August 18, 2025 • 45 mins
What happens when the giver becomes the one in need?
In this deeply moving episode, Leigh-Anne sits with Kate Gniel—PR professional, community champion, and founder of The Glitter Effect—to explore the moment everything changed: when her youngest son, Harvey, was diagnosed with leukaemia.
With raw honesty and gentle strength, Kate shares what it was like to be cracked open by grief, held by a village she didn’t expect, and transformed by the quiet gestures that carried her through. From frozen dinners that thawed more than food, to a shoulder offered at just the right time, this is a story about the ripple of kindness, the unexpected tenderness of strangers, and the courage it takes to receive.
Through this conversation, we’re reminded that showing up doesn’t have to be loud to be life-changing. And that sometimes, the sparkle in our story begins where we least expect it.
✨ This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed, unseen, or unsure how to help—because the quietest gestures often hold the greatest power.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
Welcome to Suddenly Different, where we explore stories and
strategies for life when it doesn't go to plan.
I'm Leanne Sharland, inviting you to join me on this journey.
Sometimes life invites us to seethings more clearly, not through
(00:26):
grand gestures, but through quiet, undeniable moments that
change everything. Today, I'm sitting with someone
whose story feels like a soft, steady light.
Kate Neal is the heart behind The Glitter Effect, a podcasting
(00:47):
community movement that celebrates the kind of kind of
people we often walk past without realising just how much
they hold the world together. Kate's journey hasn't always
been glittering grace. There was a moment when her son
Harvey was diagnosed with leukaemia that cracked her heart
(01:11):
open. But in that pain, she found
something powerful, the strengthof community, the kindness of
strangers, and a deeper purpose that reshaped everything from
her childhood days raising moneywith handmade crafts to being
named Manningham's Volunteer of the Year in 2024.
(01:35):
Kate has always shown up for others and now through
storytelling and connection, shereminds us that showing up it's
more than enough. And sometimes it's everything.
Kate, I'm so honoured to have you here.
Let's begin with your suddenly different moment and the light
(01:57):
that followed. Thanks Leanne, that was an
amazing intro. Thank you.
I, I just think it's so important that us everyday
mortals get our shine, you know,like, and it is so because,
(02:18):
because seriously, we wouldn't say that about ourselves, would
we? Absolutely.
Not. So it's up to others to see it
in US and then get it, acquire it through US.
Yeah, absolutely. Spot on.
I like that. So, so I'm delighted that you're
(02:39):
here. And I wonder if you've got a
suddenly different moment from childhood that made you be one
of those entrepreneurial types. Leanne that's a really good
question and I've thought reallyhard about this and I actually
don't think there is that one particular moment in my
childhood. I think it's just layers upon
(03:01):
layers of who I've become from reflecting on my journey over
the last few months or the last 12 or 18 months when I've sort
of taken this turn and really reflected that my thing is
community. I looked at my journey and I
looked at my childhood and really, I can remember way, way,
way back, and you touched on it on the intro.
(03:23):
And I would have been in primaryschool sat on my bedroom floor
with my best friend and we were making potpourri laced door
hangers. And yes, I am that old cause a
lot of people wouldn't even knowwhat potpourri is.
And we sold those to my very, very patient of our patient
family and friends to raise money for the RSPCAI come from
the UK and I was big in animal rights.
(03:44):
And so together we did that. And I remember then doing
tracing diligently tracing magazines to sell to all my
family and friends. And just so I suppose I've
always had that heart, but it was just me and I've always
wanted to help. And then I ended up one of my
jobs when I was 15. I was fortunate enough to be
asked by a local family who had a young child, He must have been
(04:07):
about four or five at the time, who had additional needs and
needed help with his speech therapy and reading.
So I would go every a couple of days a week after school and go
and help him. And again, that was to me, it
was, I look back now and go, well, that was amazing.
That was why I'm here, because Iwas helping.
So I suppose all through my lifeI looked and I've always wanted
(04:28):
to help. I thrive on connection and I get
my energy from others. I'm also very comfortable in my
own skin. But probably more later in life
that's come more through. But I've always craved that
feeling of being with people. And yeah, so I suppose, yeah.
So in in a long winded kind of way.
I haven't really. There's not one.
(04:49):
It's just sort of layer upon layer that's cemented that.
And then now obviously down the track, since having a family,
I've got involved in kinders andschools and things like that.
So yeah, it's all sort of becomea bit different.
Is the joy of community when youtake part?
(05:09):
I know my mother did she. She never worked once I was
born, but she was in the tuck shop and she was doing the
netball registrations and always, always, always involved
with the community side of things, which without people who
(05:32):
do community work, we don't havethose things.
Yeah, that's right. We can't afford to have
commercial businesses doing those things.
And that's right. Actually, it was quite remiss of
me to say that as well because it's in my family.
My mom was a full time, you know, she worked full time.
So did my dad, but he worked further away, so wasn't as able
(05:55):
to help, but always help when hecould.
But my mom was very much that. We'd always put her hand up to
help with their kinder duties. And I can always remember her.
I had to go every day way to kinder because my mom was a
helper, which at the time I was like, oh, and then now I'm like,
oh, that's lovely. But then I had lots of more
friends because I had the friends like both groups, you
(06:15):
know, it was really nice for me.But I always remember my mom
being there. Same.
Mom was a dancer. I did dancing from the age of
three. And my mom was one of those
amazing women who unfortunately she hasn't passed the skill on
to me was the sewer. And so she would sew all our
costumes and she would sew everybody else's costumes whose
parents couldn't sew. And then my Nana, her mom was
(06:35):
the same and my other Nana, you know, that everyone's always
done stuff. They've baked, they've done
stuff in their, in their wheelhouse, I suppose, and work
to their strengths. So I suppose when I take a deep
dive, it's always there. Not that we were, we were always
sort of taught as children. I've got a brother who's a
couple of years older than me. We're always taught to just be
grateful for what we've got and who we are because there's
(06:58):
always people who are worse off than us.
So I think that's always something that I've lived by.
Yes, yes, it's a beautiful philosophy because honestly,
that is what will keep society together without community.
And, and I know that it is difficult in our busy lives.
You know, we're busy, we're bothparents, working, kids doing
(07:22):
everything. But we have to remember that at
the end of the day, it's community that are with us right
through the hard times. And I know that personally.
So, so talking about harder times when your son Harvey was
diagnosed that would have changed your world at that time.
(07:45):
Yes. Do you remember how how you felt
during that time, apart from wanting to be everything you
could be for him? Yeah, well, just set the scene.
He's the youngest of three boys.I've actually got two older
ones, but they're all quite close in age.
(08:05):
So Harvey is the baby and he wasjust shy of turning.
He was 2 3/4. So I had a A4 year old and a
five year old, A5 year old who was just coming towards the end
of prep and then a four year oldwho was really excited about
finishing kinder and going to school.
So it was all the feels, you know, and we still had Santa and
we had the the tooth fairy and everything.
(08:28):
Still had to happen and whilst we were still trying to digest
what on earth was going on in this space with Harvey.
And I suppose initially when we got the news, it was my husband
Joel and I, I just again, I thought about it and there was
for me, I had no, I felt numb, no emotion and just, I suppose,
(08:54):
utter disbelief as if to think, you know, this is not real, this
is not us. They've got it wrong, but it's
not us. They've they're going to tell us
if it's, it's OK. But no sooner had we got the
diagnosis that we were then taken from the emergency
department at Monash Children's Hospital in Melbourne, who I
have to say are incredible. They took us then straight up to
the children's cancer ward, which you know that up until
(09:19):
that point I'd never even reallythought about there being that.
So it was very confronting to have to see children with had
lost their hair with feeding tubes, walking around with Ivs
attached to them, looking very sick, walking through the
corridors to be shown our room, which would then soon become our
(09:40):
home for the next few weeks. So there were so many emotions,
Leanne going through that. I look back now and I go, I
actually don't think I had any because I just couldn't process
what on earth was going on. And there was our little baby,
you know, who's so sick he can'tdo anything.
He's he's almost not got any idea of what's going on.
So I in, in that way, I shut down and I didn't want to talk
(10:04):
to anybody. My husband, who is, as I said,
incredible, he's an engineer. He's very practical and likes
things. He likes to understand things.
Whereas I suppose I'm more that sort of in the moment, I'll do
that in the moment stuff. So we worked up pretty quickly.
We weren't very well together asa team.
Actually, ironically, we've beentogether many years.
(10:24):
But that moment, we were like, yeah, we're actually a really
good team with this. But I feel that he was the one
that I said, I can't talk to people.
You're going to have to tell people.
And thank goodness for technology because I was able to
text people and tell them what was going on.
And I said, I can't talk. So he did all the talking for
me. And then, yeah, so I suppose
(10:44):
eventually I came by and I spoketo someone who was not close to
us as a family. It was actually my son's
childcare coordinator and I rangher to tell her what was going
on because she said when you can, can you call me and just
let me know what's going on. And because she wasn't overly
emotionally attached to me, I felt like I could talk to her.
(11:05):
And then I was OK. And then I'm like, OK, I can
talk to other people now. It was a very strange time and
I've never had it since. I never want to have got to go
through that again, but it was very strange.
Yes, yes, I can. I can imagine and you, I think,
I think our nervous system protects us, right?
(11:29):
We can only take so much news, emotion, stimulation and like
new concepts that our body goes into a into a shutdown mode so
that we stay alive. That is the purpose is it is
(11:57):
doing it to protect us. And so it is important and it
sounds to me, so you did this soelegantly that we honour that
space and allow ourselves to be right in accepting that it is
not the time now to speak. It is not the time now to allow
(12:22):
others to hold us physically because we need to be strong.
Yes. Right.
We need all of our resources andthen because of the way you life
LED you to a Safeway for you to express, then the door was
opened. But if we push through and and
(12:44):
sometimes people around us don'trealise that that them trying to
love us and trying to hold us isn't helping us.
Yeah. You know, being maybe, maybe a
metre away is OK, but being a centimetre is too close.
(13:07):
That's The funny thing, Leanne, is that for someone who craves
that sort of that emotion and that craves the energy from
others, I couldn't, I didn't want it.
And I looked at that and go, it doesn't, it makes sense, but it
didn't make sense at that point in time.
But yeah, at the same time, I always remember as well, my
(13:28):
husband kept saying to me, because we obviously had to do
the pickups for the others. And he said you've got to go.
I said I can't, I can't go. He said, just go, don't, you've
got to do 1. And then once you've done one,
it'll be fine. And I just didn't want to have
to deal with 50,000 questions talking about the same thing
that we just lived through already.
We hadn't processed, you know, it's, it's that trauma, isn't
(13:48):
it? And I always remember I still
joke about it now with a friend that we're very good friends
with. I pulled up, I drove in because
I didn't want to walk and I would normally walk.
I did nothing normal. And I drove in in a parked and I
had a, you know, I took deep breath and then next to me, a
car next to me. And it was one of my oldest
son's dads who I didn't know particularly well at that point,
(14:11):
but did know of. And he got out the car at the
same time as me. And I thought, God, the timing
is awful. I did not want to do this.
And we're in the car park and hejust said to me, Kate, I'm so
sorry to hear the news. And I just bawled.
I bawled on his shoulder and we laughed now.
And I said, you know, I snorted on his shoulder.
(14:32):
And that cemented our friendship.
And we're really good friends with their family now.
But I still talk about that. And this is 10 years, 11 years
down the track now. But, you know, it was that.
And then I felt after I'd done that, it's such a bizarre
feeling. Then I was like, OK, I can go
now. I can go into the playground.
I can talk to whoever wants to be spoken to because I was OK.
(14:55):
Yeah. Because as the supporters, we
forget that it's not about us. It's not about us having the
news and the information. Yeah.
It's about you, but I again, howbeautiful that the universe
provided you with a safe sanctuary.
(15:20):
And you know, because I mean, what else could have happened?
Four other parents could have arrived and you could have been
in a in a gaggle. Yeah.
Sorry, I have neurological problems which sometime limit my
vocabulary access. Yeah, well, you're doing so
well. So if I if I do not use the
(15:44):
right description, the attempt is there, but I give up, that's
OK. So you receive kindness during
that time as a giver and I can feel that giving as a giver.
How did you cope with receiving it?
(16:10):
You know, it's interesting because there's there were
different ways people helped andsupported us literally
overnight. And I mean overnight someone and
I still don't really know who coordinated it all.
Someone overnight coordinated our school community for a meal
(16:32):
train and we literally within 2448 hours had a deep freeze
freezer delivered to then be filled with meals.
We had someone organise a cleaner and we have people doing
our lawns almost under the coverof darkness because it's stuff
that I'd I look back now and go,this was incredible.
(16:54):
This is a massive undertaking toknow how that now being involved
in lots of those things as well because you know, it's we're the
first ones to put our hand up always.
But you got it was it was huge. But I suppose we didn't really
get asked. No, sorry, that's not true.
People said would you mind if? Which I thought was beautiful
(17:17):
because people want to just helpand that was the best way.
And we said, look, that would begreat actually, because my
husband and I would rotate 24 hour shifts and we'd swap and
then we'd come home. We'd have to be a mum or dad and
not having to think about a dinner and not having to go to
the supermarket and then make a dinner was absolutely amazing.
(17:40):
I mean, these people don't actually understand how much
that helped us to just be a parent and to come home and just
be present for our older two whowere also going through their
own struggles and trauma. So I think whilst it was a very
uncomfortable space in some things that people did for us,
(18:02):
we also welcomed it because it helped so much for us and we are
forever grateful. Like it was, you know, we felt
we really were. And I think I was sort of saying
to you before we spoke online isthat that whole sense of
community all of a sudden just became bigger for me because
then you go, well, we're on the receiving end of it.
(18:24):
And this is what it feels like. It was always.
We are always going to make surewe do things for our community
for this reason. Yeah.
And I know to be able to access that kind of community giving,
it is important that we are partof the community.
(18:46):
I know my best friend had a condition called multiple system
atrophy. It initially got diagnosed as
Parkinson's, but it became a terminal illness and I organised
A fundraiser for her. They needed a new bathroom that
was specifically done and we raised $15,000 from the
(19:08):
community betting on virtual horses and, and you know,
having, having fashions on the field and people donating,
catering and all sorts of things.
And, and it was amazing. I know that it gave so much to
them, but it was the whole community who got together It's.
(19:32):
The power in numbers, isn't it? It's incredible when that
happens. It is.
It's so beautiful. It sounds to me as though it
changed The way that all changedyou was that you just became
even more community minded and and more aware of what's going
(19:53):
on around you so that you can you can tap in and help.
Yeah, absolutely. And as a result, my husband and
I, you know, we all, we made a pact that.
We would do absolutely anything we can to help raise money for
childhood cancer because we wantno other family to go through
this. So that's our thing.
(20:15):
And it breaks our hearts every time we hear other families who
have and we always say, we use it as an analogy.
There's a, there was a door thatwe never knew existed.
And we went through that door very scared and very scared of
the unknown. But on the other side, it's
actually a beautiful space because everybody's going
through not the same journey butsimilar trauma journeys.
(20:38):
And so it's actually quite a tight knit community beyond the
childhood cancer door. But we always said we don't want
anyone to follow us through. Yes.
And so that's what we want, is to make sure we want that door
shut and we don't want people toeven find that door.
And so we would do what we can. And actually during throughout
Harvey's treatment, there were afew lots of organisations,
(21:00):
charities that supported us, which we again, felt really all
weird about taking things because for us, we were in a
very fortunate position. Financially we were OK.
I was able to just stop working.My husband was given sort of
indefinite sick leave. We were very in a very fortunate
position, whereas other familiesnot so fortunate.
(21:20):
So we took that and said we willdo absolutely everything we can
to make sure we can help others.So during the treatment we
organised A fundraiser for this charity in particular.
It was a pie night. We had 75 peak friends and
family coming and raised, I can't remember 10s of thousands
of dollars for this charity. And then from that, my husband
and I. So he just said, he said because
(21:43):
he was talking to his friends, male friends and women tend to
talk like this and we're very open and we are very used to
talking. He said, but men don't talk, Men
don't do much. And bearing in mind this is way
before COVID, way before, you know, we've come a long way in
the last of 5-10 years. And he just said, I've just
(22:05):
found out from some things, you know, some of my friends have
had issues, some things happening like 2 years ago and
they haven't said anything. Not cancer, but you know,
everyone's like, Oh yeah, I'm just, I'm sorry, I've really
struggled with this, that or theother.
And so he said this is not OK, we need to do something to get
men together. So as a result of this, and you
know, and it was that whole community again.
And so we created an event called League of Gentlemen,
(22:27):
which was aimed at men and it was local men to get them
together for a purpose. It was we had sport because
sport is generally a good thing for men.
And it was AFL themed. I think from the that we did two
or three and we did it at a venue and it was a lunch and
then an after party. And we raised money for
Challenge, which is a charity that supported us and they
(22:50):
support children with cancer andtheir siblings and our children
and our family were very fortunate to be on the receiving
end for lots of their services. So we paid them, you know, we
paid it forward and helped them and worked with them for this
event. And so, you know, from it's,
it's funny, it's that sort of ripple effect, isn't it, that we
then from our, I suppose, trauma, we've gone well, we need
(23:11):
to help others because we're OK and created this amazing event,
which was very well received. And yeah, so it's.
Yeah, that's that's wonderful. And that's kind of the reason I
started this podcast, because I'm limited in what I can do.
Yeah. However, there are so many
(23:33):
people who are stuck in suddenlydifferent moments, be that
whatever. Yep, that they are frozen and
they think that they're the onlyone who's ever been through it
and that there is no way out. And you and I both know that
there is a path. Might be bumpy, but there is a
(23:58):
path. Yep, yeah.
So when did the idea of the glitter effect begin to form?
So after all of that, I then getmore involved in our local
community. We're we're just outside of
Melbourne and my husband and I started our children were
getting into sport, into AFL football in particular.
(24:20):
So my husband and I, I suppose were coerced for want of a
better word by very good friendsof ours who had been running
Ozkick programme for for a few years and they were looking for
new coordinators. And so we put our hand up and we
ran AUS Kick for three years andthat then LED us to being
(24:42):
involved in our local community,in our local football club.
I then shortly was asked to comeon as Vice President with a view
to take on the presidency after COVID.
This was after COVID being the first female president of our
football club in its fifty year history.
So that was quite big daunting and then so it just cascaded
(25:04):
from that. So I got involved in it.
But during that time I always, and my background as well, I
must say is public relations. And I've had my own business,
public relations, built businessfor 15-16 years and always been
in PR for over 25 years. And all the way through, I've
worked in not for profit space or education or health.
(25:25):
So it's always been that sort of, I call it warm, fluffy,
fuzzy stuff. And I've always said make sure
when you work wherever you or ifyou're in volunteering or
anything, make sure you spread your sparkle.
I've always said spread your sparkle, find your sparkle,
spread your sparkle and be true to your sparkle.
And just remember, when your Sparkle dolls jog on, it's time
(25:47):
to go. And that's OK.
And that that can be translated into the business world, It can
be translated into the community.
It can be translated into so many things.
And so I said that, you know, for it to a few people when I
was involved in my football club.
And then I I got volunteer burnout from being in that
position and really just had to take a full step back and say
(26:11):
enough is enough. It was becoming sort of
detrimental to my family. You know, it's taking up too
much time, but that's because I gave it too much time.
It's that double edged sword, isn't it?
And so I sat and reflected and Isaid to my husband, habit
relations is not doing it for meanymore.
I can't do it. So I said, I'm closing my
(26:33):
business and I'm going to spend the summer just working out.
I said every year I set myself agoal of learning a new skill and
I just said to him, I think I want to learn how to podcast.
And he's so supportive of me. Honestly, I cannot sing his
praises enough. He he was like, oh, right ho.
And obviously going here we go again, there's something else.
(26:54):
And I said, yeah, we're going tothink about podcast.
And that was sort of towards theend of 2024.
I spent sort of the end of that and the sort of over summer
having a good sort of soul searching on holiday and
everything. And all of a sudden, I booked
myself into a podcast course through a local radio station
and I still had no idea what I was doing my podcast on, but
(27:17):
roughly, and I was literally on the day two of the podcast
course, I've just gone the glitter effect.
It's the glitter effect. And that was it.
I was in, I was in an Uber on the way.
There was no, nothing more than that.
I just sat there and just came to me.
And then from that, my gosh, allof a sudden I'm like, yes.
(27:40):
And then I've gone, this is whatit is and fine tuned it.
But then I'm sorry, go back a step.
It also came to me as well because I got, as you said in
the intro, I was awarded the Manningham Volunteer of the Year
or jointly. There was another guy from our
community who also got awarded it.
And I was so embarrassed and I sat on it and didn't tell anyone
(28:03):
because I didn't want anyone to know that that's not what I do
it for. And so I sat on it.
And then I over the summer, I'm like, hang on a minute, this
means something. This is telling me something.
And this is the world. And I'm quite spiritual like
you. And I said, this is the world
telling me something. And it's telling me that
community is my jam. Community is my heart and soul.
And every time I came back to that.
(28:24):
And so yeah, that the Long storyshort, that's basically how my
new passion project, the GlitterEffect Hat, was born.
So so podcast and and just like any idea that we have isn't it?
It's sort of like grows. I don't know, are they
(28:44):
octopuses? They grow tentacles, yes.
They do. And so you find yourself, you
know, I, well, I can imagine there being events and, you
know, trainings and, and all sorts of things.
And that's it. So I've started it as a podcast.
So it's basically a podcast thatmight be my sort of elevator
(29:05):
pitch, if you like, is it's a podcast that shines the light on
movers, shakers and change makers and all around living
legends of our communities who basically spread their glitter
with their with purpose and heart.
And the whole premise is, is that I firmly believe everybody
has glitter to spread where theyhave that purpose and heart.
(29:26):
They've just got to find it. Some people find that very
easily, some people don't. Some people spread it further
than others. Some people are very small with
their spreading. But it's, it's very much, you
know, it's tangible. And the more people I speak to,
everyone's like, yes, I love that because it's, it can
envisage, you know, glitter every, I mean, I speak to a lot
of mums and they're like, well, Gee, you know, craft projects
(29:48):
because it gets everywhere. And we're like, yes, that's the
whole point. It gets everywhere.
And so everyone gets it. And so it's a very tangible
thing, yeah. And I love glitter.
Yeah. Well, it sounds like you love it
and what just popped into my thoughts and I don't know
whether it's ever occurred to you, but like, I don't know
(30:10):
whether you've ever read the thefive love languages.
Yes, I. Know I need to read and I think
that there are dialects of love languages right.
I think just like not all Australians sound the same, yes
not. I think we have hybrids of love
(30:31):
languages and sometimes we need a vehicle or a visual to help us
see what ours is. Yeah.
Right, because sometimes we onlyhave we, we have money, but no
time. Yeah.
And sometimes we have time and no money.
(30:51):
And so, you know, understanding that there are those who do it
in their own way, but they are recognised as as doing it.
And that maybe glitter as a currency like is more exciting
to me than cryptocurrency. And I'm not sure what the Aussie
(31:17):
dollar is doing at the moment, but, you know, like glitter
currency, I see that, you know, as being pretty exciting.
Yeah. And I think that's that's the
premise of it. Is it starting as a podcast?
And I'll let it grow organically, but I would like to
see it more become a movement asopposed to just a podcast so
(31:40):
that people grab this concept and everybody I've spoken to and
gosh, trust me, it took me the imposter syndrome sat on my
shoulder for a long time and I didn't really tell anyone.
And again, my husband, who is mybiggest cheerleader, he, he was
the one telling everybody. When I first got the man, the
(32:01):
Manningham Council award, I didn't tell anyone I didn't want
to know. And he was so proud and telling
everybody. And then again, he was the one
telling everybody. Now Kate's going to do a
podcast. And I remember it was a friend's
40th birthday party just before Christmas or just early in the
year. And I'm like, I don't think
they're going to be interested, Joel.
They're they're a bunch of engineers.
(32:22):
It's not going to be them. They're not really glitter.
And I really coyly when I'm justgoing to do this.
And they were like, ah, and I lost a couple.
A couple went right, you are. I moved on.
And then all of a sudden there were two that went, that's so
good. And then I'm like, some people
do like it outside of my really supportive and loving family and
(32:42):
friends. And then I always remember I was
giving blood. And this the first time I told a
stranger about the glitter effect was huge giving blood.
And a guy walked in and with an entourage of people and, and
I've since interviewed him and I'm in touch with him now.
And his name is Simo Braun and he has a concept called the
(33:04):
Bloody Good Tour. He's just coming to the end of a
year on the road visiting absolutely every single blood
donor centre in Australia with his three children, three young
children. And he was basically trying to
encourage more Australians to save lives.
And I was talking to him and I said, I bravely sat there and I
was like, I really need to say something to him.
(33:26):
And I had nothing. I've got nothing about my
business cards. I've got nothing.
I'm just giving blood. And I still don't have business
cards. But I sat there and I thought, I
need to tell him. He's the sort of person.
And I said, I must tell you, I'dlove to catch up with you
because I'm launching a podcast and I think you'd be an amazing
guest, but I haven't launched ityet.
And I told him about it and he said, Kate, I love that.
I love the glitter effect concept.
(33:48):
And he goes, I actually tell people I've spread, you know,
I've spread in glitter and, and I kept in touch with him since
and I said it was because of that, I've gone, yes, there's
something in this. People will like it or they
won't like it, and that's fine. But talking to him was a massive
turning point because I didn't know him.
So and I told him that I only told him that recently when I've
interviewed him. And I said you're the reason I'm
(34:10):
here right now because it made me believe that I have
something, you know, imposter syndrome is and other thing.
Well, but I mean, I was exactly the same in I thought of the
idea and I thought of of the people it could help.
So I don't know whether you've experienced Kate, but sometimes
(34:34):
when people have a chronic illness, it becomes their
identity and there are rules to that illness.
And and I was afraid with the thought of, you know, fighting
through the not good enough and fighting through, I don't know
anybody. And then it was like, well, am I
(34:57):
breaking the rules? Because I can put together a
period of time where I seem look, sound, act fine.
Now. No one's going to see the video
of me asleep this afternoon and tomorrow and someday they're
(35:18):
only going to see this video. And but I, I decided that it was
important because the message, like your message is so
important that I had to have a go.
And if I get, if I get criticised, so be it.
(35:43):
Yeah, it's a, it's a funny 1 though, isn't it?
Because particularly when it's something that is and I call it
a passion, it's a passion project for me right now.
And when someone doesn't like your passion, it's a funny
feeling. You can't there's again, I don't
have any emotion attached to it.It's just you go, that's OK, you
(36:04):
don't have to like it. But to hear people that do,
they're the ones you need to listen to because you can't be
everything to everyone. And that's can you?
And that's, it's that whole you've got to go through that
journey. And but when you're putting
yourself out there and particularly for me, I mean for
you, it's it's very different aswell.
(36:25):
But you know, 25 years plus NPR,I was very much behind the lens.
So I could tell people what to say on interviews.
I could get them interviews, butto actually be, I could
interview people, but then to be, I'm not a journalist, I'm
PR. So, you know, it was very
different. And then for you to invite me on
(36:46):
as a guest. Gee, that was I'm like, oh, this
is all very awkward. So.
But you know, I'm like, no, comeon, Kate, put your big girl
pants on. It's time to really, you got to
do this. So yeah.
But then you go, those spaces are really good to be in too,
because they make you look at yourself and question what
(37:09):
you're doing and reaffirm what you're doing and give you that
positivity and that confidence. And so whilst it the feelings
might not feel great, once you get through the other side you
go, yeah, that's great. So yeah.
So you hold the space for so many stories on your podcast and
(37:32):
what have you. What has been the key thread
that you've noticed that is likejumping out and glaring at you
that you can say it everywhere? Such a good question, Leanne.
And I think really it's just showing, it's giving my
(37:55):
confidence back in humanity and society that we absolutely
everyday people are constantly doing incredible things.
And I'm only even, I'm not even scratching the surface with the
people I'm talking to because there are so many people.
And again, people aren't doing these things to be noted about
it. They're doing it because they
(38:15):
want to fill their heart and fill their purpose.
So it's just realising that there are so many incredible
people who are givers out there that we just don't hear about in
a world that's very heavy. And particularly at the moment,
I think, you know, we don't haveenough good news.
(38:37):
And this is that good news. These are those good news
stories that we need more of because I think more people will
learn from them. Absolutely, absolutely.
One of the ideas that I had was the most popular podcasts are
crime, true crime. Yes, yeah.
Well, what about true lives, right?
(39:00):
I like I would like the kind of podcasts we're offering to be
the the new go to place. Hey, we have everyday people
doing everyday amazing things with everyday struggles, and
we're all interesting and we don't have to feed someone
(39:23):
mushroom meat thing. Yeah, right.
To be worthy of conversation. Yeah, and I think that you're
absolutely right, Leanne. And also, you know, since the
dawn of time, and this is where my PR skills come into play.
You know, we've been telling stories.
(39:43):
Story is storytelling has been going on for centuries before
the written word. So, you know, it's, it's so
important to continue that skillin whatever way you can.
And that's where I think what you're doing.
And so many things like that. People love stories about other
people's lives. That's just human interest,
(40:06):
isn't it? Human, Humans like it, but it's
just making sure you find the right people to listen to it.
Exactly. And you know what?
If they don't listen to it all, that's fine.
If they get out of it, you know what they'd like.
I I'd love everybody to share for the person who you don't
(40:26):
know needs to hear a message from the person who's just said
it. Yep, yeah.
So if you go, if you could go back now to the early moment
with Harvey, what would you whisper to yourself now, knowing
through what you've lived and what you've built and the hopes
(40:48):
and dreams that you have for thefuture?
What would you tell you? I would.
Tell myself it sounds really corny, but it is going to be OK.
You've got and a village and that whole thing.
It takes a village. You have your village and your
(41:09):
village will be there for as long as you need them and
beyond. And that your children are going
to be OK. And that the important thing is,
and I think this is The thing isit really highlighted the
importance of the here and now and trying to be present and
just family. My family is the most important
thing to me. My husband and my three
(41:30):
children, They are the most important thing to me.
So knowing that they, we got through this together, it was
just, I suppose I would reiterate that you'll be OK.
You'll be a good family unit as a result of this.
And we are, we're not perfect byany means.
Don't get me wrong. It's not rainbows and lollipops.
And there's certainly, you know,things that will come out from
(41:52):
my older 2 and the younger one as well throughout time.
And we're very acutely aware of that.
And we work with them based on this trauma.
We're still not 100% convinced that they've all addressed it.
But, you know, I do believe, I firmly believe we're a stronger
unit. My husband and I are definitely
a stronger unit as a result of this journey.
So I think I would just tell myself that just stick at it.
(42:15):
Just be me, be you, and the restwill fall into place.
Concentrate on what's important to you at that moment in time.
Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous andit's so good to hear that the
three boys are charging along just like 3 Aussie lads.
Well, they're 1513 and 11 now, so I'm in the thick of it.
(42:38):
My goodness. OK, hairy legs.
Here we go. That's just.
That's one thing. Yep.
All right, well, us wrap this up.
Thank you so much for coming on on the suddenly different
podcast. So I leave you with sometimes a
(43:03):
story doesn't end. It settles gently, like glitter,
catching the light as it falls. Kate provided us today.
That impact doesn't always arrive with noise and headlines.
Sometimes it moves quietly through a home cooked meal left
at your door, a warm hand on your shoulder, a stranger who
(43:26):
becomes your lifeline without even realising it.
And sometimes it's you who's holding that light for someone
else without even knowing. If Kate's story stirred
something in you, a memory in your heart, a breath you didn't
realise you were holding, I invite you to stay with it.
(43:49):
Let it land in your body. Let it asks you where it wants
to shine from. Wait, where have you been held?
And where have you made someone else's space to allow them to
breathe? You don't have to start a
movement to matter. But maybe, like Kate, you'll
(44:12):
find that the moment life cracked you open was almost also
the moment you began to sparkle in ways you never expected.
Until next time. May you notice the glitter in
the ordinary, and may you never under underestimate the power of
simply showing up. Thank you, Kate.
(44:35):
Thank you so much, Leanne. I've loved this.
Thank you. Wonderful.
This has been suddenly different.
I'm Leanne Sharland, and I'm so grateful you shared your time
with me. If you felt a spark, a tear, or
a moment of recognition, I hope you'll pass that gift along by
(44:57):
sharing this show. Take a deep breath, trust your
path, and I'll meet you back here soon.
Welcome to Suddenly Different, where we explore stories and
strategies for life when it doesn't go to plan.
I'm Leanne Sharland, inviting you to join me on this journey.
Sometimes life invites us to seethings more clearly, not through
(00:26):
grand gestures, but through quiet, undeniable moments that
change everything. Today, I'm sitting with someone
whose story feels like a soft, steady light.
Kate Neal is the heart behind The Glitter Effect, a podcasting
(00:47):
community movement that celebrates the kind of kind of
people we often walk past without realising just how much
they hold the world together. Kate's journey hasn't always
been glittering grace. There was a moment when her son
Harvey was diagnosed with leukaemia that cracked her heart
(01:11):
open. But in that pain, she found
something powerful, the strengthof community, the kindness of
strangers, and a deeper purpose that reshaped everything from
her childhood days raising moneywith handmade crafts to being
named Manningham's Volunteer of the Year in 2024.
(01:35):
Kate has always shown up for others and now through
storytelling and connection, shereminds us that showing up it's
more than enough. And sometimes it's everything.
Kate, I'm so honoured to have you here.
Let's begin with your suddenly different moment and the light
(01:57):
that followed. Thanks Leanne, that was an
amazing intro. Thank you.
I, I just think it's so important that us everyday
mortals get our shine, you know,like, and it is so because,
(02:18):
because seriously, we wouldn't say that about ourselves, would
we? Absolutely.
Not. So it's up to others to see it
in US and then get it, acquire it through US.
Yeah, absolutely. Spot on.
I like that. So, so I'm delighted that you're
(02:39):
here. And I wonder if you've got a
suddenly different moment from childhood that made you be one
of those entrepreneurial types. Leanne that's a really good
question and I've thought reallyhard about this and I actually
don't think there is that one particular moment in my
childhood. I think it's just layers upon
(03:01):
layers of who I've become from reflecting on my journey over
the last few months or the last 12 or 18 months when I've sort
of taken this turn and really reflected that my thing is
community. I looked at my journey and I
looked at my childhood and really, I can remember way, way,
way back, and you touched on it on the intro.
(03:23):
And I would have been in primaryschool sat on my bedroom floor
with my best friend and we were making potpourri laced door
hangers. And yes, I am that old cause a
lot of people wouldn't even knowwhat potpourri is.
And we sold those to my very, very patient of our patient
family and friends to raise money for the RSPCAI come from
the UK and I was big in animal rights.
(03:44):
And so together we did that. And I remember then doing
tracing diligently tracing magazines to sell to all my
family and friends. And just so I suppose I've
always had that heart, but it was just me and I've always
wanted to help. And then I ended up one of my
jobs when I was 15. I was fortunate enough to be
asked by a local family who had a young child, He must have been
(04:07):
about four or five at the time, who had additional needs and
needed help with his speech therapy and reading.
So I would go every a couple of days a week after school and go
and help him. And again, that was to me, it
was, I look back now and go, well, that was amazing.
That was why I'm here, because Iwas helping.
So I suppose all through my lifeI looked and I've always wanted
(04:28):
to help. I thrive on connection and I get
my energy from others. I'm also very comfortable in my
own skin. But probably more later in life
that's come more through. But I've always craved that
feeling of being with people. And yeah, so I suppose, yeah.
So in in a long winded kind of way.
I haven't really. There's not one.
(04:49):
It's just sort of layer upon layer that's cemented that.
And then now obviously down the track, since having a family,
I've got involved in kinders andschools and things like that.
So yeah, it's all sort of becomea bit different.
Is the joy of community when youtake part?
(05:09):
I know my mother did she. She never worked once I was
born, but she was in the tuck shop and she was doing the
netball registrations and always, always, always involved
with the community side of things, which without people who
(05:32):
do community work, we don't havethose things.
Yeah, that's right. We can't afford to have
commercial businesses doing those things.
And that's right. Actually, it was quite remiss of
me to say that as well because it's in my family.
My mom was a full time, you know, she worked full time.
So did my dad, but he worked further away, so wasn't as able
(05:55):
to help, but always help when hecould.
But my mom was very much that. We'd always put her hand up to
help with their kinder duties. And I can always remember her.
I had to go every day way to kinder because my mom was a
helper, which at the time I was like, oh, and then now I'm like,
oh, that's lovely. But then I had lots of more
friends because I had the friends like both groups, you
(06:15):
know, it was really nice for me.But I always remember my mom
being there. Same.
Mom was a dancer. I did dancing from the age of
three. And my mom was one of those
amazing women who unfortunately she hasn't passed the skill on
to me was the sewer. And so she would sew all our
costumes and she would sew everybody else's costumes whose
parents couldn't sew. And then my Nana, her mom was
(06:35):
the same and my other Nana, you know, that everyone's always
done stuff. They've baked, they've done
stuff in their, in their wheelhouse, I suppose, and work
to their strengths. So I suppose when I take a deep
dive, it's always there. Not that we were, we were always
sort of taught as children. I've got a brother who's a
couple of years older than me. We're always taught to just be
grateful for what we've got and who we are because there's
(06:58):
always people who are worse off than us.
So I think that's always something that I've lived by.
Yes, yes, it's a beautiful philosophy because honestly,
that is what will keep society together without community.
And, and I know that it is difficult in our busy lives.
You know, we're busy, we're bothparents, working, kids doing
(07:22):
everything. But we have to remember that at
the end of the day, it's community that are with us right
through the hard times. And I know that personally.
So, so talking about harder times when your son Harvey was
diagnosed that would have changed your world at that time.
(07:45):
Yes. Do you remember how how you felt
during that time, apart from wanting to be everything you
could be for him? Yeah, well, just set the scene.
He's the youngest of three boys.I've actually got two older
ones, but they're all quite close in age.
(08:05):
So Harvey is the baby and he wasjust shy of turning.
He was 2 3/4. So I had a A4 year old and a
five year old, A5 year old who was just coming towards the end
of prep and then a four year oldwho was really excited about
finishing kinder and going to school.
So it was all the feels, you know, and we still had Santa and
we had the the tooth fairy and everything.
(08:28):
Still had to happen and whilst we were still trying to digest
what on earth was going on in this space with Harvey.
And I suppose initially when we got the news, it was my husband
Joel and I, I just again, I thought about it and there was
for me, I had no, I felt numb, no emotion and just, I suppose,
(08:54):
utter disbelief as if to think, you know, this is not real, this
is not us. They've got it wrong, but it's
not us. They've they're going to tell us
if it's, it's OK. But no sooner had we got the
diagnosis that we were then taken from the emergency
department at Monash Children's Hospital in Melbourne, who I
have to say are incredible. They took us then straight up to
the children's cancer ward, which you know that up until
(09:19):
that point I'd never even reallythought about there being that.
So it was very confronting to have to see children with had
lost their hair with feeding tubes, walking around with Ivs
attached to them, looking very sick, walking through the
corridors to be shown our room, which would then soon become our
(09:40):
home for the next few weeks. So there were so many emotions,
Leanne going through that. I look back now and I go, I
actually don't think I had any because I just couldn't process
what on earth was going on. And there was our little baby,
you know, who's so sick he can'tdo anything.
He's he's almost not got any idea of what's going on.
So I in, in that way, I shut down and I didn't want to talk
(10:04):
to anybody. My husband, who is, as I said,
incredible, he's an engineer. He's very practical and likes
things. He likes to understand things.
Whereas I suppose I'm more that sort of in the moment, I'll do
that in the moment stuff. So we worked up pretty quickly.
We weren't very well together asa team.
Actually, ironically, we've beentogether many years.
(10:24):
But that moment, we were like, yeah, we're actually a really
good team with this. But I feel that he was the one
that I said, I can't talk to people.
You're going to have to tell people.
And thank goodness for technology because I was able to
text people and tell them what was going on.
And I said, I can't talk. So he did all the talking for
me. And then, yeah, so I suppose
(10:44):
eventually I came by and I spoketo someone who was not close to
us as a family. It was actually my son's
childcare coordinator and I rangher to tell her what was going
on because she said when you can, can you call me and just
let me know what's going on. And because she wasn't overly
emotionally attached to me, I felt like I could talk to her.
(11:05):
And then I was OK. And then I'm like, OK, I can
talk to other people now. It was a very strange time and
I've never had it since. I never want to have got to go
through that again, but it was very strange.
Yes, yes, I can. I can imagine and you, I think,
I think our nervous system protects us, right?
(11:29):
We can only take so much news, emotion, stimulation and like
new concepts that our body goes into a into a shutdown mode so
that we stay alive. That is the purpose is it is
(11:57):
doing it to protect us. And so it is important and it
sounds to me, so you did this soelegantly that we honour that
space and allow ourselves to be right in accepting that it is
not the time now to speak. It is not the time now to allow
(12:22):
others to hold us physically because we need to be strong.
Yes. Right.
We need all of our resources andthen because of the way you life
LED you to a Safeway for you to express, then the door was
opened. But if we push through and and
(12:44):
sometimes people around us don'trealise that that them trying to
love us and trying to hold us isn't helping us.
Yeah. You know, being maybe, maybe a
metre away is OK, but being a centimetre is too close.
(13:07):
That's The funny thing, Leanne, is that for someone who craves
that sort of that emotion and that craves the energy from
others, I couldn't, I didn't want it.
And I looked at that and go, it doesn't, it makes sense, but it
didn't make sense at that point in time.
But yeah, at the same time, I always remember as well, my
(13:28):
husband kept saying to me, because we obviously had to do
the pickups for the others. And he said you've got to go.
I said I can't, I can't go. He said, just go, don't, you've
got to do 1. And then once you've done one,
it'll be fine. And I just didn't want to have
to deal with 50,000 questions talking about the same thing
that we just lived through already.
We hadn't processed, you know, it's, it's that trauma, isn't
(13:48):
it? And I always remember I still
joke about it now with a friend that we're very good friends
with. I pulled up, I drove in because
I didn't want to walk and I would normally walk.
I did nothing normal. And I drove in in a parked and I
had a, you know, I took deep breath and then next to me, a
car next to me. And it was one of my oldest
son's dads who I didn't know particularly well at that point,
(14:11):
but did know of. And he got out the car at the
same time as me. And I thought, God, the timing
is awful. I did not want to do this.
And we're in the car park and hejust said to me, Kate, I'm so
sorry to hear the news. And I just bawled.
I bawled on his shoulder and we laughed now.
And I said, you know, I snorted on his shoulder.
(14:32):
And that cemented our friendship.
And we're really good friends with their family now.
But I still talk about that. And this is 10 years, 11 years
down the track now. But, you know, it was that.
And then I felt after I'd done that, it's such a bizarre
feeling. Then I was like, OK, I can go
now. I can go into the playground.
I can talk to whoever wants to be spoken to because I was OK.
(14:55):
Yeah. Because as the supporters, we
forget that it's not about us. It's not about us having the
news and the information. Yeah.
It's about you, but I again, howbeautiful that the universe
provided you with a safe sanctuary.
(15:20):
And you know, because I mean, what else could have happened?
Four other parents could have arrived and you could have been
in a in a gaggle. Yeah.
Sorry, I have neurological problems which sometime limit my
vocabulary access. Yeah, well, you're doing so
well. So if I if I do not use the
(15:44):
right description, the attempt is there, but I give up, that's
OK. So you receive kindness during
that time as a giver and I can feel that giving as a giver.
How did you cope with receiving it?
(16:10):
You know, it's interesting because there's there were
different ways people helped andsupported us literally
overnight. And I mean overnight someone and
I still don't really know who coordinated it all.
Someone overnight coordinated our school community for a meal
(16:32):
train and we literally within 2448 hours had a deep freeze
freezer delivered to then be filled with meals.
We had someone organise a cleaner and we have people doing
our lawns almost under the coverof darkness because it's stuff
that I'd I look back now and go,this was incredible.
(16:54):
This is a massive undertaking toknow how that now being involved
in lots of those things as well because you know, it's we're the
first ones to put our hand up always.
But you got it was it was huge. But I suppose we didn't really
get asked. No, sorry, that's not true.
People said would you mind if? Which I thought was beautiful
(17:17):
because people want to just helpand that was the best way.
And we said, look, that would begreat actually, because my
husband and I would rotate 24 hour shifts and we'd swap and
then we'd come home. We'd have to be a mum or dad and
not having to think about a dinner and not having to go to
the supermarket and then make a dinner was absolutely amazing.
(17:40):
I mean, these people don't actually understand how much
that helped us to just be a parent and to come home and just
be present for our older two whowere also going through their
own struggles and trauma. So I think whilst it was a very
uncomfortable space in some things that people did for us,
(18:02):
we also welcomed it because it helped so much for us and we are
forever grateful. Like it was, you know, we felt
we really were. And I think I was sort of saying
to you before we spoke online isthat that whole sense of
community all of a sudden just became bigger for me because
then you go, well, we're on the receiving end of it.
(18:24):
And this is what it feels like. It was always.
We are always going to make surewe do things for our community
for this reason. Yeah.
And I know to be able to access that kind of community giving,
it is important that we are partof the community.
(18:46):
I know my best friend had a condition called multiple system
atrophy. It initially got diagnosed as
Parkinson's, but it became a terminal illness and I organised
A fundraiser for her. They needed a new bathroom that
was specifically done and we raised $15,000 from the
(19:08):
community betting on virtual horses and, and you know,
having, having fashions on the field and people donating,
catering and all sorts of things.
And, and it was amazing. I know that it gave so much to
them, but it was the whole community who got together It's.
(19:32):
The power in numbers, isn't it? It's incredible when that
happens. It is.
It's so beautiful. It sounds to me as though it
changed The way that all changedyou was that you just became
even more community minded and and more aware of what's going
(19:53):
on around you so that you can you can tap in and help.
Yeah, absolutely. And as a result, my husband and
I, you know, we all, we made a pact that.
We would do absolutely anything we can to help raise money for
childhood cancer because we wantno other family to go through
this. So that's our thing.
(20:15):
And it breaks our hearts every time we hear other families who
have and we always say, we use it as an analogy.
There's a, there was a door thatwe never knew existed.
And we went through that door very scared and very scared of
the unknown. But on the other side, it's
actually a beautiful space because everybody's going
through not the same journey butsimilar trauma journeys.
(20:38):
And so it's actually quite a tight knit community beyond the
childhood cancer door. But we always said we don't want
anyone to follow us through. Yes.
And so that's what we want, is to make sure we want that door
shut and we don't want people toeven find that door.
And so we would do what we can. And actually during throughout
Harvey's treatment, there were afew lots of organisations,
(21:00):
charities that supported us, which we again, felt really all
weird about taking things because for us, we were in a
very fortunate position. Financially we were OK.
I was able to just stop working.My husband was given sort of
indefinite sick leave. We were very in a very fortunate
position, whereas other familiesnot so fortunate.
(21:20):
So we took that and said we willdo absolutely everything we can
to make sure we can help others.So during the treatment we
organised A fundraiser for this charity in particular.
It was a pie night. We had 75 peak friends and
family coming and raised, I can't remember 10s of thousands
of dollars for this charity. And then from that, my husband
and I. So he just said, he said because
(21:43):
he was talking to his friends, male friends and women tend to
talk like this and we're very open and we are very used to
talking. He said, but men don't talk, Men
don't do much. And bearing in mind this is way
before COVID, way before, you know, we've come a long way in
the last of 5-10 years. And he just said, I've just
(22:05):
found out from some things, you know, some of my friends have
had issues, some things happening like 2 years ago and
they haven't said anything. Not cancer, but you know,
everyone's like, Oh yeah, I'm just, I'm sorry, I've really
struggled with this, that or theother.
And so he said this is not OK, we need to do something to get
men together. So as a result of this, and you
know, and it was that whole community again.
And so we created an event called League of Gentlemen,
(22:27):
which was aimed at men and it was local men to get them
together for a purpose. It was we had sport because
sport is generally a good thing for men.
And it was AFL themed. I think from the that we did two
or three and we did it at a venue and it was a lunch and
then an after party. And we raised money for
Challenge, which is a charity that supported us and they
(22:50):
support children with cancer andtheir siblings and our children
and our family were very fortunate to be on the receiving
end for lots of their services. So we paid them, you know, we
paid it forward and helped them and worked with them for this
event. And so, you know, from it's,
it's funny, it's that sort of ripple effect, isn't it, that we
then from our, I suppose, trauma, we've gone well, we need
(23:11):
to help others because we're OK and created this amazing event,
which was very well received. And yeah, so it's.
Yeah, that's that's wonderful. And that's kind of the reason I
started this podcast, because I'm limited in what I can do.
Yeah. However, there are so many
(23:33):
people who are stuck in suddenlydifferent moments, be that
whatever. Yep, that they are frozen and
they think that they're the onlyone who's ever been through it
and that there is no way out. And you and I both know that
there is a path. Might be bumpy, but there is a
(23:58):
path. Yep, yeah.
So when did the idea of the glitter effect begin to form?
So after all of that, I then getmore involved in our local
community. We're we're just outside of
Melbourne and my husband and I started our children were
getting into sport, into AFL football in particular.
(24:20):
So my husband and I, I suppose were coerced for want of a
better word by very good friendsof ours who had been running
Ozkick programme for for a few years and they were looking for
new coordinators. And so we put our hand up and we
ran AUS Kick for three years andthat then LED us to being
(24:42):
involved in our local community,in our local football club.
I then shortly was asked to comeon as Vice President with a view
to take on the presidency after COVID.
This was after COVID being the first female president of our
football club in its fifty year history.
So that was quite big daunting and then so it just cascaded
(25:04):
from that. So I got involved in it.
But during that time I always, and my background as well, I
must say is public relations. And I've had my own business,
public relations, built businessfor 15-16 years and always been
in PR for over 25 years. And all the way through, I've
worked in not for profit space or education or health.
(25:25):
So it's always been that sort of, I call it warm, fluffy,
fuzzy stuff. And I've always said make sure
when you work wherever you or ifyou're in volunteering or
anything, make sure you spread your sparkle.
I've always said spread your sparkle, find your sparkle,
spread your sparkle and be true to your sparkle.
And just remember, when your Sparkle dolls jog on, it's time
(25:47):
to go. And that's OK.
And that that can be translated into the business world, It can
be translated into the community.
It can be translated into so many things.
And so I said that, you know, for it to a few people when I
was involved in my football club.
And then I I got volunteer burnout from being in that
position and really just had to take a full step back and say
(26:11):
enough is enough. It was becoming sort of
detrimental to my family. You know, it's taking up too
much time, but that's because I gave it too much time.
It's that double edged sword, isn't it?
And so I sat and reflected and Isaid to my husband, habit
relations is not doing it for meanymore.
I can't do it. So I said, I'm closing my
(26:33):
business and I'm going to spend the summer just working out.
I said every year I set myself agoal of learning a new skill and
I just said to him, I think I want to learn how to podcast.
And he's so supportive of me. Honestly, I cannot sing his
praises enough. He he was like, oh, right ho.
And obviously going here we go again, there's something else.
(26:54):
And I said, yeah, we're going tothink about podcast.
And that was sort of towards theend of 2024.
I spent sort of the end of that and the sort of over summer
having a good sort of soul searching on holiday and
everything. And all of a sudden, I booked
myself into a podcast course through a local radio station
and I still had no idea what I was doing my podcast on, but
(27:17):
roughly, and I was literally on the day two of the podcast
course, I've just gone the glitter effect.
It's the glitter effect. And that was it.
I was in, I was in an Uber on the way.
There was no, nothing more than that.
I just sat there and just came to me.
And then from that, my gosh, allof a sudden I'm like, yes.
(27:40):
And then I've gone, this is whatit is and fine tuned it.
But then I'm sorry, go back a step.
It also came to me as well because I got, as you said in
the intro, I was awarded the Manningham Volunteer of the Year
or jointly. There was another guy from our
community who also got awarded it.
And I was so embarrassed and I sat on it and didn't tell anyone
(28:03):
because I didn't want anyone to know that that's not what I do
it for. And so I sat on it.
And then I over the summer, I'm like, hang on a minute, this
means something. This is telling me something.
And this is the world. And I'm quite spiritual like
you. And I said, this is the world
telling me something. And it's telling me that
community is my jam. Community is my heart and soul.
And every time I came back to that.
(28:24):
And so yeah, that the Long storyshort, that's basically how my
new passion project, the GlitterEffect Hat, was born.
So so podcast and and just like any idea that we have isn't it?
It's sort of like grows. I don't know, are they
(28:44):
octopuses? They grow tentacles, yes.
They do. And so you find yourself, you
know, I, well, I can imagine there being events and, you
know, trainings and, and all sorts of things.
And that's it. So I've started it as a podcast.
So it's basically a podcast thatmight be my sort of elevator
(29:05):
pitch, if you like, is it's a podcast that shines the light on
movers, shakers and change makers and all around living
legends of our communities who basically spread their glitter
with their with purpose and heart.
And the whole premise is, is that I firmly believe everybody
has glitter to spread where theyhave that purpose and heart.
(29:26):
They've just got to find it. Some people find that very
easily, some people don't. Some people spread it further
than others. Some people are very small with
their spreading. But it's, it's very much, you
know, it's tangible. And the more people I speak to,
everyone's like, yes, I love that because it's, it can
envisage, you know, glitter every, I mean, I speak to a lot
of mums and they're like, well, Gee, you know, craft projects
(29:48):
because it gets everywhere. And we're like, yes, that's the
whole point. It gets everywhere.
And so everyone gets it. And so it's a very tangible
thing, yeah. And I love glitter.
Yeah. Well, it sounds like you love it
and what just popped into my thoughts and I don't know
whether it's ever occurred to you, but like, I don't know
(30:10):
whether you've ever read the thefive love languages.
Yes, I. Know I need to read and I think
that there are dialects of love languages right.
I think just like not all Australians sound the same, yes
not. I think we have hybrids of love
(30:31):
languages and sometimes we need a vehicle or a visual to help us
see what ours is. Yeah.
Right, because sometimes we onlyhave we, we have money, but no
time. Yeah.
And sometimes we have time and no money.
(30:51):
And so, you know, understanding that there are those who do it
in their own way, but they are recognised as as doing it.
And that maybe glitter as a currency like is more exciting
to me than cryptocurrency. And I'm not sure what the Aussie
(31:17):
dollar is doing at the moment, but, you know, like glitter
currency, I see that, you know, as being pretty exciting.
Yeah. And I think that's that's the
premise of it. Is it starting as a podcast?
And I'll let it grow organically, but I would like to
see it more become a movement asopposed to just a podcast so
(31:40):
that people grab this concept and everybody I've spoken to and
gosh, trust me, it took me the imposter syndrome sat on my
shoulder for a long time and I didn't really tell anyone.
And again, my husband, who is mybiggest cheerleader, he, he was
the one telling everybody. When I first got the man, the
(32:01):
Manningham Council award, I didn't tell anyone I didn't want
to know. And he was so proud and telling
everybody. And then again, he was the one
telling everybody. Now Kate's going to do a
podcast. And I remember it was a friend's
40th birthday party just before Christmas or just early in the
year. And I'm like, I don't think
they're going to be interested, Joel.
They're they're a bunch of engineers.
(32:22):
It's not going to be them. They're not really glitter.
And I really coyly when I'm justgoing to do this.
And they were like, ah, and I lost a couple.
A couple went right, you are. I moved on.
And then all of a sudden there were two that went, that's so
good. And then I'm like, some people
do like it outside of my really supportive and loving family and
(32:42):
friends. And then I always remember I was
giving blood. And this the first time I told a
stranger about the glitter effect was huge giving blood.
And a guy walked in and with an entourage of people and, and
I've since interviewed him and I'm in touch with him now.
And his name is Simo Braun and he has a concept called the
(33:04):
Bloody Good Tour. He's just coming to the end of a
year on the road visiting absolutely every single blood
donor centre in Australia with his three children, three young
children. And he was basically trying to
encourage more Australians to save lives.
And I was talking to him and I said, I bravely sat there and I
was like, I really need to say something to him.
(33:26):
And I had nothing. I've got nothing about my
business cards. I've got nothing.
I'm just giving blood. And I still don't have business
cards. But I sat there and I thought, I
need to tell him. He's the sort of person.
And I said, I must tell you, I'dlove to catch up with you
because I'm launching a podcast and I think you'd be an amazing
guest, but I haven't launched ityet.
And I told him about it and he said, Kate, I love that.
I love the glitter effect concept.
(33:48):
And he goes, I actually tell people I've spread, you know,
I've spread in glitter and, and I kept in touch with him since
and I said it was because of that, I've gone, yes, there's
something in this. People will like it or they
won't like it, and that's fine. But talking to him was a massive
turning point because I didn't know him.
So and I told him that I only told him that recently when I've
interviewed him. And I said you're the reason I'm
(34:10):
here right now because it made me believe that I have
something, you know, imposter syndrome is and other thing.
Well, but I mean, I was exactly the same in I thought of the
idea and I thought of of the people it could help.
So I don't know whether you've experienced Kate, but sometimes
(34:34):
when people have a chronic illness, it becomes their
identity and there are rules to that illness.
And and I was afraid with the thought of, you know, fighting
through the not good enough and fighting through, I don't know
anybody. And then it was like, well, am I
(34:57):
breaking the rules? Because I can put together a
period of time where I seem look, sound, act fine.
Now. No one's going to see the video
of me asleep this afternoon and tomorrow and someday they're
(35:18):
only going to see this video. And but I, I decided that it was
important because the message, like your message is so
important that I had to have a go.
And if I get, if I get criticised, so be it.
(35:43):
Yeah, it's a, it's a funny 1 though, isn't it?
Because particularly when it's something that is and I call it
a passion, it's a passion project for me right now.
And when someone doesn't like your passion, it's a funny
feeling. You can't there's again, I don't
have any emotion attached to it.It's just you go, that's OK, you
(36:04):
don't have to like it. But to hear people that do,
they're the ones you need to listen to because you can't be
everything to everyone. And that's can you?
And that's, it's that whole you've got to go through that
journey. And but when you're putting
yourself out there and particularly for me, I mean for
you, it's it's very different aswell.
(36:25):
But you know, 25 years plus NPR,I was very much behind the lens.
So I could tell people what to say on interviews.
I could get them interviews, butto actually be, I could
interview people, but then to be, I'm not a journalist, I'm
PR. So, you know, it was very
different. And then for you to invite me on
(36:46):
as a guest. Gee, that was I'm like, oh, this
is all very awkward. So.
But you know, I'm like, no, comeon, Kate, put your big girl
pants on. It's time to really, you got to
do this. So yeah.
But then you go, those spaces are really good to be in too,
because they make you look at yourself and question what
(37:09):
you're doing and reaffirm what you're doing and give you that
positivity and that confidence. And so whilst it the feelings
might not feel great, once you get through the other side you
go, yeah, that's great. So yeah.
So you hold the space for so many stories on your podcast and
(37:32):
what have you. What has been the key thread
that you've noticed that is likejumping out and glaring at you
that you can say it everywhere? Such a good question, Leanne.
And I think really it's just showing, it's giving my
(37:55):
confidence back in humanity and society that we absolutely
everyday people are constantly doing incredible things.
And I'm only even, I'm not even scratching the surface with the
people I'm talking to because there are so many people.
And again, people aren't doing these things to be noted about
it. They're doing it because they
(38:15):
want to fill their heart and fill their purpose.
So it's just realising that there are so many incredible
people who are givers out there that we just don't hear about in
a world that's very heavy. And particularly at the moment,
I think, you know, we don't haveenough good news.
(38:37):
And this is that good news. These are those good news
stories that we need more of because I think more people will
learn from them. Absolutely, absolutely.
One of the ideas that I had was the most popular podcasts are
crime, true crime. Yes, yeah.
Well, what about true lives, right?
(39:00):
I like I would like the kind of podcasts we're offering to be
the the new go to place. Hey, we have everyday people
doing everyday amazing things with everyday struggles, and
we're all interesting and we don't have to feed someone
(39:23):
mushroom meat thing. Yeah, right.
To be worthy of conversation. Yeah, and I think that you're
absolutely right, Leanne. And also, you know, since the
dawn of time, and this is where my PR skills come into play.
You know, we've been telling stories.
(39:43):
Story is storytelling has been going on for centuries before
the written word. So, you know, it's, it's so
important to continue that skillin whatever way you can.
And that's where I think what you're doing.
And so many things like that. People love stories about other
people's lives. That's just human interest,
(40:06):
isn't it? Human, Humans like it, but it's
just making sure you find the right people to listen to it.
Exactly. And you know what?
If they don't listen to it all, that's fine.
If they get out of it, you know what they'd like.
I I'd love everybody to share for the person who you don't
(40:26):
know needs to hear a message from the person who's just said
it. Yep, yeah.
So if you go, if you could go back now to the early moment
with Harvey, what would you whisper to yourself now, knowing
through what you've lived and what you've built and the hopes
(40:48):
and dreams that you have for thefuture?
What would you tell you? I would.
Tell myself it sounds really corny, but it is going to be OK.
You've got and a village and that whole thing.
It takes a village. You have your village and your
(41:09):
village will be there for as long as you need them and
beyond. And that your children are going
to be OK. And that the important thing is,
and I think this is The thing isit really highlighted the
importance of the here and now and trying to be present and
just family. My family is the most important
thing to me. My husband and my three
(41:30):
children, They are the most important thing to me.
So knowing that they, we got through this together, it was
just, I suppose I would reiterate that you'll be OK.
You'll be a good family unit as a result of this.
And we are, we're not perfect byany means.
Don't get me wrong. It's not rainbows and lollipops.
And there's certainly, you know,things that will come out from
(41:52):
my older 2 and the younger one as well throughout time.
And we're very acutely aware of that.
And we work with them based on this trauma.
We're still not 100% convinced that they've all addressed it.
But, you know, I do believe, I firmly believe we're a stronger
unit. My husband and I are definitely
a stronger unit as a result of this journey.
So I think I would just tell myself that just stick at it.
(42:15):
Just be me, be you, and the restwill fall into place.
Concentrate on what's important to you at that moment in time.
Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous andit's so good to hear that the
three boys are charging along just like 3 Aussie lads.
Well, they're 1513 and 11 now, so I'm in the thick of it.
(42:38):
My goodness. OK, hairy legs.
Here we go. That's just.
That's one thing. Yep.
All right, well, us wrap this up.
Thank you so much for coming on on the suddenly different
podcast. So I leave you with sometimes a
(43:03):
story doesn't end. It settles gently, like glitter,
catching the light as it falls. Kate provided us today.
That impact doesn't always arrive with noise and headlines.
Sometimes it moves quietly through a home cooked meal left
at your door, a warm hand on your shoulder, a stranger who
(43:26):
becomes your lifeline without even realising it.
And sometimes it's you who's holding that light for someone
else without even knowing. If Kate's story stirred
something in you, a memory in your heart, a breath you didn't
realise you were holding, I invite you to stay with it.
(43:49):
Let it land in your body. Let it asks you where it wants
to shine from. Wait, where have you been held?
And where have you made someone else's space to allow them to
breathe? You don't have to start a
movement to matter. But maybe, like Kate, you'll
(44:12):
find that the moment life cracked you open was almost also
the moment you began to sparkle in ways you never expected.
Until next time. May you notice the glitter in
the ordinary, and may you never under underestimate the power of
simply showing up. Thank you, Kate.
(44:35):
Thank you so much, Leanne. I've loved this.
Thank you. Wonderful.
This has been suddenly different.
I'm Leanne Sharland, and I'm so grateful you shared your time
with me. If you felt a spark, a tear, or
a moment of recognition, I hope you'll pass that gift along by
(44:57):
sharing this show. Take a deep breath, trust your
path, and I'll meet you back here soon.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.