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Season 2, Episode 23

I reflect on why I can honestly say “thank you” to PTSD even while admitting the low points, and how reframing my diagnosis helps me keep moving forward. I share the song and thought that keep me grounded, plus a small moment with a friend that completely changed how I hear my own self-talk. 
• saying “thank you” to PTSD and what that mindset shift unlocks 
• Dream On by Aerosmith as a reminder that life continues after trauma 
• the past can still hurt and the value of learning from it 
• catching negative self-talk with the line “Please do not talk about my friend like that” 
• practising the catchphrase be kind to yourself 
• returning to pickleball carefully and the power of community 
• surprising my parents with a Cosentino show and why local arts matter 
• a parenting milestone and dreaming about future travel 
• thought of the week: our freedom is how we react to things 
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow. 

Song of the week:
Dream on - Aerosmith
https://youtu.be/89dGC8de0CA?si=i-EwRR7Gze00t20k

Thought of the week:
The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy
"One of our greatest freedoms is how we react to things"

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Season 2, Episode 22

We hand the mic to the other Mel for Takeover Week and answer listener questions with no prep, which turns into a funny, honest look at my life with PTSD. We talk recovery tools, the awkward reality of boundaries, and the small ways people can show up that actually help.
• pop culture updates and why self-kindness comes first 
• secret talents including guitar and why music matters after trauma 
• the weird things we believed for way too long 
• scent memories and how sensory cues can transport you 
• choosing honesty over excuses when I am not coping 
• habits that can drive people crazy and the routines I rely on 
• PTSD recovery supports including inpatient stays and TMS 
• box breathing, grounding, art, puzzles, and social connection 
• what to text when checking in and why “thinking of you” works 
• what not to say when someone is struggling 
• living without shame about medical retirement and identity changes 
• what I would say to PTSD and why gratitude can coexist with pain 
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram and don't forget to like and follow. 
Don't forget to be kind to yourself.

Thought of the Week:
"People will forget what you said and forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" - Maya Angelou

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Season 2, Episode 21

We talk through what PTSD recovery looks like on an ordinary week, from loneliness and broken dreams to the quiet pride of noticing real progress. We share a trigger test that goes better than expected, plus the small routines, friendships, and boundaries that help us stay steady. 
• asking you to send in burn-in questions for Mel’s upcoming takeover interview 
• linking “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” to the loneliness and grief of a PTSD diagnosis 
• watching a crash documentary despite it being a trigger and noticing no nightmares or anxiety spike 
• taking a real win seriously as proof of progress after years of work 
• entering a quilt and cushions in a Blue Mountains competition and making a Sydney day trip out of it 
• managing a stubborn knee injury while keeping expectations realistic 
• needing solitude more after diagnosis and feeling the strain of a busy house of teenagers 
• ending on the idea that our freedom lives in how we choose to react 
So send an email to her at askmadmel at gmail.com and she will collate all the questions. 
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow. 

Song of the Week:
Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
https://youtu.be/Soa3gO7tL-c?si=dxvlkOjoV52MCpHj

Thought of the week:
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - Charlie Macksey
"One of our greatest freedoms if how we react to things"

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Season 2, Episode 20

We bounce from pop culture to real life, using humour and friendship to make sense of memory lapses, big feelings, and the messy middle of everyday coping. We recap Toy Story, spiral a little on Taylor and Travis wedding rumours, and end with a simple reminder to listen less to fear and more to dreams. 
• picking a song that feels like our friendship 
• forgetting details but still feeling understood 
• Toy Story thoughts on devices and imagination 
• surviving a packed day-session cinema with kids 
• scepticism about AI leaks and celebrity wedding photos 
• knee recovery, eye infection, and adjusting to multifocals 
• debating a careful return to pickleball 
• planning a listener questions takeover with rapid-fire answers 
• practising happiness with “toodaloo” and a smile 
• thought of the week from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse 

Please. Ask sorry, it's [email protected]. 
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow. 

Song of the Week:
Your Nonsense Makes Sense - 502's
https://youtu.be/5UD9xpY7QXI?si=lUTzudCo-c6uRmp1

Thought of the Week:
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy
"most of the old moles I know wish they had listened less to their fear and more to the dreams"

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Season 2, Episode 19

I share the real reason I started talking publicly about PTSD and how recording has become a surprising kind of therapy for me. I connect a song lyric to the hardest parts of recovery, then bring it back to everyday life with pain, setbacks, and the small social choices that keep me from isolating. 
• my PTSD turning point at 37 and the end of my police career 
• why telling my story out loud feels cathartic and healing 
• learning from other people during inpatient mental health treatment 
• the message behind “Weakness” and why PTSD does not define us 
• how PTSD can look like weakness when it takes over sleep, relationships and independence 
• the reality of ebbs and flows and counting small wins 
• knee pain, missing sport, and the risk of isolating at home 
• book club as a reminder that showing up can be worth it 
• thought of the week on comparing yourself to others 
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow. 

Song of the week:
Weakness by Dan Bremnes
https://youtu.be/aWIko5OwZ-k?si=323pUTzO-Rn03AHF

Thought of the week:
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy
"What do you think is the biggest waster of time? comparing yourself to others, said the mole"

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Season 2, Episode 18

I talk through a cold, hard week and why showing up online with raw honesty helps me feel less alone and helps others feel seen. A Toy Story song opens up a bigger truth about PTSD, identity loss, and why tiny actions and real connection keep me from sliding into isolation.
• posting TikTok and social videos despite perfectionism 
• creating a podcast to reach people who feel isolated 
• using “Strange Things” to explain PTSD symptoms and shock 
• grieving identity after PTSD and leaving policing 
• knee MRI results and the emotional hit of losing sport 
• balancing rest for injury with movement for mental health 
• leaning on sewing and guitar as grounding tools 
• pushing against isolation with mates, book club, and small plans 
• thought of the week on being small and making a difference 
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.

Song of the Week
Strange Things - Randy Newman
https://youtu.be/HQHdqbJQMrc?si=ZwwZhnDZMSvsO-mv

Thought of the week:
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The House by Charlie Mackesy
"Im so small, said the mole. Yes, said the boy, but you make a huge difference"

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Season 2, Episode 17

My knee injury has me sidelined from the sports that keep me grounded, and I can feel my brain racing ahead to the worst outcomes. I talk through how pain, poor sleep, and uncertainty flare my PTSD, and how I’m trying to use my tools before I slide too far down the snake. 
• skipping song of the week because nothing resonates 
• asking listeners for song suggestions and why they matter 
• MRI booked and the stress of waiting for answers 
• grief and fear about not playing team sport again 
• how family time and identity are tied to basketball 
• irritability and low mood when pain wrecks sleep 
• motivation gaps even when I know what helps 
• reframing “it is what it is” as a coping choice 
• reminders from PTSD recovery tools and self-compassion 
• vulnerability as the most honest way to podcast 
please um just email me or message me the song that you would like to hear played. And if you are up to it, maybe just chucking in there why you like that song as well. 
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow. 

Thought of the week:

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy

"Always remember you matter, you're important and you are loved, and you bring into this world things no one else can"

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Season 2, Episode 16

I’m riding a wave of optimism while also dealing with knee pain that’s starting to tug at my mental health. I talk through how I keep myself from sliding into isolation by leaning on practical tools, supportive people, and a more hopeful inner voice. 
• song of the week and why bad days can still be “worth gold” 
• knee injury update, physio appointment, and being sent for an MRI 
• the link between physical pain and psychological wellbeing 
• choosing a short-term response without letting it become long-term 
• using exercise that fits the injury, including swimming and physio work 
• prioritising connection to avoid the isolation spiral 
• simple breathing practice on waking and drinking water for hydration 
• sleep disruption from pain and how it affects patience and relationships 
• why mentoring helps turn big goals into small achievable steps 
• finding community through shared interests like quilting and sewing 
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow. 

Song of the Week:

Luke Combs: Days Like These

https://youtu.be/uGsmAZCwrG8?si=Y1E-fiz9XHlE4Gwu

Thought of the Week:

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - Charlie Mackesy

"I'm not afraid" said the mole, "if I wasn't caught in this snare I'd kill you" said the fox. "if you stay in that snare you will die" said the mole. So the mole chewed through the wire with his tiny teeth"

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Season 2, Episode 15

I talk about why friendship and connection can feel like the missing piece when life gets heavy, from Toy Story nostalgia to what real support looks like in practice. We also unpack recovery lessons from a course in Newcastle, a powerful cancer resilience story, and my ongoing work to reframe PTSD as a significant life event with hard parts and real positives. 
• Taylor Swift fandom and why Toy Story sparks nostalgia and hope 
• song of the week as a way to focus on friendship and support 
• leaning on the people who keep showing up even after we push them away 
• a simple way to check on a mate by texting “thinking of you” 
• the importance of connection and community for mental health recovery 
• what Mark Hughes’ brain cancer journey teaches us about resilience 
• keeping perspective while remembering that every struggle is relative 
• reframing PTSD and other challenges as significant life events 
• finding small positives alongside setbacks, including injury and rehab 
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow. 

Song of the Week:

I Will Go Sailing No More - Randy Newman

https://youtu.be/AOBIcW4hIBw?si=YgrUtd5z2yOjlRA8

Thought of the Week:

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy

"What do we do when our hearts hurt? asked the boy. We wrap them with friendship, shared tears and time, till they wake happy and hopeful again"

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Season 2 Episode 14

I’m recording from Newcastle while I’m deep in learning and thinking about what real change looks like when you live with PTSD. I use Green Day’s “Still Breathing” to remind you that if you’re still here, you can start again and you can move forward, even if it’s slow. 

• correcting last week’s song credit mix-up 
• taking The Change Room course and why I recommend it 
• simple breathing and movement tools you can weave into daily life 
• “still breathing” as a mental health turning point 
• why recovery has no time frame and no neat finish line 
• honest talk on suicidal lows, hospital stays, and rebuilding 
• choosing change, practising tools, and dropping relapse shame 
• swimming mornings with my son and the value of shared time 
• needing alone time as a parent and protecting downtime 
• sleep hygiene habits, reading at night, and reducing phone use 
• big kids bring big problems and we learn as we go 
• what my PTSD journey teaches my kids about mental health 
• thought of the week on choosing kindness 

You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow. 
Have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to yourself.

Song of the week:

Still Breathing - Greenway

https://youtu.be/SUzsih7QJSY?si=ndffQuJrrzBf56Gu

Thought of the Week:

The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - Charlie Mackesy

"What do you want to be when you grow up? asked the mole. Kind, said the boy"