Why Disability Inclusion Starts With One Simple Question
Disability inclusion and leadership. Eighteen years ago, Cathy Hockey stepped into an employment program for people with intellectual disabilities with no experience in the field. A simple tool, a one-page profile capturing what each person valued and how to support them, became the foundation for everything: hiring, team-building, and later her entire coaching practice. ⚠️ […]
How does trauma live in your body and what sets it free
Sarah Rowan spent 38 years hiding who she really was in a strict Christian environment. Trauma stored in her body as rheumatoid arthritis, a marriage that wasn’t hers, and a life on autopilot. Here is how she took back the steering wheel, rebuilt through art, and discovered that creativity and unconditional love are paths to […]
Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you
Reframing trauma from victim identity to material for growth: Dr Heena Cheung survived childhood sexual abuse and anorexia, then used one sentence to unlock a shift that led her to run for Senate and fight for NDIS housing and migrant women’s rights. This is her story of how life doesn’t happen to you-it happens for […]
Why I spent years refusing the one thing I needed most
Daniel lost his sight at 16 to a genetic condition he couldn’t control. But his story isn’t about overcoming disability. It’s about learning to see differently, finding strength in asking for help, and building a life of purpose beyond what he thought he’d lost. ⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses mental health & wellbeing, which […]
Self-Esteem vs Self-Worth | Which One Actually Matters? | Kintsugi Heroes
Self worth and self esteem aren’t the same thing. In this Grit Diaries episode, Deborah Weed shares how a three-year health crisis and a single metaphor rewired her understanding of her own value. Self worth and self esteem look the same from the outside, but they’re built on completely different ground. Deborah Weed spent over […]
31 Years of Support: Why Jeff Parker Says ‘You Don’t Have to Do It Alone’
SUMMARY At 25, Jeff Parker was a weightlifter in country New South Wales. A week later, he was paralysed from the waist down by a tumour in his spinal cord no doctor had seen coming. In this episode of Golden Threads, host Daniel Dougherty sits down with Jeff — now 61, blind, an NDIS advocate, […]
Paternal Leave Forced Him to Question Everything
Colin Parsons spent years trying to be who everyone else wanted. Here’s how he stopped people-pleasing, quietened his inner critic, and learned to like who he actually is. Colin is a conversationalist and LinkedIn host from Luxembourg who now has deep conversations for a living. In this episode he opens up about the long road […]
My dream job fired me for raising concerns #career #corporate #storytime
In this Grit Diaries conversation, we hear a personal account of navigating a challenging “toxic work environment.” Jo recounts an unexpected “performance review” after raising a workplace concern, highlighting the impact of poor “leadership” and potential “bullying.” This narrative offers poignant insight into the complexities of “human resources” and the sentiment of “i hate my […]
He Spent 14 Years in the Closet—Then He Changed the Military
The Closet Is a Performance: How Gene Moore Dismantled Homophobia in the World’s Toughest Institutions Gene Moore spent 14 years in the closet as a pastor before a crisis forced him out. After losing his partner Victor in a plane crash, he developed a framework that transformed how the military and police understand homophobia, not […]
Her First Certificate After Years of Struggle #inspiration #womensupport
We highlight the significance of a certificate as a “golden hope” for women facing challenges and lacking prior work experience. This episode emphasizes the pride and accomplishment felt by women receiving these certificates after completing a course, showcasing true skill development. It’s a testament to empowering women through free training and personal development to achieve […]