Nitrous oxide a.k.a. nangs, is something I’ve never spoken about on this platform before, yet it’s sold right under our noses. Tiny canisters are available over the counter in almost every tobacconist across Australia, legally accessible to anyone 18 and over.

Sam Bramman was 18 when he first tried a nang at a party. Within just three weeks, he was repeatedly seeking it out, driving from shop to shop and waiting outside tobacconists for them to open.

It then escalated rapidly. While in a manic state, Sam drove from Sydney to the Gold Coast, where he ended up in Surfers Paradise screaming at cars and damaging hotel rooms.

Sam is now sharing his story publicly to raise awareness and advocate for changes to how easily nitrous oxide can be accessed in Australia, particularly among young people.
Visit No 2 Nangs here: https://no2nangs.au/

Instagram: @sambramman

Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.

This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area.

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14

https://www.lifeline.org.au

1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732

https://www.1800respect.org.au

Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea

Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich

Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Jay grew up in Geelong as a young gay dancer, supported at home but often made to feel different outside of it. His early experiences of bullying, trauma and assault shaped the way he saw himself, and how drinking and substances became a way to feel confident and finally accepted.

After moving to Melbourne to study dance professionally, Jay found himself deep in the party scene, but what began as partying eventually escalated into harder substance use and reached a point where his family feared for his life.

Jay speaks openly about hospitalisations, rehab, the moment he saw his dad cry for the first time and the long process of rebuilding his life. Now three and a half years sober, Jay works in the same detox facility he once went through himself.

Jay’s Instagram: @jxytaylor

Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.

This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area.

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14

https://www.lifeline.org.au

1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732

https://www.1800respect.org.au

Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea

Creative Director- Beaudene Perussich

Thumbnail- Jake Abernethy

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Louise Edmonds was a small child when her experience of abuse by her grandfather began in her family home, a place that should have been safe, but wasn’t.

Louise shares her story and how that experience continued over five years, shaping not only her childhood but the course of her life.

Today, she's a passionate advocate working to help others recognise harmful behaviour patterns and understand how abuse can occur within trusted environments, often in ways that are difficult to see in the moment.

Follow Louise on Instagram: @louise.edmonds.media

Louise’s work: https://groomingrecognition.com/about-me/

Bravehearts: https://bravehearts.org.au

Marc Caleb: https://www.essencework.com.au/about.html

Sign the petition: https://c.org/7FWnbrZyyc

Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains graphic and extreme depictions of violence. Listener discretion is advised.

From the moment she was born, Donna was already in withdrawal. Her biological parents were both experiencing addiction and she was adopted soon after birth.

Donna was then raised in a strict, hardworking family and given a stable home. But by high school, she found herself drawn into the orbit of people connected to a bikie gang and began working with them. What followed was a life marked by extreme violence, death and experiences no one should have to endure, including a relationship that ended in a police siege.

Donna knew she had to change her environment to stop using. She moved states, cut ties and started again from nothing. A testament to her sobriety, Donna went on to become a main character in Housos, with more acting work now on the horizon.

Follow Donna on TikTok: @tatts_n_pits

Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Jasmine grew up knowing something didn’t feel right in her home. The good days with her father felt like everything. The bad days felt unbearable. At 15, she witnessed him attempt to take his own life in front of her and her siblings, and from that moment she began using alcohol to cope with what she couldn’t process.

Years later, she was still carrying it all. Moving through her twenties and early thirties with low self-worth, drinking to regulate emotions she never learned how to sit with, until one moment, bottles of wine deep, sitting on the floor after a breakup, forced her to question everything.

Jasmine opens up about receiving a diagnosis of ADHD and OCD in her thirties, masking for years without knowing why, the loneliness that can come with sobriety and what it has taken to slowly rebuild her sense of self.

Instagram: @jasminelisciotto

Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Peter Bates was just a child when his father poured petrol over him and his mother to stop her from leaving. Extreme violence, coercive control, and fear shaped Peter’s childhood, but home wasn’t the only place he was unsafe. At school, he experienced SA at the hands of a male teacher. 

Desperate to escape the violence, Peter found himself homeless at a young age. But after a tragic accident led to the loss of an innocent young life, Peter was sentenced to life in prison, believing his own life was effectively over too. Instead, prison became the place where Peter began to change. 

Peter is now a passionate advocate for domestic violence and coercive control. You can connect or work with Peter Bates below; 

 https://petebatesproject.com/ 

Instagram: @petebatesproject

TRIGGER WARNING: domestic violence, coercive control and suicide discussed in detail. Please listen with care.

Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Growing up around addiction, instability and an absent father shaped the course of Luke’s life long before he understood it.

In this episode, Luke speaks openly about avoiding accountability and the impact his behaviour had on the people around him during the darkest periods of his life. Beneath it all was a lifelong search for love, validation and escape.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses suicide, mental health struggles, violence and domestic violence. Please watch with care.

Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

If a mum of six can walk into her local pub and lose hundreds of thousands on a poker machine, where does the responsibility actually sit?

Is it the machines, engineered to be addictive? The system that allows them to exist in every pub and club across the country? Or the individual sitting in front of them?

In this episode I sit down with Kate Seselja, founder of The Hope Project, who shares her 15-year experience of gambling harm inside Australia's pokies crisis. She opens up about pulling money from her family business and mortgage just to keep playing, and what it actually cost her and her family.

I also bring in a political voice. NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann joins to break down what is really happening, or not happening, in parliament when it comes to poker machine reform in Australia.

Follow The Hope Project on Instagram

Follow Cate Faehrmann on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

You stopped drinking. You changed your habits. So why does it still feel like something is missing?Work, the gym, your phone, the constant chase for more… sometimes the patterns just shift rather than disappear.Trauma Therapist Drew Wild is back on the podcast to go deeper into what might be sitting underneath it all. We talk about the root of these patterns, why we can stay stuck in certain cycles, and what it takes to actually move forward.We also get honest about the identities we outgrow but feel scared to leave behind, our relationship with money and validation, and what you truly want when you strip everything back.Follow Drew Wild on Instagram: @drew_wildBook a session with Drew Wild HERECreator & Host: ⁠⁠Julia RangiheueaReady to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Trigger warning: This episode discusses child SA within a family, domestic violence and su*cide. Listener discretion is advised. Support resources are listed below.

As a teenager, when Tanisha tried to speak her truth, she was not believed by those closest to her. That silence left her carrying a deep emotional weight alone. Over time, she entered a difficult and unsafe relationship, and in that period she began using cash advances to obtain substances, believing she would not have a long future. When the money ran out, she turned to alcohol, believing it was a more socially accepted way to cope. What started as occasional drinking gradually became more frequent. It wasn’t until she began therapy that she was able to reframe her past, reflect on her experiences, and slowly move toward sobriety.

Follow Tanisha on Instagram: @t_soberclub

Creator & Host: Julia Rangiheuea

Ready to share your story? [email protected]

Disclaimer:
The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we aim to present these narratives accurately, the views expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, are not responsible for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.

If this episode has brought up anything for you, support is available:

• 1800RESPECT (24/7): 1800 737 732

• Lifeline (24/7): 13 11 14

• Bravehearts: 1800 272 831

• National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline (24/7): 1800 250 015

If you’re outside Australia, please reach out to your local support services.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.