hot to function: staying cool, hydrated and (mostly) sane this summer British summers! We wait all year for them, and then our houses turn into ovens and no one can sleep. This week Amy and Mari have an honest, warm (in every sense!) chat about surviving heatwaves with children, sharing the practical tricks that actually help when the temperature creeps up and the kids are getting r...

Episode 25 When mum goes down: what happens when you finally have to stop We spend so much time keeping everyone else going that we rarely stop to think about what happens when we grind to a halt. This week's episode is one of the most honest ones yet. Mari shares her recent lived experience of being properly, can't-get-out-of-bed unwell, and what it revealed about just how much she quietly carrie...

Episode 24 Waste less, spend less, stress less With food prices still firmly on everyone's minds, this week Amy and Mari get wonderfully practical. From the forgotten veg at the back of the fridge, to the weekly shop that somehow costs a fortune despite feeling like you've bought nothing, they share their honest tips for cutting food waste and keeping more money in your pocket, without making life...

Episode 23 - Did they really just say that?! The wellness advice we're all tired of hearing "Just eat less and move more." "Have you tried drinking more water?" "Maybe it’s your hormones…" If any of those made you roll your eyes, this episode is for you. This week Amy puts Mari on the spot with a round of real comments that people actually say to women trying to look after their health. It's not a...

Episode 22 - Fed to focus: what your child eats and how they learn. Ever noticed your child coming home from school absolutely wired or completely exhausted and wondered if what they ate had something to do with it? This week Amy and Mari explore the fascinating link between nutrition and a child's ability to concentrate, and share honest, practical advice for busy mums who want to support their k...

Episode 21 - Change your scenery, change your day Ever sat at your usual desk feeling completely stuck, only to find that working somewhere different suddenly unlocks a whole new level of focus? This week Amy and Mari explore the surprising power of environment — and how the space we're in, the energy around us, and even a quick breath of fresh air can completely shift our productivity and mindset...

Episode 20 - Out of sight, out of mind — and why that's a good thing This week Amy and Mari dig into one of the simplest but most powerful ideas in everyday wellness: the things we see shape the choices we make, often without us even realising. Whether it's the supplement pot tucked away at the back of the cupboard or the biscuit tin sitting on the kitchen counter, what's in our eyeline quietly ru...

Episode 19 - No time for the gym? Think again! In this episode of The Health Connection, Mari and Amy talk about the reality of trying to fit workouts into an already full schedule. When you’re juggling multiple responsibilities, getting to the gym isn’t always the hardest part… it’s the logistics around it. They share why working out from home has become a practical and sustainable solution for t...

Episode 18 - Why Connection Matters More Than Ever In this episode of The Health Connection , Mari and Amy explore the power of community and human connection - something that can easily slip down the priority list in busy, modern life. With many mums juggling full schedules, working from home, and spending long periods without meaningful interaction, they discuss how easy it is to feel disconnect...

Episode 17 In this episode of The Health Connection , Mari and Amy tackle a challenge many parents know all too well: children with very different food preferences, sometimes known as fussy eaters. They share their own experiences of navigating the stress that can come when a child refuses certain foods, or will only eat something if it’s presented in a particular way… chips over mashed potato, an...

In this episode of The Health Connection , Mari and Amy talk about the realities of trying to serve healthy meals during the busy after-school rush. With clubs, activities, and different schedules to juggle, family mealtimes don’t always look the way we imagine they should, and that can leave parents feeling guilty. They discuss whether it’s really such a bad thing for children to eat in the car o...

Episode 15 Do you feel puffy, exhausted, foggy-headed… and frustrated that your body seems to be working against you? In this episode of The Health Connection , Mari and Amy unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of fatigue, low energy and hormone imbalance: chronic inflammation. They’re talking about the quiet, low-grade inflammation that builds up from stress, poor sleep, blood sugar crashes...

Episode 14 In this episode of The Health Connection , Mari and Amy reflect on how their approach to health has evolved over the past decade, particularly their growing commitment to “prevention over intervention.” They share how their priorities have shifted over time, and why staying open to behavioural, practical, and even financial changes has been key to supporting their long-term wellbeing. T...

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m eating less… so why isn’t the weight shifting?” — this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, Mari and Amy unpack why weight loss is about so much more than calories in and calories out. While energy balance plays a role, your body isn’t a calculator — it’s a complex, intelligent system influenced by inflammation, hormones, stress, gut health and even your body’s...

In this episode of The Health Connection, Mari and Amy dive into what’s really behind memory lapses, poor focus, and mental fatigue, especially for busy mums who are juggling everyone else’s needs while running on empty. They break down five simple, daily habits that can make a genuine difference to mental clarity, without adding more pressure or perfectionism. From fuelling your brain properly an...

In this episode of The Health Connection , Mari and Amy shine a light on the invisible mental load so many busy mums carry every day. From managing endless to-do lists to holding everyone else’s needs in mind, they explore how this load often goes unspoken and unshared, even within supportive families. They discuss the stress that builds as a result and the ripple effect it can have on energy leve...

In this episode of The Health Connection , Mari and Amy unpack what really happens when you start a “detox”, “cleanse”, or any programme that shifts you towards more whole foods and fewer ultra-processed foods. They explain the common symptoms people often experience during this transition, from headaches and fatigue to changes in digestion and mood, and why these responses are usually part of the...

Episode 9 - In this episode, Mari and Amy turn their attention to one of the most overlooked foundations of health: sleep. They discuss why sleep quality matters just as much as quantity, and focus on the practical elements you can control when it comes to sleep hygiene. From creating a calm, realistic bedtime routine for adults (because kids aren’t the only ones who need one), to exploring foods...

In this episode, Amy and Mari dive into the very real challenge of fussy eating and admit they definitely don’t have it all figured out. Between them, they’re navigating both fussy eaters and children who will try almost anything. They share honest experiences from their own families, including how their approach has evolved over the years and what they’ve learned along the way. From understanding...