Pain relief, wellbeing, and natural alternative to opioids

In this episode of Fit for My Age, host Michael Millward sits down with Christopher Deaney, founder of Christopher’s Organic Botanicals, for a deep and eye‑opening exploration of kratom—the Southeast Asian botanical that’s quietly becoming part of global conversations about pain relief, wellbeing, and natural alternatives to opioids.

Christopher shares his personal journey from childhood injuries and years of prescribed painkillers to discovering kratom as a natural option that changed his life. Together, Michael and Christopher unpack the plant’s origins, how it’s traditionally used in Indonesia and Thailand, and why it’s often misunderstood in the West.

Listeners will learn:

• What kratom actually is—a leaf from a towering tree related to coffee
• How labourers in Southeast Asia chew fresh leaves for energy and focus
• Why kratom became entangled in myths, misinformation, and early ban.
• The science emerging from U.S. research institutions, including studies on safety, dependence, and therapeutic potential
• The realities of kratom farming, fair trade challenges, and the cooperative systems supporting Indonesian growers
• The difference between natural kratom and synthetic products that have caused confusion and concern

This conversation blends history, science, culture, and personal experience—offering a thoughtful, balanced look at a plant that has helped many people but remains controversial and poorly understood.

As always, Fit for My Age doesn’t tell you what to think, but it certainly gives you something worth thinking about.

Find out more about Christopher and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk.

Audience Offers - listings include links that may create a small commission for Fit For My Age that help keep Fit For My Age free to air.

Proactive Positive Ageing.

We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test, because knowing the risks early means you can take appropriate actions to maintain good health.

Visit York Test and use this discount code AGE25.

Fit For My Age is made on Zencastr, because Zencastr makes making podcasts so easy.

Ultimate Travel Club members enjoy travelling at trade prices on flights, trains, hotels, holidays and so many other travel related purchases. Use the link to access discounted membership.

Matchmaker.fm is where great hosts and great guests are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

Being a Guest

If you would like to be a guest on Fit For My Age, please contact Abeceder.co.uk.

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

Chronic pain doesn’t just hurt — it hijacks your life.

In this episode of Fit For My Age, host Michael Millward sits down with natural healing doctor Dr Alain Salas, author of Brain Power Secrets, to explore his unique body‑and‑mind method for helping people overcome chronic health conditions.

From his unconventional journey—living on a boat in the south of France, chasing the sun, and eventually landing in mid-west USA to study chiropractic medicine—to his discovery of the “innate intelligence” of the human body, Alain shares how his holistic approach was born. He explains why chronic conditions persist, how subconscious programming shapes our physical experience, and why true healing requires addressing physical, chemical, and emotional stress together.

Alain introduces his three‑step Mind Clearing system—delete, download, create—a process designed to reprogram limiting subconscious beliefs and align thoughts, emotions, and actions. Through vivid examples, he shows how visualisation, subconscious language, and identifying “resistances to healing” can help people reduce pain fast and reclaim control over their wellbeing.

If you’ve “tried everything” and still struggle with recurring symptoms, this conversation with its blend of science, personal story, and practical insight will challenge what you think you know about healing, offer you a fresh way to think about chronic pain — and show you how powerful your mind really is.

Find out more about Alain and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk.

Audience Offers - listings include links that may create a small commission for Fit For My Age that help keep Fit For My Age free to air.

Proactive Positive Ageing.

We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test, because knowing the risks early means you can take appropriate actions to maintain good health.

Visit York Test and use this discount code AGE25.

Fit For My Age is made on Zencastr, because Zencastr makes making podcasts so easy.

Ultimate Travel Club members enjoy travelling at trade prices on flights, trains, hotels, holidays and so many other travel related purchases. Use the link to access discounted membership.

Matchmaker.fm is where great hosts and great guests are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

Being a Guest

If you would like to be a guest on Fit For My Age, please contact Abeceder.co.uk.

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.v

Rebuilding Life After a Brain Tumour — Jennifer White’s Story

In this thought‑provoking episode of Fit For My Age, Michael Millward chats with Jennifer White, a retired nurse from Ontario whose life changed overnight when she was diagnosed with a large, life‑threatening brain tumour. As Jennifer explains in the conversation — “the good news is you’re not having a stroke… the bad news is you have a large brain tumour and it’s going to kill you sooner rather than later.”

What follows is an extraordinary journey of survival, rehabilitation, identity, and reinvention.

Jennifer describes waking from surgery unable to walk, talk, or recognise her husband, and the long, determined process of rebuilding her abilities — from brushing her teeth to relearning language. She also shares how writing fiction became a powerful tool for healing, memory recovery, and rediscovering purpose. Her medical thrillers, inspired by her nursing career and her experience as a patient, shine a light on real issues in modern healthcare: staffing shortages, burnout, and the human impact of system pressures.

This episode explores:

• The emotional and physical reality of recovering from a brain tumour
• How medical knowledge shapes the experience of being a patient
• The impact of memory loss on relationships
• The role of creativity in neurological recovery
• Using lived experience to inspire meaningful conversations about healthcare today

As always on Fit For My Age, we don’t tell you what to think — but we do hope to make you think. Jennifer’s story is a powerful reminder that proactive, positive ageing isn’t just about health markers; it’s about resilience, curiosity, and the courage to rebuild.

Listen, like, download, subscribe — and share this episode with anyone who needs a reminder that hope and reinvention are always possible.

Find out more about Jennifer and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk.

Audience Offers - listings include links that may create a small commission for Fit For My Age that help keep Fit For My Age free to air.

Proactive Positive Ageing.

We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test, because knowing the risks early means you can take appropriate actions to maintain good health.

Visit York Test and use this discount code AGE25.

Fit For My Age is made on Zencastr, because Zencastr makes making podcasts so easy.

Ultimate Travel Club members enjoy travelling at trade prices on flights, trains, hotels, holidays and so many other travel related purchases. Use the link to access discounted membership.

Matchmaker.fm is where great hosts and great guests are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

Being a Guest

If you would like to be a guest on Fit For My Age, please contact Abeceder.co.uk.

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

Finding the Courage to be Yourself

This episode of Fit For My Age deals with adult themes; if you are listening in a public place please listen discretely.

Dr Steven Davidson is a registered clinical sexologist and clinical social worker who is a specialist in sexual integrity.

in this episode of the Abeceder health and wellbeing podcast Fit For My Age Dr Davidson explains sexual integrity to host Michael Millward

During their conversation Dr Davidson and Michael discuss

• What we mean when we say someone has integrity.
• How to be honest with yourself and your partner about what you want
• Why in relationships that do not have integrity; love is often not enough to build a successful relationship
• Why sex is often the only aspect of a relationship that we do not talk about with the person we are in a sexual relationship with.
• Sexuality as a psychological process rather than a physical one.
• The use of pornography.
• Why men and women view sexual integrity differently
• Why how we all see sexual integrity differently as we age

Find out more about Dr Davidson and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk.

Audience Offers - listings include links that may create a small commission for Fit For My Age that help keep Fit For My Age free to air.

Buy the Book – Sexual Integrity: Finding the Courage to be Yourself from Amazon

Proactive Positive Ageing.

We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test, because knowing the risks early means you can take appropriate actions to maintain good health.

Visit York Test and use this discount code AGE25.

Fit For My Age is made on Zencastr, because Zencastr makes making podcasts so easy.

Ultimate Travel Club members enjoy travelling at trade prices on flights, trains, hotels, holidays and so many other travel related purchases. Use the link to access discounted membership.

Matchmaker.fm is where great hosts and great guests are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10for a discount on membership.

Being a Guest

If you would like to be a guest on Fit For My Age, please contact Abeceder.co.uk.

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

Helping You Optimize Health, Aging, and Fitness for a Vibrant Life

Kemberley Verbeke is a naturopathic practitioner and peptide bio-regulator specialist based at Avita Wellness & Aesthetics and Functional Medicine in Boerne, Texas USA.

in this episode of the Abeceder health and wellbeing podcast Fit For My Age Kimberley explains to host Michael Millward what Peptide Bio-Regulators are and how using them correctly can enhance health and support a better quality of life.

During their conversation Kimberley and Michael discuss

• The choices people make that impact how they age
• How are health problems are rarely genetic and often habit based
• Herd decision-making
• How to age better with a higher quality of life
• How to improve or enjoy the ageing process such as lean body mass

Find out more about Kimberly and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk.

Audience Offers - listings include links that may create a small commission for Fit For My Age that help keep Fit For My Age free to air.

Proactive Positive Ageing.

We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test, because knowing the risks early means you can take appropriate actions to maintain good health.

Visit York Test and use this discount code AGE25.

Fit For My Age is made on Zencastr, because Zencastr makes making podcasts so easy.

Ultimate Travel Club members enjoy travelling at trade prices on flights, trains, hotels, holidays and so many other travel related purchases. Use the link to access discounted membership.

Matchmaker.fm is where great hosts and great guests are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10for a discount on membership.

Being a Guest

If you would like to be a guest on Fit For My Age, please contact Abeceder.co.uk.

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

How well prepared are you for what life may throw at you?

Vicky Jones has spent her career providing care for other people. She started as a front-line care provider and is now a director. Vicky is also the founder of Our Lives, an App and podcast that helps people plan for their future lives.

As Vicky explains to host Michael Millward in this episode of the Abeceder health and wellbeing podcast Fit For My Age when we think about our futures we think about career ambitions, and lifestyle aspirations. We do not think about how the injuries, or illnesses that might mean we have to completely redesign our lives.

Vicky and Michael discuss how we can prepare for the unexpected and make life easier for ourselves and the people who will be looking after us.

Vicky discusses Swedish Death Planning and other practical steps we should all take to prepare for the unexpected.

Think needing care or being a carer is something that will happen to other people, think again. 1 in 3 people will at some point in their life be a carer.

Find out more about Vicky Jones and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk.

Audience Offers - listings include links that may create a small commission for Fit For My Age that help keep Fit For My Age free to air.

Proactive Positive Ageing.

We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test, because knowing the risks early means you can take appropriate actions to maintain good health.

Visit York Test and use this discount code AGE25.

Fit For My Age is made on Zencastr, because Zencastr makes making podcasts so easy.

Ultimate Travel Club members enjoy travelling at trade prices on flights, trains, hotels, holidays and so many other travel related purchases. Use the link to access discounted membership.

Matchmaker.fm is where great hosts and great guests are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10for a discount on membership.

Being a Guest

If you would like to be a guest on Fit For My Age, please contact Abeceder.co.uk.

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

We are all hungry for more in life – we just don’t know what more is

JD Tremblay is an extreme athlete, military veteran, and founder of the Hungry Warrior Academy, which supports outwardly successful men to achieve their true potential.

He is also the author of Hunger For More in Life: Conquer Mental Struggles, Defy Limitations, and Discover Purpose Through Epic Achievements

In this episode of the Abeceder health and wellbeing podcast Fit For My Age JD describes to host Michael Millward his own personal journey and how he combined lessons learnt from military service, education as an engineer and participation in endurance sports to define what the more he wanted from life was, and to then creating the Hungry Warrior Academy.

They discuss

• The extreme sports that JD has been involved in
• Lessons learnt about age and athletic performance
• The difference between having potential and fulfilling that potential
• The importance of defining clearly what sort of man you want to be
• Ensuring that every aspect of life is in harmony
• Using the E.P.I.C. acronym to define harmony
• Using the B.R.A.I.N. acronym to define the journey to harmony

Find out more about JD Tremblay and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk.

Audience Offers - listings include links that may create a small commission for Fit For My Age that help keep Fit For My Age free to air.

Proactive Positive Ageing.

We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test, because knowing the risks early means you can take appropriate actions to maintain good health.

Visit York Test and use this discount code AGE25.

Fit For My Age is made on Zencastr, because Zencastr makes making podcasts so easy.

Ultimate Travel Club members enjoy travelling at trade prices on flights, trains, hotels, holidays and so many other travel related purchases. Use the link to access discounted membership.

Matchmaker.fm is where great hosts and great guests are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

Being a Guest

If you would like to be a guest on Fit For My Age, please contact Abeceder.co.uk.

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

Building a healthier idea of masculinity

George Bell is a marketing consultant who at the age of twenty found himself confused about what life as a man should be like and seriously considering ending his own life.

Rescued from that situation by some plain talking from two women who cared about him, George started the process of recovery and defining, for himself, what being a man would mean to him.

Now ten years one he has recorded his experience in the book Be A Man About It

In this episode of the Abeceder health and wellbeing podcast Fit For My Age George Bell describes that journey to host Michael Millward.

They discuss

• Why men don’t talk about the challenges of being a man
• The size of the men’s mental health challenge
• How language defines masculinity
• Societal expectations of men
• When boys start to be told how to be a man
• Media influences on masculinity
• The role of women in defining masculinity
• How men can start conversations about their mental health and masculinity
• What the future of masculinity looks like

Buy Be A Man About It at Amazonor Bookshop.org

Find out more about George Bell and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk.

Audience Offers - listings include links that may create a small commission for Fit For My Age that help keep Fit For My Age free to air.

Proactive Positive Ageing.

We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test, because knowing the risks early means you can take appropriate actions to maintain good health.

Visit York Test and use this discount code AGE25.

Fit For My Age is made on Zencastr, because Zencastr makes making podcasts so easy.

Ultimate Travel Club members enjoy travelling at trade prices on flights, trains, hotels, holidays and so many other travel related purchases. Use the link to access discounted membership.

Matchmaker.fm is where great hosts and great guests are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10for a discount on membership.

Being a Guest

If you would like to be a guest on Fit For My Age, please contact Abeceder.co.uk.

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.