If you have ever wondered: “How can two people hear exactly the same thing and walk away with completely different stories?” “Why does disagreeing online get personal so fast?” “What do I actually do when something I read online gets under my skin?” - this episode is for you. A few weeks ago Layne and Tess posted a 49-second clip from the podcast. They thought they were sharing a conversation about performance and what it was like to compete in conditions that were never built for you. Instead it reached more than 400,000 people, picked up 41,000 likes, 2,000 shares, 2,000 saves and almost 200 comments, and the comments turned into something none of them expected: a live social experiment in how people hear, judge and defend. So this week they turn the comments off and turn the conversation on. Layne walks through what actually surprised her, which was not the disagreement but the vitriol, and how quickly people stopped arguing with her and started attacking each other. Tess reads out what came back, from the woman sent to the worst break so the blokes could keep the good waves, to the claim that corporate Australia still parachutes in a female CEO when a business is already sinking. Together they pull apart why perception hardens into narrative, why narrative hardens into belief, and why most of us would rather be right than happy. The back half is the useful part for anyone leading a team. Advocacy beats mentorship. Confirmation bias is usually cheaper to fix than hostility. And the three things every performer needs, something to believe in, someone to believe in and someone who believes in them, are exactly what women’s surfing was missing in the 1990s and exactly what it has now. It closes with the AIA Do It For Life toolkit for the moment something online gets under your skin, and the three questions worth asking before you type anything at all. You will hear about:What 49 seconds and almost 200 comments revealed about identity, leadership and judgement, and why turning the comments off was the right callWhy people defend identity instead of facts, how confirmation bias quietly decides who gets the seat, and where the scarcity mentality comes fromAdvocacy over mentorship: “don’t teach us how to surf, show us where the best waves are”, and what real allyship sounds like at workThe money myth in sport: whether bigger audiences justify bigger pay, why the flights do not cost less for Serena Williams, and what Layne would have done with pay equity instead of four part-time jobsThe AIA Do It For Life toolkit for getting triggered online: why am I triggered, what do I need to decompress, get curious about your response rather than the comment, and the three questions - is it true, is it kind, is it necessaryLinks textJoin 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 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 Bring more energy, motivation and connection to your team wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au 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. 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. Help is always available, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text on 0477 13 11 14. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
