Beyond Your Bits: Lessons From Down Under

Welcome to Episode 8 of Beyond Your Bits —  exploring the connection between pelvic health, hypermobility, pain, movement, hormones, and the whole human behind the symptoms.
Hosted with a focus on honest conversations and practical, evidence-informed information, Beyond Your Bits dives into the topics that can be difficult, confusing, or simply not talked about enough.
In this episode, Jaime explores what happens when your body doesn’t quite fit the textbook — including hypermobility, pelvic floor dysfunction, persistent pain, bladder and bowel symptoms, sexual health,  and the complex relationship between the nervous system, connective tissue and pelvic health.
Whether you’re living with symptoms, supporting someone who is, or are a health professional wanting to understand more, this podcast is about looking beyond your bits to understand the bigger picture.
Helpful resources
Hypermobility
The Ehlers-Danlos Society — Ehlers-Danlos Society
Hypermobility Syndromes Association — Hypermobility Syndromes Association
Pelvic Health
Pelvic Floor First — Pelvic Floor First
Continence Foundation of Australia — Continence Foundation of Australia
International Pelvic Pain Society — International Pelvic Pain Society
Follow Beyond Your Bits wherever you listen to podcasts, and join the conversation as we unpack the things that happen beyond your bits.

On this episode of Muff Mail, Jaime dives into a listener question about rectus diastasis — what it actually is, why it happens, and how to manage it with confidence and evidence-based care.
From "core" connection, breathing, exercise myths, and what not to fear, this episode unpacks the confusion around abdominal separation in a practical and empowering way, and why rehab should focus on function, not prescription.
Whether you’re newly postpartum, years down the track, or simply curious, this episode offers reassurance, education, and realistic strategies to help you reconnect with your body safely.

This week on Beyond Your Bits, I’m joined by Dr Hannah Bourke, a beloved GP on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, for a deeply honest conversation about her personal breast cancer journey — from diagnosis and treatment through to recovery, identity, and navigating life as both a doctor and a patient.
Hannah shares the emotional and physical realities of breast cancer, the decisions she faced along the way, and the insights she gained from experiencing medicine from the other side as a patient. We also dive into prevention, early detection, breast awareness, and the options women have when it comes to screening, surgery, support, and advocating for their health.
With around 10% of all women at risk of breast cancer, and 1 in 7 women expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime, these conversations matter. This episode is about empowerment through knowledge, listening to your body, and having the confidence to seek help early.
Whether you’ve personally experienced breast cancer, supported someone through it, or simply want to better understand your own health, this is an episode filled with compassion, education, and hope.
Connect with Dr Hannah Bourke:
https://www.instagram.com/drhannahbourke?igsh=MXN6d3oxeDdsNm0xag==

Muff Mail — where your questions land straight in my inbox and we talk about the stuff you thought was ‘just you’… but absolutely isn’t.
No judgement, no shame, just real conversations about real bodies. If you’ve ever wondered ‘is this normal?’ — this one’s for you.”

In this episode of Beyond Your Bits: Lessons From Down Under, pelvic physiotherapist Jaime is joined by psychologist Laura Jordan to explore the psychology of pelvic pain. Together they unpack the facts, challenge common myths, and discuss practical things you can start doing today to better understand and manage your pain. This episode is for anyone with a uterus navigating pelvic pain and wanting a clearer understanding of the mind–body connection.
Connect with Laura:
https://www.instagram.com/pauseforthoughtpsychology?igsh=bG5najl4dG93amN1

Episode 5 — Mighty Bones: Why Muscle & Movement Matter in Menopause (with Mairi)
Ever wondered what actually happens to your body as hormones shift through menopause — and what exercise YOU can do now to protect your bones?
In this episode of Beyond Your Bits, we’re talking all things mighty bones and badass muscles. We break down what’s really going on with bone and muscle loss as we age, how diagnosis actually works, and why the numbers matter more than you might think — but also less than you might fear.
We dive into:- The real stats on bone density and muscle loss as we age- When bone and muscle mass loss happens in life and what is can mean for health in peri and post menopause - The types of training that genuinely stimulate bone strength - Simple, practical movement strategies you can start using right away to feel stronger, steadier, and more resilient
If you want to age with strength, confidence, and a body that keeps up with your life — this one’s for you. Grab a coffee, put your feet up, and tune in!
Connect with Mairi:
https://www.instagram.com/mairimacthompson?igsh=OHpyZXJtMWhzbXFp
Stronger bones freebie- 5 ways to build stronger bones in menopause 
https://bodymindbones.com/strongbones

Beyond Your Bits: Lessons From Down Under
Episode 4: Why Anyone Could Accidentally Poop in a Cave: The Ha Long Bay Incident
A real (and fully permitted!) story from my Vietnam trip turns into a lesson on stress faecal incontinence — and why it can happen to anyone, even without pregnancy.We cover: why holidays calm your nervous system, how antibiotics + loose stool + sneezing created the perfect storm, and the pelvic floor + lifestyle factors behind continence.Educational, funny, and myth-busting.

Beyond Your Bits: Lessons From Down Under
Episode 3: Prolapse Fibs with Dr Higgs
Think that prolapse means your bits are doomed and life as you know it is over?Take a breath — and unclench.In this episode, Urogynaecologist and all round legend Dr Peter Higgs joins me to bust the biggest prolapse myths that make people scared for no reason.We sort through some absolute nonsenses, and will leave you feeling more empowered with the evidence and truths! 

Muff Mail — where your questions land straight in my inbox and we talk about the stuff you thought was ‘just you’… but absolutely isn’t.
No judgement, no shame, just real conversations about real bodies. If you’ve ever wondered ‘is this normal?’ — this one’s for you.”

Beyond Your Bits: Lessons From Down Under is a refreshing, honest, and empowering podcast that goes below the surface of women’s health, bodies, and lived experience — without the shame, silence, or sugar-coating.
 
In this episode, I outline how to make the most of this podcast series and learn HOW to learn, so you can make effective change and be the champion of your bits!