Catch the latest episode of The House of Wellness with Chemist Warehouse on The Breeze where Mel is joined by Kiwi music icon Debbie Harwood, radio host, columnist and content creator Meg Mansell, Carmel Bennett from MusicHelps and resident pharmacist Piyara Perera.
Featured Guest: Debbie Harwood
First to join Mel is Debbie Harwood, a Kiwi music icon whose career spans over four decades.
She touches on her solo ventures, her work with girl group ‘When the Cat’s Away’ and dives into the gritty realities of life on the road.
Debbie speaks about the challenges of maintaining mental and physical health in such an unpredictable industry. She describes the toll of sleepless nights and underscores the importance of protecting mental health within the creative community.
After suffering from heart issues and enduring a stroke, Debbie says she now prioritises sleep and rest over all else.
Featured Guest: Meg Mansell
Balancing a bustling career as a broadcaster, columnist, and content creator with a pregnancy and the demands of parenting a spirited toddler isn’t for the faint-hearted, but The Edge Breakfast’s Meg Mansell is doing just that.
Meg joins Mel to share her experiences navigating the joys and challenges of motherhood. She describes grappling with self-doubt before her first child’s arrival and her ongoing quest to prioritise wellness amidst the chaos.
Meg touches on a pivotal moment in her family life, a ‘blip’ of mental health challenges her husband faced last year. She spoke of the emotional toll, her relentless determination to support him and the lessons learned about resilience and recovery.
Whether it’s indulging in the escapism of a good book, leaning on her husband or dreaming of post-baby sushi, Meg is committed to finding balance.
Featured Guest: Carmel Bennett
Carmel Benett introduced Mel to the transformative work of MusicHelps and discussed the power of music in healing.
MusicHelps operates through two primary arms, a grants program and a 24/7 emergency helpline.
The grants provide financial or instrumental support to community projects using music healing. From funding music therapists to equipping youth organisations with instruments, their goal is to foster connection and promote wellbeing.
Bennett explained the transformative power of music, describing how it can evoke emotions, trigger memories and even aid in conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
MusicHelps also addresses the mental health challenges of those in the music industry, offering round-the-clock support and counseling to creators in distress.
Resident Pharmacist: Piyara Perera
Resident pharmacist Piyara chatted to Mel about L-Theanine, a calming amino acid found in green tea.
Known for its stress-reducing properties, Piyara explains how this supplement can help improve mental focus and promote relaxation.
L-Theanine can be taken as a supplement but for those wanting a tastier twist, it's also found in matcha.
With Mother’s Day only 1 week away, there’s nothing like a luxurious fragrance to make the mum-figure in your life feel extra special.
This week, Grace joined Mel to chat about her two top picks that’ll make the perfect Mother’s Day gift.
Featured Product: Red Door Eau de Toilette
Red Door was introduced in 1989 and inspired by the iconic red doors of Elizabeth Arden’s world-renowned Red Door Spa.
It's a great fit for women ages 35 and up who love classic, timeless scents.
Featured Product: Viva la Juicy Le Bubbly Eau de Parfum
Viva la Juicy Le Bubbly contains effervescent notes of champagne inspired pink berries, gardenia and golden amber.
Grace describes this scent as sweet, light and joyful.
Listen to the full episode up top and check out our extended chat with Debbie Harwood here. Tune in next Sunday from 8am for more of The House of Wellness on The Breeze!
