A Wake Up Call

If you have ever wondered:💭 “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 systemInner child work and how to identify which younger part of you is driving your triggersWhat imprints are and how family loyalty keeps us locked into unhealthy patternsWhy owning your story instead of running from it is the path to freedom and peaceJoin the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasseshttps://www.awakeacademy.com.au/awake-collective-salesGet Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself Grow Yourself to live a happier more purposeful life. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869Follow Layne on Instagram @LaynebeachleyFollow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwerLearn more about Lael Stone: layelstone.com.auGet Lael’s book “Own Your Story”Listen to Lael’s podcast “Humans Being”Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academyAwakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_Sponsor our podcast https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contactBook us for a workshop https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contactDisclaimerThe 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.

If you have ever wondered:💭 “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 overwhelmWhy support systems matter when you are standing at the edge of growth or burnoutThe difference between pressure driven performance and joy fuelled performanceHow acceptance can free you from identities you no longer need to carry.Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasseshttps://www.awakeacademy.com.au/awake-collective-salesGet Awake’s transformative book: Know yourself, grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life. https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachleyFollow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwerFollow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academyAwake’s TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_Sponsor our podcast https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contactBook us for a workshop https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contactDisclaimerThe 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.

When life forces you to slow down, it can feel like everything is falling apart. But sometimes the hardest seasons become the very moments that reconnect you to what matters most.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 intentionConnect with Awake• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasseshttps://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself• Watch the episodes on YouTubehttps://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 TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademyConnect with Barry• Learn more about Barry’s work at Barry’s website• Follow Barry’s journey and speaking work online

When you feel flat, overwhelmed, or quietly disconnected, it’s often not because something is “wrong” with you. Sometimes it’s simply a signal that parts of your wellbeing need attention.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 bodyConnect with Awake• Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasseshttps://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself• Watch the episodes on YouTubehttps://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 TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademyComplete your Soul Map here: https://soulmap.online/

What if the thing keeping you stuck isn’t your circumstances… but who you’re blaming for them? 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 excuseLayne’s early career pattern of blaming everyone but herselfThe fear of success, fear of rejection, and how they drive blameThe neuroscience of blame as a safety responseHow blame turns inward into shame and fuels negative self-talkWhy poor communication often sits underneath the blame cycleParenting through blame and helping kids feel safe and seenA practical toolkit to interrupt the blame loop:Name it without judgementRegulate before you respondAsk what’s in your controlSeparate responsibility from personal attackReplace blame with curiosityWhy people pleasing in conflict prevents real growthThe 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 masterclasseshttps://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales • Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself • Watch the episodes on YouTubehttps://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 TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

What if the real glow-up isn’t a new face, a new body, or a new role… but a new voice? 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 industriesBeauty, brains, and being labelled “too much”Shame, vulnerability, and taking creative risksPerimenopause/menopause and real support strategiesWomen backing women instead of competingWhy 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 masterclasseshttps://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales • Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself • Watch the episodes on YouTubehttps://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

What if your best self isn’t the version that pushes through… but the one that knows when to soften? 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 overwhelmedThe crash after the high: why adrenaline can mask your limits… until it doesn’tThe head-noise spiral and how pain can pull you back into old trauma storiesThe body whispers before it screams: spotting the warning signs soonerThe 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 shoesThe 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 masterclasseshttps://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales • Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself • Watch the episodes on YouTubehttps://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 TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_

What if self leadership isn’t about doing more… but about learning to listen sooner?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 lifeThe early burnout chapter, the weight of labels, and what “push through” culture costs usThe difference between depression and being overwhelmed, overworked, and overtiredWhy self leadership starts with self awareness, self knowing, and convictionManaging energy, not time, and matching your best hours to your most important workThe 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 bedUpregulation vs downregulation and why most of us only train one directionMicro breaks: how 90 seconds to 3 minutes can reset your nervous systemBreathwork 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 factThe itty bitty shitty committee, courage zones, and doing the scary thing with a meaningful whyHow 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 leadershipBetting on yourself, not letting Plan B become Plan A, and asking people to help you stick the landingIf 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 masterclasseshttps://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales• Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself• Watch the episodes on YouTubehttps://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 TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_