Episode 109: Joy Is Not A Luxury

Joy shouldn’t sit at the end of your to-do list like a dessert you have to earn. We pull joy right into the centre of daily life and dig into why your body, brain and heart are wired to thrive on it. From the vagus nerve’s calming power to the way laughter lowers cortisol and boosts serotonin and dopamine, we map the science that explains why you can’t be stuck in fight or flight while you’re genuinely having fun.

We share the real-world ripple effects too: calmer guts and fewer IBS flares when stress eases, smarter metabolism when the adrenals quit shouting at your thyroid, and kinder blood pressure when you stop bracing your way through the day. Doomscrolling and fear leave a mark; nourishing moments undo it. That can look like belly laughs that crack a grump, but also quiet joy — a glassy evening sea, a warm dog asleep across your legs, music in the kitchen while dinner simmers. Joy isn’t pricey or rare; it’s a set of repeatable habits anyone can practise.

We also talk about vulnerability, grief and guilt — the places where smiling can feel wrong and fun feels frivolous. Joy doesn’t erase pain; it helps you carry it. You’ll hear simple, low-cost ideas for building a joy practice: scheduling play instead of chores, choosing connection over headphones, swapping news loops for a chapter by the fire, and reclaiming the hobbies you dropped when life got serious. Think choir nights as non-negotiable, puddle-splashing with the right boots, a post-swim glow, or a bike ride after decades that makes you throw your legs out like a kid.

If you’ve struggled to answer “When did I last really laugh?” this conversation is your nudge. Pick one thing that lights you up and do it this week, then tell us about it so your spark becomes someone else’s idea. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a quick review — your support helps more people find their way back to everyday joy.

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Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

Episode 108: Discipline, Desire & Receiving More: What It Really Takes to Change Your Life with SUZY ASHWORTH

What if the missing piece isn’t more hustle, but the courage to receive more? We sit down with global transformational mentor Suzy Ashworth for a fearless, funny, and deeply practical tour of midlife strength, mental clarity, and the mindset shifts that change everything. Starting with pull-ups, pole dancing, and a rogue Pizza Hut reference, we unpack why the last few inches—on the bar and in life—feel so hard, and how small, consistent movement creates compounding momentum.

Suzy traces the path from party nights to purpose: travel that expanded her idea of what a life can look like, motherhood that sharpened her priorities, and career pivots that honoured intuition without abandoning follow-through. We dig into perimenopause with uncommon candour—brain fog, fear, and the startling clarity that came when she cut processed sugar and quit alcohol for good. She shares how meal prep, high-protein choices, 15,000 daily steps, and structured routines helped her feel stronger than ever, and why 75 Hard is less a fitness stunt and more a mental toughness framework that rewards planning, presence, and self-respect.

We also explore plant medicine retreats, tech-free resets, and the profound relief of deep sleep, along with the identity work underneath any strategy shift. Suzy reframes receiving as a skill: start by asking what you genuinely want, decide it’s safe to have it, then act in alignment. We talk worth without guilt, ambition without apology, and why vulnerability is the real growth edge. If you’re navigating midlife health, craving clearer thinking, or ready to stop settling for “just enough,” this conversation offers tools, stories, and a spark to move.

Listen now, subscribe for more candid, research-backed wellness conversations, and leave a review to help others find the show. What’s one habit you’ll change this week to choose clarity over convenience?

For more from Suzy, you can follow her on Insta HERE AND get your hands on her amazing book Infinite Receiving HERE

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.

Feel exhausted, cold, wired yet tired, and still told your thyroid is “fine”? We pull back the curtain on why TSH and T4 can miss what your body is clearly saying, and we break down the crucial step too many overlook: converting T4 to T3, the active hormone that powers energy, metabolism, mood, temperature, and gut motility. From midlife symptoms that get mislabelled as “just hormones” to the quiet role of stress in slamming the metabolic brakes, we map the real-world pathways that move people from stuck to steady.

We explore how the liver and gut enable T3 production, why micronutrients like selenium, zinc, iron, magnesium, and B vitamins are non-negotiable, and where iodine fits without causing flare-ups. You’ll hear how mineral patterns reveal early trends, why low potassium can stall hormone delivery, and how supporting detox and digestion often brings faster relief than chasing new diets. We also tackle the missing piece in standard care: autoimmune thyroid disease. Antibodies can simmer for years before TSH shifts, which is why fatigue, heavy periods, anxiety, and hair changes are frequently waved away until things get worse.

Along the way, we share a case where sex hormones looked balanced while stress pathways told the real story, and we outline smarter testing strategies that include free T3, antibodies, and mineral assessment. The core message is practical and hopeful: normal is not always optimal, and the thyroid is often under-supported, not broken. With targeted stress reduction, blood sugar stability, gut and liver support, and the right cofactors, conversion improves and symptoms ease.

If you’re ready to rethink your thyroid, press play and take notes. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who needs better answers. Your story might change when your labs and your life finally match.

Got a question or comment? Send us a text message here!

Thank you for listening.

You can continue the conversation with us in the Far 2 Fabulous Facebook group. Come and connect with other women on a journey to empowered health.

For more information about Julie Clark Nutrition, click HERE
For more information about Catherine Chapman, click HERE

We look forward to you joining us on the next episode.