Sarah Rowan, in the artworld known as Rowan, grew up in the Bible Belt where obedience meant safety—and silence. In this raw, luminous conversation, she shares what it cost to hide her truth, the moment the “rug” could hold no more, and how art became both lifeline and liberation. From secret love and survival to reclaiming her voice, Rowan reminds us there’s nothing to prove—only rooms inside us waiting to be reopened.

#LivingYourTruth #FindingYourVoice #ComingOutStory #ArtAsHealing #NothingToProve

What if the biggest turning point of your life arrived disguised as an ordinary day?

Rob Manning thought he was fine. Busy, healthy enough, carrying on. But his wife, Claire, wouldn’t let it go — she insisted he see a GP. Rob planned to make the appointment… and quietly “forget” to return.

Instead, within minutes, a doctor took one look and said the words that split his life into before and after.

In this conversation with Karen Sander, Rob shares the shocking speed of his decline, the surreal experience of a coma, and the moment he woke up with a new liver — a second chance made possible by another family’s unimaginable loss. Together, we explore how you hold gratitude and grief in the same hands, what it means to be loved with fierce steadiness, and why Rob has dedicated his second chance to changing organ and tissue donation awareness and advocacy.

This is a story about the quiet moments that save us — the appointments we almost don’t make, the conversations we didn’t plan, and the “yes” that can ripple into many lives.

Explore more at thestoryroomglobal.com and step inside The Backstage Pass for exclusive conversations and live storytelling moments from the live events.

Keywords (helps search): liver transplant, organ donation Australia, donor families, DonateLife, end stage liver disease, GP check-up, second chance, grief and gratitude, marriage resilience, Story Room Global.

What does it mean to belong — truly and deeply?

In this intimate conversation, Karen Sander speaks with Rugare Gomo, a leadership coach and former lawyer whose life began stateless and unfolded across Zimbabwe and Australia.

Rugare shares his journey from displacement and identity struggle to corporate success — and the inner crisis that followed when success failed to bring peace. He speaks openly about mental health, addiction, shame, and the long work of healing, as well as the influence of the powerful women who shaped his life.

This episode explores themes of:

• Identity and belonging

• Mental health and emotional resilience

• Migration, displacement, and self-acceptance

• Redefining success beyond status and achievement

• Leadership grounded in love, integrity, and purpose

A moving story of courage, honesty, and transformation — and a reminder that real belonging is something we build from within.