Health or Hype

Why is anxiety on the rise and is there a better way to manage it… or even befriend it? To find out, Joe Wicks puts himself to the test – by experiencing one of his greatest fears. Joined by renowned psychotherapist Owen O’Kane, Joe explores why anxiety isn’t necessarily the enemy, what makes our internal threat indicators kick in and why our ‘soothing’ mechanisms are so often broken. He explores different ways to feel calm and confident, meets international rugby legend Ruby Tui and br...

How concerned should we be if we don’t get enough sleep – and how can we make our rest as restorative as possible? Joined by leading sleep scientist Dr Sophie Bostock, Joe Wicks radically cuts his sleep time, to see what limited rest does to his body and mind. Together, they explore how getting more good-quality, consistent sleep can help with everything from making better food decisions to cutting down on screentime and having the energy to exercise. Joe also explores some of the...

We all know that our diet has a huge impact on our bodies – but what else might it be doing to us? To find out what our gut microbiome does to our moods and energy levels – and how important the gut-brain connection really is – Joe goes on a three-day low-fibre diet, tracking his mood, energy levels, blood sugar and even his stools. Joined by leading dietitian and nutritionist Dr Megan Rossi, Joe explores the hidden world of our gut, how the trillions of tiny bacteria living there affec...

We all know that moving is good for us – but are there more creative ways to do it? Joined by GB Paralympian Richard Whitehead and movement coach Darryl Edwards, Joe Wicks explores what a lack of activity does to our bodies, why exercise is such a fundamental part of our health and how more play or ‘movement snacks’ might be the answer if we find it difficult to get to the gym. Joe also explores the feel-good hormones that make movement crucial for mental health, hits the running ...

How does spending time in nature affect our physical and mental health – and how can we get the benefits if we live in a busy city? To find out more, Joe Wicks joins conservationist and veteran Merlin Hanbury-Tenison in one of the UK’s only surviving rainforests, goes completely off-grid for 24 hours and uses cutting-edge scientific testing to reveal what being in nature does to his brain. He’s also joined by neuroscientist Katherine Templar Lewis and wildlife presenter and activist Nadeem Pe...

Every day, we’re surrounded by health advice: endless tips, trends, diets, hacks and supposed quick fixes. But when it comes to our bodies and minds, what can genuinely help make a difference – and what is just hype? Guided by world-class neuroscientists, nutritionists, movement coaches and psychotherapists, Joe Wicks separates social media trends from evidence-backed advice to find out what can actually work when it comes to our health. He spends 24 hours in an isolated forest cabin, d...