Today’s episode of The Secrets of Being is a conversation I’ll carry with me for a long time. I’m joined by the luminous Barbara D. Hayward—an author, podcast host, and lifelong medium whose spiritual path began over 40 years ago with a powerful mentor who only worked with one student at a time. Barbara was that one.
For the past 35 years, Barbara has moved between New Zealand and Australia, spreading wisdom, light, and love. But it wasn’t until just over a decade ago that she entered a profound healing space—a space that transformed not only her path, but her purpose.
When Barbara turned 70, she faced a financial scam that left her with just $2.58 across six bank accounts. It was a moment that could have broken her—but instead, it awakened something. In the middle of the chaos, she received a message that changed everything: Your audience is waiting. That phrase became her anchor, her mantra, and the spark that led her to rise, reclaim her voice, and start showing up in a brand-new way.
Barbara walks me through the birth of “The Old Girl Spiritual Stuff,” her very first Facebook Live, and how she found healing by standing in her truth. She shares how her voice and her message began to grow—and how joining a supportive community helped her share that message with the world.
We talk about resilience, reinvention, and the quiet courage it takes to plant a seed and wait for it to grow. Barbara is now learning AI, expanding her YouTube presence, and writing two new books. She is living proof that it’s never too late to start again.
One of the most powerful truths Barbara shares is this: the moment we admit we are old is the day we begin to die. She believes that staying alive—truly, soulfully alive—is about movement, creation, and answering the call of your dreams, no matter when they arrive.
This episode is a radiant reminder that you are never too far from your next beginning. Barbara’s story is a testimony to perseverance, purpose, and the kind of spirit that chooses to rise—even when life asks everything of you.
Connect with Barbara: https://www.youtube.com/@BarbaraHayward-1953
With love,
Dawn
