A couple of years ago, I met Barry- and his story has stuck with me ever since.

Barry Carey, a number one bestselling author in the Start Over Series (Volume 4), is originally from Northern Ireland and moved to Australia in 2008, planning to stay for just a year. Like many, that year turned into something much bigger- but not without its challenges.

What started as a lifestyle of partying in his early 20s quickly spiralled into heavy drinking, anxiety, and declining mental health. After a series of difficult events, including a car crash and struggles with depression, Barry reached a breaking point.

But that wasn’t the end of his story.

Through running and discipline, Barry began to rebuild, training at an elite level and completely shifting his mindset. Yet even after physical progress, he faced further setbacks, including injury, trauma, and deep depression that led to hospitalisation.

After surviving a life-threatening accident, Barry had a realisation: if he was still here, there had to be a reason.

From that moment, everything changed.

He committed to working on his mind, rebuilding his life through fitness, mental health support, and personal growth. Today, he’s a speaker, author, and advocate, helping others find their way through dark times.

In this episode, we talk about rock bottom, resilience, and what it really takes to start over.

Barry’s message is simple:

Never give up on yourself. Ask for help — and keep going.

Connect with Barry on Instagram: @careybarry