Health with Holland Podcast

In this episode, Becca is joined by functional medicine physician Dr Christine Maren to unpack what is really happening in the female body during perimenopause.
Together they explore why perimenopause often acts as an “unmasking” phase, revealing underlying issues like thyroid dysfunction, autoimmune disease, gut imbalances, histamine intolerance, chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation that may have been building quietly for years.
They discuss the powerful connection between hormones, gut health, the immune system and emotional suppression, and why so many women are being told their symptoms are “normal” when their bodies are clearly asking for support.

This conversation also dives into:
Hashimoto’s and thyroid dysfunction in midlife women
Histamine intolerance and why wine suddenly affects you differently
The gut-thyroid-hormone connection
Why under-eating and over-exercising backfire in perimenopause
The impact of chronic stress, people pleasing and emotional suppression on female health
Why women need more nourishment, muscle and rest in midlife
How to stop ignoring the signals your body is sending you

If you’ve been feeling exhausted, inflamed, anxious, disconnected from yourself or like your body suddenly “changed overnight”, this episode will help you understand why.

Episode Highlights
[0:00] Why Perimenopause “Unmasks” Hidden Health Issues
[2:05] Why Modern Women Are Hitting Burnout Earlier
[3:27] You Do NOT Have To Suffer Through Perimenopause
[5:05] Fertility, Hormones & Thyroid Problems In Midlife
[6:19] Autoimmune Disease & Hashimoto’s In Women Explained
[8:18] Chronic Stress, Trauma & Systemic Inflammation
[10:08] The Gut-Hormone-Immune System Connection
[12:18] Why Quick Fixes Rarely Solve Chronic Symptoms
[13:54] High Functioning Women & Hidden Burnout
[15:40] The Pressure Women Feel To “Do Everything”
[18:47] Emotional Suppression, Stress & Autoimmune Disease
[20:23] Why Women’s Symptoms Are Often Dismissed
[22:09] Thyroid Medication, T3, T4 & Root Causes Explained
[26:26] IBS, SIBO & The Missing Gut Health Conversation
[29:07] Histamine Intolerance In Perimenopause Explained
[32:22] Alcohol, Sleep Problems & Hormone Health
[35:03] Why Women Gain Weight In Perimenopause
[37:35] The Truth About Carbs, Metabolism & Thyroid Health
[40:22] Fatigue, Under-Eating & Slow Metabolism In Women
[43:06] The Best Exercise & Nutrition Approach For Midlife Women
[45:20] Resentment, Boundaries & Female Burnout
[48:39] Why Perimenopause Requires A Different Approach To Health
[52:53] The First Steps If You Don’t Feel Like Yourself Anymore

CONNECT & LEARN MORE:
You can connect with Becca on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube - @healthwithholland https://www.instagram.com/healthwithholland/, where I share practical education on nervous system regulation, women’s health, and sustainable behaviour change.
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate you subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with someone who might find it helpful.
You’ll also find courses, resources, and more podcast episodes at: https://healthwithholland.com
You can connect with Dr Christine Maren on Instagram at @drchristinemaren, where she shares education on women’s hormones, thyroid health, gut health, functional medicine and midlife wellness.
You can also learn more about her work, courses and podcast at https://drchristinemaren.com
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Music b LiQWYD Free download: hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb [http://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb] Promoted by FreeMusicPromo   [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbycji-eySnM3WD8mbxPUSQ] / @freemusicpromo

In today’s episode of The Health with Holland Podcast, I’m joined by Clare McKenna, presenter of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, integrative health coach, breathwork teacher and author of Would You Be Well? Together, we explore why so many women feel exhausted by wellness advice, health trends and rigid plans, and how to come back to what actually supports your body in real life.
Clare shares her own journey from chasing diets, fitness trends and external answers to learning how to listen to her body, simplify her health and build a more compassionate relationship with food, movement and wellbeing. We talk about why there is no magic pill, why the wellness industry can make women feel like they are constantly failing, and how to start tuning into your own internal compass again.
This conversation covers nervous system health, gut health, intuitive eating, weight loss injections, self-criticism, food rules, exercise, joy, community, spirituality and the simple daily rituals that help women feel more grounded, energised and well.
This episode is for:
Women who feel overwhelmed by wellness trends and conflicting health advice
Women who want more energy without another strict plan
Anyone trying to improve their relationship with food, body and exercise
Listeners who want a more realistic, compassionate approach to feeling well

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[00:00] Clip
[00:27] Introduction to Clare McKenna
[00:57] Why wellness trends can feel exhausting
[02:11] Taking an aerial view of your life
[03:36] Cutting through wellness overwhelm
[05:49] Your internal compass vs outside noise
[07:13] Why there is no magic pill
[09:45] Weight loss injections and the nuance women need
[13:58] Algorithms, diet hype and health confusion
[17:10] Balanced meals and real energy
[18:25] Gut health and the add-in mindset
[21:41] Why you need to slow down to speed up
[22:53] Daily rituals that nourish you
[25:11] Holding space for yourself
[26:38] Rest, intuition and shame
[28:13] A no-shame approach to wellness
[29:07] Catching self-criticism
[29:49] Truth, logic and listening to yourself
[31:45] Reframing the comfort zone
[33:20] Creating new neural pathways
[34:49] Food rules and undernourishment
[38:32] Moving beyond calorie culture
[39:30] Movement for mental health
[41:07] Rigid biohacking and what it misses
[42:46] Why joy fuels healthy change
[45:32] Mind, body and soul wellness
[46:41] Community, ritual and spiritual wellbeing
[51:46] Learning as a way to get unstuck
[52:33] Where to find Clare

CONNECT & LEARN MORE:
Becca Holland:
You can connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube - @healthwithholland, where I share practical education on nervous system regulation, women’s health, and sustainable behaviour change.You’ll also find courses, resources, and more podcast episodes at: https://healthwithholland.com
Clare McKenna:
You can connect with Clare McKenna on Instagram at @Claremckennapresents. Her book Would You Be Well? is available now...

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Music b LiQWYD Free download: hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb [http://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb] Promoted by FreeMusicPromo [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbycji-eySnM3WD8mbxPUSQ] / @freemusicpromo

In today’s episode of The Health with Holland Podcast, I’m joined by Paul Scanlon, speaker, mentor and author who has spent decades teaching self-awareness, emotional intelligence and authentic living. Together, we explore why so many women struggle to make lasting change, even when they know exactly what they “should” be doing.
Paul explains why behaviour change is not about more discipline, stricter routines or better plans, but understanding the beliefs, labels and patterns shaping your life since childhood. We talk about how most people live on autopilot, repeating the same habits and emotional patterns without realising why.
This conversation covers the role of the ego, why it keeps you stuck, and how reconnecting with your body and intuition can change the way you make decisions. We also explore why change feels uncomfortable, how your environment influences your identity, and why the people around you may resist your growth.
We dive into emotional intelligence, why your feelings are not facts, and how past experiences shape your reactions. Paul shares how to build self-awareness, break familiar patterns, and make small changes that actually last.
This episode is for
Women who feel stuck in the same habits, patterns or cycles despite trying to change
Women who are constantly overthinking and disconnected from their intuition
Anyone who knows what to do but struggles to follow through
Listeners who want to understand the deeper psychological side of behaviour change

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[00:00] Why change doesn’t last[02:12] How labels from childhood shape your identity[04:30] Belief systems formed before age eight[06:10] Behaviour change vs belief change[08:05] Living on autopilot and lack of self-awareness[09:42] Ego vs intuition and safety[11:35] Overthinking vs reconnecting with your body[15:40] How others hold you back[17:05] False self vs authentic self[18:50] What actually lights you up[20:12] Why most people feel disconnected from joy[21:45] Seeing your future self through others[23:10] Identity shifts and environment[25:20] Finding your people and leaving old environments[27:05] Readiness vs information[28:40] How your internal world shapes your life[30:15] Social media and mental influence[32:10] Emotional intelligence and understanding reactions[36:00] Past experiences shape current triggers[38:10] Building self-awareness[40:05] Why staying stuck can feel safer than changing[42:00] The inner critic and how it forms[44:20] Why positive thinking alone doesn’t work[46:00] Behaviour change, habits and emotional patterns[48:00] When relationships hold you back[50:00] Why we stay in familiar patterns (Stockholm syndrome)[52:00] Finding supportive environments and your “tribe”[54:00] Living in alignment[56:30] Self-determination, regulation and creating better days[59:30] Final reflections

CONNECT & LEARN MORE:
Becca Holland
You can connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube - @healthwithholland, where I share practical education on nervous system regulation, women’s health, and sustainable behaviour change.
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate you subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with someone who might find it helpful. 
You’ll also find courses, resources, and more podcast episodes at: https://healthwithholland.com
Paul Scanlon
You can connect with Paul Scanlon on Instagram at @paulscanlonuk, where he shares insights on self-awareness, emotional intelligence, identity and authentic living.
You can also learn more about his work at paulscanlon.com, including his books, speaking and mentoring.
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Music b LiQWYD Free download: hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb [http://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb] Promoted by FreeMusicPromo [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbycji-eySnM3WD8mbxPUSQ] / @freemusicpromo

In today’s episode of The Health with Holland Podcast, I’m joined by Miriam Hussey, pharmacist, yoga teacher, wellbeing educator and author of Light Up. Together, we explore why so many women are doing all the right things for their health on paper, yet still feel tired, flat, disconnected or dysregulated.
Miriam shares why true regulation is not just about food, supplements, movement or breathwork, though all of those matter. It is also about asking a deeper question: what is actually causing the dysregulation in the first place? We talk about the missing layer in modern wellness, the soul, and what happens when women live according to expectation, performance, guilt and pressure rather than what genuinely lights them up.
This conversation covers the link between nervous system health, identity, emotional suppression, purpose, community, self-worth and inner alignment. We also discuss why so many women feel trapped in busy, over-functioning lifestyles, how shame and survival mode can block joy, and why slowing down enough to hear yourself can be one of the most powerful healing practices of all.
This episode is for:
Women who feel exhausted, flat or “off” despite doing a lot for their health

Women stuck in over-functioning, people-pleasing or productivity-driven patterns

Anyone wanting a deeper conversation about regulation, purpose and emotional health

Listeners who know the physical tools matter, but sense there is another layer underneath

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[00:00] Introduction and why so many women still feel off
[01:28] The missing layer in modern wellness
[05:14] What Miriam means by the soul
[07:05] The body, the mind and the soul connection
[09:01] Why stillness, yoga and breath help you reconnect
[12:05] Two women, two lifestyles, and what real health looks like
[13:16] Community, connection and modern disconnection
[14:28] How modern life has left women run ragged
[17:05] Motherhood, values and questioning the default path
[21:08] Guilt, pressure and the impossible standards women carry
[24:07] What energy are you living in right now?
[27:48] The body always shows when something is off
[30:01] Carving away what is not really you
[31:03] Why you need stillness to hear yourself
[34:10] Ego versus essence and how to tell the difference
[37:26] Why healing takes patience and honesty
[40:49] Shame, guilt and the emotions women suppress
[45:33] Self-criticism, identity and rewiring old patterns
[50:08] Why emotions must be felt, not avoided
[59:07] Masculine and feminine energy, and where to find Miriam
CONNECT & LEARN MORE:
Becca & Health with Holland:
You can connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube - @healthwithholland, where I share practical education on nervous system regulation, women’s health, and sustainable behaviour change.
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate you subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with someone who might find it helpful. 
You’ll also find courses, resources, and more podcast episodes at: https://healthwithholland.com

Miriam Hussey:
You can connect with Miriam Hussey on Instagram at @miriamhussey_, where she shares insights on integrative health, nervous system regulation, emotional wellbeing, and living in alignment with your body, mind and soul.
You can also check out her book Light Up, out now, where she explores the connection between mind, body and soul, helping you step out of the ‘always on’ cycle and restore balance, purpose and overall wellbeing.

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Music b LiQWYD Free download: hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb [http://hypeddit.com/link/xxtopb] Promoted by FreeMusicPromo   [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbycji-eySnM3WD8mbxPUSQ] / @freemusicpromo

Why Your Breathing Is Keeping You Stressed, Tired and Overthinking
In today’s episode of The Becca Holland Show, I am joined by Patrick McKeown, one of the world’s leading experts in breathing and oxygen efficiency, to explore why the way you breathe might be the missing piece in your sleep, stress and overall health.
This conversation matters because so many women are doing the right things. They are working on their mindset, their routines, their nutrition and their nervous system regulation, yet they still feel wired, tired, anxious or unable to switch off.
In this episode, Patrick explains why breathing is not just something you do during a meditation or a stressful moment, but something that is constantly signalling to your brain whether you are safe or under threat. We explore how common patterns like mouth breathing, upper chest breathing and fast breathing can quietly keep the body in a stress response all day and all night.
We also unpack why sleep, anxiety and overthinking are so closely linked to breathing patterns, and why many women are struggling with poor sleep despite being told everything is “normal”. Patrick introduces the concept of upper airway resistance and explains why female sleep is often misunderstood and underdiagnosed.
What makes this conversation different is that it goes beyond surface-level breathwork techniques and focuses on the bigger picture. How you breathe every minute of the day, not just during a 5 minute exercise, is what shapes your nervous system, your sleep quality and your ability to regulate your thoughts.
This episode is for:
Women who feel constantly “on” or stuck in overthinking

Anyone struggling with sleep, especially waking during the night

People who feel anxious despite doing all the “right” things

Listeners who want a simple but powerful way to regulate their nervous system

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[00:00] Meet Patrick McKeown
[00:27]Why breathing is one of the most overlooked tools for health
[01:06] Why modern breathing habits have become dysfunctional
[04:33] The link between chest breathing and the stress response
[05:08] How your breathing signals safety or danger to your brain
[06:06] What dysfunctional breathing actually looks like
[08:35] Why breathwork alone is not enough
[09:44] The real goal of breathing: quieting the mind
[11:07] Why we are never taught how to regulate our thoughts
[13:00] The link between breathing, blood flow and overthinking
[14:58] Why overthinking is not just psychological
[22:20] How nasal breathing reduces rumination and anxiety
[23:02] Why mouth breathing affects sleep and recovery
[24:41] Simple ways to start retraining your breathing
[29:31] Why the nose is designed for breathing and the mouth is not
[31:46] The role of carbon dioxide in energy and oxygen delivery
[33:20] Why nasal breathing improves performance and recovery
[35:43] Why female sleep issues are often missed
[40:28] Why airway resistance matters more than you think
[43:44] Mouth breathing in children and long-term consequences
[47:03] The link between sleep, brain development and breathing
[53:20] How to start changing your breathing patterns

CONNECT & LEARN MORE:
You can connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube - @healthwithholland, where I share practical education on nervous system regulation, women’s health, and sustainable behaviour change.
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really appreciate you subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with someone who might find it helpful.
You’ll also find courses, resources, and more podcast episodes at: healthwithholland.com
You can learn more from Patrick McKeown via Oxygen Advantage, his books, and MyoTape, where he shares practical tools for improving breathing, sleep and overall health.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
CONNECT & LEARN MORE: