Kintsugi Heroes: Uncovering our Hidden Value

Born in Sri Lanka with limited career options, Jetha's perfectionist tendencies and cultural isolation triggered mental health challenges early on. His parents' courageous move to Australia provided new opportunities but also difficulties adapting.Jetha battled obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety in silence for years, with the conditions significantly impacting his life. He felt shame about the disorders and suffered alone, without openly seeking help, even as he advanced his corporate career.Grappling with OCD forced Jetha to redefine success beyond corporate achievements. He recognized the importance of building self-worth, not relying only on external validation. Authenticity and self-compassion became key, even as he continued professional advancement.A pivotal moment for Jetha was an encounter with cancer patients sleeping on hospital floors in Sri Lanka. It reignited Jetha's childhood aspiration to help others and he launched a naïve but persistent effort to make a difference through fundraising.Jetha's 20-year philanthropic journey establishing a cancer transit home, lifeline centre, and other initiatives in Sri Lanka gave rise to the Courage, Compassion and Commitment (CCC) Foundation. These three virtues guided his life and work. Jetha's mental health experiences and philanthropy shaped his focus on psychological resilience - the ability to "bounce with and bounce off adversity." He emphasized building self-worth, psychological safety, strong relationships and having realistic expectations for thriving despite challenges.At age 56, Jetha boldly restarted his career to share his insights on mental well-being. His "Let's Talk" program and CCC Foundation aim to foster honest conversations, reduce stigma and help people feel seen, heard and valued."A simple conversation can be the difference between an end or a beginning". My passion is to make it a beginning by enabling everyone to feel SEEN, HEARD and VALUED. Feeling valued fundamental for our emotional wellbeing and our ability to connect, learn and contribute.ContactLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jetha-devapura-576a2a6Website: https://letstalkprogram.org/*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting...

Glenys Reid is the CEO of the Chatty Cafe Foundation in Australia, an initiative focused on addressing loneliness and social isolation through facilitating conversations in coffee shops and cafes. Glenys has a background marked by resilience, shaped by her family's experience, particularly her father's time as a prisoner of war. Her family's attitude towards life and survival has significantly influenced her approach to adversity. Glenys attributes her wisdom and values to the diverse experiences and cultures she encountered through her privileged upbringing, which included education, travel, and scholarships.Before founding Chatty Cafe, Glenys worked in the corporate sector, facing mental health issues and employment challenges, particularly in 2017. She places strong emphasis on the importance of physical fitness and its impact on mental health, advocating for the integration of physical activity and social connections in daily life.She was inspired to start Chatty Cafe in 2019 after her own experiences of loneliness and social isolation led her to notice people sitting alone in cafes. Despite various challenges, including national bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic, she successfully launched Chatty Cafe and grew it to over 230 venues with more than 70 volunteers across Australia.Glenys values kindness and social connection. She defines kindness as a competency and believes in the power of one person to make a difference, stressing the importance of listening to others' stories and building meaningful relationships. Social Mediahttps://chattycafeaustralia.org.au/https://www.facebook.com/chattycafeaustraliahttps://www.instagram.com/ChattyCafeAUS/https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenys-reid-8385521a/*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Alan's personal experience with homelessness and mental health challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, informs his empathetic approach to peer support work. He transitioned from a career as a financial advisor to a peer worker position in suicide prevention, where he co-designs and implements vital services to support those in crisis.Alan is an inspiring community advocate and leader, known for his contributions to various community initiatives. Some of his notable undertakings include:Founding the Sydney Community Safe Space. This is a safe-haven for individuals in crisis, providing a supportive environment for those in need. Setting up a Men's Space Supper Club which aim to foster camaraderie, support, and open dialogue among men, encouraging them to share their experiences and challenges in a safe and supportive setting.Conversation Cafes which are designed to encourage open, meaningful conversations within the community, helping individuals connect, share, and support one another. Additionally, Alan is actively involved with the Public Interest Advocacy Centres. He strives to bring honest, compassionate support to the community and advocate for tailored, non-clinical approaches to mental health. His focus on vulnerability, patience, and discipline reflects his commitment to making a positive impact and shining a light for others facing similar struggles. Alan's ultimate hope is to see systemic changes that provide appropriate support to prevent individuals from taking their own lives and to foster a world where everyone's unique needs and interests are addressed. On a personal level, he aspires to have a fulfilling life, maintain hope, and improve his relationships with family and friends. He has committed himself to a resourceful lifestyle in recovery. *****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Tracie Eaton is an Internationally-renowned & award winning Australian artist with an artistic career spanning over 17 years. Tracie’s studio is located on the Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. Her personal experiences with burnout propelled Tracie to transition from corporate to creative pursuits, emphasizing the importance of listening to one’s inner needs and embracing purposeful change.With a background in occupational therapy, Tracie explores the emotional impact of colours in her art, using them as a therapeutic tool to unlock and express feelings.Tracie utilises art to inspire and fundraise for Destiny Rescue, highlighting how creativity can drive social and emotional transformation, and uplift exploited communities.Tracie addresses sex trafficking head-on, advocating for societal awareness and action, while illustrating how collective efforts can lead to significant impacts on global and local scales.Tracie’s connections with Hollywood celebrities amplify her mission, using their influence and reach to raise awareness and support for rescuing children from exploitation and trafficking.BiographyTracie is a self-taught artist with a painting style that is expressive & unique, with her creativity knowing no bounds. Her luxurious artworks are bold, textured with loose form & brush strokes, and has been described by curators as ‘passion-art’ – “everyone who sees it loves it.”Tracie specialises in creating original acrylic & mixed media artworks for the luxury art sector. Tracie is often referred to as a ‘Celebrity Artist’ following her exclusive 3-year commissions (2019-2021 and 2023 -2005) to create bespoke artwork for Oscar’s nominees & winners, with an impressive list of Hollywood A-listers, In 2024 Tracie won the international Masterful Minds award by Circle Foundation. She has also been recognised as International Acrylic Artist of the Year Award (Australia) by Lux Life). Tracie has also established the Art for Rescue initiative, an approved fundraiser for the Charity Destiny Rescue, established to eradicate sex trafficking and exploitation of children. In 2023 Tracie was awarded the Best Acrylic Artist – Asia-Pacific by APAC. Additionally, Tracie was the only international artist invited, and participate in a joint digital exhibition in ToDA(Dubai). In 2022, she recognised by Lux Life as the Leading Luxury Art Company - Australia and has been awarded the Leonardo Da Vinci International Artist Award for Outstanding Artistic Merit for her acrylic & mixed media piece ‘Flowers In Bloom.’In 2022 Tracie was recognised by APAC Best Original Painting & Art Studio QLD & Most Creative Australian Arts & Painting Company. In 2021 Tracie Eaton was recognised by GAA as one of the Leading & Investable Contemporary Artists worldwide and included in their Curated publication for distribution to galleries, collectors, art museums & art fairs around the world. She was listed by Herrington Publications as one of the top 25 Global Woman Change Makers of the year. During the last five years Tracie was involved in over 20 live art performances, solo or joint exhibitions. Social MediaART FOR RESCUE:https://artforrescue.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/art.for.rescue/TRACIE EATON:https://www.tracieeaton.com/https://www.facebook.com/TracieEatonArtist

Jas describes her experiences with domestic violence as a young teen, which included she and her mother running through the bush to seek safety and then spending 9 months in a safe house. Jas's experiences with her father’s emotional abuse, led to self-esteem and body image struggles, highlighting the deep impact of non-physical forms of abuse. She lost her abusive Dad to suicide at 18 but was able to rebuild her life and learn to thrive.Jas changed her life to ensure her son’s different upbringing, emphasising the importance of breaking the cycle of abuse and negative patterns.Why non-physical forms of domestic violence (such as gaslighting and coercive control) are just as dangerous as physical violence, and how young people can learn to spot the red flags earlyJas's journey from suffering to becoming an advocate for abuse survivors, stressing the importance of mentorship, especially for men, and its effects on mental health. In her book "The Stories We Carry," Jas emphasises changing one’s perception and narrative to break free from trauma, fostering hope and personal growth. Jas recounts her transition from feeling voiceless to finding strength through drama and theatre, and ultimately becoming a powerful voice for abuse survivors.BiographyJas Rawlinson is an award-winning keynote speaker, advocate and author who empowers survivors and communities to transform shame into strength through the power of storytelling. Combining her lived experience as a domestic/sexual violence survivor, with a bachelors' degree in creative writing and psychology, Jas is highly renowned for her natural ability to break through stigmatized social issues, and has impacted hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide. She's the author of the best-selling memoir 'The Stories We Carry', and the suicide prevention series 'Reasons to Live', both of which have been endorsed by names such as Lifeline, ABC, Women's Legal Service QLD & America's National Centre on Sexual Exploitation. Jas is also a proud anti-trafficking ambassador who has spent time with survivors and investigators in SE Asia, and in 2022, swam with sharks on reality TV to end child abuse (before an audience of 100 million) on Channel 7's award-winning TV series 'Adventure All Stars'. Above all, Jas believes that everyone has a story with the power to inspire, impact, and change lives.Social Media Links www.jasrawlinson.com/speakingwww.jasrawlinson.com/thestorieswecarrywww.instagram.com/jas_rawlinsonwww.facebook.com/jasrawlinsonofficial*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube ||

Stacey suffered from childhood trauma due to parental divorce and remarriages. This caused instability, hyper vigilance, and long-term emotional impacts on her self-esteem and behaviours. Her parents divorced and each remarried within a few months so her life changed rapidly. She explains once that trauma responses like Fight, flight, freeze, and appease are understood, it is possible to have deeper insights into adult behaviours stemming from unhealed childhood traumas. Stacey shares that  beliefs like ‘needing to protect everyone’ and ‘having no one reliable’, lead to hyper-independence and emotional breakdowns.   She describes her struggle with chronic fatigue and autoimmune conditions exacerbated anxiety and panic, despite 20 years of therapy and shifting to alternative healing practices.Through inner child work, authors like Brene Brown, and rapid transformational therapy she found a gradual path to peace, reducing anxiety frequencies and intensities. Emphasizing that peace coexists with challenges, Stacey underscores the impact of supportive affirmations, rejecting "brokenness," and maintaining hope amidst recovery from trauma. In her practice Stacey employs rapid transformational therapy to reframe subconscious beliefs, fostering micro shifts that gradually transform thoughts, actions, and behaviours towards peace.BiographyStacey Uhrig, Coach and Trauma Specialist, journeys through some of life's most difficult topics around Mental Health. She has two core beliefs, "There is a gift in every challenge" and "There is purpose in the pain.". Stacey believes that "life is a series of experiences divinely designed for us" and it is her goal to help you flip your mindset and see your life challenges and experiences through a new more relevant lens. Stacey is a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach, Certified in Hypnosis and a Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner. She is a speaker, podcast host of Flip Your Mindset, and sees clients 1:1 in her private practice.Social Media @staceyuhrigwww.flipyourmindset.comwww.instagram.com/staceyuhrigwww.facebook.com/staceyuhrig*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of...

Chris Edwards is a father of a son who died by suicide in 2021. He has a history of suicide ideation, brought about by domestic violence and abuse in his early life.  His experiences and events like these, drive him to share his story, with the hope that the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide can be minimised, if not diminished.Chris's childhood in a violent home profoundly affected his mental health, leading to struggles with self-identity, self-harm, and substance abuse. After hitting rock bottom, Chris made a life-changing decision to quit drugs at 30, experiencing severe physical withdrawal but beginning his path to recovery.He experienced pseudo seizures linked to anxiety and underwent extensive rehabilitation. This physical struggle mirrored his emotional battles and quest for stability. After his father's death and estrangement from his children, Chris faced deep isolation, prompting a profound need for self-reflection and change.Chris's experience with trauma and recovery inspired him to support mental health initiatives, emphasising the importance of openness and breaking stigmas around mental health.Meeting his wife in 2013 marked a turning point, providing emotional support and stability, helping Chris to overcome many personal challenges and setbacks. Chris's grief after his son Josh’s suicide in 2021 inspired the creation of Walk It Off, fostering a supportive community focused on mental health and resilience.Walk It Off highlights recovery by walking and sharing stories. This creates space for healing and self-reflection. Completing his degree and aiming to become a mental health advocate, Chris seeks to provide education and support, transforming his pain into purpose.Contactwalkitoff.org.aufacebook.com/WalkItOffAustralia*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Helen Ryan's story starts with her describing how she overcame her shocking childhood in Norway and early adult life challenges. She shares her traumatic childhood with an alcoholic mother and facing sexual abuse while detailing her mother's risky behaviour.She recounts living a nomadic lifestyle after working in the district attorney's office during the night stalker murders, fostering her fearlessness. Helen describes her transformative experiences traveling with her children after her youngest graduated, finding resilience and new perspectives abroad. She highlights gaining managing skills and unique opportunities through her job at a Los Angeles online magazine, helping her son meet a band. Helen talks about embracing photography, especially at rock concerts, and learning to seize opportunities fearlessly without perfect conditions.Reflecting on overcoming obesity through spinning and empowerment, Helen discusses her journey of regaining control and finding self-worth. She travelled the world as a middle aged digital nomad, started a walking podcast to inspire people to take small steps toward big changes, and wrote two books. Helen now runs a boutique graphic design and marketing agency.Contact:https://walkingandtalking.showhttps://realhelenmryan*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Mathew Townsend is a neurodiverse social entrepreneur based in Brisbane. Growing up with disabilities he faced discrimination and prejudice finding his pathways into career and passions. Being socially isolated he often had anxiety and depression, causing him to feel low and uncharacteristic. He wasn't confident to speak up about himself to help people to understand his disabilities, and how to compromise. He went to study Bachelor of Environmental Science and Master of Environmental Management at two universities, but was often put in wrong place and position for finding the right people to befriend.Employers continued to reject him despite his passions and experience. Nature Freedom started from his volunteer experience with Landcare. He had support from young Landcarers who are social entrepreneurs like him.He is passionate and experienced in starting up businesses, public speaking engagements, environmental management, and sustainability. Mathew grew up facing social and employment barriers that lead him to start up Nature Freedom, so he can hire himself and other people with disabilities. Nature Freedom, aims to improve accessibility and inclusion in outdoor adventures and nature-based activitiesHis dream ambitions are focusing on an inclusive, diverse, and sustainable society, especially his passion about protecting nature from destruction, climate change and improving sustainability in our community. ContactWebsite: https://naturefreedom.org.au/*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Mike Armstrong is an award-winning contemporary artist, author and veteran of the Australian Army for 23 years. He served in East Timor, Afghanistan, Iraq and was part of the Tactical assault Group East.He did his Master of Arts while deployed in Iraq, and now works in a variety of media from his art studio in Canberra. Mike has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ballarat, Master of Arts in Creative Arts from USQ and a Masters in Cyber Security from UNSW.Mike supports veteran’s health through art, movement and connection. He uses his art to explore his and other veteran experiences after service as they live with PTSD. He offers regular opportunities for people through his projects Voices of Veterans and Rogue BJJ.Mike created Voices of Veterans in 2021. It is an award-winning art photography project that uses molasses as a metaphor for living with PTSD. Since then, Voices of Veterans has influenced countless veterans and their families to get help and created awareness of the veteran health crisis through exhibitions around Australia. Mike facilitates art workshops and is a mentor to artists, works with art galleries, museums and events around Australia.He holds black belts in several martial arts including Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ). His studio, Rogue BJJ supports veterans and first responders to connect them to BJJ as a healing modality. In 2023 Mike was awarded the Uni SQ Alumni community Service award.His companion dog Squish accompanies him everywhere.*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Neil Morley opens up about his incredible journey from a challenging upbringing to finding success and fulfillment in Australia. His story is a powerful reminder of resilience, the importance of mentorship, and following your heart.BiographyI was born in Liverpool UK and raised by my grandmother who had 11 children. She raised me as number 12. My mother has always had mental health issues and still does today, I have never met my father. I grew up in a council flat (Government housing) when I was around 12, we moved to a different government housing estate that was plagued with heroin addicts. While living in this area, I was always worried about going outside and was constantly in flight or flight mode. I was beaten up an a number of occasions. I left school at 16 and did Music and Drama, I did plays/musicals in Europe and I also sing and play guitar. I have done this for a living when I was in my early 20's and played at local pubs and clubs. Just before my 20th birthday I applied for a Working Holiday Visa for Australia and spent 1 year in Australia in 1995-1996, this was the best year of my life up to that point. I have been a camp councilor with African American kids in the USA teaching music and football (Soccer). have worked as a residential social worker at a boarding school with kids who were close to going to kids prison. I also worked with adults and children with Autism and did 3 years at a London High school as a Learning Mentor. I have since gone on to get married, have 2 children and owned a recruitment business for close to 14 years. The last year has been by far the most challenging year I have had.Edit Hero Background*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Dan Grey grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and loves to surf. He had a loving and nurturing childhood with strong familial relationships and connections to nature. He was academically challenged due to ADHD, which required extra support in school and medication during high school that significantly improved his grades. He studied public health and community services, reflecting his interest in community well-being and human connection. Dan’s passion is music, playing the drums, and enjoys entering a flow state through the creative aspects of music. He emphasises the importance of meditation and connecting with nature in his daily routine to maintain mental and emotional health. Dan expresses a strong desire to work in the music industry and make a difference by creating community-based spaces for connection, meditation and healing. Dan describes the challenges of transitioning between tasks and managing distractions, which are significant aspect of his neurodiversity. He also describes the stigma and experiences of neurodiverse individuals.He is determined to create supportive resources and communities to help others facing similar challenges and contribute to the health and well-being of others.‘Music has been such a healing thing for me; singing, live music and listening to music in general. I truly believe if you can get a bunch of people, thousands of people together and have a band play in front of them, and to experience that feeling of seeing live music, people can be healed and we can decrease crime or any sense of, hostility just from the experience of seeing music.’*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Jason’ s mother gave birth to him at a very young age of 15. Because of this he grew up in a challenging, lower socioeconomic environment with difficult family dynamics. Jason also experienced sexual abuse by a family member, which led to long-lasting effects such as PTSD and flashbacks. These factors, along with his grandfather’s mental health struggles, contributed to the traumas that affected his childhood and later life.He explains how this early trauma has influenced his adult life, shaping his emotional and mental well-being and his ongoing battle with his mental health, highlighting the effects of PTSD and its triggers. Jason describes his struggles with suicidal ideation, discussing the importance of recognising and managing these thoughts effectively. He emphasises the importance of therapy in his journey towards understanding himself and fostering personal growth.The importance of being emotionally open is very significant, particularly in how it affects Jason’s relationships and personal healing and overcoming societal and internalised stigmas surrounding mental health issues.Jason shares his reflection on his ongoing journey of self-improvement, acknowledging both setbacks and progress in his quest for a healthier mental state.*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Narelle has a severe vision impairment that means she uses a guide dog to get around. She only started to lose my sight about 16 years ago and has lived with only seeing shapes for the last two years. She is an advocate for digital accessibility in Australia and work to let people know about the benefits of ensuring that everyone can access the information, understand the information and make informed decisions based on the information.The benefits of good communication and digital accessibility are important to her. And the benefits of being disabled. We are normal. Socials:https://dasat.com.auhttps://www.youtube.com/@digitalaccesssolutionshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-access-solutions-and-assistive-technologyhttps://www.facebook.com/DIGITALDASAT*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Paul has had an amazing business career in marketing some of the world's largest consumer brands including McDonalds, Burger King and Snickers. He has had lot of fun in growing large and small organisations even setting up his own business to launch into Australia an amazing soft drink brand from Scotland called Irn-Bru. While his life has been filled with the ups and downs of life, the real crunch came last year when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few days after his youngest daughter's wedding. From an incredible high of the wedding to a few days later to be told he had suspected prostate cancer certainly gave him and his family quite a hit. To add to the challenge, his employers decided they felt he could no longer effectively perform his role to the required standards and ended his job. Then began an incredibly challenging year for Paul and his family, including major surgery, the sale of their family home, a beautiful wedding, the birth of their third grandchild and the news of another one on the way.He has a beautiful family with his wife Janine and two daughters Jordon and Ashlyn and their respective husbands. He has three grandkids with another on the way. Along with a love of God, these things are what keep him going everyday through the tough times and the amazingly good.SocialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-tredinnick/*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Justin has had a lifelong battle with Crohn's disease, a crippling bowel condition. His courageous story is about the consequences of that disease, both physically, emotionally, and psychologically, of chronic illness, including the medical interventions and the setbacks around that.Justin believes he had got the disease because of his family dynamics as a child, where there was a stigma around going to the toilet. This resulted in the normalising of pain and struggle that defined his childhood, made his school life hell and affected his later life in extremely challenging ways. He was hospitalised numerous times and had excruciating surgeries but learned coping mechanisms with the support of his mum and by watching SpongeBob SquarePants videos."She's like, don't worry, sonny boy. You don't have to worry about working. You don't have to worry about anything in the world. Just be happy and smile."He made peace with his disease and learned to stop trying to fit in and celebrate his differences. – this transformed his life.Justin's purpose is now defined by learning how to thrive with a disease, and that's how he defines his mission. For people with disabilities, he suggests focusing on what you can do, not what you can't. He is now helping people with courses and information and by his example. He is writing a book about how to thrive in the workplace.Contact:Instagram: @thriving.with.crohnsUdemy course: https://www.udemy.com/course/how-to-tackle-chronic-illness-with-a-positive-mindset/*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

In December 2022, Dominic was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Not only did this have a huge impact on him and his family, but it also clearly shook those around him, particularly his male peers, to whom he had always been a pillar of strength. His treatment is ongoing, and he does not yet see himself as a cancer ‘survivor’. He has used his living experience to give back through community engagement, both actively through talks and podcasts, and passively in his day-to-day conversations. Dom has a particular passion around encouraging men to show their vulnerabilities and believes that this has helped him both mentally and physically as he takes on this fight. He has become passionate about understanding his personal journey and embracing the powerful connection between a positive mindset and the human body.“I didn't want to dwell on cancer. I didn't want to be defined by being a cancer patient or a cancer battler. For me, it was about what have I learned and how can I use that experience? How did I respond to adversity or a message like that to help people understand that they they're not going through it alone, and to have the balls to go and do the health check, if they find something adverse, they’re not alone.”BiographyDominic Lynch lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches with his wife and 18-year-old twins. He embraces the environment in which he lives and having hung up his rugby boots after 25 years, he took up surf boat rowing and mountain biking and remains an active surf lifesaver. His professional career has seen him work in the engineering and construction industry in Australia and overseas. *****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Bradley Spillane is an advocate, a community volunteer and spokesperson. Through the men's mental health radio show on Radio Blue Mountains, he is a lodestone, a centre for people talking about something that wasn't fashionable when he started, which was men's mental health and men's health in generalThis episode is a brutally honest, in-depth conversation between two friends: our host John Milham and Brad SpillaneParts of Brad’s story are very confronting. When his marriage came to an end his anger caused his life to spiral out of control. He made two attempts on his life through in October of 2013 and January 2014 when he incurred serious injuries. He spent months in hospital through that year. Before his third attempt he woke up to himself and said, “Hey man, you’re here for a reason? Let's have a crack at this.”Brad later worked out that the reasons behind his negative emotions come from his childhood, including family breakup, his physical size and a long illness. Eventually he began to speak openly about his journey on the radio podcast on mental health, and a friend encouraged him to create own show. He is not a counsellor or a therapist but comes from lived experience and he found that purposeful and almost, a calling. He’s been in a pretty good place for four or five years now. He attributes that to the men's mental health show, to all the people that came on and others he chatted with.*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Romina’s story begins with her being swept off her feet by an amazing man after a previous violent relationship. Their marriage developed into her feeling compelled to take part in webcam sex with her partner and other people. Naively she went along with it for eleven years, thinking it was what she had to do as a married woman even though her whole being said NO. Eventually, she fell in love with an Egyptian man she met on camera and then in person and left her husband, although they had been a threesome at times. A combination of issues led to them breaking up.She realised she completely lacked self-love and was disempowered. Romina began a powerful new journey as she healed; after discovering the mermaid archetype and embracing her self-love, then started to help others with embodiment work.‘I am really happy with who and what I am and the woman I am and what other people think of me, say or do is their story and their journey and not mine.’ BiographyRomina Lee, commonly known as Mina by friends, family and loved ones, was born in Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire in, England and migrated to Australia when she was fifteen years young.She is a daughter, a mother, a stepmother, a nonna, a sister, an aunt, a friend, a lover, and an embodied woman.She is a mother to three amazing children, Sam, Kara and Leigh and two grandchildren.She currently works full-time in the Community Service sector and runs a business called Awaken Your Mermaid. She is a feminine embodiment coach who works with women to support them to connect to their hearts, inner wisdom, truth and power. She is the creator of the Mermaid Temple, which is an online journey with the mermaid archetypes that she wrote to support women in their journey, as they supported her. Contact75mina75@gmail.comSocial MediaAwaken your mermaid within on FB@Iamrominalee on Instagram*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.

Amira's life has been defined by early adversity, including the loss of young family members to illness, accidents, and mental health issues. These experiences instilled in her a deep empathy and a drive to alleviate suffering. Becoming a mother to a child with cerebral palsy at 20 further shaped her journey, fostering resilience and determination in navigating single parenthood.At 35, burdened by debt and lacking formal education, Amira embarked on a transformative path. She immersed herself in learning, earning certifications in disability care, personal training, life coaching, spending planning, bookkeeping, accounting, and business management. Founding "Your Money Habit" in 2017, she initially focused on financial empowerment but later expanded her scope to holistic support for micro-business owners, addressing health, wealth, and business development.Amira is dedicated to helping others overcome adversity through her experiences and expertise,. She empowers individuals and businesses to thrive, offering guidance in financial management, personal development, and holistic well-being. Her newsletter ‘Happy, Healthy, Wealthy and Free was born from this dedication, find it here: https://bit.ly/hhwfNewsWebsite: https://www.yourmoneyhabit.com.au/*****We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes. Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contactWe hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!Warmly, The Kintsugi Heroes teamYouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || WebsiteTheme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.