HOW TO BE A WOMAN

About HOW TO BE A WOMAN

HOW TO BE A WOMAN: Everything you were never taught about women’s health, finally explained. Hosted by Dr Natalie Hutchins- GP, women’s health doctor and creator of The Woman’s Handbook, this podcast brings you the facts, the nuance and the science behind every major stage of a woman’s life. Every other week, Natalie sits down with world-leading clinicians, psychologists, scientists and thought-leaders to break down topics women are so often left to figure out alone. We cover the 5Ms- the 5 key milestones that a shape women’s health: • Menarche: puberty, periods, PMS/PMDD, teen mental health and how to raise happy, confident & resilient girls • Menstruation: cycle health, contraception, fertility, endometriosis, PCOS and reproductive wellbeing • Matrescence: pregnancy, birth, pelvic floors, postpartum recovery and the psychological transformation into motherhood • Menopause: perimenopause, midlife mental health, HRT myths and knowledge to help you navigate this transition feeling empowered • Matriarchy: providing you with the rulebook to avoid chronic disease, and live well for longer If you want smart science, honest conversations and tools you can use today, you’re in the right place. New episodes alternate weeks. Your handbook starts here. Www.thewomanshandbook.com Instagram @thewomanshandbook thewomanshandbook.substack.com (https://thewomanshandbook.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Dr Natalie Hutchins

Category

health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Aug 2025

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

37 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

   How to Eat and Lose Weight (...if that’s your goal)

   Calories, keto, fasting, glucose spikes. If you no longer know what to eat, this episode is for you. Of all the topics in health, weight and diet may be the most crowded with misinformation. One week the advice is to count calories, the next it is all about macros. Carbohydrates are the enemy, then fibre is the answer. Many of these claims contain a grain of truth, which is what makes them so hard to untangle. In this episode I am joined by academic dietitian Dr Nicola Guess from the University of Oxford to put the biggest diet claims to the test. We look at what the research shows on calorie deficits, keto, carbohydrates, continuous glucose monitors, ultra-processed foods, fasting and menopause, and finish with a simple way to build your plate. Dr Nicola Guess is a dietitian and nutrition scientist whose research focuses on diet in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. She also runs a clinical practice supporting people with cardiometabolic disease. https://www.nicolaguess.com/ (https://www.nicolaguess.com/) IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 Introduction 02:47 Does a calorie deficit still work? 06:03 Keto, insulin and the "fat-burning" theory 19:15 Should you be afraid of carbohydrates? 23:13 Glucose monitors and the fear of spikes 32:31 Can a CGM help you lose weight? 34:29 Ultra-processed foods and the snack aisle 42:40 Fibre maxxing 44:45 Fasting and meal timing 52:35 Menopause, metabolism and body shape 55:56 Nicola's plate, and the myth she most wants to bust RESOURCES AND SUPPORT World Health Organization, Healthy diet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet) The Nutrition Source, Healthy Eating Plate: https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-eating-plate/ (https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-eating-plate/) International Diabetes Federation: https://idf.org/ (https://idf.org/) International Menopause Society: https://www.imsociety.org/ (https://www.imsociety.org/) National Alliance for Eating Disorders: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/ (https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/) Full show notes and more resources are on our website. https://www.thewomanshandbook.com/ (https://www.thewomanshandbook.com/) This episode is for general information and education only and does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to your doctor, a registered dietitian or another qualified health professional before making changes to your diet, medication or exercise routine. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewomanshandbook.substack.com (https://thewomanshandbook.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   6 Oct 2026

   The Maternal Health Crisis: How to Speak Up in Pregnancy and Make Yourself Heard

   If you are pregnant, or hoping to be, the headlines about maternal deaths can be frightening to read. Many women are asking the same quiet question: will I be safe? In the UK, maternal mortality is now around 20% higher than it was fifteen years ago, and the risk is unequal. Black women are almost three times more likely to die in pregnancy or the year after birth than White women. The gap is narrowing, but are things truly improving for Black and brown women, or are outcomes getting worse for everyone? My guest is Dr Jacqueline Bamfo, consultant obstetrician and maternal fetal medicine specialist. We talk about what is driving these figures, the conditions to know, the warning signs to act on, and practical ways to make sure your voice is heard before, during and after pregnancy. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 02:39 Why are maternal deaths rising? 04:31 The appointment before the pregnancy 07:26 The gap after the six-week check 11:01 Why the risk is not equally shared 13:23 Inside a stretched system 18:28 Blood clots, blood pressure and pre-eclampsia 23:37 How to be heard 28:08 Is the gap really narrowing? 29:27 Continuity of care, doulas and free birthing 36:54 Practical advice for every stage RESOURCES AND SUPPORT Tommy's (pregnancy information): https://www.tommys.org (https://www.tommys.org) Action on Pre-eclampsia: https://action-on-pre-eclampsia.org.uk (https://action-on-pre-eclampsia.org.uk) Preeclampsia Foundation: https://www.preeclampsia.org (https://www.preeclampsia.org) Five X More: https://www.fivexmore.org (https://www.fivexmore.org) Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net (https://www.postpartum.net) Find A Helpline (crisis lines worldwide): https://findahelpline.com (https://findahelpline.com) Birthrights: https://www.birthrights.org.uk (https://www.birthrights.org.uk) Full show notes and resources: https://www.thewomanshandbook.com/ (https://www.thewomanshandbook.com/) This episode is for general information and education only and does not constitute medical advice. Please speak to your own doctor, midwife or healthcare provider about your individual circumstances. If you are worried about your health or your baby's health, contact your maternity unit or seek urgent medical care. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewomanshandbook.substack.com (https://thewomanshandbook.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   How To Sleep: Menopause, Insomnia and the Sleep Problems That Get Missed

   Sleep disturbance affects between 40 and 60 per cent of women during the menopause transition. Hormones account for some of it. Age, mood and undiagnosed sleep disorders account for much of the rest. In this episode, consultant neurologist and sleep physician Dr Oliver Bernath explains what oestrogen and progesterone actually do to sleep, what HRT can realistically improve, and why waking in the night becomes more noticeable with age in both sexes. We discuss CBT for insomnia, morning light and melatonin timing, which supplements have evidence behind them, and the conditions frequently missed in women, including obstructive sleep apnoea, restless legs and low ferritin. We also look at what sleep trackers can and cannot tell you. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:29 Midlife sleep, hormones and HRT 00:06:05 Night waking and how much sleep you need 00:15:18 How night waking becomes chronic insomnia 00:18:31 Light, body clocks and melatonin 00:22:56 Supplements 00:27:27 When optimised hormones are not enough 00:29:07 Sleep apnoea and restless legs in women 00:34:50 Sleep trackers 00:47:20 Full show notes and support resources: https://www.thewomanshandbook.com/ (https://www.thewomanshandbook.com/) Dr Oliver Bernath: https://www.drbernath.com/ (https://www.drbernath.com/) Find me on Instagram and Substack: https://substack.com/@drnataliehutchins (https://substack.com/@drnataliehutchins) https://www.instagram.com/thewomanshandbook/ (https://www.instagram.com/thewomanshandbook/) This episode is for general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewomanshandbook.substack.com (https://thewomanshandbook.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

4.8 / 5

62 ratings

Contact HOW TO BE A WOMAN

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.