Embracing the Mind

Season three of Embracing the Mind will focus on Women's Wellbeing. In our first episode, we're going to focus on the societal pressures and obstacles that women have historically faced, and how these are still impacting our lives today.

Welcome to season three of Embracing the Mind, our investigation into women's wellbeing. You’ll hear from ministers, educators, celebrated authors, advocates and business leaders. Some of the stories we have to share in this series may trouble you, but the heart of Embracing the Mind has always been in telling stories that are profoundly human. Season three coming on 16 July.

We bring this special three-part investigation into birth trauma to a conclusion by discussing the stigma parents can face and the importance of validation from healthcare professionals. We also examine the other layers of support available to young families, and the importance of storytelling as a means of combating stigma, creating change and providing purpose. TW : This episode contains discuss...

In the second episode of our three-part investigation, we hear stories from parents about the impact birth trauma has had on their lives. They share some of the circumstances that led to the resultant birth trauma, and we unpack the loss of control that many parents experience before, during and even post-labour. TW : This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some view...

TW : This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including still birth, depression, discussions of trauma, dissociation and postpartum psychosis. We're closing season two of Embracing the Mind with a special three-part investigation into birth trauma. In our first episode, you’ll be introduced to Hannah Kelly, a mother-of-one who experienced post-partum...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including dissociation, burnout, intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviour and suicidal OCD. In our episode on obsessive compulsive disorder, I speak to Dr Leigh Sheppard about how receiving a diagnosis of OCD changed her career trajectory, and now sees her treating patients with OCD at her GP clinic, and makin...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including mention of suicide. Today, we’re focusing on the impact that working FIFO, or fly-in-fly-out, can have on a person’s mental health. We speak to Matt Resta who works in the mining industry, about the ups and downs he’s faced living between site and his home, and why he’s decided to become an advocate...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including serious injury following a car accident, burn injury and depression. Today, we’ll be looking at post-traumatic growth – where people have been able to unlock newfound perspectives after suffering hardship. In this episode, we’re going to speak to 18-year-old Josh Forde, whose entire future was rewrit...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including anxiety and stigma. In today’s episode on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, we speak to PhD student Kate Fitzgerald. Kate received a diagnosis of ADHD just before the referral system was met with substantial delays through the COVID period. She explains how to get a diagnosis, and ho...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including anxiety and stigma. In today's really special episode, we will be speaking to 8-year-old Andre and his big sister Summer, who is 9 years old. Andre has a diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder, and we’ve gone to his house so he and Summer can ask me questions about my own experiences with autism,...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including OCD, suicidal ideation and vocal tics. In today's episode, we'll be discussing one of the more misunderstood health conditions, Tourette Syndrome, or Tourette's. Today's first guests are mother and son Mandy and Conor Maysey, who join us to dispel common misconceptions about Tourette&...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some listeners, including childhood trauma. We’re going to do things a little differently today. You see, it turns out it’s not all that easy to get someone diagnosed with sociopathy or psychopathy to talk about their experiences. So instead, we’re going straight to the research and talking to Dr Jacob Dye, a researcher at...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including depression, drug-related harm and PTSD. Over the next two episodes, we're going to discuss a couple of topics to which quite a bit of stigma is still attached. So we're changing up our format a little bit, going straight to some wonderful researchers in these fields. Today, we will be joined...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some listeners, including war, displacement, violence and PTSD. Today's episode examines the mental health of refugees who have left behind their homeland in times of war. Our first Guest, Vlad Guz, woke up to bombs going off at Kyiv International Airport, heralding the beginning of a Russian invasion of his country. Vl...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including anxiety and depression. And we are back for a second season of Embracing the Mind! We kick off the new season with this episode devoted to something so many of us experience with the rigours of work-life balance: burnout. Our first guest is Renee Buckingham, who tells us about the workload she packs...

Welcome to Season 2 of Embracing the Mind. Join us as we talk about what goes on in the mind of an autistic child, what it’s like to receive a diagnosis of ADHD and how to live with OCD. We also speak to a Ukrainian refugee who survived the Russian invasion, learn how to grow from adversity, and finish with a special investigation into the trauma parents sometimes go through in the birthing suite.

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some listeners, including racial discrimination, transphobia, suicide, depression and anxiety. Today's very special bonus episode of Embracing the Mind follows the launch of the Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge) Phase 2 National Survey Community Report. This first-of-it-kind national survey investigated the mental h...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be upsetting to some listeners, including depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Welcome to the final episode of season 1 of Embracing the Mind. Today, we explore the impact body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD, can have on a person's life. Our first guest is Stacey Anderson, who bravely shares her own experiences with BDD and the measure...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be upsetting to some listeners. Climate anxiety has become increasingly prevalent in schools and universities, where action groups such as School Strike 4 Climate have rapidly emerged in response to the threat of climate catastrophe. And with natural disasters increasing in frequency amid repeated warnings from agencies like the Intergovernm...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be upsetting to some listeners, including racial discrimination. Cultural safety, or the creation of safe environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, has become a leading priority within the Australian healthcare system. Today's first guest is Gija woman Sarah Cattermole, an Aboriginal Community Coordinator at Telethon...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be upsetting to some listeners, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. It's been a massive elephant in the room ever since March 2020, when much of the world went into varying degrees of lockdown. In the years since, we've learned to hate terms like 'unprecedented' and 'genomic sequencing', as we've...

TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be upsetting to some listeners, including transphobia. Our first guest on today's episode is Xander Bickendorff, a research assistant focused on mental health outcomes of trans and gender diverse people. Xan shares their story of self-discovery of their gender identity, and offers some advice on how to be a better ally for trans and gend...

TW: This episode contains discussion of postnatal depression, postnatal anxiety and birth trauma. Today's first guest is the founder of Karratha-based mental health service Grit and Gratitude, Liam Sorrell. Liam is a dad and counsellor who founded the Australian Dads Network, a platform for dads to connect, discuss parenting and seek support. Next, Alix speaks to Telethon Kids Institute resear...

TW: This episode contains content that may be upsetting or triggering to some audiences, including discussion of depression, anxiety, OCD and suicidal ideation. Welcome to episode four, where Alix is joined by Luke McPherson, a mental health ambassador who delayed seeking treatment for his own mental health as he struggled to overcome self-stigma. Since seeking help, Luke has shared his own story...

TW: This episode contains content that may be upsetting or triggering to some audiences, including discussion of eating disorders, trauma and severe mental illness. In this episode, host Dr Alix Woolard is joined by Tara Auty, who is receiving inpatient care in the United Kingdom. Tara is a close friend of a producer on this show, and shares her experience of living with psychosis and navigating a...