Craig Shanahan - Speaker

Craig Shanahan - Speaker 🧠Cancer Survivor
👊🏻 Motivating you to be your best.
📖 A story to tell. Let’s chat 💬
Speaking Enquiries - [email protected] Dog friendly

You don't have to see the whole path. You just have to take the next step. I spent years navigating the world with 6% vi...
24/09/2026

You don't have to see the whole path. You just have to take the next step.

I spent years navigating the world with 6% vision. Learning to trust myself in spaces that weren't designed for me. Finding my way through kitchens, businesses, health crises, and heartbreak, sometimes literally one step at a time.

And every single one of those steps led me here.

To the stage. To the microphone. To the rooms full of people who need to hear that the road forward exists, even when you can't quite see it yet. 👁️

That's the message I carry with me everywhere I go.

Keep moving. Keep showing up. Keep taking the next step, even when it's hard, even when you're scared, and even when you can't see exactly where you're headed.

The path reveals itself when you're brave enough to walk it. 🙏🎤

This smile has been through a lot. 😄Cancer at age two. A brain tumour at 23. Heart failure. A heart transplant. Closing ...
22/09/2026

This smile has been through a lot. 😄

Cancer at age two. A brain tumour at 23. Heart failure. A heart transplant. Closing a business I poured everything into.

And yet here I am. Grinning. 🙏

Not because life has been easy but because I made a decision somewhere along the way that my story wasn't going to end at any of those moments.

And now I get to walk into rooms full of people and share exactly that.

Because here's what I know for certain,

The thing you think is going to break you? It won't. And on the other side of it is a version of you that you haven't even met yet.

That's what I bring to every stage, every corporate event, every school, and every room that invites me in.

Just a real bloke with a real story and an unshakeable belief that no barrier is a dead end. 🎤

If you're ready to give your audience a talk they won't forget, let's make it happen.

📩 [email protected]
🔗 Link in bio to enquire directly.

Look at this room. 🙏This is what it's all about for me. Real people. Real attention. Real connection.When I look out at ...
18/09/2026

Look at this room. 🙏

This is what it's all about for me. Real people. Real attention. Real connection.

When I look out at a room like this, people leaning in, listening, genuinely present, I feel something I can't quite put into words. A sense of purpose that I have never felt anywhere else in my life.

Because these aren't just faces in a crowd. Every single person sitting in that room is carrying something. A challenge. A fear. A setback they're trying to find their way through.

And if something I say lands for even one of them, if one person walks out of that room seeing their situation even slightly differently, then everything I have been through has been worth it.

When I take the stage, I speak on four topics that are close to my heart:

🎤 Breaking Barriers - What it really takes to back yourself when the odds are stacked against you
♿ Accessibility Is Smart Business - How inclusion isn't charity, it's a competitive advantage
💪 Resilience in the Face of Adversity - How I faced heart failure, brain surgeries, and vision impairment and turned every setback into strength
🔄 Reinvention - Why sometimes your next chapter becomes your strongest one yet

This is why I speak.

For the room. 🎤🙏

If you're looking for a speaker for your next corporate event, conference, school, or community group, I'd love to be part of it.

📩 Enquire via the link in bio or reach out directly at [email protected]

And the reveal… 🎉😄The moment the blindfolds came off was everything. The reactions, the "I KNEW it!", the "I cannot beli...
16/09/2026

And the reveal… 🎉😄

The moment the blindfolds came off was everything. The reactions, the "I KNEW it!", the "I cannot believe I got that so wrong", honestly one of the funniest moments of the night. 😂

But in that split second that moment of suddenly being able to see again after experiencing even just a small taste of what it's like to navigate the world differently,

Something shifts. 👁️

It's a tiny glimpse. A brief moment of walking in someone else's shoes. But those moments matter. They build empathy. They build understanding. And they remind us that the world looks very different depending on where you're standing.

That's the whole point.

Fun, immersive, and just a little bit eye opening, pun absolutely intended. 😄🙏

14/09/2026

My culinary journey took me to all different places, but it wasn't always a smooth ride.

I was pushing through 45-hour weeks in the kitchen while dealing with severe, agonising headaches.

I’ll never forget the night I was working the grill, hit by a migraine so intense I had to run out the back to throw up, only to walk right back in and pretend everything was normal.

Weeks later, I was let go because of my performance. It was a heartbreaking moment, but it was exactly the push I needed to move to Queensland and start a brand new chapter.

But that's not all...

I share this story as part of my speaking events, taking the room through every milestone I experienced.

If you're looking for a speaker for you events, enquire now!

12/09/2026

What if the thing that sets you back is actually the thing that sets you apart?

I spent years thinking my vision impairment was a limitation. Something to work around. Something to apologise for.

And then I built an award winning café. Won Blind Australian of the Year. Got featured on ABC The Drum and The Project. Wrote a children's book published by Vision Australia.

And now I stand in rooms just like this one, microphone in hand and help people see their own barriers completely differently. 🎤

The setback was never the end of the story. It was the whole point of it.

And right now, doors are wide open. 🙌

Here's what's available:

🎤 Speaking Bookings: Corporate events, conferences, schools, and community groups across Australia. Real stories. Real impact. No fluff.

🎙️ The Podcast: Coming soon. Real conversations with real people about the journeys that shaped them.

🍳 Cooking Lessons: Tailored experiences for individuals with disabilities. Food, connection, and confidence in the kitchen.

🍷 Immersive Events: Blind tasting experiences and interactive events that bring people together in the most unexpected ways.

Whatever you're looking for, inspiration, connection, or something your audience will never forget.

Let's make it happen. 🙏

📩 [email protected]

This moment right here stopped me in my tracks.Throughout the night I had the privilege of connecting with some truly in...
10/09/2026

This moment right here stopped me in my tracks.

Throughout the night I had the privilege of connecting with some truly incredible people and it's the conversations like this one that remind me exactly why I do what I do.

Because behind every person navigating vision impairment, there is a whole network of people walking alongside them. Parents. Partners. Friends. Carers. People who love someone who is blind or vision impaired and are doing everything they can to support them, often without a roadmap.

That's a community I am deeply passionate about.

Not just because I live it every single day but because I know how isolating it can feel. How overwhelming. How much it means to find someone who truly gets it.

If you or someone you love is navigating life with vision impairment and needs someone to talk to, a story to connect with, or simply a reminder that there is a full and meaningful life on the other side of the hardest moments,

I'm here. 🙏

This is part of why I speak. Part of why I show up. And part of why nights like this matter so much more than just an event on a calendar.

Community is everything. 🎤

No peeking. 😄🙈Listening to our guests try to guess what they were eating was honestly one of the highlights of the night...
08/09/2026

No peeking. 😄🙈

Listening to our guests try to guess what they were eating was honestly one of the highlights of the night. The reactions, the wild guesses, the absolute confidence in the completely wrong answers, I loved every second of it. 😂

But here's what struck me in these moments,

When you take away one sense, everything else sharpens. You listen differently. You pay attention differently. You experience the world differently.

That's something I know a little bit about.

And it's exactly why nights like this mean so much to me. Not just the fun but the understanding that comes with stepping into someone else's experience, even just for a moment. 🙏

And this is something I love to bring to the table, literally. 😄

Alongside speaking at corporate events, schools, and private functions, I also host fun, interactive, and immersive experiences just like this one. Nights that get people out of their heads, into the moment, and connecting with each other in ways they didn't expect.

If you're looking for something a little different for your next event, let's chat. 🎤🙌

The stage is one thing. But this? This is where the magic really happens. ✨The conversations around the table. The stori...
06/09/2026

The stage is one thing. But this? This is where the magic really happens. ✨

The conversations around the table. The stories people share when they feel comfortable enough to open up.

Every single chat I had on the night reminded me that we are all carrying something and all we really need sometimes is someone willing to listen.

This is where I belong. 🎤Recently I stood up in front of a room full of people and shared my story for the very first ti...
04/09/2026

This is where I belong. 🎤

Recently I stood up in front of a room full of people and shared my story for the very first time as a speaker.

And I'm not going to lie, it was a powerful moment.

Because when you've spent years feeling like your story is something to hide and then you watch a room full of strangers lean in and actually listen?

Everything changes.

I spoke about my heart transplant. The vision impairment. The café. The depression. The reinvention. And the one thing that has carried me through all of it, the unshakeable belief that no matter what life throws at you, the comeback is always possible.

This is just the start. 🙏🎤

Blind taste testing + good company = a night to remember. 🍷😄The taste testing was just the beginning.What struck me most...
01/09/2026

Blind taste testing + good company = a night to remember. 🍷😄

The taste testing was just the beginning.

What struck me most about the night wasn't the food or the trivia, it was the conversations. The moments where strangers became connections. Where people opened up, laughed together, and genuinely listened to each other.

That's the power of getting people in a room. 🙌

And when I stood up to share my story for the first time, the silence, the nods, the looks on people's faces, I knew. This is exactly where I'm meant to be.

Speaking isn't just about standing on a stage and talking. It's about creating a moment where someone in the room feels seen, heard, and reminded that they are capable of so much more than they give themselves credit for.

That's what happened at the GOPT Charity Trivia event. And I am so ready to bring that to every stage, every corporate event, every school, and every room that will have me. 🎤

Huge shoutout to the legendary Matt from GOPT- Strength and Fitness Gym for being part of this one. 💪

This is just the beginning. 👊

29/08/2026

A little bit about me!

What an incredible night! Honoured to have officially stepped into the world of public speaking as a guest speaker at my...
27/08/2026

What an incredible night!
Honoured to have officially stepped into the world of public speaking as a guest speaker at my very first event with GOPT- Strength and Fitness.

I'm looking forward to many more opportunities to share, connect, and inspire.

27/08/2026

When I walk off that stage, there's only one thing I want you to feel. 🎤

That anything is possible.

Not in a fluffy, feel-good way but in a deep, unshakeable, I-actually-believe-this-now kind of way.

I've been through things that could have stopped me in my tracks for good. And I'm not going to pretend the road back was easy, because it wasn't.

But I'm standing here. And that's exactly the point.

When I share my story, I'm not just telling you what I've been through. I'm showing you what's possible when you refuse to give up on yourself.

If I can come back from what I've faced, a heart transplant, vision impairment, depression, closing down my dream business, and still show up with fire in my belly and a smile on my face?

So can you. 💪

That's why I do this. Every single time.

Would love to collaborate at your next event - https://craigshanahan.com.au/

25/08/2026

Got an upcoming event in mind?

Head over to take a look around at my website, you'll find my speaking topics, my story, and everything you need to know about booking me for your next event, school, or function.

Fill out the enquiry form directly on the site and let's start the conversation.

And if you're not already following along on socials, hit that follow button so you don't miss what's coming next. Big things are in motion. 🎤

https://craigshanahan.com.au/

When you live life as I do, navigating the world with vision impairment, recovering from a heart transplant, rebuilding ...
20/08/2026

When you live life as I do, navigating the world with vision impairment, recovering from a heart transplant, rebuilding after losing a business, you get a lot of time to reflect on what actually matters.

And if there's one thing I keep coming back to, it's this:

Your circumstances do not define your potential.

I know what it feels like to be at rock bottom. To look at your life and wonder how on earth you're going to find your way back. To carry the weight of everything that's gone wrong and wonder if things will ever turn around.

But I also know what it feels like to choose differently.

To decide that the hard stuff, as brutal and as heavy as it is, doesn't get to write the ending of your story.

A heart transplant didn't stop me. 🫀
Vision impairment didn't stop me. 👁️
Depression didn't stop me.
Closing a business I poured everything into didn't stop me.

And whatever you're carrying right now? That doesn't have to stop you either.

Because the comeback is always possible. The reinvention is always within reach. And the best version of you is still out there waiting, it just needs you to take the first step toward it.

That's what I believe. That's what I speak about. And that's what I'm here to share with as many people as I possibly can.

Open for speaking opportunities 👉 https://craigshanahan.com.au/

19/08/2026

Let me tell you a little bit about what I speak on and why these topics mean everything to me. 🎤

✨ Resilience in Adversity
✨ Breaking Down Barriers
✨ Reinvention

These aren't just themes I chose because they sound good. They're the chapters of my life.

Running a café. Facing severe illness. Becoming vision impaired. And then a heart transplant.

Life didn't just throw me a curveball. It threw me a few. And every single time, I had to make a choice, stay down, or figure out who I was going to become next.

I chose reinvention. Every time.

Now my mission is simple. To get in front of as many people as possible and share the tools, the mindset, and the real unfiltered story of what it takes to get back up, so that you can smash your own goals and break through whatever is holding you back.

Because if I can do it, trust me, so can you. 💪

Let's break those barriers together!

Bookings 👉 https://craigshanahan.com.au/

17/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday night for our Charity Trivia Night in support of Vision Australia! 🎉

We kicked things off with a blind food tasting, giving our guests a small insight into what it's like to be vision impaired. From there, I shared more about my story before wrapping up the night with trivia.

A massive thank you to GOPT- Strength and Fitness for partnering with me on this event and helping bring it to life. 🙏

17/08/2026

For a long time, I kept my story to myself. 🤫

Partly because I felt ashamed. Partly because the last thing I ever wanted was for someone to feel sorry for me.

But something shifted and a lot of it happened right behind the counter of the café. Cup by cup, conversation by conversation, I started to see what happened when I let people in. When I was honest about my journey, my struggles, and what it actually looks like to live life as a vision impaired person.

People didn't feel sorry for me. They felt inspired.

And that changed everything.

When I share what I've been through, something happens in the room. People lean in. They see their own challenges differently. They start to believe that maybe, they can push through theirs too.

That's why I'm stepping into speaking.

To raise awareness for disability. To advocate for the vision impaired community. And to help people become the absolute best version of themselves, whatever that looks like for them.

If my story can give even one person the hope they need to keep going, then every hard moment was worth it.

This is my purpose. And I'm just getting started. 🎤
Bookings 👉 https://craigshanahan.com.au/

16/08/2026

About a year and a half ago I hit a wall. Depression had me feeling lost, stuck, and constantly looking for a way out of my own head. I was dealing with it the way a lot of blokes do, alone, and in silence.

Then a close friend invited me to join the men's circle.

That one decision changed everything.

It gave me a space to actually dig into what I was feeling, to build better habits, and to sit alongside other men who were carrying their own weight. I realised I wasn't alone and more importantly, I realised I didn't have to keep pretending I was fine.

That experience uncovered a genuine passion for self-development, for growth, and for being honest about the hard stuff.

And now? I want to use everything I've learned to help others do the same.

Because moving from suffering in silence to openly sharing my story hasn't just helped me, it's shown me that this is exactly what I'm meant to be doing.

Head to the link in my bio to get in touch.

Address

Sydney, NSW

Telephone

+61 2 4706 0591

Website

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