Kicking off a brand new season, Natalie sits down with actor and star of Disney's The Suspect, Laura Aikman. Discussing Laura’s illustrious career she takes us through some of her personal highlights and how she deals with the difficult emotions of rejection when roles don't go her way. Laura opens up about her experience of working on other hit TV shows such as Gavin & Stacey & This City is Ours and how it felt stepping into the shoes of Dyan Cannon for ITV’s stateside smash hit Archie. She also notes the responsibility of playing real life women such as whistleblower Lana Vandenberghe in The Suspect and how learning to understand these women often shapes her own perspective on life.

Elsewhere Laura reflects on being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and how the condition presents itself for her. She talks at length about her approach to managing her health and the necessary precautions she has to take in order to remain fit and healthy in all aspects of her life.

In an impassioned part of the conversation Natalie and Laura reflect on the changing attitudes towards women working in the entertainment industry and how pushing back against the idea of perfection has allowed Laura to feel freer in her approach to her career and contributed to her recent successes. She discusses the wellbeing approach she swears by and the advice she would give to those looking to feel more comfortable in their own skin. Listen in for an informative, entertaining conversation.

For more wellbeing and lifestyle visit The Capsule at www.thecapsule.co.uk

Get involved with our community and join us on Instagram & YouTube

In the final episode of this series, Natalie is joined by GP & Menopause Specialist Dr Louise Newson to debunk the myths and misinformation around perimenopause and menopause. From menopause being labelled a disability to the idea of it being over medicalised, Natalie and Louise bring their individual thoughts to the table with Dr Newson providing expert insight and advice on how to manage symptoms.

Whilst the conversation covers various aspects of Louise’s role as a specialist and pioneering doctor, we are also given a more personal view of Louise as the woman behind the public persona and how she has dealt with difficult situations in her own life, including shedding light on her own perimenopause experience.

Throughout the chat the pair discuss the rise of menowashing and the unfairness of companies preying on desperate women for financial gain and how medical professionals are also falling prey to the commercialisation of menopause. Elsewhere Louise talks frankly about how cycle tracking, lifestyle changes and open conversations in our personal relationships can help us feel more empowered during the perimenopause transition and how hormonal treatment across our reproductive and post reproductive years needs to be discussed on a wider level, with frequent reform to ensure women are receiving the best possible care.

Listen in for an informative and personal conversation with one of the leading voices in menopause care.

For more from Dr Newson you can follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/menopause_doctor or visit the Newson Health website at www.newsonhealth.co.uk

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more wellbeing and lifestyle visit The Capsule at www.thecapsule.co.uk

Get involved with our community and join us on Instagram & YouTube

This week Natalie is joined by actor, life coach & entrepreneur Gemma Merna to talk all about her journey with anxiety and building her wellbeing community Mind & Wellness.

From her days as a shy young singer to stepping into the spotlight on C4 soap Hollyoaks, Gemma nostalgically looks back at her younger years and notes how during one of the most prominent parts of her career as an actor she was struggling with overwhelming anxiety. She recalls how the passing of her Dad exacerbated what she had already struggled with as a young performer and that during the end of her tenure at Hollyoaks she no longer felt tough enough to be immersed in the competitive world of TV. It was at this point that she came to discover the importance of self compassion and care. As an avid yoga fan Gemma trained to become a practitioner and followed on her wellness education with qualifications as a life coach and hypnotherapist. Gemma details how this personal journey lead her to create her wellbeing platform Mind & Wellness as a way to empower others dealing with anxiety, stress and trauma.

During the conversation Gemma notes how helping others feels like her purpose and that by working through her own struggles she is adamant about passing on everything she’s learned to help other people feel less alone. She talks at length about how her work in the wellbeing sector has allowed her to move away from the polished veneer of the entertainment world and to a place of self acceptance and that whilst she still loves acting building her online community has enabled her to feel confident and empowered.

Listen in for an inspirational conversation that unpacks anxiety and healing.

For more from Gemma you can find her on Instagram www.instagram.com/gemmamerna or visit the Mind & Wellness website www.mindandwellness.co.uk

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more wellbeing and lifestyle visit The Capsule at www.thecapsule.co.uk

Get involved with our community and join us on Instagram & YouTube