From There to Here

The 20-year fog

Karl grew up in apartheid South Africa in a wealthy but emotionally distant Austrian-South African family, experiencing what he now understands as complex trauma rooted in his mother's narcissism and his father's clinical detachment. For decades he dissociated, unaware he was queer until his late twenties when he met a partner and came out to indifference from his family. He moved to London at 27, then Australia, but remained numb and disconnected from himself until the last two years. Only recently, after leaving corporate work and experiencing a workplace sexual harassment case, has he begun to reclaim his creativity, healing practice, and authentic self. He now writes, mentors others in isolation, and teaches people that the answers we seek live in the quiet spaces we're taught to fear.

Karl Germann is a queer South African-born Australian now based in Port Macquarie. He spent two decades navigating dissociation and emotional distance from a privileged but cold family before recognizing his lived experience as trauma. He has since become a Reiki practitioner, author of the children's book The Land Where Unicorns Are Made, and community support worker dedicated to healing and connection.

In this Kintsugi Heroes conversation with John Dwyer, Karl shares the story behind the moments below.

🎙️ IN THIS CONVERSATION:

• Dissociation and small-t trauma can persist silently for decades without dramatic incidents, rooted in emotional distance and hypervigilance from childhood.

• Coming out as queer or reaching any milestone does not instantly resolve the foundational trauma that shaped you.

• Authenticity attracts more meaningful connection and professional success than conformity or self-censorship ever will.

🕒 CHAPTERS:

00:00 Welcome and introduction

01:27 Growing up in apartheid South Africa

08:00 Dissociation, trauma, and the Austrian father

14:30 A narcissistic mother and emotional distance

19:22 Coming out as queer at 27

27:50 Leaving South Africa for London and Australia

35:00 Corporate work, authenticity, and walking away

41:00 Climbing Kilimanjaro and metaphors for life

46:35 Writing, creativity, and The Land Where Unicorns Are Made

50:14 Reiki practice and community connection through Ankali

54:20 Building community, smiling, and winning people over

57:51 Advice for younger selves and closing reflections

🎧 If this story moved you, follow Kintsugi Heroes in your podcast app so you never miss an episode.

📌 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Out of the Fog: outofthefog.website

carlfox.com: carlfox.com

Lightunitedreiki.com: lightunitedreiki.com

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

ABOUT KINTSUGI HEROES

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Welcome.

We're glad you found your way here.

Kintsugi Heroes was created from a simple belief: every person has a story worth sharing, and sometimes the story we need to hear arrives exactly when we need it most.

Our name comes from the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold. Rather than hiding the cracks, they are honoured as part of the object's history. We believe people are much the same. The experiences that challenge us, break us, shape us, and help us grow are often the very things that connect us to one another.

This channel is home to honest conversations about resilience, hope, grief, recovery, courage, love, and what it means to keep moving forward when life doesn't go to plan.

Here you'll find six podcast series, each sharing stories through a different lens:

• Kintsugi Heroes, hosted by John Milham

• Animals & Us, hosted by Natalie Stockdale

• Grit Diaries: From Grit to Grace, hosted by Simone Allan and Maryan Bova

• From There to Here, hosted by Emma Bellamy-Dodd

• Golden Threads: Stories of Disability & Resilience

• Pride in Stories, hosted by John Dwyer (launching 31 July 2026)

Every story shared here is offered with the hope that it helps someone feel a little less alone. A little more understood. A little more connected.

Whether you're navigating a difficult season, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for meaningful conversations, you're welcome here.

New episodes are released weekly across our series.

If you'd like to help us keep these stories freely available to everyone, you can support our work here: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate

Thank you for being part of this community.

We help people tell the stories they need to share so others can discover the story they need to hear.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

CONNECT WITH US

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🌐 https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes

📘 https://www.facebook.com/kintsugiheroes

📸 https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes

#KintsugiHeroes #LivedExperience #ResiliencePodcast #PrideInStories #GoldenJoinery #QueerJourney #MentalHealth #Dissociation #AuthenticSelf #FamilyTrauma #HealingWork #CommunityConnection #CreativityHeals

———

Mentioned in this episode:

Thank You For Listening

Follow the show, share it with someone who needs it, or share your own story at kintsugiheroes.com.au. Your story matters.

Support Kintsugi Heroes

Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit, and every story we share is free for the people who need it. If this show has meant something to you, you can help us keep going. Visit kintsugiheroes.com.au and click donate. Every contribution helps us keep telling these stories, and it's tax-deductible.

In this episode, DEI strategist Khayshie Tilak Ramesh shares her journey from a childhood experience of being “othered” to becoming a leading voice in creating more inclusive spaces. She demystifies intersectionality - how overlapping systems of oppression create unique experiences of discrimination – and explores how we can address compounded marginalisation. The conversation dives deep into shifting from non-racism to active anti-racism, with practical insights on indifference and neutrality, and navigating entrenched workplace resistance. Khayshie shares tangible strategies for navigating difficult DEI conversations, from understanding the interests behind a person’s position to the art of “calling in” versus “calling out” discriminatory systems. She reflects on the personal cost of advocacy, the tension between being bold versus palatable, and why rest is resistance - not a luxury.

For anyone committed to building a more equitable world, this episode offers both the conceptual framework and actionable tools to move from awareness to meaningful action.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

01:44 - The Journey of Otherness

07:22 - Understanding Intersectionality

20:33 - The Distinction Between Non-Racist and Anti-Racist

36:31 - Negotiation: Interests vs. Positions

41:13 - Navigating the Movable Middle in Advocacy

44:58 - The Challenge of Being a DEI Strategist

49:02 - Balancing Boldness and Palatability in Advocacy

53:01 - Understanding Advocacy Burnout

01:01:35 - Being comfortable with No in Self-Advocacy

01:05:22 - Valuing Stories and Knowledge Beyond Books

01:08:29 - Redefining the Narrative of Migrants

01:12:01 - Authenticity in Advocacy and Representation

01:16:52 - Conclusion

Resources mentioned:

1. “Invisible Women” by Caroline Criado Perez
2. “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” by Beverly Daniel Tatum
3. “Getting to Yes” by Fisher and Ury

Connect with Khayshie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khayshie/

Website: https://khayshie.com/

---

Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

Host Emma Bellamy-Dodd sits with Richa Joshi, who helps quiet voices get loud - especially women of colour who have been muted by systems, labels, and cultural expectations. In this episode, Richa shares her personal journey of (un-)learning to “shrink” to fit in and how parenthood became the catalyst for breaking generational cycles of silence. The conversation delves into the messy but essential work of “unmuting” - a process of unlearning harmful conditioning, challenging internalised narratives, and healing from self-erasure. Richa challenges the idea that integration is a one-sided task migrants must perform alone, reframing belonging as mutual adaptation where everyone evolves. Together, they explore the power of deconstructing our own cultural biases and moving beyond limiting labels and stereotypes – like the model minority myth - to embrace our evolving, intersectional identities. 

Chapters:

• 0:00 - Introduction

• 3:00 - Identity Formation and Migration

• 11:56 - The Emotional Process of Unmuting

• 23:00 - Cultural Adaptation vs. Assimilation

• 42:04 - Deconstructing Cultural Norms and Challenging Labelling

• 48:54 - Power, Privilege, and Mutuality

• 1:06:41 - The Role of Authenticity and Self-Reflection

• 1:18:02 - Conclusion

Resources mentioned:

• “The Good Immigrant” by Nikesh Shukla
• “The Leader unwritten: Becoming who you’re meant to be” by Premila Jina

Connect with X:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richajoshi1978/ 

Website: unmutingyou.com 

---

Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

Zozan Balci is a researcher and author who explores the lived experiences of mixed heritage individuals navigating cultural in-betweenness. Born in Germany to Italian and Turkish migrant parents, Zozan lost her ability to speak Turkish as a child - a loss that sparked years of reflection and ultimately became the foundation of her PhD research. In this conversation, Zozan shares powerful stories from her book about the emotional weight of being “ambiguously Brown,” the invasive “Where are you from?” question, and how “in-betweeners” often erase parts of themselves to fit into dominant cultures. She discusses the racialization of cultural identity, the deep connection between language and relationships, and why well-meaning practices of inclusion can emphasise differences and eventually harm children. Zozan also introduces her documentary project “Say Our Names,” which addresses the everyday microaggression of name mispronunciation, and shares practical strategies for creating micro-inclusions. This episode challenges listeners to sit with discomfort, question their assumptions about belonging, and recognise that mixedness isn’t a deficit - it’s a rich, valid identity deserving of recognition and respect.

Chapters:

• 0:00 - Introduction & Welcome

• 1:41 – The Personal Story Behind the Research

• 5:00 – The Experience of “Ambiguous Brownness”

• 10:00 – Feeling Not Enough of Anything

• 15:51 – Why People Reject or Embrace Heritage Languages

• 20:00 – Language as Connection, Not Asset

• 24:59 – Race, Visibility, and Identity

• 25:00 – Normalizing Mixedness

• 30:00 – The Exhausting Emotional Labor

• 33:30 – Say Our Names Documentary

• 40:00 – Empowering Multilingual Students in Classrooms

• 45:00 – Resisting Academic Conformity

• 50:00 – The Myth of Objectivity in Social Science

• 52:30 – Final Words of Wisdom

• 55:29 – Dr. Rukia Odero’s Wisdom

• 56:50 – What Does “Migrant” Mean?

• 58:40 – What Is Home?

• 1:00:00 – Before and After: Finding Authentic Voice

• 1:02:33 – What’s Next: Micro-Inclusion & Closing

Resources mentioned:

• Book: Erased Voices and Unspoken Heritage: Language, Identity and Belonging in the Lives of Cultural In-betweeners, by Zozan Balci. Available in Routledge.

• Thesis: To Speak or Not to Speak? The Dilemma of Heritage Language and Identity for the Culturally Hybrid Generation, by Zozan Balci. Available here: https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/147366/2/02whole.pdf

• Documentary: “Say Our Names” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz2PUakvfH8 -

• TV Show: “Kim’s Convenience” (Canadian TV show about a Korean migrant family recommended for its honest, funny take on identity).

Connect with Zozan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drzozanbalci/

---

Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

Dr. Sarah Aratchi brings a powerful and heartfelt account of migrating to Australia as a child, reflecting on the everyday realities being “othered” due to her surname and skin colour. She unpacks the lasting impact of being “the brown kid” in school and the constant questioning about where she’s “really from” that followed her into adulthood.

The conversation also highlights the subtle ways in which sexism pervades the medical field - from being misidentified as a nurse to continually having to assert her expertise as a doctor. Rather than viewing her dual heritage as a burden, Sarah embraces what she calls being a “cross-cultural kid” - someone who can authentically inhabit multiple cultural spaces. She encourages others to resist the pressure to choose between identities, instead celebrating the richness that comes from blending Australian and heritage cultures through food, traditions, and community. Her journey from exclusion to empowerment illustrates how authentic self-expression can emerge from embracing multiplicity rather than conformity to a single narrative.

00:00 Journey of Migration and Childhood Memories

06:05 Navigating School Life as a Minority

12:00 The Impact of Cultural Questions

17:56 Experiences of Sexism in Medicine

25:54 Balancing Motherhood and Career

33:54 The Strength of Women in Dual Roles

38:13 The Journey of a Woman in Medicine

39:54 Writing a Memoir: A Personal Reflection

42:11 The Emotional Toll of Medicine

47:55 Cultural Identity and Migration

52:29 Finding Belonging in a Multicultural Society

56:06 The Power of Authenticity and Advocacy

Resources mentioned:

Brown. Female. Doctor. By Sarah Arachchi  (available on Amazon)

Looking for Alibrandi, by Melina Marchetta

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

Connect with Sarah:

Instagram: @kidsdoctorsarah

---

Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

In this episode, host Emma Bellamy-Dodd sits down with cultural psychologist Deborah Ko for an eye-opening conversation on identity, belonging, and adaptation across cultures. Deborah shares her personal experiences growing up at the intersection of American and Hong Kong backgrounds, and reveals how cultural psychology became a lens for understanding her multiple selves. The discussion explores the discomfort of duality and dialecticism, Western versus Eastern notions of selfhood, and the fluid meaning of authenticity for those living between cultures. They unpack leadership and workplace dynamics, examining how the “ideal leader” looks like across cultures and how multicultural teams navigate these hidden norms. Deborah offers insights on communication, self-presentation, and adapting to professional norms abroad. The conversation also tackles how AI risks ironing out our individual quirks and cultural nuances, highlighting the critical importance of intentional engagement with technology. Memorable reflections on home, third-culture kids, and embracing complexity round out this compelling exploration of life in the in-between.

Chapters

00:00 Cultural Psychology: An Introduction

02:30 Growing Up Between Cultures

06:17 Understanding Identity Across Cultures

11:31 The Interdependent vs. Independent Self

16:32 Self-Presentation and Cultural Expectations

22:52 Leadership and Cultural Biases

28:16 Cultural Morality: What’s Right or Wrong Across Contexts

33:33 Communication Styles and Cultural Norms

40:14 Emotional Expression Across Cultures

45:59 Honesty vs. Kindness in Communication

51:17 The Impact of AI on Authenticity

57:05 Cultural Nuances in AI Communication

01:05:40 The Role of Critical Thinking in the Age of AI

01:13:28 Cultural Identity and the Migrant Experience

01:19:50 Closing Reflections

Resources mentioned:

“Geography of Thought” by Richard Nisbett

“The Culture Map” by Erin Meyer

“On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong

“Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner

Connect with Deborah:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahko/

Medium: https://psykobabble.medium.com/

---

Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

 In this conversation, host Emma Bellamy-Dodd speaks with Fabiola Campbell, founder and CEO of Professional Migrant Women and author of the upcoming book “Own it”. Fabiola shares her deeply personal migration story - born in Australia but raised in Venezuela, Fabiola returned as an adult expecting to feel at home, only to confront the reality of being a migrant in her birth country. Fabiola opens up about what she calls “the death of the superwoman” - the confident, capable person she was in Venezuela who disappeared when language barriers stripped away her ability to express herself. She explores the profound loss of identity and social capital that comes with migration, where achievements and connections that defined you back home suddenly carry no meaning. The conversation delves into the shame many migrants carry, the internal hierarchies of migrant “worth,” and the journey from focusing on what you lack to recognizing your strengths. Fabiola introduces her DARE method for reclaiming identity with courage and discusses the importance of daring to take up space and be seen.

Resources mentioned:

“Own it”, by Fabiola Campbell

To buy her book, click on the following link: https://www.amazon.com.au/Own-call-women-D-R/dp/B0FPBLW5TV 

Connect with Fabiola or Professional Migrant Women (PMW):

Fabiola’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiola-campbell/ 

Website: professionalmigrantwomen.com.au

PMW Level Up Platform: https://professionalmigrantwomen.com.au/level-up-platform-launch/ 

Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction

01:30 Meeting Fabiola Campbell and Her Journey

02:39 The Death of the Superwoman: Identity Crisis as a Migrant

09:04 Grieving the Past: Loss of Self and Social Capital

14:04 Shame and Internalized Identity: The Struggle of Being a Migrant

26:12 Empowerment Through Understanding: Shifting Perspectives

45:29 Daring to Take Up Space: Embracing Identity and Growth

---

Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

In this episode, Ochan shares his multifaceted journey as someone of South Sudanese and Ugandan heritage, born in Ethiopia to migrant parents, whose family later moved to Kenya before eventually resettling in Australia. He opens up about the challenges he faced after arriving, including experiences of loneliness, racism, and racial profiling. Ochan discusses how these moments influenced his approach to content creation, helping him embrace and express his authentic self. He highlights the importance of community, mental health awareness, and the need for deeper connections in a society that often feels isolating. Ochan also offers thoughtful advice for new migrants and shares insights on what it means to belong in a multicultural landscape.

Resources mentioned:

Ochan Aba recommends “The African Diary” social media profile and its book, which features the creator telling stories while riding a bike through Nairobi.

Connect with Ochan:

Instagram and TikTok: @letstalkwithaboutit

Chapters: 

(00:00 Introduction 

(01:35 Meeting Ochan and Authenticity in Content Creation

05:18 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Confidence 

06:51 Expectations vs. Reality: Migrating to Australia

08:27 Experiencing Racism and Discrimination

14:11 Navigating Social Isolation and Loneliness

17:32 Building Relationships in a New Culture

20:00 Cultural Differences in Communication

22:40 Creating Community and Connection

23:50 The Impact of Technology on Relationships 

25:22 The Loneliness in Crowds

26:43 Experiencing Racial Profiling

30:11 The Impact of Racial Profiling on Identity

33:55 Advice for New Migrants

37:34 The Metaphor of Migration

40:48 Belonging Between Cultures

45:08 The Importance of Connection and Mental Health

---

Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

In this episode of From There to Here, Emma Bellamy-Dodd speaks with Yaser Naseri, who fled Iran after political activism made staying impossible. Yaser describes life in Tehran, the dangers of protesting, and tough decisions that led him to Indonesia - where multiple failed escape attempts and a deadly boat disaster profoundly shaped him. He recalls surviving at sea, time in detention, and the everyday struggles of life as an asylum seeker with no language or financial resources. Through stark challenges, Yaser finds new reserves of resilience and discovers community and belonging in unexpected places. He shares how traumatic events, adjustment to difficulties, and perspective have changed his life, and why “just taking the next best step” matters. Yaser reflects on redefining home, balancing gratitude and grief, and the ongoing mental game of overcoming adversity.

Resources mentioned:

Talent is never enough, by John C. Maxwell

Connect with Yaser:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasernaseri/ 

Chapters: 

(00:00) Introduction: Meeting Yaser Naseri

(02:23) Growing Up in Tehran: Family and Community

(06:03) Political Awakening and Green Movement Protests

(13:09) The Turning Point: Fear, Danger, and Escape

(18:03) Arrival in Indonesia: First Steps into the Unknown

(23:07) Failed Escape Attempts and Facing Detention

(35:55) The Boat Disaster: Surviving at Sea

(52:54) Detention Trauma and Unexpected Resilience

(57:36) Waiting in Limbo: Jakarta and Building Community

(1:03:27) Lessons Learned: Resilience, Perspective, and Growth

(1:11:18) Life in Australia: Adaptation and Mental Strength

(1:17:13) Advice for Newcomers: Taking the Next Step

(1:21:17) Sources of Inspiration: Books and Mentors

(1:23:09) Definitions: Refugee, Home, and Identity

(1:27:29) The Power of Sharing Stories

(1:27:55) Connect with Yaser & Closing Reflections

---

Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.

In this podcast episode, Roman Abasy shares his inspiring journey from Afghanistan to Australia as a refugee and human rights advocate. He discusses his background as a Taekwondo champion, his transition to advocating for women's rights in sports, and the challenges he faced adapting to a new culture. Roman emphasizes the importance of sports in helping refugees integrate into their new communities and highlights the unique challenges faced by young refugees today. He also shares his hopes for the future of women's rights in Afghanistan and offers advice to fellow refugees and migrants on navigating their new lives.

Resource mentioned: 

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini 

Connect with Roman:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-abasy-702ab2227/

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Roman Abasy

 (01:36) Journey from Afghanistan to Australia

 (10:06) The Power of Sports in Integration 

 (17:05) Challenges Faced by Young Refugees 

 (21:06) Hopes for Women's Rights in Afghanistan 

 (22:00) Advice for Refugees and Migrants 

 (24:54) Reflections on Identity and Home 

 (31:12) Conclusion

---

Thank you for listening to From There To Here!

If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.

I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!

LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple Podcasts

This podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.