Her Whole Health

In this episode, Rebecca asks a slightly uncomfortable question: are we neglecting our health and calling it faith?As a Christian and healthcare professional, Rebecca believes deeply in prayer, healing and the power of faith. But she also believes that faith and action were never meant to be opposites.Drawing on her own health journey, Rebecca reflects on the ways people can sometimes delay appointments, ignore symptoms or neglect aspects of their lifestyle while hoping things will improve. She also explores how health behaviours can be shaped by family, culture, community and faith, particularly within Black communities.The episode looks at the role faith can play in supporting health and wellbeing, while also asking what it means to actively steward the body you have been given. Rebecca discusses preventative healthcare, physical activity, diet, medication, screening and the importance of acting on the things that are within our control.Links:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3884828/

When we hear that a medicine or treatment is “evidence-based,” we might assume the research behind it represents everyone who will eventually use it. But what happens when certain groups are missing from that evidence?In this episode of Her Whole Health, Rebecca explores the underrepresentation of Black women in clinical research and asks an important question: where are the Black women in clinical trials?For years, conversations about Black participation in medical research have often focused on mistrust, particularly in the context of historical and ongoing medical injustice. But is mistrust the whole story?Research from GCI Health surveyed 500 Black women across the United States and found that 80% were open to participating in a clinical trial, yet 73% said they had never been asked to participate. https://gcihealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Layered-Executive-Summary-_FINAL.pdf This episode explores how recruitment, access, cost, location, communication and opportunity can shape who gets to participate in research—and why representation matters as healthcare moves further into genomics, artificial intelligence and personalised medicine.

Cervical screening saves lives  but for some women, the experience can be painful, distressing, or difficult to talk about.In this episode of Her Whole Health, Rebecca explores why cervical screening is so often described as “just a little uncomfortable,” even though some women experience significant pain, anxiety, cramping, or distress. She looks at factors that can make intimate examinations more difficult, including menopause, vaginismus, endometriosis, pelvic pain, and previous trauma.  Rebecca also discusses informed consent, self-advocacy, power imbalances in intimate care, and why telling women to “speak up” is not enough if the environment does not make them feel safe enough to do so. 

This episode explores why fitness doesn’t have to mean going to the gym and why finding movement you genuinely enjoy can make staying active feel much more realistic.Rebecca reflects on her own struggle with gym motivation and asks whether the problem is always discipline or whether some of us simply haven’t found the right kind of movement yet. The episode looks at alternatives such as swimming, badminton, walking and dance, while also exploring the barriers that can make sport and exercise feel less accessible for Black women.It also looks at the importance of community, confidence and belonging in fitness spaces, and why exercise can offer more than physical health Sources:https://www.afpe.org.uk/news/666591/Aquatic-Participation-Amongst-Ethnic-Minorities-Has-Decreased.htmhttps://womeninsport.org/news/women-losing-out-most-as-activity-levels-remain-below-pre-covid-stats/

In this episode, Rebecca unpacks why external wellness for black women gets so much more attention than internal wellness — and what that costs us.She digs into Diabetes UK data showing type 2 diabetes diagnoses in women under 40 have risen 50% in just six years, explores why "just go to therapy" ignores the real barriers Black women face in accessing care, and challenges the strong Black woman narrative that tells us to keep going instead of asking for help.Research papers discussed:https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-us/news-and-views/type-2-diabetes-rises-twice-fast-younger-women-compared-older-womenhttps://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/mental-health-among-african-american-womenhttps://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/health/mental-health/detentions-under-the-mental-health-act/latest/For comments, further discussions and potential collaborations email [email protected]

 In the first episode of Her Whole Health, Rebecca shares the personal story of discovering she had a 30cm fibroid after years of unknowingly normalising changes in her body. From a friend’s unexpected comment and a private ultrasound to navigating gynaecology appointments and difficult treatment decisions, she reflects on what it feels like when the healthcare professional becomes the patient. It’s an honest conversation about fibroids, self-advocacy, listening to your body and learning to ask better questions about your health 

A trailer for Her Whole Health, the podcast helping Black women in their 20s and 30s unlearn harmful health habits, better understand their bodies, and feel confident advocating for better care.