Challenges That Change Us

Try our FREE burnout quiz.Grab your burnout workbook HERE. To sign up for our difficult conversations and workplace culture workshop go here.Cancer has a devastating effect both on those it afflicts and those around them.For Melanie Staudt her cancer journey was full of challenges that often felt insurmountable.Melanie is 51 years old, lives in the US in Ohio and is married with two girls age 22 and 18.She was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2021. It was three years of intensive healing and has had no evidence of disease for a year and a half. She continues to work on physical, mental and spiritual health and looks forward to life’s next chapter. In this episode she shares:-      Why she identifies most with a monarch butterfly-      What happened for her in the early days leading up to breast cancer discovery-      Getting her biopsy and preparing for bad news-      How the initial bad news led to positivity in her life-      The moment she got more bad news and her experience of detaching from her body-      How she discussed her reservations about chemo with her husband-      What her treatment options were and what she decided-      When she saw a naturopathic doctor and her experience with craniosacral massage-      When she got imaging done and got the all clearKey Quotes“I couldn’t process anything, it was like I was out of my body.”“I probably spent between 20 and 40 hours a week researching breast cancer.”More about MelanieYou can contact Melanie via Facebook or Instagram.The pre surgery meditation link she mentioned is here. 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

Try our FREE burnout quiz.Grab your burnout workbook HERE. Steve Pocock’s life has been shaped by early loss - and by what can grow from it. He was ten years old when his family fled their farm in Zimbabwe, one of thousands displaced during the country’s land reform era. The experience left deep scars that took a lot of time to heal from but also planted a conviction: that dignity and hope are worth rebuilding, even from the hardest places.  Steven joins us on the podcast to show just how far you go grow beyond the trauma in your childhood.His conviction became a calling. From Papua New Guinea’s highlands to the mountains and coasts of Timor-Leste, Steve has spent his career helping others rebuild - working with governments, entrepreneurs, and communities to grow small businesses, strengthen markets, and create jobs that restore purpose.  At the heart of Steve’s journey is a simple belief: that we honour what we’ve lost by building something better - that real impact is measured not in projects or profits, but in the restoration of dignity, purpose, and possibility.In this episode he shares:Some background about Zimbabwe,His upbringing there, and the loss of his friendHis experience of their farm being invadedHow things got harder before they got better after he moved to AustraliaHis experience with depression and being hospitalisedHis professional football experience and spinal surgeryThe goal he made to make a positive impact in the worldHow writing an article spring boarded his career to what it is todayHis time working in PNG working under an aid programReturning home to Zimbabwe to tackle some of the country’s biggest challengesWhat happened when he went to Timor-LesteSome of the biggest life lessons he's taken away from these experiencesKey Quotes“If I’m not going to fight for them who is?”“If you start something you have no choice but to finish it.”More About SteveFollow Steve on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. 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

SINGAPORE workshop : Engagement and burnout in the workplace INDIA workshop: High Performance Leadership SummitTo sign up for our difficult conversations and workplace culture workshop go here.Welcome to part 2 of my chat with Sarah Davis, the absolute powerhouse who went from working in banking to completely throwing herself out of her comfort zone.In this episode we return to Australia to discuss what happened when she decided to cycle across Australia and how her decision to get out of her comfort zone made her decide to do 52 uncomfortable things in 52 weeks.In this episode she shares:-      The challenge of choosing her next adventure-      Why she picked cycling across Australia-      The purpose attached to her challenge of cycling across Australia-      What went wrong during the cycle-      Why road trains were the biggest risk and what they are-      The challenge of losing Leif, the 21yo cyclist she met along the way-      How losing Leif changed the trajectory of their trip-      What she took away from this experience-      Her next adventure-      Her challenge to do 52 uncomfortable things in 52 weeks-      What were her takeaways of this experience-      What were the things she said no toKey Quotes“I noticed that being out of my comfort zone wasn’t as familiar.”“My comfort zone had gone from the back garden to the size of a national park.”“Failure isn’t fatal.”More about SarahFind out more about Sarah via her website, Instagram 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.au

SINGAPORE workshop : Engagement and burnout in the workplace INDIA workshop: High Performance Leadership SummitTo sign up for our difficult conversations and workplace culture workshop go here.Imagine being an introvert who works in banking and deciding to be the first women to lead an expedition down the Nile where you face attacks from crocodiles, hippo’s and more.That’s what happened to Sarah Davis who, in her forties and in search of more out of life, she decided to step away from her corporate life & attempt to paddle the length of the Nile.She survived hippo attacks, being arrested & detained in Burundi & running lethal rapids. Now, her expeditions in Oman, Australia and more have given Sarah insights into what it takes to overcome fear, thrive through uncertainty & succeed in challenging environments. Her best-selling book, Paddle the Nile: One Woman's Search For a Life Less Ordinary was published in July 2022.In this episode she shares:How she was a desperately shy and quite childWhat brought her to AustraliaThe vulnerability she felt from sharing her blogWhat happened when her passport got stolenHer experience going back into bankingWhy she decided to pursue an expeditionThe risks and preparation she had to learn aboutWhat she did in advance to mitigate the risksSeeing big white bags of contraband next to the riverHow the rapids worried her due to a near drowning experienceHer experience being attacked by a hippo on day 6The pep talk she gave herself to get throughThe other challenges she encountered on the expeditionGetting food poisoning the day before the last dayThe lessons she now carries with herKey Quotes“I felt like I had a really beautiful piece of clothing that just didn't suit me.”“The intel we got was that they were going to detain me if I went there.”“This huge hippo’s bitten into the back of the raft. I'd never felt real primal fear before.”More about SarahFind out more about Sarah via her website, Instagram 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.au

SINGAPORE workshop : Engagement and burnout in the workplace INDIA workshop: High Performance Leadership SummitTo sign up for our difficult conversations and workplace culture workshop go here.This episode is a bit different to our normal ones.A lot of you have been repeatedly asking me to cover Imposter Syndrome and how to fight it, so I’m delighted to welcome back Clifford Morgan to get his expertise on the subject.Cliff is a leadership expert and endorsed organisational psychologist with over seventeen years of service with the Royal Australian Air Force. His years of service leading and coaching people, both in uniform and out, bring a wealth of experience that provides a unique perspective to assist his clients. During this time he has trained hundreds of leaders to use coaching skills to develop people and lead more effectively. As a coach Clifford has worked with CEOs, military commanders, government executives and business and community leaders across a wide variety of industries.In this episode he shares:What is imposter syndrome?The archetypes of imposter syndromeHow to differentiate the archetypesWhat does 'overwork' mean and look like?What are the basics of your life to be brilliant at first?Some coping mechanismsWhat it means to adopt a maskThe difference between adjusting and maskingWhat is happening in the brain with imposter syndromeWhy building a body of evidence can helpHow finding strong allies can help combat imposter syndromeHow to intercept your negative thoughtsWays to reframe failureKey Quotes“A lot of high performers have imposter syndrome.”“The more social groups that we're a part of, the less likely we are to be depressed or have mental health issues.”“Are you doing it from a place of fear or for the benefit of someone else?”More about CliffordFind out more with Clifford via his website.For Cliff's course on Impsoter syndrome go here.You can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeus Or on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeusIf you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.com Or 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

SINGAPORE workshop : Engagement and burnout in the workplace INDIA workshop: High Performance Leadership SummitTo sign up for our difficult conversations and workplace culture workshop go here.Trigger warning: Domestic violence, PTSD, child deaths’Domestic Violence does not discriminate, and sadly the systems and law enforcement don’t always protect us.One person who knows that all too tell is Courtney Burchard. Courtney is a former Forensic Scientist and Queensland Police Officer with 15 years of service. After being medically retired in 2024 following a complex PTSD diagnosis, she has embraced her lived experience as both a survivor of Domestic Violence and institutional betrayal. Courtney now uses her voice to raise awareness around trauma, resilience, and mental health, sharing her journey through the power of poetry.In this episode she shares:Her experience joining the policeHer experience working in forensicsThe lead up to having PTSDHer experience with DV and how dangerous it gotHow she was experienced with DV applications and hers still didn't go throughThe symptoms of trauma she experiencedHow working on Hannah Clarke's case triggered her PTSDHow her career endedHer panic attackWhat happened when she saw a doctor about her PTSDThe process of starting medication and therapyHer healing journeyThe grief around leaving the police forceWhat has surprised her about this processWhat needs to change around DVKey Quotes“I had to tell my male boss intimate details.”“He still has access to a firearm.”“After the relationship had ended there was an incident where this person has broken into my home.” More about CourtneyFollow Courtney on InstagramYou can find Small Steps 4 Hannah, the charity started by Hannah's parents on Instagram here.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.com Or 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

SINGAPORE workshop : Engagement and burnout in the workplace INDIA workshop: High Performance Leadership SummitTo sign up for our difficult conversations and workplace culture workshop go here.Coming back from a deadly illness and stroke is big enough challenge in itself, but the equal challenge that many don’t think about is having to survive with the disabilities from that incident, in a world that does not make any space for disability.That is what Lisa Cox has had to do and not only has she manage that, she has made it her mission to remove the barriers and systemic injustice faced by people with a disability,Lisa Cox OAM is an author, university researcher, TEDx speaker and internationally awarded thought leader. Her work is focused on changing social attitudes about disability using world's most powerful industries - like media.In this episode she shares:Her early lifeWhat happened when she had a stroke at 24Her first memories of this experienceHow she found out her leg would be amputatedHow she had to relearn how to do basic everyday tasksHer worst day in recoveryThe process of coming to grips with what happenedWhat happened once she was out of hospitalGetting back into the gymThe process of balancing grief and gratitudeHow because of her disability she met her husbandTeaching herself to type again with her new fingersHaving perspectiveGetting back on the dating sceneThe social expectation that she had to lower her standards to find someoneWhat shopping for a wedding dress with her disability was likeThe ableism she encounters in life nowHow her now husband was patted on the back for proposing to a disabled womanWhat life looks like nowHer work in rebranding disabilitiesKey Quotes“There's this idea that once you acquire a disability your life will be tragic.”“All of my organs shut down and every cell in my boy died.”“I realised I had a tonne of internalised ableism.”More about LisFind out more 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.au

SINGAPORE workshop : Engagement and burnout in the workplace INDIA workshop: High Performance Leadership SummitTo sign up for our difficult conversations and workplace culture workshop go here.Trigger warning: suicide, domestic violence, depressionIntergenerational trauma can be an incredibly hard cycle to break, especially if it forces you to live through verbal abuse, manipulation and torment for your entire childhood. For Yummii Nguyen, this was her reality, yet her story is not just one of survival, but of learning to love herself and breaking generational cycles so her children could inherit freedom instead of pain. What makes her story extraordinary is not what she survived, but what she built. She is the founder of Meet Fear, with Love and a guide to leaders, entrepreneurs, and parents who appear to have it all, but quietly know, “I’m not free.” . Through her Mastermind, Higher Self Mastery program, and private mentorship, Yummii helps people who have already done the work finally soften their nervous system, meet fear with love, and live from wholeness and their Heart.In this episode she shares:Growing up as the child of an affair and being told she was unwantedReconciling a father who was revered in the community but violent and emotionally troubled at homeThe mental health battles that began at 12, when she no longer wanted to liveThe moment she first experienced unconditional loveHow the birth of her son became a turning point in her healingWhat it takes to love yourself when your body and mind only know survivalKey Quotes“Freedom isn’t what you achieve. Freedom is who you are when there’s nothing left to prove.”“I realised the cost of not loving myself was going to be carried by my children. That’s when everything changed.”More about YummiiFind out more about Yummii via her website, Instagram, Facebook and check out her free training for parents.You can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeus Or on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeusIf you want to contact the podcast, email us here: support@challengesthatchangeus.com Or 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

Try our FREE burnout quiz.Grab your burnout workbook HERE. To sign up for our difficult conversations and workplace culture workshop go here.I’m so excited to be welcoming back Allan Parker to share his personal story of overcoming an extraordinary challenge to being able to learn, and to also share some amazing pearls of wisdom on neuro plasticity and learning.Alan Parker OAM is a distinguished micro‑behavioural scientist, negotiator and educator whose major achievements include developing Australia’s first tertiary degree in negotiation, serving as an adjunct professor on the University of Western Sydney’s Master’s program in Dispute Resolution, and being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2020 for his contribution to business and dispute resolution. He is a bestselling author (Switch On Your Brain), author of The Negotiator’s Toolkit and Would Could Might (2024). On top of this he has presented and facilitated in 60+ countries, and has led influential, large‑scale negotiations and sector reforms while also building a long‑standing practice delivering practical brain‑health and negotiation training across corporate, regional and rural communities.In this episode he shares:His eye impairment that made learning difficult as a childHow his parents alcoholism affected him growing upHow he learned to listen and compensate for his inability to readHow vision work and training unlocked his reading and learning.The neuroscience of breathing, oxygen, hydration and their effect on attention, emotion and memory.Peripheral vision as a tool to reduce internal narrative/default-mode thinking and improve presence.Stress as a social risk and why he thinks we are addicted to adrenaline/dopamine/drama.His practical behaviour tips to improve brain healthThe importance of communication and leadershipKey Quotes"I was born with an eye condition that meant I didn't read until I was 30, and yet I'm a terminal enthusiastic learner.""I remember the very moment, Ali, that I watched my father beating my mother. And I made a conscious decision in that second that I would never violate, hit another human being. Ever.""I had to sit down and explain him that I couldn't read."More about AllanYou can find out more about Allan here.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