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

Ever feel like you’re waking up as two different people depending on the week of the month? One week you’re taking on the world with total confidence, and the next, you’re second-guessing every decision you’ve ever made. It turns out, that isn’t just "you being emotional", it’s actually a sign of your brain responding to a very specific biological rhythm.

This week on Live Well Be Well, I’m sitting down with the brilliant Dr. Sarah Hill. She’s an evolutionary psychologist and the author of This Is Your Brain on Birth Control and The Period Brain. Sarah has this incredible way of explaining how our hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, aren’t just about reproduction; they are actually "wise advisors" that shape how we think, who we’re attracted to, and how we show up in our work and relationships.

Here’s what we explore together:
- Your Hormones as Information: How these biological signals act as internal guides for your behavior and motivation.
- The "Two Advisors" Theory: Why feeling different across your cycle actually makes you a better, more well-rounded decision-maker.
- The Power of Progesterone: Why this often-ignored hormone is actually a neuroprotective "superpower" that helps your brain slow down and recover.
- Cycle Variability: Why your "symptoms" can change every month based on everything from sleep to stress.
- The Male Perspective: A fascinating look at how men’s testosterone is actually more reactive to the environment (like sports or competition) compared to the predictable cycles of women.
- Bridging the Cultural Gap: How to stop overriding your body’s natural cues in a world that expects you to be the same person every single day.

Love,
Sarah Ann 💛

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This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/ Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.

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The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

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If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:

Women's Brain Health: What Science REALLY Says About Hormones, PMS & Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay
https://youtu.be/aKnS1McNVm8?list=PLfXKbjBGaUhb7iE0BaE2PZINeLZ3Ybb0M

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Highlights
Intro (00:00:00)
The Wisdom of the Menstrual Cycle (00:01:55)
The Luteal Phase: The Dark Side of the Cycle (00:04:42)
Men's Hormones vs. Women's Hormones (00:11:46)
The Impact of Hormones on Behavior (00:17:37)
Tracking Your Cycle for Better Understanding (00:23:25)
PMS: Understanding and Reframing (00:29:49)
Evolutionary Perspectives on Attraction (00:36:38)
Research on Birth Control and Relationship Satisfaction (00:41:29)
Scent and Attraction (01:01:00)
Sexual Orientation and Hormonal Influence (01:07:51)
Menopause and Attraction (01:11:02)
Communication and Understanding in Relationships (01:19:03)
The Importance of Recognizing Biological Differences (01:28:35)

Can boredom and daydreaming actually boost creativity and calm? Here, I’m discussing how a solo writing sprint in nature left my HRV higher and my mind clearer, then we examine the default mode and executive networks, task switching, and screen-free habits. This clip explores the Meals, Bedroom, Bathroom rule for no phones, the value of nature time, and reframing boredom as daydreaming to restore the brain. We talk practical steps for dopamine-heavy habits, why reflection improves decisions, and how daydreaming can spark ideas and support mental health.

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZoyEJ0WD99g

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This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimagined
Know your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com

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The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/qHFymGgsYyE

Worried about Alzheimer’s and what you can do now? You’ll hear practical, testable steps to lower risk by targeting metabolism, inflammation and toxins, plus daily habits for brain rest and sleep. This clip explores the idea that Alzheimer’s can have different drivers, the importance of early testing (continuous glucose monitors, hs-CRP, urine toxin tests), and simple changes like meditation, less phone time, better sleep, air purifiers, filtered water, non-toxic skin products, and eating organic while avoiding ultra-processed foods.

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This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

This week on Live Well Be Well, I’m joined by Dr Anders Hansen, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and bestselling author of The Real Happy Pill and Brain Blues, to explore how modern life is reshaping our mental health, focus, and emotional resilience.

In this conversation, Anders explains why anxiety, low mood, and restlessness are not failures of the mind, but evolutionary responses that no longer fit our current environment. We discuss how movement, boredom, attention, and social connection shape brain chemistry, and why understanding our evolutionary wiring can help us respond to stress with more compassion and clarity.

Here’s What We Dive Into:
- Why the human brain evolved for survival, not constant happiness or comfort.
- How modern environments amplify anxiety, low mood, and attention problems.
- Why physical movement is one of the most effective interventions for mental health.
- How boredom and mental rest support creativity, emotional regulation, and focus.
- What social connection does to the brain, and why isolation increases psychological distress.
- How dopamine, serotonin, and stress hormones respond to modern stimulation.
- Why chasing happiness can backfire, and what a healthier goal looks like.
- How understanding evolution helps reduce shame around mental health struggles.

Love,
Sarah Ann 💛

***

This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/
 
***

The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out
Reset Your Health
If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.
Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.
https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/What if many of the mental health struggles we face today are not signs that something is wrong with us, but signals from a brain designed for a very different world?

***

Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/
📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast

***

If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
The Uncomfortable Truth About Why We Can't Commit | Mo Gawdat
https://youtu.be/2WeffWLvdbo

***

Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

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Why modern life feels mentally overwhelming (00:00:00)
The evolutionary purpose of anxiety and low mood (00:03:40)
Why the brain struggles with constant comfort (00:08:20)
Movement and its impact on brain chemistry (00:12:55)
Why physical activity reduces anxiety and depression (00:18:30)
Boredom, focus, and mental recovery (00:24:10)
Social connection and the brain’s safety signals (00:30:05)
Dopamine, stimulation, and emotional balance (00:36:40)
Why happiness is a poor long term goal (00:42:15)
Reducing shame through evolutionary understanding (00:48:30)
Practical ways to support everyday mental wellbeing (00:54:10)
The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health (00:55:31)
The Science of Happiness (01:09:00)
Curiosity: The Engine of Growth (01:17:57)

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Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquU

Are women at higher risk of Alzheimer’s, and can life roles influence dementia risk? This clip explores why two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases are in women, how vascular dementia differs, and how age-specific dementia risk has fallen over recent decades. We discuss factors like improved nutrition, better heart health care, and environmental complexity, jobs, education, and social engagement, linked to maintaining cognition into our 80s. A long-running study found lower environmental complexity, common among midcentury housewives, tracked with greater decline. We also touch on the importance of keeping the mind stimulated.

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This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com

***

The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-outReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***

Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/📹 Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/SarahAnnMacklin
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livewellbewellpodcast💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/