You can change your life and A Wake Up Call will show you how.
Hosted by Layne Beachley AO and Tess Brouwer, founders of Awake Academy, this is the podcast that gets real about what it takes to live awake - no filters, no fluff, just truth, science, and stories that will shake you out of autopilot and into action.
Each episode is packed with practical tools, honest conversations, and powerful wake-up calls to help you stress less, feel more, and reconnect with who you really are.
If you’re ready to stop drifting and start living with purpose, you’re in the right place.
Follow @awake_academy for more tools, truth, and transformation and tune in weekly to A Wake Up Call.
The Body Episode: Pelvic Floors, Sexual Health, and the Knowledge You Were Never Given (with Heather Ford)
Sunday, May 24, 2026 • Duration 59:23
If you have ever wondered:
💭 “Why does no one talk honestly about what happens to your body after having a baby?”
💭 “How do I stop feeling like sex is the last thing on my list?”
💭 “What does a healthy sex life even look like when everything in my body has changed?”
- this episode is for you.
In this honest, hilarious and genuinely eye-opening conversation, Tess and Layne welcome Heather Ford, sexologist, women's health clinician and founder of Core Restore Co., for a conversation about the body knowledge most of us were never given, and what changes when you finally have it.
Heather opens up about her own turning point: a trampoline park, a toddler, three months postpartum, and the moment that turned shame into purpose. She went back to university, completed a Master's in Women's Medicine and a Master's in Sexology, and built a practice dedicated to making complex, stigmatised medical topics genuinely approachable.
Together they move through female anatomy in a way that is equal parts educational and liberating. They cover the pelvic floor as a stress response muscle, the real structure and size of the clitoris, how breathing affects arousal, why lube is non-negotiable, and what happens to sexual health through perimenopause and menopause. Layne shares ten years of navigating menopause with honesty and grace. Tess reflects on rebuilding desire after injury.
You will learn about:
The anatomy most of us were never taught, and why that gap costs us in confidence and connection
How the pelvic floor connects to your jaw, your breathing, your mental health and your orgasm
What the research actually says about sexual health, longevity, and why one orgasm a week matters
How to have the conversations about intimacy that most couples avoid
Links text
Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses
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.
The High Performance Edit: Hard Work In Harmony (Not Hustle)
Sunday, May 17, 2026 • Duration 28:50
If you have ever wondered:
💭 “Why am I working harder than ever and still feeling behind?”
💭 “How do I stop the spiral in my head from running the show?”
💭 “How do I actually perform at a high level without burning my life to the ground?”
– this episode is for you.
In this energising and practical conversation, Layne and Tess take you to high performance school. They strip back the myth that elite performers are simply more talented, more driven or born different, and reveal the real ingredient: hard work in harmony with your wellbeing, your relationships and yourself.
Layne shares hard earned lessons from 20 years as a seven time world champion and her new life in the business world, including the head knocks, the paralysed face, the broken noses she pushed through, and the cost she still pays today in her body. Tess opens up about her noisy brain, the moment she realised her thoughts were not her, and how shortening the time she spends in the struggle has been her biggest high performance edge. Together they share the science of why your nervous system fires every part of your life, why 90 minute sprints exist for a reason, and why most people schedule every meeting except the one with themselves.
You will walk away with a five step framework you can apply immediately: getting clear on what matters, protecting your energy, training your mind, building disciplined routines and recovering like it matters.
You will hear about:
The difference between high performance and hustle, and how to tell which one you are in right now
Why your state, not your skill, determines your output
The science of matching your energy to the work in front of you
How time boxing, life lists and 90 minute sprints transform overwhelm into action
Why recovery is a performance tool and not a reward, and how to build it into your daily life
Do It For Life - Damien Mu on Data, Burnout and Leading with a Healthier Heart
Sunday, May 10, 2026 • Duration 56:08
If you have ever wondered:
💭 “What if everything I thought I knew about my health was wrong?”
💭 “Why do I keep pushing even when I know I’m running on empty?”
💭 “How do I slow down without feeling like I’m falling behind?”
– this episode is for you.
In this candid and courageous conversation, Tess and Layne sit down with Damien Mu, CEO and Managing Director of AIA Australia, for a conversation that is anything but corporate. Damien opens up about wearing a biometric device for 48 hours and discovering his stress recovery sat at 23 out of 100 and his restorative sleep at 6 out of 100 – despite feeling like he had everything under control.
Damien takes us behind the role and into the reality: 152 flights a year, four hours of sleep, a first-generation migrant family’s work ethic running quietly in the background, and a deep-seated belief that slowing down was a sign of weakness. He shares what it took to face the data, find his why, and begin the slow, meaningful process of reprogramming a mindset that had served his ambition but was quietly costing him everything.
Together they unpack the difference between health span and lifespan, explore AIA’s 5590 model of modifiable lifestyle behaviours, and make sense of what Australia’s growing mental health claims really mean for all of us. But more than the data, this conversation is about presence, parenting, and what it feels like when your son finally leaves the card game first because his cup is full.
You will learn:
The truth about “healthy” when the data tells a very different story
Why the carry-on culture hides the true cost of high performance
How a first-generation work ethic can become both a superpower and a quiet trap
What 36 percent of AIA’s disability claims being mental health related really means for Australia
Perimenopause, Burnout, Friendship and Letting Go
Sunday, May 3, 2026 • Duration 34:23
Episode Description:
💭 “Am I going crazy, or is this perimenopause?”
💭 “I’m exhausted all the time but I’m not depressed — what is actually going on?”
💭 “Do I have to grieve who I used to be to become who I want to be?”
— this episode is for you.
In this warm, honest and genuinely funny Q&A episode, Tess and Layne open the listener inbox and answer the questions you’re too afraid to Google in daylight. From the full truth about perimenopause (yes, brain fog and anxiety are often the first signs, not the hot flushes) to HRT, burnout, health span, friendship, and what it actually means to let go of an identity that no longer fits.
Layne opens up about going straight to menopause without realising it, visiting a cardiologist for what turned out to be a hormonal heart rate, and her decision to finally give HRT a full year instead of stopping and starting. Tess talks about prepping for perimenopause before it arrives, why the Flow app has become a relationship tool in her household, and the four-step energy audit she uses when someone says “I’m exhausted but I don’t know why.”
You will learn:
The real symptoms of perimenopause that have nothing to do with hot flushes — and why so many women are misdiagnosed
Why the story you tell about your treatment might be more powerful than the treatment itself
How Layne’s relentless pushing through eventually led to chronic fatigue — and what the body whispers before it screams
The difference between health span and lifespan, and why your 40s are your most important decade for building the body you’ll have in your 70s
Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses
Get Awake’s transformative book: Know Yourself Grow Yourself to live a happier more purposeful life.
Reinventing Yourself at Any Age - Identity, Change, and the Courage to Begin Again (with Mel Doyle)
Sunday, April 26, 2026 • Duration 01:07:08
If you have ever wondered:
💭 “Who am I without the role I have held for years?”
💭 “How do I start over when everything I knew has changed?”
💭 “What does real reinvention look like – not in theory, but in real life?”
– this episode is for you.
In this honest and deeply human conversation, Tess and Layne welcome broadcaster, author and mentor Mel Doyle to share the story of her reinvention – and why change, even the kind you did not choose, can become the most defining chapter of your life.
Mel opens up about 2020: the year her 25-year career at Channel 7 came to an end, her son flew to Seattle on a near-empty plane, she turned 50 in the middle of a pandemic, and the whole world fell quiet at once. She talks about the grief of losing an identity she thought she had separated from her work – and the slow, brave process of rediscovering who she was on the other side.
Layne describes making the phone call to Mel in the aftermath of her job loss, and what she said to remind her that the heart behind the career matters more than the career itself. Mel shares how she channelled everything into writing – producing two books during COVID, including 15 Seconds of Brave, drawn from extraordinary stories of human courage. The title comes from a child with a terminal illness who said he could only be brave for 15 seconds at a time. That idea changed how she approached every scary new beginning.
You will hear about:
The grief of losing a career identity and the slow, brave process of rebuilding a sense of self
Why keeping busy can be a lifeline and a barrier – and how to find the balance
What Is Sustained Success? Values, Dream Teams and the Actions That Count
Sunday, April 19, 2026 • Duration 42:58
If you have ever wondered:
💭 “Why does success feel hollow even when I have ticked all the boxes?”
💭 “How do I build a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside?”
💭 “What does it actually take to succeed without burning out, losing myself, or standing on the podium alone?”
– this episode is for you.
This is the launch of A Wake Up Call’s Sustained Success Series, and it starts with a question most of us never stop long enough to answer: what does success actually mean to you?
Tess and Layne open up about their own definitions — from Layne’s six consecutive world titles and the private cost of chasing worthiness through achievement, to Tess’s shift toward inner peace, consistency and being the same person behind the door as she is in front of it. They explore why success looks different at every life stage, why the shiny metrics are never the whole story, and what it takes to build something sustainable instead of just spectacular.
Layne shares the three-part framework she developed across her professional surfing career — values, dream team, and action — and why today she would lead with values, not vision. Together they unpack how fear drives us but also costs us, what it means to fill your life with things that inspire rather than deplete, and why the truest measure of success is the person you are when no one is watching.
You will leanr about:
Why Layne chased world titles but was really chasing self-worth — and what that cost her
The moment Tess realised her job had become her identity because she felt she had failed at building a relationship
The three-part Sustained Success Framework: values → dream team → action
Why values must come before vision — and how to identify yours
The difference between a Dream Team member and a Dream Thief
The Performance Brain - Psychological Flexibility, Trust and the Neuroscience of Peak Performance
Sunday, April 12, 2026 • Duration 52:58
If you have ever wondered:
💭 “Why do I keep getting in my own way right when things are going well?”
💭 “Is it really possible to train my brain to perform under pressure?”
💭 “How do I stop overthinking and just trust myself when it counts most?”
— this episode is for you.
In this science-packed and surprisingly fun conversation, Tess and Layne sit down with Dr Roy Sugarman — applied neuroscientist, former Director of Neuroscience and Performance Innovation at Team Exos, and the man who has built peak performance models used by the U.S. Congress, California Health Services and elite sporting organisations around the world.
Roy unpacks the neuroscience of why you sabotage yourself, why your emotional brain is faster than your logic, and how the six pillars of psychological flexibility — the hexaflex — can train anyone, athlete or everyday human, to thrive under pressure. Layne shares the Fat Bastard recitation that won her a prize purse, Roy explains why “believe in yourself” is actually a vulnerable strategy, and Tess discovers that the yeah buts in her head are a neuroscience phenomenon.
You will learn:
The two ancient brain systems running your every decision and why knowing the difference changes everything
Why trust is more powerful than belief in competition — and in life
How radical acceptance turns setbacks into stepping stones
The science of thought diffusion and why humour might be the most underrated performance tool you have
Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses
The Therapy Session - Self-Care, Separation, and Healing Your Inner Child
Sunday, April 5, 2026 • Duration 36:34
If you have ever wondered:
💭 “Why do I feel so guilty every time I do something for myself?”
💭 “Why does leaving my child feel like leaving a part of me behind?”
💭 “How do I stop my childhood pain from running my parenting?”
– this episode is for you.
In this brave and deeply personal episode, Tess and Layne sit in the hot seat with therapist Lael Stone for a live mini therapy session that unpacks the childhood stories shaping their relationship to self-care, separation, and motherhood.
Tess reveals her fear of missing out on moments with Benji and traces it back to being three years old, shuttled between homes after her parents’ divorce. She realises the separation anxiety she feels at daycare drop-off is not the adult leaving. It is her inner child reliving the pain of being left behind. Layne shares the story of losing her adoptive mother at seven, being adopted at birth after conception through date rape, and how the ocean became the mother love she never had.
Lael guides them through the imprints they received around self-care, boundaries, and rest, showing how the martyr story and the “you’re lazy if you stop” narrative are passed down through generations. She offers a powerful reframe: you do not have to choose between being a present mother and meeting your own needs. Healing the younger parts of yourself is what allows the integrated adult to show up. And when you complete your story, your children do not have to carry it.
You will learn:
How childhood imprints around self-care create hidden blocks to rest and boundaries in adulthood
Why separation anxiety in parenting often has roots in your own childhood experiences
Trust, Surrender and the Power of Owning Your Story – with Lael Stone
Sunday, March 29, 2026 • Duration 01:04:17
If you have ever wondered:
💭 “What happens when I finally stop running from my pain?”
💭 “How can I trust my life when I have been hurt so deeply?”
💭 “What does it mean to truly own my story?”
– this episode is for you.
In this vulnerable and transformative conversation, Lael Stone joins Tess and Layne to unpack the moment that changed everything: the traumatic birth of her third child, Tali, and how she chose surrender over fear by whispering “I trust you” to her newborn when no one was certain she would survive.
Together they explore the language of the nervous system: fear hits in the gut, causes dissociation and shutdown. Trust feels like stillness, expansion, knowing. Lael teaches inner child work – that critical moment when you pause and ask “How old am I right now?” and realise your triggered nervous system is actually protecting a younger, wounded version of you. Tess shares a real-time example with her husband over tadpoles, discovering she was responding as an 8-10 year old girl being told she was weird.
They discuss imprints – the belief systems and stories we absorb as children to belong in our families. We stay shockingly loyal to these imprints even as adults because they feel like love: “You’re too emotional.” “You don’t deserve that.” “You’re not enough.” Lael shares how recognising these patterns is the first step to changing them. And then she names the transformative truth that hit Tess: if everyone owned their story instead of running from it, we would have less projection, less blame, and infinitely more peace and accountability.
You will hear about:
The somatic difference between fear and trust in your body and nervous system
Inner child work and how to identify which younger part of you is driving your triggers
What imprints are and how family loyalty keeps us locked into unhealthy patterns
Why owning your story instead of running from it is the path to freedom and peace
Olympics Episode - Pressure, Perspective and a (Surprise) Letting Go
Sunday, March 22, 2026 • Duration 33:54
If you have ever wondered:
💭 “Why do I feel so crushed by pressure, even when I am doing well?”
💭 “How do I find perspective when I feel like I have let myself or others down?”
💭 “How do I know when to keep pushing and when it is time to let go?”
this episode is for you.
In this honest and moving conversation, Tess and Layne explore what the Olympics can teach us about greatness, pressure, emotional regulation and identity. Through the stories of athletes like Scotty James, Alana Meyers Taylor and Alysa Liu, they unpack what happens when performance collides with expectation, and how perspective, support and joy can help you find your way back to yourself.
Layne reflects on the emotional weight athletes carry when their goals are public, why having a life outside the arena matters, and how dream teams help people hold steady when the pressure is at its peak. Tess draws out the deeper life lessons in each story, showing how the same patterns appear in work, parenting, leadership and everyday life whenever we tie our worth to one outcome.
The episode then turns deeply personal as Tess invites Layne to reflect on her own recent experience competing for her boardriders club. What follows is a vulnerable and powerful conversation about ageing, identity, acceptance and the courage to stop proving. Together they offer a toolkit for anyone carrying too much pressure or avoiding a truth they already know: ask what basic emotion you are resisting, bring it back to yourself, and choose the version of greatness that lets you breathe.
You will hear about:
How perspective shifts help regulate disappointment and emotional overwhelm
Why support systems matter when you are standing at the edge of growth or burnout
The difference between pressure driven performance and joy fuelled performance
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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
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.
Why genuine leadership begins with taking care of the leader first
Season 3 is brought to you by AIA, a leading life, health and wellbeing insurer supporting healthier, longer, better lives. Protect what matters most, and AIA will help you do it for life. Complete your age calculator here https://www.aia.com.au/en/health-and-wellbeing/aia-vitality/age-calculator
Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 are 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 have 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.
