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Domestic violence is not always one catastrophic moment. Sometimes it is death by a thousand cuts.

In this episode of The Natural Narrative, psychologist and women’s safety advocate Michelle Saluja joins Leone Wilson to explore how women can slowly begin to self-abandon in relationships shaped by coercion, fear, control and repeated emotional injury.

We talk about the physical and psychological consequences of living on high alert, why unhealthy patterns can become “rinse and repeat,” and what it takes to recognise that what has become normal may never have been healthy.

Podcast episode summary

Beyond the Bruises: Domestic Violence, Self-Abandonment and the Health Cost of Survival

Domestic violence is often discussed in terms of obvious incidents: physical assault, threats, stalking or crisis.

But for many women, the damage is much quieter.

It can be a slow process of compromising, adapting, shrinking, appeasing and eventually self-abandoning in order to survive the relationship.

Psychologist and women’s safety advocate Michelle Saluja joins Leone Wilson on The Natural Narrative to explore domestic violence through both a psychological and physical-health lens.

Michelle describes the cumulative impact as a kind of “death by a thousand cuts” — repeated experiences that individually may appear small, but over time can profoundly affect identity, confidence, nervous-system regulation and health.

Together, Leone and Michelle discuss what happens when a woman spends months or years monitoring another person’s moods, anticipating conflict, keeping the peace and gradually losing connection with her own needs.

They explore how this chronic state of vigilance can contribute to fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, pain, digestive problems, nervous-system dysregulation and the broader health consequences of prolonged stress.

The conversation also looks at why patterns can become “rinse and repeat.” Without understanding the experiences, beliefs and survival responses sitting underneath our choices, it can be remarkably easy to find ourselves recreating familiar dynamics.

Drawing on ideas also explored by Gabor Maté in The Myth of Normal, the episode asks an uncomfortable but important question:

What happens when the behaviours we have normalised are actually adaptations to environments that were never healthy in the first place?

This is a conversation about domestic violence, but also about identity, survival, health, boundaries and finding your way back to yourself.

Because sometimes healing isn't simply about leaving a relationship.

It is about stopping the abandonment of yourself.

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What happens when we finally recognise the value in our own story?

In this episode of The Natural Narrative, I’m joined by award strategist, writer and storyteller Annette Densham to talk about rising above adversity, reinventing ourselves and creating a life that feels genuinely authentic.

We explore the power of story — not only in business and awards, but in understanding our own worth, recognising what we have overcome, and becoming more comfortable with being seen.

Annette also shares how her own journey has led her to create a very different life in Bali, and how she now helps others uncover the achievements, impact and stories they may have been overlooking in themselves.

A conversation about resilience, visibility, authenticity and why sometimes we need to tell our story before we fully understand its value.

How often do we move through life accomplishing, adapting and overcoming without ever stopping to recognise the value of our own story?

In this episode of The Natural Narrative, I welcome Annette Densham, award strategist, journalist, writer and founder of Award Writing Services.

Annette’s own story is one of reinvention. We talk about rising above adversity, navigating unexpected changes, redefining success and ultimately creating a life that feels more aligned with who we truly are — including Annette’s decision to build a life and business from Bali.

But this conversation is also about something many of us struggle with: understanding our own worth.

We explore why people can find it so difficult to recognise their achievements, why being visible can sometimes feel uncomfortable, and how telling our stories can help us see our own experiences, resilience and impact from a completely different perspective.

Through her work, Annette helps business owners uncover the stories and achievements they often dismiss as ordinary — and transform them into powerful evidence of their value, credibility and contribution.

We also discuss awards, visibility and recognition, but not simply as trophies or accolades. Instead, we look at what can happen when someone is encouraged to pause, reflect and realise:

Perhaps what I have done really does matter.

This is a conversation about adversity, reinvention, authenticity, visibility and the extraordinary power of owning the story that brought us here.

Because sometimes understanding our worth begins with finally recognising the value of our own story.

Award Writing Services | Multi-year award strategy, submissions and positioning

https://www.facebook.com/nettiedensham

Annette Densham | LinkedIn

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What does dementia really look like from the perspective of the person standing beside it?

In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Tracey Horton shares her lived experience of caring for both her mother and father-in-law through dementia.

We discuss the realities of caregiving, the changes families may witness, and the emotional impact of supporting someone through a progressive cognitive illness.

I also explore the evidence around brain health, including nutrition, movement, metabolic and cardiovascular health, social connection — and the often oversimplified conversation around cholesterol, which plays an essential role in normal brain structure and function.

A conversation that brings together the research, the biology and, most importantly, the human experience of dementia.

Dementia affects far more than memory — and its impact extends well beyond the person who receives the diagnosis.

In this episode of The Natural Narrative, I welcome Tracey Horton, who joins me to share her lived experience of caring for family members with dementia, including both her mother and her father-in-law.

Tracey speaks openly about what it is like to gradually step into the role of carer, the changes she witnessed along the way, and the emotional and practical realities that families can face as dementia progresses.

Alongside Tracey’s story, we explore some of the current research around dementia and brain health, including potentially modifiable lifestyle factors such as nutrition, metabolic and cardiovascular health, social connection and maintaining cognitive engagement.

We also unpack an interesting and often oversimplified area of nutrition — cholesterol and the brain. Cholesterol is frequently discussed only in relation to cardiovascular risk, yet it is also an essential component of the brain, playing important roles in neuronal cell membranes, myelin and normal brain function. The relationship between cholesterol, cardiovascular health and dementia risk is therefore much more nuanced than simply thinking that “lower is always better.”

Most importantly, this conversation reminds us that dementia is not simply a diagnosis on a medical chart. There is a person experiencing it — and often another person quietly adapting, supporting, advocating and caring alongside them.

This is a conversation about dementia through both an evidence-informed and deeply human lens.

You can find Tracey here

https://www.facebook.com/traceymay.horton

Tracey Horton International | Author

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In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone Wilson speaks with Renee Rekes from Motherhood Village about social isolation, peer support and the importance of creating spaces where mothers feel welcomed, accepted and understood.

We often hear that it takes a village to raise a child, but we speak far less about the village a mother needs around her.

Motherhood can be deeply rewarding, yet it can also bring loneliness, exhaustion, identity changes and a sense of disconnection from the world outside the home. Even women who appear to be coping may quietly feel isolated or uncertain about where they belong.

Renee shares how Motherhood Village provides a safe and inclusive place where women can simply arrive as they are—without needing to explain, perform or pretend that everything is fine.

Sometimes support begins with something beautifully simple: time to sit down, enjoy a cup of tea, speak honestly and connect with other mothers who understand.

Together, Leone and Renee explore the power of lived-experience peer support, the difference acceptance can make, and why mothers should not need to reach crisis point before seeking connection.

They also discuss the value of creating a village where every mother has a place, where vulnerability is met with compassion, and where women can rediscover the comfort of genuine human connection.

This is a warm and heartfelt conversation about motherhood, belonging and the reminder that no woman was ever meant to mother alone.

You can reach out to Motherhood Village here

Motherhood Village | Join Our Supportive Community Today

facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092848422351

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Could the modern sedentary lifestyle be affecting male fertility more than we realise?

In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone Wilson speaks with medical researcher, author and Cool Beans Underwear founder Saara Jamieson about the overlooked role of men’s health in fertility.

Saara’s work began with her own deeply personal experience of infertility and pregnancy loss. While much of the investigation and responsibility initially centred on her, she began asking an important question:

What about the male side of fertility?

Drawing on her medical research background, Saara began exploring sperm health, testicular temperature and the potential effects of prolonged sitting and heat exposure.

During this fascinating conversation, Leone and Saara discuss research suggesting that sitting can raise scrotal temperature, why the testes need to remain cooler than the rest of the body and how everyday habits may influence sperm quality.

They also explore the striking differences sometimes observed between physically active and sedentary occupations. Could the movement naturally built into many blue-collar jobs help explain why some research has found better semen parameters among more physically active men than among men who spend most of their working day seated?

The conversation also examines concerning predictions about declining global sperm counts and what male reproductive health could look like by 2050 if current trends continue.

Together, Leone and Saara discuss:

• Why fertility is still too often treated as a women’s issue
• The potential relationship between sitting, heat and sperm health
• Why sperm count is only one part of the male fertility picture
• Sperm motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation
• The difference between association and proven causation
• Why men’s fertility deserves attention before a couple begins trying to conceive
• The emotional burden women frequently carry during fertility investigations
• How Saara turned personal adversity and scientific curiosity into Cool Beans Underwear
• Why male reproductive health needs to become part of a much broader public conversation

This is an eye-opening discussion about fertility, physiology, innovation and the everyday lifestyle factors we may not think about until something goes wrong.

🎧 Listen to Are We Sitting on a Male Fertility Crisis? With Cool Beans Founder Saara Jamieson on The Natural Narrative.

Website - Cool Beans Men's Health Underwear – Cool Beans Underwear

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/coolbeansunderwear

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What if a child’s behaviour is not the problem—but a form of communication?

In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone Wilson speaks with Chantelle Ryan, founder and director of Spear & Arrow Therapeutic, about supporting children and families through curiosity, collaboration and compassionate care.

Chantelle explains why parents are the experts on their own children and why professionals need to listen carefully to the knowledge families bring. Parents may not always have clinical language, but they understand their child’s patterns, sensitivities, strengths, triggers and everyday experiences better than anyone.

Together, Leone and Chantelle explore what may sit beneath behaviours commonly described as challenging, disruptive or defiant. They discuss neurodiversity, trauma, nervous-system regulation, sensory needs, family stress and the importance of asking what a child may be communicating before attempting to correct the behaviour.

This conversation challenges us to move away from judgement and compliance-based thinking—and instead become curious about the child behind the behaviour.

In this episode:

• Why parents are the experts on their own children
• Behaviour as communication
• Curiosity before correction
• Looking beneath labels such as difficult or defiant
• Trauma, neurodiversity and emotional regulation
• Supporting parents without blame or judgement
• Why meaningful care must include the whole family
• Creating environments where children feel safe and understood

A compassionate and practical conversation for parents, educators, practitioners and anyone who supports children and families.

You can reach out for help here

Behaviour & Therapeutic Support Service | Spear & Arrow

https://www.facebook.com/spearandarrowtherapeutic

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 Can tapping on specific acupressure points really help reduce stress, anxiety and the impact of trauma? In this episode, Leone speaks with EFT practitioner and trainer Khadine Aharon about healing, resilience and why the body often holds onto experiences long after the mind wants to move on. 

Many people understand trauma as something that happens in the mind. But what happens when our bodies continue to carry the emotional weight of past experiences long after the event has passed?

In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone sits down with Accredited Social Worker, Advanced EFT Practitioner and Trainer Khadine Aharon to explore Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), commonly known as Tapping.

Drawing from her own lived experience of Complex PTSD, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and recovery, Khadine shares how EFT became a powerful tool in her healing journey and why she now teaches it to practitioners across Australia.

Together, they discuss:

•  What EFT Tapping actually is 
•  The connection between trauma and the nervous system 
•  How emotional experiences can become "stuck" 
•  Why healing isn't always a purely cognitive process 
•  EFT for anxiety, overwhelm, stress and self-belief 
•  The role of empowerment in recovery 

This is a thoughtful conversation about healing, hope and reconnecting with ourselves in a deeper way.

to connect with Khadine or train as an EFT Tapping Practitioner

Embrace Empowerment EFT Tapping Training and Workplace Training and Development

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 🌿 Herbal medicine is more than tradition—it's chemistry, pharmacology and thousands of years of human observation. Join Leone Wilson and Diana Bowman as they explore why nature remains one of our greatest teachers. 

What if some of our most powerful medicines were growing all around us?

In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone Wilson sits down with herbalist, educator, researcher and mentor Diana Bowman to explore the fascinating world of herbal medicine and the science that underpins it.

Diana was one of Leone's lecturers during her naturopathic studies at Endeavour College of Natural Health, and years later they had the opportunity to work alongside one another teaching and mentoring future naturopaths. Together they share a passion for understanding how plants can support health and wellbeing through their complex chemistry and therapeutic actions.

From ancient healing traditions to modern pharmacology, this conversation explores the remarkable relationship between plants and medicine. You'll discover how herbs exert their effects through active constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and terpenes, and why herbal medicine remains an important part of contemporary integrative healthcare.

The discussion also highlights the fascinating origins of many modern pharmaceuticals, including aspirin derived from willow bark, digoxin from foxglove and the plant-based discoveries that continue to shape medicine today.

Diana also shares insights from her doctoral research into herbal medicine use among breastfeeding mothers, discussing the importance of evidence-informed practice, safety and the evolving role of herbal medicine in modern healthcare.

Whether you're a practitioner, student, herbal enthusiast or simply curious about the healing potential of nature, this episode offers a thought-provoking exploration of both the magic and the science of herbal medicine.

In this episode we discuss:

🌿 The history and evolution of herbal medicine
🌿 Plant chemistry and active medicinal constituents
🌿 Herbal pharmacology and therapeutic actions
🌿 Traditional knowledge and modern research
🌿 Whole plant medicine versus isolated compounds
🌿 The origins of many modern pharmaceutical medicines
🌿 Herbal medicine in breastfeeding and women's health
🌿 Evidence-informed naturopathic practice
🌿 Why nature remains one of our greatest teachers

A fascinating conversation that reminds us that long before laboratories and pharmaceuticals, there were plants—and many of them are still teaching us today.

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When we think about cancer, we often focus on diagnosis, treatment and survival.

But what happens when treatment ends?

What happens when everyone expects you to be "back to normal," yet life feels fundamentally different?

In this episode of The Natural Narrative, Leone Wilson is joined by counsellor, breast cancer survivor and founder of Second Life Counselling, Michelle Aziz, for a powerful conversation about survivorship, resilience and transformation.

Michelle shares her personal journey through breast cancer, the physical and emotional realities of treatment, and the often-overlooked challenges that emerge once the medical appointments become less frequent and life is expected to resume. Together, Leone and Michelle explore the grief, uncertainty and identity shifts that can accompany survivorship, as well as the opportunities for growth and self-discovery that can arise through adversity.

A recurring theme throughout this conversation is metamorphosis – the process of being transformed by life's most difficult experiences. Michelle reflects on how cancer changed her perspective, her priorities and ultimately her purpose, leading her to support others navigating their own life transitions.

The discussion also touches on a fascinating metaphor: feeling as though chemotherapy restored her to "factory settings" – stripping away the unnecessary and creating space to rebuild life with greater intention, clarity and authenticity.

This episode is not just for cancer survivors. It is for anyone who has experienced a life event that divided their story into "before" and "after" – illness, grief, trauma, burnout, loss or significant change.

In this episode we discuss:

• Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment
• The emotional reality of survivorship
• Identity after cancer
• Fear, uncertainty and resilience
• Relationships and support during recovery
• Post-traumatic growth and meaning-making
• Metamorphosis and personal transformation
• Rebuilding life after adversity
• Finding purpose through lived experience
• Supporting others through healing and recovery

A thoughtful and deeply human conversation about what it means not simply to survive, but to create a meaningful second life.

To reach out to Michelle at Second Life Counselling

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583051827023

[email protected]

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 Beauty has no expiration date — and women over 40 are not past their prime, but often standing right in it. A conversation with Vanessa Van Straaten about the 40 Over Forty Project, visibility, confidence, and celebrating women not despite their age — but because of it.

In this episode, Leone sits down with photographer and creator Vanessa Van Straaten to explore the powerful vision behind the 40 Over Forty Project — an initiative celebrating women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond through portraiture, storytelling and community. 

Together, they discuss visibility, identity, confidence and the cultural narratives women are taught about ageing. Vanessa shares how the photographic lens often acts like a mirror, allowing women to truly see themselves — sometimes for the first time in years.

This conversation explores why women over 40 are not fading into the background, but often stepping into one of the most powerful and authentic stages of life. The 40 Over Forty Gala Exhibition & Magazine Launch celebrates women at the peak of power — not despite their age, but because of it.

Because beauty has no expiration date.

KEEN TO ATTEND THIS EVENT?                                                                                              Here is a TWO FOR ONE special link

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/40-over-forty-gala-exhibition-magazine-launch-3rd-edition-tickets-1987184170347?aff=oddtdtcreator

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