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When adventure driven Tom finally woke up after weeks in the ICU after driving his sister’s hatch back car into a land cruiser at high speed, his first words were, “I’m really discombobulated.”

His medical prognosis was bleak, but with the support of his parents and a challenge from a friend he was able to become the cartographer of his own map and the author of his own story.

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Social media handles: @storiesthatstir

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Website: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/

Preparing for Christmas, as she would any other year, Kate was busy ‘herding cats’ as they say. 

Just imagine trying to get clarity on when your 6 kids would be arriving home, how long they would be staying and who was cooking what for Chrissy Dinner.

What was to transpire in the coming days was to give absolute jaw-dropping meaning to the phrase ‘Life can change in an instant’. It seems surprises can be good, bad or horrible.

What happened next, gives true meaning of determination and the importance of family and community.

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Nina was the gold-medal good girl , the perfect woman on paper: psychologist, mother, wife, PhD.

But beneath the surface, something was starving. In her story she cracks open the conditioning that kept her small and the shame that sustained it.

What followed was her sacred rebellion -  rewriting of the story of pleasure and power.

This isn’t a fall-from-grace, but a rise-from-silence.

She was born for more and so are you.

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Social media handles: @storiesthatstir

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In attempt to make sense of a rapidly transforming world, Adam dives into some remedies that may be our only salvation.

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Veena was told eleven years ago her 14-month old daughter would never walk, talk, or live beyond a vegetative state.

Today, that same girl is a joyful chatterbox and performer. Fueled by love and resilience, Veena defied the odds and now leads a network of over 300 South Asian mothers raising children with additional needs.

As an autism advocate, she shares her story to break stigma and spark hope—empowering people to embrace difference and believe in what once seemed impossible.

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Social media handles: @storiesthatstir

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Website: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/

For many people, truly expressing emotion is a mountain too hard to climb – and not overcoming this challenge can lead to a life of deep and painful regret as Paul nearly found out. 

Paul’s story starts with one phone call that empowered him and changed everything and ends with a funeral that empowered another to find their voice. 

It’s a happy-sad rollercoaster you won’t want to get off.

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Website: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/

Christine arrived in Australia as a two-year-old refugee from Vietnam and grew into a quietly powerful force for change.

A bestselling author and founder of multiple ventures, she now empowers women—especially those from overlooked backgrounds—to speak with confidence, lead with purpose, and build lives they’re proud of.

Her story is one of strength through gentleness, success with heart, and the belief that true empowerment begins with owning your story.

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Madeleine Jaine Lobsey tells a story of being called too loud, too intense, too everything, until she stopped being herself.

After decades of success AND self-suppression, an autism and ADHD diagnosis at 48 helped her return to who she was at eight, a child who dreamed up a place called Wondiverse.

Now, she builds spaces where everyone belongs, proving that when you stop trying to fix people, the real magic begins.

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John Breda dedicated 25 years to the New South Wales Police Force. One Australia Day, he was attacked with a knife while apprehending a child sex offender.

John lay on the ground severely injured and struggling for survival.

The immediate intervention by the team at St Vincent’s Hospital proved critical in saving his life.

However, the physical wounds were only part of the ordeal. John’s experience is a profound demonstration of resilience and the determination to overcome adversity.

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For ten years, Andy Leonard held onto hope. A sudden cardiac arrest changed everything, leading him to a path he never expected.

Surrogacy brought moments of promise—then

heartbreak.

A clinic closed by a coup, a few devastating losses, and trials across continents tested his strength.

But through it all, he never stopped believing. Some journeys take longer, but the destination makes every step worth it.