Burnout, Boundaries and the Body Keeping Score: A conversation with Allison Keating

Why We Doom-Scroll, Burn Out and Feel Stuck with Dr Michael Keane

In the first part of this special two-episode series, we check in with neuroscientist Dr Michael Keane, co-founder and Chief Science Officer at Evolve Neuro. Dr Keane specialises in how the brain functions under pressure, using advanced brain-mapping techniques to make neuroscience practical for everyday life. He’s worked with business leaders, elite athletes and people who want a bigger, better, happier life. Dr Keane speaks with IMAGE contributing editor Melanie Morris about the daily habits, environmental factors, and brain chemistry quirks that shape how we feel, sleep, and function. If you want to stop feeling ruled by your mind and start working with it, this episode is your manual for change. Key Topics Covered * Female Brain Chemistry: How your unique chemistry rules both body and mind. * Breaking the Doom-Scroll: Real work-arounds to stop the infinite scroll habit. * Attainable Sleep: The science behind making restorative sleep easy to achieve. * Beating Burnout: Recognizing the signs and protecting your mental health. IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.  Find out more about Dr Michael Keane's groundbreaking brain-mapping work at the Actualise Clinic [https://www.actualiseacademy.com/p/aboutus] or connect with him via his Official Website [https://www.drmichaelkeane.com/].

Sun Smart - Simple Ways to Protect Your Skin This Summer

Here comes summer!This month we welcome back Caoimhe McAuley, Director of Pharmacy at Boots Ireland and President of the Union of Pharmacists Ireland to talk all things sun health. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, with over 11,000 new cases diagnosed annually, so let’s get ahead of the curve and create some super-safe sun habits. Caoimhe has plenty of simple, faff-free tips to share, a personal story, and the latest in-pharmacy innovations to help you protect your skin this summer… and beyond. She also keeps us updated with health news for the whole family, so this is an episode to empower. IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic; proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

Burnout, Boundaries and the Body Keeping Score: A conversation with Allison Keating

In this essential episode of IMAGE The Check-in, Ellie Balfe sits down with Chartered Psychologist and author Allison Keating for a thoughtful conversation about the pressures women are carrying, often quietly. Together they explore burnout, the mental load, people pleasing, health anxiety and the deep connection between psychological wellbeing and physical health. They talk about why so many women have normalised stress, what happens when caring becomes costly, and why boundaries are not simply something we set alone, but something others must help us uphold. This is a conversation about exhaustion, yes, but also about self-awareness, compassion, nervous system health, and the possibility of living differently. IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

Beyond Your Smile: The Surprising Truth About Oral Health

How often do we think of oral health as part of our overall health picture? In this fascinating episode of IMAGE The Check-in, Ellie Balfe is joined by dentist, Dr Bronagh Keane, better known to many on social media, as Ireland’s Tooth Fairy, for a conversation that opens up the much bigger story behind our teeth and gums. They explore why oral health is far more than check-ups and cleanings, and how the health of our mouth can reflect, and influence, our wider wellbeing. Bronagh explains the links between gum disease and systemic inflammation, what emerging research is telling us about oral health and conditions such as dementia, and why women need to think about dental care through the lens of hormones, ageing and lifelong prevention. They also talk practical habits, common misconceptions, what signs not to ignore, and the small daily actions that can have a big impact over time. It is a conversation that may well change how you think about your next dental appointment. IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

Skin as the Window to Your Health with Dr Caitriona Ryan

Our skin is often treated as something simply aesthetic, something to perfect, correct or preserve. But what if we considered skin as a vital indicator of our overall health? In this fascinating episode of IMAGE The Check-in, host Ellie Balfe is joined by Professor Caitriona Ryan, consultant dermatologist and co-founder of the Institute of Dermatologists, for a wide-ranging conversation about skin health through a very different lens. They talk about skin as the body’s largest organ and what it can reveal about what may be happening beneath the surface, from inflammation and hormones to stress and overall well-being. Caitriona shares what women should know about common skin conditions such as acne and rosacea, what to watch for when it comes to skin cancer, and the simple habits that can protect our skin over a lifetime. This is a rich, practical and thought-provoking episode about skin, health, beauty and what it means to age well. IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung Waterstone Clinic.