For both of us, veganism started from a place of care.

It helped us feel more connected to animals, nature and the planet. It made us think more deeply about where our food came from, pushed us to get creative in the kitchen, and gave us a sense that the way we ate reflected the kind of people we wanted to be.

But over time, things became a little more complicated.

In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when a way of eating becomes part of your identity, when ethics become entangled with restriction, and when changing your diet starts to feel like changing who you are.

Milli shares how veganism became woven into her eating disorder, giving restriction a socially acceptable explanation and making it even harder to recognise when “healthy” had gone too far. We talk about the guilt that came with reintroducing foods, the fear of being judged for stepping away from the label, and the freedom that came with creating a more flexible relationship with food.

We also explore the bigger conversation around the idea of a “perfect” diet. Is vegan automatically ethical? Is plant-based always sustainable? And can any way of eating exist without some impact on animals, people or the planet?

This episode isn’t about telling anyone to stop being vegan. Veganism can be a deeply meaningful and nourishing choice for many people.

For us, retiring the label didn’t mean retiring our compassion.

It meant learning to care about animals, the earth and our food systems while also making space for nourishment, pleasure, flexibility and trust in our own bodies.

You don’t need to follow a perfect diet to be a caring person. Your values are allowed to evolve, and your body’s needs are allowed to change.

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Female friendship can be one of the most grounding, empowering and healing parts of our lives. Butttttt finding your people, especially as an adult, isn’t always easy.

In this episode, we’re talking about what healthy female friendship actually looks like, the red and green flags we’ve learnt to recognise, and why the right friendships should make you feel more like yourself, not like you need to shrink to belong.

We also chat about making friends outside of school, letting go of the idea that your friends need to be the same age or at the same stage of life, and intentionally putting yourself in spaces where meaningful connection can grow.

Because having empowering women around you matters, but so does asking: am I becoming the kind of friend I want to have?

☺️ Our invitation to you:

Send this episode to a woman who makes you feel more like yourself, and tell her why!

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Most of us know someone who was put on the pill as a teenager. Maybe for contraception. Maybe for acne. Maybe for painful periods. Maybe because our doctor simply said, “This will help.”

But how many of us were actually told what it was doing inside our bodies?

This week, we’re talking all things the pill — what it actually is, how it prevents pregnancy, why the bleed you have while taking it isn’t technically a period, and why it’s become the go-to solution for so many women’s health symptoms.

We also get into the conversations that don’t always happen when the prescription is handed over: mood, libido, side effects, symptoms returning after coming off, the responsibility women carry for contraception, and even the fascinating (and still very mixed) research around the pill, attraction and relationships.

Annie also shares her own experience of being on the pill, how it affected the way she felt physically and emotionally, and why eventually deciding to come off felt like taking back some ownership of her body.

In this episode, we cover:

• What “the pill” actually is and how it works.
• Why your bleed on the pill isn’t the same as a menstrual period.
• Why the pill can improve symptoms without necessarily addressing why they started.
• What can happen when you come off the pill.
• The side effects and considerations women deserve to know about.
• Why contraception still falls so heavily on women.
• The research around the pill, attraction and identity.
• What informed choice around contraception can actually look like.

This episode isn’t about telling you to take the pill or throw your packet in the bin.

For some women, the pill is life-changing. For others, it simply isn’t the right fit.

We just think women deserve the full conversation before making a decision about their bodies.

Your body. Your choice. Just make it an informed one.

Connect with us on instagram @bloodngutspodcast