The wellness trends Laura Henshaw wants us to stop believing

0:00Three, two, one. Hi! Oh my goodness. A lot of hairspray, a lot of product. What are you exfoliating your scalp with? We can't just spray a lot of stuff and our scalp with has to come out, just like our skincare.

0:10Laura Henshaw:Okay, was this a question or was this a roast? This is actually really good. I love that it influences wardrobes that you can shop. Oh, they're her boots. No, okay, stop. They're her boots. Welcome back to What Else, a miniseries brought to you by Nespresso. In this series, we spend the morning with three women who inspire us, taking a closer look at the rituals, choices, and quiet moments that shape their days beyond their work. We uncover what else drives them, what grounds them, and how they define success on their own terms. This series is made possible by Nespresso, where every coffee is a chance to discover a new world with the new Virtuo up.

0:42Laura Henshaw:Just press to explore over 30 exceptional Virtuo blends from single origins to fun-flavored coffees, roast and ground, sealed in aluminium for freshness, and recyclable via Nespresso's program. Because building a successful life is easier with your morning coffee in hand. Hello, everyone. My name is Rhiannon Joyce. I am so, so excited because this is our first ever video series, What Else? And today we are talking to the wonderful Laura Henshaw. I've had the pleasure of knowing Laura for quite some time now, but for those of you who aren't familiar with Laura, here's a little bit of a rap sheet of all the amazing things that she has achieved.

1:20Laura Henshaw:Laura is a co-founder, podcaster, and author. She is the founder of Kik with her best friend, Steph Clare-Smith, and they founded the business in 2015, which started off as a recipe ebook and has now evolved into one of Australia's largest digital wellness platforms. Kik has also been downloaded over 1 million times and is one of Australia's largest, fastest growing wellness communities. And if you're listening to this, and I hope watching either on Spotify or YouTube, you will notice that we are in a very, very beautiful space. This is Kik Studio, your first, I guess, bricks and mortar in your real life space where people can experience Kik firsthand.

2:01Laura Henshaw:Laura, I'm so happy to be here. How are you? Hi! Oh my goodness. Sitting through an intro is so uncomfortable. Don't be uncomfortable. You should be so proud because yours is like long and good. Very good intro. I was like, okay, what else can we put in here? Thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm very excited to be here and it's so nice to be in kick studio. It's so beautiful in here. Tell me a bit about the space because I want, you know, obviously I want people to be watching and if they're listening right now, I want them to quickly turn it on the screen. Tell us about the space and the inspiration behind it.

2:35Laura Henshaw:So we are in the community space sitting right now. How do you feel? I feel so calm. High ceilings are one of my favourite features in any space, whether that be a home or a workplace. And I find all the natural light that's coming down is just making this feel like a really centered space. I really like, I was talking to one of the girls in your team earlier about how when you finished the class, this is actually where you end up. Can you tell me about why you end up here after the class? Yeah. And I'm glad you feel calm. The whole space was designed around a feeling. Everything we do at Kikwit, when you first work with a designer, can be difficult just because it's like the words are all feeling.

3:12And we wanted this room in particular to feel like a hug. We all lead such busy lives. We're on the go all the time. And I feel like sometimes with movement, we'll go to a class, like a 30 minute class, and then we rush back out into the outside world, into real life. And we get on our phone straight away and we don't give ourselves any moment to stop and breathe. And sometimes movement means that we process things in our body. It might be emotions, whatever it might be. And so we wanted to give people and create an experience with Kick Studio. So you come in, you do the class, and then you come into this community space.

3:43And if you want to journal, if you want to connect with someone new, but it's kind of just this buffer between the movement space and then the outside world.

3:52Laura Henshaw:It's a moment of reflection and to be able to reset. I like the community piece that you touched on as well, because as someone who is a member of Kik, I love how community focused it is. It would be so nice to be able to come out here. And I would feel so comfortable approaching other people in a class and starting a conversation or trying to build a friendship as well. And I don't think there's many studio environments where you would feel that. So you've done a very good job at making this place feel safe, which is a nice feeling to have. Oh, thanks, Rae. All of the classes are grounded in somatic movement.

4:21So you will come out into this area and you will have just, depending on the class, like yelled at the top of your lungs, danced it out. That I feel like creates a moment of connection as well. And then you come out here and then you're like, well, we just yelled together. So now we can be friends. Definitely. It's like way to break the ice.

4:38Laura Henshaw:That's the ultimate icebreaker. We were in a room and we were screaming together. We can have a conversation. That's going to make it really easy. Okay. I really want to get into the swap. As you know, Laura, you did tell me you are a stylish listener. Tick, tick, tick. So you're very familiar with what the swap is. But if you are listening or watching and you're not familiar, it's our weekly recommendation that we bring to the podcast. So Laura, what are you swapping in this week? Okay. So I wonder if you've tried this. You might have. It's a Merit product. and it is called their instant glow serum so I put it on before my makeup I feel like that is when I'm meant to use it that's how I use it anyway and it just makes my makeup go on so much better I'm feeling a bit I mean it's winter in Melbourne and I'm also I think I'm getting less sleep so my skin is drier and it just makes me look more alive it is do you like it must have beauty product I am obsessed with this Arnica has actually swapped this in ages ago on the podcast it is one of my favorite products part of my routine i also think i've gotten older and i really like hydration when i was younger i was like obsessed with the matte finish like maybelline matte mousse did you and we put it on our lips and our eyes

5:52Laura Henshaw:i'm actually not color matched not color matched that mousse felt good i just i do love a matte finish and i am partial to it but the older i've gotten the more i really appreciate that dewy glow and it gives you that without it looking oily. I also, I actually put it under my primer as well, whereas I know some people put it over the top, but I really like it underneath and it doesn't like mess with your formulas for your other products. Merit is one of my favorite brands as well because it has that really nice buildable approach. And easy. So easy. But yeah, it's true. If you don't, I feel like I now appreciate skincare more because if you put makeup on dry skin, it's not good.

6:29Laura Henshaw:Not good, especially when you're not getting sleep. Yeah, exactly. Do you have a swap for us? Oh, my gosh. I'm going to hear your swap of the week, Rae. I knew you were going to do this. Why? Because I would listen to you interview other people and also be interviewed. And you always like to switch the roll up. You're like, no, I'm in control. Okay, let me think because I wasn't technically prepared. Okay, I've got a hair swap. Okay. I am loving the Kevin Murphy hairspray. Oh, the pink one. The light pink one? The Kevin Murphy session spray. It's actually like a grey silver bottle. I used it at Fashion Week the other week.

7:04Laura Henshaw:And I mean, everyone knows I love a slick back bun. That's like no surprises there. Hello. But you were saying use the Kevin Murphy, the pink one. The light pink one, which is a softer hold. Okay, question. One more question and then I will stop. That's fine. You can also ask me questions. Because if you're doing this all the time, a lot of hairspray, a lot of product, what are you exfoliating your scalp with? Because this is something I've learned as an adult that we can't just spray a lot of stuff in our scalp. It has to come out just like our skincare. Okay, was this a question or was this a roast?

7:35I don't have an answer and I don't. I am here for the listeners that are also spraying a lot of stuff in our hair. I didn't know this. And then someone said to me, Laura, your hair has pores too. And then I thought, oh, okay, I need to release them. Laura. What are you doing for your hair? Oh, okay. Don't.

7:50Laura Henshaw:I feel bad now. You need to do an episode on it. What do you feel bad about? Because my scalp's probably fucked. Now I just feel like now I'm stressed. Is it itchy? Never. Oh, it's fine then. But maybe it's so used to it now that it's just not itchy. Okay, well, maybe that's a future swap. We can do an episode on it or we can do a little newsletter. But it is important. It is important. That's why I think a lot of those, the Japanese head spas have become really popular as well. I want to start with the morning, 7am or even earlier. You're probably waking up earlier because we have baby Atlas now.

8:22Laura Henshaw:Yes. Tell me about your morning routine and how you're starting your day. Okay, so it's a little bit different than it used to be post having Atlas. He's our alarm clock. So he wakes up between five, or sometimes when there's a four, I'm like, darling, you have to go back to sleep. I watch those videos on TikTok and Instagram where people wake up at 3.30. Not for me. My ideal wake up time is 6.30. So it depends when he sleeps through two. Dalton always gets up first. He gets up, gets Atlas, and then he goes and makes me a coffee and he takes Atlas out. And then I can have an extra like 10 or so minutes of sleep while he's making the coffee and brings it to me in bed and then I'll feed him.

9:02So that's our current routine. My old morning routine before becoming a mum was much more regimented and strict, but now it's a little bit more going with the flow. Yeah. Which is new for me. I'm not a fluid person. I like used to plan the fluid, but that is a very weird thing to say. I would plan the flow, but now I have to go with the flow a lot more. How have you found that transition? It's hard. It's been a journey. And I think it's something for me, I transitioned in my work to a new role at the same time that I transitioned into motherhood. So that's been something that has taken me a lot of time to process.

9:42And to be honest, I think I'm still processing it as I kind of rediscover my identity now wearing a new hat as being a mum as well.

9:52Laura Henshaw:You have shared quite a bit of this on social media and been very open about that transition in your new role and also being a mother. It seems like you're taking it very well, though. Oh, I mean, thanks. It's honestly take every day as it comes. I think at the start I knew it would be an identity shift, but I didn't think I, I didn't separate my role changing and becoming a mum. I kind of just put them all in the same thing. And now I've kind of set back and I'm trying to process it a bit better. And I've had to separate them because they are quite different. So I feel like maybe on the surface I look like a new email, but on the inside I'm still processing.

10:28Laura Henshaw:Talk to me about the process of getting dressed in the morning. This is obviously fashion is a huge part of this podcast. How has that changed for you? And talk to me about your current outfit. Like how did you decide what to wear this morning? Okay. So it has changed quite a bit. I think obviously our bodies change postpartum. I have these huge boobs that I've never had before. So that's very new for me. And the rest of my body has changed a lot. And I think for me, in the past, I have gone through disordered eating and I was, even though I'd processed that and I feel like I'm in a really good place with accepting my body and just loving it for what it does for me, especially after growing a child.

11:08I feel for me, I have a whole new appreciation for it. It has still been a journey postpartum. And I think what I have found, I'm still rediscovering my style. What has helped me the most is not trying to fit into any clothes from before that don't fit me. and as soon as I try something on it doesn't fit I put it away somewhere else and I don't know if I'll ever fit into it again I don't it doesn't really matter I have found the days where I don't feel good in the way that I have dressed are the days when I'm trying to fit into clothes that fit my old body not my new body and when I'm wearing so I brought a few new pairs of jeans like that was really good to do postpartum and then I just wear them so funny our clothes like they can make us feel so good.

11:52But they're also the thing for me that if I like put on a pair of jeans and it doesn't fit and they used to fit or they fit different or they're like sticking into my tummy, which is uncomfortable, that always makes me have a more body conscious day. Otherwise I don't think about it. So that for me is wearing something that I feel comfortable in. And it's so funny. We are so dressed so similar. We look similar. And I feel like that was, I put on originally like a dress with tights and a loafer. And I was like, oh, I just don't feel like this today. I want to be more comfy. So this is my – these jeans I literally wear every single day.

12:27What brand are your jeans? They're actually Zimmerman from the Outnet.

12:31Laura Henshaw:The Outnet. Yeah. So that's the – for those of you who don't know, the Outnet is a – it's actually owned by the same company that owns Net-A-Porter, but it's like the warehouse discounted version. So good. You can always find luxury brands on there for absolute steal. I think I got them like 85 % off or something crazy on there, which is really great. Anyway, so they're really comfy. And then this shirt is a really flattering cut. It's from Verge Girl. So going high-low. Yes. Yeah. Verge Girl is a bit more accessible, which we love, and Australian, local brand. And it's just a really flattering cut.

13:06And then my boots are actually pre-loved from, I bought them from pre-loved closet. it.

13:11Laura Henshaw:I love that size. It's so good, isn't it? So good. You basically just, I love that it's influencers' wardrobes that you can shop. So if you like an influencer as well, one person who features a lot is Erin Deering. Oh, they're her boots. No, okay, stop. So I'm the same size as well. So it always works out. 41. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There you go. So these are Erin Deering's boots. Well, your outfit's giving very 70s relaxed vibe, which I feel fits this space quite nicely as well. Okay. I think we have run away with this conversation and we need to have a little coffee to refuel. So let's do that quickly.

13:44Laura Henshaw:And then we can come back and get into a bit more about you because I'm excited for our audience to hear more. Guys, it's mid morning and we need a little pick me up. We've been chatting. We've been yapping. Laura, I'm so excited because I'm making you a bit of a sweetie treaty this morning. We're doing something that's a little bit more creative. First of all, do you like the flavor strawberry? Yeah. Okay. Thank God. Thank God. Okay. So what What we're going to do is we're going to start with this cute little tumbler. We've also got matching for the recording, which I thought was quite sweet.

14:10Laura Henshaw:I actually pre-made this for you. It's a strawberry smoothie and it's got protein in it. I thought very on brand. Amazing. Because we're in the Kicks studio and it's all about like health, wellness. That was dumb. Shut up. That was quite good already. What we're going to do is add in one of the white chocolate strawberry capsules. So we're using the coffee creations mode, which is really fun because you can get quite creative with the flavors. So we're doing the white chocolate strawberry. Now we wait. Let the magic happen. Okay, I can already smell the strawberry. Can you? Sounds very good. It's good.

14:41Laura Henshaw:Yeah, so I'm going to give this a little stir. I love the coffee creations mode because you get quite a bold flavour and a really concentrated extract. So it's really good for when you're using those flavoured pods. And do you want a little garnish on top? Oh my god, I would love a garnish. Yeah. This is very fancy. It is. Cafe style, but at home. So this is your white chocolate strawberry protein smoothie. So we're ready to get back into recording. Do a little taste test before we sit down. Okay. Oh my God, yum. Sweet. It's not too sweet, but it's perfect. That's what you want. You want a really good balance of the two.

15:17Laura Henshaw:Okay, let's get back into recording. I think you should come to my house every day and make this. As much as I would love to do that, there is an easier way that you can do that. You can actually just invest in the new Virtua Up machine at your house so you can make this every day at home. I might consider it. Or maybe Dalton can make it for you. Okay, I'm just going to get comfy. And I want to have a little sit before I've been talking too much. It's so good. One more. I love the pop of strawberry. Also, I like that it's matching, like the pink and strawberry. It's very recoded with the perfect aesthetic.

15:50It's all pre-planned.

15:52Laura Henshaw:We pre-planned everything. I want to talk a bit more about motherhood. We've touched on, you know, how that's impacted, how you think about getting dressed in the morning. Can you talk to me about how this has impacted your relationship with exercise? Oh, this has been one that surprised me. When I was pregnant, oh, I stopped running quite early. I just did not. I was in London Marathon training. So I was at, my runs were 30K at that stage when I found out I was pregnant. And my first question, just for anyone that, just so you know how obsessed I am with running for context was like, I found out I was pregnant.

16:25Dalton was in the shower, did the test and it was a very large surprise. and then the second thing I said was can I still do the London Marathon and at which in time I said oh yeah yeah yeah totally I will be able to I'll be able to anyway I did not do it because I was very tired and felt quite sick and then from that point I just did not feel like running at all I would always send Steph videos on TikTok or Instagram of people like running until they were 39 weeks like that was like everything I would send her and I was like this will be me this will be me. And then I was pregnant and I just couldn't, honestly, I saw people running and I was like, I would, I haven't, could not think of anything worse right now.

17:03Like I just was not interested in it anymore.

17:05Laura Henshaw:Can you pinpoint the exact moment that happened or was it just something that you can't even really recollect is just like you woke up and you're like, oh, okay, I don't want to do this anymore. I was very tired in the first trimester. So I was just so tired that I was like, I just don't feel like I can exercise right now. And exercise is a big thing for my mental health. So I was like, oh, I wonder how I'm going to go with this, but I just didn't feel up to it for the first trimester. And then I did a little bit, but not too much at all. What kind of exercise did you do instead of running? I was just doing walking, a bit of yoga and a bit of some prenatal stuff to help with my mobility.

17:37That's what I was kind of the most focused on because I just wanted to feel good. And the more pregnant you get, obviously, the more uncomfortable you tend to feel. So I was, it was very much for a functional reason of just wanting to feel mobile and not wanting to be in pain when I was sleeping and things.

17:51Laura Henshaw:It's really interesting you've called that out because you said that your relationship with running before was very mental and that feels very feelings motivated. But then when it came to exercise, when you were actually pregnant, it's moved into that functionality, which is more facts led. It's like, oh no, I feel it's not feelings anymore. So I want to go deeper on the mental health piece and how exercise has been really important for you over the years to be able to, you know, keep your mind sound. If that relationship shifted with exercise, what else did you do in your life to keep your mental health positive?

18:23Yeah. I mean, such a good question. And for me, I learned this maybe it was three or four years ago when I got injured and I couldn't run. I think that's something when running can be amazing and it is my form of meditation. I think we're quite similar in that, but when it's taken away from you, it can be quite confronting because if you found something to kind of manage your mental health and then it's gone, you have to find other ways. And I'm grateful that I went through that before I was pregnant. So then when I was pregnant, I could lean into how I was feeling. When I was younger, I would run to lose weight.

18:57And it was like, that was the purpose of running. I would just want to do like a long run, sweat as much as possible. Like it had to be strenuous or it wasn't a proper workout. And that's what I worked through. And I mean, that was a big part of why we started Kik after navigating that. And unfortunately, a lot of women do go through that. I don't know many women that haven't struggled with their body image over their life, unfortunately, because of the pressures of social media and society. So for me, when I was pregnant, walking, I found helped. I also, I think I knew that I felt average because I was pregnant.