Christmas is often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a day that's meant to be filled with joy and love. But what if you're not feeling joyful because you're missing a loved one or you're dealing with the end of a significant relationship? How do you face the empty chair at the Christmas table?
Petrea King is one of the most respected grief counselors in the country. She’s counseled over 120,000 people living with cancer and other life-challenging illnesses as well as people dealing with grief, loss, trauma, and tragedy through her foundation, Quest For Life.
She knows what’s it’s like to be facing Christmas with a death, diagnosis or divorce looming after she lost her brother to suicide, and received her own diagnosis of a rare form of leukemia.
So what's her advice on how to navigate Christmas when you're not feeling joyful?
THE END BITS:
You can listen to Mia's 2018 chat with Petrea here - https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/no-filter/the-empty-chair-at-the-christmas-table/. 
GET IN TOUCH:
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/
Check out our No Filter YouTube channel here... https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvoiVNEFfHiJl8nC4NepRNw?view_as=subscriber
CREDITS:
Host: Mia Freedman. You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.
With thanks to our guest: Petrea King
Producer: Leah Porges
Executive Producer: Elissa Ratliff Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Empty Chairs At The Christmas Table

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When Remington and his husband Alain welcomed three children into their home 18 months ago, as foster parents, they knew their lives would never be the same. What they didn't know is how long their children would stay.

In Australia, thousands of children find themselves in foster care for various reasons: neglect, abuse, trauma or simply their biological parents can't afford to raise them.

Remington Meyer talks to Mia Freedman in this No Filter episode about the deeply emotional journey of bringing kids into their lives and what it's like shifting your world from just a quiet couple to a vibrant house of five. 
And he answers the question: how do you open your heart knowing you might have to say goodbye?

If you’re interested in being a foster carer, please contact Anglicare Southern Queensland via their website or call 1300 000 828 or head to Barnardos Australia.

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Listen to more No Filter interviews here and follow us on Instagram here.

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Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au

Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review.  

CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Producers: Gia Moylan & Kimberley Braddish 

Audio Producer: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Remy And Alain Became Fathers To Three Children Overnight

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Lauren Jackson is the GOAT in Australian women's basketball. Her last Olympic games was in 2012 and she retired from the sport in 2016 after a routine leg wax while recovering from an ACL injury went bad. 

Then, in 2022, aged 41, she made a comeback to the sport and now at 43 she is part of the team who qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics. 
In the third episode of this special No Filter mini-series, Lauren talks to guest host Libby Trickett about how guilty she feels leaving her two young boys to travel for work and what she puts her body through every day. And is she going to Paris? 
 
THE END BITS:

Lauren Jackson is on Instagram here.

Listen to more No Filter interviews here and follow us on Instagram here.

Discover more Mamamia podcasts here.

Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au

Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

CREDITS:

Host: Libby Trickett 

Producers: Kimberley Braddish & Courtney Ammenhauser 

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BONUS EPISODE: Why Lauren Jackson Came Back To Basketball At 41

You can hear the second half of Mia's conversation with Patric here. 

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Patric Gagne is not what most people picture when they hear the word ‘sociopath’. For example, she’s married and has two children. She’s a functioning member of society. She has friends.
Sociopaths tend to lie, break laws, act impulsively and they have little regard for their own safety because they simply don’t have fear or guilt. All these things are true for Patric.
In this conversation Patric talks to Mia Freedman about the emotions she doesn't feel, the signs that popped up when she was a child and what it's like being friends with a sociopath.
It’s believed just under 5% of the population are sociopaths, that’s one in 25 people. That’s why Patric wrote her memoir Sociopaths, to share what it’s really like.

Patric's book Sociopaths is available here
THE END BITS:

Listen to more No Filter interviews here and follow us on Instagram here.

Discover more Mamamia podcasts here.

Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au

Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review.  

CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Kimberley Braddish 

Audio Producer: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patric Gagne Is A Sociopath

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In the second episode of our 3-part No FIlter mini-series featuring interviews with Olympians before they head to Paris to compete, Matilda's star Katrina Gorry opens up to guest host Libby Trickett in a way that takes them both by surprise.
Gorry captured our hearts at the Women’s World Cup in 2023- as did her two-year-old daughter Harper. Coming back to work after having a baby is difficult for any parent, particularly when your job involves playing for your country. Still, Katrina had the highest number of tackles of any player and covered the most ground. 
Now Katrina and her partner Clara Markstedt are expecting another baby, just in time for the Paris Olympics.
 
THE END BITS:

Katrina Gorry is on Instagram here. 

Listen to more No Filter interviews here and follow us on Instagram here.

Discover more Mamamia podcasts here.

Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au

Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

CREDITS:

Host: Libby Trickett 

Producers: Kimberley Braddish & Courtney Ammenhauser 

Audio Producer: Scott Stronach

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BONUS EPISODE: Katrina Gorry's Most Vulnerable Interview Yet

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The first time Keri Kitay’s mother Terry forgot where she parked her car, she was surprised and annoyed. But she wasn’t alarmed. It wasn’t until years later that she would realise it was one of the first signs of early onset Alzheimers which would slowly dismantle her mother’s life.

There are around 15 Australians per 1,000 living with dementia and a tiny percentage of those are relatively young.
This is the story of one person and the way her family said their long goodbye.

Keri's book The Long Goodbye is available here. 
THE END BITS:

Listen to more No Filter interviews here and follow us on Instagram here.

Discover more Mamamia podcasts here.

Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au

Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will come back to you ASAP.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review.  

CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Producers: Gia Moylan & Kimberley Braddish 

Audio Producer: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Empty Chairs At The Christmas Table

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