Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often labelled as a disease that affects men more than women. But film director, screenwriter and actor Kathleen Lee is proof it affects women too - but that diagnosis can be harder, or take longer. Playing the main protagonist in her film Sex & Death, Kathleen explores what the experience of being neurodiverse in a neurotypical friendship group, and how those with ASD manage those feelings of social isolation and confusion. You can watch Sex & Death on ...
Nov 17, 2020•7 min
The microbiome is certainly enjoying its time in the sun thanks to recent research pointing to the importance of good gut health. But with such interest, comes the trends and fads… which aren’t always so practical. Reece Carter is a Sydney-based practising nutritionist and naturopath, with a nose for sniffing out bullsh*t in the world of diets. He breaks down how to achieve good gut health naturally, and easily. You can find Reece on Instagram at @herbnerdreece or online here. You can join the c...
Nov 16, 2020•8 min
Think cycling, and you might think of MAMILs (not the furry kind). That is, middle aged men in Lycra. But world champion and ex-Olympian turned sports reporter Kate Bates is keen to turn those connotations around, especially for women. And especially for women who are pre- or postnatal. The founder of community bike-enthusiast platform Chicks Who Ride Bikes explains why cycling - either in the online world, or IRL - has many benefits for women, beyond just exercise. You find out more about Chick...
Nov 15, 2020•8 min
Say hello to Miss Universe Australia, 2020, Maria Thattil. The recently crowned Melbourne-based ex-government employee is ready to prove that beauty pageants aren’t just for girls that might be stereotypically pretty - but dumb (and that is, dumb in the mute sense of the word). The outspoken social justice advocate doesn’t fit the mould of a typical pageant queen, in the best possible way. Proud of her 160cm stature and Indian heritage, Maria is keen to use her platform to tear down the traditio...
Nov 12, 2020•8 min
Keratosis pilaris is not pretty. These hard to get rid of, red, pimple-like bumps can cover the tops of your arms (usually), but also your cheeks, thighs or bums (less common). If you suffer from this all-too common skin condition it can seem like there’s no cure. And there’s not. But there are some things you can do to dramatically help. Each Thursday, Body+Soul digital editor Alison Izzo (who, by her own admission, is no beauty expert) and Body+Soul beauty editor Kelsey Ferencak (who, is a bon...
Nov 11, 2020•8 min
Did you know that approximately one in 20 Australians struggle with addiction each year, but only one in four seek help? Addition is an often dangerous set of behaviour that can be focused on a number of things or outside forces - food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex or even work. Dr Dan Lubman is a psychologist and the clinical director at Turning Point, an addiction centre in Melbourne. He lends his skills to helping others overcome their addictions. Because it IS possible, as a new documentary...
Nov 10, 2020•8 min
Accredited clinical nutritionist Brittany Darling sees this all the time. Especially post-COVID. And that is bloating. The good news? It’s something most of us can easily nix. But how? According to Brittany, the secret lies in not just what you eat but how you eat. You can find Brittany on Instagram at @wholefoodhealing, or online here. You can join the conversation, or drop us a question, via the Healthy-ish Australia Facebook page, here. If you’re up for funny memes and health inspo follow Bod...
Nov 09, 2020•7 min
Still abiding by the old 10,000 steps a day rule? Well, Sydney-based celebrity trainer and founder of The Upbeat Libby Babet says that it’s when you surpass the 12,000 steps a day mark that you really start to see change. And not just physical, but mental too. If this sounds a bridge too far, it’s about balance so scaling back on your high intensity workouts is part of the big picture too. You can find Libby on Instagram @libbybabet, or online via The Upbeat here. You can join the conversation, ...
Nov 08, 2020•8 min
Infidelity. It’s an unpleasant factor in the breakdown of so many relationships, especially during these ‘pressure cooker’ times we’ve been living through. Sunshine Coast-based neuropsychotherapist and relationship counsellor Joanne Wilson specialises in helping couples figure out what to do when one parties strays. Is it salvageable, and if so… what do you have to do to put things back together? You can find Joanne online here Her book, Renovate your Relationship, is out now and can be bought h...
Nov 05, 2020•8 min
We love summer, but don’t love what it does to our makeup. If you're prone to sweating (and hey, who isn’t when the temperature heats up?), Body+Soul’s beauty editor Kelsey Ferencak has some pro tips for keeping your face in place, and the makeup kit swaps that will help. Each Thursday, Body+Soul digital editor Alison Izzo (who, by her own admission, is no beauty expert) and Body+Soul beauty editor Kelsey Ferencak (who, is a bonafide expert with years of experience speaking to experts) get toget...
Nov 04, 2020•8 min
Imagine not having any insecurities. At all. Not even one. A mind blowing proposition, right? But life coach and TEDX speaker Jaemin Frazer believes that this is entirely do-able and without becoming a ‘wanker’ (his words). This is the topic of Jaemin’s third book, which looks to give simple steps to undoing the self-limiting beliefs that our insecurities often create. You can find Jaemin online here and tune into his podcast The One Minute Coach here. His book, Unhindered: The Seven Essential P...
Nov 03, 2020•7 min
Unsung heroes may not get the attention they deserve, in this era of social media, Hollywood fame and self-promotion. But Logie winner and cancer fundraiser Samual Johnson wants to change all of that. He penned a book with his sister Hilde to share the real life and often heart breaking stories of those he met whilst cycling around Australia. And what he learnt along the way could not be more timely…. You can find out more about Samuel’s charity Love Your Sister here or follow him on Instagram h...
Nov 02, 2020•8 min
Kirsten King is the reigning queen of Pilates in Sydney, with a celeb-studded client list and a booming online business and two beautiful studios, she sees first-hand the life-changing effects that Pilates has on her clients. She explains how this very established exercise method has the ability to change not only our body - hello long, lean limbs! - but also our mental and emotional state too… You can find Kirsten and Fluidform on Instagram at @fluiformpilates and online here. Converted? Kisten...
Nov 01, 2020•8 min
Tahyna MacManus wants us to talk more about miscarriages. The Australian former model and now actor, writer, director and producer has suffered two herself, and turned to her craft - film making - to help get through the heartbreaking experience. What started as a very personal video diary, turned into a much larger documentary, which is now screening on Stan. Tahyna speaks openly about her journey to motherhood - but also about how friends and family can tangibly help other women who’ve been th...
Oct 29, 2020•12 min
Hands up who loves a glossy, shiny Shellac manicure? Yup, our hands are up too. Well… we have some potentially bad news for you. The long-wearing nail treatment may not be as good for your hands and nail beds as you first thought. We asked the experts exactly ~how~ bad those UV light pods are… and also discuss why the ‘naked nail’ might be about to enjoy a comeback. Each Thursday, Body+Soul digital editor Alison Izzo (who, by her own admission, is no beauty expert) and Body+Soul beauty editor Ke...
Oct 28, 2020•7 min
Ever wanted to reprogram your brain? After all, who wouldn’t want to shed their stress eating habits? Or deal with stress better? Or find focus amid a busy day at work with ease. According to Sydney-based hypnosis and meditation teacher Mark Stephens all these things are possible, if we can tap into our thought patterns and stop the problem at its root cause: in your mind. You can find Mark’s courses online here and his MindFree app here. You can join the conversation, or drop us a question, via...
Oct 27, 2020•9 min
Being fit was part of the job, for model, influencer and Two Good yoghurt ambassador Elyse Knowles. But after falling pregnant the girl with the washboards abs felt so sick she had to swap her daily HIIT workouts for simply lying on the couch. This is the second instalment of our two-part chat with the Byron Bay-based beauty, so be sure to catch up on yesterday’s episode, where Elyse get refreshingly real about what pregnant women really eat… You can find Elyse on Instagram at @elyse.knowles You...
Oct 26, 2020•7 min
Having a baby is tough. Even for model types with picture-perfect looking lives on Instagram and wash-board abs. Just ask Elyse Knowles. The Two Good yoghurt ambassador is currently in her second trimester of her pregnancy, and even she turned to every pregnant woman’s saviour - simple white carbs - when morning sickness stuck. She shares how her usually super-clean day-on-a-plate was up-ended, what she’s eating now that she’s out of the woods, and why cleaning the fridge became a new-found pass...
Oct 25, 2020•8 min
Aphantasia is a mental condition where those affected can’t visualise pictures in their mind’s eye. If you don’t have it, it’s hard to imagine. But if you DO have it, you can’t imagine any different. Co-host of the I Swear I Never podcast Nina Young, and former Healthy-ish host and producer Nina Young knows all too well what it’s like to live with this uncommon and fascinating condition. You can listen to Season 2 of I Swear I Never in November, or catch up on Season 1 here You can find Nina on ...
Oct 22, 2020•9 min
Do you know how to squeeze a zit so it actually reduces in size, gets the gunk out and heals without leaving a massive crater or scar? Body+Soul beauty editor Kelsey Ferencak does, and she’s going to share her expert tips. Because pimple popping is one of the easiest things to overdo, and seriously injure your skin. Listen and learn… Something Old/Something New: Kelsey: My Glow 2 Glove $34.95, at MyGlow2 Ali: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic, $218, at Adore Beauty Special mention to: Subi Perfect Pimpl...
Oct 22, 2020•9 min
Actor, model, son of a famed politician… you might assume that Nick Bracks has led a charmed life, and is enjoying the fruits of his labour. But this passionate mental health advocate has triumphed over some pretty dark things in his short 32 years, and is on a mission to educate more Australians about the need to speak up when it comes to living with mental health issues. And his own experience with anxiety and alcohol abuse means he really knows what he’s talking about… You can find Nick on In...
Oct 20, 2020•7 min
Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews are no strangers to the backlash that often comes with working and, to a point, living your life online. Their pop culture podcast Shameless consistently tops the Australian podcast charts, but it’s when they speak openly about their personal struggles with topics that are often kept quiet - like endometriosis, vaginismus and mental health - that they receive the most attention. Their advice on finding the courage to speak up (even when it’s the last thing you ...
Oct 19, 2020•8 min
Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews are something of a two-woman media empire. After leaving their roles at a mass digital publishing company, the journalist friends decided to go it alone and launch a podcast that their ex-employee didn’t want. The fact that said podcast, called Shameless, is one of the most downloaded in Australia - and has gone on to spawn merchandise, live events and now a book - called The Space Between: Chaos. Questions. Magic. Welcome to your twenties - speaks volumes abou...
Oct 18, 2020•7 min
If you struggle to climax during sex, you’re far from alone. Certified Australian sex coach Georgia Grace sees this problem so often in her Sydney practise, and she has one firm piece of advice: stop trying to orgasm. Sounds counter-intuitive, but she’s adamant that this is the first step to taking back your pleasure - and fully enjoying intimacy, whether you’re alone or with a partner. She explains why… You can find Georgia on Instagram at @gspot._ and online here. You can join the conversation...
Oct 15, 2020•8 min
Turns out slapping collagen on your face will NOT help to keep your skin looking youthful… but there are a slew of ingestible beauty supplements on the market that are promising to help boost collagen production from the inside. We dig into the science to see if a collagen powder really is the elixir of youth, and when it might not be worth your time (or money). Something Old/Something New: Kelsey: Becca Cosmetics Zero Face + Lip Glass Highlighter, $41, at Sephora and Morphe Gloss Pop Face and E...
Oct 14, 2020•15 min
Nicole Singh knows what it feels like to be a round peg in a square hole. At the age of 24, the Sydney-based journalist was diagnosed with a chronic illness that meant she had to quite quickly reevaluate her job, her finances and even her friends. The experience was brutal, but it inspired her to create Real Talk TV, an online space for real conversations about how women approach their lives - and all the issues therein. As she says, ‘Life is messy, let’s talk about it.’ You can read more about ...
Oct 13, 2020•9 min
Lillian Ahenkan is DJ, TV presenter, writer and advocate and if you haven’t listened to at least one of her podcasts, you really should. The Sydney-based media star is launching yet another podcast - called Flex’s Semi-Factual History Lessons, which aims to shine a light on many of the dangerous societal constructs that we don’t have the time, energy or research up our sleeves to question. You can find Lillian on Instagram at @flex.mami and online here. Flex’s Semi-Factual History Lessons is a w...
Oct 12, 2020•7 min
Dietitian Lyndi Cohen knows the power food can hold over us. Her own struggles with disordered eating started when she was just 11 years old, but after educating herself, and losing 20kg in the process, she’s come to see food as fuel - for the soul as well as for the body. She explains how attaching guilt to what we eat can affect us in more ways than we may know. You can find Lyndi on Instagram at @nude_nutritionist and online here. You can join the conversation, or drop us a question, via the ...
Oct 11, 2020•8 min
Jazz Thornton tried to end her own life many times before her final attempt, at age 19. Her story is a tragic one - but the way in which this New Zealand native overcame her mental health battles is one of pure inspiration. Jazz is now a passionate mental health advocate, and author, with a feature film based on her experiences titled The Girl on the Bridge coming out soon. You can find Jazz on Instagram at @jazzthornton and read her incredible story online at bodyandsoul.com.au here. Her book S...
Oct 08, 2020•8 min
Heard of Milky Foot? Instagram, and the internet generally, seems to love the spectacle of the foot exfoliating mask. But why? Do they work? And is shedding THAT much skin even healthy? Kelsey puts her feet on the line to test this viral beauty treatment… with unexpected results. Kelsey tried the Milky Foot Intense Exfoliating Foot Pad, $29.95, at Chemist Warehouse Something Old/Something New: Kelsey: U Beauty Resurfacing Compound, $215, at Net-a-Porter Ali: Minenssey Australian Clay Mask Explor...
Oct 07, 2020•14 min
