"I've been close enough to the edge to know the darkness, and the way back. To know why hope isn't optional; it's oxygen”
Ellie Palma-Cass
Let’s have a proper conversation
Everything changed for me after a powerful faithful experience in my early thirties. It gave me the strength to keep going, even when life was at its hardest. That’s what’s carried me through physical and emotional trauma, suicidal thoughts, and the kind of setbacks that could’ve finished me off. Major spine surgery, a serious cycling accident, and starting over more than once.
EPiC HOPE wasn’t part of the plan but helping people find a reason to stay is what keeps me moving. I’m able to talk honestly about overcoming adversity, grief, childhood trauma, mental health struggles and the like, because I’ve lived it. For me, hope isn’t just a feeling, it’s something I practise every single day, whether for me or holding it for someone else.
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Every conversation makes a difference.
Then there was the major spine surgery. Just when I thought I’d recovered from that, life had other plans. A van came out of nowhere, leaving me with years of recovery and permanent neurological injuries. But what did I learn? Well, that our limitations don’t have to be our prison walls. They can be the foundation we build from.
My struggles with trauma, suicidal thoughts and bad mental health started long before EPiC HOPE existed. Like many of us, I learned about depression and anxiety the hard way. Through years of therapy, countless setbacks, and eventual breakthroughs, I discovered something important. Hope isn’t just an emotion. It’s a skill. A practice. It’s a choice you make every single day.
Outside of EPiC HOPE, I’m a proud mum, a constant learner, and someone who drinks too much tea and sometimes forgets to water my plants. But every morning, I wake up knowing exactly why I’m here. To show people that hope isn’t just some abstract concept. It’s a lifeline. And sometimes, that’s all we need to make it through another day.
If you want to know more about the work we do at EPiC HOPE click here. Or are you ready to book me for a speaking engagement? Head over to my speaking page. Just want to connect? Drop me a message.
Because in this work, every connection matters.
Bestselling Author
Writing my memoir Broken to Blooming wasn’t a choice all those years ago, it was a necessity. After sharing the story of my early life, from birth to 30 years, on stages across the country, I kept meeting people who needed to know they weren’t alone in their struggles. My memoir isn’t about perfect endings. It’s about messy middles and the courage to keep going. It’s about what saved me and how we never really know what’s around the corner. Every page carries the same message. Your darkest chapters don’t get to write your ending.
Ellie’vation came from a different place. As a devotional, it’s my daily reminder that hope shows up in the smallest moments. Some days, just getting out of bed is an act of courage. Other days, you might conquer the world. Both matter. Both count. Through these daily readings, I wanted to give people what I needed most during my own tough times. A gentle nudge forward and the reminder that they’re stronger than they think.
Both books carry the same truth I’ve learned the hard way. There’s always a path through adversity. Always. Sometimes you just need someone who’s walked through fire to show you where to step.
