Before You Bloom

This week on Before You Bloom , I’m joined by the incredible Lael Stone, educator, speaker, parenting counsellor, co-founder of Woodline Primary School, and author of the beautiful new book Own Your Story . Lael has spent over two decades guiding people through emotional healing, with a particular focus on the unconscious imprints we carry from childhood and how they shape our lives as adults. In...

I’m joined by the incredible Juliet Oliver, a Kiwi engineer turned FemTech founder, who has transformed her battle with stage 4 endometriosis into a global mission to help others. After 8 years of misdiagnoses and medical gaslighting, Juliet finally cracked her own “endo code,” finding ways to manage her symptoms and rebuild her life. Out of this journey, she created Endo45 , a science-backed app...

In this episode of Before You Bloom , Hayley sits down with Danielle Donald, whose life changed in an instant after a devastating high speed car accident on March 27, 2018. Danielle and her one year old son were rushed to the Alfred Hospital, her son thankfully unharmed, but Danielle sustained a severe traumatic brain injury, including a left temporal haemorrhage and intraparenchymal haemorrhage....

I’m joined by the inspiring Maiana , who opens up about her personal journey with body image and mental health. From navigating body dysmorphia and eating disorders as a teen to redefining what health and strength mean on her own terms, Maiana shares her candid experiences and the lessons she’s learned along the way. We dive into how her relationship with her body has evolved, the pressures of wor...

In this episode of Before You Bloom , I sit down with Erna Walraven, one of Australia’s first female zookeepers and the former Senior Curator at Taronga Zoo. Erna shares her trailblazing journey breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry, from facing sexism in the 1980s to leading the shift in zoos from entertainment to conservation. We explore her memoir,  "Hear Me Roar ," her encou...

I’m joined by Jenny Valentish, Walkley Award-nominated journalist and author of the new book The Introvert’s Guide to Leaving the House . Jenny speaks the language of the overthinker, the aloof, and the awkward, drawing from her own journey as a self-described reformed sociophobe. Once terrified to speak into a microphone, Jenny has since transformed her relationship with social anxiety, taking bo...

I sit down with Grace King to share her deeply personal journey with Stage 4 thoracic endometriosis, a rare and often misunderstood form of the condition that affects the lungs and diaphragm. Grace takes us back to the very beginning, reflecting on when she first noticed symptoms, the long and frustrating road to diagnosis, and the challenges of getting doctors to take her pain seriously. She open...

I sit down with the incredible Steph Kelly to talk about her life after a traumatic car accident that changed everything. Steph lives with multiple chronic illnesses including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Intestinal Failure, and Gastroparesis, and shares with honesty and courage how these conditions have impacte...

I sit down with the incredible Steph Kelly to talk about her life after a traumatic car accident that changed everything. Steph lives with multiple chronic illnesses including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Intestinal Failure, and Gastroparesis, and shares with honesty and courage how these conditions have impacte...

In this powerful episode of Before You Bloom , I’m joined by the brilliant Jamila Rizvi, bestselling author, speaker, and fierce advocate for women’s health, leadership, and equity. Jamila opens up about her experience being diagnosed with a rare brain tumour, and how that life-altering moment reshaped her identity, her priorities, and her understanding of what it means to live with both physical...

In this powerful episode of Before You Bloom , I sit down with the radiant Jessica Newman to talk about her journey with Alopecia, from the first signs of hair loss to building confidence, redefining beauty, and embracing bold self-expression. Jessica opens up about how her diagnosis impacted her mental health and self-esteem, her experience navigating treatments, and the tools that have helped he...

I sit down with the lovely Heledd to explore her deeply personal journey with endometriosis from the very first signs to surgery, painful flare-ups, and the emotional toll that often goes unseen. Heledd opens up about the realities of living with a chronic illness, sharing what’s helped her through the darkest moments and how she’s learned to support both her physical and emotional well-being. We...

I’m joined by the incredible Sarah Davidson, a multi-passionate entrepreneur, podcast host, speaker, author, and mother, whose journey is a masterclass in embracing life’s unexpected twists with courage, humour, and heart. Sarah began her career as a corporate lawyer, but a pivotal moment led her to walk away from the courtroom and into a completely new chapter, co-founding the global wellness bra...

In this raw and radiant conversation, Hayley is joined by bestselling author, speaker, and self-connection guide Hollie Azzopardi, as she opens up about the deeply personal journey behind her latest book. From navigating chronic illness and the exhaustion of people-pleasing, to healing childhood emotional wounds and finding her voice again after becoming a mother. Hollie speaks with heart, honesty...

In this deeply insightful episode, I sit down with surgeon, author, and broadcaster Gabriel Weston, whose unconventional path from English literature to Surgery gives her a unique lens on the human body, illness, and healing. Gabriel shares how studying the humanities before entering medicine shaped her connection to patients and her writing voice. Together, they explore the emotional complexity o...

In this two part heartfelt episode of Before You Bloom , I sit down with Clarissa, fertility mentor, author, and mother of three, for an emotional and deeply inspiring conversation about navigating unimaginable loss, reclaiming her power, and transforming her pain into purpose. Clarissa opens up about the years she spent battling fertility challenges, including the devastating loss of five babies...

In this two part heartfelt episode of Before You Bloom , I sit down with Clarissa, fertility mentor, author, and mother of three, for an emotional and deeply inspiring conversation about navigating unimaginable loss, reclaiming her power, and transforming her pain into purpose. Clarissa opens up about the years she spent battling fertility challenges, including the devastating loss of five babies...

In today’s powerful episode, I’m joined by Crissy, a vibrant, courageous woman who faced one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer: triple negative breast cancer. What makes her story even more remarkable is that her symptoms were virtually silent. With no obvious warning signs, her diagnosis came as a complete shock. Crissy shares the emotional and physical rollercoaster of her treatment...

In today's episode of Before You Bloom, I sit down with Holly who is a passionate mental health advocate and business owner. Holly opens up about her incredibly personal and powerful journey, beginning with mental health struggles that started as early as 11 years old. From battling depression, psychosis symptoms, eating disorders, and PTSD, Holly vulnerably shares what it was like to reach her lo...

I sit down with the inspiring Tayler to unpack her journey through Chronic illness, Autism, self-discovery, and resilience. Tayler shares her experience living with a range of chronic illnesses, including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Visceroptosis. We dive into her long and exhausting path to diagnosis, the many challenges she’s faced with the medical system, and what it's really like livi...

In today’s episode of Before You Bloom , I’m joined by the beautiful and inspiring Holly Faller. Holly shares her journey of living with alopecia, from the early years of her symptoms as a child to navigating the emotional impact of hair loss and learning to embrace her appearance with confidence as a teenager and adult. We talk about the challenges she faced with self-esteem and mental health, th...

Christine Newell spent a challenging yet life‑changing year in South Korea, working with an experimental theatre company. Grieving her father and wrestling with anxiety and imposter syndrome, she arrived in Seoul feeling lost. But soon found exactly what she needed. In this episode, she speaks openly about the mental health struggles that often shadow a career in theatre, noting that around 70 per...

In this two part soul-nourishing episode of Before You Bloom , I’m joined by the deeply insightful and compassionate Sophia, a psychotherapist who specialises in inner child work and somatic healing. We explore how unprocessed childhood wounds can quietly shape our adult lives, from the way we show up in relationships, to how we respond to stress and carry emotion in our bodies. Drawing from her o...

In this two part soul-nourishing episode of Before You Bloom , I’m joined by the deeply insightful and compassionate Sophia, a psychotherapist who specialises in inner child work and somatic healing. We explore how unprocessed childhood wounds can quietly shape our adult lives, from the way we show up in relationships, to how we respond to stress and carry emotion in our bodies. Drawing from her o...

I’m joined by the courageous and compassionate Kellie, founder of Kosi, Endometriosis warrior and Shark Tank success story. Kellie opens up about her battle with stage 4 Endometriosis, which began at age 12 and led to years of being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and told her pain was "just period pain." Her journey eventually included a devastating 4-year fertility struggle, 5 heartbreaking m...