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Leading Our Own Way

Leading Our Own Way

By: Andrew White
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"Leading Our Own Way" (LOOW) is a captivating podcast spotlighting resilience in remarkable journeys. Each episode shares how individuals overcome adversity, emerging stronger and empowered. It's a beacon of hope, amplifying transformative stories and offering insights for self-discovery. Celebrating human resilience, it invites listeners to witness triumph over challenges. Beyond storytelling, it's a testament to human strength, inspiring global audiences to embrace inner resilience. Join us to celebrate triumphs and the transformative power of resilience in shaping destinies.Andrew White Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Nobody Saw This Coming - From Prison Bars to Purpose: The Unbreakable Mentor aka Sammy Jones | E111 Part 1

    Nobody Saw This Coming - From Prison Bars to Purpose: The Unbreakable Mentor aka Sammy Jones | E111 Part 1
    Jun 14 2026
    What does it actually take to break free from a life of chaos, violence, and addiction?Not willpower alone. Not a lucky break. Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom so hard that the only direction left is up.In this powerful first part of a two-part conversation, Andrew White sits down with Sammy Jones, widely known as the Unbreakable Mentor, a man who has lived through things most of us will never experience and come out the other side with an extraordinary gift for helping others do the same.Sammy's story is raw, honest, and deeply moving. From a childhood shaped by instability, to a life caught in cycles of violence and incarceration, Sammy found himself at a crossroads that would define everything that came after. What pulled him through was not what you might expect. It was breathwork. It was community. It was learning to regulate his own emotions when the world around him had never modelled how to do that.In Part 1, Sammy opens up about:The moments of chaos and violence that defined his earlier yearsHow incarceration became a turning point rather than a dead endThe role breathwork played in rewiring his mind and bodyWhy community is one of the most underrated tools in trauma recoveryHow emotional regulation changed everything for him and how it can for you tooThe journey from surviving to truly leading, with purpose and peaceThis is not just a story about one man's comeback. It is a masterclass in resilience, a reminder that your past does not have to define your future, and a conversation that will stay with you long after you hit pause.Part 2 drops this Wednesday. You do not want to miss it.Listen now. Share it with someone who needs to hear it. And if this episode moves you, leave us a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It takes 30 seconds and it helps this show reach the people who need it most.Also, every Tuesday we drop Tuesday Truths, short, sharp, and honest reflections to help you lead your own way through the week. Make sure you are subscribed so you never miss one.Connect with Sammy Jones: https://linktr.ee/UnbreakableSpiritCo📧 hello@unbreakablespirit.coKey Topics- The real cost of a chaotic life and moments of clarity- The role of breathwork and emotional regulation in healing- Building community and safety for sustainable changeTakeaways- Rock bottom can be a slow build, not a single moment- Healing involves small, consistent steps like breath and vulnerability- Using past trauma to serve others creates purpose and impactKey Frameworks- Emotional Regulation- Trauma Healing- Community SupportChapters🔴 (00:00) From Chaos to Peace: A Personal Journey 🔴 (06:04) Leading Our Own Way: Purpose and Mission 🔴 (17:19) The Power of Breathwork in Healing 🔴 (22:34) Community and Connection: The Importance of Support 🔴 (28:11) Emotional Development and Parental Relationships 🔴 (32:16) The Impact of Bullying on Mental Health 🔴 (33:41) The Cycle of Violence and Self-Defense 🔴 (35:43) Finding Strength Through Conflict 🔴 (37:29) The Role of Education in Personal Growth 🔴 (38:47) The Influence of Drugs on Identity 🔴 (40:45) Navigating Family Dynamics and Expectations 🔴 (42:28) The Struggles of Adolescence and Rejection 🔴 (44:39) Returning to Australia and New Challenges 🔴 (46:35) Becoming a Parent and Seeking Change 🔴 (49:47) Friendships and Family Dynamics 🔴 (50:45) The Journey Through Jail 🔴 (51:37) Life of Crime: A Glimpse into the Past 🔴 (52:33) Future Aspirations and Purpose🔴Come back for Part 2Everything Leading Our Own Way🪪 https://www.link.me/leadingourownway 🌐 https://www.leadingourownway.com Proud Sponsors🤝 ESHU Skincare: https://www.eshuskincare.com/Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:🎧 Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/43H0Mr6 📺 🎧 Apple: https://www.apple.co/3J34tOs 🎧 Amazon Music: https://www.bit.ly/3IIyCFC 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadingOurOwnWay #LeadingOurOwnWay #SammyJones #UnbreakableMentor
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    54 mins
  • Carrying River Forward: Karl Waddell on OCD, Legacy and the Courage to Keep Going | E110 - Part 2

    Carrying River Forward: Karl Waddell on OCD, Legacy and the Courage to Keep Going | E110 - Part 2
    Jun 9 2026

    In Part 2 of this deeply moving conversation, Andrew continues his journey with Karl Waddell, and what unfolds is a story of extraordinary courage.

    Karl opens up about living with OCD and the way mental health challenges layered on top of grief can make even the smallest moments feel overwhelming. He shares what it truly means to keep going when the weight of loss is still so present, and how the decision to turn pain into purpose became the anchor that kept him moving forward.

    This episode explores what it looks like to build something meaningful in memory of someone you love. Karl speaks about the growth of River’s Gift, the Geelong-based organisation he founded to raise awareness of safe sleep practices and fund critical research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and the community of people who have gathered around the cause in River's name.

    There is something quietly powerful in this conversation about legacy. About what we leave behind. About the idea that love does not end, it simply finds a new way to move through the world.

    If Part 1 moved you, Part 2 will stay with you.

    To learn more about River’s Gift and support the work Karl is doing in River's name, visit https://www.riversgift.org/.


    Connect with Karl

    LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlwaddell/⁠

    Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/RiversGift⁠

    Website: ⁠https://www.riversgift.org/⁠


    Key Topics

    - Mental health and grief recovery

    - The impact of OCD on trauma processing

    - The role of community and connectedness in healing

    - Creating Rivers Gift to raise awareness and fund research into SIDS

    - The importance of purpose and leaving a legacy


    Everything Leading Our Own Way

    🪪 https://www.link.me/leadingourownway

    🌐 https://www.leadingourownway.com


    Proud Sponsors

    🤝 ESHU Skincare: https://www.eshuskincare.com/


    Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

    🎧 Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/43H0Mr6 📺

    🎧 Apple: https://www.apple.co/3J34tOs

    🎧 Amazon Music: https://www.bit.ly/3IIyCFC

    📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadingOurOwnWay


    📚Buy My Book 📚

    ‘How To Lead With Purpose’ by Andrew White & Mike Nichols ~ https://www.azonlinks.com/B0C9SNQL6C


    Newsletters

    📰 https://substack.com/@leadingourownway


    #LeadingOurOwnWay #RiversGift
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    58 mins
  • Karl Waddell on Grief, Purpose and River’s Gift | E110 - Tuesday Truths

    Karl Waddell on Grief, Purpose and River’s Gift | E110 - Tuesday Truths
    Jun 8 2026

    Tuesday Truths is your mid-week moment to pause, reflect, and take something real into your day.

    This week's truth comes from one of the most moving conversations Andrew has had on Leading Our Own Way. Karl Waddell joins us to share a glimpse of his journey through grief, mental health, and the profound power of turning pain into purpose.

    After the loss of his son River, Karl found a way to channel that love into something bigger than himself. He is the heart behind River’s Gift, a Geelong-based charity dedicated to raising awareness about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and creating meaningful change for families who know this kind of loss.

    In this short but powerful episode, Karl speaks to resilience, community, and what it really means to carry someone's legacy forward.

    If this resonates with you, Part 1 of the full conversation is out now. Part 2 drops tomorrow. You do not want to miss it.

    To learn more about Rivers Gift, visit https://www.riversgift.org/⁠⁠


    Connect with Karl

    LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlwaddell/⁠⁠

    Facebook:⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/RiversGift⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠https://www.riversgift.org/⁠


    Key Topics

    - Resilience in the face of tragedy

    - The power of community support

    - Turning grief into purpose through charity

    - Understanding mental health and OCD

    - The importance of safe sleep practices


    Takeaways

    - Resilience is about facing hardship and believing in a better tomorrow.

    - Community support is vital when you're barely holding it together.

    - Turning pain into purpose can create meaningful change.

    - Mental health struggles like OCD shape how we process trauma.

    - Safe sleep practices are crucial in preventing SIDS.


    Chapters

    🔴 (00:00) Tuesday Truths with Karl Waddell

    🔴 (00:45) Eshu Skincare Promo

    🔴 (01:26) Facing Unexpected Hardship: Karl's Journey

    🔴 (04:09) Safe Sleep for Babies: Expert Advice

    🔴 (08:22) Overcoming OCD: Karl's Journey

    🔴 (12:16) Thank you for Tuning In - Part 2 drops tomorrow!


    Everything Leading Our Own Way

    🪪 https://www.link.me/leadingourownway

    🌐 https://www.leadingourownway.com


    Proud Sponsors

    🤝 ESHU Skincare: https://www.eshuskincare.com/


    Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

    🎧 Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/43H0Mr6 📺

    🎧 Apple: https://www.apple.co/3J34tOs

    🎧 Amazon Music: https://www.bit.ly/3IIyCFC

    📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadingOurOwnWay


    📚Buy My Book 📚

    ‘How To Lead With Purpose’ by Andrew White & Mike Nichols ~ https://www.azonlinks.com/B0C9SNQL6C


    Newsletters

    📰 https://substack.com/@leadingourownway


    #LeadingOurOwnWay #RiversGift
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    13 mins
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