The Hair Therapist

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...

Mel sits down with Pam Barker, CEO of Brisbane Youth Service, whose journey from childhood homelessness to national advocacy is both raw and inspiring. With nearly 20 years supporting vulnerable youth, Pam offers deep insight into the challenges facing those in out-of-home care, experiencing homelessness, or identifying as LGBTIQA+ or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

Drawing from lived experience, Pam shares how empathy ...

What do you do when someone you love hears the words “You have breast cancer”? In this raw and heartfelt episode, we sit with the shock, the grief, and the fierce love that follows. Elizabeth opens up about the emotional rollercoaster, from diagnosis to survival and the deep impact it leaves on identity, relationships, and everyday life.

We talk about:

• The gut-punch of hearing the diagnosis
• The emotional and physical t...

What if the key to rebuilding a life isn’t just opportunity, but belief?

In this deeply moving episode, Mel speaks with John Godwin, Chairman of Inspiring Better Futures Foundation, whose work has helped hundreds rise from the shadows of long-term unemployment, trauma, and isolation. From mentoring youth in remote communities to launching transformative programs across Queensland, John’s story is one of relentless compassion a...

In this episode, Mel connects online with Gary Strachan, the dynamic founder of Deadly Hair Dude, for a conversation that cuts straight to the heart of community transformation. Despite the virtual setting, Gary’s passion for creating opportunity in remote Indigenous communities comes through loud and clear.

We explore how Deadly Hair Dude is redefining what a haircut can mean - from building vocational pathways to sparking pr...

What drives someone to rob a bank and what does it take to rebuild a life after that moment?

In this gripping episode, we sit down with Emily Cooper, a peer advocate and changemaker whose journey from heroin addiction and incarceration to frontline leadership in harm reduction is as raw as it is inspiring.

Emily opens up about the day she walked into a bank and committed a robbery, an act born from desperation and addict...

In the heart of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, a quiet revolution is unfolding—one that challenges outdated laws, redefines what home means, and puts compassion at the centre of housing advocacy.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jacqueline, Angela, and Judy, three women at the forefront of the fight to protect small community living in Belli Park. What began as a generous act - Jacqueline opening her 13 hectare prope...

Step inside the world of circular innovation and purpose-driven impact in this special episode featuring Ewelina Soroko, co-founder of Sustainable Salons - a social enterprise transforming the way the feel-good industry thinks about waste. From humble beginnings on a road trip around Australia to building a movement that now diverts over 2 million kilograms of salon waste from landfill, Ewelina shares the story behind the mission: ...

Today, we’re joined by Helen Andrew, a passionate advocate for housing reform and the founder of the Tiny Community Living Campaign. Based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Helen has been leading efforts to change local laws, ensuring that tiny homes can be a viable, permanent housing solution for those seeking affordability, sustainability, and security.

Her journey began with a simple act of kindness, offering space for a p...

Welcome to The Hair Therapist, where we explore stories of resilience, recovery, and transformation. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Cathy Kezelman AM, a medical practitioner, advocate, and President of the Blue Knot Foundation. Dr. Kezelman’s journey is one of courage—having lived through childhood trauma herself, she has dedicated her life to empowering survivors and driving systemic change in trauma-informed ca...