Cost of Living: Small Savings, Easy Meals & “Emu Down!” | What’s the Tea?
Does anyone else feel like the food shop gets more expensive every time? ☕
Andy and Lydia are back for a new season of What’s the Tea?, chatting about the cost of living and some practical ways to make your money go a little further. From checking what’s already in the fridge to questioning those forgotten subscriptions, we’re sharing small things that could make everyday adulting a bit easier.
Plus, Lydia introduces her “dirty pasta” recipe, Andy talks about borrowing things instead of buying them, and we consider whether putting something on a wish list might save you from another impulse purchase.
In this episode:
• Food shopping without buying things you already have.
• Easy “I can’t be bothered” meals for those evenings when a takeaway is tempting.
• Using up food and comparing prices.
• Checking subscriptions you might have forgotten about.
• Discovering your local Library of Things.
• Giving yourself 24 hours before hitting checkout.
Our Gold Stars this week go to meal prepping and a spreadsheet worthy of being framed. And in Weird News, skydivers come to the rescue while an escaped emu proves rather difficult to catch. Emu down! 🪶
We’re two former support workers having a chat over a cuppa. We’re not experts, but sometimes we surprise ourselves with some useful advice.
What’s your go-to cheap and easy meal? Share it in the comments!
What’s the Tea? is hosted by Andy and Lydia from YMCA Exeter.
Get in touch: WhatsTheTea@ymcaexeter.org.uk (mailto:WhatsTheTea@ymcaexeter.org.uk)
Don’t forget to follow or subscribe wherever you’re watching or listening. You can find What’s the Tea? on your favourite podcast platform and the YMCA Exeter YouTube channel.
Music: “April Showers” by Kjartan Abel. Visit Kjartan Abel’s music library (https://kjartan-abel.com/library) to download royalty-free music for your next project. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 — Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).
9 Sept 2026
Growing Up, Changing Minds & Wing Walking at 97
Does anyone actually feel like a proper adult—or are we all figuring it out as we go?
For the season finale of What’s the Tea?, a change of plan puts Andy and Lydia in the interview seats. Their questions are a surprise to each other; their answers take in loneliness, changing opinions, finding confidence and the realities of growing up.
Lydia reflects on learning the practical side of adult life and how her career has helped her grow. Andy shares why he’s become more open to changing his mind, how he found his own approach to being on camera and why confidence doesn’t always mean feeling confident.
There’s also a look back at some memorable YMCA Exeter moments: lockdown concerts, video-game challenges and an idea that became a firm commitment when it was announced live on the radio.
Plus, in Weird News: a record-breaking 97-year-old wing walker and a hairdresser proving that sometimes the best conversation is no conversation at all.
Put the kettle on and join us for an honest conversation about growing up without having everything figured out.
About What’s the Tea?
We’re Andy and Lydia, two former support workers from YMCA Exeter, navigating adult life over a cuppa. We’re not experts—just sharing experiences, honest conversations and the occasional piece of surprisingly good advice.
What’s an opinion you’ve changed your mind about? Leave a comment where you’re watching or listening, or email us at WhatsTheTea@ymcaexeter.org.uk (mailto:WhatsTheTea@ymcaexeter.org.uk).
Follow or subscribe wherever you’re watching or listening, and share this episode with someone who might enjoy it. Find What’s the Tea? on your favourite podcast platform and the YMCA Exeter YouTube channel.
Music: “April Showers” by Kjartan Abel.
Visit Kjartan Abel’s music library (https://kjartan-abel.com/library) to download royalty-free music for your next project.
Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 — Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International.
26 Aug 2026
When Every Symptom Feels Serious: Talking About Health Anxiety
Ever had a headache, Googled it, and ten minutes later convinced yourself something is seriously wrong?
This week on What’s the Tea?, Andy and Lydia are talking about health anxiety — from worrying about everyday symptoms to the way Google, social media and AI can sometimes make those worries feel even bigger.
As always, Andy and Lydia aren't experts. They're two former support workers catching up over a cuppa, drawing on their own experiences and some of the things they've learned from working alongside young people.
They chat about why health anxiety is very real for the person experiencing it, how anxiety itself can create physical symptoms, and why telling somebody they're “just being dramatic” probably isn't going to help.
They also look at some of the things that may have contributed to increased anxiety around our health — including social media, online health information and the experience of living through the pandemic.
Along the way they explore some practical tools that might help, including:
Challenging Doctor Google — and Doctor ChatGPT
Asking yourself, “What's the evidence?”
Separating fact, feeling and fear
Grounding techniques and breathing exercises
Resisting the urge to constantly check symptoms
Using distraction and healthy coping strategies
Talking to somebody you trust
Preparing notes before speaking to your GP if you find those conversations difficult
And the main takeaway?
Health anxiety doesn't mean you're weak, dramatic or alone. Sometimes simply talking about what you're experiencing can be an important first step.
Then, naturally, it's time for Weird News — where this week's stories somehow develop an unexpected toilet theme.
There's a world-record attempt involving an extraordinary number of toilet rolls… followed by a toilet designed to actually come to you.
Yes. Really.
What’s the Tea? is hosted by Andy and Lydia from YMCA Exeter.
Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe, and you can also find What’s the Tea? on your favourite podcast platform or on the YMCA Exeter YouTube channel.
Got a question, topic suggestion or something you'd like Andy and Lydia to talk about?
📧 WhatsTheTea@ymcaexeter.org.uk (mailto:WhatsTheTea@ymcaexeter.org.uk)
April Showers by Kjartan Abel
https://kjartan-abel.com/library (https://kjartan-abel.com/library)
Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 — Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International.
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Questions about Whats The Tea?
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Andy and Lydia host the show. Published by YMCA Exeter.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes bi-weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Whats The Tea? take guests?
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