The Prescription Strength Podcast

We all know exercise is good for our heart — but most people still think that means cardio.
In this episode, I’m joined by Emily McGrath, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, to talk about why strength training deserves a place in the conversation about cardiovascular health.
Emily shares some of the most common worries she hears from people after a heart diagnosis, from palpitations and medication to the fear of exercising again. We talk about why a heart problem can completely change the way you see your body — and why people can end up treating themselves as far more fragile than they really are.
We also talk about the evidence for strength training and heart health, including its effects on blood pressure, and why getting stronger can make everyday life easier as we age.
Emily shares her own experience of starting strength training, despite initially feeling intimidated by it, and we discuss how to begin without needing to become a gym person, lift enormous weights or completely overhaul your life.
Finally, we talk about the British Heart Foundation’s Strong Woman Challenge, a free 31-day challenge designed to help women try strength training at home and build confidence with it.
Because cardio is excellent for your heart. But it doesn’t have to do all the work.
In this episode:
Why people can feel frightened of exercise after a cardiac diagnosis
Palpitations, smart watches and health anxiety
Why strength training is still overlooked in heart health
The effect resistance training can have on blood pressure
Starting strength training when you feel intimidated or unsure
Why our bodies are often less fragile than we imagine
Strength, function and maintaining independence as we age
Cutting through the noise about strength training in midlife
The BHF Strong Woman Challenge

Join the October challenge here  www.bhf.org.uk/strongwoman

Feeling tired all the time is one of the most common reasons people see their GP. But before assuming it must be your thyroid, hormones, cortisol or a vitamin deficiency, what else could your energy be telling you?
In this episode, I talk through the energy audit I’d encourage you to do: when did your energy change, when does your battery drain, and where are the best hours of your day actually going?
We look at sleep, work and caring responsibilities, food, alcohol and exercise; what your GP may reasonably investigate; and why blood tests are only one part of the picture.
Most importantly, I explain how to experiment with one thing at a time, look for patterns and collect useful information about yourself.
You don’t need to diagnose yourself. Become a detective before you become a diagnostician.

Finding the right healthcare can be surprisingly difficult.
Who should you see? Should you wait for the NHS or consider going private? How do you compare providers, understand waiting times, work out what you’re entitled to — and know whether the person you’ve found online is actually reputable?
In this episode I’m joined by Roxanne Stevenson Brown, founder and CEO of Find Care Compare, a platform designed to help people navigate NHS and private healthcare options in one place.
We talk about why healthcare has become so difficult to navigate, the growing overlap between NHS and private care, Right to Choose, reviews versus actual clinical outcomes, and why women so often become the unofficial “chief medical officers” for their entire families.
We also discuss Roxanne’s bigger ambition: making healthcare information easier to access regardless of who you know, where you live or how well you understand the NHS.
Find Care Compare: findcarecompare.com

Christine Hobson was struggling with her health in her 50s. She had arthritis, poor sleep, low mood and found everyday movement increasingly difficult.
Then, in her 60s, things changed.
Christine took up running after retirement, completed her first London Marathon — and eventually went on to complete more than 100 marathons, including one in Antarctica. She later discovered strength training and powerlifting too.
Now 73, Christine has a refreshingly different perspective on ageing: we spend far too much time worrying about what movement might do to us, and not enough worrying about what happens when we stop moving.
We talk about:
Starting exercise later in life
Arthritis, pain and the fear of movement
Strength training and osteoporosis
Why fitness keeps your options open as you age
Staying socially connected after retirement
The danger of gradually allowing your world to get smaller
Why it is never too late to start
This is a conversation about much more than exercise. It’s about staying capable, curious and engaged with life as you get older.

Breast cancer treatment can save your life, but what happens when the treatment itself triggers an immediate menopause?
In this episode I’m joined by journalist Carissa Casey, who shares her deeply personal experience of surgical menopause following breast cancer treatment.
While her cancer was successfully treated, she found herself facing severe insomnia, joint pain, recurrent urinary tract infections, weight gain, mood changes and a body she barely recognised—all without ever feeling properly prepared for what lay ahead.
Together we explore:
Why surgical menopause is so different from natural menopause
The impact of suddenly losing oestrogen overnight
Breast cancer, tamoxifen and the difficult conversations around treatment decisions
Why recurrent UTIs are so common after menopause—and what can help
The gaps in menopause support for women after cancer treatment
The importance of informed decision-making and asking questions
How misinformation and expensive supplements can fill the void when women aren’t getting the support they need
This isn’t a conversation about criticising cancer treatment. It’s about recognising that surviving cancer is only part of the journey, and that women deserve honest conversations about what comes next.
Whether you’ve experienced menopause yourself, support someone who has, or work in healthcare, I hope this discussion leaves you feeling better informed and better equipped to ask questions.
If you found this episode helpful, please consider following the podcast and leaving a review. It really does help more people discover these conversations.