A Wake Up Call

• The Art Of Holding Space (with Tess' Husband Chris)

  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.

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• A Simple Question That Can Change Your Relationship With Your Body

  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.

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• Turning Pain Into Purpose with Mitch Wallis

  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 – [email protected] Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_ Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call Sponsor our podcast [email protected] 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.

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• Energy Hacks That Give You Your Life Back

  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 – [email protected] Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_ Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call Sponsor our podcast [email protected] 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.

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• Sue Langley Shares The Science-Backed Tools For A Happy Life

  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 – [email protected] Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_ Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call Sponsor our podcast [email protected] 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.

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