Stories that Stir

When it comes to the question of Identity, no matter how periphery Orly’s Judaism has seemed alongside her spirituality, artistry and her passion for diversity and creative activism, being Jewish has become front-centre to her experience of being human in today's world. To be Jewish is an ancient-come-modern controversy. A historical tale of survival. From a perspective of identity, most of us...

For many years Sophie Phan was trapped in multiple dominating and narcissistic relationships. She did her best to accomplish her assigned tasks and be the ‘perfect’ partner, workmate and niece. Exhausted from being manipulated and continuously accused of underachieving, Sophie recently took a bold stand and has embarked on amazing reinvention of herself as she strives to feed her passions and get...

When Lucy Bloom was 17 years old, a naked man touched her for the first time. He was a stripper hired by her school friends for a surprise birthday party on the last day of school in year 11. The rest is history. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links: https://events...

At 36, Roxy’s seemingly idyllic life alongside a model husband and two young kids imploded, and a transformative journey of self-discovery unfolded. Triggered by Madonna's concert and a friend's bold inquiry during my husband's band performance, Roxy’s hidden desires emerged. Following her husband's granting of a one-night encounter with a woman, she left her marriage, initially ob...

After 10 years of suffering with an autoimmune disease, Joe chose to heal from it. Now 14 years completely symptom free he discovered that the disease was a gift that drove him to change his life and eventually create a social enterprise called Lovefest in 2017. With Love being his primary healer, he is now co-creating spaces that bring more Love on a planetary scale through community-based collab...

Ever wondered about the day-to-day life of a male escort? Jordan lifts the veil on male sex work and helps destigmatise one of the oldest industries in the world. He’ll take you through a brutally honest walk through of his experience as a high class, full service male escort over the past5 years, sharing the highs, lows and various challenges. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72En...

When a string of unexpected, life-changing events struck, Chris’s intuition was to turn to his own resilience philosophy, Useful Belief. He shares why it didn’t work and what he learned about why our intuition sometimes lets us down. Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠ Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠ Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Eve...

In her 20s, Clare was left fighting for her life after a catastrophic road accident. Enduring 37 operations, her only focus was to learn to walk again and recover the life she had lost.  Fast forward to today, ‘Mayor Clare’ is a wife, a mother of three, and an unexpected politician. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9c...

Dr Justin Coulson realised his intuition didn’t always serve him when it came to parenting. He since learnt how to identify with highly attuned intuition if we learn to recognise patterns. Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠ Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠ Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event links: ⁠https://events.humanitix.com/stori...

Nicolette was a highly regarded female leader within the luxury hospitality industry, where she suffered from a major burn out and was forced to STOP running. Following her intuition led her to finding the balance within her business and wholistic lifestyle. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles...

As a teenage girl, being normal meant to fit in and belong – if only it was that simple.  Melanie's story explores themes of belonging, self-acceptance and transition as she unpacks her experiences with mental health and menstrual health over the past ten years, from high school to young adulthood. Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms...

Just when Hannah was settled into her new sober life, her biggest transition was yet to come. Becoming a mother felt like everything she had ever known was in question, yet again, but this time she had some tools up her sleeve to help as she birthed herself as a newborn mother, without a wine in sight. Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms...

Dan grew up in the American Evangelical church, steeped in-laws, expectations, and tradition.  As Dan moved into adulthood, through military service, marriage, divorce, the lessons of the world continued to contradict the expectations the Church had laid out for him.  Dan's story is about leaving behind the unfruitful tree of faith and finding new reasons for meaning in a world without the nee...

Would you travel solo, towing a caravan and tackling 4WDrive tracks through some of the remotest parts of Queensland? After another disappointing relationship breakdown and still healing from her husband’s death nearly 7 years ago, Melissa shares her story of manifesting a sponsorship and writing deal to do her life-transforming 2 month trip, and how to be brave enough to say yes, and figure out h...

26 years in the wrong marriage, 40 years in the wrong career & 59 years in the wrong body, Bobbi transitioned not once but twice to become the woman she is today. Tonight she shares her message of possibility & strategies that allowed her to turn her life around completely, finding her truth that always lay within, & inspiring us all to have the courage to live our truths too. Host app...

One that came at huge cost. Brook took a chance 20 years ago, one which she’s still paying for, yet her bright smile shows that the good and bad in life are often deeply complicated. At the bottom of the description, paste this: Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event links:ht...

It’s been a wild ride ever since Petrea was told she wouldn’t see Christmas in 1983. Paradoxically, preparing to die gave her the courage to live. No longer willing to simply exist, Petrea discovered she wasn’t alone in living behind the masks we place upon ourselves to survive. Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 S...

Six chances. Six turning points. Six opportunities to rewrite the narrative, to craft a legacy. Armani will take you through his downward spirals and quest for redemption. A testament to holding onto your dreams, and reaching for more. Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event l...

When Danielle took a chance by turning up to a Rural village in Southern India with a suitcase full of knitting needles and yarn, she had no idea what to expect. She initially taught 10 women to knit, and 12 years later, hundreds of women have been given a chance at freedom. Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Socia...

Is how Rob’s wife found him, after things had gone catastrophically wrong with massive organ failure. He got his second chance at life after spending two weeks in a coma before waking with an organ transplant and a new lease on life. Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event lin...

Simon’s rock bottom included lengthy time in jail, after being found guilty of embezzling over$16M. Simon made the decision to own the mistakes of his past, and is paving the way for a redeeming future. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links: https://events.humanitix...

This is a story of two unlikely friends connecting during a time of ultimate fear, due to the pandemic. An unbreakable friendship developed distantly over a bowl of pasta, causing ripples in the community, and bringing families hope, in a time of despair. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @...

Arash fled from persecution in Iran. He spent six traumatic years in detention in Nauru, where he experienced even worse deprivation, cruelty, and violence than in his native country. His faith, community work, and passion for learning saw him through. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @sto...

As Identical twins, Meika and Sari have had a special connection since birth. Their story is about carving out their individual identities within their twin dynamic. Host application form:https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:@storiesthatstir Event links:https://events.humanitix.com/stories-that-stir-freedom Patreon:ht...

Guy’s story will attempt to connect the dots, like a detective investigating a mystery, that led him to a wonderful and surprising realisation about his beautiful partner. He might mention his time in the Circus and Olympics, but this story is mainly about love. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media han...