Finding Hope with Georgia Free

Penny Mulvey is the definition of a strong female role model. She’s spent her career reporting on some of the toughest news – she’s travelled to war zones, natural disasters and was on radio in the wake of the September 11 attacks. If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to hear from you - leave a comment on the...

As you move through life, you occasionally stumble across people that floor you with their love, compassion and care for others. Ben Boland is one of those people.   He is an aged care chaplain, who spends his days trying to make the world easier and more joyful to older Australians, especially those living with dementia. But Ben hasn’t had an easy life. It’s been one of tria...

Have you ever met someone who throws themselves into every opportunity life gives them? Who lives every moment like it’s their last? Amanda Nickson is one of those people. As a social worker – she spends her life advocating for those in need. As a pastor, she shows people what it means to follow God. As a person, she enjoys every moment of her life. Because she almost wasn’t here...

Dave Hanbury is a husband, and father of three. He is a pastor on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. Before that, he was the lead singer of a worship band, that toured around America with Third Day. There’s been a lot of versions of Dave Hanbury. A lot of uncertainty. But the one constant in his life has been God. To find out more about Harbourside Church – visit their website . If you...

It’s barely 4 months into 2022 and we’ve lived through enough world events for a decade. In Sydney, we have had devastating floods along the east coast of our country – twice. We’re currently witnessing a war between Russia and Ukraine. Barely six months ago, Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, we're living through a pandemic and the cost of living has skyrocketed. Sometimes,...

Cancer. Everyone has either been affected by it, or knows someone affected by it. There’s 1 million people in Australia alone, currently living with a form of cancer. And yet, so many people’s cancer journeys are plagued with isolation and loneliness. Carol Kavurma is the General Manager of Look Good Feel Better Australia – a free community program which runs hair, makeup and ski...

Paul Litherland was a Western Australian Police Officer for more than 2 decades – spending the last 5 years of his career in the Cyber Crimes unit. He was so passionate about his work that he then left the force altogether to focus his passion for keeping kids safe online. Today, he spends his days “talking to anyone who will listen” about how to stay safe on the internet. Paul l...

Michelle Ng had always wanted to be a mum. After the birth of her first child Preston, she knew that she wanted to give him a sibling. But it wasn’t that easy. After a relatively smooth first pregnancy, Michelle didn’t expect the heartache that was to come in her journey of creating her family. To read more of Michelle’s work, including details on her book My Soul Waits, visit he...

Jakki Civeriati had a tough childhood. Filled with anger, tempers, even rage, she never had an example of a functional family life. At 19 years old, Jakki married her first husband. It was a marriage filled with emotional abuse, coercive control, even domestic violence. 16 years later, she finally broke free. --- To find out more about Jakki’s book, Goodbye for Now or Goodbye Forever, visit...

January 6th 2014. Michelle McLaughlin was excited to be on a beach holiday with her family. It was late afternoon – and they began the short walk down to the beach from their accommodation – boogie boards in hand. Little did Michelle know it was to become the worst day of her life. For information and resources about road safety, visit Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation . If you or your b...

For most people, Christmas is a busy time filled with family, friends, presents and lots of food. But for some, the festive season is simply another reminder of their loneliness and discomfort. Reverend Bill Crews has been responsible for over 3 million meals to those in need, and 50 Christmas Day lunches for those needing somewhere to go. Bill is now in his late 70s. He’s spent the majority...

When Melinda Chiew was a young adult, she had a vision of a café – an organic, sustainable, eco-friendly café. And she believed that call was from God. Seven years later, that vision is now a reality. Solace Kitchen provides delicious food – all ethically sourced, organic and sustainable. But it’s more than that. This café brings people to God. More informati...

Sue Collier has always loved to sing. Her rock and roll career has taken her across the world. She loved her job and her life. But then, one day – she gave it all up. Fast forward 35 years, Sue is a very different person. She’s retired, and spends her days volunteering as a prison chaplain. So how does one go from rock and roll to prison chaplaincy? GIVEAWAY: To win one of two copies o...

Joshua Broome lived a glamourous life on the surface – but when he went to bed at night, he would think about the ways to end his own life. After moving to Hollywood to pursue an acting and modelling career as a young adult, he suddenly fell into the porn industry and quickly became a successful adult actor. He travelled the world and earned millions of dollars. But after years of shame, con...

Imagine training for the better part of a decade to become a doctor – just to begin your career at the start of a pandemic. That was the reality for Dr Mithila Zaheen, a second year junior doctor at Blacktown Hospital in Sydney. But Mithila has not only taken it all in her stride, she’s gone above and beyond to reach those who need it. Further information: The Water Well Project  ...

Jon Owen is a peculiar man. When most of us hear about hard stuff, we shy away, try to protect ourselves. Jon leans in, and puts himself on the line. For 25 years, Jon has opened his heart and home to people in desperate need of shelter, food and a little bit of love. Further information: ·       Urban Neighbours of Hope ·     &n...

Abhijit Simon, better known as Abhi, is a man in love. He got married to his beautiful wife Navya in January 2020, after they met at bible college here in Sydney. Both hailing from India, they returned to their homeland for their wedding and honeymoon. Abhi returned to Australia to start his last semester of bible college, with Navya planning to join him a few weeks later, awaiting a visa renewal....

At 17 years old, Melissa Lipsett ran away from a broken home. She had no hope for her future – she just wanted to get out. Fast forward several decades – she’s been ordained in the Uniting Church for more than 20 years - and she’s now the Acting CEO of Baptist World Aid Australia. To find out more about Baptist World Aid Australia, visit their website . If you or someone yo...

Finding Hope has officially reached the halfway point of Season 1! In this episode, Georgia shares some of her favourite moments of the season so far. Check out any (or all) of the previous episodes - hopefully, they bring some hope and happiness to your day.  If you or someone you know has a story of hope to share, and you’d like to be interviewed for the podcast, Georgia would love to...

Georgia* was a young teenager when she first got drunk. She grew up in a house of heavy drinkers, so alcohol was a normal part of life for her. She was only 15 years old when she first experienced the effects of alcohol poisoning – alone on a bathroom floor, thinking she was going to die before morning. It was also there, on that bathroom floor, that she became a Christian.   *Surn...

When Mitch Farrell was in high school, he wanted to die. That’s not an exaggeration. Just before his School Certificate exams in Year 10, he experienced his first panic attack. Mitch didn’t see himself living past 25 years old. Now, nearing 29 years old, Mitch is using his lived experience with mental illness to help others, every day. Further information: Towards Zero Suicides Safe Ha...

When you go and fill up your car with petrol – there are generally a few options. E10, Premium Octane, diesel – and regular old unleaded. If you’re old enough, you’ll probably remember putting leaded petrol in your car. It's now banned across the world, as of July this year, but it wasn’t an easy fight. Behind the ban is 30 years of science, testing, lobbying - all he...

Rebecca Oates lived a pretty typical life. She owned a hairdressing business in Perth, where she lived with her husband and four children. Then, one day, she gave it all up. She and her husband sold their possessions, Rebecca’s hairdressing business – even the land for their dream home – to follow a calling from God. To find out more about Baptist World Aid Australia, visit their...

Corey Tutt has always been a curious soul. A proud Kamilaroi man, he spent his childhood catching lizards and snakes, and reading books about reptiles. So when he found out that some schools in remote communities across Australia didn’t have science books at all – he packed up every book he owned, and sent them to schools that needed it. From there, Deadly Science was born – an i...

Burgers are a favourite comfort food of many, but they aren’t often described as brain food! Lachlan Stevens is changing that narrative. Lachlan owns a bar in Wollongong called His Boy Elroy and is using his delicious burgers as a way to start a conversation around men’s mental health. Further information: Barstool Brothers (Facebook Group) His Boy Elroy (Lachlan’s sports bar) Me...