Beyond The Surface Podcast

Belinda sits down with Bianca Innes to discuss resilience, grief and rebuilding yourself after life-changing adversity.
At four years old, Bianca’s mother left the family after struggling with alcoholism and depression. Three years later, when Bianca was just seven, her mother passed away, leaving her to be raised by her dad and older brother.
At just 20, Bianca became the youngest person in Australia to be diagnosed with Stage 2B Grade 3 triple positive breast cancer. The diagnosis led to medically induced menopause and she was told she may never have children.
Bianca shares what it was like to have her symptoms dismissed, navigate cancer treatment, become a mother against the odds, and rebuild again after losing her brother in adulthood. This is a conversation about grief, resilience, identity and the quiet strength it takes to keep moving forward when life keeps changing the path beneath you.

In this episode, we discuss:
Losing a mother in childhood and navigating the mother wound
Advocating for yourself when you know something isn’t right
Being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at just 20
Medically induced menopause and its impact on identity and mental health
Becoming a mother after being told it may never happen
Losing a sibling and learning to live alongside grief
Rebuilding your identity after trauma
Using writing and journaling to process grief and emotions
Why kindness and one genuine conversation can change someone’s life
Sometimes life asks us to rebuild more than once. This conversation is a reminder that while we can’t choose every chapter, we can choose what we do with the story from here.
Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau
Connect with Bianca :
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biancainnes/
Bits and Boobs Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitsandboobs.podcast/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6STk9aVthilOQYwOmw72fr
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bits-and-boobs/id1825831621

In this solo episode, Belinda explores one of the biggest misconceptions about family relationships: that talking again, showing up for family dinners, or smiling for the family photo means healing has happened.
Real healing isn’t about avoiding difficult conversations or pretending the past never happened. It’s about acknowledging hurt, rebuilding trust, and understanding the difference between reconciliation and repair.
Whether you’re navigating family conflict, estrangement, or simply wanting healthier relationships, this episode will give you a new way of looking at what actually creates lasting connection.

We explore:
Why reconciliation and repair are two very different things
The difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking
Why every healthy relationship experiences ruptures
What genuine repair looks like and why trust is rebuilt through actions, not word
Why intentions don’t erase impact
How curiosity creates more connection than defensiveness
Why not every relationship can be repaired, and why that’s not always yours to carry
Questions to help you reflect on the health of your own relationships

Healthy relationships aren’t measured by how many family photos you have together. They’re measured by whether people feel safe enough to be honest with each other.
If you’ve ever wondered why a relationship still feels distant, even though you’re talking again, this episode will help you understand why.

Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Content warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide, alcohol misuse and mental health struggles.
 
In this episode, Belinda sits down with Tommy Herschell, founder of Find Ya Feet, a not-for-profit organisation delivering mental health and resilience workshops to schools, sporting clubs, workplaces and communities across Australia.
 
This conversation was inspired by the unexpected ripple effect of a previous Beyond the Surface episode with Kieran Foran. After hearing Kieran’s story, one young man reached out for help, leading him to Tommy and reinforcing the powerful belief that one honest conversation really can shift change forever.
 
Tommy shares his own journey with anxiety, anger, alcohol and unresolved childhood wounds, the counselling that helped him change his life, and how his experiences as a teacher inspired him to create Find Ya Feet.
 
What we cover:
•              The powerful ripple effect created when someone has the courage to share their story
•              How a previous Beyond the Surface episode with Kieran Foran encouraged a young man to reach out for help
•              Tommy’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol and the moment he knew something had to change
•              The role counselling played in helping him understand and change his patterns
•              The teachers and young people who inspired the creation of Find Ya Feet
•              What Find Ya Feet is and the meaning behind its name
•              Why vulnerability should be viewed as a strength
•              How honest conversations are helping change the culture within schools, sporting clubs, workplaces and communities
 
This is a raw and deeply moving conversation about breaking unhealthy cycles, speaking openly about what’s happening beneath the surface and having the courage to ask for help. If this episode makes you think of someone in your life, share it with them. You never know the impact one conversation could have.
 
Podcast Sponsor:
 
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.
 
Connect with Belinda:
 
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau
 
Connect with Tommy:
Website: https://findyafeet.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findyafeet/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Find-Ya-Feet/100093913622167/
Email: contact@findyafeet.org

Content warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide, alcohol misuse and mental health struggles.
In this episode, Belinda sits down with Tommy Herschell, founder of Find Ya Feet, a not-for-profit organisation delivering mental health and resilience workshops to schools, sporting clubs, workplaces and communities across Australia.
This conversation was inspired by the unexpected ripple effect of a previous Beyond the Surface episode with Kieran Foran. After hearing Kieran’s story, one young man reached out for help, leading him to Tommy and reinforcing the powerful belief that one honest conversation really can shift change forever.
Tommy shares his own journey with anxiety, anger, alcohol and unresolved childhood wounds, the counselling that helped him change his life, and how his experiences as a teacher inspired him to create Find Ya Feet.
 
What we cover:
•              The powerful ripple effect created when someone has the courage to share their story
•              How a previous Beyond the Surface episode with Kieran Foran encouraged a young man to reach out for help
•              Tommy’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol and the moment he knew something had to change
•              The role counselling played in helping him understand and change his patterns
•              The teachers and young people who inspired the creation of Find Ya Feet
•              What Find Ya Feet is and the meaning behind its name
•              Why vulnerability should be viewed as a strength
•              How honest conversations are helping change the culture within schools, sporting clubs, workplaces and communities
 
This is a raw and deeply moving conversation about breaking unhealthy cycles, speaking openly about what’s happening beneath the surface and having the courage to ask for help. If this episode makes you think of someone in your life, share it with them. You never know the impact one conversation could have.
 
Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.
 
Connect with Belinda:
 
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau
 
Connect with Tommy:
Website: https://findyafeet.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findyafeet/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Find-Ya-Feet/100093913622167/
Email: contact@findyafeet.org

Why can two people experience similar childhoods, do similar healing work, make similar lifestyle changes, and yet have completely different experiences when it comes to stress, anxiety, burnout, energy and recovery?
In this episode, Belinda sits down with epigenetic longevity strategist Chris Barnes to explore how our genes, biology and environment influence the way we experience stress, anxiety, burnout, energy, recovery and healthy ageing.
Chris shares his personal journey with chronic anxiety, sleep issues and night terrors, and how understanding his own genetics helped him realise that what he once believed was a character flaw was actually his biology needing different support.
Together, they explore what epigenetics actually means, why our genes are not our destiny, and how our daily choices - from nervous system regulation, sleep and movement to food, sunlight, relationships and environment can influence the way our genes are expressed.

What we cover:
What epigenetics is and why it matters
The difference between genetics and epigenetics
Why two people can experience stress, anxiety and healing so differently
How biology can influence mood, energy, dopamine and serotonin
Why one-size-fits-all health advice doesn’t work for everyone
The role of genetic testing in understanding your body
How lifestyle choices can influence gene expression
The difference between biological age and chronological age
Why health span and quality of life matter more than simply living longer

This episode is a reminder that healing isn’t always about trying harder or doing more. Sometimes, the missing piece is understanding your biology, getting curious about what your body actually needs, and making small daily choices that support your long-term health and wellbeing.

Podcast Sponsor:
Evolution Botanicals specialises in functional mushrooms, tonic herbs, and superfoods to support energy, immunity, focus, strength, gut health and wellness. Visit: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/andadd BTS10 for 10% off your first order.

Connect with Belinda:
Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au
(sign up to her Newsletter to receive updates on retreats, podcast episodes, and insights to help you heal, grow & thrive).
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Chris:
Website: https://chrisbarneswellness.com.au/