How to Be a Hero in Real Life

S3 Ep6- Never Give Up on Yourself | Barry Carey’s Story

A couple of years ago, I met Barry- and his story has stuck with me ever since. Barry Carey, a number one bestselling author in the Start Over Series (Volume 4), is originally from Northern Ireland and moved to Australia in 2008, planning to stay for just a year. Like many, that year turned into something much bigger- but not without its challenges. What started as a lifestyle of partying in his early 20s quickly spiralled into heavy drinking, anxiety, and declining mental health. After a series of difficult events, including a car crash and struggles with depression, Barry reached a breaking point. But that wasn’t the end of his story. Through running and discipline, Barry began to rebuild, training at an elite level and completely shifting his mindset. Yet even after physical progress, he faced further setbacks, including injury, trauma, and deep depression that led to hospitalisation. After surviving a life-threatening accident, Barry had a realisation: if he was still here, there had to be a reason. From that moment, everything changed. He committed to working on his mind, rebuilding his life through fitness, mental health support, and personal growth. Today, he’s a speaker, author, and advocate, helping others find their way through dark times. In this episode, we talk about rock bottom, resilience, and what it really takes to start over. Barry’s message is simple: Never give up on yourself. Ask for help — and keep going. Connect with Barry on Instagram: @careybarry

S3 Ep5- Kersten Stengel: She Woke Up Pain-Free… What Happened Next Changed Everything.

In this episode, I’m joined by Kersten Stengel, whose journey is nothing short of powerful. Kersten was born in Blackpool and studied in Manchester, where she completed a science degree before going on to train as a teacher. She started her career back in Blackpool, driven by a genuine passion to become the best teacher she could be. Around that time, she met her now-husband-who’s originally from Scandinavia, through her family’s pub. Not long after, they got married, and together they made a bold decision: to start a completely new life abroad. They chose Adelaide, despite never having been before. After navigating the visa process, Kersten secured a role as a science teacher, and within just two years, she was promoted to assistant principal. On paper, everything was going well. But life had other plans. While working at a new school, Kersten experienced a traumatic incident involving intruders. In the aftermath, she sustained an injury that would go on to change everything. What followed was a long and incredibly challenging period of chronic pain... migraines that lasted weeks, restricted movement, and a loss of independence that left her feeling isolated and disconnected from her life. At her lowest point, something shifted. A yoga retreat in Byron Bay became a turning point. During a deeply transformative experience with yoga nidra, Kersten woke up pain-free for the first time. Although the pain didn’t disappear completely, it gave her something she hadn’t felt in a long time—hope. That moment set her on a completely new path. Since then, Kersten has trained extensively in yoga, meditation, trauma awareness, and clinical nutrition, including time spent studying in Chennai. She’s built a toolkit not only to manage her own pain, but to help others reconnect with themselves and heal. We also talk about how Kersten and I connected through social media, her involvement in the Start Over journey, and how she’s now turning her experience, knowledge, and passion into a growing business- helping others find their way back to who they truly are. Her message is simple but powerful: reconnect with your true self, understand your values, and have the courage to follow that path. If you’d like to follow Kersten’s journey, you can find her on Instagram at @kerstenstengel.

S3 Ep4- From Losing His Job to Building an Iron Man Suit | Adam Douglas

In this episode, I’m joined by Adam Douglas, who shares how he discovered the Start Over movement after coming across my podcast and connecting with me on Instagram. After learning about the opportunity to co-author and share powerful life stories, Adam felt inspired to step forward and tell his own. Adam talks openly about the challenges he faced during COVID when he lost his job and the sense of purpose that came with it. As someone who thrives on meeting people and being creative, he suddenly found himself with too much time and no clear direction. It was a difficult period that even brought back memories of a time when he had been seriously ill. But out of that low moment came something unexpected. Surrounded by spare cardboard and old art supplies, Adam began creating again. What started as simple experiments quickly grew into something much bigger- from small models to an incredible cardboard Iron Man suit and life-size mannequin prototypes. When he finally displayed one of his creations outside in Manchester, the reaction from curious passers-by became a powerful and magical moment that reminded him of the joy of creating. Adam, an engineer and engineering teacher, is now turning his creativity into something even bigger. He’s building a business around his creations, with plans to design full-size models and vehicles, while also using his skills to inspire others through creativity, collaboration, and coaching. Adam’s story is a reminder that even in our lowest moments, creativity and purpose can help us find our way forward. To connect with Adam, follow him on Instagram: @adamdouglascoach

S3 Ep3- From Rock Bottom to Self-Love | Louise’s Start Over Story

In this episode, I’m joined by Louise Culyer, who shares her powerful journey of transformation and becoming part of the Start Over movement. Louise explains how, despite already helping people through her work, she felt something was missing. Her business felt stagnant and she knew she was meant for more - she wanted to write a book, travel, and reach even more people. After connecting on Zoom, we began working together and she became part of the Start Over movement. Growing up, Louise struggled with trauma, anxiety, and self-doubt. She built what looked like a stable life on the outside, a career as a teacher, a home, and a supportive husband- but internally she wasn’t happy. Surrounded by negative family dynamics and struggling with her mental health and relationship with food, she realised she needed to make a change. Louise made the difficult decision to walk away from her old life, including relationships that were no longer healthy for her. When COVID hit, things became even harder. She lost her stability, had nowhere to live for a period of time, and reached one of the lowest points in her life — even sleeping in her car and eventually going to hospital due to her mental health. But that moment became a turning point. Louise began focusing on her healing, investing in her health, fitness, and personal growth. With the support of a spiritual coach, she experienced a powerful realisation that there was more to life and that she was worth fighting for. Since then, Louise has completely turned her life around. After working with the NHS and investing heavily in her own education and development, she has built her own coaching business and now helps people transform their lives every day. Her message is simple but powerful: there is more to life than what you may see right now. Invest in yourself, put yourself first, and believe that change is possible. To connect with Louise, you can find her on Instagram: @louiseculyer

S3 Ep2- Turning Pain Into Power with Sia De La Cruz

In this episode, I’m joined by Sia De La Cruz, who shares her journey and what being part of the Start Over movement means to her. We talk about the power of connection, storytelling, and how people are using their experiences to bring healing not only to themselves, but to others. Sia has spent the last six years writing a book- a collection of poems and creative pieces inspired by trauma and healing. After completing it, we connected on Instagram, and I invited her to become a co-author in the Start Over movement so she could share her story in a raw and authentic way to help others feel less alone. Sia opens up about the challenges she has faced in her life, including losing her father to suicide at just 16 years old- an experience that deeply impacted her and shaped how she approached relationships and helping others. At 25, she found herself in a domestic abusive relationship that lasted five years. She bravely shares part of her story in this episode, including the red flags, the trauma she experienced, and the strength it took to eventually walk away. The full story can be found in her chapter in the Start Over movement book. Sia’s message is one of courage and empowerment, reminding us of the importance of finding our inner strength, trusting our intuition, and seeking the right support on our healing journey. To connect with Sia, you can find her on Instagram: @sia_dlc