A Life of Greatness

On December 14, 2025, Valentyna and Michael Britvan took their daughters to a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. It was meant to be an afternoon of family, food and celebration. Instead, gunmen opened fire on the crowd, killing their 10-year-old daughter, Matilda.

In their first sit-down podcast interview, Matilda’s parents join Sarah Grynberg for one of the most important and deeply moving conversations ever shared on A Life of Greatness.
Valentyna and Michael speak candidly about what happened during the Bondi massacre, the desperate moments trying to save Matilda and the unimaginable reality of learning to live without their daughter.

They also share who Matilda truly was: funny, kind, generous and deeply loved. A beautiful Australian Jewish girl who loved playing with her sister, giving hugs and making people smile.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What happened to the Britvan family at Bondi Beach
How they are navigating grief and unimaginable loss
Their concerns about antisemitism and safety in Australia
The people who risked their lives to help others that day
What they hope will come from the Royal Commission
Why they refuse to let hatred define Matilda’s memory

This is a powerful conversation about grief, love, faith, antisemitism and two parents determined to ensure their little girl is never forgotten.

They want Matilda to be remembered with warmth, smiles, love and light.

May Matilda’s memory be a blessing. To support Matilda’s legacy, please consider donating to The Matilda Foundation or the family’s GoFundMe via the links below.

Matilda Bee: Foundation: https://matildabee.org/
Matilda's GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-in-loving-memory-of-matilda

This episode of A Life of Greatness is proudly brought to you by Chemist Warehouse.
At A Life of Greatness, we believe living well begins with the choices we make every day. That's why we're proud to partner with Chemist Warehouse, helping Australians access trusted health and wellness products to support a healthier, fuller life.

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow A Life of Greatness, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who would benefit from hearing it.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.
To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.
Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.
Sign up for Sarah’s newsletter (Greatness Guide) here.
Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.
Instagram: @sarahgrynberg
Website: https://sarahgrynberg.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/sarahgrynberg
Twitter: twitter.com/sarahgrynberg
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dolly Parton was famous for the big hair, rhinestones, unmistakable voice and infectious personality. But behind it all was an extraordinarily sharp woman who understood something powerful: being underestimated can be an advantage.

In this episode of Sarah’s Thoughts, Sarah reflects on Dolly’s journey from growing up as one of 12 children in rural Tennessee to building an extraordinary career on her own terms.

At the heart of the episode is a defining decision: when Elvis Presley wanted to record I Will Always Love You, Dolly refused to give up half of her publishing rights — even though saying no meant walking away from a dream. Years later, Whitney Houston’s recording would prove just how significant protecting her ownership had been.
For Sarah, Dolly’s story carries a lesson far bigger than music: know what you’re worth, protect what belongs to you and don’t give it away simply to be liked, accepted or to keep someone more powerful happy.

Let people underestimate you. You don’t have to convince them otherwise.
As Dolly famously put it: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”

In this episode, Sarah explores knowing your worth, trusting yourself, protecting your value and the quiet power of refusing to make yourself smaller for somebody else.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.
To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.
Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.
Sign up for Sarah’s newsletter (Greatness Guide) here.
Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.
Instagram: @sarahgrynberg
Website: https://sarahgrynberg.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/sarahgrynberg
Twitter: twitter.com/sarahgrynberg
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you dealing with a narcissist, whether it’s a partner, parent or someone at work, and how do you protect yourself when you can’t simply leave?

In this episode, Sarah Grynberg speaks with Dr Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist, bestselling author and one of the world’s leading experts on narcissism and narcissistic abuse.
You’ll learn:

The warning signs of narcissism
How to recognise love bombing, gaslighting and manipulation
Why trauma bonding makes unhealthy relationships difficult to leave
How to deal with narcissistic parents
How narcissistic bosses and toxic workplaces operate
Whether a narcissist can ever truly change
How radical acceptance can help you protect yourself
How to rebuild your identity and trust your intuition after narcissistic abuse

This powerful conversation will help you recognise toxic relationship patterns, set boundaries and begin healing, without losing yourself.

This episode of A Life of Greatness is proudly brought to you by Chemist Warehouse.
At A Life of Greatness, we believe living well begins with the choices we make every day. That's why we're proud to partner with Chemist Warehouse, helping Australians access trusted health and wellness products to support a healthier, fuller life.

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow A Life of Greatness, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who would benefit from hearing it.

As discussed in the episode, Dr Ramani Durvasula will be touring Australia next year: tickets here

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.
To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.
Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.
Sign up for Sarah’s newsletter (Greatness Guide) here.
Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.
Instagram: @sarahgrynberg
Website: https://sarahgrynberg.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/sarahgrynberg
Twitter: twitter.com/sarahgrynberg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are we so quick to tear down people who seem to have everything?

In this episode of Sarah’s Thoughts, mindset coach Sarah Grynberg explores the psychology behind jealousy, judgement and our urge to find flaws in people who are beautiful, successful or confident.

You’ll learn what your criticism of someone else might actually reveal about you, why diminishing their success could be quietly limiting your own, and how to turn jealousy into something far more useful.
Before you judge someone for shining a little too brightly, this episode might make you think twice.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.
To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.
Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.
Sign up for Sarah’s newsletter (Greatness Guide) here.
Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.
Instagram: @sarahgrynberg
Website: https://sarahgrynberg.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/sarahgrynberg
Twitter: twitter.com/sarahgrynberg

#SarahsThoughts #SarahGrynberg #ALifeOfGreatness #Jealousy #Mindset #Comparison #SelfWorth #PersonalGrowth #Confidence #Success #SelfDevelopment
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does your dog become anxious, destructive or refuse to listen, and what are they really trying to tell you?

In this episode of A Life of Greatness, Sarah Grynberg sits down with world renowned dog behaviourist Cesar Millan to uncover what sits behind some of the most common and confusing dog behaviours.
Cesar reveals the biggest mistakes owners make, how much exercise dogs really need, the right way to greet a dog, and what may be driving separation anxiety and destructive behaviour. He also explains how dogs communicate, what they can sense that humans often miss, and what it truly takes to raise a calm, happy and balanced dog.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why Cesar believes your dog’s behaviour starts with your own energy
The common mistakes we make when walking and greeting our dogs
How to choose a dog whose energy suits your lifestyle
Cesar’s approach to boundaries, destructive behaviour and separation anxiety
Why he says, “I train people, I rehabilitate dogs”
What dogs can teach us about presence, gratitude, love and loss
The life philosophy Cesar uses to stay calm, confident and grounded

If you have ever wished you could understand what your dog is thinking, this conversation is for you.

This episode of A Life of Greatness is proudly brought to you by Chemist Warehouse.
At A Life of Greatness, we believe living well begins with the choices we make every day. That's why we're proud to partner with Chemist Warehouse, helping Australians access trusted health and wellness products to support a healthier, fuller life.

If this conversation resonated with you, please follow A Life of Greatness, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who would benefit from hearing it.

Purchase Sarah's book: Living A Life Of Greatness here.
To purchase Living A Life of Greatness outside Australia here or here.
Watch A Life of Greatness Episodes On Youtube here.
Sign up for Sarah’s newsletter (Greatness Guide) here.
Purchase Sarah's Meditations here.
Instagram: @sarahgrynberg
Website: https://sarahgrynberg.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/sarahgrynberg
Twitter: twitter.com/sarahgrynberg
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.