The Secret to Motivation & Exercise with Leah Barron

Thinking about quitting, but not sure if you'll regret it? This episode will help you work out whether it's time to leave, or if there's still something worth holding onto. We've all been there: lying awake at night, weighing the costs of staying against the risks of walking away. Do you push through and hope it gets better, or cut your losses before you waste more time? In this episode, I've brought together Ash Ambirge, Julia Keller, Simone Stolzoff and Monique Ross to help you figure it out. We'll explore the hidden traps that keep us stuck, the real benefits of quitting, and the surprising strategies that can make staying a lot better than it feels right now. Plus at the end, I'll give you five questions that can bring your answer into focus, fast. 💡 You'll learn: When grit and perseverance become harmful

What if everything you've been told about baby sleep is wrong and the real solution is already built into your baby's biology? Dr. Pam Douglas is the founder of the Possums Sleep Program, a science-backed, sanity-saving alternative to traditional sleep training. In this myth-busting episode, she shares where so many of the things we think we know about sleep come from, why they often create sleep problems instead of solving them & how understanding your baby's biology can change everything. 💡 You'll learn: Why "normal" baby sleep is wildly different than what you've been told

What if forgiveness didn't mean forgetting, reconciling, or letting people off the hook — but reclaiming your future? Learning how to forgive — even when it feels like the hardest thing in the world to do — is transformative. It's a complex process, and there's a real art to balancing boundaries and letting go. It's an art Rachael Coopes is obsessed with. She's the author of The Art of Forgiveness. 💡 You'll hear: – The origin of the word forgiveness — and why it changes everything – The science behind rumination, stress, and long-term health – What forgiveness has to do with resilience and agency – How to begin (even if you're not ready yet) – Why boundaries are essential — not the opposite of forgiveness – Why reconciliation and forgiveness are not the same – How your future can be your act of forgiveness 📖 Chapters 00:00 The Quote That Changed Everything 02:18 How Forgiveness Became Rachael's Obsession 05:10 What 25 Interviews Taught Her 06:30 Forgiveness vs Letting People Off the Hook 10:45 Forgiveness ≠ Reconciliation 13:05 The Neuroscience of Resentment 17:55 Where to Start When Forgiveness Feels Impossible 22:00 Boundaries, Distance & Letting Go 24:45 When Forgiveness Just Isn't Possible 26:10 Resilience, Accountability & Rachael's Son's Story 29:40 Your Future as the Ultimate Act of Forgiveness 31:15 "Forgive Like a Grain of Sand" 🔗 Helpful Links: – The Art of Forgiveness by Rachael Coopes – Rachael's official website – Follow Rachael on Instagram 📺 Watch & Subscribe: – Watch this episode on YouTube

What if the pop culture you loved growing up was quietly teaching you to shrink, perform and turn on other women? In this episode, Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Sophie Gilbert joins me to revisit the legacy of the 90s and 2000s — a time that likely shaped how you see yourself & other women. We talk about the toxic version of 'empowerment' that dominated the era, why so many of us still feel stuck in competition mode and how we can start untangling the stories we were sold. 💡 You'll hear: – How porn and pop culture collided to redefine girlhood – Why so many women still struggle with internalised competition – What's changed in how women are portrayed — and what hasn't – How to start spotting (and unlearning) the cultural scripts you didn't choose – And what reclaiming your story can actually look like 📖 Chapters 00:00 Nostalgia and Reflection on the 90s 03:08 The Power of Pop Culture 05:57 Reality TV and Intersectionality 08:57 Sexualization and Female Power 11:57 The Influence of Porn on Culture 14:55 Empowerment and Its Implications 17:46 Crisis of Female Identity in the 2000s 22:10 The Shift in Celebrity Culture 28:43 Cruelty and Compassion in Pop Culture 29:05 Progress in Women's Representation 31:33 The Impact of Technology on Self-Perception 34:56 Revisiting the Past for a Better Future 🔗 Mentioned: Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert Sophie's writing at The Atlantic Ed's Doco Series on what led to Britney's conservatorship

Know your phone is stealing your focus, but don't quite know how to take your back your brain? Here are 5 small, science-backed tweaks that will actually help. In this episode, I'm sharing how I broke the cycle—not with timers or guilt, but with insights from neuroscientists, psychologists, and attention experts who helped me understand the real cost of distraction, and what to do instead. 💡 You'll hear: How tech companies exploit your brain's dopamine system