Belinda sits down with Bianca Innes to discuss resilience, grief and rebuilding yourself after life-changing adversity.

At four years old, Bianca’s mother left the family after struggling with alcoholism and depression. Three years later, when Bianca was just seven, her mother passed away, leaving her to be raised by her dad and older brother.

At just 20, Bianca became the youngest person in Australia to be diagnosed with Stage 2B Grade 3 triple positive breast cancer. The diagnosis led to medically induced menopause and she was told she may never have children.

Bianca shares what it was like to have her symptoms dismissed, navigate cancer treatment, become a mother against the odds, and rebuild again after losing her brother in adulthood. This is a conversation about grief, resilience, identity and the quiet strength it takes to keep moving forward when life keeps changing the path beneath you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Losing a mother in childhood and navigating the mother wound
• Advocating for yourself when you know something isn’t right
• Being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at just 20
• Medically induced menopause and its impact on identity and mental health
• Becoming a mother after being told it may never happen
• Losing a sibling and learning to live alongside grief
• Rebuilding your identity after trauma
• Using writing and journaling to process grief and emotions
• Why kindness and one genuine conversation can change someone’s life

Sometimes life asks us to rebuild more than once. This conversation is a reminder that while we can’t choose every chapter, we can choose what we do with the story from here.

Podcast Sponsor:

Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Bianca :

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biancainnes/

Bits and Boobs Podcast:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitsandboobs.podcast/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6STk9aVthilOQYwOmw72fr

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bits-and-boobs/id1825831621

In this solo episode, Belinda explores one of the biggest misconceptions about family relationships: that talking again, showing up for family dinners, or smiling for the family photo means healing has happened.

Real healing isn’t about avoiding difficult conversations or pretending the past never happened. It’s about acknowledging hurt, rebuilding trust, and understanding the difference between reconciliation and repair.

Whether you’re navigating family conflict, estrangement, or simply wanting healthier relationships, this episode will give you a new way of looking at what actually creates lasting connection.

We explore:

• Why reconciliation and repair are two very different things
• The difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking
• Why every healthy relationship experiences ruptures
• What genuine repair looks like and why trust is rebuilt through actions, not word
• Why intentions don’t erase impact
• How curiosity creates more connection than defensiveness
• Why not every relationship can be repaired, and why that’s not always yours to carry
• Questions to help you reflect on the health of your own relationships

Healthy relationships aren’t measured by how many family photos you have together. They’re measured by whether people feel safe enough to be honest with each other.

If you’ve ever wondered why a relationship still feels distant, even though you’re talking again, this episode will help you understand why.

Podcast Sponsor:

Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Content warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide, alcohol misuse and mental health struggles.

In this episode, Belinda sits down with Tommy Herschell, founder of Find Ya Feet, a not-for-profit organisation delivering mental health and resilience workshops to schools, sporting clubs, workplaces and communities across Australia.

This conversation was inspired by the unexpected ripple effect of a previous Beyond the Surface episode with Kieran Foran. After hearing Kieran’s story, one young man reached out for help, leading him to Tommy and reinforcing the powerful belief that one honest conversation really can shift change forever.

Tommy shares his own journey with anxiety, anger, alcohol and unresolved childhood wounds, the counselling that helped him change his life, and how his experiences as a teacher inspired him to create Find Ya Feet.

What we cover:

•              The powerful ripple effect created when someone has the courage to share their story

•              How a previous Beyond the Surface episode with Kieran Foran encouraged a young man to reach out for help

•              Tommy’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol and the moment he knew something had to change

•              The role counselling played in helping him understand and change his patterns

•              The teachers and young people who inspired the creation of Find Ya Feet

•              What Find Ya Feet is and the meaning behind its name

•              Why vulnerability should be viewed as a strength

•              How honest conversations are helping change the culture within schools, sporting clubs, workplaces and communities

This is a raw and deeply moving conversation about breaking unhealthy cycles, speaking openly about what’s happening beneath the surface and having the courage to ask for help. If this episode makes you think of someone in your life, share it with them. You never know the impact one conversation could have.

Podcast Sponsor:

Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Tommy:

Website: https://findyafeet.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findyafeet/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Find-Ya-Feet/100093913622167/

Email: [email protected]

Why can two people experience similar childhoods, do similar healing work, make similar lifestyle changes, and yet have completely different experiences when it comes to stress, anxiety, burnout, energy and recovery?

In this episode, Belinda sits down with epigenetic longevity strategist Chris Barnes to explore how our genes, biology and environment influence the way we experience stress, anxiety, burnout, energy, recovery and healthy ageing.

Chris shares his personal journey with chronic anxiety, sleep issues and night terrors, and how understanding his own genetics helped him realise that what he once believed was a character flaw was actually his biology needing different support.

Together, they explore what epigenetics actually means, why our genes are not our destiny, and how our daily choices - from nervous system regulation, sleep and movement to food, sunlight, relationships and environment can influence the way our genes are expressed.

What we cover:

• What epigenetics is and why it matters
• The difference between genetics and epigenetics
• Why two people can experience stress, anxiety and healing so differently
• How biology can influence mood, energy, dopamine and serotonin
• Why one-size-fits-all health advice doesn’t work for everyone
• The role of genetic testing in understanding your body
• How lifestyle choices can influence gene expression
• The difference between biological age and chronological age
• Why health span and quality of life matter more than simply living longer

This episode is a reminder that healing isn’t always about trying harder or doing more. Sometimes, the missing piece is understanding your biology, getting curious about what your body actually needs, and making small daily choices that support your long-term health and wellbeing.

Podcast Sponsor:

Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Chris:

Website: https://chrisbarneswellness.com.au/

In this episode, Belinda sits down with Keri Krieger, a registered acupuncturist and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine to talk about perimenopause, burnout, hormones and the midlife changes so many women experience but don’t always understand.

Keri shares why symptoms like exhaustion, anxiety, sleep disruption, weight gain, hot flushes, overwhelm and feeling “not like yourself” are often connected to changes in our hormones, nervous system and overall health, not simply getting older.

Together, they explore why women have been conditioned to push through for so long, why quick fixes don’t always work, and how this season of life can become an invitation to slow down, listen to your body and support yourself differently.

What we cover:

• What perimenopause is and when it can begin

• The signs and symptoms many women don’t realise are connected to perimenopause

• Why burnout in earlier years can show up more strongly in midlife

• The connection between hormones, stress, anxiety and the nervous system

• Why sleep, energy and weight often change during this stage of life

• How Traditional Chinese Medicine views women’s health and ageing

• Why HRT can be helpful, but isn’t always the full picture

• Small, practical ways to better support your body through this transition

This episode is a reminder that you’re not broken, failing or imagining what you’re feeling. Perimenopause can feel confusing and confronting, but it can also become an opportunity to better understand your body, support your health and move into the next season of life with greater awareness, confidence and self-trust. 

Podcast Sponsor:

Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Kerri:

Website: https://kerikrieger.com/acupuncture/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerikrieger

Belinda sits down with Christy Quinn for a beautiful and honest conversation about surrogacy, motherhood, neurodivergence, relationships and choosing joy through it all.

Currently pregnant as a surrogate, Christy shares what led her to carry a baby for another family, the realities of IVF, surrogacy and pregnancy, and how she and her husband have navigated the journey alongside raising their two sons.

We also talk about life inside a neurodivergent family, and what happens when everyone experiences the world a little differently. Christy shares the challenges, the lessons, and the incredible gifts that come with raising children who think and feel deeply.

What we cover:

• Christy’s journey into altruistic surrogacy and what made her say yes
• The realities of IVF, surrogacy and carrying a baby for another family
• How she explained surrogacy to her two sons
• Raising children in a neurodivergent family
• The lessons she’s learned through motherhood, healing and forgiveness
• Why dancing, joy and connection are such a big part of how Christy moves through life

Whether you’re curious about surrogacy, navigating neurodivergence, raising children or simply trying to parent in a way that honours who your child truly is, this conversation offers insight, compassion and a fresh perspective on doing life differently.

Podcast Sponsor:

Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Christy:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christy_quinn_motherhood/

In this episode, Belinda sits down with Karlye Williamson, a Mental Health Occupational Therapist who helps people better understand what is happening in their body when they feel anxious, overwhelmed, tense, disconnected or caught in patterns of overthinking.

Karlye shares how her own experience with chronic back pain after having her first child led her to discover Stretch Therapy, a turning point that completely changed the way she understood pain, movement, mental health and the nervous system.

Together, Belinda and Karlye break down nervous system regulation in a simple, practical and easy-to-understand way. They explore why regulation isn’t about being calm all the time, how to recognise when your body is in fight, flight or shutdown, and the small everyday tools that can help you feel safer, more connected and better equipped to handle life’s challenges.

They also discuss why talk therapy alone is not always enough, the growing understanding of body-based approaches to healing, and practical strategies for managing overthinking, stress and nervous system dysregulation.

What we cover:

• What nervous system regulation actually means and why it’s not about being calm all the time
• How to recognise when you’re in fight, flight or shutdown
• Why awareness is often the first step before any tool can be effective
• The connection between chronic pain, stress and the nervous system
• Why the body needs to feel safe before the mind can fully process and heal
• Practical strategies for overthinking, including interrupting the loop, naming the circuit and giving your brain a job
• How Stretch Therapy, breathwork, movement and sensory awareness can support regulation
• What safety anchors are and how to identify your own
• The powerful influence our environment has on our nervous system
• Why healing isn’t always about thinking differently, but also about what needs to happen in the body

Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, stress, overwhelm, overthinking or simply want a better understanding of how your nervous system works, this episode is packed with practical tools and insights you can start using immediately.

Podcast Sponsor:

Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Karlye:

Website: https://regulatemindandbody.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regulatemindandbody/

In this powerful conversation, Belinda sits down with Megan Coburn to explore her journey through breast cancer, chronic illness, childhood sexual abuse, and profound personal healing.

Megan shares what it was like discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 36, undergoing a double mastectomy, and later navigating lupus and a series of serious health challenges that forced her to completely rethink the way she was living.

She also opens up about the resurfacing of childhood sexual abuse memories in adulthood, the impact of living in survival mode for decades, and the connection between emotional wellbeing, stress, and physical health.

This episode is a powerful reminder of the body’s wisdom, the importance of self-advocacy, and how healing often begins when we stop pushing through and start listening to ourselves.

What we cover:

• Discovering the BRCA1 gene mutation and being diagnosed with breast cancer at 36
• Undergoing a double mastectomy and later choosing implant removal
• Living with lupus and navigating chronic illness
• The resurfacing of childhood sexual abuse memories in adulthood
• Growing up around significant family illness and becoming “the strong one”
• The impact of stress, suppressed emotions, and living in survival mode
• Learning to advocate for herself and take ownership of her healing journey
• Moving to the Gold Coast and rebuilding life after adversity
• The role of self-compassion, healing, and personal growth

Please note: This episode includes discussions about childhood sexual abuse, cancer, chronic illness, and mental health challenges. Please listen with care.

Podcast Sponsor:

Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Megan:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megscob/

In this episode, Belinda sits down with Nicole Peterson to explore her extraordinary journey from growing up in Papua New Guinea and competing as an athlete, to stepping into the modelling and beauty industry and navigating the pressures that shaped the way she saw her body and herself.

Nicole opens up about getting breast implants at 18, the years of unexplained symptoms that followed, and how discovering breast implant illness ultimately led to her decision to have them removed.

She also shares the heartbreak of seven years of infertility and 11 rounds of IVF, and the emotional journey of accepting that motherhood was not going to be part of her story. Nicole reflects on surviving the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand, the PTSD that followed, and a later battle with Ross River virus that forced her to completely rebuild her health, lifestyle, and perspective on wellbeing.

What We Cover:

• Growing up in Papua New Guinea

• How athletics contributed to body image struggles

• Modelling, the beauty industry, and the pressure of feeling “not enough”

• Getting breast implants at 18, having three sets, and discovering breast implant illness

• Seven years of infertility and 11 rounds of IVF

• Surviving the Boxing Day tsunami and living with PTSD

• Ross River virus and chronic illness

• Rebuilding health through simple daily foundations

• What wellness looks like in midlife

Nicole’s story is a powerful reminder that even after life-changing challenges, trauma, and illness, it is possible to rebuild, heal, and reconnect with who you truly are.

Podcast Sponsor:

Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Nicole:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicole_peterson_lifestyle/

In this solo episode, I’m sharing a more personal side of my story, how I accidentally built a seven-figure business, ran more than 80 retreats across Australia, Bali and Fiji, and why I’ve made the decision to press pause on retreats in 2027.

This isn’t really an episode about business. It’s about intuition, trust, change, and learning to follow the internal nudges before you know exactly where they’re leading.

I talk about starting out as a stay-at-home mum, waking from a vivid dream that led me to write my first book, choosing to self-publish instead of handing over control, and how one unexpected conversation in a hotel gym in Fiji opened the door to my very first retreat.

What began as a one-off experience slowly became something much bigger, not through advertising, business plans or strategy, but through connection, word of mouth and simply saying yes to what felt aligned.

I also share why I’m feeling increasingly disconnected from parts of the healing space online, where vulnerability, trauma and personal growth can sometimes feel packaged for engagement rather than genuine connection.

This episode is a reminder that you don’t need to have your whole life figured out before you begin. Sometimes clarity comes after the decision, not before it.

Podcast Sponsor:

Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/and add BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau