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Copyright: © Sarah Ann Macklin
Are GLP-1 weight loss drugs a smart first step for obesity? They’re helping many people lose significant weight, yet concerns remain about side effects, muscle loss, cost, and regaining weight after stopping. This clip explores the promise and limits of GLP-1s, the call for long term data, and the need to pair medication with nutrition education, counseling, and strength training. It also considers real world access and whether short term success can translate into lasting health.
Andy Galpin in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 sarahannmacklin.com/vegout
Reset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 sarahannmacklin.com/reset-your-health
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
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In this episode of Live Well Be Well, I’m joined by Dr. William Li, physician scientist, bestselling author, and president of the Angiogenesis Foundation. William is one of the world’s leading voices on food as medicine, and together we explore how nutrition, immunity, and brain health are deeply connected, often in ways we underestimate.
In this conversation, Dr. William Li shares how the body’s defence systems are constantly communicating with the brain, influencing inflammation, cognition, mood, and ageing. Drawing on decades of research, he explains how everyday foods can strengthen immunity, protect blood vessels, and support brain function, not through restriction or perfection, but through consistent, nourishing choices.
We discuss why immune health matters far beyond avoiding illness, how inflammation silently impacts mood and cognition, and why nourishing the body is one of the most accessible tools we have for long term resilience. This episode is an invitation to move away from fear based nutrition and toward a calmer, evidence led understanding of how the body heals, adapts, and thrives when supported consistently over time.
Here’s What We Dive Into:
- How the immune system influences brain health, mood, and cognitive ageing.
- Why chronic inflammation quietly undermines wellbeing long before symptoms appear.
- What angiogenesis is and why healthy blood vessels matter for brain function.
- How specific foods support the body’s natural defence and repair systems.
- Why food as medicine is about consistency, not restriction or perfection.
- What the science really says about nutrition and disease prevention.
- How everyday dietary choices shape long term resilience and longevity.
- Why empowering people with knowledge creates healthier relationships with food.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:
Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Intro (00:00)
Why Social Connection Is Essential for Longevity and Brain Health (02:11)
Reframing Ageing and Letting Go of the Decline Narrative (04:26)
How Metabolism Shapes Ageing, Energy, and Disease Risk (11:03)
Why Biohacking Misses the Bigger Picture of Longevity and Health (15:26)
The Brain Microbiome and How Gut Bacteria Affect the Mind (19:12)
Probiotics and Brain Health What the Science Shows (23:29)
How to Choose the Right Probiotic Based on Evidence (30:40)
Akkermansia and Its Role in Metabolism and Diabetes (35:46)
Gut Health, Immunity, and Cancer Treatment Support (40:02)
How to Increase Akkermansia Naturally Through Diet (41:37)
Do Restrictive Diets Support or Harm Gut Microbiome Health? (47:56)
Hydration, Polyphenols, and Healthier Beverage Choices (50:54)
The Simple Hydration Habit That Prevents Mindless Eating (57:12)
Balancing Longevity Goals With Joy and Simplicity (1:01:42)
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquU
Does having APOE4 mean Alzheimer’s is inevitable? It doesn’t, and I explain how genes interact with lifestyle and environment to shape risk. This clip explores early-onset familial mutations versus common late-onset cases, APOE4 as a risk multiplier, population data from some Indigenous groups, Nigerians, and Sicilians, key lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol, poor diet, and sedentary behavior, polygenic risk scores, and why an estimated 40 to 50 percent of dementia may be preventable at a population level.
Dr Tommy Wood in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
The Great British Veg Out
How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.
👉 sarahannmacklin.com/vegout
Reset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.
👉 sarahannmacklin.com/reset-your-health
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.
https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / livewellbewellpodcast
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZXLWY5HcPXE
In this conversation, I sit down with Andy Galpin to talk about sleep, and why so many of us are still struggling with it despite doing “all the right things”.
We unpack why sleep is getting worse globally, even as awareness and spending on sleep continue to rise. Andy explains why focusing on sleep duration alone misses the bigger picture, and why exhaustion is not the same as being physiologically ready for sleep. We also explore why waking up around 2–3am is so common, and how stress, heart rate, and nervous system regulation before bed play a bigger role than most people realise.
Andy Galpin in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
What if the qualities you’ve been taught to override are actually the ones keeping you well?
To round of 2025, I’m joined by world-leading thinkers including Simon Sinek, Dr. Rick Doblin, Robin Sharma, Professor Nicolau, and Dr. Sarah McKay to explore what truly shapes our wellbeing when the noise fades and the signal becomes clearer.
This episode weaves together some of the most powerful moments from conversations across the year. From introversion and energy boundaries, to trauma, inflammation, digital overload, recovery, and the stories we tell about our bodies, this is a reminder that health is not about optimisation, it’s about understanding cost, context, and care.
Across neuroscience, psychology, leadership, and physiology, a shared truth emerges. Our systems are intelligent. But they are not limitless. And when we listen earlier, we protect ourselves from paying a higher price later.
Here’s What We Dive Into:
- How introversion can be a strength in leadership, communication, and meaningful connection.
- Why wellbeing is less about right versus wrong, and more about understanding personal cost.
- How MDMA
-assisted therapy works in the brain to support healing from PTSD — and why context matters more than the compound.
- What recovery actually looks like in a world that rewards constant output.
- Why strategic rest and “going ghost” can unlock creativity, clarity, and long-term performance.
- How social media content — not just screen time — may drive inflammation and immune stress.
- Why chronic stress and burnout can permanently shift our inflammatory baseline.
- How cultural narratives shape emotional experiences, including PMS and mood changes.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:Science Simplified, Health Humanised.Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve
👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
Simon Sinek on Leadership, Energy, and Meaningful WorkSimon Sinek: The ADHD Superpower - Why It’s My Greatest Advantage
Dr. Rick Doblin on Trauma, Healing, and Psychedelic ScienceHow Psychedelics Change the Brain: MDMA, Psilocybin, Benefits & Risks | Dr. Rick Doblin
Dr. Sarah McKay on Women’s Brains, Hormones, and Emotional HealthWomen's Brain Health: What Science REALLY Says About Hormones, PMS & Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay
***
Highlights:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:00 My ADHD Superpower - Why it’s my greatest advantage | Simon Sinek
00:11:23 How Psychedelics Change the Brain: MDMA, Psilocybin, Benefits and Risks | Dr Rick Doblin
00:18:51 Stop Chasing Money: 8 Hidden Forms of Wealth You Need Now | Robin Sharma
00:24:05 The Brain Immune Expert: Alert! Social Media is Reprogramming Your Immune System | Dr Dan Nicolau Jr
00:39:24 Women’s Brain Health: What Science Really Says About Hormones, PMS, and Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/7kfykswH6Io
This clip explores how to identify zone two intensity without relying on a wearable. I discuss the link between breathing rate, conversation ability and the underlying metabolic changes that define this training zone. We take a closer look at why many people unintentionally drift into higher intensities, suppress fat oxidation and struggle to lose weight despite working hard.
The conversation also touches on fat max, mitochondrial function and the practical implications for long-term weight management.
Inigo San Milan in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
👉 Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
As we wrap up another incredible year of Live Well Be Well, I found myself asking one simple question. What truly stayed with me?
In this conversation, I’m joined by world-leading voices who helped shape some of the most meaningful discussions of 2025, including:
Dr. Stacy Sims, exercise physiologist redefining how women should train, fuel, and recover
Dr. Andy Galpin, performance scientist translating elite physiology into everyday health
Doug Evans, longevity thinker exploring how nutrition and lifestyle shape long-term vitality
Dr. Iñigo San Millán, physiologist uncovering the role of mitochondria in metabolic health and endurance
Jason Van Blerk, founder of Human Garage, offering a new lens on fascia, movement, and healing
This episode is a reflection not only on science, but on perspective. Across these conversations, a shared message emerged. Our bodies are not machines to override. They are intelligent systems that respond to care, context, and consistency.From female specific physiology and metabolic flexibility to recovery, fascia, and longevity, these voices bring clarity to a crowded wellness space. Together, they remind us that sustainable health is built through understanding rather than optimisation alone.
Here’s What We Dive Into:- How female physiology changes the way women should train, fuel, and recover.
- Why performance science must move beyond one size fits all advice.
- What metabolic flexibility really means and why it matters beyond elite sport.
- How mitochondrial health underpins energy, endurance, and long term wellbeing.
- Why recovery is an active biological process, not simply rest.
- What fascia reveals about pain, movement, and whole body connection.
- How modern lifestyles disrupt our biology and what helps restore balance.
- Why longevity depends more on fundamentals than shortcuts.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
00:00:00 The question that shaped this year end reflection
00:04:18 Female physiology and outdated fitness narratives
00:09:42 Performance science beyond extremes
00:15:06 Metabolic flexibility explained simply
00:20:31 Mitochondria and sustainable energy
00:26:47 Recovery as a biological skill
00:32:10 Fascia, pain, and whole body communication
00:37:58 Longevity through fundamentals
00:43:21 What listening to the body really means
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/IIenBH9xAEk
This segment explores how stress affects the body and why recovery matters just as much as the stress itself. The discussion makes clear that stress is normal, but what truly impacts health is how quickly we return to homeostasis once the moment has passed.
Here, we examine the difference between ongoing strain and healthy regulation, the role of sleep in stress resilience, and why two people with the same workload can experience completely different levels of overwhelm. The conversation also looks at locus of control, daily demands, and why recovery is more about how you respond than what’s in your “stress bucket.”
Joana De Calheiros Velozo in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
👉 Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
During this special holiday, I wanted to pause for a moment. Not to teach or analyse, but simply to say thank you.
This is a short and heartfelt message from me to you. A moment to reflect on the year we’ve shared together, the community we’ve built, and the conversations that continue to shape what it means to live well and be well.
This year has been one of growth, experimentation, and learning. But more than anything, it has been about connection. Building this community has become one of the most meaningful parts of my work, and I wanted to take this moment to acknowledge that, to honour it, and to wish you rest, warmth, and wellbeing over the Christmas period.Here’s What I Reflect On:
- How grateful I am for the time and trust you bring to this space each week.
- Why this community has become such a meaningful part of my life and work.
- What we’ve learned together through curiosity, openness, and conversation.
- Why taking time to rest matters, especially at the end of a full year.
- How important it is to recognise those working through the holidays.
- What I’m quietly preparing to share with you in 2026.
- Why living well looks different for everyone, and why that’s something to honour.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
***
This episode is sponsored by:
NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker
Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today
15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:Science Simplified, Health Humanised.
Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Love what you’re hearing?
My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.
Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/qHFymGgsYyE
Want to reduce everyday toxins at home without overhauling your life? This conversation shares practical swaps for cleaners, pest control, and plastics that lower exposure while keeping things simple. This clip explores why antibacterial cleaners and strong fragrances aren’t necessary, how a single non-toxic concentrate can replace multiple products, and using peppermint to deter bugs. We also touch on microplastics, an 80/20 approach to detoxing your routine, and how your liver eliminates toxins through bile, stool, sweat, and hydration.
Dr Darshan Shah in conversation with Sarah Ann
Listen to the full episode here.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
***
This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimagined
Know your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com
***
Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
***
Let’s be friends!
📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin
📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah
🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin
📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition
💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
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