

Just As Well, The Women's Health Podcast
Women's Health UK
Just As Well is the wellness podcast for women who want real science, practical advice, and great chat. Hosted by Gemma Atkinson and Women's Health Editor in chief Claire Sanderson, two working mums in their 40s who balance training with busy lifestyles. The show takes in everything from hormones and gut health to strength training and mental wellbeing.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 27, 2026 • 56min
Millie Mackintosh on Shame, Sobriety & Why She Had to Stop Drinking
Millie Mackintosh opens up about the panic attack that ended her drinking, the “grey area” of alcohol use, and how sobriety changed her motherhood, mental health, and sense of self. She also shares her ADHD diagnosis, the role of shame, and the wellness habits that keep her grounded.
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Hosts:
https://www.instagram.com/glouiseatkinson/
https://www.instagram.com/clairesanderson/
Wellness video producer: https://www.instagram.com/chelia.batkin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 2026 • 57min
Menopause and ADHD: Understanding Midlife Brain Fog, Anxiety and Focus
Why does ADHD feel harder during perimenopause and menopause — and why does your brain suddenly feel so different?
In this episode of Just As Well, Claire Sanderson and Gemma Atkinson are joined by menopause expert and Owning Your Menopause founder Kate Rowe-Ham to unpack how hormonal changes can amplify ADHD traits, brain fog, anxiety, overwhelm and emotional dysregulation in midlife.
Kate shares her own late ADHD diagnosis alongside her experience of perimenopause, explaining why so many women feel dismissed, misdiagnosed or told they’re “just stressed” during this stage of life. Together, they explore the overlap between menopause, mental load and neurodiversity — and why understanding what’s happening in your body and brain is key to advocating for yourself.
You’ll also hear practical, accessible advice on what actually helps: from tracking symptoms and navigating support, to lifestyle foundations like movement, strength training, nutrition and daily habits that support focus, mood and long-term health.
Whether you’re in your late 30s, deep in perimenopause or post-menopause — and especially if you’re questioning ADHD or struggling to cope — this conversation will help you feel informed, validated and far less alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 13, 2026 • 54min
GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs Explained: Benefits, Risks and Reality. A Doctor’s unfiltered guide.
Ozempic. Wegovy. Mounjaro. Miracle drugs — or a health red flag?
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Dr Zoe Williams joins Gemma Atkinson and Women’s Health UK editor-in-chief Claire Sanderson to reveal what GLP-1 drugs really do to your body and brain. From side effects and muscle loss to NHS eligibility, weight regain and menopause risks, this episode cuts through the noise with real medical insight.
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If you’re taking a GLP-1, thinking about it, or just wondering why everyone suddenly looks different — this episode is for you.
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Hosts:
https://www.instagram.com/glouiseatkinson/
https://www.instagram.com/clairesanderson/
Wellness video producer: https://www.instagram.com/chelia.batkin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 6, 2026 • 1h 8min
Why Strength Training Is Non-Negotiable for Women in Midlife
What if almost everything you’ve been told about women’s fitness is wrong?
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In this episode of Just As Well, hosts Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson, Editor-in-Chief of Women’s Health UK, sit down with world-leading exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist Dr Stacey Sims.
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This is a must-watch conversation for women who want to train smarter, feel stronger, and protect their long-term health.
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Dr Sims breaks down the science of female physiology in a clear, practical way, explaining why women should stop shrinking male fitness plans — and what to do instead. From lifting heavy and rethinking cardio, to fuelling workouts properly and navigating perimenopause, this episode is packed with actionable advice you can start using immediately.
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In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why strength training is non-negotiable for women — especially in midlife
- How just two high-quality workouts a week can transform your body
- Why fasted training can sabotage hormones, muscle, and fat loss
- How your menstrual cycle affects performance, recovery, and hydration
- The difference between true HIIT and “hard-ish” workouts
- How lifting heavy can support brain health and reduce dementia risk
- Why protein timing matters more than calories
- The real benefits of creatine for women (strength, mood, bone & brain health)
- How to train smarter through perimenopause and menopause
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Whether you’re frustrated that your training “isn’t working anymore,” curious about optimising health after 40, or simply tired of fitness advice that wasn’t designed for women — this conversation will change how you think about exercise forever.
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🎧 Listen, subscribe, and share with a friend who needs this.
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Hosts:
https://www.instagram.com/glouiseatkinson/
https://www.instagram.com/clairesanderson/
Wellness video producer: https://www.instagram.com/chelia.batkin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 30, 2025 • 1h 7min
Jessie J on Breast Cancer, ADHD, and the Fight to Stay Here
Jessie J joins Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson on Just As Well for a raw, funny, and deeply moving conversation about the year that changed everything.
In this episode, Jessie opens up about her 2025 breast cancer diagnosis — from finding the lump and getting the call, to surgery, recovery, and what it means to keep showing up while raising her son. She also reflects on early fame, lifelong health challenges, grief, and her adult diagnosis of ADHD and OCD, sharing the coping tools that help her stay grounded when life gets loud.
Honest, unfiltered, and full of Jessie’s trademark humour, this is a powerful story about resilience, perspective, and choosing to live — out loud.If you’ve been affected by anything discussed in this episode, please consider reaching out to someone you trust or a professional support service in your country.
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Hosts:
https://www.instagram.com/glouiseatkinson/
https://www.instagram.com/clairesanderson/
Wellness video producer: https://www.instagram.com/chelia.batkin/
#JessieJ #JustAsWell #Podcast #BreastCancer #WomensHealth #ADHD #MentalHealth #Motherhood
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 2025 • 34min
Best Of Just As Well: What We’ve Learned So Far
In this special reflective episode of Just As Well, Gemma Atkinson and Claire Sanderson look back on some of their favourite, most talked-about and eye-opening conversations from the podcast so far.
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From longevity and strength at every age with world-leading orthopaedic surgeon Dr Vonda Wright, to sex therapist Kate Moyle breaking down what’s actually normal (and what’s not) when it comes to women’s sex lives, this episode revisits the expert advice that really stayed with us.
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Gemma and Claire also relive powerful interviews with elite sports stars, including England football icon Lucy Bronze and heroic red Rose Ellie Kildunne, exploring mindset, resilience, confidence and what it truly takes to perform at the top of your game.
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Whether you’re interested in health, hormones, relationships, performance or simply honest conversations about modern womanhood, this episode is a reminder of why these voices — and these stories — matter.
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✨ Listen back, reflect, and take something useful into your own life.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe and share if you enjoy the conversation 💛
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Hosts:
https://www.instagram.com/glouiseatkinson/
https://www.instagram.com/clairesanderson/
Wellness video producer: https://www.instagram.com/chelia.batkin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 16, 2025 • 55min
Megan Grubb: "Stop trying to shrink yourself"
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 13, 2025 • 47min
Built Differently: Three Rugby World Champions on Power, Periods & Pushing the Limits
Live from the AO Arena, before England’s netball test against New Zealand, we sat down with three World Cup-winning Red Roses: Amy Cokayne, Holly Aitchison and Mo Hunt for one of our most powerful episodes yet.
We talk pressure, periods, and playing through pain. The ridiculous abuse they get online. Why looking different makes them stronger on the pitch. How they see their bodies not as objects but as tools. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 9, 2025 • 48min
‘I Won’t Pass This On to My Daughter’: Oti Mabuse on Body Dysmorphia, Motherhood and Owning Her Voice
This episode has it all: dancing in the kitchen, spicy food, and a toddler who might already be smarter than us. We’re talking love, laughter, motherhood, and why South African wine definitely belongs on a desert island. From belly laughs over bedtime battles to what we’d take to survive 12 months in total isolation (spoiler: it’s not the kids), this is your feel-good escape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 2, 2025 • 45min
Pregnant & Powerful: Busting Fitness Myths from Bump to Beyond
Kat Suchet - CEO & Founder of Hatch Athletic Ltd - joins us for an honest, evidence-based conversation about training during pregnancy, returning to fitness after birth, and the myths that still scare women away from movement. Kat is a women’s health physiotherapist, former CrossFit athlete and coach, and the creator of one of the UK’s leading pre- and postnatal strength programmes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


