Some stories don’t move in a straight line.

They are messier. They loop. They repeat. They collapse and rebuild.

Kata’s story is one of those lives.

In episode 6 of Life Unpacked with Mel Ryan – The Life Bombs Series, Kata courageously unpacks a life shaped by repeated “sliding doors” moments — times where life could have gone one way or another, and often felt like survival was the only option.

This is not a rags-to-riches story.

It’s a despair-to-survival story. Over and over again.

As you listen, you’ll begin to see the thread running through Kata’s life — the soul-level message that keeps presenting itself in different forms, trying to guide her back to the same lesson: learning how to truly support herself.

This conversation explores how self-sabotage isn’t about being broken or making “bad choices,” but about searching for relief, safety, and rescue outside of yourself. We unpack how life keeps repeating patterns until we’re ready to see them, and how awareness can grow even while old behaviours are still playing out.

In this episode, Mel and Kata explore:

• Repeated life-or-death and “endings” moments
• Self-sabotage and the desire for someone else to save you
• How responsibility and accountability actually lead to freedom
• The slow stacking of self-awareness alongside chaos
• Moving from self-hate and self-destruction into self-compassion
• What real self-support looks like when life feels messy

This episode is a powerful reflection on how clever we are in our stories — who we meet, what we create, what we avoid — and how even life bombs and trauma can be pulling us back toward deeper understanding.

Content warning: Substance use, self-destructive behaviour, pregnancy loss, mental health, grief.

As with all Life Bombs conversations, there is no judgement here — now or ever. People’s stories are not here to be ranked, compared, or criticised.

Kata’s story isn’t about getting it right.

It’s about learning.

It’s about discovering that the person she was waiting for — the one meant to save her — was herself all along.

Amila's Story "From Crippling Anxiety to 'I've Got My Own Back': Amila's Story"

At 19, Amila could barely swallow water. Her anxiety was so severe, she thought she'd rather die than feel that way forever. She didn't even know anxiety was a word—she just knew something had erupted inside her that she could no longer ignore. What happens when becoming a mum forces you to face everything you've buried your whole life? When the people meant to keep you safe were the ones you were most terrified of? When you've spent so long making yourself invisible that you don't even know who you are anymore? In this raw, powerful podcast, Amila shares her journey from childhood trauma and debilitating anxiety to discovering unconditional self-love. You'll hear about the pivotal moment that changed everything, the question she asked herself that shifted her entire perspective, and how unpacking her story—piece by piece—gave her back the power she thought she'd lost forever. This isn't about reliving trauma. It's about understanding your story so deeply that you finally know how to support yourself through anything. If you've ever felt trapped, worthless, or like you're just surviving rather than living—this episode is for you.

Jenni's Story

"I had everything I thought I wanted. So why did I feel like I was disappearing?" Jenni looked perfect on paper—loving husband, beautiful kids, the family she'd always dreamed of. But inside, she was carrying wounds from childhood that no one could see. In this raw conversation, Jenni shares what happened when life delivered a catastrophic bomb that forced her to finally choose herself—and the judgment, loss, and unexpected lessons that followed. This isn't a story about making the right choices. It's about understanding why we make the choices we do, and what it really takes to love yourself when everything falls apart. **Warning: This episode explores difficult themes including trauma, family dysfunction, and life-altering decisions. It's also one of the most powerful conversations about self-love you'll ever hear.

"I wouldn't change it. I recognize myself so much better now."