Today we respond to a powerful listener question that so many people silently struggle with: why does rest feel lazy, selfish, or wrong… even when we know we need it?

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.

This one is a must-listen.

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.

As the year comes to a close, we’re slowing things down and doing something a little different.

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.

When you stop looking to be saved, life opens up.

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.

If you have ever wondered:

💭 “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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have ever wondered:

💭 “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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have ever wondered:

💭 "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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever looked in the mirror and thought,

💭 “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.