Episode 50: One Year of Connecting the Dots - What We’ve Learned, What’s Changing & What’s Coming Next

For our 50th episode — and the one-year anniversary of Connecting the Dots — Jennifer Halsall, Grace McNamara, and Dr. Lou Atkinson sit down for a reflective, future-focused conversation about the themes, lessons, and leadership insights that defined season one.Across two seasons, the podcast has brought together voices from fitness, health, women’s health, longevity, tech, physical activity, and business. In this anniversary episode, the team looks back at the conversations that stayed with them, the patterns that emerged, and what they believe is coming next for the sector.This is a fireside-style retrospective on women’s leadership, data-driven health, recovery, gender dynamics, longevity, GLP-1s, diversity of thought, and why cross-sector collaboration matters more than ever.00:01 – Welcome & why this episode mattersSetting the stage for a look back at our most impactful conversations.01:04 – How the podcast beganGrace’s global network, the nudge to record, and the spark behind the show.02:45 – Global perspectivesFrom Saudi Arabia to Nashville — what cultural context taught us.04:11 – Leadership, partnership & the Nashville episodeReflections on the power couple conversation with Shahara and Mark.05:28 – The LEAD programme & Sade AkindeleHow the Life Wheel exercise became one of the year’s standout tools.07:16 – Positive psychology & whole-life leadershipLou explains the science behind the Life Wheel and why it works.11:34 – The myth of “having it all”Burnout, expectations, invisible labour, and the pressure on women.12:39 – The case for slowing downWhy recovery is a leadership skill — not a luxury.14:47 – Stress, rest & behaviour changeInsights from Krista Scott-Dixon and the science of parasympathetic reset.19:50 – Sleep, wearables & confronting your dataGrace shares her sleep metrics and the tools she’s adopting.20:30 – Vagus nerve stimulationLou explains why it’s emerging and how it supports sleep and stress regulation.24:05 – Longevity: hype vs evidenceJennifer on the growth of the sector and the need for accessible solutions.27:26 – Menopause as a key customer segmentInsights from Davitt Meenahan and real-world clinical trends.29:24 – The gaps in women’s researchRepresentation, hormones, and why the science still lags behind.32:38 – Why openness mattersNormalising menopause, brain fog, and real lived experience.33:40 – The business case for women’s healthPurchasing power, retention, absenteeism, and leadership strategy.36:50 – Leadership pipelines & transparencyWhy board and executive pathways remain opaque — and what must change.38:23 – Network = net worthVisibility, community, and breaking the habit of staying quiet.41:29 – The Collective NetworkWhat we learned from building a 300+ global community.43:36 – LinkedIn and visibilityWhy modesty and career progression are a bad mix.47:51 – Sponsorship vs mentorshipThe distinction that changes careers.54:07 – GLP-1s and the future consumerLou on the next wave and what organisations need to get right.59:21 – Behaviour change, inactivity & long-term riskConnecting GLP-1s, kids’ activity trends, and systemic challenges.1:05:10 – Accessible longevityThe rise of affordable scanning, testing, and personalised care.1:08:16 – Will longevity absorb fitness?A discussion on the sector’s evolution.1:10:50 – Looking ahead to 2026Cross-sector collaboration, evidence-based practice, and women leading the future.Timestamps

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