Social Harmony - Time to Talk

Men's mental health and wellbeing can be a polarising topic in certain spaces and my guest today can bear testament to this - particularly given the circumstances in which she meets the men she works with. I'm joined by Alison D'Vine of SagencyWA - a Perth-based behaviour change programme which supports men who have engaged in family harm.

With a cohort who many may shun, much less look at ways in which these men have come to the place they are it can be difficult to begin open and supportive conversations around a group who many have little sympathy for - but if the answer is to offer scorn, how do we look at addressing the presenting issues as well as the underlying causes in order to affect positive change?

With an unorthodox approach, an engaging personality and a force of will that one cannot help but be inspired by, Alison set up SagencyWA with a view to breaking the mould - her work seeks to engage and understand, become a mechanism for change and take no bullshit in the process. While this has made her a number of enemies, the results speak for themselves and while it may be a difficult path Alison and her team continue to support and encourage.

Speaking with honesty about her work, her own story and with a positivity that inspires and makes you want to sit up and listen - while the subject matter may not sit easily and is incredibly emotive, Alison is looking to make a change in the world when others readily turn their backs.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=1cf4fb050ec346d4

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Alison's work on the links below:

Perth Men's Behaviour Change Program - Sagency WA
Instagram
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/10-transforming-relationships-with-alison-dvine/id1713873681?i=1000654234854

Dr. Kristen Szabla is a neuroscientist, public speaker, author and founder of Transforming Pain Now - an organisation that utilises neuroplasticity to transform clients' lives from one of merely surviving to one of thriving. Having spent more than ten years examining neural pathways and brain circuitry, Dr. Szabla works to provide lasting solutions to a host of conditions including anxiety, depression, emotional regulation and so much more.

As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and severe mental illness, Dr. Szabla understands firsthand the profound impact trauma can have on the brain, nervous system, identity, and overall well-being. Her personal healing journey led her to discover the transformative potential of neuroplasticity—the brain's remarkable ability to reorganize and create new neural pathways throughout life. This discovery became the foundation for Transforming Pain Now® and her mission to help others realize that healing, resilience, and authentic empowerment are biologically achievable.Speaking honestly about her own experiences and the path that brought her to this field of work, Dr. Szabla demonstrates how her methods work whilst interweaving parts of her own story in order to transform her own outcomes in order to help others.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=25f5015fba994bf5

Social Harmony - Time to Talk - Podcast - Apple Podcasts
To learn more about Dr. Szabla and her work, click links below:

Neuroplasticity-Based Trauma Resolution | Transforming Pain Now
Instagram
Harnessing Neuroplasticity | Dr. Kristen Szabla | TEDxDeer Park Women - YouTube

We're told that we can be anything that we want to be - work hard, play by the rules, study, get ahead. We're also told that everything is equal - gender is no barrier, we've never had it so good, level playing field...

Today I'm joined by Jessica King - she's a social worker, public speaker, entrepreneur and founder of ElderCARE Collaborative who has spent many years in corporate settings across a number of fields and has experienced what it's like to be viewed through a different lens due to being a woman. This was highlighted by a simple, spiteful comment but we soon see a number of subtle and blatantly overt ways in which women are taught to see themselves as "less than" despite the regular equality narratives.

Jessica uses her background to advocate for women and to highlight how women down the years have been subtly manipulated into feeling the need to overperform, to extend boundaries, to undervalue themselves and often feel gratitude for accepting less. By teaching women how to reclaim their sense of self-worth, to stand up for themselves and decipher different agendas, Jessica models a new way of showing up in the workplace - one based in self-awareness, clarity and confidence.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=0de8fff6ad2443ec

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Jessica's work on the links below:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BT3oZdEQo/

ElderCARE Collaborative - Compassion.Advocacy.Resources.Empowerment Compassionate aging advocacy, empowering confident decisions. Everyone deserves a moment of care.
Jessica King Speaker One Sheet â•fi No Oneâ•Žs Shiny New Toy (2).pdf

At 20 years old, Cory Young had the world at his feet, an optimistic view on life and a love of the ocean that saw him out on his board at every opportunity. Carefree and with dreams of the future, things were good until a freak accident changed his life forever.

Coming back to shore after catching some waves Cory took a tumble and landed awkwardly, breaking his neck and face down in the water unable to move. A passing tourist found him and called for help, with Cory luckily being pulled from the water and taken to hospital.

Weeks later, having been stuck in a hospital bed and running the full gamut of emotions, Cory learned that he would not walk, not surf and have a much different life to the one he knew. Upon returning home, thhese changes played out in a number of ways including alcoholism, depression, divorce and even a man trying to set him on fire while visiting a local mall.

Drawing upon incredible resilience, Cory reframed his life and today inspires others by coaching and supporting with personal growth, adapting to change, goal setting and so much more. Using his own experiences as a springboard, Cory works with others looking to reframe, embrace change and live their best lives.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcast:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=5d4bedf1694a406d

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Cory and his work on the links below:

From Surfing to paralysis....... Some old surfing photos! - YouTube

https://au.linkedin.com/in/cory-young-26867597

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ipD8C2tiPKug8HxLtp9h2?si=idxXJsDvTVyyqYw_NAMc4A

https://c-young.systeme.io/freecall

In a landscape where mental health has become a regular talking point and many in both online and IRL spaces use 'therapy language' to categorise much of our daily experiences, it can be easy to trivialise the suffering that someone is going through when living in the shadow of a serious mental health condition.

My guest today is Dene Dubois, who lives with Borderline Personality Disorder and talks of his experiences from being a young child in incredibly traumatic and dysfunctional settings through to the man he is today and how he's trying to bring about wider understanding of what can be a very frightening and misunderstood diagnosis.

We discuss common misconceptions about BPD and those who suffer from its' effects - both as an individual with a diagnosis but also those who are in their orbit. While many seem to believe that BPD is an attention-seeking choice or perhaps a 'split-personality' condition, Dene debunks myths and false narratives to give a story of extremes of emotion and the abundance of love on offer, alongside behaviour patterns brought about by errant thought.

In recent months Dene has embarked on a journey to connect with others suffering from BPD as well as giving a voice of compassion and understanding, whilst looking to give insights into what life is like when you're living on the borderline.

Available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts:

http://www.youtube.com/@SocialHarmonyTimetoTalk

https://open.spotify.com/show/4aAdbPrTjEEnwco5jII65U?si=ac133e24278243d9

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-harmony-time-to-talk/id1792776061

Check out Dene's work on the links below:

Facebook

What BPD Really Feels Like | Dene Dubois on Trust, Trauma, and Turning Pain Into Purpose - YouTube
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/195ME4S6K2/