

Ed Stott & The Big Life Questions
Edwina Stott
One big question at a time. Explored, untangled, and (possibly) solved.
Self-improvement is everywhere but most of it's overly simplistic, shouty, and backed by vibes, not evidence.
I'm Ed Stott, former BBC & ABC journalist turned independent audio doco maker, obsessed with figuring out how to live better. (That obsession once led to 50 stand-up gigs in 6 months… but more on that later.)
Each month, I tackle one big, messy life question like "What's my purpose?" or "Should I quit my job?" and get real answers from the world's sharpest minds.
No fluff. Just big ideas, explored creatively, to help you make sense of your life.
Self-improvement is everywhere but most of it's overly simplistic, shouty, and backed by vibes, not evidence.
I'm Ed Stott, former BBC & ABC journalist turned independent audio doco maker, obsessed with figuring out how to live better. (That obsession once led to 50 stand-up gigs in 6 months… but more on that later.)
Each month, I tackle one big, messy life question like "What's my purpose?" or "Should I quit my job?" and get real answers from the world's sharpest minds.
No fluff. Just big ideas, explored creatively, to help you make sense of your life.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 4, 2024 • 1h 3min
Level Up in 2024: My Essential Life Hacks from 2023!
I've teamed up with fellow podcaster Kylie Lately to share the top 5 lessons that I'm taking from 2023 into 2024. In this episode I'm going to share with you: Since I learnt the science behind procrastination & what causes it, I no longer do it!! This is the secret. The key to eating healthily WITHOUT dieting. Why an eye mask is your secret weapon for the perfect night's sleep (plus why your brain will LOVE it). How to interpret your dreams in a way that's ACTUALLY helpful. Why I'm taking weekends off the internet in 2024. Hope you find them as helpful as I do! x This episode is brought to you by YouFoodz, for $200 of your first 5 boxes use the code HELPFUL or order via this link. PODCASTSI Am. With Kylie Lately Why You're Procrastinating & How To Stop How to Eat Healthily WITHOUT Going on a Diet Sleep Smarter, Think Better: Unleashing Your Brain's Potential with Professor Penny Lewis How To ACTUALLY Read Your Dreams BOOKS How to Work Solo And Not Lose Your Mind Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach CONNECT WITH USConnect with That's Helpful & Ed Stott on Instagram. Find Kylie on Instagram or via her website. Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - edwina@edstott.com

Dec 29, 2023 • 36min
How To Start Investing in 2024
Today we're addressing something that may well be in your new year's resolutions - getting your finances sorted. It's an area that we can easily overlook when life gets busy but there are some super simple things you can be doing that will make a big difference to your money with minimal effort. Sarah King is the Head of Advice at Stock Spot, Australia's largest online investing advisor. She shares with us how we can start investing, no matter how much money we have available. CONNECT WITH USConnect with That's Helpful & Ed Stott on Instagram. Find out more about Sarah & Stockspot Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - edwina@edstott.com

Dec 27, 2023 • 38min
How To ACTUALLY Read Your Dreams
We spend a lot of time sharing & talking about our dreams, but what do they really mean? Professor Antonio Zadra says the answer to that question can't be found on Google and we should be reading our dreams more like we would art than something that can be looked up in a text book. Antonio, is a researcher at the Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine & the Co-Author of When Brains Dream. In this episode you'll find out why we dream, what they are, how we can interpret them & the ways in which we can use them to learn more about who we are & how we process life. CONNECT WITH USConnect with That's Helpful & Ed Stott on Instagram. Find Antonio on Instagram & via his website. BOOKSWhen Brains Dream Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - edwina@edstott.com

Dec 22, 2023 • 32min
Overcome Perfectionism With Shitty Craft
Since becoming an adult my crafty ways have sadly tailed off, if this is true for you too, Sam Reece wants a word with you. She's the creator of the Shitty Craft Club & author of Shitty Craft Club: A Club For Gluing Beads to Trash, Talking About our Feelings & Making Silly Things & she believes we could all benefit from being a little more crafty! In this episode you're going to learn how creating craft can help you to overcome perfectionism, meet new friends & enable you to be more creative in all areas of your life! CONNECT WITH US Connect with That's Helpful & Ed Stott on Instagram. Find Sam on Instagram & via her website. BOOKSShitty Craft Club: A Club For Gluing Beads to Trash, Talking About our Feelings & Making Silly Things Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - edwina@edstott.com

Dec 20, 2023 • 30min
Get Unstuck: How To Find What You Really Want To Do & Go After It
So many of us choose our careers when we're fresh out of high school & get swept into a job for the next ten or fifteen years until we wake up one day and think - how did I get here, I'm not sure I even like what I'm doing… And the big question that's likely going to keep you trapped in that job is - but what else would I do? Often, the hardest part isn't chasing that dream job, it's figuring out what that is. My guest today is Ashley Stahl, she's a career coach & Author of You Turn: Get Unstuck, Discover Your Direction & Design Your Dream. If you enjoy this episode, you're going to love this one on How To Pull Off A Career 180. CONNECT WITH US Connect with That's Helpful & Ed Stott on Instagram. Find Ashley on Instagram & via her website. Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - edwina@edstott.com

Dec 18, 2023 • 36min
The Art of Being Single & Learning To Love Your Own Company (Esp During The Holidays)
Jill Stark is a best-selling author, award winning journalist & mental health advocate. She says that the single life, particularly at this time of year, can bring us more joy & freedom than being partnered ever could. So how can we learn to celebrate living life untethered & really learn to love our own company regardless of our relationship status? If you enjoy this episode, you'll likely get a lot out of this one with Jill too on re-evaluating your relationship with alcohol. CONNECT WITH US Connect with That's Helpful & Ed Stott on Instagram. Find Jill on Instagram & via her website. BOOKSHappy Never After Why the Happiness Fairytale is Driving Us Mad (and How I Flipped the Script) When You're Not Okay Higher Sobriety Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - edwina@edstott.com

Dec 15, 2023 • 41min
Dr Rebecca Ray's Top Tips for Dealing with Difficult People Over the Holidays
Ahhh Christmas, the most joyful time of year - though it may not always feel like it when you're forced to spend time with those people you've been avoiding all year. Today, we're talking through how you can navigate those difficult people - whether that's at the Christmas table, party or gathering. You are definitely going to pick up some tips that will help you for life, not just the silly season too. My guest today is the wonderful Dr Rebecca Ray, if you've heard her on the podcast before you'll know how bloody wonderful she is. She's a clinical psychologist & the author of Dealing with Difficult People. If you enjoy this episode you'll also find this one on setting boundaries very helpful. CONNECT WITH US Connect with That's Helpful & Ed Stott on Instagram. Find Bec on Instagram & via her website. BOOKSDifficult People Setting Boundaries Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - edwina@edstott.com

Dec 13, 2023 • 42min
Hannah English's Guide To Your Best Skin in 2024
With so many different products, ingredients & flashy marketing campaigns it can be so hard to figure out what you should be doing when it comes to your skin. Fear not though, I've called in the big guns for this one. Hannah English is a pharmaceutical scientist & author of Your Best Skin: the Science of Skincare. She'd going to talk you through the foundations of a great skincare routine plus the ingredients that will do wonders & the ones that are nothing more than a waste of your hard earned money! CONNECT WITH US Connect with That's Helpful & Ed Stott on Instagram. Find Hannah on Instagram & via her website. BOOKSYour Best Skin Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - edwina@edstott.com

Dec 11, 2023 • 50min
Surviving Christmas When You're Grieving
WARNING: This episode briefly touches on suicide & depression. If you or anyone you know needs help you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. It's a tricky time, when everyone seems to be celebrating & gathering with their loved ones but you're missing someone. Don't worry though, because as always I've got your back & my guest today is a heart healing angel in human form. Edwina Shaw is the author of A Guide Through Grief, First Aid for your Heart & Soul. She has dealt with more than her fair share of grief & she's learnt SO much along the way. By the end of this episode she'll help you to hold your grief in one hand and small pieces of joy with the other. If you find this episode helpful, you'll also like this one with Ed where we talk about how to process loss. CONNECT WITH US Connect with That's Helpful & Ed Stott on Instagram. Find Ed on Instagram & via her website. BOOKSA Guide Through Grief: First Aid For Your Heart & Soul MEDITATIONSComfort & Joy Guided Meditation Peace & Harmony Guided Meditation A Guided Meditation for Clearing Your Mind & Grounding Yourself HELPFUL LINKSAn Introduction to Humming Breath Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - edwina@edstott.com

Dec 8, 2023 • 44min
How To Create & Use Nostalgia For a More Meaningful Life
Around this time of year there are so many nostalgic moments. You might sit in them & reminisce about the past, they might even make you feel a little sad but did you know that you could be using them to live a more meaningful life? And have you ever thought about how you can intentionally create more of those moments? Dr Clay Routlege is the Vice President of Research & the Director of the Human Flourishing Lab at the Archbridge Institute & he's the author of Past Forward: How Nostalgia Can Help You Live a More Meaningful Life. CONNECT WITH US Connect with That's Helpful & Ed Stott on Instagram. Find Clay on Instagram & via his website. Want to become a podcast sponsor, got some feedback for me or just fancy a chat? Email me - edwina@edstott.com


