Do You Need A Hobby To Be Successful? The Psychology of Fun

Do You Need A Hobby To Be Successful? The Psychology of Fun

From Y2K fashion and 90s nostalgia to film cameras, scrapbooking, reading, craft nights, and analogue hobbies suddenly becoming “cool” again… it feels like everyone is craving something from the past right now. But what if this cultural shift is about more than trends? What if people are actually searching for joy, creativity, presence, community, and permission to feel alive again? In this week’s episode of Reset, psychologist Rebecca McWilliam joins me for a conversation about play, hobbies, joy, burnout, nervous system regulation, and why fun is far more important to our mental health than most adults realise. We unpack why so many adults feel emotionally flat even when life looks “good on paper,” why women often turn hobbies into productivity projects, and how modern life may be disconnecting us from the parts of ourselves that once felt most alive. In this episode, we discuss: * Why so many adults feel emotionally exhausted even when life looks good on paper * The psychology of play and why hobbies support mental health * Why women often turn hobbies into productivity or side hustles * Why nostalgia, Y2K trends, and analogue hobbies are rising again * What childhood hobbies can reveal about your personality and needs * Nervous system regulation, burnout, and emotional overwhelm * Why business owners and high achievers especially need hobbies outside of work * How social media and optimisation culture affect joy and creativity * Why so many people feel overstimulated but under-inspired * Small ways to reconnect with fun, creativity, and aliveness again If you’ve been feeling overstimulated, emotionally flat, or like life has become all responsibility and no play, this episode is your reminder that joy is not something you have to earn. Because success means very little if you never feel fully alive while living it. Find Bec here: https://rebeccampsychology.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/psychologistbec/ https://msha.ke/rebeccampsychology/

Women Aren’t Better at Multitasking - We’re Just Doing More (And It’s Burning Us Out)

If you’ve been feeling mentally drained, overwhelmed, or like your brain never switches off, this episode will help you understand why and show you how to reduce the mental load and finally feel lighter. In this episode of Reset, I’m joined by Professor Leah Ruppanner to unpack the mental load so many women are carrying and why so many of us feel constantly overwhelmed, stretched too thin, and responsible for holding everything together. We talk about emotional labour, invisible responsibilities, and how the pressure of modern life, work, and relationships can quietly lead to burnout. If you’ve ever felt like you’re thinking about everything all the time, this conversation will help you feel seen, understood, and supported with practical tools to reduce the mental load, set boundaries, and create more space in your life. The cover of Leah’s chart-topping new book Drained makes a bold promise: that by reducing our mental load, we can do less and be more. More successful in our careers, more fulfilled in our lives, and more impactful in the world. In this episode, we unpack exactly how. Leah is a leading sociologist at the University of Melbourne, CEO of Lighten Lab, and has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and CNN for her data-driven insights on gender, equity, and workplace policy. In this episode, we cover: * What the mental load actually is and why it feels so heavy * The invisible and emotional labour women carry every day * Why so many high-achieving women feel overwhelmed and burnt out * The 8 types of mental load and how to recognise them in your life * How the mental load shows up in relationships and at work * Practical ways to reduce the mental load and set better boundaries * How to navigate gender bias in the workplace (and use it to your advantage) * A sociologist’s perspective on where to focus your time and energy If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you’re doing everything but still not getting ahead, this episode will help you feel lighter, clearer, and more in control of what actually matters. Take the free mental load assessment https://www.lightenlab.com/assessment [https://www.lightenlab.com/assessment] Listen to the MissPerceived [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/missperceived/id1744434731] Podcast  Buy Leah’s best selling book Drained  https://www.booktopia.com.au/drained-leah-ruppanner/book/9781761471957.html?srsltid=AfmBOorIAs9WdiOH2bm-5y8teJrJ6DNiYdHfp_SUwgEh8qW0lZ5qjgMH [https://www.booktopia.com.au/drained-leah-ruppanner/book/9781761471957.html?srsltid=AfmBOorIAs9WdiOH2bm-5y8teJrJ6DNiYdHfp_SUwgEh8qW0lZ5qjgMH] Follow Leah on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/prof.leahruppanner [https://www.instagram.com/prof.leahruppanner?igsh=eTh6NHBkY2Z5eWxh] Follow Ash on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashcam____ [https://www.instagram.com/ashcam____?igsh=MW9tMGdvbG85cncxdA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr]

Why You’ve Been Feeling “Off” Lately (It’s Not Just You)

If you’ve been feeling a little off lately… a bit flat, overwhelmed, or not quite like yourself, this episode will help you understand why. In this conversation, Ash sits down with psychologist Lara Beaton to unpack the real impact of constant negative news, doomscrolling, and the emotional weight so many of us are carrying right now. Because it’s not just you. We’re living in a time where we’re more connected than ever, but also more exposed to distressing headlines, global uncertainty, and information overload. And while staying informed matters, it can quietly take a toll on our mental and physical health. This episode is here to help you make sense of what’s happening in your brain and body and more importantly, how to feel lighter, calmer, and more like yourself again. You’ll walk away feeling validated, grounded, and equipped with practical ways to stay informed without feeling consumed. In this episode, we cover: • Why you’ve been feeling “off” lately (and why it makes sense) • The psychological impact of constant negative news exposure • What doomscrolling is actually doing to your brain and nervous system • How anxiety, stress, and emotional fatigue can build without us realising • The guilt of feeling happy when the world feels heavy • How to hold both awareness and optimism at the same time • Simple, realistic ways to reduce your mental load without disconnecting completely • Practical tools to feel calmer, more grounded, and back in control A reminder as you listen: You’re allowed to stay informed and still feel joy. You’re allowed to care deeply about the world and still protect your energy. And you’re allowed to create a life that feels good, even when things around you feel uncertain. Connect with us: Lara Beaton Website: https://www.larabeatonpsychology.com [https://www.larabeatonpsychology.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larabeatonpsychology Reset Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reset___podcast Ash Cam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashcam____

How She Built A Global Fashion Brand With $200

In this episode of Reset, Ash sits down with Kirstin-Lee Keysers,founder of Australian fashion label Kivari, to explore what can happen when you take a risk on yourself and back your dream. What started as a holiday idea and a cancelled flight home has grown into a multi-eight-figure fashion brand, with beautiful stores across Australia and a global online community of more than 370,000 followers. Kiki shares the real story behind building Kivari - from selling at markets to opening flagship stores, scaling a high-performing team, predicting fashion trends months in advance, and navigating the logistics of releasing new collections multiple times a month. This conversation goes deep into entrepreneurship, career change, business growth, leadership, marketing, team building, and how AI may shape the future of the fashion industry. It’s an honest, inspiring episode for anyone craving change, considering starting over, or wondering if it’s too late to pursue a dream. In this episode, we cover: * How Kivari was born from a holiday idea * What it was really like building the brand in the early days * Growing from markets to bricks-and-mortar stores across Australia * Online vs in-store sales and scaling a retail business * Building and leading a high-performing team * The marketing strategies driving growth right now * How fashion collections are designed months in advance * Trend forecasting and consumer behaviour * Surrounding yourself with the right people as a founder * The future of Kivari and the fashion industry * How AI may change fashion and retail * Advice for women wanting a career change later in life * A message from Kiki’s 90-year-old future self Whether you’re an aspiring founder, a creative, a career-driven woman, or simply someone craving inspiration to take the next step, this episode is a reminder that it’s never too late to begin again. Where to from here? https://www.kivari.com.au [https://www.kivari.com.au] https://www.instagram.com/kivari_the_label/ [https://www.instagram.com/kivari_the_label/] https://www.instagram.com/kiki_keysers/ [https://www.instagram.com/kiki_keysers/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstin-lee-keysers-38a4a563/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstin-lee-keysers-38a4a563/ ]

You’re Probably Craving This (I Have Been Too)

Making new friends as an adult can feel surprisingly hard. We want to… but everyone’s calendars are full, and it just doesn’t happen like it used to. In this solo episode, I’m sharing the story behind Reset Walk Club - a simple idea that came together quickly and is now launching across multiple cities in Australia. This conversation is for you if you’ve ever felt like: * your life has grown, but your circle hasn’t quite caught up * you want to meet new people, but don’t know where to start * you’re craving more connection, better conversations, and a reset We talk about: * why leaving your hometown can help you discover who you really are * why you don’t actually need to move to create that same energy * how friendships evolve as we grow through different seasons of life * why it’s important to keep adding to your circle * and how to make connection feel easy again Walk Club is designed to be simple: one hour, once a month, already in your calendar. No pressure. No awkward networking. Just real conversations, fresh air, and like-minded women. Find all the details, locations, and upcoming dates here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/ash-cam-reset [https://events.humanitix.com/host/ash-cam-reset] Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reset___podcast