In this episode, Dr Laurena and Beth Wright (Functional Medicine Health Coach) discuss their online group program starting in September for women who are perimenopausal or in the menopause transition. We covered: 1. How we both connected and how  we are collaborating together on the Thrive Through Menopause Program 2. The goal is to change the perception of menopause to one in which is a positive experience where you can thrive  3. Provide a supportive and non-judgemental community for women to discuss their challenges 4. Provide updated information and resources that are specific for women in the areas of nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management and symptoms 5. Health coaching helps provide the support and accountability in creating new habits You can take a look at the program details, FAQs, send enquiries and sign up for this program here: https://www.bfit-thewrightway.com/menopause-program You can follow Beth on her social @bfit_thewrightway Dr Laurena's social @doc_laurena also shares information on functional and nutritional approaches to hormone health

We had a lovely time with Charles who interviewed us for his show on the Three Things, so we each came up with one thing and between the three of us made up the numbers! We talked about what is the one thing we learned so far from our time on this earth, James Bond movies, how to lose weight (and it has nothing to do with diet or exercise!), our best home-cooked dishes, telling a tiger mum the truth, swhat we would be doing if we were not doctors, and what to look forward to in 2022. You can find Charles on his Twitter and podcast Three Things https://twitter.com/ca_lankester https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/what-are-your-three-things/id1571247074 https://open.spotify.com/show/14B2kPExZM5ypWCyAjVAnE

In this episode Vanessa was interviewed by Charles on the podcast “What are your Three Things” - what are the three things you would say to your 21 year old self? We explored mental health issues particularly how COVID has impacted us, farty chairs, how to be kind to oneself, open-mindedness, her passion of 2021, and what she cannot live without. This episode was originally aired on Three Things and was kindly allowed to be reproduced here. Check out Three Things on your favourite podcast platform!

Today we took a deep dive (hence slightly longer) discussion with Eric Kussin, the founder of #SameHere Global Mental Health Movement. Eric talked about how he went from being a seemingly regular guy to being pumped with 50 different combinations of psychotropic medications and lying on his bed wasted. After two and a half years he saw an integrative psychiatrist and thus started his own journey to mental health recovery. - How do we stop the stigma of mental health by storytelling to normalise mental health - What're the pros and cons of "celebrity sharing" - We're all a little "crazy" - Adverse childhood events, trauma and life (and why Eric doesn't like the phrase "It's OK to be Not OK") - STARR exercises, Sudarshan Kriya breathing and the Art of Living, "mental" hygiene, and "prescribing" other modalities of healing for mental health  You can find Eric at SameHereGlobal and the podcast We're All a little Crazy 

Laurena interviews a long-time friend Siobhan (pronounced Shiv-on). She is a mother, lover, writer and a soulful executive coach. She works with women who desire to do meaningful work and who desire to live, love and lead in ways that are sustainable, soul-aligned and liberating. You can connect with her 1:1 or through her workshops at www.siobhanbarnes.com. 

Christine was an aeronautical engineer, then went into finance after an MBA from Harvard, and eventusally found her way to hypnotherapy - super interesting career path! She applies the same rigorous standards of science and risk management to her application of hypnotherapy, and we covered some fascinating areas of hypnosis! - medical hypnotherapy for surgeries in France; use in pre-surgical anxiety and post-surgical pain - hypnotherapy as a state of "focussed awareness", it's not sleep, not losing control and it's not placebo - using fMRI vs EEG to look at the brain's response to hypnotherapy - what is the subconscious mind? Time distortion and flow state - use of hypnotherapy for enhancing sports or peak performance - why is hypnotherapy not more mainstream!? - what is a typical hypnotherapy session like with Christine? - who is it safe for, and who shouldn't use it unless recommended by physician Mayo clinic on hypnosis  Singer who sang through surgery under hypnosis   You can find Christine at Rewed Edge or her hypnosis app UpNow

Today's guest is Dr. Nicolette Ray, a UK-trained family medicine doctor who is now teaching at the medical faculty, The University of Hong Kong. Nicolette shared her own journey of healing from Grave's disease, from nutrition, stress management, lifestyle changes, and of course- Reiki! What is Reiki? How does it "work"? Is it some kind of woo-woo energy thing? How Nicolette used Reiki on herself, on her father's heart surgery recovery, and how energy can be "sent" across the globe to help others heal from a distance Vanessa shares her experience of Reiki with Nicolette after her cervical spinal disc replacement surgery Laurena shares her experience in cardiology with using heart rate variability to help manage stress All three doctors discuss medical humanities, how to be a "healer" and not just a "doctor", and having compassion and empathy for those we help, and what a privilege it is to be able to do so.

Today we have a reality TV star with us! Dino is a meditation teacher, hypnotherapist, Reiki master, author of A Miner Who Wins Inner Peace, founder of The Modern Yogi Co, and the “spiritual guru” in Married At First Sight Australia Season 6!  Dino just did his quarantine in Perth so we asked him what he did to prepare for it, and hacks for staying physically, mentally and emotionally well.  We were also curious to hear about his experience in MAFS and how he dealt with the drama.  We explored different kinds of breath work and the science behind it.  We discussed Past Life Regression and what it is useful for, and what conditions and people are suitable for it (warning - this is not medical advice, speak to your healthcare professional first).  He spoke about meditation and how it literally saved his life, and we all shared our personal meditative practices that works for us. You can find Dino on Instagram as Dino_Hira or on his website https://www.themodernyogi.co/

Alvina's journey of self care, how she uses visualisation to be kind to onself, her matcha tea ceremony, morning routines. Compassion for self and others - The Skill of Being: acceptance, observing without judging, not taking self too seriously, and we don't have to be perfect! Personalised nutrition and health, Alvina's bioindividual nutrition course and Laurena's PH360 course How coaching can help clients achieve their goals, information doesn't necessary mean behavioural changes will come about! Setting boundaries as part of self care  You can find Alvina at https://www.alvinafoo.com or IG: https://instagram.com/msalvinafoo?igshid=xcqb2zwwb22l

Laurena and Vanessa interviews Amy, a clinical nutritionist and nutritional researcher, and the managing director of Vallotte Nutrigenomics Limited in Hong Kong. She also has a law degree and is a mother of 3!  Amy talks about her own health journey with her thyroid condition, which set her path to becoming a nutritionist to use food as her medicine and reverse her own autoimmune condition.  We talked about the blood test markers for hypothyroidism and what autoimmunity means  The 5R framework - Remove, Replace, Re-innoculate, Repair, Rebalance  How gut health, thyroid health and food are related in autoimmunity  Common foods to remove during the first 3 weeks of elimination diet, and how to personalise it for different people  How to improve Immune tolerance to food, toxins and other allergens  Why Amy finds stool testing useful in making a nutritional plan for her clients  What functional foods and nutrients Amy finds helpful for gut and thyroid health  Lifestyle changes that support recovery in thyroid conditions  Peptides that may be promising adjuncts in the management of thyroid conditions  You can find Amy here and you can see her a client through her virtual practice