Beyond The Surface Podcast

Perimenopause and menopause can affect far more than your cycle, from sleep, mood and anxiety to libido, weight, bone health and overall wellbeing.
In this episode, Belinda sits down with Women’s Health GP Dr Christine Greenwood for a conversation about perimenopause, menopause and post-menopausal care. They talk about HRT, hormones, nutrition, weight loss, exercise, supplements and the health checks women should be thinking about in midlife. Christine specialises in helping women navigate this stage of life with a practical, evidence-based approach.

We talk about:
The early signs of perimenopause and why they can be easy to miss
Anxiety, irritability, sleep changes, low libido and changes to your cycle
Why some women are prescribed antidepressants before hormones are considered
The history of fear around HRT and how treatment has changed
Oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone and what each hormone does
What the current evidence tells us about HRT and bone, brain and cardiovascular health
Vaginal oestrogen and its role in dryness, painful sex and recurrent UTIs
Why healthy eating and eating for fat loss are not always the same thing
The role of strength training, cardio and movement in midlife
Important health checks for women, including blood tests, mammograms, cervical screening and bone density
Supplements that may support women through this stage
Why getting help early can make such a difference

More than anything, this conversation is a reminder that perimenopause and menopause don’t have to be something women simply endure. Understanding what’s happening and having the right support can make a significant difference to your health, strength and quality of life.

Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, protein, creatine, matcha, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit Belinda’s affiliate link to see the full range: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au?sca_ref=12293034.mtZdtecqmnjT

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Dr Christine Greenwood:
Website: https://edenwomenshealth.com.au/team/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchristinegreenwood/

What happens when the symptoms you’ve spent years dismissing as “normal” turn out to be something far more serious?
In this episode, Belinda sits down with fitness and nutrition coach, mum of four, author and podcaster Danni Duncan to talk about her journey from body image struggles and disordered eating to rebuilding her relationship with health, and ultimately being diagnosed with bowel cancer at just 39.
Danni opens up about the extreme fatigue, low iron, bloating and ongoing gut issues that eventually led to her diagnosis, as well as the emotional reality of undergoing surgery and chemotherapy while raising four young children.

We talk about:
Growing up as a ballet dancer and believing skinny meant healthy
Moving from restriction and body obsession to strength and balance
The symptoms Danni experienced before her bowel cancer diagnosis
Learning to listen to your body and advocate for your own health
Navigating cancer treatment while being a mum of four
Why sustainable health isn’t about quick fixes or perfection
Building healthy habits that actually fit your lifestyle
Letting go of comparison and finding what works for you

This conversation is a powerful reminder to pay attention when something doesn’t feel right, ask questions and focus on building a version of health that you can actually sustain.

Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, protein, creatine, matcha, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit Belinda’s affiliate link to see the full range: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au?sca_ref=12293034.mtZdtecqmnjT

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Danni:
Website: https://danniduncan.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danni.duncan_

In this episode, Belinda sits down with men’s performance coach and endurance athlete Lachlan Stuart to unpack the lessons behind some extraordinary physical challenges, and the mental battles that came with them. From losing his identity after professional rugby to rebuilding his life, becoming a father and pushing himself to his limits, Lachlan shares what resilience looks like when motivation disappears.

We talk about:
Losing your identity and rebuilding after hitting rock bottom
Running 58 marathons in 58 days and rowing 30 marathons in 30 days
Changing the meaning you give to pain and adversity
Why standards are more powerful than motivation
Men’s mental health, relationships and taking responsibility for your life
What becoming a father has changed about Lachlan’s purpose
His next challenge: running across Australia
Why your achievements don’t define you, how you show up does

This is a conversation about resilience, identity, purpose and discovering just how much more you’re capable of.

Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, protein, creatine and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/ and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Lachlan:
Website: https://www.lachlanstuart.com.au/

In this solo episode, Belinda explores how the way we start and end our day influences what we think about, how we feel, what we focus on, and how what we repeatedly give our attention to doesn’t just fill our day, it shapes our life.
It’s not about creating the perfect morning or evening routine. It’s about becoming more intentional about what we allow into our minds, particularly in those first and final moments of the day.
From reaching for your phone first thing in the morning to taking the stimulation of the day into bed at night, Belinda looks at the impact of constant consumption, distraction and the stories we repeatedly tell ourselves.

We explore:
Why your day starts with what you give your attention to, not when you get out of bed
How reaching for your phone first thing can shape what your mind focuses on
Why natural morning light is important for your body clock, sleep, and mental health
How what you repeatedly consume can become the environment you create for your mind
Why boredom, silence and creating mental space can be valuable
How brain rot and constant stimulation can contribute to mental fatigue and difficulty concentrating
Why the way you end your day can affect how you wind down for sleep
How writing things down can help you put tomorrow’s problems down for the night
The importance of paying attention to the people, content, conversations and environments influencing you
Why the way you speak to yourself matters
A simple five-minute morning and evening ritual

Your attention is one of the most valuable things you have. If you don’t consciously choose where it goes, there’s no shortage of people, platforms and outside noise that will happily choose it for you.
Sometimes changing your life isn’t about adding more. It’s about becoming more selective about what you allow in.
Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, protein, creatine and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/ and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

There’s no new episode this week, so instead, I’m taking you back to Episode 14, the most-listened-to episode of Beyond The Surface. It’s a short one at just 14 minutes, and if you enjoy it and want more, there’s a Part 2 in Episode 42: Estrangement Isn’t Betrayal Part 2: Healing, Boundaries & Brave Decisions.

Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, protein, creatine and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/ and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau