The Hair Therapist

In this episode, Mel speaks with Martine Richards, founder Freedom Wigs Australia and a leading alopecia wig specialist. Martine’s journey began when she started losing her hair as a young child. Misdiagnosed at the time, she faced years of confusion and isolation before learning she had alopecia, a turning point that shaped her resilience and her mission to help others.

Today, Martine channels that lived experience into her w...

In this episode, Melissa welcomes Megan Evans, an award-winning hairdresser, salon owner, and founder of In Awe Education - to share her inspiring journey and vision for the future of the hairdressing industry. Megan has built a career defined by creativity, leadership, and a passion for education. From winning SA/TAS Hairdresser of the Year in 2019 to being recognised internationally for her collections, she has consistently pushe...

In this episode, Mel speaks with Josh Wilkins, the inspiring founder of One Voice, about the moment that changed his life - the first time he truly saw how homelessness does not discriminate. Josh shares how witnessing people from all walks of life without a roof over their heads revealed a truth that many overlook: no one is immune to the possibility of losing their home.

From that experience grew One Voice, a movement dedica...

In this episode, Mel sits down with Yasmin Khan, founder of The Bangle Foundation, to discuss her groundbreaking work supporting South Asian women who have immigrated to Australia and are facing domestic abuse, coercive control, and the complex challenges of rebuilding their lives in a new country. Yasmin shares the story behind creating a safe, culturally responsive space where women can seek help without fear of stigma or isolati...

What does it mean to rewrite your story and then help others do the same? In this episode, Mel sits down with Tahlia Isaac, founder and CEO of Project:herSELF, a transformative initiative supporting women impacted by incarceration. Tahlia’s journey from navigating the criminal legal system to becoming a fierce advocate for justice is a testament to resilience, purpose, and the power of lived experience.

Through raw honesty and...

What does it take to rebuild a life after prison? For Vincent Siahaan, it began with a brutal awakening, a nine-year sentence for drug trafficking, and the crushing reality of being separated from his young family. But his story didn’t end there, it transformed.

In this deeply honest conversation, Vincent shares how his time behind bars reshaped his understanding of justice, identity, and community. He opens up about the emot...

In this episode, I’m joined by Kath Essing - speaker, coach, and author of The Courage to Speak Your Truth, for a conversation about voice, vulnerability, and the transformative power of storytelling.

Kath’s journey toward truth-telling began with a pivotal decision to confront her past and speak out. That moment became the foundation for her book and the catalyst for a framework that now helps others navigate their own st...

In part one, Jacob laid bare a childhood shaped by addiction, abuse, and abandonment, where every system meant to protect him became another chapter in a long story of survival. Now, in part two, we go deeper.

Jacob returns to speak with Mel about what happens after the trauma is named but not yet healed. From the revolving doors of juvenile detention and incarceration to the daily grind of homelessness, Jacob’s journey reveal...

In this episode, Mel sits down with Miranda Woods, Coordinator of the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre - a welcoming, grassroots space where connection isn’t just encouraged, it’s lived. Nestled in Brisbane’s inner north, the Centre is more than a building; it’s a lifeline for many, offering warmth, dignity, and practical support to anyone who walks through its doors.

From food relief and housing advocacy to morning teas, art gro...

From family addiction and family breakdown to foster care, juvenile detention, homelessness, and incarceration, then back on the street. Jacob has lived through nearly every system meant to protect vulnerable children. And yet, those systems often failed him.

In this raw and unflinching conversation, Jacob sits down with Mel to share a story that’s still unfolding. Born to a mother battling addiction and handed over to a fathe...

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Mel sits down with Dr Katrina Lines, CEO of Act for Kids, a psychologist, researcher, and advocate whose career has been devoted to protecting children and supporting families through trauma. With over two decades of experience in clinical and social services, Katrina brings both professional insight and heartfelt urgency to the growing crisis of child poverty and neglect in Australia...

In this gripping follow up to Episode 5, Mel reconnects with T to go deeper into the realities of heroin addiction. T shares how a $1000 a day habit led her into sex work, and the confronting experiences that came with it - moments of danger, disconnection, and survival in a world few truly understand.

With raw honesty, T speaks about the choices she made, the systems that failed her, and the resilience it took to keep going. ...

In this episode, Mel sits down with Jak Vaessen, a man whose life has been shaped by a fierce commitment to justice, dignity, and compassion. From sleeping rough in solidarity with the homeless to challenging public indifference head-on, Jak’s advocacy is as relentless as it is heartfelt.

His work hasn’t gone unnoticed, Jak was honoured with the prestigious Vidal Sassoon Humanitarian Award, a testament to his decades of servic...

Today’s episode is a celebration of compassion in action.

Mel sits down with Sarah Taylor, a woman whose scissors and spirit are changing lives on the streets of her community. Through her work with organisations like the Community Hair Project, Sarah offers more than just free haircuts to those experiencing homelessness or hardship. She restores dignity, confidence, and connection, one haircut at a time.

But Sarah’s gene...

In this gripping episode, Mel sits down with David Greenberg - author, speaker, and former rescue helicopter crewman, whose career has been defined by high-stakes missions and life-saving decisions. With over 4000 missions under his belt, David shares not just the adrenaline-fueled moments from his time in the air, but the deeper lessons in leadership, trauma, and human connection that emerged from decades of service.

This...

In this powerful episode, Mel sits down with Andrea Senior, a seasoned Youth and Family Director whose career has been defined by unwavering commitment to family preservation and community empowerment. With decades of experience spanning child protective services, strategic leadership, and non-profit advocacy, Andrea shares the pivotal moments that shaped her path and the values that continue to guide her work.

From navigating...

In this episode, Mel sits down with Alyse Bradley, Board Director & Treasurer of QENDO and a passionate advocate for those living with endometriosis. Alyse brings both professional insight and deeply personal experience to the table, having battled the chronic, often misunderstood disease herself for years before receiving a diagnosis in 2014.

Together, they unpack the realities of living with endo: the pain, the stigma, and...

In today’s episode, Mel sits down with her longtime friend and mentor Layle - a woman whose life took an extraordinary turn after she made a bold decision: to sell their home and use the proceeds not for comfort, but for connection. What followed was a global journey of giving, acts of service that spanned continents, cultures, and communities.

From offering support in remote villages to uplifting vulnerable populations in bus...

In this unflinching and emotionally charged conversation, we sit down with Jenni Tarrant - virtually, but with no less depth or connection. A multi-award-winning hairdresser, creative force behind Bond Hair Religion, and the heart behind The Tarrant Foundation, Jenni doesn’t just style hair, she reshapes lives. From sleeping in her car to raise awareness of hidden homelessness, to walking 100km in 24 hours to support survivors of d...