Barely Balanced

Katherine Hay and Shelley McKenzie

Welcome to Barley Balanced—the podcast that’s mostly healthy… with a side of chaos! We’re your hosts, Katherine Hay & Shelley McKenzie. Both qualified Nutritionist and Mothers and around here, we’re all about finding that sweet spot between green smoothies and wine nights, kids' lunchboxes and grown-up dreams, wellness hacks and real-life mess. Whether you’re knee-deep in motherhood, navigating hormones, or just trying to remember where you left your coffee—this is your space. Expect real talk, expert tips, belly laughs, and the occasional overshare. So grab your matcha… or your margarita

  1. 2025/11/18

    Gestational Diabetes & the New Guidelines with Solaine Douglas

    This week we’re joined by the brilliant Solaine Douglas, Nutritionist and women’s health expert, for a deep dive into gestational diabetes — what it actually is, why it happens, and how women can support their bodies through it. We unpack the new reference ranges now being used in Australia, what they mean for testing, and why more women than ever are being diagnosed. Together, we chat about:✨ What gestational diabetes really means for you and your baby✨ Why blood sugar balance matters long before the test✨ The new Australian guidelines — explained simply✨ Nutrition strategies that actually help✨ Why diagnosis isn’t a failure — and what to do next Whether you're currently pregnant, planning to be, or supporting someone who is — this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and far less anxious about the GTT. This episode is proudly sponsored by: ✨ All Things Better – A carefully curated online wellness store bringing together the best in natural products, home essentials, and feel-good finds. They source brands that align with health, sustainability, and style, so you can shop knowing you’re choosing better for yourself, your family, and the planet. ⁠Explore their range⁠. ✨ This episode is brought to you by Chief Nutrition — the brand we’re a little bit obsessed with. Their clean, high-protein snacks are made from real food, nothing fake or processed, and they actually taste amazing. Whether it’s their beef bars, collagen bars, or liver capsules — we’re huge fans. Use the code BARELYBALANCED for 20% off your order.

    27 分钟
  2. 2025/11/11

    Labour Prep 101: What Actually Works (and What’s Just a Myth)

    This week, Katherine and Shelley dive into all things labour prep — what’s worth doing, what’s backed by evidence, and what might just be another pregnancy myth. Katherine shares exactly what she’s doing to prepare her body for birth (and why), while the girls unpack some of the most common tips and tricks floating around the internet. They chat about:- Raspberry leaf tea — when to start and what it really does- Medjool dates and how they can support a smoother labour- Evening primrose oil — helpful or hype?- Acupuncture and colostrum harvesting- The benefits of sex (yep, you read that right)...and so much more! It’s an open, honest, and slightly cheeky chat designed to help you feel informed, empowered, and ready for birth. Show sponsors: This episode is proudly brought to you by Comfy Koalas, our go-to low-tox nappy and wipe brand. If you haven’t tried their subscription boxes yet, they’re a total game changer — no more running out of nappies mid-week! You can get $35 off your first box with the code BARELYBALANCED, which pretty much means two free bags of nappies. This episode is brought to you by Chief Nutrition — the brand we’re a little bit obsessed with. Their clean, high-protein snacks are made from real food, nothing fake or processed, and they actually taste amazing. Whether it’s their beef bars, collagen bars, or liver capsules — we’re huge fans. Use the code BARELYBALANCED for 20% off your order.

    38 分钟
  3. 2025/10/21

    Reclaiming Your Energy & Rediscovering Yourself // Davina Rankin

    This week we’re joined by the beautiful Davina Rankin for a conversation that every woman — and especially every mother — needs to hear. Together we explore what it means to reclaim your energy, reconnect with your body, and remember the woman underneath all the layers of motherhood, work, and daily life. Davina shares gentle yet powerful wisdom around self-love, boundaries, and learning to trust the flow of life again. In this episode, we chat about: ✨ Reclaiming your energy as a woman and learning to say no without guilt ✨ Letting go of the people-pleasing patterns that leave you feeling depleted ✨ Rediscovering who you are beyond motherhood ✨ Sitting in the pleasure of the present moment (even when life feels messy) ✨ How to love yourself harder — right now, as you are ✨ Simple daily practices to check in with your body and heart space ✨ Tuning into signs from the universe, god, or angels — and trusting the process ✨ How reconnecting with yourself brings more pleasure, clarity, and joy into your life This conversation is your gentle reminder to slow down, come home to your body, and celebrate the woman you’ve become. This weeks show sponsor: This episode is proudly brought to you by Comfy Koalas, our go-to low-tox nappy and wipe brand. If you haven’t tried their subscription boxes yet, they’re a total game changer — no more running out of nappies mid-week! You can get $35 off your first box with the code BARELYBALANCED, which pretty much means two free bags of nappies.

    50 分钟
  4. 2025/10/14

    Second and Third Trimester Deep Dive with Katherine Hay

    In this honest and informative episode, Katherine and I sit down to catch up on how her second and third trimesters have been so far. From navigating tests and blood work to understanding what’s truly necessary, we unpack some of the most common (and confusing) parts of pregnancy care. We dive deep into gestational diabetes and the glucose tolerance test (GTT) — do you really have to do it, and what are the alternatives if you’d prefer not to? We also discuss the GBS swab, how to advocate for yourself when it comes to routine testing, and practical ways to support your vaginal microbiome if you do receive a positive result. Iron levels are another big topic in this chat — we explore why they tend to drop during the second and third trimesters, how to interpret your results, and our honest thoughts on iron infusions, including when they can be helpful and when other options might be worth considering. This episode is a down-to-earth look at pregnancy from both a personal and clinical perspective, offering insight, reassurance, and a few light-hearted laughs along the way. Related Episode:Dr Lily Nichols – Gestational Diabetes: What You Need to Know Show Sponsors:This episode is proudly brought to you by Comfy Koalas, our go-to low-tox nappy and wipe brand. If you haven’t tried their subscription boxes yet, they’re a total game changer — no more running out of nappies mid-week. You can get $35 off your first box with the code BARELYBALANCED, which pretty much means two free bags of nappies. https://comfykoalas.com.au It’s also brought to you by Chief Nutrition — the brand we’re a little bit obsessed with. Their clean, high-protein snacks are made from real food, nothing fake or processed, and they actually taste amazing. Whether it’s their beef bars, collagen bars, or liver capsules, we’re huge fans. Use the code BARELYBALANCED for 20% off your order.

    23 分钟
  5. 2025/10/07

    The Hidden Weight of Stress: Healing, Resilience & Motherhood // Deborah Freudenmann

    Today we’re joined by the wonderful Deborah Freudenmann  naturopath, author, and mum who is passionate about root-cause health and disease prevention. In this episode, Deborah shares her personal story of living with type 1 diabetes, navigating postpartum stress and anxiety, and what she’s learned about the profound impact stress has on our bodies. We dive into why stress regulation is more than “calming down” it’s disease prevention and how to build your own personal toolkit for resilience. We chat all things:• Deborah’s personal journey with stress and motherhood• What actually happens in the body under chronic stress• Why supplements and one-size-fits-all toolkits don’t work• How to experiment and find the stress tools that are truly yours• The invisible link between a mother’s regulation and her child’s• Simple, realistic practices to weave into your day You can connect with Deborah on Instagram @deborah_108 (https://www.instagram.com/deborah_108/)  https://youtrulyshine.com You can also join her free weekly Wellness Letters here (https://youtrulyshine.com/pages/newslettersignup) And explore her newest eBook A Holistic Approach to Stress here (https://youtrulyshine.com/products/a-holistic-approach-to-stress-ebook) 150+ pages of education, insights, checklists, and tools to reset your nervous system. This episode is proudly sponsored by: ✨ Chief Nutrition – Our go-to for clean, high-protein snacks that actually taste amazing. Their bars and beef jerky are made from real food ingredients you can trust — perfect for keeping energy steady through busy days (and long appointments). Use code BARELYBALANCED at checkout for 20% off your first order. ⁠Shop here⁠. ✨ All Things Better – A carefully curated online wellness store bringing together the best in natural products, home essentials, and feel-good finds. They source brands that align with health, sustainability, and style, so you can shop knowing you’re choosing better for yourself, your family, and the planet. ⁠Explore their range⁠.

    30 分钟
  6. 2025/09/23

    Pregnancy, Postpartum & Family Nutrition // Leah Itsines

    This week on the podcast we’re joined by the amazing Leah Itsines – recipe developer, cookbook author, businesswoman, and mum. Leah is passionate about making healthy eating simple, realistic, and enjoyable for busy families, and she’s built a thriving community by keeping food approachable and fun. In this episode we chat about: Leah’s current pregnancy journey and how she’s feeling Her birth plans and mindset as she prepares Postpartum preparation and the support she’s putting in place Nutrition for mums – keeping food simple, balanced, and realistic Children’s nutrition and her tips for feeding little ones well Finding balance between health, family, and real life ✨ Connect with Leah Itsines Instagram: @leahitsines Website: www.leahitsines.com.au Our Sponsors Comfy Koalas – Eco-friendly, super soft nappies delivered straight to your door. Use code BARELYBALANCED for $35 off your first order – that’s basically like getting 3 bags of nappies for free! 🌿 www.comfykoalas.com Chief Nutrition – Wholefood snacks packed with protein and nutrients to keep you fuelled and energised. Use code BARELYBALANCED for 20% off. 🍫 www.chiefnutrition.com Nourishing Your Bump – The online support system you need through pregnancy and postpartum. Expert guidance, practical tools, and real mum-to-mum advice to help you feel supported every step of the way. 🤰 www.freedomwellness.com.au/nourishing-your-bump

    49 分钟

关于

Welcome to Barley Balanced—the podcast that’s mostly healthy… with a side of chaos! We’re your hosts, Katherine Hay & Shelley McKenzie. Both qualified Nutritionist and Mothers and around here, we’re all about finding that sweet spot between green smoothies and wine nights, kids' lunchboxes and grown-up dreams, wellness hacks and real-life mess. Whether you’re knee-deep in motherhood, navigating hormones, or just trying to remember where you left your coffee—this is your space. Expect real talk, expert tips, belly laughs, and the occasional overshare. So grab your matcha… or your margarita

你可能还喜欢