Growing Tall Poppies Podcast Season 2, Episode 21

From Dismissed to Determined: Breaking the Silence on Invisible Conditions and Leading Systemic Change

Podcast| Growing Tall Poppies| Season 2
June 24, 2025•2 min read

Growing Tall Poppies Podcast: Season 02, Episode 21 (#62)

Custom HTML/CSS/JAVASCRIPT

In this week’s episode of Growing Tall Poppies, Dr Nat Green is joined once again by clinical psychologist, author, and systemic change-maker Nichi Morrin.

Together, they open up a deeply personal and eye-opening conversation about invisible illness, medical dismissal, and the hidden toll on both patients and professionals. From the shocking moment her 17-year-old daughter’s heart attack was dismissed as anxiety, to her own journey living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Nichi shares the lived experience that ignited her mission to reform the healthcare system from within.

Through raw storytelling and practical insight, this episode explores the intersection of trauma, nervous system overload, and burnout, and introduces Nichi’s COMPASS-5 model - a groundbreaking framework designed to support people living with complex health conditions, as well as the practitioners who care for them.

Whether you’ve experienced medical gaslighting, advocacy fatigue, or feel like you’re constantly pushing through systems that weren’t designed for you - this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and real hope for change.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

  • The real impact of invisible illness and systemic dismissal

  • How trauma lives in the body - not just the mind

  • The difference between burnout as a symptom vs. a root cause

  • How advocacy fatigue affects families and frontline professionals

  • Why we need new models of care that prioritise lived experience, safety and nervous system regulation

  • A practical introduction to Nichi’s COMPASS-5 framework

Episode Highlights & Takeaways

  • “Invisible doesn’t mean imaginary.” Nichi breaks down the dangerous misconceptions surrounding invisible conditions

  • The story of how her daughter became the youngest patient ever admitted to a cardiac unit - and how it was almost missed

  • The link between Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS, endometriosis, autoimmune illness and nervous system dysregulation

  • Why professionals with lived experience are leading the future of trauma-informed care

  • How Nichi’s Invisible CEO initiative and COMPASS-5 model are filling the gaps left by traditional consulting and coaching programs

Learn More & Connect with Nichi Morrin

Want to dive deeper into Nichi’s work and learn more about invisible illness advocacy, and systemic change? Here’s how to connect with her:

Next Episode

👉 S02E22: Breaking The Silence: On Gaslighting, Trauma & Systemic Failure in Healthcare

Back to Blog

If you know someone who would enjoy or benefit from this episode, please share it with them. Thank you for your support!

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be deemed or treated as psychological treatment or to replace the need for psychological treatment.

Growing Tall Poppies Podcast

Hosted by Dr Nat Green, this podcast empowers individuals to rise above trauma and create lasting transformation. Each episode features inspiring stories, expert advice, and practical strategies to help you break free from adversity, build confidence, and thrive. Tune in for real conversations that inspire personal growth and resilience.