Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Method - Health in the Real World
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome to the Method: Meet Your Hosts, Charlie & Greg | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:24:27 | |
Welcome to The Method: Health in the Real World. This is a show where we speak to health experts and ask the questions that matter, so we can improve our lives in simple, effective ways. Think of it as your companion for figuring out how health science fits into real, and sometimes messy, lives.
On this journey, Greg is here to help you get to grips with science. A health consultant and researcher with a PhD, he loves going deep into the evidence (and occasionally gets a little nerdy). His friend Charlie Edmondson is here to keep things accessible. A long-time sports enthusiast with an endless curiosity about health, she raises the questions we’re all thinking – challenging assumptions and channeling the voice of the everyday listener who cares about health but doesn’t reach for academic journals. In this episode, you’ll hear how Greg and Charlie met (and how their friendship is largely kept alive through long WhatsApp voice notes), what healthspan really means and why it matters, and which guests and topics are coming up next. Consider this your teaser for what’s to come. The Method: Health in the Real World is a podcast from Thriva. Get in touch with us at themethod@thriva.co, and tune in on January 12th for our very first guest episode.
Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions.
| |||
| Introducing: The Method - Health in the Real World | 17 Dec 2025 | 00:01:01 | |
There’s no shortage of health advice out there, but how much of it actually works? Cold plunges, glucose monitors, protein timing, strength training, avoiding microplastics… How do we figure out what’s worth our time? Now there’s a method.
Whether it’s eating better, moving with intention, or getting quality sleep… We help you build good, evidence-based habits that stick. Let’s find out what works for you. The Method will empower you to push what really matters when it comes to your health. About your hosts Charlie Edmondson is a proudly Northern outdoors lover, with a growing passion for what it means to live well. She spent years firing her health questions at Greg over voice notes; a habit she now conveniently brings to the show. A real sports addict, Charlie has tried everything from swimming, to hockey, and cycling, to endurance racing representing Team GB in triathlon and duathlon across the globe. She is also a dog mum and doesn’t say no to the occasional Guinness. She brings her warmth to the Method to champion the voice of the everyday listener, who might not be an expert in health, but is brimming with questions. About Thriva
| |||
| Ep.1 - How to get your sleep back when life gets in the way, with Sophie Bostock | 12 Jan 2026 | 00:49:16 | |
You know the feeling: life happens, routines fall apart, and suddenly sleep feels like something you’ve “lost”. So, what is really going on? In our very first guest episode of The Method: Health in the Real World, Greg and Charlie are joined by Dr Sophie Bostock, a sleep specialist, health psychologist, and founder of The Sleep Scientist. Sophie specialises in how sleep affects mental and physical health, and, crucially, how we can recover when sleep goes off the rails. This episode offers a deep dive into the issue of sleep disruption.
Finally, we hear from our very first listeners, who shared their questions and practical challenges around sleep. If sleep has ever felt frustrating, or out of reach, this episode is for you. Links: If you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note, or simply write in with your question at themethod@thriva.co
Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions.
| |||
| Ep.2 - Resistance Training 101: building muscle for long-term health, with Eric Helms | 26 Jan 2026 | 00:46:21 | |
For many of us, January starts with a new membership to the gym. Whether it’s your first time, or a glorious come back, chances are you’re thinking about a new routine. So where’s the best place to start? And maybe more importantly, what are we actually doing it for? What is resistance training, and why does it matter to be healthy? In this episode of The Method, Greg and Charlie sit down with natural bodybuilder and Strength and Conditioning researcher Eric Helms, to demystify resistance training: what counts, what doesn’t, and what benefits building strength holds beyond building muscle or looking “toned”. We start with the science, exploring why muscle growth, strength, and power are foundational to a long-term quality of life. Eric breaks down why resistance training isn’t just for athletes or bodybuilders, and why women in particular should feel confident picking up weights. From there, we move into the practice. With Eric, Greg and Charlie dive into routine advise you can adopt right now. We cover:
Spoiler alert: you don’t need huge volumes or perfect programming to start seeing results, especially in the beginning. Finally, in the experience section, we talk about how to train when we don’t have a solid sleep routine, how yoga or mobility work can fit into resistance training, and how to interpret pain during sessions. Eric helps us figure out what can help us reach our goals. If you’re trying to train smarter, check out this conversation that will show you the ropes to make resistance training a part of your life.
If you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note, or simply write in with your question at themethod@thriva.co
Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions. To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/. | |||
| Ep.3 - Can astronauts teach us how to age better? With longevity physician Filippo Ongaro | 09 Feb 2026 | 00:45:46 | |
After six months in space, the human body changes as much as it would after ten years on Earth. Without gravity setting the pace, muscle mass and bone density drop, circadian rhythms are disrupted, we rest and eat differently too… And that is also what happens as we age.
Together, we dive into what space physiology reveals about long-term health and fitness. We discuss where comparisons between spaceflight and aging on Earth are genuinely useful, and where they can be misleading. The conversation centres on one key idea: muscle and bone health are among the strongest predictors of quality of life as we get older.
Links: If you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note, or simply write in with your question at themethod@thriva.co
Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body – and what to do about it -- before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions.
| |||
| Ep. 6 - Stress is inevitable: what you can do about it, with David Spiegel | 23 Mar 2026 | 00:43:35 | |
We all know what stress is like. The adrenaline on a deadline. Sweaty palms, a racing heart, or a tingling in your fingertips. Sometimes it also feels like a hovering feeling that keeps you stuck at your desk, unable to focus. So where does stress come from, why does it feel like this, and most importantly, how can we learn to handle it? In this episode, Greg and Charlie sit down with Professor David Spiegel, psychiatrist at Stanford University and a leading expert on the connection between mind and body, to unpack the science of stress and explore what we can do to manage without medication. We start by breaking down what stress actually is. David explains the biology behind the “fight or flight” response, how stress can snowball, and why our bodies react to psychological pressures as if they were physical threats. We also explain what hypnosis actually is: a state of focused attention that can help us regulate our response to stress.
Finally, in the experience section, we hear from listeners navigating stress in their own lives. From questions about supplements and sleep to managing stress in neurodivergence, or getting better at recognising the signs, David offers his guidance on how to take the next step.
To explore further: If you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note, or simply write in with your question at themethod@thriva.co About Thriva: Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions. To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/. | |||
| Ep. 5 - What does normal look like for your body? Health tracking explained, with Vishal Shah | 09 Mar 2026 | 00:53:38 | |
So you want to adopt a proactive approach to health; but do you know what you’re starting from? How do you know what’s normal for you, and what’s worth keeping an eye on over time? For many of us, that first step – baselining our health – can feel confusing, or even intimidating.
In the science section, Vishal explains why health isn’t just the absence of disease but the result of many interconnected systems working together in the body. We draw connections between physical, mental, and environmental factors, and consider how small changes can lead to wide-ranging benefits.
Alongside more advanced options, we cover where you can access these tests for free or at low cost and how often it makes sense to track. Finally, we hear from listeners who are already taking steps to track and understand their health. We explore how to find the right balance between proactive tracking and information overload and what alternatives exist for those who find certain metrics stressful, like weighing themselves. Vishal also responds to questions about heart health and nutrition, helping listeners interpret their data and decide the next step in their health journey. In this episode, we see that small changes can have wide-ranging effects. When it comes to improving healthspan, the first step isn’t doing everything; it’s knowing where you stand. Resources we mentioned:
To explore further: If you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note, or simply write in with your question at themethod@thriva.co About Thriva: Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions. To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/. | |||
| Ep.4 - Is longevity only for the wealthy? Democratising healthy ageing, with Andrea Maier | 23 Feb 2026 | 00:43:59 | |
Longevity often feels like an exclusive club. High-end supplements, private clinics, body scans that come with a hefty price tag… But what if healthy ageing wasn’t a luxury? In this episode, Greg and Charlie sit down with Andrea Maier, professor of longevity medicine and gerontology at the National University of Singapore, to explore how we can make longevity accessible to more people, regardless of income or background. We begin with the science of ageing: what actually happens in our bodies over time, why some people age faster than others, and how genetics and environment interact. Andrea explains why wealth and class have an impact on both lifespan and healthspan, and where small interventions can make a difference. From there, we move into practical ways to track and support healthy ageing. We highlight simple but powerful metrics we can monitor ourselves:
We explore what these signals can tell us about long-term vitality, and how to nurture brain health even if sudoku isn’t your thing!
Along the way, Andrea reflects on the people and experiences that shaped her own view of what living until 90 can look like. A reminder that longevity isn’t just about adding years to life, but about preserving the simple freedoms that make it beautiful. Resources we mentioned:
To explore further:
Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions.
| |||
| Ep. 7 - Should we all be eating differently? Personalised nutrition beyond the hype, with Dr. Lucia Aronica | 06 Apr 2026 | 00:50:30 | |
We all know that eating well matters; but what does that actually mean for you, specifically? Low-fat, low-carb, mediterranean, keto, intermittent fasting… What if the reason no single diet works for everyone is because no single diet should? In this episode, Greg and Charlie sit down with Dr. Lucia Aronica, an epigenetics and nutrigenomics scientist at Stanford University School of Medicine, who has contributed to the DIETFITS study, one of the best-known trials in the field of personalised nutrition. Lucia will break down what factors shape personalisation, and what the research really shows. We discuss the findings of the DIETFITS study, explain how individual responses vary, and break down what variables really matter for a healthy diet. We then zoom out to ask the bigger question: is there actually compelling evidence that a personalised nutrition plan beats a well-designed, healthy, generic one? From there, we move into our practice segment, where Lucia shares what this all means day-to-day. We cover:
Finally, in the experience section, we pick up on your questions. From the future of DNA-based nutrition to the truth about keto and your microbiome, meal timing, insulin spikes, and whether that daily tablespoon of olive oil is as good as people say, Lucia gives her take on some of the most common (and most debated) questions in nutrition today.
To explore further:
If you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note, or simply write in with your question at themethod@thriva.co About Thriva: Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions. To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/. | |||
| Ep. 8 - Q&A: fat loss, cholesterol, caffeine, and beating jet lag, with Greg and Charlie | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:43:34 | |
Have you ever written to us and been waiting expectantly for your question to make the cut? Well, it's time we finally answered you. This week, Greg and Charlie are back behind the mic for something a little different; a special Q&A episode. Over the course of 8 episodes, we've gathered a number of fascinating listener questions that don't always fit neatly into the subjects we cover. So today, we give four questions the spotlight they deserve, drawing on Greg's depth of knowledge and experience in the world of science. We cover three big themes: nutrition, caffeine, and sleep. From the basics of fat loss to the science of jet lag, Greg – or Dr. P, as we like to call him – breaks down the science, while Charlie brings the questions you actually want answered, including:
About Thriva: Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions. To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/. | |||
| Ep. 11 - Ozempic, Yo-Yo Diets & the Science of Weight Loss, with Dr. David Allison | 01 Jun 2026 | 00:45:59 | |
Obesity is one of the most misunderstood and emotionally charged topics in health. But what does the science actually say? Dr. David Allison is one of the world’s leading obesity researchers and biostatisticians. Today, he’s here to cut through the noise. A professor of paediatrics and director of the USDA Children’s Nutrition Research Centre, David has spent decades challenging assumptions in the field. His rigorous, evidence-led approach is exactly what this conversation calls for. He sits down with Charlie and Greg to unpack what obesity actually is, what drives it, and how to think about managing it in a way that’s realistic, compassionate, and grounded in evidence. Starting with the science, David explains why BMI is more nuanced than its critics suggest, and why the conceptual definition of obesity - excess body fat that impairs health or longevity - is harder to work into practice than it sounds. He walks us through what we can say with confidence about obesity’s health risks, the role of energy balance and diet composition, and why body weight tends to creep back up after dieting (with some surprisingly reassuring findings along the way). In the practice segment, David, Greg, and Charlie get into the practical side of weight management, including: • Why higher protein intake is one of the biggest levers for body composition • The case for resistance training – especially if you’re using GLP-1 medications • How to evaluate diet advice using a simple evidence checklist • Why the ‘dental model’ of weight management might change how you think about yo-yo dieting • What to know before starting semaglutide or other obesity medications
Finally, in the experience section, we turn to listener questions. We tackle navigating weight management during perimenopause and menopause, how to evaluate conflicting health claims online, and what to do about hair loss while using Mounjaro and GLP-1s. Enjoy this conversation, and if you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, remember to email us a voice note or write in at themethod@thriva.co.
To explore further • David Allison – Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-allison-2917963b/ • USDA Children’s Nutrition Research Centre: https://www.bcm.edu/research/research-centers/usda-ars-childrens-nutrition-research-center • Greg Potter – Website: gregpotterphd.com • Greg Potter – Instagram: @gregpotterphd • Thriva – Website: thriva.co
About Thriva Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan - how long we’re living - and healthspan - how well we’re living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions.
To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/. | |||
| Ep. 10 - Debunking cognitive decline: why your brain doesn't have to slow down with age, with Dr. Tommy Wood | 18 May 2026 | 00:59:24 | |
Most of us assume cognitive decline is an inevitable part of getting older. But what if the science says otherwise? Dr. Tommy Wood says this is a modern health myth. His argument: if stimulated in the right way, the adult brain can stay sharp and high-functioning well into retirement age. A neuroscientist, performance consultant, and recent author of The Stimulated Mind, Tommy has spent his career applying the principles of brain performance to a wide range of lifestyles - from Formula 1 drivers to busy professionals. This week, he sits down with Charlie and Greg, to explore what it actually takes to keep your brain healthy and adaptable across time. Starting with the science, Tommy will walk us through how the brain develops, and why being challenged through learning is good for neuroplasticity. He helps us wrap our heads around this with a helpful shorthand he calls “the 3-S Model”: Stimulus, Supply, and Support. Our guest also makes a case for freeing up “headroom”; we’ll let you find out what that means. Together, we’ll explore why cognitive decline is so often the result of a more sedentary lifestyle, and find out how to circumvent that. In the practice segment, Tommy, Greg, and Charlie will get into tangible exercises and small habits we can all try to improve our brain's ability to learn. Including:
Finally, in the experience section, we turn to real-life learning challenges and answer your listener questions. We’ve got a fascinating discussion on access to information in the age of the internet, and how that impacts our memory capacity. We also bring you practical answers to reconcile the enjoyment of learning new things with long-term cognitive benefits. Enjoy this conversation, and if you'd like to send us your health questions for future episodes, remember to email us a voice note or write in at themethod@thriva.co To explore further: | |||
| Ep. 9 - Training and the menstrual cycle: the science of resistance training for women, with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple | 04 May 2026 | 00:53:37 | |
In the gym, there’s often a pattern: women on the cardio machines, men in the weights section. It's a divide that says a lot about how we think women should train, but how much of that is science, and how much is just habit? This week, Greg and Charlie sit down with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, a researcher specialising in female physiology and strength training,to answer the question: should women train like men? Lauren is also the co-owner of the MASS Research Review, which helps bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical fitness strategies for coaches and trainers.
Lauren walks us through what physical training can look like across different life stages, including how contraception and menopause factor into the picture. Finally, in the experience section, we turn to your questions. How to get back into training post-partum? Can pilates and stretching help relieve period cramps? Are there exercises we should be prioritising to better manage our cycles? Tune in to find out. While we’re here, just a note on language: throughout this episode, we use the term "women" for accessibility, but this episode makes an important distinction between gender and biological sex. To explore further:
If you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, you can email us a voice note, or simply write in with your question at themethod@thriva.co About Thriva: Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions. To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/. | |||