Dr Julie's Coffee Chats

 Some conversations with our kids are easy. And then there are the ones we desperately want to get right… but aren't always quite sure how to start.

This week on Dr Julie's Coffee Chats, my friend Anna is back for a really important conversation about sex, bodies, consent, safety and communication with our kids.

How early should we use the correct names for body parts? How do we talk about sex without making it one enormo...

Have you ever found yourself waiting until all your ducks are lined up before making a decision? The money, the time, the confidence, the perfect plan… and somehow, the perfect moment never quite arrives?

In this episode of Dr Julie's Coffee Chats, I'm talking about the power of making a decision — and why sometimes we need to decide first, then find our way.

This is a shorter, honest conversation about the things I've l...

Ohhhh we're going there.  Welcome to OREOGATE.

This week on Dr Julie's Coffee Chats, I'm introducing you to my friend Anna — and we're diving straight into one of the hottest parenting debates to take the internet by storm.

Yes. We're talking about the Oreos.

What starts as a conversation about one seemingly innocent parenting moment very quickly becomes a much bigger chat about modern parenting, judgement, food, boundaries...

 If you listen to ONE podcast about sugar and kids, I want it to be this one.

Because somehow sugar has become one of the most confusing, controversial and emotionally loaded parts of feeding our children.

Is fruit sugar bad? Is fruit juice actually healthy? Is honey better than white sugar? How much sugar should kids really have? Should we restrict sweet foods — or does putting any boundaries around them just make kids ob...

Every now and then, I record a podcast that stays with me long after we stop recording.

This is one of those conversations.

In this episode of Dr Julie's Coffee Chats, I'm joined by the incredible Jana from The Macpherson Diaries for a raw, funny, heartbreaking and, above all, deeply hopeful conversation about what happens when life changes in ways you could never have prepared for.

Jana lost her husband to terminal cancer and found h...

Hit 3pm and suddenly all you can think about is coffee, chocolate… or preferably both? 

Following on from last week's episode on why you're hungry at 10am, this week on Dr Julie's Coffee Chats we're moving a few hours forward and tackling the infamous 3pm slump.

Why do our energy levels drop? Why do sweet foods suddenly seem so much more appealing? And is an afternoon snack actually something we should be trying to avoid?

...

 Ever find yourself standing in the kitchen at 10am wondering why you're already hungry... even though you've had breakfast?

In this episode of Dr Julie's Coffee Chats, we're unpacking one of the most common nutrition questions I hear from women: Why am I hungry so soon after breakfast?

The good news? It's probably not a lack of willpower.

Join me as we explore the five most common reasons you're hungry by mid-morning. I'll also ...

What does it take to build one of New Zealand's most recognisable health food brands?

In this episode of Dr Julie's Coffee Chats, I'm joined by Chloe Van Dyke, co-founder of Chia Sisters, to talk about the story behind the brand, the passion that sparked it, and the realities of building a purpose-driven business.

We explore Chloe's background in neuroscience, the inspiration behind Chia Sisters, and why making genuinely nourishing f...

What if the hardest season of your life ended up becoming the one that changed you the most?

Last week, I shared the story behind my six-month pause from the podcast. In this episode, I want to go a little deeper.

This isn't about surgery—it's about the lessons that came from it.

I'm reflecting on five things these last six months have taught me about health, recovery, business, relationships, personal growth, and having the cou...

Welcome back to Dr Julie's Coffee Chats!

After a six-month break following a third major surgery, I'm so excited to finally be back behind the microphone.

In this episode, I'm sharing where I've been, why I pressed pause on the podcast, what recovery really looked like, and some of the unexpected lessons that came with being forced to slow down.

It's an honest conversation about health, healing, identity, and learning to give ourselve...

In this episode I’m having an honest conversation about something we don’t talk about enough — dropping balls, trimming the fat, and focusing on what actually matters. 

After a busy and messy end to last year, I never quite got around to a proper wrap-up. And instead of forcing momentum, I realised it was time to pause, simplify, and reset — without guilt. 

This episode is about: 

• Letting go ...

 This week on Dr Julie’s Coffee Chats I’m diving into a thought every mum has had — usually while staring at a pile of washing that’s been sitting in the machine for far too many days (me!) — “How does everyone else do it?”

The truth? They don’t. None of us do. We’re all juggling, dropping balls, picking up new ones, and trying to keep ourselves and our families afloat as be...

In this week’s Coffee Chat, I’m talking about something every parent, every woman, every human feels — that pressure of trying to hold all the balls, make all the choices, and somehow keep up as we head into Christmas. 

I share a moment from just this week: standing in my kitchen at 9pm, exhausted after a full day of work and training, trying to decide between dishes, a shower, or doing a puzzle with my 6-year...

In this Coffee Chat, I’m diving into something that comes up every year around this time: comparison. From body image to Christmas plans to what everyone else’s family, life, or business seems to be doing — it can feel like we’re constantly measuring ourselves against other people’s highlight reels.

I share why comparison actually spikes during this season (spoiler: it’s biology, not a personal fl...

As the festive season ramps up, it can feel like food (and stress) are everywhere — parties, school events, baking, late nights… and somewhere in there we’re meant to feel “balanced.”

In this episode, I’m sharing three simple, realistic food tips to help you feel grounded, nourished, and actually enjoy this season — not survive it. These are the same tools I use myself when life gets busy: ...

October was a month full of curveballs — moving house, losing our sweet Chloe, juggling birthdays, secondary school prep, Christmas launches, and the everyday load that never stops. In this honest coffee chat I share the real lessons that came from a messy, emotional, and very human month.

From accepting that some balls will drop, to recognising when your standards are just too high, this episode is a reminder that you’r...

If you’re needing a little drop of wellbeing inspiration today, this episode is for you.

In this Coffee Chat, I share a gentle reminder of the three pillars that keep me grounded through every season — protein, power, and progress. These aren’t just about food or fitness, but about fuelling yourself in every sense: nourishing your body, owning your strength, and recognising the quiet, steady progress that truly mat...

A year after our big move to Wellington — just as life was beginning to feel settled — we faced another heartbreak. We lost our beloved dog, Chloe, in a way that felt like life was reminding us: grief doesn’t run on a timeline.

In this episode, I talk about the deeper layers of loss that come with rebuilding your life — not just losing someone you love, but the quiet grief of the life you imagined, the home y...