What happens when you're a psychiatrist, an Ironman 70.3 World Championship qualifier and part of one of London's most competitive cycling communities?

This week on Diet Starts Monday, I'm joined by Dr Tal Hackett -psychiatrist, triathlete and all-round competitive human.

Tal recently finished 3rd at an Ironman 70.3 (AG), securing her place at the World Championships, all while balancing a demanding career in medicine.

But this conversation goes well beyond racing.

We dive into the realities of working in psychiatry, particularly with patients experiencing eating disorders, and explore the complicated relationship between exercise, body image, mental health and social media.

We also get into the slightly obsessive world of South West London's running scene, where apparently running around in circles is a perfectly normal way to spend your free time!

From saving lives to chasing finish lines, Tal has a fascinating perspective on performance, ambition and mental health.

Let us know what you think!

Diet Starts Monday

Jack Pitcher has run across Australia. Now he's run across Iceland and broken a world record doing it.

In 2024, Jack ran 2,684 miles from Perth to Sydney in just 61 days, becoming the fastest British person to complete the crossing.

Two years later, he took on another extraordinary challenge: running 460 miles across Iceland. Jack completed the Iceland crossing in 7 days, 9 hours and 4 minutes. After falling behind the pace required for the record, he produced an incredible final push of approximately 88 miles in a single day.

In this episode Jack takes us inside what these challenges actually look like - the physical punishment, sleep deprivation, injuries, mental battles and what happens when your body is telling you to stop but the goal is still hundreds of miles away.

We also get into his record-breaking run across Australia, where Jack covered the equivalent of around 95 marathons in 61 days, the serious car accident that disrupted his original plans, and why he continues to choose challenges that push him to his absolute limit.

Sponsored by Wintergreen - www.wintergreensport.co.uk

Diet Starts Monday(@dietstartsmonday_podcast - Instagram)

What does it actually take to make it as a professional triathlete? Harry Palmer has spent years trying to figure it out.

In this episode, Harry joins me to talk about the reality behind becoming a professional endurance athlete. The years of training and self-belief, sponsorships, prize money and what being one of the best triathletes in the world actually pays.

We also talk about why he started documenting his journey on YouTube early, the races and performances that changed his career, and the belief required to keep going when you're not the biggest name in the sport.

A conversation about professional triathlon and betting on yourself long enough to find out how good you can become.

Diet Starts Monday (Instagram - @dietstartsmonday_podcast)

Sponsored by Wintergreen UK - www.wintergreensports.co.uk