In Episode 6 of The Clearing Podcast, Matt and Karl start with the realities of half-term chaos (and the small wins of kids becoming a little more independent)… before moving into something many of us recognise:

"The fear of what’s coming next."

When we look to the future, there’s the exciting stuff — trips, learning new skills, time away. But there’s also the heavier stuff: health concerns, paperwork, money stress, relationships, responsibility… and the mind’s tendency to jump straight to worst-case scenarios.

This episode explores:

• Why we catastrophise (and how quickly it escalates)

• How uncertainty fuels panic — especially with medical symptoms and online doom-scrolling

• What it looks like to “make the frog smaller” by breaking big problems into manageable steps

• How to start with the easiest first step (one sentence, one phone call, one action)

• A real-time look at somatic awareness: holding stress in the body while also noticing lightness and ease

• Why you don’t have to face the dragons alone — and how asking for support can be a strength, not a failure

From health anxiety and surgery fears, to HMRC triggers and life admin loops, Matt and Karl explore practical ways to widen the lens, down-regulate the nervous system, and move forward without being swallowed by the story your mind is writing.

If you’ve got something looming — a decision, a diagnosis, a conversation, a deadline — this one is for you.

We would love to hear from you, with your practices, and/or any questions you might have around self care.

Email us at matt@theclearing.life

Follows us here:

Instagram

Website

In Episode 5 of The Clearing Podcast, Matt and Karl pick up on a thread from last week’s real-time check-in and follow it deeper: self-care.

We explore a version that shows up in small choices, tiny rituals, and honest trade-offs — especially when life is busy, relationships are demanding, and your bandwidth is shrinking.

What you can expect in this episode:

• Why self-care is best understood as an investment (rather than an indulgence.)

• The difference between solo self-care and social self-care.

• The “battery charge” metaphor — and what burnout looks like when output exceeds input.

• How guilt and productivity culture can sabotage rest.

• Why self-care must resonate with YOU (even if that involves skateboards.)

• A simple weekly exercise: the 120-hour audit + checking your screen time.

• And two daily prompts to help build a self care practice.

This episode is an invitation to stay curious, stay practical, and make self-care doable — without turning it into another task you might feel overwhelmed by.

We would love to hear from you, with your practices, and/or any questions you might have around self care.

Email us at matt@theclearing.life

Follows us here:

Instagram

Website

In Episode 4, Matt and Karl do a real-time Clearing check-in.

After Episode 3’s conversation about check-ins (moving from “Yeah, I'm alright mate” to the deep dive), this episode explores a real life example of a check in — a candid, insight into what they’re bringing into the space before “Clearing business” begins.

Karl shares a week of solo parenting while his wife is away on a yoga retreat, including the messy, hilarious, and serious realities of school dynamics, boundaries, and those unexpected “grown-up” questions kids can throw at you. The conversation turns toward what it means to meet your child with curiosity, consequence, and connection — instead of pure punishment.

Matt checks in on a week of work pressure, the value (and vulnerability) of feeling like you’re adding value, and the importance of building pressure valves that aren’t alcohol. Dry January becomes dry February, and the conversation opens up into habit change, replacement behaviours, and how clarity can sometimes demand change.

They also talk about play — why we lose it as we "grow up", why we need it, and how reclaiming it (yes, even via skateboarding at 56) can be a serious act of self-care.

Finally, they look forward: longer days, writing, travel, family moments, upcoming Clearing gatherings, and building “Clearing Codes” — small fibres of clarity you can carry into daily life.

....

These podcasts are an invitation to reflect, not a set of answers.

We would love to know if the content resonates with you - How did you feel about this deeper dive into "checking in?" Do you have anyone you could do this with? Would you like to be involved in some of the check ins we do?

Let us know.

Email us at matt@theclearing.life

Follows us here:

Instagram

Website