The Womens Wellness Show

Estia Ryan is a VC and head of research at Eka Ventures. The intersection of this role as well as Eka’s investment into Cyclana Bio, Ditto Daily and Hesta Health make her incredibly well placed to cover the common challenges women’s health founders faced when moving from ideation to raising pre-seed Last year Estia partnered with Yougov to survey over 1000 women,  which they used to create an incredible women’s health landscape report which I highly recommend you check out here - The Future Of Women's HealthEstia has kindly spoken on 2 of our panels and I always love her perspectives so I’m really excited to bring you this conversation today without needing to join us for a panel.As always please feel free to let me know your questions and feedbackWe discuss:How Estia see's the current women's health, tech and fundraising landscape, what's changed in the 4 months since her report was published? Why do women's health founders struggle to raise venture capital? Consumer wellness vs regulated medical device - speed of implementation and GTM vs regulation in the age of fundraising being toughWhen a problem is truly meaningful to solve but doesn’t have a huge TAM - What should founders do? Have a narrative on future expansion and / or alternative funding sources? What role does community play in women's health and / or supporting female founders? How do we get more money into ‘grass roots’ community, advocacy, support networks, and events? Also see this report from Estia on community and consumer  Who Owns Women’s Health Data? As women’s health becomes a high-value data frontier, who should own, govern and benefit from that data, and what must remain a public good rather than a private moat? Our podcast sponsor is Progyny Global. A company that provides best-in-class fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause benefits for the modern global workforce. Progyny Global offers an inclusive platform that connects employees with top experts, clinics, and treatments around the world. To learn more visit: https://progynyglobal.com/#contact or to get in touch with our team directly via email - Sasha.tory@progynyglobal.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode I’m joined by Ahana Banerjee the founder and CEO of ClearI’m fortunate enough to have learnt from Ahana over the past couple of years, she’s shared so many amazing lessons with me from building Clear that I’m really excited to bring you this conversation today Ahana is the youngest solo female founder to get into YC, The biggest accelerator program in the world! App of the Day features: 4 timesSpecial 2025 South Asian Heritage Month Apple featureDownloads: 65,000+Funding raised: ~$1MClear in the Apple app storeClear in the Google Play app storeWe discussed: Fundraising for a D2C subscription tech app, any tips for founders vs being told build in a different sector or business modelHow are you using data from a partnership perspective ( and commercial perspective?) ethics and regulation around this. Fundraising narrative: I know we spoke about having a different narrative to different investors going forward. Did you do that previously and are you still doing it for this round Not being a medical device but still having a data stratergyFuture fundraising and growth targets What role has personal brand played in your companies successBalancing spending money you’ve raised for growth vs sufficient runway and how does your own salary fit into thatBeing a solo founder, tips for time management, work life balance, communityI hope you learned as much from this episode with Ahana as I did! Any feedback or questions please feel free to drop me an email - leo@nexusconnected.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sula Windgassen.  PhD researcher with over 30 published academic papers. An honorary researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience holds five degrees, from King’s College London and the University of Leeds, and is currently conducting research with both King’s and University College London.Chartered Health Psychologist & Mindfulness Practitioner. Author of It’s All In Your Body. Dr Sula on InstagramDr Sula on LinkedinDr Sula's book It's All In Your Body on Amazon In this episode, we explore the intersection of chronic illness, stress, identity, and women’s health advocacy.We begin with Sula's health story which was recently featured in the Daily Mail and unpack how chronic pain and stress often collide for women who are used to putting everyone else first. We discuss why stress can feel invisible or “normalised,” what the nervous system and allostatic load actually mean, and how chronic stress can quietly drive pain and long-term health issues.A major theme of the conversation is medical dismissal. Many women begin questioning their own symptoms after not feeling heard by healthcare professionals. We talk about validation, self-trust, and advice for anyone currently navigating a diagnostic journey, as well as how partners, friends, and family members can better support someone advocating for their health.We also dive into the complex relationship between identity, achievement, and illness including the challenge of slowing down when your self-worth has been tied to productivity, exercise, or performance, and how to balance mental wellbeing, financial reality, and a temporarily reduced stress tolerance.Community emerges as a powerful healing tool. We explore the role of in-person connection, how to find supportive spaces without traditional “networking,” and what an ideal one-day women’s health experience could look like.From there, the conversation shifts to innovation and fundraising in women’s health. Drawing on experience building a large women’s health community and working closely with hundreds of clients, we discuss the gap between real patient experiences and the narratives often reflected in startup funding announcements — and what needs to change in the ecosystem.We also touch on Sula's work with Seemira and her broader perspective on the future of health psychology and women’s health innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leo and Zahra discuss the CensHership campaign.Dr Zahra substackhttps://drzahra.substack.com/Reports / papers https://www.censhership.co.uk/https://www.censhership.co.uk/white-paper Key Findings of this whitepaper:95% of women's health creators surveyed in 2024-25 reported censorship on platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, Google, Amazon, YouTube, Pinterest and Linkedln.Self-censorship is widespread, with over half of respondents altering their language or imagery to avoid takedowns — reinforcing stigma and limiting public understanding.Platform moderation systems are inconsistent, opaque and biased, disproportionately penalising women's health content while allowing equivalent male health content.The consequences are economic, social, and public health-related. Startups report losing revenue, credibility, and reach; public access to vital health information is being obstructed; and deep-rooted taboos are being inadvertently reinforced by tech.References to other things that we discussed:https://www.talkswithdrsesay.com/https://www.instagram.com/drnighatarif/?hl=enhttps://thelowdown.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can nutritionists/ dietitians be using AI more effectively to support their coaching and businesses? Rohini and Leo - we could share some examples from our own workHow effective are current AI tools? How they may evolve in the future. AI + tailored nutrition and lifestyle advice when it comes to women’s health conditions like endo, PCOS etc. What about the role of compassion, empathy, human connection, and emotional intelligence which distinguishes the best coaches/ nutritionists etc in the field? The benefits of growing a personal brand / social media following:-Was that a strategic goal for you as part of your career or just something that -happened by default -Has it been valuable and resulted in new opportunities -How did you build your following, get PR opportunities etc About Rohini Bajekal, Nutritionist and Board-Certified Lifestyle Medicine ProfessionalRohini Bajekal (MA Oxon, MSc Nutrition and Food Sciences, Dip IBLM) is a nutritionist and board-certified Lifestyle Medicine professional. Prior to becoming a nutritionist, she studied Theology at Oxford University. Having previously worked in India and Singapore, Rohini is now based in London where she provides evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle advice to clients around the world. She is a Menopause Nutritionist and Lifestyle Medicine Professional at Menopause Care, the UK's leading provider in online menopause support. Rohini is an advisor to Solence, a French app designed to support women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which recently secured €1.6 million in a seed funding round.Rohini co-authored her first book Living PCOS Free: How to Regain Your Hormonal Health with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which was published in April 2022. She also wrote the chapter on lifestyle medicine for the book How To Go Plant-Based: A Definitive Guide For You and Your Family by Ella Mills, founder of Deliciously Ella.Rohini regularly comments in the media with a focus on myth-busting around nutrition. She has been featured in publications such as Vogue, The Independent, SheerLuxe, Cosmopolitan and Women's Health. Find out more about Rohini at rohinibajekal.com and follow her on Instagram @rohinibajekal or daily tips on healthy living. She has a Substack newsletter called Full of Beans where she shares more top tips and insights around healthy living.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted by Dr Frances OBGYN, hear 3 women's journeys personally and professionally with miscarriages, IVF and egg freezing.Organisations doing amazing work in this space:Fertility Matters at Work - Provides training on fertility support to employers + ‘Fertility Friendly’ accreditation- https://fertilitymattersatwork.com/ Nickie Aiken, MP - brought forward legislation via a Private Members' Bill which if passed by Parliament would give those going through IVF treatment the right to paid leave for medical appointments. https://www.nickieaiken.org.uk/campaigns/nickies-proposed-law-improve-ivf-supportMiscarriage Association - ‘Leave for Every Loss’ campaign - parliamentary bill to grant bereavement leave to individuals who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks gestation https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/get-involved/leave-for-every-loss/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rhiannon is a futurist specialising in women’s health. As the former Co-founder of Ultra Violet, the only Women's Health, Wellness and FemTech trend forecasters, she is uniquely positioned to analyse the data and set predictions on future consumer trends in the women’s health space.We talk about where this increase in discussing and promoting women’s health has come from. The dark side of companies using it as a marketing trend. The role of AI in progressing women’s health and much more! Rhiannon's Linkedinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannon-jones-futureforecaster/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ultra-violet-agency/about/ Nexus online nutrition coaching link: https://form.typeform.com/to/umRWcJj4    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Victoria is a good friend and was my client a few years back when we worked together to get her menstrual cycle back. In this episode, Victoria talks about how her disordered relationship with food, body image and exercise left her with some health issues and concerns including losing her menstrual cycle. We talked about what led her to end up in that situation when she realised enough was enough and how we worked together to get her health back. If this story sounds similar to yours then please feel free to reach out, we’re always here to help, support and guide.Find Victoria HERE: https://www.instagram.com/vicsmart/?hl=en Nexus Online Nutrition Coaching: https://form.typeform.com/to/umRWcJj4   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Clare is the chief medical officer for the BBC!Clare Fernandes qualified from University College London with multiple university and national academic and non academic prizes.She has gone on to obtain numerous post graduate prizes, notably the Faculty of Occupational Medicine's Mobbs Fellowship and the Medical Women's Federation International Fellowship.She has a Masters in Occupational Medicine, graduating with a distinction, and is an Associate Specialist in Occupational Medicine.She wrote the book 'Questions and Answers for the Diploma in Occupational Medicine', which has previously been nominated for a BMJ Book Award.She is the joint founder and director of the Occupational Health Academy, a learning academy for aspiring Occupational Medicine doctors.Clare is currently the CMO at the BBC and occupational health physician in Central LondonNexus online nutrition coaching link. https://form.typeform.com/to/umRWcJj4 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-clare-fernandes-mfom-4685b3176/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luce specialises in creating inclusive and high performing businesses via supporting women’s wellbeing in the workplace. We speak about why companies don’t currently have infrastructure in place to properly support women’s unique differences, how you can change this and why companies that don’t will be left behind!Hint - it’s actually more profitable to do so anyway!Luce also talks about her own journey with an endometriosis diagnosis and how that led her to become more passionate about supporting women in career success. https://www.linkedin.com/in/luce-grover/ Nexus online nutrition coaching link. https://form.typeform.com/to/umRWcJj4   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nexus online nutrition coaching link. https://form.typeform.com/to/umRWcJj4 Karli is pioneering europe's first menstrual blood blank. There is virtually no research done on menstrual blood and that’s a problem! It could unlock so many secrets about women's health, potentially lead to earlier diagnosis of endometriosis and certain cancers as well as potentially removing the need for a smear test. This is a fascinating area of research and I'm personally so excited to watch Karli’s work and research unfold over the next few years and beyond.https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlibuchling/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nexus online nutrition coaching link. https://form.typeform.com/to/umRWcJj4  Dr Michelle is the Women's Health Advisor to Holland+ Barrett, the Women's Health Columnist for BBC Science Focus and is on the scientific advisory board for Clue.She has a bachelors of medicine and a bachelors of surgery from Cambridge university. We talk about the history of why there’s a gender health, research and pain gap. The current landscape, work that’s being done and what isn’t but needs to be done.Michelle also explains how to stay curious and be your own scientist, the importance of menstrual cycle tracking and answers all your questions around how.You can read Dr Michelles articles here.https://www.sciencefocus.com/author/dr-michelle-griffin You can find her on Linkedin here.https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michelle-griffin-8204a122/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nexus online nutrition coaching link. https://form.typeform.com/to/umRWcJj4 Bridget is a Health Economics Policy Advisor, she analyzes the inherent relationship between health and wealth; how healthy populations foster both economic growth and sustainable economies.Specifically at the moment she is working on creating a numerical ROI for the investment on female health. “ We know for every £1 spent on preventive health care it saves the economy £14 but we don’t know what the ROI is for women’s specific health care” Personally I’m so excited about Bridget's work because whilst we shouldn’t be reducing women’s health to a smart financial decision, getting this number from her work will definitely be instrumental in women’s health care, workplace support and research improving and that’s what we need! I hope you loved this episode as much as I did and as always we’d love to hear your feedback, comments and questions! Also if you're enjoying the podcast please feel free to leave a review! It’s 30 seconds but it’s super useful for us in the podcast algorithm!You can find out more about Bridget's work here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-gorham/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cathy is a Startup & VC Communications expert, CEO, angel Investor and mentor.Her company CEW communications specializes in growing tech businesses by challenging the traditional way of doing things to get the company's message out there and drive the business to the next level.I really loved this episode and was excited to chat with and learn from Cathy because it’s very easy to look from the outside and the amazon work someone is doing, the awesome team they have and the business they are building and impact they are having And just assume they are on top of everything all the time, always feel great and are killing it. To hear Cathy say she still sometimes loses work through her own insecurities and imposter syndrome was of course sad to hear but also very refreshing to hear this kind of honesty and vulnerability. If you're looking to build your career success or business but feel like it’s overwhelming, draining and the imposter syndrome is setting in and holding you back then please listen to this episode.I hope you loved this episode as much as I did and as always we’d love to hear your feedback, comments and questions! Also if you're enjoying the podcast please feel free to leave a review! It’s 30 seconds but it’s super useful for us in the podcast algorithm!You can find more from Cathy and her business services here. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathywhite10/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cew-communications/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jenna has helped over 500 fitness professionals go from exchanging time for money to build a real business including Mark Carrol!In this episode Jenna breaks down the mindset shifts you need to go from personal trainer to business owner. How you can transition your existing skill set to building something more scalable.Why sales is service! And you're doing your audience a disservice if you can’t sell.The main lessons she’s learnt in 10 years of marketing and business having worked with some of the biggest names in the industry.You can find more from Jenna here https://www.instagram.com/jennaannedavies/ And more information about working with her to transform your business here https://www.biguppetite.com/#info  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kinga is a biochemistry graduate with a first-class degree from the University of Huddersfield (Best Biochemistry Student in the Final Year Award by the Biochemical Society - nationwide) and a Master's degree in Bioscience Entrepreneurship (Distinction) from UCL.Her research so far has covered endometriosis, pelvic health, nutrition, and alopecia and its treatment with natural products. She is passionate about femtech, nutrition and gut health and the business of bringing female wellness solutions to the Market.In this episode Kinga and Leo discuss adjusting your nutrition and training around your cycle based on common symptoms and fluctuations you might experience. We talk about what cycle syncing is and just as importantly what it isn’t! What a healthy menstrual cycle looks like.And how to track and measure your cycle.We hope you enjoyed this episode and as always please feel free to send us a message or email with any questions and feedback! Kinga Papp's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kinga-papp-0b158b198/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danni Bosworth “I am and always have been passionate about helping people achieve their true potential. I help my clients improve their overall health, body composition, physical and mental performance, and quality of life and I absolutely adore what I do!My coaching methods are built around the unique abilities and goals of each one of my clients, as I believe the coaching process and programming within that should be enjoyable and specific to the individual. I love what I do and I wouldn't change it for the world.I also love learning and will never stop working to improve my knowledge. I have my own podcast - 'The Female Fitness Podcast' on Spotify, Soundcloud, and Apple Podcasts, and have set up a free Facebook community called 'The Flourishing Society' to help people tackle and prevent common issues that can rear their heads as they navigate their fitness journeys such as relationship with food struggles, poor body image, and feeling 'lost' after transitioning away from fat loss phases or competing in sport."Danni’s website https://www.dannibosworth.com/ Danni’s IGhttps://www.instagram.com/dannibosworth/ Philly Fleming “I started getting into the gym in my late teens and fell in love with it very quickly. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was determined to learn, and headed off to Loughborough University to study a Sports Science BSc, followed by a Nutrition MSc.During those 4 years, I began competing in PCA Bikini Bodybuilding - something which ticked a box for me, but also taught me more about what I value as a person, and now a coach (sustainability, enjoyment, balance and results that don’t require you to be below 10% body fat).I began coaching 5 years ago, with the aim to teach women how to do fitness in the right way. No BS myths, no excessive dieting, no overtraining and certainly no detoxes - simply, science, done right."Philly’s websitehttps://www.phillyflemingcoaching.com/ Philly's IGhttps://www.instagram.com/philly_fleming/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Kerry is a medical doctor with a specialisation in rheumatology, she has spent over 15 years in the NHS, gaining in-depth knowledge of arthritis, autoimmune, and inflammatory conditions. But her passion for promoting health and preventing chronic diseases led her to expand her expertise in sports and exercise medicine, as well as further training with the Institute of Functional Medicine.Dr Kerry's websitehttps://www.themovementmedic.org/about Dr Kerry’s IGhttps://www.instagram.com/the_movementmedic/ QualificationsConsultant Rheumatologist at Somerset Foundation Trust (2021-2023)MBBCHBAO (2007)Speciality Certificate Examination RheumatologyMember of the Royal College of PhysiciansFellow of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (Ireland)Diploma in Sports & Exercise Medicine (Distinction)Level 1 EFSUMB MSK UltrasoundInstitute for Functional Medicine:Applying Functional Medicine In Clinical PracticeCardiometabolic Advanced Practice ModuleHormone Advanced Practice ModuleBioenergetics Advanced Practice ModuleGray Institute, Certification in Applied Functional ScienceCrossFit Level 1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nexus Online Nutrition Coaching Information: https://rebrand.ly/NexusCoachingInfoFrancesa Hodgson has a MBA from Cambridge and co-founded GoodBox, a tech company solving the problem of an ever-increasing cashless society was having a detrimental effect to non-profit fundraising.Karen Mannion is a qualified nutritionist, mindset coach and speaker with a long-standing interest in wellness, having previously worked as a personal trainer. After struggles with her own hormone health issues, she now focuses on helping women gain control of their hormone health and regaining their zest for life.Karen’s Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenmannionFrancesa’s Linkedin.https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-hodgson-mba-4255a818/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nexus Online Nutrition Coaching Information: https://rebrand.ly/NexusCoachingInfoRebekah Lloyd is a speaker, event and podcast host, women’s health advocate, and founder of This Independent Life (TIL). After experiencing a breakdown and burnout, a 10 year delayed endometriosis diagnosis, and career and financial challenges, she discovered she wasn’t alone and created TIL. Now, she delivers empowering education and events for workplaces and the women's health community to help people navigate and overcome women's health related issues whilst flourishing in their career. A Biomedical Science graduate, she is an experienced creative leader and facilitator across the healthcare space having worked in research, the NHS, pharmaceuticals, communications and consultancy, and having lead, launched and grown international multi-million dollar accounts, brands and teams. Her clients now include global thought leading organizations such as UNiDAYS, Whistles, Schroders, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, and she leads and advises on a number of women’s health advocacy and education, investment and funding, and research and start-up innovation initiatives. She is dedicated to using business as a force for good through her "corporates supporting community" approach and she helps organizations to support, retain and grow women leaders in the workplace whilst contributing towards women's health community events. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-lloyd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisindependentlife/Website: https://thisindependentlife.co/Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thisindependentlifeEmail: rebekah@thisindependentlife.co Women's Health in the Workplace event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-health-in-the-workplace-intersections-impact-and-innovation-tickets-736341385907?aff=oddtdtcreator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.