Dr Julie's Coffee Chats

Welcome back to Dr Julie's Coffee Chats!
After a six-month break following a third major surgery, I'm so excited to finally be back behind the microphone.
In this episode, I'm sharing where I've been, why I pressed pause on the podcast, what recovery really looked like, and some of the unexpected lessons that came with being forced to slow down.
It's an honest conversation about health, healing, identity, and learning to give ourselves permission to rest when life doesn't go to plan.
Whether you've been here since the beginning or you're joining me for the first time, thank you for being here. I can't wait to share this new season with you.
This season of Dr Julie's Coffee Chats is proudly supported by Fuel Box—a fellow Wellington business helping Kiwis nourish themselves through convenient, nutrition-focused drinks.
Grab a coffee and let's catch up.

In this episode I’m having an honest conversation about something we don’t talk about enough — dropping balls, trimming the fat, and focusing on what actually matters. 
After a busy and messy end to last year, I never quite got around to a proper wrap-up. And instead of forcing momentum, I realised it was time to pause, simplify, and reset — without guilt. 
This episode is about: 
Letting go of the pressure to do everything at once
Why pausing doesn’t mean failing
How focusing on foundations creates more energy, not less
Giving yourself permission to step back without explaining everything
I’m also sharing why I’ll be taking a short break from the podcast until after Easter — not to disappear, but to reset, heal, and return with clarity.
 
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, behind, or like life is pulling you in too many directions, this conversation is for you.

This week on Dr Julie’s Coffee Chats I’m diving into a thought every mum has had — usually while staring at a pile of washing that’s been sitting in the machine for far too many days (me!) — “How does everyone else do it?”
The truth? They don’t. None of us do. We’re all juggling, dropping balls, picking up new ones, and trying to keep ourselves and our families afloat as best we can.
In this episode, I’m sharing a very real moment from my own morning that reminded me just how much invisible load we carry — especially at this time of year. I talk about the myth of “other people doing it better,” what wellness actually looks like in the chaos, and why it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed, tired, or behind. Plus some practical ways to take the pressure off, how to reset without guilt.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one struggling to keep up — this episode will remind you that you’re absolutely not alone. Grab your coffee, take a breath, and come join me.

In this week’s Coffee Chat, I’m talking about something every parent, every woman, every human feels — that pressure of trying to hold all the balls, make all the choices, and somehow keep up as we head into Christmas. 
I share a moment from just this week: standing in my kitchen at 9pm, exhausted after a full day of work and training, trying to decide between dishes, a shower, or doing a puzzle with my 6-year-old… and what happened when I finally walked back out and found him fast asleep. And then what my oldest son did next 🥹 
This episode is about the real version of dropping the ball — not the Instagram version — but the human one. The version that shows love in unexpected places, the version that reminds us we can’t do everything, and the version that frees us from the myth of “balance.” 
If you’re feeling stretched thin, guilty, overwhelmed, or like there are never enough hours in the day… this one’s for you. You are not failing. You’re just in a full season, and you’re doing better than you think. 
Grab your coffee, take a breath, and join me for a gentle reminder that the balls you’re dropping aren’t the ones that matter most 🤍

In this Coffee Chat, I’m diving into something that comes up every year around this time: comparison. From body image to Christmas plans to what everyone else’s family, life, or business seems to be doing — it can feel like we’re constantly measuring ourselves against other people’s highlight reels.
I share why comparison actually spikes during this season (spoiler: it’s biology, not a personal flaw), how stress and social media amplify it, and even how I’ve felt it myself recently comparing my own food brand to others.
This episode is a gentle, honest reminder that comparison isn’t a verdict — it’s a signal. And when it shows up, there’s a kinder, more grounded way to respond.
Grab your coffee and settle in with me for a little perspective reset.