But You Look So Good

In this episode, Sally and Seona unpack what introversion and extroversion really mean — and why understanding your social energy becomes even more important when you’re living with a chronic health condition.

They explore how chronic illness can change your social battery, why socialising may feel more draining or complicated than it used to, and how this isn’t a personal failing but a nervous system reality. The conversation offers language for guilt, grief, and shifting capacity, and practical ways to pace social connection more kindly.

Whether you need more solitude, crave connection but tire quickly, or feel caught between the two, this episode helps you better understand your energy, set gentler boundaries, and honour both who you are and what your body needs.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

As 2025 comes to a close, Sally and Seona invite you to pause, breathe, and reflect — gently. In this episode, they look back on the year that was and talk about why reflection can be especially meaningful (and complicated) for people living with chronic health conditions. Together, they explore how to acknowledge challenges, honour invisible effort, and make sense of change without slipping into self-blame or pressure.

The conversation then turns toward 2026, with a focus on setting intentions rather than rigid goals. Sally and Seona share their own reflections and intentions, and discuss how values-based, flexible intentions can better support fluctuating energy, health, and capacity.

This episode is a compassionate end-of-year check-in — a reminder that rest is productive, pausing is allowed, and growth doesn’t have to look loud or linear. Wherever you’re landing at the end of this year, you’re welcome here.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

In this re-released episode (recorded Christmas 2024), Seona and Sally delve into the whirlpool of the festive season, sharing personal anecdotes and exploring strategies to help you manage the stress and chaos of Christmas. From dealing with grief during the holidays to navigating the pressure of social expectations, they offer practical tips and psychological insights. Tune in for a candid discussion that prioritises connection over perfection, and learn how to create a joyful season, even amidst the holiday madness. Perfect for anyone looking to transform their Christmas from a time of endurance to a time of genuine enjoyment.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

As 2025 comes to a close, Sally and Seona invite you to pause, breathe, and reflect - gently. In this episode, they look back on the year that was and talk about why reflection can be especially meaningful (and complicated) for people living with chronic health conditions. Together, they explore how to acknowledge challenges, honour invisible effort, and make sense of change without slipping into self-blame or pressure.

The conversation then turns toward 2026, with a focus on setting intentions rather than rigid goals. Sally and Seona share their own reflections and intentions, and discuss how values-based, flexible intentions can better support fluctuating energy, health, and capacity.

This episode is a compassionate end-of-year check-in - a reminder that rest is productive, pausing is allowed, and growth doesn’t have to look loud or linear. Wherever you’re landing at the end of this year, you’re welcome here.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

Join psychologists Sally and Seona for a fun, heart-warming dive into the world of pets and the surprising ways they can boost our wellbeing - especially when living with a chronic health condition. From loyal dogs who get us out the door, to snuggly cats who know exactly when we need comfort, to fish, birds, and all the quirky critters in between, this episode explores why animals can make such a big difference to our daily lives.

Sally and Seona chat about the science behind companionship, the gentle motivation pets bring to move our bodies, and the small routines that help us feel grounded. They also keep it real, unpacking the less-fluffy side of pet ownership - the costs, the cleaning, and the challenges of caring for an animal when your own health is unpredictable.

Whether you’re a lifelong animal lover or pet-curious, this one’s for you!

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

Re-Release: In this episode titled “Who’s going to date you now?," hosts Sally Shaw and Seona Ilalio tackle the complexities of dating with a chronic health condition. They delve into the unique challenges of disclosing your condition to potential partners and how this crucial conversation can often serve as a useful screener for compatibility or to filter out unsuitable matches. Sally and Seona share their personal experiences of dating after their diagnoses, offering candid insights and practical advice for navigating romance with a chronic illness.

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

⁠Webinars and Resources⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠⁠

Communication feels like it should come naturally — we speak every day, after all — but real, effective communication isn’t instinctive. It’s a learned skill, not a personality trait. And if you’ve ever thought, “I’m just not good at communicating,” here’s the good news: you absolutely can learn it, strengthen it, and make it work for you.

In this episode, we unpack why communicating can feel so much harder when you’re juggling symptoms, fatigue, emotions, or just the general overwhelm of life. Because let’s be honest — expressing your needs, setting boundaries, or navigating tricky conversations takes energy… and sometimes you simply don’t have much to give.

We’re here to normalise it: you’re not bad at communicating — you’re tired, stretched, and human. Join us as we explore practical, compassionate ways to communicate more clearly, kindly, and confidently, even when you’re not at your best.

⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠

⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠

But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)

Webinars and Resources

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠.

⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠

Ever wondered why people with chronic illness talk so much about spoons?

In today’s episode, psychologists Sally and Seona dive into Spoon Theory - the cutlery-based metaphor that attempts to explain what it’s like to navigate life with limited energy. They unpack the origin story of the theory, created in 2003 by writer Christine Miserandino, who used a handful of spoons in a restaurant to explain the invisible daily costs of living with lupus.

Sally and Seona chat about why the spoon metaphor resonates so deeply with people living with chronic health conditions, how it helps with communication, pacing and planning, and why “spoonies” everywhere have proudly embraced it. Expect laughs, real-life examples, and gentle validation for anyone who’s ever had to choose between washing their hair or answering an email.

Whether you're running on one spoon or a full drawer, this episode is for you.

⁠⁠Free Webinar - All I Want For Christmas... Is My Sanity - Preparing for Christmas Living with a Chronic Health Condition⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠

We often hear about the medical and social models of disability — but there’s another one quietly shaping attitudes toward people with chronic illness and disability: the pity model, sometimes called the charity model.

This model positions people as tragic or brave simply for existing, creating distance rather than connection. It can show up in fundraising drives, well-meaning comments, or systems that treat support as generosity rather than rights.

In this episode, we unpack how pity disguises itself as kindness, how it impacts self-worth and inclusion, and what it takes to move from sympathy to solidarity.

⁠Free Webinar - All I Want For Christmas... Is My Sanity - Preparing for Christmas Living with a Chronic Health Condition⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠⁠

⁠But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)⁠

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit⁠ ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠⁠.

⁠⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠

In this episode, we’re talking about ego - not in the “you’ve got a big ego” kind of way, but in the psychological sense: the part of us that helps shape our identity, our sense of control, and how we relate to the world.

For people living with chronic health conditions, understanding ego is powerful. Because illness challenges everything the ego likes: control, competence, independence, achievement, and identity.

We’ll unpack what ego is, what it looks like when it’s in balance or out of balance, and how awareness of ego can support acceptance, connection, and self-compassion.

Free Webinar - All I Want For Christmas... Is My Sanity - Preparing for Christmas Living with a Chronic Health Condition⁠⁠

⁠⁠Livology (Psychology - Private Practice)⁠⁠

⁠⁠MS: Get Your Head Around It! (Online Course)⁠⁠

But You’ll Be OK (Online Course)

If you need any support after listening to our podcast, you can contact Lifeline in Australia at 13 11 14, available 24/7. For support in other locations, please visit ⁠Befrienders Worldwide⁠.

⁠Instagram @butyoulooksogoodpodcast⁠