The Uniform of Success: When Ambition Becomes Aesthetic
Have you noticed that success has started to look… uniform? The slick-back bun, the gold hoops, the structured blazer, and the calm, composed tone of someone who’s perfectly 'aligned'. In this week’s episode, I look at how ambition has become an aesthetic, how this new era of women is blending success with balance, and what that says about the pressures we still carry.From the 1980s dream of 'having it all' to Gen Z’s obsession with boundaries and self-care, I explore whether this polished image of success serves us or simply hides the work still happening beneath the surface.It’s not a critique as such, more a reflection on what success really looks like when we strip away the uniform.🎧 Listen for:The rise of the 'slick-back bun economy'How each generation redefines ambitionThe quiet cost of appearing perfectly balancedWhy true success might be less visible than we think✨ 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.
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19:51
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19:51
Wellness of Weirdness? Who gets to be 'well'?
Recently, we talked about how wellness has become performative. How it was more about looking serene than actually feeling or being it.This week, I’m taking that idea further. Because wellness isn’t just performative, I think it has become exclusive. It’s a club with an unspoken dress code, a price tag, and a very specific aesthetic.From £300 yoga mats to Alo tracksuits and the sacred Stanley cup, the modern wellness world isn’t about health, it’s about belonging. We’ll talk about:Why 'inclusive' wellness is often just clever marketingThe new uniform of wellbeing (and why trainer socks are apparently an indicator of age/being out of fashion)How thin privilege and class still shape who gets to be 'well'Why you never see wellness marketed to men - and what that says about who the industry’s really servingAnd how ancient cultural practices became content for InstagramThis isn’t a takedown of self-care, it’s a reality check on what wellness culture has become: a glossy performance that often leaves people out.Maybe real wellness isn’t something you can buy, post, or prove.Maybe it’s the small, unfiltered things that actually keep you human.🎧 Listen now for a wry, honest look at the business, aesthetics, and quiet absurdities of modern wellness culture.🌿 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emmaguns/📰 Substack https://emmaguns.substack.com/🎧 Listen to past episodes https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-emma-guns-show/id1102982843Hey! 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.
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18:28
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18:28
Is Worry Holding You Back?
Worry can be motivating. It can be a driving force that spurs you into motion but then worry can also bring you to a sudden and grinding halt. In this episode, I talk about what happens when worry tips from useful to paralysing, and how I’ve been learning to worry less and act more.I explore:How worry often disguises itself as diligenceWhy even small tasks can feel heavy when your mind is busyThe moment motivation turns into paralysisAnd what it means to move with the worry instead of waiting for it to go awayA calm, honest reflection on overthinking, stillness, and quiet courage.Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or read more on Substack: https://emmaguns.substack.com/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.
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17:35
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17:35
Why I Walked Out of a Sound Bath | When Wellness Becomes Performance
This week, I did something I’ve never done before - I walked out of a sound bath halfway through. Then I went to a breathwork session that felt eerily like a cult. Both experiences made me realise how far modern wellness has drifted from its purpose.In this episode, I unpack why so many wellness practices now feel performative rather than healing; more about being seen to be “working on yourself” than actually feeling better. I talk about the way movements like clean eating and body positivity started as genuine acts of self-care, only to be hijacked by branding, aesthetics, and algorithms.What happens when wellness becomes performance? And what would it look like if no one could see it?Connect with me:🌿 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/emmaguns/📰 Substack https://emmaguns.substack.com/🎧 Listen to past episodes https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-emma-guns-show/id1102982843Hey! 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.
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27:44
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27:44
The Jet Lag Reset | The Simple Science to Resetting Your Body Clock
On my last trip to San Francisco, something unexpected happened: I didn’t get jet lag. Normally, I’d spend the first few days wide awake at 3 a.m. and desperate for a nap by lunchtime — but this time, my body adjusted almost instantly.In this episode, I share the two surprisingly simple things that made all the difference: moving my body and drinking chia seeds. We’ll talk about why exercise acts like a reset button for your internal clock, how chia seeds can keep you hydrated and regular while travelling, and the three “anchors” your body uses to sync with a new time zone — light, movement, and meals.Plus, I share practical, easy-to-remember travel habits that genuinely make you feel human again:How to use sunlight and exercise to reset your circadian rhythmThe chia-seed hydration trick that supports digestion, skin, and energyWhy timing your meals and caffeine can make or break your recoveryAnd small tweaks - like magnesium, electrolytes, and morning walks — that make travel so much smootherWhether you’re crossing continents or just hopping time zones, this episode is your quick, no-nonsense guide to beating jet lag without expensive supplements or rigid routines.Connect with me on Instagram: @emmagunsJoin the conversation on Substack: The Emma Guns Show NewsletterShare this episode with a friend who needs a reminder that failure isn’t the end.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're in the mood for a deep and meaningful then this is the podcast for you. Every week, broadcaster and journalist Emma Gunavardhana has an intimate conversation with her guest about the risks they've taken, struggles they've had to overcome, successes they are proud of and much more before they tell us about a time when they were wrong, and what they learned from it.Watch clips from the show on Youtube The Emma Guns ShowFollow Emma on Instagram @emmagunsJoin the podcast's Facebook group The Emma Guns Show | The Forum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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