The Emma Guns Show

I'm still persevering with this new nutrition and training plan but I'm not going to lie, it's not easy. Not to sound like a brat, but without any feedback (read: scale results) it's difficult to believe it's working so, six weeks in, I'm still leaning heavily into hope. I hope this works, I hope the effort will lead to reward and I hope that I am working smarter, not stupider.There's no escaping that some really dark and frightening things are happening the world right now. Yes, we should all be aware and informed but the fact is, we need a little distraction. Don't take my 'doom scroll' away from me when my 'doom scroll' is such much less terrifying than the actual news, you hear me? What do you think? Is a little distraction just what we all need right now?And finally, I interviewed Maxine Laceby from Absolute Collagen last week and after tapping out of interviews for a while because the podcast formula of rags-to-riches was so predictable in every chat I had, I am back! Maxine restored and renewed my faith in a format that I adore. My happiest and most rewarding work has always been via interviews and after feeling so inspired by my time with Maxine, I'm booking more guests for upcoming episodes - is there anyone you really want to hear from?Make sure you're subscribed to my Substack and following me on Instagram to stay up-to-date with my day to day and to chat with me and with your fellow listeners.Ems xxHey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the previous episode, I talked about how my new approach to diet and exercise - working smarter, not harder - had been a challenge because things got worse before they got better. Many listeners wrote to me asking me to delve a little deeper into this uncomfortable phases so, in this episode, I'm talking about the 'messy middle'.Forget about the metrics, this 'messy middle' was more about the mental and emotional discomfort that started to show up. After years of being rewarded for control, I let go. I stopped restricting, I stopped over-training, I decided to let go of the idea that doing more would yield bigger, better and more impressive results and what I saw was - nothing.Actually, not nothing.I saw all my metrics going in the 'wrong' direction. Did I panic? Of course I did!Yet, when it would have been so easy to quit, to go back to those old behaviours that had always given me the quick result and felt virtuous in their doing, I held fast and even though I'm still learning and it's not as though I'm through the worst of it, I can now see signs that this new approach, which requires far less stress and strain, might actually be working...Let's chat about the 'messy middle' over on Substack...Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Right, we're in the hardest part of any change-making - the bit where it gets worse before it, hopefully, gets better. Changing my diet and fitness regime at the same time has meant learning lots of new lessons, perhaps more importantly, unlearning a lot of what I thought be true, and holding on tightly while the turbulence of change has me desperately wanting to 'eject'.What I keep coming back to is that what worked for me before had stopped working and a new approach is the best way forward. Even though it's tempting to go back to what I was doing before, that would mean getting to the same place I was without any clearer idea of how to get closer to my goals. Anyway, it's all a bit unsettling, weird and strange after a few years of feeling comfortable and confident in how I ate and trained. I continue to trust I'm on the right path though...Also in this episode; my thoughts on the Beckham family drama, why the Queer Eye fall out is indicative of a bigger issue and my opinion on GLP-1s that might make you hate me.Please do head over to Substack to let me know your thoughts. It's where we can all chat about the topics in the show.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you immediately assume that doing less equates to being lazy? More than that, do you feel that if you aren't constantly 'on' that the world will assume you aren't a motivated, successful, go-getter?Over the last few weeks, I've been a guinea-pig in my own 'what's the worst that can happen if I do less?' experiment and the results, so far, have been surprising. Not least because, truth be told, I have created an identity around going above and beyond, over-delivering and always being poised to pounce on the next idea that to make the decision to absent myself from that sense of urgency has been, dare I say, uncomfortable and unsettling.Whether a down-shift in perceived effort is a good thing is something only time will tell, but nearly a month into this effort, I can definitely tell you what it feels like to consciously 'do' less and how that has been showing up. It hasn't been particularly comfortable and, as someone who has also responded to my internal Sergeant Major immediately, to suddenly tell that loud, shouty inner voice 'not today' or 'not right now' has led to a fair amount of low level guilt. Doing less has felt like choosing laziness. However, doing less via conscious choice as opposed to apathy has changed the texture of my days - even this soon into the experiment. I'm practising this new, slower approach across work, nutrition and training and my one observation across all three is that I feel far more connected to all my tasks and less knee-jerk and reactive. More on this in the episode. My main takeaway is that this reframe means I'm no longer living in a state of low-grade urgency and the knock-on effects of that have been pleasing so far...Have a listen and let me know what you think of this experiment, whether you're trying it alongside me or whether this has made you look at your workload differently. Let's chat in the comments over on Substack...Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you been sold a lie?What if doing more is actually a fast track to achieving less?You know how it goes, you find more time in your schedule, you've become competent at a certain amount of work and so your instinct is to fill the time gap, add more to your workload and generally max yourself out. I'm not wrong, am I? Women especially have been targeted by a culture of success meaning a side-hustle, having some sort of brilliant entrepreneurial idea that'll make millions and being able to do everything perfectly in all corners of our lives. Yep, we're all expected to be able to do our own accounts, bake a Bake-Off quality birthday cake with no notice and maintain a fitness regime that requires hours in the gym. It's. All. Too. Much.So, in this episode I look at the ways in which you can still get everything done but without the accompanying panic, stress, cortisol spike and general urgency that we've been conditioned to lock into in order to appear, and feel, like we're doing things properly.Contact me: office@emmaguns.comSubscribe to my Substack Follow me on InstagramHey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not that I've been going wrong, as such, but after eight months of effort towards body recomposition, I've had to acknowledge that something wasn't working. I'm not mad or upset because, ultimately, I've maintained my 50lb weight loss. However, if you've set your sights on a goal and after months of effort, you are no closer, it's only sensible to take a look at your output and see what you could be doing differently.The plot twist here is that my new approach actually feels like doing less. But, if you don't try you'll never know and as much as this is a huge trust exercise, I am also hopeful that this does work. To be more specific, I really want this to work because if it does then it means there's more than one way to skin a cat (horrible expression, but it's universal) and I can finally let go of the idea that the only way to get to where you want to be is to go at it full pelt until you eventually fall over.As it turns out, this whole new approach has come at a time when I think I need it most, and not just when it comes to my training, but let me know what you think and if you have any examples where doing less actually got you more...Follow me on Instagram @emmagunsSubscribe to my Substack @theemmagunsshowEmail me office@emmagunsHey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's natural to get to the end of the year and assess and appraise the 12 months that have just passed. As someone who has, for a few years now, found the 'new year, new you' and the whole resolutions/manifesting/visualisation/vision board culture borderline offensive AND ONLY TARGETED AT WOMEN, I haven't indulged too much in the idea that I need to make huge changes.However, 2025 has involved a fair few realisations, epiphanies and general 'what has worked before is no longer working now' and it's become clear that it's time to try a different tack.But what does that look like and, as someone who has been programmed to do more and just 'up the effort' when you want better, bigger and more results, is it time to embrace an entirely less 'throw everything at it' approach?I'd love to know what you think of this episode so let me know by DMing me on instagram where I'm @emmaguns, commenting underneath this substack post (and don't forget to subscribe) or emailing me at office@emmaguns.comHey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's some twinkly goodness in the shape of my Top 10 Feel Good Habits interviews. In this episode, Evy Pompouras.This episode was originally published in May 2021.Evy Poumpouras is a speaker, mentor and former Secret Service agent who joins me on the podcast to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.In this episode, @evypoumpouras shares:•Why avoidance gets you nowhere and it pays to face and address the things in life you find challenging.•Why so many feel-good habits won’t feel good in the short-term, but it’s the long-term yield that makes consistency and perseverance worthwhile.•Why her favourite form or instant gratification comes on the shape of a @dunkin Cappuccino Blast.•Why her evening habits routine is ‘Evy Time’ and is how she can ensure she operates at her optimum.•Her evening workout, which includes some kit from @onnit and why she loves being strong.•The benefits she feels from using an inversion table.•Why cold showers and meditation are part of her post-workout routine.•The gratitude ritual that allows her to note what has gone well, but also holds her accountable for what hasn’t.•Why getting outside in the morning is a way to really ‘wake up’ and why getting an errand done first thing leads to greater productivity throughout the day.•The conversation she had with Marc Bernays-Randolph, the founder of @netflix about success and what makes people successful.•And much much more…If you want more of Evy's expertise and insights then her book Becoming Bulletproof is available now.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's some twinkly goodness in the shape of my Top 10 Feel Good Habits interviews. In this episode, Lily Pebbles.This episode was originally published in August 2020.Lily Pebbles is a content creator who joins me to share her feel-good habits and how she stops a bad day from becoming a bad week.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's some twinkly goodness in the shape of my Top 10 Feel Good Habits interviews. In this episode, Hannah Ferrier.This episode was originally published in August 2021.Hannah Ferrier is a businesswoman and star of Below Deck Me who joins me to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.In this episode, @hannahferrier234 explains: - Why she’s leaning into healthy eating and training, not just because her hens’ party is imminent but because the mental clarity is gives her, especially in lockdown, makes it a great habit. - She’s an all or nothing person and that’s why she loves throwing herself into intense exercise. - How hydration makes her feel so good and how she can easily drink three litres a day. - Why she loves to incorporate a ‘cheat day’ into her healthy regime. - How she and her partner have made weekdays no alcohol days. - Why working on superyachts meant she acquired a taste for the finer things in life. - Why cuddling and sniffing her baby daughter, Ava, brings her such joy. - How she may have left yachting but creating a coaching business with Ocean International helps her keep her toe in, so to speak.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's some twinkly goodness in the shape of my Top 10 Feel Good Habits interviews. In this episode, Alex Light.This episode was originally published in Nov 2020.Alex Light returns to the podcast to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.During our conversation @alexlight_ldn reveals:•The importance of good sleep on how she feels.•The role music plays in her day and why a session on the piano can clear her head.•The power she finds in being organised and organising.•The joy that can be found in makeup and skincare.•Why therapy is the most positive thing she has done for herself and why she’d recommend it to anyone.•Plus, the distraction to be found in a good session of reality TV.To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's some twinkly goodness in the shape of my Top 10 Feel Good Habits interviews. In this episode, Ruth Crilly.This episode was originally published in April 2021.Ruth Crilly is a writer, content creator and model who returns to the podcast to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.During our conversation @ruthcrilly reveals:•Why walking is essential for feeling good, clearing her head and putting life into perspective.•The joy of some time alone with a magazine and cup of herbal tea. •The ceremony and ritual of a daily bath for winding down and putting a full-stop on the day.•The joy of Mint Magnums and what her special edition Magnum would be if she ever became their spokesmodel.•Why taking a step back from social media is often a good move for your mental health, and the changes she’d make the platform to make users feel good.•The distraction of time spent on Right Move, even if you have no intention of moving, and much more.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's some twinkly goodness in the shape of my Top 10 Feel Good Habits interviews. In this episode, Nadine Baggott.Nadine Baggott joins me on the podcast to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.As you’d expect from Nadine, these habits are practical, honest and there is absolutely no sugar-coating whatsoever. To quote one of Nadine’s favourite films, ‘buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy night’. During our conversation @nadinebaggott reveals:•The benefits of having pets and the rewards the act of loving and caring for them gives.•The dangers of externalising your power.•How to make lists, but lists with real purpose that create action.•Why it’s important to find pleasure in small things.•The dangers of being around miserable and/or narcissistic people and why @drramani youtube is a good source for sussing that out.•Why getting outside is vital for physical, mental, and emotional health.•How music can play a vital role in setting your mood and making you feel motivated.•Why @beyonce Lemonade played a crucial role in helping Nadine navigate a challenging time in her own life.•Why it’s so important to have hope and something to look forward to.•The friends she has surrounded herself with and what they all have in common and why they are such a positive network of trusted connections, and much more...Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's some twinkly goodness in the shape of my Top 10 Feel Good Habits interviews. In this episode, Leanne Hainsby.Leanne Hainsby is a UK @peloton instructor who joins me on the podcast to share her feel-good habits, the strategies he uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.In this episode, @leannehainsby shares:•Why exercise is such an important focus in her day - and not just because of her job.•How she’ll choose exercise based on what her mind, body and soul really need that day.•Her love of music and how no day is complete without it.•How she uses music to amplify her exercise sessions.•Why it’s so important to stay hydrated.•How being hydrated makes her feel good and how being dehydrated makes her feel bad.•Why decluttering a couple of times a year feels so incredible.To find the full, unedited episode simply click the link in my bio or type ‘The Emma Guns Show’ into your preferred podcast platform.As ever, I’d love to know what you think whether that’s in the comments below, on DM or via email. I make this podcast for YOU and if there’s anything you’d like to hear on this subject, or any other, please feel free to let me know.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's some twinkly goodness in the shape of my Top 10 Feel Good Habits interviews. In this episode, Lucy Pinder. Lucy Pinder is a model, actress and podcaster who joins me to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.In this episode, @pinderpix explains:•Why it might be predictable but there really is something to be said for the way exercise makes you feel, not just physically but mentally and emotionally too.•How she's come to appreciate the broader benefits of exercise being more than just how it can make you look.•The power of sleep and why getting good sleep is so valuable in helping her feel good.•Why she loves reading and has made it part of her wind-down routine.•The feel-good value we can get from the arts.•The joy and predictability of indulging in a cosy, comforting film - especially one you've seen before.•Friendships and how surrounding yourself with people with whom you can truly be yourself is one of the best feelings out there.•Investing in friendships and connections and how vital that is for one's own sense of self and belonging.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's some twinkly goodness in the shape of my Top 10 Feel Good Habits interviews. In this episode, Lorna Luxe.This episode was originally published in July 2021.In this episode, @lornaluxe and I discuss:•The joy of staying in bed and why the narrative of getting up early somehow equals success isn't true.•Why switching off devices, as advised by Marie Reynolds, has been a quick way to maximise sleep in the Luxe household.•The Tony Robbins technique that helps Lorna prime every day to be a good day and why it receives her glowing recommendations of 'I'll tell you what, it's belting!'•How food is something she uses to make herself feel-good after depriving herself a lot in her 20s she feels now, in her 30s, that she's found a balance.•The IGTV Callie Thorpe posted that has transformed the way she preps her food every week.•Why skincare and haircare are quick and easy ways to invest some time and care in yourself and why beauty as self-care can be a five-minute job and doesn't mean 'full-on masks, massages and all that jazz•Plus we also go off on a major hair loss tangent as we both started seeing trichologists at Philip Kingsley at about the same time in 2020 and have seen impressive results.•Plus, I also quiz her about airplane hygiene and what she does and doesn't recommend you do on planes as a former cabin crew.During this conversation, we also mentioned: the I Am Not Your Guru documentary on Netflix Dusk bed linen and Mela Silk bed linen.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's some twinkly goodness in the shape of my Top 10 Feel Good Habits interviews. First up, Caroline Hirons.This episode was originally published in March 2021. Caroline is a best-selling author, skincare expert, businesswoman and consultant who admits that while she doesn’t struggle with feeling down, she does have a series of habits that set her up for a great day. During our conversation @carolinehirons reveals:•How and why she developed a ‘let’s just get on with it, shall we?’ attitude.•Why she has surrounded herself with ‘no’ instead of ‘yes’ people.•The power of a good playlist for helping her sail through her to-do list or get a task done.•How her family ground and centre her.•Why the day doesn’t begin until her bed is made.•Her ‘wallpaper’ of SVU, Oprah and anything familiar.•Why she’s so good at multi-tasking.•Why you NEVER come for @oprah, and much more…Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've been with me and this podcast for a while, you'll know that a lot has happened in the nearly 10 years I've been publishing the show. Back in 2016 I was a very different version of myself; bruised from broken friendships, toxic workplaces and a type of slow erosion of myself caused by a rainbow of life's experiences. I was chatting to a friend recently during a road trip about how life can sometimes feel as though it kicks you when you're down, how the pain of broken friendships is sharp, hideous and heart-breaking and she made the comment that she didn't want these experiences of make her 'hard-hearted'. Now, while I might have had one ear on her and one ear on the sat nav, this cut me to the quick. As much as I like to think I've made huge progress and am no longer a soft-hearted, easily bruised person, I had to ask myself, 'have I become hard-hearted'? I don't want to have sharp edges and a brittle exterior but in becoming better able to deal with life, have I lost the parts of myself that made me soft, warm and able to trust and love?Please stay in touch! Email me at office@emmaguns.comFollow me on Instagram where I'm @emmagunsAnd make sure you're subscribed to my Substack where I'm @TheEmmaGuns ShowHey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For a little while now, I've been feeling professionally frustrated. I am, as a reminder, a journalist who has specialised in health and beauty and interviewing. However, the landscapes within which I've worked for nearly 25 years have changed so drastically that it can sometimes feel as though you're always on the back foot. In the past 12 years, I've gone from being a print journalist to embracing social media, podcasting, video and now Substack and the need to be constantly aware of what the next big thing might be means one thing can fall by the wayside - quality.Luckily, I've been struck down by a virus over the last week, which has given me the space and time to actually take a look at what I'm doing, what I think I should be doing differently, what I'm doing too much of and what I'm not doing enough of. The main takeaway though has been how constantly going back to the drawing board and trying to reinvent the wheel is draining, overwhelming and exhausting. No wonder I have professional fatigue.So, for one last time I'm going to go back to the start and figure out what I want to create but I'd love your input too. What do you miss? What don't you see enough of? What do you want more of? What mistakes am I making? (braces self)In an age where everyone is a content creator, how do you think I should stand out?Follow & Connect:Substack: https://emmaguns.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmaguns/Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's talk about the different kinds of exhaustion, from the emotional and mental fatigue that comes from life's sudden curve balls to the physical strain that can flatten your energy reserves even when everything else feels pretty steady.For me, 2024, brought a sudden, sink or swim situation that left me emotionally depleted and mentally drained. I managed to appear, in fact I wanted to appear 'fine' to the outside world and somehow managed just that. Recently though, a short virus flipped everything on its head. My mind was clear and calm but my body was limp.In this episode, I explore:why exhaustion is more than just being 'tired'the difference between surviving something heavy and recovering from something physical. how the body and mind take turns 'carrying us' through.why different forms of tired ask for different kinds of rest.what both types of tiredness taught me about listening to myself sooner.Let's face it, we've all been there and it can be rough, but we're all human and we all have limits.If you're going through your own version of tired right now, I hope this episode helps you feel a little more understood, or at least a little less alone.Get in touch:Email: office@emmaguns.comRead my SubstackFollow me on Insta.Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.