Forkin' Good with Simon Gault & Kate Fenwick

Kate Fenwick & Simon Gault

Forkin’ Good is where food, health and real life collide. Join chef Simon Gault and waste educator Kate Fenwick for honest conversations, practical cooking advice, expert insights and plenty of laughs. From eating better and saving money to reducing waste and tackling the big issues affecting Kiwi households, it is all about making life a little healthier, easier and more forkin’ good.

  1. 5d ago

    Menopause: What Women AND Men Need to Know | Niki Bezzant

    Menopause can affect sleep, mood, memory, weight, relationships, sex and how women feel in their own bodies. So why is there still so much confusion about it? In this episode of Forkin' Good, Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick sit down with author and health journalist Niki Bezzant for a refreshingly straightforward conversation about menopause and perimenopause. Niki helps separate good science from the enormous amount of menopause misinformation online and talks about HRT, sleep, alcohol, weight gain, strength training, brain fog and the changes women can experience through midlife. But this isn't just a conversation for women. They also talk about what partners need to understand, how menopause can affect relationships and intimacy, why communication matters, and what men can actually do to support the women in their lives. Most importantly, Niki explains why menopause doesn't need to be viewed as a catastrophe or the end of something. It can also be a transition into a powerful new stage of life.     Subscribe to Forkin' Good with Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick for more open conversations about food, health and life. This episode discusses general health information and personal experiences. For individual advice about menopause, symptoms or hormone therapy, speak with an appropriate healthcare professional. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Tiktok: @forkingoodpod Follow Simon on his channels below: Instagram: @simon_gault Facebook: @Officialsimongault Tiktok: Simonjgault Youtube: Simon Gault Follow Waste-ed with Kate here: Instagram: @wastedwithkate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wastefreewithkate Tiktok: wasted.kate Youtube: Waste-ed with Kate Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  2. Sep 28

    When Science Meets Red Tape. Professor Julia Rucklidge Part 2

    A product can have blinded trials, published papers, and strong safety data and still be treated like it’s dangerous simply because it works. That’s the knot we pull apart with Professor Julia Rucklidge as we look at how Medsafe regulates supplements and why therapeutic micronutrients keep getting squeezed into rules designed for pharmaceuticals, not prevention.  We talk about Daily Essential Nutrients and the broader evidence on micronutrients for mental health and wellbeing, including ADHD outcomes, stress resilience, postnatal depression support, and improvements families report beyond symptoms. Then we get into the regulatory reality in New Zealand: dose limits, the ban on prevention or treatment claims for foods and supplements, and how “public safety” can become a catch-all justification even when comparable or greater risks sit on supermarket shelves. Julia shares a firsthand story of trying to access the nutrients via a prescription pathway and why Section 29 creates a strange barrier for well people who want to stay well.  From there, we zoom out to Pharmac funding, affordability, and the equity problem when families can’t keep paying for something that helps. We also look at what prevention could actually mean: smarter natural health product regulation, clearer pathways for evidence-based supplements, and practical public health moves around ultra-processed food, marketing to kids, and nutrition education. Julia also touches on the “soil to brain” idea and why soil health, magnesium, stress, and diet all link back to mental wellbeing.  If you care about evidence-based healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand, listen through and join the conversation. Subscribe, share this with a mate, and leave a review so more people can find it. Tell your local MP:  https://te-puna-toiora.github.io/micronutrient-access/ Follow the podcast on Instagram and Tiktok: @forkingoodpod Follow Simon on his channels below: Instagram: @simon_gault Facebook: @Officialsimongault Tiktok: Simonjgault Youtube: Simon Gault Follow Waste-ed with Kate here: Instagram: @wastedwithkate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wastefreewithkate Tiktok: wasted.kate Youtube: Waste-ed with Kate Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  3. Sep 21

    The Missing Link Between Nutrition & Mental Health | Prof. Julia Rucklidge

    Can what we eat really affect how we think, feel and behave? In this episode of Forkin’ Good, Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick sit down with Professor Julia Rucklidge, clinical psychologist and Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Canterbury, whose research has focused extensively on nutrition, micronutrients and mental health. Julia explains what micronutrients actually are, why vitamins and minerals are essential for the brain, and what her research has found when micronutrients have been studied in people experiencing a range of mental health challenges. The conversation also explores ultra-processed food, the importance of eating a diverse range of whole foods, the idea of aiming for 30 different plants a week, and why simply looking at protein, carbohydrates and fat may be missing an important part of nutrition. They also dive into ADHD, particularly in children and teenagers, and discuss research investigating the relationships between diet, micronutrients, attention, mood and behaviour. Julia shares practical places to start, including putting real food first, as well as resources for people who want to learn more about her research. Learn more from Professor Julia Rucklidge: The Better Brain - https://thebetterbrainbook.com/ University of Canterbury Mental Health and Nutrition Research Group - https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/about-uc-research/research-groups-and-centres/te-puna-toiora-mental-health-and-nutrition-research Julia Rucklidge’s TEDx talk and online education - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dqXHHCc5lA Subscribe to Forkin’ Good with Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick for more conversations about food, health and the things that shape how we live. This podcast discusses research and personal perspectives relating to nutrition and mental health. It is for general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Tiktok: @forkingoodpod Follow Simon on his channels below: Instagram: @simon_gault Facebook: @Officialsimongault Tiktok: Simonjgault Youtube: Simon Gault Follow Waste-ed with Kate here: Instagram: @wastedwithkate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wastefreewithkate Tiktok: wasted.kate Youtube: Waste-ed with Kate Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  4. Sep 7

    Inside One of NZ's Michelin-Recognised Restaurants | Helen Turnbull

    What does it take to build a restaurant worthy of Michelin recognition, while still staying completely true to yourself? This week on Forkin' Good, Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick sit down with chef and 50/50 owner Helen Turnbull, whose remarkable career has taken her from Wellington to Japan, working with Gordon Ramsay and Michelin-starred chefs, before returning to New Zealand and creating her own dining experience in Kāpiti. Helen shares what Gordon Ramsay is actually like to work for, the lessons she learnt cooking in Tokyo, and how Japanese and French techniques have influenced the food she creates at 50-50. We also get inside Helen's extraordinary approach to food. She works with local and foraged ingredients, cooks six and nine-course menus, operates without a walk-in chiller and has spent much of the past nine and a half years as the restaurant's sole chef. Then there's Michelin. Helen talks about what it meant when the Michelin Guide finally arrived in New Zealand, the moment she discovered 50-50 was being considered, and what it felt like to receive international recognition for the restaurant she'd spent nearly a decade building. But does she now want a Michelin star? Her answer says a lot about the kind of restaurant she wants 50-50 to be. We also talk about why great service matters just as much as great food, building a strong restaurant culture, seasonal and rescued produce, and Helen's latest obsession: creating sophisticated non-alcoholic drinks designed specifically to match her food. And, of course, Simon finishes with the important question: if Helen could choose her last meal, what would it be? Subscribe to Forkin' Good with Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick for more conversations with fascinating people from the worlds of food, health, business and beyond. Find Helen and 50-50: https://www.50-50.co.nz/ Follow the podcast on Instagram and Tiktok: @forkingoodpod Follow Simon on his channels below: Instagram: @simon_gault Facebook: @Officialsimongault Tiktok: Simonjgault Youtube: Simon Gault Follow Waste-ed with Kate here: Instagram: @wastedwithkate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wastefreewithkate Tiktok: wasted.kate Youtube: Waste-ed with Kate Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  5. Aug 31

    Life After a Double Lung Transplant | Jess Avenell Part 2

    What happens after the transplant is over and you're expected to get on with living? In Part 2 of our conversation with double lung transplant recipient and health coach Jess Avenell, we explore the side of transplantation that doesn't always get talked about: rebuilding your health, finding a new normal, creating the right support network and learning how to live well with the second chance you've been given. Six and a half years after receiving new lungs, Jess shares what she wishes she'd known before her transplant, why recovery involves far more than medical care, and how nutrition, movement, behaviour and lifestyle can complement the medical support transplant recipients receive. We also talk about the enormous role played by family, friends and support people, and why those caring for transplant recipients need support too. Jess takes us inside the extraordinary Transplant Games, where organ recipients, living donors and transplant families come together to compete, connect and celebrate the additional years of life made possible through organ donation. And there's an important conversation for every New Zealander: having "donor" on your driver's licence isn't the whole story. Jess explains why talking openly with your family about your wishes matters. Today, Jess uses her lived experience as The Transplant Coach, helping transplant recipients and their support crews navigate their own journeys with greater strength, health and hope. Find Jess and learn more: The Transplant Coach: thetransplantcoach.co.nz Instagram & Facebook: The Transplant Coach If you haven't watched Part 1 yet, check out our previous episode to hear Jess's remarkable story of receiving a double lung transplant. Subscribe to Forkin' Good with Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick for more conversations about food, health, people and the things that make a difference in our lives. This podcast discusses personal experiences of transplantation, nutrition and health coaching. It is not a substitute for individual medical advice from your healthcare or transplant team. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Tiktok: @forkingoodpod Follow Simon on his channels below: Instagram: @simon_gault Facebook: @Officialsimongault Tiktok: Simonjgault Youtube: Simon Gault Follow Waste-ed with Kate here: Instagram: @wastedwithkate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wastefreewithkate Tiktok: wasted.kate Youtube: Waste-ed with Kate Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  6. Aug 24

    Living With Someone Else’s Lungs | Jess Avenell’s Incredible Story

    What do you do with a second chance at life when somebody else made that second chance possible? In this episode of the Forking Good Podcast, Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick sit down with Jess Avenell — The Transplant Coach — to hear the extraordinary story behind her double lung transplant. Jess was just 21 when she was diagnosed with a rare lung disease. She was young, fit and training for a half Ironman when she began noticing that something wasn't right. Eventually, she was confronted with the devastating possibility that she might not make it to 30. Instead of putting life on hold, Jess booked a one-way ticket to the Greek Islands, spent years living and working overseas, built her career and kept pushing forward — even as breathing became increasingly difficult. Eventually, she required full-time oxygen and had to plan something as simple as her commute around whether she'd physically be able to walk up a ramp. Then came the call that changed everything. After an intensive transplant assessment and roughly 60 days on the waiting list, Jess received a double lung transplant in 2020. But receiving new lungs wasn't the end of her journey — in many ways, it was the beginning. Jess opens up about the gratitude she feels toward her donor and their family, the emotional reality of living with donated organs, transplant recovery, immunosuppression, relationships, identity and what happens when everyone around you thinks you're “fixed” — but you know you've come out the other side as a different person. Today, Jess uses her experience as The Transplant Coach, helping others focus not simply on what they can't do after transplant, but on how they can meaningfully move forward and make the most of the life they've been given. And this is only Part 1. In the next episode, Jess joins Simon and Kate again to dive deeper into life after transplant, food, health and the practical strategies she now shares with others. Connect with Jess Avenell — The Transplant Coach: Facebook: Jess Avenell – The Transplant Coach https://www.facebook.com/share/1dMAFKB9Xt/?mibextid=wwXIfr Instagram: @the_transplantcoach LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessavenell Website: www.thetransplantcoach.nz YouTube: https://youtube.com/@the_transplantcoach?si=d9Bslgu2ezFHu_e_ Subscribe to the Forking Good Podcast to make sure you don't miss Part 2 with Jess. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Tiktok: @forkingoodpod Follow Simon on his channels below: Instagram: @simon_gault Facebook: @Officialsimongault Tiktok: Simonjgault Youtube: Simon Gault Follow Waste-ed with Kate here: Instagram: @wastedwithkate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wastefreewithkate Tiktok: wasted.kate Youtube: Waste-ed with Kate Send us Fan Mail Support the show

  7. Aug 17

    Why Quitting Isn’t Failure | Gareth Holebrook on Ishi

    What if knowing when to quit is just as important as knowing how to persevere? In this episode of the Forking Good Podcast, Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick sit down with leadership, health and triathlon coach Gareth Holebrook, author of Ishi: The Discipline of Determined Intent. Gareth explores the philosophy behind Ishi and what decades of business, coaching and extreme endurance racing have taught him about determination, leadership, failure and burnout. Having completed more than 30 iron-distance races, Gareth knows plenty about persistence. But some of his biggest lessons came from the times he persisted for too long — including spending five years pursuing a business that wasn't commercially viable. His message? Giving up isn't necessarily failure. Sometimes, knowing when to abort is a skill. The conversation explores Gareth's Ishi Spiral, his Adjust–Hold–Abort framework, why writing down your intentions can change your behaviour, the power of deliberate practice, and how asking what your future self would think can lead to better decisions. They also discuss Japanese philosophy, Kaizen, leadership, Ironman racing, burnout, business failure and why high performers can sometimes become victims of their own determination. If you're ambitious, constantly juggling competing priorities, struggling to finish what you start — or doing so much that you're heading toward burnout — this conversation is for you. 👍 Like, subscribe and share the Forking Good Podcast for more conversations with Simon Gault and Kate Fenwick. Follow the podcast on Instagram and Tiktok: @forkingoodpod Follow Simon on his channels below: Instagram: @simon_gault Facebook: @Officialsimongault Tiktok: Simonjgault Youtube: Simon Gault Follow Waste-ed with Kate here: Instagram: @wastedwithkate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wastefreewithkate Tiktok: wasted.kate Youtube: Waste-ed with Kate 01:08 Why Gareth removed the word “they” from his book 05:50 What Ishi and “determined intent” really mean 08:24 The brutal double iron-distance race that tested Gareth 09:46 When persistence becomes a problem 12:05 The Ishi Spiral: Adjust, Hold or Abort 14:02 Why quitting doesn't mean you've failed 16:25 Getting 1% better & defeating yesterday's self 18:46 The Intent Card: turning intentions into commitments 28:47 Business failures, burnout & lessons from organisations Send us Fan Mail Support the show

About

Forkin’ Good is where food, health and real life collide. Join chef Simon Gault and waste educator Kate Fenwick for honest conversations, practical cooking advice, expert insights and plenty of laughs. From eating better and saving money to reducing waste and tackling the big issues affecting Kiwi households, it is all about making life a little healthier, easier and more forkin’ good.

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