I was fortunate enough to meet Elitha a few years ago as she was going through her own dark night of the soul.  In a nutshell she felt she was barely surviving emotionally and wanted to learn how to thrive in her relationship with herself, those she loved and cared about, and also within her community and corporate career.  So, in this Episode the foundation of her message is based on her belief that we are all entitled to strive for and actually fulfil our wildest dreams. For Elitha the journey to learn how to thrive started with her journey within discovering all of who she is and is not at a heart level then, accepting, loving and truly committing to herself. She shares with an open heart how her personal journey required that she finally surrendered and gave herself permission to take the time to heal, rest and ask for help to emotionally repair.  Her journey from then to now as a single mother has been epic, including a solo spiritual trek of Spain’s Camino de Santiago Trail.   Elitha explains how the rewards of backing herself, and spending quality time alone on this pilgrim’s trek have been immeasurable, not just for her relationship with herself but for everyone in her life including her family, children, work colleagues and community. She truly is one bold, brave and beautiful woman, so thank you Elitha for sharing your unique recovery adventures with us all.Social media links:Face Book:  https://www.facebook.com/2020-Beyond-100956088073391/?modal=admin_todo_tourLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elitha-bouwer-7b352884/ 

Emotional Fitness Recovery: CONVERSATIONS

CYNTHIA chats with ELITHA BOUWER

I met the unforgettable Mr. Merlo back in 2009 during the early stages of his recovery.   I have been fortunate over the years to witness the wild, wise and wonderful stages of his journey.In our conversation Chris shares unashamedly about his battles with addiction, his emotional challenges, his first-hand experience and perspectives on rehabilitation centres in Australia, his belief in physical fitness as an integral component of mental health and well-being and his deep love and commitment to be his best self for his beautiful sons and wife.Chris is a charismatic man, who has an uplifting presence, often reminding me of the late Steve Irwin with his irrepressible enthusiasm, magnetic energy, cheeky humour and generous heart. He is a devoted student of the universe always open to learning, sharing and supporting others along the way.  Chris Merlo is certainly an inspirationally, unique human being who I wholeheartedly encourage you to follow on social media as he will never fail bring genuine warmth and a smile to your heart with his unbridled joy, and hard-earned wisdom.  Just search his name, Chris Merlo if you’d like to follow him on Facebook or on Instagram you’ll find him @fbombmerls.   He is entertaining, authentic and a great recovery resource for anyone seeking to become happier, healthier and stronger version of themselves.

CYNTHIA chats with CHRIS MERLO

I met Melanie a few years back and was immediately impressed by her no bullshit attitude towards her own emotional recovery journey.  From day one she has rolled up her sleeves when there is emotional housework to be done on her side of the street … and as a result, she has rebooted her life.  Mel’s emotional work ethic even when her heart is breaking, and her grief has hit her like a tsunami wave is nothing short of admirable.  Her work ethic in the corporate arena is no different.  She’s one clever cookie.  As a highly successful corporate communicator in the construction and resource industries, her day-to-day business is all about building and sustaining quality relationships. Now in her 40s, Melanie is more focused on maintaining healthier personal relationships following the end of her marriage. The knock-on effect of this major emotional upheaval has motivated her to reassess all of her friendships as she now looks forward to a life with her self-respect being her first priority.  She truly is one bold and beautiful soul and her love of Dior and Dogs throughout her upsetting divorce is a perspective that is not only entertaining, but inspirational.  I wanted to share with you her story, smile, sass and her quirky sense of humour.  Thank you Melanie it was a real treat chatting with you, I hope you enjoy this Conversation as much as I did. 

CYNTHIA chats with MELANIE CASTLES

I met this gentle hearted giant of a man a few years ago, and was immediately impressed.  He describes himself as a lifelong learner and a very dedicated husband and father to his incredible wife and wonderful kids. Luke genuinely loves to support people that want to reach their full potential. At his New Farm personal training studio, he and his team are all about focusing on the big picture. The philosophies he uses to guide himself, his team, clients and fellow NRL players are refreshing to hear and founded in robust uncommon sense.  He reminds us that being healthy is so much more than just looking good - it's about looking, feeling and functioning at your very best!  Body transformation he believes, should be a completely holistic process. Change isn't made by just addressing the "physical" aspects of life.  Mental, emotional and physical shifts must occur for there to be long lasting, significant results. If we don't address the reasons that caused us to be unhealthy and/or overweight in the first place, the chances of creating long term success are slim.   So, I look forward to sharing my conversation with this lovely man, with you, as he shares openly about his personal challenges, father and husband hood, his vision and philosophy on how to reach your full potential and live your best life.  I just love this guy.  If you’d like to learn more or connect personally with Luke feel free to visit his website www.mpstudio.com.auor follow him on Instagram @lukeyarcher.

CYNTHIA chats with LUKE ARCHER

The beautiful Carla Haddan is not only a successful career woman, wife and mother, she is also a cancer survivor and one of Brisbane’s most influential charity fundraising Queens. Carla is a proud Ambassador for Mummy’s Wish, a registered charity providing non-means tested practical support to mums and mums-to-be fighting cancer with children 12 years and under.  It’s a cause very close to Carla’s heart as she had her own battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013 when her son Billy was only five. This wasn’t the first-time cancer had touched her life, either. Carla got into real estate through the encouragement of her best friend’s husband, Damian Hackett, the CEO of Place.  Damien’s wife, Helen and Carla were best friends until Helen passed away from breast cancer in 2005, leaving behind three young children. Together, Damian Hackett and Carla went on to raise $550,000 over four years, enough to buy two digital mammography machines for Brisbane’s Wesley Breast Clinic.These days Carla considers herself lucky as she’s now in good health, has a thriving real estate career, a loving husband and son and supportive friends and family. But she understands that not everyone is so fortunate, so giving back to the community is a non-negotiable component of her lifestyle.  I admire this humble, calm, charitable hearted woman so very much as I am sure you will too after you listen to her story and her gentle wisdom.And lastly if you’re in Brisbane in March and you’d like to join Carla and myself at her next amazing Fundraising Charity event for Mummy’s Wish aptly named … Big Mumma’s Italian Feast … held at Ristorante Tartufo on Thursday March 26, 2020 please contact Carla via email carla@eplace.com.au mobile 0411 300 660 or follow on Instagram @carlahaddan_place and @bigmummasitalianfeast we’d both love to see you there!

CYNTHIA chats with CARLA HADDAN

Steve Haddan is one of Australia’s finest creative talents. In a richly textured career now extending beyond 30 years, Steve’s work as a comic satirist and performer, author, actor and keynote speaker has brought enormous enjoyment to many thousands of people.Our paths crossed in our younger partying years but we lost touch reconnecting a decade later whilst he was hosting the morning variety show “In Brisbane Today”.  I was invited onto his show to discuss my recent trek through the Amazon Jungle with scientists from The Smithsonian Institute and Earthwatch back in 1991.  He hadn’t changed a bit, albeit now a husband and dad he was still funny as hell, charismatic and a lovely gentle man.Steves career and life story is full of rich triumphs and confronting challenges.  He has shared the stage with Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, given show stopping performances as his alter ego “Molly” Meldrum, on “Star Search”, an earlier incarnation of the “Australian Idol” concept also on “Hey, Hey it’s Saturday” and “Celebrity Family Feud”.In 2010 I worked with Steve once more as we presented along with Jodie Bache-McLean of June Dally Watkins a breakthrough workplace education programme – the Head Heart & Body Master Class.  In its first year we trained over 1200 staff at QR National, the Nine Network, Lend Lease and ANZ Private. In this Episode you will discover that Steve’s strength, good humour and resilience are a by-product of hard work, self-honesty, respect and good manners.  His attention to detail and love of his family, friends and work are indisputable.  He is a rare combination of traditional values and modern masculinity blended with genuine good humour.  I just love this bloke, he is a gifted storyteller, writer and a warm hearted human being … I’m sure you will too.To contact Steve, purchase one of his books or have him present at your event visit … www.stevehaddan.com.au #stevehaddan @stevehaddan 

CYNTHIA chats with STEVE HADDAN

Lynda’s quest for a happy life began in 2007 when her journey found her clean and sober for the first time in many years. Masking the pain of childhood trauma Lynda fell into the trap of the addictive world through alcoholism, drug abuse, exercise, spending and self-harm.After working unhappily in the corporate world for 11 years, Lynda found Holotropic Breathwork in 2011 and it was life changing. Gaining a deeper connection through the discovery of her ‘Inner Healer’, she learned the value of ritual in her daily life to help her integrate her experiences from both before and after Holotropic Breathwork. Her soul was now on an adventure that propelled her into a new way of being in the world. One that was more aligned with her true self, calling and potential. Committing herself to her own inner work as well as the Holotropic Breathwork training, Lynda became a Certified Facilitator in 2013. Lynda is now a full-time mum to her two beautiful children and currently offering  weekend workshops in Brisbane.www.lyndaclose.com.au holotropic@lyndaclose.com.au #innerhealer#holotropicbreathwork #holotropic #holotropicbreathworkbrisbane #innerhealer #trauma #transpersonal #transformation #boondall #brisbane #brisbaneworkshops #breathwork #alteredstate #nonordinarystatesofconsciousness #healingpowerofbreath

CYNTHIA chats with LYNDA CLOSE

2020 will see Kyl’s 26th year of teaching and spreading the philosophies of Martial Arts, and showing the wider community what learning to defend yourself can do for you, your friends and your loved ones.Growing up in country Queensland Kyl is a devoted husband and father to his beautiful wife and two daughters.  Currently he holds the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt Kyoshi in Zen Do Kai Freestyle Martial Arts, 7th Degree Trainer (Kru) in BJC Muay Thai, and 1st Degree Instructor in BJMA Krav Maga. Kyl is also a 1st Degree Black Belt in Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under 5th Degree Black Belt Peter de Been, and is the head of the Brisbane De Been 100% Jiu Jitsu Brisbane Academy.Kyl a true gentleman who has a very deep passion for not just physical but also mental health and fitness.  In this episode he shares openly about his own personal life challenges along with the all too common emotional hurdles he sees many gladiatorial males also struggle with.Kyl is a brilliant communicator who is available for seminar, personal training and speaking engagements.  You can contact Kyl on:Email: kyl@chikaramartialarts.com.au www.chikaramartialarts.com.auwww.kylreber.com.au@kylreber#justbackyourself

CYNTHIA chats with KYL REBER

I first met this clever and compassionate woman around 15 years ago when I was invited to join her and her esteemed colleagues to learn more about her community suicide prevention and education programs.  I’ve got to admit I was incredibly nervous, and quite intimidated to sit at the table with this academic leader, and honoured when she earnestly asked for my lived experience perspective on the delicate topic of suicide.Jacinta is a registered clinical psychologist and has worked at AISRAP (Australian Institute of Suicide Research and Prevention since 2000. In 2001, Jacinta and Professor Diego De Leo developed the Graduate Certificate in Suicide Prevention and Master of Suicidology Programs, the first of their kind in the world. Jacinta has developed, delivered and evaluated suicide prevention training since 2000.Jacinta has specialist education, clinical and research interest in suicide risk assessment processes, personal suicide stigma, and the impacts of suicide on the worker. She has worked clinically with suicidal people for 20 years and has supervised other psychologists in this domain for over a decade.She is a member on several national and international advisory boards regarding suicide prevention and has a reviewing role for peer-reviewed journals in this domain. She has presented research findings at a range of state, national and international conferences, has co-authored and edited a book, book chapters, and numerous peer-reviewed articles and government reports in the field.Jacinta has worked on a numerous research projects and consultancies in the suicide prevention sector pertaining mostly to suicide prevention training evaluation, suicide in occupations, personal suicide stigma and evaluation of lived experience suicide prevention training. She truly has so much knowledge, wisdom and insight to share with us when it comes to the taboo subject of suicide. This Episode will hopefully offer anyone struggling themselves with suicidal tendencies or with loved ones who are overwhelmed and suicidal some support and a broader range of solutions to consider.  May peace be with you, thank you for joining us x

CYNTHIA chats with JACINTA HAWGOOD

It is always a rare privilege for me to work with an adolescent who is keen to become a better version of themselves.  Robbie is one of these impressive human beings.  I met him when he was just 19 years of age.  He’d been experimenting with party drugs since his early teens, was unemployed, uninterested in study, a heavy daily marijuana smoker, a nocturnal gamer who had major sleeping issues, and he also struggled with anxiety, depression and suicidal episodes. Teenage risk-taking behaviour and high anxiety are components of most adolescent’s rite of passage as they make their way from childhood into young adulthood.  They are character building years, that’s for damned sure, for both parents and teenagers.  My sons are now in their 30’s but I remember all too well the challenges we faced through these years.Robbie however, is now totally abstinent from his drug usage, and has been for almost 9 months.   His gaming is now more of a hobby than an obsession having raised money for charity through his gaming for others struggling with depression.   Now that he’s employed Robbie’s saving for an upcoming overseas adventure.  In this conversation Robbie generously shares about his emotional hurdles and his hard-earned personal successes.  I have been honoured to have a front row seat throughout the past few years of his emotional recovery.  Watching him heal, learn and smile with self-respect has at times bought me to gentle tears of joy.  He has been so brave in facing the necessity to be rigorously honest with himself.  This young man in my opinion, is nothing short of inspirational offering hope and healing to anyone who has become lost in a haze of marijuana, on-line gaming and party pills.  In a nutshell, he’s a bloody legend 

CYNTHIA chats with ROBBIE KINLOCK

There’s so much I could say about this remarkable mentor of mine throughout the past 24 years of my recovery … but, at the same time trying to find heartfelt words to describe her, just don’t do my admiration of her justice. She is known officially as Beautiful Barb in Australian recovery circles.  Anyone that meets her, loves her.   A woman of this calibre is a rarity in this world.  Fiercely gentle, loyal and unapologetically boundaried I had a mother crush on Barb when I met her early in my recovery from multiple addictions.  Barb, a fellow alcoholic who was one year sober when I first met her offered to take me for a cuppa when I was just 10 days clean and sober back in 1995, and the rest is history.  She has held my heart and my hand every single day since then.Some people are blessed to have biological elders that are wise lantern bearers who will honour their heart throughout their whole lives.  Others don’t.   We need to find our heart family to emotionally survive in this life.  In so many myths and legends the archetype of a wise elder that appears when our heart has lost its way is a common theme.  The mentor may be like a Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, or a Fairy Godmother, and when they appear they remind us to believe in ourselves, to have hope and to help our fellow man.Beautiful Barb was the first human being that introduced me to heartfelt tears of joy, the most beautiful kind of emotion that up until I met her had eluded me for the first 33 years of my life.  I hope you enjoy the magic of this darling woman as we chat about our battles with the booze, our ego’s, our husbands, parenting sons and being selective with female friends in recovery.  So much to learn, so much to love about Beautiful Barb so grab yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, relax and enjoy this divine woman’s wisdom.

CYNTHIA chats with BARBARA BONE

David is a divine Irishman who has been a Personal Trainer and Remedial Massage Therapist for the past 13 years. He has also studied psychology and been a student of Yoga for 6 years.David has worked with every demographic of society from CEO’s of billion-dollar companies in Europe & the USA to headlining musicians on tour.  Helping them all further their health and fitness goals focusing on how to rebuild what fitness can’t fix. David explains how we can only train as well as we recover.  In this enlightening episode David gives us a quick lesson in the art of relaxation using Crocodile Breathing and shares a range of helpful tips.He informs us that there is a real skill to blending the science and art of applying effort, gauging how hard to push in life and when to pull back.  David reminds us busy bee’s that life does not have to be a hard slog.  So, if you are doing too much fight and flight and not enough resting and digesting, this episode has loads of tips and techniques to help you get back on track.  

CYNTHIA chats with DAVID O'KANE

Sammy Power offers us her hard-earned wisdom having conquered external success after 27 years in the demanding world of radio becoming The Sydney Breakfast Radio Queen. These days however, she’s far more interested in building internal wealth.  In her unpredictable episode you will find the charming and unique Sammy Power shares generously and intimately with us about her challenges with emotional burnout, gaining and shedding weight, personal boundaries and depression.  I just adore this woman.   She is entertaining without effort, rigorously honest, and such a generous humanitarian with so much insight, talent and humour.  Sammy offers us refreshing and thought-provoking perspectives when it comes to navigating emotional pain and getting up again when life has knocked you down.  You will find yourself smiling at her quirky humour and touched by her bravery and resilience. The world needs more wonderful, colourful women like The Divine Ms Sammy Power … buckle up and enjoy the ride.

CYNTHIA chats with SAMMY POWER

Murray has spent the majority of his life, living and breathing rugby league. So, it is no surprise that he is a highly popular and well-respected figure in footy circles.Throughout his 25-year coaching career Murray enjoyed an 88 percent success rate which also included coaching Tonga at the 2000 World Cup.In this episode Murray, a country boy at heart, husband and father, shares about the multitude of internal battles too many men face in silence. Working for decades with males of all ages who struggle with depression, mental health challenges and issues surrounding suicide, Murray has a deep and rare wisdom.His own health battles with cancer, and career challenges throughout his life reveal his humble and resilient character. Murray is a rare and true gentleman who walks his talk.  What’s not to love? 

CYNTHIA chats with MURRAY HURST

Jo Malone is an experienced Mental Health Clinician and a passionate advocate for recovery and trauma informed care.In this episode she addresses how The Shame Pile that can build within us all blocks emotional growth and compromises our health and wellbeing. Eating disorders, the cycle of addiction, stinking thinking and personality disorders affect too many lives destructively.  Jo unpacks these problems and their solutions.  Her focus is on the importance of providing a safe place, healthy structure and introducing natural highs to help those vulnerable recover their self-respect.Honestly, this woman is a bloody godsend. I hope you enjoy her gentle wisdom and educational perspective 

CYNTHIA chats with JO MALONE

Cynthia Morton chats with a diverse collage of some of Brisbane's “lived experience” and clinical professional guests in CONVERSATIONS that we weave throughout the series. They challenge current myths, share personal insights, and discuss without apology their first-hand experiences with mental health challenges, addiction, depression, anxiety, suicide, adoption, body image, and self-harm.They also share their hope, humour and healing tips for a happier healthier life in recovery.

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Emotional Fitness Recovery: CONVERSATIONS

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