Episode Notes

⚠️ Trigger warning: The following podcast episode contains topics which may be distressing to some viewers. “There is no happy ending. But there is a hopeful ending.” - Harrison James. This is one of those episodes that stays with you long after it ends 💙 Harrison James is a survivor, an activist, and one of the most extraordinary humans to ever walk into the Life Academy world. Abused by his stepmother from ages 13 to 16 😔 Forced into silence for years. Brought to his knees at 19. And yet, he took every single piece of that pain and turned it into real, tangible, legislative change 🙏 Today, he’s passed laws in four Australian states. He’s written a book. He’s about to become a father again. And he sat down with Alicia to share ALL of it: the abuse, the silence, the legislation, the healing, and what it actually means to transform pain into purpose. This is not an easy listen. But it is an essential one. Please share this with someone in your world who needs to hear it 💙 We are so grateful Harrison trusted us with his story. 🚨 If you, or someone you know, is in need of support, please contact LifeLine on 13 11 14 or visit Beyond Blue at http://www.beyondblue.org.au. 📱 For emergency crisis support, call 000 1:47 — Where it all began — Harrison opens up about his childhood 😔 4:12 — His father saw what was happening and said nothing 7:20 — The conversation with his mum in the passenger seat of a car 🥹 24:50 — "I didn't want to be here anymore" — the plan, the dream, and the decision that saved his life 29:38 — The "Your Reference Isn't Relevant" campaign — changing how courts treat convicted offenders 34:33 — Four states down, four to go — what real change looks like 🇦🇺 40:49 — Writing the book — and the toll it took to tell the whole truth 48:23 — Meeting Bella on Instagram, a first date in Italy & choosing peace 🥹 58:30 — The numbers that can't be ignored — and why silence is the real epidemic 1:06:55 — What's next: choosing contentment over the fight 💙 1:13:19 — Dreamwork: Healing Through Unsent Letters — Harrison's exercise from Chapter 1 Follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/denaamy https://www.instagram.com/aliciabanit https://www.instagram.com/lifeacademythepodcast https://www.tiktok.com/@lifeacademythepodcast Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957273649851434/ Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeAcademyThePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices