Welcome to Season 2, Episode 4 of “what I don’t want you to know…”

In this soul-stirring conversation, we sit down with Katie Maiolo — nurse, world traveler, and courageous truth-teller — as she shares the deeply personal journey of navigating life, illness and identity after a shocking cancer diagnosis.

From childhood dreams of nursing to adult panic attacks and the unraveling of control, Katie brings raw honesty to what it means to face not just a health crisis, but an identity reckoning. Together, we explore the messy in-between: life after treatment, the illusion of safety, and the unexpected fears that arise when the storm appears to have passed.

With humour, heart and unyielding grace, Katie speaks candidly about body image, menopause, anxiety, and the emotional weight of recovery — while also celebrating the joy of presence, the beauty of being “here,” and the power of naming your truth.

🧠 What You’ll Hear:

• How childhood dreams collided with adult realities
• The quiet trauma of living with anxiety while caring for others
• A cancer diagnosis that forced Katie to break old patterns
• Fear of recurrence, identity shifts and the pain no one prepares you for
• The invisible weight of post-treatment life
• Finding humour, gratitude and healing in unexpected places
• Why feeling everything (even all at once) is a kind of freedom
• The gift of being seen — and seeing yourself — with compassion

🌱 Katie’s Truths:

• "You can be really sick and still feel joy."
• "Kids are brutally honest — and sometimes, that’s the mirror we need." (Quote: “Mum, you look way better with hair.”)
• "There’s no glass ceiling if you’re okay with feeling uncomfortable."
• “I think I’m fucking cooked mate”
• “Maybe I’m not my eyelashes”

📔 For the Listener:

This episode is for anyone who's ever struggled to feel "enough" in their own skin, who’s faced life’s curveballs and wondered, “Who am I now?” Katie reminds us that even in the darkest chapters, there’s light to be found — and that healing is not about going back, but moving forward with truth and a massive side order of self-compassion, love and laughter.

Thank you Katie for teaching us how to “stick the landing”… we couldn’t be more in awe if we tried.

As always, go so gently…

Em & Tan xx

🔖 Keywords:

mental health, cancer recovery, anxiety, personal growth, nursing, identity, vulnerability, resilience, women’s health, emotions, self-compassion, fear of recurrence, menopause, healing, authenticity

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

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3 of “what I don’t want you to know…”

There’s so much to say about this episode, our brave guest and the layers this conversation reveals…

Firstly, our guest = Elise, a beautiful Mumma and passionate social worker who bravely advocates in the mental health sector… (our kind of hero in the world).

Together we engage in honest and real chat about the vulnerability of parenting under scrutiny in today’s judgment heavy society, the impact of parent, body (and any other) shaming on mental health, body image, well-being and confidence…

Elise shares her journey as a social worker with lived experience of disordered eating, highlighting the complexities of mental health and the stigma surrounding it. Her insights shed light on the intertwined nature of body image, societal expectations, control and pervasive shame that fuel insecurity, addiction and illness.

Importantly, this conversation includes personal reflections and celebration of recovery from life hindering and life threatening addictions (of which we tick a number of boxes).

Our message: curiosity, compassion, empathy and understanding = key to breaking stigma and supporting anyone affected by “ED”, addiction and mental-ill health.

As always, go so gently…

Em & Tan xx

Connect with Elise:

Email: elise.05@hotmail.com

Supports (Australia based):

Butterfly Foundation - butterfly.org.au

Eating Disorders Queensland - eatingdisordersqueensland.org.au

Headspace - headspace.org.au

Takeaways

• Parenting often involves navigating guilt and societal expectations - it's important to embrace the grey areas in parenting decisions.
• Mental health discussions are crucial in reducing stigma and stereotypes - more curiosity and less judgement PLEASE.
• Eating disorders manifest in various ways and are often really misunderstood - it’s not as simple as you think. Body image may NOT be the central focus of someone’s eating disorder.
• Minimising one's struggles can prevent seeking necessary help - understanding the cycle of eating disorders is key to recovery.
• Shame hinders recovery - compassion, curiosity, kindness + empathy = path to healing.
• Recovery is a continuous journey that requires self-reflection and understanding.
• Sharing personal experiences can foster connection and reduce feelings of isolation.
• It's important to recognise that everyone has their own struggles, regardless of appearance.

Keywords

parenting, mental health, eating disorders, societal judgment, guilt, personal stories, disordered eating, self-acceptance, recovery, eating disorders, recovery, body image, addiction, stigma, mental health, control, shame, vulnerability, support

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

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 2 of “what I don’t want you to know…”

Our incredible guest Sarah Watson takes us on such a journey - from 26th birthday celebrations to being a fitness industry leader, a successful social media creator + influencer, to a girl who truly loves and honours the joy of good food… Sarah treats us to life behind the scenes, daring to share her less known truths.

Sarah highlights the complexities of maintaining an online presence while staying true to oneself - (a balancing act that Sarah navigates with courage, tenacity and grace btw). We love love love love that Sarah is brave enough to share all the shades of her experience, reinforcing that it is so important to address mental and emotional health through inner work.

Given our inexperience (and somewhat rebellious resistance) to social media creation and influence, we are genuinely interested in all that the digital age triggers - positive and negative… we couldn’t be more grateful for Sarah’s insights regarding themes of vulnerability and authenticity, as well as how she has navigated feedback, criticism and social pressures surrounding online self-expression.

And whilst anyone who follows Sarah is treated to inspired fashion, food adventures that rival a food critic and an insider’s view of “a day in the life” of a pilates intstructor (#earlymornings), what has become a critical storyline is Sarah’s journey of inner work, revealing the importance and value of embracing softness and slowing down in a fast-paced (inner) and outer world. As you’ll hear, not an easy thing to do…

We invite you to listen in to what you “don’t know” about our incredible, strong, beautiful guest… as always, going a layer deeper just made us love her even more!

Go gently…

Em & Tan xx

Connect with Sarah:

Instagram: @sarah_watson_

@bysarah_pilates

Takeaways

• Social media can create pressure to maintain an image of life that is not real life.
• “Feedback” on social media can be overwhelming & damaging to mental health & emotional wellbeing - it's critical to cultivate inner safety & supports.
• Navigating online fame requires resilience & self-awareness.
• Running from problems can manifest in seemingly healthy habits - it’s important to differentiate between healthy living & unhealthy coping mechanisms.
• Inner work is essential for personal growth, self-discovery & self-improvement.
• Vulnerability is a strength that fosters deeper connections & authenticity in self-expression leads to greater self-acceptance.
• Self-worth is not contingent on external validation.
• Embracing softness = strong.
• Awakening to inner peace is possible… 💙

Keywords

personal stories, growth, food, relationships, rehab, life lessons, emotional journey, Pilates, self-improvement, food preferences, social media, vulnerability, online presence, inner work, self-discovery, criticism, personal growth, health, wellness, fitness, vulnerability, authenticity, inner work, self-discovery, social media, intentionality, mindfulness, self-care

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