LivingWell Talks

Dr Mel Baker sits down with Scott Brodie, director and horseman from the charity Horse Aid, for an insightful conversation. Mel, who served in the police and navy, medically discharged in 2015, found Scott’s program to be transformative.

Scott shares his journey of working with horses, from his time with the police Mounties to retraining Thoroughbreds after their racing careers. He discovered striking parallels between the trauma experienced by racehorses and that of military personnel and first responders. By bringing the two together, a powerful, mutual healing process unfolds.

They both stared in the award-winning film The Healing documentary, which showcases this extraordinary work. Today, Scott’s efforts have grown into Horse Aid, a charity dedicated to building hope, resilience, fostering connection, and guiding participants toward post-traumatic growth.

This is a special episode as part of Podcasthon 2025 raising awareness for Horse Aid. Horse Aid thrives on the community’s generosity to support serving and former first responders and military personnel with PTSD. 

Links: The Healing documentary, Baker's & Brodie's prequel book Conflict to Hope, Horse Aid, and the Living Expressions episode featuring participants’ stories.  

In this long-awaited episode, Dr Mel Baker dives deep into the concept of Paradoxical Unity. Mel returns with a powerful message about living life without the need for entitlements or "you owe me" attitudes. Instead, she encourages listeners to embrace their true selves, be free of this, and find peace in the present moment.

Drawing from her own experiences of immense stress, pressure, and relived trauma, Mel shares how a simple parrot brought her back to the present, alleviating her stress and reminding her of the importance of self-care. She discusses the significance of recognising that we are not our emotions or circumstances and highlights the importance of the question, 'What is happening for you in this moment?' as a tool for reflection and grounding.

Despite the challenges, Mel continued to give and support others, finding strength in the concept of Paradoxical Unity. She shares valuable insights on how to live a satisfying life even in the midst of chaos and hopelessness.

In the quiet spaces where secrets fester, we find hidden truths waiting to be unveiled. This episode echoes the resilience of survivors, the power of belief and the urgent need for change. Let our voices reverberate through the silence, dismantling disbelief, and creating a world where every survivor is heard, believed and empowered. 

If you would like to share your story with Dr Mel Baker, please reach out. Stories shared - echoes of resilience and healing - can break the silence and ignite change.

In this episode, American filmmaker from KINO Studios in Los Angeles speaks with Australian writer and filmmaker Mel Baker. We discuss the backstory to her award winning short film, 'Say My Name'. We also explore the intricate process of how this remarkable film was brought to life, and more importantly, the profound societal impact it aims to achieve.

'Say My Name' serves as a beacon of hope for countless survivors of child abuse who have been unjustly silenced. It's a testament to the power of storytelling in shedding light on the darkest corners of our society.

Mel shares her story to empower individuals who have also endured trauma, encouraging them to find their voice, conquer challenges, and ultimately, cast aside the shackles of shame. Join us on this journey of discovery, resilience and liberation.

Mel's book Sleeping Under the Bridge (2022) that the film is based on is available now, and her short film will be available to see later in 2024.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed or suffered from a traumatic experience? Most of us have experienced extreme situations where we feel so stressed or overwhelmed, it is hard to think, hard to see clearly and certainly hard to find the way out.

In this episode, I explore those situations and through my own experiences I share the gifts that fall from the sky when we need them the most. Are we open to see and receive them? Are we ready to challenge what is in front of us with the tools that we already have?

Do you thrive in order or chaos or both? Have you experienced the space in-between? This episode explores why we need both order and chaos to survive, and what it feels like to experience the space in-between. I have named this the natural euphoria, as it is the most amazing pure energetic unity unfolding moment one can ever experience.

This week has been homelessness week. Being homeless is such a vulnerable place. On this episode, I chat with 3QUIRKS from 89.3FM, about my new book Sleeping Under the Bridge and the tools we need to transform our lives. It is an inspiring listen to hear from 4 passionate people wanting to help empower others. Topics include tools to find within ourselves, self-love and purpose.