IMAGE The Check-in – Details, episodes & analysis

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IMAGE The Check-in

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Health & Fitness

Frequency: 1 episode/12d. Total Eps: 19

IMAGE The Check-in is the podcast that lifts the lid on women’s health, one honest expert conversation at a time. Brought to you by the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and hosted by Ellie Balfe, each episode features trusted voices from the medical world to explore what women really need to know in every decade of life. From hormones and heart health to brain function, sleep, stress and more, this podcast offers clear, expert guidance to help you futureproof your health and live well, longer.

IMAGE The Check-in is empowered by Boots, and sponsored by Samsung, Waterstone Clinic.

*Disclaimer*

IMAGE The Check-in is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be, and should not be taken as, medical advice. The content shared in each episode is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no guarantee is given as to the completeness or correctness of the information, and reliance on any information provided in the podcast is solely at your own risk. Always seek the guidance of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your own health, medical condition, or treatment options.

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Burnout, Boundaries and the Body Keeping Score: A conversation with Allison Keating

Season 1 · Episode 19

Thursday, May 14, 2026 • Duration 01:09:56

In this essential episode of IMAGE The Check-in, Ellie Balfe sits down with Chartered Psychologist and author Allison Keating for a thoughtful conversation about the pressures women are carrying, often quietly.

Together they explore burnout, the mental load, people pleasing, health anxiety and the deep connection between psychological wellbeing and physical health. They talk about why so many women have normalised stress, what happens when caring becomes costly, and why boundaries are not simply something we set alone, but something others must help us uphold.

This is a conversation about exhaustion, yes, but also about self-awareness, compassion, nervous system health, and the possibility of living differently.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

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Beyond Your Smile: The Surprising Truth About Oral Health

Season 1 · Episode 18

Thursday, May 7, 2026 • Duration 58:25

How often do we think of oral health as part of our overall health picture?

In this fascinating episode of IMAGE The Check-in, Ellie Balfe is joined by dentist, Dr Bronagh Keane, better known to many on social media, as Ireland’s Tooth Fairy, for a conversation that opens up the much bigger story behind our teeth and gums.

They explore why oral health is far more than check-ups and cleanings, and how the health of our mouth can reflect, and influence, our wider wellbeing. Bronagh explains the links between gum disease and systemic inflammation, what emerging research is telling us about oral health and conditions such as dementia, and why women need to think about dental care through the lens of hormones, ageing and lifelong prevention.

They also talk practical habits, common misconceptions, what signs not to ignore, and the small daily actions that can have a big impact over time.

It is a conversation that may well change how you think about your next dental appointment.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

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Skin as the Window to Your Health with Dr Caitriona Ryan

Season 1 · Episode 17

Thursday, April 30, 2026 • Duration 01:08:17

Our skin is often treated as something simply aesthetic, something to perfect, correct or preserve. But what if we considered skin as a vital indicator of our overall health?

In this fascinating episode of IMAGE The Check-in, host Ellie Balfe is joined by Professor Caitriona Ryan, consultant dermatologist and co-founder of the Institute of Dermatologists, for a wide-ranging conversation about skin health through a very different lens.

They talk about skin as the body’s largest organ and what it can reveal about what may be happening beneath the surface, from inflammation and hormones to stress and overall well-being.

Caitriona shares what women should know about common skin conditions such as acne and rosacea, what to watch for when it comes to skin cancer, and the simple habits that can protect our skin over a lifetime.

This is a rich, practical and thought-provoking episode about skin, health, beauty and what it means to age well.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung Waterstone Clinic.

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Understanding Prolapse and Incontinence; and Why We Need to Talk About Them

Episode 15

Thursday, April 16, 2026 • Duration 53:37

In this episode, Ellie Balfe is joined by Dr Fiona Keogh, consultant gynaecologist with Blackrock Health, to explore what is really going on when it comes to pelvic health, and why so many women are left unsure of what is normal and what is not.

Together, they talk through the symptoms women often normalise, from bladder leaks to a feeling of heaviness or pressure, and why these are not simply things to accept as part of ageing or after having children. Fiona explains what pelvic organ prolapse actually is, how it presents, and the different types of incontinence women may experience, as well as what these symptoms might be trying to tell us.

They also explore how pelvic health changes across different life stages, particularly during pregnancy, postpartum recovery and menopause, and why these can be key moments where symptoms appear or worsen.

Importantly, this conversation moves beyond awareness into reassurance, looking at what can be done to support and improve pelvic health, from pelvic floor physiotherapy to lifestyle changes and, where needed, surgical options.

Above all, this episode is about giving women clarity, confidence and permission to seek help. These symptoms may be common, but they are not something you simply have to live with.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

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Understanding Eating Disorders in Women: The Reality Across a Lifetime

Season 1 · Episode 15

Thursday, April 9, 2026 • Duration 57:19

This is an important and compassionate conversation about eating disorders, a topic that is often misunderstood, often hidden, and far more common than many of us may realise.*** Before listening, please note that this episode may be sensitive for some, so if you feel at any point that it is difficult for you, we encourage you to step away and be gentle with yourself.In this episode, I am joined by Laura Casey, Director of Services at Lois Bridges, Ireland’s only dedicated eating disorder treatment centre. Laura is an enhanced psychiatric nurse with extensive experience supporting individuals through eating disorders and complex mental health challenges. In this conversation, she shares what they are seeing on the ground in Ireland today. We explore how eating disorders are rarely just about food, but are often deeply connected to emotional wellbeing, coping mechanisms, control, identity and self-worth. Laura speaks about the signs that are often missed, the quieter behaviours that can go unnoticed, and why many women may not recognise their own experiences as disordered eating.Importantly, this episode opens up a conversation around how eating disorders can evolve across a woman’s life. This is not a conversation just about extremes; it is about understanding the nuance, recognising the signs, and creating space for more open, compassionate conversations around eating disorders.IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

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Your Pelvic Floor Matters - The Symptoms Women Ignore

Episode 14

Thursday, April 2, 2026 • Duration 01:03:30

Pelvic health is something many women only hear about when something goes wrong. Leaking when you laugh, run, or workout. Or a feeling of heaviness or painful sex. These experiences are incredibly common, yet they are rarely spoken about openly.

In this episode of IMAGE The Check-in, host Ellie Balfe sits down with Aoife Harvey, specialist physiotherapist at the Women's Health Clinic Dublin, for a refreshingly honest and no-holds-barred conversation about women’s pelvic health.

Together, they unpack the pelvic floor and why it plays such an important role in our wellbeing. They also discuss something many women are hesitant to raise: painful sex. Aoife explains the different reasons this can happen, how pelvic health physiotherapy can help, and why women should never feel they simply have to live with discomfort.

The conversation also touches on the life stages that impact pelvic health, from pregnancy and post-partum recovery through to the changes that happen during menopause.

This was a light-hearted, open and deeply informative conversation that shines a light on an area of women’s health that deserves far more attention.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

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Navigating Pregnancy with Care and Confidence

Season 2

Thursday, March 26, 2026 • Duration 53:47

Pregnancy is often described as a natural milestone in a woman’s life. But medically, it is also one of the most complex physiological events the body will ever experience.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Vicky O'Dwyer, Consultant Obstetrician and Director of Gynaecology at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin. Dr O'Dwyer has a special interest in preventing preterm birth and caring for women who experience pregnancy with pre-existing medical conditions.

In this thoughtful and reassuring conversation, we explore how doctors identify and manage risk in pregnancy, what preterm birth really means, and why pregnancy can offer important insights into a woman’s future health.

We also discuss the realities of modern motherhood, including pregnancy later in life and the growing number of women navigating pregnancy with chronic health conditions.

This episode offers clarity, reassurance and expert insight for women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or simply interested in understanding more about how pregnancy shapes long-term health.

This conversation is about understanding, preparation and reassurance. Because when women have access to good information, they are empowered to navigate their pregnancy with confidence.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

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Why Heart Attacks Look Different in Women with Dr Róisín Colleran

Season 1 · Episode 12

Thursday, March 19, 2026 • Duration 01:01:19

Did you know that heart disease is the number one cause of death for women? Yet many of us still associate it more strongly with men.
Women’s cardiovascular health has historically been under-researched, under-recognised and sometimes under-treated. With hormones influencing risk throughout our lives, our symptoms can look different, and life events such as pregnancy and menopause can significantly shape our cardiovascular health.
In this episode, we are joined by Dr Róisín Colleran, Consultant Cardiologist at the Mater Private Network, to explore the reality of heart disease in women and what we can do to better protect our hearts.
Dr Colleran recently led a Women’s Heart Summit for the clinical community, highlighting that women’s heart health requires its own focus and more understanding among medics.
In this episode, we discuss why heart attacks can present differently in women, how risk develops across our lives, and what numbers and tests we should actually know. This is a thoughtful and informative conversation that aims to give women the knowledge we need to understand and protect our hearts.
IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by @boots.ireland and sponsored by @samsungireland & @waterstoneclinicireland

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Gut Health Isn’t Just About Digestion - What Most Women Get Wrong About Gut Health

Season 2 · Episode 5

Thursday, February 12, 2026 • Duration 01:14:41

In this episode of IMAGE The Check-in, host Ellie Balfe is joined by Claire O’Brien, a functional medicine nutritional therapist, for an insightful and grounded conversation about women’s gut health, nutrition and the deep interconnectivity of our body’s systems.

Together, they explore how gut health, hormones, metabolism, stress and energy levels are all linked, and why looking at the body in isolation via single symptoms rarely gives us the full picture.

Claire shares what she sees most often in her clinic, including fatigue, digestive issues, hormonal symptoms and the pressure many women feel to ‘get it right’ with food. She explains why striving for perfection can actually work against our health, and why balance, consistency and self-awareness matter more.

The conversation covers nutrition across the life stages, including menstrual cycles, fertility, perimenopause and menopause, highlighting how our needs change over time and why what worked once in terms of nutrition may not always work later.

This is a reassuring, informative listen for any woman who wants to understand her body better, support her health with confidence, and move away from overwhelm around nutritional choices.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic

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Removing Shame from Sexual Health with Dr Aisling Loy

Thursday, February 5, 2026 • Duration 55:51

In this episode of IMAGE The Check-in, host Ellie Balfe is joined by Dr Aisling Loy, Consultant in Sexual Health and Genitourinary Medicine at St James’s Hospital in Dublin.

This is an interesting, informative and vital conversation about sexual and genitourinary health, an area of health that affects all of us, yet is still too often surrounded by shame, silence and misunderstanding.

Together, they talk about what sexual health really means across a lifetime, why STI rates are rising, and how modern sexual health care has evolved. Dr Loy also explains why removing stigma is so important for both physical and emotional wellbeing, and how open, judgement-free care leads to earlier diagnosis, better outcomes and greater peace of mind.

This episode is about knowledge, reassurance and empowerment. It is an invitation to see sexual and genitourinary health as a normal, essential part of looking after yourself.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung Ireland and Waterstone Clinic

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IMAGE The Check-in – Details, episodes & analysis

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IMAGE The Check-in – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

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Latest published episodes

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