In Part 2 of this deeply moving conversation, Andrew continues his journey with Karl Waddell, and what unfolds is a story of extraordinary courage.

Karl opens up about living with OCD and the way mental health challenges layered on top of grief can make even the smallest moments feel overwhelming. He shares what it truly means to keep going when the weight of loss is still so present, and how the decision to turn pain into purpose became the anchor that kept him moving forward.

This episode explores what it looks like to build something meaningful in memory of someone you love. Karl speaks about the growth of River’s Gift, the Geelong-based organisation he founded to raise awareness of safe sleep practices and fund critical research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and the community of people who have gathered around the cause in River's name.

There is something quietly powerful in this conversation about legacy. About what we leave behind. About the idea that love does not end, it simply finds a new way to move through the world.

If Part 1 moved you, Part 2 will stay with you.

To learn more about River’s Gift and support the work Karl is doing in River's name, visit https://www.riversgift.org/.

Connect with Karl

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlwaddell/⁠

Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/RiversGift⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.riversgift.org/⁠

Key Topics

- Mental health and grief recovery

- The impact of OCD on trauma processing

- The role of community and connectedness in healing

- Creating Rivers Gift to raise awareness and fund research into SIDS

- The importance of purpose and leaving a legacy

Everything Leading Our Own Way

🪪 https://www.link.me/leadingourownway

🌐 https://www.leadingourownway.com

Proud Sponsors

🤝 ESHU Skincare: https://www.eshuskincare.com/

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

🎧 Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/43H0Mr6 📺

🎧 Apple: https://www.apple.co/3J34tOs

🎧 Amazon Music: https://www.bit.ly/3IIyCFC

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadingOurOwnWay

📚Buy My Book 📚

‘How To Lead With Purpose’ by Andrew White & Mike Nichols ~ https://www.azonlinks.com/B0C9SNQL6C

Newsletters

📰 https://substack.com/@leadingourownway

#LeadingOurOwnWay #RiversGift

Tuesday Truths is your mid-week moment to pause, reflect, and take something real into your day.

This week's truth comes from one of the most moving conversations Andrew has had on Leading Our Own Way. Karl Waddell joins us to share a glimpse of his journey through grief, mental health, and the profound power of turning pain into purpose.

After the loss of his son River, Karl found a way to channel that love into something bigger than himself. He is the heart behind River’s Gift, a Geelong-based charity dedicated to raising awareness about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and creating meaningful change for families who know this kind of loss.

In this short but powerful episode, Karl speaks to resilience, community, and what it really means to carry someone's legacy forward.

If this resonates with you, Part 1 of the full conversation is out now. Part 2 drops tomorrow. You do not want to miss it.

To learn more about Rivers Gift, visit https://www.riversgift.org/⁠⁠

Connect with Karl

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlwaddell/⁠⁠

Facebook:⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/RiversGift⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.riversgift.org/⁠

Key Topics

- Resilience in the face of tragedy

- The power of community support

- Turning grief into purpose through charity

- Understanding mental health and OCD

- The importance of safe sleep practices

Takeaways

- Resilience is about facing hardship and believing in a better tomorrow.

- Community support is vital when you're barely holding it together.

- Turning pain into purpose can create meaningful change.

- Mental health struggles like OCD shape how we process trauma.

- Safe sleep practices are crucial in preventing SIDS.

Chapters

🔴 (00:00) Tuesday Truths with Karl Waddell

🔴 (00:45) Eshu Skincare Promo

🔴 (01:26) Facing Unexpected Hardship: Karl's Journey

🔴 (04:09) Safe Sleep for Babies: Expert Advice

🔴 (08:22) Overcoming OCD: Karl's Journey

🔴 (12:16) Thank you for Tuning In - Part 2 drops tomorrow!

Everything Leading Our Own Way

🪪 https://www.link.me/leadingourownway

🌐 https://www.leadingourownway.com

Proud Sponsors

🤝 ESHU Skincare: https://www.eshuskincare.com/

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

🎧 Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/43H0Mr6 📺

🎧 Apple: https://www.apple.co/3J34tOs

🎧 Amazon Music: https://www.bit.ly/3IIyCFC

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadingOurOwnWay

📚Buy My Book 📚

‘How To Lead With Purpose’ by Andrew White & Mike Nichols ~ https://www.azonlinks.com/B0C9SNQL6C

Newsletters

📰 https://substack.com/@leadingourownway

#LeadingOurOwnWay #RiversGift

Some stories arrive quietly and stay with you forever. This is one of them.

In this episode, Andrew sits down with Karl Waddell, a father navigating one of life's most unimaginable losses, the passing of his beloved son, River. What Karl has done with that grief is nothing short of extraordinary. Rather than letting the darkness consume him, he has channelled his love, his pain, and his purpose into something that could save lives and support families walking the same devastating road.

Karl shares openly about the mental health journey that followed River's passing, the role community played in holding him upright when he could barely stand, and the power of turning heartbreak into meaningful action. Together, he and Andrew explore what it means to grieve with honesty, to find identity after loss, and to discover that purpose can be born in the most painful of places.

Karl is also the driving force behind River’s Gift, a Geelong-based organisation dedicated to raising awareness and funding critical research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). River’s Gift is doing vital work, not just for the families who have experienced loss, but for every parent who deserves to feel safer and more supported.

This conversation is raw, real, and full of love. Whether you are walking through your own grief, supporting someone who is, or simply want to understand the incredible resilience of the human spirit, this episode will stay with you long after it ends.

To learn more about River’s Gift and the work Karl is doing in River's name, visit https://www.riversgift.org/

Connect with Karl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlwaddell/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiversGift

Website: https://www.riversgift.org/⁠

Key Topics

- The journey of grief and purpose after losing a child

- The importance of safe sleep practices and research funding for SIDS

- The role of community and vulnerability in mental health

- Insights into the human brain and mental resilience

Chapters

🔴 (00:00) Introduction and Connection

🔴 (04:34) Resilience and Purpose in Life

🔴 (07:33) Facing Hardship and Personal Journey

🔴 (10:32) Mental Health and Well-being

🔴 (13:23) The Birth of Rivers Gift

🔴 (16:33) Research and Education on SIDS

🔴 (19:24) Safe Sleep Practices and Advice

🔴 (23:13) Community Engagement and Support

🔴 (26:02) Public Speaking and Advocacy

🔴 (29:07) Growth and Future of Rivers Gift

🔴 (32:01) Family and Personal Reflections

🔴 (42:01) Navigating Grief and Family Dynamics

Everything Leading Our Own Way

🪪 https://www.link.me/leadingourownway

🌐 https://www.leadingourownway.com

Proud Sponsors

🤝 ESHU Skincare: https://www.eshuskincare.com/

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

🎧 Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/43H0Mr6 📺

🎧 Apple: https://www.apple.co/3J34tOs

🎧 Amazon Music: https://www.bit.ly/3IIyCFC

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeadingOurOwnWay

📚Buy My Book 📚

‘How To Lead With Purpose’ by Andrew White & Mike Nichols ~ https://www.azonlinks.com/B0C9SNQL6C

Newsletters

📰 https://substack.com/@leadingourownway

#LeadingOurOwnWay #RiversGift