EPISODE 10: Kelly Louise, Deadly Podcasts @DeadlyPodcasts

In this episode of Sobah Life, Dr Clinton Schultz yarns to social worker, podcaster and country music singer-songwriter Kelly Louise about cultural identity and belonging. 

Being different and being treated badly because of that difference can be really tough, particularly for young people. Having a strong and positive sense of identity is important for wellbeing.

Kelly Louise is a Gunggari woman born and raised on Jagera, Giabal and Jarowair country. Her best advice to her younger self is having self believe and the courage to back yourself to go for it. "You can be anything you want to be, believe in yourself and go get it."

Growing up in Toowoomba appeared to be fairly normal until she hit her mid-teens. Kelly has a non-Indigenous father and an Aboriginal mother that was disconnected to her mob. Being fair skinned left many unexplained questions of identity and belonging.  Looking back on her life now, Kelly recognises that this caused her to feel alone, unsettled and doubtful. "I remember crying thinking 'why is my mum black and I’m white?' Am I white or black?"

Kelly didn’t have access to her culture or Aboriginal Elders to support and guide the development of her cultural identify so she found herself lost traversing young adulthood using alcohol and drugs to block out the pain. "I was continuing a generational cycle of alcohol abuse and self-destructive behaviour."

Having her son at 30 was a turning point in Kelly's life. She decided to study enrolling into Education but soon changed pathways to achieve a Bachelor of Social Work degree at 40. This personal success was only the beginning! It helped to propel her to what she loves doing the most. Now a singer/songwriter, recording artist, podcast founder, journalist and host, media producer and visual arts creator, Kelly is thriving.  

"I am passionate about humanity, environment and animals and believe we all have right to reach our full potential. Deadly Podcasts is a platform that aims to inspire, empower and motivate theta to reach their full potential."

Follow Deadly Podcasts @DeadlyPodcasts on Instagram 

EPISODE 9: Amber Rules, Rough Patch @roughpatchcounselling 

In this episode of Sobah Life, Dr Clinton Schultz yarns to another mental health professional and founder of Rough Patch, Amber Rules.

While Sydney-sider Amber is passionate about pickles, punk music, non-alcoholic spicy margaritas, Stevie Nicks and her cranky old toothless dog Baxter, she is driven by her purpose to create affordable, accessible and compassionate mental healthcare; destigmatising mental health and addiction issues; building connection and community; uplifting marginalised voices; and radical community care.

"As a kid who had a rough childhood, learning how to maintain relationships has been hard, because I didn’t have some of the important foundational skills to be a good friend. I had to unlearn some shitty behaviours and learn how to show up for people, be compassionate, supportive, forgiving and trustworthy, and at times have difficult conversations," says Amber.

"In my opinion, adversity isn’t a good thing for growth - that cliché of “my pain is what made me strong” doesn’t feel right to me. I had to work harder and suffer more as a result of my painful experiences; I survived in spite of it, but honestly, I’d have preferred to not have experienced it at all." Despite having grown up surrounded by abuse and having experienced mental health concerns for most of her young life, Amber is so full of positive energy, compassion and empathy.   

At Rough Patch, Amber is helping create an entirely new mental health service model in Australia - one that will no doubt increase access for people seeking affordable service and will also better working conditions for counsellors.

"I wish I’d had the practical support and care I needed, and I don’t know any advice would have made that easier. I think I would have liked to have known that eventually, I would be able to create a life that felt safer than it was then. I might have told myself “This is going to be really awful for quite some time, but it will get better eventually”," says Amber in reflection.

Hearing about her work, life philosophies and future desires was inspiring.  An important theme to come out of the yarn was that of self-care and it's connection to caring for others.


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Disclaimer:  Sobah Life Podcasts may contain explicit content relating to social-emotional wellbeing concerns such as abuse, addiction, self-harm and suicide. If you are likely to be offended or triggered by the discussion of these topics we recommend you do not listen to our podcasts. Sobah Life is not intended to replace professional help.  If you have any concerns about your social and emotional wellbeing, you should consult your doctor or mental health practitioner.  If you are triggered by any of the content of our podcasts and need immediate assistance you can call Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or if you are a young person, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).  A further list of crisis hotlines can be reached at:
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-services-infographic
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EPISODE 8:  Josh Toole, Community & Country Connectedness for better Wellbeing @blackfitfitness

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Gamilaroi man Joshua ‘Thurston’ Toole, founder of BlackFit Fitness, grew up in Bourke, NSW (Barkjindi Country) with his family ties going back to Coonamble throughout the Castlereagh catchment of northwest NSW (Gamilaraay Country). He now lives in Dubbo (Wiradjuri Country).
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"HEALTH FOR ME IS EVERYTHING,
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT’S ALL WE HAVE..." Josh Toole

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A young man and life-long learner, Josh has an undergraduate degree in Health Science with aims to become Physical Education Teacher (Secondary). Josh is also studying Personal Training and Nutrition.

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Josh has always had a love for health, fitness, and wellbeing. Being a First Nations man and wanting to play a role in "closing the gap", Josh started BlackFit Fitness nearly a decade ago. His passion helps expose Aboriginal children to opportunities to prioritise health and wellbeing.

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BlackFit runs school programs to help teach young Aboriginal children how to have a healthy lifestyle with cultural values, and also provides bush tucker recipes to cook for a healthy and more diverse, traditional food experience. 

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Disclaimer:  Sobah Life Podcasts may contain explicit content relating to social-emotional wellbeing concerns such as abuse, addiction, self-harm and suicide. If you are likely to be offended or triggered by the discussion of these topics we recommend you do not listen to our podcasts. Sobah Life is not intended to replace professional help.  If you have any concerns about your social and emotional wellbeing, you should consult your doctor or mental health practitioner.  If you are triggered by any of the content of our podcasts and need immediate assistance you can call Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or if you are a young person, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).  A further list of crisis hotlines can be reached at:
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-services-infographic
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EPISODE 7:  Danny Heke, Cultural values, and societal deficits. @focuswithdan
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Danny Heke hails from a small rural town in the Central North Island of New Zealand called Te Awamutu. Now he resides in Queensland, Australia with his family.
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At 17 years old Danny joined the Royal NZ Navy as a Combat Sailor (Underwater). He served for 15 years until he moved to Perth to work in the Pilbara mines as an Emergency Services Officer. After 4 years working in the Pilbara in Perth, Danny and his family moved to Brisbane and he currently works for BHP in the Bowen Basin as an Emergency Services officer.
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Danny traverses two different lives while being a week-on-week-off mine worker. He works long 12 hour days and when he is home, Danny loves helping his kids get ready for school and running them around. Danny loves to stay healthy by working out every day, even after a 12 hour work day.
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Danny has seen active war zones and participated in peacekeeping efforts while serving in the Navy during the East Timor conflict in 1999.  "It was an amazing experience and allowed me to help many people, achieve some amazing things." - Danny Heke
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Danny opens up about "warrior upbringings" and how Australia and New Zealand are very similar but also very different..
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Disclaimer:  Sobah Life Podcasts may contain explicit content relating to social-emotional wellbeing concerns such as abuse, addiction, self-harm and suicide. If you are likely to be offended or triggered by the discussion of these topics we recommend you do not listen to our podcasts. Sobah Life is not intended to replace professional help.  If you have any concerns about your social and emotional wellbeing, you should consult your doctor or mental health practitioner.  If you are triggered by any of the content of our podcasts and need immediate assistance you can call Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or if you are a young person, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).  A further list of crisis hotlines can be reached at:
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-services-infographic

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EPISODE 6:  Preston Campbell, Dally M medalist, winner of an NRL grand final, and lead the Indigenous Dreamtime Team. The  Preston Campbell Foundation
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Hailing from Tinga in NSW, Preston Campbell is a proud Gamilaroi and Dunghutti and Gumbyr man and former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Gold Coast Titans of the National Rugby League.
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Preston's career highlights include receiving the Dally M medal in 2001, winning the 2003 grand final with Penrith Panthers, and leading the Indigenous Dreamtime Team to victory against the New Zealand Maoris in 2008. He played 267 NRL games, scoring 84 tries throughout an incredible 14-year career. He was the driving force behind the 2010 establishment of the annual NRL All Stars match.
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Since retiring in 2011, Preston focuses on his community work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, creating the Preston Campbell Foundation and serving as an ambassador for Deadly Choices. Preston is also a partner of the Titans Community team.
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Today, Preston lives on Kombumerri Country (Gold Coast, QLD) with his family. He is a director of the Preston Campbell Foundation and sports apparel company Phyre Apparel.
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The foundation supports Preston's vision of developing programs and opportunities which inspire and mentor participants to achieve their aspirations and dreams by connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with their culture, sense of place, and well-being.

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Instagram @prestoncampbellfoundation
Facebook @Preston Campbell Foundation
Website @https://pcfoundation.org.au
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Disclaimer:  Sobah Life Podcasts may contain explicit content relating to social-emotional wellbeing concerns such as abuse, addiction, self-harm and suicide. If you are likely to be offended or triggered by the discussion of these topics we recommend you do not listen to our podcasts. Sobah Life is not intended to replace professional help.  If you have any concerns about your social and emotional wellbeing, you should consult your doctor or mental health practitioner.  If you are triggered by any of the content of our podcasts and need immediate assistance you can call Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or if you are a young person, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).  A further list of crisis hotlines can be reached at:

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-services-infographic

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Sobah Life Podcast Ep. 5 featuring Amy Armstrong from @dry_but_wet
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Overcoming the "wine-mummy" life, Amy now helps others find the best NA drinks to shift their habits.
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Amy Armstrong, creator of NA drinks review platform Dry But Wet, discusses her self-imposed strive for perfection, "wino mummy" life, and the pressures of 'keeping up with the Joneses' that led to her unhealthy relationship with alcohol.
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Amy and Clinton yarn about how we are expected to drink booze when socialising just to fit into the 'norm'. "I was so good at drinking! But I didn't have a problem..." or so Amy thought.
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"Her story shows that stress is forever present. It comes in many shapes and forms" Dr. Clinton Schultz.  Make sure you listen to Dr. Clinton's takeaways at the end of the podcast 😯
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We're very grateful to Amy for trusting us with her story. We hope you enjoy this episode! Please listen, comment, share and review!
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Disclaimer:  Sobah Life Podcasts may contain explicit content relating to social-emotional wellbeing concerns such as abuse, addiction, self-harm and suicide. If you are likely to be offended or triggered by the discussion of these topics we recommend you do not listen to our podcasts. Sobah Life is not intended to replace professional help.  If you have any concerns about your social and emotional wellbeing, you should consult your doctor or mental health practitioner.  If you are triggered by any of the content of our podcasts and need immediate assistance you can call Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or if you are a young person, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).  A further list of crisis hotlines can be reached at:

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-services-infographic

EPISODE 4: Jeremy Donovan, Walking with Wisdom

Jeremy Donovan is one of Australia’s most celebrated First Nations' keynote speakers, performers, and artists.  A proud Kuku-Yalanji man, Jeremy draws on his personal experiences of adversity and expertise in First Nations culture and values to speak about Indigenous disparity. From the influence of Jeremy’s grandfather and Elders from his community, he has gathered knowledge and understandings of his amazing Cultural heritage which he is able to impart to others.
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Jeremy is an accomplished and published artist, musician, and poet. Jeremy has produced works for Nestle, David Jones, LendLease, Suncorp Bank, and Officeworks. In 2019 Jeremy completed two of the largest individual pieces of Aboriginal artwork measuring 14.1m for LendLease and the historic Barangaroo business district.
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Working with youth is one of Jeremy’s great passions. He travels to both remote and urban communities working with youth development. Jeremy’s work with youth is based around building self-esteem, self-worth, and gaining a greater understanding of Identity - the same battle Jeremy once faced. His message is powerful, purpose-based, and straightforward.
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Disclaimer:  Sobah Life Podcasts may contain explicit content relating to social-emotional wellbeing concerns such as abuse, addiction, self-harm and suicide. If you are likely to be offended or triggered by the discussion of these topics we recommend you do not listen to our podcasts. Sobah Life is not intended to replace professional help.  If you have any concerns about your social and emotional wellbeing, you should consult your doctor or mental health practitioner.  If you are triggered by any of the content of our podcasts and need immediate assistance you can call Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or if you are a young person, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).  A further list of crisis hotlines can be reached at:

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-services-infographic

EPISODE 3: Melissa Lionnet, founder of Its Not Me, Its Booze.

Sobah Life introduces the founder of Its Not Me, Its Booze, Melissa Lionnet. Her experience with alcohol and the effects of parting start at a young age. Mel even chose to work in sales and events where partying was part of her job! It wasn't until a close friend passed that she realized that she wanted good mental health. So, Mel challenged herself to do 30 days off the booze.  A couple of years off of alcohol and her life is "so much better". 

Mel started It's not me, it's booze when she moved to Sydney and wanted to connect with like-minded people and to also keep herself accountable. Now, Mel is a results coach, studying her post-grad in psychotherapy and counseling while also running, It’s not me, it’s booze (INMIB).
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Check out her page @Itsnotmeitsbooze and give her a follow. Also, read her very interesting blog posts where she talks from the booze perspective of life. 
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Disclaimer:  Sobah Life Podcasts may contain explicit content relating to social-emotional wellbeing concerns such as abuse, addiction, self-harm and suicide. If you are likely to be offended or triggered by the discussion of these topics we recommend you do not listen to our podcasts. Sobah Life is not intended to replace professional help.  If you have any concerns about your social and emotional wellbeing, you should consult your doctor or mental health practitioner.  If you are triggered by any of the content of our podcasts and need immediate assistance you can call Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or if you are a young person, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).  A further list of crisis hotlines can be reached at:

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-services-infographic

EPISODE 2: Chris Faneco, Construction Industry Safety Officer & Athlete

Introducing my next guest and long-time friend, Chris Faneco. Gold Coast born and bred, Chris was wanted it all, but that desire led him to falling in with the wrong crowd and subsequently spending time in jail. He now takes nothing for granted... His story will show a perspective of life that some people may never think of.
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Disclaimer: Sobah Life Podcasts may contain explicit content relating to social-emotional wellbeing concerns such as abuse, addiction, self-harm and suicide. If you are likely to be offended or triggered by the discussion of these topics we recommend you do not listen to our podcasts. Sobah Life is not intended to replace professional help.  If you have any concerns about your social and emotional wellbeing, you should consult your doctor or mental health practitioner.  If you are triggered by any of the content of our podcasts and need immediate assistance you can call Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or if you are a young person, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).  A further list of crisis hotlines can be reached at:
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-services-infographic

EPISODE 1: Shanna Whan, Sober in the Country
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Shanna Whan @sober_in_the_country, a woman that lives on Gamilaroi country of North Western NSW, says she is a ''very unlikely national spokesperson for change when it comes to the complex subject of our great love affair with booze in the bush".
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It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to yarn with Shanna, the founder of the not-for-profit Sober in the Country Ltd (SITC) who also created the campaign ‘OK2SAYNO’ which is making sure that we are putting our mates and their health first.
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Shanna almost lost her own life to alcohol addiction in 2015 and man did she turn her life around, and for the better of many! In 2021, Shanna was recognised with the NSW Australian of the Year "Local Hero" award! Huge congratulations Shanna!
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https://www.soberinthecountry.org
www.instagram.com/sobahlife_podcast
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-clinton-schultz-65a18a197/ 
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Disclaimer:  Sobah Life Podcasts may contain explicit content relating to social emotional wellbeing concerns such as abuse, addiction, self-harm and suicide. If you are likely to be offended or triggered by the discussion of these topics we recommend you do not listen to our podcasts. Sobah Life is not intended to replace professional help.  If you have any concerns about your social and emotional wellbeing, you should consult your doctor or mental health practitioner.  If you are triggered by any of the content of our podcasts and need immediate assistance you can call Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) or if you are a young person, Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).  A further list of crisis hotlines can be reached at:

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-services-infographic