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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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Forensic accounting is often seen as a last-resort service, something you turn to when things have already gone wrong. But as this conversation reveals, that mindset can come at a cost.

In this episode, I sit down with Kirrilly Waring from Hall Chadwick, a forensic accountant with over 30 years of experience, to unpack what the work really looks like in practice. From business valuations and shareholder disputes through to family law matters, economic loss, fraud investigations, and tracing funds when trust breaks down.

At the centre of it all is clarity. Clarity when decisions matter, and fairness when outcomes are contested.

We explore why business owners often misread the value of their own business, and how factors like emotion, one strong year, personal expenses, or informal arrangements can distort the true picture. Kirrilly explains how market value is assessed, why experts often work within a range rather than a single number, and what makes a valuation credible and defensible.

We also discuss independence, the role of an expert witness, and why objectivity is critical when outcomes are under scrutiny.

From there, the conversation shifts to prevention. The governance habits, agreements, and internal controls that can reduce risk and avoid disputes before they arise.

Finally, we look at modern complexity, including cryptocurrency, the speed of digital transactions, and the role and limitations of AI in professional work.

A practical and insightful conversation for business owners, directors, and anyone responsible for making decisions where clarity matters.

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Domestic and family violence doesn’t announce itself with a single dramatic moment. It often arrives quietly through coercive control, financial abuse, gaslighting, and isolation, until someone’s confidence and sense of choice begins to erode. That’s why we sat down with Katie Viviers, CEO of St Vincent’s Open Support, and Karen Devins, who leads their domestic and family violence program, to explore what recovery actually requires after a person leaves.

We unpack how their purpose-built refuge supports women and children from immediate crisis through to long-term safety, and why wraparound case management matters. From court support and AVO processes to income assistance, childcare, and school transitions when families must relocate, this is about rebuilding from the ground up. Katie and Karen also explain their recovery model, bringing trauma-informed support in-house so barriers like transport, fear, or visa limitations don’t prevent access to care. The focus is dignity and independence, supported over 18 months to two years as families rebuild.

We also step back to the broader picture. Domestic and family violence crosses every postcode and profession. Education plays a critical role in helping people recognise the warning signs, while workplaces have an opportunity to lead through clear policies and safer cultures. The conversation also highlights the importance of sustainable support through recurrent funding, measurable impact, and practical ways individuals and organisations can contribute.

Subscribe, share this conversation with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people access support and understand what meaningful action looks like.

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📌 INFORMATION, CONTACTS & LINKS

Open Support Community Connections Program Social Isolation - Connecting with Lonely People in Sydney | Open Support

Open Support DFV Program - Domestic and Family Violence - NSW | Open Support (includes info on red flags, coercive control and supporting friends or family)

Get involved with Open Support - How You Can Get Involved Support | Get involved

If you have specific questions, you can email info@opensupport.org.au

If you are experiencing any form of domestic and family violence or abuse and need support, contact DV Line on 1800 65 64 63 (NSW Residents), who can refer you to our program or another service depending on your needs. If you are anywhere else in Australia, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for further information and support.

If you are in immediate danger or know someone who is, call the police on 000.

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Real support is not just a service delivered. It’s the moment someone feels safe enough to smile, speak, try, and belong. I’m joined by Lisa Mossman, CEO and founder of Lady Bumblebee Disability Services, to unpack what genuine empowerment looks like in disability support and why the small, human details matter more than most people realise.

We talk about the values behind “be confident, be creative, be you”, and how creativity, art, and experiences like pet therapy can unlock confidence and emotional expression in ways rigid programs often miss. Lisa also explains why environment matters so much, from sensory rooms designed for calm and regulation to the simple truth that everyone’s “sensory space” looks different. Along the way, we explore what true inclusion means beyond just being present in the community, and how supported social activities can move people from isolation into real connection.

We also get practical about the NDIS. Lisa shares what families and carers are up against, why the system can feel overwhelming, and how clear guidance and advocacy can stop people from putting support in the too hard basket. We finish with leadership, ethics, and Lisa’s vision for the future, including sensory gardens, expanded spaces, and new ideas like smart home technology that can improve safety and independence. If you care about disability services, trauma-informed support, community participation, and building stronger communities, subscribe, share this conversation, and leave a review so more people can find it.

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The scariest part about suicide risk is how often it hides in plain sight. People expect clear warning signs, but what shows up more often are small changes: someone goes quiet, stops turning up, withdraws from what they love, or feels like a burden. We sit with that reality and focus on what actually helps, not perfect words, just a real connection.

I’m joined by Simone Stanley (Plan Tracker) to ground the conversation in the human layer behind the numbers, then Bradley Dunn, CEO of the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network, shares what community-led suicide prevention looks like when it moves beyond awareness. We talk about National Hope Week, the power of simple messages like Newy Loves You, and why campaigns work best when they give people practical ways to reach out, volunteer, fundraise, and learn mental health first aid or suicide awareness skills.

Bradley also breaks down the biggest barrier many people face: access. We explore the Evolve Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub, a welcoming walk-in space designed to reduce friction, offer a broad mix of services, and provide free ongoing support with no wait list or eligibility criteria. We also cover outreach through a mental health checkpoint at events and markets, making check-ins feel normal and easy.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone, and support is available. Listen, share this with someone you care about, and please subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these conversations when they need them most.

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Waves don’t just shape shorelines; they shape people. From the heart of the Bondi Pavilion, we sit down with surf pioneer Brenda Miley to explore how a borrowed van, a teacher’s eye, and a stubborn belief in visibility for women turned Let’s Go Surfing into a community pillar across Bondi, Maroubra, Byron Bay, and Ballina. Brenda opens up about those first uncertain years, the leap from car park coaching to a tiny North Bondi shop, and the unexpected power of showing up as the only woman in the room until the room starts to change.

We dig into practical playbooks for purpose-led businesses on the coast: navigating seasonality, building genuine local partnerships, and earning eco accreditation by auditing materials, cutting waste, and keeping the beach cleaner than you found it. Brenda shares how she and 'Wacca' blended complementary strengths, program design, PR, and contracts to build a culture that prizes people over hype, and how that culture scales with simple systems and a shared mantra: change lives one wave at a time. Along the way, we revisit a community dance fundraiser that raised close to $200,000 for cancer research, proof that fun and impact can go hand in hand.

Mental health and belonging run through every turn in the story. Surfing becomes “me time,” a weekly reset where phones can’t follow, and salt water steadies the mind. Brenda explains how rookies grow into accredited coaches through clear pathways, why reading people matters as much as reading sets, and how a surf lesson can be a first step back to confidence. We close with advice for women entering male-dominated spaces keep showing up, speak even when your voice shakes, and look ahead to new locations, deeper mentoring, and a simple pact with Bondi: take care of your place, and it takes care of you.

If this conversation moved you, hit follow, share it with a friend who needs a push to paddle out, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find stories that build stronger communities.

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