In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Margaritas to discuss a subject that is finally beginning to receive the attention it deserves: perimenopause.

Lauren grew up in Melbourne, Australia, in a proud Greek family. Like many of us, she absorbed the beliefs, values and expectations of the people around her. She was naturally loud, expressive and full of life, but was often told to quieten down.

Then, in her forties, things began to change.

Lauren started experiencing brain fog and forgetfulness. Her confidence disappeared, anxiety and depression began to build, and she gradually lost her motivation to go out and enjoy life. She describes becoming a shell of the person she once was.

She was exhausted, struggling with tinnitus and unable to sleep properly. She developed tennis elbow, followed by frozen shoulder, and was placed on high doses of medication. For around two years, her symptoms were dismissed as a midlife crisis, with doctors suggesting she simply take tablets and carry on.

Eventually, Lauren reached rock bottom. She struggled to get out of bed and felt as though she had lost her will to live.

On Christmas night, while sitting with her family, she realised she could not continue living this way. She had to make a choice.

Lauren left her successful career in lending at one of Australia’s major banks—a decision that brought fear and guilt because so much of her self-worth had become connected to her income. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to slow down, spend meaningful time with her family and rediscover who she was.

Podcasts played a huge role in changing her life. Instead of listening to music while driving, she began listening to conversations that helped her understand her body, challenge her beliefs and find a new sense of purpose.

By learning to listen to the messages her body was sending her, Lauren began to transform her health naturally. Today, she is free from the pain and rheumatoid symptoms she once experienced, although she is honest that managing hormonal changes is still something she works on every day.

We discuss the difference between menopause and perimenopause, the physical and emotional symptoms women may experience, and why so many women are still being dismissed or misunderstood.

Lauren is now studying further certifications and coaching women one-to-one through their own transition into menopause. Her work also incorporates areas such as the law of attraction, human design and Mind Movies, helping women understand themselves and find practical ways to create change.

Her message is clear: you do not have to suffer silently through perimenopause or menopause. Your body is communicating with you, and with the right support, understanding and action, there can be something much better on the other side.

Lauren also shares why she contributed her story to the Start Over books and what it meant to speak at the Start Over Sydney live event. Her mission is to help women realise that they are not alone and to reach as many people as possible with her story.

You can connect with Lauren on Instagram at @lauren_theperimenopausecoach or visit laurenmargaritas.com.

In this episode, I sit down with the wonderful Amanda, someone I first met through the Start Over Movement. From the moment we connected, I knew her story would inspire others.

Amanda grew up in a family of eleven, where life was filled with adversity. She shares the challenges her family faced, from siblings being taken into care to witnessing addiction, illness, and loss. Through it all, her faith gave her strength and hope.

Amanda also opens up about surviving an abusive relationship, finding the courage to walk away, and rebuilding her life after one of its darkest chapters. Her journey is a powerful reminder that our past doesn't have to define our future.

Today, Amanda is living with purpose, travelling the world, helping others through health and fitness, and encouraging people to choose joy, gratitude, and self-awareness every single day.

I'm incredibly grateful our paths crossed, and I know you'll take something meaningful from this conversation.

You can connect with Amanda here: @HappyAmanda8.

In this deeply honest and inspiring episode, we sit down with Melanie Gilchrist to explore a lifetime of adversity, healing and transformation.

Growing up, Melanie experienced significant family trauma, including her father's schizophrenia, her sister's bipolar disorder and the emotional weight of taking on responsibility from a young age. As the years went on, she found herself battling relentless depression, chronic stress, domestic abuse, grief and a series of debilitating health conditions that left her feeling completely disconnected from herself.

After years of searching for answers, Melanie began to discover the powerful connection between emotional wellbeing, the nervous system and physical health. Through changes to her lifestyle, nutrition, running, psychological support and energy healing, she gradually rebuilt her life and found a renewed sense of purpose.

Today, Melanie is a Reiki Master Teacher, transformational therapist, speaker and mentor who helps women reconnect with themselves, build confidence and realise their true potential. Her own experiences have shaped a mission to help others understand that healing is possible, even after years of suffering.

In this conversation we discuss:

• Growing up surrounded by trauma and mental illness.
• Living with relentless depression and chronic stress.
• Domestic abuse, shame and finding the strength to leave.
• The impact stress can have on physical health and the immune system.
• Living with conditions including Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) and PMDD.
• Her journey away from antidepressants alongside professional support and lifestyle changes.
• The role of nutrition, movement, psychology and Reiki in her recovery.
• Why she now believes our greatest challenges can become our greatest gifts.
• Helping women transform their lives through healing, confidence and self-belief.

Melanie's story is one of remarkable resilience. It's a reminder that while healing rarely happens overnight, it is possible to move from surviving to truly living. If you've ever struggled with your mental health, experienced trauma or wondered whether change is possible, this conversation will leave you feeling hopeful and inspired.

Learn more about Melanie:

🌐 melaniegilchrist.com

📱 Instagram: @melaniegilchristreiki

After spending much of my life battling severe depression, I was terrified that happiness and wellbeing were experiences reserved for other people. My journey became my own hero's journey—one of courage, self-discovery, and holistic transformation. Through exploring the connection between mind, body, emotions, and energy, I not only overcame depression but created a life I genuinely love—one filled with joy, peace, purpose, and confidence.

Today, as a Reiki Master Teacher, Neuro Transformation Therapist, Wellness Coach & Speaker, I empower others to move beyond merely surviving and begin creating lives of wellness, radiance, and fulfilment.

My story is a testament to the fact that even our deepest struggles can become the catalyst for our greatest transformation and greatest gift to the world.

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.