Challenges That Change Us

Few people know what is required mentally to achieve at the highest level of elite sport, and fewer still know what it’s like to have to apply that mindset to a life changing injury.Nathan Stapleton is an Australian professional rugby league player who most recently played for the London Broncos in the Kingstone Press Championship. He previously represented the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League, primarily playing as a wing, fullback, and center.In this episode he shares:-      His early life in rural AustraliaHow he ended up in elite level rugby-      The pressure and expectations he was under as an athlete-      The emotional lows he experienced in football-      The mindsets he leaned on when things got tough-      What the cost of his drive and discipline was-      The experience of losing his mum at 23-      The moves he made after the sharks-      His experience with his wife having a miscarriage-      Why he wasn’t prepared to deal with the miscarriage.Key Quotes “Because I always buried myself in physical work I didn’t know how to handle it mentally "It was a lot harder than I was anticipating."More about NathanFollow him on Instagram.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 For her other business you can find it through the websites:www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.au@trialtitudeperformance

Motherhood is a big journey for any woman, but many of us consider that taking that step in your teenage years to be limiting and negative.Julie Allyson experienced this opinion from those around her when she fell pregnant at 16, but it was her mindset and determination that helped her reframe her situation so that she could not only go on to achieve great things professionally and as a mother, but also survive other big challenges later on in life.Now Julie Allyson is a transformative coach with over 30 years in nursing, including 25 in leadership roles. She helps clients navigate midlife, empowering them to make intentional decisions and build lives without regret.In this episode Julie shares:-      Her experience falling pregnant as a teenager-      How her community reacted to the news-      The decision her baby's father made that made things harder-      How she approached her education as a teen mother-      How her eating disorder played a role in her journey-      The moment she was diagnosed with breast cancer-      The extreme lengths she went to, to work while receiving cancer treatment-      How she handled the waiting game of recovery-      What helped her discover her purposeKey Quotes "I was 16 and found out I was having a baby... I had to re-vamp everything and decide, am I going to have this baby or not?""I suffered from an eating disorder in my mid to late 20s... I felt like if I didn’t keep control, everything would fall apart.""His family was very traditional... there was an arranged marriage planned for him. It was hard to watch him struggle with that loyalty to his family and the love we had.More about JulieCheck out 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.com If you want to find out more about what Ali does, check out her business via the website:http://www.trialtitudeperformance.com.au For her other business you can find it through the websites:www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.au@trialtitudeperformance

Trigger warning: AnxietyWelcome to part two of our chat with Stephanie Burns.In part one Stephanie shared her remarkable life and some of the huge challenges she has faced, including having to navigate violence in the home and abandonment in her teenage years.In part two she shares with us the impact those experiences have had on her and how they influenced her social anxiety.This episode is not just about her social anxiety but also about the many tools she has used to overcome it, while also learning to live with it.In this episode she shares: -      The influence of her early experiences on her social skills-      How she developed a fear and discomfort with social situations-      How bad her social anxiety got-      The connection between her abandonment and her difficulties with trusting-      How it helped her to create a safe space for social interactions-      The importance of knowing oneself and setting boundaries-      Why it can be nice to thrive in your area of interest-      The advantage of taking small steps when navigating new experiencesKey Quotes“In the old days I couldn’t go in a grocery store because I didn't know how to navigate people in a grocery store.”“When you’re having a panic attack and people go, what do you need? You don't know what you need."More about Stephanie BurnsFind her books and email info via her website or go to her facebook or 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 For her other business you can find it through the websites:www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.au@trialtitudeperformance

Trigger warning: domestic violenceToday we are joined by someone who has truly lived a life of challenges, lessons and intriguing turns.From navigating violence in the home as a teenager, to being a woman in the military when they had only just started accepting women back into the technical fields, Stephanie Burns has seen a lot.In 1973, Stephanie became one of the first women trained as an engineer by the U.S. Army Signal Corp. Graduating #1 in her class, she received orders to be trained as a military instructor. After leaving in 1976, she worked in corporate roles before starting her own training company in 1981, with NASA as her first client. Others, such as, ABC-TV and presenting at computer Expos in cities throughout the US followed, focusing on helping adults adapt to the desktop computer revolution. The experience working with adults as students fuelled her intense curiosity about the development of new skills and knowledge, taking advantage of the adult brain and nervous system. This led her to make a complete shift from the tech industry to the fields of human behaviour and adult education. A move to Australia in 1987 led to the development of the Learning to Learn program and many others, presented in corporate, government and education sectors. This program, along with others, and numerous books, have impacted many thousands.In this episode she shares:Her journey to getting into the militaryWhy she became an independent contractorWhat made her realise that adults in school behave like childrenThe challenge of teaching higher ranking adults in the militaryThe influence of Stephanie's father and intense pursuitsThe importance of a supportive communityHow a family change led her mother to abuseWhat happened when her mum thought she was doing drugs and submitted her into a heroin outpatient centreHer journey to find her dad at 15 when she was kicked out of her mum’s homeKey Quotes“I thought, she's gonna bloody kill me. She's gonna kill me and she's not gonna know she did it."“In my first class were 30 men, they all outranked me, they were older than I was and they were physically bigger.”More about Stephanie BurnsFind her books and email info via her website or go to her facebook or linkedin.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.auFor her other business you can find it through the websites: www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.au

What exactly does it take to go from not being able to run to the end of your block, to running ultr marathons?Desiree Stanley is the host of the Pockets of Knowledge podcast, and she discovered exactly what it would take to go from a non-runner to completing multiple ultramarathons in her 40s/. Desiree's entrepreneurial spirit drives her various ventures, showcasing adaptability and commitment to turning ideas into reality. As a digital creator and Amazon Influencer, she crafts engaging narratives that invite followers into her world. Her shopping adventures are not just about acquiring items but celebrating the joy of discovery and well-crafted deals. Through her dynamic journey, Desiree's experiences embody resilience, creativity, and an unyielding pursuit of a life rich in passion, purpose, growth, and discovery in the chapters yet to unfold.In this episode she shares:-      What motivated her to begin began running at the age of 40-      How she overcame her dislike of running-      Her running progression.-      The importance of setting small, achievable goals and gradually building up to larger ones.-      Why each race distance was a new challenge-      The important mindset tools that running taught her-      The value of shared experiences and encouragement during tough training sessions.-      How the discipline, grit, and problem-solving skills she developed through running translated to other areas of her life.Key Quotes "I ran my first 5K in 2011, my first 10K in 2012, a half marathon in 2013, and my first full marathon in 2016."“I couldn’t even run from my front door to the end of the block without being winded.”“Just because it’s hard, doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It may take longer than we think it’s going to take... but it happened ultimately. So it was hard, it was achievable, it wasn’t impossible.”More about DesireeFollow her on Instagram or listen to her podcastYou 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 For her other business you can find it through the websites:www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.au@trialtitudeperformance

Trigger warning: domestic violence and mental healthWhen it comes to domestic violence, no two situations are the same. That is why it can be so hard to understand from the outside what exactly is going on. We might look at someone driven and successful and find it impossible to believe they could end up in such a situation, but there can be all kinds of factors that influence self worth and affect a person’s ability to break free. For Emily-Jayne Sarrof multiple instances of burn out played a big role in her story.Emily-Jayne is a Graduate of Architectural Design, Jay Shetty Certified Life Coach, Business Mentor, social media figure, host of the Empower with Em Podcast, and 6 figure business owner. She is an expert in all things creative design and leverages this to help business owners scale through elevating their branding and marketing.In this episode she shares:-      The initial burn out she experienced-      The burnout she experienced from the job she'd taken to help stop burn out-      How domestic violence entered her life because of the burn out-      What she did wrong in hustling for her business-      What made her realise she had bad burn out-      Why she wouldn’t have listened to people warning her before she burnt out-      The moment that made her realise she was in a dv situation-      How a dog park helped heal her to the point of freeing herself-      The big impact her overseas travel had on her-      The importance of Defining Non-Negotiables in Life and Business-      How changing her belief system has helped her-      What does life look for her nowKey Quotes“What was meant to become a journey for me to recover from burn out, became a journey to even deeper burn out.”“I remember saying to myself I don’t love this person, I can’t be with this person, and yet I didn’t leave“Ignoring the signs of needing rest is counter productive to the goals I want to be working towards in my business.”More about Emily-JayneInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/empowerwithem/Her podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/empowerwithempodcastYou 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.auFor her other business you can find it through the websites: www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.au

Do you love High performance then check out our 3 day summit in October this year, only 30 places: https://events.highperformanceleadershipsummit.com.au/october-summit-2024Trigger warning: Domestic violence, sexual assault, mental healthWhile abuse within the family is something we have discussed on this podcast, one topic we have not covered as much, which often goes hand in hand, is the abandonment many children go through in this experience.Dante Amato is renowned in the Personal Development space for the deeply nurturing and transformational spaces she holds. She is a Business Mentor, Transformational Life Coach, Spiritual Guide and Energy Practitioner. But besides being a coach, Dante is a woman who has walked the path of trauma and triumph, gaining valuable insights that fuel her mission to help others.From an early age she experienced abandonment, abuse, manipulation and trauma which extended far into her life. As an adult she has done a loooot of healing and work, but her story is one that I think will resonate with a lot of people.In this episode she shares:Her experience of being abandoned by her mum as a childThe experience of spending time with her unstable mother as a childHer experience with domestic abuse in her mother’s homeHow her brother was manipulated and let down by their motherHow her relationship with her husband helped herWhat happened when she was diagnosed with infertilityWhat her journey to heal was likeThe thing that kept her going through recovery when things got really hardHow she developed her voice in adulthoodThe way she was able to work through her angerWhat she is doing now to help othersKey Quotes“I had to completely cut my mother off. Really intentionally and energetically remove her from my life.”“The constant thought that I had was that I just need to do everything that I can to make her love me.”“When bad things happened, we would never ever speak about them.”More about DanteDante’s website: https://www.danteamato.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedanteamato/?hl=enMinibook: https://www.danteamato.com/mini-book-of-self-discoveryYou 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.auFor her other business you can find it through the websites: www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.au

Do you love High performance then check out our 3 day summit in October this year, only 30 places: https://events.highperformanceleadershipsummit.com.au/october-summit-2024For many of us reading and writing seems pretty common place. So much so that we might not even consider what it must be like to navigate our modern world without an ability to read and write.Graham Neville dropped out of school in year 10 and ever since, he navigated he world with a very minimal ability to read and write up until his 50’s. For his entire life he hid this from the world, sharing his secret with only a select few.But with covid lockdowns and the world increasingly moving online he realised he had to make a change, but even he couldn’t have predicted the massive effect this move would have on his life.He was asked to appear on the SBS program Lost For words, has been a guest speaker on numerous occasions and his personal life has also benefitted from the boom in self confidence he has experienced as well.In this episode Grahame shares:-      His early career life after he dropped out of school-      His early struggles with reading and writing-      What his life was like without reading and writing-      How he hid is inability to write and read-      Why the fear of getting found out was so serious for him-      How he finally took the step to change things-      how doing the course got him on tv-      The scary experience of being in Sydney with no support for weeks-      The surprising support he received-      The avenues and opportunities he has gotten since-      The huge change in his self confidenceKey Quotes “The fear was overwhelming.” “When it came to reading and writing I just delegated.” “The first book I read was cat in the hat, and now I'm reading the barefoot investor.”More about GrahameYou can watch Lost For Words season 2 here: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/lost-for-words/season-2You 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.auFor her other business you can find it through the websites: www.altitudefitnessarmidale.com.au