Sharing the real, raw & inspiring stories of everyday people
OMG HOW IS IT THAT TIME ALREADY!? SEASON 3 FINALE LET'S GO!On Today's episode, Brad Guy shares his harrowing story of the day he fell from the sky and survived. In this chat, Brad talks openly about that fateful day, what it's like to survive a near death experience, his mental health journey as a result and his second chance at life. If you want more of Brad, you can find him @bradjguy on instagram. You can find me @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. Don't forget to click follow or subscribe wherever it is that you're listening. Huge thank you to every single one of you who have listened this season, it's meant the world to this little independent podcaster. I'll catch you on the flip side in 2021. Bye for now
Claire was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa at just 15 years old. What followed was years of treatment & therapy, relapses & triumphs. But Claire's own personal experience found her wanting to do something far greater, which led her to doing her PHD in Eating Disorder research. Claire founded @_hersociety, which as you'll hear, has been many things. But ultimately, it's the chronicles of a late-twenty-something girl figuring shit out, and sharing it along the way. You can find Her Society at https://www.hersociety.com.au/, and @_hersociety on instagram. Loved this chat? Take a screenshot, share it on social media & tag both her society & @exceptionallyaveragepodcast.If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating, head to https://butterfly.org.au/
On today's episode, meet Matt Runnalls. Matt was just 12 years old when he lost his first friend to suicide. Yep, you heard that right; sadly, the first of several. He was 16 when he lost his second friend to suicide, and later that same year, his favourite teacher too. By the time he was 20, he'd lost his fourth friend to suicide, and over the course of the next 6 years, 4 more of his mates chose to end their own lives; all males. Through all of that, Matt was fighting his own battle with mental illness; a battle that was almost lost four times over that same period. Eventually though, through therapy and spending time with other mental health advocates, Matt found his own voice, and now he works tirelessly, using that voice full time as a mental health care advocate himself. Just a disclaimer - this episode was recorded in 2019, and a lot has changed in the world since, especially in the world of mental health. For more information about Mindfull Aus & Matt, you can find Matt on instagram @matt.runnalls, or head to https://www.mindfullaus.org/.As for me, you can find me on instagram @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. Loved this episode? Click follow or subscribe wherever it is that you're listening.
Angie Greene grew up in a successful football family, but it was that exposure to football culture that gave her a first hand experience of the discrimination towards the LGBTIQ+ community in sport. People from the LGBTIQ+ community are 4-5x more likely to commit suicide; a statistic that Angie is determined to reduce. After losing 4 male friends to suicide, she set about a path to fighting the inequality that exists in Australian sport. Angie founded Stand Up events, an organisation that raises awareness of & fights against discrimination towards the LGBTIQ+ community in Australian sport. You can find Stand Up events on instagram @standupeventsmelbourne. As for me, come say hi @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. Loved this episode? Share it! Take a screenshot of your phone, tag me & Stand Up, and together, let's end discrimination towards the LGBTIQ+ community in sport.
I want you to close your eyes. Imagine you're 16 years old, and you wake up in a hospital bed. What you're currently seeing is all you'll ever see again. Your vision is now entirely made up of memories. You're blind. Yep, at just 16 years old, this was Ben Pettingill's reality. He lost 98% of his eyesight overnight to a rare genetic syndrome. Despite that though, Ben has achieved more since being blind that many people ever achieve in their lifetime. Ben's story is an extraordinary example of the true power that comes from harnessing your mindset. His resilience through adversity is truly inspiring, and naturally, that meant I absolutely had to interview him.If you'd like more of Ben, you can follow him on instagram @BenPettingill. If you'd like more of me, come say hi @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. Loved this episode? Take a screenshot of your phone, share it on socials & tag both Ben & I so we can see you enjoying this ep. Have a great week!
Happy Wednesday! This week, meet Eleni Kalimnios; a young elite rowing athlete from Tasmania, Australia. As you'll hear, Eleni's list of career highlights isn't a short one, and by the age of 21 she was on track for Olympic glory at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. What came next in Eleni's journey was not according to the roadmap. Eleni hurt her back, nothing untoward for an elite rower. But what ensued is a few years of chronic pain that forced her into having to stop the sport that she loved. Eleni is living proof though that sometimes, injuries are mind over matter, and the comeback to this athlete's journey is nothing short of a great one. You can find Eleni on instagram @elenikalimnios or @recess.forthemind. Her story can be found via https://noijam.com/2020/08/04/an-athletes-story-of-overcoming-chronic-pain/If you loved this episode, take a screen shot of your phone & tag Eleni & myself @exceptionallyaveragepodcast on instagram. Have a great week guys!
Hello & welcome back to another episode of Exceptionally Average. Today's episodes is one of my absolute favourites (picking a favourite poddy eps is like picking a favourite child... but let's be honest... we all have one). Meet Hugo Toovey; a captain in the Australian Army (no small feat on it's own), but Hugo is also one of the most inspiring, and resilient human beings that I've had the pleasure of meeting. At just 21, Hugo was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which he battled & defeated, celebrating the special "5 year cancer free" date, only to be told a couple of months later that he had bowel cancer, and it was completely unrelated to his first diagnosis. As he describes, he was struck by lightning twice. Hugo is now a passionate advocate for men's health, and this year he is an ambassador for Movember which is on right now. Want more of Hugo? (of course you do). You can find him on insta @hugotoovey. For more information on Movember & how to donate, head to Movember.comAs always, come say hi @exceptionallyaveragepodcast on instagram. And if you could please click follow or subscribe wherever it is that you're listening, I'd be eternally grateful.
This week, meet Steffi Patience. Steffi is a young author & volunteer from regional Victoria. In this episode, she shares her experience of being a young female, homeless on the streets of Melbourne, her battles with mental illness, and how using her experience to help others has saved her life. You can find Steffi on instagram @chihualpha (told you I wasn't going to try to pronounce that). As for me, come say hi @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. Don't forget to click follow or subscribe where ever it is that you're listening. If you, or someone you know needs help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Meet Luke S. Kennedy, author & professional speaker. Luke had what he describes as a loving but difficult childhood; growing up poor in the outer suburbs of Sydney. He was in year 7 when he got into his first fight. Suddenly, he wasn't the fat kid getting bullied any more, he was 'the fighter', a nickname and an ego that shaped the next few years of his life. Luke has had some harrowing experiences; spending years in a street gang, he's been stabbed, witnessed a friend die, and almost killed someone himself. In this chat, Luke talks about living life as a thug in a street gang, the role of ego in our identity, and how he found the path to enlightenment.Luke is on a bit of a social media hiatus, but if you'd like more information on Luke, his book or his speaking gigs, you can head to https://www.lukeskennedy.com/As for me, you can find me on instagram @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. As always, it would mean the world to me if you could click follow or subscribe wherever it is that you're listnening.
[Trigger Warning: This episode discusses family violence and abuse. If you, or someone you know needs help, head to 1800respect.org.au or call 1800 737 732]Naomi Holt is many things: clinical hypnotherapist, Psychology graduate, model, and small business owner. This year, Naomi is an ambassador for Polished Man; an incredible campaign that raises awareness and funds for child victims of family violence and abuse. Why? Because she was one of the 1 billion children worldwide that experience domestic violence every year. In this chat, Naomi talks candidly & openly about her experience with family violence and how it led her to wanting to be a psychologist. She also discusses her experience of the modelling industry, what it's like to be made to feel like your weight matters more than your voice, and why she created Mind the Model, a platform where mental health, self care, and body celebration thrives.Want to know more? You can find Naomi Holt on instagram @naomikholt. You can also find Mind the Model on instagram @mind_the_model. If you'd like more information on Polished Man, head to https://polishedman.com/. You can also donate to Polished Man via Naomi's fundraising page https://my.polishedman.com/naomi-holtAs always, you can find me on instagram @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. And pretty please click follow or subscribe where ever you are listening to hear more incredible, inspiring stories like Naomi's.
Season 3 drops in T-3 days. Here's a sneak peek of all the goodness to come. See you soon!
Anxious with isolation? Struggling with uncertainty? In this mini-podcast series I'm calling up some old friends from previous episodes to get their insight & experiences during the COVID-19 crisis. Today I chatted to Ziggy; who as always had a beautiful perspective to share with you all. If you'd like to hear more of Ziggy's wisdom, you can find his episode in Season 2 - Episode 1. You can also find him on instagram @ziggyrazuki. And as for me, you can find me @exceptionallyaveragepodcast on instagram. I'd love to hear how you're managing during this difficult time, so come say hi! And don't forget to click follow or subscribe where ever you're listening.
Ang is always a bundle of positivity, and this chat was no exception. Her insight and perspective is well beyond her years ; a reflection of her upbringing, but also a credit to herself. At just 22 years of age, when most are concerned with not being able to go out or party, Ang talks about staying positive & connected whilst self-isolating. You can find Ang's original episode in season 1 "Fear Less" https://rss.whooshkaa.com/rss/podcast/id/7430 You can also find her on instagram @ang_foot. And as for me, you can find me @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. I'd love to hear how you're staying positive and connected during the COVID-19 crisis too! Come say hi!
Social distancing getting the better of you? Feeling overwhelmed? Anxious? Unsettled? You're not alone. I was feeling the same way, so called up an old friend Lucy Allen of the Graceful Collective from season 1 & got some practical tips for how to stay sane in these difficult times. You can find Lucy on instagram @the_graceful_collective. Want more of Lucy? Of course you do! You can listen to her original episode in Season 1 here: "Live like you mean it" https://rss.whooshkaa.com/rss/podcast/id/7430
Hello guys - I have something different for you today. In light of everything that's happening in our beautiful world right now, it didn't feel right to share the last few episodes I had planned for the rest of the season. Instead, what I think the world needs right now is a little more positivity & connection. So I reached out to some of my previous guests to see how they've been impacted, how they're staying grounded and hopeful, and what they're feeling grateful for when the world around us appears to be darkening. The first guest for this min-series is Vinh Le, who was also the very first guest I interviewed on the podcast.You can find Vinh on instagram @coachvinh. You can find me on instagram @exceptionallyaveragepodcast; I'd love to hear how you're managing during this difficult time.
Meet Hannah; my colleague and close friend. Despite the fact that she can finish an entire bag of popcorn in one sitting, she's still a pretty average gal with a story all too familiar for any just about millennial female. In our society, we place such a glory on hustling constantly working, consistently bettering yourself; but at some point that grind will grind you down to dust. Hannah was your typical uni student; studying full time, working 5 jobs, taking every opportunity that was presented to her with a distinct inability to say no. It worked out fine for her at first. She was achieving; chasing her dreams and kicking goals to say the least. But right before her 21st birthday, burning the candles at both ends left her with very little left to burn at all, spiralling into darkness with her anxiety finally rearing it's head. Han sat down with me to talk about the reality of mental health disorders, and how they don't always look like you expect them to. We spoke about why young women feel the need to hustle, and the power of learning to say no. You can follow @hannahdower on instagram. For more information on R U OK day, head to www.ruok.org.au.Don't forget to click follow or subscribe where ever it is that you're listening. And come say hi, you can find me @exceptionallyaveragepodcast on instagram.
Hello & happy Wednesday! This week, I'd like for you to meet Leanne. Leanne was just 13 when she had her first alcoholic drink; the norm for kids her age, growing up in the UK. Some might say it's harmless experimentation, which for some, it may be. But for Leanne, what followed from that day was far from harmless. Leanne spent much of her teenage life binge drinking, which later in adulthood, became a dark and dangerous drinking problem too large to ignore. Leanne's story is a sobering one; when does a few too many become a few too many? Leanne started the rise revolution, a social club for the sober and sober curious, hosting alcohol free events that offer an alternative to the traditional AA. In this episode, Leanne talks about alcoholism, drinking culture, and the rise from rock bottom that lead her to a whole new life. For more information on Rise Revolution, you can follow them on instagram @theriserevolution. And as for me, you can head to @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. If you could also pretty please click follow or subscribe wherever you're listening, that would make this little independent podcaster pretty happy.
Now... this name might sound familiar. Meet Chloe Molloy. If you're not familiar with her name, she's a current AFLW player for Collingwood; and a bloody good one at that. But her path to footy wasn't so straight forward. In her younger years, Chloe was an elite basketballer. She competed at National championships in the U20 squad, represented Victoria 6 times, was Melbourne Boomers Rookie of the Year and a member of the Australian Gems Squad in 2015. When she finished school, she signed a contract to accept a full scholarship as a college basketball athlete in America, but when the AFLW was announced, her heart had other plans. And just when she felt like she was living her dream, it all came crashing down. Chloe may be an elite athlete with her face on billboards, but to me she's a dag, a dork, incredibly down to earth and a delight of a friend. With all that this chick has achieved, it's easy to forget she's just 21 years old. Want more of Chloe? OF COURSE YOU DO. Head to @cchloemolloy on instagram. And as for me, you can find me @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. Come say hi! And don't forget to click follow or subscribe wherever it is that you're listening.
Meet Lil Wisher. At just 3 years old, she rode her first horse & fell in love. Very quickly, they became her escape. But at 15, Lil's body was changing; and when she noticed she wasn't as "skinny" as some of her friends, she began throwing her lunch out at school; the tip of an iceberg that hid a tumultuous relationship with herself and her body. In this episode, Lil shares her story of how her mental health and eating disorder ruled her life, and how she fought to overcome it. If you want more of Lil, you can follow her journey @lil.wischer on Instagram. As always, you can find me @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. Don't forget to click follow or subscribe wherever it is that you're listening.
Meet Damien - A "non-runner" who's decided to run 270km to raise money for the Peter Mac Foundation in honour of his father Joey. At just 19, Damien became a full-time carer for his dad; then in his early 20s, shortly after his dad passed away, he had to give up his dream career of being an AFL footballer due to a bad run of injuries. What followed was a pretty dark 6 months, but with the love and support from family & friends around him, he pulled through, and is now attempting to pull off 6 ultra-marathons in 6 days with a goal of raising $100, 000, something I'm sure his dad would be incredibly proud of.If you want to follow Damien's journey, follow him on instagram @damien.bugeja. You can also head to https://everydayhero.com.au/event/runforjoey to donate.Come say hi @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. And of course, click follow or subscribe wherever you're listening!
“FEMINISM ISN’T ABOUT MAKING WOMEN STRONG. WOMEN ARE ALREADY STRONG. IT’S ABOUT CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD PERCEIVES THAT STRENGTH" - G.D ANDERSONMeet Geena "G.D" Anderson, the woman behind one of Vogue's Greatest Feminist quotes of 2016-17. In 2006, Geena went on her first trip to Africa on a family safari and fell in love. In 2015, she marched into a doctors office ready to announce "I'm moving to Africa", but he beat her the punch and told her she has Lyme Disease. She had been battling chronic illness for 6 years, yet despite the debilitation of her condition, G.D’s dream of helping those less fortunate, and her love of Africa remained close to her heart. At just 25 years old, she founded the Cova Project, which provided 3000 menstrual cups to women and girls in Africa, in it's first year, as well as education materials about periods for girls to be informed about basic physical health and personal development.Want to give a young girl 10 years of freedom? Of course you do! For just $7, you can donate a menstrual cup and give a woman up to 10 years of access to safe sanitary care. Head to their website for more information https://www.thecovaproject.com/donations. You can also find the Cova project on instagram @thecovaproject to follow all of the amazing work that Gina & her team are doing for women & girls.And as for me, you can find me on instagram @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. And please, click the follow or subscribe button so other legends like you can find more legends like Geena.
They say when major events happen in your life that you remember where you were the moment you first heard about them. They're called flashbulb memories, and I remember exactly where I was on February 7th, 2009; at a friend's house for his birthday, jumping in the pool because the weather was so hot. That day, the mercury in Melbourne soared above 46 degrees, and over 400 fires burned across the state resulting in what would be known as one of Victoria's worst ever bushfire tragedies; Black Saturday. Greg Lloyd went to my school; he was charming and charismatic, and had this way of making you feel special, even if he'd only just met you. On February 7th, Greg, his girlfriend Mel & her brother Jason were house sitting in the Yarra Valley, unaware of the trap they would later find themselves in. Tragically, along with 170 others, Greg, Mel & Jason all lost their lives that day. In this episode, I chat to Greg's younger sister, Sally, about learning from loss, rebuilding after tragedy, and how you even begin to rise from the ashes. Want more? Click subscribe, and follow me @exceptionallyaveragepodcast on Instagram.
We are back with a brand new season of Exceptionally Average. Meet Ziggy - a legend of a human with a passion for empowering other humans. He's a writer, yogi & meditation teacher who's stumbled across the meaning of life. Well... his life anyway. In this episode I chat to Ziggy about spirituality, happiness, and what it means to live a life of purpose. Want more of Ziggy? Of course you do! You can follow his adventures @ziggyrazuki. You can also find more information on stillspace from https://www.stillspacecommunity.com/.As always, come say hi @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. Oh, and if you could click that little subscribe button, I'd be eternally grateful ;)
Maddy grew up caring for her little brother who was very ill, and her mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer. While most kids were learning to ride a bike without training wheels, Maddy was learning how to administer life saving medication. Maddy was just nine years old when she told her parents she wanted to start a charity for other young kids like herself, and what started as some fundraising stalls culminated into a business plan for Little Dreamers Australia. 10 years later, Little Dreamers has supported over 5000 young carers, and Maddy has gone on to become one of Australia's most influential young leaders.If you'd like to find out more about Little Dreamers, head to littledreamers.org.au or @littledreamersaustralia. You can also find Maddy on instagram @madeleinebuchner.This is of course the final episode of season 1. We're taking a little break over Christmas and will be back in your ears early in the new year, so head to @exceptionallyaveragepodcast for updates.
Lucy was living her best life in a high flying corporate career, until one day her world was flipped upside down. Lucy's mother lost her battle with chronic illness, and Lucy's world went dark. In today's episode Lucy shares how losing your mum in your late 20s changes everything, and why happiness isn't nearly as important as "success".You can find more of Lucy online @the_graceful_collective or https://www.thegracefulcollective.com/And as always, if you loved this episode take a screen shot of your phone & share it on instagram. Make sure you tag Lucy & myself, @exceptionallyaveragepodcast.
Have you ever had felt that sinking feeling of being inadequate? Have you ever had that little voice in your head tell you that you're not enough? Today I'm chatting to Samrat Karki, a chef-turned-yogi who, last year, started a movement that empowered people to challenge that little voice in their head. On this episode, Samrat shares his own experiences with not feeling "good enough", and I'm sure after listening to this, you'll want to pay a little more attention to what that little voice in your head is saying. Want more? Of course you do! You can follow Samrat's adventures on instagram @samratyoga_food. And as always, you can find me @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. Remember, click follow & subscribe if you're loving these episodes.
On Saturday August 12th 2018, Kate's 32nd birthday, she died. She was desperately ill and in need of a transplant, and went into cardiac arrest. She was clinically dead for 15 minutes before paramedics brought her back to life, but she knew the odds of living much longer were still stacked against her. By a stroke of luck, or fate perhaps, Kate received the call she'd been waiting 7 years for. She sat down with me to share her incredible story of survival, and what it's like to be dying to live. Ps. apologies in advance for the little sound glitch around 48:45You can find more information about the Dying to Live documentary at https://www.dyingtolive.com.au/. And if you want to learn more about organ donation, or to register head to donatelife.gov.au.You can find me on instagram @exceptionallyaveragepodcast, please come say hi! And if you loved this episode, take a screenshot on your phone & share it on social media & don't forget to tag me!
Meet Ang Roan. At just 22 years old, she's visited 22 countries and raised $22k for charity. She started her own food truck business from scratch, she won a boxing match after just 10 weeks of training, and she made it into the VFLW after just a few games of footy. There's one common thread amongst all of Ang's achievements; she's doesn't let the fear of failure stop her from trying. And on top of all that, she's such a delight to be around. Head to Ang's instagram @ang_foot (yes... foot) for your daily dose of giggles. And as for me, as always you can find me on @exceptionallyaveragepodcast. If you loved this chat (which I know you will), share it on instagram & let us know! And if you could give the podcast a follow and subscribe while you're at it, I'd be ever so grateful.
Meet one of my closest friends, Ben. In this episode, Ben talks candidly about his struggles with mental health from a young age and his experience of coming out as gay in a male dominated football culture. We unpack toxic masculinity, male mental health, and how men's stereotypes are literally killing them.There's some fantastic organisations doing incredible work in this space - @livinorg and @beyondblueofficial just to name a couple.If you loved this episode, please share it with a mate. Who knows, together, we may just save a life.Of course, if you need someone to talk to, please call LifeLine on 13 11 14.
Meet Christy Glenn, a woman of many talents. She's an athlete, Pilates instructor, run coach, radiation therapist and nutrition student. Just over two years ago, Christy's dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Determined to do something, Christy hit the road cycling from Melbourne to Sydney and raising $18k and a whole lot of awareness along the way. On today's episode, we talk about what it's like growing up in the country with a dad who's unwell, what inspires her to do what she does, and what motivates her to do better, and be better, everyday. For a little more inspo, head over to Christy's instagram @christyglenn.And as for me, well that's a secret I'll never tell. Just kidding. @exceptionallyaveragepodcastXOXO.
Katie is a registered nurse, a PHD student, and a kick-arse artist & writer. Her journey has not been an easy one though. In 2013, she was raped by a Tinder date. Years later, she attempted to end her own life. Born with an anxious predisposition, mental illness has always been a part of her story, and today, Katie shares that story with us. This episode discusses themes of mental illness, suicide, and sexual assault. If this conversation brings up anything for you, please call lifeline on 13 11 14.
Welcome back to another episode of Exceptionally Average; the podcast that shares the real and inspiring stories of "normal", everyday people. Today I'd like you to meet Merissa Forsyth; a woman on an incredible mission. She's the inspirational founder & CEO of the Pretty Foundation, and today she wants to share her story with you. In 2012, Merissa quit her high-flying corporate career in marketing to launch a charity that focussed on the early education and prevention of body image issues in young girls. We talk everything from how the heck you even begin to start your own charity, to the scary stats that young girls face in today's society. Want more? Of course you do! You can follow @pretty_foundation or find them at prettyfoundation.org (I can highly recommend the Charlie's Tales books if you have a little miss in your life). And as for me, you can find me @exceptionallyaveragepodcast on instagram.Got a story for me? Slide into my DMs, or shoot me an email exceptionallyaveragepodcast@gmail.com
*disclaimer*This was my first ever recording, so the sound quality isnt quite up to scratch with the standard I set for myself. If you're starting here and the sound is annoying you, feel free to start at episode 2*Welcome to the first ever *official* episode of Exceptionally Average. Today I want you to meet Vinh Le. He's a fighter (although he would never call himself that), he's a business owner, he's technically a Physio, and he's a friend. On today's episode, Vinh talks about how the things in his past shaped the man he is today, what drives him to better, and how he faces his fears every single day.Want more? You can find Vinh on instagram @vinhanhle and @getgoingmartialarts. And as for me, you can find me @exceptionallyaveragepodcast, so come say hi!Oh, see that follow or subscribe button...? If you could click that, I'd be eternally grateful.
Have you ever wanted an insight into the lives of the people around you?Welcome to Exceptionally Average, the podcast that shares the real & inspiring stories of "normal" everyday people.Instead of just sitting down & explaining what this podcast is all about, I got my partner in crime & self-appointed "Exceptionally Average GM", Nick to put me in the hot seat. In this episode I explain what Exceptionally Average is, where it came from, and why you need to listen. Stay tuned for the first official Episode... coming REAL soon.
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