What the Health?!

This week, Claira is joined by Fats Timbo, content creator, comedian, author and disability advocate, to talk mental health, self-confidence and learning to embrace who you are.

Fats opens up about being born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, and the bullying, discrimination and lack of representation she experienced growing up, which had a profound impact on her confidence and self-worth. She shares how therapy and pushing herself outside her comfort zone helped her transform her mindset, going from hiding herself away to becoming an award-winning content creator and working with major brands and appearing in Vogue.

Fats tells us about the importance of disability representation, why confidence is something you build through action rather than something you're born with, and how she's using humour and her platform to challenge stereotypes. She also opens up about her divorce, learning to put herself first and why finding your happy ending doesn't have to mean marriage and children.

Guest: Fats Timbo

You can find Fats on Instagram and other social media platforms at@fatstimbo. Fats' book Main Character Energyis out now.

Producer: Monica Lillis

This week, Claira is joined by Millie Gooch, founder of Sober Girl Society, to talk mental health, drinking culture and learning to enjoy life without alcohol.

Millie shares how she went from struggling with binge drinking to completely giving up alcohol in 2018. She opens up about how she used alcohol to feel more confident in social situations, the cycle of drinking to escape difficult feelings and why becoming sober has been one of the biggest changes she's made for her mental wellbeing.

Millie tells us about why she founded Sober Girl Society; a community helping women to connect, socialise and build friendships without alcohol. She shares her tips for navigating sober nights out, dating and social pressure and explains why giving up drinking doesn't mean giving up fun.

Guest: Millie Gooch

You can find Millieand Sober Girl Society on Instagram, and find out more about the community and upcoming events at http://sobergirlssociety.com.

Millie’s new book ‘Hangxiety: How Alcohol Messes with Your Mind’ is out now.

Producer: Monica Lillis

This week Claira is joined by Shauna Coxsey, the most successful competition climber in British history and two-time Bouldering World Cup champion, to talk about climbing, determination, mental health, motherhood and what it really takes to be the best.

Shauna opens up about the dedication, intense training and challenges behind her success, why building the right support team was so important, and how she's managed to hold on to her love of climbing despite the pressures of competing at the highest level.

They explore the mental and physical demands of elite sport, the reality of competing at the Olympics during the pandemic and how Shauna dealt with injuries. Shauna also speaks openly about mental health, the importance of finding self-worth outside of your achievements and why staying at the top can be even harder than getting there.

Shauna tells us how becoming a mother has changed her relationship with climbing, the challenges of balancing family life with a professional sporting career and why female athletes still face barriers when it comes to sponsorship and support. She talks about stepping away from competitive climbing, taking on some of the world's toughest outdoor climbs and why it's never too late to push yourself towards a new goal

Guest: Shauna Coxsey. You can follow Shauna on Instagram here.

Producer: Monica Lillis

This week, Claira is joined by Emma Tamsin Hill, founder of The All Body Club, to talk body image, strength, fitness, diet culture, confidence and learning to feel good in the body you’re in.

Emma shares how she went from feeling insecure about her body and initially joining the gym to lose weight, to falling in love with movement and shifting her focus from being skinny to being strong. She talks about embracing body neutrality, why you don’t have to love your body every single day, and how fitness became as much about her mental wellbeing as her physical health.

They explore why society still struggles with the idea that someone can be both fat and fit, why the fitness industry often treats bigger bodies as “before” bodies, and the pressure women face as different body types move in and out of fashion. Emma also opens up about online hate, the return of thinness as a beauty ideal, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and why being confident in a bigger body can feel like a statement in itself.

Emma also shares the story behind The All Body Club, her inclusive wellness community helping people build sustainable relationships with movement and nutrition without toxic diet culture. She explains why lasting change doesn’t happen overnight and why finding movement you actually enjoy can change everything.

Guest: Emma Tamsin Hill

You can find Emma on Instagramand TikTok@EmmaTamsinHill and on YouTubeat Emma Tamsin. You can follow The All Body Club here.

Producer: Monica Lillis

This week, Claira is joined by René Wong, founder of Hills Pay the Bills Run Club, to talk about recovery, running, grief, community and giving back. Renee shares what happened after a serious motorbike accident in 2014 left him with life-changing injuries and in need of blood transfusions, and how discovering he could no longer donate blood himself inspired him to find another way to make an impact.

He talks openly about both the physical and emotional challenges of recovering in hospital, losing his independence and learning to use movement as part of his recovery. René tells us how he went from being someone who never saw himself as a runner to building a running community centered around challenging yourself and supporting others.

René also shares how losing his uncle inspired the creation of Hills Pay the Bills, why running became a way of processing grief, and how the club has grown into a community built around connection and shared experiences. He also talks about his 31-day July running challenge, which saw him run a very hilly 10k every day to raise awareness of blood donation and support NHS Blood and Transplant.

Later on in the show, Claira also speaks to Kirsty Thomson, Head of NHS Blood and Transplant Charity, to learn why blood donations are more important than ever.

Guests:

René Wong. You can find Hills Pay the Bills Run Club on Instagram here.

Kirsty Thomson, Head of NHS Blood and Transplant Charity. You can sign up to give blood here.

Producer:

Monica Lillis

This week, Claira is joined by Sarah Jayne Dunn, actress, content creator and fitness instructor, best known for playing Mandy Richardson in Hollyoaks for almost 25 years, to talk about confidence, identity and taking back control of your life.

Sarah shares what it was like starting out as an actress atjust 14, how leaving Hollyoaks helped her discover who she was and what she wanted, and why turning 40 marked a pivotal moment in finding her voice and becoming more comfortable with being seen.

She also talks openly about her choicee to join OnlyFans, the backlash that ultimately led to her leaving Hollyoaks, and why she still sees the decision as one of the best she's ever made. Sarah discusses body image, sexuality, challenging stereotypes around women over 40, and the importance of finding a form of exercise and a community that makes you feel strong, confident and empowered.

Guest: Sarah Jayne Dunn. You can find her on Instagram here.

This week, Claira is joined by Nana Crawford, founder of http://jigglefitt, to talk about finding confidence through movement, reconnecting with her body and her love of Samba.

Nana shares how at the start of her journey, she was disconnected from her body and thought that the only way to keep fit was to go running or to go to the gym. But during lockdown, she discovered Samba and launched herself into online classes, posting online at the same time to hold herself accountable.

What started as a personal fitness journey has since grown into a community of more than 200,000 people, with JiggleFiTTcreating spaces for people of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds to move, have fun and celebrate their bodies.

Nana tells us about dealing with hateful comments about her body, the importance of representation and curating the content and spaces around you, and how learning what her body was capable of helped her develop a more loving relationship with herself. She also explains why confidence doesn't mean feeling great every day and why self-love can be found in small acts of showing up for yourself.

Guests: Nana Crawford, founder of JiggleFit. You can follow her on Instagram here.

Producer: Monica Lillis

This week, Claira is joined by Yasmin Toseafa, model, Miss Universe Great Britain finalist and star of the third season of Love Is Blind UK, to talk about her experience of living with vitiligo and the impact it had on her self-confidence.

She shares how she went from hiding her vitiligo for years to embracing it openly, and tells us how seeing other people with the condition represented in the media, such as Winnie Harlow, helped her realise that a different way of living was possible. She also talks about the decision to go on Love Is Blind UK, becoming more comfortable with vulnerability, and why taking chances and refusing to count yourself out can be so powerful.

After the break, we speak to Dr Amit Patel, a visually impaired activist, former trauma doctor and father, who joins Claira to talk about Guide Dogs' First Hello campaign. The pilot scheme transforms standard 20-week ultrasound scans into lifelike 3D tactile sonograms, giving blind and visually impaired parents and loved ones the opportunity to experience and connect with an ultrasound image through touch. Amit shares his own emotional experience of receiving a tactile sonogram of his son, and explains why accessibility is about more than technology - it's about making sure people aren't left on the sidelines of important moments in their own lives.

Guests:

Yasmin Toseafa, Model, Miss Universe Great Britain finalist and Love Is Blind UK star

Dr Amit Patel, visually impaired activist, former trauma doctor and father

Producer: Monica Lillis

This week we're asking whether living a healthier life really means giving up the foods we love and how we can make eating well feel more realistic, enjoyable and sustainable. Claira Hermet is joined by Dr Saima Ajaz, clinical director at Harley Longevity Clinic, to talk about why people of South Asian heritage can be at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular problems, and the role genetics and lifestyle play. She tells us why that doesn’t necessarily mean that South Asian food needs to be taken off the menu. She explains how simple changes to portions and preparation can make a difference, without losing the cultural connection that makes food so important.

We continue the conversation with chef Mehak Kansal, founder of Bindas Eatery. She tells us about her own health transformation and the process of completely rethinking her relationship with food. She discusses learning to make healthier choices without depriving herself of the flavors of her heritage, the emotional connection to food, and how to become more conscious of what we're eating.

Later on in the show, we turn to Padel; the world’s fastest growing sport. Team GB padel player Nikhil Mohindra joins Claira to explain how he went from discovering the sport at his local leisure club to competing at elite level. He also talks to us about why he thinks padel has become such a phenomenon and why its accessibility and emphasis on fun makes it a great way to get moving. He also shares what he's learned about mindset from playing alongside sporting legends including Cristiano Ronaldo and John Terry.

Guests:

Dr Saima Ajaz, Clinical Director of Harley Longevity Clinic

Mehak Kansal, founder of Bindas Eatery. You can find her on Instagram here

Nikhil Mohindra, Team GB Padel Player. You can find him on Instagram here

Producer: Monica Lillis

Is the carnivore diet actually healthy - or is social media getting ahead of the science?

On this episode of What the Health?!, host Claira Hermet gets into one of the most controversial and talked-about diets online: the carnivore diet.

The all-meat, animal-product diet has exploded in popularity, with advocates claiming it can improve everything from blood sugar and inflammation to skin, energy and overall wellbeing. But with fruit, vegetables, grains and other plant foods completely removed, questions remain around fibre, essential nutrients, red and processed meat, and potential long-term health risks.

Claira is joined by Isabella Ma, better known online as @SteakAndButterGal, who previously followed a vegan diet before switching to carnivore. She explains what she eats in a typical day, why she made the dramatic change, the benefits she believes she has experienced, and how she responds to concerns about nutrition and long-term health.

We also ask the questions people might be too embarrassed to ask, including what happens to your bowel movements when you eat an almost entirely animal-based diet!

Then, with Hair Loss Awareness Month taking place in August, Claira speaks to leading trichologist Marie-Royce Book about the growing number of younger people experiencing hair loss and thinning hair. They discuss genetics, stress, lifestyle, supplements, rosemary oil, scalp massages, modern hair-loss treatments and when you should seek professional advice.

Plus, Claira answers your fitness and wellness questions, from starting your fitness journey and breaking the cycle of exercise as punishment, to exercising while working from home, dealing with grief and finding a new hobby as an adult.

In this episode:

• The carnivore diet explained
• Carnivore diet benefits and health claims
• Is eating only meat healthy?
• Carnivore diet risks and concerns
• Red meat and long-term health
• Fibre and essential nutrients
• What happens when you cut out fruit and vegetables?
• Vegan vs carnivore diets
• Hair loss and hair thinning
• Stress and hair loss
• Rosemary oil, supplements and scalp massages
• Modern hair-loss treatments
• Beginner fitness advice
• Exercise and mental wellbeing
• Finding motivation to move

This week we're asking what happens when our drive to push ourselves goes too far, and whether we need to rethink our relationship with rest, recovery and our bodies. Claira Hermet is joined by eight-time national women's surfing champion Lucy Campbell to talk about building a career in professional surfing, the changing landscape for women in the sport, and the pressure female surfers face around their appearance. Lucy opens up about experiencing severe burnout in 2024, the self-doubt and chronic fatigue that preceded it, spending six weeks unable to get out of bed, and how the experience completely changed her relationship with rest and recovery. She also discusses learning to listen to her body, making space for gentler forms of exercise, and why she wants more women to see sport as something they can do for fun, rather than something they have to be good at.

This week on What The Health?! hostClaira Hermet is joined by Minreet Kaur, award winning journalist and founder of Asian Women Run. She shares the story of how running transformed her life; and howher mum’s battle with blood cancer inspired her to help hundreds of other women discover the power of movement.

Minreet tells us how she went from someone who never really enjoyed exercise, to becoming someone who now can’t imagine life without it. She explains how it was it was her mum who got her to running during lockdown, and how that shared passion led to the creation of Asian Women Run - a run club built to encourage and support more women, particularly within the South Asian community, to get active without fear, judgement, or the pressure to be the fastest.

Claira and Minreet explore why so many people feel intimidated by exercise, how community and representation can make all the difference, and why movement doesn’t have to be about personal bests or competition - sometimes it’s just about putting one foot in front of the other.

Up next: Clara puts herself to the test as she joins theGet Up and Get It Done community for one of their gruelling group workouts. Founded bySanchez Brown, the group is built around bringing people together to push themselves hard! Will Claira survive the workout? Expect sweat, sore muscles, questionable life choices, and a reminder that sometimes the hardest part of exercise is simply showing up.

This week on What The Health?! host Claira Hermet is joined by Olivia Drewery, the creator behind neurodiversing, co-founder of sensory friendly clothing brand Club Neuro, and one of the most honest and relatable voices in the neurodivergent community online. She was diagnosed with ADHD at 23 and autism at 24, and has since built a community of hundreds of thousands of people who finally feel seen because of the content she creates.

Olivia talks us through what it actually felt like to grow up not knowing she was neurodivergent. She describes spending years masking, performing, and hiding the parts of herself that felt too much or not enough, and the sheer exhaustion of keeping that up day after day across school, university, work, and friendships. It is a description that will feel uncomfortably familiar to a lot of people listening.

A year after her ADHD diagnosis, Olivia was also diagnosed with autism, and we talk about what that second diagnosis added to how she understood herself, how the two conditions overlap and interact, and why so many people are still being missed entirely. We get into sensory sensitivities, what they actually feel like day to day, and why something as seemingly simple as clothing can determine whether Olivia is able to get through the day at all.

A 60ft wave, a mid-air fall, and a broken back. This is the story of the day big wave surfing nearly ended Andrew Cotton's career. In this episode presented by host Claira Hermet, Andrew relives the exact moment his line closed out at Nazaré, forcing him to bail and take a pounding that bounced him 40 feet through the air onto his back, fracturing his L2 vertebra. He talks us through the terrifying rescue on the beach, what those first days in hospital were actually like, and the long, uncertain road back to full fitness.

We go right back to the beginning of Andrew's story too, including the point at 25 when he'd given up on surfing entirely and retrained as a plumber, before an unlikely turn saw him become one of the very first people to attempt Nazaré, alongside big wave pioneer Garrett McNamara. He explains what it actually felt like laying eyes on Nazaré for the first time, what it means to surf a wave category before it even officially existed, and how he trained his mind not to panic while dropping into some of the biggest, most unpredictable water on the planet.

Three years after his accident, Andrew returned to paddle out at the exact same spot that broke his back and he tells us what that moment felt like, and what it took to get his body and head back to that point. We also dig into the wider world of big wave surfing: the physical toll it takes on the body year after year, how safety protocols and rules have evolved at spots like Nazaré, and whether funding in the sport is finally starting to catch up with the risk these athletes take on.

This week we're asking why Britain has become a nation of runners, and whether it's really transforming our physical and mental health.

First, hostClaira Hermetis joined by model and dancer Scarlett Clarke to talk about living with Congenital Melanocytic Naevi (CMN), the rare skin condition she's been raising awareness of through her work with Caring Matters Now. Scarlett discusses growing up with CMN, the powerful Bare Your Birthmark campaign, seeing her photographs exhibited across London, and what it was like completing the London Landmarks Half Marathon.

Later, former Team GB Olympian and 400m British record holder Iwan Thomas MBE joins Claira to discuss the UK's running boom, whether marathon fever has gone too far, the link between running and mental health, and his advice for anyone thinking about lacing up their trainers for the very first time.

Is suncream really the best anti-aging product? Should you wear SPF every day in the UK? Can sunscreen affect Vitamin D, your skin microbiome or even become unsafe if it's stored incorrectly?

In this episode, host Claira Hermet is joined by NHS Consultant Dermatologist Dr Ellie Rashid to answer the biggest questions surrounding SPF, skincare, skin cancer prevention and healthy aging.

We discuss:

• Why UV exposure causes premature skin aging
• The biggest sunscreen mistakes people make
• How much SPF you should really apply
• SPF under or over makeup?
• Hats vs sunscreen
• Chemical vs mineral sunscreen
• Natural sunscreen myths
• Vitamin D and sunlight
• Sunscreen and the skin microbiome
• Benzene contamination in sunscreen products
• How to store sunscreen properly
• Aerosol spray sunscreens
• Who is most at risk of skin cancer
• The warning signs of melanoma
• Repairing your skin barrier
• The best moisturiser ingredients
• Does expensive skincare actually work?
• Do eye creams make a difference?
• Pollution and skin health
• Diet and healthy skin
• The skincare products Dr Ellie actually recommends

Whether you're interested in anti-aging, preventing skin cancer, improving your skincare routine or understanding what the science really says about sunscreen, this conversation is packed with practical, evidence-based advice.

This week on What The Health?!, host Claira Hermet is joined by Dr James Hopkisson — one of the UK's leading fertility specialists, UK Medical Director at TFP Fertility, and a doctor who has been working in IVF and reproductive medicine since 1993. If you have ever Googled your fertility at midnight, wondered whether you have left it too late, or just wanted someone to give you straight answers without the sugar coating, this is the episode you have been waiting for.

Millions of Brits worry they may already be too late to have children, yet three quarters have never once checked their fertility. Dr Hopkisson tells us how often the people who come to him convinced it is already over are actually wrong, what age fertility really starts to decline, and whether the biological clock is as dramatic and urgent as we have been led to believe or whether we are creating unnecessary panic in an entire generation of women.

We get into the questions that everybody is searching but nobody is saying out loud. Does a regular period actually mean your fertility is fine? Does being physically fit and healthy protect you or can you be the picture of health and still struggle to conceive? What are the early warning signs that something might be worth looking into, for both women and men? And how often is fertility actually a male issue, and why are we still not talking about that enough?

One in five people now see egg freezing as a financial milestone comparable to university or buying a home, and nearly half of women say the cost is the only thing stopping them. Dr Hopkisson breaks down who egg freezing is actually for, who it is not right for, what the real success rates look like versus what people assume, and the age at which it genuinely makes a difference versus the age at which it may no longer be worth pursuing.

For anyone in their twenties or thirties who is thinking about having children in the next few years, Dr Hopkisson gives clear, practical guidance on what you should actually be doing right now. We talk about what a fertility MOT is, whether everyone should be getting one, and what it can and cannot tell you. And for anyone who has been trying to conceive and it is not happening, he tells us exactly when to stop waiting and go and speak to someone, and what that first conversation actually looks like.

This week on What The Health?!, host Claira Hermetsat down with Kim Modlinger-Ali, known to her worldwide community as Kimmy Fitness - personal trainer, pre and postnatal specialist, single mum of two, and one of the most refreshingly honest voices in women's health today.

This episode covers everything the mainstream fitness world has been getting wrong about women's bodies, and everything your GP probably hasn't told you either.

We talk about the snap back culture dominating social media and the very real damage it is doing to new mums who are already running on empty. We get into diastasis recti, the condition that affects the majority of women who have given birth and yet most have never heard of, what it actually is, how to check if you have it, and what happens if you leave it untreated. We talk about pelvic floor dysfunction, why it goes far beyond leaking when you sneeze, why it affects women of all ages, and why so many women are quietly living with it and assuming it's just part of life.

Kim breaks down why so much of the fitness and nutrition advice women receive is based entirely on male physiology research and what actually changes when you start working with your body instead of against it. We talk about syncing your training and nutrition to your cycle, why your energy, strength, and recovery look completely different across the four phases of your month, and why understanding that could be the single biggest thing you do for your health this year.

We also get into the conversations that are finally starting to happen around perimenopause and menopause and why women in their thirties need to be paying attention right now, not in ten years time. Kim shares what she sees most commonly draining women's energy, why so many of us have accepted chronic exhaustion as normal, and what small shifts in nutrition and movement can actually make a difference.

For anyone who has ever been too scared to pick up a weight in case they bulk up, Kim puts that fear to rest once and for all. We talk about what your core is actually doing for you beyond aesthetics, why women are more prone to certain injuries than men and how to train in a way that protects your body long term, and how to handle the very real mum guilt that stops so many women from ever putting themselves first.

This is also a conversation about identity, about the mental load of being a woman today, about what it means to be a single mum building a business and a community while still showing up for yourself.

Host Claira Hermet, a self love and confidence coach and trained PT, is joined by PT Leyla Mehmet for a full episode dedicated entirely to your questions. No topic is off the table. We're covering everything from gym anxiety and how to actually start lifting weights with confidence, to body image struggles and the relationship between how we move and how we feel about ourselves. We get into mental wellbeing and the small daily habits that genuinely make a difference, the truth about meditation and whether it actually works if you're someone who can't sit still, and the relationship dilemmas that so many of you have been quietly dealing with.

If you've been wondering how to get over the fear of walking into a gym for the first time, how to build genuine self confidence rather than the fake-it-till-you-make-it kind, how to navigate a relationship that's affecting your mental health, or simply how to feel more at home in your own body - your questions are answered!

This week on What the Health?!, host Claira Hermet sits down with Malakai Hagley, a 19 year old professional surfer from Devon who is quietly becoming one of the most talked about names in big wave surfing. After a video of him taking on one of Mullaghmore's biggest ever waves went viral, the messages came flooding in from some of the most famous athletes on the planet - including Kelly Slater himself. Trained by Andrew Cotty, Britain's leading big wave expert, Malakai talks about what it actually feels like to ride a wave at that size and speed, how he trains himself not to panic when everything goes wrong underwater, what a tow-in actually is and what happens when it doesn't go to plan. He also opens up about his ambitions for the World Surf League adult tour and the Olympics, and the very real funding challenges facing the next generation of big wave surfers in the UK.

Then Claira is joined by Jo Travers, Harley Street nutritionist, dietician and author, known as The London Nutritionist. Jo is here to cut through the noise around the protein craze that has taken over social media and what she has to say might surprise you. From protein maxxing and the 200g a day trend, to why protein consumed at the wrong time can actually cause weight gain, to the risks of the carnivore and keto diets, Jo breaks it all down in a way that finally makes sense. She also gets into the protein supplement industry and why she doesn't recommend bars and shakes, what leucine is and why it matters so much after 50, and what a genuinely healthy breakfast actually looks like.