More Than My Worst Decision

More Than My Worst Decision

Some stories arrive heavy, complicated, and almost impossible to imagine - yet they reveal the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. Today, Mel sits down with Michael, a man whose life began with trauma no child should ever endure. His early years were marked by sexual abuse, leaving wounds that would follow him into adolescence and shape the choices he made as a young man.   As he slipped into the world of alcohol and drugs, Michael found himself spiralling, disconnected, hurting, and searching for anything that might numb the pain. That spiral led to a tragic and life‑altering moment: the accidental killing of a man during an intoxicated, chaotic encounter. It was an event that shattered multiple lives, including his own, and placed him on a path through the justice system, public scrutiny, and years of deep personal reckoning.   But this conversation isn’t just about the darkness. It’s about what came after - the long, gruelling climb toward accountability, healing, and change. It’s about the unexpected light that entered Michael’s life in the form of his daughter. Her presence became a turning point: a reason to fight, to rebuild, and to become the kind of man she deserved. Through court battles, mental health challenges, and the weight of his past, Michael found a way to transform himself.   Today, he speaks with honesty about the mistakes that nearly destroyed him, the unconditional love that saved him, and the strength it took to reclaim his life. His story is confronting, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful - a testament to what can happen when someone chooses responsibility, chooses growth, and chooses love.   This is Michael’s journey: from trauma to turmoil, from devastation to determination, and finally, to a life rebuilt with purpose.   On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced.   The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support:   Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. [https://www.lifeline.org.au/] 13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders [https://www.13yarn.org.au/] Home | 1800RESPECT [https://www.1800respect.org.au/] National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling Service Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 [https://kidshelpline.com.au/] Ask Izzy [https://askizzy.org.au/] Search over 450,000 support services     CREDITS: Host: Melissa Alsemgeest Guest: Michael McKnight Editor: Robert Alsemgeest   GET IN TOUCH:       https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour [https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour]   ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Belonging Is Where Healing Begins Part 2

Some stories don’t just mark a life - they redirect it. Today, Mel sits down with Natascha Consigli, a woman whose journey has been shaped by profound loss, unprocessed trauma, and the long, courageous work of rebuilding a sense of belonging in the world.   Natascha’s early life was struck by tragedy with the death of her mother at a young age, a rupture that left her navigating childhood without the emotional anchor every child deserves. That kind of loss doesn’t simply fade, it settles into the foundations of who we become. And for Natascha, it set in motion years of searching for safety, identity, and connection in places that could not offer them.   Her adult life carried the weight of that unresolved trauma. As she openly shares, she became a woman living in survival mode, moving through domestic violence, addiction, and eventually the criminal justice system, where she witnessed firsthand the cycles of generational trauma and the deep absence of support for women trying to change their lives.   But Natascha’s story is not defined by the darkest chapters. It is defined by what she did next.   With relentless self‑reflection, counselling training, and a commitment to rebuilding from the inside out, she transformed her life. Today, she works as an Employment and Training Program Coordinator with Success Works Partners, using her lived experience to advocate for women seeking a second chance -women who, like her, are learning that healing is not about erasing the past, but about finally turning toward it.   Her journey is also a reminder of what happens when trauma goes unaddressed: how it can fracture belonging, distort self‑worth, and lead us into environments that mirror our wounds rather than heal them. And yet, Natascha stands as proof that belonging can be rebuilt through honesty, community, and the courage to reinvent yourself.   This conversation is about trauma, accountability, identity, and the radical possibility of change. It’s about what happens when a life breaks and what becomes possible when you decide to piece it back together with intention. Natascha Consigli (@missnconsigli) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/missnconsigli/] Natascha Consigli - Success Works Partners | LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/in/natascha-consigli-b00346320] Jobs for Women with Criminal Records in Sydney | Success Works Partners [https://successworks.org.au/] On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced.   The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support:   Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. [https://www.lifeline.org.au/] 13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders [https://www.13yarn.org.au/] Home | 1800RESPECT [https://www.1800respect.org.au/] National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling Service Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 [https://kidshelpline.com.au/] Ask Izzy [https://askizzy.org.au/] Search over 450,000 support services     CREDITS: Host: Melissa Alsemgeest Guest: Natascha Consigli Editor: Robert Alsemgeest   GET IN TOUCH:       https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour [https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Belonging Is Where Healing Begins Part 1

Some stories don’t just mark a life - they redirect it. Today, Mel sits down with Natascha Consigli, a woman whose journey has been shaped by profound loss, unprocessed trauma, and the long, courageous work of rebuilding a sense of belonging in the world.   Natascha’s early life was struck by tragedy with the death of her mother at a young age, a rupture that left her navigating childhood without the emotional anchor every child deserves. That kind of loss doesn’t simply fade, it settles into the foundations of who we become. And for Natascha, it set in motion years of searching for safety, identity, and connection in places that could not offer them.   Her adult life carried the weight of that unresolved trauma. As she openly shares, she became a woman living in survival mode, moving through domestic violence, addiction, and eventually the criminal justice system, where she witnessed firsthand the cycles of generational trauma and the deep absence of support for women trying to change their lives.   But Natascha’s story is not defined by the darkest chapters. It is defined by what she did next.   With relentless self‑reflection, counselling training, and a commitment to rebuilding from the inside out, she transformed her life. Today, she works as an Employment and Training Program Coordinator with Success Works Partners, using her lived experience to advocate for women seeking a second chance -women who, like her, are learning that healing is not about erasing the past, but about finally turning toward it.   Her journey is also a reminder of what happens when trauma goes unaddressed: how it can fracture belonging, distort self‑worth, and lead us into environments that mirror our wounds rather than heal them. And yet, Natascha stands as proof that belonging can be rebuilt through honesty, community, and the courage to reinvent yourself.   This conversation is about trauma, accountability, identity, and the radical possibility of change. It’s about what happens when a life breaks and what becomes possible when you decide to piece it back together with intention. Natascha Consigli (@missnconsigli) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/missnconsigli/] Natascha Consigli - Success Works Partners | LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/in/natascha-consigli-b00346320] Jobs for Women with Criminal Records in Sydney | Success Works Partners [https://successworks.org.au/] On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced.   The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support:   Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. [https://www.lifeline.org.au/] 13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders [https://www.13yarn.org.au/] Home | 1800RESPECT [https://www.1800respect.org.au/] National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling Service Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 [https://kidshelpline.com.au/] Ask Izzy [https://askizzy.org.au/] Search over 450,000 support services     CREDITS: Host: Melissa Alsemgeest Guest: Natascha Consigli Editor: Robert Alsemgeest   GET IN TOUCH:       https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour [https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Stories Our Bodies Carry Part 2

Some stories don’t just move us - they open us. Today, Mel sits down with Gia Sinha, a woman whose life has been shaped by experiences no child should ever have to endure, and whose courage has carried her through some of the darkest terrain a human being can face.   From a childhood marked by wounds that were buried too deep for words, to the moment, at thirty eight, when a cancer diagnosis forced everything she had held inside to finally demand to be seen, Gia’s journey is one of confronting truth, reclaiming voice, and transforming pain into purpose.   Her book, All the Parts Not Seen: When the Wound Becomes the Way, is not just a memoir, it’s an invitation. An invitation to stop running from the parts of ourselves we fear most, and to recognise that healing begins the moment we turn toward what we’ve hidden.   Today, Gia shares the path she walked: the silence, the survival, the unraveling, the illness, and ultimately the profound awakening that came from meeting her own story with honesty and compassion. And if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to rebuild a life from the inside out - Gia is living proof. This is a conversation about trauma, truth, resilience, and the fierce beauty of becoming whole.   Let’s step into it. Gia Sinha (@gia.sinha) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/gia.sinha/] All the Parts Not Seen: Early Edition: When the Wound Becomes the Way : Sinha, Gia: Amazon.com.au: Books [https://www.amazon.com.au/All-Parts-Not-Seen-Becomes/dp/1764373405] On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced.   The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support:   Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. [https://www.lifeline.org.au/] 13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders [https://www.13yarn.org.au/] Home | 1800RESPECT [https://www.1800respect.org.au/] National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling Service Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 [https://kidshelpline.com.au/] Ask Izzy [https://askizzy.org.au/] Search over 450,000 support services     CREDITS: Host: Melissa Alsemgeest Guest: Gia Sinha Editor: Robert Alsemgeest   GET IN TOUCH:       https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour [https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Stories Our Bodies Carry Part 1

Some stories don’t just move us - they open us. Today, Mel sits down with Gia Sinha, a woman whose life has been shaped by experiences no child should ever have to endure, and whose courage has carried her through some of the darkest terrain a human being can face.   From a childhood marked by wounds that were buried too deep for words, to the moment, at thirty eight, when a cancer diagnosis forced everything she had held inside to finally demand to be seen, Gia’s journey is one of confronting truth, reclaiming voice, and transforming pain into purpose.   Her book, All the Parts Not Seen: When the Wound Becomes the Way, is not just a memoir, it’s an invitation. An invitation to stop running from the parts of ourselves we fear most, and to recognise that healing begins the moment we turn toward what we’ve hidden.   Today, Gia shares the path she walked: the silence, the survival, the unraveling, the illness, and ultimately the profound awakening that came from meeting her own story with honesty and compassion. And if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to rebuild a life from the inside out - Gia is living proof. This is a conversation about trauma, truth, resilience, and the fierce beauty of becoming whole.   Let’s step into it. Gia Sinha (@gia.sinha) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/gia.sinha/] All the Parts Not Seen: Early Edition: When the Wound Becomes the Way : Sinha, Gia: Amazon.com.au: Books [https://www.amazon.com.au/All-Parts-Not-Seen-Becomes/dp/1764373405] On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced.   The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support:   Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. [https://www.lifeline.org.au/] 13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders [https://www.13yarn.org.au/] Home | 1800RESPECT [https://www.1800respect.org.au/] National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling Service Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 [https://kidshelpline.com.au/] Ask Izzy [https://askizzy.org.au/] Search over 450,000 support services     CREDITS: Host: Melissa Alsemgeest Guest: Gia Sinha Editor: Robert Alsemgeest   GET IN TOUCH:       https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour [https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour]   ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.