

Mikkipedia
Mikki Williden
Mikkipedia is an exploration in all things health, well being, fitness, food and nutrition. I sit down with scientists, doctors, professors, practitioners and people who have a wealth of experience and have a conversation that takes a deep dive into their area of expertise. I love translating science into a language that people understand, so while some of the conversations will be pretty in-depth, you will come away with some practical tips that can be instigated into your everyday life. I hope you enjoy the show!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 7, 2025 • 1h 17min
Expanding Metabolic Flexibility: Training for Chaos with Dr. Mike T. Nelson
Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comThis week on the podcast Mikki speaks to returning guest Dr Mike T Nelson about physiological flexibility and the four physiological intervention points. An OG in the exercise physiology and nutrition space, Mikki and Mike talk about expanding metabolic flexibility, and fuel substrate use, to being flexible and resilient across other domains. They talk about temperature regulation, our pH buffer and lactic acid tolerance, and breath work to enhance our ability to deal with stress.Dr. Mike T Nelson is a research-fueled Fitness and Nutrition educator. Dr. Mike T. Nelson has spent 18 years of his life learning how the human body works, specifically focusing on how to properly condition it to burn fat and become stronger, more flexible, and healthier.He’s been called in to share his techniques with top government agencies, universities and colleges, fitness organizations and fanatics. The techniques he’s developed, and the results Mike gets for his clients have been featured in international magazines, in scientific publications, and on websites across the globe. His podcast Flex Diet Podcast is a wealth of information on all of these topics and more.Mike can be found at: https://miketnelson.com/Flex Diet Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/42TdIuiFnDYHNWK9deio5lPhysiologic Flexibility Course Waitlist: https://miketnelsons.samcart.com/products/physflex/ Previous interview: https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/204Mondays Matter Accelerated: https://www.mikkiwilliden.com/mondays-matter-accelerated
Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden

Oct 5, 2025 • 15min
Mini Mikkipedia - Food Noise Fixes? GLP-1, Calocurb, and the Patch Problem
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have become a cultural phenomenon, transforming appetite regulation and weight loss like nothing before. But with their rise comes a flood of imitators, from flashy “GLP-1 patches” to supplements like Calocurb, all promising the same results without the needles or prescriptions. In this episode, I break down what GLP-1 actually is, how these drugs work, and why they’re so effective—not just for weight but also for cardiovascular outcomes. Then I take a closer look at the patches (spoiler: marketing magic, not science) and Calocurb’s hops extract, which shows some early promise but lacks long-term data. If you’re curious about food noise, appetite regulation, and how to separate science from sales tactics, this one’s for you.Highlights:How GLP-1 drugs regulate appetite, cravings, and even food noiseWhy “GLP-1 patches” are all marketing and no scienceWhat Calocurb is, how it works, and the research behind itShort-term vs long-term evidence for appetite control
Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwillidenSave 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 10min
Catching Metabolic Disease Early—Follow the Insulin with Catherine Croft

Sep 28, 2025 • 30min
Mini Mikkipedia: Seven Days, Six Stages: Grand to Grand Ultramarathon Debrief
Fresh off the finish line, Mikki recaps the Grand to Grand Ultra: a 7-day, 6-stage, 275 km journey across Utah–Arizona’s heat, altitude and endless sand. She breaks down the training block (back-to-back days, >100 km weeks, strength, sauna), the gear that mattered (hooded SPF top, RaidLight gaiters, 12 L pack), and a simple, robust fueling plan that worked: ~30–40 g carbs/hour with steady sodium (500–600 mg/h), plus ketones and blackcurrant extract for focus and gut calm. Expect honest lessons from a long day of 87 km—including 1 a.m. dunes—why supported made sense, how “jeffing” saved the legs, and the small camp rituals that sped recovery. It’s a practical, hype-free debrief for anyone eyeing multi-day desert ultras—or just curious how to keep moving when the terrain (and life) gets sandy.Highlights:Training that transfers: back-to-back days, low-intensity volume, leg strength, saunaKit that counts: SPF hooded top, gaiters, pack fit, foot careFuel & fluids: 30–40 g carbs/h, 500–600 mg sodium/h, caffeine as a toolStage stories: 87 km overnight dunes, a wrong turn, and smart “jeffing”Camp recovery: simple carbs, protein, ketones, and keeping fibre low
Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwillidenSave 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Sep 23, 2025 • 1h 3min
Rewriting Food Rules with Claire Turnbull
Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comThis week on the podcast Mikki speaks to Claire Turnbull, registered nutritionist about her latest book, End your fight with food. Claire has been a leading voice in health and nutrition for nearly two decades, helping thousands of people rethink their relationship with food, movement, and self-care. In her latest book, she brings together the science of behaviour change with the lived reality of growing up in a culture steeped in dieting, food rules, and body image pressures. What makes her work so powerful is not just her professional expertise, but her willingness to share her own story with honesty and vulnerability — from childhood experiences to struggles with disordered eating, motherhood, and mental health.In this conversation, we dive into those personal reflections and the practical strategies she’s distilled for readers. We talk about how our early environment shapes food beliefs, the role of habits and the food environment, and why lasting change often comes down to self-belief as much as knowledge.Claire Turnbull is a registered nutritionist, published author, and holistic wellness expert who founded New Zealand-based Mission Nutrition and findWellness. With a BSc in Dietetics, a diploma in Positive Psychology, and over 20 years of experience, she provides expertise in nutrition, mental health, and healthy lifestyle habits for individuals and businesses. Turnbull is also a regular media contributor, a keynote speaker, and has authored three books, including her latest, End Your Fight with Food, which explores her personal journey and acts as a workbook to help others connect in to what really matters to help heal their relationship with food and themselveshttps://www.instagram.com/claire.turnbull/https://missionnutrition.co.nz/https://www.claireturnbull.co.nz/ https://www.claireturnbull.co.nz/shop-products/end-your-fight-with-food
Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden

Sep 21, 2025 • 21min
Mini Mikkipedia: Perimenopause, Mood, and Nutrition: Strategies for Stability

Sep 16, 2025 • 1h 22min
Fueling Tom Evans and Ruth Croft's Victories at UTMB: Inside Elite Ultra Nutrition with Paul Booth
Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours This week on the podcast Mikki chats to Paul Booth, sports nutritionist and exercise physiologist who helped lead Ruth Croft and Tom Evans to victory at the UTMB race in 2025, just gone. Mikki and Paul chat about his background, his thoughts on the 120g of carbs that some athletes are pushing (and subsequently his PhD research is studying) and the specific strategies used by both Tom Evans and Ruth Croft in the 100 mile iconic race. They also discuss other nutritional strategies, how these may relate to age group and midlife athletes.Paul Booth is a sports nutritionist and exercise physiologist with a specialist focus on ultra-endurance performance. With over 20 years of experience in academia and applied practice, Paul has worked extensively with elite and amateur endurance athletes to optimise fueling, recovery, and race strategies.He is the Lead Nutritionist for the Salomon International Team and consults with athletes across trail, ultra-running, and endurance sports. His research and practice centre on translating laboratory findings into practical approaches that account for the individual demands of athletes in real-world competition.As a PhD researcher, Paul’s academic work investigates metabolism and nutrition in ultra-running. He has completed more than 80 ultramarathons and over 150 endurance events across disciplines including trail running, cycling, Ironman, and ski mountaineering. His combination of scientific expertise and personal experience allows him to provide grounded, evidence-based strategies tailored to the unique challenges of endurance sport.https://www.instagram.com/ultra.endurance.nutritionist/https://performancegainsnutrition.com/
Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden

Sep 14, 2025 • 23min
Mini Mikkipedia - Sustaining Weight Loss: Habits, Mindset, Maintenance Mastery
This Mini Mikkipedia digs into what truly keeps weight off long-term: self-regulation, flexible restraint, and a rock-solid routine. Mikki shares research-backed insights (inspired by prep for an interview with Brandon DaCruz) showing why maintenance gets easier after 2–5 years as habits hard-wire, and why frequent self-monitoring, meal planning, and clear relapse protocols matter more than “perfect” weeks. We unpack how exercise protects appetite regulation better than diet-only deficits, why consistency across weekends beats weekday austerity, and how identity shift and intrinsic motivation drive staying power. You’ll hear practical ways to course-correct after lapses, limit decision fatigue, and build supportive environments that withstand holidays, stress, and hyper-palatable food cues. Expect zero gimmicks—just evidence-based strategies to help you feel in control and sustain results without white-knuckle dieting.HighlightsSelf-monitoring, planning, and “relapse range” (≈3%) for early course-correctionExercise vs diet-only: appetite regulation and why movement mattersWeek-to-week consistency (including weekends) over boom-and-bust cyclesIdentity shift, intrinsic motivation, and flexible restraint (not perfection)Handling real-world barriers: travel, social pressure, stress, and trigger foods
Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwillidenSave 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Sep 9, 2025 • 1h 10min
Essential Aminos, Aging, and Strength with Prof. Arny Ferrando
Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comThis week on the podcast Mikki speaks to Prof Arny Ferrando about his work in protein, essential amino acids, protein timing, aging, anabolic resistance, and how to optimise muscle retention and fat loss.Arny Ferrando is a Professor of Geriatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where he co-directs the Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity (CTRAL) and holds the position of Wes Smith Distinguished Chair in Geriatrics for Longevity, Health Promotion and Frailty Prevention.His research deploys stable isotope techniques to dissect muscle protein metabolism under stress—from spaceflight, burn injury, joint arthroplasty, renal and heart failure, to aging and surgical recovery. He pioneers nutritional, pharmacological, and exercise-based strategies to counteract muscle wasting and functional decline.After earning a Ph.D. in Nutrition & Physiology from Florida State University, he conducted postdoctoral work at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He served as a U.S. Army pilot and armor officer, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel. He’s driven by a lifelong athletic spirit: from West Point gymnast to powerlifter, bodybuilder, masters track athlete, and now Krav Maga instructor.He drives multiple research programs funded by NIH, the U.S. Army, and industry, and since 2023 holds a Visiting Senior Research Scientist appointment at IHMC, extending his work to human performance in extreme environments.https://www.ihmc.us/groups/arny-ferrando/
Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden

Sep 7, 2025 • 15min
Mini Mikkipedia: Beyond BMI: Rethinking Obesity as a Chronic Condition
Mikki takes a deep dive into BMI, obesity, and a major shift in how obesity is being redefined in the scientific and medical community. Drawing on a recent Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission report and new cohort data from the All of Us research program, she unpacks why BMI alone is an inadequate measure, how new definitions of preclinical and clinical obesity provide more nuance, and what this means for individuals, clinicians, and policymakers. This conversation highlights the importance of looking beyond the scale to understand true metabolic risk and the wider societal costs of obesity. Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of why obesity is being reframed as a chronic systemic condition—and why it matters for health outcomes and resource allocation.Highlights:Why BMI falls short in measuring individual health risk.The Lancet Commission’s new framework redefining obesity as a chronic condition.Difference between preclinical vs clinical obesity.Study findings: 1 in 5 people with “normal BMI” may still be classified as obese under the new definition.Implications for clinicians, policy, and public health.
Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwillidenSave 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order