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A propane truck, a failed valve, a cloud of freezing fuel and a fireball that wiped out a whole workshop and changed Sean’s life in an instant. Calling in from Idaho, Shaun walks us through the day in March 2018 when he was burned across 46% of his body and made a decision that still stuns me, he sprinted for a snowbank and lay there to cool down. Doctors later told him that one instinctive move likely helped save his face from skin grafts as well as his life.

We talk candidly about what severe burns really mean, the percentage numbers, third-degree damage and the relentless reality of skin grafts and daily wound care. Shaun shares how he kept his head straight through pain, fear and setbacks like pneumonia, MRSA, hearing loss and even a near-death experience. He also explains the long-term challenges burn survivors live with, including grafted skin that doesn’t sweat, overheating risk, hydration habits, sun protection and the extra planning it takes to live fully again.

The conversation goes deeper into PTSD and triggers that linger years later, like the “whoof” sound of gas appliances, plus the mental loops that can take hold when your body has been through trauma. Shaun’s approach is simple and hard-earned, take back control, find the good where you can and keep chipping away. We also get into how he uses tattoos over skin grafts, humour, motorcycle instruction and knife making as practical therapy and as a way to turn scars into meaning.

If you care about resilience, trauma recovery, burn injury rehabilitation or honest conversations about mental health, this one will stay with you. Subscribe, share with someone who needs a steady dose of hope, and leave a review with the line that hit you the hardest.

Connect with Shaun on Instagram here or check out his page to see his incredible knives and photos of his tattoo's.

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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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One moment you’re building a future, the next you’re learning how to breathe through the ruins. I’m joined by Cass from Queensland for a raw conversation about grief in its many forms, and how it can show up not just after death, but after a business closes, a career ends or your body finally says “enough”.

Cass shares what happened when she launched a brick and mortar venue in Ipswich with a genuine goal of supporting local small businesses, only to realise the work was draining her mental health, her relationships and her sense of alignment. We talk about stress and the body, including a frightening diabetes diagnosis that later proved false and why it matters to listen to your inner knowing alongside the black-and-white of test results. If you’ve ever felt like your nervous system is stuck in overdrive, you’ll recognise a lot of yourself here.

The heart of Cass’s story is her husband Glenn’s sudden death in 2015 while she was 30 weeks pregnant and the long, complicated road of parenting a child through grief when that child never had the chance to meet his dad. We explore survival mode, delayed grief, unexpected triggers and the powerful idea that joy and grief can coexist. Cass also explains how breathwork, somatic therapy, and holistic counselling helped her process emotion as “energy in motion”, plus how a later bike accident and career-ending injury added another layer of identity loss and healing.

If you’re looking for an honest episode on grief support, trauma healing, breathwork, somatics, emotional regulation and solo parenting after loss, press play. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find these stories.

Connect with Cass on Instagram here

Cass's website can be found 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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Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com

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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“My body is the crime scene.” When Shalina says that, everything about trauma clicks into place, because you can’t walk away from the place it happened when the place is you. Shalina talks about sexual assault, online safety and the brutal confusion that follows when harm comes from someone you trusted.

She shares what life was like as a teenager facing bullying and racism, how online connection became an escape and how quickly that escape turned dangerous. We talk about the aftermath survivors rarely get space to explain, the shock, numbness, self-blame and the exhausting question of why perpetrators do what they do. We also unpack what it means to live with distrust, triggers and a nervous system trained to “expect the worst” just to feel prepared.

The conversation moves into another topic that often sits in silence, abortion. Shalina describes the panic, loneliness, lack of guidance and how abortion grief can live alongside certainty about your decision. From there we focus on trauma recovery tools that actually help, including therapy, journalling, creativity and music as a way to turn pain into purpose, plus movement and exercise as a way to shift emotion through the body.

If this story resonates, please subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What part of Shalina’s journey stayed with you most?

Connect with Shalina on Instagram here

For abortion support contact Birthline in Australia

For sexual assault support contact SASS in Australia

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Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to
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Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com

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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Two years ago I hit record without a perfect plan, just a voice and a steady belief that honest stories can make someone feel less alone. Today, the Everyday Warriors Podcast turns two, and this bonus episode is my pause to acknowledge what we’ve built together. A quiet, human space for resilience, healing and hope.

I share what the last two years have looked like behind the scenes, including the slow, organic growth that I’m genuinely proud of. The show has now been listened to on every continent, across more than 50 countries and 250 cities, with nearly 5,000 downloads. Those numbers aren’t about status, they’re about moments of connection, someone pressing play at the exact time they need to feel seen and heard. I also thank the more than 30 courageous guests who’ve trusted this space with real, unpolished stories shaped by adversity, growth and rebuilding.

Then I introduce what’s next, Everyday Warrior Moments. These are short subscriber-only bonus episodes released fortnightly between guest conversations, designed as gentle 5 to 10 minute reflections and reminders. They’re not about fixing you or pushing you harder. They’re about slowing down, honouring your pace and remembering that strength doesn’t have to look loud to be real.

If this podcast has supported you, please subscribe, share it with someone who might need it, and leave a review so more everyday warriors can find these stories. Where in the world are you listening from, and what do you want more of in this next chapter?

Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here

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Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to
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Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here

Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee

Buy my Book here

Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com

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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A relationship ends, the coping spirals start, and then a knock at the door changes everything. Gav takes us back to New Year’s Eve 1995 and the years that follow, when anger, anxiety, partying and marijuana are masking a deeper fear of failure. Then his boys’ mum makes a decision that flips the script, the kids come to live with him and he’s no longer a “weekend dad”. He has to become the parent in every sense of the word, with his children seeing him exactly as he is.

We talk honestly about single father custody, the cultural bias that assumes kids belong with their mum and what happens to children when adults stay together “for the kids” inside a home full of tension. Gav shares the hard parts many people don’t say out loud, the shame, tough love, burnout, leaving shift work, surviving on a single parent’s pension and the financial strain of raising kids without meaningful support. There’s also heart in the details, from school projects and homework panic to the long-term impact of simply being there. Years later, one line from his son still lands “I’m glad that you took us in.”

The conversation comes full circle into healing and purpose. Gav explains how personal development, kinesiology and a deep dive into mindset and emotional intelligence helped him rebuild his inner world, strengthen his relationship with his boys and eventually shape a career helping coaches and helpers communicate their story with integrity. If you’re navigating separation, co-parenting, recovery or rebuilding your life after trauma, you’ll find practical insight and real hope here.

Connect with Gavin on Facebook here

Connect with Gavin via his website here

If this story resonates, subscribe to Everyday Warriors, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these raw, honest conversations.

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Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to
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Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here

Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee

Buy my Book here

Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com

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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Some bodies don’t give you a clear “stop” signal. They just keep going, past normal range, past safe, and you only find out when something hurts. I’m joined by Claire, a UK-trained physiotherapist now living on New Zealand’s South Island, to talk about hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome from the inside out, not as a trend, but as a lifelong reality that shapes how you move, think and trust.

Claire shares the moment at university when practical assessments made it obvious her joints worked differently, plus the hidden risks that come with “party trick” flexibility. We trace it back to childhood, where breath holding and constant self-monitoring were early signs of a nervous system searching for stability. That vigilance can protect you, but it can also steal spontaneity, connection and play, unless you learn how to rebuild safety on your own terms.

From there, we get into the turning point of strength and endurance as a form of self-trust. Claire explains how progressive training helped her feel secure in her body and eventually led to ultramarathon mountain races, even with a vulnerable physical baseline. We also talk about what her condition gave her professionally, the empathy and precision it built and why burnout and weak boundaries can hit harder when your body needs ongoing stability. The conversation lands on her whole-person coaching approach, blending movement, breathing, lifestyle and identity so people stop guessing and start choosing what actually fits.

If this story sparks something in you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope and leave a five-star review so more everyday warriors can find these conversations.

Connect with Claire on Instagram here

Work with Claire here

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Thanks for listening in!

Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to
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Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here

Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee

Buy my Book here

Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com

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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A twin birth, a smooth labour and then a jolt of fear. One baby thriving, the other struggling to breathe. That’s where Cherie’s story begins and it never lets go. We follow her from the long months of “wait and see,” through a 16‑month diagnosis of Williams syndrome, to the everyday reality of feeding battles, surgeries, toilet training that took years and the constant recalibration that special needs parenting demands. Along the way, a marriage fractures under the weight of appointments and court dates and a mother learns to rebuild her confidence, find her voice and create what she couldn’t find, a community for families in Western Australia navigating Williams syndrome.

We talk frankly about the system. Reports can praise “strengths” that look good on paper and still miss the risks that make independent living unsafe. Cherie lays out the stop‑start road to Supported Independent Living, respite that changed everything and NDIS rejections that hinged on language rather than lived reality. You’ll hear what planners rarely see, that using an iPad doesn’t mean you can safely cross a road, manage medication or cook a meal. We dig into what effective documentation looks like, why functional impact matters more than task completion and how to advocate without burning out.

The heart of this conversation is love and endurance. Cherie lifts the veil on the quiet burdens shouldered by siblings, the bright, affectionate nature often seen in Williams syndrome and the patience it takes to meet repetition with warmth. She also shares the searing loss of her mum, the daily rock who helped hold everything together and the way grief collides with rosters, school exits and adult services that don’t fit neatly. Through it all, she names the non‑negotiables that keep carers afloat by saying yes to help, setting boundaries and scheduling rest like a prescription.

If you’re a parent, carer, educator or advocate, this story offers solidarity, practical insight and a reminder of what good support should deliver. A safer, richer life for the person with disability and the chance for their family to be family again. Listen, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more carers find this space.

Connect with Cherie on Instagram here

Learn more about Williams Syndrome

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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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Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com

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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A redheaded kid called a nobody, a 22-year-old worker broken by a boss’s spit-flecked tirade and a silent drive past home to a crowded Blue Mountains lookout. A moment when the clouds parted, a late Nana’s voice rang clear and a single phone call lasted four and a half hours. Adam’s story is tender, raw and unflinching about suicidal ideation, the mental fog before the act and the impossible-to-name pain that makes you want only one thing...for it to stop!

What follows is a decade of deliberate change. A GP visit leads to severe depression and anxiety diagnoses. Three years of “speed dating” therapists finally lands on the right ally. A blunt truth reframes everything, that metabolic health is amplifying mental distress. With blood sugars spiking and a specialist warning of death by 34, Adam chooses gastric sleeve surgery. It’s not a shortcut, rather it’s a stake in the ground. Habits shift, identity catches up and purpose arrives through service with the local fire brigade.

Perspective deepens on the ridgelines of Gallipoli and the Western Front. Standing at the grave of a 22-year-old, the same age he was at the cliff, Adam discovers that ageing is a blessing denied to many. That clarity births a mission, to honour veterans and first responders with care and precision. When a mate won’t host him, he launches True Blue Conversations and keeps going. 130+ episodes later, guests now come to him and trust becomes the metric, not downloads.

2025 tested every gain: a stillborn niece, a father’s dementia, floods, lost work and public shaming by peers. The black dog returns and a plea to the night sky is answered by two shooting stars. The next morning, he joins flood clean-ups and service regrounds him. From there, a holistic routine steadies the mind and body including prayer, visualisation, gratitude, grounding, meditation, cold showers, strength and cardio, protein-forward meals and ruthless sleep hygiene. He quits comparison, limits social media and measures progress in “two millimetre shifts.”

The heartbeat of this conversation is simple and lifesaving "it’s not weak to speak". One answered call can change a life, one honest check-in can keep someone here. If you need a sign to stay, let this be it. Share this episode with someone who needs hope and leave a review to help others find it.

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Thanks for listening in!

Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to
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Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here

Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee

Buy my Book here

Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com

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.