You Keep Me Sane

Episode Overview In a world that feels louder and busier than ever, finding peace can feel impossible - especially for introverts who need quiet to recharge. In this episode, we sit down with Vanessa Marie Dewsbury,  best selling author and podcaster, who opens up about how she embraced a slower, softer way of living after years of tying her self-worth to busyness. We talk about why stillness is e...

Episode Overview We’re revisiting connection - and layering in self-worth. We talk about why these two are inseparable, how midlife logistics (kids, caregiving, energy, perimenopause) change how we connect, and what to do when loneliness starts to chip at your worth. We share real stories of moving “home” and still feeling out of place, rebuilding identity, and redefining what counts as connection...

Episode Overview Being honest with yourself sounds simple - but it’s one of the hardest things to do. Because when we drop the excuses and really look at our patterns, it often means admitting we’re the problem. And that truth stings. In this Sanity Check, we explore the discomfort of self-honesty, why we avoid it, and how facing it can shift everything-from relationships to careers to daily habit...

Episode overview This week we get honest about “the grass is greener” mindset - why we pin our happiness on a new place, job, or relationship, and what changes when we stop outsourcing contentment. We share our own stories of chasing locations (Spain, Europe, Australia), the let-down that followed, and the shift to building an inner baseline of self-worth, gratitude, and presence. The takeaway: gr...

Episode Overview In this Sanity Check, we get real about the adventures we used to have in our 20s and 30s - the flights booked on a whim, the countries we moved to, the people we met in transit, and the sheer freedom of saying yes without worrying about logistics. Somewhere along the way, life shifted. School runs, work deadlines, and financial commitments have made spontaneity harder to come by,...

Episode Overview “Sorry.” “Please.” “Thank you.” On the surface, these are the pillars of good manners. But how often do we use them as more than politeness? In this episode, we dive into how these everyday words can quietly reveal- and even chip away at- our self-worth. From over-apologising to over-thanking, we explore how habits that look like kindness can actually be signs of shrinking ourselv...

Episode Overview We all have our dream locations - the sea breeze, the mountain air, or the buzz of the city. But what happens when you finally get there and still don’t feel the way you thought you would? In this episode, we share our own stories of longing for the “perfect” place and what we discovered along the way. From Aileen’s dream of the Spanish coastline to Julie’s years of hopping betwee...

Episode Overview In this episode we sit down with Nitika, founder of Aila Money , to explore the deep and complicated ties between money and self-worth. From growing up with scarcity to chasing salaries as proof of success, Nitika shares her journey of redefining what financial security really means. We also unpack why the gender wealth gap persists, how confidence and representation shape women’s...

Episode Overview In this episode, we get real about comparison - that sneaky reflex that leaves us feeling behind, not enough, or smaller than we really are. It started with a conversation about a new podcast soaring to a million downloads in just weeks, and led us to reflect on how quickly we can slip into the comparison trap. We talk about why it’s so easy to measure ourselves against others, ho...

Episode overview We dig into our complicated relationship with mistakes - why being wrong can feel threatening, how that ties to self-worth, and what changes when we choose honesty over image. From tween apologies to boardroom dread, to the ways we over-apologise without really owning it, we explore how admitting fault builds trust, lightens the emotional load, and strengthens relationships (inclu...

Episode Overview In this week’s Sanity Check , we’re diving into a word that was a complete revelation to us - ambivert. For years we’ve thought in terms of introverts and extroverts, but what if you’re a mix of both? We talk about how our social energy has shifted with age, why surface-level chat feels so draining, and how self-worth helps us choose the connections that truly matter. Key Discussi...

Episode Overview In this episode, we dive into imposter syndrome — that all-too-familiar sense of doubting yourself despite clear evidence you’ve earned your place. We talk about how it has shown up in our own lives, why it’s especially common among high achievers, and how it quietly chips away at self-worth. From the root causes we pick up as kids to the way adult pressures amplify it, we explore...

Episode Overview Have you ever finally sat down to rest, only to find yourself fidgeting, scrolling, or looking for something to tidy? You’re not alone. There’s a name for this: relaxation anxiety. In this week’s Sanity Check , we dive into why slowing down feels so uncomfortable when your life is full of constant momentum, and how our culture ties worth to productivity. Key Discussion Points: Wha...

Episode Overview: In this week’s episode of You Keep Me Sane , we dive into what it really means to be Gen X - caught between silence and strength, invisibility and overachievement. We explore how growing up in a culture that told us to “just get on with it” shaped our self-worth, and how the infamous “Wonder Woman cape” became both our badge of honour and our heaviest burden. From latchkey kids t...

Episode Overview: We’re not here to talk about dieting, detoxes, or food fads. This week’s Sanity Check is about the small, doable changes we’ve each made to what we eat - and the unexpected shifts we’ve noticed in mood, energy, and clarity as a result. From quitting sugar to ditching oat milk, increasing hydration, and bringing back big bowls of salad, we’re getting honest about the habits that c...

Episode Summary This week we sit down with Johnny Starr – entrepreneur, fitness coach, and founder of Never Home . Johnny’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical honesty about men’s mental health. From hitting rock bottom and multiple stays in a psychiatric ward to building a thriving brand with a powerful mindset message, Johnny shares how he’s learned to manage criticism, protect...

Episode Overview Why is it that when a woman shows depth, honesty, and emotional range, she’s so often called “complicated”? And why does it rarely sound like a compliment? In this Sanity Check, we unpack the difference between being complicated and being complex . One implies chaos that needs fixing; the other speaks to richness, nuance, and a life deeply lived. We share personal stories of times...

Episode Overview This week, we’re lifting the lid on one of life’s everyday divides: the messy vs tidy debate. But we’re not here to hand out gold stars for perfect homes or shame anyone for clutter. Instead, we’re exploring what lies beneath our habits: how our upbringing, nervous systems, and life stages shape the way we live in our spaces. From coat hanger standoffs to emotional wiring, we shar...

Episode Overview Ever had someone offer you a “favour” that felt more like a clever way to get what they wanted? In this week’s Sanity Check, we unpack those interactions that seem generous on the surface but leave you feeling off - and possibly manipulated. We get honest about how people sometimes frame their own needs as if they’re doing you a kindness… and how easy it is to fall into the habit...

Episode Overview: In this episode, we sit down with the unstoppable Jen Hardy - host of The Fabulous Over 50 Podcast , The Jen Hardy Show on YouTube, and creator of the 50 Over 50 Podcaster Awards . We first met Jen at The Podcast Show in London, and were immediately drawn to her energy, her sparkle (literally), and her mission to celebrate midlife women who are finding their voice - and using it....

Fabulous Over 50? What If You’re Not Feeling It Yet? In this week’s Sanity Check, we’re talking about something that doesn’t get said enough: what if midlife isn’t fabulous just yet? We dive into the glossy headlines about women thriving over 50 and unpack what it really feels like behind the scenes - from underactive thyroids and solo parenting to post-brain-fog clarity and Red Bull confessions....

Episode Overview: In this episode, we speak with broadcast journalist Ania Lichtarowicz - Managing Director of Somewhere on Earth Productions and former producer of BBC’s Digital Planet .  Ania breaks down the alarming rise of AI-generated deepfake pornography - how it works, who’s being targeted, and what we all need to understand to protect ourselves and our children in an increasingly digital w...

Episode Overview: In this week’s Sanity Check , Julie shares a hilarious (and maddeningly relatable) story about a coat hanger left in the hallway - for four days. No one else in the house noticed it. Or did they? From coat hangers to mugs, to stairs stacked with “to-be-taken-up” items, we unpack the domestic phenomenon where women seem to carry the invisible job of noticing and picking things up....

Episode Overview: If you're parenting a 12-year-old (or about to), this one’s for you. We talk about the moment your sweet kid suddenly starts rolling their eyes, refusing hugs, demanding independence - and testing every nerve you have. We share real stories from our own homes, laugh through the chaos, and get honest about how hard this transition can feel. But underneath the attitude and inc...

Episode Overview: In this Sanity Check, we get real about our lifelong struggles with body image - and how they’ve evolved (or stayed stuck) as we've entered midlife. From tying jumpers around our waists in our 20s to feeling unrecognisable in our 40s, we share the quiet grief, relentless inner voice, and conditioning so many women carry. But this isn't just about venting. It's abou...