A Wake Up Call

Layne Beachley AO & Tess Brouwer
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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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Olympics Episode - Pressure, Perspective and a (Surprise) Letting Go

    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 How acceptance can free you from identities you no longer need to carry. Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/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 Follow Layne on Instagram @laynebeachley Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy Awake’s TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_ Sponsor our podcast https://www.awakeacademy.com.au/contact 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 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min

  2. 15 MAR

    Human Connection Saved My Life with Barry Du Bois

    When life forces you to slow down, it can feel like everything is falling apart. But sometimes the hardest seasons become the very moments that reconnect you to what matters most. In this episode, Tess and Layne sit down with Barry for a deeply moving conversation about the wake-up calls that changed the course of his life. From infertility, miscarriage and depression, to two life-threatening cancer diagnoses, Barry shares the moments that cracked him open, the pain that disconnected him from himself, and the human connection that ultimately helped bring him back. What unfolds is an honest conversation about identity, grief, masculinity, mental health, courage and what it really means to live well. Barry reflects on the pressure of trying to be “strong,” the danger of losing touch with your emotions, and the quiet way despair can build over time. He also shares the turning points that helped him heal: a friend who showed up, the power of being seen without being “fixed,” and the curiosity that slowly helped him rebuild his life. The trio explore the difference between confidence and true self-belief, why resilience is more about adaptation than toughness, and how children, community and purpose can completely reshape your relationship with life. They also touch on boundaries, bravery, self-worth, emotional eating, and the importance of asking people how they need to be supported instead of telling them what to do. They finish with a powerful reminder that healing rarely happens in one dramatic moment. More often, it begins with a tiny crack of light, a safe connection, or one small choice that helps you come home to yourself again. In this episode, you will learn: • Why wake-up calls often arrive long before the biggest crisis • How depression can create deep disconnection from yourself and others • Why human connection can be the first step back from darkness • The difference between bravado, confidence and true self-belief • How curiosity can become a practical tool for healing and growth • Why resilience is about adapting, not just “being tough” • The role of boundaries in protecting your energy and wellbeing • Why asking “how can I help?” matters more than giving advice • How children, community and purpose can reshape your life • What it means to live bravely, honestly and with more intention 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 • 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: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au • Awake’s TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy Connect with Barry • Learn more about Barry’s work at Barry’s website • Follow Barry’s journey and speaking work online Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  3. 8 MAR

    The Soul Map: How to Reconnect When Life Looks Fine But Feels Off

    When you feel flat, overwhelmed, or quietly disconnected, it’s often not because something is “wrong” with you. Sometimes it’s simply a signal that parts of your wellbeing need attention. In this episode, Tess and Layne introduce the Soul Map, a framework designed to help you reconnect with yourself and rebuild wellbeing from the inside out. The conversation starts with a feeling many people share: doing all the “right” things in life while still feeling exhausted or out of alignment. They explore why mindset alone can’t fix a dysregulated nervous system and why real wellbeing requires looking at multiple layers of life. Tess and Layne walk through the three parts of the Soul Map: your physical state (Basecamp), your emotional world, and the wellbeing practices that restore energy and clarity. Along the way, they share personal stories about burnout edges, decision fatigue, busy calendars, and the quiet exhaustion that can come from constantly saying yes. The episode finishes with a rapid-fire listener Q&A, covering everything from recognising when your body needs care instead of discipline to understanding the difference between being tired and being disconnected. In this episode, you will learn: • Why mindset alone can’t fix a stressed nervous system • The three layers of the Soul Map framework • Why managing your energy matters more than managing your time • How burnout can show up as disconnection rather than exhaustion • The role of emotional stories in shaping how we experience life • How space in your calendar can create safety rather than urgency • Simple wellbeing practices that reconnect you to yourself quickly • The difference between rumination and reflection • How boundaries and consistency build self-trust over time • What feeling “well” actually feels like in your body 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 • 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: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au • Awake’s TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy Complete your Soul Map here: https://soulmap.online/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min

  4. 22 FEB

    Drop the Blame Game: How to Stop Blaming Yourself (and Others)

    What if the thing keeping you stuck isn’t your circumstances… but who you’re blaming for them?   In this episode, Tess and Layne unpack the blame game through sport, injury and a very real-life moment between the two of them. From sand sprints, stress fractures and the Australian Open final to world titles and wounded egos, this conversation dives into what happens when we look everywhere but within.   Watching Djokovic and Alcaraz battle it out, Layne reflects on the subtle signs of belief versus excuse: body language, composure, where the eyes go under pressure. She shares how, in her early career, every loss had a culprit, the boards, the judges, the wind, anyone but her. Until she realised the common denominator in all her disappointment was herself.   They explore the science behind blame as a survival mechanism. When we feel threatened, overwhelmed or unsafe, the brain looks for control. Blame gives the illusion of control. But it also keeps us stuck in stress, fuels shame, and quietly drains our energy.   Tess and Layne share a vulnerable moment where blame crept into their own dynamic, and how awareness, regulation and ownership shifted it from defence to growth. The lesson? Ownership without punishment changes everything.   In this episode, you’ll learn: What elite athletes reveal under pressure: belief versus excuseLayne’s early career pattern of blaming everyone but herselfThe fear of success, fear of rejection, and how they drive blameThe neuroscience of blame as a safety responseHow blame turns inward into shame and fuels negative self-talkWhy poor communication often sits underneath the blame cycleParenting through blame and helping kids feel safe and seenA practical toolkit to interrupt the blame loop:Name it without judgementRegulate before you respondAsk what’s in your controlSeparate responsibility from personal attackReplace blame with curiosityWhy people pleasing in conflict prevents real growthThe freedom that comes from owning your part and letting it go  If you’ve been blaming someone else, or yourself, for where you are right now, this episode is your invitation to pause. To breathe. To look within. And to choose growth over defence.   Because when you drop the blame, you drop the weight.   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   • 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: wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au   • Awake’s TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
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About

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Layne Beachley AO & Tess Brouwer
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Awake Academy PTY LTD
  • Show Website
    A Wake Up Call

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