✨ Episode Summary

Woo-hoo, we’ve made it to episode two! In this short but powerful chat, Lisa dives into the world of mood Hoovers—those people who unintentionally drain your energy and leave you feeling exhausted. From “Negative Nellies” at work events to friends who don’t realize their impact, Lisa shares her own experiences of being the “buffer” and how she’s learned to protect her energy without losing her kindness.

This episode is all about self-awareness, boundaries, and recharging your soul so you can keep showing up as your best self.

💡 Key Takeaways

1. What a mood Hoover is: People who unintentionally drain your energy and leave you feeling depleted.
2. Why self-awareness matters: Recognizing who fills your cup and who empties it.
3. Protecting your energy: Don’t give away your positivity when your own cup isn’t full.
4. Quality over quantity: Friendships and circles may get smaller, but the right people overflow your soul.
5. Letting go is okay: Sometimes distancing yourself from negativity is the healthiest choice.
6. Recharge rituals: From laughter with friends to playing The Sims, find what fills you back up.

🧩 Episode Highlights

1. Lisa’s playful take on always being seated next to “Negative Nellie” at events.
2. The importance of being an active listener without draining yourself.
3. Why it’s okay to drift apart from some people as life evolves.
4. A reminder that protecting your soul and energy is not selfish—it’s essential.
5. The joy of surrounding yourself with people who make your heart overflow.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. missbrightside25
2. podchaser

Hiya Sonny.

Me.

This episode is all about mood hoovers, those soul suckers, those people who make you feel so drained you feel like a dried up prune.

So let's get into the episode.

Let's go.

Just a reminder before we get into things to follow me on Instagram missbrightside25 and you'll find a link in my bio to sign up to my emails.

But don't worry, I won't spam out.

I haven't got that much time to write emails.

So let's get into it.

Welcome back to episode two.

Look at me on my second episode.

Woohoo.

Today I'm talking to you about those mood hoofers, those people who drain your soul.

They suck your soul dry and when you leave them, you feel so drained.

That's the only way I can describe them.

I feel really drained after speaking to them.

It's about being self aware of these people, the negative Nellies.

Now because I'm quite a happy person and people just think, oh, it's okay.

Any event did I go to?

Some people think, it's all right, we'll put Lisa next to negative Nelly.

She'll be the buffer.

She'll be with the buffer between the people.

Tonight I can't sit next to her, so guess what?

I'll put Lisa there.

I've been to many work events, social event, family event, and always seems to be the easy option to put the chirpy one next to the miserable one.

Now in their defense, these people, their mood hoovers, generally don't realize they are being negative and it's not up to us to fix them.

But I always believe in trying to give them a little bit of positivity to make themselves feel better.

But sometimes there's a point where you go, oh my God.

There is nothing I can say to this person to make them better.

And that's okay.

Sometimes you just got to be that active listener, listen to how they're feeling and just reflect back.

I'm really sorry to hear that.

However, it's really important that you do not empty your cup.

If I'm not feeling my tip top self, my cup is only half full and I haven't been able to recharge.

Do my favorite things, like seeing my friends having a laugh, watching my favorite program, doing something that recharges my soul, even if it's a couple of hours scrolling on my phone or my new addiction at the moment is playing the Sims game.

I am that geek.

I was the child who played the Sims and I absolutely loved it.

But that makes me feel loads better.

My cup's recharged.

I'm ready and raring to go.

But if you're feeling low or not, your cup isn't fully charged.

You can't sit and listen to somebody who is a morning myrtle.

So this is about being self aware of those people are.

And before you go meet them, before you go and see them, make sure you are fully charged.

But also I'm very self aware in my life and I think this is something you learn as you get a bit older for anyone out there who's listening.

And I've got a lot to learn.

I'm 37, but I still got lots to learn.

Is you slowly realize that the people in your life that come into it for a good reason, maybe they've helped you through a tough time.

Maybe it's been a point in your life where you needed that person in your life.

And then slowly you drift apart.

Not for any reason really.

And that was the time that they needed you in their life and you needed them.

And then slowly you drift away.

Doesn't mean to say that you're not friendly with them.

They've been a part of your life.

But sometimes they drift off.

Then you get your lifelong soulmates who I class as my absolute amazing friends.

They're the ones that no matter rain or shine, storm or calm, they are by your side.

However, sometimes in life there'll be people who don't actually deserve to be in your life.

And there's nothing wrong with protecting yourself if they are that negative and if they are affecting you that much, they are having a really negative impact on your life by letting them go, letting yourself be free of them because there's only so much we could do.

I'm all for helping people out but sometimes you've got to protect your own soul and protect your own energy.

If that means distancing yourself from somebody who is negative and you can't make any.

You've really tried to make a difference but.

But you really can't do anymore.

That is okay too.

You have to protect yourself.

There are people in my life who I have had to let go because as much as I'm positive and kind and caring, they hurt me.

And I'm sorry.

Now I'm a little bit older.

I'm not putting up with you hurting me anymore.

So.

Tara Linda, their name's La Linda by the way.

Just made me laugh.

Tara Linda, I'll see you later.

I'd never be rude to them if I seen them.

I'd Always have a chat to them and I will always make a fuss, but to protect myself, I've just distanced myself enough that I can stop them from hurting me.

We've got to let go of some of these people in our lives and there's nothing wrong with that.

Sometimes your circle gets smaller, but it's all about quality over quantity, which for you is cheesy, but it's absolutely true.

It's like that circle of friends, that group you work with, those people are coming in and out of your life.

There's nothing wrong with having multiple groups of people you go and see, but this is all about making sure you are self aware of who's around you and who makes you feel absolutely amazing.

Because let me tell you, there's nothing better than being in a room with somebody who not just fills your cup up that overflows you so much that your heart hurts.

It's enough to recharge your soul.

And that's it, really.

It's a short one.

Be aware of those people who drain your energy.

Be aware of the ones that fill up your cup.

Because guess what?

Fill your world with people who make you feel better about yourself and there is nothing better than a good old rant with your friends.

So remember to do that too this week, if you're up for it.

Be self aware of those people around you who are draining your energy.

And just make sure you're protecting yourself first before you give any more of your energy away.

Have an absolutely amazing week and I'll chat soon.

Thanks for listening.

If you've liked what you've listened to, do you fancy giving me a cheeky review on podchaser?

Or if there's something you'd like me to discuss, just write a comment under one of my posts on Instagram just to finish up.

Remember, see the positives, even in the little things.

Have an absolutely amazing week.

Chat soon.