Today I'm joined by weight inclusive researcher and Health at Every Size author, Dr. Linda Bacon. Linda challenges us to reassess the assumptions we hold regarding the relationship between obesity and health, and describes some of the evidence that suggests we should focus more on health behaviours and less on weight loss if we really care about people's health. This can be a challenging concept to get your heard round if you're used to the dogma that fat is bad, so I've linked to some important research papers in the show notes so you can read them for yourself. Finally, this topic is so important, please share this episode and help spread the message.

Ok team, it's time for some real talk. There's an enormous amount of privilege and a dearth of diversity in the blogging & wellness game. What gives? And why is no one speaking about it? Everyone too busy counting their macros to give a damn? Chidera and I go deep on this issue, and how it's being reflected on a global level. We also get into the business of figuring out who you are, learning to love yourself, and how your value extends wayyyy beyond how your body looks (and I would add how swole you are, how much you work out, what you eat or how much you weigh - just sayin'). Chidera is an incredible woman and this 'sode delivers so many lessons - LEAN IN AND LISTEN CAREFULLY. 

This week we're switching things up a bit and talking to designer and small business mentor Lola Hoad about how she created her own business out of necessity for her mental health and wellbeing. Plus she tells us how she gets her inner critic to STFU, and talks about the importance of self-care when you're a boss. Lola tells us about how 'busyness' is actually a sign of burnout and she gives some great advice on how to work smarter and more efficiently so you don't ever have to get to the burnout stage. 

Today I'm joined by two of the coolest dietitians in the game: Helen West & Rosie Saunt of The Rooted Project. These two are turning the wellness world on its head with their themed nutrition events that connect the public with experts; researchers, professors, registered nutritionists and dietitians. Not an Insta-celeb in sight. We talk about which credentials to look out for to make sure your nutrition info is legit, and some red flags telling you to AVOID. Plus the reason people who know relatively little about nutrition give the impression of authority, when actually real experts know the limits of their knowledge. Plus find out what they think is the most offensive nutrition myth out there. 

So if you’ve listened to the pod for a while now you'll recognise Dom & Elsie from Clean Beauty Co – these two women are really doing awesome things in the natural beauty space – their MO is to empower people to take control over what they put on their skin, so they give the recipes to all their products freely on their website. And they’re just about to release their first book which is pretty much everything they’ve learned on their natural beauty journey to help make natural beauty accessible. What I love so much about them, BS. They’re not like ‘aaargh chemicals’ or whatever other fear mongering crap a lot of other brands do; they’re just really cool, and let the products and the brand speak for themselves. Plus they’re making natural beauty not so crunchy and weird and foreign, they make it pretty dope with their sleek branding and general cool girl vibes. I recommend going back and listening to their first episode if you haven’t already – episode 8 – especially if you want more of the how tos and product recommendations and then coming back to this one for what I think is a really enlightened and evolved conversation about the industry and how they’re really moving it forward in their own way and redefining what a beauty brand is in 2017. I predict big things for these ladies, so just remember where you heard about them first!

Today I'm talking to gut health boss and all-round science babe, Dr. Megan Rossi of King's College London. We talk about her exciting career so far, then take a dive into all things gut health, focussing on IBS + Low FODMAP diets, plus pre & probiotics, fermented foods, and of course, all the science. 

I hear a lot of noise around Intuitive Eating without any real substance - "just eat more intuitively" with no understanding of the principles of intuitive eating or how to implement them. So I figured it was time for me to explain them and discuss how they'll be implemented in my Food Fight online course + community for intuitive eating. There you'll learn to ditch diets and dump emotional baggage around food for good. The course is now open for registration at laurathomasphd.co.uk/intuitive - use the code 'FOODFIGHT50' for a £50 discount. the course goes live 30th Jan 2017.

SURPRISE - Jacqueline Hurst is back with her straight shooting real talk. This time we're talking about how your body has nothing to do with your worth and gives us her tips on how to be kind to yourself this Christmas. When surveyed 91% of women said they were unhappy with their body. Think about that for a second and imagine all the cool things we could do if we chose not to engage and instead show ourselves some love. Remember: YOU ARE FLY AF! Jacqueline also tells us about a special film that she's hosting that she thinks we all need to see, and I totally agree with her. All the deets & where to get tickets are on my site: laurathomaspd.co.uk

Today I'm talking to Gracie and Sophie Tyrrell - founders of Squirrel Sisters. You’re going to learn all about how they started and grew their business, how they’re keeping it in the family, how they’re staying true to themselves by not compromising their integrity as a brand, and how they practice self care. I think this is just such a sweet episode to go out on because it’s clear that these girls have big love for each other and their mutual support is a key ingredient in their success. And because they’re so cool, they’re offering 15% off of their bars if you use the code ‘dontsaltmysquirrel’ in their shop which you can find at squirrelsisters.com. And if you order them before the end of this weekend they’ll do their best to get them to you in time for Christmas. And if you’re listening to this & it’s too late for Christmas, don’t sweat it, the code is still good and you might need something to take the edge off all the chocolate and Christmas cake. But you can also just go into boots and buy one, that works too.

It's the 'That's My Jam' Christmas Special! My guest this week is Emily Beeson of Young Gold Teeth and she's picked out the best handmade and indie gifts from designers, makers, and stores across the UK. She's breaking down why she believes in supporting small brands & start-ups, and why it's worth paying top dollar for goods that will stand the test of time. Be inspired by Emily's cool-girl aesthetic and meet the makers, the movers, and the shakers that make it possible to shop independent this Christmas. 

I can’t wait for you guys to hear this week’s episode because it starts out as this conversation about fitness and moving our bodies better but then it takes this whole unexpected turn and we cover everything from how stoic philosophy is key to helping us live fuller lives to overcoming negativity bias with gratitude. We get into mindfulness and meditation and how when ish hits the fan, it’s an opportunity to grow and develop; it’s just a matter of mindset, which we also explain. Today I’m talking to a Lawrence Price of FaFitSake. Lawrence really surprised me and this interview ended up being completely different than I was expecting; he’s an incredibly deep thinker and he has a lot of good advice for helping you to get out of a funk if you’re in that weird heavy headspace where things don’t feel great. So take a listen and share it with someone who's maybe having a rough time right now.

Right when I very first started the pod I asked my first guest (Izy Hossack, btw) who else she thought I should interview. She said McKel Hill of Nutrition Stripped. Fast forward 30 episodes and here we are, talking to the incredible McKel about all things nutrition, food trends, and her absolute non-negotiables. We talk medicinal mushroom, getting enough sleep, and the power of 'no', in business and in life. McKel's energy and passion are infectious; I dare you not to aim for ten-a-day after this! 

This week, more than ever, we need perseverance and positive vibes and BA plant powered endurance cyclist Laura Scott DELIVERS. I don't want to give too much away but something pretty wild happened on her latest adventure that should have immediately taken her out of the race, but she kept on truckin'. Even if you're not a fan of cycling, or don't own a bike, there are so many lessons to learn from this lady. Oh, and head to Instagram for a sweet cycling related giveaway from The Cycling Store

I’m really excited to introduce you to today’s guest, Hollie Grant – she’s a PT and a Pilates Instructor and founder of the model method, she trains crazy big celebs like Jourdan Dunn. Basically, she’s a big deal. But what I love about Hollie is that she’s not some crazy gym person; she’s  gets real on some of the problems in her industry, like the obsession with aesthetics over form and function, and how no one talks about the benefits of exercise independent of losing weight or getting jacked up. I kind of give her a hard time about the whole ‘strong not skinny thing’ and I love that she shuts me down and points out that strong doesn’t necessarily mean physically strong, and how movement can also help make you emotionally and mentally stronger, which I’m all about. I just think it’s so cool to talk to someone in this industry who isn’t trying to make it all about looking a particular way or posting weird pictures that are supposed to be inspiring but make you feel like shit. I think you’re going to love Hollie!

So, our guest for this week went MIA and I needed to come up with something quick so asked you guys if you had any questions for me on social media. Turns out you had way too many questions for me to answer but this is a pretty good start. I get into some Chrononutrition, the microbiome, supplements, and what annoys me most about the nutrition industry. Was cool to try something a bit different but I wanna know what you think! Let me know @laurathomasphd Sorry I couldn't cover all the questions I got but if you want I can do another episode like this next month.

Today I’m talking to Georgina Grogan of She Might be which is a new online body positive, plus size magazine that’s bringing together all the hot bopo bloggers. So, we start off pretty tame, talking about make up and fashion, but then we go all in. We talk about bullying and getting rid of toxic people around you and how the medical profession like to reduce fat people down to an arbitrary number that’s actually pretty meaningless. This is something that’s pretty close to my heart and I even get kind of emotional. So, this is really important stuff, and if you’re new to body positivity the idea of fat not being the worst thing ever might kind of freak you out so I really recommend you go back and listen to Megan from BodyPosiPanda from episode 4 because that give a lot of context for what we’re talking about here.

I wanted to Maxine on because I think she has a really interesting take on things. She’s not a nutritionist or a health guru or anything like that. She’s actually a journalist and a linguist and she really understands the power that our words have. So we’re kinda dissecting what some of the wellness language actually means when you go beneath the surface. We also talk about her illness and how she tried out a bunch of crazy stuff to try and feel better, but what works the best for her is just a pretty normal diet that’s not too far one way or the other. And we talk about how as a woman today it’s almost a given that you have or have had in the past, some kind of issue with food, And because it hasn’t been diagnosed we kinda brush it off like it’s not super valid. And this kinda makes me mad, so you’ll hear my thoughts on that too. 

Surprise! Here's a special bonus episode b/c I love you guys. I'm talking to Bella Younger aka Deliciously Stella about goats, hangover cures and what's next for Stella in the post clean eating era. Enjoy!

LifeBox have been the sponsors of the podcast since day 1 and so it seemed apt that we’re celebrating the 20^th episode with LifeBox founder and all round mega babe Jenny Sleath. She’s spilling her secrets on how she’s grown her brand with kindness and where she finds the motivation to keep hustling so hard. Plus she shares the story of how LifeBox got started and we talk about lots of other fun things. Plus we have a special Bloom & Wild giveaway over on Instagram to celebrate the 20^th ep! Lean in.

So, this week’s guest is all about that evidence based nutrition life – he does not suffer pseudoscientific claims about toxins or gluten, or bone broth. He is of course Angry Chef Anthony Warner and his MO is simply to keep bloggers, chefs, journalists and other influencers in check to make sure that the information reaching people is correct, scientific and based on facts. So basically a man after my own heart. If you’ve ever read an Angry Chef blog you’ll know that he’s a really smart dude. Like a really really smart dude. And honestly, I was kinda nervous to talk to him, BUT turns out he’s also really great, and super modest and not as angry as he is on his blog. Oh, and he has some exciting news to share at the end of the episode so make sure and listen all the way to the end. Please remember to subscribe on iTunes and follow me on social @laurathomasphd

Sorry for the drilling sounds guys - they stop after about 10 mins or so. Today we're talking to Muireann Carey-Campbell, aka Bangs - the BA blogger behind Bangs and a Bun. You might also know her from her fitness blog - Spikes and Heels, or from your BoomCycle class. More recently, you might have spotted her on the pages of Elle magazine, where she's recently been appointed as their Fitness Editor - a role I figure they came up with as an excuse to get her to come work for them. We talk about about how sometimes it takes a really freakin' long time for your dreams to come true, but how that doesn't mean you should  give up on them. She gets real about not being pretty and also why are we still judging women on that basis (the patriarchy has a LOT to answer to in this ep). Plus, why she doesn't post food pics on her Instagram. This is a longgggg episode, but I promise you'll be into every second of it.

Áine Carlin is a blogger, cookbook author, and writer. In this episode we talk a lot about food stuff, (doy!) but even more about life stuff. Áine opens up about her experience packing up and leaving London, her friends, and her career and heading out into the unknown, how that resulted in some serious struggles (we're talking ~existential ish~), and how what she needed came to her at the exact right moment. She talks a lot about how much those growing pains suck, but actually, she wouldn't be where she is now without them. Lastly, Áine shares some truly moving words about her late father and gives us a little reality check on what's really important in life. Keep your tissues close by. 

This week we’re carrying on the conversation with the cool girl of baking, Sarah Lemanski of Noisette Bakehouse. We get pretty deep, talking about our experiences with imposter syndrome and anxiety, especially if you haven’t been formally trained in your chosen profession. We discuss how social media can really bring out your own insecurities and how you have to learn to run your own race and not always look at what other people are doing. Plus Sarah talks about what it’s like to be one half of a creative power couple, and DOUBLE jams this week.

This week I talk to one of my favourite people ever - my sweet friend Sarah Lemanski of Noisette Bakehouse. We’re talking about the business of baking and what it means to be a creative person and turn your passion into a business, something we both have experience with. And how it’s not always the dream you think it’s going to be. Plus we start to talk about the feelings of anxiety and imposter syndrome (something we'll explore even more next week) that this can dredge up, but how you can sort of channel them into something more productive. And on a slightly lighter note we talk about how to stay inspired and continue to create purely just for the joy of it. Oh, and, learn Sarah's feelings on the topic of Bakeoff!

So today’s episode is something a bit different. Usually we’re talking to people who are on top of their game and have an inspiring story to share or something to kind of take your wellness practice next-level. But what good is any of that, if you struggle to even get yourself out of bed in the morning? If you’re constantly in unrelenting pain, and have brain for that makes you forget what you were saying half way through your sentence, and you have aching joints all day long? Because that’s what today’s guest has to deal with every single day. So the idea of meditating or starting a yoga practice is cute and all, but it’s not even really on the radar. And being body positive is cool but what if you feel like your body is literally fighting against you all the way? And there’s this notion of being positive and showing appreciation ALL THE TIME, but how can you be expected to do that when you have a chronic illness that you didn’t ask for, and that you’re not grateful for? But despite ALL of this Natasha Lipman is starting a charity, she’s a freelance writer and blogger, AND she's pursuing a master’s degree in Law. Her life may not look as cool or as glamorous as what we see presented on Instagram, but she is 100% stronger and fiercer than any of those people and I think that it’s really cool that she can talk so openly and honestly about how everything isn’t rainbows and sparkles. But what I think is truly amazing, is how despite all the things in her way, she still gets ish done, and she’s redefining what it means to have a chronic illness and what it means to have an invisible disability, and showing everyone that when you’re given the right support and seek out the right opportunities, you don’t have to be limited or constrained by your physical capacity, and it doesn’t mean you can’t pursue your dreams either. And I know that talking about chronic illness sounds like it could be a total downer, and we do get kinda heavy at times, but I really think you’ll enjoy it and hopefully really learn from it, I know I definitely did. And if nothing else it kind of makes you realise that most of the time when we’re complain about ish we’re really just being little Bs and that, really, we’ve got it pretty good.