Just As Well, The Women's Health Podcast

What does chronic stress actually do to your body — and how can you start to feel better?

In this episode of Just As Well, Claire Sanderson speaks to Nahid
De Belgonne, founder of The Human Method, about nervous system
dysregulation, burnout, cortisol overload and why so many women feel constantly overwhelmed.

Nahid explains how stress can show up emotionally through irritability, impatience and reactivity, and physically through poor sleep, gut issues, inflammation, skin flare-ups and exhaustion. She also shares practical tools to help calm the body, including movement, breathwork and simple techniques to release stress before it builds up.

In this conversation, they cover:

- What a dysregulated nervous system actually is

- Why modern life keeps us in survival mode

- The emotional and physical signs of chronic stress

- How cortisol affects the body

- Why high-achieving women are particularly vulnerable to burnout

- Practical ways to regulate your nervous system every day

If you’ve been feeling frazzled, reactive, exhausted or like you can never
properly switch off, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to Just As Well for more conversations on women’s health, wellness and how to feel better.

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Abbie Ward joins Just As Well to talk about life as a Red Rose, the evolution of women’s rugby, motherhood, pregnancy and returning to elite sport.

In this episode, Abbie opens up about her journey into rugby, the realities of professionalism in the women’s game, and what it was like becoming one of the first players in professional women’s rugby to navigate pregnancy and motherhood while continuing her career.

She also shares why representation matters, how rugby makes space for different body types and strengths, and why balance is the key to wellbeing.

In this episode:

Abbie Ward’s route into rugby

The growth of women’s rugby

Playing for England and Bristol
Bears

Motherhood and returning to
professional sport

Training during pregnancy

Mental resilience and balance

Why sport is for everybody

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How much are everyday products affecting your hormones? In this episode of Just As Well, Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson speak to functional medicine health coach Kirsty Smith about endocrine disruptors hidden in fragrance, cleaning products, plastics, skincare, clothing, and even blue light. They discuss how these toxins may affect metabolism, periods, fertility, energy, sleep, and overall health — plus simple low-tox swaps you can start making today.

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This week on Just as Well, Claire Sanderson and Gemma Atkinson sit down
with Dr Fionnuala Barton, The Menopause Medic, for a fascinating
conversation about perimenopause, menopause and hormone health.

From HRT and sleep to libido, vaginal dryness, confidence, weight
changes and strength training, Dr Barton shares practical, evidence-based
advice on how women can better understand and support their bodies through this stage of life.

A must-listen for women of every age — and for the people who love and support them.

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This week on Just As Well, Gemma Atkinson sits down with broadcaster,
author and podcaster Angela Scanlon for a deeply honest conversation about motherhood, burnout and finding balance.

Angela shares how she accidentally fell into television, the relentless drive that pushed her career forward, and the moment becoming a mother forced her to confront parts of herself she had been running from for years.

In this episode, Angela opens up about her experience with eating disorder
recovery, using work as a coping mechanism, and the seven years she spent in therapy learning how to rebuild her relationship with herself.

Gemma and Angela also talk about:

• The messy reality of motherhood
• Work addiction and burnout
• Raising confident daughters
• Body image and growing up in the media spotlight
• Wellness habits, gratitude and daily rituals
• Why women need permission to fail and try again

It’s a funny, warm and refreshingly honest conversation about ambition, healing and the pressure women carry — and why sometimes the best advice you can give your younger self is simply: you’ll be alright.

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