Unprocessed Podcast - Season 2

With over a decade in the health and wellness industry, I'm a huge believer in food for healing and the role diet plays in your everyday life from mood to concentration to energy and sleep. Back in my 20s, my body started sending me signals that something wasn't quite right. Determined to find answers, I embarked on a relentless quest, visiting countless doctors who offered misdiagnoses ranging from IBS to weight-related concerns. But it wasn't until my journey towards starting a family that the truth finally emerged: I had Endometriosis. This life-altering experience fuelled my passion for self-advocacy and opening up conversations about topics we tend to keep hushed.

As your podcast host, I'm thrilled to share my expertise and personal journey with you. Together, we'll dive into the transformative power of nutrition and explore the uncharted territories of health. Let's break down the barriers, shatter the stigma, and empower ourselves to take charge of our well-being. Get ready for an incredible ride as we uncover the secrets of food, mood and wellness; and embark on a journey of discovery, growth, and healing. Welcome to the conversation!

I feel like growing up in a small country town directed me onto the road of foodies and health enthusiasts. With my Mum teaching me the importance of growing, storing, and cooking my own food, it was no surprise that I had an affinity with fresh ingredients, repurposing food waste and sustainability.

However, it wasn't until I started tackling my own health and wellbeing issues that I took a deeper interest in women's health. I believe that by opening up conversations on taboo topics about our mind, body and soul, we can support each other more deeply on our individual paths to better health. My hope is that this podcast will create an online community for strong women to come together and talk about their experiences without the judgement or misunderstanding of outsiders.

Affecting nearly 10% of women and girls who are of menstrual age are, endometriosis is a chronic disease that involves the abnormal growth of cells similar to those found in the uterus’ lining in other areas of the pelvis like the bowel, bladder and ovaries – but it can also spread all throughout the body – in fact, it’s been found in almost every single organ! 

Though the cause of the condition hasn’t been pinned down yet, there are a number of contributing factors associated with endometriosis, including having a family history of the disease – research suggests people in this category have a risk 10 times higher than the rest of the population.

In our first episode of season 2, our new hosts Clara & Grace, sit down with Radio Host and Ambassador of Endometriosis Australia, Ellie Angel-Mobbs. Ellie shares her incredible journey with this complex condition, along with her challenges around IVF, and how Endometriosis Australia are working to support women facing a future with endo.

In Today’s episode Clara & Grace sat down with Amanda who was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer at 32, her baby was 9 weeks old, and she was desperately just trying to soak up every minute of the newborn phase. Instead, she spent nearly every waking minute in absolute agony and constantly at the Doctor’s looking for answers to her pain.

We are also joined by Professor Teresa Mitchell-Paterson, an exemplary example of a highly qualified nutritionist who has dedicated her life to helping others. She received her Masters of Health Science in Human Nutrition and now works as a member of Bowel Cancer Australia's patient services team. On top of that, she is also a survivor of bowel cancer herself

In this episode Clara & Grace sit down with Dr Penelope De Lacavalerie, a highly experienced and skilled Colorectal Consultant and General Surgeon based in Sydney. She has dedicated her career to providing comprehensive, evidence-based care for her patients, with an emphasis on innovation and best practices. Her passion for helping others makes her an invaluable asset to the medical community in Australia.She deep dives into this condition and how it affects the body, plus how we can detect it. This condition is often overlooked or misdiagnosed due to its complexity and the lack of awareness. However, with early diagnosis and proper treatment these conditions can be managed effectively.

Do you feel like, no matter how much success you have, it’s never enough? Are your accomplishments constantly overshadowed by feelings of doubt and insecurity? If so, then you might be struggling with impostor syndrome.

Impostor syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which individuals fear being exposed as frauds despite their successes. It can affect anyone regardless of gender, age or background but research has found that women are more likely to experience this feeling than men. 

While impostor syndrome can be debilitating for some people, there are ways to overcome these feelings and build confidence in yourself and your abilities. In today's episode we sat down with Psychologist and Crappy To Happy podcast host Cass Dunn and explored with her the different causes of imposter syndrome and discussed strategies on how to conquer it!

Menstrual hygiene is a basic need which almost all women experience every month. In today’s world, access to menstrual products and education about periods are taken for granted in many parts of the world. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case everywhere - period poverty affects over 500 million people globally and 17% of women in Australia. This means that millions of women around the world lack access to essential sanitary items they need during their menstruation cycle as well as information on how to properly care for themselves during this time. It's an issue that has been overlooked for far too long and needs to be addressed now more than ever before.

Today, we are joined by Rochelle Courtenay, the founder of Share The Dignity. She is here to discuss period poverty and how her organisation works to provide dignity for women in need. We will learn about what period poverty means and how it affects women in Australia, as well as explore what we can do to help support Share The Dignity's mission. Together, let's take a look at this important issue and discover ways that we can all make a difference!

Sleep is essential for physical health and well-being, yet many of us are not getting the required amount of sleep every night. It plays an important role in physical recovery and repair, as well as supporting brain development, cardiac function and body metabolism. Additionally, it can help to improve memory, learning abilities and moods. Unfortunately, due to a variety of factors such as work or lifestyle choices we often find ourselves unable to get enough sleep each night which can lead to serious long-term consequences on our health. 

In today’s episode we sit down with The Goodnight Co Founder Shea Morrison. We discussed with her why adequate amounts of restful sleep is so important for teen and adult health. Shea deep dives into why we aren’t getting enough sleep and how we can make small adjustments to fight fatigue.

Do you ever feel like your hormones are out of balance? If so, you’re not alone. Many women struggle with hormonal issues such as PMS, PCOS and infertility that can be caused by an imbalance in their hormone levels. But there is a natural and effective solution to this problem: Seed Cycling.

Seed Cycling is a simple yet revolutionary process which uses different types of seeds at specific times during the month to help bring your hormones back into balance. By consuming certain types of seeds every day, your body will start to naturally produce more estrogen and progesterone – the two primary hormones responsible for regulating menstruation, fertility, libido and overall well being.

On Today’s episode we sit down with Mel Kovacevic, Functional Nutrition Consultant, a Certified Clinical EFT Practitioner and the founder and visionary behind Seed Cycle. In our discussion she shared how seed cycling works, how it creates harmonious hormones and how it can assist with all areas of your body.

It's time to listen to your body, especially your hormones! Balancing your hormones is essential for your overall health and wellbeing. When hormones are out of balance, it can lead to a variety of issues including fatigue, depression, weight gain, irregular menstrual cycles, acne and other skin issues. Fortunately, there are experts available to help you understand and address these issues. 

In this episode with Nat Kringoudis, we discuss the complex world of hormones and how imbalances can be created as well as how to approach the sensitive topic of menstrual cycles and contraception with teens. We dive deep into the various lifestyle factors that contribute to hormonal imbalances such as diet, exercise, stress levels, sleep patterns, and more. Additionally, we explore the different ways in which these hormonal imbalances can manifest themselves both physically and mentally. As hormones are essential for a variety of bodily functions such as metabolism, energy production, sexual development/functioning and many others, it is important to take steps to ensure that hormones remain balanced within our bodies. Nat offers up practical advice on how to regain balance through dietary changes, increased physical activity and relaxation techniques.

In today’s episode Clara and Grace interview filmmaker Tahyna MacManus about her documentary Misunderstandings of Miscarriage. This eye-opening film documents MacManus's personal experience with miscarriage, as well as those of other women who have gone through it. Through her journey she discovers that what was once seen as a taboo topic is becoming more openly discussed - allowing for strength in numbers and a newfound understanding among those affected by miscarriage. Tune into this episode to hear from Tahyna herself on how she was able to turn her personal pain into an empowering message for all women struggling with similar issues.

Are you looking for the perfect skincare routine but don't know where to start? Do you feel overwhelmed by the endless options of products available? Look no further! Today we sat down with expert James Vivian, a renowned dermal therapist and skincare consultant. From this conversation we learnt how to create an effective skincare regime, what products we need to be using, as well as busting some myths around skincare.

Having experienced his own life-changing facial in 2004, James has dedicated himself to helping others discover the amazing benefits of proper skin care. He strives to provide helpful tips and guidance so everyone can experience the feel-good effects of beautiful skin. Join us as we explore how to build a foundation for creating your ideal skincare routine at home!

In Today’s episode, Clara and Grace are joined by Dr Charlotte Keating, a Clinical Psychologist with a PhD in Neuroscience and an Advisory Board member for Dolly’s Dream. In the conversation we discuss the increasing mental health issues among children and teens, including anxiety and depression caused by bullying. With her expertise in the field of Neuroscience, Dr Charlotte shares how we can create change in our culture to better address these issues. Her insightful tools will help parents navigate the world of social media with their teens and also how we can support them when they are dealing with bullying.

Do you feel like your digestive system is out of balance? Are you looking for a natural, holistic approach to improving your gut health and overall wellbeing? If so, then today’s episode will be perfect for you.  We chat with Rachel Larsson, who has experienced first hand what it’s like to slip through the cracks of the medical industry and through her own experience has built a career as a Naturopath,  Nutritionist and Qualified SIBO practitioner​. She will discuss how different aspects of the digestive system can affect our bodies in various ways - from skin issues to hormones - and provide tips on taking the first step towards identifying why we don't feel 100%. So if you're ready to trust your gut instincts, listen to us now!

Sheradyn Dekker is an expert in gut health and hormone nutrition, with a passion for helping people identify the root causes of their chronic conditions. She has seen first-hand how imbalances in our gut can negatively affect other areas of our health. It was her own experiences with IBS, missed periods, adult acne, food intolerance and bloating that prompted her to become an expert in this field.

In addition to her work as a qualified Gut & Hormone nutritionist, Sheradyn has researched extensively into the link between gut health and overall wellbeing. She is passionate about empowering individuals to take control of their health outcomes by educating them on the importance of looking after their gut and exploring how it might be impacting other aspects of their health.

Today on the podcast we are joined by the founder of Nourishing Bubs, Olivia Bates. Liv is a passionate Paediatric Dietician and Nutritionist who saw an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and their parents. She noticed that most baby food products on the market were overly sweetened, watered down pouches full of unhealthy ingredients. 

Driven by her mission to provide healthy alternatives for little ones, Olivia developed Nourishing Bubs - an all-natural range of organic baby food with no added sugar or preservatives. Each product is packed with essential vitamins and minerals needed for proper growth and development, giving babies the nourishment they need for healthy futures, and today we deep dive into exactly what our bubs need on their plate!

Do you feel like your body is constantly under stress? Do you find yourself struggling with breakouts and acne or feeling bloated all the time? If so, then it’s time to take a deeper look at how hormones and stress might be linked through the gut. In today's episode, we are joined by Functional Nutritionist Fran Dargaville.

Fran believes in finding the root cause of health issues. Her goal is to help us overcome frustrating digestive symptoms like burning, bloating and belly pain so we can start enjoying the food and life we love. In this episode we discuss the major impacts stress can have on our bodies, how hormones can be affected by imbalances within the body, and how the vagus nerve is key to the gut brain connection.