In this episode, Matt Ball shares personal stories of hearing voices, spiritual searching, grief, and parenthood, reflecting on how these are all part of being human. We explore why some experiences are labelled acceptable and others not, and consider how all can be meaningful responses to life. We also hear about Just Listening, an approach centred on being present with someone without judgement or trying to fix. At its core, this episode is about the power of being heard just as you are.

What is narrative therapy, and how did it begin? We’re joined by David Denborough, who shares the history of narrative practices, the difference it’s made in people’s lives, and the story of a beautiful group called Power to Our Journeys.

We sit down with Shibs, a proud Wulgurukaba, Gunggandji Woman, Lived Experience worker, and passionate advocate for proactive changes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples accessing mental health services. With warmth and honesty, she shares her journey of navigating identity, living with chronic pain, and the healing that comes from reconnecting with culture and traditional practices.

In this episode, we speak with critical psychiatrist, Jon Jureidini about what it really means to be “not broken.” We explore why psychiatry often looks for simple solutions to complicated problems, how diagnosis can both help and harm, and what it looks like to support someone through tough times instead of shutting those feelings down. This episode is a reminder that not every hard experience is a medical problem—and it doesn’t mean we’re broken.

In this episode, Hayley shares her story of resilience, living through abuse, depression, and misdiagnosis. She reflects on what it means to re-write your story, and how nursing has become her tūrangawaewae — a place where she feels grounded and connected to something bigger than herself.

This conversation with Siswella explores what it was like to lose her memories after intensive ECT and begin again. They reflect on how they found meaning through peer work, the impact of genuine support, and the importance of trusting your intuition.

Katya shares what it’s like to live with an eating disorder, like having two brains: one that loves pasta and ice cream, and one that only wants control. She reflects on how it all began, the role social media played, and why recovery feels like trying to grow a seed in winter—until you find your garden.

Michelle shares her journey supporting two young people through extreme distress, from hospital stays to first responder callouts. She talks about the challenges with emergency services and the healthcare system, the power of being there for someone, instead of trying to fix them, and why she created Kaboose, a community app for neurodivergent people.

After her first daughter’s birth, Bek experienced intense postnatal panic. Misdiagnosed and overmedicated, she spent three years in and out of psychiatric hospitals. In this episode, she shares how she fought to get her life back and regain her agency.

Our guest shares their experience of psychosis and depression, overcoming adversity, finding purpose through reading 200 books in 2 years, and discovering a life worth fighting for.