How to Be a Hero in Real Life

Sir Marco Robinson

For people who want to take the heroic journey of bravery & distinction...and achieve the impossible dream! I will be sharing my own winning formula of how I went from bullied loser and homelessness to a prime time tv star, knighted philanthropist, a number two Netflix Producer and Actor, a number one bestselling author & billion dollar award winning Entrepreneur. I will be interviewing spectacular guests that have singled themselves out as heroic outliers & role models... Including people that have stood and fought for our freedoms, People who have defied the odds, people who have defeated the villains & people who have had extreme adversity in their lives, yet have been victorious despite their challenges... people who have chosen to crush whatever is in front of them and WIN at life! Follow me on http://www.instagram.com/marcorobinsonnow

  1. May 10

    S3 Ep6- Never Give Up on Yourself | Barry Carey’s Story

    A couple of years ago, I met Barry- and his story has stuck with me ever since. Barry Carey, a number one bestselling author in the Start Over Series (Volume 4), is originally from Northern Ireland and moved to Australia in 2008, planning to stay for just a year. Like many, that year turned into something much bigger- but not without its challenges. What started as a lifestyle of partying in his early 20s quickly spiralled into heavy drinking, anxiety, and declining mental health. After a series of difficult events, including a car crash and struggles with depression, Barry reached a breaking point. But that wasn’t the end of his story. Through running and discipline, Barry began to rebuild, training at an elite level and completely shifting his mindset. Yet even after physical progress, he faced further setbacks, including injury, trauma, and deep depression that led to hospitalisation. After surviving a life-threatening accident, Barry had a realisation: if he was still here, there had to be a reason. From that moment, everything changed. He committed to working on his mind, rebuilding his life through fitness, mental health support, and personal growth. Today, he’s a speaker, author, and advocate, helping others find their way through dark times. In this episode, we talk about rock bottom, resilience, and what it really takes to start over. Barry’s message is simple: Never give up on yourself. Ask for help — and keep going. Connect with Barry on Instagram: @careybarry

    34 min
  2. May 3

    S3 Ep5- Kersten Stengel: She Woke Up Pain-Free… What Happened Next Changed Everything.

    In this episode, I’m joined by Kersten Stengel, whose journey is nothing short of powerful. Kersten was born in Blackpool and studied in Manchester, where she completed a science degree before going on to train as a teacher. She started her career back in Blackpool, driven by a genuine passion to become the best teacher she could be. Around that time, she met her now-husband-who’s originally from Scandinavia, through her family’s pub. Not long after, they got married, and together they made a bold decision: to start a completely new life abroad. They chose Adelaide, despite never having been before. After navigating the visa process, Kersten secured a role as a science teacher, and within just two years, she was promoted to assistant principal. On paper, everything was going well. But life had other plans. While working at a new school, Kersten experienced a traumatic incident involving intruders. In the aftermath, she sustained an injury that would go on to change everything. What followed was a long and incredibly challenging period of chronic pain... migraines that lasted weeks, restricted movement, and a loss of independence that left her feeling isolated and disconnected from her life. At her lowest point, something shifted. A yoga retreat in Byron Bay became a turning point. During a deeply transformative experience with yoga nidra, Kersten woke up pain-free for the first time. Although the pain didn’t disappear completely, it gave her something she hadn’t felt in a long time—hope. That moment set her on a completely new path. Since then, Kersten has trained extensively in yoga, meditation, trauma awareness, and clinical nutrition, including time spent studying in Chennai. She’s built a toolkit not only to manage her own pain, but to help others reconnect with themselves and heal. We also talk about how Kersten and I connected through social media, her involvement in the Start Over journey, and how she’s now turning her experience, knowledge, and passion into a growing business- helping others find their way back to who they truly are. Her message is simple but powerful: reconnect with your true self, understand your values, and have the courage to follow that path. If you’d like to follow Kersten’s journey, you can find her on Instagram at @kerstenstengel.

    30 min
  3. Mar 29

    S3 Ep4- From Losing His Job to Building an Iron Man Suit | Adam Douglas

    In this episode, I’m joined by Adam Douglas, who shares how he discovered the Start Over movement after coming across my podcast and connecting with me on Instagram. After learning about the opportunity to co-author and share powerful life stories, Adam felt inspired to step forward and tell his own. Adam talks openly about the challenges he faced during COVID when he lost his job and the sense of purpose that came with it. As someone who thrives on meeting people and being creative, he suddenly found himself with too much time and no clear direction. It was a difficult period that even brought back memories of a time when he had been seriously ill. But out of that low moment came something unexpected. Surrounded by spare cardboard and old art supplies, Adam began creating again. What started as simple experiments quickly grew into something much bigger- from small models to an incredible cardboard Iron Man suit and life-size mannequin prototypes. When he finally displayed one of his creations outside in Manchester, the reaction from curious passers-by became a powerful and magical moment that reminded him of the joy of creating. Adam, an engineer and engineering teacher, is now turning his creativity into something even bigger. He’s building a business around his creations, with plans to design full-size models and vehicles, while also using his skills to inspire others through creativity, collaboration, and coaching. Adam’s story is a reminder that even in our lowest moments, creativity and purpose can help us find our way forward. To connect with Adam, follow him on Instagram: @adamdouglascoach

    16 min
  4. Mar 26

    S3 Ep3- From Rock Bottom to Self-Love | Louise’s Start Over Story

    In this episode, I’m joined by Louise Culyer, who shares her powerful journey of transformation and becoming part of the Start Over movement. Louise explains how, despite already helping people through her work, she felt something was missing. Her business felt stagnant and she knew she was meant for more - she wanted to write a book, travel, and reach even more people. After connecting on Zoom, we began working together and she became part of the Start Over movement. Growing up, Louise struggled with trauma, anxiety, and self-doubt. She built what looked like a stable life on the outside, a career as a teacher, a home, and a supportive husband- but internally she wasn’t happy. Surrounded by negative family dynamics and struggling with her mental health and relationship with food, she realised she needed to make a change. Louise made the difficult decision to walk away from her old life, including relationships that were no longer healthy for her. When COVID hit, things became even harder. She lost her stability, had nowhere to live for a period of time, and reached one of the lowest points in her life — even sleeping in her car and eventually going to hospital due to her mental health. But that moment became a turning point. Louise began focusing on her healing, investing in her health, fitness, and personal growth. With the support of a spiritual coach, she experienced a powerful realisation that there was more to life and that she was worth fighting for. Since then, Louise has completely turned her life around. After working with the NHS and investing heavily in her own education and development, she has built her own coaching business and now helps people transform their lives every day. Her message is simple but powerful: there is more to life than what you may see right now. Invest in yourself, put yourself first, and believe that change is possible. To connect with Louise, you can find her on Instagram: @louiseculyer

    12 min
  5. 12/28/2025

    S2 Ep18-There Is Hope: Cheryl Stott’s Journey From Rock Bottom to Strength

    In this deeply honest and hopeful episode, I’m joined by Cheryl Stott, a woman whose story is not defined by trauma...but by resilience, growth, and the decision to keep going when everything felt lost. Cheryl opens up about her early life, growing up in an unsafe home where violence and fear were part of her daily reality. As a child, she struggled to regulate her emotions and later received diagnoses of Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. Searching for relief and understanding, she turned to drugs in an attempt to cope with the pain she carried for so long. By her mid-30s, Cheryl reached a breaking point. After years of addiction, self-harm, and a suicide attempt that left her hospitalised, she found herself questioning whether life had any meaning at all. She speaks candidly about losing custody of her son, feeling invisible, and believing that no one truly cared. But this episode is not about the moment she tried to end her life- it’s about what came after. Cheryl shares how meeting someone who genuinely saw her and believed in her became a turning point. With support, courage, and immense inner work, she got clean, moved forward, and began facing the unresolved trauma that had shaped her entire life. Though that relationship didn’t last, it played a crucial role in helping her reclaim herself. Today, Cheryl has spent over a decade working in drug recovery, helping others find a way out of addiction. She is now a personal trainer, using fitness as a tool for mental strength, self-respect, and healing. She believes the body is a reflection of the mind- and that movement can change lives. Her message is one of hope: ✨ The pain won’t last forever. ✨ You are not broken. ✨ There is another way — even when you can’t see it yet. This episode is raw, emotional, and deeply human. It’s for anyone who has ever felt lost, ashamed, or unsure how to keep going... and for anyone who needs to hear that change is possible. Connect with Cheryl: 📱 Instagram: @exerciseforwellbeing

    14 min
  6. 12/23/2025

    S2 Ep17-Never the Same: Olga Wlodarska on Trauma, Self-Trust & the Power to Start Over

    In this deeply reflective and inspiring episode, I’m joined by Olga Wlodarska, a woman who truly believes she found this conversation at the exact right moment...through alignment, readiness, and the courage to finally share her story. Born and raised in Poland, Olga describes a childhood with very little joy, growing up in a home affected by alcohol abuse, instability, and emotional neglect. From a young age, she took on responsibilities far beyond her years- supporting her mother emotionally and helping manage her father’s addiction, while quietly learning that safety and support were not guaranteed. Despite the challenges at home, Olga loved performing arts, poetry, and being on stage, inspired by her older brother, who she deeply admired. His tragic death four years ago became one of the most defining moments of her life, shaping how she now lives with presence, gratitude, and intention. At just 14, Olga moved out to live in another city, driven by a desire to learn, to be seen, and to help others. She later moved to the UK at 21 with her partner at the time, believing she was following love and doing the “right thing.” What followed were years marked by stress, academic pressure, health issues, and repeated experiences of mistreatment — both at home and within educational environments. Despite this, Olga persevered. After setbacks in her studies, she rebuilt her confidence from the ground up, eventually training at King’s College Hospital in London, where she not only qualified as a dental hygienist therapist, but was awarded Best Student for Dental Hygiene — a powerful moment of validation after years of being told she wouldn’t amount to anything. Now a single mum of two, Olga reflects on how the breakdown of her marriage became the death of her ego- and the beginning of her true evolution. Today, alongside her clinical work, she supports others with confidence, self-worth, meditation, and inner healing. She is also part of the Start Over Movement, with her chapter titled “Never the Same.” ✨ Olga’s message is clear: Change begins internally. Self-love and self-trust are powerful. No one is coming to save you — and that realisation can change everything. This episode is about resilience, grief, identity, and the quiet strength it takes to choose yourself- again and again.

    18 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

For people who want to take the heroic journey of bravery & distinction...and achieve the impossible dream! I will be sharing my own winning formula of how I went from bullied loser and homelessness to a prime time tv star, knighted philanthropist, a number two Netflix Producer and Actor, a number one bestselling author & billion dollar award winning Entrepreneur. I will be interviewing spectacular guests that have singled themselves out as heroic outliers & role models... Including people that have stood and fought for our freedoms, People who have defied the odds, people who have defeated the villains & people who have had extreme adversity in their lives, yet have been victorious despite their challenges... people who have chosen to crush whatever is in front of them and WIN at life! Follow me on http://www.instagram.com/marcorobinsonnow