In today’s episode of Chaos, Crumbs and Clarity, we’re diving headfirst into one of the most powerful, underused magic words in the English language: no. This one’s for every millennial people-pleaser who grew up thinking boundaries were rude and self-care was selfish. For every soft-hearted soul who said yes when she wanted to scream. For anyone who ever smiled sweetly while quietly setting themselves on fire to keep the peace.

I’m pulling back the curtain on my own journey — from a boundary-less chaos goblin who said yes to everything (even when I was sick in bed) to someone who can now say no without writing a 400-word essay or fake coughing into the phone. We’re talking about how saying no isn’t rude, it’s radical. How every yes is also a no to something else. And how the smallest no can be the start of the biggest freedom.

You’ll hear a very real, very raw story from my own life — the night I said yes to my ex-husband while sick, got screamed at by his mum, and ended up walking home in freezing Glasgow weather, in boots I had no business walking in. Spoiler alert: saying yes didn’t bring me closer to anyone — it just reminded me how far I’d strayed from myself.

We unpack how boundaries aren’t walls to keep people out — they’re velvet ropes guiding people in. We talk about what it means to disappoint others in order to honour yourself, and how incredibly freeing that can feel once the guilt stops screaming quite so loudly. I’ll remind you (again and again if you need it) that you don’t owe anyone access to your time, your energy, or your inbox. Especially if they’re the kind of person who throws a tantrum the moment you take your energy back.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on empty from constantly over-giving, or if you’ve ever crafted a Shakespearean tale to avoid attending a brunch you never wanted to go to in the first place — this episode will speak to your very soul.

It’s cheeky. It’s honest. It’s a little bit sassy. And it’s absolutely brimming with permission to choose yourself — even when it feels uncomfortable. Especially when it feels uncomfortable.

So whether you’re listening while walking home in the dark (hopefully not in four-inch heels), hiding in the loo at a party you didn’t want to attend, or curled up with your fluffy pyjamas and a well-earned cup of tea — this one’s for you.

Thanks for Asking, but Yeah, Nah might just be the most important yes you say all year. Let’s get into it.