Just As Well, The Women's Health Podcast

Is midlife really a time to slow down—or could it be your strongest chapter yet?

In this episode of Just As Well, Claire Sanderson is joined by women's strength and longevity coach, bestselling author and podcast host Kate Rowe-Ham.

Fresh from completing both HYROX and the London Marathon, Kate shares why challenging herself physically has become about far more than fitness. Together, Claire and Kate discuss the realities of ageing, the importance of strength training, the power of community, and why women need to stop accepting the narrative that they become invisible after 40.

They also explore practical ways to improve health and wellbeing through movement, nutrition, mindset and recovery—without striving for perfection.

In this episode:

Why movement helps manage life's mental load

The benefits of strength training in midlife

What Kate learned from HYROX and marathon training

Why women need better representation as they age

The role of protein, fibre and recovery in longevity

How to break self-sabotaging habits

Why confidence and community are essential for thriving in midlife

A motivating and uplifting conversation for anyone who wants to age with strength, purpose and confidence. 

Want more from Women’s Health? Join the Women’s Health COLLECTIVE for workouts, exclusive events and expert advice to unlock your fittest self - Train smarter. Live better. Visit www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/wh-podcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashley James joins Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about motherhood, body confidence, women's health and finding your voice.

Known for her broadcasting career, activism and new book Bimbo, Ashley reflects on growing up in a world that taught women to take up less space and how she's spent years unlearning those messages. She opens up about the sexualisation she experienced as a teenager, the pressure women face to look a certain way, and why health should never be defined by body size. 

Ashley also shares her experience of birth trauma, prolapse, postnatal recovery and the reality of life after having children – highlighting the support she believes women deserve but too often don't receive. 

Together, the trio discuss:

The pressure to "bounce back" after childbirth

Postpartum health, prolapse and recovery

Diet culture and the rise of weight-loss injections

Raising daughters and sons in today's world

Misogyny, social media and modern womanhood

Ashley's new book, Bimbo

This is a thoughtful, empowering
conversation about health, confidence and why women deserve better.

If you've ever felt pressured to
be smaller, quieter or "less", this episode is for you.

Want more from Women’s Health? Join the Women’s Health COLLECTIVE for workouts, exclusive events and expert advice to unlock your fittest self - Train smarter. Live better. Visit www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/wh-podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fitness coach, Gymshark athlete and content creator Oyinda Okunowo joins Just As Well to talk about building a healthier relationship with fitness—and why getting results doesn't have to mean cutting out everything you enjoy.

After retiring from professional football and gaining weight at university, Oyinda began her own fitness journey, eventually qualifying as a personal trainer and building an audience of millions through her relatable, evidence-based approach to health and exercise.

In this episode, Oyinda shares the lessons she's learned along the way, from navigating the overwhelming world of fitness advice to helping women feel more confident in the gym. We discuss social media myths, unrealistic transformation culture, body recomposition, and why consistency always beats quick fixes.

You'll also hear practical advice for beginners, including the importance of mastering form before chasing heavier weights, how to make fitness sustainable, and why carbohydrates aren't the enemy.

Try Oyinda's training plan here: https://link.womenshealthmag.co.uk/join/signup-womens-health-2026-summer-podcast 

Want more from Women’s Health? Join the Women’s Health COLLECTIVE for workouts, exclusive events and expert advice to unlock your fittest self - Train smarter. Live better. Visit www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/wh-podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women’s health expert and GP Dr Shireen joins Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson to discuss why so many women dismiss symptoms, delay seeking help and struggle to prioritise their own health.

From perimenopause and hormones to burnout, stress, painful periods and pelvic health, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest conversation about the realities of women’s health today.

Dr Shireen also opens up about the moment trusting her instincts as a mother saved her son’s life.

A must-listen conversation about advocating for yourself, understanding your body and recognising the symptoms women should never ignore.

Want more from Women’s Health? Join the Women’s Health COLLECTIVE for workouts, exclusive events and expert advice to unlock your fittest self - Train smarter. Live better. Visit www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/wh-podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michelle Heaton joins Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson for one of the most powerful episodes of Just As Well.

From her rise to fame in Liberty X to the pressures of life in the spotlight, Michelle reflects on the highs and the challenges of her career — including body image struggles and the intense scrutiny of the early 2000s.

She speaks candidly about her battle with alcohol addiction, the moment she realised she needed help, and what life was really like behind closed doors. Michelle also opens up about undergoing a full hysterectomy in her 30s after testing positive for the BRCA2 gene, and how early menopause impacted her mental and physical health.

Now nearly five years sober, Michelle shares how she rebuilt her life, her marriage and her sense of self — and the daily practices that keep her grounded today.

Want more from Women’s Health? Join the Women’s Health COLLECTIVE for workouts, exclusive events and expert advice to unlock your fittest self - Train smarter. Live better. Visit www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/wh-podcast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices