Whats The Tea?

In this episode of What’s The Tea? , Andy and Lydia talk about what happens when life gets busy — properly busy. Not just “I’ve got a lot on” busy, but the kind of busy where your brain fogs over, your to-do list starts multiplying like gremlins, and even drinking enough water becomes an achievement worthy of a gold star. They chat about how busyness can look different for different people: feelin...

The UK social media ban for under-16s has put online safety, screen time and young people’s wellbeing back in the spotlight — but what about the positive side of digital communities? In this episode we talk social media, online friendships, gaming communities, Twitch, WhatsApp groups and how digital spaces can help people feel connected. We also mention the harder side of life online, including cy...

In this episode of What’s The Tea? , Lydia and Andytalk about unfinished tasks, distracted brains, ADHD traits, doomscrolling, laundry, healthy habits, gaming backlogs, and why even simple life admin can sometimes feel like a boss battle. They also share practical tools and ideas that can help,including: ScreenZen — an app Lydia uses to limit social mediaand shopping app use by creating a pause be...

In this episode of What’s The Tea? , Lydia and Andy are joined by Georgia, a Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner at YMCA Exeter , to talk about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) , young people’s mental health , social anxiety , and practical tools that can help. They chat about CBT vs counselling , thoughts, feelings and behaviours , worry diaries , behavioural experiments , and how parents and ca...

In this episode of What’s The Tea? , Lydia and Andy chat about the everyday lies we tell ourselves, from “I’ll do it later” and “I work better under pressure” to “everyone else is coping better than me.” We talk all things, procrastination, perfectionism, burnout, imposter syndrome, overthinking, and the pressure of adult life . Alongside their usual life updates and Gold Stars, they explore why s...

What’s the real difference between introverts and extroverts — and why do some people leave a social event buzzing while others need to lie down in a dark room afterwards? In this episode of What’s the Tea? , Lydia and Andy unpack introversion, extroversion, social batteries, and the people who sit somewhere in the middle. We chat about what it actually means to recharge, why introversion is not t...

How do you move house without losing your mind — and actually settle into a new place? In this episode, we share practical tips, real experiences, and a few things we definitely didn’t expect along the way. We’re back! After a slightly unexpected break (more on that in a second…), Lydia and Andy return to What’s the Tea? — two former support workers catching up over a cuppa and trying to navigate...

We’re back! Lydia and Andy are reunited for the first episode in a little while — two former support workers catching up over a cuppa and trying to navigate adulting… although Andy immediately loses his drink, so we’re starting strong. In this episode we chat about New Year’s resolutions (yes, it’s March — yes, we’re still doing it), why they can put way too much pressure on us, and why reflection...

Well. Here it is. We leave 2025, with the Christmas Party Special. No sign of anything approaching serious conversation Just a couple of silly games. Can you guess Andy's character - before he can? See you in 2026. --------- April showers by Kjartan Abel. Visit  https://kjartan-abel.com/library  to download royalty-free music for your next project. CC BY-SA 4.0 Attributi on-ShareAlike 4.0 Inte...

It’s Christmas Eve… allegedly . In true What’s The Teafashion, Lydia is jingling with festive energy, while Andy is doing his best impression of a man emotionally allergic to tinsel. Together we dive into the joys, stresses and social expectations wrapped up in the holiday season — fromHallmark movies in November, to secret Santas, to the pressure of “perfect Christmas dinners” where nobody sweats...

We chat with Steve, our maintenance manager, about life behind the scenes of supported housing – from toilets and blocked drains to faith, hope, and why learning to paint a wall might be the most underrated life skill..  ---------April showers by Kjartan Abel. Visit ⁠https://kjartan-abel.com/library⁠ todownload royalty-free music for your next project. CC BY-SA 4.0 Attributi on-ShareAlike 4.0 Inte...

In this week’s episode, Lydia and Andy dive into a listener question that hits right at the heart of their work: “How did you become a support worker?” Between the nostalgia of gold-star sticker charts, mac andcheese triumphs, swans derailing Scottish trains, and a French groom turning his wedding tux into a billboard (yes, really), the two former support workers peel back the curtain on their jou...

Feel like your phone is helping run your life? In this episode, we dive into the apps that we find help — from wellbeing and focus tools to budgeting and bedtime stories. With apologies for the occasional coughing fit. 🎧 Featured Apps: Finch • Stress Watch • Trolley.co.uk • Petrol Prices • Duolingo • Yucca • Bento Focus • Picnic • Endel • Smiling Mind • Claude AI • Calm • Notion • Goodreads • Emm...

What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance? 👀 In this episode of What’s The Tea?, we ask ourselves, what advice would we give our younger-self. We talk feedback on our mental health and working episode, hotels in toilets, and Lydia keeping an eye on the pets. 🎧 Listen, laugh, and reflect with us — and maybe think about what you’d tell your younger self. Let us know. What advice...

💬 Episode Summary Feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or like work has started running you instead of the other way around? You’re not alone — and this week’s What’s The Tea? is all about finding your balance again. Andy and Lydia unpack practical mental health tips for working life, from building simple daily routines and setting healthy boundaries, to managing workload, stress, and communication wi...

In this episode of What’s The Tea? , Lydia and Andy talk through the kind of week where everything feels a bitoff-kilter. There are stories about cats in inflatable collars, tweenagers turning thirteen, and small adulting wins that deserve recognition. The main focus is neurodivergence — whatit means, why awareness is increasing, and how people experience conditionssuch as autism, ADHD, dyslexia,...

🎙️ We're back from summer break! We talk holiday mishaps, weird news (slug prankster + astronaut scam), the kindness round-up, and a deep dive into building trust.👉 Don’t forget to subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite app. You can also watch full episodes on the YMCA Exeter YouTube channel . And hey — if you’ve spotted an act of kindness worthsharing, drop us a message. We’...

In this episode of What’s the Tea? , Andy and Lydiachat with Jeremy, the Exeter Housing Manager at YMCA Exeter. From the realities of youth housing support in the UK to the time he hung someone out the window! Jeremy shares an honest look at life behind the scenes of housing. Links & Extras: 👉 Find out more about YMCA Exeter: https://www.ymcaexeter.org.uk 👉 Follow What’s the Tea? on Spotify,...

In this remote edition of What’s the Tea? , Lydia and Andy share real anxiety and stress-busting tips from listeners , explore how music, connection, and even ridiculous dancing can help improve your mental health, and wander into tangents about car technology, Marvel movies, and K-pop. 💬 In this episode we talk about: 🧠 Coping with Anxiety & Stress – music playlists ( Divorce Dadcore ), dai...

How do you support someone with addiction? Welcome back to What’s The Tea? – where two former support workers (and current professional tea drinkers) catch up over a cuppa to chat life, adulting stuff, and the weird news stories you didn’t know you needed. In this episode, Lydia and Andy dive into the challenges of supporting someone with addiction – not just the individual, but the supporter too....

What does stress look like to you? Welcome to What’s The Tea? – the podcast where twoformer support workers grab a cuppa and try to make sense of life, stress, and whatever’s going on with zoo bears and aggressive dog leads this week. From silent stress alarms to journaling hacks and NHSdog-walking injury stats (yes, really), this one's for anyone who's ever felt just a little bit overwhel...

A lighthearted look at anxiety — what it is, why it shows up, and how to manage it with tools like therapy, breathing, gaming, and the occasional lasagna. 🧠 In this episode: Lydia and Andy dive deep into the world of anxiety — how it works, why it shows up uninvited, and what you can actually do about it. Spoiler: it's not just yoga and herbal tea (though those are fine too). 🔧 We cover: Wha...

Welcome back to What’s the Tea? — where Lydia and Andy (two former support workers and full-time life jugglers) catch up over a cuppa or a bottle of water, depending on the weather… and hydration levels. This week, we’re handing out gold stars - Why? Because adulting is hard, and sometimes you need a little glittery affirmation for doing the sensible things — like going to the dentist or cooking y...

After a two-month gap, Lydia and Andy are back behind themics and trying to remember how to podcast. We then catch up on Lydia’s big life changes : a newjob, new responsibilities, and a move to Torbay. She gets real about how change impacts her mental health, how she’s navigating the unknown, and why Jeremy’s shaved head needed a warning. Andy offers some thoughtful reflections (and jabs), and the...

🎧 Episode Summary:We sit down with joint CEOs of YMCA Exeter, Si and Gareth, to find out what it’s really like leading together. From bacon sarnie job clubs and social work, to God-given vision and building homes during a pandemic, this one’s packed with laughs, leadership wisdom, and a whole lot of heart. This one covers a lot. Whether you’re curious about how two people can share the top job, o...