Today's wholesome chat is with my high school friend, Jess Jackson (IG: @jessinbondi who I went to Mordialloc College with between 2003-2008!

Jess is the founder of health and wellness brand, Australian Made Bio Cellulose Sheet Masks, @goodlivingonly_. She is also a certified meditation teacher who aims to share content to inspire not tire so you're empowered to live a balanced life. Jess is passionate about embracing a life you love to live.

We talk all things friendship and high school education, moving from a 9-5 that is not fulfilling and everything else in between. Whether you are in need of a little pick-me-up, a reminder that you are not alone in what you are feeling or going through, this episode is full of golden nuggets between 2 friends so I hope you enjoy!

Make sure to stay in touch with Jess over on social media as this helps both our brands grow. Thank-you for listening!

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How important is it to have a loving and supportive partner? For me, it is the MOST important aspect to ensure I maintain wellness, peak performance and dedication to building my life, my career and my health. It's all very much dedicated to this man here I share the mic with today... my partner, Jordan Consoli!

To everyone that has been with me through my journey, I appreciate you all so much to get to know the man who makes me the happiest woman on the planet. I feel so lucky I get to share life with this guy and we wanted to jump on and have this conversation around relationships to hopefully help some of you too.

We sprinkle it with some business talk and health/fitness industry. It's the perfect conversation to motivate you to just get started... just like Jordan did!

Enjoy this one guys. We love you lots!

Follow JC at @_jordanconsoli over on Instagram & TikTok. 

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We are diving in deep here bringing my housemate into the mix! It's been a year of living with Jordan and Beza in my life so what better way to get to know me further and deeper than having her on the show!

Beza is an incredible media personality, MC, host and fashion model. She is a freelancer in the creative community and really helps us all give perspective to those who may be struggling to start! We also talk all things personal branding and her opinion and cautions meeting my partner, Jordan Consoli, for the first time! Listen and find out what she thought!

As always, if you loved this episode and what I do, please give a 5-star review on the platform you are listening on so it reaches more people and ears.

Find Beza on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/by.beza/

See you next ep! x

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Helloooooo world! 

I am back after a year and a half from this podcast, The Authentic Me! Life's been busy and when we don't remain consistent and disciplined, things fall off the band wagon... so vola!

Nevertheless, I am keen to put energy back into this show to bring you insightful and authentic stories and ideas. This week, I touch on both discipline and consistency to building successful habits that STICK! Listen to this if you need a reminder that you are capable of GREAT things. You just got to remain consistent and discipline in building healthy habits!

Love always,
Mel Yu x

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WOW! This conversation was SO, SO, SO Powerful! Shani gets down and vulnerable, openly discussing parenthood, finding confidence even through suicidal thoughts and severe moments of depression and sadness. We both cry in this ep!!! So much love for this gal!

If something you hear in this conversation causes heightened emotions within you, please, please reach out and also seek professional healthcare advice.
Lifeline is available for you 24 hours, 7 days a week on 13 11 14. We love you.

Shani Chantel is a 29-year-old plus size model and mumma living in Melbourne who not only embraces but celebrates her body the way it is and encourages women on her social media to do the same. Shani teaches her audience that self and body acceptance begins from your thoughts and the language you use towards yourself.

Episode Show Notes:

• Congratulations on Shani’s divorce! Taking the best out of your lived experiences [6:00]
• Confidence is an emotion [11:05]
• How to bring confidence and feeling good every day despite mental health challenge [14:20]
• The moment that changed her life… Shani makes Mel cry! [15:00]
• The road to confidence is gut-wrenching [18:00]
• All things Kindness and to consciously stop bitching/gossiping/speaking badly to yourself [32:00]
• Lessons to teach our daughters [36:20]
• Expressing your confidence through fashion and styling [46:10]

Stay in touch and follow Shani's journey on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/shani.chantel/ 

As always, thanks for listening to this platform and growing with me x

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Quick one! So sorry for the internet stuffing up our conversation a couple of times during this audio. I hope you can be patient and get through the little cracks in conversation to listen to Jake's very important message!

Jake is an absolute legend and I was so proud to be able to have this chat with him. Jake is bloody real, nothing else to say! I hope you take some valuable lessons from this during World Mental Health Month. 

As always, what we say in these conversations are not professional health advice or opinions, these are purely our own lived experience and if you are unsure or concerned for your own mental health and medication intakes, please seek professional advice.

Episode Show Notes:

• Mental health is your own responsibility
• Sharing stories are so important!
• ‘Rise, shine, rest, repeat’ lifestyle planner 
• (Download here: https://www.jakeobrien.com.au) 
• Jake’s lived experiences that set him to now talk about his mental health journey [9:05]
• What it feels like when your self-worth is at an all-time low – feelings of suicide [14:00]
• Stepping into your purpose [16:20]
• Showing the real you on your social media platform – if it feels truly authentic to you! [22:00]
• Leading from the front – the highs and the lows [25:00]
• Building resilience – the hard times make you stronger! [28:00]
• Changing your script and your story [36:00]
• Seeking professional help to not feel like you are burdening your personal support network [40:00]
• An open conversation around medication and your mental health. We have the power to reassess whether the medication is still serving us in the same way [47:00]

Don't forget to send us a screenshot that you're tuning in! Love you guys!

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If she can do it - you can too! Living in Melbourne, Vanessa is a motivational speaker, body builder, sponsored athlete, and a women empowerment leader. Vanessa Calafiore was born with a genetic-disability of having no hands or feet. Growing up, Vanessa also lived through abuse which then caused PTSD, an eating disorder and depression.

Join us on this epic conversation around self-love, going through life's challenges and having a strong mindset! Thanks for listening :) Keep going Ness, you are a freaking dynamite!
 
Episode Show Notes:

• Sometimes the best things in life have no reason [5:00]
• Bullies only bully on something you are insecure about [10:15]
• Surround yourself with people who lift you up and support you [19:30]
• Sexual abuse, deep depression and drug addictions [22:00]
• What suicide ideations feels like for some of us [29:00]
• What fitness means for a healthy lifestyle – shout out to Doherty’s Gym [32:00]
• Self-care Tools to help you stay mentally well [45:00]
• Love is a choice [50:00]

As always, connect with my community online!
Follow Vanessa's journey here:
@vanessacalafiore
https://www.instagram.com/vanessacalafiore/

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Natasa Adamovic is a mental health support worker specialising in psychosocial recovery. She manages clients who live with a chronic mental illness ranging from depression, anxiety, autism, OCD to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Tash credits this work to her own lived experience with anxiety to transform and best support her client.

With a Graduate Diploma in Psychosocial Science and has also been coached and mentored by yours truly, Tash is now a leading 1:1 coach to help you transform your inner trauma to living in your truth. She runs incredible online masterclasses and is the host on her very own podcast, called 'The Committee' which shines light on key important topics particularly around men’s mental health. 

 My key takeaway's from this episode:

• What is generalised anxiety disorder? [8:00]
• What anxiety feels like and how it is activated to protect you [10:00]
• Overcoming your anxiety in small baby steps [14:07]
• What is attachment theory and its four different styles [18:30]
• The fine line between wanting to be loved or not wanting to be abandoned [25:10]
• If you struggle to let someone love you the way you deserve to be loved [28:23]
• What is trauma? [31:29]
• Ways you can help someone who is vulnerable or going through a tough time [36:00]
• How do you combat compassion fatigue? [42:20]
• Looking to get into the mental health industry? Find out how from Tash! [49:01]

Follow Tash on her journey through mental health on Instagram:
@tashadamovic
https://www.instagram.com/tashadamovic/ 

If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show! 

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SUICIDE TRIGGER WARNING: If you, or anyone you care for, is in need of professional support, please reach out to Lifeline by phone on 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) or message a Lifeline Crisis Supporter on 0477 13 11 14 (6pm – midnight every night).

Lauren McDonough suffered from depression since she was 13. In 2017, when Lauren was just 19, her mental state declined to the point where she made an attempt to take her own life. In this moment, Lauren’s life was to change forever.

***

Episode Show Notes:

What it feels like to be diagnosed with depression as a teenager [6:55]

Self-harming in high school [8:20]

The night Lauren jumped in front of a train and how the healthcare system let her down [11:30]

How our bodies and mind process traumatic events [16:01]

How to find hope when life feels so bleak [20:15]

People who suicide, don’t want to die – they want their painful experiences to stop [23:00]

The importance of having a strong support network for those who struggle with mental health. A reminder that you are not alone [27:01]

Helping people by sharing our stories outweighs worrying about what other people think [29:40]

Lauren shares her greatest fear… [30:50]

Make sure to wish Lauren a Happy Birthday on R U OK Day this year! (September 9th) [37:10]

***

Stay in touch with Lauren's Journey over on her Instagram account:
https://www.instagram.com/lauren_mcdonough/

If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show! 

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Yollana has worked 20+ years in helping founders, executives, entrepreneurs, and individuals to embody their true leadership potential. She uses an approach that is authentic, insightful, supportive and focused on success. Her goal is to understand your leadership goals and context, and how she can add value to your leadership journey.

We dive deep into Yollana's life on this episode and I share her transformative program with you all, Heal Your Past Relationships, that I personally completed which assisted my journey immensely.  I am a huge fan and I hope you learn a whole heap out of this conversation, too!
 
Episode Show Notes:

How COVID-19 has impacted businesses, mental health and as a collective [2:50]

How Yollana’s spiritual upbringing began the early onset of her personal development journey and helping others do the same [11:40]

The rebellious side of Yollana in high school, including getting beat up by girls! [16:00]
 You are not your career path – authenticity is not defined by what you do [22:45]

The living process of learning to be yourself and to be more authentic [34:00]

The rings on a tree in our life cycle to becoming more human [39:30]

Grieving the parts of yourself in your past relationships [45:21]

Having a feminine energy and presence through embodying your body [48:54]

Yollana’s anatomies of what makes a good leader and what makes a great leader [58:00]

Keep in touch with Yollana's work:
https://yollana.com/
https://www.instagram.com/yollana_shore/

If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show! 

Stay up to date on all things Mel Yu over on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or Facebook. Thanks for supporting!