Feeling stuck at home with young kids and yearning for adventure?

In this inspiring episode of Amid the Mess, we meet Joanna O’Donoghue — a mother, educator, and lifelong traveler — who’s navigated global adventures despite the unpredictable challenges of Crohn’s disease.

Joanna shares candid, funny, and moving stories from her book Gutsy Travels, proving that even with chronic illness, parenthood, or life’s everyday chaos, we can still choose adventure.

If you’re a parent wondering if your travel dreams have to be put on hold, this episode offers the mindset shifts, practical tips, and gentle encouragement you didn’t know you needed.

Buy Joana’s book! Gutsy Travels:

https://joannaodonoghue.co.uk/

Get in touch with me:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jolanthe_de_koning/
  

In this energising episode, we bust the myth that strength is only for gym junkies and show how it can be a game-changer for every tired, time-poor parent. 💪

You’ll hear from strength coach Samantha Charlwood about how even 15 minutes a few times a week — yes, while the kids are watching cartoons — can build not just muscle, but long-term vitality, confidence, and resilience.

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t have time” or “lifting weights isn’t for me,” this episode will shift your mindset and make it feel doable — even in cereal-stained pajamas. 🥣

🎙️ Hit play and start feeling stronger without needing more hours in your day.

A FREE 3 part bingeable course on getting started with training:

https://stan.store/SamCharlwood/p/the-move-anyway-method

Her YouTube video ‘Audacious Strength’:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B45yiXWmCUo

Find out more about Samantha Charlwood:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samantha_charlwood/
• Email: [email protected]
  

Get in touch with me:

• Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠
• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jolanthe_de_koning/

Are you too busy (and ‘too old’) to go on endless unsuccessful dates?

This episode is your online dating crash-course! 🎯 

Today’s guest, Lucy Williams—an experienced photographer and dating profile coach—shares how to transform your photos and bio to attract the right kind of attention.

Discover what really makes a profile stand out, how to communicate your values without oversharing, and why being honest (and a little bit brave) can change everything. If you—or a friend—are ready to find real connection, this is the episode to hear before your next match.

Get in touch with me:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jolanthe_de_koning/

Find out more about Lucy Williams:

• Website: https://www.myheartskipped.co.uk 
• Email: [email protected]

Feeling overwhelmed by mess, clutter, or the never-ending task of tidying a busy home with kids, pets, and life flying at you from all directions?

This episode is for you. Interior designer Jenny Quinlan joins us to share how practical design — not perfection — can make your home feel calmer, healthier, and easier to live in.

From clever storage tweaks to surprising truths about how your environment impacts your mental and physical health, you'll come away with realistic, zero-perfection strategies to design a home that works for your messy, wonderful life.

✨ Tune in to discover:

• How to work with your chaos (not against it)
• Why perfectionism is your enemy — and baskets are your best friend
• The toxic truth about common furniture and what to do about it
• How lighting and comfort can be powerful acts of self-care

No time? No problem. Start small — and smarter.

🎙️ Hit play and find out how your home can start supporting your wellbeing, even amid the mess.

Get in touch with me:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jolanthe_de_koning/

Find out more about Jenny & Studio JQ:

• Website: https://studiojq.co.uk 
• Email: [email protected] 

What if getting fit had nothing to do with weight loss? 

In this empowering episode, you'll meet Ro Feilden-Cook, a coach and mum of three who transformed her life—not through gruelling workouts or restrictive diets, but by redefining what wellness really means.

From movement as medicine to ditching toxic fitness culture, Ro shares her journey from rock bottom to building a thriving women’s health platform.

If you’ve ever felt too busy, too tired, or just not “that kind of person” for fitness—this episode is for you. Expect mindset shifts, surprising advice, and a whole lot of honesty.

Get in touch with me!

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jolanthe_de_koning/

Find out more about The SHE Collective:

• Website: https://www.wearetheshe.com
• Email: [email protected]

Are you secretly a people pleaser?

You might be—without even knowing it.

In this eye-opening episode, coach Ellen Ludlow breaks down what people pleasing really looks like, why it’s not the same as being kind, and how constantly saying "yes" can quietly drain your energy, time, and self-worth. You'll learn how to set boundaries, stop feeling guilty, and finally put yourself back in the picture—without becoming selfish.

If you ever struggle to say "no," this one’s for you.

Get in touch with Ellen!

• Email: ellen@berkshirelifecoach.com 

• YouTube Channel

Get in touch with me!

• Email: [email protected]

• Instagram

Ever wonder how to fit running—or any endurance goal—into your life without burning out or getting injured?

In this episode, coach Kriss Hendy shares smart, realistic strategies for busy people who love to move but also have jobs, kids, and limited time. Learn how strength, recovery, and fuelling well can help you stay consistent, avoid setbacks, and actually enjoy the process.

🎧 Perfect for weekend warriors, jogging parents, and anyone trying to stay active amid the mess.

Get in touch with Kriss!

• Website: https://www.strengthforendurance.com/ 
• Email: [email protected] 
• Instagram

Get in touch with me!

• Email: [email protected] 
• Instagram
• Linked In

Ever feel like you're one meltdown away from total chaos—and it's only 8:15am?

In this episode, I chat with emotional skills coach Sally Stockreisser about the real-life tools parents can use to stay grounded when everything feels like too much.

From how to stop your emotions from running the show to what to actually say after you’ve lost your cool with your kids, this episode is full of practical, compassionate advice.

Get in touch with Sally!

• Email: [email protected]
• Coaching Illumination website

Get in touch with me!

• Email: [email protected] 
• Instagram
• Linked In

If you're juggling family chaos, work demands, and the never-ending meal prep shuffle, this episode is your lifeline.

Gut health might sound like something you don’t have time to think about—but what if small, realistic shifts could make a huge difference in your energy, digestion, and stress levels?

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The surprising thing you might be doing at every meal that's sabotaging your digestion (even if you're eating "healthy")
• Why sweeteners, stress, and your favourite grab-and-go snacks might be messing with more than just your cravings
• How to support your gut without overhauling your life (no guilt, no perfection required)

Get in touch with Caroline!

• Peyton Principles website
• Email: [email protected] 
• YouTube channel

Get in touch with me!

• Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 
• ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Linked In⁠⁠

Feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or just stuck in the daily grind of parenting, work, and chaos?

This episode is your gentle nudge to reclaim something deceptively simple — walking.

Author and researcher Annabel Streets joins us to reveal how different landscapes — from still lakes to wildflower meadows, even graveyards and city streets — can profoundly shift your mood, energy, and stress levels in just minutes.

You’ll learn why walking is far more than “just exercise” — it’s a powerful mental reset that fits into even the busiest life, with or without kids in tow.

Buy Annabel’s Book!

*** The Walking Cure ***

Get in touch with me!

• Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠ 
• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠Linked In⁠