When the conference director of Happiness and Its Causes asked me to host a panel discussion between experts on deepening our mind-body connection so that we can lead healthier lives, I was delighted. It’s a topic I’m dedicated to raising awareness about and the lineup was terrific. There was Michael Mosely – the famed English doctor and BBC presenter known for self-experimenting in the name of science, Elissa Epel – an American psychiatry professor and stress expert, who co-authored the bestselling book The Telomere Effect about healthy ageing, Amit Bernstein – an Israeli mindfulness professor who is doing extraordinary work... Read full article »

Imagine being given an opportunity to ask the woman who will soon (likely) take charge of your nation's healthcare system anything you liked. What would you say? I recently unexpectedly found myself in exactly this position when I was invited to a lunch at the National Press Club of Australia where the Federal Shadow Minister for Health, Catherine King was giving her inaugural address. We’re a few months off an election here in Australia and if the blustering winds continue in the same direction, it’s likely Ms King will be in charge of our nation's health system in a few... Read full article »

In my 37 years of living as a human being I’ve noticed a very distinct pattern which goes something like this: I throw myself into life with gusto and enthusiasm, be it with work or home life commitments A trigger wakes me up to the fact that I’m neglecting my health. For example, I’ve had one too many sleepless nights in a row or I “suddenly” can’t fit into my skinny jeans. The trigger causes me to identity the “problem” and I sign up to a program that promises a fix. This week I was prompted to do a little... Read full article »

On Saturday I’ll be joining thousands of others in a march through the streets of Sydney. Around the world, we’ll be joined by millions more. We won’t be marching to celebrate a sporting achievement or in protest of a war. We won’t be advocating a change in marriage laws or in support of refugees. We’ll be marching to bolster the case for science. The fact that I, of all people, am marching for science will come as some surprise to people who knew me in my youth. I was a teenager who’s room was adorned in candles, lava lamps and... Read full article »

I gave a talk last week to a group of lovely women who wanted to know more about what I’ve learned from interviewing dozens of scientists about the connection between our mind, body and health, and what changes I’ve made in my life in order to get well and stay well after I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Afterwards, I invited them to ask questions and there were two things that struck me about what happened next. The first (and this is something that always strikes me when I talk at events) is that no one is safe from... Read full article »