Kintsugi Heroes: Uncovering our Hidden Value

🎙️ Episode Summary

What does it take to rebuild your life after losing everything you built together?

Kevin Holloway shares his deeply personal journey through grief after losing his wife of nearly 40 years. From overwhelming loss to finding meaning again, this is a powerful conversation about courage, identity, and what it truly means to keep showing up.

Through his experience as a leader, coach, and human being navigating ...

"I’ve come out from under, from hiding, I suppose."

In this episode, we sit down with Gene Moore, a brilliant scholar, former pastor, and cultural change specialist whose life’s work involves dismantling the very walls he was once forced to live behind. Growing up in a fundamentalist Christian home in Texas, Gene faced the agonising conflict between his identity and his faith.

After a journey that took him from the deep South to the ...

Hayley grew up in a privileged family where her parents worked hard and protected her from many hardships. She was a middle child who became skilled at noticing others and managing emotions.

During high school, Hayley faced difficulties processing big emotions and coped with them through an eating disorder. She did not often share her struggles and felt alone with her experiences.

After high school, Hayley tried multiple university c...

Episode Title: From Terminal Diagnosis to the Cockpit: Cameron’s Journey of Repair and Resilience

Episode Summary Cameron faced a terminal cancer diagnosis with the same precision he uses as an airline pilot. In this episode, we explore how he reframed a "broken" prognosis into a life of deeper community connection, spiritual peace, and the successful raising of his two daughters. Cameron’s story is a living example of Kintsugi—wher...

Troy grew up in Bendigo, Victoria and studied sports science at university. He developed curiosity and appreciation for learning through diverse life experiences and family challenges.

After university, Troy travelled extensively, living in places like Greece, Iran, and South America. He worked in remote cattle stations, ski field management at Mount Buller, and even spent six months living in a zoo.

Troy built a varied career in ban...

Catherine Robertson is a highly experienced wellbeing and leadership coach, consultant, and keynote speaker who bridges corporate leadership and personal growth.

With a 20-year career in the pharmaceutical industry and over a decade specialising in wellbeing, mindfulness, and positive psychology, she supports leaders to enhance health, resilience, and performance through evidence-based approaches.

Catherine designs and delivers tra...

Joanna Nell is a British/Australian author, former GP and advocate for positive ageing. Her journey began with a deep curiosity about people. As a doctor, she listened closely to her patients and cared for them with empathy and understanding every day.

Leaving a successful medical career, Joanna followed her passion for writing. She shows us it’s possible to change direction in life and start something new at any age.

Storytelling is...

Ros Knight began her journey as a good listener among friends during high school, soon realizing her interest in how people think and grow. Her first career path did not quite fit, but Ros found her true calling as a psychologist, driven by her desire to help others.

Over the years, she has built a strong foundation in clinical practice, always focusing on understanding both the brain and the person.

Ros became a respected advocate, ...

Jill Nash overcame early family tragedy and loss, showing remarkable strength. Her experiences shaped a determined outlook, helping her guide her family and herself through life’s most challenging moments with courage.

Now 86 years old, UK born Jill champions dignified aging and end-of-life choices and is involved in voluntary assisted dying initiatives including creating creates seminars to encourage open, supportive conversations ...

Peter Donnell grew up in Sydney’s northern suburbs. His career began strongly but the early 2000s brought unexpected hurdles, including workplace changes and the closure of his office. He also faced tough commutes and job stress.

His wife’s health after childbirth brought extra challenges at home. Managing a newborn and household demands grew more difficult and pressures continually increased during this period.

After changing jobs P...

Margot was born in 1962 in Australia, the daughter of Dutch immigrant parents. She left school in year 11 and went to art school in the Netherlands for a little while.

On her return she secured an apprenticeship the pre-press printing industry as a 'retoucher and dot etcher'. She worked in that trade until opening her Apple Computer store, Mac & Me in Avalon, Sydne...

From war zones to slums, Aaron Tait has travelled to and worked in more than 70 countries across the globe as a military officer, humanitarian and social entrepreneur, and now writes to help people live deliberate lives filled with purpose. 

Aaron was thrust into the frontline of international crisis at a young age, deploying to Iraq immediately after 9/11 as a 17-year-old military officer. A move to East Africa at 25, sa...

Michael describes how leaving Africa for Australia brought him both emptiness and relief. Building a new life meant loss of networks and family upheaval, including divorce, yet the safety, law and order in Australia provided comfort.

Michael’s passion for high-risk activities like kayaking, skydiving, and micro-lighting was driven by adrenaline and the thrill of adventure, helping him stay present. These pursuits beca...

Michal’s childhood was filled with outdoor adventure and freedom in Rhodesia, growing up on a hobby farm, fishing and riding, but also navigating a complex relationship with his Scottish father’s temper.

Being sent to boarding school at a young age shaped Michael’s sense of independence and self-reliance but also led to feelings of abandonment and questions about his own self-worth over many years.

He recalls a safe, respectful commu...

John had a tough childhood, surviving mental and physical abuse. Living on the streets at fourteen shaped his empathy, wisdom, and understanding of the challenges facing many men today.

From truck driver to mindfulness coach, John’s story includes surviving a catastrophic accident, experiencing a spiritual awakening, and transforming years of darkness into clarity. He teaches simple practices that bring peace and connection.

John’s l...

Petrina Barson grew up as the youngest of five girls in a loving family, surrounded by compassion and kindness. Her early life set the foundations for her caring nature. She attended a church school, learning about Christian principles and compassion. The experience shaped her guiding light, even though she did not fully embrace all its teachings.

Medicine was not an obvious path for Petrina. She found medical education challenging ...

Daniel had a fairly normal upbringing with a supportive family, a love of nature, and a Catholic faith. He loves family, friends, community, and his dog. 

Daniel says his Catholic upbringing is very important to him. He holds faith sacred, has a strong sense of values, and appreciates opportunities to reflect and understand what truly matters in life.

He loves connecting and is most comfortable when others share their stories. H...

Sharna is the Founder of Kindred Spirits a not-for-profit organisation with the vision to create a holistic healing sanctuary for children who've experienced trauma. As a transformation coach she helps people overcome anxiety, self-doubt, and people-pleasing through her signature Reclamation process, holistically reclaiming the mind, body, emotions and spirit. As a child, she was sexually abused by her step-grandfather, which left ...

Sherrie Laryse is an Emotional Intelligence Consultant with a degree in Cognitive Neuroscience and a background in human behaviour, trauma, psychosomatics, mental illness, yoga, and meditation. She has authored two books about overcoming challenges—"On Path” and “The Body Talks Back”—and is currently completing her Master’s degree in Psychological Anthropology, specialising in emotional intelligence skills. Sherrie’s aim is to empo...