Welcome back to Season 2 of Unscripted with Lisa Burling, where we're exploring the power of the pivot—the moments that unexpectedly (and often uncomfortably) change everything.
In this episode, I sit down with Lizzy Dawson - consultant, strategist, writer, and founder of the Get Messy Substack - to unpack the moment her body said “no” and forced her into a pivot she never saw coming.
Lizzy is a passionate and creative Accredited Exercise Physiologist and the founder of Kids Heart Pilates and Northside Allied Health. She’s also recently launched educational paediatric courses for educators and health professionals, aiming to address the rising concerns around childhood development in Australia.
But behind the professional success is a very human story: at just 33, Lizzy suffered a stroke. Medically classified as a “freak occurrence,” Lizzy knows in her heart it was burnout. She was physically fit, outwardly thriving, but internally running on empty.
In this raw and honest conversation, Lizzy shares how her body’s refusal to keep going became the defining pivot in her life. We explore the deeply personal and professional transformation that followed, and why she now embraces rest, softness, and imperfection—choosing meaning over productivity, and health over hustle.
What You’ll Hear:
- Lizzy’s early signs of burnout - and what happened when she ignored them
- The moment everything stopped: what a stroke at 33 taught her
- The challenges of resting in a hustle culture
- Why unlearning became her superpower
- What her new definition of success looks like
- Lizzy’s unfiltered answers to the 12 Unscripted questions
- How she now balances business and wellbeing
- The messy, beautiful truth about rebuilding a life from scratch
Whether you’ve experienced burnout yourself or are starting to feel the cracks, this episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the pivot chooses you - and it can still lead to something extraordinary.
Mentioned in This Episode:
📖 The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
🎵 “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman
About Lizzy Dawson:
Lizzy Dawson is a health entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the wellness industry. She is the founder of Kids Heart Pilates and Northside Allied Health, and the voice behind the Get Messy Substack. Following her stroke, Lizzy has become an advocate for self-preservation, holistic wellbeing, and redefining success on your own terms.
Connect with Lizzy:
Instagram: @lizzydawson_
LinkedIn: Lizzy Dawson
Facebook: Lizzy Dawson
Website: www.lizzydawson.com.au
🎙️ Thank you for tuning into Unscripted.
If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts - tag me on Instagram or send a DM. Your story matters too.
Let’s continue the conversation:
Instagram: @lisaburlingentrepreneur
Subscribe, leave a review, and meet me here again next Friday for another real, raw, and totally unscripted moment from my life to yours.
