HCA Talks Health

In this episode of HCA Talks Health, Zena Le Roux interviews Dr Jane Seghal, an NHS GP who shares her powerful journey from the high-pressure environment of the medical field to her current role as a Health Coach. Dr Seghal provides a candid look at the personal and professional challenges—including a demanding training system and significant family health crises—that eventually led to her own experience with burnout. Now working as a health practitioner and coach, she discusses the importance of workplace wellbeing and why "your health is your wealth".
In this episode, you will discover:
- Burnout is often a result of sustained, "creeping" pressure rather than a single event.
- Recognising the professional and personal importance of being told "it’s okay to not be okay".
- Navigating high-pressure environments (like the NHS) where systemic demands can erode team empathy and individual compassion.
- Identifying how severe mental burnout can frequently present as physical symptoms.
- Challenging the "power through" mentality.
- Emphasising that a practitioner’s health is their greatest wealth.
For a Health Practitioner or Health Coach, tuning into this episode offers a vital roadmap for navigating the high-pressure demands of the industry without sacrificing personal wellbeing. Dr Jane Seghal’s powerful transition from a burnt-out NHS GP to a balanced Coach provides essential insights into identifying the early "creeping" signs of exhaustion before they manifest as physical illness. By understanding the systemic pressures that erode compassion, listeners will feel empowered to establish healthier boundaries and move from a reactive to a proactive model of care. This shift not only protects the practitioner but creates a ripple effect of authentic, empathetic support that deeply enhances client outcomes. Ultimately, this conversation proves that a professional life built on health is the foundation for truly sustainable healing.
🌐 To learn more about how Dr Jane can help you, visit www.betterhealthwithdrjane.com. 
Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome to HCA Talks Health with Dr Jane Seghal
00:19 – Jane’s journey: From chemistry degree to medical school 
03:09 – Early years: Music scholarships and childhood aspirations 
04:52 – The transition from medical student to junior doctor 
06:36 – GP training and the impact of personal challenges 
08:09 – Systemic barriers to flexible and part-time working 
11:23 – Family health crisis: Navigating a husband’s brain surgeries 
13:22 – "It broke me": The cumulative toll of stress and lack of compassion 
16:55 – Physical warning signs: Severe back pain and the road to burnout 
18:03 – Maggie’s Cancer Centre: Receiving the "power of permission" to rest 
20:21 – Six months off: The reality of recovery and reflection 
20:46 – Hindsight and wisdom: What she would have done differently 

Connect with Health Coaches Academy:
📸 Follow HCA on Instagram: @healthcoachesacademy

🌿 Explore a rewarding career in Health & Wellness Coaching: https://www.healthcoachesacademy.com

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Kenneth Schlenker worked on product and data at Google, contributing to Google Maps, YouTube and Google Ads. He now runs Opal, an app that helps people manage screen time and stay focused.

His earlier work was about keeping people engaged on their devices. At the time, that was the goal. But he’s since seen the downside. These systems are designed to keep people on their phones for longer, whether they enjoy it or not. On average, we spend around 5 hours a day on our phones. People are finding it harder to stay present in real-life interactions and to focus on one task. The patterns are starting to look a lot like addiction. He sees this as a wider issue, not just a matter of willpower. Opal is his response to that. It adds small barriers to make phone use more intentional and easier to control.

In this episode, you will discover:
Modern apps are engineered as "engagement factories" that monetise your time by selling it to advertisers.
Digital addiction isn't a failure of willpower; it’s the result of systems designed specifically to defeat human self-discipline.
Excessive screen time is a primary driver of the current global mental health and productivity crisis.
Using tools to create "friction"—like breathwork or puzzles before opening an app—helps break compulsive cycles and reclaim focus.
Long-term change comes from reframing your identity rather than relying on short-term diets or restrictions.
This episode offers Health Coaches a powerful framework for helping clients navigate the "attention economy" by shifting the focus from guilt to structural change. By understanding that these digital systems are specifically engineered to override self-discipline, you can better support your clients in implementing "intentional friction" to protect their mental wellbeing and productivity. This shift from relying on willpower to redefining one's identity allows clients to move beyond passive consumption and rediscover the value of presence, rest, and focused living.

🌐 For more information on Opal, Kenneth’s screen time app, visit https://opalapp.com/ 

Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome to HCA Talks Health 
00:54 – From Google to Opal: Building systems for engagement vs. focus 
02:14 – How the "Attention Economy" and autoplay keep users hooked 
03:55 – Is it addiction? The impact of smartphones on sleep and attention 
05:52 – The trillion-dollar business model behind capturing your attention 
06:58 – Understanding "Sentiment of Regret" and compulsive phone use 
08:22 – The data: Why we spend over 5 hours a day on our phones 
09:22 – The Mental Health Crisis: Linking smartphones to depression and anxiety 
10:52 – Digital Distraction Tools: Infinite scroll, stories, and notifications 
11:58 – The future of engagement: How AI creates intimate digital relationships 
14:47 – Why willpower fails and the need for "Intentional Friction" 
15:47 – How the Opal app works: Breathwork, puzzles, and self-awareness 
16:48 – The Impact: Saving 300 million hours of screen time 
17:40 – Managing attention as a fundamental life skill for 2026 
19:11 – Behavior Change: Why consistency beats intensity 
19:42 – Changing Identity: How to reframe your relationship with technology 
21:44 – Kenneth’s personal struggle with attention and his daily routine 
24:55 – Step one for Health Coaches: Building awareness without guilt 
25:21 – The #1 Takeaway: Stop blaming yourself—it's the system, not your willpower

Connect with Health Coaches Academy:
📸 Follow HCA on Instagram: @healthcoachesacademy

🌿 Explore a rewarding career in Health & Wellness Coaching: https://www.healthcoachesacademy.com

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In this episode of HCA Talks Health, host Zena Le Roux sits down with Nicole Askwith Williams, an award-winning educator and the founder of the Women's Wellbeing Club. Nicole shares her personal transformation from an 11-year corporate career in finance to becoming a dedicated Women's Health Coach, a shift sparked by her own long-term struggle with undiagnosed hormonal symptoms. We explore how to better align our daily lives with female physiology and how Nicole empowers women to thrive by working in harmony with their natural biological rhythms. 
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The importance of filtering online health trends to find evidence-backed advice
- Why tailoring your nutrition and exercise to suit your specific life stage is so important
- The simple, science-backed habits that can help regulate your hormones and boost daily energy
- Why trusting your intuition is the most important first step in reclaiming your physical and mental wellbeing.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to Nicole Askwith Williams and the Women's Wellbeing Club
01:00 – Nicole’s journey from teenage hormonal struggles to the corporate world
03:00 – Transitioning from the fitness industry to a deeper focus on hormonal health
05:00 – Defining holistic life coaching: moving beyond exercise and nutrition to work-life balance
07:00 – How Nicole educates organisations on supporting women in the workplace
08:00 – Implementing bespoke, small-habit changes for long-term health behavioural shifts
11:00 – The reality of misdiagnosis and the "insane" level of health misinformation online
13:00 – Debunking the "hormone balancing" movement and discussing lifestyle triggers
17:00 – The importance of evidence-based advice and proper coaching qualifications
21:00 – Overview of one-to-one coaching and group support programmes available
24:00 – Closing thoughts on trusting your intuition and taking the power to change your life
Ultimately, Nicole reminds us that if something doesn't feel right within your body or your mind, you possess the absolute power to change it. By moving away from "one-size-fits-all" trends and towards evidence-based, individualised care, women can move from feeling unsupported to feeling empowered. Whether you are a Health Coach looking to better support your clients or an individual ready to take action on your health, this episode serves as a vital reminder to trust your intuition and take that first step towards a more vibrant version of yourself.
To learn more about Nicole’s education initiatives, visit the Women’s Wellbeing Club: www.thewomenswellbeingclub.com 

Connect with Health Coaches Academy: 
📸 Follow HCA on Instagram: @healthcoachesacademy

🌿 Explore a rewarding career in Health & Wellness Coaching: https://www.healthcoachesacademy.com

In this episode of HCA Talks Health, Zena Le Roux sits down with Fred Ford, a motivational speaker and author of the international bestseller Think and Grow Thin. After struggling with his weight for three decades and reaching a peak of 350.2 pounds, Fred underwent a life-altering transformation at age 61. He shares how health coaches can help their clients move beyond the "weight loss rollercoaster" by facilitating a fundamental shift in identity rather than just focusing on restrictive behaviours. By applying proven success principles to health (ultimately losing 130 pounds without the use of drugs or surgery) Fred provides a ground-breaking roadmap for coaches to help their clients achieve lasting resilience and transformation from the inside out.

In this episode, you will discover:
The predictable pattern of temporary weight loss and gain
Why identifying as a "one percenter" from day one is the key to permanent success
The power of visualisation, using mental imagery to "think and grow thin" 
Looking at daily habits for health resilience and goal achievement
Navigating the daily temptation to quit and the importance of recommitting to your goals every single morning
Fred's three-step strategy for goal achievement

Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction to Fred Ford
0:59 – Fred's 30-year weight loss journey and identity struggle
2:40 – The turning point: The Disney World incident and a prayer for change
6:10 – The "Think and Grow Thin" method: Using index cards and Bob Proctor’s theories
8:44 – How coaching groups led to an international bestselling book
11:06 – Why 99% of diets fail and the importance of identity change
16:18 – The power of visualization: Thinking in pictures to create reality
20:01 – Daily habits, consistency, and the "silver bullet"
24:03 – Overcoming ongoing challenges and "mastery"
27:34 – Why it is never too late to start, regardless of age
30:51 – How life has changed: Energy, spirituality, and the "Avatar moment"
38:35 – How Fred supports others through workshops and coaching
41:41 – The key takeaway: The three steps to success
To find out more about Fred’s book Think and Grow Thin, visit www.authorfredford.com. 
Fred’s story is a powerful testament to the idea that "imagined reality is reality". By replacing self-loathing with a commitment to daily consistency, he proved that even at 61, it is possible to "emancipate" yourself from a lifetime of struggle. His journey from being unable to fit on a rollercoaster ride to walking miles in the snow serves as a roadmap for anyone looking to transform their life from the inside out.
Connect with Health Coaches Academy:
📸 Follow HCA on Instagram: @healthcoachesacademy
🌿 Explore a rewarding career in Health & Wellness Coaching: https://www.healthcoachesacademy.com
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In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jaz Robbins, a clinical professor of psychology, licensed psychologist, and board-certified holistic nutritionist, to explore the powerful intersection of nutritional psychology and mental health.
Dr. Jaz shares her unique journey of combining her background in food science with her clinical psychology practice to address the "food-mood connection." She explains how our nervous system functions like a traffic light and how chronic anxiety can keep us stuck in a "yellow light" state of fight-or-flight, draining our body's resources. Dr. Jaz breaks down the science of the enteric nervous system, a.k.a. our "second brain" in the gut, and provides practical, low-pressure strategies for health coaches and individuals to recalibrate their wellbeing through intentional, baby-step dietary changes.
In this episode, you will discover:
In this episode, you will discover:
- How to identify if your nervous system is stuck in a state of chronic stress
- The biological link between your gut microbiome and emotional regulation
- Why stimulants can mimic or worsen symptoms of anxiety
- How to correctly pair proteins and carbohydrates to boost serotonin production
- Practical coaching techniques to help clients build confidence through small, achievable wins 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:00 Dr Jaz’s background & clinical experience
02:30 Anxiety, stress & modern lifestyle
04:00 The gut-brain connection
05:30 Nutritional deficiencies & mental health
07:00 Blood sugar balance & anxiety
08:30 Caffeine, alcohol & anxiety triggers
10:00 The role of the nervous system
11:30 Practical nutrition strategies for anxiety
13:00 Supporting clients with small changes
14:30 Supplements & when to consider them
16:00 Sleep, lifestyle & recovery
17:30 Hormones & anxiety
19:00 Working with clients holistically
20:30 Common mistakes in managing anxiety
22:00 Creating sustainable habits
23:30 Advice for Health Coaches
25:00 Final thoughts & key takeaways
26:00 Closing
This episode is an insightful listen for Health Coaches, wellness professionals, and anyone who may experience anxiety. It is also perfect for those looking to understand the biological roots of mental wellbeing and seeking compassionate, manageable ways to support their nervous system through the power of nutrition. 
To connect with Dr. Jaz Robbins, visit her website 🌐www.drjazrobbins.com or follow her on Instagram: @drjazrobbins
Connect with Health Coaches Academy:
📸 Follow HCA on Instagram: @healthcoachesacademy
🌿 Explore a rewarding career in Health & Wellness Coaching: https://www.healthcoachesacademy.com
🔔 Subscribe & Review
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our channel and leave a review!