Catch Ups In My Kitchen

In my kitchen this week, I’m joined by the lovely Olivia Breirley to dive deep into the world of cycle syncing and her inspiring journey to pregnancy while managing endometriosis, PCOS, and adenomyosis.

In this raw, honest, and empowering chat, Olivia shares how being told she might never have children led her to completely rethink how she approached her body, her health, and her hormones. She opens up about how working with her cycle — instead of against it — became the game-changer in her pregnancy journey.

One area that Olivia and I deep dive into is seed cycling and how it's a natural way of regulating your hormones due to the nutrients and lignans in these seeds helping regulate estrogen and progesterone levels. Below we have explained how you can seed cycle:

Follicular Phase (Day 1–14)

(From the first day of your period to ovulation)

Seeds to eat:

• 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds
• 1 tablespoon of ground pumpkin seeds

These seeds are rich in lignans and omega-3s, which can help support estrogen production and metabolism. They also contain zinc, which is great for egg quality and overall reproductive health.

Luteal Phase (Day 15–28)

(From ovulation to the start of your next period)

Seeds to eat:

• 1 tablespoon of ground sunflower seeds
• 1 tablespoon of ground sesame seeds

Why:

These seeds help support healthy progesterone levels. Sunflower seeds are high in vitamin E and selenium, which support progesterone production, while sesame seeds contain lignans that can help modulate estrogen levels if they get too high in this phase.

The other topics we dive into are:

• Olivia's journey and experience with endometriosis, PCOS and adenomyosis
• The power of cycle syncing and how you used it to change your fertility trajectory
• The effects of hormonal contraception, particularly the pill, on your cycle and fertility — and Olivia’s honest, thoughtful views on it after years of navigating it herself
• Societies impossible expectations of women vs the reality
• Why understanding and connecting with your cycle is so empowering, whether you’re trying to conceive or simply want to feel better, more balanced, and in tune with your body
• Wellness non-negotiable that have helped you deal with endometriosis and PCOS

This episode is a beautiful reminder of how powerful our cycles are, and how making small, intentional shifts to support your hormones can change everything.

Whether you're currently dealing with hormonal issues, curious about natural contraception options, or wanting to learn how to better support your body through every phase — this one’s for you.

Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Tea Huggers - you can check out their delicious range of blended tea here

Catchups15 - will give you 15% off all Tea Hugger purchases at check out

This episode was hosted and produced by Georgia Symonds

Georgia’s Instagram - click here!

For more information and other interesting articles check out our website: www.catchupsinmykitchen.com

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

This week in my kitchen, I'm joined by Howey, the head of coffee at Grind, to delve into the art of making delicious coffee and explore the secrets behind Grind's success.

Grind began as an independent coffee shop in Shoreditch in 2011, known for its flat whites, great music, and vibrant atmosphere. It has since evolved into a much larger brand, with products now available in Tesco, Waitrose, and on Amazon, bringing that unique Shoreditch coffee shop experience to homes across the UK.

Coffee, much like wine, is more than just a beverage; it's a culture, a lifestyle, and an art form. In this episode, we celebrate all that coffee embodies. I also get the chance to address some pressing questions and debunk myths, such as whether coffee contains mould and if oat milk is really as bad as some say.

If you're as passionate about coffee as Howey and I are, this episode is definitely for you!

We discussed the following topics:

• What makes a good coffee?
• Coffee roasts - what does this mean and does it affect the caffeine?
• Milk and coffee - Milk can really affect the taste of the coffee
• Is oat milk as bad for us as it seems
• Decaf coffee - what is the process it goes through
• Does coffee have mould in it?
• How should we be storing our coffee does this affect the taste and shelf life?
• Some of the crucial parts to Grinds Success?
• Why do you blend coffee?
• Sustainability and being B Corp
• Which chain would you say does the worst cup of coffee?
• What’s next for Grind

Check out Grind here

This episode was hosted and produced by Georgia Symonds

Georgia’s Instagram - click here!

For more information and other interesting articles check out our website: www.catchupsinmykitchen.com

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

In My Kitchen This Week I’m joined by Victoria, the founder and creator of Empower Periods—a platform and community where girls can connect and talk openly about all things periods. Think of Empower Periods as your online big sister, always ready to share honest, helpful advice about your time of the month.

Victoria’s own journey includes a decade of struggling with chronic period pain, only to be offered contraception as a quick fix—a common recommendation that often masks the problem rather than solving it. But here’s the truth: chronic period pain isn’t normal.

In this episode, we break down what should feel normal, what shouldn’t, and share practical tips to help ease period pain. We also dive into the power of cycle tracking—highlighting the best apps to use and how understanding your cycle can transform everything from your workouts to your relationships and overall well-being.

It’s a real, unfiltered girl talk about the topics we often think about but rarely discuss. Don’t miss it!

The topics include:

• Your journey with your periods
• 1 in 4 women don’t understand periods - so shall we break it down into the different phases of the menstrual cycle and what that mean?
• Contraception what did you do - did it make it better or worse?
• I know doctors sometimes prescribe people with contraception in order to help the battle with period pain - this seems backwards - thoughts on this?
• What symptoms are “normal” to feel on your period and what’s “not normal”?
• What has helped you when your experiencing bad periods? Any tips that people listening could take away from this?
• Tracking your period - has this helped? What app do you use and
• How have you changed your lifestyle according to tracking your cycle?
• When did you have the idea to start empower periods and what impact has it had on you and also the community
• What are some of the best things that have come out from it?
• Talking about it with your housemates - the socials..let’s talk about it because it’s great

Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Wylde

Use code KITCHEN15 to receive £15 off your order

To follow Empower Periods - click here

This episode was hosted and produced by Georgia Symonds

Georgia’s Instagram - click here!

For more information and other interesting articles check out our website: www.catchupsinmykitchen.com

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

This week in my kitchen, I’m joined by Amira, also known as The Communication Expert, for an insightful conversation about mastering the art of communication. We explore how to effectively express yourself and connect with others to achieve your goals—whether in your personal life, professional endeavours, or relationships.

I firmly believe that strong communication skills are the key to success. Without them, it’s difficult to seize opportunities or resolve challenges that may be holding you back. That’s why improving how you communicate can be one of the most valuable steps you take toward personal growth and achieving your ambitions.

In this episode, we delve into different communication styles and why understanding your own style is crucial for navigating various situations. We also discuss how communication extends beyond just the words you use—it includes your tone, body language, appearance, and much more. Additionally, we explore how your communication style shifts depending on the environment you’re in.

Another essential aspect of communication is listening. We examine what it means to truly listen and how to recognise when someone is actively listening to you.

This episode is packed with practical advice and actionable tools to help you elevate your communication skills and accomplish your goals, whatever they may be. It’s a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance how they connect with the world around them!

The topics that we discuss:

• communication styles
• what if you are a blend of different communication styles
• the secret to success is being a good communicator but can successful people communicate?
• How to change your communication style depending on your situation
• The importance of being a good listener
• How to communicate in a relationship
• Boundaries
• Body language and tone of voice and how that impacts communication
• Conflict and dealing with conflict
• Wellness

To work out which communicator you are take the test here

This episode is sponsored by Zooki

Claim your Zooki Trial Pack here

This episode was hosted and produced by Georgia Symonds

Georgia’s Instagram - click here!

For more information and other interesting articles check out our website: www.catchupsinmykitchen.com

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

This week in my kitchen in Mallorca, I'm joined by Steve Perez, the Chairman and Founder of Global Brands, a company that has been crafting delicious beverages since 1977. If you're familiar with VK, Franklin and Sons, or Hooch, then you already know Global Brands!

Global Brands is the proud home of VK, Franklin and Sons, Hooch, Shake Baby Shake, Lustre, Amigos, Corkys, and many other popular brands.

Steve has a keen eye for spotting trends and understanding what consumers want, allowing him to consistently deliver successful brands with quality and wide distribution.

In this episode, I wanted to talk to Steve about his journey with Global Brands and the inspiration behind some of his major successes. As many know, launching a successful drinks brand is a significant achievement, but doing it multiple times takes more than luck—it requires real talent.

So, if you're as curious as I am about how VK became a staple of university nights out, be sure to give this episode a listen!

Topics Discussed:

• The start of Global Brands - how did it all begin
• How did the idea for VK come about?
• Was it always the plan for it to fuel university nights out?
• Franklin and Sons - when did this come into the mix
• How do you position Franklin and Sons against Fever Tree
• What does it take to build a successful drinks brand - what do you need in place?
• Why do some brands fail? What are the common traits?
• What are you most excited about within the drinks market?
• Let's talk about your hotel Casa - when and why did this come about?
• Your farm and the link between the farm and hotel

Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Zooki

Claim your Zooki Trial Pack here

This episode was hosted and produced by Georgia Symonds

Georgia’s Instagram - click here!

For more information and other interesting articles check out our website: www.catchupsinmykitchen.com

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