Luis chose seven days #podcast
Luis Montero struggled to stay away from substances, so he made the choice to enter a youth detox program. After going back to school and seeing a psychologist, Luis hit a wall with substances. Rather than waiting, he took himself to a youth detox for seven days. It was a concrete decision in a difficult […]
Reminding myself I’m not an idiot | Luis Montero | Kintsugi Heroes Shorts
Luis Montero speaks plainly about the daily work of pushing forward and correcting his own self-doubt. Luis Montero describes the unglamorous, honest work of self-encouragement. He doesn’t frame it as inspiration or breakthrough. He simply keeps reminding himself, day by day, that he’s not what his doubt tells him he is. 🎙️ Watch the full […]
I survived. That was my normal. | Luis Montero | Kintsugi Heroes Shorts
Luis Montero’s lived experience of homelessness shapes how he quietly supports others still sleeping rough. Luis Montero survived rough sleeping and homelessness. Now, when he supports others in similar circumstances, he carries that knowledge with him. He doesn’t pretend their struggle is over or minimise the cold nights ahead. He simply knows, from lived truth, […]
From Caregiver At Eight To Peer Worker Supporting Homeless Youth
Luis Montero’s journey through addiction recovery and homelessness shows how early caregiving responsibility, shame, and grief spiral into substance use, and how one turning point with his son became the catalyst to rebuild. A real story of resilience from lived experience. ⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses addiction & recovery, which some listeners may find […]
Luis Montero: From child carer to peer worker, rebuilding after addiction, loss, and the fight to…
The birds are still tweeting ⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses addiction & recovery, which some listeners may find distressing. If you need support, you’re not alone — help is available: • SMART Recovery Australia (addiction): smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au • ReachOut: au.reachout.com Luis grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness in a household marked by his mother’s severe […]
Leaving A Cult At 18: How Queer Support Services Saved My Life
Growing up in a controlling religious cult, our hero was told who to be and how to feel. At 18, after their family’s reaction to their non-binary identity escalated from verbal abuse to physical threats, they left home with almost nothing. In this episode of Pride in Stories, they share the concrete steps that kept […]
I Didn’t Want To Die With The Wrong Name | Pride In Stories
I didn’t want to die with the wrong name At our hero’s request, we’ve withheld their name and identifying details to protect their privacy. ⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses abuse & exploitation and domestic & family violence, which some listeners may find distressing. If you need support, you’re not alone — help is available: […]
The mantra that rewired my life
Mindi Kessler survived a childhood in a volatile Kansas family. When chronic pain became debilitating 12 years ago, a single phrase shifted everything: what if this is happening for you, not to you? Her trauma healing journey reveals how mindset, somatic work, and inner child healing can rewire what trauma built into the body. ⚠️ […]
Trauma healing podcast: the mantra that changed everything | Mindi Kessler
The mantra that rewired my life ⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses abuse & exploitation and trauma & healing, which some listeners may find distressing. If you need support, you’re not alone — help is available: • Blue Knot Foundation (complex trauma): 1300 657 380 · blueknot.org.au • 1800RESPECT (family, domestic & sexual violence): 1800 […]
Her father saw the danger and chose to leave everything | Kintsugi Heroes Shorts
Alyssa Chhim-Michelle’s father made an impossible choice. he abandoned his family’s land and dreams to protect them from what was coming. Alyssa Chhim-Michelle’s father faced a moment of clarity during a time of rising conflict. Despite speaking only Cambodian and Thai, he made the decision to leave behind generations of family wealth and land. His […]