Finding Hope with Georgia Free

In this special mini episode, Georgia shares some tips on how to inject more hope into your own life. ---  If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au .    Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au . And send the team a message via Hope 103...

Megan Owen is a force of nature. In 2011, Megan escaped an ultra-religious, abusive marriage – with four small children in tow, enduring poverty and, heartbreakingly, endured harassment from her own family and church community. In 2012, she developed a non-profit to serve single mothers, like herself, who were leaving abuse without support. In 2021, Megan started her own counselling practice Mount...

Iona Rossely is a teacher, speaker, author and former international sporting champion. She’s represented Great Britain in speed skiing and rode for 12 years on the Irish Equestrian Team. Iona found God after a life-altering skiing crash in the World Championships - and now lives to be 'competitive for God.'  For more information about Iona's work, visit her website .  --- If you or someone you kno...

Sharon Stoliar is a nurse, midwife, mother and pHD candidate. In 2011, she gave birth to her son – a beautiful baby boy. However, what was supposed to be a beautiful journey, resulted in lifelong pain.  For more information about Sharon's memoir Scars of Gold, visit her website . --- If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave...

Lisa Gallate is someone well acquainted with death. She’s lost her parents, two of her siblings and her first husband in tragic circumstances. Walking through so much loss has made her tender, but it’s also made her strong. For more information about Lisa’s memoir Just Because, visit her website . Mental health resources: Lifeline (13 11 14) --- If you or someone you know would like to be intervie...

Lisa Gallate is someone well acquainted with death. Walking through so much loss has made her tender, but it’s also made her strong. For more information about Lisa’s memoir Just Because, visit her website . Mental health resources: Lifeline (13 11 14) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2023 has been quite a ride so far. From wherever you’re listening in the world, there has been collective sorrow that we’ve felt as a planet. This episode, in the days after Easter, we'll reflect together – on what we’ve been through so far, what we’re going through right now, and what’s still to come. I’ll also share 3 ways that the stories on the podcast have helped me find hope this year – and...

Last week on Finding Hope, we met Raewyn Elsegood – who shared the story of her daughter Amy. At 18 years old, just after finishing school, Amy was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia – which left her needing a bone marrow transplant, completely depleted of blood cells and in hospital for 4 months. Amy finally came home on the day of her 19th birthday, but a few weeks later, a virus called CMV was fou...

Raewyn Elsegood, state coordinator of Sports Chaplaincy NSW, bravely shares the story of her daughter Amy, and their family’s journey through Amy’s aplastic anaemia diagnosis. --- If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the Finding Hope page at hopepodcasts.com.au .   Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts coll...

Jan Cannon was the first woman to broadcast on commercial FM radio in Australia – a pioneer for women in media everywhere. She was a teacher, a principal in a remote school, and a university lecturer. She now cares full time for her four grandchildren in New Zealand. And she does all of this while trying to be more like Jesus. --- If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed for the pod...

On paper, Peter di Prinzio’s trials and tribulations is enough to make anyone fall apart. Jail, being cheated on, mental health battles, a suicide attempt and a cancer diagnosis. But Peter doesn’t see it that way. He sees everything he’s been through as another opportunity to show the world who he really is – someone who never gives up. Facebook Page: Peter di Prinzio - Never Give Up Website: Pete...

On paper, Peter di Prinzio’s trials and tribulations is enough to make anyone fall apart. Jail, being cheated on, mental health battles, a suicide attempt and a cancer diagnosis. But Peter doesn’t see it that way. He sees everything he’s been through as another opportunity to show the world who he really is – someone who never gives up. Facebook Page: Peter di Prinzio - Never Give Up Website: Pete...

Marty Beckett is the CEO of Christ Mission Possible (CMP) – a charity which provides food and housing solutions for people in need across Western Sydney. But, his life hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows – far from it. Yet, his outlook on life isn’t defined by circumstance – but something far greater. For further information on CMP, call 1300 HELP 2U (Australia) or visit cmp.org.au . See omnystu...

What is “church”? A building used for worship? A community of believers that gather together on Sunday morning? Or something else entirely? Reverend Claire Wright believes she has experienced the essence of church – and it looks nothing like a Sunday service. Rev Claire Wright is the Ministry Development Minister for the Uniting Church in the Manning Valley region – a region which underwent major...

When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban last year, Shabnam Safa watched on with more trepidation than most. Shabnam grew up in Pakistan as an Afghan refugee, before her family emigrated to Australia when Shabnam was a teenager.  Life wasn’t easy for Shabnam. But as her story will prove, she is more than her hardships. For more information on the CRISP program, visit Community Refugee Sponsorship Aust...

Mel’s childhood was incredibly hard. Filled with abuse from her father, she ended up on the streets when she was just 16 years old. But, when she was 17 years old, her life was changed by one verse in the Gideon bible – Come to me, all who are weary and heavy ladened and I will give you rest. From that moment on, Mel was a Christian. She became a chaplain, ending up in the Royal Australian Navy –...

So far, we've heard of Mel Baker’s remarkably difficult childhood filled with abuse and homelessness. But at the age of 17, her life changed from a singular verse in the bible. Mel has a heart for people. In her early adulthood, she worked in the mission field in Papua New Guinea, studied ministry to become a Reverend and worked in global aid and development. However, in her thirties, Mel's life i...

Last week, we heard of Mel’s unimaginable abuse from her father, her sexual assault at multiple jobs, which led to her living on the streets at 16 years old – and multiple suicide attempts. After a few months, Mel knew she would die on the streets if she didn’t return home, so she barricaded herself in her room, and went through drug and alcohol withdrawal alone for two weeks. In that time, she wa...

Mel Baker is the kind of person that’s hard to describe in a few words – or even a few sentences. She has been through worse pain, hurt, abuse than some could ever imagine. But that’s not what defines her. What defines her is what she did afterwards. Each and every time the world let her down – she dusted herself off and got back up again. More than that, she learnt to fly. Link for Mel's book: Sl...

Mirette Abraham is an incredible woman. She’s a wife, a mother of two daughters, and she’s an oncologist in training and everyday she walks with people through the hardest days of their lives. But Mirette has also has some struggles of her own. From struggling under the pressure of working in the hospital system – to dealing with intense post natal depression after the birth of her first daughter,...

Jason van Genderen, his wife Megan and two children brought Jason’s mum, Hendrika, to live with them after she developed dementia and could no longer live independently. Jason began making home videos with Oma – showing the highs and lows of living with dementia. Sadly, Hendrika lost her brave battle with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia in February of this year. But Jason has compiled those home...

Trent Greentree is a fifth generation farmer from the Hawkesbury region in Sydney. Trent loves being a farmer, it’s in his blood. But the last few years haven’t been easy. Just a couple of months ago, Trent’s farm was flooded for the third time in a year. Trent’s reality is just one of thousands facing farmers across our nation. And yet, Trent doesn’t let it keep him down. For more details on Plat...

When you look at someone’s life, there are certain signposts that most people have in common. Birth, marriage, careers, kids – but sometimes, something earth shattering happens that changes the course of one’s forever. Rhonda Emonson has experienced not one, but two of these world changing forks in the road. And she’s come out stronger because of it. For more information about Rhonda’s work and to...

Col Mackereth was a happy go-lucky 18 year old, who played footy and has enjoying living on his own for the first time. Then, a split second decision – a dive into shallow water, changed his life forever. Further information: Col’s Work – Spinal Life Australia Col’s Book – Yesterday Today Tomorrow --- If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the...

In a world that values appearances, status, and surface level success. Being unapologetically yourself can be a difficult thing – sometimes, almost impossible. But Susan Sohn is changing that narrative.  To read Susan’s book, True You: Finding Beauty in Authenticity, click here .   If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia wo...