Well, right now I’m a Solo Mum who’s is reintergrating her three kids back into life after a wild overseas Gap Year adventure in 2023!
I’m also a podcaster, writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and educator.
Wow, that’s a lot of ‘title’ talk, isn’t it?!
Titles only ever tell part of the story…
Still, sometimes they can be a quick, easy way to get a snapshot of a person.
So here are a few other titles I’ve held throughout my life…
1997
SCHOOL CAPTAIN
Check that hair. And those (non-existent) eyebrows!
This version of Lisa was so brave of spirit; she tried so hard. Gosh I’d love to go back and give her a hug!
She was fierce, curious, and a big dreamer. I love her.
2002
TRIPLE M ROCK PATROL CHICK
I mean, have you ever seen a photo that screams “early 2000’s” more than this one?!
In case it’s not obvious, I felt VERY cool working for the local rock radio station being a “Rock Patrol Chick”. (My ‘look’ was obviously very cool too, as you can see from the belt I’m wearing — ha!)
I did this job while I was at uni studying International Relations. After I graduated, I went overseas for a year, then came back and started a PhD on the topic of Humanitarian Intervention, but quit after six months.
2009
WIFE
I married Nick in Moorooduc on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula.
We’d met 5 years earlier and he was the best person I’d ever met — artistic, intelligent, compassionate, exciting, with the heart of a lion. It was a magical day. If you’d told me what was to come… I would never have believed you.
2010
MUM
This is me with my eldest; my son.
My goodness those early days of motherhood were a wild ride! But also the best thing ever.
I had three kids in under four years. (I was either pregnant or breastfeeding for six straight years!)
2014
BUSINESS OWNER
My two girls were still in nappies when I started my business. I was a food blogger, if you can believe it!
Every naptime, I’d jump straight on my laptop. GOSH it felt good to be using that part of my brain again. I absolutely loved sharing all the things I was learning.
2017
CHANGE MAKER
Life felt pretty challenging for a few years here. Eventually, I realised that the only person who could change my life was me.
So I dove headfirst into learning everything I could about how humans create change — how we make and break habits, the stories we tell ourselves, and why we so often fall into self-sabotage.
I loved this stuff so much — and it made such a difference to my life — that I started teaching it.
In 2019, I launched my first program about creating change, and I’ve since worked with thousands of women around the world to get unstuck, get out of their own way, and make change that sticks. (If you’re curious about how it all works, check out my signature program, The Change Room, right here.
January 2019
SINGLE(ISH) LADY
Nick and I separated in 2019. It was a strange time — he was in and out of rehab, fighting an addiction to alcohol, and not many people knew the full story of what was going on.
We loved each other fiercely, but ultimately, knew that a separation was the best decision for both us and the kids — even though it broke our hearts.
One thing’s for sure: we both went down swinging for our marriage. The love was there right til the end.
September 2019
WIDOW
The news no one wants to get.
A knock at the door that would change our world forever.
Nick had died while holidaying in India. His addiction had finally won. It was all our worst fears come true.
It was a week before my 40th birthday.
Nothing would ever be the same.
2019
SOLO MUM
How do you solo parent three kids under ten who are grieving for their Dad?
I still don’t have all the answers, but for me, it’s included: allowing grief to do its thing, not denying ourselves moments of fun and silliness, making Nick’s memory a part of our everyday lives, leaning on our village, and plenty of therapy.
2019-2023
SURVIVOR
This period of my life really felt like self growth on steroids.
Not only did we have to survive the year of “firsts” that came after Nick’s death (the first Father’s Day without him was particularly brutal), there was also Melbourne’s endless lockdowns during the pandemic, my eventual (awkward) return to the dating scene as a solo mum, followed by my first date, my first kiss, my first relationship… and my first heartbreak.
2023
STORYTELLER
It’s a funny thing when other people look at your life and perceive someone else to be the main character.
For a long time, I’d felt a growing desire to tell and claim my story.
I finally did, and in typical Lisa style, I didn’t do it by halves: I wrote, created and performed a spoken word piece called Harvest, and then proceeded to tour it around the country.
It was liberating, energising, healing… and scary AF. You can read more about Harvest here.
2023
TRAVELLER
This was meant to be the year I got my mojo back. But oof, life had other plans: a surgery that went awry, the aforementioned heartbreak, and a bunch of other stuff to boot.
I felt like I was reeling, life felt stale, and it was getting harder to stay connected to my joy — and myself.
So, um, yet again, I did something in full-blown Lisa style. (Yes, my poor parents have been dealing with my big dreams and bold decisions for forty years and counting… sorry Mum!)
I decided to gather up the kids (and my courage) and take us on a Gap Year adventure overseas.
The aim? To create memories and experiences that we’ll never forget.
And to find myself and my spark again. (So, you know, no biggie!)
This pic is us about to board our first flight - the trip did it's job.
TOMORROW
WHO KNOWS?
I don’t know who the next version of Lisa will be…
But I do know that I’m excited to meet her!
WHILE WE’RE ON THIS FLASHBACK TRAIN, LET’S KEEP GOING!
Remember those quizzes in 90’s teen magazines? The ones that we’d sneak into the classroom, scribble all over in biro, and then have to hide from the teacher? Or was that just me?!
Let’s finish this off, Cosmo quiz style…
And for you?
That’s entirely up to you, lady.
If you’d like some help uncovering the next version of yourself, this is a great place to start.
If you’re keen to fast-track your journey, this might be more up your alley.
If you want to hear more about my story, step right this way.
And if the Cosmo quiz inspired you, you can take my free quiz right right here (It’s about overwhelm. And a word of warning: it’s spookily accurate!)
Whatever adventure you choose, I’m bloody glad you’re here!
So pour yourself a cuppa, get comfy, and stick around — it’s a pleasure to have you.
