Big Stuff With Danielle Colley

• Why Grief Feels Like A Brain Injury (And Other Things Nobody Tells You About Loss)

  Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a textIn this deeply personal episode recorded only weeks after her mother’s death through voluntary assisted dying, Danielle shares the raw reality of grief, far beyond the familiar sadness people expect. She opens up about dissociation at work events, emotional numbness, and the biological impact of loss on the brain and body, from the amygdala to the mitochondria. This conversation explores what grief actually feels like, why it isn’t linear, and why “being strong” can sometimes do more harm than good.Whether you’re grieving yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers a compassionate blend of science, lived experience, and practical tools for navigating loss. Danielle unpacks cultural discomfort around sadness, the truth behind emotional “rewiring,” and the idea that grief is a form of love.00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:46 Dealing with Grief: Personal Experiences01:49 The Science of Grief05:01 Navigating Life Amidst Grief08:50 Coping Mechanisms and Support12:14 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Grief26:45 Public Displays of Grief and Cultural Perspectives29:23 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsConnect with Danielle: See her website - https://daniellecolley.com.au/But the Chocolate Bar Life book - https://www.thechocolatebarlife.com.au/buy-bookFind her on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamdaniellecolley/ Connect on Facebook - https://web.facebook.com/IAmDanielleColley/?_rdc=1&_rdr#Watch on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@iamdaniellecolley Check out her substack - https://substack.com/@iamdaniellecolley?utm_source=user-menu 

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• Divorce, Solo Parenting, and Kids With Challenges - Turning hard times into a wonderful life

  Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a textIn this powerful episode divorce coach and founder of Women's Divorce Academy, Carolyn Tate, shares the heartbreaking yet inspiring journey of supporting her son Connor through a life-threatening crisis that ultimately revealed his truth which changed their lives forever. Carolyn and host, Danielle Colley, explore the reality of parenting through fear, confusion, and impossible choices where trusting your child matters more than fully understanding them. The conversation also explores on the emotional toll of divorce, co-parenting challenges, and the loneliness of navigating crisis in silence.Carolyn explains how her darkest chapters became the foundation for the Women’s Divorce Academy, helping hundreds of women through one of life's other huge transitions - separation and divorce. Together, she and Danielle discuss medical support for transgender youth, practical survival tools like 'grey-rocking' and the Perspex box visualization, and the transformative power of choosing belief, compassion, and community. This episode is a reminder that the hardest moments of life can become the wisdom someone else needs.Connect with Carolyn:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/womensdivorceacademy/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womensdivorceacademyWebsite: www.womensdivorceacademy.com00:00 A Mother's Nightmare Begins00:26 Introducing Carolyn Tate02:18 The Turning Point: Connor's Revelation02:34 A Conversation on the Big Green Couch03:19 The Perfect Storm: Carolyn's Struggles04:06 Connor's Mental Health Battle08:28 The Journey of Acceptance16:48 The Transition Process21:07 Support Systems and Challenges26:44 Life After Top Surgery35:03 Turning Pain into Purpose38:03 Embracing a Clean Slate38:37 Navigating Post-Breakup Challenges39:06 Rebuilding and Finding Optimism40:02 Support Networks and Positivity41:27 Dealing with Difficult Exes48:42 The Power of Community50:34 Reflecting on Personal Growth55:09 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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• Owning Your Story With Beauty Industry Disruptor, Lisa Schweighoffer

  Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a textWhat happens when you stop apologising for your choices with one tiny word? Lisa Schweighoffer went from saying "I'm just a stay-at-home mom" to co-founding Boost Lab, the irreverent skincare brand that's disrupting beauty by refusing to take itself too seriously.In this raw conversation, Lisa shares how just one single word was shrinking her presence and what it was like to build an international business after 10 years at home with kids. And we go deeper than this, as a busy and successful mum, Lisa also dives deep into the reason her medical hysterectomy at 48 came with zero menopause information, and the ultimate partnership secret that makes 30+ year marriages actually thrive. From testing products on speedboats to dancing on Instagram and building a very successful business, Lisa proves that the most confident founders aren't those who take everything seriously, they're those who know exactly what deserves their attention, leaving them free to approach everything else with humour and joy.Resource List - Books:Dr. Mary Claire Haver - "The New Menopause" (Lisa says it "literally changed my life")Dr. Michael Mosley - "Just One Thing"Podcast:Brené Brown - "Unlocking Us" (episode with Dr. Mary Claire Haver on perimenopause and bone health)Where to find Lisa -Instagram - ⁠@lisaschway⁠ and ⁠@boostlabco⁠Website -⁠ Boost Lab⁠0:00 - Introduction: The power of removing "just" from your vocabulary4:00 - The New Zealand leap: Moving countries with three kids under four10:00 - The reality of stay-at-home motherhood: isolation, sacrifice, and chosen family17:00 - The "never just" breakthrough: Removing one word that was making her smaller22:00 - "You're choosing what you don't change": Life philosophy on making empowered choices26:00 - From hammers to beauty: The unexpected entrepreneurial journey30:00 - Why Boost Lab does skincare differently: Concern-led, not ingredient-led35:00 - 15 years of bleeding: The health journey no one talks about38:00 - Medical gaslighting: When doctors fail women in perimenopause40:00 - Self-advocacy: How Lisa armed herself with information and changed everything43:00 - The HRT conversation: "If your doctor doesn't listen, find another one"44:00 - Partnership gold: How she and Craig work as a true team48:00 - Being "just the fun face" and learning to own your value51:00 - Practical wisdom: Bone health, heavy lifting, and preparing for the next chapter52:00 - Stop watching the news: Protecting your nervous system54:00 - Lisa's tips for happy living: HRT, lift heavy, laugh at yourself, whiskey

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• The Day Before: My Mum's Final Hours Before Voluntary Assisted Death

  Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a textTrigger warning: Episode discusses death, grief and choosing to die. This is part two of a series. If you haven't listened to Episode 12 where I first introduced you to my mum Carolyn and her decision to pursue voluntary assisted death, start there.On the 11th October, we threw my mum the living wake of the century. It was supposed to be four months before she died. We had time. We had plans.Then that night, she couldn't breathe. She pressed her buzzer. Nobody came. She thought she was going to suffocate alone in her bed.The next morning, I got the call. Less than an hour later, my brother and I were sitting with her asking: "Do you feel done?" She said yes.Three days later, she would be dead.On the Tuesday—her final full day—she asked if we could record one more conversation. I was exhausted, but my friend Rodney said, "You'll regret not doing this."So we talked about last words, regret, flickering lights as a form of communication from the other side, and whether she thought she was brave. Then I share what actually happened in her final hours—the ritual, the music, her actual last words as her chosen music played, and the surprising peace that came after.What has surprised me most is that peace. Not the devastation I expected. Just this gentle, unexpected calm.I'm sharing this because I think we need different stories about death. Real ones. Where someone looks forward to what's next. Where grief can be peaceful instead of wild.If you feel like this is too raw for you, it's ok. This won't be for everyone, but I'm glad I recorded this episode even though I was exhausted and dubious. My mum is, was, and will always be a remarkable human being.CAROLYN COLLEY07/10/1951 - 15/10/2025

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• From Runaway Bride to Real Love: A Therapist's Journey

  Enjoyed this and want to let us know? Drop us a textTwo months before her wedding, Dr. Phoebe Rogers, a clinical psychologist and couples therapist and she was having secret panic attacks. Every time she pictured herself saying “I do,” she imagined herself bolting from the altar instead. She almost went through with it anyway, because sometimes the voice whispering “at least someone loves you” can drown out the one shouting “this isn’t right.”In this raw, vulnerable, and inspiring conversation, Dr. Rogers opens up about her journey from relationship expert to runaway bride and how that moment of truth became the catalyst for real healing and self-discovery.Connect with Phoebe:Instagram: @therelationshipspaceFacebook: The Relationship Space Website: therelationshipspace.com.auBook: When Will It Happen Me? (available now)00:00 Introduction: Dr. Phoebe Rogers' Journey02:31 Phoebe's Personal Love Story04:55 Recognizing Red Flags and Inner Conflict06:09 The Decision to Call Off the Wedding09:08 Healing and Self-Discovery14:24 Therapeutic Techniques and Inner Child Work20:25 Applying Therapy to Personal Life23:44 Building a Healthy Relationship with Self26:47 Recognizing Patterns and Healing28:43 Finding the Right Partner29:34 Navigating Relationship Communication31:46 Dealing with Attachment Styles32:34 The Inevitability of Heartbreak33:30 Healing and Growth in Relationships43:46 The Importance of Self-Love49:06 Insights from the Book53:20 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

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