Episode Fourteen: Conversation with Jason Blyth
Jason and Madeleine
Podcast Recap:
In this powerful episode, Madeleine talks with key note speaker and youth advocate Jason Blyth, who opens up about his extraordinary journey from trauma to purpose. Through raw honesty and unforgettable metaphors, he shares how pain can shape us, how hope can return, and why every young person deserves to hold their own pen. A moving conversation for any parent seeking reassurance and inspiration.
Podcast Transcript:
Introduction and Background
Madeleine: Hi Jason, welcome to the Epic Conversations Podcast. Thank you so much for coming.
Jason: Thank you for having me. I’m looking forward to the chat.
Madeleine: Do you mind starting by sharing a little about yourself and your journey?
Jason: It’s been a long, winding road. I never thought I’d be where I am now, though I hoped I would be. I came from a very tough upbringing. Today I’m a keynote speaker and youth advocate, trying to use the lessons and pain from my life for good — part of a redemptive journey.
I grew up in strange circumstances. My mother was a prodigy — training with the New Zealand Olympic swimming team, a world‑level pianist, and preparing to study dentistry at university. At 16, she had a motorbike accident, ended up in a coma, and her entire future changed in an instant. She wasn’t expected to survive, but she did — something my grandmother always believed was a miracle.
Ten years later, my mother was sexually assaulted, and that’s how I was conceived. I came into the world under a dark cloud. When I was two, my mum tried to kill me because I reminded her of the rape and my biological father.
I grew up with violence, instability, and isolation. I was confused — I was told parents were supposed to love their children, but my mum rejected me. I was bullied at school. The child protection system in New Zealand failed me, and I ended up on a very bad path with a lot of trauma.
The “Who’s Writing Your Story?” Message
Madeleine: Thank you for sharing so openly. I love the message you share about “Who’s writing your story?” Can you explain where that came from?
Jason: This message is central to everything I do. Some people call me “the pen guy” — not P‑I‑N, but pen, as in writing.
When I was 21, going through a really difficult time, a wise older woman shared a story with me. It sank deep into my soul, though it took years to activate — like a seed that needed time to germinate.
She said:
Imagine you’re standing in heaven with God, moments before being born. You’re in a huge library full of books — some pristine, some tattered. God puts His arm around you and hands you a leather book with blank pages.
He says: “As you go into the world, you must forget who you are and your heavenly home. But don’t worry — everything you need is hidden inside you. This book is for writing the story of your life. You can write it however you like. When your life is done, your spirit returns to me, and your book returns to this library.”
Then He hands you a pen and says: “Your story must be written with this pen alone. Take great care of it. Many people will try to take your pen and write your story for you. Never give away your pen.”
That message changed everything for me. It’s about reclaiming authorship of your life. No matter what’s happened, we can choose how the story continues.
Madeleine: It’s beautiful. I’ve shared it with my kids. It’s powerful for parents too — helping young people take their pen, while also remembering not to hold it for them. And as parents, we also have our own pens.
Jason: Absolutely.
The Influence of Jason’s Grandmother
Madeleine: You once shared about the love you received from your grandmother. It was very moving. Can you talk about her influence?
Jason: If it wasn’t for my grandma, I wouldn’t be here. She had a strong faith and was the reason my grandparents took me in after my mum was raped. My mum couldn’t care for herself due to her brain injury.
My grandma already had eight kids — she didn’t need to raise another, especially a difficult child like me. But she fought for me. She fought school principals. She fought through court cases for my mum’s accident and disability. She fought for justice.
She instilled morals and ethics in me — the foundation I would later return to. People often say that those who become psychopathic usually lacked even one person who loved them. My grandma was that one person for me.
I moved out at 15, and we lost contact at times, but she was always my mum in my heart. She never got to see my redemptive journey. When she died, it was devastating. She was the one person I didn’t want to lose.
I wrestled with the meaning of life and death. Eventually, I realised that if I became the man she raised me to be, she would live on through me. Her sacrifice wouldn’t be in vain. Even though she’s gone, she remains my inspiration.
A Message for Parents Who Are Worried
Madeleine: For parents who feel worried about their children right now, what message of encouragement would you share?
Jason: You never know when something will become the catalyst for change. At one point, I never imagined I’d be where I am now.
I believe we’re all on a hero’s journey. We face cycles of pain, trauma, fear — and we must learn the lesson or repeat it. But as long as there’s breath in our lungs, there is hope.
Most parents listening have instilled good values in their children. They’ve shown love. They can trust that the journey will unfold as it’s meant to.
I don’t believe pain is designed to break us. It shapes who we become. In ancient times, two of the most valuable products were olive oil and wine — but their worth was only revealed after they were crushed.
The crushing of life releases our true worth — insight, emotional intelligence, compassion. I’m trying to use my pain, and the failures of the child protection system, to help others. That gives purpose to the suffering.
Closing
Madeleine: Brilliant metaphors — wine, olive oil, diamonds. Thank you. Is there a way people can find you?
Jason: Yes — my website is jasonblythe.com. On Instagram, I’m jason.p.blythe. I’ll also be sharing more of my story with your group in a couple of weeks, and I’m looking forward to it.
Madeleine: Thank you for shining like you do, and for sharing your wisdom. And thanks to Ian Westbourne from Kintsugi Heroes for introducing us.
Jason: Thank you for having me.
Gratitude to Jason Blyth for his support of EPIC and of parents in our community.
This podcast was made possible by the support of Ku-Ring-Gai Council
Do you have suggestions, comments, questions relating to today’s conversation or have ideas for future episodes?
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