A Wake Up Call

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This conversation sits where many of us are living right now: caring for kids and partners while also preparing to say goodbye to the people who raised us. Tess and Layne open with a real life audit, naming the season they are in as the sandwich generation. They invite guest Mitch Wallis (Heart On My Sleeve – https://www.mitchwallis.com) to help untangle grief with honesty and practical tools. You will hear why ambiguity makes grief so hard, how to “undensify” big feelings through presence, and why the most healing question is often the simplest: “What are you going to miss about your dad the most?” Together they model emotional regulation, co-regulation, and the courage to feel it to heal it, then close with a clear toolkit: “Stop fixing. Start listening.” What you will learn: How to run a quick life audit when you feel stretched on all sides Why uncertainty supercharges grief and how to find steadiness in it Simple body anchors from Mitch’s practice: “light, bright, tight, might” A supportive question that opens connection: “What are you going to miss about them the most?” How to balance pre-grieving with presence, so you do not wish away the time you still have Co-regulation basics for friends and leaders who want to help without rescuing Three tools to use today: feel it to heal it, breathing and grounding, stop fixing. start listening. 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 Awakes 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does well-being actually look like when you’re exhausted, parenting, flying, speaking, working… and still trying to be a decent human? This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how Layne and Tess really weave habits, supplements, sleep, and rituals into messy, modern life – without pretending it’s perfect. From Layne sprinting on the sand, flying to a keynote half-asleep, smashing it on stage and then nearly hurling through turbulence… to Tess parenting through a hangover after Kirk’s birthday, they unpack the routines that hold them – and the ones that fell apart and had to be rebuilt. You’ll hear the story of Layne’s “first pancake” keynote that ended in a formal complaint, and how that wake-up call turned her into the speaker she is today. They dive into morning rituals (from cuddles and magnesium water to “show me how good it can get today, universe”), the power of a 10-minute lunchtime reset with bare feet in the grass, and why nighttime routines quietly run the whole show. There’s honest chat about alcohol, falling off the wagon, bone broth, matcha, and the truth that sometimes the bravest move is just leaving your desk to eat lunch outside. This episode isn’t medical advice – it’s Layne and Tess sharing what’s actually working, what isn’t, and how to keep coming back to habits that honour your nervous system, your energy, and your real life. 🎧 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 Awakes 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS – with Sue Langleyhttps://langleygroup.com.au/ If you’ve ever wondered, “Why can’t I stay happy even when things are good?” “Is there actually science behind wellbeing?” “Can I really rewire my brain to feel better?” —this episode is for you. In today’s episode of A Wake Up Call, Layne and Tess sit down with Sue Langley — global leader in positive psychology and neuroscience, founder of the Langley Group, and the woman who helped them ground their book Awake: Own Your Truth in science. Sue’s story is extraordinary: from truck driver to one of the world’s most respected experts in human flourishing. Her work translates complex brain science into practical, real-world tools that anyone can use to boost happiness, resilience, and purpose. In this powerful and joy-filled conversation, you’ll learn: What positive psychology really is (and what it’s not) The brain-based reason gratitude, mindfulness, and focus actually work How to turn trauma into growth and rewire your mindset for worthiness The difference between good stress and bad stress — and how to use both A 30-second brain hack you can try right now to boost your mood How AI could help scale wellbeing and make mental fitness accessible to everyone Sue brings both warmth and wisdom, with practical takeaways you can use today to feel more alive, balanced, and in control of your happiness. Hit play and discover how small shifts in focus, belief, and self-awareness can rewire your brain for wellbeing. 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 Awakes 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever thought,  “Love shouldn’t be this hard.”  “We’re so different — can this really work?” “How do you stay connected when life gets loud?” This episode is for you. In this heartfelt, laughter-filled conversation, Tess sits down with Layne Beachley and her husband, INXS legend Kirk Pengilly, to unpack the real story behind their 23-year relationship and 15 years of marriage. They talk about the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hilarious moments that shaped their partnership — from living worlds apart in the early years to navigating fame, recovery, and the daily work of staying in love. You’ll learn: How two complete opposites learned to grow with each other, not just beside each other The moment Kirk said, “Why do I always get the broken version?” — and how it changed everything The truth about identity, healing, and showing up in a relationship as your whole self How humour, self-awareness, and radical honesty can keep love alive for the long haul The truth bombs land hard and the love runs deep. Hit play and wake up to love, laughter, and a few home truths that might just change how you see your own relationship. For more resources related to today’s episode, check out our podcast episode page:www.awakecollective.online/episode-3 Connect with Awake Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses  Get Awake’s transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life Watch the episodes on YouTube: 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.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever said, “I’m fine,” when you were anything but… this one’s for you. In this raw, honest conversation, Layne and Tess unpack the tiny, two-word lie that so many of us use to avoid what we’re really feeling. Because the truth is, every time you say “I’m fine” when you’re not, you push your real self a little further away. You’ll learn: How to feel it to heal it Why emotional honesty is the ultimate power move How unprocessed emotions get stored in the body One simple way to start feeling your emotions safely without getting stuck in them This episode is your permission slip to stop pretending, start feeling, and finally owning your truth. For more resources related to today’s episode, check out our podcast episode page:www.awakecollective.online/episode-2 Connect with Awake Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses  Get Awake’s transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life Watch the episodes on YouTube: 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 Awakes TikTok 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tess Brouwer and Layne Beachley share how life’s toughest wake-up calls led to more laughter, energy, and purpose. From burnout to bounce-back, they dish out simple tools (hello water, sunshine + protein!) and heartwarming stories that prove healing doesn’t have to be heavy. Connect with Awake Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses  Get Awake’s transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life Watch the episodes on YouTube: 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 Awakes TikTok 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.