Big Stuff With Danielle Colley

Danielle Colley
  • 5.0 (6)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

You know who's going through BIG STUFF? Literally everyone. But it's how you handle it that makes the difference.  Award-winning author and life coach Danielle Colley gets real about the relentless expectations we put on ourselves, the comparison trap, and the gap between how life looks and how it actually feels. For ambitious women who may be crushing their goals but are feeling crushed by them. Conversations that matter. A little advice, a little inspiration, and a lot of humanness. No toxic positivity - just raw honesty about what it really takes to thrive. If you're burnt out from achieving everything or tired of pretending it's all fine, this is for you. Because life should feel GOOD to live. New episodes weekly Follow @daniellecolley

  1. Is It Me, or Is It My Hormones? The Weird Perimenopause Symptoms Women Miss for Years

    9 HRS AGO

    Is It Me, or Is It My Hormones? The Weird Perimenopause Symptoms Women Miss for Years

    Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a text Did you know there are over 48 symptoms of perimenopause — and the average woman is experiencing more than five of them at once, without realising any of them are hormonal? In this episode, Danielle gets into the weird, the unexpected, and the frankly baffling symptoms that can show up years before you'd ever think to look at your hormones. From itchy feet in bed at night to ringing ears, from rage that comes from nowhere to a quiet loss of confidence that creeps in and makes you feel like a stranger in your own head — these are the symptoms that send women to three different specialists before someone finally mentions perimenopause. Danielle shares her own story of realising she'd been in perimenopause for five or six years without knowing — including a frozen shoulder, excruciating ovulation she describes as "passing a puppy," and the slow, scary erosion of the confidence she'd spent decades building. She also gets into why this matters beyond the physical: why women at this life stage are more likely to be misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression, why doctors often dismiss symptoms in women under 50, and the research that shows this is one of the most vulnerable windows in a woman's life — and one of the most under treated. This one is for every woman who has Googled "am I allergic to myself" at 2am with itchy feet. You're not. It's your hormones. And now you know. Resources mentioned -  Big Stuff Episode 7 - ADHD and Perimenopause The Chocolate Bar Life - Danielle Colley WellFemme  - online menopause doctors    •       0:00 The stat that stopped me: 48 symptoms, 5 at once •       1:30 Danielle's story •       4:00 Symptom 1 — Brain fog and losing words •       7:30 Symptom 2 — Confidence dropping for no reason •       10:30 Symptom 3 — Frozen shoulder (and what actually fixed it) •       15:30 Symptom 4 — The angry egg •       19:00 The doctor problem •       21:00 Symptom 5 — The Rage Monster. •       25:30 Symptom 6 — Anxiety that comes out of nowhere •       29:30 Symptom 7 —  "What's the point"  •       32:00 Symptom 8 — Itchy burning skin (including your feet) •       35:00 Symptom 9 — Ear weirdness •       37:00 Why this matters •       40:00 What helps

    41 min
  2. How To Say Yes To Your Life - Resilience, Purpose and Starting Over

    30 APR

    How To Say Yes To Your Life - Resilience, Purpose and Starting Over

    Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a text Ursula Kohler has spent 30 years being the woman behind the power. The one in the room holding it all together while everyone else loses the plot.  Through her businesses Capital EA and Bear Consulting, she has trained, supported and recruited the executive assistants and operators that keep some of Australia's most high-profile leaders functioning at their best — politicians, board members, government department heads.  This year she was personally invited by the President of the Senate to speak at Australian Parliament House for International Women's Day. She consults to traditional owners in remote North Queensland. She is, by any measure, a seriously impressive human. And then her marriage ended. Catastrophically. And the very thing that was blamed for the breakdown — her business, her drive, her ambition — turned out to be the thing that carried her through. This conversation covers grief, purpose, the ancestral lines that shape who we are, what it actually takes to earn the trust of powerful people, and what happens when a woman who has said yes to everyone else finally starts saying yes to herself. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 — Introduction 2:30 — The messy middle 10:00 — Ancestry, migration, war, and the things that are passed down without ever being taught 17:00 — What it actually takes to be the person powerful people trust 24:00 — Putting your hand up  29:00 — Everything on the other side of fear is growth 36:00 — The marriage 41:00 — Purpose as the lifeline 43:30 — On country in Palm Island 49:00 — Australian Parliament House, International Women's Day, and what it means to stand in that room as that voice 52:00 — Caring for a mother with dementia  56:30 — What's next: 58:30 — Closing reflection and two thinking points CONNECT WITH URSULA:  Instagram -⁠ @Capital EA ⁠ ⁠@urskoh⁠ Linkedin - ⁠Ursula Kohler⁠ CONNECT WITH DANIELLE:  Instagram: ⁠@iamdaniellecolley ⁠ Email: ⁠bigstuffpod@gmail.com⁠

    1hr 3min
  3. She Woke Up With One Arm And Felt Grateful - Kerryn Harvey

    22 APR

    She Woke Up With One Arm And Felt Grateful - Kerryn Harvey

    Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a text Most of us walk around cataloguing what's missing. The goal we haven't hit, the body that isn't enough, the life that doesn't quite measure up yet. Kerryn Harvey woke up from a ten-day coma with one arm and saw a miracle. In 2013, Kerryn contracted necrotising fasciitis — flesh-eating bacteria — from a minor cycling accident. Within 30 hours she was unconscious. She survived on a 5% chance, losing her right arm and shoulder in the process. What followed wasn't just a recovery story. It was a complete rebuilding of a life — on purpose, and with her eyes wide open. Kerryn has since won medals at the Paratriathlon World Championships, completed two Ironmans (one after the amputation), run twelve marathons in twelve months for charity, and is currently working her way through the six Abbott World Marathon Majors. She is also the author of Mostly Ups. But none of that is really the point of this conversation. The point is what Kerryn sees when she looks at her life — and why most of us can't see the same thing when we look at ours. Kerryn is real proof that the version of yourself you haven't met yet might be the most extraordinary one. Not because something catastrophic has to happen first — but sometimes it takes something major to show us that the way we've been looking at our lives is upside down.  We're scanning for the deficit when the miracle is sitting right there. Chapter Markers 00:00 — Introduction  03:00 —  Why Iron Man is nothing compared to what she's been through  08:30 — The cycling accident and the fight for her life  16:00 — The confusion and the grief  21:00 — How she survived the emotional side 24:30 — What is necrotising fasciitis, and why it's terrifyingly ordinary  28:30 — Running toward or running away?  32:00 — This wasn't her first battle  36:30 — Allowing herself to fall in love — and what life's too short really means  38:30 — How she feels about this body, this life, and what's changed  43:00 — The difference between living every day as if it's your last and living every day with joy  46:00 — The 2018 Ironman start line: what it felt like to be back  51:00 — Seeing the miracle, not the deficit — and how that shift actually happened  54:00 — The six Marathon Majors and what's next  56:30 — Radical acceptance, small goals, and opening doors  58:30 — Thinking points and close Resources and Links Kerryn's book Mostly Ups — available August 17. Find her at kerrynharvey.com Find Kerryn on Instagram Nine Lives Training — Kerryn's personal training business based in Melbourne If this episode landed with you, share it with one person who needs to hear it. Leave a comment, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and I'll see you next time for more Big Stuff.

    59 min
  4. Why You're Undercharging (Even If You Love What You Do)

    15 APR

    Why You're Undercharging (Even If You Love What You Do)

    Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a text “I love what I do… but am I limiting myself financially?” This How Are You Really? episode is inspired by a listener question that hits closer to home than most of us would like to admit. What happens when you’re motivated by meaning, impact, and being genuinely helpful… but struggle to ask for money, raise your prices, or advocate for your worth? In this episode, Danielle unpack's the tension between purpose and ambition — and why the story we tell ourselves about money isn’t always the truth. We explore: – Why being “not money motivated” isn’t always what it seems – The hidden link between self-worth and income – How values and fear can look identical on the surface – Why undercharging leads to resentment (even when you love your work) – The real reason you avoid money conversations – How to identify where you might be holding yourself back Plus, practical prompts to help you reflect on your own patterns and start shifting them. Because purpose and profit aren’t opposites. And charging what you’re worth isn’t greed — it’s self-respect. If you have a question you want Danielle to dig into, email ping her on instagram @iamdaniellecolley or reach out at bigstuffpod@gmail.com

    32 min
  5. Are You Misdiagnosing Your Relationship?

    8 APR

    Are You Misdiagnosing Your Relationship?

    Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a text We’ve never known more about relationships. Attachment styles. Red flags. Narcissism. Trauma bonds. We can diagnose a relationship in under 60 seconds… or at least we think we can. But what if all this information isn’t actually helping? In this episode, I’m joined by clinical psychologist Dr Michelle Olathe to unpack what’s really going on when therapy language goes viral — and how it might be distorting the way we see our partners, ourselves, and our relationships. In this episode: – Why “therapy speak” can oversimplify complex relationship dynamics – The difference between real patterns and reactive labeling – How social media amplifies insecurity and misinterpretation – What attachment theory actually means (without the jargon) – Why conflict is normal — and what healthy relationships really look like – The single biggest predictor of long-term relationship success – How to take ownership of your part (without self-blame) – A simple tool to help you understand your own patterns This is a conversation about nuance, responsibility, and the messy, unglamorous reality of doing relationships well. Because the framework isn’t the finish line. And the work… is still the work. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction03:00 Why everyone's ex is a narcissist — the rise of therapy speak10:00 Pathologising the shit bits: where labels help and where they don't17:00 Attachment theory explained simply26:00 How social media amplifies our insecurities33:00 Owning your part — the bins, the napkins, and the death of a thousand cuts42:00 What healthy relationships actually look like50:00 How to do the self-reflection work — and why friends aren't enough58:00 The mood diaryThinking points: Next time you're heated with your partner, notice whether your nervous system is telling you that they are the threat — or whether it's something outside both of you. That distinction changes everything about what you do next. And when did you last track your own patterns? Not theirs. Yours. Michelle's mood diary suggestion is deceptively simple. Try it for a week. Resources mentioned: Free Relationship Reality Guide — Online Psychologists AustraliaThe Gottman Institute — gottman.comDr Helen Fisher — TED Talk: The Brain in LoveHealthBright — healthbright.com.auDr Michelle Olaithe — The Sleep PsychologistIf this episode resonated, share it with one person who needs it. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Find out more about Danielle at daniellecolley.com.au

    1hr 1min
  6. The Truth About Imposter Syndrome; You Haven't Caught Up To Yourself Yet

    1 APR

    The Truth About Imposter Syndrome; You Haven't Caught Up To Yourself Yet

    Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a text Have you ever walked into a room — a meeting, a new job, a boardroom — and felt that quiet, creeping sense that someone is about to find you out? That somehow you've tricked your way in and it's only a matter of time before everyone works that out? That feeling has a name: imposter syndrome. And in this How Are You Really? episode, Danielle gets into what it actually is, why it hits hardest precisely when you've most earned your place, and — most importantly — what to do about it.  Drawing on her own experience walking into the Women's Weekly newsroom as a blogger among award-winning career journalists, and the stories of women she coaches across high-stakes industries, Danielle unpacks the real reason so many capable, accomplished women still feel like frauds: their self-concept simply hasn't caught up to the person they've already become. Episode Chapters 0:00 — Welcome  2:30 — The Women's Weekly story: earning your place, and the trap that comes with it  8:00 — What imposter syndrome actually feels like, and why it lives at every new level  13:00 — The software problem: old programs running in the background  19:30 — Three ways to start catching up to yourself  23:00 — Two questions to sit with before you close this app Three Ways to Manage Imposter Syndrome Audit the evidence, not the feelingUpdate the story — retire the old narrativeAct like the version of you who has already arrived Find Danielle  Website:⁠ daniellecolley.com.au ⁠ Instagram:⁠ @daniellecolley ⁠ Got a question for a How Are You Really? episode? Email: ⁠bigstuffpod@gmail.com⁠ or DM her on Instagram

    24 min
  7. Melinda Schneider - 40 Years Being Perfect And The Cost No One Saw

    25 MAR

    Melinda Schneider - 40 Years Being Perfect And The Cost No One Saw

    Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a text Melinda Schneider has been on stage since she was three years old. She's released fourteen albums, won six Golden Guitars, sold out the Sydney Opera House more than once, and just debuted at number one on the ARIA charts. By every measure, she is a success story. But in this conversation, Melinda shares what was quietly happening behind all of it — the perfectionism that drove her, the workaholism she couldn't stop, and the breakdown at 47 that finally forced her to put it all down. She talks about the flags she ignored for years, her resistance to accepting help, the terror of going public with her mental health story, and what it's actually taken to rebuild a life that feels good from the inside. This is a conversation about the cost of performing perfect — and what becomes possible when you finally stop. Connect with Melinda:  Website:⁠ melindaschneider.com.au ⁠ Instagram: ⁠@melindaschneiderofficial⁠ The Barbra Streisand show The Way We Were tours nationally from August — including the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Find out more about Danielle at ⁠daniellecolley.com.au⁠ Or follow her on Istagram - ⁠@iamdaniellecolley⁠ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction  05:00 — What it's really like being a successful working artist 09:30 — Where does expectation end and you begin?  11:30 — The perfect impersonation of perfect — and the collapse at 47  20:00— What she was most afraid of: being a disappointment 23:00 — The flags she ignored  27:30 — The trigger, the breakdown, and going to bed 30:30 — Resisting medication — and why surrendering to it was the hardest part  34:00 — "Should is shit" — reprogramming the critical inner voice  40:30 — The sandwich generation 46:00 — The number one album and what success feels like now  52:00 — Painting with her mum, "I wonder what will happen," and letting go of perfectionism  55:30 — What's next: touring, the Barbra Streisand show, keeping the balance

    58 min
  8. What Your Home Says About You | Swedish Death Cleaning, Identity Shifts & Letting Go with Cindy Kavanagh

    18 MAR

    What Your Home Says About You | Swedish Death Cleaning, Identity Shifts & Letting Go with Cindy Kavanagh

    Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a text What if the clutter in your home isn't just stuff — it's a story you're still telling about yourself? In this episode, Danielle sits down with Cindy Kavanagh, former fashion photographer turned Swedish Death Cleaning practitioner, for a conversation about identity, letting go, and what's left when you strip it all back. Cindy spent over thirty years making women look and feel extraordinary — first through fashion photography, then through her portrait studio The Modern Muse, and then through a Masters of Art degree exploring identity and belonging. Now she's doing the most radical thing she's ever done: clearing it all away. Her accumulated beautiful life, her professional identity, and the roles she's been playing — and helping others do the same through the Scandinavian practice of Swedish Death Cleaning. Not because life got bad, but because she started to wonder what was actually left when you stopped holding onto the proof of who you once were. This one goes deep. Danielle and Cindy talk about the grief of an empty nest arriving earlier than expected, the quiet liberation of choosing simplicity after decades of accumulating, and why your home might be the most honest mirror of who you really are. There's also a bumblebee. A large one.  CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction  03:30 — Meet Cindy: from fashion photographer to Swedish Death Cleaner  08:00 — Selling dreams, not dresses: the heart behind the camera  15:00 — Danielle's dad's sailing journal and the art of honouring what matters  22:00 — What Swedish Death Cleaning actually is (and isn't)  28:00 — How your home reflects your internal state  33:00 — Sentimental objects, obligation, and letting go with love  40:00 — The empty nest: grief arriving earlier than expected  46:00 — Joy and grief in each pocket: the duality of life's transitions  53:00 — What simplicity looks like after a life of accumulating  59:00 — Your home as a mirror: the five objects question RESOURCES MENTIONED The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson HOW TO FIND CINDY Cindy's business: Simplify with Cindy Instagram - @simplify_with_cindy Enjoyed this episode? Share it with one person who needs to hear it. And if you want to get in touch or submit your own How Are You Really, reach Danielle at bigstuffpod@gmail.com or @iamdaniellecolley

    57 min
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5
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About

You know who's going through BIG STUFF? Literally everyone. But it's how you handle it that makes the difference.  Award-winning author and life coach Danielle Colley gets real about the relentless expectations we put on ourselves, the comparison trap, and the gap between how life looks and how it actually feels. For ambitious women who may be crushing their goals but are feeling crushed by them. Conversations that matter. A little advice, a little inspiration, and a lot of humanness. No toxic positivity - just raw honesty about what it really takes to thrive. If you're burnt out from achieving everything or tired of pretending it's all fine, this is for you. Because life should feel GOOD to live. New episodes weekly Follow @daniellecolley

Information

  • Creator
    Danielle Colley
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Big Stuff With Danielle Colley
  • Show Website
    Big Stuff With Danielle Colley

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