Stories that Stir - Global

Monica Rosenfeld & Joram van der Starre

0.0 (0)
Personal Journals
Updated Weekly

Stories that Stir delivers raw and personal stories relating to specific themes, as told by incredible humans from all walks of life. The stories are recorded live in front of an audience at the monthly Sydney based ‘Stories that Stir’ event, which was created to break down barriers, stir conversation and inspire positive change.

6d ago

The Brother I Didn't Know - Jennifer Chate

Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/events Website: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/ Raised in constant unpredictability by a mother battling severe schizophrenia, a five-year-old Jenny was told her little brother Paulie simply no longer existed. Years later, she discovered he was alive and living in a facility with severe cerebral palsy, prompting her to immediately step up as his fiercest advocate and guardian. Despite extreme physical limitations, Paulie taught Jenny profound, life-altering lessons about resilience, humor, and the immeasurable value of being loved deeply just for who you are.
Sep 17

Facing the Past - Gina Thomas

Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠ Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠ Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links: ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/events⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/⁠ Gina spent her childhood protecting her younger siblings while navigating the terrifying, unpredictable reality of her mother's severe mental illness. After escaping to a stable life, she spent decades avoiding the woman who caused her so much pain—until a devastating breakup forced her to finally confront her deepest childhood wounds. Meeting her mother face-to-face at a pub to speak her truth, Gina embarked on an ongoing, complex journey of forgiveness, discovering that letting go of resentment is the ultimate key to freedom.
Aug 20

Finding My Voice - Jasper

Host application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠ Speaker application form: ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠ Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links: ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/events⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/⁠ From the age of five, Jasper carried the heavy burden of a severe stutter, relying on alcohol and overachievement to hide his intense fear of speaking. Despite landing a high-pressure role at Google, his imposter syndrome peaked—until a trip to the Nevada desert and Australia's Burning Seed fundamentally altered his trajectory. By building a massive sober dance community, he stepped into true leadership, discovering that the speech impediment he viewed as his greatest weakness was actually his ultimate superpower.
Aug 17

A Complicated Love - Maralyn Nash

Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/events Website: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/ In the 1980s, Marilyn fell deeply in love with Alex, a charismatic Ghanaian man, embarking on a whirlwind African adventure that challenged her conservative country-town upbringing. However, their marriage eventually descended into 15 years of coercive control, forcing Marilyn to confront the devastating and complex realities of domestic violence, mental health, and survival. Through immense grief and the ultimate choice to forgive, she rebuilt her life, raising a son who eventually fulfilled the very dreams seeded during their earliest travels together.
Aug 6

Cycling Through Chaos - Richard Crowle

Host application form: https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6 Speaker application form: https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29 Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/events Website: https://www.storiesthatstir.com/ Richard planned to live a safe, predictable life in Sydney, but a random brochure sent him on a brutal 12,000-kilometer cycling journey from London to Cape Town. Pedaling straight through the Middle East immediately after September 11, he expected extreme hostility but was met with profound, unexpected human kindness instead. Ultimately, his grueling overland adventure wasn't just about discovering the world—it was a high-stakes, blind-faith mission to win the heart of the woman he loved.
Jul 30

Finding Belonging-Saurabh Kaura

Host application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠⁠ Speaker application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠⁠ Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links:⁠ ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/events Website:⁠ ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/ Saurabh moved to Sydney in 2019 feeling excited, anonymous, and quietly overwhelmed. He spent years in sales roles, having conversations all day yet often feeling disconnected once work ended. He was deeply introverted and struggled to feel like he belonged in a new country. Small steps with starting a podcast, a rapidly growing walking group, and coffees became his way of finding confidence, connection, and community before he even realised what he was building.
Jul 16

Invincible-Caroline Hey

Host application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠⁠ Speaker application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠⁠ Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links:⁠ ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/events Website:⁠ ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/ As the saying goes, “Life happens when you have other plans.” After building a life that Caroline thought was creative, and nothing at all what her family expected of her, it still wasn’t exactly what she was meant to do with it. That message became unmistakably clear when she turned thirty. New beginnings were something she was accustomed to, in fact she chased them. Yet, this one was something different. Becoming invincible and being taught a superpower no one in the Western world talked about, was what life had planned for. But being invincible comes with its challenges.
Jul 2

Blind Faith – Bashir

Host application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/eGNUbdpR72EnrtkX6⁠⁠ Speaker application form:⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/9fpJTcsf1Fz9cFC29⁠⁠ Social media handles: @storiesthatstir Event links:⁠ ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/events Website:⁠ ⁠https://www.storiesthatstir.com/ Born legally blind, Bashir discovered that true vision comes from within. It began with the courage to be curious enough to explore what he could achieve despite his limitations. This was the beginning of his portal to purpose, guiding him to awaken the transformative power of inner vision.

Stories that Stir delivers raw and personal stories relating to specific themes, as told by incredible humans from all walks of life. The stories are recorded live in front of an audience at the monthly Sydney based ‘Stories that Stir’ event, which was created to break down barriers, stir conversation and inspire positive change.

Creator

Monica Rosenfeld & Joram van der Starre
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

163
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Monica Rosenfeld & Joram van der Starre
Show Website

Stories that Stir - Global

Relationships

Relationships

Updated Weekly