The Hair Therapist

By Melissa Alsemgeest

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Episodes: 112

Description

Welcome to The Hair Therapist! I'm your host Mel.


The Hair Therapist brings you real life stories from the salon chair and beyond. You will be introduced to guests from different backgrounds and experiences who have the courage to bring awareness to social issues, altering perceptions and changing stigmas. A community of daring individuals ready to transform lives, connected by stories woven from a collective of tapestries.

 

My life is a testament to one’s ability of the human strength and spirit to expand and rise to a challenge, battling through domestic & family violence, family drug & alcohol addiction, I barely made it through high school.

 

Starting my hairdressing apprenticeship at 15 was my saviour. With over 3 decades of listening to stories in the salon chair, I have heard it all as the poor man's unpaid, unqualified hair therapist.

 

My passion project is to use my skills to give back by doing hundreds of haircuts per year on our most vulnerable communities – people struggling and doing it tough. Sometimes it is not about the haircut it is about the meaningful connections through conversations, feeling seen and heard. I encourage my listeners to give back.

 

These stories are not just about survival; they’re about transforming pain into power and inspiring others to do the same.

 

 @InfectiousBehaviour | Linktree


 


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Episode Date
Punk Rocker Chef Paramedic Author Part 2
May 25, 2026
Punk Rocker Chef Paramedic Author Part 1
May 18, 2026
Women’s Choices Shouldn’t Be Controversial
May 11, 2026
Everyday Humans. Extraordinary Impact.
May 04, 2026
AHC – The Industry Voice
Apr 27, 2026
Would You Know If HE Was Struggling?
Apr 20, 2026
Check Your Prostate or Die
Apr 13, 2026
The Brilliance of Human Resilience Part 2
Apr 06, 2026
The Brilliance of Human Resilience Part 1
Mar 30, 2026
The Reality of Boys Mental Health
Mar 23, 2026
Concrete Isn't A Bed - Part 2
Mar 16, 2026
Concrete Isn’t A Bed - Part 1
Mar 09, 2026
Dignity Rights Choice Voice
Mar 02, 2026
Forged Into Unstoppable Strength
Feb 23, 2026
Your Thoughts Shape Your Life
Feb 16, 2026
Haus_of_Jools No Filter
Feb 09, 2026
Clawing Your Way Out of Hell
Feb 02, 2026
The Human Property Movement
Jan 26, 2026
Smiles That Shift Worlds
Jan 19, 2026
No More Shit Hair
Jan 12, 2026
When Policy Fails People
Jan 05, 2026
Hep C is No Longer a Life Sentence
Dec 29, 2025
The Invisible Homeless Minority
Dec 22, 2025
Alopecia My Unexpected Superpower
Dec 15, 2025
Fierce, Fearless, Future Focused
Dec 08, 2025
Lathering Up for Change
Dec 01, 2025
She's Not Your Property
Nov 24, 2025
Her Survival Sparked a Movement
Nov 17, 2025
Prison Changed My Purpose
Nov 10, 2025
The Child Inside Knew
Nov 03, 2025
Surviving Prison, Addiction and Homelessness Pt2
Oct 27, 2025
The Quiet Infrastructure of Belonging
Oct 20, 2025
Surviving Prison, Addiction and Homelessness Pt1
Oct 13, 2025
Silence Fuels the Cycles
Oct 06, 2025
Heroin’s Path to Prostitution
Sep 29, 2025
The Relentless Humanitarian Spirit
Sep 22, 2025
The Gift Every Child Deserves
Sep 15, 2025
Life, Rescue, Relentless Service
Sep 08, 2025
Changing the Story for Kids
Sep 01, 2025
Endo Warrior, QENDO Leader
Aug 25, 2025
Change Starts With One
Aug 18, 2025
Jenni Tarrant: Unfiltered Strength
Aug 11, 2025
Youth Healing Starts Here
Aug 04, 2025
Survival Changed Everything
Jul 28, 2025
One Mentor, Many Ripples
Jul 21, 2025
Deadly Hair, Deadly Futures
Jul 14, 2025
Breaking Banks, Then Breaking Cycles
Jul 07, 2025
Defying Eviction, Demanding Justice
Jun 30, 2025
Join Our Big Hairy Mission
Jun 23, 2025
Tiny Homes, Big Impact
Jun 16, 2025
Empowering Complex Trauma Recovery
Jun 09, 2025
Cut Poverty, Create Power
Jun 02, 2025
When Grief Meets Addiction
May 26, 2025
Lisa’s Story: Survival & Strength
May 19, 2025
Fvree’s Fight Against Violence
May 12, 2025
Empowering Futures at MOB
May 05, 2025
Living to Lift Others
Apr 28, 2025
Standing Against Gender Violence
Apr 21, 2025
Dig In’s Powerful Mission
Apr 14, 2025
Protecting Children, Saving Futures
Apr 07, 2025
Youth Transition Interrupted
Mar 30, 2025
HaiR-3Rs & CPR: Transforming Salons into Lifelines
Mar 26, 2025
Together We Can HALT Domestic and Family Violence - Small Steps 4 Hannah with Dave Kramer
Mar 24, 2025
From Pain to Resilience: Michael's Journey Through Trauma, Injustice, and Redemption
Mar 17, 2025
From Nature to Neuroscience: Unlocking the Power of Psilocybin with Alistair McTaggart
Mar 10, 2025
Breaking Down Silos & Creating Sustainable Change – Micah Projects
Mar 03, 2025
Beyond the Pain: A Sister’s Journey for Suicide Awareness
Feb 24, 2025
Be Crowned: Transforming Hair, Empowering Lives
Feb 17, 2025
Prevention Through Recovery and Education – Beyond DV
Feb 10, 2025
Helping the Homeless with Housing, Health & Living – Goodna Street Life
Feb 03, 2025
Luke Found His Purpose in a Prison Cell Doing Push Ups
Jan 27, 2025
Health and Hope for Substance Users - QuIHN
Jan 20, 2025
The Hidden Homelessness Crisis
Jan 13, 2025
Tragedy on Sydney Harbour: In Memory of Morgan Innes – A Life Remembered Part II
Jan 06, 2025
Tragedy on Sydney Harbour: In Memory of Morgan Innes – A Life Remembered Part I
Dec 30, 2024
Orange Sky Laundry: Uplifting Lives Beyond Clean Clothes
Dec 23, 2024
We Must Act: Protecting Children from the World of Sexual Abuse – Isabella’s Story Part II
Dec 16, 2024
We Must Act: Protecting Children from the World of Sexual Abuse – Isabella's Story Part I
Dec 09, 2024
How Childhood Trauma Manifests in Adulthood
Dec 02, 2024
Reducing Youth Crime – Constructively - YDF
Nov 25, 2024
Learning to Break the Cycle of Domestic and Family Violence
Nov 18, 2024
Who’s Looking After the Forgotten Kids? Emerge Youth Services
Nov 11, 2024
Rent or Food? I can’t afford both. OzHarvest
Nov 04, 2024
A Confronting Portrayal of Domestic and Family Violence.
Oct 28, 2024
Part II Everyone Deserves a 2nd Shot – Base Services Inc. Toowoomba
Oct 21, 2024
Part I Everyone Deserves a 2nd Shot – Base Services Inc. Toowoomba
Oct 21, 2024
No One Should Miss Their Yr 12 Formal – Formally Ever After…
Oct 14, 2024
Who Can Help When You Face Financial Ruin after Escaping Domestic and Family Violence? WLSQ…
Oct 14, 2024
Breaking the Stigma of Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorder
Oct 07, 2024
Overcoming a 25yr Meth Addiction and Finding Purpose - Nourish Street Inc
Oct 07, 2024
Stop Talking About the Housing Crisis – Vinnies Takes Action!
Oct 07, 2024
Moving Vulnerable Australians Toward Independence – Mission Australia
Sep 30, 2024
When a Hemorrhoid Diagnosis Turns Out to be Bowel Cancer…
Sep 30, 2024
Beddown – The Good Night Initiative
Sep 30, 2024
Narell's Voluntary Assisted Dying Story Part II
Sep 23, 2024
How Many More Women Need to be Murdered Before we Make Change?
Sep 23, 2024
How Young is too Young to Become a Career Criminal?
Sep 23, 2024
Life - Play the Long Game
Sep 16, 2024
Every Child Should Have the Opportunity to Change their Future Through Education - The Smith Family
Sep 16, 2024
An Insider's View of the World of Residential Youth Work
Sep 16, 2024
Beyond Homelessness - Sheltered By Grace
Sep 09, 2024
Did You Know There Are Hair Salons in Prisons?
Sep 09, 2024
How Women Turn their Trauma and Abuse into their Super Power
Sep 09, 2024
How Charlie Found a Passion for Art in Prison
Sep 02, 2024
Work By Day, Super Hero By Night
Sep 02, 2024
No Weed, Wanna Try Heroin?
Sep 02, 2024
Suicide Prevention - We're All in this Together
Sep 02, 2024
Life After Heroin Addiction
Sep 02, 2024
The Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse
Sep 02, 2024
Narell's Voluntary Assisted Dying Story Part I
Sep 02, 2024
What Does Homelessness Look Like for Women Over 55?
Sep 02, 2024
Mission Australia - There is Always a Way Forward for People in Need
Sep 02, 2024