The Vertue Podcast

Abs. Belly fat. Six-packs. Post-baby pouches.
In this episode, we unpack why women feel so conflicted about their bellies; and why that pressure isn’t rooted in biology at all. We dive into culture, pregnancy, the pelvic floor, pressure management, and what your abs actually do, then finish with clear, practical guidance so you can train your core with confidence.
This episode is not anti-aesthetics - in fact, it's more about asking why the aesthetics obsession exists and finding ways to channel it in a healthy way.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed researching for it. The historical stuff was my fave.

I was so wrong and psychology has demonstrated why and HUMBLED MEEEEE.

If you’ve ever felt like you know what to do for your training but still can’t seem to stick to it, this episode is for you. We explore why education alone doesn’t change behaviour, how uncertainty changes your relationship with your body, and why inconsistency is often a logical response, not a failure.

This episode offers a new way to understand your training struggles and a calmer path back to consistency.

Bring your pen and paper to this episode so we can really make this practical TOGETHER.

Why does everyone in the fitness space seem to be pitting these two against each other?
Why are prominent doctors who specialise in women's health suggesting that pilates isn't enough?
Do you have to give up Pilates to maintain a truly healthy body?
All of this was answered and so much more. I was on a MASSIVE mission to clear up the confusion with this frustrating online debate.

Let's go!

We often talk about exercise helping mental health, but not always why.
In this episode, I unpack a lesser-known system that links movement, emotional regulation, and even sleep–wake rhythms. If your anxiety tends to show up in the body before the thoughts, this one will likely resonate.

Resources:
Hilber, P., Cendelin, J., Le Gall, A., Machado, M.-L., Tuma, J., & Besnard, S. (n.d.). Cooperation of the vestibular and cerebellar networks in anxiety disorders and depression.
Vlassopoulos, E., Mychasiuk, R., & Yamakawa, G. R. (n.d.). Does the brain’s vestibular system contribute to synchronisation of circadian rhythms?
Rajagopalan, A., Jinu, K. V., Sailesh, K. S., Mishra, S., Reddy, U. K., & Mukkadan, J. K. (n.d.). Understanding the links between vestibular and limbic systems regulating emotions.

What’s the optimal amount and type of exercise to improve symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder?
A new Bayesian network meta-analysis may have the most straightforward answer yet. In this episode, I break down a comprehensive review comparing four primary exercise modalities: aerobic, resistance, mind–body, and mixed training, and their impact on clinically diagnosed MDD.
We explore:
• The U-shaped dose–response curve
• The minimum clinically effective dose (~320 MET-min/week)
• The optimal dose (~860 MET-min/week)
• Why mind–body training works at a lower volume
• How METs standardise intensity across exercise types
• How to build an evidence-aligned movement plan when motivation and energy are low
This is a practical, grounded, science-backed guide to using exercise as one part of a broader approach to healing depression.