In This Together - Same But Different

Bernadette Dancy and Liz Goodchild

Welcome to In This Together: Same But Different. Hosted by Liz Goodchild, Coach and Supervisor, and Bernadette Dancy, Stress Management Coach — two friends, two coaches, two humans — this podcast is about the weird, lovely, maddening reality of being alive. This is not a self-help podcast…even though, yes, we are coaches. We're not here to dish out any how-to guidance or advice, and there'll be absolutely no magic answers or "do this and your life will change" kind of stuff. Each episode is a real, human chat from two perspectives - so you can feel less alone, a little more understood, and maybe think, "Oh… me too." Come as you are. We're here to keep you company. Because we're In This Together: Same, But Different.

Episodes

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Episode 5: Exercise, Noise & Navigating the “Shoulds”

    After a few heavier episodes on burnout and breakdowns, we wanted to talk about something that can feel “lighter”… but is often just as loaded: exercise. In this conversation, Liz and Bernie talk honestly about our messy, complicated relationship with exercise:  not because movement is bad, but because the way it’s talked about has become noisy, pressurised, and disconnected from real life. We explore how exercise intersects with: perimenopause and hormonal shiftsburnout, stress, and limited capacitychanging bodies and shifting identitiesgrief, illness, parenting, and demanding livesWe unpack what happens when: you try to do all the things and burn outyou stop completely because it feels like too muchmotivation gets confused with capacity“listening to your body” feels vague, frustrating, or impossibleBernie brings out her gentle inner nerd to explain stress, recovery, HRV, and tracking tech, including when data can be helpful, when it can become harmful, and why it should never be the boss. Liz reflects on what it’s like to renegotiate movement when your body, energy, and life no longer work the way they used to, and why learning what’s enough can be harder than pushing harder. This episode isn’t about finding the perfect way to exercise. It’s about context. Capacity. Trust. And building a relationship with movement that actually fits your body and your life, not someone else’s routine. Same pressure. Different needs. Different answers.Same but different. Stay in touchEmail: inthistogetherchat@gmail.comInstagram: @liz.good.child and @bernadettedancy_stresscoach Work with us Liz: 1:1 coaching/therapy (check current availability via her website): https://www.lizgoodchild.co.uk/ Bernie: 1:1 stress and lifestyle coaching, CPD-accredited training courses http://www.stress-ed.co.uk

    54 min
  2. 25 JAN

    Episode 4: What Helped & Choosing Change

    Content note: This episode includes discussion of OCD, mental health crisis, and suicidal thoughts (non-graphic). Please listen in a way that feels safe and supportive for you.This episode is a follow-on from Episode 3 (Burnout & Breakdowns), because after sharing the hard parts, we wanted to talk about the what next: what actually helped us recover, and what we’ve seen help our clients over the last decade. We’re not offering a step-by-step guide or a shiny “bounce back” story. We’re talking about the real, often slow, messy process of coming back online — bird by bird — and the difference between change that happens after a crisis, and change you choose on an ordinary Wednesday when nothing is technically “wrong”… but something in you knows it isn’t working anymore. Liz shares how OCD played a central role in her breakdown and why having someone name what was happening became a turning point — not because labels fix everything, but because being believed can be the beginning of getting the right support. Bernie talks about the power (and pain) of being dismissed, why capacity matters more than motivation, and what it looked like to make both small lifestyle shifts and big life changes after burnout. In this episode, we talk about: why understanding what’s happening matters before tackling the “why”the difference between sharing from experience vs offloading in real timetherapy, support systems, and why reassurance doesn’t help OCD“life force,” self-determination, and the quiet insistence to keep goingwhy change is hard when your system is overloadedchange after crisis vs change by choicecapacity, compassion, and starting with the basics Stay in touch:Email: inthistogetherchat@gmail.comInstagram: @liz.good.child and @bernadettedancy_stresscoach Work with usLiz’s 1:1 coaching is currently full, with new spaces opening in February. You can find out more about her coaching approach here: https://www.lizgoodchild.co.uk Bernie has limited availability for stress assessments, and the early bird registration is open for her next CPD cohort on stress and burnout:www.stress-ed.co.uk

    48 min
  3. 12 JAN

    Episode 3: Burnout and Breakdowns

    Episode 3 Description for Podcast: Burnout and Breakdowns Trigger warning: Some episodes include honest conversations about suicide. Please listen in a way that feels safe and supportive for you. Burnout and breakdowns rarely come out of nowhere.They build slowly, often in plain sight, until something in us can’t keep going the way it used to. In this episode, Liz and Bernie talk about what burnout and breakdown actually felt like in their own lives: Bernie’s slow-burn burnout after having her second baby, and Liz’s breakdown years after her mum’s suicide, when her grief had nowhere to go. This isn’t a clinical or textbook conversation. It’s an honest, human one, about what happens when we keep “cracking on” for too long, and why these moments aren’t failures, but signals that we’re carrying too much and can no longer cope. In this episode, we talk about: How burnout can look “high functioning” from the outside.The slow build of chronic stress (and the moment it turns serious).Parenthood, sleep deprivation, and the invisible load.Repressed grief, trauma, and when the body finally says enough.The stigma difference between “burnout” and “breakdown”.Coping strategies (work, exercise, drinking, control) and why they make sense.Learning the early signs, and what recovery can look like over time.We also explore questions like: What if burnout and breakdown aren’t personal flaws, but protective responses?How do you ask for help when you don’t even know what you need?What would you want your younger self to know in the darkest bit? Support & resources If this episode brought things up for you, you’re not alone. And you’re not imagining it. If you recognised yourself (or someone you love) in the conversation, these resources may be helpful. Burnout, stress & mental health support (UK)MindPractical information on burnout, anxiety, depression, and how to get support, including local services.https://www.mind.org.uk Mental Health FoundationEvidence-based articles on burnout, stress, sleep, and mental wellbeing.https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk OCD-specific supportOCD UKUK-based charity offering trusted information, self-help resources, and peer support.https://www.ocduk.org OCD ActionHelpline, advocacy, and practical support for people living with OCD.https://www.ocdaction.org.uk Crisis & immediate supportIf you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsafe right now, please reach out for immediate support. Samaritans24/7 emotional support, free and confidential.116 123 | https://www.samaritans.org ShoutFree, confidential text support if talking feels hard.Text SHOUT to 85258 | https://giveusashout.org Work, burnout & boundariesACASGuidance on work-related stress, sick leave, and employee rights.https://www.acas.org.uk

    1h 12m
  4. 29/12/2025 · BONUS

    Episode 2: New Year, Goals, and the January Feelings

    January can be a strange one. In this episode, Liz and Bernie talk about the weird, wobbly in-between space between Christmas and New Year, and the pressure many of us feel to reset, refocus, and make big changes - even when we’re tired, grieving, or just not quite ready. This is an honest, reflective conversation about how January actually feels, rather than how it’s supposed to feel. In this episode, we talk about: The liminal space between Christmas and New YearWhy January can feel heavy, flat, or emotionally chargedGoals, resolutions, and why they work for some people and not for othersGrief, anniversaries, and how they show up at this time of yearValues, habits, and making change in small, realistic waysWhy January often feels more like a pause than a launchWe also explore questions like: What if we didn’t rush to change ourselves in January?What do we actually need at this time of year?How do we make space for both reflection and intention?Things mentioned in this episode: Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg: https://tinyhabits.com/The Body Keeps The Score: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693771-the-body-keeps-the-scoreStay in touch We’d love to hear how January feels for you. You can message us with your thoughts, experiences, or topics you’d love us to talk about in future episodes. Follow us on Instagram: @liz.good.child @bernadettedancy_stresscoach Email us both at Inthistogetherchat@gmail.com Work with usLiz’s 1:1 coaching is currently full, with her 2026 group coaching course starting soon. Bernie is accepting registrations for the next CPD cohort focused on stress and burnout. You can find all the information here: www.stress-ed.co.uk Credits Artwork by Sonja Maschkio Instagram:@smart_3779 Music: by Leva lemonmusicstudio@gmail.com

    46 min

About

Welcome to In This Together: Same But Different. Hosted by Liz Goodchild, Coach and Supervisor, and Bernadette Dancy, Stress Management Coach — two friends, two coaches, two humans — this podcast is about the weird, lovely, maddening reality of being alive. This is not a self-help podcast…even though, yes, we are coaches. We're not here to dish out any how-to guidance or advice, and there'll be absolutely no magic answers or "do this and your life will change" kind of stuff. Each episode is a real, human chat from two perspectives - so you can feel less alone, a little more understood, and maybe think, "Oh… me too." Come as you are. We're here to keep you company. Because we're In This Together: Same, But Different.

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