Challenges That Change Us

For the first time in 4 years we are pausing the podcast for a couple of weeks. I love doing it, but sometimes life has other plans. There is a lot going on behind the scenes, and while I am ok, I need to free up space for family and medical appointments.I’m not fully disappearing and will be recording in advance. While I’m away we are releasing some of our most listened to episodes.Trigger warning: this episode discusses miscarriage, child abuse and domestic abuse.This episode’s guest is Tim Elliott, a senior writer at Good Weekend, the Saturday magazine for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, where he has won two Kennedy Awards and been nominated for a Walkley. His work has also appeared in London's The Financial Times, The Sunday Times, and The Australian. He has won multiple awards, including Best Feature at the Australian Magazine Awards and has many other accolades.But he is also the host of Inside The Tribe a podcast detailing the inner workings of international religious sect The 12 Tribes.Having worked closely with people who have been trapped inside the 12 tribes for this podcast, Tim has a fascinating insight what actually happens in these highly controlling groups.In this episode Tim shares:-      How he first heard about The 12 Tribes and why he didn’t believe what he heard-      The way every day people are lured in-      The horrifying practices that take place inside these kinds of groups-      How people are prevented from leavingKey Quotes “I cannot get any meaningful response form the police and people who have escaped the cult are just baffled.”“Most of us at some point in our lives will be vulnerable to that kind of entreaty.”“They isolate you from your loved ones. Completely…That allows the cult to have full control of the information you’re receiving.”Find out more about Tim and Inside The TribeIf you want to hear more about this in detail you can listen to the podcast Inside The Tribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/inside-the-tribe/id1533629268You can also follow Tim on his socialsTwitter: @TimElliottSMHInsta: @timelliottsmhFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tim.elliott.927/You can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeus If you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.auFor her other business you can find it through the websites:www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.auOr you can follow them on Instagram:@Altitudefitnessarmidale@trialtitudeperformance

For the first time in 4 years we are pausing the podcast for a couple of weeks. I love doing it, but sometimes life has other plans. There is a lot going on behind the scenes, and while I am ok, I need to free up space for family and medical appointments.I’m not fully disappearing and will be recording in advance. While I’m away we are releasing some of our most listened to episodes.Trigger warning: Drug crimes and false arrestsThis episode is a story that took me completely by surprise and had my jaw absolutely on the flaw.Our guest is Brenda Denbesten, a chemical engineer with over 15 years' experience in the mining and manufacturing industries, and a Women in STEM advocate and driver for changeBrenda is a best-selling author of ‘the FIFO wives tale’s’ and creator of 'Chronicles of a Female Engineer', a YouTube series that demystifies what an engineer does plus how to get ahead in traditional and male dominated fields.But one day, years so, nearly saw everything she had worked towards snatched away when she was confronted by police about a crime she did not commit.In today’s episode Brenda shares: -      The wild story of how she was used and left to take the fall for a crime she didn’t commit-      Her dealings with the Australian justice system-      The lessons she learnt from overcoming this enormous challenge-      Her advice for anyone else who has gone through similar traumaKey Quotes“We've all got a unique purpose on this world and the more we copy others you're only dimming down the reason you are on this earth.”“Your past doesn’t determine your future.”“The next minute I knew I was getting hand cuffed and being put in the back of a paddy wagon.”Find out more about BrendaYou can find out everything about Brenda here:  www.linktree.com/brendadenbestenYou can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeus If you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.auFor her other business you can find it through the websites:www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.auOr you can follow them on Instagram:@Altitudefitnessarmidale@trialtitudeperformance

Trigger warning: this episode discusses mental health, depression and anxiety as well as chronic pain.For the first time in 4 years we are pausing the podcast for a couple of weeks. I love doing it, but sometimes life has other plans. There is a lot going on behind the scenes, and while I am ok, I need to free up space for family and medical appointments.I’m not fully disappearing and will be recording in advance. While I’m away we are releasing some of our most listened to episodes.Jessica Macguire who has worked as a trauma informed integrated physio therapist for 14 years and is currently running programs on the vagus nerve.She aims to help people get to the cause of the problems, rather than relying on others to treat their symptomsShe has studied neuro physiology throughout Europe, America, the UK and Australia and has learnt from pain researchers, professors in neuro plasticity, neuro scientists and psychologists on how the brain and nervous system change from stress, trauma and chronic pain.Stress related illness such as anxiety, depression gut disorders, autoimmune issues and chronic pain can arise from dysregulation after chronic trauma and stressIn today’s episode Jessica shares:-      How the vagus nerve and the parasympathetic nervous system can affect our health-      How the isolating techniques of medicine can hinder rather than help diagnosis-      Her advice for learning more about the vagus nerve and how it can help youKey Quotes“We may learn to cut off from sensations and live almost numb from out body. But either that that is creating an inner homelessness.”“We really need to lean into the complexities, rather than trying to over simplify.”“What I may find stressful may not be stressful to you, and no two people will have the same experience of pain or trauma.”If you want to know more about Jessica You can head to her website: https://www.jessicamaguire.com/Or you can follow her on social media,Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/repairingthenervoussystem/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/repairing_the_nervous_system/?hl=enIf you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.au/personality-performanceFor her other business you can find it through the websites:www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.auOr you can follow them on Instagram:@Altitudefitnessarmidale@trialtitudeperformance

For the first time in 4 years we are pausing the podcast for a couple of weeks. I love doing it, but sometimes life has other plans. There is a lot going on behind the scenes, and while I am ok, I need to free up space for family and medical appointments.I’m not fully disappearing and will be recording in advance. While I’m away we are releasing some of our most listened to episodes.We’ve spoken before about the horrifying experience of being in limbo when the medical industry cannot give you a diagnosis.Well imagine what it’s like when that happens to your new born baby.In this weeks episode I’m speaking with my close friend and incredible force of nature Jess Galvin.After having her first child, Jess and her husband were delighted when their daughter Lucy was born, apparently happy and healthy.However things quickly changed when small symptoms appeared to indicate there could be other complications.However as the medical establishment repeatedly dismissed her concerns, Jess had to push further and further before anyone would even acknowledge that something was wrong with her baby. But even when they did eventually admit their was a basis to her concerns, that was just the beginning of her family’s incredibly long and difficult journeyIn today’s episode Jess shares:-      The first signs she noticed there might be complications with her daughter’s health-      The incredibly long journey they have been on to treat her illnesses-      How this challenge has impacted her family-      The lesson she learnt about using alcohol to helpKey Quotes“She said, the good news is it’s not brain cancer.”“She said, she has veins on the left hand sign of her brain in excess.”“Trust your gut…you just gotta keep pushing and pushing. Mums really do know.”You can get involved with the podcast onlineOn facebook in our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengesthatchangeusOr on Instagram: @challengesthatchangeus If you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.auFor her other business you can find it through the websites:www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.auOr you can follow them on Instagram:@Altitudefitnessarmidale@trialtitudeperformance

Motherhood can be absolutely exhausting and devastating, especially if you feel like you have no support. That was Stephanie Trethewey’s experience before she founded a life changing charity.In 2019, she swapped city life for rural Tassie, navigating the highs and lows of rural motherhood. Her struggles with postnatal depression and isolation inspired her to create Motherland; a national charity changing lives through services that reduce isolation and improve mental health outcomes for rural women.As the Founder & CEO of Motherland and the 2024 Australian of the Year for Tasmania, Steph is a voice of vulnerability, connection, and hope for women on the land.In 2022, Stephanie was named the national winner of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award and in 2023, she celebrated the release of her debut book, MotherlandIn this episode she shares:Why elite sport taught her discipline, grit and resilience from a young age.How leaving a successful journalism career behind to move to a remote farm changed everything.The identity shift of becoming a mum while feeling isolated and without a village.What her mental health struggles looked like behind closed doors.How asking for help became the turning point in her recovery.Why she believes you can turn your pain into purpose.How creating Motherland has helped thousands of rural mums feel less alone.Why success now looks more like balance, family and contentment than hustle.Key Quotes"I felt very untethered and out of control.""I really believe that you can turn your pain into purpose."More about StephFollow Motherland on Facebook, Instagram, via their website and listen to the podcast.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

Try our FREE burnout quiz.Grab your burnout workbook HERE. TW: prescription drug useThere are many gateways to drug dependence, but the modern pressures of motherhood are not often recognised as one of them.Erin Hughes is the founder and visionary behind Here, There, Everywhere, a platform born from her desire to create a space where women can truly be themselves. She is an entrepreneur, businesswoman, wife, daughter and mother of four, who understands the daily juggle of wearing many hats.It was her busy life, social isolation and motherhood pressures amongst other things that lead to a subtle pathway into reliance on prescription medication and it took her some time to recognise it and act.In this episode she shares:-     The loneliness and judgment she experienced while raising young children in a small regional town.-     Why she felt pressure to fit a version of motherhood that didn't align with who she was.-     The role prescription pain medication came to play as a coping mechanism during a particularly demanding season of life.-     What it was like recognising she had become emotionally reliant on medication to switch off and relax.-     How opening up about her dependence became the first step towards seeking support and making changes.-     The connection between busyness, people-pleasing and avoiding uncomfortable emotions.-     Why learning to slow down, set boundaries and prioritise herself has been such an important lesson.-     How her experiences inspired her to create a platform that helps women embrace motherhood without losing themselves in the process.Key Quotes"I felt like there was something wrong with me because everyone else was loving this and I wasn't loving this."“I started to associate having pain relief and feeling relaxed and happy and a real hit of things being great.”"I found that 5:00 PM till 7:00 PM so difficult and challenging that I'd be like, 'I need to take the tablets because it helps me get through it.'"More about ErinFollow Erin on her platform Here, There, Everywhere via the website, and Instagram.And listen to the Here, There, Everywhere podcast.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

Try our FREE burnout quiz.Grab your burnout workbook HERE. The problem with burnout is that it can take an absolute mountain of disasters to truly make us realise how hard we are pushing ourselves and for Janella Purcell it took a major natural disaster amongst other things.Janella Purcell is an award-winning Naturopath, Herbalist, Nutritionist, Chef, author, and host of the Toxic Silence podcast. With nearly 3 decades of clinical experience, she is considered a pioneer of Australia's natural health movement, helping shape public understanding of food as medicine, holistic healing, and chemical-free, sustainable living. Janella is widely known for her television appearances on Good Chef Bad Chef, The Biggest Loser, and on morning TV in Australia, as well as her five bestselling and award winning books on natural health and wellbeing. She has been awarded a Fellowship by the National Herbalists Association of Australia in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the profession. Today, her work continues to focus on whole-person healing, integrating nutrition, herbal medicine, trauma recovery, and mind-body wellness.In this episode she shares:-     How a lifelong pattern of overachievement was actually rooted in unresolved trauma.-     Why she sold her dream property to create a healing retreat for others.-     What happened when she took on the enormous challenge of regenerating seven acres of neglected land.-     How the 2022 floods wiped out years of work and pushed her to breaking point.-     The lessons she learned about resilience, independence and backing herself.-     Why burnout forced her to rethink the way she worked, rested and lived.-     How menopause brought old traumas and unhealthy patterns to the surface.-     The connection between trauma, gut health, the nervous system and chronic stress.-     Why learning to slow down has been one of her greatest challenges.-     How she's creating a more sustainable and fulfilling life by embracing rest, healing and self-care.Key Quotes"I learnt that there's always a way to get through things in life.""It felt like there was a curse on that property.""I cried my heart out for a long time."More about JanellaFollow Janella on social media, learn more on her website or find links to all info and resources here.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

Try our FREE burnout quiz.Grab your burnout workbook HERE. Money troubles might be considered common for many of us, but no one speaks about them, and because money is so rarely spoken about, some of us can end up in very real, and stressful money situations.That’s what happened to Nell when she moved to LA to chase her acting career, only to find a lack of financial education completely undermined her.Now, Nell is the founder of The Savvy Creative and Maiden Media and the newly launched podcast How To Be A Savvy Creative.Having started out her professional career as an actor, appearing in two seasons of A Place to Call Home, several award winning films, commercials and stage shows across Australia and the US, Nell pivoted her focus in 2021 and attained her Masters of Screen Arts at AFTRS to focus on Screen Business and Leadership.Since then Nell has been producing and working in partnerships in the brand space. Nell launched Maiden Media in late 2025 and is keen to break the mould when it comes to producing content in Australia.In this episode she shares:-     Her decision to move to LA to pursue acting.-     How an inheritance and credit card led to major money mistakes.-     Why nobody taught her how to manage money.-     The panic and shame of watching her savings disappear.-     Her experience of returning home feeling defeated.-     How she paid off $25,000 of debt and rebuilt from scratch.-     The money lessons that completely changed her mindset.-     Why she gave LA multiple chances before finally letting it go.-     How old money fears resurfaced when starting a business.-     Why she now helps creatives build better financial habits.Key Quotes"There's something that happens to you when you're just watching a bank account just go down and… I kind of felt powerless to fix that situation.""You can't think about things clearly because you're too worried about the money situation.""For so long, I was paying off past self and I didn't even get anything for it."More about NellYou can follow Nell on Instagram, follow The Savvy Creative on Instagram and Maiden Media on Instagram.You can also listen to How To Be A Savvy Creative online.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

Grab your window of tolerance worksheet hereTW: MiscarriageAny pregnancy loss can be traumatic, but Hollie Farmer experienced multiples losses, health complications and trauma on her journey to motherhood.Hollie is a beautiful woman who is very special to our family. She has been a babysitter of my 3 girls over the years and I have watched her grow into an incredibly strong, thoughtful and deeply compassionate woman.Her story is one of great heartache, adversity and incredible resilience.In this episode she shares:-      Her instant connection with her husband and their decision to start a family young-      The extended period of infertility after assuming pregnancy would happen easily-      The heartbreak of multiple miscarriages after finally falling pregnant-      How she lost excitement around pregnancy and it was replaced with fear and anticipatory grief-      When she discovered she was carrying an undiagnosed ectopic twin pregnancy that nearly killed her-      The trauma of emergency surgery, losing a fallopian tube and feeling failed by her body-      How infertility consumed every part of her identity, relationships and daily life-      The emotional and financial toll of IVF, including spending over $30,000 trying to conceive-      How she fell pregnant naturally after reaching the point of emotional exhaustion and wanting to stop trying-      How she navigated a pregnancy filled with fear, hypervigilance and the inability to trust her bodyKey Quotes“I had to go back to work. I had to work for two weeks knowing that the pregnancy had ended and I was still carrying that pregnancy.”“I lost the ability to trust my body and to trust my intuition.”More aboutYou can reach out to Pink Elephants if you need support.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