A podcast sharing stories of lived experience with mental illness

Mental Health Episodes

Real talk with people on mental health and various issues related to it. No fluff, just genuine conversations about the reality of mental illness.
Oct. 22, 2023

Empowering Children to Discover Inner Calm: A Conversation with Karen Gibb founder of Mind Marvels

Empowering Children to Discover Inner Calm: A Conversation with Karen Gibb founder of Mind Marvels I love people who do what my guest has done, to create a business that doesn't only help people but allows others to do so as well, whilst making a living is a truly remarkable achievement! Karen Gibb is the founder and CEO of Mind Marvels which is an award-winning franchise created by Karen Gibb. Karen is a fully qualified teacher and has prior experience in youth development and early years ...
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Sept. 11, 2023

Exploring the Impact of Trauma: A Conversation with Family Court Mediator, Rosemary Gattuso

In this profound episode of the Lived Experience Podcast, host Joel Kleber engages in a riveting conversation with distinguished guest Rosemary Gattuso, an esteemed lawyer and family law court mediator. They delve deep into the intricate subject of trauma and its consequential effects on mental health, enlightening listeners with striking insights that promise to expand their understanding of mental illness. About the Guest: Rosemary Gattuso is renowned in her field for her substantial experience and knowledge, specializing in family law mediation. Her perspectives on trauma and behavior are deeply rooted in a solid understanding of neuroscience, providing an in-depth look at how our experiences shape our perceptions and interactions with the world around us. Main Takeaways: Understanding Trauma: Rosemary and Joel elucidate the multifaceted nature of trauma and how it molds our mental frames, thereby affecting our overall mental health. They discuss the varying types of tra…
July 23, 2023

The impact of Bipolar Disorder on children with Joel Kleber and Kerrie Atherton

In this episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide, host Kerry Atherton interviews Joel Kleber, host of The Lived Experience podcast, about growing up with a parent who struggled with mental health. Joel shares his defining moment of awareness at the age of seven and his traumatic experiences with his mother in psychiatric care. The episode focuses on the impact of parental mental health struggles on children, highlighting the need for support and understanding. [00:00:00] Parental Mental Health Eff...
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May 23, 2023

From Burnout to Balance: Managing OCD and Pivoting Careers to Help Others - Interview with Simon Rinne of Mindful Men

In this episode, I speak with Simon Rinne of Mindful Men who is an experienced lived experience therapist and shares his journey with OCD, burnout, and therapy. The topics covered include: [00:04:10] "Debunking OCD misconceptions and personal experiences" [00:20:02] "Combating OCD with ERP and mindfulness practices" [00:25:39] "Mindfulness, Gratitude, and Values: Finding Joy Again" [00:35:33] "From High KPIs to Burnout: My Story" [00:47:17] "From Social Science to Mental Health Entrepreneur" [0...
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May 9, 2023

Breaking the Stigma: Billy Todd's Story of Surviving Abandonment and Managing Severe Anxiety

In this episode of the Lived Experience podcast, mental health advocate Billy Todd shares his story of managing anxiety and turning his life around. Billy emphasizes the seriousness of anxiety and its impact on a person's life, and shares what he did to manage it. During the COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne in April-May 2020, he found comfort in chaotic environments, which research suggests is common among people with anxiety. Despite the comfort he felt, he found that he neglected his own ne...
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April 24, 2023

The Truth About Psychiatric Care: A Conversation with Nurse Georgia Livingston

In this episode of the Lived Experience podcast, host Joel Kleber interviews Georgia, a psychiatric nurse who works in a private inpatient facility. Georgia discusses her passion for mental health care and why she finds it rewarding. She explains that working in a psychiatric facility is not like what is portrayed in the movies and that patients are provided with a calm and relaxed environment, similar to a home away from home. Joel asks Georgia about the process of getting help in these fac...
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April 11, 2023

She Faced Suicide & Addiction, Now She's Changing Lives: Unbelievable Stories of Hope & Resilience! Interview with Kerrie Atherton

Interview with Kerrie Atherton about her near suicide and recovery. Now she helps others with Stories of Hope and is a qualified trauma counsellor.
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March 19, 2023

Piecing Together Mental Health: Catherine Eagleson's Puzzling Journey with Bipolar Disorder

Catherine Eagleson was suggested to me as a guest who wanted to share her story about living with Bipolar disorder and also how she has created puzzling for mental health. Catherine developed the Clue Detective Online Puzzle Portal http://cluedetectivepuzzlesonline.com/ ‘It comprises a range of crosswords, codewords, filmograppuzzles (cryptograms based on an actor and a selection of his/her films), sudoku and world building challenges etc. There’s something for everyone. Check out her blog eac...
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March 16, 2023

I am interviewed by a Clinical Psychologist, Bill Campos live on air about reconnecting with my father after 22 years!

Bill Campos is the Chief Executive Officer - ICLA | Clinical Psychologist BSc MA (Psych) MPsych FAPsS | Director | Social Researcher and he wanted to interview me about why I decided to reconnect with my father after 22 years. The reason for this will be revealed in the episode however, Bill wanted to provide some content for other people he knows or treats who may be struggling with similar issues. Bill is also a qualified psychologist who has a mother with Bipolar Disorder, I can relate to B...
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March 1, 2023

Interview with Darcy Smyth about the hardest thing anyone can ever go through!

Darcy Smyth is a well-respected sales trainer, consultant, and business owner. However, he and his family have experienced probably the hardest thing someone has to go through and that is losing a loved one to suicide. We are all aware of the term, but, how aware are we of what families go through in the lead-up and the aftermath, plus the grief that comes with it? It's something that isn't spoken about enough as that's everyone's right to not talk about something so hard, however, Darcy was k...
Guest: Darcy Smyth
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Feb. 26, 2023

Interview with Jenny Smith NSW Volunteer of the Year by the Mental Health Foundation of Australia

Jenny Smith is a Consumer Advocate who is actively involved in the mental health & suicide prevention sector. Jenny sits on the Consumer Consultative Committee at One Door Mental Health as well as the CESPHN-Mental Health Suicide Prevention Advisory Committee and Community Council. Jenny works voluntarily as a Youth Mentor with Raise Foundation, and as a Digital Crisis Supporter with Lifeline In 2022 she was the recipient of the NSW Volunteer of the Year & Adult Volunteer of the Year for Mid-We...
Guest: Jenny Smith
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Dec. 8, 2022

How to succeed despite a troubled childhood! Interview with tech entrepreneur, Belinda Agnew

Belinda Agnew is a highly successful business owner, tech entrepreneur, and podcast host who shares her story about growing up with a single mother with alcohol addiction. Despite various challenges and leaving school in year 9, Belinda shares her journey and approach to how she has gone on to be successful. We also talk about mental health in the workplace and the damage that social media is currently doing. Huge thanks to Belinda for her time and openness. Belinda's Website - https://bel...
Guest: Belinda Agnew
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Nov. 28, 2022

Interview with award winning filmmaker Genevieve Bailey about her film Happy Sad Man

Genevieve Bailey’s films have screened in 50 countries, winning over 30 awards to date. With a background in short drama, comedy, and music videos, I AM ELEVEN (2011), her ambitious first feature documentary, was shot in 15 countries and 12 languages. It received critical acclaim and a theatrical release in Australia spanning over eight months, including a record 26 weeks at Cinema Nova in Melbourne. I AM ELEVEN was named New York Times Critic's Pick when it opened cinemas. Genevieve's latest f...
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Nov. 17, 2022

Growing up with a mother who has Shizophrenia in the USA? Interview with listener, Missy Apple Knotts

Missy is a listener of the podcast in the USA and reached out via email, so I invited her to share her experience of being raised by a mother with Schizophrenia. Missy, in this interview, provides excellent insights and personal stories about her childhood experiences. We also talk about how it has affected her and the positive experiences she has gained from it. Big thanks to Missy for sharing her story; she has a book coming out soon, so stay tuned for that when it's released. To share your...
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Nov. 13, 2022

Interview with Peter Wasielewski from the UK on beating addiction, mental illness and using his lived experience to help those in the criminal justice system

Peter Wasielewski reached out to share his story about addiction, his mental health battle, and a different way to view recovery. Peter also uses his lived experience within the criminal justice system in the UK to help others with similar issues he has faced and beaten. He documents his experience on his Instagram account @ambitiousprofessionalshub Big thanks to Peter for reaching out and sharing his story. Visit the website www.livedexperiencepodcast.com Leave a review - https://www.lived...
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Oct. 9, 2022

Interview with Bill Campos - Chief Executive Officer of ICLA and Clinical Psychologist who shares his story of having a parent with Bipolar for the first time!

This is one of the most important episodes I have recorded! If you have a parent with a severe mental illness or know someone who does, they need to hear this episode which is all about this topic. Bill Campos is Chief Executive Officer of ICLA | Clinical Psychologist BSc MA (Psych) MPsych FAPsS | Director | Social Researcher. Bill also has a mother with Bipolar Disorder, and for the very first time, I was privileged enough for Bill to feel comfortable enough with me to share his story about t...
Guest: Bill Campos
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Oct. 2, 2022

Interview with Michael Donehue about his mental health journey and help others, must listen for all young men

Michael Donehue is a mental health advocate, clothing brand owner, and the national services manager for ADES Australia, which specialises in delivering education programs Australia-wide. Michael is also an accredited MHFA trainer who shares his story in detail about his mental health journey to help others, especially young men. If you know anyone in your life who is struggling, this is a great listen or an episode you can forward to them. Michaels Clothing Brand - https://journeyapparel.com.au/ ADES Australia - http://adesaustralia.com/
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Sept. 5, 2022

Interview with the most talented person I have ever met, Emily Unity!

Emily has over 14 years as a lived and living experience professional. They have a diverse portfolio focusing on diverse identities, including LGBTQIA+, multicultural, neurodiversity, and disability. Their work has included media, policy, service design, training, research, workforce development, and government relations. They ground their work in peer values and their postgraduate in psychology. Emily has won numerous awards in the mental health space and, in all seriousness, is probably th...
Guest: Emily Unity
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Sept. 2, 2022

Interview with Tara Stark about her young carer story and what needs to change now with the current system

Tara Stark is a prominent lawyer, board member of Satellite Foundation, and also a has been a young carer. Tara knows firsthand the challenges of growing up with a parent who has a serious mental illness. In this episode, Tara shares her story about having a parent with a serious mental illness, advocacy, and most importantly, what needs to change with the current system. Before entering law, Tara worked in local government and public mental health sector roles supporting children, young people...
Guest: Tara Stark
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Aug. 17, 2022

The Reality of Mental Illness, Seclusion and The System from the Inside, Interview with community mental health worker, Serena O'Callaghan

Serena O'Callaghan is a lived experience worker and works in community mental health. Serena also has had her mental health challenges in which she opens up about her experience with the mental health system as an inpatient. Serena is a motivated and empathic worker on a mission to inspire those experiencing mental ill-health and to transform the services that support them by ensuring that lived experience is more meaningfully embedded in service design and delivery. Thanks to Serena for her t...
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July 19, 2022

"I swear I never" poodcast interview with Bek Day

I was asked to be a guest on the well-known "I swear I never" podcast, which is about finding yourself in a situation you SWEAR, you never could have predicted? They bring you the extraordinary stories of everyday people - from the bizarre to the heartbreaking, they don't hold back. They have a different theme every week, and last week I was the guest to talk about part of my story. I tried to speak from the heart, and if I were on again, I probably would have more concise thoughts. However, b...
Guest: Joel Kleber
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June 21, 2022

Young Carers Special Interview with Little Dreamers Founder, Madeleine Buchner OAM

Very special episode with Little Dreamers Founder, Madeleine Buchner OAM speaking to us for a full hour about young carers and what her organisation does in this much-needed area. Maddy grew up caring for her younger brother, who had a range of chronic illnesses, and her mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. At nine years of age, she identified a gap in the support system for Young Carers and began to raise awareness through fundraising events and stalls. Over a decade later and with m...
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May 23, 2022

My Story Part 2 of having a single mother with Bipolar and my Nine News National Story

In this episode, I share Part 2 of my story about growing up with a mother with Bipolar disorder and I also talk about my recent nine news National story about my first lived experience with foster care. I find that sharing details about my lived experience helps me heal and I believe that if you have a similar situation, sharing your lived experience will help you also.
Guest: Joel Kleber
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May 10, 2022

Growing up with a parent who has Delusional Disorder - Interview with Lotti O'Dea

This episode is all about growing up with a parent who has a serious mental illness and the issues that children face. Lotti O’Dea grew up with a mother who had Delusional Disorder, which is similar to Schizophrenia. She outlines what her lived experience was like and talks about the support she had in place that helped her succeed in life.
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