Grit Diaries: From Grit to Grace with Mon and Mazz

Fire Horse: Going Through Fire to Become Pure Gold | Ingrid Hu Dahl | Grit Diaries⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses grief & loss, which some listeners may find distressing.If you need support, you're not alone — help is available:• Lifeline (24/7 crisis support): 13 11 14 · lifeline.org.au• GriefLine: 1300 845 745 · griefline.org.auIngrid grew up as a mixed-race child in New Jersey, retreating into horses and later punk rock music to survive feeling othered by adults and society. She came out as a lesbian in her mid-20s, facing rejection from her mother. Years later, after moving apart and her mother's battle with cancer, they reconciled through open-heartedness and forgiveness. In her mother's final years, despite COVID restrictions limiting visits, they rebuilt their relationship from soul to soul. After her mother's passing, Ingrid wrote her memoir and became a grief coach, learning that walking through fire refines us into gold.Ingrid Hu Dahl is an American TEDx speaker, author, ICF-certified leadership and grief coach, and lifelong musician who has toured internationally with multiple bands. She wrote Sun Shining on Morning Snow, a memoir exploring identity, grief, and reconciliation with her mother, and has directed short films on mixed-race representation and experience.In this Grit Diaries conversation with Mon & Mazz, Ingrid shares the story behind the moments below.🎙️ IN THIS CONVERSATION:• Being othered as a child for your identity teaches you to read subtlety and energy, skills that later become invaluable in coaching and human connection.• Coming out authentically, even when facing rejection, creates the possibility for deeper reconciliation later because you refuse to diminish yourself.• Grief and identity loss can catalyze profound growth, especially when you're willing to write your story and integrate what you've learned.• Forgiveness and reconciliation often require the person who rejected you to choose openness first, but you can still hold the door…🕒 CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Ingrid's Background04:35 Growing Up Mixed-Race on the East Coast06:44 Horses as Refuge and Nonverbal Communication10:13 Finding Voice Through Punk, Grunge and Riot Grrrl13:40 Coming Out and Complex Family Dynamics17:33 Mother's Rejection and the Long Separation22:33 The Reconciliation Begins: Mother Reaches Out24:35 Cancer, COVID, and Final Moments Together26:30 The Book and Its Symbolism28:22 Fire, Gold and the Year of the Fire Horse31:13 Leadership Lessons and Writing Through Grief36:34 Closing Thoughts on Authenticity and Hope🎧 If this story moved you, follow Kintsugi Heroes in your podcast app so you never miss an episode.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ABOUT KINTSUGI HEROES━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Welcome.We're glad you found your way here.Kintsugi Heroes was created from a simple belief: every person has a story worth sharing, and sometimes the story we need to hear arrives exactly when we need it most.Our name comes from the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold. Rather than hiding the cracks, they are honoured as part of the object's history. We believe people are much the same. The experiences that challenge us, break us, shape us, and help us grow are often the very things that connect us to one another.This channel is home to honest conversations about resilience, hope, grief, recovery, courage, love, and what it means to keep moving forward when life doesn't go to plan.Here you'll find six podcast series, each sharing stories through a different lens:• Kintsugi Heroes, hosted by John Milham• Animals & Us, hosted by Natalie Stockdale• Grit Diaries: From Grit to Grace, hosted by Simone Allan and Maryan Bova• From There to Here, hosted by Emma Bellamy-Dodd• Golden Threads: Stories of Disability & ResilienceEvery story shared here is offered with the hope that it helps someone feel a little less alone. A little more understood. A little more connected.Whether you're navigating a difficult season, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for meaningful conversations, you're welcome here.New episodes are released fortnightly.If you'd like to help us continue sharing these stories and keeping them freely available to everyone, you can support our work here: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate#donateThank you for being part of this community.We help people tell the stories they need to share so others can discover the story they need to hear.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━CONNECT WITH US━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌐 https://kintsugiheroes.com.au▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes📘 https://www.facebook.com/kintsugiheroes📸 https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes💼 https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes#GritDiaries #KintsugiHeroes #GritDiariesPodcast #SunShiningOnMorningSnow #MothersAndDaughters #ComingOut #Reconciliation #MixedRaceIdentity #Grief #Authenticity #Leadership #Music #FamilyHealing

Locked Out: How a Senior Public Servant Sued Parliament House | Jo Tarnawsky | Grit DiariesJo Tarnawsky entered Parliament House at 12 after winning a TV competition, carrying a dream forged in that single afternoon. She built a two-decade career as a diplomat and political operative, thriving in crisis zones and complex postings. In 2022, she returned to Australia as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister—her childhood dream role. Within two years, she was locked out of her office, barred from her workplace, and pushed toward silence. Rather than slip away quietly, she chose to speak publicly, eventually filing suit against the Deputy PM, the PM's Chief of Staff, and the Commonwealth. The case settled on a no-liability basis in early 2025. Since then, she has redirected her energy into helping others navigate toxic workplaces through educational resources, videos, and advocacy work.Jo Tarnawsky is a career diplomat and political staffer who worked for the Australian Government across multiple continents—from Iraq to Italy to Zimbabwe—before returning to Australia as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister. In 2024, she took the federal government to court over workplace bullying in Parliament House.In this Grit Diaries conversation with Mon & Mazz, Jo shares the story behind the moments below.🎙️ IN THIS CONVERSATION:• Workplace bullying in institutional settings is often covert and sophisticated—exclusion, email omission, and exclusion from meetings rather than overt aggression—making it harder to name and easier to doubt yourself.• High performers and ethical people are targeted specifically because they pose a threat to systems that want to remain unchanged; the bullier's insecurity manifests as a need to neutralize those who shine a light.• Early intervention with human dignity, apology, and reasonable accommodation can prevent escalation to litigation; institutions that default to legal protection and risk management often create the very crisis they're trying to avoid.• Isolation is the most damaging weapon in workplace bullying; when you cannot eat in the cafeteria, access your own office, or know what's happening in your own portfolio, the psychological toll accelerates rapidly.• Children offer clarity in moments of despair; a child's simple suggestion to tell someone what is happening can become the permission slip to stop protecting the system that harmed you.• Speaking publicly about a painful experience does…🕒 CHAPTERS:00:31 Introduction: Workplace bullying in Parliament House04:12 The moment at Parliament House that changed everything09:11 Falling into diplomatic career with DFAT12:11 Deputy Ambassador posting to Italy and family15:42 Starting dream job and initial success20:00 Locked out of Parliament House24:30 The choice: be pushed out quietly or call them out29:13 First press conference and initial requests35:12 Final return to office and settlement38:25 Pivoting to purposeful work helping others42:39 Upcoming resources for safe work transitions48:11 Book-ending: starting and ending career at Parliament with press conference🎧 If this story moved you, follow Kintsugi Heroes in your podcast app so you never miss an episode.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🎙️ ABOUT KINTSUGI HEROES━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit Australian podcast network sharing real stories of resilience and transformation.Named after the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold — the philosophy that what's been broken can become more beautiful for the mending — every episode honours the cracks, the rebuild, and the human underneath.We believe every story matters. Every scar has something to say. And every person quietly finding their way through deserves to be heard.📺 Series on this channel:– Kintsugi Heroes — real stories of resilience | hosted by John Milham– Animals & Us | hosted by Natalie Stockdale– Grit Diaries: from Grit to Grace | hosted by Simone Allan & Maryan Bova– Golden Threads — stories of disability & resilience | hosted by Dan Dougherty━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🔗 CONNECT WITH US━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌐 https://kintsugiheroes.com.au▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes📘 https://www.facebook.com/kintsugiheroes📸 https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes💼 https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━💛 SUPPORT THE NETWORK━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Kintsugi Heroes is listener-supported and run entirely by volunteers. Your support helps us keep sharing stories that matter.❤️ Donate (tax-deductible): https://kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate🤝 Partner with us: https://kintsugiheroes.com.au🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week and join a community that believes in the power of human stories.We're all in this together. 💛#GritDiaries #KintsugiHeroes #FromGritToGrace #WorkplaceBullying #ParliamentHouse #ToxicWorkplace #MentalHealth #AustralianPolitics #CourageToSpeak #WorkplaceCulture #ConstructiveConflict———Show notes by Tony Bailey · Approved by Tony Bailey · Australian English

Episode SummaryLindsay Ziehl has lived enough lives for ten people — and at 77, she’s still not done. Born in Britain and raised across Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, Lindsay survived two cancers, raised her son Andrew alone after her husband walked out, and was stranded in South Africa during COVID when she received the phone call every parent dreads. Rather than be consumed by grief, she channelled it into the Andrew Ziehl Foundation and a lifetime of frontline humanitarian work — training over 3,000 women escaping domestic violence and personally intervening to secure the release of trafficked women. In this conversation with Mon and Mazz, Lindsay shares two unforgettable pieces of wisdom: a rabbi’s three-word reframe, and a little cat with a frozen chicken that changed the way she saw her own strength.Episode Pillars• The Nomadic Foundation: How a childhood of constant movement across Australia, the UK and Africa shaped Lindsay’s resilience and her lifelong instinct to help others.• A Son Called Andrew: Raising him alone, letting him fly back to Australia, and receiving the phone call no parent ever expects — during a global pandemic, unable to travel.• Turning Grief Into Purpose: The rabbi’s three-word reframe — “Not why, but what now?” — and how that single shift led to founding the Andrew Ziehl Foundation.• Two Cancers and a Cat: Surviving Paget’s disease and breast cancer, riding a four-hour bus to chemo alone, and the moment a tiny cat with a frozen chicken reminded her to get back up.• Domestic Violence Frontlines: Over 25 years running shelters, training 3,000 women, and securing the release of trafficked women just one day before they were sent abroad.The Kintsugi ConnectionTo see the visual story of Lindsay’s journey and explore more episodes of resilience, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes/videos If Lindsay’s story moved you, explore these related Hero conversations: • Navigating grief and loss? Explore another Grit Diaries episode on life after unimaginable loss. • Finding purpose after adversity? Explore another episode on turning pain into action

Episode Summary Sarah de Jong grew up in rural Tasmania with a mother who left for Greece when Sarah was almost four — not out of abandonment, but out of her own battle with anorexia and mental illness. From that early experience of love stretched across distance and grief, Sarah built something quietly extraordinary: A Thousand Hearts, a global kindness movement now in its tenth year, delivering handmade pocket hearts to hospitals, palliative care settings, schools, and communities across the world. In this episode of Grit Diaries, Sarah unpacks what kindness actually means — the science behind it, the difference between being kind and being nice, and why inhabiting kindness as a daily practice might be the most powerful thing any of us can do.Episode PillarsHumble Beginnings, Global Reach: How a handful of handmade pocket hearts given away for free in 2015 grew into a global kindness movement across the US, UK, Japan, Greece, Mexico, and beyond.The Science of Kindness: Why kindness works on the brain like a natural antidepressant — boosting serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins — and why even witnessing kindness has the same effect.Kind vs Nice — A Crucial Distinction: Niceness is transactional and external. Kindness comes from your core values and sometimes means saying what needs to be said. Sarah unpacks why we confuse the two and what we lose when we do.Stop Pushing the River: The wisdom Sarah's dad gave her during a difficult marriage — and how it became a guiding philosophy for learning to let go, say no, and stop mistaking busyness for purpose.Self-Kindness as a Practice: Why self-compassion goes far beyond bubble baths and treats — and how learning to look after yourself is one of the kindest things you can do for the people who love you.The Kintsugi Connection To see the visual story of Sarah's journey and explore more episodes of resilience, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes/videosIf Sarah's story moved you, explore these related Hero conversations:Exploring purpose and community?Listen to Ian Westmoreland's story of building Kintsugi Heroes from a place of personal adversity.Turning pain into purpose?Discover how Daniel Lloyd's journey of resilience inspires millions to find meaning after hardship.About Kintsugi Heroes: An Australian not-for-profit (DGR endorsed) dedicated to strengthening mental wellbeing through the power of storytelling. Partner with Us: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/partners/ Donate (tax-deductible): https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate/#donate Website: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kintsugi-Heroes-100084850387170/

Episode SummarySiobhan Wilson was born at 27 weeks, weighing less than a kilogram. By 16, she had survived open heart surgery at one month old, roughly 130 resuscitations in the NICU, seven anaphylaxis episodes — including one where paramedics ran out of adrenaline — and founded her own social enterprise at age 6.In this episode of Grit Diaries, Siobhan shares what it takes to turn a lifetime of medical complexity into a mission to make Australia safer for everyone living with anaphylaxis.Episode Pillars● Finding Magic in the Hard Stuff: How Siobhan's mum raised her to see possibility in the world despite achildhood filled with hospital visits, trauma, and medical uncertainty.● The Night She Nearly Didn't Come Home: Siobhan recounts the 2024 awards dinner where she won YoungEntrepreneur of the Year — and spent the ride home in an ambulance needing the equivalent of 12 EpiPens.● What Australia's Labelling Laws Are Missing: Why 'dairy free' on a packet doesn't mean what you think itdoes — and how a mashed potato nearly cost Siobhan her life.● Shame, EpiPens, and Why People Wait Too Long: The embarrassment that stops people with anaphylaxisfrom acting in time, and why that silence is deadly.● What Actually Helps: From breathwork and hand pan music to becoming a sports medic — the unexpectedtools Siobhan uses to heal her brain and show up for others.The Kintsugi ConnectionTo see the visual story of Siobhan's journey and explore more episodes of resilience, visit our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes/videosIf Siobhan's story moved you, explore these related Hero conversations:● Navigating a serious health diagnosis? Listen to Ian Westmoreland's story of launching Kintsugi Heroes whilefacing melanoma.About Kintsugi Heroes: An Australian not-for-profit (DGR endorsed) dedicated to strengthening mental wellbeing through thepower of storytelling.Partner with Us: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/partners/Donate (tax-deductible): https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate/#donateWebsite: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.auLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kintsugi-Heroes-100084850387170/

Episode SummaryIn this episode of The Grit Diaries, we sit down with Dave Chauhan — author, leadership consultant, and former corporate executive — to explore what leadership really means in today’s world.After nearly two decades in the corporate world, Dave realised that traditional definitions of success — titles, income, and status — weren’t aligned with what truly matters. Shaped by a childhood between two very different value systems, he began questioning everything he thought he knew about leadership.This conversation challenges outdated leadership models and explores what it takes to lead with purpose, empathy, and responsibility.Episode Pillars● Two Worlds, One IdentityGrowing up between two sets of parents and conflicting values — and how this shaped Dave’s leadership philosophy● Success vs PurposeThe moment Dave realised corporate success wasn’t enough — and chose a different path● Why Leadership Is BrokenHow outdated, KPI-driven leadership models are failing people and organisations● The Captain Set Sail FrameworkBeacon (purpose), Wayfinder (adaptability), and Seafarer (courage) — a new way to lead● The Hidden Weight of LeadershipDecision fatigue, emotional pressure, and the responsibility leaders carry every dayThe Kintsugi ConnectionDave’s journey reflects the essence of Kintsugi — where life’s fractures become the foundation for growth, purpose, and impact.Rather than being defined by pressure or misalignment, Dave used those experiences to rebuild a new understanding of leadership grounded in values and humanity.About Kintsugi HeroesKintsugi Heroes is an Australian not-for-profit (DGR endorsed) dedicated to strengthening mental wellbeing through the power of storytelling.We believe that lived experience is a gift to be shared, not a scar to be hidden.Partner with Ushttps://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/partners/Donatehttps://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate/#donateConnect With UsWebsite: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.auLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kintsugi-Heroes-100084850387170/

In this episode of Grit Diaries, we sit down with Julie Randall, a Stage 4 Melanoma survivor who defied a terminal diagnosis to find a life-saving clinical trial...Episode SummaryWhat would you do if you were given 72 hours to live? When Julie Randall was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma that had spread to her brain, she refused to accept a terminal "no." In this powerful episode of Grit Diaries, Mon & Mazz explore Julie’s extraordinary journey of tenacity—from the moment her life changed overnight to her global search for a life-saving clinical trial. Julie’s story is a masterclass in the "Grit" required to find a Plan B when the world says there isn't one.Episode PillarsThe 72-Hour Turning Point: Facing a terminal diagnosis with two young daughters and choosing to "not go quietly."The Global Search for a Miracle: The relentless pursuit of a US-based clinical trial and the bureaucratic hurdles of the medical system.Mindset as Medicine: How Julie managed the mental "white noise" of trauma to stay focused on survival.Patient Advocacy: Why Julie now dedicates her life to helping others navigate the "broken" parts of the healthcare system.The Kintsugi Connection: Finding the gold in the repair and why scars are a testament to a life fought for and won.Topics Covered: > Julie Randall, Stage 4 Melanoma, Grit Diaries, Kintsugi Heroes, Cancer Survivor Stories, Clinical Trials, Patient 71, Resilience, Overcoming Terminal Diagnosis, Patient Advocacy, Australia Podcast, Metastatic Melanoma, Mental Wellbeing, Simone Allan, Maryan Bova.The Kintsugi ConnectionTo see the visual story of Julie's journey and explore more episodes of resilience, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes/videosIf Julie’s story moved you, explore these related Hero conversations:Dealing with Illness? Listen to Ian Westmoreland’s story of launching Kintsugi Heroes while facing his own melanoma journey.Seeking Resilience? Discover how Cameron reframed a terminal prognosis into a life of peace and flight.About Kintsugi HeroesKintsugi Heroes is an Australian not-for-profit (DGR endorsed) dedicated to strengthening mental wellbeing through the power of storytelling. We believe that lived experience is a gift to be shared, not a scar to be hidden.Partner with UsAlign your organisation with resilience and social responsibility. Help us amplify voices that inspire change. https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/partners/DonateYour tax-deductible contribution helps us reach over 6 million Australians via community radio and continue sharing these vital stories. https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate/#donateConnect With UsWebsite: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.auLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kintsugi-Heroes-100084850387170/

In this episode, we sit down with Zali Steggall, Olympian, barrister, and Member for Warringah, to explore her extraordinary journey from the slopes of the French Alps to the halls of Australian Parliament.Born in Manly in 1974, Zali grew up between the Northern Beaches and the French Alps, where she discovered her love for skiing. Coming from a sporting family, with a grandfather who represented Australia in rugby and a father active in rugby and surf lifesaving, it was perhaps no surprise that Zali would go on to compete in four Winter Olympic Games, achieving medal success against the odds.After retiring from sport, Zali built a remarkable career in law, completing her studies by correspondence while competing, practising as a barrister specialising in sport and family law, and serving on the International Court of Arbitration for Sport. Her contributions to sport and charity earned her an Order of Australia Medal in 2007 and induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.Beyond career achievements, Zali is passionate about family and community. She and her family love raising their children in Warringah, taking part in local schools, sports, and activities, while Zali works tirelessly in Parliament to address issues like cost of living, climate, governance, and environmental protection.In this conversation, we dive into the values that shaped her — courage, commitment, and determination — and how she brings the same drive from the slopes to representing her community in politics.

Stephenie Rodriguez is a digital strategist, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for women’s empowerment. As an Ambassador for the Global Fund and The Women’s Resilience Centre, Stephenie leverages her voice and expertise to champion gender equality and resilience initiatives globally.Her journey is a powerful story of resilience - surviving a life-threatening battle with cerebral malaria, enduring 13 surgeries, and relearning how to walk. This experience ignited her mission to support women in overcoming adversity and building strength in the face of life’s challenges.Through her leadership and advocacy, Stephenie inspires others to rise above setbacks, embrace innovation, and create meaningful change for vulnerable communities worldwide.

Michael de Haan is a seasoned financial professional with more than 25 years in the industry. After a successful career as a financial planner, he transitioned into coaching and advocacy, bringing a unique blend of financial expertise and human-centred support. Today, Michael is a Certified Money Behaviour Coach and a trained Financial Abuse Specialist, dedicated to helping people overcome limiting beliefs, rebuild independence, and live with dignity.Michael’s passion lies in tackling one of the most hidden and damaging forms of coercive control: financial abuse. Affecting 1 in 6 women and 1 in 13 men in Australia, financial abuse often goes unseen, yet it is a precursor to other forms of domestic violence. Michael’s work focuses on equipping financial service professionals to identify red flags, support clients at risk, and advocate for stronger systems of protection.In this episode, Michael shares:-What financial abuse looks like and the red flags to be aware of.-Why financial service professionals must embrace their duty of care, despite gaps in government policy.-How elder financial abuse is on the rise, with urgent need for awareness and safeguards.-A practical framework for survivors to rebuild their financial independence and take back control of their lives.Michael’s dream is bold but clear: to eradicate domestic violence by shining a light on financial abuse and ensuring all Australians can live with financial dignity and independence. His upcoming book, Financial Abuse: The Real Truth Behind This Hidden Epidemic and Steps to Take Back Control (August 2025), further amplifies this mission.👉 Connect with Michael:🌐 www.quantumleap-global.com

A proud Wiradjuri woman and First Nations advocate, Cecilia is a dedicated connector and educator who is passionate about self-determination and learning from the past to inform a better future.Driven by a desire to empower others, Cecilia leans into her lived experience to inspire and inform with stories of recovery and renewal. With a background in counselling and a deep understanding of stakeholder engagement, Cecilia is recognised for shining a light on the impact of domestic violence and coercive control, particularly through the lens of regional Aboriginal women.Through her engagement in government initiatives, she is paving the way for a coalition of voices and action towards delivering more effective services for men and women in regional Australia, and accessible, culturally informed services for First Nations victim survivors.Cecilia is a classically trained vocalist who has performed on multiple stages across Australia, using the power of story and song to convey hope and share perspectives. When not on stage speaking or performing, Cecilia is living life to the full with her beautiful daughters and partner on their rural property in the Southern Tablelands.

In this episode of The Grit Diaries, we had the pleasure of sitting down in conversation with Jason and Blue Gerber, film directors and producers from the US, on the release of the coveted film Documentary Dawn, Dusk.A story told through the eyes of Chelli Look, a creative in the luxury leather handbag space. After the sudden murder of her beloved sister through domestic violence, she shares her journey through grief and loss, using her art as a way to process her experience. Moving her journey to a place of forgiveness and healing, and eventually choosing her next path.Jason and Blue take us behind the curtain and share how their connection with Chelli took place, the decision to make a heartfelt documentary that is so needed in these times. The challenges on a production side, and the ultimate joy of creating film that matters.Husband and wife duo, Jason & Blue are an award-winning co-directing team working in films and commercials together and individually. They have directed for brands such as Walgreens, 7UP, Scotch-Brite, Meiomi Wine, Chipotle, Intelligentsia, and LOEWE. Their heart for storytelling can be seen in their work for The Boys & Girls Clubs, GE Girls, Athletes Unlimited, Lincoln Park Community Services, which won a Silver Telly, as well as a piece for Chicago Connected, which President Barack Obama shared. Their film, Otis’ Dream, about voter suppression, debuted during the months leading up to the 2020 election and was shared by Oprah as an official Super Soul Sunday short film, gaining attention from major media outlets. Female and male, tactful and feeling, they evoke imagination and authentic human narratives directing as one voice.jasonandblue.com@[email protected] can view the documentary on Amazon and Hoopladawnduskfilm.com/trailerdawnduskfilm.com/presstinyurl.com/42ujswjy

In today’s conversation, Karen shares her private journey with lifelong crippling anxiety - make no mistake - it has never stopped her! Here's just a snippet of what Karen has created over her latter years Karen is a master of storytelling, founder of The Story Room Global, a platform for people to come together and listen to stories from a diverse range of backgrounds A monthly dose of people coming together to this sold out event to listen, be inspired, entertained and a time to think about life more deeply.Karen is an entrepreneur, founding her podcast and publishing her book Ageing Fearlessly.A marriage celebrant, an global adventurer, a regular swimmer at the famous Bold and the Beautiful swimming crew at Manly.All of this with anxiety, something that many are dealing with. Please listen in, as Karen shares her journey, her attitude to life, and what really matters.

Kate De Jong is the author of the #1 Amazon bestselling memoir Seeds of a Calling — a powerful and cautionary tale about the cost of ignoring your inner truth. With raw honesty, Kate shares her journey of straying from her “inner knowing” and the tragic consequences that followed, ultimately delivering an uplifting message for anyone seeking vocational contentment.After a 15-year career as a process engineer, Kate followed her entrepreneurial spirit and transitioned in 2012 to building and growing small businesses. Today, as a business growth specialist, she helps entrepreneurial people start, grow, and scale ventures effectively, driven by her passion to see others succeed in doing what they love.

Since 2021, Sonya Lovell has been raising awareness, challenging societal stigmas and taboos, and lobbying for better education and resources for everyone who is transitioning through menopause.Sonya is the host of the popular podcast Dear Menopause, having interviewed leading local and global experts and commentators in the fields of menopausal health, mental health and government.In this interview, Sonya shares her deeply personal experience of being diagnosed with aggressive Breast cancer at 47, and navigating the chaos of a medically induced menopause,  Unprepared, unsupported and uneducated she made it her mission to change that experience for others. In 2025 Sonya was announced as the Australian and NZ Ambassador for the global charity, Menopause and Cancer. Sonya has just announced teaming up with Lorai Health as the Communications and community Engagement lead.A passionate leader in this space that is gaining fast momentum in Australia, for all those dealing with Perimenopause/menopause, you'll want to watch this episode!https://www.instagram.com/sonyalovell/sonyalovell.comhttps://www.dearmenopause.au/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonyalovell/

Juliana’s journey is one of resilience and transformation. From her early life in Colombia to becoming a passionate advocate for DFV prevention in Australia, she has dedicated her life to empowering women, especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Juliana’s personal experience in a domestic violence relationship fueled her passion for social advocacy, which now drives her work in both the community and policy spaces.Juliana is a Domestic Violence Advocate committed to create a world without Domestic and Family Violence Workplace Program Manager - Challenge DV Beyond DV AdvocateJoin us as Juliana shares her incredible story, from her migrant experience to her mission to create safer communities for women and families. Her talk will inspire, empower, and encourage others to never give up on their dreams, no matter how challenging life may get.

Join us on the premier launch of our show, The Grit Diaries: From Grit to Grace, with your hosts, Mon and Mazz!On our very first episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with the amazing Anne Gately - Stage IV Melanoma survivor, passionate advocate for sun and skin safety, and changing the way us  Aussies view our relationship with the glorified Bronzed Aussie image.  Australia is the capital for skin cancer. I am a nurse so I see the effects of Melanoma almost daily, it is truly devastating.Anne,  author of "Sunburnt", Speaker, advocate for Sun Safety, and featured in the Documentary "Conquering Skin Cancer", released in November 2024 is a passionate leader in the education space that is turning the tide on Melanoma rates.In our conversation, Anne unpacks her childhood beach lifestyle, her diagnosis, gruelling treatment and incredible road back to remission, and what's important to her now.Enjoy our first episode, here on The Grit Diaries!Anne's socials and links: Website: https://www.annegately.com.au/Purchase the book: https://www.annegately.com.au/collections/sunburnt-collectionThe film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33477058/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annegately_author/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-gately/

Introducing Grit Diaries: from Grit to Grace – a brand new podcast from Kintsugi Heroes.Join your hosts Mon and Mazz as they uncover inspiring stories of local heroes – often unsung, but always extraordinary. These are stories of tenacity, resilience, and the grace that emerges through life’s toughest challenges.Each fortnight, you’ll hear from remarkable individuals who’ve overcome obstacles, made a difference, and embody the true Aussie pioneering spirit.The first episode drops Tuesday 24 September on all Kintsugi Heroes platforms, with new episodes every second Wednesday.