What Doesn't Kill Us: The Podcast

In 1988 Joe Meanen was a young scaffolder working on the Piper Alpha oil rig, on the night it exploded. It was situated off Aberdeen, Scotland and was home to more than 200 men at a time. One calm Summer's night a gas leak caused a huge explosion that saw a fireball rip through the platform, killing 167 men. It was the world’s deadliest oil rig disaster. 61 workers survived, many with severe burns and life changing injuries. Joe was one of the lucky ones and recalls jumping more than 170 feet into the burning waves to save his life, but that was just the start of his journey to safety.

Friday 10th September is World Suicide Prevention Day. Suicide is one of the last taboos in our society. Sarah Frame has more experience than most. She lost both her husband and one of her sons to suicide and in this episode she talks about living with her grief, her fears for her family and her hopes for the future.
You can reach the Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123 in the UK. 

You can donate to Sarah’s fundraising page here: https://samarathon.samaritans.org/fundraising/sarah-frames-samarathon-2021-run-for-my-son 

You can listen to Just Reach Out here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ZzWU4ZKlt3QeEhaMvJp9S 

Sarah also talks about Man On in Inverclyde: http://www.manoninverclyde.co.uk 

Books Sarah mentions: Unspeakable Loss: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unspeakable-Loss-Live-When-Child/dp/0738219754 

Dying to be Free: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dying-Be-Free-Healing-Families-ebook/dp/B01N1Z1KOZ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=dying+to+be+free&qid=1631057976&s=books&sr=1-1 

You can watch this episode on Youtube at: 

Sarah’s Shop is https://www.booknookstewarton.co.uk/

Bobby Griffin’s motorbike was hit by a speeding driver as he rode home one evening. He was thrown several metres through the air, suffering life changing injuries. Surgeons fought for two years to save his leg, before he decided to have it amputated. He’d been suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts, but that all changed when he chose to have his lower leg removed. He meticulously planned the operation with the help of his prosthetists and physiotherapists. Within weeks he was back playing the Badminton he loved. This month he'll fly to Tokyo as a Para-Badminton coach with Team GB, having become one of the best in the world at his sport. 
This episode was recorded in July which is why we don’t talk about Team GB’s medal haul at the Olympics. Bobby’s dog Lola also makes a fleeting appearance.

Former international drug smuggler turned counsellor to the rich and famous, Sean Jeffreys spent his twenties in and out of European jails. After years smoking everything from dope to heroin, he got himself clean, secured a place at University and now works with celebrities, footballers and High Net Worth individuals to break their own abusive habits.

Sean spent his school years as the class clown, before a friend introduced him to weed. From there he progressed from a social habit to a full blown addict, ending up homeless and living in the woods. But he's proof that anyone can turn their life around, as he now lives in Thailand, working as the Clinical Lead for a world-class rehab facility. He discusses the moment his life changed, what he'd tell his younger self and who will play him in the Hollywood Blockbuster! 
* Warning: there is some swearing in this episode.
Find out more at www.instagram.com/whatdoesntkilluspodcast

Paralympic Gold Medallist and Former World Champion Danny Crates was once dubbed Britain's Best Disability Athlete. He knows what it's like to win, and to come close.
Before athletics, he'd been an engineer working a gap year in Australia. Whilst earning money to pay for his flight home to the UK he was involved in a horrific crash, losing his right arm at the age of 21.  Sport played a huge part in his recovery and when he discovered Para-Athletics he found his calling. After missing out on first place at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000 by just 0.22 of a second, he would go on to win Gold in the 800m Sprint at the Athens Games four years later. He will be commentating on Tokyo 2020ne and understands the pressures our top sportsmen and women are under in this epic Summer of Sport. Find out more at www.instagram.com/whatdoesntkilluspodcast

Carla Carlisle always wanted to be a mother. But after years battling with an abusive relationship, IVF and miscarriage she decided to go it alone. She became a single foster mother. She was given just a few hours notice to foster JC, but six months later he was returned to his birth family, and back to the abusive, drug addicted life he'd once been protected from. Carla spent six years co-parenting with his birth family, through domestic violence and manipulation before deciding to seek legal advice and adopt him as her own son. She talks about the heart breaking journey to motherhood and her hopes for his future as she helps him come to terms with his past. 

21 years ago this month Scott Richardson was inches from death after crashing whilst racing a motorbike at the Isle of Man TT.  He'd been riding motorbikes pretty much from the moment he could walk and grew up going to the TT with his parents and watching his Dad race. But in 2000 he hit a wet patch on the road, and smashed legs first into a stone wall. That was the end of his bike, and one of his legs, but not the last time he’d ride the famous track. It also wasn't the only time he'd defy death. He has since gone on to represent his country at badminton and golf, and starred in a number of Hollywood blockbusters. He now works at Pace Rehabilitation, helping others regain independence after amputation. 
Find out more at www.instagram.com/whatdoesntkilluspodcast 

Mandy Ogunmokun is a former prostitute, drug addict and inmate. She grew up in an abusive home, where her mother and grandmother were drug abusing prostitutes who first sold her for sex when she was just 4 years old. She spent her formative years on the streets, in and out of Holloway Prison and trying to score her next heroin hit. After years of abuse, she got clean, got her first job at the age of 45 and now she runs the Treasures Foundation, helping vulnerable women as they come out of prison, to give them a better chance in life. 
A warning that this episode may contain triggers for some listeners. This episode also contains some offensive language. 
Find out more at www.thismedialarke.com/podcast  

Paralympic hopeful Jaco Van Gass has trekked to the North Pole with Prince Harry, attempted to summit Mount Everest and cycled across America. But life wasn’t always about extreme adventure. After a modest upbringing in a hardworking family in South Africa Jaco headed to the UK to join the British Army. While serving on his second tour of Afghanistan with the Parachute Regiment he was hit by an RPG, a rocket propelled grenade. He suffered life changing injuries and endured months of operations and rehab. He talks openly about his mental health journey, how his love of cycling saved him and how we don't all have to climb a mountain to find our strength within. This Summer he’s competing in every cycling event at the postponed Tokyo Paralympics and proving that What Doesn't Kill Us really does make us stronger. 
Find out more at www.thismedialarke.com/podcast

Welcome to What Doesn't Kill Us: The Podcast. 
Kaija Larke brings you the heart-stopping, uplifting and inspirational stories of those who have experienced life changing events and injuries, to see what we can all learn from them. 
Subscribe now, so you don't miss a beat. 
First episode with Paralympic hopeful Jaco Van Gass coming soon! 
Brought to you by This Media Larke.
Find out more @whatdoesntkilluspodcast and www.thismedialarke.com/podcast