Beyond The Surface Podcast

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/

In this episode, Belinda sits down with Keri Krieger, a registered acupuncturist and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine to talk about perimenopause, burnout, hormones and the midlife changes so many women experience but don’t always understand.
 
Keri shares why symptoms like exhaustion, anxiety, sleep disruption, weight gain, hot flushes, overwhelm and feeling “not like yourself” are often connected to changes in our hormones, nervous system and overall health, not simply getting older.
 
Together, they explore why women have been conditioned to push through for so long, why quick fixes don’t always work, and how this season of life can become an invitation to slow down, listen to your body and support yourself differently.
 
What we cover:
• What perimenopause is and when it can begin
• The signs and symptoms many women don’t realise are connected to perimenopause
• Why burnout in earlier years can show up more strongly in midlife
• The connection between hormones, stress, anxiety and the nervous system
• Why sleep, energy and weight often change during this stage of life
• How Traditional Chinese Medicine views women’s health and ageing
• Why HRT can be helpful, but isn’t always the full picture
• Small, practical ways to better support your body through this transition
 
This episode is a reminder that you’re not broken, failing or imagining what you’re feeling. Perimenopause can feel confusing and confronting, but it can also become an opportunity to better understand your body, support your health and move into the next season of life with greater awareness, confidence and self-trust. 
 
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 Kerri:
Website: https://kerikrieger.com/acupuncture/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerikrieger

Belinda sits down with Christy Quinn for a beautiful and honest conversation about surrogacy, motherhood, neurodivergence, relationships and choosing joy through it all.
Currently pregnant as a surrogate, Christy shares what led her to carry a baby for another family, the realities of IVF, surrogacy and pregnancy, and how she and her husband have navigated the journey alongside raising their two sons.
We also talk about life inside a neurodivergent family, and what happens when everyone experiences the world a little differently. Christy shares the challenges, the lessons, and the incredible gifts that come with raising children who think and feel deeply.

What we cover:
Christy’s journey into altruistic surrogacy and what made her say yes
The realities of IVF, surrogacy and carrying a baby for another family
How she explained surrogacy to her two sons
Raising children in a neurodivergent family
The lessons she’s learned through motherhood, healing and forgiveness
Why dancing, joy and connection are such a big part of how Christy moves through life

Whether you’re curious about surrogacy, navigating neurodivergence, raising children or simply trying to parent in a way that honours who your child truly is, this conversation offers insight, compassion and a fresh perspective on doing life differently.

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/and add 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 Christy:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christy_quinn_motherhood/