Get Frank with Mitch McPherson

Christie Hayes is an Australian actress and singer, known for her work on the television series Home and Away.

Now though, she is one half of Hobarts newest breakfast radio announcers on Hit 100.9!

Getting to know Christie a little bit since she moved to Hobart, in the brief times we had chatted Christie had been really open about some of the struggles she had faced in her life. Which of course is at odds with what we usually feel about those that we see on television or read about in magazines.

Christie has been deeply touched by suicide, struggled with becoming a new Mum, has a child with Autism, and now lives away from her family to follow her passion and a wonderful opportunity in radio.

It was a pleasure to sit down with Christie and get an insight into her life and some of difficult things she has faced on her own journey – she really is a powerful, strong, and wonderful person.

Enjoy!

Andrew Hickman is a Registered Nurse who is currently an educator in the Emergency Department at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

After being diagnosed with Congenital Aortic Stenosis in 1987 at just 3 years old, Andrew then ended up having to have open heart surgery the same year. Followed by 3 more heart surgeries all whilst a young boy.

Growing up in Launceston here in Tasmania, Andrew led a life of sport, fun and filled with activities all whilst quitting uni and feeling he had no real sense of direction or purpose in life.

Eventually finding a passion for nursing (after his own experiences of having a heart condition), Andrew spent 14 years Nursing in Cairns before moving back to Tasmania in 2021.

Andrew gave a fascinating insight into the world of frontline nursing in the middle of a pandemic. He shared some of the struggles he and his colleagues did and continue to face because of covid-19. We spoke about the trauma working in an emergency department brings to your everyday life, and how he prioritises self-care to look after his own wellbeing. Andrew also speaks about the special bonds that are forged when experiencing these challenges together in the nursing community – it was really uplifting to hear.

Andrew is such a positive mover and shaker, determined to be his best and to simply bring everyone around him along for the ride.

I also really loved Andrew’s message around finding his purpose later on in life, and the way he lives life now to the absolute fullest.

Thank you to Andrew, and everyone of his amazing colleagues he represented in this episode. We thank you all for your incredible resilience and important work you do.

Enjoy!

Ben Hirst is a Tasmanian Ultra runner and mental health advocate. He takes part in some of the toughest and most gruelling events across the country putting his body through enormous amounts of pain and stress. Why does he do this? To educate people and to raise more awareness about mental health.

Ben has been one of the longest serving Stay ChatTY supporters out there. In this episode, Ben even goes as far as to credit our work for saving his life – which is incredible. He has run on a treadmill straight for 48 hours, ran from Launceston to Hobart in 4 days, around a footy oval non-stop for 7 days, this guy is a running best! Ben has faced some seriously dark days in his life.

With alcohol abuse, dark thoughts and deep mental health challenges throughout his journey – but through some serious openness, vulnerability and important changes In his life, he now leads the way as one of Tasmania’s most well-known and respected mental health advocates. He now even works in suicide prevention for Relationships Australia, so gets to do this important work for a job!!!

Family man, friend, chef, runner and all-round good guy. Please enjoy, and be totally inspired by my episode with the one and only Ben Hirst! 😊.

Safety - This episode deals with issues surrounding mental health, suicide, and self harm, which may be triggering for some listeners. If you need support please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 📞

I want to start off by saying that when Ryan messaged me to ask about being on Get Frank, I knew immediately how hard this would be.

Ryan Wiggins was one of my late brother Ty's best mates. He has been through this whole life changing experience with me and my family, and I owe so much to the love and support Ryan and all of Ty's close group of mates have given me the past 9 and a half years.

12 months ago, Ryan Wiggins suffered a near fatal spinal injury, that has now left him a quadriplegic.

After around 5-6 months in a Melbourne hospital, Ryan has returned home where he now lives with his family, who's lives have been put on hold as they look to now support Ryan for the rest of his life.

Ryan shares with me what he recalls from the incident, hearing the news from his doctors, what life is now like, and his experience of going through all of this in Victoria with covid being so out of control. He talks about his routines now, his rehab, the support he has and continues to need, as well as the change to his mindset after being home and coming to terms (as much as he can) about his new future.

Preparing questions for this chat with Ryan I knew we also had to talk about the loss of my brother, and I knew that it would lead to many different types of emotions in the time I spent with him.

Ryan's life is so different now, and no one would ever want to be in his position. However Ryan already wants to leave a mark on this world, and is determined to be a person that inspires others to fight through challenges wherever he can.

What Ryan has overcome, and the challenges he and his family will forever face are incredibly hard to hear, but his outlook on it now is overwhelmingly moving, and I am just so proud to know him and call him a friend.

Ryan also wanted to use this platform to show how grateful he is for the support so many people gave him through the initial stages of recovery - he certainly shows his gratitude for the support he had, and continues to need moving forward.

Thank you to Ryan and his family for this chat, It means more to me than you will ever know :)

Enjoy!

Julien Moussi is the Director of Inglewood Coffee Roasters, and owner of Only Hospitality Group which is the overarching name to some of Melbourne's most popular cafe's.

Julien is a very successful business man and in recent article's has been called a "café mogul" and (my favorite) a "café Lord". But above all that, he's one of my closest friends.

To spend an hour with "JJ" was something we don't often get to do these days as we live in different states. So it was wonderful for me to be in the presence of such a high energy and positive friend. But whilst I've proudly watched on and known about Julien's successes, hard work and dedication to grow his café empire, the truth is we had never really spoken in depth about how he did it.

In this episode Julien shares with me how he went from making coffees out of a cart at local footy matches, to know running around 30 plus cafes and managing over 400 staff. Not to mention Inglewood Coffee Roasters has now fast become one of the most reputable and fast growing roasters in Australia.

Julien talks about the do's and don'ts when scaling a business, he talks about how risk is important when making business decisions, and he also speaks about the importance of team culture, and how that is a major contributor to his successes.

Loud, driven, energetic, fun and determined. Please enjoy my episode with my good friend and businessman, Julien Moussi :)

Shaun White is the Senior Pastor with C3 Church here in Hobart. Shaun is someone who always gives sneaky insights into his life when I catch up with him, and I have always been so fascinated to know more about him.

Shaun to me has always been a “helper” and a “giver”, and in this chat with him I really did find out why he is that type of person.

Shaun is a former paramedic in Western Sydney who really has seen it all. Shaun shares with me moments in that job that changed him, and things he witnessed that will always be with him. He then went on to develop an aero medical program in the middle east for 5 years. And even ended up setting up a medical program for the King – Huge!

Now though, Shaun is a dedicated man to his family, friends, and of course his church.

In this episode we spoke about the church and the benefits it has bought to Shaun’s life. Why he is so passionate about it, and how it really is a different community to what most people feel it might be.

Shaun is such a cool, kind, motivating guy, and to get this insight into his world is something I am very grateful for.

Enjoy!