Tears, Trust & the Tribe Around Us: A Father, Son & Cancer I Community, Surrender & Trust

When Justin Robinson's 11-year-old son Sam was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2012, Sam spent 250 nights in hospital and the family faced a constantly unpredictable path forward. Despite being planners who valued control, Justin learned three pieces of wisdom that became lifelines: "Don't plan," "Don't Google," and always say yes when people offer help. Through vulnerability and honesty, Justin reveals how fear was distributed across many shoulders and how accepting support held their entire family. This is a story about discovering that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is simply say yes to the help that surrounds us. About Our Guest Justin Robinson is the co-founder of The Wellbeing Distillery, which supports hundreds of schools across Australia and internationally to embed wellbeing into education. The former founding Director of the Institute of Positive Education at Geelong Grammar School and author of My Manifesto, he is recognised for his warmth, deep listening, and practical wisdom in helping individuals and communities to thrive. Justin is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne and a leading voice in the global positive education movement. Read the full show notes on our Substack: https://whatsfear.substack.com/p/s2e6 00:00 Introduction and Early Life Influences 00:38 The Health Challenge of Sam 03:29 Navigating the Diagnosis and Initial Reactions 07:00 Coping Mechanisms and Support Systems 10:17 Lessons Learned from the Journey 14:06 Reflections on Fear and Gratitude 15:54 The Positive Outcomes and Future Aspirations 18:42 The Unexpected Connection 21:05 Navigating Fear and Community Support 24:12 The Role of Communication in Healing 29:27 Embracing Emotions and Vulnerability 33:16 Resilience Through Challenges 38:15 The Gifts of Adversity 39:47 Practical Tips for Coping 42:06 It's A Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatsfear.substack.com