TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses suicidal ideation. If anything here resonates with you, please know support is available. In Australia, Lifeline (13 11 14) and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) are free, confidential and available 24/7.

On this weeks bestie advice segment, a listener writes in about a loneliness that runs deep. She's a 32-year-old mum of three with a loving husband and so much to be grateful for — and yet she finds herself without a single close friend. She's left out at work, cancelled on when she tries to organise, and quietly wondering if there's something wrong with her. And she's tried: Pilates, connecting with other parents, putting herself out there again and again, only to watch nothing turn into the real thing. What she's longing for is that "soul sister" friendship — the kind that reminds her she's more than a mum and a wife. This one is for every woman who has ever felt invisible, questioned herself in the quiet, and wondered if she's the only one who feels this way. You're not. And this conversation is for you.

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On this weeks she rises podcast, we're tackling one of the most loving, complicated and least talked-about roles out there: step-parenting. Joining us is expert Kris Byrnes, who's here to give us the real dos and don'ts… no sugar-coating. We're getting into the biggest misconceptions, how to build genuine connection with kids without forcing it, where the line sits on discipline, and the messy stuff most people are too scared to say out loud, including weaponising kids, jealousy toward an ex, and that whole "dating a man with kids is a red flag" debate. Whether you're a step-parent, a biological parent walking the tightrope between your child and your partner, or you're just blending two worlds and hoping for the best, this one is full of practical wisdom and honest insight you'll want to come back to.

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If you missed this episode, here’s a bite-sized best bit. In this episode we share practical ways to handle conflict, speak up without attacking, and approach hard conversations with more clarity and less emotion. From a simple three step response when someone comes at you, to leading with curiosity and focusing on facts, feelings and resolution, this is your quick guide to communicating better when things get uncomfortable.

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On this weeks bestie advice segment, a listener writes in about a friendship more than 20 years in the making and the quiet unravelling she's not proud of. But now that her friend is thriving in so many ways, a harder feeling has crept in: resentment, frustration, judgment. She's wrestling with differing values, guilt over catching up out of obligation, and the fact that she's one of the few friends her friend has left. Her question is one so many of us are scared to ask… how do you tell the difference between a friendship worth fighting for and one you've quietly outgrown? And how do you separate genuine concern from your own judgment?

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On this episode, we're unpacking three little words that can land like a compliment or a slap depending on who's saying them: "you've changed." We're getting into why your growth can quietly threaten the people who knew the old you, why old friendship groups notice the moment you stop drinking, start saying no, or want different things, and why it stings most when you weren't ready to let those people go either. Because the meaning you attach to "you've changed" is what decides whether it breaks you or frees you. We're also getting personal and sharing where this has played out in our own lives. If you've ever felt outcast for simply becoming more yourself, this one's for you.

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If you missed this episode, here’s a bite-sized best bit. She Rises producer Katie puts us in the hot seat with the questions everyone wants answered but no one usually asks. From dealing with online trolls and life beyond social media to the biggest lessons we've learned.

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains talk around depression and suicide. Listener descretion is advised.

On this weeks bestie advice segment, a listener writes in about loving a partner through his depression. She's all in, committed, supportive, showing up every single day but she's running on empty and starting to feel the drain. She knows the saying we've preached for years: you can't pour from an empty cup. So how does she keep filling her own while still being there for the man she loves? We're talking about holding space for someone without losing yourself in the process, and why looking after you isn't selfish, it's the only way to keep showing up at all.

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On this weeks she rises podcast, we're getting honest about the coping mechanism so many of us reach for and so few of us admit to: money. The quiet swipe, the cart that magically fills when we're stressed, the parcel that gives us a hit for all of about five minutes before the guilt creeps in. We're unpacking why spending soothes the things we don't want to feel, what void we're really trying to fill, and the moment treating yourself tips into something that's quietly costing you more than money. If you've ever hidden a purchase, felt the panic when the statement lands, or wondered why you can't just stop, this one's for you.

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If you missed this episode, here’s a bite-sized best bit. In this episode we share the simple habits that have helped us stay healthy, energised and consistent for years. From creating routines you actually enjoy to finding an eating style that works for your body, this conversation is packed with practical tips that are easy to implement and designed to last.

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On this weeks bestie advice segment, a listener writes in about her husband of 14 years, a man she's fallen back in love with watching him become a dad to their new baby girl. He's affectionate in all the ways she loves, except one habit she's begged him to stop for years. It hurts, it happens at the worst possible moments, and every time she asks him to quit, she's met with the same defensive responses and never an apology. Now that she's raising a daughter, the stakes feel bigger than annoyance. Is she overreacting, or is this about something much deeper than a bad habit?

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What does it really take to build one of Australia's fastest-growing fitness franchise businesses? This week, we're joined by Matt Gordin, CEO of Boutique Fitness Studios Australia & New Zealand, who shares the highs, the setbacks, and the relentless mindset behind scaling brands like Club Pilates, StretchLab, CycleBar and Rumble. We dive into entrepreneurship, raising capital, leading teams, balancing family with business, and why success is built one decision at a time. If you're building a business or dreaming of starting one this episode is packed with practical wisdom and honest insights.

Check out Matt's brands here - https://www.boutiquefitnessstudios.com.au/ 

Follow @clubpilates_aunz and @stretchlab_aunz

Linkedin Profile here

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