I’m Done! Now What?

I chatted with psychotherapist Trisha Mac Hale about boundaries on this week's episode: why we find them so hard, why we work so much, unconscious living versus conscious living, and how to start small when it comes to boundaries. Click play and let’s dive in! To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive To contact Trisha McHale for more i...

Have your clothes started feeling a little tighter as you’ve got older, even though you don’t feel like you’re doing anything particularly different? Maybe you’ve tried to eat better, exercise more or “get back on track”, but the results don’t seem to come as easily as they once did. And it can leave you wondering… what has actually changed? Because getting older doesn’t mean you have to accept fe...

Do you find yourself thinking about food morning, noon and night, believing that if you can just get your food right, it will finally help you get fit and healthy? But no matter how much you think about it, plan it, restrict it or try to get it “right”, you always seem to end up back at square one. I hear you. This was me for years. In this episode, I’m talking about why putting so much time and e...

Feel like you’re failing? This week on the podcast, I’m joined by psychotherapist and Director of Mind and Body Works Trisha MacHale  to talk about what happens when you decide you’ve had enough and you want to make a change — whether that’s getting fit and strong, giving up alcohol or cutting back on sugary foods. What happens when you’re struggling your way to success? How do you detach your sel...

Working out but not seeing the results you want? You might be working hard, but if your strategy is wrong, you’re not going to get the results you’re looking for. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 common mistakes women make with their workouts that could be keeping you stuck — and what you need to do instead. If you want to get fit, feel strong and feel good in your clothes again, this one is for you...

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by psychotherapist Triaha MacHale to talk about neurodiversity in women. We chat about why so many women are only discovering they’re neurodivergent in adulthood, why it has historically been missed or misunderstood, and some of the signs that might be more than simply being busy, stressed or overwhelmed. We also talk about masking — what it is, what it can loo...

Always starting over? Feel like you never get past the 4-week mark? You start with loads of motivation. You really want it, you care, and you know exactly what you want. But then the danger zone hits. Your motivation drops, things start to feel harder and before you know it, you’re back at square one. In today’s episode, I talk about why this kept happening to me for years and why the answer isn’t...

In this episode, Trisha and I answer two listener questions about overthinking, self-doubt and taking a break from your usual routine. The first listener asks about those middle-of-the-night overthinking spirals, when your mind starts questioning everything you've done and telling you that you're not doing enough or you're not good enough. The second listener is heading off on a much-needed two-we...

In this episode, I answer a listener's question about what it was really like when I gave up alcohol. I chat about the adjustment period, whether people treated me differently, and what it was like explaining to others that I had decided not to drink anymore. I also share some of the biggest benefits I’ve experienced in my life since giving up alcohol, and how my relationship with socialising, mea...

In this episode, Trisha and I answer a listener's question about emotional eating and why we sometimes turn to food for comfort. She shares how, when she’s feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or upset, food can sometimes become a way of coping. She also asks about the connection between emotional regulation, autism, and emotional eating. We explore this topic and chat about some of the reasons we mig...

Just me this week for a solo episode. I'm chatting about my goals for the rest of 2026, the struggle of getting back into routine after time away, and what I'm doing to cope with feelings of loneliness. Click play and let's dive in.  To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive

In this episode, Trisha and I answer two thoughtful listener questions that so many women will relate to. The first is about perfectionism and the pressure to get everything right. If you've ever felt like giving up because you couldn't do something perfectly, you're not alone. We explore why this mindset can keep us stuck and how we can begin to be kinder to ourselves. The second question looks a...

In today's episode, Trisha and I answer two powerful listener questions that so many women will relate to. The first question comes from a listener who wants to stop drinking but feels stuck in the same evening routine. She knows she'll feel better without alcohol, yet the thought of a glass of wine after a long day is hard to resist. If you've ever wondered why willpower isn't enough or why eveni...

In today’s episode, I talk to the older version of myself that’s really struggling, feeling really bad, anxious, overwhelmed and unhealthy. The version of me back in 2021 that was still drinking way too much alcohol, overeating, restricting, dieting and feeling desperate that nothing was working. I tell her what to do and what to stop doing. If you’re struggling right now, if you’re going around i...

In today’s episode, Trisha and I answer two listener questions. The first question is about feeling stuck in cycles of restarting instead of progressing, using food for comfort, and struggling to build consistency even when there is a strong desire to change. The second question is about ageing and the inner critic, and how it can feel difficult to let go of a younger version of yourself.  As alwa...

If your clothes are feeling uncomfortable and you’re feeling really frustrated, like you’re going around in circles and nothing is working, this one is for you. You can feel great in your clothes at any age. It doesn't matter about menopause or getting older. There is a positive way to do it that doesn’t involve weighing yourself or obsessing about food. Actually feel good in your skin again. Clic...

In today's episode, Trisha and I answer a listener's question about anxiety, overthinking and the need to control. The question comes from a listener who asks: "Has Trisha any tips for dealing with overthinking due to anxiety and wanting things to go a certain way? Why do we feel that need when all we can control is ourselves?" It's a great question and one I think many women will relate to. If yo...

You know what to do. So why do you keep ending up back in the same place? For years, my answer was simple: Try harder. Work harder. Be more disciplined. It never worked. In this episode, we're exploring one of the most frustrating experiences so many women face: knowing exactly what they need to do, but struggling to actually do it. If you've ever wondered: "Why can't I just stick to it?" This epi...

Do you ever feel like you're constantly rushing but never actually getting anywhere? Looking after everyone else. Thinking about work. Worrying about the future. Feeling overwhelmed. In this episode, we're talking about the hamster wheel so many women over 40 find themselves stuck on. Because when life feels chaotic, it's incredibly hard to stay consistent with healthy habits. Workouts get skipped...

In today’s episode, Trisha and I answer a listener's question about food, weight loss and the fear of slipping back into diet culture. The question comes from a listener who wants to get fit and strong and improve her health, but also feels confused about how weight loss actually works without calorie counting, restriction and obsessing over food again. We talk about overeating, fat storage, porti...

I went from feeling sluggish, unhealthy and like I was constantly starting over… to fit, strong and consistent. In this episode, I’m talking about what really had to change for me to finally stop the stop-start cycle and build  healthy habits that actually felt sustainable. I share what life looked like before — the restrictive eating, the overwhelm, the shaky foundations, the pressure I was putti...

In today’s episode, Trisha and I answer two listener questions. The first is about food, fear and body trust after a lifetime of dieting — wondering what your body’s “comfortable weight” actually is, and whether starting to eat three proper meals a day will lead to weight gain after years of restriction, skipped meals and constantly trying to stay at a certain weight. The second question is about...

If you feel like you’re doing your best… but still not seeing the results you want, this ones for you. Every Monday inside Thrive Academy, I read through check-ins from women just like you — and no matter the  background, or starting point, the same three patterns come up again and again. I’ve been coaching women since 2007, and it’s incredible how consistent these barriers are. They’re not obviou...

In today’s episode, Trisha and I answer two listener questions. The first is about self-sabotage — feeling stuck in patterns around eating, exercise, perfectionism and OCD, despite knowing what to do. That cycle of one step forward, three steps back, and feeling exhausted by it. The second question is about consistency and boundaries — knowing what works for your body and routine, but struggling t...

I’ve been here for years. Putting in the work and seeing no results. Putting in the work and seeing no results.  In today’s episode, I break down the mistakes I used to make — and the ones I still see all the time. Fix these and you’ll start seeing real results, no matter what your age. Click play and let’s dive in.