Talk With A Courageous Heart

Andrew Bothalage
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Real people. Real stories. Courage in everyday life. Join Andrew Bothalage as he sits down with people from all walks of life to share honest conversations about courage, faith, resilience, and the moments that shape who we are.”

  1. 5h ago

    "I Have 100 Plans" — Leaving Home at 18 & Finding the Courage to Start Over - Sasini Ariyarathna

    She left Sri Lanka at 18 with nothing but trust in herself. Now she keeps 100 backup plans — and it's why she's never stuck. In this episode, I sit down with Sasini Ariyarathna — teacher, content creator, and real estate agent — who moved from Sri Lanka to Dubai at 18, then to New Zealand, reinventing herself at every turn. We talk about: Why courage is really just trusting yourself. The moment she knew it was time to leave her comfort zone. How she built "100 plans" so fear never holds her back. Why home isn't a place — it's the people you meet. Her journey building community for the Sri Lankan diaspora in New Zealand. If you've ever been scared to take the first step, this one's for you. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 — What courage actually means to her 03:30 — "Courage is trusting yourself" 07:44 — Seeing everything as an opportunity 10:19 — Why she keeps 100 plans 19:39 — "Home isn't a place, it's people" 24:08 — What's meant for you will never miss out 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about courage, change, and starting over.

    "I Have 100 Plans" — Leaving Home at 18 & Finding the Courage to Start Over - Sasini Ariyarathna

  2. Aug 13

    Why Your Back Pain Won't Go Away (From a Pain and Posture Specialist) - Dinesh Fonseca

    He applied to 1,500 jobs in Australia — then walked away from his "dream" government offer. Dinesh Fonseca is a pain & posture specialist, teacher, musician, and entrepreneur. But his story is about something bigger than careers: it's about choosing a purpose-driven life — even when it costs you. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 — The 3.5 days that changed everything: why he walked away (and got fired) for standing on his integrity 04:09 — The moment he quit the job no one thought he'd leave 05:50 — 1.5 years of shoulder pain no specialist could fix — until he fixed himself 08:30 — 1,500 job applications in Australia, and the "dream" government offer he turned down 18:15 — Ikigai: "do what you like, do what you're good at, do what the world pays you for, and do what the world needs" 19:09 — Living with scoliosis 21:55 — How he took his pain from 9/10 down to 2/10 37:39 — His advice for anyone about to give up: "Don't think about what you can't do. Think about what you can do." If you've ever felt stuck between a "safe" path and the life you actually want, this one's for you. 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with people living courageously.

    Why Your Back Pain Won't Go Away (From a Pain and Posture Specialist) - Dinesh Fonseca

  3. Aug 6

    "You Are Not Broken" — An ADHD Coach's Most Powerful Message | Bex O'Malley

    "You do not need to become someone else to be worthy. You already are." Bex O'Malley was 35 when she discovered she had ADHD — triggered by her son's diagnosis at age 8. In this conversation, she shares what it felt like to live undiagnosed for decades, the A-THEMA framework for understanding ADHD, and her message for anyone who's ever felt broken.🧠 What we cover: Living undiagnosed and feeling "broken"The A-THEMA framework explained (Activation, Focus, Effort, Emotion, Memory, Action)Her journey to becoming an ADHD coachWhy different is not less valuable ⏱️ Chapters0:00 — Introduction1:12 — The moment her son's diagnosis changed everything 3:45 — What it felt like to live undiagnosed for 35 years 6:30 — The A-THEMA framework explained 9:15 — Activation & Focus — why "just start" doesn't work 12:00 — Effort & Emotion — time blindness and emotional flooding 14:30 — Memory & Action — the ADHD brain in daily life 17:00 — Her message to anyone who feels broken 19:30 — Why different is not less valuable 🎙️ Talk With A Courageous Heart (with "Courageous" fixed)Subscribe

    "You Are Not Broken" — An ADHD Coach's Most Powerful Message | Bex O'Malley

  4. Jul 31

    "As a Palestinian, You're Suffocated Into Silence" — Hamza on Finding His Voice

    What happens when you feel like you have to hide who you really are?In this episode of Talk With A Courageous Heart, I sit down with Hamza, a Palestinian-Kiwi pharmacy student at the University of Otago to talk about the mental barriers that keep us silent.Hamza opens up about navigating university as a minority student, the quiet pressure to keep a low profile as a Palestinian, and how something as simple as saying "inshallah" became something he felt he had to hold back. He shares how reaching out to the Muslim University Student Association (MUSA) changed everything and why the biggest walls we face are often the ones we build in our own heads. In this conversation: 0:00 — Defining courage: expressing yourself without holding back 5:20 — The mental barrier of walking into a room full of strangers 12:45 — Why Hamza felt he couldn't say "inshallah" publicly 15:52 — "It's all in your head" — the moment it clicked 22:38 — Being Palestinian and the pressure to keep a low profile 25:23 — His message to anyone feeling isolated: just reach out 🎙️ Talk With A Courageous Heart — real conversations about courage, identity, and the stories that shape us. 📲 Follow Us on Social MediaTikTok ➜ https://www.tiktok.com/@talkwithacourageousheart Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/talkwithacourageousheart Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/share/1BbtFzYp5k/?mibextid=wwXIfr

    "As a Palestinian, You're Suffocated Into Silence" — Hamza on Finding His Voice

  5. Jul 24

    How One Woman Is Changing the Hair Loss Industry | Cleo Grater

    Hair loss is often seen as a cosmetic issue, but for many people, it affects confidence, identity, and how they see themselves. In this episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart, I sit down with business owner and hair loss and thinning hair specialist Cleo Grater. What began as a conversation about hair quickly became a much deeper discussion about courage, self-awareness, entrepreneurship, and taking responsibility for your life. Cleo shares her journey of building businesses, helping people regain their confidence, developing innovative hair loss solutions, and why she believes true freedom begins with radical self-accountability. We also talk about:• What courage really means• The emotional impact of hair loss• Building a purpose-driven business• Why self-awareness changes everything• The freedom that comes from taking responsibility• Why "You are the problem... and the answer" is one of the most powerful lessons she has learned Whether you're navigating hair loss, building a business, or simply looking for a fresh perspective on life, this conversation is filled with practical wisdom, honesty, and hope. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and share it with someone who might need this conversation. Thank you for listening. Be safe.Be courageous.God bless.

    How One Woman Is Changing the Hair Loss Industry | Cleo Grater

  6. Jul 17

    Lord, Have I Not Done Enough? | Aubert Purwadi on Faith, Fear & Finding Purpose

    What do you do when you've remained faithful, overcome countless challenges, and still find yourself asking God, "Lord, have I not done enough for You?" In this heartfelt episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart, I sit down with Aubert Purwadi to explore a journey of faith, courage, resilience, and purpose. Aubert shares his experience of growing up as a Chinese-Indonesian during a time of unrest, moving to Australia at a young age, stepping into leadership at just 23 years old, building a successful career, and eventually following a calling that led him into entrepreneurship and service. Most importantly, he opens up about the personal struggles that shaped his faith, including waiting 11 years to become a father and learning to trust God even when life didn't make sense. This conversation is an honest reminder that courage isn't about having all the answers. Sometimes, it's choosing to keep trusting even when you're carrying difficult questions. Growing up during the Indonesian riotsLiving with fear and finding hopeLeading with confidence at a young ageFaith through suffering and uncertaintyEntrepreneurship and purposeWaiting 11 years to become a fatherThe prayer that changed everything: "Lord, have I not done enough for You?"If this conversation encouraged you, please follow the podcast and share this episode with someone who may need it today. Thank you for listening to Talk With a Courageous Heart. Be courageous. Keep moving forward. God bless. In this episode, we discuss:

    Lord, Have I Not Done Enough? | Aubert Purwadi on Faith, Fear & Finding Purpose

  7. Jul 10

    She Never Felt Ready. She Just Took The Next Step | Jane Choi

    What if courage has nothing to do with confidence? In this episode of Talk With a Courageous Heart, I sit down with Jane Choi, Senior Professional Practice Fellow at the University of Otago's Faculty of Dentistry, to explore what courage has looked like throughout her life and career. Jane shares how she never truly felt ready for many of the opportunities that shaped her journey, including an international training opportunity in Switzerland. Instead of waiting until she felt confident, she chose to keep taking the next step. Together, we talk about: Why courage isn't about feeling fearless.How asking "Will I regret not taking this step?" can change your life.The unseen sacrifices behind success.Teaching, leadership, and making a lasting impact on students.Faith, purpose, and trusting the process even when the future is uncertain.This conversation is a reminder that you don't need all the answers before you move forward. Sometimes the next small step is all it takes to discover what you're capable of. If this episode encouraged you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. 📲 Follow Us on Social Media TikTok ➜ https://www.tiktok.com/@talkwithacourageousheart Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/talkwithacourageousheart Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/share/1BbtFzYp5k/?mibextid=wwXIfr

    She Never Felt Ready. She Just Took The Next Step | Jane Choi

  8. Jul 3

    Questioning the Call: Fr Tien Cao on Faith, Doubt & Becoming a Catholic Priest

    What does it take to dedicate your life to God? In this episode, I sit down with Fr Tien Cao, a Catholic priest serving in Timaru, New Zealand, to explore the journey behind his vocation. Fr Tien shares how he wrestled with doubt, questioned whether priesthood was truly his calling, and ultimately found peace in saying yes. Together we discuss faith, courage, purpose, discernment, and the challenges of living a life of service. Whether you're religious, spiritually curious, or simply searching for greater meaning in life, this conversation offers honest insights and timeless wisdom. Thank you for listening to Talk With a Courageous Heart. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and share it with someone who might be encouraged by Fr Tien's story.

    Questioning the Call: Fr Tien Cao on Faith, Doubt & Becoming a Catholic Priest
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Real people. Real stories. Courage in everyday life. Join Andrew Bothalage as he sits down with people from all walks of life to share honest conversations about courage, faith, resilience, and the moments that shape who we are.”

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