Ed Stott & The Big Life Questions

What if everything you've been told about baby sleep is wrong and the real solution is already built into your baby’s biology? Dr. Pam Douglas is the founder of the Possums Sleep Program, a science-backed, sanity-saving alternative to traditional sleep training. In this myth-busting episode, she shares where so many of the things we think we know about sleep come from, why they often create sleep problems instead of solving them & how understanding your baby’s biology can change everything. 💡 You’ll learn: Why “normal” baby sleep is wildly different than what you’ve been told The two regulators that actually control sleep — and how to work with them How common sleep advice is probably setting your family up to fail Why “wake windows,” dark rooms and early bedtimes can backfire The surprising truth about overstimulation, routines, and melatonin 📖 Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 – Peeking out of the trenches of year one 01:50 – Why sleep is one of the most distorted parenting topics 04:30 – How outdated health advice causes unnecessary distress 08:00 – What the research really says about night waking 11:25 – The myth of sleep training as “evidence-based” 14:30 – The massive range of biologically normal sleep 17:00 – Why wake windows don’t make sense 22:00 – The two real sleep regulators and how to use them 29:00 – Do you really need a consistent nap routine? 35:00 – Why stimulation at bedtime is a good thing 41:00 – Forget bedtime — it’s wake time that matters 46:00 – How to reduce early rising 51:00 – Transitioning away from co-sleeping (gently) 54:00 – What Dr. Pam most wants you to know 🔗 Helpful Links: Dr. Pam’s Book, The Discontented Little Baby Book Possums Sleep Program Find a Possums-accredited practitioner 💌 Related episodes: 5 Helpful Things I Learned in My First Year of Motherhood 📺 Watch & Subscribe: Watch this episode on YouTube Subscribe on Substack 📬 Get in touch: Say hi or suggest a guest: thatshelpful @ edstott.com Follow That’s Helpful on Instagram

What if forgiveness didn’t mean forgetting, reconciling, or letting people off the hook — but reclaiming your future? Learning how to forgive — even when it feels like the hardest thing in the world to do — is transformative. It’s a complex process, and there’s a real art to balancing boundaries and letting go. It’s an art Rachael Coopes is obsessed with. She’s the author of The Art of Forgiveness. 💡 You’ll hear: – The origin of the word forgiveness — and why it changes everything – The science behind rumination, stress, and long-term health – What forgiveness has to do with resilience and agency – How to begin (even if you’re not ready yet) – Why boundaries are essential — not the opposite of forgiveness – Why reconciliation and forgiveness are not the same – How your future can be your act of forgiveness 📖 Chapters 00:00 The Quote That Changed Everything 02:18 How Forgiveness Became Rachael’s Obsession 05:10 What 25 Interviews Taught Her 06:30 Forgiveness vs Letting People Off the Hook 10:45 Forgiveness ≠ Reconciliation 13:05 The Neuroscience of Resentment 17:55 Where to Start When Forgiveness Feels Impossible 22:00 Boundaries, Distance & Letting Go 24:45 When Forgiveness Just Isn’t Possible 26:10 Resilience, Accountability & Rachael’s Son’s Story 29:40 Your Future as the Ultimate Act of Forgiveness 31:15 “Forgive Like a Grain of Sand” 🔗 Helpful Links: – The Art of Forgiveness by Rachael Coopes – Rachael’s official website – Follow Rachael on Instagram 📺 Watch & Subscribe: – Watch this episode on YouTube 📬 Get in touch: thatshelpful @ edstott.com Follow That’s Helpful on Instagram

What if the pop culture you loved growing up was quietly teaching you to shrink, perform and turn on other women? In this episode, Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Sophie Gilbert joins me to revisit the legacy of the 90s and 2000s — a time that likely shaped how you see yourself & other women. We talk about the toxic version of ‘empowerment’ that dominated the era, why so many of us still feel stuck in competition mode and how we can start untangling the stories we were sold. 💡 You'll hear: – How porn and pop culture collided to redefine girlhood – Why so many women still struggle with internalised competition – What’s changed in how women are portrayed — and what hasn’t – How to start spotting (and unlearning) the cultural scripts you didn’t choose – And what reclaiming your story can actually look like  📖 Chapters00:00 Nostalgia and Reflection on the 90s 03:08 The Power of Pop Culture 05:57 Reality TV and Intersectionality 08:57 Sexualization and Female Power 11:57 The Influence of Porn on Culture 14:55 Empowerment and Its Implications 17:46 Crisis of Female Identity in the 2000s 22:10 The Shift in Celebrity Culture 28:43 Cruelty and Compassion in Pop Culture 29:05 Progress in Women's Representation 31:33 The Impact of Technology on Self-Perception 34:56 Revisiting the Past for a Better Future 🔗 Mentioned: Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert Sophie’s writing at The Atlantic Ed's Doco Series on what led to Britney's conservatorship 💌 More from That's Helpful: Subscribe to my Substack Watch the podcast on YouTube Follow That’s Helpful on Instagram 📬 Got thoughts or guest suggestions? Email me at: thatshelpful @ edstott.com

Know your phone is stealing your focus, but don't quite know how to take your back your brain? Here are 5 small, science-backed tweaks that will actually help. In this episode, I’m sharing how I broke the cycle—not with timers or guilt, but with insights from neuroscientists, psychologists, and attention experts who helped me understand the real cost of distraction, and what to do instead. 💡 You'll hear: How tech companies exploit your brain’s dopamine system The hidden cost of distraction most people never talk about The identity shift that makes new habits actually stick “20% habits” that give you 80% of the results Why barriers beat willpower every time And the one mindset shift that changed everything for me Whether you’re ready to ditch social media completely, or just want to feel a little more present in your actual life, this one’s for you. Recommended listening: The Science of Habits that Actually Stick with Dr Bree Hurn How to Hack your Dopamine with Dr Anastasia Hronis Reclaim Your Attention with Annie Margaret 📺 Watch the episode on YouTube 📝 Subscribe on Substack Enjoying the podcast? Share it, leave a review, or forward to a buddy who needs a little nudge to be more present.

Feel like you're failing at motherhood? Maybe you're actually on the right track. In this episode, I chat with author and podcaster Victoria Vanstone about her year of “mumming” — a 12-month mission to try anything and everything to become a better mum.  From parenting courses and rage walks to hiding in Aldi and whispering affirmations in the pantry, Victoria shares the real story of what worked, what didn’t, and why trying (and failing) might be the most important part. If mum guilt, mum rage, or the pressure to “get it right” are part of your daily internal monologue — this one’s for you. You’ll hear: 💡 Why mum guilt and mum rage are normal — and what to do with them 💡 The parenting tools that actually worked (and the weird ones that didn’t) 💡 Why doing things for yourself might be the most effective parenting strategy 💡 What Victoria learned from yelling, bribing, and eventually walking away — on purpose Watch the episode on YouTube: 📺 YouTube.com/@ThatsHelpfulPod Subscribe on Substack for weekly helpful writing & behind-the-scenes: 📝 thatshelpful.substack.com Buy Victoria’s book: 📚 Mumming: A Year of Trying and Failing to Be a Better Mum Find Victoria online: 🌐 www.victoriavanstone.com 📸 @vic_sober_awkward Enjoying the podcast? Share it, leave a review, or forward to a buddy who needs a little less guilt and a bit more grace.

Ready to stop asking for permission and start doing the thing you actually want to do? Ash Ambirge is here to hand you the match. 🔥 She’s the author of The Middle Finger Project — a book, a movement, and a manifesto for anyone who's tired of playing it small. She’s on a mission to help people ditch the jobs they hate and build their dream lives. In this conversation, Ash and I talk about what it really takes to walk away from "safe" and create something better. If you’re dreaming of more but scared to make the jump, this episode is your sign. It's the perfect follow-on to last week's ep with Amie McNee. Yours Helpfully, Ed x Inside, we get into: Why “security” is the biggest scam going How to stop waiting for the right time Why rebellion isn’t reckless — it’s necessary How to back yourself (even when nobody else does) CONNECT WITH US 🔥 Follow That’s Helpful and Ed Stott on Instagram. 🔥 Find Ash at The Middle Finger Project website, or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. BOOKS 📚 The Middle Finger Project by Ash Ambirge Got thoughts, ideas, or just want to yell "YES"? Email me: ed@edwinastott.com

Tired of waiting for someone to give you a chance? This is how you stop waiting — and start doing. Whether you want to write, launch a project, change careers, or share your work with the world, this episode with author Amie McNee is your go-to guide. She shares how she stopped chasing permission, started backing herself, and built a creative career on her own terms — before anyone said yes. If you’ve been holding back on making something or becoming something because you're waiting to be picked… this is your sign to choose yourself. Yours helpfully, Ed x CHAPTERS 00:00 Living Between Two Worlds 01:47 The Essence of Art 06:22 Claiming Your Creative Identity 11:55 Self-Creation and Empowerment 17:14 Reclaiming Power as Creatives 22:41 Valuing Art Beyond Metrics 27:38 Taking Baby Steps in Creativity 29:31 The Power of Baby Steps in Creativity 32:24 Embracing Imperfection: The Art of Making Shitty Art 36:31 The Courage to Bomb: Lessons from Stand-Up Comedy 41:14 Vulnerability in the Creative Journey 45:50 The Transformative Power of Journaling BOOKSWe Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around & Make Something PODCASTS Ash Ambirge - Middle Finger Project Sam Reece - Shitty Craft Club  The Unpublished Podcast (with Amie & James) CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That’s Helpful on Instagram. Find me on Substack & YouTube. Follow Amie McNee on Instagram.

I feel like I've levelled up in every single way since becoming a mum. But when I was pregnant, I only saw the negatives of motherhood & it wasn't until I had my baby that I realised the true power of becoming a mum. I invited Lauren & Lucinda from Ready or Not Podcast (where they chat all things work & parenthood) on to have a chat about this revelation & explore all the ways they feel improved by becoming a mum. Send this inspo to all your pregnant & new mum friends - I promise they will thank you!!  Yours helpfully, Ed x CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Motherhood's Transformative Power 02:54 The Leveling Up Experience of Motherhood 06:06 Finding Your Voice Through Motherhood 09:02 The Shift in Identity and Purpose 12:13 Body Image and Self-Perception Post-Pregnancy 24:10 Navigating Guilt and Societal Expectations in Motherhood 27:47 Trusting Your Instincts: The Power of Intuition 31:53 Embracing Personal Growth Through Motherhood 36:20 The Creative Surge: Balancing Motherhood and Career 39:07 Reconciliation of Work and Motherhood 43:10 Empowerment and Community in Motherhood PODCASTSReady Or Not CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find me on Substack & Youtube. Find Ready or Not on Instagram This episode discusses: motherhood, transformation, leveling up, identity, self-perception, body image, motherhood journey, parenting, personal growth, empowerment, motherhood, intuition, personal growth, career, empowerment, societal expectations, work-life balance, creativity, self-care, community  

If you're pregnant or have a new baby - I have some GAME-CHANGERS for you!! I'm coming up on my first year of being a mum and I've learnt so much. In this episode, I've whittled down a year's worth of blood, sweat and tears in to my 6 essentials - there's a couple of reccomendations & a few pieces of wisdom in there that I know you'll find truly helpful. Yours helpfully, Ed x PODCASTSHypnobirthing 101: Simple Tools to Make Your Birth Better Make Your Intuition Your Super Power with Prof Joel Pearson BOOKSHypnobirthing: Practical Ways to Make Your Birth Better Ina May's Guide to Childbirth PROGRAMSPossums Sleep Program CONNECT WITH ME Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find me on Substack & Youtube. This episode discusses: motherhood, hypnobirthing, baby sleep, new mom tips, new mum tips, motherhood journey, parenting advice, intuition in parenting, motherhood challenges, personal growth, motherhood insights

You might think you're doing it because you're too kind...but you're not (super awks). Today we’re going to learn WHY you're a people pleaser & the 3 simple steps that will give you the confidence to make the changes you so badly need to, revolutionise your relationships & give you your energy back in the process. Dr Vicki & Dr Ritz are counselling psychologists from The Therapy Floor podcast. CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Dr Vicki & Dr Ritz via their website. PODCASTSThe Therapy Floor This episode discusses: people pleasing, self-improvement, relationships, boundaries, psychology, self-esteem, communication, mental health, personal growth, emotional well-being

If you, like me, spend most conversations wondering when it's your time to talk - you’re probably not a very good listener. And here’s the kicker - it’s likely affecting your relationships. In this episode we’re going to learn the simple tips to level up our listening & turn it into our ultimate super power for deeper connections in every area of our lives. Ross Judd, is the author of Listening: A Guide to Building Deeper Connections. CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Ross via his website & on Instagram. BOOKSListening: A guide to building deeper connections This episode discusses: listening, communication, relationships, vulnerability, body language, summarizing, emotional safety, deeper connections, self-improvement, personal growth

If you've ever said 'I'll just get through this...& then it will all be fine', this episode is MANDATORY listening. Overwhelmed? Me too! Today we're going to learn the simple systems to ease it once & for all. Michelle Gauthier worked in corporate America for 20 years helping business to simplify their work & make effective change - now she’s turned her attention to helping people just like you. So let's get your shoulders dropped, that jaw unclenched and your breath a little deeper! CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Michelle via her website & on Instagram. PODCASTSMichelle's Podcast This episode discusses: overwhelm, mindfulness, life coaching, self-improvement, women empowerment, boundaries, mental health, stress management, personal development, work-life balance

PSA: Complexity DOESN'T mean complicated!! Today we’re going to learn how to take a perfectly imperfect approach to eating - one that will maximise your nutrition, ditch the guilt and ease your food anxiety. Food feels like an area that should be simple but it's often anything but. We are complex beings dealing with a whole heap of confusion from diet culture, to social media, family input, food culture...the list goes on. So instead of taking an over simplified approach to what you eat, Food Nutrition Scientist Dr Emma Beckett wants you to lean into the complexity of nutrition & work with your unique biology to revolutionise the way you think about food. CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Emma via her website & on Instagram. BOOKSYou Are More Than What You Eat This episode discusses: self-improvement, nutrition, diet culture, food anxiety, flexible eating, health, joy, food choices, kindness, empathy, diet culture, processed foods, nutrition, supplements, social media, perfect diet, food choices, kindness, health, wellness.

Kasey Edwards has spent the last 10+ years researching & writing about raising kids who like themselves & she’s used everything she's learnt to re-parent herself. Now she's on a mission to teach you to do the same. She’s rewritten the most common, toxic rules you were likely taught in childhood to show you that you deserve more than what you’ve been taught to accept.  CONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly discusses child sexual abuse & domestic violence. CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Kasey via her website & on Instagram. BOOKSGoodbye Good Girl, Hello Me Bringing up Boys Who Like Themselves Raising Girls Who Like Themselves PODCASTSThe 7 Non-Negotiables of Raising Girls who Like Themselves How to Bring up Boys Who Like Themselves This episode discusses: self-esteem, self-discovery, trauma, women empowerment, toxic beliefs, validation, love languages, personal growth, mental health, reparenting, love languages, relationships, body image, societal expectations, women empowerment, competition, self-worth, communication, emotional health, personal growth.

How can we avoid passing on our own fraught relationship with what we eat? We all need to eat - it's a simple fact of life, yet for so many of us it's a very complicated thing. Even if we are one of the few people who do have an uncomplicated relationship with food, we live in a society saturated in diet culture. So how do we raise kids with a healthy relationship with food?  Leslie Schilling is a non-diet dietician, nutrition therapist & the author of Born to Eat & Feed Yourself. In this episode, she'll teach you how to set your kids up with a solid relationship with food, regardless of your own. CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Leslie via their website & on Instagram. BOOKSFeed Yourself Born to Eat PODCASTSDitch the Diet & Become the Healthiest You Yet How to Give Kids a Great Relationship with Food with Sumner Brooks Intuitive Eating 101 with its Creator, Evelyn Tribole OTHER INFOFat Talk - Virginia Sole Smith How To Raise an Intuitive Eater - Sumner Brooks Diana Rice - Anti-Diet Kids Parenting without Diet Culture - Oona Hanson Feeding Littles - Baby Led Weaning  This episode covers: intuitive eating, parenting, diet culture, food relationships, baby-led weaning, nutrition, childhood nutrition, responsive feeding, food preferences, healthy eating, intuitive eating, parenting, food relationships, diet culture, mindfulness, body trust, child nutrition, healthy eating, food hierarchy, family meals

Spolier alert: you don't need much money, time or a fancy spreadsheet - it's genuinely SUUUUUPER simple. In less than 30 minutes, you'll learn the essentials to start making your money, make money.  Women often receive REALLY bad advice when it comes to money - we’re often told to scrimp & save whereas men are encouraged to ask for the raise, start a business, invest...it's easy to feel like this isn’t for you. Today we’re going to de-bunk all that, show you it’s not a dark art & leave you feeling confident to grow your wealth. Bryce Leske & Alec Renehan are the hosts of Get Started Investing & they’ve gathered the 5 essentials you need to get started. CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Equity Mates via their website & on Instagram. BOOKSGet Started Investing PODCASTSGet Started Investing This episode covers: pinvesting, ETFs, savings, compounding, crypto, financial literacy, women and investing, barriers to investing, diversification, investment platforms.

This episode is going to shatter the phrase ‘good girl’ for you FOREVER. You'll see why striving to be a 'good girl' is robbing you of your energy, well-being & even your identity plus learn the research backed strategy on how to set yourself free to live the life YOU want to live. Dr Michelle McQuaid is an honorary fellow at Melbourne University's Center for Wellbeing Science & author of The Perfectly Imperfect Little Girl & The Perfectly Imperfect Women's Journal. Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - thatshelpful@edstott.com CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Dr Michelle via ⁠her website & on substack. BOOKSJoin The Perfectly Imperfect Books Launch Party PODCASTSLife Lessons in Divorce and Breakups with Helen ThornThe Good Girl Gamechangers Podcast This episode covers: parenting, raising girls, relationships, attachment, mindset, psychology, raising boys, patriarchy, masculinity, anger, identity, knowing yourself, mothering yourself, conforming to patriarchal standards, liberation, being empowered.

This time it’s all about figuring out how to exercise CONSISTENTLY in a way that brings you JOY. No more ‘punishing’ yourself for 60 brutal minutes  - we’re going to get you moving in a way you’ve never moved before - it’s going to be so fun, you’ll find yourself giddy to do it again, rather than dreading the next horrible session that you have to spend all day psyching yourself up for. Leah Barron is going to get us there. She’s a registered dietitian & certified personal trainer who takes a non-diet, weight inclusive approach - her mission is to help you stop dieting & get stronger. Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - thatshelpful@edstott.com CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Leah on Instagram & via ⁠her website.

We’re talking habits - how to start them, stick to them & make sure they’re aligned with who you want to be. Anytime I do an episode on habits, you lot absolutely love it - and there’s a reason for that - they’re the cheatcode for creating the life you want to live. No one knows that better than my guest today, in fact she calls herself ‘the habit nerd’ - Dr Bree Hurn is a productivity expert, with a Doctorate in Education who’s obsessed with the science behind building better habits for work, health and mindset. Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - thatshelpful@edstott.com CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Dr Bree on Instagram & via ⁠her website.

Today - we’re getting you the blueprint to find YOUR PEOPLE. It’s brutal out there - a lot of people talk about how hard dating is now, but finding new friends who are on your wavelength & a community of your own can be just as hard. Fear not though - you know I’ve got your back. Tilli Conias is a professional community builder & the founder Mum Run - a 100+ strong weekly run club here in Brisbane. If you want to know how to build your own community & find your people, this episode is for you. Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - thatshelpful@edstott.com CONNECT WITH US Connect with ⁠That's Helpful on Instagram. Find Tilli on Instagram & via ⁠her website. Find more about Mum Run on instagram & here.