Episode 36 - "Being the Adult in the Room" with Abdi Aden

Moments of Clarity

Today on Moments of Clarity I speak to Abdi Aden.

Abdi has had an astounding journey from his childhood in Mogadishu to his career as a Melbourne youth worker and inspirational speaker. Best known for his memorable role in SBS’s Go Back To Where You Came From, Abdi persevered through war zones, refugee camps and months of living on the streets to build himself a life in Australia. As a speaker, Abdi offers eye-opening personal insights into issues of conflict, refugees, multiculturalism, and youth mental health. His first book Shining was released in 2015.

Part 1 has some sound quality issues but the quality improves in Part 2 and 3. Thank you for listening. Please share with family and friends and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Google or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Part 1

Growing up in Somalia, Abdi’s book “Shining: The Story of a Lucky Man”, lessons from Mogadishu, trauma and identity, vulnerability and resilience.

Part 2

Mental health across ages and cultures, managing emotion, working with young people, being the adult in the room, doing good breeding happiness within, being real with kids, Abdi’s time in Romania, measuring success by the good that you do.

Part 3

Abdi’s experience on SBS’s TV series “Go Back to Where you Came From”, conversation as a tool to learn rather than a way to win a debate, discomfort as necessary for change, having kids and growing older, harmony day, creating a positive bubble, relationships as a marker of success and a moment of clarity.

Time Stamps

Introduction 0:00 - 3:47

Part 1 3:48 - 33:28

Part 2 33:29 - 56:17

Part 3 56:18 - 125:59

Outro 129:00 - 129:41

Links

Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org.au/about/governance/ambassadors/abdi-aden

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdi-aden-04048389/

Abdi’s website: https://inspirebyabdi.wixsite.com/mysite

Booked Out Speakers: https://bookedout.com.au/find-a-speaker/author/abdi-aden/

Speaking Out Speakers: https://speakingout.com.au/speaker/abdi-aden/

Twitter: @inspiredbyabdi

Abdi’s Book: https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780732299842/shining/

Kofi’s Kindness Pandemic: https://www.thekindnesspandemic.org/kofikindness.html#/

Moments of Clarity

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Podcast by Matthew Sortino

Music by Christian Prochilo

Artwork by Michael Chrisanthopoulos