Reset with Ash Cam

If you’ve been feeling mentally drained, overwhelmed, or like your brain never switches off, this episode will help you understand why and show you how to reduce the mental load and finally feel lighter.

In this episode of Reset, I’m joined by Professor Leah Ruppanner to unpack the mental load so many women are carrying and why so many of us feel constantly overwhelmed, stretched too thin, and responsible for holding everything together.

We talk about emotional labour, invisible responsibilities, and how the pressure of modern life, work, and relationships can quietly lead to burnout. If you’ve ever felt like you’re thinking about everything all the time, this conversation will help you feel seen, understood, and supported with practical tools to reduce the mental load, set boundaries, and create more space in your life.

The cover of Leah’s chart-topping new book Drained makes a bold promise: that by reducing our mental load, we can do less and be more. More successful in our careers, more fulfilled in our lives, and more impactful in the world. In this episode, we unpack exactly how.

Leah is a leading sociologist at the University of Melbourne, CEO of Lighten Lab, and has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and CNN for her data-driven insights on gender, equity, and workplace policy.

In this episode, we cover:

• What the mental load actually is and why it feels so heavy
• The invisible and emotional labour women carry every day
• Why so many high-achieving women feel overwhelmed and burnt out
• The 8 types of mental load and how to recognise them in your life
• How the mental load shows up in relationships and at work
• Practical ways to reduce the mental load and set better boundaries
• How to navigate gender bias in the workplace (and use it to your advantage)
• A sociologist’s perspective on where to focus your time and energy

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you’re doing everything but still not getting ahead, this episode will help you feel lighter, clearer, and more in control of what actually matters.

Take the free mental load assessment https://www.lightenlab.com/assessment

Listen to the MissPerceived Podcast 

Buy Leah’s best selling book Drained 

https://www.booktopia.com.au/drained-leah-ruppanner/book/9781761471957.html?srsltid=AfmBOorIAs9WdiOH2bm-5y8teJrJ6DNiYdHfp_SUwgEh8qW0lZ5qjgMH

Follow Leah on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/prof.leahruppanner
Follow Ash on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashcam____

If you’ve been feeling a little off lately… a bit flat, overwhelmed, or not quite like yourself, this episode will help you understand why.

In this conversation, Ash sits down with psychologist Lara Beaton to unpack the real impact of constant negative news, doomscrolling, and the emotional weight so many of us are carrying right now.

Because it’s not just you.

We’re living in a time where we’re more connected than ever, but also more exposed to distressing headlines, global uncertainty, and information overload. And while staying informed matters, it can quietly take a toll on our mental and physical health.

This episode is here to help you make sense of what’s happening in your brain and body and more importantly, how to feel lighter, calmer, and more like yourself again.

You’ll walk away feeling validated, grounded, and equipped with practical ways to stay informed without feeling consumed.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why you’ve been feeling “off” lately (and why it makes sense)
• The psychological impact of constant negative news exposure
• What doomscrolling is actually doing to your brain and nervous system
• How anxiety, stress, and emotional fatigue can build without us realising
• The guilt of feeling happy when the world feels heavy
• How to hold both awareness and optimism at the same time
• Simple, realistic ways to reduce your mental load without disconnecting completely
• Practical tools to feel calmer, more grounded, and back in control

A reminder as you listen:

You’re allowed to stay informed and still feel joy.
You’re allowed to care deeply about the world and still protect your energy.
And you’re allowed to create a life that feels good, even when things around you feel uncertain.

Connect with us:

Lara Beaton
Website: https://www.larabeatonpsychology.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larabeatonpsychology

Reset Podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reset___podcast

Ash Cam
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashcam____

In this episode of Reset, Ash sits down with Kirstin-Lee Keysers,founder of Australian fashion label Kivari, to explore what can happen when you take a risk on yourself and back your dream.

What started as a holiday idea and a cancelled flight home has grown into a multi-eight-figure fashion brand, with beautiful stores across Australia and a global online community of more than 370,000 followers.

Kiki shares the real story behind building Kivari - from selling at markets to opening flagship stores, scaling a high-performing team, predicting fashion trends months in advance, and navigating the logistics of releasing new collections multiple times a month.

This conversation goes deep into entrepreneurship, career change, business growth, leadership, marketing, team building, and how AI may shape the future of the fashion industry. It’s an honest, inspiring episode for anyone craving change, considering starting over, or wondering if it’s too late to pursue a dream.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Kivari was born from a holiday idea
• What it was really like building the brand in the early days
• Growing from markets to bricks-and-mortar stores across Australia
• Online vs in-store sales and scaling a retail business
• Building and leading a high-performing team
• The marketing strategies driving growth right now
• How fashion collections are designed months in advance
• Trend forecasting and consumer behaviour
• Surrounding yourself with the right people as a founder
• The future of Kivari and the fashion industry
• How AI may change fashion and retail
• Advice for women wanting a career change later in life
• A message from Kiki’s 90-year-old future self

Whether you’re an aspiring founder, a creative, a career-driven woman, or simply someone craving inspiration to take the next step, this episode is a reminder that it’s never too late to begin again.

Where to from here?

https://www.kivari.com.au

https://www.instagram.com/kivari_the_label/

https://www.instagram.com/kiki_keysers/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstin-lee-keysers-38a4a563/

Making new friends as an adult can feel surprisingly hard. We want to… but everyone’s calendars are full, and it just doesn’t happen like it used to.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing the story behind Reset Walk Club - a simple idea that came together quickly and is now launching across multiple cities in Australia.

This conversation is for you if you’ve ever felt like:

• your life has grown, but your circle hasn’t quite caught up
• you want to meet new people, but don’t know where to start
• you’re craving more connection, better conversations, and a reset

We talk about:

• why leaving your hometown can help you discover who you really are
• why you don’t actually need to move to create that same energy
• how friendships evolve as we grow through different seasons of life
• why it’s important to keep adding to your circle
• and how to make connection feel easy again

Walk Club is designed to be simple:
one hour, once a month, already in your calendar.

No pressure. No awkward networking. Just real conversations, fresh air, and like-minded women.

Find all the details, locations, and upcoming dates here:
https://events.humanitix.com/host/ash-cam-reset

Follow along on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reset___podcast

Why can friendship feel so hard as an adult?

Why do so many of us feel lonely, disconnected, or like we've outgrown our old friendships?

In this honest and heartfelt episode, Ash is joined by Psychologist Ally to talk about the messy, emotional and deeply human reality of friendship in adulthood.

Whether you're navigating new life phases like motherhood, career shifts, or personal growth... or simply wondering how to make new friends as an adult, this episode offers real insight, comfort, and tools.

You'll learn:

Whether you're craving more meaningful connection, grieving an old friendship, or trying to find your place socially this episode is for you.

Links & Resources:

🎧 Reset Podcast episode on navigating your 20s & 30s:
https://youtu.be/O_RJ7NVFcPE

📖 Harvard Happiness Study (via Forbes):
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adriangostick/2023/08/15/harvard-research-reveals-the-1-key-to-living-longer-and-happier/

Follow Ally on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/congruencepsychology/

Work with Ally:
https://www.congruencepsychology.com

Follow Ash on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ashcam____/

—

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show and leave a review it helps more people find these important conversations.

If you stopped working tomorrow, how long could you financially survive on your own?

Not in theory. Not in a spreadsheet somewhere.In real life.

Lately I’ve been seeing headlines about rising homelessness in Australian women over 55. At first, it feels distant. But when you dig deeper, this isn’t just about homelessness.

It’s about superannuation gaps.It’s about part-time work and motherhood.It’s about divorce.It’s about rising cost of living, rent vesting and what really happens financially when life doesn’t go to plan.

In this episode, I sit down with financial adviser Jayde Jenkins to unpack the financial blind spots women can’t afford to ignore and what we should be doing in our 20s, 30s and 40s to protect ourselves.

We talk about:

* Why homelessness in women over 55 is rising in Australia

* The long-term financial impact of career breaks and part-time work

* What divorce really means for superannuation and property

* Rent vesting and whether it protects you long term

* Reverse mortgages and accessing equity later in life

* The financial red flags women consistently overlook

* Why personal insurance matters more than most of us realise

* How to build an emergency fund even if you’re starting from zero

* The financial order of priorities if you’re earning well and want a clear roadmap

This conversation isn’t about fear. It’s about awareness.

Because the women most affected aren’t irresponsible. They’re capable, educated women who experienced illness, separation, age discrimination or simply underestimated the long-term impact of stepping out of the workforce.

If you care about financial independence, protecting your future and making sure you always have options, this episode is for you.

Watch the episode about Divorce with Divorce Lawyer Steph https://open.spotify.com/episode/1rt5VRTIeCfqY6lqsdTjit?si=osuHOJawSmav0wlpaR2mMQ&pi=OPmEw2m3So2DL&t=0

Connect with Jayde on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jayde_financialadviser

Follow Ash on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashcam____

New episodes weekly.

Follow Reset so you never miss a conversation your future self will thank you for.

Before Rose was born, I thought I had prepared well. I had already interviewed incredible experts about postpartum nutrition, hormonal crashes, mental health and recovery after birth. I felt informed and ready for what the fourth trimester might bring.

But once Rose arrived, the two things that surprised me most were breastfeeding and newborn sleep.

The reality of milk supply, feeding a newborn, contact naps and baby sleep (or lack of) looked very different to what I had imagined.

In this episode I’m joined by Melissa Hays, a paediatric nurse, midwife, internationally certified lactation consultant and holistic baby sleep consultant who has built an online community of more than 90,000 parents seeking calm, evidence based guidance around breastfeeding, formula feeding and baby sleep.

This is the conversation I wish I had listened to before giving birth to Rose.

Melissa shares what she wishes every parent knew about breastfeeding, how stress and exhaustion can affect milk supply, what biologically normal baby sleep actually looks like in the first year, and why so many families quietly co sleep even though it’s rarely talked about openly.

If you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, or navigating the first year with a baby, this episode will help you feel more informed, more confident and far less alone.

In this episode we discuss:

• How to filter through conflicting advice from midwives, doctors, friends and the internet without losing confidence in yourself
• Three things Melissa wishes every woman knew about breastfeeding before giving birth
• Fascinating facts about breastmilk and how it changes based on your baby’s needs
• How to choose a formula if you decide to supplement or exclusively formula feed
• How stress, exhaustion and pressure can impact milk supply in the early weeks
• How babies sleep around the world and why different cultures approach baby sleep differently
• What biologically normal baby sleep actually looks like in the first year of life
• Why co sleeping is still taboo in Australia even though many families end up doing it
• What parents need to know to co sleep as safely as possible if it happens
• Why traditional sleep training advice like cry it out is now being questioned by more professionals
• Whether contact naps are actually a bad habit or a completely normal phase of development

As always, take what resonates and leave the rest. There is no single perfect way to parent, only the way that works best for you and your baby.

Key links from this chat: 

Follow Reset Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reset___podcast/ 

Follow Ash on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashcam____/

Follow Mel on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cocoonandcradle/

Return to work guide https://www.cocoonandcradle.com/returning-to-work?fbclid=PARlRTSAQcxNNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAafx8l2qGd9Hrboyejk0dysndBsRYLigcpbLH55G9lm155KNzAOfXFdaveOR1g_aem_Le9DHYO1Vmxw8vCN5QUkaw

Baby & toddler Sleep FAQs https://www.cocoonandcradle.com/baby-toddler-sleep-faq?fbclid=PARlRTSAQcxINleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAad9n2RK_RufJE6akE1eDPMsoh3tB9R4p6KLCAzSUpV4b_fScnBKBtk2qq03BA_aem_edznNMOc9ocT77ZFPRzpkw

Breastfeeding FAQs https://www.cocoonandcradle.com/optin?fbclid=PARlRTSAQcxG1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAacgbF-dpHqJtwE-3KzVTbnTDlXzNRpUBd4LI-kKVdZZdHp14kudLXHZlWIamA_aem_zLcUJlmpCkpVWNnDkMhVKg

Join the Cocoon Circle https://www.cocoonandcradle.com/cocoon-circle?fbclid=PARlRTSAQcxK9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaegNcGyUtYd6RlqdG0PLZvnSMTU-hkXUABar4cV7A1QJfcW5u3PdBQMTdnPuQ_aem_qxxJpRJpvYDRh1rXsBbi_Q

Australian Breastfeeding Association https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/co-sleeping 

Have you been waiting for 2026 to feel different… and it just doesn’t yet?

This year is the Year of the Fire Horse and so many of us expected bold change. Some of you are already feeling the momentum. Others might be wondering where yours is.

In this episode, I’m joined by Feng Shui practitioner Steph McConachy from Nine Lemons Feng Shui to explore how Feng Shui works, how your home’s energy impacts your life, and how to reset your space to unlock clarity, career growth, relationships and momentum.

We cover:

• ​What Feng Shui actually is and why it’s used as business strategy in Asia
• ​Why some homes feel expansive and others feel heavy or “off”
• ​Simple Feng Shui tips you can implement immediately
• ​The difference between mess and clutter and how clutter blocks opportunity
• ​Steph’s viral Let It Go List for releasing old identities and past chapters
• ​How to activate the career, wealth and relationship areas of your home
• ​Fire Horse energy and how to amplify change or kickstart it if you’re feeling stuck

You’ll also learn why something as simple as closing your bathroom door or clearing one small area of your home can shift more than you think.

Your inner world affects your outer world, but your environment also shapes your mindset, focus and opportunities.

If you’ve been craving a reset in your career, confidence, relationships or direction in 2026, this episode will give you practical, powerful ways to support that shift.

Press play, look around your space, and notice what no longer matches the woman you’re becoming.

Steph’s let it go list

https://www.ninelemonsfengshui.com/40things

Steph’s nine areas map

https://www.ninelemonsfengshui.com/free-nine-areas-download

Connect with Steph on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ninelemonsfengshui

Family estrangement affects more people than we realise, whether you are considering stepping back from a family relationship, living with no contact, or trying to understand why someone has cut ties with you.

In this episode of Reset, psychologist Alex Hall joins me to unpack what family estrangement really is, why it is becoming more common in adulthood, and the life seasons where it often shows up. We explore the emotional complexity on both sides, and how guilt, grief and relief can exist at the same time.

We also talk about:
• why people reach a breaking point with family
• the pressure to be a “good” daughter, son or sibling
• when it might be worth slowing down before going no contact
• whether you owe an explanation, or not
• navigating birthdays, weddings and holidays
• if and when relationships can be repaired

Thank you to the Reset listeners who shared their experiences and helped shape this conversation.

New episodes weekly.
Welcome to Reset x

Connect with Alex:

https://www.growthroughtherapy.com.au/

Suggest a Reset Podcast episode topic to Ash: https://www.instagram.com/ashcam____/

We’re told that January should feel motivating, energising and full of momentum.

But what if it doesn’t?

In this episode of Reset, Ash is joined by bestselling author, health journalist and yoga teacher Jodi Wilson, to unpack why so many of us feel exhausted, overwhelmed and mentally foggy, even at the very start of the year.

Jodi is the author of A Brain That Breathes, a deeply practical, evidence-based guide to caring for your brain in an overwhelming world. Together, Ash and Jodi explore the neuroscience behind burnout, decision fatigue and nervous system overload, and share simple, accessible ways to create breathing space in real life, even if you’re busy, ambitious and living in a city.

This is a conversation about rest that isn’t fluffy, expensive or unrealistic.It’s about biology, seasons, nervous systems and learning how to live well without burning out.

Why this episode matters:

So much wellness advice is built for people with unlimited time, money and control over their schedules. This episode is different. It’s for people with busy jobs, big dreams, caregiving responsibilities, financial pressure and full lives, who still want to feel calm, clear and creative.

If you’ve been telling yourself you just need to push harder, be more disciplined or try one more productivity hack, this conversation will gently show you an easier way.

Resources mentioned:

Get a copy of a Brain That Breathes:

https://geni.us/ABrainThatBreathes?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAPbaU9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAacD-inRfezevSSPK_AjaW7yZfVly6id190Pxlgd3w09r_ByZPZDZbzQYn6HQw_aem_jxesqc9cwcOlSNdGyIYBUg

Connect with Jodi on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/practisingsimplicity/?hl=en

Say hi to Ash on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/reset___podcast/?hl=en

Join Jodi on Substack

practisingsimplicity.substack.com

dearnewmum.substack.com