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 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
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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”
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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.