Boots presents Taboo Talk – Details, episodes & analysis

This episode is all about self-pleasure as a form of self-love. With help from sexpert Ruby Rare and and body acceptance influencer Nelly London we cover everything from the new “smart” sex toys (that can measure sexual pleasure and/or be operated remotely) to classic vibrators (both as masturbation tools and relationship toys), as well as empowering you to feel free to love yourself with no judgement or shame with help from. Please do remember to clean your sex toys properly both before and after using them, and that STIs can be transmitted via shared sex toys. You can avoid STIs by covering penetrative sex toys, such as vibrators, with a new condom each time they’re used, not sharing sex toys and having a different set of sex toys for each partner.

*Report mentioned in intro from Flo Health. 

Use code SWB10 to save 10% across selected sexual wellbeing*

*Online only. Excludes bundles and medicines. Subject to availability. 14th – 27th Feb.

RESOURCES 

Boots Health Hub Sexual Health: https://www.boots.com/healthhub/sexual-health

Boots Online Doctor: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/sexual-health

Boots Online Doctor testing: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/home-testing-kits

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pain is real. Heartbreak is a universal human experience that can affect us all at some stage in life, yet it often carries a shroud of stigma, stereotypes, and taboos that prevent open and honest conversations. We get up close and personal with two amazing guests who share their raw and unfiltered stories and have suffered the pain of a broken heart and emerged stronger on the other side. Together we dismantle the barriers that keep us from understanding and supporting one another through love's tumultuous journey. If you are struggling with your physical or mental wellbeing, please seek help from your GP.

RESOURCES

Boots Health Hub: https://www.boots.com/healthhub/mental-health-support 

Support Room Therapy: https://boots.supportroom.com/ 

Boots Online Doctor: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/mental-health-services 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Decision-fatigue, hypervigilance, a loss of interest or pride in work, a feeling of being constantly swamped and overwhelmed: sound familiar? If so, you could be suffering from burnout. In this episode, Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes and Bridgerton’s Ruby Barker discuss their personal experiences of burnout – how it manifested, how it affected their personal and professional lives, and how they managed it.

Please be aware that this episode contains discussions of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Do bear that in mind when considering whether to listen.

RESOURCES

Boots Online Doctor Mental Health Support: https://www.boots.com/healthhub/mental-health-support

Support Room Therapy: https://www.boots.com/healthhub/mens-health/mental-health-support/support-room

NHS ‘How to avoid burnout’: https://www.workingwellglos.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Burnout-how-to-avoid-it.pdf

Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congratulations, you’ve just had a baby! So… now what? The term ‘the 4th trimester’ covers the 12 weeks immediately after giving birth. The time when, after having just been through one of the most exciting – and frightening – physical experiences possible, you’re handed a baby and some giant maxi pads, and sent on your merry way. In this episode, actor and broadcaster Gemma Atkinson reveals her experience of the 4th trimester after giving birth to daughter Mia in 2019. We also have ‘The Modern Midwife’ Marie Louise on hand to provide expert insight on everything from mastitis and lochia, to constipation and nipple creams. Together with host Vogue, Gemma and Marie will help you get to know your postpartum body.

RESOURCES

Boots Parenting Club: www.boots.com/baby-child/parenting-club

Support Room Therapy: https://boots.supportroom.com/

Boots Online Doctor support services: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/

Tommy’s Midwife phone line (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm): 0800 014 7800

NCT ‘What is the fourth trimester’ info: https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/emotional-and-social-development/what-fourth-trimester

PRODUCTS

Boots postpartum range: www.boots.com/sitesearch?searchTerm=postpartum

Boots breast pumps: https://www.boots.com/sitesearch?searchTerm=breast%20pump

Boots nipple balms: www.boots.com/sitesearch?searchTerm=nipple%20balm

My Expert Midwife range: www.boots.com/my-expert-midwife/my-expert-midwife-new-mum

Boots maternity pads: www.boots.com/sitesearch?searchTerm=maternity%20pads

Boots maternity clothing: www.boots.com/baby-child/mothercare-clothing/mothercare-maternity-bras

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode offers a tongue-in-cheek, frank and informative look back at puberty. Guests Paul Sinha and Verona Rose join Vogue to reveal their most important, embarrassing, and momentous puberty memories, including haywire hormones, changing bodies, excess hair in unusual places, crushes on everyone, dubious style decisions and thinking no one on the planet understands you. What do they wish they’d known then that they know now?

RESOURCES

Boots Online Doctor: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com

Boots Health Hub: www.boots.com/healthhub

NHS puberty overview: https://111.wales.nhs.uk/puberty/#Overview

PRODUCTS

Boots hair removal products: www.boots.com/sitesearch?searchTerm=hair%20removal

Boots deodorant: www.boots.com/sitesearch?searchTerm=deodorant

Boots female hygiene products: www.boots.com/toiletries/feminine-hygiene

Boots shaving/grooming: www.boots.com/toiletries/mens-toiletries/shaving-grooming

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talking about cancer is still a big fat taboo, despite most of us having been affected by it in some way. Yet, it’s only through open and honest conversations that we can ask for and offer support, foster better understanding, and come to terms with whatever the situation may be. Here, Coleen Nolan discusses how she has dealt with multiple diagnoses in her family and Michelle Heaton explains how talking about her preventative double mastectomy helped her to process that choice. Azmina Rose, Macmillan’s Trust Lead for Cancer Patient Experience, is on hand to offer expert advice and guidance.

RESOURCES

Boots Macmillan Information Pharmacists: www.boots.com/macmillan/boots-macmillan-information-pharmacist

Boots Macmillan Virtual Information Pharmacists: www.boots.com/macmillan/boots-macmillan-virtual-information-pharmacists

Macmillan ‘Talking About Cancer’: www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/diagnosis/talking-about-cancer/talking-about-cancer

Boots Macmillan No 7 Beauty Advisors: www.boots.com/macmillan/feelmorelikeyou

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brother episode to S03’s ‘The Vulva Bible’, here we investigate all things penis – from the very basics, such as how to keep things clean, to the more complicated and therefore more taboo issues, such as concerns around size, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation. Vogue is joined by Naked Attraction and Naked Education host Anna Richardson, as well as men’s health and sexual function expert Dr Anand Patel, to answer all the penis-related questions you’ve been too scared to ask.

RESOURCES

Boots Online Doctor erectile dysfunction information and service: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/erectile-dysfunction

Boots Online Doctor premature ejaculation information and service: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/premature-ejaculation

NHS men’s health information: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/mens-health/

NHS erectile dysfunction information: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/

NHS ejaculation problems information: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ejaculation-problems/

NHS gender dysphoria information: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gender-dysphoria/treatment/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have social media and platforms like OnlyFans ushered in an era of sexual freedom and enlightenment… or exactly the opposite? In this episode, Vogue is joined by Olivia Attwood Dack, presenter of Getting Filthy Rich, the ITV documentary series investigating the online sex economy. They’ll deep-dive into taboos around sex – everything from sex work, toys and kink-shaming, to sexting and live cams – answering the question: “Is anything in sex taboo anymore?”

RESOURCES

Boots Sexual Health Advice: https://www.boots.com/health/sexual-health-advice

Boots Online Doctor Sexual Health Services: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/sexual-health

Boots Health Hub: https://www.boots.com/healthhub

NHS common sexual health questions: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-

questions/sexual-health/

NHS ‘Are you ready for sex?’: https://www.seftonsexualhealth.nhs.uk/relationships-

sex/relationships-and-sex-2/relationships/consent-and-sex/are-you-ready-for-sex/

NHS contraception guide: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Absolutely all of us can and should take proactive steps to ensure good gut-health, even if we don’t have any issues to speak of. The gut influences everything – from our overall physical health, including what we can and can’t eat, to our mental health through the strong brain-gut connection. In this bonus Q&A episode, Alana and Lisa Macfarlane, aka the Mac Twins and founders of The Gut Stuff, will reveal how to ensure your gut is in the best shape to keep both body and mind as healthy as possible. They’ll be covering all the basics, so, if you’ve ever found yourself wondering what exactly the gut is and why it matters, or whether you need to download a poo-colour chart (answer: probably), then trust your gut and tune in.

RESOURCES

Boots digestive health, vitamins and supplements: www.boots.com/wellness/vitaminsandsupplements/digestive-health

What Your Poop Can Tell You About Your Health (boots.com): www.boots.com/inspiration-advice/wellness-advice/healthy-lifestyle/what-your-poop-can-tell-you-about-your-health

The Gut Stuff at Boots: search ‘boots the gut stuff’ online. 

The Gut Stuff portal: https://thegutstuff.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hair loss is one of the biggest taboos in health and wellness – people fear it, hide it, and will seek all-manner of remedies to halt it or reverse it. However, because societal beauty standards commonly associate femininity with thick, strong hair, hair loss can be particularly distressing for women. In this episode, Style Me Sunday’s Natalie Lee and Married at First Sight’s Jenna Robinson discuss their experiences of different forms of alopecia, explaining what’s happened, why, how they manage it, and how they’ve learned not to let it define their lives.

RESOURCES

Boots hair health vitamins: www.boots.com/beauty/hair/hair-health-vitamins

Boots thinning hair products: www.boots.com/beauty/hair/thinning-hair

Boots Finasteride hair loss treatment (not suitable for alopecia): https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/propecia-online

Information on all alopecias: www.alopecia.org.uk/Pages/Category/types-of-alopecia

SupportRoom (mental health support) from Boots Health Hub: https://supportroom.com/boots/

Boots Online Doctor mental health services: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/mental-health-services 

Livi CBT Service at Boots: https://www.boots.com/healthhub/mental-health-support/livi-cbt

(T&Cs: Subject to availability. Charges may apply.)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.