Journalist and author Shannon Molloy joined the program to discuss his truly devastating memoir, ‘Fourteen’. Please be aware that this episode delved into some traumatic and confronting issues. TRIGGER WARNING: suicide, self-harm, homophobia, violence. Topics discussed include:

- Yeppoon – the town setting of the story – its masculine ecosystem, what can cause its young males to go angry and what can arise from this pervasive anger and aggression.

- The culture of homophobia, the lack of positive and realistic gay role models and the ubiquitous derision of gay people (i.e. offensive caricature characters in popular television shows/movies) and how this served to stoke up fear and hatred among young men.

- The institutionalised normalisation of homophobia and homophobic acts i.e. teachers not correcting the use of slurs and, conversely, the dedicated teachers and professionals who saved Shannon’s life with their kindness and devotion to him.

- The darkness and the light - the fashion show and Brooke Satchwell’s selfless instinctual act that had such a positive lifelong impact on Shannon.

- And so much more.

I have never had such an emotional interview before. This book, Shannon’s story and Shannon in general got me right in the feels and soul.

If this episode has affected you in any way, please contact: https://www.lifeline.org.au