No Stress - the Stress Resilience Podcast

In this episode of No Stress, host Abigail Ireland speaks with clinical psychologist and sleep specialist Dr Maja Schaedel about the psychology of sleep, why stress keeps us awake, and what we can do when the harder we try to sleep, the further it seems to drift away.Dr Maja explains why sleep is an automatic process rather than something we can force. When we turn sleep into a task to complete, the pressure to perform can activate the nervous system’s fight, flight or freeze response—making it harder to feel safe enough to switch off.Together, Abigail and Maja explore the thought patterns and physical responses behind insomnia, from clock-watching and catastrophic thinking to the habits that can accidentally teach the brain that bed is a place for worrying rather than resting. They discuss the role of sleep pressure, why an early night after poor sleep may not always help, and how small changes to routine can rebuild better sleep over time.Maja also shares practical, compassionate ways to reset when you wake in the night: change your sensory environment, step away from the pressure to sleep, use slow breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, and focus on rest rather than trying to make sleep happen.This episode is for anyone who lies awake worrying about sleep, wants to better understand their nervous system at night, or is looking for gentler, more realistic ways to improve rest.⸻Listen If You Want To✓ Understand why you cannot force yourself to sleep✓ Learn how stress and the nervous system affect sleep✓ Break the cycle of worrying about a bad night’s sleep✓ Build sleep pressure and improve your sleep routine✓ Know what to do when you wake up in the night✓ Let go of perfectionism around sleep and focus on rest⸻About Dr Maja SchaedelDr Maja Schaedel is a clinical psychologist specialising in insomnia, sleep difficulties and trauma-related sleep problems. She is co-founder of The Good Sleep Clinic, where she provides evidence-based psychological treatment for sleep difficulties, and also works in the NHS Sleep Disorder Centre at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Her work combines cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia with acceptance-based approaches to help adults, children and teenagers achieve better sleep.Resources & LinksHost: Abigail Irelandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailireland/https://www.understandingperformance.com/Guest: Dr Maja Schaedel — The Good Sleep Clinichttps://goodsleep.clinic/Learn more about nervous system regulation:Pulsetto Vagus Nerve Stimulation → https://uk.pulsetto.tech/Use code NOSTRESS for 10% off.Follow No Stress for more conversations on stress, recovery and resilience.This episode is for general information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you are concerned about persistent sleep difficulties or other symptoms, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.#Sleep #Insomnia #SleepHealth #StressManagement #NervousSystem #CBTI #Rest #Pulsetto #NoStressPodcast00:00 Why you can’t force yourself to fall asleep07:04 Dr Maja’s own experience of insomnia as a new parent10:15 The paradox of trying too hard to sleep13:25 How stress puts the nervous system on high alert20:41 Take a step back: what are you really trying to achieve?25:37 Why getting out of bed can help break the worry cycle29:04 Focus on rest, not the pressure to sleep35:13 Sleep pressure: the daytime habits that shape your night45:25 Why less time in bed can sometimes improve sleep quality52:13 Spotting your “hooks” and returning to the present moment

In this episode of No Stress, host Abigail Ireland speaks with mental health campaigner Ben West about grief, suicide prevention, stress and the quiet power of showing up for one another.After losing his younger brother Sam to suicide when Ben was 17, his life changed direction completely. What began as a determination to understand what was missing became a lifelong commitment to creating better conversations, support and systems around mental health.Ben shares the story behind Reasons to Stay, a global project where strangers can write anonymous letters of hope and connection for anyone having a difficult time. The project has delivered millions of letters and is built on a simple idea: you do not need to have the perfect words or all the answers to help someone—you just need to be willing to be there.Together, Abigail and Ben explore why we often rush to fix other people’s pain, how grief changes shape rather than disappearing, and why vulnerability can deepen our relationships. Ben also shares the boundaries and rituals that help him do emotionally demanding work without losing himself in it, from a two-week rule for difficult conversations to small daily routines and noticing the good things that happen.This episode is for anyone navigating grief, supporting someone they care about, feeling overwhelmed by stress, or looking for a more human way to connect.⸻Listen If You Want To✓ Understand why connection can matter more than having the right advice✓ Support someone without feeling that you have to fix everything✓ Learn how grief can evolve over time✓ Build boundaries around emotionally demanding work✓ Create small, sustainable rituals that help you reset✓ Notice and appreciate the good things in everyday life⸻About Ben WestBen West is a mental health campaigner, author and the founder of Reasons to Stay. Since losing his younger brother Sam in 2018, Ben has worked to improve conversations, education and access to support around mental health and suicide prevention. His campaigns have helped bring mental health into teacher training in England, and Reasons to Stay connects people around the world through anonymous letters of warmth, hope and connection.Resources & LinksHost: Abigail Irelandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailireland/https://www.understandingperformance.com/Guest: Ben Westhttps://www.benwest.org.uk/Reasons to Stayhttps://reasonstostay.co.uk/Ben’s book, Reasons to…: Letters of Hope from a World that Cares (out 14 January 2027)https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/486134/reasons-to-by-west-ben/9781807843588Learn more about nervous system regulation:Pulsetto Vagus Nerve Stimulation → https://uk.pulsetto.tech/Use code NOSTRESS for 10% off.Follow No Stress for more conversations on stress, recovery and resilience.This episode discusses suicide and bereavement. It is for general information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice or professional support. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, seek support from an appropriate qualified professional or local emergency service.#MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #Grief #HumanConnection #StressManagement #Resilience #ReasonsToStay #Pulsetto #NoStressPodcast00:00 The story behind Reasons to Stay01:07 Why meaningful work can also be stressful07:03 How Ben’s life changed direction at 1712:56 From personal loss to purposeful action15:31 What is missing from mental health support?20:18 Why mental health belongs in teacher training26:10 You do not have to have all the answers to support someone29:56 Grief, counselling and allowing yourself to feel36:20 Protecting yourself while doing emotionally demanding work46:26 Ben’s “good things that happen” practice

In this episode of No Stress, host Abigail Ireland speaks with Xnthony—performance artist, writer and producer Anthony Keigher—about creativity, stage fright, resilience and learning to stay true to yourself when the world asks you to fit in.Growing up in rural Roscommon, Ireland, Xnthony learned early what it felt like to be an outsider. As an adopted, queer and deeply creative child, he experienced bullying and exclusion, but those experiences also shaped his perspective, his instincts and the work he now makes.Together, Abigail and Xnthony explore the reality behind creative success: from one-star reviews and imposter syndrome to acclaimed musicals and five-star productions. He shares why resilience is less about never struggling and more about holding on long enough for your work, confidence and audience to catch up.Xnthony also speaks honestly about the intensity of stage fright, the ways he once used alcohol to numb stress, and the self-awareness that helps him recognise when his nervous system is overloaded. He explains his idea of “diet reality”—the distorted, overly sensitive state that can come with pressure—and why rest, therapy, boundaries and creative safety rails matter.This episode is for anyone who feels different, is navigating self-doubt, experiences performance anxiety, or is trying to create a life that feels more authentic and less driven by comparison.⸻Listen If You Want To✓ Turn difficult experiences into creative strength✓ Navigate stage fright, self-doubt and performance anxiety✓ Build resilience after criticism, rejection or failure✓ Recognise when stress is affecting how you read the world✓ Create better boundaries around high-pressure work✓ Stop comparing your path with everyone else’s⸻About XnthonyXnthony is the performance name of Anthony Keigher, an Irish performance artist, writer and producer. His work spans musical theatre, cabaret and live performance, often exploring identity, history, queerness and belonging through sharp humour and pop-inflected storytelling. He is the co-creator of the award-winning Oliver Cromwell Is Really Very Sorry and the writer behind Lourdes! The Musical!Resources & LinksHost: Abigail Irelandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailireland/https://www.understandingperformance.com/Guest: Xnthonyhttps://www.xnthony.com/Learn more about nervous system regulation:Pulsetto Vagus Nerve Stimulation → https://uk.pulsetto.tech/Use code NOSTRESS for 10% off.Follow No Stress for more conversations on stress, recovery and resilience.This episode is for general information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you are concerned about your symptoms, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.#Resilience #Creativity #StageFright #PerformanceAnxiety #SelfAwareness #MentalHealth #StressManagement #Pulsetto #NoStressPodcast

In this special episode of No Stress, host Abigail Ireland is joined by Pulsetto co-founder Povilas Sabaliauskas and health coach Jenny Jones, better known as BiohackerBlondie, to explore Pulsetto FIT X—the next generation of Pulsetto’s stress-fitness ecosystem.Povilas shares why FIT X was built and what has evolved: improved comfort, more adaptive stimulation, intelligent contact sensing, redesigned electrodes and a more connected app experience. Together, they explore what it means to train stress resilience—not by avoiding stress altogether, but by helping the body return to a calmer, more regulated state after it.Jenny shares how she uses Pulsetto alongside wearable data to support her stress and sleep routine, particularly during busy periods, travel and conferences. The conversation also explores why consistency matters more than one-off wellness fixes, how data can make health routines more personal, and where vagus nerve stimulation may fit within a broader approach to wellbeing.This episode is for anyone curious about Pulsetto FIT X, stress fitness, wearable data, or building a more consistent recovery practice in everyday life.⸻Listen If You Want To✓ Discover what is new in Pulsetto FIT X✓ Understand the idea of stress fitness and nervous-system training✓ Learn how consistency can support stress recovery✓ Explore how wearable data can inform your wellbeing routine✓ Find practical moments to make recovery part of your day✓ See how FIT X fits into a wider, realistic approach to health⸻About Povilas SabaliauskasPovilas Sabaliauskas is the co-founder of Pulsetto and a neuromodulation specialist focused on making nervous-system support more accessible in everyday life. His work brings together consumer technology, research and product development to create tools that support stress resilience, sleep and recovery.About Jenny JonesJenny Jones, known as BiohackerBlondie, is a health coach and wellness advocate who explores personalised approaches to health optimisation. Through her coaching, content and podcast, she shares practical insights on testing, recovery, nutrition, sleep and sustainable wellbeing.Resources & LinksHost: Abigail Irelandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailireland/https://www.understandingperformance.com/Guest: Povilas Sabaliauskashttps://lt.linkedin.com/in/povilas-sabaliauskas/Guest: Jenny Jones — BiohackerBlondiehttps://www.biohackerblondie.com/https://www.instagram.com/biohackerblondie/Learn more about Pulsetto FIT X and nervous system regulation:https://uk.pulsetto.tech/Use code NOSTRESS for 10% off.Follow No Stress for more conversations on stress, recovery and resilience.This episode is for general information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you are concerned about your symptoms, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.

In this episode of No Stress, host Abigail Ireland speaks with wilderness guide, survivalist and resilience coach Megan Hine about what the wild can teach us about staying calm, thinking clearly and recovering when life feels overwhelming.After decades leading expeditions and film crews through some of the world’s most demanding environments, Megan has seen first-hand how people respond when they believe they are under threat. She shares the simple technique she uses to interrupt panic—STOP: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan—and explains why it works just as well for a stressful email as it does when you lose your way on a mountain trail.Together, Abigail and Megan explore the difference between stress and excitement, why burnout recovery can take longer than we expect, and how our need for community is deeply wired into our biology. Megan also reflects on the power of nature, the impact of our inner and outer landscapes, and the small doses of discomfort that help build resilience over time.From a close encounter with lions in the desert to the everyday stressors of screens, pressure and constant stimulation, this conversation is a reminder that resilience is not about never feeling stressed. It is about learning how to pause, adapt and make room for recovery.This episode is for anyone who feels overwhelmed, wants to build greater stress tolerance, or is looking for practical ways to feel calmer, clearer and more connected.⸻Listen If You Want To✓ Stay calm and think clearly under pressure✓ Use the STOP method to interrupt panic and reactivity✓ Understand the difference between stress and excitement✓ Recognise the signs of burnout before they build up✓ Build resilience through manageable challenges and recovery✓ Use nature and community to regulate your nervous system⸻About Megan HineMegan Hine is a wilderness guide, survivalist, expedition leader, TV producer and resilience coach. For more than 20 years, she has led teams and film crews in remote environments around the world, translating lessons from survival, risk and human behaviour into practical tools for everyday life. With a background in psychology, Megan explores how we can understand our inner landscape, build resilience and lead with clarity in uncertain conditions. She is the author of Mind of a Survivor.Resources & LinksHost: Abigail Irelandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailireland/https://www.understandingperformance.com/Guest: Megan Hinehttps://meganhine.com/https://www.instagram.com/megan_hine/Learn more about nervous system regulation:Pulsetto Vagus Nerve Stimulation → https://uk.pulsetto.tech/Use code NOSTRESS for 10% off.Follow No Stress for more conversations on stress, recovery and resilience.This episode is for general information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you are concerned about your symptoms, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.#StressResilience #StressManagement #BurnoutRecovery #NervousSystem #NatureTherapy #Resilience #Pulsetto #NoStressPodcast