Speaking and living our truth is a powerful thing, and our truth is our power and our ultimate freedom.
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nathan Spiteri. Nathan Spiteri is a dynamic presence in the realms of filmmaking, acting, and writing, recognized globally for his advocacy, and creative storytelling.
Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
Thank you so much for having me. My path into this work was born from survival. Storytelling became my refuge as a child and later my way of making sense of trauma, shame, and silence. Over time, acting, writing, and filmmaking evolved from escape into purpose — a way to turn pain into connection, advocacy, and change. What began as a means to survive became a calling to use story as a tool for healing, education, and empowering others to reclaim their voice.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
One of the funniest mistakes I made early on was showing up to an audition wildly overprepared in the wrong direction — full emotional intensity, tears ready to go — only to realize halfway through that it was a light comedy. The casting director kindly stopped me and said, “This isn’t that kind of breakdown.” We all laughed, and I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.
The lesson that stuck with me was that preparation matters, but listening matters more. Know the room, trust the moment, and don’t take yourself too seriously. Humility and adaptability will take you much further than perfection ever will.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
I’d tell them not to chase success — chase truth. Learn your craft, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to start before you feel ready. Let your experiences shape your voice rather than define your limits, and surround yourself with people who challenge and support you. Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Real success isn’t overnight; it’s built through resilience, integrity, and showing up even when it’s hard.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
Yes, there is one person who changed my life in the simplest, most profound way. During group therapy, I was asked to name something I was proud of — something I had achieved in life. I soon realized that I had nothing. There was absolutely nothing I was proud of — not one thing. As I broke down, another group member quietly leaned over and said, “Nathan, you’re here. That’s what you should be proud of. That’s what matters most.”
In that moment, everything shifted. He helped me understand that survival itself is an achievement, and that showing up, even broken, is an act of courage. That single sentence became a cornerstone of my healing and continues to guide how I live my life.
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
I try to use whatever platform I have to turn survival into service. Right now, that means amplifying survivor voices through film, speaking, and education; working alongside organizations focused on ending sexual violence and child exploitation; and developing projects. This includes this documentary, a feature film based on my memoir, children’s books, and school-based programs that create awareness, understanding, and real-world change. For me, success only matters if it’s used to reduce silence, restore dignity, and help others feel less alone.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
I chose this cause because it chose me. What happened to me as a child shaped every part of my life — the silence, the shame, the confusion, and the long road back to myself. For years, I carried it alone, believing I was the only one. When I finally spoke and realized how many others were suffering in the same silence, I knew I couldn’t turn away. This work is about making sure survivors don’t have to wait decades to feel seen, believed, and supported. It’s about helping break a cycle that should never continue.
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
Yes. One moment that stays with me is when a man approached me after a talk, barely able to meet my eyes, and said it was the first time he’d ever heard another man speak openly about abuse. He told me he’d carried his secret for over thirty years and that hearing my story gave him the courage to finally tell his partner that night. He later wrote to say it changed the course of his life — not because the pain disappeared, but because he no longer felt alone. That’s when I knew this work truly matters.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
Yes, there are a few powerful ways individuals, society, and government can support this work.
First, individuals can listen without judgment, believe survivors, and speak up when something doesn’t feel right. Creating safe conversations at home, in schools, and in communities changes lives.
Second, society can help by breaking stigma through education — normalizing conversations about consent, boundaries, and abuse so silence no longer protects harm.
And third, governments can invest in prevention, survivor support services, and trauma-informed education in schools, while strengthening laws that protect children and hold perpetrators accountable. Real change happens when belief, education, and action come together.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”.
1. You don’t have to have it all figured out — showing up consistently matters more than having a perfect plan.
2. Your truth is your greatest asset — don’t water it down to make others comfortable.
3. Healing and success aren’t linear — setbacks don’t mean failure; they mean growth.
4. The right people will find you when you stay authentic — stop chasing validation.
5. Take care of yourself along the way — no achievement is worth losing your well-being.
Those five lessons would’ve saved me years of self-doubt and reminded me that the journey is just as important as the destination.
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
If I could start a movement, it would be one that normalizes truth and safety from childhood onward — a global shift where children are taught body autonomy, adults are taught how to listen and believe, and silence is no longer mistaken for strength.
A movement where vulnerability is seen as courage, where survivors are met with compassion instead of judgment, and where early education and open conversation prevent harm before it happens. Because when we teach people to speak early, listen deeply, and protect fiercely, we don’t just change individual lives — we change generations.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
“Freedom is of the mind, not of the body. Speaking and living our truth is a powerful thing, and our truth is our power and our ultimate freedom.”
That quote became a turning point in my life. For years, even after the abuse ended, I was still imprisoned by shame, silence, and fear. I learned that true freedom didn’t come from changing my circumstances, but from reclaiming my truth and how I saw myself. Once I spoke openly and began healing, my mind was no longer held captive by what happened to me — and that’s when real freedom began.
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
I’d love to sit down with Oprah Winfrey. She has spent her life creating space for truth, healing, and difficult conversations to be seen and heard at scale. A conversation with her would be about how storytelling, trauma-informed education, and media can be used not just to inspire, but to fundamentally shift culture, protect children, and give survivors a voice where silence once lived.
Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring, and we wish you continued success!
Social Media Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Nathan Spiteri Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.