Challenges That Change Us

Try our FREE burnout quiz. Grab your burnout workbook HERE. If you would like us to work with your team book a 30 min chat HERE. Trigger warning: suicide, mental healthFor Tara J Lal, trauma and loss is sadly nothing new, but in a sea of trauma, for some people it can still be one event that stands out as a truly identifying point and that is very much the case for Tara.Amongst losing her mother to Cancer at 13 and dealing her father’s mental health battles it was the loss of her brother to suicide that defined a very clear before and after in her life. Now, Tara is the internationally published author of Standing on my Brothers Shoulders – Making Peace with Grief and Suicide. She is also a qualitative researcher, keynote speaker, and former firefighter and has won multiple awards for her work supporting mental health and suicide prevention particularly in the emergency services sector. Tara is passionate about integrating lived experience with research and storytelling to challenge traditional perspectives on mental health and suicide prevention. In this episode she shares:Her early childhood realisation about her fatherHer mother’s death from cancer when she was a child and how it shattered her familyHow she leant on her brother after losing their motherThe moment her brother took his own lifeThe emotional turmoil she went through in the years following her brother’s deathHow her struggles manifested into panic attacksThe impact of her father’s mental health and diagnosesThe moment that made her realise she could move forward after her brother’s lifeHow her coach tried to take advantage of her and her vulnerabilityThe moment in her adult life that prompted her to see a trauma focused therapistHer path to her PHDThe big year where things piled up and triggered her traumaHow she works through her trauma now Key Quotes“It just felt like everything that I loved and every person that I loved in the world had been taken from me.”“When I was 13 my mother died.”“At some point I remember realising that my dad wasn’t well.” More Information about TaraFind out more about Tara via her website. You can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeusIf you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.comOr check out our website: www.Challengesthatchangeus.comIf you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.auInterested in DISC personality profiling or a Burnout workshop for your team, get in touch with Ali today.

Try our FREE burnout quiz.Grab your burnout workbook HERE. If you would like us to work with your team book a 30 min chat HERE. Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a business and having it succeed, only to lose it all because of a relationship breakdown with the business partner you worked with.That’s what happened to Annette Densham and it left her feeling lost, hurt and struggling.Annette Densham was fifteen when she wrote her first newspaper story about a local school fête. It taught her something: everyone has a story worth telling, if you know where to look. Forty five years later, she's still telling stories. Enticing them out of people in business who think they’re 'just ordinary', turning them into business awards, media features, and brands that stand for something. She digs until she finds the thread that makes someone unforgettable, then weaves it into something so sticky it clings to judges, journalists, and customers. In this episode she shares: -      How her love for storytelling began in childhood.-      The significant challenges in her business partnership.-      The feelings of shame and guilt can arise from perceived failures.-      How her mental health was impacted by the business breakdown-      Why listening to your body can help discern feelings of fear versus challenge.-      How effective communication during personal changes was crucial for maintaining her relationships.-      How finding joy in small moments can help during tough times. Key Quotes “I was compromising myself for everybody else.” “Mentally I felt broken. I felt like a loser.” More Info on AnnetteFind out more on her website, or via facebook and Linkedin. You can get involved with the podcast online On facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeusIf you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.comOr check out our website: www.Challengesthatchangeus.com If you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.au  Interested in DISC personality profiling or a Burnout workshop for your team, get in touch with Ali today.

Try our FREE burnout quiz.Grab your burnout workbook HERE. If you would like us to work with your team book a 30 min chat HERE. Welcome to the second episode of a new bonus series we’re releasing all about burn out.The incredible Vanessa De Sauty returns to help me break down and explain the next steps when it comes to this experience.Last week we covered what burn out is and how to identify if you are experiencing it, but this week we are going a little further and explaining how you can prevent it. In this episode we share:-      What it means to prevent burn out-      the teaspoon theory and how it can help you manage your energy levels-      The early signs of burnout Vanessa notices with herself-      The importance of boundaries in preventing burn out-      The different types of rest-      The vagus nerve and the different nervous systems-      Specific breathing exercises to help tone the vagus nerve-      How cold water and ice baths help the vagus nerve Key Quotes “I used to think boundaries was about saying no to the things that you didn’t want in your life. But there are things that I really love, that I simply can’t do.”“If I lay on the couch and watch 2 hours of tv or movie I might be lucky to get a single point back on my body battery. If I have 20 minutes of sleep, I can get anywhere up to 30 points back on my body battery.”VanessaTo find out more about Vanessa, check out her website HERE. You can get involved with the podcast online On facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeus

Try our FREE burnout quiz.Grab your burnout workbook HERE. If you would like us to work with your team book a 30 min chat HERETrigger warning: sexual assaultEvery now and then I encounter someone who has lived a life that is so much bigger and jam packed than you could expect. That means it comes with more than a few highs and more than a few challenges. That is very much the case for Andreea Kindryd whose early childhood was marked by moments of sexual assault, trauma and racism. Andreea went from working with Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X and Maulana Karenga in Los Angeles, to work on radio stations in Chicago and New York, and then back to LA joining the crew on TV’s Star Trek.  In 1974, she finally settled in Australia where she was able to make her own films.  Her first film, Sunrise… Awakening, won awards and changed opinions. Andreea joined with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s NAISDA Dance College and helped launch Bangarra Dance Theatre. She was selected as an Australian presenter by TED during their global,14 city, six continent search for voices and ideas the world needs to hear.In this episode she shares:Her childhood experiences as the only black student at her Catholic schoolThe impact of her mother’s fear-driven parenting style on her self-imageNavigating teenage challenges, including early relationships and societal expectationsHer experiences with coercive control land sexual assaultHer involvement in the Civil Rights Movement alongside figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm XThe evolution of her career in entertainment and the significance of representation, particularly in projects like Star TrekThe rejection she experienced trying to make it was a woman in HollywoodThe turning point in her life and the writing of her deeply personal book, From Slavery to the Stars Key Quotes ”You can't go and tell people that you've just been raped, I guess. So I didn't tell my mother, and then I hated my mother because she didn't know what I hadn't told her so she didn’t respond.” More Information about AndeYou can find out more about Ande and her book via her website. You can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeusIf you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.comOr check out our website: www.Challengesthatchangeus.com If you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website: http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.auInterested in DISC personality profiling or a Burnout workshop for your team, get in touch with Ali today.

Try our FREE burnout quiz. Grab your burnout workbook HERE. We often ask guests if they would have made the changes in their life if they hadn’t faced their ‘challenge’ and many say no, but none can definitively know for sure quite like Melanie Lechte. Mel is a seasoned marketing professional with over 25 years of experience in high-level marketing across diverse industries, including sports, entertainment. It was after leaving her high profile and successful career that Mel embarked on a journey of self discovery, only to find that it still didn’t feel quite right. That was until she was in a horrific car accident that left her with severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury that would leave a lasting impact.That accident was the moment that truly propelled her onto the path of finding her peace and place in life.Now, Mel is channelling her passion for advocacy into new projects, including launching a podcast and writing a book cantered on brain injuries. Her goal is to provide support and guidance for individuals navigating the often-difficult changes that follow a concussion. In this episode she shares:Her highly successful career prior to the accidentThe personal realisation she made after working in a highly successful careerThe health scare that convinced her to leave the high level work lifeWhy her initial personal development journey didn’t workWhat was missed by the medical team immediately after her accidentThe cognitive issues she started to experience after her accidentHer experience being dismissed by the medical communityHer journey to discover help with her brain injuryHer personal toolkit to help her be in the best possible stateHer discovery of POTS and how it was effecting her.How her experience has changed her life for the positive Key Quotes “I had facial lacerations, a broken nose, lots of damage to my face, maybe 5 ribs were broken. My entire body was black at the top.”“I wanted the old version of me to be back. I was like, when am I going to be normal again? When am I going to be the same again?” More Information about MelYou can follow Mel on Linkedin and on Instagram.You can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeusIf you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.comOr check out our website: www.Challengesthatchangeus.comIf you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website: http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.au Interested in DISC personality profiling or a Burnout workshop for your team, get in touch with Ali today.

Try our FREE burnout quiz.Grab your burnout workbook HERE. If you would like us to work with your team book a 30 min chat HERE.IN PERSON MASTERCLASS June 1st: https://challengesthatchangeus.com/burnout-masterclass-armidaleWelcome to the first episode of a new bonus series we’re releasing for all of you!I’ve been hearing you all on the various topics you want to hear more about and so this is our first in what may be repeated series of extra episodes.You may have heard that I have recently started doing workshops on managing burn out, and I have also teamed up with the incredible Vanessa De Sauty to create an entire workbook on burn out as well.But we thought we could go a little further a do a short series on burn out for everyone who listens on the podcast. In this episode we share:·     A bit on our backgrounds in mental health and why we are doing this·     What burn out actually is·     The factors that can contribute to burn out·     Tips for detecting burnout·     The next steps to take once you detect that you might have burn out Key Quotes “77% of employees experience workplace burnout at some point in their careers.”"If you don't do anything, you're basically on the road to burnout." You can get involved with the podcast online On facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeus

Try our FREE burnout quiz. Grab your burnout workbook HERE.  So here’s a quick peek behind the curtain. This past week or so has been really big for me, and it has made it pretty hard to get a full interview ready.Now I have never missed an episode of this podcast and I wasn;t going to do so this week either so I decided to do something a little different.If you've been with me since the beginning, we have shared over 150 episodes on this podcast, conversations that have stretched me, moved me, cracked me open, and put me back together in new ways. And today I just wat to take a moment and pause and reflect on what I have learnt from behind the microphone. Because it's not just the guests that have grown, it's me too.So I'm going to share some of the most powerful lessons that have stayed with me, lessons about resilience, healing, what it means to really be human. And at the end I'll invite you to share yours with me too.In this episode I share:Why we need to listen to personal cues from the body to identify stress.How resilience involves responding kindly to oneself rather than pushing through challenges.The concept of interoceptive awareness check-ins to help tune into bodily sensations.How small daily rituals, can anchor us through grief and overwhelm.Healing does not require grand gestures; small acts of self-care are significant.The importance of struggle for personal growth.How expanding one's "window of tolerance" involves facing micro challenges to build resilience.Why filling life with purposeful activities aids in overcoming destructive habits.Why vulnerability is essential for true connection and healing.How narrative reframing encourages a dialogue in our minds to reshape self-perception.The teaspoon theory reflects energy management by allocating "spoons" for daily activities.Self-compassion is vital, allowing rest without guilt and acknowledging one's efforts. Key Quotes“Resilience is not about bulldozing through, it's about responding with care.”"Purpose doesn't have to roar; it can start with a whisper, a choice, a step." You can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeusIf you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.comOr check out our website: www.Challengesthatchangeus.comIf you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website: http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.auInterested in DISC personality profiling or a Burnout workshop for your team, get in touch with Ali today.

Try our FREE burnout quiz. Grab your burnout workbook HERE. Jules Brooke has lived a life full of twists, turns and more experiences from childhood than many of us might have in our entire lives.But it’s her business journey and her choice to go into solo entrepreneurship that shows how resilient and durable she is in the face of adversity.Jules is the founder of Handle Your Own PR, She’s The Boss and Australian Women Speakers.In She’s The Boss, Jules runs online and offline events nationally, a podcast, a YouTube channel, and a digital magazine. She started a Livestream video show in early 2024.Jules also mentors business women.Jules also teaches how to raise your profile and influence using LinkedIn, podcasting, speaking, awards, networking and online courses, and how they work together. In this episode she shares:Her childhood, including her experiences moving frequently due to her father’s job in the British Army.She recounts her time at boarding school and moving to Australia at age 11.Jules talks about her education at RMIT, studying media studies and psychology.She shares her career journey through various roles in marketing, sales, and eventually starting her own business.Her father’s illness and passing.Starting and running a PR business with no experience in PRThe financial difficulties she experiencedGoing through a divorce and raising three children.The importance of resilience and independence.She talks about making conscious decisions to stay optimistic and positive.Her steps to becoming a woman of influence:The importance of asking for help and accepting support. Key Quotes “That was probably 15 years of my life where I have pushed and pushed to get this business off the ground and it never really took off.” “I met a lovely guy who said he would help me and did help me—until we got halfway through and we ran out of money, like he waited until I had probably $50 in the bank before he said, ‘No, I don’t want to do it anymore." More about JulesFollow her on her website and LinkedIn You can get involved with the podcast online On facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeusIf you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.comOr check out our website: www.Challengesthatchangeus.comIf you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website: http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.auInterested in DISC personality profiling or a Burnout workshop for your team, get in touch with Ali today.

Try our FREE burnout quiz or grab your burnout workbook HERE.  Trigger warning: AlcoholAustralians have a complicated relationship with alcohol and it’s not helped by how we have created the idea that people only have problems with alcohol if they are complete alcoholics. The reality is that binge drinking and how we associate with alcohol is a lot more nuanced and a lot more destructive than we realise.That is what Kathryn Elliot discovered when she made the decision to quit alcohol after decades of binge drinking.Now, Kathryn is one of Australia’s leading alcohol and binge drinking coaches for high-functioning professionals, drawing from her own experience as a former binge drinker. Her expertise is regularly featured in national media, and she works with professionals to change their mindset around alcohol through tailored coaching programs. Kathryn also leads SipSmart corporate workshops on alcohol’s impact in the workplace and serves on advisory committees for alcohol awareness initiatives.In this episode she shares:What was her life like before she made her big changeWhat her drinking was like and why it was problematicThe destructive narratives she had inside her head around her drinkingHow her drinking problems started from her youthHow the 'good parts' about that aspect of her life reinforced her binge drinkingThe impact her drinking lifestyle had on her expectations of herselfWhat one of her worst days during that time looked likeWhat changed for her and why she changedThe realisation she had about how it wasn’t her faultThe big hurdles she had to overcome to live without alcoholThe cancer diagnosis that further impacted her life shortly after she stopped drinkingThe changes and healing she has gone through recently Key Quotes“Sometimes blackout drinking...It would be embarrassing coming home to baby sitters who would see me in a very drunk state.”“I didn’t realise that binge drinking was problematic drinking. So I thought there was something wrong with me.” More aboutFollow her on her website and on Instagram. You can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeusIf you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.comOr check out our website: www.Challengesthatchangeus.comIf you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.auInterested in DISC personality profiling or a Burnout workshop for your team, get in touch with Ali today.