What the Health?!

Kat Suchet is a women's health physiotherapist, former competitive CrossFit athlete, founder of Hatch Athletic and mum of two. She has spent her career sitting at the intersection of intense training and female physiology. Which is exactly what makes her story so important. Because despite all of that knowledge, all of that training and all of that expertise, the postnatal period still brought her to one of the darkest places of her life.With it being Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, Kat joins host Claira Hermet to talk honestly about what that darkness actually looked like, why maternal mental health doesn't discriminate between those who should know better and those who don't, and what she wants every woman who is quietly struggling right now to hear. She also gets into the culture of bouncing back, why the pressure on women to be fine, to be fit and to be grateful is actively making the maternal mental health crisis worse, and why she built Hatch Athletic to fill the gap that nobody else was filling.But that's only half the conversation. Kat also unpacks everything the fitness industry consistently gets wrong about women: from training through pregnancy to the pelvic floor issues millions of women are whispering about instead of fixing, to why losing your period should never be brushed off, to how your menstrual cycle should be influencing the way you train every single month. She also gets into what women in their late thirties should be doing right now to protect themselves ahead of perimenopause and the most common thing women believe about their bodies that simply isn't true.

This week on What the Health?! with Claira Hermet, we have two guests and two stories that will make you angry, move you to tears and leave you feeling genuinely inspired.First, Amy Peckham-Driver joins Claira to talk about an infuriating and heart-breaking example of medical dismissal. At just 14 years old, Amy was passing out from period pain so severe she could barely function. She asked her doctor if it could be endometriosis. She was told she was too young and given the pill. For the next 13 years, she was told it was anxiety. It was IBS. It was in her head. It wasn't. When she was finally diagnosed at 27, after paying privately for surgery because NHS waiting lists had become impossible, her surgeon told her her pelvis looked like a bomb had gone off inside. By then, the damage to her fertility was already done. Amy talks candidly about being medically gaslit, what it feels like to be told your very real pain isn't real, the moment she was rejected for IVF because of damage that an earlier diagnosis could have prevented, and why she's now on a mission to make sure other women don't spend over a decade fighting to be believed.Then Claira is joined by Holly Dyson, a woman who was told by doctors that she had just six months to live due to her alcoholism. Holly opens up about what daily life looked like at the depths of her alcohol addiction, why hitting rock bottom didn't immediately lead to change, and what finally pushed her toward recovery. Nearly three years sober, Holly has completely rebuilt her life and her body and has just crossed the finish line of the London Landmarks Half Marathon in 2 hours 49 minutes, raising awareness for Alcohol Change UK. She also challenges the stereotype of what an alcoholic looks like, explains why that stereotype is actively dangerous, and shares what she wishes someone had told her when she was at her lowest.

One in four British girls aged 9 to 12 are using retinol. Primary school children are turning up to dermatology clinics with skin damage caused by products designed for women in their late twenties. And Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics are currently under investigation for how they market skincare to children.This week on What the Health?! with Claira Hermet, we're getting into the skincare crisis that's quietly playing out in bathrooms across the UK and we brought one of the best in the business to break it down.Dr Emma Wedgeworth is a consultant dermatologist, British Skin Foundation spokeswoman and Harley Street practitioner who trained at the world-renowned St John's Institute of Dermatology. She joins Claira to talk about what actually happens when anti-aging products are put on young skin, why brands are targeting younger and younger audiences, and what she's seeing firsthand in her clinic that should concern every parent in the country. She's also calling out the influencer economy that's driving it .But that's only half the conversation. Dr Wedgeworth also gets into the skincare questions everyone's been wanting answered: the real golden number of products your routine actually needs, what most people are still getting wrong with SPF, and whether red light therapy and microneedling actually work. She also shares her holy grail products and breaks down the biggest misconceptions circulating online right now.

This week on What the Health?! with Claira Hermet, we have Meg Robson-Austin, a triple world record holder and was crowned World's Strongest Woman in 2024. But that headline only tells a fraction of the story. Meg didn't start lifting until her 30s. Before that, she was expelled from school at 13, became emotionally reliant on drugs and had to find her own way back from rock bottom - a journey that eventually led her not only to the world stage in strength sport, but to qualifying as a trauma-informed therapist and founding her own coaching business.In an incredibly honest conversation, Meg opens up about the moment she knew her life needed to change, how weight training became the thing that saved her, and why she believes lifting weights might be one of the most powerful things a woman can do. She also addresses the outdated idea that muscles are unfeminine, talks about what it was actually like to be crowned the world's strongest woman, and reveals what her training looks like now.Then Claira is joined by her HYROX partner Jo for an honest debrief after their first ever attempt last week. What actually is HYROX? Is it as brutal as it looks? What do you wish someone had told you before you signed up? Jo breaks it all down - the highs, the lows, the toughest moments and whether they'd do it all again.Host: https://www.instagram.com/missclairahermet/

This week we're covering the topics that don't get nearly enough airtime.First up, we're joined by Dr Amber and Dr Becca, the doctors behind the Taboo Topics podcast. There's a mass exodus happening right now of women coming off hormonal contraception - but why? We dig into what's actually driving it, break down every contraceptive method from best to worst, and answer the questions most people are too awkward to ask outright. Vaginal rings, copper coils, fertility apps, the pill and breast cancer risk. Plus, is PCOS genuinely on the rise, why are kids hitting puberty earlier, and why can't you get a smear test before you turn 25?Then we're joined by Beverley Sarstedt, nutritional therapist and one of the UK's leading specialists in chronic UTI. Beverley has brought cutting-edge Microgen urine testing to the UK after working with one of the world's leading UTI specialists in the US, and she's here to explain why thousands of people are walking around with a chronic condition that conventional medicine keeps missing. We also get into genomics testing, the link between food and mental health, the supplements worth actually taking, and the health beliefs she wishes people would just let go of.https://www.instagram.com/tabootopicpodhttps://www.instagram.com/drbeccasalmon/https://www.instagram.com/doc.ambs/

For a decade, we were told to love our curves and celebrate our "flaws". But almost overnight, the cultural tide has turned. From A-list celebrities seemingly shrinking before our eyes to the quiet removal of plus-size ranges from high-street racks, "Shrinking Girl Summer" has arrived -and with it, a resurging worship of the noughties-level skinny.Journalist Rose Stokes joins host Claira Hermet for a chat about what happens when the "safe spaces" of body positivity begin to vanish. Rose opens up about the "unhealthy ritual" of scrolling through Instagram to spot who is using GLP-1 inhibitors, the agonizing jealousy of feeling "left behind" in a larger body, and the crushing pressure to participate in the collective sprint toward thinness.Rose shares the raw reality of her own experience with weight-loss injections: the fleeting hope of silencing "food noise," the "scarily fast" loss of 15kg, and the devastating mental health fallout that followed. From the lack of medical checks and balances to the "moral maze" of who these drugs are really for, this episode explores the complex intersection of vanity, health, and the commercialization of self-esteem.Claira was also on hand to answer all of your listener questions!https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/aug/10/body-positivity-shrinking-girl-summer-everyone-getting-smaller-except-me

From scaling cranes and skyscrapers to surfing moving trains and base jumping, George King has built a life around confronting fear head-on - even when the consequences are severe. Known worldwide as The Shard Climber, George joins us for a raw and unfiltered conversation about the mindset that led him to climb London’s tallest building without ropes or any safety gear, and the heavy fallout that followed.George opens up about dreaming of the Shard from the age of 13, the months of secret planning that consumed his life, and the obsessive preparation required to step off the ground knowing there would be no second chances. He describes the fear that hits mid-climb, the mental techniques he uses to stay calm when his body is screaming to stop, and the near-death moments where a single mistake would have meant falling hundreds of feet.He takes us inside the climb itself - including surreal encounters through the glass high above London - and explains why the climb was never about fame, money, or social media, but about fulfilling something deeply personal. George also reflects on the moment police shook his hand at the top, and how that fleeting sense of admiration later gave way to a harsh legal reality.The conversation then turns to the aftermath: his six-month sentence in Pentonville prison, and the psychological toll of living there.We also explore the impact his actions have had on his family, particularly his mum, the guilt that comes with putting loved ones through constant worry, and why he is adamant that others should not attempt what he does. Despite the risks, George explains why stopping entirely would be more dangerous for him personally, and how these pursuits have kept him away from darker paths.From cranes, trains, and wind turbines to future plans involving base jumping, this episode goes beyond shock value to examine obsession, purpose, and what happens when a passion exists on the thin line between freedom and fatality.https://www.shardclimber.com/

Think lifting weights will make you bulky? Think gyms are welcoming spaces for everyone? Think being “fit enough” protects you from body image struggles and weight gain? Think again.In this raw and deeply honest episode, we sit down with Emily Killick, owner of Embody Training, 3x Commonwealth Gold Medal–winning powerlifter, and one of the UK’s most experienced strength coaches, to explore the realities of fitness behind the filters — especially for women.Emily shares her remarkable journey from Kent league runner to West End musical theatre performer, before representing England in powerlifting and winning three Commonwealth gold medals, a story that even earned her a BBC feature. But alongside elite performance, Emily opens up about the challenges rarely spoken about in the fitness industry.This conversation tackles the uncomfortable truths of misogyny in the gym, being sexualised and harassed while training, and the pressure women face to look a certain way while pursuing strength. Emily breaks down the persistent myth that weight training makes women bulky, explaining how strength training actually supports confidence, longevity, and health.We also dive into the emotional side of fitness — including weight gain during toxic relationships, the shame many people feel around losing or regaining weight, and how life stress can derail even the most disciplined routines. Emily shares compassionate, practical advice for rebuilding consistency without punishment or extremes.For listeners at the beginning of their fitness journey, Emily offers simple, realistic habits that actually work, plus expert guidance on how to train effectively if you only have 30 minutes a day — without burnout or overcomplication.In this episode, we cover:Powerlifting as a woman in a male-dominated spaceMisogyny, harassment, and being sexualised in the gymWhy lifting weights won’t make women bulkyWeight loss struggles and body image realitiesGaining weight in toxic relationships and moving forwardSimple fitness habits for total beginnersHow to stay consistent with just 30 minutes a dayBuilding confidence, strength, and resilience through trainingHonest, empowering, and grounded in over 10 years of coaching experience, this episode challenges fitness myths and redefines what strength really means. A must-listen for anyone navigating women’s health, strength training, gym confidence, mindset, and sustainable fitness.🎧 Perfect for listeners interested in women’s fitness, powerlifting, weight training, beginner workouts, body image, gym culture, and mental resilience.

This week it's the Christmas special! Georges breaks down his biggest tips to not lose progress over the festive break and breaks down the calories in our favourite Christmas dinner meal. He is also joined by dermatologist Dr Derrick Phillips who broke down how we can keep our skin healthy in winter. As always Georges in on hand to answer all your health and fitness questions.

This week Georges is exploring the world of cold water swimming with Mike Morris, founder of Chill Therapy CIC, who explained the benefits of the activity for anxiety and depression. Later on the show, Georges spoke to post-natal fitness expert and CEO of Carifit about the power of babywearing and how important it is for women to exercise post birth. As always Georges in on hand to answer all your health and fitness questions.

This week Georges is joined by Zoe Griffiths to speak about how a study show people are more likely to look at people on social media for weight loss advice than to go to a health care proffesional. Amy Edwards is also on the show to speak about how she lost 10 stone in under 12 months whilst having 4 children and becoming and ironman competitor. As always Georges in on hand to answer all your weight loss and fitness questions.

This Georges catches up with Dr Alex to speak baout looking after your physical and mental health as the clock change and we head into darker evenings. Jeffrey Boadi talks to Georges about his debut book Plant Fuel and how a vegan diet can help you hit your gains. We also react to some viral fitness TikTok's.