The Method - Health in the Real World

Most of us have had a bad night’s sleep. But when insomnia becomes chronic, a whole new world of lifestyle advice seems to open up – one that is confusing, and sometimes fails to fix the problem.

So this week, Greg and Charlie take a deep dive into chronic insomnia with a new guest: Kathryn Pinkham. 

Kathryn is the founder of The Insomnia Clinic and one of the UK’s leading experts in treating chronic insomnia. Kathryn has helped over 5,000 people sleep better using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) - the NHS-recommended, gold-standard treatment that outperforms sleeping pills for long-term outcomes. Her message: insomnia is very curable, however long or severely someone has been struggling.

Starting with the science, Kathryn walks us through what sleep actually is and how it goes wrong. She explains the two biological systems that drive sleep: the circadian rhythm and sleep drive. She also makes the case for why standard sleep hygiene advice (the dark room, no caffeine after 2pm, a lengthy wind-down routine) often falls short. And yes, it can even add to the problem.

In the practice segment, Kathryn, Greg, and Charlie get into what CBT-I actually involves. Including:

  • Why spending less time in bed can cure insomnia and why that works
  • How your bed becomes a source of anxiety and how to fix that association 
  • What to do when your mind won’t stop racing at bedtime

Finally, in the experience section, we turn to your listener questions. We hear from a parent navigating sleep disruption with a toddler and a newborn on the way, and tackle questions about whether the 8-hour rule is real, and whether deep sleep really matters as much as we’re told.

Enjoy this conversation, and if you’d like to send us your health questions for future episodes, remember to email us a voice note or write in at themethod@thriva.co


To Explore Further


About Thriva

Thriva is a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we’re living – and healthspan – how well we’re living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body  – and what to do about it – before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions. To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit thriva.co.



What is The Method - Health in the Real World?

There’s no shortage of health advice out there, but how much of it actually works? Cold plunges, glucose monitors, protein timing, strength training, avoiding microplastics… How do we figure out what’s worth our time? Now there’s a method.

The Method – Health in the Real World unpacks the science and real-world application behind modern-day health. We speak with leading voices to help you make sense of your health, and we find out how we can live better now, and for longer.

Each episode, long-time friends Greg Potter and Charlie Edmondson will interview leading experts to put key health topics under the microscope, and unpack health questions through three lenses:
- The science: What the experts, data, and scientific research say.
- The practice: How to turn theory into habit and sustainable behaviour change.
- The experience: How the practice lives up to expectation in real life.

In an often chaotic world, we want to keep an eye on the long game: maximising your healthspan, not just your lifespan.

Whether it’s eating better, moving with intention, or getting quality sleep… We help you build good, evidence-based habits that stick. Let’s find out what works for you. The Method gives you the tools to chart your own path towards health confidence.

Expect deep dives into the science of health. We’ll cover topics like: supplements, brain health, personalised nutrition, biomarker tracking, zone 2 training, stress management, but also explore psychological wellness, the power of social connection, and good emotional resilience.
Whether you’re new to proactive health, or already experienced and looking for nuanced conversations and fresh insights, The Method will empower you to push what really matters when it comes to your health.

About your hosts:
Dr Greg Potter is a health consultant with a PhD in sleep, nutrition, and metabolic health, and a master’s in exercise physiology. A real chameleon in the health world, he works across product development, coaching, scientific advisory, and science communication. He also loves meeting people, exploring new places, and spending an unreasonable amount of money on specialty coffee. On this show, Greg is here to cut through the noise of the wellness world and help listeners focus on what truly moves the needle for long-term health.

Charlie Edmondson is a proudly Northern outdoors lover, with a growing passion for what it means to live well. She spent years firing her health questions at Greg over voice notes; a habit she now conveniently brings to the show. A real sports addict, Charlie has tried everything from swimming, to hockey, and cycling, to endurance racing representing Team GB in triathlon and duathlon across the globe. She is also a dog mum and doesn’t say no to the occasional Guinness. She brings her warmth to the Method to champion the voice of the everyday listener, who might not be an expert in health, but is brimming with questions.

About Thriva
The Method is brought to you by Thriva, a proactive health platform built for the modern age. The promise of longevity often comes with years spent in poor health. We want to bridge the gap between lifespan – how long we're living – and healthspan – how well we're living. We combine powerful at-home blood testing with wearable insights and expert guidance. So you can know exactly what’s going on inside your body - and what to do about it - before issues arise. With this podcast, we hope to bring listeners confidence in everyday health decisions.

To learn more about Thriva’s values and services, visit https://thriva.co/.