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The Little Things

The Little Things

NZ Herald 70 Episodes Jul 3, 2026

In a world where well-being influencers are driven by endorsements, wellness trends generally come at a cost, and busy lives disrupt our best intentions, all many women want are simple, science-based facts to help us live a productive, happy balanced life. Enter The Little Things. Broadcaster Francesca Rudkin and health researcher Louise Ayrey have been friends for over a decade and have been through it all, and along the way have learned the benefits of practical information over costly fads. Join them for new episodes on Saturdays where they talk to experts on health, wellbeing, parenting and relationships to give you the information you need to thrive!

Episodes

How to stop stress turning into burnout Jul 3, 2026 2995 How do we build successful careers and work hard without burning out? Organisational psychologist Nick Petrie joins Francesca and Louise to talk about stress, rumination, burnout prevention and the habits that help people sustain high performance in an always-on world. Nick shares the personal story that led him into this work, explains the difference between pressure and stress, and offers practi
Taryn Brumfitt: 'We were not born hating our bodies' Jun 19, 2026 2783 As concerns grow about the return of extreme thinness, Australian body image advocate Taryn Brumfitt joins Louise and Francesca to explore why beauty standards continue to shape the way we see ourselves. From social media and weight loss drugs to ageing and self-acceptance, she explains why the goal isn't loving your body every day, but learning to stop being at war with it.See omnystudio.com/list
What to wear when your wardrobe stops working Jun 5, 2026 3551 Francesca and Louise are joined by personal stylist and style coach Caitlin Taylor for a practical conversation about finding your personal style in midlife. They discuss why wardrobes can become overwhelming as our bodies, lifestyles and confidence change, and how to work out what actually suits the person you are now. Caitlin shares advice on understanding colour, identifying your “best bi
When ADHD and perimenopause collide May 22, 2026 3060 Broadcaster and No Such Thing As Normal host Sonia Gray joins Francesca and Lou to unpack what happens when  ADHD and perimenopause collide, and why so many women are only being diagnosed later in life.From burnout and masking to hormones, anxiety and losing your ability to cope, Sonia shares her own late diagnosis journey and explains why understanding your brain can be life changing.See omn
Jimmy Wales on why the internet is such an angry place May 8, 2026 3103 Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales joins Francesca Rudkin and Louise Ayrey for a chat about trust, outrage and what the internet is doing to the way we see each other. From doomscrolling and toxic algorithms to political division, online arguments and the collapse of nuance, Wales explains why social media can make humanity seem far worse than it really is, and why he believes algorithms are “fee
Why midlife criticism hits so hard - and how to handle it Apr 24, 2026 2896 This week Francesca and Louise dive into the tricky topic of dealing with criticism and negative thoughts. They're joined by psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald, who shares his expertise on how to navigate negative feedback and the feelings that come with them.   Kyle offers practical advice on how to build resilience and maintain a positive outlook while Francesca and Louise give context to why c
Why you can't blame menopause for weight gain Apr 10, 2026 2796 Menopause expert Niki Bezzant has some bad news for us: we can't blame our midlife weight gain on menopause. Niki joins Francesca and Louise to discuss what's really behind that sneaky middle age spread and what role menopause plays if it doesn't directly cause it. They also discuss hormone therapy, breast density, and how to manage perimenopause and menopause symptoms.See omnystudio.com/listener
Cosmetic treatments - the good, the bad and the downright dangerous Mar 27, 2026 3023 Microneedling, LED masks, Botox in a bottle - these are just a few of the many cosmetic trends we're bombarded with on a daily basis. But what works, what doesn't and what could actually do more harm than good? Francesca and Louise sit down with cosmetic medicine expert Dr Sarah Hart to separate hype from reality. They also dig into skincare essentials, and the truth about trending ingredients lik
Keeping the love alive after the kids have left home Mar 13, 2026 2883 Clinical psychologist Karen Nimmo joins Francesca and Lou for a discussion about navigating relationships when the kids leave the nest. Together they tackle the challenges of transitioning from a child-centric life to a more adult-oriented one, and the pressure this can put on relationships. Karen shares her expertise on how to prioritise your partner during this time, and offers practical advice
What happens when you're widowed too soon with Jana McPherson Feb 27, 2026 3518 Jana McPherson is a food blogger and business owner navigating life as a young widow after losing her husband Hamish in 2023.  Joining Francesca and Louise to share her story of love, loss, and resilience, Jana discusses the challenges of widowhood, including financial stress, grief, and the emotional burden of caring for her children. She also opens up about the importance of self-care,
Is ultra-processed food really that bad for us? Feb 13, 2026 3282 The danger of ultra-processed food has been dominating the headlines, but do these foods deserve all the negative press they're getting?  This week Professor Sarah Berry from King’s College London and chief scientist at ZOE helps us cut through the noise as we unpack what “ultra-processed” actually means, why not all processed foods are created equal, and how some foods are
Bringing attention back into focus Oct 17, 2025 3112 In a world where our attention is constantly pulled in multiple directions, how do we regain control of our focus? Professor Gloria Mark from the University of California, has spent her career studying what's happening to our attention spans and she joins Francesca and Louise to share some surprising statistics. It's a wonder we get anything done at all! But don't panic, Gloria also shares plenty

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