Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Kristin Neff, a pioneering researcher in self-compassion and an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin. We discuss how cultivating self-compassion can profoundly transform our relationship with food, our bodies, and our overall well-being. We also explore the impact of self-compassion on eating behaviors, especially regarding dieting and emotional...

In this clip, my guest is Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a renowned neuroscientist and psychologist specializing in the science of emotion. We delve into the fascinating concept of the brain's "body budget"—how our brains predict and regulate the needs of our bodies through a process called allostasis. Lisa explains how disruptions in this body budgeting system can manifest as depression and anxiety, e...

In this episode, I explore the world of stress with experts Alice Law and Mo Gawdat. We unpack their innovative 'Ton of Stress' model and the TONN framework, revealing why being "busy" is a health risk, not a badge of honor. Alice and Mo share evidence-based strategies to identify stress triggers and build resilience. They explain the surprising balance between external and self-generated stress,...

What happens when you confront your deepest fears? In this inspiring episode, free diver Li Karlsen takes us beneath the ice to share her incredible journey of overcoming fear in one of the planet's most extreme environments. Diving under massive icebergs into freezing, dark waters, Li faced the ultimate challenge—both physically and mentally. Through her story, you'll learn how embracing fear rat...

In this clip, my guest is Dr. Kanchan Koya, Ph. D., a molecular biologist and health coach who specializes in the health benefits of spices. We discuss the surprising and powerful effects of incorporating culinary amounts of spices into everyday meals. We also explore recent human studies demonstrating how small additions of spice blends can significantly reduce markers of inflammation, even when...

Did you know your diet could be the secret weapon for protecting your brain? In this video, Dr. William Li uncovers how certain foods can fortify one of your brain’s most vital but overlooked defenses – the blood-brain barrier. This essential filter shields your mind from harmful invaders, yet many people don’t realize how everyday foods can help keep it strong and effective. Prepare to rethink yo...

Be Well Moments brings you my favorite bite-sized highlights from the season. Enjoy quick insights from our longer conversations in a digestible format. If you'd like to listen or watch the full episode, click the link below. Dr. Shefali, a psychologist and author, explains the 'shadow self' - a part of us we often ignore. She shows how this hidden side can make us seek control and approval from o...

Be Well Moments brings you my favorite bite-sized highlights from the season. Enjoy quick insights from our longer conversations in a digestible format. If you'd like to listen or watch the full episode, click the link below. Dr. Casey Means, a leading voice in metabolic health, unpacks the intricate connection between metabolism and our overall wellbeing. She explores how the way our bodies conve...

Be Well Moments brings you my favorite bite-sized highlights from the season. Enjoy quick insights from our longer conversations in a digestible format. If you'd like to listen or watch the full episode, click the link below. Are you doing friendship right? Simon Sinek talks about what it means to be a friend today. He shares an '8-minute rule' that could change how you handle relationships. Sinek...

Many of us think self-compassion is just about being kind to ourselves, or even perhaps that it implies a sense of laziness or self-indulgence. But Dr. Kristin Neff completely challenges these ideas. She reveals how self-compassion is actually a powerful tool for motivation and resilience, and explains why our culture, and even our evolutionary instincts, can work against it.  Dr. Kristin Neff PhD...

What if everything you’ve been told about stress… is wrong? Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone.” But according to world-leading neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett , that’s not actually true. In this conversation, she shares a radically different way of understanding stress, emotion, and the brain’s hidden role in shaping our reality. Dr. Feldman Barrett explains how the brain is constan...

Stress is something we all deal with, but did you know that it affects us in four different ways? Stress can impact us mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, and in this episode we look into all four modalities and how to recognise them.   Mo Gawdat is a former Chief Business Officer at Google X and a bestselling author, and Alice Law is a stress management expert with a powerful per...

Here’s my wonderful conversation with Li Karlsen, a freediver and former Swedish Army captain. She served for 20 years before discovering freediving at 35. Li has broken records, including a 200-metre dive on one breath, and a dive under Greenland's ice. Now she helps others face their fears. We talked about her change from military life to ocean depths, and Li shared how freediving helped her hea...

Dr. William Li is back on Live Well, Be Well! Mental health is a huge focus for me, and with good reason. Dementia's on the rise, and many people can resonate with the brain fog that comes as a consequence of our fast-paced world. But - did you ever think that being picky with food might mess with your mental health? Dr. William Li breaks down this new research for us, as we chat about how what we...

Probiotics are often touted as a staple of gut health, but here Dr. James Kinross discusses the advancement of probiotic science, and how a range of treatments and drugs will shape the future of the microbiome and the gut-brain connection. Listen to the full episode here . Watch the full episode on YouTube here .

Spices as medicine? Today I chat with Kanchan Koya, a Harvard-trained molecular biologist who traded the lab for the kitchen, and now runs Spice Spice Baby and has a cookbook packed with vibrant spice-filled recipes. We dig into the science behind spices - from fighting inflammation to boosting gut health. Did you know a dash of cinnamon could help blood sugar? Or that chilli might extend your lif...

Discover how Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can transform your life at any age with Dr. Louise Newson, a GP and hormone specialist. Sarah Ann shares her own personal experience of working with Dr. Louise and the life-changing effects it has had, so watch now to learn more about how taking hormones may be the missing piece of the puzzle. Listen to the full episode here . Watch the full episode o...

Today, I sit down with Sharmadean Reid, a leader in the worlds of beauty, tech, and media.  With a 20-year career that includes launching an innovative salon as well as founding a beauty tech startup, Sharmadean has consistently broken barriers. She was the first black woman to raise £1 million in VC funding in the UK and was awarded an MBE in 2015 for her contributions to the beauty industry.  We...

Creatine is commonly known for its benefits in athletic performance, but did you know it also plays a crucial role in brain health? Dr. Tommy Wood has a ph. D. in physiology and neuroscience, and here he shares the science behind creatine's cognitive benefits, as well as a study that compared the effects of creatine and caffeine in those who are sleep deprived.  Listen to the full episode her...

Can consciousness transform our lives and relationships?  My recent conversation with Dr. Shefali would suggest so. What began as a discussion about self-awareness evolved into a deep exploration of how consciousness can transform every aspect of our lives, from our relationships to our sense of purpose.  Dr. Shefali not only offers insights and strategies, but we confront truths such as: Are we s...

Events don't cause stress, what causes stress are the views you have of those events. We have the power in our minds to control how we respond to events, and ultimately how we respond to everything. Harvard Psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer shares how when we connect the mind and body, we can learn how to reduce stress and see profound health benefits. Listen to the full episode here . Watch the full...

I'm thrilled to bring you my conversation with Dr. Casey Means, who is an expert in metabolic health. In this episode, we explore the science behind metabolic function and its impact on our overall health and wellbeing. Dr. Casey Means is a Stanford-trained physician and entrepreneur who graduated top of her class from Stanford Medical School. After completing four years of residency in head &...

Willpower has long been associated with self-control, but why has it not been associated with the ingredients in our foods? Dr. Chris van Tulleken is one of the BBC’s leading science presenters and author of the groundbreaking book, Ultra-Processed People. He discusses how ultra-processed foods and willpower are so closely linked, and why a seeming 'lack' of willpower is NOT your fault. Listen to...

Is friendship the most undervalued superpower of our time? My recent conversation with Simon Sinek suggests it might be. What began as a discussion about relationships evolved into a profound exploration of friendship's hidden potential to transform our lives, health, and success. In this eye-opening episode of Live Well, Be Well, we challenge conventional wisdom and delve into: Simon's insights a...

There's a lot of talk about SIBO, but how do we actually diagnose and treat it? Dr. William Bulsciewicz is an American Board Certified Gastroenterologist and author of the New York Times best seller, Fibre Fuelled. Here he discusses the various ways that are used to test for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and which ones might not actually be giving accurate results. Listen to the full epis...