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Description
For 10 years, Aileen and Julie have been each other's sounding board from opposite sides of the globe – Aileen in London and Julie in Melbourne.
They have navigated everything – motherhood, relationships, menopause, health, grief, and everything in between – through daily voice messages. These exchanges often became lifelines, and now they share that space with their listeners.
In You Keep Me Sane, Aileen and Julie hold honest conversations on life's challenges, growth, and connection. They lend an ear and share heartfelt insights, creating a space that allows both them, and you, to be human.
Listeners are encouraged to write in with their own experiences and topics, becoming part of the conversation that feels like a chat with close friends.
102 Episodes
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Episode OverviewThis week we’re joined by Monica Maldonado - the voice behind @thepowerofgoodenough - for a raw, hopeful conversation about how low self-worth can quietly shape our lives even when we’ve had a “stable” upbringing. Monica shares how being the youngest of four, people-pleasing, and staying “small” became an identity she had to unlearn in adulthood. We talk about awakening moments, inner-child work, nervous-system safety, micro-actions, and the difference between healing and tran...
Episode OverviewWe talk about the “always on” culture - phones, pings, and pressure to reply instantly - and how it hijacks presence, deep focus, and self-worth. From family group chats and school apps to work Slack and late-night DMs, we explore why constant accessibility feels normal (and even “kind”), how it fuels anxiety and perfectionism, and simple, compassionate boundaries that let you choose when you’re available. The goal isn’t a digital detox; it’s digital boundaries - so you can be...
Episode Overview We dive into that sticky space between empathy and exhaustion—the moment a caring friend becomes the “emotional sponge” (hello, emotional vampires 👀). We talk about invisible emotional labour, midlife capacity, Catholic/learned guilt, and why stepping back isn’t selfish—it’s self-respect. We share how chronic one-way “offloading” keeps both people stuck, and how gentle, clear boundaries help everyone grow. Key Discussion Points Monologue vs. conversation: the red flag of c...
Episode Overview Feeling stretched thin, foggy, or quietly burning out? You’re not alone. In this episode, we get honest about that midlife feeling of running on empty - when hormones, deadlines, and daily demands leave you wondering how it’s all sustainable. Inspired by Dame Patricia Routledge’s beautiful reflection before her 95th birthday, we talk about what it really means to bloom again. From her role as Hyacinth “Bouquet” to her later-life creativity and peace, her words remind us that ...
Episode Overview In this episode we sit down with Kate Daly, co-founder of Amicable, to explore how self-worth, identity, and personal growth are intertwined with relationships - and what happens when those relationships end. Kate shares her wisdom from years of supporting couples through separation and co-parenting, offering a compassionate reframe: divorce isn’t a failure - it’s a change in how a family operates so everyone can thrive. Together, we talk about how easily self-worth becomes t...
Episode Overview In a world that feels louder and busier than ever, finding peace can feel impossible - especially for introverts who need quiet to recharge. In this episode, we sit down with Vanessa Marie Dewsbury, best selling author and podcaster, who opens up about how she embraced a slower, softer way of living after years of tying her self-worth to busyness. We talk about why stillness is essential for our mental and emotional health, how introverts can protect their energy in an ...
Episode OverviewWe’re revisiting connection - and layering in self-worth. We talk about why these two are inseparable, how midlife logistics (kids, caregiving, energy, perimenopause) change how we connect, and what to do when loneliness starts to chip at your worth. We share real stories of moving “home” and still feeling out of place, rebuilding identity, and redefining what counts as connection so it nourishes (not drains) you. Key Discussion PointsThe loop between worth and connection: s...
Episode Overview Being honest with yourself sounds simple - but it’s one of the hardest things to do. Because when we drop the excuses and really look at our patterns, it often means admitting we’re the problem. And that truth stings. In this Sanity Check, we explore the discomfort of self-honesty, why we avoid it, and how facing it can shift everything-from relationships to careers to daily habits. Key Discussion Points Why being honest with yourself feels so uncomfortable.How excuses prot...
Episode overviewThis week we get honest about “the grass is greener” mindset - why we pin our happiness on a new place, job, or relationship, and what changes when we stop outsourcing contentment. We share our own stories of chasing locations (Spain, Europe, Australia), the let-down that followed, and the shift to building an inner baseline of self-worth, gratitude, and presence. The takeaway: greener grass isn’t a postcode - it’s a perspective you carry with you. Key discussion pointsLocatio...
Episode Overview In this Sanity Check, we get real about the adventures we used to have in our 20s and 30s - the flights booked on a whim, the countries we moved to, the people we met in transit, and the sheer freedom of saying yes without worrying about logistics. Somewhere along the way, life shifted. School runs, work deadlines, and financial commitments have made spontaneity harder to come by, and the adventurous parts of ourselves feel tucked away under layers of routine. But here’s the ...
Episode Overview “Sorry.” “Please.” “Thank you.” On the surface, these are the pillars of good manners. But how often do we use them as more than politeness? In this episode, we dive into how these everyday words can quietly reveal- and even chip away at- our self-worth. From over-apologising to over-thanking, we explore how habits that look like kindness can actually be signs of shrinking ourselves. Together, we share personal stories of catching ourselves saying sorry for simply existing, l...
Episode Overview We all have our dream locations - the sea breeze, the mountain air, or the buzz of the city. But what happens when you finally get there and still don’t feel the way you thought you would? In this episode, we share our own stories of longing for the “perfect” place and what we discovered along the way. From Aileen’s dream of the Spanish coastline to Julie’s years of hopping between major cities, we explore how easy it is to pin our happiness and self-worth on external things...
Episode Overview In this episode we sit down with Nitika, founder of Aila Money, to explore the deep and complicated ties between money and self-worth. From growing up with scarcity to chasing salaries as proof of success, Nitika shares her journey of redefining what financial security really means. We also unpack why the gender wealth gap persists, how confidence and representation shape women’s financial choices, and what it takes to separate your paycheck from your value. Key Discussion P...
Episode Overview In this episode, we get real about comparison - that sneaky reflex that leaves us feeling behind, not enough, or smaller than we really are. It started with a conversation about a new podcast soaring to a million downloads in just weeks, and led us to reflect on how quickly we can slip into the comparison trap. We talk about why it’s so easy to measure ourselves against others, how social media turbocharges the urge to compare, and the danger it poses to our self-worth and c...
Episode overviewWe dig into our complicated relationship with mistakes - why being wrong can feel threatening, how that ties to self-worth, and what changes when we choose honesty over image. From tween apologies to boardroom dread, to the ways we over-apologise without really owning it, we explore how admitting fault builds trust, lightens the emotional load, and strengthens relationships (including with ourselves). Key discussion pointsWhy it’s hard to be wrong: perfection messages at schoo...
Episode Overview In this week’s Sanity Check, we’re diving into a word that was a complete revelation to us - ambivert. For years we’ve thought in terms of introverts and extroverts, but what if you’re a mix of both? We talk about how our social energy has shifted with age, why surface-level chat feels so draining, and how self-worth helps us choose the connections that truly matter. Key Discussion Points Why saying yes to every coffee date or catch-up can leave you drained.The role of self-...
Episode Overview In this episode, we dive into imposter syndrome — that all-too-familiar sense of doubting yourself despite clear evidence you’ve earned your place. We talk about how it has shown up in our own lives, why it’s especially common among high achievers, and how it quietly chips away at self-worth. From the root causes we pick up as kids to the way adult pressures amplify it, we explore why so many of us carry this fear of being “found out.” Most importantly, we share the practical...
Episode Overview Have you ever finally sat down to rest, only to find yourself fidgeting, scrolling, or looking for something to tidy? You’re not alone. There’s a name for this: relaxation anxiety. In this week’s Sanity Check, we dive into why slowing down feels so uncomfortable when your life is full of constant momentum, and how our culture ties worth to productivity. Key Discussion Points: What “relaxation anxiety” is and why it shows up.The pressure we put on ourselves to earn rest.Why bu...
Episode Overview: In this week’s episode of You Keep Me Sane, we dive into what it really means to be Gen X - caught between silence and strength, invisibility and overachievement. We explore how growing up in a culture that told us to “just get on with it” shaped our self-worth, and how the infamous “Wonder Woman cape” became both our badge of honour and our heaviest burden. From latchkey kids to midlife jugglers, we unpack the generational weight we carry. We talk about why it shows up in o...
Episode Overview: We’re not here to talk about dieting, detoxes, or food fads. This week’s Sanity Check is about the small, doable changes we’ve each made to what we eat - and the unexpected shifts we’ve noticed in mood, energy, and clarity as a result. From quitting sugar to ditching oat milk, increasing hydration, and bringing back big bowls of salad, we’re getting honest about the habits that crept in (and the ones we let slide) during perimenopause, busy life seasons, and the cold, snacky...
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