What if the hardest season of your life ended up becoming the one that changed you the most?

Last week, I shared the story behind my six-month pause from the podcast. In this episode, I want to go a little deeper.

This isn't about surgery—it's about the lessons that came from it.

I'm reflecting on five things these last six months have taught me about health, recovery, business, relationships, personal growth, and having the courage to begin again before everything feels "ready."

If you've ever felt like life has forced you to slow down, change direction, or start over, I hope this episode reminds you that growth doesn't always happen in the big moments. Often, it's found in the small, consistent steps we take each day.

Thank you for joining me for another Dr Julie's Coffee Chat. If this conversation resonated with you, I'd love it if you followed the podcast, left a review, or shared it with someone who might need to hear it.

This season of Dr Julie's Coffee Chats is proudly supported by Fuel Box, a fellow Wellington business helping Kiwis nourish themselves through convenient, nutrition-focused drinks.

Remember to do one small thing this week to nourish yourself a little better.

Welcome back to Dr Julie's Coffee Chats!

After a six-month break following a third major surgery, I'm so excited to finally be back behind the microphone.

In this episode, I'm sharing where I've been, why I pressed pause on the podcast, what recovery really looked like, and some of the unexpected lessons that came with being forced to slow down.

It's an honest conversation about health, healing, identity, and learning to give ourselves permission to rest when life doesn't go to plan.

Whether you've been here since the beginning or you're joining me for the first time, thank you for being here. I can't wait to share this new season with you.

This season of Dr Julie's Coffee Chats is proudly supported by Fuel Box—a fellow Wellington business helping Kiwis nourish themselves through convenient, nutrition-focused drinks.

Grab a coffee and let's catch up.

In this episode I’m having an honest conversation about something we don’t talk about enough — dropping balls, trimming the fat, and focusing on what actually matters. 

After a busy and messy end to last year, I never quite got around to a proper wrap-up. And instead of forcing momentum, I realised it was time to pause, simplify, and reset — without guilt. 

This episode is about: 

• Letting go of the pressure to do everything at once
• Why pausing doesn’t mean failing
• How focusing on foundations creates more energy, not less
• Giving yourself permission to step back without explaining everything

I’m also sharing why I’ll be taking a short break from the podcast until after Easter — not to disappear, but to reset, heal, and return with clarity.
 
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, behind, or like life is pulling you in too many directions, this conversation is for you.
 

 This week on Dr Julie’s Coffee Chats I’m diving into a thought every mum has had — usually while staring at a pile of washing that’s been sitting in the machine for far too many days (me!) — “How does everyone else do it?”

The truth? They don’t. None of us do. We’re all juggling, dropping balls, picking up new ones, and trying to keep ourselves and our families afloat as best we can.

In this episode, I’m sharing a very real moment from my own morning that reminded me just how much invisible load we carry — especially at this time of year. I talk about the myth of “other people doing it better,” what wellness actually looks like in the chaos, and why it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed, tired, or behind. Plus some practical ways to take the pressure off, how to reset without guilt.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one struggling to keep up — this episode will remind you that you’re absolutely not alone. Grab your coffee, take a breath, and come join me.

In this week’s Coffee Chat, I’m talking about something every parent, every woman, every human feels — that pressure of trying to hold all the balls, make all the choices, and somehow keep up as we head into Christmas. 

I share a moment from just this week: standing in my kitchen at 9pm, exhausted after a full day of work and training, trying to decide between dishes, a shower, or doing a puzzle with my 6-year-old… and what happened when I finally walked back out and found him fast asleep. And then what my oldest son did next 🥹 

This episode is about the real version of dropping the ball — not the Instagram version — but the human one. The version that shows love in unexpected places, the version that reminds us we can’t do everything, and the version that frees us from the myth of “balance.” 

If you’re feeling stretched thin, guilty, overwhelmed, or like there are never enough hours in the day… this one’s for you. You are not failing. You’re just in a full season, and you’re doing better than you think. 

Grab your coffee, take a breath, and join me for a gentle reminder that the balls you’re dropping aren’t the ones that matter most 🤍 

In this Coffee Chat, I’m diving into something that comes up every year around this time: comparison. From body image to Christmas plans to what everyone else’s family, life, or business seems to be doing — it can feel like we’re constantly measuring ourselves against other people’s highlight reels.

I share why comparison actually spikes during this season (spoiler: it’s biology, not a personal flaw), how stress and social media amplify it, and even how I’ve felt it myself recently comparing my own food brand to others.

This episode is a gentle, honest reminder that comparison isn’t a verdict — it’s a signal. And when it shows up, there’s a kinder, more grounded way to respond.

Grab your coffee and settle in with me for a little perspective reset.

In this quick Coffee Chat, I’m breaking down one of the biggest nutrition myths I still hear all the time: that “gluten-free means healthy.”

I also share more of my own personal gluten journey where the DJK products really took flight before I even knew it plus what's next for DJK HQ - it's a big week here! 

Grab your coffee, take a breath, and tune in for a tiny reset with me 🤎

As the festive season ramps up, it can feel like food (and stress) are everywhere — parties, school events, baking, late nights… and somewhere in there we’re meant to feel “balanced.”

In this episode, I’m sharing three simple, realistic food tips to help you feel grounded, nourished, and actually enjoy this season — not survive it. These are the same tools I use myself when life gets busy: adding before restricting, planning for balance instead of perfection, and keeping joy (and food!) connected to what really matters.

And yes — my Christmas Goodies officially launch today 

They’re packed with festive flavour and made with the same care I bring to everything I share here — real food, no guilt, full of joy.

Grab your coffee, take a breath, and let’s chat about how to keep food simple and satisfying this Christmas.

October was a month full of curveballs — moving house, losing our sweet Chloe, juggling birthdays, secondary school prep, Christmas launches, and the everyday load that never stops. In this honest coffee chat I share the real lessons that came from a messy, emotional, and very human month.

From accepting that some balls will drop, to recognising when your standards are just too high, this episode is a reminder that you’re doing the best you can with the resources you have. I also talk about the grounding breathwork that has helped me stay steady, and how wellbeing habits quietly pay off in the hardest seasons — even when you don’t see the “results.”

A warm, real reflection for anyone feeling stretched, tired, or like life’s thrown one too many things their way. 

If you’re needing a little drop of wellbeing inspiration today, this episode is for you.

In this Coffee Chat, I share a gentle reminder of the three pillars that keep me grounded through every season — protein, power, and progress. These aren’t just about food or fitness, but about fuelling yourself in every sense: nourishing your body, owning your strength, and recognising the quiet, steady progress that truly matters.

A short, soulful reminder that even when life feels heavy, you are still moving forward — one choice, one moment, one breath at a time - with some helpful, practical takeaways.