3 min read
Journalist Norah O’Donnell has covered big stories during her 30 years in news—from the September 11 attacks to domestic violence in the military. But even she’s been surprised by what she’s learned while reporting for her latest project, the women’s health podcast Healthful, which debuts July 22.
“As a journalist I always say, ‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ and we’re really doing that with this podcast,” O’Donnell says. (Get an exclusive first-look at Healthful’s trailer below.)
In one episode, for instance, O’Donnell tackles the alarming rise of lung cancer in “never-smokers”—and its increasing prevalence in women, specifically.
“I think I’m pretty well-read in the topic of health. Everybody in my family is a scientist,” O’Donnell says. “This was not on my radar.”
Additional episodes will cover subject matter like hormone therapy, movement as medicine, and the diet-Alzheimer’s connection.
“I’m introducing women to the world’s leading experts on all these things that we want to know more about at a time where we have all this access to information, and yet many of us are more confused than ever,” O’Donnell says of her mission for the podcast, which will be interactive, allowing listeners to submit questions they’d like to have answered.
Healthful is also a reflection of O’Donnell’s personal approach to wellness. At 52 years old, she’s embraced a number of habits she hopes will boost her health and longevity.
To start, O’Donnell works with personal trainer Kira Stokes (who appears on an episode of the podcast) two to three times a week on functional strength training and mobility. “It’s so much band work,” O’Donnell says. “I also describe it as preventative training—so much of that work is so that I don’t injure myself when I’m playing tennis.” (If you’re curious, O’Donnell’s favorite exercise is bicep curls; her least favorite is burpees.)
Courtesy of Norah O’Donnell/CBS News
Stokes and O’Donnell training
O’Donnell supplements her strength-training with cardio, including the aforementioned tennis matches (usually on Saturdays and Sundays) and near-daily walks. Her new favorite habit is taking a 10-20 minute walk right after dinner, to help manage insulin levels.
And speaking of meals, O’Donnell tends to eat the rainbow, with a mix of fruits, vegetables, and protein. (As a high-school runner, O’Donnell got an early start prioritizing nutrition.) She usually begins her day with a pretty impressive smoothie: “It has turmeric ice cubes and a little dash of black pepper because that helps bring out the curcumin in the turmeric,” she says. “Also in there is frozen blueberries, frozen banana, frozen fresh pineapple, Fage Greek yogurt, a scoop of almond butter, a scoop of creatine, and almond milk. Sometimes I put mint in there too.”
Lunch is usually a salad, followed by a dinner consisting of a protein and veggies. O’Donnell tends to eat her final meal on the early side because bedtime is at 8:30 or 9 p.m. That way, she’s had a full night’s rest by the time she wakes around 4:30 a.m.
“I actually like the mornings because it’s kind of my quiet time, and I can read and get a lot done,” O’Donnell says.
On Healthful, listeners will hear plenty more from O’Donnell on her wellness rituals thanks to a segment called “Turning the Tables,” in which O’Donnell will be the one in the hot seat. “My producers love it, but I hate it because I don’t like answering questions,” O’Donnell says with a laugh.
To get an exclusive sneak peak at Healthful, be sure to click play on the trailer above.