💭 “Why do I feel so guilty every time I do something for myself?”

💭 “Why does leaving my child feel like leaving a part of me behind?”

💭 “How do I stop my childhood pain from running my parenting?”

– this episode is for you.

In this brave and deeply personal episode, Tess and Layne sit in the hot seat with therapist Lael Stone for a live mini therapy session that unpacks the childhood stories shaping their relationship to self-care, separation, and motherhood.

Tess reveals her fear of missing out on moments with Benji and traces it back to being three years old, shuttled between homes after her parents’ divorce. She realises the separation anxiety she feels at daycare drop-off is not the adult leaving. It is her inner child reliving the pain of being left behind. Layne shares the story of losing her adoptive mother at seven, being adopted at birth after conception through date rape, and how the ocean became the mother love she never had.

Lael guides them through the imprints they received around self-care, boundaries, and rest, showing how the martyr story and the “you’re lazy if you stop” narrative are passed down through generations. She offers a powerful reframe: you do not have to choose between being a present mother and meeting your own needs. Healing the younger parts of yourself is what allows the integrated adult to show up. And when you complete your story, your children do not have to carry it.

You will learn:

How childhood imprints around self-care create hidden blocks to rest and boundaries in adulthood

Why separation anxiety in parenting often has roots in your own childhood experiences

The three-step process for healing: identify the story, feel it, and offer compassion to your younger self

Why completing your own healing story frees your children from carrying wounds that were never theirs

Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/awake-collective-sales

Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself Grow Yourself to live a happier more purposeful life. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869

Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley

Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Sponsor our podcast https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact

Book us for a workshop https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact

Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you’re experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

💭 “What happens when I finally stop running from my pain?”

💭 “How can I trust my life when I have been hurt so deeply?”

💭 “What does it mean to truly own my story?”

– this episode is for you.

In this vulnerable and transformative conversation, Lael Stone joins Tess and Layne to unpack the moment that changed everything: the traumatic birth of her third child, Tali, and how she chose surrender over fear by whispering “I trust you” to her newborn when no one was certain she would survive.

Together they explore the language of the nervous system: fear hits in the gut, causes dissociation and shutdown. Trust feels like stillness, expansion, knowing. Lael teaches inner child work – that critical moment when you pause and ask “How old am I right now?” and realise your triggered nervous system is actually protecting a younger, wounded version of you. Tess shares a real-time example with her husband over tadpoles, discovering she was responding as an 8-10 year old girl being told she was weird.

They discuss imprints – the belief systems and stories we absorb as children to belong in our families. We stay shockingly loyal to these imprints even as adults because they feel like love: “You’re too emotional.” “You don’t deserve that.” “You’re not enough.” Lael shares how recognising these patterns is the first step to changing them. And then she names the transformative truth that hit Tess: if everyone owned their story instead of running from it, we would have less projection, less blame, and infinitely more peace and accountability.

You will hear about:

The somatic difference between fear and trust in your body and nervous system

Inner child work and how to identify which younger part of you is driving your triggers

What imprints are and how family loyalty keeps us locked into unhealthy patterns

Why owning your story instead of running from it is the path to freedom and peace

Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/awake-collective-sales

Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself Grow Yourself to live a happier more purposeful life. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869

Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley

Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

Learn more about Lael Stone: layelstone.com.au

Get Lael’s book “Own Your Story”

Listen to Lael’s podcast “Humans Being”

Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Sponsor our podcast https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact

Book us for a workshop https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact

Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you’re experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

💭 “Why do I feel so crushed by pressure, even when I am doing well?”

💭 “How do I find perspective when I feel like I have let myself or others down?”

💭 “How do I know when to keep pushing and when it is time to let go?”

this episode is for you.

In this honest and moving conversation, Tess and Layne explore what the Olympics can teach us about greatness, pressure, emotional regulation and identity. Through the stories of athletes like Scotty James, Alana Meyers Taylor and Alysa Liu, they unpack what happens when performance collides with expectation, and how perspective, support and joy can help you find your way back to yourself.

Layne reflects on the emotional weight athletes carry when their goals are public, why having a life outside the arena matters, and how dream teams help people hold steady when the pressure is at its peak. Tess draws out the deeper life lessons in each story, showing how the same patterns appear in work, parenting, leadership and everyday life whenever we tie our worth to one outcome.

The episode then turns deeply personal as Tess invites Layne to reflect on her own recent experience competing for her boardriders club. What follows is a vulnerable and powerful conversation about ageing, identity, acceptance and the courage to stop proving. Together they offer a toolkit for anyone carrying too much pressure or avoiding a truth they already know: ask what basic emotion you are resisting, bring it back to yourself, and choose the version of greatness that lets you breathe.

You will hear about:

How perspective shifts help regulate disappointment and emotional overwhelm

Why support systems matter when you are standing at the edge of growth or burnout

The difference between pressure driven performance and joy fuelled performance

How acceptance can free you from identities you no longer need to carry.

Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/awake-collective-sales

Get Awake’s transformative book: Know yourself, grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869

Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

Awake’s TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Sponsor our podcast https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact

Book us for a workshop https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact

Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you are experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you have heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tess and Layne sit down with Barry for a deeply moving conversation about the wake-up calls that changed the course of his life. From infertility, miscarriage and depression, to two life-threatening cancer diagnoses, Barry shares the moments that cracked him open, the pain that disconnected him from himself, and the human connection that ultimately helped bring him back.

What unfolds is an honest conversation about identity, grief, masculinity, mental health, courage and what it really means to live well. Barry reflects on the pressure of trying to be “strong,” the danger of losing touch with your emotions, and the quiet way despair can build over time. He also shares the turning points that helped him heal: a friend who showed up, the power of being seen without being “fixed,” and the curiosity that slowly helped him rebuild his life.

The trio explore the difference between confidence and true self-belief, why resilience is more about adaptation than toughness, and how children, community and purpose can completely reshape your relationship with life. They also touch on boundaries, bravery, self-worth, emotional eating, and the importance of asking people how they need to be supported instead of telling them what to do.

They finish with a powerful reminder that healing rarely happens in one dramatic moment. More often, it begins with a tiny crack of light, a safe connection, or one small choice that helps you come home to yourself again.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why wake-up calls often arrive long before the biggest crisis

• How depression can create deep disconnection from yourself and others

• Why human connection can be the first step back from darkness

• The difference between bravado, confidence and true self-belief

• How curiosity can become a practical tool for healing and growth

• Why resilience is about adapting, not just “being tough”

• The role of boundaries in protecting your energy and wellbeing

• Why asking “how can I help?” matters more than giving advice

• How children, community and purpose can reshape your life

• What it means to live bravely, honestly and with more intention

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy

Connect with Barry

• Learn more about Barry’s work at Barry’s website

• Follow Barry’s journey and speaking work online

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tess and Layne introduce the Soul Map, a framework designed to help you reconnect with yourself and rebuild wellbeing from the inside out. The conversation starts with a feeling many people share: doing all the “right” things in life while still feeling exhausted or out of alignment.

They explore why mindset alone can’t fix a dysregulated nervous system and why real wellbeing requires looking at multiple layers of life. Tess and Layne walk through the three parts of the Soul Map: your physical state (Basecamp), your emotional world, and the wellbeing practices that restore energy and clarity.

Along the way, they share personal stories about burnout edges, decision fatigue, busy calendars, and the quiet exhaustion that can come from constantly saying yes. The episode finishes with a rapid-fire listener Q&A, covering everything from recognising when your body needs care instead of discipline to understanding the difference between being tired and being disconnected.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why mindset alone can’t fix a stressed nervous system

• The three layers of the Soul Map framework

• Why managing your energy matters more than managing your time

• How burnout can show up as disconnection rather than exhaustion

• The role of emotional stories in shaping how we experience life

• How space in your calendar can create safety rather than urgency

• Simple wellbeing practices that reconnect you to yourself quickly

• The difference between rumination and reflection

• How boundaries and consistency build self-trust over time

• What feeling “well” actually feels like in your body

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy

Complete your Soul Map here: https://soulmap.online/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tess and Layne welcome back positive psychology expert Sue Langley for a science-packed deep dive into what actually helps humans flourish, and why most of us are wired to cling to the negative.

Sue breaks down positive psychology as the scientific study of human flourishing (not pop-psych), and explains how the field emerged after decades of psychology focusing mainly on what’s “wrong” rather than what’s working. From there, the conversation becomes a playful masterclass in how beliefs, labels, environments and tiny daily choices quietly shape our wellbeing.

You’ll hear practical frameworks like “Velcro and Teflon” (negativity sticks, positivity needs practice), how labels box us into invisible rules, and why autonomy and purpose can literally change health outcomes. The trio also explores “collective effervescence” (that buzzing group energy you feel at concerts, sport, churches or even Christmas chaos), plus newer research on psychological richness: the idea that an interesting, varied, eventful life matters just as much as pleasure and meaning.

They finish by touching on primal beliefs (do you believe the world is good or bad?), parenting language, and the idea that life tries to get our attention gently first (feather), then more firmly (brick), then with a full-on wake-up (truck).

In this episode, you will learn:

• What positive psychology is (and why it’s not just “good vibes”)
• Why negativity is “Velcro” and happiness is more like “Glad Wrap”
• How your brain can be trained to notice more good, more often
• The trap of labels and the “rules” we live by without realising
• The nursing home study: how autonomy and purpose changed outcomes
• “Collective effervescence” and why shared moments bond us
• Psychological richness: why an interesting life beats a perfect one
• Feather–brick–truck: how life escalates when we ignore the signs
• Primal beliefs: how your view of the world shapes wellbeing
• A mindset for 2026: be your best self, more frequently

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy

Connect with Sue Langley

• Follow Sue on Instagram @suelangley

• Connect with Sue on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/suelangley

• Learn more about Sue’s work

https://suelangley.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tess and Layne unpack the blame game through sport, injury and a very real-life moment between the two of them. From sand sprints, stress fractures and the Australian Open final to world titles and wounded egos, this conversation dives into what happens when we look everywhere but within.

Watching Djokovic and Alcaraz battle it out, Layne reflects on the subtle signs of belief versus excuse: body language, composure, where the eyes go under pressure. She shares how, in her early career, every loss had a culprit, the boards, the judges, the wind, anyone but her. Until she realised the common denominator in all her disappointment was herself.

They explore the science behind blame as a survival mechanism. When we feel threatened, overwhelmed or unsafe, the brain looks for control. Blame gives the illusion of control. But it also keeps us stuck in stress, fuels shame, and quietly drains our energy.

Tess and Layne share a vulnerable moment where blame crept into their own dynamic, and how awareness, regulation and ownership shifted it from defence to growth. The lesson? Ownership without punishment changes everything.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What elite athletes reveal under pressure: belief versus excuse
• Layne’s early career pattern of blaming everyone but herself
• The fear of success, fear of rejection, and how they drive blame
• The neuroscience of blame as a safety response
• How blame turns inward into shame and fuels negative self-talk
• Why poor communication often sits underneath the blame cycle
• Parenting through blame and helping kids feel safe and seen
• A practical toolkit to interrupt the blame loop:
• Name it without judgement
• Regulate before you respond
• Ask what’s in your control
• Separate responsibility from personal attack
• Replace blame with curiosity
• Why people pleasing in conflict prevents real growth
• The freedom that comes from owning your part and letting it go

If you’ve been blaming someone else, or yourself, for where you are right now, this episode is your invitation to pause. To breathe. To look within. And to choose growth over defence.

Because when you drop the blame, you drop the weight.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tess and Layne sit down with actor and creator Erika Heynatz for an honest, funny and empowering conversation about rejection, ageing, identity, and finally owning your voice.

They rewind to sunrise walks in Mona Vale, where a slow-burn friendship helped both women navigate self-doubt and rebuilding seasons. From there, Erika opens up about being assessed for a living, surviving constant rejection, and the resilience it takes to not let “no” define your worth. Her reframe? If you got the script, you’re already in the game.

At the heart of the conversation is Erika’s one-woman cabaret show Stupormodel , a bold exploration of the modelling industry, impossible beauty standards, shame, and the commodification of women’s self-esteem. Writing it, funding it and performing it became a cathartic act of courage: choosing to be seen, fully.

They also unpack perimenopause and menopause, from brain fog and insomnia to weight changes and anxiety, and what’s actually helped: hormone therapy, Chinese medicine, breathwork, sunlight, ocean time, and fiercely protecting non-negotiables.

The episode lands on a powerful reminder: you are the creative director of your life.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Rejection and resilience in high-pressure industries
• Beauty, brains, and being labelled “too much”
• Shame, vulnerability, and taking creative risks
• Perimenopause/menopause and real support strategies
• Women backing women instead of competing
• Why your looks never determines your worthiness

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve been living by someone else’s script, this episode is a reminder that you can rewrite it. You can get louder. You can get truer. You can take up space. And you can choose a life that actually feels like yours.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

Connect with Erika

• Instagram: @erikaheynatz

• Website: erikaheynatz.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Tess and Layne get real about the days where life is lifing. Injury. Pain. Fatigue. The spirals. The inner critic turning the volume up to stadium levels. And the big question underneath it all: can you still be your best self when you’re not coping?

They open with a grounded, vulnerable check-in. Tess shares the joy of a “dawn dance” that made her feel alive again, followed by the brutal crash that reminded her she’s still living in a body with limits. Layne mirrors it with her own healing journey in a moon boot, and the familiar high-performer reflex: turn recovery into another mission… until one disrupted day sends everything sideways.

From there, the episode becomes a practical toolkit for the “down days”. The moments when your calendar needs clearing, your expectations need adjusting, and your nervous system needs gentleness more than grit. Tess and Layne walk through six steps that help you stabilise early, avoid the shame spiral, and recover with more compassion (and less negotiation with reality).

It’s an episode for anyone who’s been feeling broken, behind, or frustrated that they “should be better by now.” Because sometimes being your best self isn’t doing more. It’s choosing the smallest, wisest next move, and letting that be enough.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What “being your best self” actually looks like when you’re injured, exhausted, or overwhelmed
• The crash after the high: why adrenaline can mask your limits… until it doesn’t
• The head-noise spiral and how pain can pull you back into old trauma stories
• The body whispers before it screams: spotting the warning signs sooner
• The six-step “inner rehab” toolkit:
• Surrender (stop negotiating with reality)
• Clear the calendar (delay what can wait)
• Stock up (set your environment up to heal)
• Fill your cup (restore gently, not performatively)
• Get help early (SOS before you suffer in silence)
• Pamper, don’t push (softness that speeds recovery)
• Why rest with devices isn’t always rest, and how stimulation keeps your body “on”
• Treating yourself like someone you love: what you’d recommend to a friend in your shoes
• The reframe: slowing down isn’t weakness, it’s leadership

If you’re in a season where you’re trying to hold it together but you feel like you’re running on fumes, this episode is your permission slip to come back to basics: accept what is, soften the pressure, and take the next right step.

And if listening brings up something tender, Tess and Layne remind you you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to your people, or join them inside the Awake Collective for deeper support, tools, and coaching that helps you keep doing the work.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Tess and Layne sit down with global leadership expert, author, and “conversation architect” Holly Ransom for a deeply human chat about resilience, purpose, and the tools that stop high performers from quietly burning out behind the scenes.

They rewind to the sliding doors moments that shaped Holly’s life, from being spotted by Richard Branson and thrown into the world of hosting and interviewing, to a raw early chapter where overwhelm, exhaustion and a heavy diagnosis forced her to rebuild from the ground up. Together, they unpack the difference between being clinically unwell and being chronically overworked, and why so many of us reach for labels before we look at sleep, stress, nutrition, movement and recovery.

From there, the episode becomes a practical masterclass in energy management. Holly shares the shift that changed everything for her: manage energy, not time. They explore how wearables like the Oura Ring can be a powerful mirror (if you actually listen to it), why sleep hygiene matters more than you think, and how micro breaks, breathwork, and play can downregulate your nervous system in minutes, not hours.

This is an episode for anyone who feels like they’re “coping”… but running on fumes. If you’ve been pushing through, overriding your body, or living in permanent upregulation, this conversation will bring you back to the simplest question: what do I truly need right now?

In this episode, we talk about:

Holly’s sliding doors moments and how one opportunity can reroute a whole life

The early burnout chapter, the weight of labels, and what “push through” culture costs us

The difference between depression and being overwhelmed, overworked, and overtired

Why self leadership starts with self awareness, self knowing, and conviction

Managing energy, not time, and matching your best hours to your most important work

The Oura Ring effect: how data can change behaviour (and why it’s useless if you ignore it)

Sleep hygiene shifts that dramatically improve recovery, even with the same hours in bed

Upregulation vs downregulation and why most of us only train one direction

Micro breaks: how 90 seconds to 3 minutes can reset your nervous system

Breathwork basics, box breathing, and why it works even when you think it’s “woo”

Energy vampires and learning to notice who or what drains you after the fact

The itty bitty shitty committee, courage zones, and doing the scary thing with a meaningful why

How kids reintroduce play, presence, and joy (whether you’re ready or not)

What leaders like Amal Clooney, Obama, Brené Brown, Venus Williams and McConaughey taught Holly about self leadership

Betting on yourself, not letting Plan B become Plan A, and asking people to help you stick the landing

If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect” window to take care of yourself, this episode is your reminder that regulation isn’t a luxury. It’s a skill. And you can start with the smallest reps, the tiniest resets, and the simplest choices that bring you back into your body.

And if you’re listening thinking, “I want support, accountability, and tools I can actually use,” Tess and Layne share how you can join The Awake Collective for monthly coaching, community, and practices that help you keep doing the work.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Tess and Layne kick off a powerful 7 week challenge built around what they call the Seven Doctors, a set of science backed, everyday habits that can transform your energy, mood, focus and wellbeing without needing an overhaul of your whole life.

Layne shares the personal story behind this framework, the tools and rituals she committed to after winning her sixth consecutive world title, and how those tiny, consistent 1 percenters became a literal prescription for vitality.

From there, the episode becomes a grounded, practical guide to the habits that most of us know we need, but forget the moment life gets busy. Tess and Layne unpack why health and happiness have been overcomplicated, why the basics still work, and why the secret is not just doing the habit. It’s connecting to how it makes you feel.

This is an episode for anyone who feels foggy, flat, burnt out, overwhelmed, or like they’re constantly trying to “fix” themselves with big, exhausting plans. These doctors are simple, accessible, and surprisingly transformative. And the best part? They’re free.

In this episode, we talk about:

What the Seven Doctors are, and why they’re a simple roadmap back to vitality

Why wellbeing doesn’t need to be hard to be effective

The power of 1 percenters, habit stacking, and building momentum without perfection

Doctor 1: Water, and why dehydration can look like hunger, brain fog and fatigue

A simple way to think about hydration and why quality matters

Doctor 2: Movement, and why exercise is one of the most effective antidepressants we have

How to start when you’re depleted, injured, overwhelmed, or “not in the mood”

Why consistency beats intensity, and how to make movement feel like joy

Doctor 3: Nutrition, and why protein can be a game changer for energy and strength

The mindset shift from “skinny” to “strong” and why it changes everything

Doctor 4: Sunshine, and how light resets mood, energy and circadian rhythm

The idea of sunshine breaks and why 90 seconds outside can shift your whole day

Doctor 5: Laughter, and why it’s one of the fastest ways to deactivate stress

How to schedule more joy and train your life to feel lighter again

Doctor 6: Active rest, and why your brain can’t be on screens all day and recover at night

How rest restores creativity, clarity and nervous system regulation

Doctor 7: Journaling, and why “dump it out, don’t take it out” creates instant relief

Why gratitude works when you anchor it in feeling, not just words

If you’ve been trying to push through, hustle harder, or hold it all together, this episode will remind you that change doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from returning to what works, and letting the basics rebuild you.

And if you’re listening thinking, “I want to do this with support and accountability,” Tess and Layne share how you can join The Awake Collective for the full 7 week Seven Doctors challenge, with community, prompts, coaching and momentum to help you actually stick with it.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special bonus episode of A Wake-Up Call, Tess and Layne revisit a deeply personal moment that reveals how powerful our internal stories can be, and how quickly they can pull us out of alignment with who we really are.

Layne shares the story of a competitive surf event that spiralled into weeks of self-judgement and withdrawal. Not because of the moment itself, but because of the meaning attached to it. The fear of being seen. The weight of expectation. The pressure of identity.

Together, Tess and Layne explore how stories turn into beliefs, why simply “knowing better” isn’t always enough to move on, and what it really takes to release a narrative that no longer serves you. They unpack intuition, embodiment, and the importance of rewriting stories from truth rather than fear.

This episode is a reminder that growth isn’t about forcing positivity. It’s about reconnecting with your deepest truth, letting go of outdated identities, and returning to lightness, flow, and joy.

In this episode, we talk about:

How stories loop and quietly erode confidence

Why fear-based narratives grow stronger the more we repeat them

The difference between rationalising and telling the truth

How ignoring intuition disconnects you from trust and ease

Shame, self-judgement, and the fear of being seen

Why embodiment helps process what words can’t

We also explore:

The moment Layne realised she needed to “shed the skin” of expectation

How letting go creates freedom and lightness

Why life works best when you remember the dance

If you’ve been stuck replaying a moment or carrying the weight of who you think you’re meant to be, this episode will help you soften the story and reconnect with trust, intuition, and flow.

And if you’re listening thinking, “I want support to do this work,” we share how you can join The Awake Collective for ongoing coaching, community, and practical tools.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re joined by world renowned performance psychologist Dr Michael Gervais for a conversation that will change how you think about confidence, vulnerability, and what it really means to grow.

Tess opens the episode with a raw intention, navigating a heavy season with family and teenagers, and the ache of knowing you have the tools, but still having to let the people you love find their own way. From there, the conversation moves into one of the most freeing concepts you’ll hear all year: the danger line.

Michael explains why growth happens at the edge of discomfort, and why for most of us the real danger is not physical. It’s social. It’s the fear of being judged, misunderstood, or exposed. The fear of looking stupid. The fear of caring deeply and coming up short.

This episode is packed with lived stories, elite performance psychology, and deeply human truths about identity, ego, and what keeps us playing small. If you’ve ever felt yourself holding back, performing to look okay, or avoiding the very thing you want most, this will land.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What the “danger line” is, and why growth lives right at the edge of it
• Why most danger today is social danger, the fear of people’s opinions
• The hidden ways we play the “look okay” game instead of going all in
• Michael’s pivotal story from his PhD program: when ego hijacks presence
• What mastery looks like in real time, and how safety creates transformation
• Why awareness is the starting point for self mastery
• How foundational beliefs shape how you move through the world
• “The world is dangerous” vs “I feel safe in it” and how both can be true
• Why psychological skills training should be normal, not taboo
• The difference between succeeding from fear and succeeding from love
• How stories like “I’m not enough” can drive achievement and also cost you
• Vulnerability as a leadership superpower, especially in high performance spaces
• Rest, recovery, and why burnout culture is not a badge
• The “permission slips” organisations need so people actually change behaviour
• A practical relationship ritual that builds connection when life gets busy
• Three first principles for inner mastery: extend your danger line, lean on relationships, and build psychological skills

We also explore:

• How to recognise when your identity is running the show
• Why self discovery feels hard, especially when you’re already overloaded
• The real cost of protecting reputation over being present
• How to build trust, with yourself and with your inner circle
• Why mastery is available to everyday humans, not just champions

If you’ve been feeling like you’re capable of more but you keep hesitating, shrinking, or overthinking what people might think, this episode will help you understand why, and give you a framework to start expanding your life again.

And if you’re listening thinking, “I want to keep doing this work with support,” we share how you can join The Awake Collective for monthly coaching, accountability, community, and practical tools to help you apply what you’re learning.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A working mum of three writes in to share her guilt around slowing down, filling her own cup, and prioritising self-care without feeling like she’s letting everyone else down. Tess and Layne unpack why this guilt is so common, how it’s wired into our nervous system, and why constantly putting ourselves last can quietly lead to burnout, emotional overload, and disconnection.

This conversation dives deep into nervous system regulation, boundaries, breathwork, and the small daily practices that help us move out of fight-or-flight and back into presence, clarity and energy.

It’s practical, compassionate, and deeply relatable, especially if you’re feeling fried, wired, overwhelmed, or stuck on the hamster wheel.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why guilt around rest and self-care is so common, especially for women
• How constantly putting others first can actually sabotage your wellbeing
• The difference between the sympathetic (stress) and parasympathetic (rest) nervous systems
• Early signs of burnout and nervous system overload
• Why multitasking during rest stops it from being restorative
• Creating clear work-life and role-based boundaries to show up more fully
• Simple daily rituals that genuinely refill your cup
• Why silence, stillness and micro-breaks matter more than productivity hacks
• Breathwork as the fastest way to regulate your nervous system
• Box breathing, physiological sighs, and slow exhales explained simply
• Why eating lunch away from your desk is one of the bravest acts of self-care
• The role of awe, nature and “touching green” in nervous system recovery
• How moments of awe help you step off the hamster wheel
• Creating a “love-to-do” list to reconnect with joy and energy
• Why rest isn’t selfish, it’s what allows you to show up better for everyone

We also explore:

• How to recognise when your nervous system is fried
• Practical boundaries you can put in place today
• Why scheduling and guarding rest is non-negotiable
• How small, consistent resets prevent burnout long-term

If you’ve been feeling tired, overstimulated, guilty for resting, or like you’re constantly pushing through, this episode will help you understand what’s happening in your body and give you real tools to reset.

And if you’re listening thinking, “I need support with this,” we share how you can join The Awake Collective for monthly coaching, accountability, community, and practical tools to keep doing the work.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

• Sign up for A Wake Up Call for your weekly wake-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re joined by one of the most requested women in the world of female performance and health, Dr Stacy Sims, who is changing the conversation around perimenopause, menopause, women’s training, and energy with science-backed tools that actually work in real life.

This episode is deeply personal for Layne, as Stacy’s work helped her feel like herself again, and brought her back to feeling strong, vital, energised and present.

We cover the practical tools, the science, and the mindset shifts that help women stop guessing and start understanding what their body actually needs, especially in the perimenopause and menopause years.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why women’s health has been misunderstood for decades and why data matters
• The biggest myths women have been taught about training and nutrition
• Why fasting can be a problem for women (and what it can do to sleep and hormones)
• How to eat to stabilise energy and reduce the afternoon crash
• The truth about “belly fat” and why the obsession with a perfect body is cultural conditioning
• Ozempic/GLP-1s: what we know, what we don’t, and why vanity use is risky
• Adaptogens (and what they actually do)
• Creatine: why it matters for women, brain function, and energy
• Sauna vs infrared: what works, how long to stay in, and the mental health benefits
• Strength training for women: power, performance, and how to train without “getting bulky”
• Practical weekly strength structure (and why power is a predictor of healthspan)
• How partners can support women through menopause: real tools, real conversations, real support

We also answer listener questions including:

• How can I support my wife through menopause?
• How do I prepare for perimenopause without feeling afraid?

If you’ve been feeling tired, foggy, flat, not like yourself, or overwhelmed by conflicting advice, this episode will help you feel informed, empowered, and supported.

And if you’re listening thinking, “mic drop… I need support with this,” we share how you can join The Awake Collective for monthly coaching, accountability, community, and practical tools to keep doing the work.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know yourself, grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy_

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

• Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call

• Sponsor our podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Tess and Layne reflect on the year that was, unpack what it really means to reflect rather than rush into resolutions, and explore how intention setting can create more ownership, clarity, and agency in our lives.

Layne shares openly about a year defined by growth and frustration, energy and stagnation, and the permission it’s taken to allow contradictions to coexist. Tess reflects on resilience, compassion, and what it means to keep showing up without burning out.

Together, we talk about:

• Why reflection gives us clarity, not avoidance
• The difference between burying emotions and actually processing them
• How writing things down creates space and accountability
• Allowing pride and frustration to exist at the same time
• Compassion without the need for change
• Why work and rest are not enemies
• Letting go of old stories that no longer serve us
• Choosing a word of the year and what it anchors us to
• 
  

We also share our words for 2026, how we’re carrying these practices forward, and why intention setting is something best done with people you love.

At the end of the episode, we walk you through a reflection and intention-setting framework you can use to create clarity, confidence, and direction for the year ahead.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone you care about. The best gift you can give a loved one is your self-growth.

🎧 Download the Year of Reflection & Intention Toolkit

A guided framework to help you reflect, reset, and step into 2026 with purpose.

Available now for our New Year campaign.

We’ll see you next week and into 2026 as the best version of yourself, no matter where you’re starting from.

Happy New Year.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Jess the Medium for a conversation that’s part spiritual, part science, and fully grounded in what we’re actually here to do: wake up, trust ourselves, and live with more ease.

We talk skeptics, signs, near-death experiences, grief, dementia, forgiveness, and the “mic drop” moments that remind you… you already know more than you think. Plus, Jess shares practical ways to strengthen intuition (without turning your life into a crystal shop scavenger hunt).

You’ll learn

• What mediumship is (and isn’t), and why skepticism is allowed
• Why grief, trauma, and “rock bottom” can open a new portal of intuition
• The real reason we keep waiting for validation (and how to stop)
• How to build self-trust with one simple daily check-in practice
• Why “the magic is in the mess” is more than a cute quote
• How to work with signs without spiralling into confirmation bias
• A powerful reframe: you don’t need saving, you need trusting

🎧 Hit play and remember – you can’t give from an empty cup. It’s time to refill yours.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales

• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know yourself, grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869

• Watch the episodes on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy

• Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley

• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

• Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

• Awake’s TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

• Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call

• Sponsor our podcast

wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey – not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you’re experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

💭 “Why am I so exhausted, even from the things I love?”
💭 “How do I stop saying yes to everyone else and start saying yes to myself?”
💭 “Is it possible to be ambitious without burning out my body, my relationships and my joy?”

This episode is for you.

In this honest and energising conversation, Tess and Layne dive into the big B word: burnout. Tess shares what it felt like to be the yes girl in her corporate role at Virgin, glued to her desk, paralysed by decision fatigue and with zero hobbies or joy left in her life. She talks about doing double gym sessions, tracking every mouthful of food, then using alcohol to decompress, and the hallway moment where she realised she was completely burnt out from living for output instead of herself.

Layne opens up about the day her husband Kirk asked, “Why do I always get the broken Layne” and how that question became a wake up call. She explains how chasing validation and respect after retirement kept her in a constant state of over giving, and how her early story of being “not enough” as a child drove her to prove herself again and again. Together, Tess and Layne unpack the root causes of burnout, from perfectionism and people pleasing to the 3 C warning signs Layne uses now: comparison, craving and self criticism.

They break down the science in simple language, explaining why the brain runs on repetition and fear, why 95 percent of your thoughts are recycled, and how negativity bias quietly keeps you on high alert. Tess and Layne then share the tools that helped them reclaim their energy, including a decision making filter based on love not fear, “no not now” and “no not me” boundaries, and creating a joy list so you know exactly what to do with five spare minutes instead of doom scrolling. They also explore why rest is not a reward but a performance tool, how micro breaks and 90 minute work blocks boost memory and focus, and why your messy first step toward rest will probably look imperfect and still count.

You will hear about:

The difference between being tired and true burnout, and why your body whispers before it screams

How perfectionism and being the yes person quietly drain your energy and self worth

The 3 C burnout indicators Layne watches for and how to spot your own early warning signs

A simple decision making framework to choose from love instead of fear

Practical tools to refill your tank, from joy lists and solo coffee dates to micro breaks and structured rest that actually sticks

For more resources related to today's episode, check out our podcast episode page.
https://www.awakecollective.online/episode-10

Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses
https://www.awakecollective.online/awake-collective-sales

Get Awake's transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869
Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley
Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer
Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy
Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_
Sponsor our podcast https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact
Book us for a workshop https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact

Disclaimer
The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.
If you're experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you've heard on this podcast.
Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

💭 “Why do I feel like a fraud even when I am achieving so much?”

💭 “How do I quiet the voice that tells me I am not enough?”

💭 “How do I finally own my seat instead of shrinking from it?”

– this episode is for you.

In this honest and energising conversation, Tess and Layne dive deep into imposter syndrome, tracing the moments in their careers, motherhood and leadership journeys where the inner critic became loud and the fear of being exposed took over.

Tess opens up about writing a book with a seven time world champion while secretly wondering if she deserved to be there, returning to study because she thought she needed more certificates to feel legitimate, and the moment imposter syndrome blindsided her in motherhood when she walked ahead of Benji on a path and instantly decided she was a terrible mum. Layne shares the day she became Chair of Surfing Australia, how the words “You are just a token female” echoed in her head, and how she sat in a boardroom feeling utterly unqualified despite being surrounded by people who believed in her.

Together they unpack what imposter syndrome really is: the gap between your perceived ability and your true capability, filled with fear, shame and old stories about worthiness. They explain why the brain defaults to threat, how the negativity bias magnifies your mistakes, and why celebrating micro wins is a science backed way to retrain your confidence. Layne shares how she prepared, reached out to mentors and chose to lead with curiosity instead of perfection. Tess talks about learning to say, “I am qualified and I am uncomfortable” and why receiving a single compliment with “Thank you” can be an act of self transformation.

You will hear about:

• The neuroscience behind imposter syndrome and why your brain leans toward fear
• How shame fuels the belief that you do not deserve success, love or belonging
• The difference between intuition and fear based narratives
• Why celebrating the smallest gains builds confidence
• How a dream team truth check can silence the committee in your head
• Practical language that helps you stay present instead of spiralling

This episode is warm, real and incredibly relatable. It is not about eliminating self doubt. It is about learning how to move with it, grow through it and claim the space you have already earned.

🎧 Hit play to remember that you are capable, you are qualified and you deserve to sit in the seat your life has prepared you for.

https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/

Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses

https://www.awakecollective.online/awake-collective-sales

Get Awake's transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869

Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley

Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Sponsor our podcast https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact

Book us for a workshop https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact

Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you're experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you've heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

💭 "What does it feel like to be truly seen in a relationship?"
💭 "How do you sit with someone you love when they are in deep pain?"
💭 "How do you stay connected when your instinct is to fix or run?"

– this episode is for you.

In this intimate conversation, Layne turns the spotlight onto Tess and her husband Chris, tracing their love story from a rehab reunion in a pub on AFL Grand Final day to a blended family, a baby, and a life built on shared growth.

Tess shares what it was like to meet Chris after losing everything to injury and trauma, standing in a neck brace, caring for the "quad squad," and hearing him say, "Who are you? You are like sunshine." Chris talks about that first hug that felt like "coming home," the long FaceTime calls during lockdown, and the moment he asked Tess to tell him her accident and PTSD story from start to finish so he could "know how to hold" her. The next morning, he sent flowers with three simple words: "Holding space for you."

Together they unpack what it actually means to hold space in real life: the breath before reacting, choosing not to fix, and learning to say, "I do not know what to say right now, but I am here." Chris opens up about his early shutdown response to female emotion, how his teenage experiences with his mum shaped that, and how he now chooses a "posture of a learner" instead of control. Tess shares how it feels to be on the receiving end of that presence, and why her single word for Chris is "safety."

You will hear about:

The difference between being a solution and being a shoulder

How they stay out of the drama triangle and step back into connection

The marriage vow that changed everything: always doing their own inner work

Why it is "safe to be seen" and how that belief changed Tess's life

This episode is tender, real and quietly powerful. It is not about perfect communication. It is about two humans doing the work to keep choosing each other, even when it is hard.

🎧 Hit play to remember what love can look like when someone is willing to sit in the discomfort and hold space for all of you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

💭 “I'll love myself when I lose the weight.”
💭 “Why can't I just feel comfortable in my own skin?”
💭 “Everyone else seems confident — what's wrong with me?”

—this one's for you.

In this episode of A Wake Up Call, Layne and Tess dive into one of the most personal and powerful topics yet: body image, self-care, and learning to love yourself — not when you're “better,” but as you are.

Layne opens up about what it was like to have her body as her career, her tool, and her identity — and the fifty-year journey it took to look in the mirror and genuinely love what she saw. Tess shares how she spent decades disconnected from her body, constantly at war with food, weight, and self-worth, and the moment she finally began to come home to herself.

Together they explore:

Why body image affects nearly everyone, regardless of age or gender

The science behind why how we feel in our skin shapes our mental health and confidence

The difference between self-love and self-criticism — and how to shift from one to the other

How therapy, awareness, and daily micro-habits can help quiet the inner critic

The simple question Tess asks herself each day: “If I loved my body, what would I do?”

Layne's practical advice on creating an environment that supports healing, not comparison

You'll also hear from listeners, including one raw, heartfelt email from a woman feeling “asleep with her eyes open,” reminding us why these conversations matter so deeply.

This episode isn't about perfection — it's about peace. It's a wake-up call to treat your body as the ally it's always been.

🎧 Hit play to remember what it feels like to belong in your own skin again.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What you will learn:

• How to run a quick life audit when you feel stretched on all sides
• Why uncertainty supercharges grief and how to find steadiness in it
• Simple body anchors from Mitch's practice: “light, bright, tight, might”
• A supportive question that opens connection: “What are you going to miss about them the most?”
• How to balance pre-grieving with presence, so you do not wish away the time you still have
• Co-regulation basics for friends and leaders who want to help without rescuing
• Three tools to use today: feel it to heal it, breathing and grounding, stop fixing. start listening.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales
• Get Awake's transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life  https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869
• Watch the episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy
• Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley
• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer
• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy
• Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au
• Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_
• Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call
• Sponsor our podcast wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you're experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you've heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Layne sprinting on the sand, flying to a keynote half-asleep, smashing it on stage and then nearly hurling through turbulence… to Tess parenting through a hangover after Kirk's birthday, they unpack the routines that hold them – and the ones that fell apart and had to be rebuilt. You'll hear the story of Layne's “first pancake” keynote that ended in a formal complaint, and how that wake-up call turned her into the speaker she is today.

They dive into morning rituals (from cuddles and magnesium water to “show me how good it can get today, universe”), the power of a 10-minute lunchtime reset with bare feet in the grass, and why nighttime routines quietly run the whole show. There's honest chat about alcohol, falling off the wagon, bone broth, matcha, and the truth that sometimes the bravest move is just leaving your desk to eat lunch outside.

This episode isn't medical advice – it's Layne and Tess sharing what's actually working, what isn't, and how to keep coming back to habits that honour your nervous system, your energy, and your real life.

🎧 Hit play and remember — you can't give from an empty cup. It's time to refill yours.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales
• Get Awake's transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life  https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869
• Watch the episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy
• Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley
• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer
• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy
• Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au
• Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_
• Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call
• Sponsor our podcast wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you're experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you've heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've ever wondered,

“Why can't I stay happy even when things are good?”
 “Is there actually science behind wellbeing?”
 “Can I really rewire my brain to feel better?”

—this episode is for you.

In today's episode of A Wake Up Call, Layne and Tess sit down with Sue Langley — global leader in positive psychology and neuroscience, founder of the Langley Group, and the woman who helped them ground their book Awake: Own Your Truth in science.

Sue's story is extraordinary: from truck driver to one of the world's most respected experts in human flourishing. Her work translates complex brain science into practical, real-world tools that anyone can use to boost happiness, resilience, and purpose.

In this powerful and joy-filled conversation, you'll learn:

• What positive psychology really is (and what it's not)
• The brain-based reason gratitude, mindfulness, and focus actually work
• How to turn trauma into growth and rewire your mindset for worthiness
• The difference between good stress and bad stress — and how to use both
• A 30-second brain hack you can try right now to boost your mood
• How AI could help scale wellbeing and make mental fitness accessible to everyone

Sue brings both warmth and wisdom, with practical takeaways you can use today to feel more alive, balanced, and in control of your happiness.

Hit play and discover how small shifts in focus, belief, and self-awareness can rewire your brain for wellbeing.

Connect with Awake

• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales
• Get Awake's transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life  https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869
• Watch the episodes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy
• Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley
• Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer
• Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy
• Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au
• Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_
• Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call
• Sponsor our podcast wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you're experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you've heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1.  “Love shouldn't be this hard.”
2.  “We're so different — can this really work?”
3. “How do you stay connected when life gets loud?”

This episode is for you.

In this heartfelt, laughter-filled conversation, Tess sits down with Layne Beachley and her husband, INXS legend Kirk Pengilly, to unpack the real story behind their 23-year relationship and 15 years of marriage.

They talk about the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hilarious moments that shaped their partnership — from living worlds apart in the early years to navigating fame, recovery, and the daily work of staying in love.

You'll learn:

• How two complete opposites learned to grow with each other, not just beside each other
• The moment Kirk said, “Why do I always get the broken version?” — and how it changed everything
• The truth about identity, healing, and showing up in a relationship as your whole self
• How humour, self-awareness, and radical honesty can keep love alive for the long haul
• The truth bombs land hard and the love runs deep.

Hit play and wake up to love, laughter, and a few home truths that might just change how you see your own relationship.

For more resources related to today's episode, check out our podcast episode page:
www.awakecollective.online/episode-3

Connect with Awake

Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses 

Get Awake's transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life

Watch the episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy

Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley

Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this raw, honest conversation, Layne and Tess unpack the tiny, two-word lie that so many of us use to avoid what we're really feeling.

Because the truth is, every time you say “I'm fine” when you're not, you push your real self a little further away.

You'll learn:

• How to feel it to heal it
• Why emotional honesty is the ultimate power move
• How unprocessed emotions get stored in the body
• One simple way to start feeling your emotions safely without getting stuck in them

This episode is your permission slip to stop pretending, start feeling, and finally owning your truth.

For more resources related to today's episode, check out our podcast episode page:
www.awakecollective.online/episode-2

Connect with Awake

Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses 

Get Awake's transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life

Watch the episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy

Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley

Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

Awakes TikTok www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call

Sponsor our podcast wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you're experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you've heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connect with Awake

Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses 

Get Awake's transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life

Watch the episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy

Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley

Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer

Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy

Book us for a workshop – wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

Awakes TikTok www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call

Sponsor our podcast wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au

Disclaimer

The A Wake Up Call podcast is created for general informational, educational, and inspirational purposes only. The stories, tools, and insights shared are designed to support your wellbeing journey - not to replace professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. In fact, we believe therapy is non-negotiable in life.

If you're experiencing a medical or mental health condition, please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you've heard on this podcast.

Your wellbeing matters. Take care of yourself, stay curious, and remember the real wake-up call is listening to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.