Tess Talks

Today on Tess Talks, I’m joined by Kayla Barnes — certified brain health coach, biohacker, and founder of Brain Biohacking Co. Kayla is known globally for helping women optimise their performance, longevity, and wellbeing from the inside out. In a space dominated by male research, she’s carving her own path and becoming one of the most studied women in this field, bringing an evidence-based yet accessible approach to brain health, gut health, and bio-optimisation.In this episode, we dive into how daily habits can reshape your brain and body, the future of longevity, and why true health begins long before the results show up. It’s a chat about discipline, data, and using science to build a life that feels good. Whether you’re deep into biohacking or just curious, this episode has something for everyone.In this episodeHow Tess and Kayla first entered the health world through brain fog and curiosity.Kayla shares her journey to marriage, how she “just knew,” and why being married has been her best biohack yet.Why connection and community are essential for longevity and emotional wellbeing.Kayla’s takeaways from Wanderlust WellspringWhat sparked her interest in biohacking and health optimisation.Becoming an entrepreneur at 17 and exploring human potential.Designing her female longevity protocol after realising women are often excluded from research.Why women have been overlooked in testing and how Kayla aims to change that.The story behind Timeless Biotech and her ovarian age testing breakthrough.Her mission to live past 100 and the daily rituals behind it.Kayla’s morning routine, sleep insights, and supplement stack.Foundational habits: food first, movement, stress reduction.How she manages her protocols while travelling and why she now only travels for work.The value of testing: bloodwork, hormones, genetics, toxic load.Why gut health underpins everything and how environment and products influence it.Microplastics, water filtration, EMFs, and creating a restorative home.Her wind-down rituals, early dinners, and stress management tools.A day on her plate and her love for Heavenly Heat Saunas.Episode sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Olympia, award-winning massage chairs and portable relaxation devices, meticulously designed in Australia to elevate your comfort experience. Visit https://olympia.auIn this episode:Follow Kayla: @kaylabarnesFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahan & tesstalksofficial  Follow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

Planning a wedding and don’t know where to start? In this episode, Tess sits down with Brittney from Nuptial Collective; the creative team behind Tess and Shaun’s four-day Beverly Hills celebration, to share practical, actionable tips for planning the perfect wedding, no matter your budget or location.Together they unpack the real steps of wedding planning: when to book suppliers, what a wedding planner actually does, how to choose your venue, how to build a guest experience people remember, and the small styling choices that make the biggest impact. They also break down destination wedding logistics, timelines, budgeting mistakes to avoid, and how to design a wedding aesthetic that feels timeless and true to you.Whether you’re newly engaged, drowning in Pinterest boards, or trying to plan without a planner, this episode is filled with expert insights, emotional guidance, and behind-the-scenes detail from Tess’ own multi-day LA wedding.Show notes:Tess chats with Brittney from Nuptial Collective about wedding planning, guest experience and how to bring a vision to life.What a wedding planner really handles — logistics, timelines, sourcing, styling, and full on-the-day execution.Why hiring a planner frees couples to enjoy the emotional moments instead of the admin.The importance of connection and trust between planner and couple.How Tess moved from a Byron wedding to Beverly Hills Hotel and why destination weddings can be magic.Planning an overseas wedding with a nine-month timeline and mixing Australian + LA suppliers effectively.Breakdown of Tess and Shaun's multi-day events: family dinner, rooftop welcome party, wedding day, and recovery pool party.Using touchpoints, stationery, gifting, and music to create a cohesive experience for guests.Designing an aesthetic based on lifestyle over trends and weaving storytelling through each event.Music as a design tool — from Sinatra-style live sets to disco & late-night high-energy moments.Practical planning order: book planner, venue, photographer/videographer, then celebrant.Ideal planning timeline, budgeting challenges, and using spreadsheets to stay organised.Why intentional elements matter more than trends or unnecessary décor.Small high-impact touchpoints: personalised notes, welcome gift bags, Polaroid guest book moments.Tess’ advice on staying grounded and present on the day, including meditation and going phone-free.How pre-planning logistics like touch-ups, handbags and run sheets prevent stress and help you stay in the moment.Episode Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Vorfreude Stationary, timeless keepsakes and personalised gifts. Every piece made with love, care, and a deep passion for celebrating life’s most meaningful moments. Discount code for listeners: 15% off storewide, use TESSTALKS15 Follow @thenuptialcollectiveFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

This week, Tess sits down with nutritionist, author, and TV host Zoe Bingley-Pullin for a refreshingly real chat about food, hormones, and feeling your best! Trained at Le Cordon Bleu in London, Zoe is known for making nutrition simple, enjoyable, and actually doable! No fads, just smart changes that last. As WelleCo's newest ambassador, she reveals the supplements she swears by, busts wellness myths, and shares the insider tips that can transform your energy, gut health, and hormones without the overwhelm.In this episodeThe life shift that inspired Zoe’s latest bookHow food became Zoe’s freedomWhy gluten feels different in EuropeSoil depletion, cheap manufacturing & hidden health impactsSmart supplementation: gut, energy & hormone healthTess & Zoe’s must-have WelleCo productsThe protein myth affecting women’s healthHormones decoded: stress, reproductive, and balanceTracking kids’ food and surprising insightsFoods for hormone balance & rethinking intermittent fastingThe role of zinc, soy truths, and supplement shopping tipsNavigating perimenopause & menopause with graceLiver health, skin “glow-ups,” and Zoe’s favourite recipesMentioned:Episode sponsor: This ep is brought to you by WelleCo premium, plant-based supplements designed to elevate your energy, support your gut, and balance your hormones from the inside out.Discount code for listeners 15% off sitewide (use code: TESSTALKS15)Eat your way to healthy hormones! Shop Zoes books hereFollow Zoe on Instagram: @zoebingleypullinFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

In Part 2 of my chat with Nick Bell, we dive into the bold moves, biohacking obsession, and business mindset that keep him at the top of his game. From fending off a stalker to buying a company for $289 million in under a month, Nick shares the unfiltered truth about scaling fast, making killer pitches, and investing millions into cutting-edge wellness treatments. It’s part business masterclass, part health experiment and completely unpredictable.In this episode:The stalker story that sparked the launch of RemovifySelling WME after hitting $300M in revenueHow he’s now acquiring a business for $289 million in under a monthWhat makes a pitch land: confidence, clarity, and knowing your numbersViewing business as the ultimate game and why he’s still hungry to winSpending millions on biohacking and wellnessStem cell therapy, gene therapy, and self-experimentationHow an ice bath helped repair his heart after COVIDMorning and night routines for staying sharpThe emotional side of success, acne, and taking care of yourselfMentioned:Thanks to our sponsor, Wanderlust Wellspring Australia’s biggest biohacking summit. Join world-leading experts on October 25–26 on the Gold Coast for two days. Purchase tickets by clicking this link & follow @biohackau to learn more!Join the biohacking summit now: click this linkFollow Nicks podcast: @getharderpodcastFollow Nick Bell on Instagram: @nickbellau Follow me on Instagram:@tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficialFollow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

Nick Bell is one of Australia’s most successful self-made entrepreneurs, and in Part 1 of our conversation, he shares how he went from a uni dropout with no clear direction to building and selling businesses worth hundreds of millions. We talk about his early failures, the business that crumbled after a personal fallout, and the lessons that shaped his approach to leadership, hiring, and staying ahead in a competitive market. Nick is raw, unfiltered, and full of insights you won’t find in a textbook!In this episode:Dropping out of uni and rejecting the “safe” corporate pathLaunching a skincare brand at 28 inspired by his own skin strugglesStarting a digital marketing agency from scratch with cold callsThe collapse of a business after a personal fallout with a partnerWhy he refuses to hire from the corporate worldLeading over 5,000 staff and the importance of strong leadershipThe near-collapse of a business after stepping away too soonWhy degrees aren’t always relevant and what he’d tell his 18-year-old selfThe value of upskilling and avoiding complacencyMentioned:Thanks to our episode sponsor, NaturoBest! Creating a healthier world, one baby at a time. Use code TESSTALKS15 for 15% off your first order. Shop Naturo Best now: naturobest.com.auFollow Nicks podcast: @getharderpodcastFollow Nick Bell on Instagram: @nickbellau Follow me on Instagram:@tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficialFollow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan

In this episode, I sit down with Carla Oates, founder and CEO of The Beauty Chef, the brand that pioneered the inner beauty movement. From fermenting whole foods in her Bondi kitchen to building one of Australia’s most iconic wellness companies, Carla shares the story of trusting her instincts long before gut health was a trend. We dive into the challenges of staying true to your vision, the hardest lessons she’s learned as a founder, and how her definition of success has shifted over time. Beyond business, Carla opens up about the rituals that keep her grounded, what’s been feeding her soul lately, and the truths she wishes more people knew about the wellness industry.The instinct that led Carla to back gut health before the industry was readyEarly doubts, resilience, and the turning point where The Beauty Chef became more than just a productWhat the very first kitchen formulations looked like and how hands-on she wasThe hardest “no” she’s had to make as a founder and what it taught herHow her definition of success and growth has evolved over timeThe one Beauty Chef product that holds a special place for herAdvice for anyone feeling bloated, burned out, or disconnected and where to startCarla’s go-to rituals and hacks that ground her and make the biggest differenceWhat’s feeding her soul lately outside of the businessThe truths she wishes more people knew about the wellness industryMentioned in this episode Shop the Beauty Chef range here  use code TESS20 for 20% off storewide 😊Follow the Beauty Chef: @thebeautychefFollow me on Instagram: @tess.shanahan & @tesstalksofficial Follow me on TikTok: @tessshanahanFollow me on YouTube: TessShanahan