Layne Beachley On Burnout, Saying No & Avoiding Mirrors

A professional athlete often comes with the assumption of a perfectly healthy mind and body. Endlessly fit, resilient, and immune to the pressures of everyday life. But in this episode of Well, former professional surfer and seven times world champion, Layne Beachley challenges that idea. In this conversation, Layne reflects on her experience as a chronic "yes" person, and what it took to finally start saying no. She opens up about navigating chronic fatigue, learning to recognise her limits, and the moment she realised she had to stop pushing through and start listening to her body. Layne unpacks her evolving relationship with food and exercise, and why what works for a pre-menopausal body doesn't always work post-menopause. She shares the surprising truth she had to learn the hard way that sometimes, the most productive thing you can do for your body is nothing at all. And in a full-circle moment, she reflects on the pride she now feels watching the next generation of surfers surpass her, proving she's not just one of the greatest athletes of all time, but a true champion of women in sport. This episode contains discussion of suicidal ideation, body image concerns, and dieting. Please take care while listening. THE END BITS All your health information is in the Well Hub . If today's episode has brought up difficult feelings and if you just need to talk to someone immediately, you can always call Lifeline on 13 11 14 . Remember to be kind to yourself, and please don't hesitate to seek support.

You can listen to Layne Beachley On Burnout, Saying No & Avoiding Mirrors online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Layne Beachley On Burnout, Saying No & Avoiding Mirrors is an episode from The Well by Well.

This episode is 45:11 long.

This episode was published on Mar 18, 2026.

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