We are all stronger, braver and more capable than we realise.
Sam Bloom is a 2 x World Para Surfing Champion, bestselling author, and inspiration behind the Australian box-office hit and global Netflix sensation Penguin Bloom, starring and produced by two-time Oscar nominee Naomi Watts.
In 2013, while holidaying in Thailand with her husband and three young sons, Sam unknowingly leant on a rotten balcony railing, falling through it and plunging six metres onto the concrete below. Sam’s injuries were horrific. The near-fatal accident shattered her spine, ruptured her lungs and caused severe bleeding on the brain.
Not only was Sam physically broken and facing the daunting reality of never walking again, but her soul and spirit were crushed. She was not the active, adventurous mother she once was and was convinced if she could not have her old life back, her new one was not worth living.
A serendipitous encounter with a frail and injured magpie chick, her sons dubbed Penguin, was to transform her attitude, change the course of her recovery, and save her family.
Sam and Penguin’s remarkable bond and extraordinary story of parallel recovery was sensitively captured through the lens by Sam’s husband, acclaimed photographer Cameron Bloom. The images formed the basis for the international bestselling book Penguin Bloom, a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Bradley Trevor Greive.
Such is the sheer beauty and power of their story that it inspired a major film of the same name, starring Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln. The movie, released in January 2021, became an immediate hit, claiming #1 at the Australian box office and trending on Netflix in North America and across Europe.
Sam’s is a story for the times, with profound messages for us all - of the power of love and family, and of our innate ability to find determination and courage in the face of adversity.
Talking Points
A Magpie named Penguin
Sam is a refreshingly honest and deeply engaging speaker who takes us on an intimate, visual journey against the backdrop of her husband Cam’s stunning still photography and video.A Magpie named Penguin
Sam tells of the extraordinary highs and painful lows of life before, during and after the accident that changed her life forever, leading us through the journey back from the edge of a deep depression that almost claimed her life.
Not prone to sugar-coating, she pulls no punches about the situation she finds herself in and delivers her message with clarity and purpose to remind her audience that we have to live in the present as we never know what tomorrow will bring.
Sam has a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon and is able to deliver poignant and tailored keynote sessions on a range of themes including resilience, goal setting, facing adversity, family, healing, mental wellness and more.
Your audience will be left deeply touched and truly empowered by Sam’s story.
Video
Sam Bloom | Saxton Speakers
Sam Bloom | Heartache & Birdsong | Saxton Speakers
The heart-warming Australian story Penguin Bloom - the miraculous tale of a baby magpie that helped save a young mother and her family - is a homegrown and international bestseller; soon to be a major Hollywood movie, starring Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln. Sam’s personal message at the end of the book has resonated powerfully with readers - where, pulling no punches, she writes about what it is really like to face life in a wheelchair. In Sam Bloom, Sam tells her own story for the first time - how a shy but determined Australian girl became a nurse and travelled across Africa. How she fell in love with a like-minded free spirit, raised three boys and built a life together on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. And then, in a single horrific moment, how everything changed. Sam’s journey back from the edge of death and the depths of despair is so much more than an account of overcoming adversity. Sam’s captivating true story - written by close friend, New York Times bestselling author Bradley Trevor Greive, and featuring extraordinary photographs taken by Sam’s husband, Cameron Bloom - is humbling, heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure. A triumph of raw emotion and incredible beauty, Sam Bloom: Heartache & Birdsong is a truly unforgettable book.Penguin Bloom | Official Trailer | Saxton Speakers
Penguin Bloom tells the true story of Sam Bloom (Academy Award® nominated Naomi Watts) a young mother whose world is turned upside down after a near-fatal accident leaves her paralyzed. Sam's husband, (Andrew Lincoln), her three young boys and her mother (Academy Award® nominated Jacki Weaver), are struggling to adjust to their new situation when an unlikely ally enters their world in the form of an injured baby magpie they name Penguin. The bird’s arrival is a welcome distraction for the Bloom family, eventually making a profound difference in the family's life.We are incredibly grateful that Sam was able to so eloquently share her story with us yesterday, you are both an inspiration, brave and amazing people! Thank you for your contribution to mak ... keep reading PPG
Sam takes life and the challenges it has provided well and truly 'head on'. This resonates through her presentations and delivery, creating a powerful experience for her audience. If you're seeking a remarkable and inspiring personal story delivered with passion and humility, Sam is an outstanding choice.
Sam impacted our audiences with such humour and realness that we were all moved to tears. Her storytelling brought us all to our feet for a standing ovation, and I’ll forever carry her message with me.
