TEA WITH JULES

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Tea with Jules, I sit down with sleep scientist, author and advocate Dr Carmel Harrington, whose life’s work began with unimaginable loss. After the sudden infant death of her son Damien, Carmel left a successful law career to pursue a PhD in sleep medicine and has since become an internationally recognised expert in the science of sleep.

Carmel shares what actually happens in our brains and bodies while we sleep, why it impacts everything from our mood and memory to dementia risk, and how our modern, always-on lifestyles are quietly eroding one of the most important foundations of our health. If you’ve ever stayed up scrolling, pulled an all-nighter, or told yourself you can “push through” on little sleep, this conversation will gently (but firmly) change the way you think about rest. You’ll walk away with a new understanding of why sleep is non-negotiable, plus practical, realistic strategies to protect your sleep – even in busy seasons of life with kids, work, and a very full plate.

In this episode we chat about

• Carmel’s origin story
• A groundbreaking SIDS discovery
• Why sleep is not optional
• Your brain’s nightly ‘shower’
• Sleep, memory and mood
• The melatonin story
• Reclaiming sleep in a busy life
• Wind-down rituals that work
• When your brain won’t switch off
• Different sleep schedules under one roof
• The one mindset shift that changes everything
  
  

Connect with Dr Harrington

Sleep for Health

LinkedIn

Connect with Jules

• Get Jules’ Newsletter – a letter each week with personal antidotes, recipes, fashion, cocktails podcast episodes
• Jules Best Selling Book – Tea & Honestly
• Watch Tea with Jules on YouTube
• Follow Jules on Instagram
• Follow Tea with Jules on Instagram
• Follow Jules on TikTok
• Subscribe to Tea with Jules the Podcast in iTunes

Credits:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s Tea with Jules episode is one of those conversations that sits with you. The kind that gently nudges you to look inward, reflect, and reconnect with yourself and the people you love.

I’m joined by relationship therapist Nicole Armstrong, Managing Director of The
Relationship Practice, a specialist in attachment theory, communication patterns, emotional awareness, and helping individuals, couples and families navigate relational challenges with honesty, courage, and compassion.

Nicole isn’t just an expert in her field, she has been my personal therapist, and someone whose guidance has helped me rebuild calm in seasons of anxiety, deepen connection in my relationships, and nurture a healthier relationship with myself.

In this episode, we explore why women historically place themselves last, how to rebuild connection with ourselves, and what a healthy partnership actually looks like. We talk attachment styles, conflict, boundaries, time, and why sometimes the bravest thing we can do is slow down.

Key Takeaways

• Your needs are not less important than anyone else's.
• You cannot pour from an empty cup - you have to refill yours first.
• Connection deepens when we are genuine, vulnerable, and willing to communicate honestly.
• Thinking time isn’t indulgent - it's essential.
• We all deserve a life that feels meaningful and joyful.

Connect with Nicole

Nicole's Website

Sign Up For articles, notes and research from Nicole and her practice

Connect with Jules

• Get Jules’ Newsletter – a letter each week with personal antidotes, recipes, fashion, cocktails podcast episodes
• Jules Best Selling Book – Tea & Honestly
• Watch Tea with Jules on YouTube
• Follow Jules on Instagram
• Follow Tea with Jules on Instagram
• Follow Jules on TikTok
• Subscribe to Tea with Jules the Podcast in iTunes

Disclaimer
The content in this episode is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to replace individual therapy, medical care or professional advice. If you’re struggling, please reach out to a qualified health professional or trusted support service in your area.

Credits:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever stood in the middle of your home and thought, "Where on earth do I even begin?", this episode will feel like a deep exhale. 

Today on Tea With Jules, I sit down with the brilliant Anita Birges - professional home organiser, declutter queen, founder of Mise En Place, and the woman behind hundreds of beautifully calm, functional homes across Australia. 

But this episode isn’t just about cleaning cupboards and colour-coding pantries - it’s about the emotional clutter. The guilt, the overwhelm, the “I’ll deal with it later” piles, and the fantasy of living in a Pinterest-perfect showroom. Anita walks us through why clutter weighs so heavily on our minds, how to start when you feel completely overwhelmed, and the simple systems that help households run more smoothly - especially when kids, school bags, wrapping paper, sport gear and surprise junk mail are part of the daily chaos.

We cover everything from sentimental items, to wardrobe rules, to the hilariously relatable reality of donation bags living permanently in the boot of the car. 

If you’ve been craving more calm, space, order, time and mental clarity - this one’s for you.

Links & Resources:

Anita on Instagram:
@mise_en_place_aus

Mise En Place Website:
https://mise-en-place.com.au

Follow Me on Instagram:
@julessebastian, @tea_with_jules

Watch Tea With Jules:
https://www.youtube.com/@JulesSebastianChannel

Subscribe:
https://julessebastian.com/pages/sign-up

Credits:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jules and Lisa sit down for another hilarious and heartfelt debrief about love languages, November burnout, and the beautiful madness that is Christmas.
From the art of acts of service (“don’t do that without asking me first!”) to the suspicious side of bin duties, Jules and Lisa unpack what it really means to give and receive love when your partner’s language just doesn’t match your own.

The chat takes an unmissable turn into church antics like, the moment Lisa confidently said “(bow)” out loud during Mass and continues through family traditions, chaos management, and why November feels like a full-blown emotional marathon. They open up about Guy’s year of surgeries, the juggle of motherhood and work, and the delicate dance of keeping Christmas magic alive when you’ve never had the same Christmas twice.

It’s a warm, witty, and wildly relatable chat that perfectly captures friendship, family, and festive-season fatigue, all wrapped up with laughter, honesty, and hydralyte.

Links & Resources:

Follow Me on Instagram:
@julessebastian, @tea_with_jules

Lisa on Instagram:
@lisajohnston_

Watch Tea With Jules:
https://www.youtube.com/@JulesSebastianChannel

Subscribe:
https://julessebastian.com/pages/sign-up

Credits:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matilda Murray is the co-owner of STAX., one of Australia’s fastest-growing activewear brands, and the creative force behind fashion label Second Left alongside her husband, Don Robertson. From storage-unit photo shoots to Paris Fashion Week, Matilda has built a loyal community around confidence, comfort and inclusivity – all while sharing her life openly online, hosting Q&As, and taking her followers along for every launch, lesson and level-up.

This conversation will let you behind the veil of building a brand, a business
and a life.

Links & Resources:

Matilda on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/matilda_murray_/

STAX:
https://www.instagram.com/staxofficial_/

Second Left:
https://www.instagram.com/secondleftsport/

Follow Me On Instagram:
@julessebastian, @tea_with_jules

Watch Tea With Jules:
https://www.youtube.com/@JulesSebastianChannel

Subscribe:
https://julessebastian.com/pages/sign-up

Credits:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jules sits down with Jordin Sparks - singer, songwriter, actor, and one of the most down-to-earth superstars on the planet for a deep and sun-drenched chat about faith, purpose, motherhood, and staying grounded through it all.

From the moment Ryan Seacrest called her name on American Idol to the life lessons she learned from Whitney Houston, Jordin opens up about what it means to live with duality - the public figure versus the woman behind the microphone, and how she’s learned to protect her peace while keeping her spark shining bright.

Links & Resources:

Jordin on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jordinsparks/

'What's Your Spark?' Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3H4Tj09H64LzLFZ9shXFRc?si=b18bc2c9dd9b4da
4

Follow Me On Instagram:
@julessebastian, @tea_with_jules

Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/@JulesSebastianChannel

Subscribe:
https://julessebastian.com/pages/sign-up

Credits:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode, Jules sits down with creative powerhouse Gemma Peanut - photographer, educator, and co-host of the hit podcast We Don’t Have Time For This. Together they unpack what it means to pivot, show up afraid, and find peace in the chaos of motherhood, creativity, and modern life.

Key Moments

• The Flop on the Couch: The universal exhaustion of motherhood and choosing between heating the milk or playing handball.
• The Confidence Reframe: Gemma’s mantra “Don’t let 50-year-old me down” as a reminder to live fully now.
• From Neighbours to LA: Her early acting success, the tough lessons from Hollywood, and rediscovering creativity through photography.
• Learning Your Worth: Charging for creativity, failing fast, and pivoting without
  shame.
• The Birth of a Podcast: How We Don’t Have Time For This started in lockdown and grew into a loyal community and national tour.
• Authenticity & Boundaries: Managing energy in public life, protecting peace, and staying true to yourself.
• Comparison & Neutrality: Letting go of perfectionism and finding calm in “good enough.”
• Motherhood Upgrades: The small freedoms that change everything like kids
  buckling their own seatbelts.
• Gratitude & Perspective: Why taking risks is a privilege and how every chapter
  feeds the next.
• Final Word: “I don’t have time for people sh*tting on Taylor Swift.” A warm, funny, and deeply relatable chat about identity, purpose, and giving fewer f’s because as Gemma says, nothing is wasted; every chapter hangs over into the next.

Links & Resources:

Gemma's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/gemma_peanut/

We Don’t Have Time for This Pod:
https://www.wedonthavetimeforthis.com

Follow Me On Instagram:
@julessebastian, @tea_with_jules

Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/@JulesSebastianChannel

Subscribe:
https://julessebastian.com/pages/sign-up

Credits:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beauty isn’t a 10-step routine - especially for busy, midlife women. In this candid chat, beauty industry powerhouse Bahar Etminan (Ageless Radiance) reframes “longevity” as vitality and shares the simplest path to real-world radiance: know your health dashboard, protect your skin barrier, and stop doing the most. We cover perimenopause and missed symptoms, what actually works in skincare, how to choose clinicians (and when to skip them), and why “less is more” might be the glow-up you’ve been waiting for.

About Our Guest
Bahar Etminan is the founder of Ageless Radiance and a veteran leader across
luxury beauty and fashion. With 25+ years building and advising prestige brands,
she champions intelligent living, women’s wellness and a modern, realistic approach to beauty.

In This Episode We Cover

• Sensitive vs sensitised skin: why over-treating wrecks your barrier—and how to fix it with fewer, smarter steps.
• The Health Dashboard: the midlife game-changer for energy, mood, hormones and skin.
• Perimenopause & menopause: real symptoms, missed cues, and getting support early.
• Skincare that works (for real life): cleanse → serum → moisturiser → SPF; when to add eye cream/oils.
• Actives that matter: Vitamin C (brightening), Vitamin E (barrier/soothing),
  Vitamin A/retinol (renewal), hydrating molecules.
• Home vs clinic: peel pads, masks and massage at home; when a
  professional consult is worth it.
• Choosing experts: word-of-mouth over coupons, loyalty over deal-hopping,
  clinics with options over one-machine-fits-all.
• Injectables & lasers: why they’re medical decisions, not “lunchtime tweaks,” and how to proceed safely.
• Longevity reframe: less “how long you’re pretty,” more strength, clarity,
  libido, vitality.

Disclaimer: This conversation shares personal experiences and general information. It’s not medical advice. Aesthetics (including injectables/laser) are medical procedures - seek qualified, regulated professionals and consult your GP for individual health concerns.

Links & Resources:

Ageless Radiance Website:
https://agelessradianceclub.com

Follow Ageless Radiance:
https://www.instagram.com/agelessradianceclub/

Follow Me On Instagram:
@julessebastian, @tea_with_jules

Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/@JulesSebastianChannel

Subscribe:
https://julessebastian.com/pages/sign-up

Read:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Tea-Honesty-Heartfelt-conversations-
learned/dp/1760525766

Credits:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some mornings glide, others go completely sideways. In this chatty couch-catch-up, Jules and Lisa talk honest mum-life logistics, why everyone needs a “post drop-off debrief” friend, and the eternal debate: morning people vs night owls. From school-photo emergencies and Apple Watch rings to the great top-sheet divide and a very unfortunate dog-walk incident, this is a real-life episode about giving yourself grace, starting again tomorrow, and finding your rhythm in a world full of health advice and hustle.

What We Cover:

• The “teamate” phone call: why a safe vent after school drop-off keeps you sane
• Morning routine roulette: when one forgotten blazer (or tie) topples the dominoes
• Night owl pride: getting it done at 10pm vs 5:30am and why neither is “better”
• Health overload: weights, Pilates, walking, protein, bloating, perimenopause, and doing what actually works for you
• The permission slip: “This too shall pass” for the good days and the shockers
• Domestic real talk: kids’ spritzes, the top-sheet debate, and the never-ending
  bed/lunch/washing cycle
• Tech & tools: chasing rings, water-bottle loyalty, and why DIY podcast setups are a humbler
  
  

A Few Memorable Moments:

• The $425 lesson in dropping off a tie that was already being worn
• Ronnie the dog, torrential rain, and… a sleeve catastrophe on poo patrol
• Photo-day panic: back-to-daycare with a fresh outfit and emergency braids
• The truth about “perfect days”: you’re one sleep away from either your best or your worst—and that’s normal
  
  

What We’re Watching:

• The Hunting Wives (spicy drama; solo-watch recommended)
• The Summer I Turned Pretty (weekly drop frustrations included)
• Mini-docu binges on Netflix: The Biggest Loser: Fit for TV, Amy Bradley Is
  Missing, Unknown Caller
  
  

Links & Resources:

Follow Me On Instagram:
@julessebastian, @tea_with_jules

Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/@JulesSebastianChannel

Subscribe:
https://julessebastian.com/pages/sign-up

Read:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Tea-Honesty-Heartfelt-conversations-
learned/dp/1760525766

Credits:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author and speaker, Michelle Mitchell, joins Jules to unpack the “in-between” years - why ages 9-12 are a distinct developmental stage, what tweens need most, and how parents can balance boundaries with independence. From tech rules to friendship drama, family meetings to the “borrow their calm” ritual, this conversation is stacked with practical language you can use tonight at the dinner table.

What you’ll learn:

• Why tweens are not “mini teens”: Ages 9-12 are a unique developmental stage with rapid change across five domains - physical, social, emotional, sexual and cognitive.
• The Big Three needs: Every tween is scanning for safety (physical + psychological), a sense of belonging, and proof that they matter. Design home life and routines to meet these needs first
• Comfort-zone model: Use Green (comfort), Yellow (stretch), Red (panic) to gauge challenges. We want regular, supported stretches without tipping into panic.
• Circles of decision-making: Get clear on what parents decide, what kids decide, and what you negotiate together and expect those circles to shift as kids grow.
• “Test & measure” independence: Offer small freedoms with clear conditions, review how it went, then dial the rope in or out. Language that regulates: Start with “Good on you for noticing… How do you feel about that? What’s your next best step?”
• Borrowing calm: Sometimes tweens don’t need a debrief - they need proximity. Sit nearby, share quiet TV time, go for a walk. Calm is contagious. Siblings without carnage: Hold a short family meeting to name needs and set non-negotiables. Kids try to solve conflict without hurting themselves, others, or the environment and use a 5-minute “reset” before re-engaging.
• Tutors & extra help: Prioritise support when the goal matters to the child; don’t build their week around propping up things that aren’t meaningful to them. 
• Mistakes are curriculum: Expect them. Keep connection intact while you walk through consequences, ideally those you’ve pre-agreed together. 
• Tech that protects connection: Delay personal devices as long as possible, keep tech out of bedrooms/bathrooms, and make mealtimes device-free. You’ll want the conversation habits later.

Disclaimer: This episode shares general information only and is not a substitute for
personalised professional advice.

LINKS & RESOURCES:
Michelle's Website:
https://michellemitchell.org

Michelle's Website:
https://www.instagram.com/michellemitchell.author/

Follow Me On Instagram:
@julessebastian, @tea_with_jules

Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/@JulesSebastianChannel

Subscribe:
https://julessebastian.com/pages/sign-up

Read:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/tea-honesty-jules-sebastian/book/

CREDITS:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.