What is spirituality, really—and does it matter for our wellbeing?

In this beautifully rambling, reflective chat, Angela and Juliet dig into the often-muddled, sometimes-woo, and deeply personal territory of spirituality. From grounding barefoot in the garden to dodging midges on dog walks, they explore what it actually means to be spiritual—and why the term gets both overused and misunderstood. Is yoga still spiritual if you hate it? Is breathwork biology or soul work? And why does someone in floaty linen get to claim more spiritual brownie points than the rest of us?

They share experiences from working with clients who value spiritual connection, wrestle with definitions (and spiritual snobbery), and touch on the shadow side—like spiritual bypassing, cult-like control, and the dangers of misusing spiritual language to dodge real emotional work.

They also reflect on how natural healing practices—like walking in nature, breathwork, meditation, and community support—can profoundly impact mental health, with or without a spiritual label.

Whether you're a card-carrying mystic, a reluctant cynic, or somewhere in between, this episode offers a grounded, open-hearted conversation about spirituality in modern life. No robes required.

In this vulnerable and refreshingly honest episode of Growth Through Friendship, Juliet and Angela question the booming self-help industry—how we got here, what it's giving us, and what it might be quietly taking away. From TikTok therapy tips to bestselling mindset books, they unpack the rise (and grip) of the self-help movement and ask: are we really helping ourselves, or just consuming endless content in the hope of fixing something?

Together, they explore the tension between personal development and perfectionism, diving into how self-help can empower, but also overwhelm. They reflect on their own journeys with early self-help books (including classics like Who Moved My Cheese?, The Chimp Paradox, and breath work studies), and how the shift from Yellow Pages hypnotherapists to algorithm-driven advice has changed the game entirely.

Juliet shares insights from her hypnotherapy and therapy practice, while Angela opens up about feeling stuck between sharing meaningful content and the ethics of offering advice online. They also discuss the difference between social media validation and real therapeutic progress, the importance of critical thinking, and why one-on-one therapy still holds a depth that books and reels can’t replicate.

Whether you’re deep into your healing era or quietly sick of trying to fix yourself, this episode invites you to pause, reflect, and maybe even let yourself just be for a while.

In this honest, funny, and deeply reflective episode of Growth Through Friendship, Juliet and Angela unravel the idea of “being behind” in life—and ask, according to who? From teenage dreams of escaping to Magaluf to adult spirals over Instagram comparison, they explore how our internalised timelines are often shaped by family expectations, school conditioning, and social media illusions.

The duo share personal experiences of academic pressure, changing careers later in life, and redefining success outside of traditional markers. Angela reflects on returning to study in her 40s and what she would’ve done differently if she'd had the confidence and support. Juliet brings humour and honesty to the conversation around social media, imposter syndrome, and the myth of linear success.

Together, they challenge the cultural obsession with achievement, ask whether we’re mistaking survival for underachievement, and remind listeners that everyone’s path is unique—and often messier than it looks.

• Redefining success at different life stages

• The danger of comparing timelines (especially via social media)

• How school and family shape our beliefs about success

• Learning to value personal growth over external achievements

• The emotional weight of “feeling behind” and how to reframe it

• Changing direction at any age: it’s never too late

  
  

💡 Key Themes:

• Redefining success at different life stages

• The danger of comparing timelines (especially via social media)

• How school and family shape our beliefs about success

• Learning to value personal growth over external achievements

• The emotional weight of “feeling behind” and how to reframe it

• Changing direction at any age: it’s never too late