A couple of years ago, I met Barry- and his story has stuck with me ever since.

Barry Carey, a number one bestselling author in the Start Over Series (Volume 4), is originally from Northern Ireland and moved to Australia in 2008, planning to stay for just a year. Like many, that year turned into something much bigger- but not without its challenges.

What started as a lifestyle of partying in his early 20s quickly spiralled into heavy drinking, anxiety, and declining mental health. After a series of difficult events, including a car crash and struggles with depression, Barry reached a breaking point.

But that wasn’t the end of his story.

Through running and discipline, Barry began to rebuild, training at an elite level and completely shifting his mindset. Yet even after physical progress, he faced further setbacks, including injury, trauma, and deep depression that led to hospitalisation.

After surviving a life-threatening accident, Barry had a realisation: if he was still here, there had to be a reason.

From that moment, everything changed.

He committed to working on his mind, rebuilding his life through fitness, mental health support, and personal growth. Today, he’s a speaker, author, and advocate, helping others find their way through dark times.

In this episode, we talk about rock bottom, resilience, and what it really takes to start over.

Barry’s message is simple:

Never give up on yourself. Ask for help — and keep going.

Connect with Barry on Instagram: @careybarry

In this episode, I’m joined by Kersten Stengel, whose journey is nothing short of powerful.

Kersten was born in Blackpool and studied in Manchester, where she completed a science degree before going on to train as a teacher. She started her career back in Blackpool, driven by a genuine passion to become the best teacher she could be.

Around that time, she met her now-husband-who’s originally from Scandinavia, through her family’s pub. Not long after, they got married, and together they made a bold decision: to start a completely new life abroad.

They chose Adelaide, despite never having been before. After navigating the visa process, Kersten secured a role as a science teacher, and within just two years, she was promoted to assistant principal. On paper, everything was going well.

But life had other plans.

While working at a new school, Kersten experienced a traumatic incident involving intruders. In the aftermath, she sustained an injury that would go on to change everything. What followed was a long and incredibly challenging period of chronic pain... migraines that lasted weeks, restricted movement, and a loss of independence that left her feeling isolated and disconnected from her life.

At her lowest point, something shifted.

A yoga retreat in Byron Bay became a turning point. During a deeply transformative experience with yoga nidra, Kersten woke up pain-free for the first time. Although the pain didn’t disappear completely, it gave her something she hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.

That moment set her on a completely new path.

Since then, Kersten has trained extensively in yoga, meditation, trauma awareness, and clinical nutrition, including time spent studying in Chennai. She’s built a toolkit not only to manage her own pain, but to help others reconnect with themselves and heal.

We also talk about how Kersten and I connected through social media, her involvement in the Start Over journey, and how she’s now turning her experience, knowledge, and passion into a growing business- helping others find their way back to who they truly are.

Her message is simple but powerful: reconnect with your true self, understand your values, and have the courage to follow that path.

If you’d like to follow Kersten’s journey, you can find her on Instagram at @kerstenstengel.

In this episode, I’m joined by Adam Douglas, who shares how he discovered the Start Over movement after coming across my podcast and connecting with me on Instagram. After learning about the opportunity to co-author and share powerful life stories, Adam felt inspired to step forward and tell his own.

Adam talks openly about the challenges he faced during COVID when he lost his job and the sense of purpose that came with it. As someone who thrives on meeting people and being creative, he suddenly found himself with too much time and no clear direction. It was a difficult period that even brought back memories of a time when he had been seriously ill.

But out of that low moment came something unexpected.

Surrounded by spare cardboard and old art supplies, Adam began creating again. What started as simple experiments quickly grew into something much bigger- from small models to an incredible cardboard Iron Man suit and life-size mannequin prototypes. When he finally displayed one of his creations outside in Manchester, the reaction from curious passers-by became a powerful and magical moment that reminded him of the joy of creating.

Adam, an engineer and engineering teacher, is now turning his creativity into something even bigger. He’s building a business around his creations, with plans to design full-size models and vehicles, while also using his skills to inspire others through creativity, collaboration, and coaching.

Adam’s story is a reminder that even in our lowest moments, creativity and purpose can help us find our way forward.

To connect with Adam, follow him on Instagram: @adamdouglascoach

In this episode, I’m joined by Louise Culyer, who shares her powerful journey of transformation and becoming part of the Start Over movement.

Louise explains how, despite already helping people through her work, she felt something was missing. Her business felt stagnant and she knew she was meant for more - she wanted to write a book, travel, and reach even more people. After connecting on Zoom, we began working together and she became part of the Start Over movement.

Growing up, Louise struggled with trauma, anxiety, and self-doubt. She built what looked like a stable life on the outside, a career as a teacher, a home, and a supportive husband- but internally she wasn’t happy. Surrounded by negative family dynamics and struggling with her mental health and relationship with food, she realised she needed to make a change.

Louise made the difficult decision to walk away from her old life, including relationships that were no longer healthy for her. When COVID hit, things became even harder. She lost her stability, had nowhere to live for a period of time, and reached one of the lowest points in her life — even sleeping in her car and eventually going to hospital due to her mental health.

But that moment became a turning point.

Louise began focusing on her healing, investing in her health, fitness, and personal growth. With the support of a spiritual coach, she experienced a powerful realisation that there was more to life and that she was worth fighting for.

Since then, Louise has completely turned her life around. After working with the NHS and investing heavily in her own education and development, she has built her own coaching business and now helps people transform their lives every day.

Her message is simple but powerful: there is more to life than what you may see right now. Invest in yourself, put yourself first, and believe that change is possible.

To connect with Louise, you can find her on Instagram: @louiseculyer

In this episode, I’m joined by Sia De La Cruz, who shares her journey and what being part of the Start Over movement means to her. We talk about the power of connection, storytelling, and how people are using their experiences to bring healing not only to themselves, but to others.

Sia has spent the last six years writing a book- a collection of poems and creative pieces inspired by trauma and healing. After completing it, we connected on Instagram, and I invited her to become a co-author in the Start Over movement so she could share her story in a raw and authentic way to help others feel less alone.

Sia opens up about the challenges she has faced in her life, including losing her father to suicide at just 16 years old- an experience that deeply impacted her and shaped how she approached relationships and helping others.

At 25, she found herself in a domestic abusive relationship that lasted five years. She bravely shares part of her story in this episode, including the red flags, the trauma she experienced, and the strength it took to eventually walk away. The full story can be found in her chapter in the Start Over movement book.

Sia’s message is one of courage and empowerment, reminding us of the importance of finding our inner strength, trusting our intuition, and seeking the right support on our healing journey.

To connect with Sia, you can find her on Instagram: @sia_dlc

In this special 36-minute episode, I am interviewed by my children, Paige and Saul, for a candid, future-focused conversation on what will actually win in 2026-on social media and in business.

Stripping away trends, tactics, and algorithm-chasing, I share why the next era belongs to those who understand the Story Economy, where authenticity, leadership, and lived experience outperform automation, shortcuts, and surface-level influence.

Together, we explore:

• Why storytelling has become the most valuable currency in an AI-driven world

• What authentic personal brands will need to do differently in 2026

• How leadership is shifting from authority to connection and trust

• Why people are done with perfection... and drawn to real human journeys

• What businesses and creators must focus on now to stay relevant long-term

This episode is thoughtful, honest, and deeply human, a rare intergenerational conversation about meaning, identity, and building something that lasts in a world of constant noise.

If you’re a founder, creator, coach, or leader navigating the next chapter of digital culture, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, influence, and impact.

🎧 Listen if you want to understand what’s coming- not just what’s trending.

In this deeply honest and hopeful episode, I’m joined by Cheryl Stott, a woman whose story is not defined by trauma...but by resilience, growth, and the decision to keep going when everything felt lost.

Cheryl opens up about her early life, growing up in an unsafe home where violence and fear were part of her daily reality. As a child, she struggled to regulate her emotions and later received diagnoses of Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. Searching for relief and understanding, she turned to drugs in an attempt to cope with the pain she carried for so long.

By her mid-30s, Cheryl reached a breaking point. After years of addiction, self-harm, and a suicide attempt that left her hospitalised, she found herself questioning whether life had any meaning at all. She speaks candidly about losing custody of her son, feeling invisible, and believing that no one truly cared.

But this episode is not about the moment she tried to end her life- it’s about what came after.

Cheryl shares how meeting someone who genuinely saw her and believed in her became a turning point. With support, courage, and immense inner work, she got clean, moved forward, and began facing the unresolved trauma that had shaped her entire life. Though that relationship didn’t last, it played a crucial role in helping her reclaim herself.

Today, Cheryl has spent over a decade working in drug recovery, helping others find a way out of addiction. She is now a personal trainer, using fitness as a tool for mental strength, self-respect, and healing. She believes the body is a reflection of the mind- and that movement can change lives.

Her message is one of hope:

✨ The pain won’t last forever.

✨ You are not broken.

✨ There is another way — even when you can’t see it yet.

This episode is raw, emotional, and deeply human. It’s for anyone who has ever felt lost, ashamed, or unsure how to keep going... and for anyone who needs to hear that change is possible.

Connect with Cheryl:

📱 Instagram: @exerciseforwellbeing

In this deeply reflective and inspiring episode, I’m joined by Olga Wlodarska, a woman who truly believes she found this conversation at the exact right moment...through alignment, readiness, and the courage to finally share her story.

Born and raised in Poland, Olga describes a childhood with very little joy, growing up in a home affected by alcohol abuse, instability, and emotional neglect. From a young age, she took on responsibilities far beyond her years- supporting her mother emotionally and helping manage her father’s addiction, while quietly learning that safety and support were not guaranteed.

Despite the challenges at home, Olga loved performing arts, poetry, and being on stage, inspired by her older brother, who she deeply admired. His tragic death four years ago became one of the most defining moments of her life, shaping how she now lives with presence, gratitude, and intention.

At just 14, Olga moved out to live in another city, driven by a desire to learn, to be seen, and to help others. She later moved to the UK at 21 with her partner at the time, believing she was following love and doing the “right thing.” What followed were years marked by stress, academic pressure, health issues, and repeated experiences of mistreatment — both at home and within educational environments.

Despite this, Olga persevered. After setbacks in her studies, she rebuilt her confidence from the ground up, eventually training at King’s College Hospital in London, where she not only qualified as a dental hygienist therapist, but was awarded Best Student for Dental Hygiene — a powerful moment of validation after years of being told she wouldn’t amount to anything.

Now a single mum of two, Olga reflects on how the breakdown of her marriage became the death of her ego- and the beginning of her true evolution. Today, alongside her clinical work, she supports others with confidence, self-worth, meditation, and inner healing. She is also part of the Start Over Movement, with her chapter titled “Never the Same.”

✨ Olga’s message is clear:

Change begins internally. Self-love and self-trust are powerful. No one is coming to save you — and that realisation can change everything.

This episode is about resilience, grief, identity, and the quiet strength it takes to choose yourself- again and again.

In this deeply moving and courageous episode, I sit down with Andrea Ducker, a woman whose life story is one of survival, strength, and ultimately, transformation.

Andrea opens up about growing up in a deeply unstable and unsafe environment — from her parents separating at a young age, being moved between family homes, and enduring years of sexual abuse, alongside domestic violence and neglect. She shares how these experiences shaped her childhood, her sense of self, and her deep desire to become invisible just to survive.

We talk honestly about the daily reality of living in fear, the anxiety of never knowing what you’re walking into, and how Andrea eventually made the brave decision to run away at just 16 years old. Despite finding herself in another hostile environment, she explains how reclaiming even a small sense of control changed everything.

Andrea also speaks about becoming a young mum, navigating life largely on her own, and later being diagnosed with cervical cancer at just 22 — an experience she believes was connected to the trauma she endured earlier in life. Even after surviving cancer, Andrea faced further betrayal, remaining silent for years before reaching a pivotal moment of realisation: she didn’t want to live as a victim anymore.

From that point on, Andrea committed to healing. Through self-work, acceptance, and ambition, she rebuilt her life — climbing the ladder in sales, travelling across Europe, and creating a future she once thought was impossible.

Today, Andrea is passionate about helping others who have experienced trauma, including vulnerable adults and children who’ve lived on the streets. She is part of the Start Over Movement, using her voice to remind others that what happened to them is not their fault — and that asking for help is an act of strength, not shame.

✨ Andrea’s greatest lesson:

Accept what you can’t change. Change what you can. Keep going — and don’t give up.

This episode is raw, honest, and deeply empowering. A must-listen for anyone navigating healing, trauma, or the courage it takes to start again.

Connect with Andrea:

📱 Instagram: @andreabevan.sg

🌐 Website: whatlifethrowsatyou

For our next episode of How to be a Hero in real life, I’m joined by Radomira Sunacova, a female health and fitness coach who shares a deeply honest and courageous story about self-worth, identity, and learning to listen to yourself.

Radomira talks openly about one of the lowest moments of her life-returning her engagement ring , and how that moment forced her to question everything she thought would bring her happiness. Growing up, she never lacked materially, but there was an emotional gap that led her to seek comfort in food. Hurtful words from her father about her body stayed with her for years, shaping a belief that she was only worthy of love if she looked a certain way.

That belief followed her into her teenage years and adulthood, where fitness became less about health and more about redemption. Surrounded by slim bodies and unrealistic standards, she began restricting food from the age of 16, pushing herself harder and harder in the hope that she would finally be accepted, loved, and “good enough.” What followed was nearly a decade of binge eating, poor self-confidence, and a complete disconnect from her body-including the loss of her menstrual cycle, a clear sign that something wasn’t right.

She also reflects on her relationships and the pressure many people feel in their 30s to settle down and follow a certain path. Despite strong gut feelings that something was missing, Radomira stayed in a relationship and pushed toward marriage, believing that ticking the right boxes would bring fulfilment. When the relationship eventually ended and the engagement was called off, she was left feeling lost, unwell, and unsure how to move forward.

Looking back, Radomira shares that while she wishes she had asked for help sooner, those experiences shaped the woman she is today. She now works with women to help them rebuild trust with their bodies, reconnect with their intuition, and understand that true health and fitness are tools for strength and support…not punishment.

This is a powerful conversation about trusting your feelings, asking for help, and remembering that you are more than your body... and that you can choose a different direction at any point in your life.