Let’s talk about the stuff no one really prepares you for… the fine print of adulthood.

In this episode, I dive into all the things we should’ve been taught growing up, from understanding finances, navigating emotional health, and looking after our bodies, to figuring out the messy realities of relationships, marriage, and everything in between.

I share some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since becoming an adult (and especially since my marriage breakdown), and how I’ve had to completely re-learn what “having it together” actually means.

This chat is honest, a little chaotic, and very real. Because adulthood isn’t just bills and birthdays, it’s learning to read the fine print no one told us existed.

Up Past Bedtime with Bella Messina is your go-to for late-night, unfiltered chats—the kind of conversations you’d have with your closest girlfriends. From relationships to motherhood, no topic is off-limits as Bella, a 20-something mum of two, invites you into candid conversations with inspiring women and shares her own raw stories. This podcast is where you’ll feel seen, heard, and completely understood. So get comfortable, because the best conversations happen when you’re up past bedtime

HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE?!

Contact us on the UPB Hotline:

[email protected]

UPB Socials:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or Email Us: [email protected]

Bella’s Socials: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina

I’m back, and so is Up Past Bedtime! After a two-month break, I’m kicking off Season 4, which I’m calling 'The Season of More'. More honesty, more vulnerability, more laughter, and more connection.

In this episode, I catch you up on everything that’s been happening in my world, from navigating life as a single mum, to working through burnout, my ongoing divorce, and the emotional toll that comes with trying to do it all. It’s been a season of growth, reflection, and learning to slow down when life feels too heavy.

I also share what’s to come this season, including new segments, deeper conversations, more community involvement, and of course, our beloved After Dark bonus episodes (which are going to be even juicier than before).

This episode feels like a deep exhale after a big few months, real, raw, and straight from the heart. Welcome to The Season of More.

Up Past Bedtime with Bella Messina is your go-to for late-night, unfiltered chats—the kind of conversations you’d have with your closest girlfriends. From relationships to motherhood, no topic is off-limits as Bella, a 20-something mum of two, invites you into candid conversations with inspiring women and shares her own raw stories. This podcast is where you’ll feel seen, heard, and completely understood. So get comfortable, because the best conversations happen when you’re up past bedtime

HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE?!

Contact us on the UPB Hotline:

[email protected]

UPB Socials:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or Email Us: [email protected]

Bella’s Socials: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina

What to expect when UPB returns Oct 15th, 6am AEST

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠@mylbdo.⁠⁠ Use the code 'UPB20' at ⁠⁠www.lbdo.com⁠⁠ to save 20% off full priced items, site wide. This code is not valid with other offers.

In this episode of Up Past Bedtime: After Dark, I have no choice... I HAVE to answer the questions you've asked. After leaving a poll on the UPB IG and asking our audience to vote on their most burning, must know questions, I am here to deliver the answers.

Up Past Bedtime with Bella Messina is your go-to for late-night, unfiltered chats—the kind of conversations you’d have with your closest girlfriends. From relationships to motherhood, no topic is off-limits as Bella, a 20-something mum of two, invites you into candid conversations with inspiring women and shares her own raw stories. This podcast is where you’ll feel seen, heard, and completely understood. So get comfortable, because the best conversations happen when you’re up past bedtime

UPB Socials:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or Email Us: [email protected]

Bella’s Socials: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina

This season is proudly brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nu Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can shop their full range ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the code 'BELLSMESSINA' to save 15%.

Sydney, you were EVERYTHING 🥹💕 My very first Up Past Bedtime live show felt like the ultimate girl’s night - unfiltered chats, laughter, and so many special moments with some of the most incredible women in the room.

In this episode, I’m bringing you along for the ride - from the raw conversations we had on stage, to the behind-the-scenes feels of hosting my first ever live event. Think of it as your front row ticket to the Sydney slumber party you didn’t know you needed.

So grab a wine (or a mocktail), get cozy, and let’s relive the night we stayed up past bedtime together. ✨

Up Past Bedtime with Bella Messina is your go-to for late-night, unfiltered chats—the kind of conversations you’d have with your closest girlfriends. From relationships to motherhood, no topic is off-limits as Bella, a 20-something mum of two, invites you into candid conversations with inspiring women and shares her own raw stories. This podcast is where you’ll feel seen, heard, and completely understood. So get comfortable, because the best conversations happen when you’re up past bedtime

UPB Socials:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or Email Us: [email protected]

Bella’s Socials: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina

This season is proudly brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nu Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can shop their full range ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the code 'BELLSMESSINA' to save 15%.

This week on Up Past Bedtime, I’m joined by my friend and business manager, Mel Synott, for an honest and deeply personal conversation about grief and the way it reshapes who we are. In 2023, Mel lost her dad suddenly to cancer, an experience that shook her entire world and set her on a path of radical change. From leaving her high-profile job to rethinking what truly matters, Mel opens up about the messy, nonlinear journey of loss. We talk about how grief changes your relationships, your priorities, and even the way you see yourself, and why sometimes the greatest growth comes from the most heartbreaking seasons.

Up Past Bedtime with Bella Messina is your go-to for late-night, unfiltered chats—the kind of conversations you’d have with your closest girlfriends. From relationships to motherhood, no topic is off-limits as Bella, a 20-something mum of two, invites you into candid conversations with inspiring women and shares her own raw stories. This podcast is where you’ll feel seen, heard, and completely understood. So get comfortable, because the best conversations happen when you’re up past bedtime

Mel's Socials:

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠@melissasynott

Instagram: ⁠⁠@melissasynott

UPB Socials:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or Email Us: [email protected]

Bella’s Socials: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina

This season is proudly brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nu Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can shop their full range ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the code 'BELLSMESSINA' to save 15%.

In this episode, I sat down with the incredible Kathryn Denny to talk all about what it’s like when life doesn’t the way you planned — and how you learn to find beauty in a completely different path than the one you imagined.

Kathryn shares her experience parenting her son Jaska, who lives with a disability, and we chat about the emotional rollercoaster that comes with navigating diagnoses, letting go of expectations, and learning to lean into the present. We talked about how isolating early motherhood can be, the power of community (especially online), and why sometimes the best thing you can do is just take it one moment at a time.

This isn’t a heavy conversation — it’s a really warm, honest one about strength, surrender, and loving your child for exactly who they are. Kathryn is such a calming, grounded presence and I feel really lucky she shared her story with us.

Up Past Bedtime with Bella Messina is your go-to for late-night, unfiltered chats—the kind of conversations you’d have with your closest girlfriends. From relationships to motherhood, no topic is off-limits as Bella, a 20-something mum of two, invites you into candid conversations with inspiring women and shares her own raw stories. This podcast is where you’ll feel seen, heard, and completely understood. So get comfortable, because the best conversations happen when you’re up past bedtime

Kathryn's Socials:

Tik Tok: ⁠@kathryndenny

Instagram: ⁠@kathryndenny

Youtube: ⁠@kathryndenny_

UPB Socials:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or Email Us: [email protected]

Bella’s Socials: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina

This season is proudly brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nu Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can shop their full range ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the code 'BELLSMESSINA' to save 15%.

Lately I’ve realised I’ve been so focused on reaching goals- healing, growing, achieving, ticking off the to-do list - that I kind of forgot to actually enjoy my life. I’ve been in this hyperproductive mode, chasing the next thing, and honestly… it’s left me feeling flat. In this episode, I’m unpacking what it looks like when you get stuck in the grind and forget to have fun.

I talk about the pressure to always be improving, why I’ve found myself saying “I’ll be happy when…” way too often, and how I’m trying to shift my mindset back to joy in the now. If you’ve been deep in your hustle era and lowkey miserable, this one’s for you.

Let’s talk about slowing down and learning to live, not just achieve.

Up Past Bedtime with Bella Messina is your go-to for late-night, unfiltered chats—the kind of conversations you’d have with your closest girlfriends. From relationships to motherhood, no topic is off-limits as Bella, a 20-something mum of two, invites you into candid conversations with inspiring women and shares her own raw stories. This podcast is where you’ll feel seen, heard, and completely understood. So get comfortable, because the best conversations happen when you’re up past bedtime

UPB Socials:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or Email Us: [email protected]

Bella’s Socials: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina

This season is proudly brought to you by⁠⁠⁠ Nu Harvest⁠⁠⁠. You can shop their full range ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and use the code 'BELLSMESSINA' to save 15%.

Life changes can hit hard. Whether it’s a breakup, a baby, or a big career pivot... Often the last thing we feel in those moments is financially in control. In this episode of Up Past Bedtime, I’m joined by the incredible Victoria Devine, host of She’s On The Money and everyone’s financial bestie, to talk about managing money in seasons of change.

Up Past Bedtime with Bella Messina is your go-to for late-night, unfiltered chats—the kind of conversations you’d have with your closest girlfriends. From relationships to motherhood, no topic is off-limits as Bella, a 20-something mum of two, invites you into candid conversations with inspiring women and shares her own raw stories. This podcast is where you’ll feel seen, heard, and completely understood. So get comfortable, because the best conversations happen when you’re up past bedtime

Victoria's Socials:

Podcast: She's On The Money

Instagram: @shesonthemoneyaus

Tik Tok: @shesonthemoney

Website: www.shesonthemoney.com

UPB Socials:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or Email Us: [email protected]

Bella’s Socials: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina

This season is proudly brought to you by⁠⁠⁠ Nu Harvest⁠⁠⁠. You can shop their full range ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and use the code 'BELLSMESSINA' to save 15%.

In this episode, I sit down with Marcia Leone for the kind of raw, honest, and hopeful conversation I’ve been craving. Marcia is one of the OG mummy bloggers turned businesswoman, writer, and single mama of two. Over the past few years, she’s walked through her own marriage breakdown and come out the other side with so much wisdom and grace.

We talk about the identity shift that comes with becoming a single mum, the grief and guilt of letting go of a family unit, and the unexpected beauty that comes with building a new version of your life. Marcia shares what those early days of separation really felt like, how she’s rebuilt her life piece by piece, and the role vulnerability and community have played in her healing.

As someone who’s still in the thick of it, this conversation felt like sitting with a big sister who’s been through the fire and is now gently reminding me (and all of us) that it does get better.

UPB is sending one lucky listener to a Motherhood Retreat, hosted by Marcia, at the end of August 2025. All details about this exclusive giveaway are in the episode.

To enter the Byron Bay Motherhood Retreat Giveaway click here!

Up Past Bedtime with Bella Messina is your go-to for late-night, unfiltered chats—the kind of conversations you’d have with your closest girlfriends. From relationships to motherhood, no topic is off-limits as Bella, a 20-something mum of two, invites you into candid conversations with inspiring women and shares her own raw stories. This podcast is where you’ll feel seen, heard, and completely understood. So get comfortable, because the best conversations happen when you’re up past bedtime.

Marcia's Socials:

Instagram: @marcialeone_

Website: www.notsomumsy.com

UPB Socials:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@uppastbedtimepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Watch on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or Email Us: [email protected]

Bella’s Socials: 

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tik Tok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bellsmessina