The Hair Therapist

Welcome to The Hair Therapist! I'm your host Mel. The Hair Therapist brings you real life stories from the salon chair and beyond. You will be introduced to guests from different backgrounds and experiences who have the courage to bring awareness to social issues, altering perceptions and changing stigmas. A community of daring individuals ready to transform lives, connected by stories woven from a collective of tapestries. My life is a testament to one’s ability of the human strength and spirit to expand and rise to a challenge, battling through domestic & family violence, family drug & alcohol addiction, I barely made it through high school. Starting my hairdressing apprenticeship at 15 was my saviour. With over 3 decades of listening to stories in the salon chair, I have heard it all as the poor man's unpaid, unqualified hair therapist. My passion project is to use my skills to give back by doing hundreds of haircuts per year on our most vulnerable communities – people struggling and doing it tough. Sometimes it is not about the haircut it is about the meaningful connections through conversations, feeling seen and heard. I encourage my listeners to give back. These stories are not just about survival; they’re about transforming pain into power and inspiring others to do the same. @InfectiousBehaviour | Linktree Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hair Therapist is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 128 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts The Hair Therapist, a education show with 128 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #130

  Wolston Park Asylum - Who Was Protecting the Children? Part 2

  Sep 28, 20261h 1mS1

  This week on The Hair Therapist , Mel sits down with Deborah Mason - survivor, mother, artist and advocate - to share one of the most confronting and important conversations ever recorded on this podcast. Deb’s childhood was marked by sexual abuse, violence and abandonment, followed by her admission at just sixteen to Wolston Park Hospital and later Osler House, where she endured sexual assault, chemical restraint and the loss of basic human dignity. Her teenage years were taken from her by systems that were meant to protect her. But Deb’s story is not only about what happened to her. It is about the woman she became despite it. Today, she is restoring the identities of thousands of people who died inside Wolston Park and were buried under institutional numbers. Her research has already uncovered more than 4,500 names, giving dignity back to people forgotten for decades. In this episode, Deb speaks openly about her childhood, her time inside Wolston Park, the loss of her friends, homelessness, addiction, motherhood, and the extraordinary advocacy work she is doing now, work that has led to her nomination for Australian of the Year 2027. This conversation includes detailed discussions of childhood sexual abuse, rape, institutional abuse, suicide, violence, overdose, addiction, child loss and severe trauma. Please listen with care. Deb’s courage reminds us that behind every diagnosis, file and number is a human being who deserved safety, dignity and love. And to anyone listening who carries trauma from an institution, a family or a system that failed them, this episode is for you. You are seen. You are heard. Patients allege rape, beatings and staff cover-ups at Brisbane mental hospital in damning report - ABC News On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced. The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support: Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. 13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling Service Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services CREDITS: Host: Melissa Alsemgeest Guest: Deborah Mason Editor: Robert Alsemgeest GET IN TOUCH: https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #128

  A Life Changed in Seconds Part 2

  Sep 14, 202651 minS1

  In this week’s episode Mel sits down with Dominic Beirne for a raw, courageous and deeply reflective conversation.   Dom’s life has been shaped by experiences that would break many - adoption, childhood sexual abuse, grief, addiction, domestic and family violence, profound loss, and a catastrophic motorcycle accident that left him a paraplegic at 47. And just when he thought he had survived the worst, Dom faced cancer of the tongue, major surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.   But this episode isn’t just about trauma. It’s about accountability, healing, and the moment a person decides they can no longer outrun their past.   Dom speaks openly about the anger and verbal abuse that once shaped his relationships, acknowledging the harm caused and the responsibility required to change. He shares how addiction became a way of silencing pain he didn’t know how to face, and how sobriety forced him to confront the little boy who never understood why those things happened to him.   We explore the day his life changed in seconds, one corner, one motorcycle, one moment and the reality of living every day in a body that now requires a completely different level of care. From pressure injuries and infections to accessibility challenges and the emotional toll of disability, Dom offers an honest look at what most people never see.   And yet, woven through every chapter is resilience. Dom drives. He competes in para bobsleigh. He advocates for spinal cord research. He continues to rebuild a life shaped not by what he’s lost, but by what he still hopes is possible.   This conversation asks a powerful question:   When does understanding what happened to us become taking responsibility for what we’re doing to others?   Dom’s answer and the chapter he names as the hardest to survive may surprise you.   This is a story of trauma, accountability, forgiveness, identity, disability, hope and the moment life forces you to finally look at everything you’ve been carrying.   On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced.   The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support:   Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. 13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling Service Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services     CREDITS: Host: Melissa Alsemgeest Guest: Dominic Beirne Editor: Robert Alsemgeest   GET IN TOUCH:       https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #127

  A Life Changed in Seconds Part 1

  Sep 7, 20261h 11mS1

  Over the next two weeks (Part 1 and 2) Mel sits down with Dominic Beirne for a raw, courageous and deeply reflective conversation.   Dom’s life has been shaped by experiences that would break many - adoption, childhood sexual abuse, grief, addiction, domestic and family violence, profound loss, and a catastrophic motorcycle accident that left him a paraplegic at 47. And just when he thought he had survived the worst, Dom faced cancer of the tongue, major surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.   But this episode isn’t just about trauma. It’s about accountability, healing, and the moment a person decides they can no longer outrun their past.   Dom speaks openly about the anger and verbal abuse that once shaped his relationships, acknowledging the harm caused and the responsibility required to change. He shares how addiction became a way of silencing pain he didn’t know how to face, and how sobriety forced him to confront the little boy who never understood why those things happened to him.   We explore the day his life changed in seconds, one corner, one motorcycle, one moment and the reality of living every day in a body that now requires a completely different level of care. From pressure injuries and infections to accessibility challenges and the emotional toll of disability, Dom offers an honest look at what most people never see.   And yet, woven through every chapter is resilience. Dom drives. He competes in para bobsleigh. He advocates for spinal cord research. He continues to rebuild a life shaped not by what he’s lost, but by what he still hopes is possible.   This conversation asks a powerful question: When does understanding what happened to us become taking responsibility for what we’re doing to others?   Dom’s answer and the chapter he names as the hardest to survive may surprise you.   This is a story of trauma, accountability, forgiveness, identity, disability, hope and the moment life forces you to finally look at everything you’ve been carrying.     On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced.   The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support:   Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. 13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling Service Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services     CREDITS: Host: Melissa Alsemgeest Guest: Dominic Beirne Editor: Robert Alsemgeest   GET IN TOUCH:       https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #126

  Where Shouldn’t Limit Where You Study

  Aug 31, 202638 minS1

  There are places that don’t just support learning - they ignite it. And after spending time with Lorna and Alyce from Country Universities Centre Southern Downs, it’s impossible not to feel fired up about what’s happening in their corner of the region.   They haven’t just opened a study space. They’ve built a launchpad. A hub where regional students walk in carrying big dreams… and walk out believing they’re possible.   A centre buzzing with focus, connection, and the kind of encouragement that makes you want to push a little harder. Reliable internet, academic support, quiet rooms, shared energy - it’s all there, wrapped in genuine community spirit.   This is what regional study can look like: A place that feels safe. A place that feels motivating. A place that feels like yours.   And here’s the magic - sometimes all it takes is one conversation, one tag, one share to help someone discover a resource that could completely change their study journey.   Because the next chapter someone’s been waiting for might already exist… They just need someone to point them toward the door. CUC Southern Downs | Regional Study Hub (@cuc_southern_downs) • Instagram photos and videos CUC Southern Downs | Degrees Closer (20+) Facebook CUC Southern Downs   On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced.   The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support:   Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. 13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling Service Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services     CREDITS: Host: Melissa Alsemgeest Guest: Alyce Lotz & Lorna Moore Editor: Robert Alsemgeest   GET IN TOUCH:       https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #125

  Early Intervention Changes Futures For Children

  Aug 24, 20261h 15mS1

  Some stories are stitched together across countries, cultures, and seasons of life and Ruth Cleminson’s is one of them. Before she became a yoga teacher, Pilates instructor, somatic therapist, and co‑founder of Flourish Community Solutions and Flourish Academy, Ruth was a young woman moving around the world, raising her children in different countries while supporting her husband’s military career. Those years shaped her, not just through the challenges of constant change, but through the deep resilience, adaptability, and compassion that come from building a home wherever you land.   Ruth often says her family gave her foundation. Her mother, in particular, showed her what it meant to be a strong woman - steady, capable, and anchored in care. That strength became the thread that carried Ruth through decades of community work, social services, and wellbeing education. With more than 20 years in the social work and community sector, and eight years building Flourish Community Solutions, Ruth has walked alongside families, educators, carers, and children navigating stress, trauma, emotional overwhelm, and the complexities of modern parenting.   Her training in yoga, somatic therapy, movement, and body‑based healing didn’t just enrich her professional toolkit, it transformed her understanding of what people truly need. She saw, again and again, that healing isn’t only cognitive. It’s relational. It’s nervous‑system deep. It’s found in safety, connection, and the gentle practices that help people feel understood rather than judged.   That insight is what led to the creation of Flourish Community Solutions and Flourish Academy - spaces built on compassion, evidence‑informed education, trauma‑aware practice, and the belief that families and communities thrive when adults feel supported, capable, and connected. Today, Ruth’s work spans parenting programs, professional training, wellbeing workshops, and child‑centred emotional development, all designed to help people flourish emotionally, physically, and relationally.   In this conversation, Ruth opens up about her early life, her global journey as a military spouse, the evolution of her career, and the heart behind Flourish. She shares how movement, mindfulness, and somatic awareness shaped her approach to community care and why she believes every child, parent, and practitioner deserves access to support that feels human, hopeful, and practical.   The community is grateful for people like Ruth,  people who turn lived experience into service, who build safer futures for families, and who remind us that flourishing is not a destination, but a deeply relational process.   Settle in. This is a story of strength, compassion, and the quiet leadership that changes lives.    Home - Flourish Community Solutions Home - Flourish Academy Ruth Cleminson | LinkedIn On behalf of the Hair Therapist we acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast is produced.   The topics in this podcast are of general nature, we are not licensed professionals, so if any of the content brings up anything for you, please turn it off and reach out for support:   Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14 - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention. 13YARN - Call 13 92 76 | 24 /7 Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Home | 1800RESPECT National Domestic and Sexual Violence Counselling Service Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800 Ask Izzy Search over 450,000 support services     CREDITS: Host: Melissa Alsemgeest Guest: Ruth Cleminson Editor: Robert Alsemgeest   GET IN TOUCH:       https://linktr.ee/InfectiousBehaviour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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