Intro

A quick note before we begin

This year, I’m doing something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

I want to start this year by sharing something a little different.

After four years of Live Well Be Well, I’m introducing regular solo episodes. It’s taken me a long time to get here. Not because I didn’t have things to say, but because it’s taken a lot of belief in myself to sit here and share my own thoughts, reflections, and opinions, alongside the voices of the people I speak to on the show.

These episodes aren’t about giving answers or telling you what to do. They’re about making sense of the patterns that keep showing up — in science, in health, and in ourselves.

And I feel incredibly privileged to say that. I speak to some of the most respected, iconic people in this field a few times a week, and over the years, I’ve accumulated such a breadth of knowledge through those conversations. That breadth really matters when it comes to health, because nothing exists in isolation.

These solo episodes are a way for me to distill all of that. To share what’s staying with me, what’s shaping the way I think, and what’s been on my mind each month.

I also want this to feel like a conversation. Use the comments. Ask me questions. Tell me what you want to hear more about. These episodes, and this space, are where I want to respond.

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

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👉 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/

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 nowatch.com

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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

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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/

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If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:

Neuroscientist’s 3 Proven Steps to Improve Brain Health & Prevent Cognitive Decline | Dr Tommy Woodhttps://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquU

The Brain Immune Expert: ALERT! Social Media Is Reprogramming Your Immune System | Prof Nicolau

https://youtu.be/2zNw6pzv8qk

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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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Highlights

Intro (00:00:00)

Why Vulnerability Is the Real Starting Point (00:01:41)

Brain vs Immune System: What Actually Came First (00:04:36)

Negative Social Media Causes Inflammation (00:09:24)

Burnout Permanently Changes Your Immune System (00:08:38)

Dopamine Addiction, Phones, and Brain Overload (00:10:42)

Why Boredom Is Essential for Brain Health (00:11:27)

Fascia, Movement, and the Mind-Body Link (00:14:13)

Emotional Granularity: A Hidden Health Tool (00:17:07)

Redefining Success Through Mind-Body Health (00:19:58)

What “Living Well, Being Well” Actually Means (00:20:58)

Building a Health Community and Looking Ahead to 2026 (0:22:20)

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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.