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Some stories start with a roadmap. Ours begins on the side of a highway, smoke from a sliced radiator curling into the night while Dayelene and her son lie on a picnic rug, laughing at the chaos and choosing to keep moving.

From Airlie Beach’s endless summer to Victoria’s four seasons in a day, this is a candid journey through starting over, co‑parenting after domestic violence and learning how to let go of identities that no longer fit.

Dayelene is a single mum who rebuilt life twice, first for safety, then for alignment. She opens up about the hidden cost of coercive control, the slow burn of CPTSD and what it took to find grounding when anxiety kept hunting for the next storm. We talk safety planning and court hurdles, the sting of rental shortages, sneaking a beloved dog into motels on a state-spanning drive and the moment she realised that “old ways don’t open new doors.”

There’s no gloss here, just the real, repetitive work of recovery and the honest truth that relapse and repair can live in the same week. The conversation leans into practical tools including EMDR and therapy, daily systems that respect limited capacity, ten-minute walks that restart the day, food that steadies the mind and hobbies that reignite confidence. We unpack how to stop replicating yesterday’s life in today’s context, how to choose connection over isolation and how to teach kids resilience by letting them see you break and rise.

We also share what’s next for Dayelene, finishing a body–mind practitioner qualification, stepping fully into trauma‑informed coaching and launching a free community event in Geelong with breath work, meditation and open‑armed connection.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between survival and growth, this episode offers hope you can hold and steps you can actually take. Subscribe, share with someone who needs a steady voice, and leave a review to help more Everyday Warriors find their way back to themselves.

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Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

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This is my longest episode yet but it deserves ALL the time to tell this incredible Everyday Warriors story!

What if “being strong” is the very thing keeping you from healing? Shaunace's story starts with speed, a senior OT by her mid‑20s, a mortgage, a wedding to plan and a body built for aerial silks and pole. Then breast cancer hits. She keeps it secret, rushes back to work after a double mastectomy and reconstruction. She then powers on until pain in her chest reveals metastasis and a fractured sternum. That’s the moment everything truly stops.

What follows is a radical reframe of strength and recovery. Guided by a counsellor who helps unwind childhood beliefs, Shaunace spends 40 days in deep stillness, learns to cry again, and chooses radiation and tamoxifen from a place of sovereignty, not fear. Within two weeks her pain vanishes, challenging the expected timeline. She starts seeing healing as science and nervous‑system safety working together. Gratitude, sunlight and calm become part of her healing journey. A cancer charity’s “feel better” kit packed with endocrine disruptors sparks a new mission; she builds 11:11 Lab, a clean and luxurious skincare brand that later wins awards.

The third diagnosis tries to break that momentum. Medical menopause, a grim prognosis and a hard conversation about kids collide with a pivotal insight. If PET scans track cancer using radioactive glucose, then glucose is fuel. Shaunace pivots to a low‑glucose, animal‑based approach, layers in targeted off‑label medications and botanicals and integrates standard care. Six weeks later, scans show a 75% reduction in tumour sizes, including cleared lung lesions. It’s not anti‑medicine, it’s pro‑agency, blending oncology, metabolism and mindset.

We also dive into life after crisis which includes coaching rooted in NLP, hypnotherapy and breathwork, retreats for high achievers and a VA agency built to free founders from busywork. Shaunace talks candidly about identity, reconstruction, redefining family and why she prefers “clear scans” instead of "cancer free" and “thriver” instead of "survivor".

If you’ve ever equated worth with doing more, this conversation offers a new blueprint. Choose differently, align your care and build a life that heals while you live it.

Connect with Shaunace on Instagram or her Website

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Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

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What happens when your entire world collapses around you? For Bridgette, April 2020 brought an unimaginable storm – serious legal proceedings against her family's investment business, followed just two days later by the birth of her daughter Emerald, all during the earliest and most uncertain days of the pandemic.

In this raw and moving conversation, Bridgette reveals how she navigated this perfect storm while operating in pure survival mode. "I remember telling myself, Bridgette, you can have a breakdown later. Right now, your priorities are protecting your partner and caring for your newborn," she shares with remarkable candor. As the legal battles intensified, the family lost their home, faced 27 separate cases, and Bridgette's body eventually rebelled through severe autoimmune issues triggered by the prolonged stress.

The healing journey that followed touches on powerful modalities including Reiki, kinesiology, and forgiveness practices that allowed Bridgette to release the dark energy she'd been carrying. Perhaps most transformative was discovering how her daughter became her greatest teacher and mirror, helping her shift from robotic mothering to present, joyful parenting despite ongoing challenges.

Today, five years into their legal battle with no end in sight, Bridgette has found purpose in her pain. She's building communities for others facing adversity, creating wellness programs for mothers, and embracing a new identity forged through fire. Her partner James is even developing a social media platform allowing people to counter misleading press narratives with evidence-based corrections.

Listen now to this extraordinary tale of resilience that will inspire you to find strength in your darkest moments and transform adversity into purpose. How might your own challenges be preparing you for something greater?

Connect with Brigette on Instagram here

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Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

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What if everything that happens in your life isn't happening to you, but for you? This perspective-shifting conversation with Jackie explores how reframing our challenges can transform our entire experience of life.

Jackie's journey begins with a simple yet profound "aha moment" when she realized how certain relationships were depleting her energy. This awareness became the foundation for a life of conscious choices about where and with whom she invested her time and energy, a skill that would prove invaluable through the extraordinary challenges ahead.

At just 15 years old, Jackie became a mother in a small country town where judgments and limitations were quickly placed upon her. Rather than seeing this as a setback, she and her son "grew up together" in what she describes as a journey of mutual discovery rather than traditional parenting. This unconventional beginning fostered a beautiful mother-son relationship that would later help her navigate the devastating loss of her son when he was 34.

Through grief came unexpected awakening when Jackie discovered Reiki and energy work, practices that opened doorways to understanding that there was deeper meaning behind every experience in her life. "It was like remembering who I truly am and what I came here for," she explains. This spiritual journey expanded into explorations of bioenergetics and the science of how our emotional states affect our physical wellbeing.

Jackie's story exemplifies what it means to be an everyday warrior, someone who has faced numerous adversities including childhood trauma, teen motherhood, violent relationships and profound loss, yet has transformed each experience into an opportunity for growth and service to others. By choosing to see everything that happened "for her" rather than "to her," she created a life of purpose and meaning.

Ready to shift your own perspective? Subscribe now to hear more inspiring stories of everyday warriors who've turned their challenges into stepping stones toward a more authentic, purposeful life.

Connect with Jacqui on Facebook here

Learn more about Jacqui's energy offerings here

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Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

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Facing the open ocean despite a lifelong fear of water and motion sickness wasn't exactly how I'd planned to celebrate turning 50. Yet there I was, boarding a cruise ship for the first time, determined to make this milestone birthday unforgettable.

My 10-day journey through the South Pacific became so much more than a holiday. It transformed into a personal voyage of conquering fears and embracing new experiences. After struggling through two days of debilitating seasickness (green apples and magnetic wristbands didn't stand a chance), I finally found my sea legs and discovered the joy of life at sea.

The birthday itself was magical, consisting of a couples massage, professional photos at sunset and a spectacular dinner at a celebrity chef restaurant. But the real gifts came in unexpected moments, snorkeling for the first time at Mystery Island, jumping from platforms into crystal-clear waters in Vanuatu to even summoning the courage to sing karaoke onboard because "nobody knows me, it's my 50th!"

Throughout this adventure, I discovered that cruising offers a perfect balance of exploration and relaxation. Each port brought new discoveries, while onboard activities from theme nights to gourmet dining experiences kept us thoroughly entertained. The ship became a place where time slowed down and we could simply enjoy being together, creating memories that will last far longer than any physical gift.

Whether you're considering your first cruise or looking for inspiration for celebrating your own milestone birthday, this episode offers honest insights, practical tips and hopefully, the encouragement to step outside your comfort zone. Because sometimes, our greatest adventures begin when we face our biggest fears.

Would love to hear about your own milestone celebrations or bucket list adventures! Share your stories or questions, and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of the Everyday Warriors podcast.

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Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee

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Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

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When a doctor's call on a lazy Sunday afternoon revealed that his wife Lynn had stage four lung cancer, Tony Stewart's world imploded. What followed was a six-year rollercoaster of clinical trials, spine surgeries, moments of hope and crushing setbacks as they navigated life with terminal illness.

Throughout Lynn's cancer journey, Tony took on the role of dedicated caregiver, tracking treatments and attending appointments while attempting to maintain his own career. But beneath his composed project manager exterior, he was crumbling. It wasn't until a series of personal accidents culminated in an emotional breakdown that Tony finally admitted the truth, he couldn't do it alone.

Tony speaks with remarkable candour about the reality of grief following Lynn's death. Despite their years of preparation and beautiful final conversations, the loss plunged him into an abyss of emotion that defied his expectations. "I will grieve Lynn for my entire life," he reflects. "The challenge is finding a way to live your new life even while you are still grieving."

The most controversial chapter of Tony's story emerged just months after Lynn's passing, when an unexpected connection with a woman named Cordelia blossomed into romance. Their relationship, founded on a shared understanding of loss, brought both healing and intense guilt. Tony describes the complex emotions of finding joy amid grief, and the judgment he faced from some friends who felt he had moved on "too soon."

What makes this conversation truly exceptional is Tony's willingness to reveal the messiness of the human experience. His journey challenges our cultural assumptions about grief timelines and reminds us that healing rarely follows a predictable path. Through his book "Carrying the Tiger" and conversations like this one, Tony offers a lifeline to others navigating similar terrain, particularly men, who often lack models for expressing grief openly.

Have you experienced grief that didn't follow the "expected" timeline? Share your story or grab a copy of "Carrying the Tiger" to continue this important conversation about love, loss, and finding your way forward.

Connect with Tony on Instagram here

Visit Tony's website here

Purchase a copy of Carrying the Tiger

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Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

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What if the most powerful healing tool was already at your fingertips? In this profound conversation with holistic counsellor Jo, we explore how the simple act of journaling became her lifeline while raising a son with cerebral palsy who required round-the-clock care.

Jo shares her deeply moving journey from overwhelm to acceptance, revealing how writing helped her process the "cluster emotions" that arose from being thrust into roles she never expected, nurse, therapist and full-time carer. More surprisingly, journaling helped her recognise and heal from childhood emotional neglect that had caused her to disconnect from her body decades earlier.

"I was feeling disconnected from my body, as though I was living on my shoulder but not in my body," Jo explains. "For years I never told anyone about that because I thought I was the only one." Today, we understand this dissociation as a classic trauma response, but Jo discovered her path back to embodiment through putting pen to paper.

The beauty of journal therapy lies in its accessibility, it's free, doesn't require appointments and can take whatever form works for you. Whether through traditional writing, artistic expression like mandalas, or even voice memos captured while driving, the goal is creating space to process emotions that might otherwise remain stuck in our bodies.

Most touchingly, Jo reveals how her son now 40, became her greatest teacher by challenging everything she'd been taught about having to "be, do, or become" to have value. Through journaling, she worked through her fears and eventually reached profound acceptance and unconditional love.

Whether you're navigating caregiver stress, processing past trauma, or simply feeling disconnected from yourself, this episode offers practical wisdom about how meeting your pain on paper can transform your relationship with yourself. As Jo reminds us, what we do to heal ourselves today ripples forward to impact future generations.

Connect with Jo on Facebook here

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Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to
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Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee

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Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

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From the moment Paul begins sharing his story, you can feel the weight of his journey and the lightness that comes from true transformation. Born in North London to a hardworking taxi driver father and stay-at-home mother, Paul recalls a relatively happy childhood despite modest means. Everything shifted when his parents separated when he was 11. In an unusual arrangement for the time, his mother moved out while his father retained custody with help from Paul's grandmother.

This thrust young Paul into a protective role for his younger siblings, especially when facing bullies on the way home from school. But the defining tragedy struck at 19, when Paul and his brother returned home one day to discover their father had taken his own life. The devastating impact cannot be overstated. Suddenly responsible for his family, managing legal matters, and processing overwhelming grief, Paul transformed into someone unrecognizable even to himself.

Anger became his constant companion and trust evaporated. For 13 years, he cut off all communication with his mother and he followed in his father's footsteps as a London taxi driver, poignantly describing his cab as "my black coffin, with my back to the world", a physical manifestation of his emotional isolation.

Transformation arrived unexpectedly through a personal development program that created space for Paul to articulate his pain for the first time. In that vulnerable environment, he challenged his self-blame and reconnected with his mother after those 13 silent years. The impact was so profound that Paul dedicated the next 25 years to leading similar transformational experiences for others, working with approximately 100,000 people worldwide.

Today, Paul coaches business owners who find themselves trapped working in their businesses rather than on them. Drawing from his extraordinary life journey, he helps them improve not just productivity but overall wellbeing, understanding that workplace satisfaction directly impacts relationships, family life and personal fulfillment.

Paul's story powerfully reminds us that while past traumas shape us, they need not define us. As he says, "We don't have to get stuck with what's actually happened in the past. We can have a completely different way of relating to it and be free to be ourselves." Ready to transform your relationship with your past? This episode offers both inspiration and practical wisdom for your journey.

You can connect with Paul on

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Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee

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Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.