by Kerrie Atherton | Apr 21, 2025 | Addiction, Empower, Podcasts
In this profoundly moving and inspirational episode of Stories of HOPE, Kerrie Atherton sits down with Danny Shannon—recovery coach, motivational speaker, founder of Encapsulator, and a man who has defied odds that would have broken most.
Danny’s story is one of radical transformation. For 17 years, he was caught in the grip of heroin addiction. His life spiraled into homelessness, crime, and incarceration. He endured the revolving door of nearly 50 rehab attempts. Each time he tried to get clean, something pulled him back—a lack of self-worth, unresolved trauma, or simply the crushing weight of addiction. Yet, on Christmas Day 2009, Danny made a choice that would change the course of his life forever. A moment of clarity, a moment of surrender, a moment of hope.
In this honest and deeply human conversation, Kerrie and Danny unpack the complex realities of addiction—how it devastates not only the individual, but everyone around them. Danny opens up about the pain he caused those who loved him, the cycles of relapse and shame, and the terrifying vulnerability of early sobriety. His transparency is powerful, his storytelling raw and unfiltered, and his commitment to helping others unshakable.
What emerges is not just a story of recovery, but one of rediscovery. Danny talks about how community became his lifeline, how giving back became his fuel, and how helping others find their way out of the darkness became his mission. Through his organization Encapsulator, he empowers people in recovery to record video time capsules—documenting who they are, what they’ve survived, and who they’re becoming.
Danny’s mantra, “Don’t leave before the miracle happens,” serves as a powerful through-line for this episode. It’s a call to keep going when it feels impossible. A call to hold on, to stay one more day, to trust that something better is waiting on the other side of pain.
Whether you’re currently in recovery, walking alongside someone who is, or simply in need of a reminder that change is possible, this episode will meet you where you are. It’s a conversation full of truth, courage, compassion, and the unmistakable heartbeat of hope.
by Kerrie Atherton | Apr 7, 2025 | Domestic Abuse, Family, Podcasts
Imagine the unbearable pain of waking up to find your children gone—kidnapped by your abusive ex-partner and taken across international borders, their whereabouts unknown. Imagine the fear, the helplessness, the silent scream that no one seems to hear. For Lizbeth Meredith, this nightmare was real.
In this powerful and deeply emotional episode of Stories of HOPE, Kerrie Atherton speaks with Lizbeth—a mother, survivor, author, and advocate—whose two young daughters were abducted and taken to Greece in an act of calculated control and revenge. What followed was a harrowing two-year ordeal that tested every fiber of Lizbeth’s being. She was forced to navigate a tangle of broken legal systems, international bureaucracy, and overwhelming isolation, all while confronting the psychological scars left by years of domestic abuse.
But Lizbeth’s story doesn’t end with despair—it continues with unwavering determination, fierce love, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her children. Against all odds, she fought with everything she had to bring her daughters home. And when she did, the next chapter of healing began.
In this conversation, Lizbeth opens up about the emotional toll of her journey: the loneliness of fighting a battle few could understand, the resilience she had to cultivate to survive, and the grace she eventually found in forgiveness. She speaks with quiet courage about how trauma doesn’t just vanish—but how, with time and support, it can be transformed into strength.
Now a published author, speaker, and advocate for domestic violence survivors, Lizbeth uses her voice to shine a light on the hidden horrors of coercive control and international parental abduction. Her story is not just a cautionary tale—it’s a call to awareness, a tribute to maternal love, and a testament to what’s possible when you refuse to give up.
This episode is a reminder that even in the most desolate circumstances, hope can be a lifeline. Lizbeth’s journey will inspire anyone who has faced powerlessness and found their way back to agency, purpose, and peace.
🎬 Watch the film inspired by Lizbeth’s story:
Stolen by Their Father (2022)
by Kerrie Atherton | Mar 24, 2025 | Empower, Family, Podcasts
In this powerful and tender episode of Stories of HOPE, Kerrie Atherton speaks with Michael Ray—a father, author, speaker, and advocate whose journey redefines what it means to be a man, a parent, and a role model. Michael shares with humility and heartfelt insight how fatherhood completely transformed his identity, priorities, and purpose.
Raised in a culture where toughness, stoicism, and self-reliance were markers of masculinity, Michael’s early life was shaped by expectations that discouraged vulnerability and emotional openness. But everything changed when he became a father for the first time—at 49 years old. That moment cracked open something deeper in him, revealing a tenderness, a patience, and a love that would challenge every definition of manhood he’d previously known.
Two years later, when his daughter’s mother stepped away from parenting, Michael found himself a solo dad at 51. With no roadmap and no precedent in his own life, he took on full-time parenting with courage, love, and a commitment to being the safe, constant presence his daughter needed. Along the way, he encountered challenges—some logistical, some deeply societal—including pushback from spaces that weren’t designed with single fathers in mind.
Michael also opens up about his battle with a life-threatening illness—an experience that shifted everything. It forced him to pause, reflect, and reevaluate what truly matters. That brush with mortality became a catalyst for living more consciously, more presently, and more generously. His bond with his daughter only deepened, rooted not in perfection but in presence.
In this episode, Michael challenges outdated gender stereotypes, especially those surrounding parenting roles. He speaks candidly about how schools, courts, and communities often overlook or undervalue the role of fathers—and how damaging that can be not just for dads, but for children and society as a whole.
But more than critique, Michael offers hope. His story is a reminder that we can evolve. That love, intention, and emotional availability are not bound by gender. That it’s never too late to become the parent—or the person—you needed growing up.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to fit a mold that didn’t reflect who they really are. It’s for dads doing the best they can. For parents navigating solo. For people reckoning with legacy, identity, and love. And most of all, it’s a reminder that strength is found in showing up—not with perfection, but with heart.
by Kerrie Atherton | Mar 10, 2025 | Addiction, Mental Health, Podcasts
In this courageous and deeply human episode of Stories of HOPE, Kerrie Atherton sits down with professional rugby league player Liam Knight—a man known for his strength on the field, but whose greatest battles were fought far from the spotlight. Once a rising star in the NRL and now continuing his career in the UK Super League, Liam opens up about the private chaos that existed behind the public persona.
With honesty and vulnerability, Liam shares his experience of battling addiction to drugs and alcohol—an invisible war that escalated silently as he navigated the intense pressures of professional sport, injuries, and the emotional toll of living up to public expectations. He talks about the slippery slope that began with prescription medications after injury, and how it quickly spiraled into dependency, isolation, and self-destruction.
But this story is not just about what was lost—it’s about what was found. Liam describes the pivotal moments that led him to finally ask for help: the honest conversations, the mirror moments, the quiet realization that something had to change if he wanted to survive. He speaks about entering recovery, the discomfort of facing life without substances, and the support systems—teammates, professionals, family—that helped him rebuild from the ground up.
In a culture where masculinity is often equated with silence and stoicism, Liam’s story is a powerful disruption. He speaks directly to the stigma that surrounds mental health and addiction in sport and among men more broadly, challenging the outdated belief that vulnerability is weakness. Instead, he reclaims it as strength.
Now in recovery, Liam not only continues to pursue his athletic career, but also uses his voice to advocate for mental wellness and emotional honesty. His story is one of transformation—a testament to the fact that it’s not where you start or even where you fall, but how you rise that defines the life you live.
For anyone struggling with addiction, mental health, or the shame of feeling alone in their pain, Liam’s words are a lifeline. His journey is a reminder that help is not only available—it works. That sobriety isn’t the end of something, but the beginning of something better. And that even after the darkest nights, it’s possible to play again, live again, and hope again.
by Kerrie Atherton | Dec 9, 2024 | Empower, Mental Health, Podcasts
In this stirring and profoundly inspiring episode of Stories of HOPE, Kerrie Atherton welcomes Ben Farinazzo—a decorated veteran, Invictus Games gold medalist, and passionate mental health advocate whose story is a testament to resilience, vulnerability, and the healing power of human connection.
Ben’s journey began more than 20 years ago when he served as an army officer in East Timor. Like many who return from combat zones, Ben came home carrying the invisible wounds of service—post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. For over a decade, he suffered in silence, trapped beneath the surface of a life that looked successful on the outside but was unraveling within. His battle with mental illness remained largely hidden, as he tried to live up to the ingrained expectations of stoicism and strength.
Then, in what he now describes as a pivotal turning point, Ben suffered a devastating mountain biking accident that left him with a broken neck and back. Immobilized and vulnerable, he was finally forced to confront the mental and emotional scars he had carried for years. It was in this moment—one of complete physical and psychological fragility—that Ben began his true journey of healing.
In this episode, Ben speaks openly about his time in a mental health hospital, the dark days that tested his spirit, and the turning point that led him to fight for his wellbeing—not just for himself, but for those who might walk a similar path. His honesty about the internal battles of PTSD, his periods of isolation, and the weight of unprocessed trauma is both sobering and incredibly moving.
What follows is a remarkable story of recovery, hope, and transformation. Ben shares how the Invictus Games became not just a sporting event, but a life-altering experience of camaraderie, acceptance, and purpose. Representing Australia in indoor rowing and powerlifting, Ben rediscovered his strength—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. The sense of belonging he found among other wounded warriors reignited his belief in the human spirit and what it means to be truly seen and supported.
Throughout the conversation, Ben emphasizes the importance of consistent self-care—sleep, movement, mindfulness—and the necessity of breaking down toxic notions of masculinity. He speaks passionately about the value of support networks, open communication, and asking for help without shame. His story challenges the idea that vulnerability is weakness, and instead, reframes it as one of the greatest forms of strength.
Ben Farinazzo’s voice is one of lived wisdom, compassion, and gentle courage. His message is clear: no matter how deep the struggle, hope is never out of reach—and sometimes, your lowest point can become the foundation for your greatest comeback.
by Kerrie Atherton | Dec 2, 2024 | lived experience, Mental Health, Podcasts
On November 13, 2015, the Bataclan theatre in Paris became the site of one of Europe’s deadliest terrorist attacks. Among the survivors was Ferry Zandvliet, whose life was forever changed in those terrifying moments. What followed was not just the struggle of survival, but years of battling PTSD and searching for healing and meaning.
In this gripping episode of Stories of Hope – Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton, Ferry recounts the night of the attack with raw honesty. He describes the chaos, fear, and the long-lasting scars it left on his mental health. But his story does not end with trauma. Through therapy, community, and self-discovery, Ferry has found a way to rebuild his life and transform his pain into purpose.
Today, Ferry is an advocate for resilience and human connection. By sharing his journey publicly, he offers hope to others facing the weight of PTSD, reminding them that recovery is possible even after the darkest of nights. His perspective highlights that trauma can shape us, but it doesn’t have to define us.
Ferry’s story demonstrates the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. From the depths of fear and loss, he has risen with a renewed commitment to life, compassion, and courage. This episode invites listeners to consider how adversity can lead to unexpected strength and how hope can emerge even from tragedy.
