Stories that Stir

The Sydney Harbour Bridge always held a special place in Vanessa's family history. It’s also where her bridge phobia would first strike. What followed was a 20-year struggle to overcome her fears. Gephyrophobia -she even discovered it has a name along the way! Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media h...

From the age of six, aspiring musician Ciaran listened to the band INXS and fantasized about playing in their band. Fast forward 36 years, and incredibly, he became the singer of INXS. This is the story of how following his intuition, led to all his dreams coming true. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @st...

Kirsty struggled to love herself, so engaged in destructive behaviors, and thought finding a man would save her. Searching outside of herself didn't bring the answers, but by tapping into her intuition and learning to trust herself, she started to turn her life around. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles:...

Michelle is a freedom-loving adventurer who has completed 2 solo nonstop and unassisted ocean rows. She has faced challenges and dangers that few people can imagine. Adventure encourages you to trust your intuition – especially when the ISS was often closer to humanity than she was. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social medi...

Nathan was trying to fill a dark internal void with food. At 18 years old, he weighed 250kgs and had decided to eat himself to death. The journey back from the brink was a gut-wrenching ordeal, awakening his intuition, and nourishing his starving soul. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Eve...

All her life Helen has been aware of a silent guiding force that comes from who knows where, and often leads you to make seemingly illogical decisions. She could never have imagined how important it would be to follow this unseen guide, during an overseas holiday. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @stories...

Having survived comas, a tracheotomy and living with a rare autoimmune condition, another life-threatening event transformed Martin's life. As a result, he created the world's first LGBTO+ Boxing Championships, in a quest to disrupt homophobia. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthat...

What if our setbacks became fuel for our ascension? With a dash of grit and a pinch of alchemy, this true story is 25 years in the making. Dissolving the divide between poetry and magic, Adam bares all on a quest to transform our tragedies to triumphs. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Eve...

Nathan was trying to fill a dark internal void with food. At 18 years old, he weighed 250kgs and had decided to eat himself to death. The journey back from the brink was a gut-wrenching ordeal, awakening his intuition, and nourishing his starving soul Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Even...

Michelle’s journey to Airline Captain was a dream come true, however, she faced deep-seated fears that threatened to ground her dreams. Through perseverance and self-discovery, she discovered the freedom to fly, both in the skies and in life. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links:...

This is the story of how Raj, a middle-class woman born in Chennai, India, made it to the highest levels of Australian business, and took on the challenge of transforming that last great bastion of pale, stale & male — golf. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links: events.humanit...

Being born on a tropical island of plenty, Serendib or Sri Lanka, life looked good. A riot, taking refuge, depression, financial ruin, and a genocide, all helped Bob uncover the true meaning of freedom and the freedom to be Sudharshan again. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatsti...

Freya was coming to the end of her 2 year stay in the UK, when she met a guest at the hostel she worked at. He took a liking to her straight away... but he soon became intrusive. Can you ever actually feel safe when someone has become obsessed with you? Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @st...

Like most new comics, Dane expected that by making a living doing what he loves, he’d have the ticket to ultimate fulfillment. He discovered he was very wrong. Over many, years of being the very definition of “odd” and struggling with mental health challenges, he discovered a new road to fulfillment and is ready to share that story. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker applic...

Having a child born with a chronic illness seemed like the end of the world for Agnes over 10 years ago. But her purpose was just beginning. She will share how dealing with her daughter's unexpected illness, dramatically changed her life forever. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event...

Jason talks about the societal expectations of what it means to be a man, how this has worked out for him, and what happens when you realise that meeting expectations does not always lead to happiness. Through his story, Jason hopes to inspire others (but especially men), to embrace what being a man could really be about. Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:...

When Patricia’s son committed suicide, she fell into a pile of grief. This led her to a cycle of bad decisions and destructive choices. Patricia shares how she eventually faced her grief, learned the lessons it had to teach her, and help others recover in their grieving journey. Trigger warning: contains themes of suicide Host application form: forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form:...

In December of 2019, comedian Mike Seamus Reed's parents commenced their long-awaited visit from the United States to Australia. But what was supposed to be a vacation consisting of site-seeing, family get-togethers, and the making of positive memories, soon turned into an unimaginable nightmare. Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms...

Nic recounts his journey, from being isolated and struggling with his sexuality while growing up in regional NSW, to the fierce and fabulous LGBTIQA+ advocate, volunteer, and diversity practitioner he is today, living proudly and authentically in June.

Trin shares her experience of making herself whole, through the rollercoaster ride of love, sex and intimacy. From the conventional and unconventional to the trans-conventional! Join Trin on her journey of courage, pain, middle-age-woman craziness, ecstasy, and a dose of hair-raising faith. I created Stories that Stir to break down barriers, stir conversation and inspire positive change. Follow us...

Simon grew up basing his self-esteem on what he could do with his head and his mind. But heartbreak and challenge led to a new way of living and being, discovering what it means to live a life truly lead by the heart, by love, and his authentic passions and desires. I created Stories that Stir to break down barriers, stir conversation and inspire positive change. Follow us on Facebook & Instag...

From quitting her tech job in San Francisco, to selling all of her belongings and buying a one way ticket to Panama. Ali will be speaking about her journey around the world to find peace within and the work that sets her soul on fire.  I created Stories that Stir to break down barriers, stir conversation and inspire positive change. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @storiesthatstir Head to ou...

John Knowles is an actor, comedian, writer and storytelling coach. His storytellingstage show ‘I Can Top That!’ can be heard on ABC702 with James Valentine.  John’s story is about his desire to make things right. I created Stories that Stir to break down barriers, stir conversation and inspire positive change. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @storiesthatstir Head to our Patreon to join the m...

Jon was busy working out how to save the world, and then through an unexpected and life changing encounter with a young person the course of his life was forever changed, and the world is very thankful he has stopped trying to save it! her! I created Stories that Stir to break down barriers, stir conversation and inspire positive change. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @storiesthatstir Head...

Laura spent almost 40 years feeling like the real her wasn’t good enough. She tried all sorts of “strategies” to prove her worth in the world, but eventually she burned out and was forced to learn that the real key to success is to just be true to herself. I created Stories that Stir to break down barriers, stir conversation and inspire positive change. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram @stori...