A Wake Up Call

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 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: [email protected]
• 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.

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 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: [email protected]
• 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.

When you understand what your brain is trained to notice, you can start choosing a life that feels richer, lighter, and more yours.

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: [email protected]

• 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.

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 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: [email protected]

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

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

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 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.