The Hair Therapist

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse, family and domestic violence, alcoholism, childhood trauma, and cultural identity. We acknowledge that these topics may be triggering for our First Nations & Torres Strait Islander Peoples and for anyone with lived experience. If this brings up anything for you please turn this episode off.  Some stories begin in places children should never have to navigate. In this conversation, Mel sits down with Kalka Mitchell - a trainer, mentor, and cultural healing practitioner whose life has been shaped by both profound hardship and extraordinary reclamation. Kalka opens up about growing up in a home defined by strict Jehovah’s Witness beliefs, an alcoholic and abusive father, and the emotional and spiritual confinement that came with that environment. He shares what it meant to be a young boy trying to make sense of violence, control, and a cultural identity that was deliberately kept from him. His path to healing didn’t arrive all at once - it emerged through movement. First through bodybuilding, then Muay Thai, where discipline, physical strength, and self‑respect began to take root. Those practices became stepping stones toward something deeper: a pull back to Country, to the Aboriginal culture he was disconnected from as a child. Kalka talks about the moment he realised he needed to return home, not just geographically, but spiritually. Through cultural learning, community connection, and modalities like Holographic Kinetics, he began to awaken parts of himself that had been silenced. What followed was a profound sense of belonging, identity, and purpose. Today, through initiatives like Deadly Trainers, Kalka channels his lived experience into empowering others, helping people reconnect with culture, strengthen their bodies, and heal their spirits. This episode is a raw, powerful exploration of survival, reclamation, and the deep transformation that occurs when a man finally finds his people, his story, and his place in the world.Kalka Mitchell (@switch_body_transformation) • Instagram photos and videosKalka Mitchell - switchbodytransformation.com.au | LinkedInHolographic Kinetics | Official Site | Clearing Trauma | Authorised Practitioners and Courses On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced. The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support: Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention.13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling ServiceKids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services  CREDITS:Host: Melissa AlsemgeestGuest: Kalka MitchellEditor: Robert Alsemgeest GET IN TOUCH:      https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse, family and domestic violence, alcoholism, childhood trauma, and cultural identity. We acknowledge that these topics may be triggering for our First Nations & Torres Strait Islander Peoples and for anyone with lived experience. If this brings up anything for you please turn this episode off.  Some stories begin in places children should never have to navigate. In this conversation, Mel sits down with Kalka Mitchell - a trainer, mentor, and cultural healing practitioner whose life has been shaped by both profound hardship and extraordinary reclamation. Kalka opens up about growing up in a home defined by strict Jehovah’s Witness beliefs, an alcoholic and abusive father, and the emotional and spiritual confinement that came with that environment. He shares what it meant to be a young boy trying to make sense of violence, control, and a cultural identity that was deliberately kept from him. His path to healing didn’t arrive all at once - it emerged through movement. First through bodybuilding, then Muay Thai, where discipline, physical strength, and self‑respect began to take root. Those practices became stepping stones toward something deeper: a pull back to Country, to the Aboriginal culture he was disconnected from as a child. Kalka talks about the moment he realised he needed to return home, not just geographically, but spiritually. Through cultural learning, community connection, and modalities like Holographic Kinetics, he began to awaken parts of himself that had been silenced. What followed was a profound sense of belonging, identity, and purpose. Today, through initiatives like Deadly Trainers, Kalka channels his lived experience into empowering others, helping people reconnect with culture, strengthen their bodies, and heal their spirits. This episode is a raw, powerful exploration of survival, reclamation, and the deep transformation that occurs when a man finally finds his people, his story, and his place in the world.Kalka Mitchell (@switch_body_transformation) • Instagram photos and videosKalka Mitchell - switchbodytransformation.com.au | LinkedInHolographic Kinetics | Official Site | Clearing Trauma | Authorised Practitioners and Courses On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced. The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support: Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention.13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling ServiceKids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services  CREDITS:Host: Melissa AlsemgeestGuest: Kalka MitchellEditor: Robert Alsemgeest GET IN TOUCH:      https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour 

A year ago, Elizabeth sat with us and shared the moment her world split in two - the diagnosis, the fear, the grief, and the fierce determination to survive. It was raw, it was honest, and it touched every person who has ever faced cancer or stood beside someone who has. Today, she’s back. Twelve months later. And this conversation is different - deeper, quieter, and shaped by the kind of truth that only comes after the dust settles. Because survival isn’t the end of the story. It’s the beginning of a whole new one. In this follow up episode, Elizabeth opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of life after breast cancer. The trauma that lingers long after treatment ends, the reality of living in a body forever changed by a double mastectomy, and the unexpected moments - a smell, a scar, a memory - that can pull her right back into the fight. She talks about the gratitude that keeps her grounded, the people who held her through the darkest days, and the quiet strength she’s had to rebuild piece by piece. And she shares the messages she wishes every survivor, supporter, and loved one could hear, the ones that make you feel seen, understood, and less alone. This conversation is for anyone navigating cancer, remission, or the long shadow it leaves behind. It’s for the friends and families who show up, even when they don’t know what to say. And it’s for every person learning how to live again after life has been turned inside out. Elizabeth’s story isn’t just about surviving. It’s about healing, remembering, and finding a way forward with tenderness, courage, and hope. Let’s step back in with her. On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced. The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support: Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention.13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling ServiceKids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services  CREDITS:Host: Melissa AlsemgeestGuest: Elizabeth SweetEditor: Robert Alsemgeest GET IN TOUCH:      https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour 

Some stories arrive heavy, complicated, and almost impossible to imagine - yet they reveal the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. Today, Mel sits down with Michael, a man whose life began with trauma no child should ever endure. His early years were marked by sexual abuse, leaving wounds that would follow him into adolescence and shape the choices he made as a young man. As he slipped into the world of alcohol and drugs, Michael found himself spiralling, disconnected, hurting, and searching for anything that might numb the pain. That spiral led to a tragic and life‑altering moment: the accidental killing of a man during an intoxicated, chaotic encounter. It was an event that shattered multiple lives, including his own, and placed him on a path through the justice system, public scrutiny, and years of deep personal reckoning. But this conversation isn’t just about the darkness. It’s about what came after - the long, gruelling climb toward accountability, healing, and change. It’s about the unexpected light that entered Michael’s life in the form of his daughter. Her presence became a turning point: a reason to fight, to rebuild, and to become the kind of man she deserved. Through court battles, mental health challenges, and the weight of his past, Michael found a way to transform himself.  Today, he speaks with honesty about the mistakes that nearly destroyed him, the unconditional love that saved him, and the strength it took to reclaim his life. His story is confronting, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful - a testament to what can happen when someone chooses responsibility, chooses growth, and chooses love. This is Michael’s journey: from trauma to turmoil, from devastation to determination, and finally, to a life rebuilt with purpose. On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced. The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support: Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention.13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling ServiceKids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services  CREDITS:Host: Melissa AlsemgeestGuest: Michael McKnightEditor: Robert Alsemgeest GET IN TOUCH:      https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour 

Some stories don’t just mark a life - they redirect it. Today, Mel sits down with Natascha Consigli, a woman whose journey has been shaped by profound loss, unprocessed trauma, and the long, courageous work of rebuilding a sense of belonging in the world. Natascha’s early life was struck by tragedy with the death of her mother at a young age, a rupture that left her navigating childhood without the emotional anchor every child deserves. That kind of loss doesn’t simply fade, it settles into the foundations of who we become. And for Natascha, it set in motion years of searching for safety, identity, and connection in places that could not offer them. Her adult life carried the weight of that unresolved trauma. As she openly shares, she became a woman living in survival mode, moving through domestic violence, addiction, and eventually the criminal justice system, where she witnessed firsthand the cycles of generational trauma and the deep absence of support for women trying to change their lives.  But Natascha’s story is not defined by the darkest chapters. It is defined by what she did next. With relentless self‑reflection, counselling training, and a commitment to rebuilding from the inside out, she transformed her life. Today, she works as an Employment and Training Program Coordinator with Success Works Partners, using her lived experience to advocate for women seeking a second chance -women who, like her, are learning that healing is not about erasing the past, but about finally turning toward it.  Her journey is also a reminder of what happens when trauma goes unaddressed: how it can fracture belonging, distort self‑worth, and lead us into environments that mirror our wounds rather than heal them. And yet, Natascha stands as proof that belonging can be rebuilt through honesty, community, and the courage to reinvent yourself. This conversation is about trauma, accountability, identity, and the radical possibility of change. It’s about what happens when a life breaks and what becomes possible when you decide to piece it back together with intention.Natascha Consigli (@missnconsigli) • Instagram photos and videosNatascha Consigli - Success Works Partners | LinkedInJobs for Women with Criminal Records in Sydney | Success Works PartnersOn behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced. The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support: Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention.13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling ServiceKids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services  CREDITS:Host: Melissa AlsemgeestGuest: Natascha ConsigliEditor: Robert Alsemgeest GET IN TOUCH:      https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour

Some stories don’t just mark a life - they redirect it. Today, Mel sits down with Natascha Consigli, a woman whose journey has been shaped by profound loss, unprocessed trauma, and the long, courageous work of rebuilding a sense of belonging in the world. Natascha’s early life was struck by tragedy with the death of her mother at a young age, a rupture that left her navigating childhood without the emotional anchor every child deserves. That kind of loss doesn’t simply fade, it settles into the foundations of who we become. And for Natascha, it set in motion years of searching for safety, identity, and connection in places that could not offer them. Her adult life carried the weight of that unresolved trauma. As she openly shares, she became a woman living in survival mode, moving through domestic violence, addiction, and eventually the criminal justice system, where she witnessed firsthand the cycles of generational trauma and the deep absence of support for women trying to change their lives.  But Natascha’s story is not defined by the darkest chapters. It is defined by what she did next. With relentless self‑reflection, counselling training, and a commitment to rebuilding from the inside out, she transformed her life. Today, she works as an Employment and Training Program Coordinator with Success Works Partners, using her lived experience to advocate for women seeking a second chance -women who, like her, are learning that healing is not about erasing the past, but about finally turning toward it.  Her journey is also a reminder of what happens when trauma goes unaddressed: how it can fracture belonging, distort self‑worth, and lead us into environments that mirror our wounds rather than heal them. And yet, Natascha stands as proof that belonging can be rebuilt through honesty, community, and the courage to reinvent yourself. This conversation is about trauma, accountability, identity, and the radical possibility of change. It’s about what happens when a life breaks and what becomes possible when you decide to piece it back together with intention.Natascha Consigli (@missnconsigli) • Instagram photos and videosNatascha Consigli - Success Works Partners | LinkedInJobs for Women with Criminal Records in Sydney | Success Works PartnersOn behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced. The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support: Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention.13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling ServiceKids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services  CREDITS:Host: Melissa AlsemgeestGuest: Natascha ConsigliEditor: Robert Alsemgeest GET IN TOUCH:      https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour