Episode Summary

Lindsay Ziehl has lived enough lives for ten people — and at 77, she’s still not done. Born in Britain and raised across Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, Lindsay survived two cancers, raised her son Andrew alone after her husband walked out, and was stranded in South Africa during COVID when she received the phone call every parent dreads. Rather than be consumed by grief, she channelled it into the Andrew Ziehl Foundation and a lifetime of frontline humanitarian work — training over 3,000 women escaping domestic violence and personally intervening to secure the release of trafficked women. In this conversation with Mon and Mazz, Lindsay shares two unforgettable pieces of wisdom: a rabbi’s three-word reframe, and a little cat with a frozen chicken that changed the way she saw her own strength.

Episode Pillars

• The Nomadic Foundation: How a childhood of constant movement across Australia, the UK and Africa shaped Lindsay’s resilience and her lifelong instinct to help others.

• A Son Called Andrew: Raising him alone, letting him fly back to Australia, and receiving the phone call no parent ever expects — during a global pandemic, unable to travel.

• Turning Grief Into Purpose: The rabbi’s three-word reframe — “Not why, but what now?” — and how that single shift led to founding the Andrew Ziehl Foundation.

• Two Cancers and a Cat: Surviving Paget’s disease and breast cancer, riding a four-hour bus to chemo alone, and the moment a tiny cat with a frozen chicken reminded her to get back up.

• Domestic Violence Frontlines: Over 25 years running shelters, training 3,000 women, and securing the release of trafficked women just one day before they were sent abroad.

The Kintsugi Connection

To see the visual story of Lindsay’s journey and explore more episodes of resilience, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes/videos

If Lindsay’s story moved you, explore these related Hero conversations:

• Navigating grief and loss? Explore another Grit Diaries episode on life after unimaginable loss. • Finding purpose after adversity? Explore another episode on turning pain into action

Mentioned in this episode:

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.

Kintsugi Heroes

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

Episode Summary

Sarah de Jong grew up in rural Tasmania with a mother who left for Greece when Sarah was almost four — not out of abandonment, but out of her own battle with anorexia and mental illness. From that early experience of love stretched across distance and grief, Sarah built something quietly extraordinary: A Thousand Hearts, a global kindness movement now in its tenth year, delivering handmade pocket hearts to hospitals, palliative care settings, schools, and communities across the world. In this episode of Grit Diaries, Sarah unpacks what kindness actually means — the science behind it, the difference between being kind and being nice, and why inhabiting kindness as a daily practice might be the most powerful thing any of us can do.

Episode Pillars

• Humble Beginnings, Global Reach: How a handful of handmade pocket hearts given away for free in 2015 grew into a global kindness movement across the US, UK, Japan, Greece, Mexico, and beyond.
• The Science of Kindness: Why kindness works on the brain like a natural antidepressant — boosting serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins — and why even witnessing kindness has the same effect.
• Kind vs Nice — A Crucial Distinction: Niceness is transactional and external. Kindness comes from your core values and sometimes means saying what needs to be said. Sarah unpacks why we confuse the two and what we lose when we do.
• Stop Pushing the River: The wisdom Sarah's dad gave her during a difficult marriage — and how it became a guiding philosophy for learning to let go, say no, and stop mistaking busyness for purpose.
• Self-Kindness as a Practice: Why self-compassion goes far beyond bubble baths and treats — and how learning to look after yourself is one of the kindest things you can do for the people who love you.

The Kintsugi Connection

To see the visual story of Sarah's journey and explore more episodes of resilience, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes/videos

If Sarah's story moved you, explore these related Hero conversations:

Exploring purpose and community?

Listen to Ian Westmoreland's story of building Kintsugi Heroes from a place of personal adversity.

Turning pain into purpose?

Discover how Daniel Lloyd's journey of resilience inspires millions to find meaning after hardship.

About Kintsugi Heroes: An Australian not-for-profit (DGR endorsed) dedicated to strengthening mental wellbeing through the power of storytelling. Partner with Us: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/partners/ Donate (tax-deductible): https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate/#donate Website: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kintsugi-Heroes-100084850387170/

Mentioned in this episode:

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.

Kintsugi Heroes

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

Episode Summary

Siobhan Wilson was born at 27 weeks, weighing less than a kilogram. By 16, she had survived open heart surgery at one month old, roughly 130 resuscitations in the NICU, seven anaphylaxis episodes — including one where paramedics ran out of adrenaline — and founded her own social enterprise at age 6.

In this episode of Grit Diaries, Siobhan shares what it takes to turn a lifetime of medical complexity into a mission to make Australia safer for everyone living with anaphylaxis.

Episode Pillars

● Finding Magic in the Hard Stuff: How Siobhan's mum raised her to see possibility in the world despite a

childhood filled with hospital visits, trauma, and medical uncertainty.

● The Night She Nearly Didn't Come Home: Siobhan recounts the 2024 awards dinner where she won Young

Entrepreneur of the Year — and spent the ride home in an ambulance needing the equivalent of 12 EpiPens.

● What Australia's Labelling Laws Are Missing: Why 'dairy free' on a packet doesn't mean what you think it

does — and how a mashed potato nearly cost Siobhan her life.

● Shame, EpiPens, and Why People Wait Too Long: The embarrassment that stops people with anaphylaxis

from acting in time, and why that silence is deadly.

● What Actually Helps: From breathwork and hand pan music to becoming a sports medic — the unexpected

tools Siobhan uses to heal her brain and show up for others.

The Kintsugi Connection

To see the visual story of Siobhan's journey and explore more episodes of resilience, visit our YouTube channel:

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

If Siobhan's story moved you, explore these related Hero conversations:

● Navigating a serious health diagnosis? Listen to Ian Westmoreland's story of launching Kintsugi Heroes while

facing melanoma.

About Kintsugi Heroes: An Australian not-for-profit (DGR endorsed) dedicated to strengthening mental wellbeing through the

power of storytelling.

Partner with Us: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/partners/

Donate (tax-deductible): https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate/#donate

Website: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kintsugi-Heroes-100084850387170/

Mentioned in this episode:

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.

Kintsugi Heroes

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

In this episode of The Grit Diaries, we sit down with Dave Chauhan — author, leadership consultant, and former corporate executive — to explore what leadership really means in today’s world.

After nearly two decades in the corporate world, Dave realised that traditional definitions of success — titles, income, and status — weren’t aligned with what truly matters. Shaped by a childhood between two very different value systems, he began questioning everything he thought he knew about leadership.

This conversation challenges outdated leadership models and explores what it takes to lead with purpose, empathy, and responsibility.

● Two Worlds, One Identity

Growing up between two sets of parents and conflicting values — and how this shaped Dave’s leadership philosophy

● Success vs Purpose

The moment Dave realised corporate success wasn’t enough — and chose a different path

● Why Leadership Is Broken

How outdated, KPI-driven leadership models are failing people and organisations

● The Captain Set Sail Framework

Beacon (purpose), Wayfinder (adaptability), and Seafarer (courage) — a new way to lead

● The Hidden Weight of Leadership

Decision fatigue, emotional pressure, and the responsibility leaders carry every day

Dave’s journey reflects the essence of Kintsugi — where life’s fractures become the foundation for growth, purpose, and impact.

Rather than being defined by pressure or misalignment, Dave used those experiences to rebuild a new understanding of leadership grounded in values and humanity.

Kintsugi Heroes is an Australian not-for-profit (DGR endorsed) dedicated to strengthening mental wellbeing through the power of storytelling.

We believe that lived experience is a gift to be shared, not a scar to be hidden.

https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/partners/

https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate/#donate

Website: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kintsugi-Heroes-100084850387170/

Mentioned in this episode:

Kintsugi Heroes

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 of Grit Diaries, we sit down with Julie Randall, a Stage 4 Melanoma survivor who defied a terminal diagnosis to find a life-saving clinical trial...

Episode Summary

What would you do if you were given 72 hours to live? When Julie Randall was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma that had spread to her brain, she refused to accept a terminal "no." In this powerful episode of Grit Diaries, Mon & Mazz explore Julie’s extraordinary journey of tenacity—from the moment her life changed overnight to her global search for a life-saving clinical trial. Julie’s story is a masterclass in the "Grit" required to find a Plan B when the world says there isn't one.

Episode Pillars

1. The 72-Hour Turning Point: Facing a terminal diagnosis with two young daughters and choosing to "not go quietly."
2. The Global Search for a Miracle: The relentless pursuit of a US-based clinical trial and the bureaucratic hurdles of the medical system.
3. Mindset as Medicine: How Julie managed the mental "white noise" of trauma to stay focused on survival.
4. Patient Advocacy: Why Julie now dedicates her life to helping others navigate the "broken" parts of the healthcare system.
5. The Kintsugi Connection: Finding the gold in the repair and why scars are a testament to a life fought for and won.

Topics Covered: > Julie Randall, Stage 4 Melanoma, Grit Diaries, Kintsugi Heroes, Cancer Survivor Stories, Clinical Trials, Patient 71, Resilience, Overcoming Terminal Diagnosis, Patient Advocacy, Australia Podcast, Metastatic Melanoma, Mental Wellbeing, Simone Allan, Maryan Bova.

The Kintsugi Connection

To see the visual story of Julie's journey and explore more episodes of resilience, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes/videos

If Julie’s story moved you, explore these related Hero conversations:

1. Dealing with Illness? Listen to Ian Westmoreland’s story of launching Kintsugi Heroes while facing his own melanoma journey.
2. Seeking Resilience? Discover how Cameron reframed a terminal prognosis into a life of peace and flight.

About Kintsugi Heroes

Kintsugi Heroes is an Australian not-for-profit (DGR endorsed) dedicated to strengthening mental wellbeing through the power of storytelling. We believe that lived experience is a gift to be shared, not a scar to be hidden.

Partner with Us

Align your organisation with resilience and social responsibility. Help us amplify voices that inspire change. https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/partners/

Donate

Your tax-deductible contribution helps us reach over 6 million Australians via community radio and continue sharing these vital stories. https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate/#donate

Connect With Us

1. Website: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/
3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/
4. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kintsugi-Heroes-100084850387170/

Mentioned in this episode:

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.

Kintsugi Heroes

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

In this episode, we sit down with Zali Steggall, Olympian, barrister, and Member for Warringah, to explore her extraordinary journey from the slopes of the French Alps to the halls of Australian Parliament.

Born in Manly in 1974, Zali grew up between the Northern Beaches and the French Alps, where she discovered her love for skiing. Coming from a sporting family, with a grandfather who represented Australia in rugby and a father active in rugby and surf lifesaving, it was perhaps no surprise that Zali would go on to compete in four Winter Olympic Games, achieving medal success against the odds.

After retiring from sport, Zali built a remarkable career in law, completing her studies by correspondence while competing, practising as a barrister specialising in sport and family law, and serving on the International Court of Arbitration for Sport. Her contributions to sport and charity earned her an Order of Australia Medal in 2007 and induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Beyond career achievements, Zali is passionate about family and community. She and her family love raising their children in Warringah, taking part in local schools, sports, and activities, while Zali works tirelessly in Parliament to address issues like cost of living, climate, governance, and environmental protection.

In this conversation, we dive into the values that shaped her — courage, commitment, and determination — and how she brings the same drive from the slopes to representing her community in politics.

Mentioned in this episode:

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.

Kintsugi Heroes

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

Stephenie Rodriguez is a digital strategist, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for women’s empowerment. As an Ambassador for the Global Fund and The Women’s Resilience Centre, Stephenie leverages her voice and expertise to champion gender equality and resilience initiatives globally.

Her journey is a powerful story of resilience - surviving a life-threatening battle with cerebral malaria, enduring 13 surgeries, and relearning how to walk. This experience ignited her mission to support women in overcoming adversity and building strength in the face of life’s challenges.

Through her leadership and advocacy, Stephenie inspires others to rise above setbacks, embrace innovation, and create meaningful change for vulnerable communities worldwide.

Mentioned in this episode:

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.

Kintsugi Heroes

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

Michael de Haan is a seasoned financial professional with more than 25 years in the industry. After a successful career as a financial planner, he transitioned into coaching and advocacy, bringing a unique blend of financial expertise and human-centred support. Today, Michael is a Certified Money Behaviour Coach and a trained Financial Abuse Specialist, dedicated to helping people overcome limiting beliefs, rebuild independence, and live with dignity.

Michael’s passion lies in tackling one of the most hidden and damaging forms of coercive control: financial abuse. Affecting 1 in 6 women and 1 in 13 men in Australia, financial abuse often goes unseen, yet it is a precursor to other forms of domestic violence. Michael’s work focuses on equipping financial service professionals to identify red flags, support clients at risk, and advocate for stronger systems of protection.

In this episode, Michael shares:

-What financial abuse looks like and the red flags to be aware of.

-Why financial service professionals must embrace their duty of care, despite gaps in government policy.

-How elder financial abuse is on the rise, with urgent need for awareness and safeguards.

-A practical framework for survivors to rebuild their financial independence and take back control of their lives.

Michael’s dream is bold but clear: to eradicate domestic violence by shining a light on financial abuse and ensuring all Australians can live with financial dignity and independence. His upcoming book, Financial Abuse: The Real Truth Behind This Hidden Epidemic and Steps to Take Back Control (August 2025), further amplifies this mission.

👉 Connect with Michael:

🌐 www.quantumleap-global.com

Mentioned in this episode:

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.

Kintsugi Heroes

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

A proud Wiradjuri woman and First Nations advocate, Cecilia is a dedicated connector and educator who is passionate about self-determination and learning from the past to inform a better future.

Driven by a desire to empower others, Cecilia leans into her lived experience to inspire and inform with stories of recovery and renewal. With a background in counselling and a deep understanding of stakeholder engagement, Cecilia is recognised for shining a light on the impact of domestic violence and coercive control, particularly through the lens of regional Aboriginal women.

Through her engagement in government initiatives, she is paving the way for a coalition of voices and action towards delivering more effective services for men and women in regional Australia, and accessible, culturally informed services for First Nations victim survivors.

Cecilia is a classically trained vocalist who has performed on multiple stages across Australia, using the power of story and song to convey hope and share perspectives. When not on stage speaking or performing, Cecilia is living life to the full with her beautiful daughters and partner on their rural property in the Southern Tablelands.

Mentioned in this episode:

Kintsugi Heroes

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 of The Grit Diaries, we had the pleasure of sitting down in conversation with Jason and Blue Gerber, film directors and producers from the US, on the release of the coveted film Documentary Dawn, Dusk.

A story told through the eyes of Chelli Look, a creative in the luxury leather handbag space. After the sudden murder of her beloved sister through domestic violence, she shares her journey through grief and loss, using her art as a way to process her experience. Moving her journey to a place of forgiveness and healing, and eventually choosing her next path.

Jason and Blue take us behind the curtain and share how their connection with Chelli took place, the decision to make a heartfelt documentary that is so needed in these times. The challenges on a production side, and the ultimate joy of creating film that matters.

Husband and wife duo, Jason & Blue are an award-winning co-directing team working in films and commercials together and individually. They have directed for brands such as Walgreens, 7UP, Scotch-Brite, Meiomi Wine, Chipotle, Intelligentsia, and LOEWE. Their heart for storytelling can be seen in their work for The Boys & Girls Clubs, GE Girls, Athletes Unlimited, Lincoln Park Community Services, which won a Silver Telly, as well as a piece for Chicago Connected, which President Barack Obama shared. Their film, Otis’ Dream, about voter suppression, debuted during the months leading up to the 2020 election and was shared by Oprah as an official Super Soul Sunday short film, gaining attention from major media outlets. Female and male, tactful and feeling, they evoke imagination and authentic human narratives directing as one voice.

jasonandblue.com

@jasonandblue

@buffalo

dawnduskfilm.com

You can view the documentary on Amazon and Hoopla

dawnduskfilm.com/trailer

dawnduskfilm.com/press

tinyurl.com/42ujswjy

Mentioned in this episode:

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.

Kintsugi Heroes

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