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Some bodies don’t give you a clear “stop” signal. They just keep going, past normal range, past safe, and you only find out when something hurts. I’m joined by Claire, a UK-trained physiotherapist now living on New Zealand’s South Island, to talk about hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome from the inside out, not as a trend, but as a lifelong reality that shapes how you move, think and trust.

Claire shares the moment at university when practical assessments made it obvious her joints worked differently, plus the hidden risks that come with “party trick” flexibility. We trace it back to childhood, where breath holding and constant self-monitoring were early signs of a nervous system searching for stability. That vigilance can protect you, but it can also steal spontaneity, connection and play, unless you learn how to rebuild safety on your own terms.

From there, we get into the turning point of strength and endurance as a form of self-trust. Claire explains how progressive training helped her feel secure in her body and eventually led to ultramarathon mountain races, even with a vulnerable physical baseline. We also talk about what her condition gave her professionally, the empathy and precision it built and why burnout and weak boundaries can hit harder when your body needs ongoing stability. The conversation lands on her whole-person coaching approach, blending movement, breathing, lifestyle and identity so people stop guessing and start choosing what actually fits.

If this story sparks something in you, subscribe, share it with someone who needs hope and leave a five-star review so more everyday warriors can find these conversations.

Connect with Claire on Instagram here

Work with Claire here

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Music Credit: Cody Martin - Sunrise (first 26 episodes) then custom made for me.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

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A twin birth, a smooth labour and then a jolt of fear. One baby thriving, the other struggling to breathe. That’s where Cherie’s story begins and it never lets go. We follow her from the long months of “wait and see,” through a 16‑month diagnosis of Williams syndrome, to the everyday reality of feeding battles, surgeries, toilet training that took years and the constant recalibration that special needs parenting demands. Along the way, a marriage fractures under the weight of appointments and court dates and a mother learns to rebuild her confidence, find her voice and create what she couldn’t find, a community for families in Western Australia navigating Williams syndrome.

We talk frankly about the system. Reports can praise “strengths” that look good on paper and still miss the risks that make independent living unsafe. Cherie lays out the stop‑start road to Supported Independent Living, respite that changed everything and NDIS rejections that hinged on language rather than lived reality. You’ll hear what planners rarely see, that using an iPad doesn’t mean you can safely cross a road, manage medication or cook a meal. We dig into what effective documentation looks like, why functional impact matters more than task completion and how to advocate without burning out.

The heart of this conversation is love and endurance. Cherie lifts the veil on the quiet burdens shouldered by siblings, the bright, affectionate nature often seen in Williams syndrome and the patience it takes to meet repetition with warmth. She also shares the searing loss of her mum, the daily rock who helped hold everything together and the way grief collides with rosters, school exits and adult services that don’t fit neatly. Through it all, she names the non‑negotiables that keep carers afloat by saying yes to help, setting boundaries and scheduling rest like a prescription.

If you’re a parent, carer, educator or advocate, this story offers solidarity, practical insight and a reminder of what good support should deliver. A safer, richer life for the person with disability and the chance for their family to be family again. Listen, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more carers find this space.

Connect with Cherie on Instagram here

Learn more about Williams Syndrome 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

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, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.

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A redheaded kid called a nobody, a 22-year-old worker broken by a boss’s spit-flecked tirade and a silent drive past home to a crowded Blue Mountains lookout. A moment when the clouds parted, a late Nana’s voice rang clear and a single phone call lasted four and a half hours. Adam’s story is tender, raw and unflinching about suicidal ideation, the mental fog before the act and the impossible-to-name pain that makes you want only one thing...for it to stop!

What follows is a decade of deliberate change. A GP visit leads to severe depression and anxiety diagnoses. Three years of “speed dating” therapists finally lands on the right ally. A blunt truth reframes everything, that metabolic health is amplifying mental distress. With blood sugars spiking and a specialist warning of death by 34, Adam chooses gastric sleeve surgery. It’s not a shortcut, rather it’s a stake in the ground. Habits shift, identity catches up and purpose arrives through service with the local fire brigade.

Perspective deepens on the ridgelines of Gallipoli and the Western Front. Standing at the grave of a 22-year-old, the same age he was at the cliff, Adam discovers that ageing is a blessing denied to many. That clarity births a mission, to honour veterans and first responders with care and precision. When a mate won’t host him, he launches True Blue Conversations and keeps going. 130+ episodes later, guests now come to him and trust becomes the metric, not downloads.

2025 tested every gain: a stillborn niece, a father’s dementia, floods, lost work and public shaming by peers. The black dog returns and a plea to the night sky is answered by two shooting stars. The next morning, he joins flood clean-ups and service regrounds him. From there, a holistic routine steadies the mind and body including prayer, visualisation, gratitude, grounding, meditation, cold showers, strength and cardio, protein-forward meals and ruthless sleep hygiene. He quits comparison, limits social media and measures progress in “two millimetre shifts.”

The heartbeat of this conversation is simple and lifesaving "it’s not weak to speak". One answered call can change a life, one honest check-in can keep someone here. If you need a sign to stay, let this be it. Share this episode with someone who needs hope and leave a review to help others find it.

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

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, and stories shared on this podcast are personal to the host and guests and are not intended to serve as professional advice or guidance. They reflect individual experiences and perspectives. While we strive to provide valuable insights and support, listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice for their specific situations. The host and production team are not responsible for any actions taken based on the content of this podcast.