The Little Things
In a world where well-being influencers are driven by endorsements, wellness trends generally come at a cost, and busy lives disrupt our best intentions, all many women want are simple, science-based facts to help us live a productive, happy balanced life. Enter The Little Things. Broadcaster Francesca Rudkin and health researcher Louise Ayrey have been friends for over a decade and have been through it all, and along the way have learned the benefits of practical information over costly fads. Join them for new episodes on Saturdays where they talk to experts on health, wellbeing, parenting and relationships to give you the information you need to thrive!
Episodes
Alison Mau joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey to discuss Tika, the independent sexual harm reporting platform she co-founded with Zoë Lawton.
Ali explains how Tika identifies reports naming the same person, how its collective approach enables free legal support once a group is formed, and why survivors retain control over their next steps. She also shares the personal significance of discovering she wasn’t alone, and off...
When did you last look at your will—and how much has your life changed since?
Public Trust principal trustee Michelle Pope joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey to unpack wills, trusts and enduring powers of attorney. They discuss what happens when someone dies without a will, how relationship changes can affect your plans, and why clear instructions can make a difficult time easier for the people you leave behind.
See omnys...
Why are erotic books and TV shows having a moment? And is our appetite for them really new?
On this episode of The Little Things, Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey talk to author and sex historian Dr Esmé Louise James about the history of erotic fiction, from Fanny Hill to today’s romantasy boom. They discuss the appeal of shows such as Heated Rivalry and Bridgerton, the shame that has surrounded women’s reading choices...
For some women, the days before their period bring much more than the usual symptoms of PMS.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, can cause severe changes in mood, anxiety, irritability, fatigue and concentration — disrupting work, relationships and everyday life.
Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey are joined by clinical neuropsychologist Dr Caroline Gurvich to explain what PMDD is, why some women may be particularly sens...
Public speaking can be terrifying – even for people who do it for a living.
Broadcaster Toni Street joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey to share the lessons she’s learned from 20 years in radio and television, including how to manage nerves, connect with an audience, stop chasing perfection and become a more confident communicator.
Plus, why preparation matters, how body language can change the way you feel, and why...
Inflammation has become one of the biggest buzzwords in health and wellness — but do we actually understand what it is?
Award-winning immunologist Professor Roslyn Kemp joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey to explain what inflammation does, why it isn’t always bad, how it changes as we age, and whether so-called anti-inflammatory foods and prod...
Do you manage the household bills but still feel unsure about investing, KiwiSaver or planning for retirement?
Investment manager and The Curve co-founder Victoria Harris joins Francesca and Louise to cut through the jargon and explain how women can start building their financial confidence—no matter their age or how much money they have.
From emergency funds and KiwiSaver to ETFs and investing your first dollar, this episode...
What actually helps us live longer — and live well for longer?
GP and women’s health expert Dr Ginny Mansberg joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey to cut through wellness trends, biohacking and information overload. They discuss the everyday habits that make the biggest difference, including food, movement, muscle, sleep and stress, as well as inflammation, GLP-1 medications and the health changes women should not ig...
How do we build successful careers and work hard without burning out?
Organisational psychologist Nick Petrie joins Francesca and Louise to talk about stress, rumination, burnout prevention and the habits that help people sustain high performance in an always-on world.
Nick shares the personal story that led him into this ...
As concerns grow about the return of extreme thinness, Australian body image advocate Taryn Brumfitt joins Louise and Francesca to explore why beauty standards continue to shape the way we see ourselves. From social media and weight loss drugs to ageing and self-acceptance, she explains why the goal isn't loving your body every day, but learning to stop being at war with it.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Francesca and Louise are joined by personal stylist and style coach Caitlin Taylor for a practical conversation about finding your personal style in midlife.
They discuss why wardrobes can become overwhelming as our bodies, lifestyles and confidence change, and how to work out what actually suits the person you are now.
Broadcaster and No Such Thing As Normal host Sonia Gray joins Francesca and Lou to unpack what happens when ADHD and perimenopause collide, and why so many women are only being diagnosed later in life.
From burnout and masking to hormones, anxiety and losing your ability to cope, Sonia shares her own late diagnosis journey and explains why understanding your brain can be life changing.
See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey for a chat about trust, outrage and what the internet is doing to the way we see each other.
From doomscrolling and toxic algorithms to political division, online arguments and the collapse of nuance, Wales explains why social media can make humanity seem far worse than it really is, and why he believes algorithms are “feeding the trolls”.
He also sha...
This week Francesca and Louise dive into the tricky topic of dealing with criticism and negative thoughts. They're joined by psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald, who shares his expertise on how to navigate negative feedback and the feelings that come with them.
Kyle offers practical advice on how to build resilience and maintain a positive outlook while Francesca and Louise give context to why criticism seems to hit harder in midlife.&...
Menopause expert Niki Bezzant has some bad news for us: we can't blame our midlife weight gain on menopause. Niki joins Francesca and Louise to discuss what's really behind that sneaky middle age spread and what role menopause plays if it doesn't directly cause it. They also discuss hormone therapy, breast density, and how to manage perimenopause and menopause symptoms.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Microneedling, LED masks, Botox in a bottle - these are just a few of the many cosmetic trends we're bombarded with on a daily basis. But what works, what doesn't and what could actually do more harm than good? Francesca and Louise sit down with cosmetic medicine expert Dr Sarah Hart to separate hype from reality.
They also dig into skincare essentials, and the tru...
Clinical psychologist Karen Nimmo joins Francesca and Lou for a discussion about navigating relationships when the kids leave the nest. Together they tackle the challenges of transitioning from a child-centric life to a more adult-oriented one, and the pressure this can put on relationships.
Karen shares her expertise on how to prioritise your partner during this time, and offers practical advice on how to rebuild intimacy, communi...
Jana McPherson is a food blogger and business owner navigating life as a young widow after losing her husband Hamish in 2023.
Joining Francesca and Louise to share her story of love, loss, and resilience, Jana discusses the challenges of widowhood, including financial stress, grief, and the emotional burden of caring for her children.
She also opens up about the importance of self-care, finding support, and learn...
The danger of ultra-processed food has been dominating the headlines, but do these foods deserve all the negative press they're getting?
This week Professor Sarah Berry from King’s College London and chief scientist at ZOE helps us cut through the noise as we unpack what “ultra-processed” actually means, why not all processed foods are creat...
In a world where our attention is constantly pulled in multiple directions, how do we regain control of our focus? Professor Gloria Mark from the University of California, has spent her career studying what's happening to our attention spans and she joins Francesca and Louise to share some surprising statistics.
It's a wonder we get anything done at all! But don't panic, Gloria also shares plenty of great advice to help us reclaim ...
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