Emerge and See Podcast

WARNING: part of the episode will talk about suicidal thoughts. Save this episode for a later date if you need to.

Join us for our final episode of season 2 as we chat with Jason Kirkaldy who is an operational Paramedic with NSW Ambulance (Opinions are his own and he is not representing NSW Ambulance).

Jason will also be the co-host of season 3 alongside 'Robin'.

In Jason's 15 years as a Paramedic he as overcome physical and psychological injuries to remain an operational Paramedic. Due to his experiences he has become an advocate for first responder mental health and started the NSW Ambulance Pacemakers, an all inclusive run club to build connection outside of the workplace.

Jason discusses his injuries, experiences in the workers compensation scheme, running, recovery and everything in between.

If this episode has raised anything for you please reach out to:

Lifeline for crisis support 24/7: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue 24/7: 1300 22 46 36

Note: this was recorded in November 2025 and some information might be out of date.

Please join us as we chat to Station Officer Samuel Parkhouse who is currently serving with Fire & Rescue NSW.

Sam's story is a truly inspiring one for those who want to make a difference in the lives of others and help those who might be struggling. Listen on as Sam talks to us about the Fire and Rescue NSW Retreat that he championed, launched and continues to facilitate for those struggling with PTSD or other related issues.

What Sam has done is testament to his dedication to helping others and goes to show we can all make a difference if we put our mind to it. Sam rallied the organisation, insurers and the frontline to make his vision happen and the result is an asset that benefits the whole organisation everyday. Hopefully his story lights a fire in all of us to believe in ourselves and be unafraid of failure in the pursuit of something good and right.

Content Warning: Please note this episode discusses suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

Join us today to hear from @aussiepeakexplorer, Ben, who is a retired police officer with some very lofty goals!

Ben has decided to set his sights high with the goal of achieving the 100 peaks challenge. This challenge involves conquering the 100 tallest peaks in 100 countries. Ben is halfway through this huge undertaking and is fundraising for Emerge & See as part of this pursuit.

Hear about the challenges, logistics and fun involved in this challenge for Ben and then head over to his instagram to follow on and to https://www.emergeandsee.org.au/aussie-peak-explorer-100-country-peaks-for-es-mental-health to donate!

In this episode we hear from Dr Jason Kenner the mental health advisor for the Australian Music Therapy Association. He is also the Director of Melbourne Music Therapy with 17 years of clinical experience in a range of health settings and a PhD in mental health.

Listen as Dr Kenner explains what music therapy is, what inspired him to become a Registered Music Therapist and how we can use music to not only deal with trauma and mental health challenges but also how to utilise music to improve our mood and manage our mental health.

Content Warning: Please note this episode discusses violence and graphic incidents. Listener discretion is advised as some discussions may be intense or distrubing.

John Breda joins us today to talk through his experiences as a Policer Officer with 25 years service and to take us through a critical incident he was involved in.

Listen as he discusses his journey to recover from the injuries he sustained and the importance of hope and resilience in that process. John's story is inspirational and ends on reinforcing the good we can do for our community and a call to action regarding Bleed4Blue and donating blood.

Listen to the story of Bridget and Craig Thomas, a lovely couple who have a positive story of hope to share. Bridget is a former emegency nurse and Craig is a former Paramedic.

Craig speaks to the trauma he experienced, his diagnosis and recovery, while Bridget shares the perspective of a family who only want to support the husband and father they love.They will take us through Craig's exit from NSW Ambulance and the challenges and success he had exploring what has helped him to manage his injury, including float therapy.

This jouirney of hope has led to Bridget and Craig running a very successful business at City Cave Richmond and continuing to help the emergency services community by providing a space to pursue wellness.

Listen on as they explain the benefits of float therapy, infrared sauna and more.

The Emerge and See podcast returns in this episode kicking off Season 2!

Listen on as you meet your new host Daniel, a currently serving firefighter who is interested in all things health, both physical and mental.

Joining him is a familiar voice, the host and Emerge and See Podcast royalty, Sarah.

Daniel and Sarah will have a chat about what is in store for Season 2, including the season focus which is Strong Mind, Strong Body.

Then hear from Sarah as she takes Daniel through the journey of starting the podcast, the challenges she overcame in getting it going and what it's done to help her recovery.

Pia Schindler is the co-founder of Emerge and See and an

We will be back in 2025

This is the final episode of season 1. Sarah will be taking

Please send her some feedback / suggestions to

Meet Sarah / Support Emerge and See

Come down to ⁠B.U Functional Fitness ⁠in

Thank you from Sarah

Thanks for listening and for your support as I navigated

In this episode of the Emerge and See Podcast, host Sarah speaks with Rosie Skene, a former police officer who shares her journey through trauma, mental health challenges, and recovery. Rosie discusses her experiences in law enforcement, the impact of PTSD, and the importance of support systems. She highlights her transition from police work to creating a wellness program for first responders, emphasizing the role of yoga and self-care in healing. The conversation also touches on the significance of sharing stories and building community to combat the stigma surrounding mental health.

Check out Tactical Yoga Australia for more info or to reach out to Rosie:

W:tacticalyogaaustralia.com.au

Instagram: tacticalyogaaustralia

Check out Rosie's podcast, Triumph Beyond Trauma on spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

For more info about Emerge and See, visit emergeandsee.org.au.

Send the host of this podcast an email at [email protected]

Fundraiser for Emerge and See:

Buy raffle tickets here:

Come on the day:

B.U Functional Fitness

160 Hartley Rd Smeaton Grange, NSW.

Denby Eardley is a medically retired NSW police officer who has developed a love for yoga. She now shares that passion and knowledge with first responders. Join Sarah as she chats with Denby about life in the police as a young female Constable in the 80's, through to her PTSD diagnosis and discovery of yoga.

A message from Denby:

My instagram and FB pages Just You Yoga has links to contacting me, my website and my NeuroFit Wellness course. Happy to chat with anyone who feels that they need this. ‘You find Yoga when you are ready.’

I’ll leave that here. 

Namaste 

You can find free resources from Denby on the Emerge and See App. Visit emergeandsee.org.au for more info.