Stories that Stir

Host application form:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Speaker application form:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/Veena was told eleven years ago her 14-month old daughter would never walk, talk, or live beyond a vegetative state. Today, that same girl is a joyful chatterbox and performer. Fueled by love and resilience, Veena defied the odds and now leads a network of over 300 South Asian mothers raising children with additional needs. As an autism advocate, she shares her story to break stigma and spark hope—empowering people to embrace difference and believe in what once seemed impossible.

Host application form:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠⁠⁠⁠Speaker application form:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠⁠⁠⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/For many people, truly expressing emotion is a mountain too hard to climb – and not overcoming this challenge can lead to a life of deep and painful regret as Paul nearly found out.  Paul’s story starts with one phone call that empowered him and changed everything and ends with a funeral that empowered another to find their voice.  It’s a happy-sad rollercoaster you won’t want to get off.

Host application form:⁠⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠⁠⁠Speaker application form:⁠⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠⁠⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/Christine arrived in Australia as a two-year-old refugee from Vietnam and grew into a quietly powerful force for change. A bestselling author and founder of multiple ventures, she now empowers women—especially those from overlooked backgrounds—to speak with confidence, lead with purpose, and build lives they’re proud of. Her story is one of strength through gentleness, success with heart, and the belief that true empowerment begins with owning your story.

Host application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠⁠Speaker application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/Madeleine Jaine Lobsey tells a story of being called too loud, too intense, too everything, until she stopped being herself. After decades of success AND self-suppression, an autism and ADHD diagnosis at 48 helped her return to who she was at eight, a child who dreamed up a place called Wondiverse. Now, she builds spaces where everyone belongs, proving that when you stop trying to fix people, the real magic begins.

Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/John Breda dedicated 25 years to the New South Wales Police Force. One Australia Day, he was attacked with a knife while apprehending a child sex offender. John lay on the ground severely injured and struggling for survival. The immediate intervention by the team at St Vincent’s Hospital proved critical in saving his life. However, the physical wounds were only part of the ordeal. John’s experience is a profound demonstration of resilience and the determination to overcome adversity.

Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/For ten years, Andy Leonard held onto hope. A sudden cardiac arrest changed everything, leading him to a path he never expected. Surrogacy brought moments of promise—thenheartbreak. A clinic closed by a coup, a few devastating losses, and trials across continents tested his strength. But through it all, he never stopped believing. Some journeys take longer, but the destination makes every step worth it.

Host application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠⁠Speaker application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/After finishing her first circumnavigation around the world on a sail boat, Lisa went on to set 8 world records in solo ocean sailing. She shares her experiences facing down 15 meter waves, sailing through cyclonic size storms and a catastrophic event that she almost didn’t live to tell.  As a passionate climate activist and now the fastest person to sail solo around Antarctica Lisa is still driven by curiosity as she turns her attention to her next challenge set in the Arctic Circle.

Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/On a 3-month solo adventure through India, Petra found herself at a Hindu Temple among worshippers who stared silently at two small gold-plated doors. Clutching their prayer notes, the anticipation grew as the drumming exploded into a deafening roar. The crowd slowly edged closer to the doors. Petra's curiosity grew and after what seemed like a lifetime, the doors flew open and something hit Petra in the eye. While everyone rushed to get closer, Petra did her best to pull away. What was the mysterious substance that had hit Petra in the eye?

In the fast-paced world of creating television and video content, Campbell found balance through yoga and meditation.But it was Tantra—and the art of slowing down—that trulybrought him face-to-face with himself. Driven by curiosity and wonder from a young age, Campbell is now embracing an intimate, open relationship, and his journey is only just beginning to reveal life’s true treasures.Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/

When Amanda’s world shattered with one call - her father’s terminal diagnosis - she faced an identity crisis. How do you move forward when the person who shaped you is gone?What if suffering isn’t just pain but a doorway to something more? What if loss doesn’t just take, but also gives? Through her story, Amanda explores how small perspective shifts create massive change, and why curiosity is an underrated superpower.Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/

Tilly’s story is one of wild expansion—growing up with a conservative Dad and a strict Seventh Day Adventist upbringing, where sex before marriage was a one-way ticket to hell. Fast forward to now, she’s leading The Open Circle, a vibrant community of over 500 people exploring alternative relationships, and co-running FAR, the Festival of Alternative Relationships. Along the way, Tilly has reclaimed the parts of her sexuality once suppressed by the church, stepping into a life of expansion, authenticity, and deep connections.Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/

Minie is a special needs mum who shares her daughter’s journey with a rare genetic condition, Kabuki Syndrome.With honesty, compassion and a witty sense of humour, she shares how the roller coaster of special needs parenting has expanded her world into a multiverse that looks almost like a story from a comic book.It’s an incredible story of fights against many fears, driven by a mama’s love for her baby.Host application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠⁠Speaker application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links:⁠ ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite:⁠ ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/

Tracie Allan’s life was profoundly changed at the age of 30 when her beloved mum passed away from cancer.  Being at her mother’s bedside, she felt her spirit leave her body - a moment that sparked a yearning to understand where her mum had gone. This led to Tracie's journey into mediumship and learning how to connect with the spirit world which has brought her great comfort in knowing that love never dies.Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠Social media handles: @storiesthatstirEvent links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/eventsWebsite: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/

After a brain injury during a New Zealand backpacking trip, Matt’s life was shattered—24 hours in a coma, a week in ICU, and a month in rehab. At 27, Matt's journey of resilience is a powerful testament to the human spirit. His story reminds us that even when life breaks us, we have the strength to rebuild and emerge stronger than before.  Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event links:https://events.humanitix.com/stories-that-stir-freedom Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/StoriesthatStir

This journey unfolds as Tara navigates the shadow of loss after her mother’s death on her birthday. For nearly 20 years, she wrestles with grief, until a transformative milestone at the age of 50 opens her heart to love. Tara comes to realise that life didn’t end that heart-breaking day; instead, it began anew. As she surrenders to the grief, she learns to embrace joy and love amidst the chaos of sorrow. "  Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event links:https://events.humanitix.com/stories-that-stir-freedom Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/StoriesthatStir

Rugare Gomo is the first gay, Black, African-Australian to write and publish his memoir. He came to Australia by himself at 16 years old with one suitcase, a backpack and $300. In his story he shares his journey of thriving and loving himself and others despite facing discrimination and racism in every facet of society. Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event links:https://events.humanitix.com/stories-that-stir-freedom Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/StoriesthatStir

Growing-up in London as the youngest of 10 children, Roger had to rid himself of being the anxious people pleaser and take responsibility for what he wanted in life. After running and growing his family-owned businesses, then Roger faced the daunting risks of moving his own family to Australia at the age of forty with no plan, no visa, no job and no network. Roger shares his inner battles with his loss of identity, self-confidence and shattering rejections, through to now, in living his best life.  Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event links:https://events.humanitix.com/stories-that-stir-freedom Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/StoriesthatStir

Maedeh, a devout Muslim woman, has lived her life strictly adhering to religious rules and societal expectations. However, everything changes when she makes the unexpected decision to remove her headscarf. This choice sets off a chain reaction, with her family turning against her and pushing her to the verge of a breakdown. Her world collapses under a cascade of life. Despite the turmoil, one thing remains clear: her three-year-old son needs her.   Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event links:https://events.humanitix.com/stories-that-stir-freedom Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/StoriesthatStir

From his earliest days, Brent was raised amidst turmoil and strife. He found solace in the seductive allure of addiction and descended into a spiral of crime and violence, weaving a tangled web of lies and deceit. Guided by the gentle hand of spirit, Brent forged bonds of connection—with the natural world, with kindred souls, and with the depths of his own being. Through the transformative power of love, he began to unravel the tangled threads of his past, weaving them into a tapestry of resilience and rediscovery. Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event links:https://events.humanitix.com/stories-that-stir-freedom Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/StoriesthatStir

How one bad Korean Drama lead to a full blown Kdrama addiction that saw Marie, a mother and marketer rip through 70 shows in two years and counting. Addict or expert? You be the judge, but either way, this is one random story of Kultural discovery. Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event links:https://events.humanitix.com/stories-that-stir-freedom Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/StoriesthatStir