The Strength of Us

The Man Cave is a preventative mental health and emotional intelligence charity that empowers boys to become great men. Behind the charity, the academy and its programs is a diverse team including Al Green who is the Head of Community and an inspiring man who gives us hope that the future for men's mental health is bright.  

In this episode we discuss suicide, the rights of passage boys enter to become men and how The Man Cave is working directly with teenage boys to bring about long term change in their lives. 

We also discuss the softness that is emerging in our men and how leadership and sports people are using this to improve outcomes. For example the Richmond and Melbourne football clubs employed ‘an edge’ that many would say won them their premierships, do you know what it was? 

This episode comes with a trigger warning. Please read below for supportive and educational links that are discussed throughout the episode. 

https://themancave.life/  

More about Dr Arne Ribinstein

Alison Armstrong’s book: Understanding Women: Unlock The Mystery

https://www.shauntan.net/cicada-book  

Lifeline 13 11 14 

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 059 467 

https://www.thestrengthofus.com/ 

Callum MacPherson is the host of the Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcast and isn't used to being in the interviewee chair! Raised in Adelaide by two teachers, he is a well-read, philosophical man who knew from a young age that he had the presence and ability to write and deliver stories.
Callum's work in the media started at his local radio station Fresh 92.7 and then he moved to Port Lincoln to deliver local news before moving on to Townsville. It was in both Adelaide and  Townsville that Callum worked for7NEWS and interviewed political characters like Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter. In this episode, he and Nigel Parsons describe the reality of trying to get stories from people in the middle of a tragic situation.
They also discuss the impact that the media is having on mental health and the future of news as we know it.  This episode includes a very frank discussion about the American news media and its attempt to silence Joe Rogan and other platforms that allow people and professionals of all opinions have their say.
Callum then explains how the sudden death of his close friend to suicide impacted him and influenced his professional direction towards starting the award winning Young Blood - Men's Mental Health Podcast. His podcast is one of Lisa's favourite's and is informative and education for both men and women. It includes discussions around steroids, trans, drugs, grief, suicide and so much more. Callum also continues to work in mental health in Adelaide and is a voice for his generation. This is a must-listen episode.

Young Blood - Instagram ,  Facebook
The Strength of Us website

Lifeline 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 059 467
 Black Dog Institute 
Mensline 1300 78 99 78
headspace 1800 650 890

New Zealand
Life Line  for 24/7 Helpline |0800 LIFELINE (0800 54 33 54)
or free text HELP (4357)
Suicide Crisis Helpline | 0508 TAUTOKO (0508 82 88 65)

Canada life line
U.S.A. life line
United Kingdom life line

Jill Emmer's greatest lessons in life have come from raising her non-binary child in the provincial area of Long Island, New York. In her previous role as a graphic designer for UNICEF, Jill's eyes opened up to the unequal opportunities in the world and  as the Arts Director at New York’s Adelphi University, Jill continued to ensure that the visibility of minority groups was highlighted in her work. After becoming a mother in the 1990s, Jill turned to teaching art in elementary schools.
All of this work has resulted in Jill releasing her first book: ABC answers for curious humans: a guide to understanding human identity.  It is a book that can be shared as creatively as the reader wants and promotes conversation and understanding. Each page features one big letter, for example N for non-binary, F for Fear, D for deadnaming and K for kindness. Then there are smaller words on each page also starting with that letter that can form a conversation around issues such as gender identity, acceptance, stereotypes and much more.
Jill says, “Gender non-conforming children, teens and adults are asking to be seen, heard and recognized. It is the duty of all who are in these humans lives to be aware of the correct language to use and show support.”

Click here to purchase Jill's book: https://www.amazon.com/ABC-Answers-Curious-Humans-Understanding/dp/057831696X

https://www.jemmerimagino.com/

Supportive & Educational links:

https://www.switchboard.org.au/

Rainbow Door - 10am-5pm // every day
A free service for all LGBTIQA+
people in Victoria.

Phone: 1800 729 367
Text: 0480 017 246
Email: [email protected]
Visit: rainbow door.org.au

Connect with a Qlife  - 3pm-midnight // every day
A free service for LGBTIQA+
people in Australia.

Phone: 1800 184 527
Webchat with Qlife

https://www.minus18.org.au/

When teacher, Catherine from Port Fairy in Victoria fell in love with Tanzania, it wasn't just for the fauna and flora. She fell in love with the people and one person in particular, local man Seif.
This episode tells their story and what Seif thought when he first arrived in our beautiful country coastal town of Port Fairy. Within a week, Seif starting working in the local supermarket and it was then that he encountered food waste and realised that Tanzania was so much poorer than Australia. 

Seif also recognised that many families in Tanzania are trapped in a cycle of poverty due to a lack of educational opportunities and as a result, Seif and Catherine started the enormous project of building a primary school in a town called Mto wa Mbu.

The Bandari project is an incredible program and with volunteers from Port Fairy and other parts of Australia, they were able to go to Tanzania and begin building the school one class at a time.  Part of their aim is to make the school as financially and environmentally sustainable for the local people to take ownership of and to lift the entire community along with the school.
There are many ways to support The Bandari Project including donation, sponsoring a student, the teacher for teacher program or leaving a bequest in your will. Such a small amount from us makes a huge impact in Tanzania.

The Bandari Project
https://www.facebook.com/thebandariproject/ 
https://www.instagram.com/thebandariproject/

Seafarers are incredibly hard working humans with a thankless job. They are at sea for weeks at a time but thanks to Covid and changing or unchanging laws, we have seafarers unable to step off ships for more than two years.
Seafarers usually disembark at every port to stretch their legs, see the sites, buy some treats and necessities and most importantly, purchase a local phone card so that they can facetime and call their families back home.
But what happens if they can’t leave the ship?
Listen to Neville Manson explain what is happening here in Victoria and the work that The Mission to Seafarers do to try and support the wellbeing of our seafarers.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-14/push-for-international-seafarers-shore-leave-covid-vaccinations/100813030

https://www.facebook.com/MTSAustCouncil 

Educational and supportive links:
Lifeline on 13 11 14

MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

Suicide Call Back Service  on 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636

Headspace on 1800 650 890

ReachOut at au.reachout.com

Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 774

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/zayner/gone-too-far
License code: FBVAS9CCIL592O4H

In this episode, Lisa meets a GP (doctor) with a colourful history. He knows the horrific impact of taking large amounts of drugs over an extended period as it led to him entering a psychosis. He was hearing and seeing things that weren't there and got himself into some dangerous situations. It wasn't until he finally went home that his parents entered him into a psych ward (mental health facility).  It was from there that he started on the road to better health and gave up the drugs. He studied nursing and then went on to become a doctor.
In this episode, his voice has been altered and names beeped out to protect his identity. Although we are all entitled to our own story and our own history, people still judge.

This episode has a huge trigger warning as it also discusses suicide and incest. Please listen with caution and if you need to reach out and speak to someone, then please use any of the following links.

In Australia you can use the links & numbers below:

Sane Australia  1800 18 72 63

Lifeline 13 11 14 

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 059 467

 Black Dog Institute  

In New Zealand you can use the links & numbers below:

Life Line  for 24/7 Helpline |0800 LIFELINE (0800 54 33 54) 

or free text HELP (4357)

Suicide Crisis Helpline | 0508 TAUTOKO (0508 82 88 65)

NZ mental health help lines

For all other countries please search:

(country or state) help line or suicide line or crisis

Canada life line

U.S.A. life line

United Kingdome life line

In this episode, guest host Marnie shares her story of how she navigated her separation and divorce. From identifying her own mental health issues during her second pregnancy, Marnie set out to understand herself and her marriage resulting in the decision to separate. She was determined that her separation and divorce would not affect the mental health of their two little girls and after a few years, she is ready to tell her story.
Marnie demonstrates that by putting the children's wellbeing first, she was able to make clearer decisions on how she was going to co-parent with their father and step back from the need to control the whole situation.
She also talks about the importance of reaching out and surrounding yourself with your community. Lisa and Marnie discuss the importance of letting teachers know when their children are going through major changes at home and building a team around the kids.
Marnie also talks about the impact that being a divorcee has on friendships and how she used Yoga and self-love to become the best mother that she could be.
Australia

https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Phone 131114

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Phone 1300224636

 New Zealand

https://www.lifeline.org.nz/

https://mentalhealth.org.nz/

Follow @strengthofus

Britta Boeckmann from BoldB jewellery tells us about her industrial design education, her creative childhood in Germany through to moving to Wangaratta in regional Victoria then starting her own family business in Melbourne. 
In this episode, Britta explains how she and her co-founder Michael researched and visited manufacturing sites to finally choose a place in the Philippines that not only met their values of sustainable and ethical practices but allowed them to have that little extra money to begin giving back straight away.

BoldB creates unique, statement jewellery inspired by Australian nature. It uses beach sand, concrete and wood inspired by the Australian coastline and our rich natural resources. But not only does it look beautiful, each collection supports incredible non-profit organisations so  you can not only look great but feel proud of the positive impact your purchase has on the world. 
Could this be the new and improved way of doing business?

They Aqua Collection supports the water.org foundation started by actor Matt Damon and Gary White. Each piece looks like an Australian beach and each piece supplies one person with two years of clean water. 

The Cluster Collection which is just so strikingly bold funds a girl’s secondary school education for a day in a low-income community, through their  partnership with Room to Read.

And every purchase from their Nacre Collection will help protect our precious ocean wildlife, through their support for the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Click here to find out more businesses that are supporting water.org including the ikea foundaiton and Stella Artois.

BoldB instagram page
BoldB website

The Strength of Us instagram page
The Strength of Us website

Lindy Muto grew up in a typical Italian household with 7 older brothers. To say that her upbringing was strict and cultural limits were placed on her is an understatement. Her father's wish was for her to always live next door and look after them into their old age, but from a young age, Lindy set her sites on world travel and personal success.
It was once uncommon for Italian girls to be allowed to further their education beyond high school because they were expected to live with their parents until marriage and learn how to cook and clean for a future husband.
Thankfully, Lindy's parents valued education and she was able to move from Shepparton to Melbourne to study law. As we know, education opens the door to the whole world and it allowed Lindy to practice law in the Middle East, the UK, Asia and Australia and now she is a Managing Director at Morae Global and strategic advisor to law firms and in-house legal team on delivering value to clients through technology and innovation to reimagine how legal services are delivered.
Lindy's lifelong love of learning hasn't stopped there. She is a Pilates instructor and did a four year term at the Italian Chamber of Commerce where she started the business awards to recognise Australian - Italian businesses.
Lindy is also the founder of a skincare, grooming and lifestyle accessories company for men called All about the man.
Is there anything this woman can't do?

For more about us, click on the following links:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram
Lisa's LinkedIn


Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/giulio-fazio/taranto
License code: 3YBZEICSFP3ABKVT

Host, Lisa, wasn't sure whether to release this episode. It's raw and truthful about her journey from wanting to be a mother from a young age through to abortion, marrying late, IVF and becoming childless.  But so many other wonderful things, such as teaching, being a big sister, a godmother and much more, have allowed Lisa to nurture and love throughout her life. So you decide, is she a mum after all?

If you are experiencing emotional distress in relation to a past abortion, help is available. Please call the 24 hour, national helpline 1300 139 313. (Australia)

Educational and Supportive Links:

https://pregnancyhelpaustralia.org.au/looking-for-help/after-abortion-support 

https://lifechoice.org.au/Postabortion/ 

https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/unplanned-pregnancy-information/abortion-supporting-your-partner/ 

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/abortion 

https://www.ivf.com.au/

https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/ivf 

https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/more-women-are-choosing-not-to-have-kids-and-society-cannot-cope/11160788 

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20211208-aunt-with-no-kids-the-women-redefining-family-roles 

Australia

https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Phone 131114

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Phone 1300224636

 New Zealand

https://www.lifeline.org.nz/

https://mentalhealth.org.nz/

Website: https://thestrengthofus.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071115305193

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strengthofus/
@strengthofus

Email: [email protected]
Lisa's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-quattrocchi-72114566/

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/locran/piece-yourself-back-together
License code: VNVDJV7UMLURGA0E