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A normal morning. A coffee on the way to work. Then a headache hits like a lightning strike, and everything changes.

Steven Forward survives a double brain aneurysm after being given just a 2% chance of survival. He spends 12 days in intensive care, loses 18 days of memory, and begins a recovery journey that continues long after leaving the hospital.

In this powerful episode of Engaging Conversations, Steven shares what it was really like to survive one of the most devastating medical emergencies imaginable, and why recovery is about so much more than simply staying alive.

Together, we explore what a thunderclap headache feels like, why the warning signs of a brain aneurysm are so often missed, and the physical, emotional and psychological challenges that follow. Steven also explains procedures such as coiling and stenting in simple terms, while sharing the ongoing reality of follow-up scans, fatigue, seizures, memory loss and learning to rebuild life after trauma.

Perhaps the most powerful part of this conversation is what happens after the hospital.

What support exists for survivors? What about their partners, families and carers? Are too many people falling through the cracks once the immediate medical crisis has passed?

Recorded at Survivors R Us in Cardiff, this episode is more than a story of survival. It’s a conversation about awareness, resilience, community, and why sharing one person’s journey can educate others and even save lives.

Whether you’re interested in health, disability inclusion, community support, or simply understanding how quickly life can change, this is a conversation I genuinely believe everyone should hear.

If this episode resonated with you, please follow Engaging Conversations, leave a review, and share it with your family, friends and community. Every share helps us bring important conversations like this to more people and continue shining a light on the issues that matter most.

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Connect with Steven Forward

Newcastle/Central Coast storm chasers

Australian Aneurysm Support (Aussie Annies) Facebook Group

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Every share helps another story reach someone who may need to hear it.

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Connect with Leon Goltsman

📧 leon.goltsman@ecohq.com.au

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A charity can do everything right and still find itself fighting for survival.

For our 50th episode of Engaging Conversations, it felt only fitting to return to where it all began with Maria Martin, Founder and CEO of Survivors R Us, joined by General Manager Scott Martin.

When Maria first appeared on the program, Survivors R Us was already making a difference in the lives of people facing domestic violence, homelessness, financial hardship and crisis. What few people saw were the challenges happening behind the scenes. Rising costs and increasing demand had pushed the organisation to the point where closing its doors was becoming a very real possibility.

Today, the story looks very different.

In this conversation, Maria and Scott share how community support, determination and long-term thinking helped Survivors R Us secure a permanent home, continue expanding its services, and play a role in securing a $2.8 million federal government grant to support those who need it most.

We also discuss some of the realities they’re seeing on the ground right now, including food insecurity, mental health challenges, housing stress, social isolation, and the growing number of people quietly struggling behind closed doors.

Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that local organisations can have an extraordinary impact when communities get behind them.

One of the immediate challenges facing Survivors R Us is reducing the cost of running their community hub. Solar panels would significantly reduce electricity costs and allow more funding to be redirected towards food relief, counselling, emergency assistance and practical support. If you or your organisation can assist through funding, equipment, installation or partnerships, we encourage you to reach out.

Thank you for being part of the first 50 episodes of Engaging Conversations.

If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who believes in the power of community, connection and positive change.

Connect with Survivors R Us at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Survivorsrusincorporated

Website: https://sru.org.au/

Phone: (02) 4953 7108

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Emergency and Support Contacts

If this episode raises difficult issues or safety concerns, support is available.

🚨 Emergency (Police, Fire or Ambulance): 000

📞 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732
National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling service (24/7)
https://www.1800respect.org.au

📞 Lifeline – 13 11 14
24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention
https://www.lifeline.org.au

📞 MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78
Support and counselling for men
https://mensline.org.au

📞 Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
Support for children and young people aged 5–25
https://kidshelpline.com.au

📞 NSW State Emergency Service – 132 500
Storm and flood emergency assistance in NSW

📞 Police Assistance Line – 131 444
For non-urgent police assistance

📞 National Relay Service
https://www.accesshub.gov.au/nrs-helpdesk

📞 Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) – 131 450
For interpreting services and language assistance.

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A single moment of violence can leave a community frozen in grief, but it can also expose something quietly powerful: the people who choose to show up. This episode, we are joined by Rabbi Yossi Friedman, known across Australia as Rabbi On Demand, to talk about what he witnessed after the Bondi tragedy and what it teaches us about humanity, social cohesion, and the everyday choices that keep multicultural communities strong.

Yossi shares how he moved from traditional synagogue work to a more personal, “bring it to you” model of spiritual care, shaped by the post-COVID world and the reality that many Australians feel non-religious yet still crave meaning, belonging, and moral clarity. We unpack the universal side of faith values: gratitude, human dignity, and responsibility to one another, especially when words feel inadequate.

From memorial gatherings to unexpected interfaith moments, we explore what genuine inclusivity looks like in action and why respect is only the first step. Yossi also tells two unforgettable stories of everyday heroism involving Uber drivers, showing that courage doesn’t always look like running towards danger and that guilt can touch both those who were there and those who weren’t. Along the way, we discuss practical ways to stand against anti-Semitism and hatred, including the idea that “hate flourishes when it has space”, and how initiatives like One Mitzvah for Bondi turn grief into visible acts of kindness.

If you care about community healing, leadership in hard times, and building trust across cultural and religious lines, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more Australians find these stories of light and connection.

The episode also highlights the NSW Government initiative One Mitzvah for Bondi, encouraging simple acts of kindness and community spirit in response to tragedy. #OneMitzvahforBondi

If you value conversations about community, leadership, resilience, and bringing people together, this is an episode that will stay with you.

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