Waking Up

Fibroids, Gut Instinct & Why I Refused the Mirena Coil

In this episode, Freddy opens up about finally getting a scan that revealed a uterine fibroid, after years of doctors pushing the Mirena coil without ever doing a scan to see what was actually there. Rather than rushing into medical intervention, she shares how she's written a bespoke qigong program to work with her body from the inside out and activate her inner apothecary. Along the way she reflects how old habits of self-deprivation die hard, on learning to receive support, the power of the inner child, and why dancing and painting are just as important as any "protocol". She also teases an exciting upcoming episode on perimenopause recorded with TCM practitioner and molecular biologist Dr. Julie Milleur. If you've ever been dismissed, given a vague diagnosis, or talked yourself out of trusting your own body — this one's for you. Ready to watch your radiance rock and roll? Go to the website to download the inner Smile meditation, your portal awaits https://www.fredereka.com/inner-smile [https://www.fredereka.com/inner-smile]

Waking Up

This week, an embarrassing admission: I used to judge people who live at their own pace. I thought they were out of touch, oblivious to the world's suffering — away with the fairies. Turns out, I was the one who was missing out. In this episode, I'm getting honest about the martyr matrix I grew up in, why I quit working for other people (spoiler: I just wanted to chew my food), and what's happened since I decided to make waking up my one practice this year. We're talking slow mornings, dark bedrooms, Wei Qi fields, and compound interest for the soul. If you've ever felt like enjoying your life was somehow a betrayal of everyone who's struggling — this one's for you. Also: Qigong in Margate, my upcoming Paris pilgrimage, labyrinths, and butterfly masks for the third eye.

Even When You're Feeling Rubbish: Staying Connected to Your Work and Yourself

This week, Freddy opens up about navigating a flare-up of chronic symptoms linked to her menstrual cycle — and asks a question that's been on her mind (and her students' minds): Does feeling terrible mean you have to stop doing the things you love? (Answer in podcast) She shares 20 years of experience being dismissed and gaslit by doctors, the profound moment she came off the pill and felt like "a different woman," and her ongoing journey to get answers — including a private consultation she's finally booked in London. But this episode isn't just about struggle. It's about finding the entry points back to yourself — painting, gong meditation, teaching qigong, running workshops — and why, when the calling is strong enough, you show up anyway. She also reflects on going self-employed and making a commitment to only share work that "turns on the lights" — and what it means when your work nourishes you instead of costing you.

Tell me Why: I Don't Need Much, How Much Do I Need?

This week's q comes from one of my peers on a recent training I did with Rebel Business School (check em out, they're truly wonderful)... A question this week: “How do I figure out how much I actually need to earn?” And what starts as a practical question…quickly becomes something much deeper. In this episode, I explore: * the difference between just getting by and being truly supported * what it means to take care of the “matter” of our lives, our bodies, our homes, our future * why your income needs to include not just now-you, but future-you * the hidden pressures of self-employment (and the freedom within it) * and why words like wealth and prosperity land so differently in the body This isn’t about picking a number out of thin air. It’s about building a life — and a business — that actually feels good to live inside. As always, take what resonates, leave the rest…and if you’ve got thoughts, you can now comment on Spotify I believe. Love you!

This Weeks Money Date Changed Everything

In this episode, I’m sharing what happened when I stopped treating money like a source of panic and started relating to it differently. I talk about money dates, intuitive dialogue, nervous system regulation, and why improving your relationship with money does not automatically make you a millionaire, but it can raise your standards, deepen your self-trust, and help you make clearer, more sovereign decisions. I also share a very real recent moment of financial contraction, what it looked like to stay with the sensation instead of spiralling, and how that opened the door to fresh clarity, new ideas, and next steps. Inside this episode, I explore: * why so many people feel unprepared to build a business after professional training * the deeper freedom many of us are actually seeking through entrepreneurship * why safety can keep us stuck in familiar scarcity patterns * the difference between thinking your way to change and allowing a feeling to move through * how the Joyful Money Kit came to be This one is part personal reflection, part nervous system wisdom, part money conversation, and part invitation to trust what’s emerging. I also share a little update on the new three-course bundle, the inspiration behind Hula La Yoga, and how you can submit a question for the weekly Tell Me Why with Freddy segment. If this episode speaks to you, you can find more of my long-form writing on Substack at Freddy Writes, and you can connect with me on Instagram at @FreddyJohnstonXOX. If you have a question for Tell Me Why with Freddy pop it in this Google Form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0AyRgHrcrKwutmD7-XFDcAHmf-LVPcBZNIRBdqAZjIzmnKw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114448083761671034320] and submit and we'll get a response back in one of the upcoming Tell Me's