Facing ADHD, anger, and finding strength in helping others with Lance Burdett

Lance grew up moving often, with a tough childhood and feelings of not fitting in. He struggled at school, found it hard to make friends and often felt alone. Early on, Lance showed signs of ADHD and anger, feeling out of place and hearing constant criticism which shaped his self-belief and experience at home and […]

The path to healing and self-empowerment with Caroline Brunne • Animals & Us E16

Caroline Brunne grew up in a large, fun-loving, close-knit Mauritian family in Australia. At age ten, she experienced four years of abuse by a family member, learning early about trauma responses like fawning and shrinking herself to stay safe in her own home. During her teens, Caroline struggled to cope and kept her secret for […]

Finding strength after setbacks with Mark Berridge

Mark grew up in Albany in WA, enjoying nature and learning from his schoolteacher parents, who blended creativity, resilience and the support that shaped his values and curiosity. After finishing high school, he went on to university in Perth, where he made lifelong friends. Mark began a corporate career in logistics and sales, working for […]

Rugare Gomo on Owning Identity, Creating Safe Spaces, Asking for Help, and Pursuing Freedom

In this episode, host Emma Bellamy-Dodd speaks with Rugare Gomo, author, leadership coach, and Zimbabwean-born migrant, about his journey toward embracing his authentic self in Australia. Rugare discusses growing up under strict societal and cultural expectations, navigating identity as a gay Black African man, and overcoming years of statelessness and exclusion. He highlights the unique […]

From saddle making to global tech leadership with John Dwyer

John Dwyer left school at age fourteen and started as an apprentice saddle maker. While working in leather, John became interested in computers. He taught himself basic programming on early computers and helped computerize the factory. This growing interest led to a new direction in technology. John joined the tech industry in the early 1980s. […]

Learning to live a life free of limits with Michael Hingson • Animals & Us E15

Michael was born blind and grew up in Chicago and California. His early years lacked access to braille, but he learned math in his head and stayed curious about science. Michael got proper braille education in fourth grade. With his mother’s support and a new resource teacher, he caught up in school, joined the Boy […]