Life Academy

Sometimes healing is not just talking. Sometimes it’s learning to feel safe in your body again.

In this episode, Alicia sits down with Georgia Verry about Conscious Combat Club, a Melbourne-based charity using trauma-informed martial arts to support women and gender-diverse people impacted by violence. They chat through gender-based violence, fight-flight-freeze responses, dissociation, breathwork, grounding, and why reconnecting with the body can be such a huge part of recovery 🌿

What makes this conversation so special is how practical it is. Georgia breaks down what actually happens before someone joins a class, how triggers and boundaries are handled, why choice matters so much, and how the team is building a space where people can move, pause, cry, rest, try again, and be supported through it all.

This episode is honest, hopeful, and such a different way to think about healing. If this conversation speaks to you, please check out Conscious Combat Club, share their work, or donate if you’re able. Love you dAlings 🩵

1:18 — What Conscious Combat Club does and why it exists

4:59 — Why martial arts can help trauma recovery

5:28 — Traditional self-defence vs trauma-informed martial arts

12:27 — Dissociation, eating disorders, and reconnecting with the body

15:48 — Why breathwork does not work for everyone

19:51 — Building Conscious Combat Club and turning it into a charity

25:23 — Inside the trauma-informed gym and grounding room

29:50 — How to join Conscious Combat Club

32:23 — Why long-term access matters more than short-term programs

36:41 — The ten-year vision for Conscious Combat Club

45:48 — Pound and ground: the nervous system homework

48:26 — How to support Conscious Combat Club

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Welcome to the DA group chat where everyone is late to the pop culture moments but somehow still screaming with excitement!! 🩵✨

We’re catching up on the MOST important, VERY unserious business from the week: Sabrina Carpenter and Madonna, Hailey Bieber’s new Rhode beauty products, Zendaya and Tom Holland’s very private wedding, Shrek 5, Kyle Sandilands’ huge radio settlement, and a new mermaid movie with major Dance Academy universe energy.

And of course, because we apparently cannot help ourselves, there’s more Off Campus spiralling, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders chat, Shrinking, Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song, and a little audition chaos thrown in for good measure 🎭

Grab something cosy, come catch up with us, and tell us which pop culture rabbit hole you’re currently living in. Love you SO much dAlings!!! 🩵

1:39 — Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and car-dancing music

3:30 — Rhode beauty updates and the new products everyone is watching

4:49 — Zendaya in Shrek 5 and the character design drama

5:40 — Zendaya and Tom Holland’s very private wedding update

10:31 — Kyle Sandilands, ARN, and the huge radio settlement

13:39 — Manifesting a sunny Gold Coast filming job

15:01 — Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is back and things have changed

17:05 — Shrinking, Off Campus round two, and why the rewatch hits different

18:21 — Garrett’s mouth acting and the scene the girls cannot move past

19:41 — Audition updates and working with people you swore you never would

20:34 — Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song and late-in-life Swiftie energy

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Recs/Homework:

Listen to the Madonna remix — The car-dancing recommendation of the week

Watch Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders — The new season is out and worth the watch

Watch Shrinking — A comfort show with great writing and big feelings

Rewatch Off Campus — Round two hits even better

Listen to Taylor Swift’s Toy Story 5 song — Sweet, catchy, and emotional

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dAlings, we have updates, we have chaos, and we have a VERY exciting Off Campus moment to scream about 🥳🩵

The girls are back with retreat prep, toddler bedtime progress, mum-life brain tabs, listener questions, American Sweethearts chat, and a major Dance Academy full-circle moment that has everyone absolutely spiralling in the best way 👀 Like… the fangirling is real.

Then the episode turns into a gorgeous little reminder that your 20s do not have to be your whole story. The girls talk growing up, figuring yourself out, wrong relationships, career pivots, self-worth, and the kind of wisdom you only get after living through the messy bits.

This one feels like a cosy bestie debrief with a side of nostalgia and a tiny life lesson. So remember, you are perfect just the way you are, dAlings, and we will always (ALWAYS) love you 🩵

Who knew wool was actually the most low maintenance fibre in your wardrobe?! The Dirt Company gave us some tips and tricks to make sure you never ruin your favourite wool pieces ever again. Shop The Dirt Company's refillable, Australian-made laundry products and get their delicate confidence guide FOR FREE with every purchase of their Wool and Delicate Detergent until the end of winter https://thedirtcompany.com.au/

3:34 — Big-girl-bed win and the parenting hack that actually worked

9:05 — Trying for another baby, timing, career dreams, and the mental load

13:28 — The invisible mum load: appointments, groceries, hormones, and resentment

19:05 — Off Campus found the girls and everyone fully spiralled

23:04 — The group chat meltdown and why “yes, and” friends are elite

25:18 — Dance Academy, Off Campus, and manifesting a cameo

30:45 — American Sweethearts, listener questions, and future episode ideas

32:54 — Your 20s: feeling lost, career pressure, and relationships that were not it

41:43 — Why your 30s can feel softer, clearer, and more like you

48:50 — Regrets, body image, self-worth, and learning to back yourself

57:24 — Recs and homework: massages, reset time, and cosy winter essentials

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Recs/Homework:

Book a massage — Even a quick massage counts. A little bit of body care and nervous system love.

Try a sensory deprivation float — A quiet reset for anyone feeling like they have 5000 tabs open.

Cleanseē Studio — A self-care rec for anyone wanting a proper glow-up and body reset.

Lil Hottie heat pack — An electric heat pack that warms up fast and stays cosy for hours.

Write to your younger self — A tiny homework moment: write one thing you wish your 20-year-old self knew.

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Heyyy dAlings, just so you know this episode starts with clean hair and immediately becomes absolute CHAOS 🤣🤣

We’re back with the realest parts of life: being busy mums, toddler chaos, sleep struggles and everything else that's keeping us awake until 2AM 💀

The things keeping us grounded? 🥹 Gratitude, self-love, journaling, resilience, family support, and a tiny homework task that might make you feel a little softer toward yourself this week.

We hope every mum listening feels a little less alone after this one! 🩵

3:00 — Dena’s chaotic morning: new rug panic, running late, and acupuncture magic

7:02 — Big-girl-bed update: four-hour bedtimes and parenting patience

9:50 — Alicia’s park story

13:05 — Sweet young boys, supermarket manners, and hope for future generations

20:54 — Weaning off breastfeeding and the emotional side of letting go

23:56 — Privacy? Never heard of her: toilet boundaries and toddler logic

26:16 — Teaching updates and exciting things we can’t talk about yet

29:12 — Chiropractic disaster story and the most mortifying adjustment ever

31:04 — Dreamwork homework: gratitude, self-love, resilience, and journaling

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Recs/homework:

Gratitude check-in — Write down two things you’re grateful for each morning!

Self-love practice — Name two things you love about yourself every day for two weeks.

End-of-day pride list — Before bed, write two things you’re proud of yourself for that day, even if one is just “I got through it.”

Life Bloom Journal — A guided journal with prompts for gratitude, self-love, pride, and daily reflection.

Fluffi freckle pen — A cute little beauty rec for quick, natural-looking freckles.

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Pop culture class is in session dAlings… and please remember, your two favourite girls are not qualified 😅🩵

Dena is DEEP into podcast-listening research mode 🎧, Alicia is the MOST active member of busy gal club 💅 and somehow together they cover everything from Euphoria and Toy Story 5 to Robert Irwin at the Logies, Legally Blonde, KATSEYE, the Kardashian boyfriend universe, and more 👀

It’s giving group chat energy but with microphones 🎙️ The girls are guessing, reacting, spiralling, manifesting invites, defending their favourite shows, and absolutely promising nothing is properly fact checked. Which, honestly… is kind of the whole point 😂

Take a seat, relax, get cosy, and come spill some hot tea with us ☕ You guys are the best dAlings!!! 🩵

0:44 — Welcome to pop culture — we don’t fact check

2:00 — Euphoria finale spoilers: Rue, Nate Jacobs, and chaos

5:09 — Taylor Swift & Toy Story 5

6:56 — Robert Irwin is hosting The Logies and the girls want an invite

10:10 — Anne Hathaway, facelift rumours, and the slicked-back hair trick

11:38 — Off Campus rewatch and Heated Rivalry winning big

13:03 — Dena’s KATSEYE obsession and why Alicia needs to watch Pop Star Academy

16:01 — Legally Blonde prequel: Elle Woods is back

18:02 — The Wentworth spin-off

20:17 — Kim Kardashian, Lewis Hamilton, and the Kardashian boyfriend group chat 👀

24:19 — Wrap-up: gossip, no fact checking, and loving the silly era

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Recs/Homework:

Pop Star Academy — Dena’s main homework for Alicia. Global girl group training, K-pop energy, Dance Academy vibes on crack.

KATSEYE behind-the-scenes Coachella video — For anyone already in their KATSEYE era or ready to become obsessed.

Heated Rivalry — The girls haven’t watched yet, but the hype is officially noted.

Legally Blonde: Elle — Add the prequel series to the watch list because Reese Witherspoon being involved makes it feel promising.

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We missed you dAlings and honestly… we have SO much to catch up on 🥹

Alicia's first solo trip to Townsville was everything her soul needed: incredible people, deep conversations, and a moment on that sailboat we will not be getting over any time soon 🥹 Dena meanwhile had one of the hardest weeks she's had in a while, said a bittersweet goodbye to Twerk After Werk, and dealt with a toddler who packed an entire suitcase to move into mum and dad's room!!!

Oh and they are both DEEP in their Off Campus era and one of them may have already DM'd Garrett Graham!?!? No further questions.

Love you SO much dAlings 🩵

2:05 — Dena's update: feeling better, back at school and a secret campaign shoot

6:07 — Alicia's Townsville trip!

13:57 — Magnetic Island, a sailboat and the smallest world moment

18:30 — Reflecting on the Harrison James episode and child safety

24:25 — Isla's scary night: 000 and staying calm under pressure

32:14 — The nasal rinse that saved winter and a PSA for Melbourne cold season

39:00 — The au pair's 30th birthday and why she has become family

43:38 — Maya's big girl bed: the packed suitcase, the 4am standoff and she finally got it

50:18 — Twerk After Werk closes: the end of an era and why it was the right call

54:27 — Rainbow unicorn birthday planning, Kmart haul and the new IKEA furniture

57:58 — Off Campus, Garrett Graham and the DM we are not discussing further

1:02:30 — Recs/Homework: Monte bag, Friends Keep Secrets and Jetstar deals

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Recs/Homework:

Monty Bag — Australian small business, Mary Poppins energy.

Friends Keep Secrets — Lil Dicky and Selena Gomez messing around in a house with celebrities. So funny!!

Nasal Rinse — Non-medicated and genuinely miraculous for winter colds.

Jetstar — Genuinely cheaper, genuinely great.

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It’s Life Lately and this week the nervous systems are… not thriving 😅🩵

Dena is feeling low, overwhelmed, and behind on life in that very real way where even replying to messages feels like a full-time job. Alicia is also coming down from a scary health moment with Isla that had her back in protective mum mode and running on pure adrenaline.

Somehow though, the episode still finds its sparkle 🥹 We talk Sydney, The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere, travel chaos, the most beautiful Pass Around The Smile live show, and all the ways rejection can secretly be redirection. Plus Mother’s Day, manifestation, vision boards, savage toddlers, book chat, beauty recs, and maybe a tiny little Life Academy live show dream being planted 👀

This one is soft, messy, magical, and very much for anyone who needs to feel less alone this week 🩵

This episode is brought to you by Protect-A-Bed: https://protectabed.com.au/

1:19 — Dena’s low battery era: feeling flat, sore, and overwhelmed

4:32 — Alicia’s scary late-night mum moment with Isla’s breathing

9:12 — Running on adrenaline: health anxiety, nervous systems, and the crash after stress

13:25 — Sydney chaos: The Devil Wears Prada premiere and one very angry man

24:47 — Rejection as redirection: agents, auditions, breakups, and career pivots

32:02 — Dance Academy dreams, acting paths, and “God was listening” moments

34:13 — Vision boards, Bali manifestations, and dreams that actually came true

37:34 — Mother’s Day: sweet moments, savage toddlers, and “do you love me?” chaos

44:07 — Book chat, beauty recs, and the girls’ latest little obsessions

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Recs/Homework:

Pass Around The Smile — Cleo’s podcast, live show, oracle cards and journals.

Vision boards — Dena’s manifestation homework. Sit down, make one, and actually let yourself dream a little.

Elsie Silver books — Dena’s spicy romance book rec before the TV adaptation comes out.

Breeze Balm BB Cream — Dena’s current everyday skin rec. Juicy, buildable, and very glowy.

MCoBeauty lip/cheek tint — Alicia’s Benetint-style rec!

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Cuteness alert!! Teddy is taking over the studio today 🐶🩵

This week we’re launching a brand new monthly segment: Favourite Four 💌 aka the four things we’ve been obsessing over and aggressively sending to each other all month long.

And trust us… this lineup is GOOD. We’re talking the chicest dog products from Mochi and Michi (Teddy is now booked and busy as their newest ambassador 🐶), a skincare find from Serasilk that genuinely shocked us, the most gorgeous pieces from Francesca Jewellery, and the unexpected fashion era Kmart is currently having that we cannot stop talking about.

Basically prepare to leave this episode wanting to do some retail therapy 💅🏼

Todays’ episode gets a little vulnerable 🤍 We chat mental health, chronic pain flare ups, relationship tension and why postpartum depression still isn’t talked about enough. Naturally in true us fashion we switch gears to DEVOURING Off Campus, Brett Goldstein's new movie with J-Lo?? 👀, and the wild moral dilemma of Margo's Got Money Troubles.

Chaotic, warm and very very us. Love you dAlings SO much

1:00 — Dena opens up: mental health struggles & chronic pain flare ups

7:35 — Tension in relationships and what chronic illness really does to a relationship

17:45 — Real chat about post natal depression

23:49 — Dena’s show obsession: Off Campus & the hottest cast

26:07 — Brett Goldstein manifested a rom com with J.Lo & we are OBSESSED

32:20 — Margo’s Got Money Troubles: Elle Fanning, OnlyFans & what would YOU do?

35:28 — Book club chat & why we need one on the Facebook group

38:25 — FAVOURITE FOUR LAUNCHES! Inner Healing matching mum & daughter jewellery

41:55 — Mochi and Michi: Teddy models the harness, poop stash & stunning dog bowls

47:10 — Seresilk: the exfoliator that genuinely shocked us both

50:30 — Francesca Jewellery: the locket with Alex & Maya inside

53:10 — Kmart: the slay era neither of us saw coming!

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Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast

Recs/Homework:

Mochi and Michi — Australian made, female owned dog brand. Harness, collar, poop stash & stunning bowls. Use code LIFEACADEMY20 for 20% off https://mochiandmichi.com/

Seresilk — The pure silk exfoliating cocoon that makes zero sense but leaves your skin unreal. 100% biodegradable, sensitive skin approved, lasts 2 years https://seresilk.com.au/

Francesca Jewellery — Custom lockets with your favourite people’s photos inside. The most beautiful gift you can give or ask for

Kmart — $14 dresses. $59 trenches. Bomber jackets. Need we say more

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⚠️ Trigger warning: The following podcast episode contains topics which may be distressing to some viewers.

“There is no happy ending. But there is a hopeful ending.” - Harrison James.

This is one of those episodes that stays with you long after it ends 💙 Harrison James is a survivor, an activist, and one of the most extraordinary humans to ever walk into the Life Academy world.

Abused by his stepmother from ages 13 to 16 😔 Forced into silence for years. Brought to his knees at 19. And yet, he took every single piece of that pain and turned it into real, tangible, legislative change 🙏

Today, he’s passed laws in four Australian states. He’s written a book. He’s about to become a father again. And he sat down with Alicia to share ALL of it: the abuse, the silence, the legislation, the healing, and what it actually means to transform pain into purpose.

This is not an easy listen. But it is an essential one. Please share this with someone in your world who needs to hear it 💙 We are so grateful Harrison trusted us with his story.

🚨 If you, or someone you know, is in need of support, please contact LifeLine on 13 11 14 or visit Beyond Blue at http://www.beyondblue.org.au.

📱 For emergency crisis support, call 000

1:47 — Where it all began — Harrison opens up about his childhood 😔

4:12 — His father saw what was happening and said nothing

7:20 — The conversation with his mum in the passenger seat of a car 🥹

24:50 — "I didn't want to be here anymore" — the plan, the dream, and the decision that saved his life

29:38 — The "Your Reference Isn't Relevant" campaign — changing how courts treat convicted offenders

34:33 — Four states down, four to go — what real change looks like 🇦🇺

40:49 — Writing the book — and the toll it took to tell the whole truth

48:23 — Meeting Bella on Instagram, a first date in Italy & choosing peace 🥹

58:30 — The numbers that can't be ignored — and why silence is the real epidemic

1:06:55 — What's next: choosing contentment over the fight 💙

1:13:19 — Dreamwork: Healing Through Unsent Letters — Harrison's exercise from Chapter 1

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You know what time it is… it’s REWATCH time babyyyy 🎭💅

This episode had EVERYTHING — chaos opinions about the opening credits (still tragic 💀), deep dives into Jewish cultural pressure and academic expectations, and some really honest, personal storytelling from Dena about growing up in that environment.

We also get some amazing behind-the-scenes tea about bringing Tom and Jeff into a real Shabbat experience 🕯️🍷, Patrick continuing to be outrageously talented on screen, and Kat & Christian serving chemistry that honestly should’ve come with a warning label 🔥

Plus lots of nostalgia, confusion (because why don’t we remember our own show?), and plenty of laughing at ourselves the whole way through 😂

If you’re rewatching with us or just here for the stories, we love you heaps 💛

1:00 - Dena’s "Unnecessary" Hate for the Opening Credits

3:29 - Growing up Jewish: The Pressure to be a Doctor or Lawyer

7:02 - Behind the Scenes: Taking Tom & Jeff to Synagogue

9:16 - Christian at the Cemetery (Alicia is watching this blind!)

11:15 - Sammy’s Dad & The Perfect Hebrew Prayers

14:44 - The "Sexy" Chemistry Between Kat & Christian

16:11 - Alicia’s First Ever Scene & "White Purple" Lips

20:15 - Alicia’s Comfort Watch & Depression Era

22:09 - Why Episode 5 was "Boring" Without Abigail and Kat

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