Listen "The Forced Pivot: Lizzy Dawson"
Episode Synopsis
Welcome back to Season 2 of Unscripted with Lisa Burling, where we're exploring the power of the pivot—the moments that unexpectedly (and often uncomfortably) change everything.In this episode, I sit down with Lizzy Dawson - consultant, strategist, writer, and founder of the Get Messy Substack - to unpack the moment her body said “no” and forced her into a pivot she never saw coming.Lizzy is a passionate and creative Accredited Exercise Physiologist and the founder of Kids Heart Pilates and Northside Allied Health. She’s also recently launched educational paediatric courses for educators and health professionals, aiming to address the rising concerns around childhood development in Australia.But behind the professional success is a very human story: at just 33, Lizzy suffered a stroke. Medically classified as a “freak occurrence,” Lizzy knows in her heart it was burnout. She was physically fit, outwardly thriving, but internally running on empty.In this raw and honest conversation, Lizzy shares how her body’s refusal to keep going became the defining pivot in her life. We explore the deeply personal and professional transformation that followed, and why she now embraces rest, softness, and imperfection—choosing meaning over productivity, and health over hustle.What You’ll Hear:Lizzy’s early signs of burnout - and what happened when she ignored themThe moment everything stopped: what a stroke at 33 taught herThe challenges of resting in a hustle cultureWhy unlearning became her superpowerWhat her new definition of success looks likeLizzy’s unfiltered answers to the 12 Unscripted questionsHow she now balances business and wellbeingThe messy, beautiful truth about rebuilding a life from scratchWhether you’ve experienced burnout yourself or are starting to feel the cracks, this episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the pivot chooses you - and it can still lead to something extraordinary.Mentioned in This Episode:📖 The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks🎵 “Fast Car” by Tracy ChapmanAbout Lizzy Dawson:Lizzy Dawson is a health entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the wellness industry. She is the founder of Kids Heart Pilates and Northside Allied Health, and the voice behind the Get Messy Substack. Following her stroke, Lizzy has become an advocate for self-preservation, holistic wellbeing, and redefining success on your own terms.Connect with Lizzy:Instagram: @lizzydawson_LinkedIn: Lizzy DawsonFacebook: Lizzy DawsonWebsite: www.lizzydawson.com.au🎙️ Thank you for tuning into Unscripted.If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts - tag me on Instagram or send a DM. Your story matters too.Let’s continue the conversation:Instagram: @lisaburlingentrepreneurSubscribe, leave a review, and meet me here again next Friday for another real, raw, and totally unscripted moment from my life to yours.
More episodes of the podcast UNSCRIPTED with Lisa Burling
The Bold Pivot: Michelle Kvello
15/08/2025
The Inner Pivot: Miranda Packer
08/08/2025
The Energy Pivot: Lorraine Murphy
01/08/2025
The Purpose Pivot: Lauren Beaufils
25/07/2025
The Internal Pivot: Margaret Lindemann
18/07/2025
The Possibility Pivot: Claire Corby
11/07/2025
The Brave Pivot: Claire Behrmann
04/07/2025
The Unexpected Pivot: Brooke Hill
27/06/2025
The Pivot Starts Here
13/06/2025
Season One Finale: Six Lessons + A Pause
18/04/2025
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