Hey Soul Sista by Melissa Histon

This is one of the most tender and powerful conversations I've ever shared on Hey Soul Sista.
My childhood friend, Melissa Demery, is a mother, dietician, and the heart behind the charity Charlie’s Run for Kids — but before anything else, she is Charlie Carr’s mum.
Charlie was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at just eight months old and spent her entire life courageously battling cancer. She passed away at eight years old.
In this episode, Mel shares:
The moment she was told her baby had stage 4 cancer
What it’s like to live through multiple relapses
The reality of palliative care as a mother
The impact of grief on relationships and identity
The heartbreaking conversation telling her son his sister would die
The moment Charlie took her final breath in her arms
All she has learned about love, acceptance and living your best life with joy!
She also shares a profound experience after Charlie’s passing that completely changed her understanding of life, death, and the soul.
This is a conversation about grief…But also about courage, motherhood, legacy, and choosing to live fully — even after unimaginable loss.
Connect with Charlie's Run for Kids:
Instagram: charliesrun4kids
Website: https://www.charliesr4k.com/
Connect with Mel Histon:
Subscribe to make sure you hear the next instalment of Hey Soul Sista!
Follow Hey Soul Sista on Instagram: @heysoulsistapodcast
Follow Mel on Instagram: @melissahiston
Watch the podcast video on YouTube: @heysoulsista
Website: heysoulsista.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all say it: “I was so triggered.”
But what’s actually happening in our brain, body, and nervous system when that wave hits?
In this deeply honest and practical conversation, host Mel Histon, sits down with psychologist Kaz Amos to unpack the science and the soul of emotional triggers — why they happen, where they come from, and how we can finally heal them.
Mel shares powerful personal stories — from family conflict to cancer surgeries — revealing how past experiences can live quietly in the body for years before suddenly resurfacing. Kaz brings clarity and compassion, explaining the psychology behind reactivity, trauma, nervous system responses, and why our reactions often make sense when we understand our history.
You’ll learn:
• What a trigger really is (and why it’s not “being dramatic”)
• The difference between reacting and responding
• How childhood and family experiences shape our emotional wiring
• Why small moments can feel overwhelming
• The surprising ways trauma lives in the body
• Practical tools to calm yourself in the moment
• How Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps reframe thoughts
• What EMDR therapy is and how it helps heal trauma
• A simple SOS technique to regulate your nervous system fast
• Whether true emotional healing is possible
You are not broken. Your nervous system is trying to protect you.
And healing is possible.
🎧 Listen now and take the first step toward responding — not reacting.
Connect with Kaz:
Follow Kaz on Instagram: kaz.amos
Website: kazamos.com.au
Through the Hummingbird Centre for psychology sessions, workshops, and speaking engagements. Hummingbird Centre
Connect with Mel:
Subscribe to make sure you hear the next instalment of Hey Soul Sista!
Follow Hey Soul Sista on Instagram: @heysoulsistapodcast
Follow Mel on Instagram: @melissahiston
Watch the podcast video on YouTube: @heysoulsista
Website: heysoulsista.com


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this empowering episode, host Mel Histon and her guests, dive into why so many women hold back their voices—and why fear of judgment shouldn’t stop you from speaking up. Join Mel, Jamie Abbott and Alex Morris to explore:
Real stories of courage, authenticity, and speaking your truth

How societal pressures and “middle-age judgment” impact women

Practical advice for overcoming fear and embracing your confidence

Inspiring examples of women reclaiming their voices—regardless of age or background

Whether it’s speaking on stage, sharing your story online, or standing up in everyday life, this episode is your reminder: you’ll always be judged, so why not speak your truth anyway?
Listen in to feel empowered, inspired, and ready to show up as your boldest self.
Connect with JAIMIE ABBOTT:
Follow Jaimie on Instagram: @jaimieabbott www.jaimieabbott.com.au
Listen Jaimie's podcast: Pitch Perfect with Jaimie Abbott
Connect with ALEX MORRIS:
Instagram @alexmorriswrite
Substack: alexmorriswrite.substack.com
Watch the podcast video on YouTube: @heysoulsista
Connect with MEL HISTON:
Subscribe to make sure you hear the next instalment of Hey Soul Sista!
Instagram @melissahiston
Instagram @heysoulsistapodcast
Watch the podcast video on YouTube: @heysoulsista
Website: heysoulsista.com
Website: gotyourbacksista.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Hey Soul Sista, Mel Histon sits down with domestic violence advocate Tabitha Acret.
In 2022, Tabitha’s daughter Mackenzie Anderson was brutally murdered by her former partner in an act of domestic violence. Mackenzie was just 21 years old.
In the aftermath of unimaginable grief, Tabitha has turned her pain into purpose — becoming a powerful voice calling for stronger protections for women and children and reform within the justice system.
In this raw and courageous conversation, Tabitha shares:
• Who Mackenzie was as a person• The devastating moment her world changed forever• Navigating the justice system after Mackenzie’s murder• The sentencing of Mackenzie’s killer• How grief transformed into advocacy• Why she is fighting to change the system for other families
This episode was recorded during the week of International Women’s Day and serves as a sobering reminder of the ongoing fight to end violence against women.
Mackenzie’s story matters. And Tabitha’s voice is helping drive change.
⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses domestic violence and homicide. Please take care while listening.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Shelton Wilder — a powerhouse Los Angeles real estate agent, founder of Wilder Women Networking, and the fearless leader of a thriving all-female team. She’s a mum of two boys, proudly sober for over 15 years, and someone who has completely rebuilt her life from the ground up.
From launching a clothing line and appearing on Shark Tank to hitting rock bottom with bankruptcy and rehab, Shelton’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. She turned every setback into a stepping stone, pivoted into real estate, and became one of LA’s most successful agents — all while supporting women in business and helping communities rebuild after devastating fires.
In this episode, Shelton shares:
How she turned failure and loss into fuel for success

Lessons from building an all-female real estate team

Her vision for the Pacific Palisades’ recovery and future

The power of sobriety, resilience, and reinvention

This is a story of courage, reinvention, and rising stronger than ever — a must-listen for anyone chasing dreams, overcoming setbacks, or building their own empire.
Connect with SHELTON WILDER:
Instagram @sheltonwilderestates
Website: sheltonwilder.com
Connect with MEL HISTON:
Subscribe to make sure you hear the next instalment of Hey Soul Sista!
Instagram @melissahiston
Instagram @heysoulsistapodcast
Watch the podcast video on YouTube: @heysoulsista
Website: heysoulsista.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.