discoverycollege

In this episode, Matt Ball shares personal stories of hearing voices, spiritual searching, grief, and parenthood, reflecting on how these are all part of being human. We explore why some experiences are labelled acceptable and others not, and consider how all can be meaningful responses to life. We also hear about Just Listening, an approach centred on being present with someone without judgement...

What is narrative therapy, and how did it begin? We’re joined by David Denborough, who shares the history of narrative practices, the difference it’s made in people’s lives, and the story of a beautiful group called Power to Our Journeys. Connect with dd (David)   Email:  daviddenborough@dulwichcentre.com.au Power to Our Journeys Learn more about the Power to Our Journeys group    https://dulwichc...

We sit down with Shibs, a proud Wulgurukaba, Gunggandji Woman, Lived Experience worker, and passionate advocate for proactive changes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples accessing mental health services. With warmth and honesty, she shares her journey of navigating identity, living with chronic pain, and the healing that comes from reconnecting with culture and traditional practices....

In this episode, we speak with critical psychiatrist, Jon Jureidini about what it really means to be “not broken.” We explore why psychiatry often looks for simple solutions to complicated problems, how diagnosis can both help and harm, and what it looks like to support someone through tough times instead of shutting those feelings down. This episode is a reminder that not every hard experience is...

In this episode, Hayley shares her story of resilience, living through abuse, depression, and misdiagnosis. She reflects on what it means to re-write your story, and how nursing has become her tūrangawaewae — a place where she feels grounded and connected to something bigger than herself. Mentioned in the episode: Check out Jehan Casinader’s book:  This Is Not How It Ends Come and listen with: Luc...

This conversation with Siswella explores what it was like to lose her memories after intensive ECT and begin again. They reflect on how they found meaning through peer work, the impact of genuine support, and the importance of trusting your intuition. Come and listen with: Lucy (She/Her) –  A big fan of ice cream and storytelling Rachel (She/Her) –  Social Worker, Dialogical Practitioner, mad foot...

Katya shares what it’s like to live with an eating disorder, like having two brains: one that loves pasta and ice cream, and one that only wants control. She reflects on how it all began, the role social media played, and why recovery feels like trying to grow a seed in winter—until you find your garden. Come and listen with: Lucy (She/Her) –  A big fan of ice cream and storytelling Rachel (She/He...

Michelle shares her journey supporting her children, Nick and Katya, through extreme distress, from hospital stays to first responder callouts. She talks about the challenges with emergency services and the healthcare system, the power of being there for someone, instead of trying to fix them, and why she created Kaboose, a community app for neurodivergent people. Check out the Kaboose website and...

After her first daughter’s birth, Bek experienced intense postnatal panic. Misdiagnosed and overmedicated, she spent three years in and out of psychiatric hospitals. In this episode, she shares how she fought to get her life back and regain her agency. Check out Bek’s book: Dying for a Cure: A Memoir of Antidepressants, Misdiagnosis and Madness Come and listen with: Lucy (She/Her) – A big fan of i...

In this episode, our guest shares their experience of two extreme states: psychosis and depression. They talk about how they managed to overcome intense adversity and the teachings that followed. They speak about how reading 200 books in 2 years helped them find purpose and how they found a way to find a life worth fighting for.   Please keep in mind that this guest would like to remain anonymous....

This is a conversation with Jesse about suicide. Jesse shares his own experiences of suicidality and offers different ways we can have more compassionate conversations about it. We think about suicide as a natural physiological response to distress that contains a message for the individual and those around them. We explore some of the misunderstandings around suicide, the importance of language a...

We sat down to chat with Mary O’Hagan, who’s currently the Executive Director of Lived Experience in the Department of Health in Victoria. Mary shares snippets from her memoir “Madness Made Me” and speaks about how value and meaning can be derived from experiences of madness. We ponder what it could look like if communities looked after each other and created space for people in distress.   Check...

Elsa talks us through her new role as the spiritual care lead and some of her hopes for the role. Elsa breaks down and simplifies what the word ‘spirituality’ means, what it can look like in a modern world and why it can be important in the context of mental health and healing. The definition of spirituality mentioned references the work of Canda, Edward (2008) Spiritual connections in social work...

In this honest chat with Paul, he helps to bust some myths about common misconceptions in the medical world. Paul speaks about the value of humanizing people’s experience rather than medicalising it and how including people’s loved ones in their care can make a real difference. Come and listen with: Lucy (She/Her) – A big fan of ice cream and storytelling Rachel (She/Her) – Social Worker, Dialogic...

Paul helps to bust some myths about common misconceptions in the medical world. Paul speaks about the value of humanizing people’s experience rather than medicalising it and how including people’s loved ones in their care can make a real difference.

In this conversation we chat with Chris about how the experience of bipolar can feel but also how we can learn and grow from it. Chris talks about the importance of inclusion and connection, having a ‘vibe tribe’ and dropping judgement when caring for people who are having a rough time. This episode mentions “The Road Less Travelled” By M. Scott Peck  Come and listen with: Lucy (She/Her) – A big f...

In this episode, we chat with our guest who describes how it feels to experience psychosis. We talk about what they found helpful and not so helpful while being in that state and what life after psychosis has looked like in their life. We touch on the different ways phenomena like psychosis can transform people and how we can better care for people going through psychosis. Come and listen with: Lu...

How can we respond to distress with greater compassion and humanity? Sometimes as humans, we have experiences that aren’t shared or understood by others. Often these experiences can feel extreme, scary, unreal or even euphoric. Experiences like psychosis, depression, grief and addiction. Here is a little taster of highlights from some of the conversations Lucy and Rachel have had so far with incre...

How do you be a human first and a professional when it’s required? In this episode, we speak with Jamie, a social worker in the mental health world. Jamie shares his unique perspective on what it’s like to experience his own mental health challenges and how that’s shaped the way he now works as a clinician and a person. Jamie talks about burnout, knowing when to take a pause and drawing on our hum...

In this first episode, we chat about what Extremely Human is all about. Sometimes we move through big human experiences that others might not understand, like psychosis, grief, addiction, euphoria, or moments that feel completely unreal. On  Extremely Human , we hear from people who’ve been there and share what they’ve learned along the way. Together, we ask: how can we meet the full range of huma...