Tarryn Reeves: Against The Odds | Sharing Stories Changing Lives
Join us on "Against the Odds" as we delve into the extraordinary life story of Tarryn Reeves, a woman whose journey from a farm in Zimbabwe to building a successful life in Australia is nothing short of inspiring.
Dive Deeper: The Full Conversation with Tarryn Reeves
The Core Story
Tarryn's story is one of resilience, courage, and unwavering determination. Growing up amidst the political upheaval of Zimbabwe, her family was forced to flee their homeland in search of a better life. However, the challenges didn't end there. Settling in Australia, Tarryn encountered new obstacles and hardships, but she refused to let them define her.
In this episode, Tarryn opens up about the twists and turns she faced along the way, sharing intimate details of her journey and the lessons she learned. From navigating life in a new country to overcoming personal setbacks, Tarryn's resilience shines through as she recounts how she defied the odds to carve out her own path to success.
Prepare to be inspired as Tarryn's story reminds us that no matter the circumstances, with courage and determination, anything is possible. Tune in to hear her powerful tale of triumph over adversity, and discover the strength that lies within us all.
Time-Stamped Breakthrough Moments
[00:12:45] – The "Tequila" Mindset: Tarryn discusses how she flipped her experience with school bullying into a source of personal power.
[00:19:30] – The Pressure Cooker: The harrowing reality of moving to Australia on a business visa where deportation was the cost of failure.
[00:25:10] – When Success Sours: Why a harbour-view office and a six-figure salary led to a total physical and mental breakdown.
[00:33:00] – The Tow Truck Analogy: A life-changing perspective on mental health medication and recovery.
[00:41:20] – Automatic Authority: How Tarryn found her "soul-aligned" career in the world of publishing and ghostwriting.
[00:48:00] – Entrepreneurial Reality: The "punch in the face" nature of starting a business and why you need a safety net.
Full Episode Transcript
Acknowledgement of Country
KAREN:
I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we are recording on — the Kamaragal and Guringai peoples. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and I celebrate their ongoing connection to land and water.
INTRODUCTION
KAREN (NARRATION):
Today I have the privilege of sharing the story of a remarkable guest whose journey embodies the very essence of resilience and courage.
Behind her impressive credentials lies a life shaped by twists, upheavals, reinvention and pure determination. From her early years in Zimbabwe to the challenges of motherhood and the bold steps of entrepreneurship, our guest — Tarryn Reeves — has walked a path defined by grit and an indomitable spirit.
This is a journey you won’t want to miss.
PODCAST INTRO (STANDARD)
NARRATOR:
Welcome to Sharing Stories, Changing Lives. Host Karen Sander interviews individuals from all walks of life, each with their own powerful and inspiring story. By sharing their experiences, our guests celebrate the transformative magic of storytelling.
To learn more, visit www.thestoryroom.au and explore our private membership area, The Backstage Pass.
BACKSTAGE PASS TEASER
KAREN (NARRATION):
And if you’re intrigued by what Tarryn has to offer — and trust me, her wisdom as a publisher is pure gold — don’t miss our Backstage Chat. Whether you’re considering writing your own book or you’re in need of a skilled ghostwriter, the Backstage Pass is your ticket to unlocking her expertise.
INTERVIEW BEGINS
WELCOME
KAREN:
Welcome, Tarryn Reeves.
TARRYN:
Thank you so much for having me. I’m excited to be here.
GROWING UP IN ZIMBABWE
KAREN:
Your journey is extraordinary. You began life in Zimbabwe…
TARRYN:
Yes. I was born in Zimbabwe — a little teapot-shaped country in southern Africa — and my family were farmers.
I spent my childhood barefoot in the bush: camping, horse riding, climbing trees.
I went to boarding school early because everything in Zimbabwe is so spread out. Junior school was weekly boarding; senior school was an all-girls school where I went home once a month.
It was strict — very military — but it gave me huge discipline and a foundation for how to project manage life, I suppose.
Did I enjoy it? Absolutely not. I was bullied badly because I was always the nerd. If other girls were playing spin-the-bottle, I was in the corner reading.
BULLYING, RESILIENCE & TAKING BACK POWER
KAREN:
A lot of my guests talk about being nerdy, being bullied — and I often think bullying can sometimes forge resilience and courage later in life.
TARRYN:
A hundred percent.
I’ll never forget a letter someone put in my locker: “You are the queen of the bitches.”
At the time I was devastated.
Now?
I laugh and think, “Hell yes I am.”
It’s not pleasant to go through, but if you can flip the perspective — take life’s lemons and, instead of lemonade, pour a tequila shot — you come out the other side stronger and able to use it.
POLITICAL VIOLENCE & LOSING THE FARM
KAREN:
Your family’s story of leaving Zimbabwe… that’s a huge part of your journey.
TARRYN:
It was traumatic. There’s no softer word.
When political violence erupted — after an attempted overthrow of government — farmers became targets. We lost our farm, our livelihood… everything.
And for people who haven’t lived through it, it’s unimaginable. Like scenes from Blood Diamond: child soldiers, guns, chaos.
People were murdered, raped. Workers were beaten. Homes shot at. Animals killed.
It was terrorism designed to force white farmers off their land.
What began as political manipulation morphed into a racial narrative. And we ultimately paid the price for mistakes made generations ago by British colonisers — even though we had nothing to do with it.
We had to flee. But Australia wouldn’t take us as refugees because of our skin colour.
So we had to apply for visas — a mountain of paperwork thicker than four book manuscripts — costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
While waiting, we lived under incredible pressure:
we had to start a business
employ Australians
reach a set turnover
…or face deportation.
KAREN:
That’s an enormous burden on a family — a pressure cooker.
TARRYN:
Absolutely.
But at 15? You’re self-involved.
I remember writing in my diary:
“I’m going to become someone everyone likes when I move to Australia.”
That was the beginning of masking — becoming ashamed of who I really was.
UNIVERSITY, NERD CULTURE & RADIATION THERAPY
KAREN:
You finished school here and went on to university?
TARRYN:
I did. Straight into uni — because gap years were “for kids who were off the rails” (which is ridiculous now, looking back).
I studied Radiation Therapy for two and a half years.
My final placement was at a children’s hospital where I treated children with cancer daily.
Kids died often.
Some begged to be allowed to die.
It destroyed me. I knew I could never raise my own children and continue in that job. I’m strong on the outside but soft on the inside.
So I made a huge pivot.
CRIMINOLOGY, CORPORATE LIFE & “SUCCESS”
I switched to studying Criminology by distance and got a full-time job in the railway — scheduling crews, managing operations, overseeing logistics.
I stayed six years.
I climbed the corporate ladder fast.
By 23 I had:
a harbour-view corner office
a six-figure salary
a new car
a new house
a new husband
And I was miserable.
But I didn’t even realise it because I was so conditioned to believe that this was success.
MENTAL HEALTH BREAKDOWN
Before my brain knew I was unhappy, my body knew.
I broke out in a rash no one could diagnose.
I got shingles down my spine.
I couldn’t get out of bed.
I drank too much.
I lost weight.
My doctor — a South African who understood my past — diagnosed me with PTSD, chronic depression and severe anxiety.
My reaction? Rage and denial.
“I’m not weak! Do you know what I’ve survived?!”
But she explained antidepressants in a way that changed everything:
“You’re a truck stuck in mud. This medication is the tow truck that will help you get up the hill. You can stop taking it once you’re at the top.”
That analogy changed my life.
REDUNDANCY, PREGNANCY & STARTING AGAIN
I quit corporate overnight.
Took a non-profit job.
Was made redundant right before a holiday.
While overseas, I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, Autumn.
I flushed my antidepressants down the toilet (which I don’t recommend! But for me, it marked a turning point).
I felt strong again.
When we came home, no one would hire me because I was pregnant — even though legally they’d never say that.
So I thought:
“Fine. I’ll take time to heal. And then I’ll start again.”
BECOMING A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT — WITH A SIX-WEEK-OLD
Six weeks after giving birth, I realised I’m not built to be a stay-at-home mum.
So I started my own Virtual Assistant business:
taught myself design
taught myself copywriting
taught myself coding
used my project management skills
I booked myself out fast because clients kept referring me.
I scaled into an agency.
Then added business coaching.
But it never felt fully aligned.
THE PUBLISHING EPIPHANY
One day someone said:
“You know you can start your own publishing company, right?”
And something clicked.
I mentored for nine months and launched:
Automatic Authority Publishing & Press House
We now have:
a full publishing arm
a media department
a press division
web development
a ghostwriting team
And I absolutely love it.
RESILIENCE AS A SINGLE MUM
I’m now a single mum with a seven-year-old daughter and a five-month-old baby boy.
There have been times I’ve had $100 in my bank account with rent to pay, groceries to buy and two kids depending on me.
I am terrified 90% of the time.
But I keep going.
Because:
“You can feel all the feelings — but you can’t stay there.”
I give myself time to cry, rage, collapse…
Then I get up and make a plan.
It’s grit.
It’s resilience.
It’s survival.
And it’s choosing to create a life aligned with my definition of success.
WHAT SHE’S MOST PROUD OF
Putting my kids first.
Creating a life on my terms.
Having the courage to say no to what society says I “should” do.
Even when my daughter tells me she wants a new mum (she’s seven — apparently it’s normal!), I know she’ll look back and say:
“My mum was always there.”
ADVICE FOR ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS
TARRYN:
Just do it — but have a safety net.
Don’t quit your job with no savings.Understand Maslow’s hierarchy.
If your basic needs aren’t met, you cannot thrive.Start as a side hustle if you must.
Use Upwork, Fiverr, freelance platforms.If your job is killing your soul — reconsider your life.
You write your own story.Entrepreneurs are crazy — in the best way.
It’s like being punched in the face daily and asking for more.
Otherwise everyone would do it.
HOW TO FIND TARRYN
TARRYN:
I help entrepreneurs write nonfiction books that position them as authorities, build credibility, generate leads and launch speaking careers.
You can find me at:
Automatic Authority Publishing & Press House
Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn — @TarrynReeves
Or just Google “Tarryn Reeves Publishing”.
Come chat with me — I’m a real human, and I love deep conversations.
CLOSE
KAREN:
Thank you so much for joining us, Tarryn.
TARRYN:
My absolute pleasure. Thank you for having me.
BACKSTAGE PASS PROMO
KAREN:
Tarryn and I will continue our conversation backstage where we dive into the publishing world — and trust me, her insights are invaluable.
If you’re writing a story or dreaming of a book, the Backstage Pass is the perfect place to start.
OUTRO (STANDARD)
NARRATOR:
Thank you for tuning in to Sharing Stories, Changing Lives.
Support the podcast by purchasing a Backstage Pass — about the cost of two cups of coffee a month — and gain access to workshops, exclusive content and videos from our live events.
Visit www.storyroomglobal.com
Together, we can continue to show that sharing stories changes lives.
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