If you tune in to Kirsten’s Substack regularly, you’ll know that I’ve been living in Australia for the past six months. Kirsten asked me to give a quick update on how everything’s going.
In one word: amazing. The past six months have been filled with more experiences than I ever thought possible. I settled in Byron Bay, and now, looking back, I feel a real sense of pride in the community I’ve built—planting seeds early on and continuing to nurture them throughout my time here. I joined a soccer team, landed two of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had (waiting tables and managing a tattoo shop), and met an incredible group of friends who love going to concerts just as much as I do. I feel incredibly lucky for the life I’ve created here—but it didn’t come without a few bumps along the way.
The early days in Byron felt lonely. I was scared to make mistakes and even more nervous to show my true self, worried that people might not accept me. That first month, I walked on eggshells at the restaurant and barely spoke to anyone at the tattoo shop. I put up walls to protect myself, but all they did was isolate me. A few weeks in, I found myself feeling sad, homesick, and disappointed that I was wasting this amazing opportunity. I was tired of feeling that way—so I made a decision. I decided to let go, be patient with the process, and just show up.
That shift in mindset happened right around the time I joined the local soccer team, the Byron Bay Rams. I really didn’t want to go to that first training session—it felt like the first day of school all over again—but as soon as I got there, I was welcomed with open arms. The next day at the tattoo shop, I started chatting with one of the artists about which food would win in a cage fight. That weekend, I bounced around the restaurant, talking to everyone I could and laughing at my mistakes instead of fearing them.
This new mindset didn’t deliver instant results—but it set everything in motion. I kept showing up to training. I kept talking to the artists. I kept putting myself out there. Slowly but surely, things changed. I stopped feeling like a visitor and started feeling like I belonged.
Now, six months in, I’ve learned that building a life anywhere—especially somewhere new—takes patience, courage, and consistency. But when you lead with vulnerability and stay open to connection, amazing things can happen. Byron Bay isn’t just where I live—it’s become a place where I feel seen, supported, and at home.
KJ’s 10 Fav’s for the summer!
🎧 This week is a full interview with Dr. Desaree Festa 🎧
✅ Insight into the role of a sports psychologist – Dr. Dez shares how she supports NFL athletes mentally and emotionally, especially during high-pressure moments.
✅ Rookie development expertise – She leads programs that help rookies successfully transition into the NFL both on and off the field.
✅ Experience across pro sports – With a background in the NBA, NHL, and NASCAR, Dr. Dez brings a well-rounded perspective to athlete development.
✅ Practical advice for athletes and parents – Her passion shines through as she offers valuable tools to help athletes thrive and families support them effectively.
✅ Behind-the-scenes look at elite teams – Get an insider’s view of how mental performance is prioritized at the highest level in professional sports.
🎧Don’t miss out on any of our most recent podcast’s!🎧
🎤Have Kirsten Speak at Your Event!🎤
Kirsten is available to booking a speaking event! Inquiry at this link below!
Book in a Speaking Event with Kirsten!
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The 2025 NFL Draft, baby!
Boarding the plane from LAX to Green Bay, I was surrounded by people decked head to toe in their NFL team’s jerseys, hats, jackets, sweatshirts and bags. I’m not sure what I had expected to find going to the NFL Draft, but arriving and seeing 600,000 raving fans transcended my expectations by a mile.
Wanna connect? Contact me here! I am booking for 2025 speaking events.
Let’s do this!
XXX Kir
P.S. You’re amazing. We should talk!
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