There is rarely a life untouched by hardship or challenge.
On this podcast, we invite our guests to share their very personal stories.
We harness the wisdom and resilience of our guests, which has shaped who they are today.
Carl Rogers said ”that which is most personal is in fact most universal”.
Together, we’ll be inspired to embrace the resilience in our own stories and to gain strength in the face of adversity. And have a few laughs along the way.
Hi, I’m Donna and I’m Di. We are the Double Ds and welcome to the ”Discovery Diaries.”
#28 Surviving a workplace lifequake with Double D Donna West
For the first time, one of the Double Ds, Donna West, shares part of her story dealing with an extended workplace trauma, as a guest on the "Thriving Business" podcast, with Kate de Jong. Donna discusses being caught up in a traumatic Corruption and Crime Commission case in late 2021, where she realises she is falsely accused due to a bungled investigation at her workplace.
After reaching rock bottom and slowly recovering, she then faces a second related lifequake a year later when during an internal investigation, she is suspended on full pay for 809 days and isolated from her workplace, before finally clearing her name.
Donna outlines the trauma she experienced and the tools and strategies that helped her through these extended ordeals, which have shaped her new mission to help and support others. They have also provided the themes of the Double Ds Discovery Diaries podcast, courage and resilience. Donna also discusses the concept of lifequakes (unexpected traumatic life events) more generally with Kate, who shares some of her most challenging experiences.
Show notes
The Thriving Business podcast website: HOME | Thriving Business Podcast
Donna's website: www.donnasbalconyviews.com.au
LinkedIn: (1) Donna West | LinkedIn
Sponsor
Build your resilience and well-being - join Donna's weekly newsletter to build resilience and improve well-being.
21 Dec 2025
#27 Lessons from the Holocaust with Andrew Steiner
Andrew Steiner was a young Jewish boy during World War II, living in Hungary. He recounts memories of living through the Holocaust, where 11 close family members and countless friends were amongst 6 million murdered by the Nazis.
Andrew discusses the relevance of those events to the perilous times we are facing today in world history. We all have an extraordinary and innate power of one within us. Andrew himself was saved as a child by someone who harnessed that power. We must not remain silent when harm is going on around us. Indifference always helps the perpetrators.
As a well-known artist, Andrew talks about the importance of art and the historical importance of recording events.
Since 1990, Andrew has provided education about the Holocaust to secondary and tertiary students. The Adelaide Holocaust Museum and Andrew Steiner Education Centre, launched in 2020, is the culmination of Andrew’s life work towards a fairer, more just, and compassionate world.
Show notes:
You can find out more about the Adelaide Holocaust Museum and Andrew Steiner Education Centre and make a donation to this important work here:
https://Tinyurl.com/AHMBrochure
https://ahmsec.org.au/profile/andrew-steiner-oam/
Sponsor
Build your resilience and well-being - join Donna's weekly newsletter to build resilience and improve well-being.
2 Oct 2025
#26 Puzzle Power: How Jigsaws Boost Wellbeing with D'Arne Healy
D'Arne Healy shares surprisingly broad wellbeing benefits of jigsaw puzzles. Whether on your own or with others, puzzling can help with loneliness, conquering addiction, giving your brain a break and improving focus, just to name a few.
D'Arne has created inclusive communities, both as Founder of the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association and more recently the Inter-School Puzzle Club. D'Arne shares some of the personal puzzling stories she has witnessed, spanning all ages of jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts.
You'll be finding and starting a puzzle once you listen to this episode and be better for it.
Show Notes
How to contact D'Arne
interschoolpuzzleclub.com
LinkedIn: @d'arnehealy
Instagram: @interschoolpuzzleclub, @australianjigsawpuzzle
Sponsor
Build your resilience and well-being - join Donna's weekly newsletter to build resilience and improve well-being.
Who has been a guest on Double Ds: The Discovery Diaries
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Alastair Milne
Susan Saleeba
Tara Jeisman
Nio Correa
Steve Cox
Reach and audience
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
11 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
26
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
Contact Double Ds: The Discovery Diaries
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