About Our Guest
Justin Robinson is the co-founder of The Wellbeing Distillery, which supports hundreds of schools across Australia and internationally to embed wellbeing into education. The former founding Director of the Institute of Positive Education at Geelong Grammar School and author of My Manifesto, he is recognised for his warmth, deep listening, and practical wisdom in helping individuals and communities to thrive. Justin is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne and a leading voice in the global positive education movement.
How a Father Learned That Surrender and Community Became His Greatest Strengths
In this conversation, Justin Robinson shares his family’s journey through every parent’s worst nightmare: when his 11-year-old son Sam was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2012. Despite being planners who liked to stay in control, Justin found himself navigating a year where Sam spent 250 nights in hospital and the path forward was constantly unpredictable.
Justin reveals how three pieces of wisdom became lifelines: “Don’t plan,” “Don’t Google,” and most powerfully, his father’s advice to always say yes when people offer help. Through vulnerability and honesty, he explores how fear was distributed across many shoulders and how accepting support (from neighbours who kept a chest freezer full of meals to friends who cared for their other children) created a web that held their entire family.
Drawing from this experience, Justin shares how he learned that resilience isn’t about individual strength but about the relationships we build that can hold us when we need them most. This isn’t just a story about surviving cancer. It’s a story about discovering that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is surrender control, trust our community, and simply say yes to the help that surrounds us.
Justin’s Tips for Managing the Challenge of a Very Unwell Child
1. Hold plans lightly (stay present).
Our ward nurse’s advice – “don’t plan” – was incredibly helpful. By all means have a rough plan, but hold it loosely. Focus on the next right step, not the next month. Flexibility reduces disappointment and preserves energy for what matters most: your child and partner.
2. Say yes to help (build your village).
When people ask, “What can I do?” answer with a specific yes – meals, school pickups, sibling playdates, house tasks, hospital visits. Letting others help isn’t a weakness; it gives them purpose and gives you bandwidth for care, rest, and connection.
3. Trust your care team, not the internet.
We chose not to Google. Instead, we asked our clinicians the hard questions and treated them as our single source of truth. This limited fear, saved time, and kept us aligned and calmer as a family.
Justin’s Contact Details
Instagram:
My Manifesto: https://www.instagram.com/mymanifesto.me/
The Wellbeing Distillery: https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeingdistillery/
Linkedin link:
Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrobinson-wellbeing/
My Manifesto: https://www.linkedin.com/company/80189652/
The Wellbeing Distillery: https://www.linkedin.com/company/80831351/
Website:
My Manifesto: https://mymanifesto.me/
The Wellbeing Distillery: https://www.thewellbeingdistillery.com/
Justin’s References
My Manifesto:A compassionate guide to reveal your best life, 2024, Sue Wong and Justin Robinson
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Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction and Early Life Influences
00:38 The Health Challenge of Sam
03:29 Navigating the Diagnosis and Initial Reactions
07:00 Coping Mechanisms and Support Systems
10:17 Lessons Learned from the Journey
14:06 Reflections on Fear and Gratitude
15:54 The Positive Outcomes and Future Aspirations
18:42 The Unexpected Connection
21:05 Navigating Fear and Community Support
24:12 The Role of Communication in Healing
29:27 Embracing Emotions and Vulnerability
33:16 Resilience Through Challenges
38:15 The Gifts of Adversity
39:47 Practical Tips for Coping
42:06 It’s A Wrap
If anything in this episode resonated with you and if you feel like you could use a little extra support, please consider reaching out to trusted local support services in your area. You don’t have to go through it alone.
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