What if the life you thought you wanted was never really yours to begin with?

This week on Well Enough, journalist, author and broadcaster Poorna Bell joins Emilie Lavinia for a conversation about mid-life, relationships, ageing and the pressure women face to follow a script - fall in love, get married, have children and stay desirable.

Poorna opens up about why turning 40 felt unexpectedly powerful, the anti-ageing narratives designed to keep women feeling small, how losing her husband reshaped her understanding of love, and why she ultimately chose not to have children. Together, they discuss midlife reinvention, modern dating, emotional resilience and what it really means to “want more” from life.

Poorna’s latest book She Wanted More is out now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For decades, women have been sold the idea that exercise is about shrinking themselves — flattening stomachs, toning arms, and chasing the elusive “beach body.” But personal trainer and author Elizabeth Davies thinks it’s time for a rethink.

In this episode, Elizabeth joins Emilie Lavinia to unpack why strength training matters so much as we age, how women can protect their muscles and bones in midlife, and why fitness culture still often repackages body shame as empowerment. We discuss menopause, gym confidence, cardio as punishment, the problem with arbitrary strength standards, and why one workout a week really can be enough.

Elizabeth is the founder of This Woman Lifts and author of Training For Your Old Lady Body, a practical guide to building strength, resilience and confidence for the long game.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, presenter and Off Menu co-host Ed Gamble has spent more than 25 years living with Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at just 13 years old, he describes managing the condition as "like having another job" - a constant balancing act of food, insulin, exercise, stress and everyday life.

In this episode, Ed opens up about growing up as a self-described "fat kid", the complicated relationship with food that inspired his memoir Glutton, and how living with a chronic condition has shaped his understanding of health, control and wellbeing. We discuss the mental load of diabetes management, male body image, perfectionism, social media wellness trends, and why trying to optimise every aspect of your life can sometimes make you feel worse, not better.

Ed also shares how technology has transformed diabetes care, the realities of performing stand-up while managing blood sugar levels, his experiences with weight loss and fitness, and why finding balance matters more than chasing perfection.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.