Stories that Stir Northern Rivers

Stories that Stir® events are designed to break down barriers, stir conversation, and inspire positive change.

Come and listen to six ordinary yet extraordinary people share their raw, personal stories on the topic of HOPE, in all its shapes and forms.

Please join us for an afternoon of extraordinary stories that will make you laugh, cry, and view the world in a different light.

xxx Bettina – Your local Northern Rivers Stories that Stir Host

Meet your Storytellers:

Magic Carpet -Lawrence Mitchell

In 1970s England a young boy with wild hair and blotchy skin lay on his back flying a magic carpet through the clouds, wondering whether he could dig straight down through the earth and come out in Australia, an exotic land far, far away. Somewhere along the way, he started questioning whether magic was real. Half a century later, living in Sydney, Lawrence has found it again, everywhere. A story of dark tunnels, joined dots, and why hope is the light.

Bare Truth – Alana Tobias Webb

Bra swinging, cash falling, just another night, until it wasn’t. Driving home through a dark tunnel afterward. Bang! This is Alana’s story, faced with the question of death: if this was all anyone ever knew of her, was it enough? Bare Truth is about moving from hopeless to hopeful, legacy, courage, and realizing the woman you’re meant to become can’t wait for someday.

Not Finished – Gavin Watts

Gavin Watts has survived loss, trauma, heartbreak, and moments when life could quite literally have ended. Yet his story is not about what happened to him, but what can still happen next. In Not Finished, Gavin explores hope without clichés: not as certainty that everything will be okay, but as the courage to keep choosing life, connection and possibility, one step at a time, even after everything changed forever.

Catalytic Change – Jennifer Genest

Canadian born Jennifer took a call she could not resist and ended up in an accident that caused her suffering and anguish. Pain and uncertainty led to rebuilding that which had been torn apart. Hope was an invitation to change direction and to keep moving forward. Her self-discovery reflected determination and transformation, and as life changed, her soul could rise and dance again.

Hope Redefined – Scott Jacovou-Johnson

After a family member became seriously ill, Scott was forced to confront what really mattered. In his story he explores why hope is only the beginning, why attention is our most valuable resource, and how small acts of presence can lead to extraordinary personal and professional change.

(R)Evolution – Ryan Fowler

From leaving a career, to travelling the world, then losing a parent, and a return to thriving, Ryan’s story is about evolution vs revolution, the constant flow of change, and how it shaped him. He shares how he adapted to the ever-shifting scenarios of life and business, from the highest peaks to the lowest troughs.

*18+ event

• Trigger warning – event may include sensitive topics such as abuse, suicidal thoughts etc.