Money is rarely just about money.

In this episode of Untangling Life, we explore the messy, emotional, deeply human relationship we all have with finances - from financial freedom and anxiety, to ambition, guilt, generosity, and the question we rarely stop to ask: what is actually enough?

We unpack how money shapes our decisions, our stress levels, our careers, and our sense of self. We reflect on our own money stories - childhood, class, scholarships, saving, investing, avoidance, hustle, fear - and how those early experiences still quietly influence the choices we make today.

This isn’t an episode about becoming rich, passive income hacks, or five-step plans to “fix” your finances. It’s about understanding the meaning we attach to money, how scarcity and security show up differently for different people, and how financial freedom is often less about luxury and more about choice.

We also explore:
• how money mindsets are formed (and how they can quietly hold us back)
• short-term survival vs long-term security
• why “more” isn’t always the answer
• financial avoidance, nervous system safety, and control
• what it really means to design a life - not just an income

If money feels heavy, confusing, or emotionally loaded for you, this episode is an invitation to untangle it with curiosity, compassion, and honesty.

How much of your life is being shaped by the spaces you’re in… and the people you’re around?

In this episode of Untangling Life, we get into the real impact of environment and community - from messy rooms and what's in your backpack (yes, we went there) to the bigger stuff: how where you grow up can shape your beliefs about what’s possible.

Andy shares the moments that expanded his world beyond Tottenham - including the stories his dad brought home as a minicab driver, a work experience placement that shifted his view of wealth and belonging, travelling that widened his sense of connection, and the mentor who changed the trajectory of his career.

Hattie unpacks why physical space matters more than we realise (especially when life feels tangled), how small “environment tweaks” can make a huge mental difference, and why your village isn’t just something you’re lucky enough to have - it’s something you can build (and be).

You’ll leave with a few practical prompts to try this week:

• How to “play” with your environment so you can work and think better
• How to map your current village - and start building one if you don’t feel like you have it yet
• Better questions to ask when you meet new people (because “so what do you do?” is… not it)

In this episode, we’re talking about limiting beliefs - the stories we tell ourselves that quietly (and sometimes loudly) stop us from taking action.

We took it to the streets and asked people to describe limiting beliefs in the real world and from there, we break down what limiting beliefs actually look like in practice - including the difference between “I’m not good at this yet” and “I’ll never be good at this,” and how that connects to fixed vs growth mindset. We also talk about where these beliefs come from: other people’s fears, throwaway comments that stick for decades (especially from teachers), and how representation plays into it - because sometimes what gets labelled as “imposter syndrome” is really about being in a space where no one looks like you or shares your background.

We share the tools we use when a limiting belief is running the show: grounding ourselves in what’s true, separating stories vs knowns, asking what the worst-case scenario actually is, and finding ways to turn “trying” into play so it doesn’t feel like a high-stakes performance.

To close, we leave you with a journaling prompt: write down the things you’d love to do (in and outside work), notice the limiting beliefs that instantly show up, and then look back at what you haven’t done - and ask yourself why. And as always, we’d love you to share what came up for you (and what’s helped you move through it) via the newsletter and on socials.

Welcome to the start of our journey! In this first episode, Hattie Willis and Andy Ayim MBE introduce the show and share why we finally decided to hit record on our deep and messy conversations.

We introduce the core idea of Design vs. Drift: the subtle difference between building the life you want versus simply defaulting to the one you accidentally inherited. It's a cosy invitation into the central theme: You can choose your path, even if you trip over a few knots on the way.

Want to dive deeper? Checkout our newsletter for journalling prompts and resources with each episode https://substack.com/@untanglinglifepod