You Keep Me Sane

Episode Overview What begins as a chat about fitness quickly turns into something deeper. In this episode, we sit down with Cara Metz, founder of Cara Fitness, to explore not just the shifting demands of midlife bodies, but also the invisible weight of grief, the power of real community, and what it takes to stay connected to yourself when life feels hard. Cara opens up about losing her beloved ca...

Episode Overview: This week, we hit that point where the mental tabs were maxed out - and it wasn’t about the big stuff. It was the what’s for dinner , the laundry, what vitamins to give the kids, the endless little choices that chip away at your sanity. We talk about decision fatigue and how it creeps in when your brain just can’t carry any more. From turtles to t-shirts, it’s not always the weig...

Episode Overview This week’s episode was sparked by a thoughtful voice note from a listener who asked a powerful question: Where does ambition fit into self-worth? In a culture that often ties success to external achievements, it’s easy to get caught in the trap of proving your value through accolades, productivity, or recognition. But can ambition and self-worth actually coexist in a healthy way?...

Episode Overview: Ever feel like you're living in survival mode - snappy, tired, and overwhelmed for no clear reason? You're not imagining it. That constant buzzing in your body might be cortisol, your stress hormone, running the show. In this short but powerful sanity check, we unpack why cortisol is especially high in midlife - and what you can do to gently bring it down without needin...

Episode Overview: Ever looked around your home and felt your shoulders tense? You're not alone. In this episode, we sit down with Lauren from Perfect Space Home Organisation -  a professional organiser who brings more than tidy cupboards. She brings peace of mind. We talk clutter, cortisol, and the emotional stories hiding in our cupboards. From junk drawers to inherited guilt, Lauren helps u...

Episode Overview Why do we still treat single women like they’re unfinished stories? In this week’s Sanity Check, we’re getting honest about the outdated assumptions around being single in midlife - and why choosing to stay true to yourself is far from a failure. We reflect on a conversation Aileen had with a single friend who said it best: “I know peace now, and I’m not giving it up unless someon...

Episode Overview As mothers of teenagers, we’ve been thinking deeply about how consent, self-worth, and emotional literacy shape the choices our kids make. We remember our own adolescence - when being desirable felt like currency and boundaries were hard to define. It was easy to confuse attention with value, and even harder to say no when something didn’t feel right. This week, we unpack all of t...

Episode Overview In this deeply personal Sanity Check, Aileen opens up about the long, layered experience of grief - particularly after losing both her parents. Together, we reflect on why grief makes people uncomfortable, how loss reshapes us, and why healing has no timeline. This one’s for anyone carrying the weight of grief, old or new. In this episode: Why losing a parent hits differently no m...

Episode Overview In this raw and deeply reflective episode, Aileen and Julie explore a rising trend: why so many women in their 40s and 50s are re-evaluating long-term relationships. This isn’t about drama or scandal, it’s about identity, unmet emotional needs, and the quiet inner voice that often grows louder in midlife. They unpack how perimenopause, shifting priorities, and decades of invisible...

Episode Overview: You know that weird flat feeling after something great ? A big event, a reunion, a dream trip… and then suddenly you’re back to real life, feeling unexpectedly low? This week’s Sanity Check dives into exactly that. After the excitement of the Podcast Show and finally being in the same room again, we open up about the emotional crash that followed. In this short but powerful episo...

Episode Overview In this episode, we unpack the kind of connection that changes us - the raw, real, healing kind. After spending time together at the Podcast Show in London, we reflect on what it felt like to be seen, heard, and held by strangers. What started as a marketing moment turned into a powerful reminder of why we started You Keep Me Sane in the first place. This episode is a love letter...

Episode Overview Ever opened up to someone only to be met with silence or worse, a thumbs up emoji? In this Sanity Check, we dive into the disappointment of emotional disconnection, especially when it comes from people we’re close to. We unpack the hard truth: not everyone has the emotional capacity to meet you where you're at - and it’s not about you. This conversation is a compassionate rem...

Episode Overview Is it time to stop chasing “having it all” and start redefining what really matters? In this episode, we unpack the growing cultural shift away from hustle culture and into what many are calling the soft life   - a slower, more intentional way of living. We talk honestly about the tension between ambition and rest, how societal expectations have shaped women’s nervous systems, and...

Episode Overview: In this candid Sanity Check, Aileen and Julie dive into the kind of exhaustion that sleep alone can’t fix. It’s not just the 3am perimenopause wake-ups, the Prosecco regrets, or the never-ending to-do list - it’s the deeper, invisible load that keeps us wired 24/7. They unpack the toll of being constantly “on,” from anticipating everyone’s needs to never truly switching off, even...

Episode Overview: In this episode, Aileen and Julie reflect on why some people seem naturally happier, while others (like themselves!) are built with layers, reflection, and emotional intensity. Through personal stories, laughter, and a dose of science, they explore how understanding emotional wiring can shift the way we experience happiness and relate to ourselves. They also revisit a metaphor th...

Episode Overview This listener-inspired Sanity Check explores the discomfort so many of us feel when it comes to saying no or speaking honestly. Aileen and Julie unpack the messy middle between people-pleasing and genuine empathy, and explore the deeper fears—like judgment, rejection, or letting someone down—that keep us stuck in yes-mode even when we're at capacity. Whether you're someo...

Episode Overview In this deeply reflective episode, Aileen and Julie explore the quiet but powerful transition many women experience in midlife—the shift from being seen and celebrated for youth and appearance to becoming quietly overlooked by a culture that worships the new. But is this invisibility a loss… or a kind of liberation? Through honest conversation and personal stories, they unpack wha...

Episode Overview: In this mini Sanity Check, Aileen and Julie dive into the chemistry of your emotions—specifically the push-pull dance between cortisol and oxytocin. Whether you’ve felt constantly on edge, snappy, or totally burnt out, this episode breaks down what’s really happening in your body and why even small, mindful shifts can help you reset. Key Talking Points: Why cortisol rises in ever...

Episode Overview: In this episode of You Keep Me Sane , Aileen and Julie dive into the power behind Mel Robbins’ now-viral “Let Them Theory.” From navigating tricky relationships to handling judgement and unmet expectations, they explore why this simple mindset shift can be so freeing—and so hard to put into practice. Drawing on their own stories of burnout, people-pleasing, and family conflict, t...

Episode Overview In this Sanity Check, Aileen and Julie unpack what it really means to be an introvert or an extrovert—and why understanding the difference is essential for your mental health. It’s not about being shy or social—it’s about how you refill your tank. Whether you’ve been feeling flat, snappy, or overstimulated, this episode is a reminder to tune into what your nervous system actually...

Episode Overview: Betrayal is one of those words that immediately stirs something in us. In this episode, Julie and Aileen unpack the many forms betrayal can take — not just romantic, but the kind that happens quietly in families, friendships, and formative moments. From overheard conversations to cruel friendship dynamics, they reflect on how early betrayals shaped their sense of self-worth and t...

Episode Overview In this episode, Julie and Aileen reflect on those moments in life where everything feels like too much — when you're overwhelmed, disconnected, or just not yourself. Inspired by a Mel Robbins quote, they explore the idea that feeling lost is often the beginning of finding your way back — or forward — to a stronger, wiser version of yourself. Whether it’s the chaos of parenti...

Episode Overview: In this deeply honest conversation, Aileen and Julie explore a powerful realisation about the difference between pleasure and happiness . Triggered by a reel on dopamine vs serotonin, the chat unpacks how chasing short-term highs can leave us feeling emptier than ever—especially during perimenopause and other identity-shifting life stages. This episode offers a compassionate lens...

Episode Overview In this short but honest Sanity Check, Aileen and Julie unpack what taking a holiday really means when you're juggling a business, parenting, and the relentless mental load of modern life. From Aileen’s seaside escape in Spain (featuring a surprise meerkat) to Julie’s chaotic family visit up north, both share how even time away doesn’t always mean switching off. They explore...

Episode Overview This week, we’re diving deep into the menopausal middle—the physical, emotional, and psychological shift that happens during perimenopause. What started as a simple sanity check sparked a huge response from our listeners, so we’re going further. We’re talking about the silent confusion, the disorienting body changes, the grief, and the unexpected loss of identity that so many of u...