Episode 13

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Published on:

22nd Apr 2026

Siobhan Wilson: Turning Anaphylaxis and Adversity Into Advocacy at 16

Episode Summary

Siobhan Wilson was born at 27 weeks, weighing less than a kilogram. By 16, she had survived open heart surgery at one month old, roughly 130 resuscitations in the NICU, seven anaphylaxis episodes — including one where paramedics ran out of adrenaline — and founded her own social enterprise at age 6.

In this episode of Grit Diaries, Siobhan shares what it takes to turn a lifetime of medical complexity into a mission to make Australia safer for everyone living with anaphylaxis.

Episode Pillars

● Finding Magic in the Hard Stuff: How Siobhan's mum raised her to see possibility in the world despite a

childhood filled with hospital visits, trauma, and medical uncertainty.

● The Night She Nearly Didn't Come Home: Siobhan recounts the 2024 awards dinner where she won Young

Entrepreneur of the Year — and spent the ride home in an ambulance needing the equivalent of 12 EpiPens.

● What Australia's Labelling Laws Are Missing: Why 'dairy free' on a packet doesn't mean what you think it

does — and how a mashed potato nearly cost Siobhan her life.

● Shame, EpiPens, and Why People Wait Too Long: The embarrassment that stops people with anaphylaxis

from acting in time, and why that silence is deadly.

● What Actually Helps: From breathwork and hand pan music to becoming a sports medic — the unexpected

tools Siobhan uses to heal her brain and show up for others.

The Kintsugi Connection

To see the visual story of Siobhan's journey and explore more episodes of resilience, visit our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes/videos

If Siobhan's story moved you, explore these related Hero conversations:

● Navigating a serious health diagnosis? Listen to Ian Westmoreland's story of launching Kintsugi Heroes while

facing melanoma.

About Kintsugi Heroes: An Australian not-for-profit (DGR endorsed) dedicated to strengthening mental wellbeing through the

power of storytelling.

Partner with Us: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/partners/

Donate (tax-deductible): https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate/#donate

Website: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kintsugi-heroes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kintsugi-Heroes-100084850387170/

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About the Podcast

Grit Diaries: From Grit to Grace with Mon and Mazz
Join your hosts Mon and Mazz as they uncover inspiring stories of local heroes – often unsung, but always extraordinary.
Welcome to The Grit Diaries: From Grit to Grace, a podcast where resilience meets real life. Hosted by dynamic duo Mon and Mazz, we shine a light on the powerful, untold stories of people who have overcome adversity, hardship, and life's toughest challenges - with grit, heart, and grace.

Each episode, we sit down with unsung heroes from all walks of life to explore their journeys through struggle, survival, and transformation. These are raw, honest conversations that go beyond the headlines - stories that inspire, challenge, and remind us of the strength within us all.

Whether it's bouncing back from rock bottom, navigating personal loss, or turning pain into purpose, The Grit Diaries is a tribute to the human spirit - and a space where vulnerability meets victory.

Real stories. Real people. Real resilience.

Subscribe, listen, and join us on the journey from Grit to Grace.

The Grit Diaries is a flagship series within the Kintsugi Heroes network — built on the belief that the most powerful stories aren't the polished ones, they're the honest ones. Through Mon and Mazz's warm, no-filter conversations, our guests share the moments most people don't talk about: the rock-bottom days, the quiet rebuilds, the family they leaned on, the help they finally asked for, and the small wins that turned into whole new lives.

This isn't a series about perfect comebacks or neat endings. It's about real people doing the hard, messy, beautiful work of becoming themselves again — and the grace that's found on the other side of grit. Whether you're walking through something heavy right now, supporting someone who is, or simply need a reminder that you're not alone, The Grit Diaries is for you.

Kintsugi Heroes is an Australian not-for-profit (DGR endorsed) dedicated to strengthening mental wellbeing through the power of storytelling. We believe lived experience is a gift to be shared, not a scar to be hidden.

To find out more about Kintsugi Heroes and our other podcast series, head to KintsugiHeroes.com.au.

Connect With Us:
🌐 Website: https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kintsugiheroes
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kintsugi.heroes/
👥 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kintsugi-Heroes-100084850387170/
❤️ Donate (tax-deductible): https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/donate/#donate

About your host

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Ian Westmoreland