This conversation sits where many of us are living right now: caring for kids and partners while also preparing to say goodbye to the people who raised us. Tess and Layne open with a real life audit, naming the season they are in as the sandwich generation. They invite guest Mitch Wallis (Heart On My Sleeve – https://www.mitchwallis.com) to help untangle grief with honesty and practical tools. You will hear why ambiguity makes grief so hard, how to “undensify” big feelings through presence, and why the most healing question is often the simplest: “What are you going to miss about your dad the most?” Together they model emotional regulation, co-regulation, and the courage to feel it to heal it, then close with a clear toolkit: “Stop fixing. Start listening.”

What you will learn:
How to run a quick life audit when you feel stretched on all sides
Why uncertainty supercharges grief and how to find steadiness in it
Simple body anchors from Mitch’s practice: “light, bright, tight, might”
A supportive question that opens connection: “What are you going to miss about them the most?”
How to balance pre-grieving with presence, so you do not wish away the time you still have
Co-regulation basics for friends and leaders who want to help without rescuing
Three tools to use today: feel it to heal it, breathing and grounding, stop fixing. start listening.

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 to live a happier more purposeful life  https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869
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
Awakes TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_
Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call
Sponsor our podcast 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.

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.

This conversation sits where many of us are living right now: caring for kids and partners while also preparing to say goodbye to the people who raised us. Tess and Layne open with a real life audit, naming the season they are in as the sandwich generation. They invite guest Mitch Wallis (Heart On My Sleeve &ndash; <a href="https://www.mitchwallis.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mitchwallis.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1763097493884000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mUhrlz0CjFuFj97hIeFCs">https://www.mitchwallis.com</a>) to help untangle grief with honesty and practical tools. You will hear why ambiguity makes grief so hard, how to &ldquo;undensify&rdquo; big feelings through presence, and why the most healing question is often the simplest: &ldquo;What are you going to miss about your dad the most?&rdquo; Together they model emotional regulation, co-regulation, and the courage to feel it to heal it, then close with a clear toolkit: &ldquo;Stop fixing. Start listening.&rdquo;
What you will learn:
<ul>
<li>How to run a quick life audit when you feel stretched on all sides</li>
<li>Why uncertainty supercharges grief and how to find steadiness in it</li>
<li>Simple body anchors from Mitch&rsquo;s practice: &ldquo;light, bright, tight, might&rdquo;</li>
<li>A supportive question that opens connection: &ldquo;What are you going to miss about them the most?&rdquo;</li>
<li>How to balance pre-grieving with presence, so you do not wish away the time you still have</li>
<li>Co-regulation basics for friends and leaders who want to help without rescuing</li>
<li>Three tools to use today: feel it to heal it, breathing and grounding, stop fixing. start listening.</li>
</ul>
Connect with Awake
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Join the Awake Collective Community for monthly masterclasses <a href="https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1763088774388000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ycQt-mFhNRkuwQnqO9QaL">https://awake-academy.mykajabi.com/awake-collective-sales</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Get Awake&rsquo;s transformative book: Know yourself grow yourself to live a happier more purposeful life&nbsp; <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869">https://www.penguin.com.au/books/awake-academy-9781761345869</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Watch the episodes on YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy">https://www.youtube.com/@Awake_Academy</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Layne on Instagram @Laynebeachley</li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Tess on Instagram @tesscbrouwer</li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Awake Academy on Instagram @awake_academy</li>
<li aria-level="1">Book us for a workshop &ndash; <a href="mailto:wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au">wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Awakes TikTok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_">https://www.tiktok.com/@awakeacademy_</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Sign up for a wake up call for a weekly wake up call</li>
<li aria-level="1">Sponsor our podcast <a href="mailto:wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au">wakeup@awakeacademy.com.au</a></li>
</ul>
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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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.

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.

You can change your life and A Wake Up Call will show you how.
Hosted by Layne Beachley AO and Tess Brouwer, founders of <a href="https://awakeacademy.com.au/">Awake Academy</a>, 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&rsquo;re ready to stop drifting and start living with purpose, you&rsquo;re in the right place.
Follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/awake_academy/?hl=en">@awake_academy</a> for more tools, truth, and transformation and tune in weekly to A Wake Up Call.

A Wake Up Call

You can change your life and A Wake Up Call will show you how.

Hosted by Layne Beachley AO and Tess Brouwer, 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.

You can change your life and A Wake Up Call will show you how.
Hosted by Layne Beachley AO and Tess Brouwer, 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&rsquo;re ready to stop drifting and start living with purpose, you&rsquo;re in the right place.
Follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/awake_academy/?hl=en">@awake_academy</a> for more tools, truth, and transformation and tune in weekly to A Wake Up Call.

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