3d ago

Episode 60 - Tracy Cox: Surviving the Care System

Send us Fan Mail A social worker and a police officer turn up at a child’s school and say, “You’re coming with us, you won’t be coming home tonight.” Tracy remembers her knees going weak, not from fear, but relief: “Oh my God, I’ve been saved.” That moment opens a conversation you won’t forget about childhood trauma, foster care abuse, and what it takes to rebuild a life when safety was never guaranteed. We trace Tracy’s early years through abandonment, children’s homes and foster placements where abuse, neglect and coercion were normalised. She explains the survival skills that follow you into adulthood such as people pleasing, trauma bonding, emotional shutdown and the constant habit of reading the room. We also unpack the systemic failures that kept children in harm’s way and what it’s like to later read official reports that confirm professionals saw the signs and still didn’t act. Then we move into the turning points where books were a lifeline, education was a way out and the high-achieving “Superwoman” phase that hid complex PTSD and burnout. Tracy shares how parenting brought old abandonment wounds to the surface, why she chose EMDR therapy and how learning about attachment theory and generational trauma helped her change the pattern for her daughters. She also speaks about taking social services to court, receiving an apology and the complicated kind of closure that brings. If you care about trauma-informed healing, resilience, complex PTSD recovery, and real stories from the care system, press play, then subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. Connect with Tracy on Instagram here Listen to Tracy's podcast Coffee Chats etc here Support the show Thanks for listening in! Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to Instagram Personal or Podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trudie.dwyer Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee Buy my Book here Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me. Disclaimer: The views, opinions, experiences and stories shared by guests on the Everyday Warriors Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Trudie Marie, or the Everyday Warriors Podcast. Guests are responsible for the accuracy of the information they choose to share and speak from their own personal experiences and perspectives. While every effort is made to provide a respectful and supportive platform for open conversation, the host accepts no responsibility or liability for the statements, opinions, advice, claims or recollections expressed by guests during a...

49 min

Jun 21

Episode 59 - Chelsea Noel: A Loved One Incacerated

Send us Fan Mail A single phone call can split your life into before and after and Chelsea still carries the exact timestamp: 11:34 p.m. She was in the final stretch of an undergraduate psychology thesis in forensic psychology, proud she’d gained the trust of a serial killer for her research, when real life hit harder than any true crime story. Her brother was arrested after a man was shot and killed, and the shock collided with grief, COVID lockdowns, and the kind of isolation that makes your nervous system feel permanently on edge. We talk honestly about trauma and memory, why certain details haunt you, and how EMDR therapy helped her process that first crushing moment. Chelsea also walks us through what it’s like watching the media build a simple “monster” narrative while you’re reading police reports, listening to dispatch calls and seeing witness accounts that point to self-defence. We unpack the role of Kentucky’s stand your ground law, the volatility of PCP (angel dust), and how drugs, violence and fear can make a split-second decision life or death. Then the story turns into a criminal justice system nightmare. Chelsea describes trial dynamics in a small town, inconsistent testimonies and the social price families pay when they’re linked to a homicide case. Even after the Kentucky Supreme Court rules her brother acted in self-defence and criticises the trial court, she says he remains detained without new charges. It raises uncomfortable questions about wrongful conviction, unlawful imprisonment and accountability when a court decision still doesn’t deliver freedom. Connect with Chelsea on Instagram here Purchase Chelsea's books here If this conversation hits you, please subscribe, share it with someone who cares about justice reform, and leave a five-star review so more people can find Everyday Warriors. What part of Chelsea’s story are you still thinking about after listening? Support the show Thanks for listening in! Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to Instagram Personal or Podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trudie.dwyer Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee Buy my Book here Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me. Disclaimer: The views, opinions, experiences and stories shared by guests on the Everyday Warriors Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Trudie Marie, or the Everyday Warriors Podcast. Guests are responsible for the accuracy of the information they choose to share and speak from their own personal experiences and perspectives. While every effort is made to provide a respectful and supportive platform for open conversation, the host accepts no responsibility or liability for the statements, opinions, advice, claims or recollections expressed by guests during a...

58 min

Jun 7

Episode 58 - Thomas Carchidi: The Good, Bad & Corrupt

Send us Fan Mail Most people only meet police on their worst day, then assume they understand the job. We don’t and that gap is where judgement, stigma and burnout grow. I’m joined by Tom for a blunt, grounded conversation about what law enforcement really demands. We talk about why people join, why “get a steady job” isn’t enough and why a service-connected medical retirement doesn’t make anyone less of a real cop. Tom shares how a career can be packed with incidents that stack up quietly, plus what it’s like to carry both pride and grief for the work. We also get into first responder mental health, PTSD, anxiety and the trap many officers face when seeking help. Speak up and risk being labelled unfit for duty or stay silent and let it fester. We unpack why truly external counselling matters, how camaraderie has changed and how body-worn cameras can protect you one moment and be used against you the next. Along the way we touch on trust and integrity inside policing, corruption, cop-involved domestics and the fine line between necessary force and avoidable harm. We finish with what keeps us steady, what we’re grateful for, and Tom’s memoir, The Life in Law Enforcement: The Good, the Bad, The Corrupt. Connect with Tom here Purchase Tom's book here If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with someone who needs a clearer view of policing, and leave a review so more everyday warriors can find these stories. What part of the job do you think the public most misunderstands? Support the show Thanks for listening in! Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to Instagram Personal or Podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trudie.dwyer Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee Buy my Book here Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me. Disclaimer: The views, opinions, experiences and stories shared by guests on the Everyday Warriors Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Trudie Marie, or the Everyday Warriors Podcast. Guests are responsible for the accuracy of the information they choose to share and speak from their own personal experiences and perspectives. While every effort is made to provide a respectful and supportive platform for open conversation, the host accepts no responsibility or liability for the statements, opinions, advice, claims or recollections expressed by guests during a...

1h 4m

May 24

Episode 57 - Helen Ayling: Choosing Sobriety over Addiction

Send us Fan Mail She thought the answer to her problems was another man, another night out, another bottle hidden just well enough to get through the day. Helen takes us back to 2013, when alcohol addiction and chaotic thinking collided with motherhood, marriage and crushing shame, until one blunt truth cut through the fog. Her kids loved her, but they were scared of her. That moment leads to rehab and a 12-step recovery path that transforms how she lives, parents and asks for help. We go deep on what sobriety really looks like after the detox glow fades. From losing friends and being judged by other mums to making amends without guarantees and learning how to be “sober me” rather than only a wife or a mother. Helen also shares the reality of raising her daughter with Prader-Willi syndrome, including the medical and behavioural challenges, the constant food management and the emotional weight carers carry. If you’re searching for honest conversations about addiction recovery, relapse prevention, parenting in recover, and disability caregiving, this one is packed with lived experience. The story takes another sharp turn when Helen’s second husband, also an addict, stops working his program and spirals into gambling and infidelity before disappearing overseas and leaving debts behind. Helen describes reaching a terrifying point where she doesn’t want to drink, but she does want to die and how sponsorship, meetings, online community and dropping her pride helps her survive and rebuild. Listener discretion advised, and if you need immediate support in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. If Helen’s story lands with you, please subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find Everyday Warriors. What’s one thing that has helped you ask for help sooner? Connect with Helen on Facebook here Connect with Helen on Instagram here Support the show Thanks for listening in! Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to Instagram Personal or Podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trudie.dwyer Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee Buy my Book here Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me. Disclaimer: The views, opinions, experiences and stories shared by guests on the Everyday Warriors Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Trudie Marie, or the Everyday Warriors Podcast. Guests are responsible for the accuracy of the information they choose to share and speak from their own personal experiences and perspectives. While every effort is made to provide a respectful and supportive platform for open conversation, the host accepts no responsibility or liability for the statements, opinions, advice, claims or recollections expressed by guests during a...

45 min

May 10

Episode 56 - Shaun Free: Man on Fire

Send us Fan Mail A propane truck, a failed valve, a cloud of freezing fuel and a fireball that wiped out a whole workshop and changed Sean’s life in an instant. Calling in from Idaho, Shaun walks us through the day in March 2018 when he was burned across 46% of his body and made a decision that still stuns me, he sprinted for a snowbank and lay there to cool down. Doctors later told him that one instinctive move likely helped save his face from skin grafts as well as his life. We talk candidly about what severe burns really mean, the percentage numbers, third-degree damage and the relentless reality of skin grafts and daily wound care. Shaun shares how he kept his head straight through pain, fear and setbacks like pneumonia, MRSA, hearing loss and even a near-death experience. He also explains the long-term challenges burn survivors live with, including grafted skin that doesn’t sweat, overheating risk, hydration habits, sun protection and the extra planning it takes to live fully again. The conversation goes deeper into PTSD and triggers that linger years later, like the “whoof” sound of gas appliances, plus the mental loops that can take hold when your body has been through trauma. Shaun’s approach is simple and hard-earned, take back control, find the good where you can and keep chipping away. We also get into how he uses tattoos over skin grafts, humour, motorcycle instruction and knife making as practical therapy and as a way to turn scars into meaning. If you care about resilience, trauma recovery, burn injury rehabilitation or honest conversations about mental health, this one will stay with you. Subscribe, share with someone who needs a steady dose of hope, and leave a review with the line that hit you the hardest. Connect with Shaun on Instagram here or check out his page to see his incredible knives and photos of his tattoo's. Support the show Thanks for listening in! Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to Instagram Personal or Podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trudie.dwyer Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee Buy my Book here Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me. Disclaimer: The views, opinions, experiences and stories shared by guests on the Everyday Warriors Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Trudie Marie, or the Everyday Warriors Podcast. Guests are responsible for the accuracy of the information they choose to share and speak from their own personal experiences and perspectives. While every effort is made to provide a respectful and supportive platform for open conversation, the host accepts no responsibility or liability for the statements, opinions, advice, claims or recollections expressed by guests during a...

49 min

Apr 26

Episode 55 - Cass Barrie: Widowed & Pregnant

Send us Fan Mail One moment you’re building a future, the next you’re learning how to breathe through the ruins. I’m joined by Cass from Queensland for a raw conversation about grief in its many forms, and how it can show up not just after death, but after a business closes, a career ends or your body finally says “enough”. Cass shares what happened when she launched a brick and mortar venue in Ipswich with a genuine goal of supporting local small businesses, only to realise the work was draining her mental health, her relationships and her sense of alignment. We talk about stress and the body, including a frightening diabetes diagnosis that later proved false and why it matters to listen to your inner knowing alongside the black-and-white of test results. If you’ve ever felt like your nervous system is stuck in overdrive, you’ll recognise a lot of yourself here. The heart of Cass’s story is her husband Glenn’s sudden death in 2015 while she was 30 weeks pregnant and the long, complicated road of parenting a child through grief when that child never had the chance to meet his dad. We explore survival mode, delayed grief, unexpected triggers and the powerful idea that joy and grief can coexist. Cass also explains how breathwork, somatic therapy, and holistic counselling helped her process emotion as “energy in motion”, plus how a later bike accident and career-ending injury added another layer of identity loss and healing. If you’re looking for an honest episode on grief support, trauma healing, breathwork, somatics, emotional regulation and solo parenting after loss, press play. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find these stories. Connect with Cass on Instagram here Cass's website can be found here Support the show Thanks for listening in! Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to Instagram Personal or Podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trudie.dwyer Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee Buy my Book here Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me. Disclaimer: The views, opinions, experiences and stories shared by guests on the Everyday Warriors Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Trudie Marie, or the Everyday Warriors Podcast. Guests are responsible for the accuracy of the information they choose to share and speak from their own personal experiences and perspectives. While every effort is made to provide a respectful and supportive platform for open conversation, the host accepts no responsibility or liability for the statements, opinions, advice, claims or recollections expressed by guests during a...

47 min

Apr 12

Episode 54 - Shalina Lodhia: Surviving Sexual Assault

Send us Fan Mail “My body is the crime scene.” When Shalina says that, everything about trauma clicks into place, because you can’t walk away from the place it happened when the place is you. Shalina talks about sexual assault, online safety and the brutal confusion that follows when harm comes from someone you trusted. She shares what life was like as a teenager facing bullying and racism, how online connection became an escape and how quickly that escape turned dangerous. We talk about the aftermath survivors rarely get space to explain, the shock, numbness, self-blame and the exhausting question of why perpetrators do what they do. We also unpack what it means to live with distrust, triggers and a nervous system trained to “expect the worst” just to feel prepared. The conversation moves into another topic that often sits in silence, abortion. Shalina describes the panic, loneliness, lack of guidance and how abortion grief can live alongside certainty about your decision. From there we focus on trauma recovery tools that actually help, including therapy, journalling, creativity and music as a way to turn pain into purpose, plus movement and exercise as a way to shift emotion through the body. If this story resonates, please subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What part of Shalina’s journey stayed with you most? Connect with Shalina on Instagram here For abortion support contact Birthline in Australia For sexual assault support contact SASS in Australia Support the show Thanks for listening in! Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to Instagram Personal or Podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trudie.dwyer Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee Buy my Book here Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me. Disclaimer: The views, opinions, experiences and stories shared by guests on the Everyday Warriors Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Trudie Marie, or the Everyday Warriors Podcast. Guests are responsible for the accuracy of the information they choose to share and speak from their own personal experiences and perspectives. While every effort is made to provide a respectful and supportive platform for open conversation, the host accepts no responsibility or liability for the statements, opinions, advice, claims or recollections expressed by guests during a...

45 min

Mar 31 · Bonus

BONUS - 2nd Birthday Episode

Send us Fan Mail Two years ago I hit record without a perfect plan, just a voice and a steady belief that honest stories can make someone feel less alone. Today, the Everyday Warriors Podcast turns two, and this bonus episode is my pause to acknowledge what we’ve built together. A quiet, human space for resilience, healing and hope. I share what the last two years have looked like behind the scenes, including the slow, organic growth that I’m genuinely proud of. The show has now been listened to on every continent, across more than 50 countries and 250 cities, with nearly 5,000 downloads. Those numbers aren’t about status, they’re about moments of connection, someone pressing play at the exact time they need to feel seen and heard. I also thank the more than 30 courageous guests who’ve trusted this space with real, unpolished stories shaped by adversity, growth and rebuilding. Then I introduce what’s next, Everyday Warrior Moments. These are short subscriber-only bonus episodes released fortnightly between guest conversations, designed as gentle 5 to 10 minute reflections and reminders. They’re not about fixing you or pushing you harder. They’re about slowing down, honouring your pace and remembering that strength doesn’t have to look loud to be real. If this podcast has supported you, please subscribe, share it with someone who might need it, and leave a review so more everyday warriors can find these stories. Where in the world are you listening from, and what do you want more of in this next chapter? Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here Support the show Thanks for listening in! Contact me directly at https://everydaywarriorspodcast.com.au or head to Instagram Personal or Podcast Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trudie.dwyer Subscribe to Everyday Warrior Moments here Support the Podcast - Buy me a Coffee Buy my Book here Apply to be a guest at everydaywarriorspodcast@gmail.com Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me. Disclaimer: The views, opinions, experiences and stories shared by guests on the Everyday Warriors Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Trudie Marie, or the Everyday Warriors Podcast. Guests are responsible for the accuracy of the information they choose to share and speak from their own personal experiences and perspectives. While every effort is made to provide a respectful and supportive platform for open conversation, the host accepts no responsibility or liability for the statements, opinions, advice, claims or recollections expressed by guests during a...

7 min

Everyday Warriors Podcast

Episode 60 - Tracy Cox: Surviving the Care System

Episode 59 - Chelsea Noel: A Loved One Incacerated

Episode 58 - Thomas Carchidi: The Good, Bad & Corrupt

Episode 57 - Helen Ayling: Choosing Sobriety over Addiction

Episode 56 - Shaun Free: Man on Fire

Episode 55 - Cass Barrie: Widowed & Pregnant

Episode 54 - Shalina Lodhia: Surviving Sexual Assault

BONUS - 2nd Birthday Episode

Trailer

Welcome Teaser

About

Information

Everyday Warriors Podcast

Episodes

Episode 60 - Tracy Cox: Surviving the Care System

Episode 59 - Chelsea Noel: A Loved One Incacerated

Episode 58 - Thomas Carchidi: The Good, Bad & Corrupt

Episode 57 - Helen Ayling: Choosing Sobriety over Addiction

Episode 56 - Shaun Free: Man on Fire

Episode 55 - Cass Barrie: Widowed & Pregnant

Episode 54 - Shalina Lodhia: Surviving Sexual Assault

BONUS - 2nd Birthday Episode

Trailer

About

Information