On the outside I seemed strong,
but on the inside
I was falling apart
On the outside
I seemed strong,
but on the inside
I was falling apart
About Meddy
From shame
to
strength
Meddy Goossens shares her story of resilience and connection
Meddy Goossens’ life changed overnight at the age of nineteen, when private images from her past were shared online without her consent. What followed were years dominated by shame, silence, and guilt.
The fear of being recognized, whispered about, and judged had a profound impact on her emotionally. Yet it did not stop Meddy from building a career in politics, crisis communication, and government project management.
She chose not to let her story define the end of her journey, but the beginning of something greater. By breaking the silence, she discovered that vulnerability and radical openness can become a powerful source of strength. The strength to reclaim ownership of your own story and your own life, and to inspire and create awareness in others.
Through her book SHAMING and as a keynote speaker, she shares her raw and deeply personal story: about her darkest moments and the light she eventually saw at the horizon. She shows which impact our behavior and words can have, both online and offline. She creates connection and opens up the topics we too often avoid, for discussion SHAMING en als keynotespreker deelt ze haar rauwe verhaal, over haar donkerste momenten en het licht aan de horizon. Ze laat zien wat de impact is van ons gedrag en onze woorden. Online én offline. Ze verbindt en maakt bespreekbaar wat we nog te vaak vermijden.
Meddy shows that one person can make a difference in someone else’s life, and that no matter how painful a situation may be, you can always choose to emerge from it stronger and more resilient.
Her story
Shaming and victim blaming
One click and a photo is forwarded; one second that can change someone’s life forever. “Stupid, your own fault,” is often the first reaction, but it does not help. The damage has already been done.
She wants to start the conversations we have avoided for far too long: about sexting, shame, and the way we treat one another in a digital world increasingly shaped by AI. Breaking through discomfort and challenging taboos.
The book
Meddy's book: SHAMING
I wrote a book. About what it feels like to unwillingly end up naked on the internet. What happens when the media mentions your name, but not your truth. How digital humiliation can tear apart your career, your relationships, and your future. Unless you decide to transform that pain into something else.
For years, others told stories about her. Now Meddy tells her own story: raw and honest.
Welcome to the book launch
Location: Kasteel Elsloo
Date: dinsdag 9 juni 2026
Start programme 19:00h (walk-in 18:30h)
End: at about 21.00h
Live at stage
Speaker: Meddy’s Story live
How do you respond as a parent, teacher, manager, or policymaker when someone in your environment experiences this? Meddy knows how much it matters when someone stands beside you, asks how you are really doing, and chooses to listen instead of judge.
She speaks to all kinds of audiences: young people, parents, schools, managers, and policymakers. The combination of her personal experience and professional background within diverse organizational cultures, enables her to strike the right chord every time, and leave audiences deeply moved.
keynote speaker
Meddy as a speaker:
her story
live
How do you respond as a parent, teacher, manager, or public leader, when someone around you goes through something like this? Meddy knows how much difference it makes when someone sits beside you, genuinely asks how you are doing, and chooses to listen instead of judge you.
She speaks to all kinds of audiences: young people, parents, schools, managers, and policymakers. The combination of her personal experience and professional background within diverse organizational cultures, enables her to strike the right chord every time, and leave audiences deeply moved.