Hot Debrief Podcast

Associate Professor Tracey Varker - Special Edition No. 5 for the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2026. Presentation: Responder Assist: A Specialised Mental Health Service for Emergency Services Workers (1405hr 3 March 2026) WARNING: This Episode discusses mental health themes. This the fifth episode in a short special edition series where we hear from presenters of at the Frontline Mental Heal...

Rev. Dr Mark Layson - Special Edition 4 for the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2026. Presentation: Preventing Organisational Betrayal and Moral Injury: Mitigating Psychosocial Risks of Organisational Injustice Through Just Cultures. (1100hrs 2 March 2026) WARNING: This Episode discusses mental health themes. This the fourth episode in a short special edition series where we hear from presenter...

Matt Newlands - Special Edition 3 for the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2026. Presentation title: Stress, Resilience & Functioning: Building mental fitness across Frontline communities. WARNING: This Episode discusses mental health themes. This the third episode in a short special edition series where we hear from presenters of at the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2-3 March 2026 ( de...

James Maskey - Special Edition 2 for the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2026. WARNING: This Episode discusses suicide and mental health themes. This the second episode in a short special edition series where we hear from presenters of at the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2-3 March 2026 ( details here: https://anzmh.asn.au/fmhc ) James is driven to build a mental health system that is acce...

Dr Tara Lal AFSM - Special Edition 1 for the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2026. WARNING: This Episode discusses suicide and mental health themes. This the first episode in a short special edition series where we hear from presenters of at the Frontline Mental Health Conference 2-3 March 2026 ( details here: https://anzmh.asn.au/fmhc ) Tara is an applied researcher, former firefighter, and in...

Officer B had his life changed in 12 seconds during a terrorist attack in the Melbourne Suburb of Endeavour Hills on 23rd September 2014 when he and his partner were stabbed during a routine day at the office.  Attached to the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team - Melbourne Office, while meeting with Numan Haider, an 18 year old on an ASIO watch-list, a knife was produced and Officers A and B were both s...

EP25 - The Final H2H Walk Podcast: Life after the walk with Billy, Bats, Greg and Matt. The podcast wrap-up.  We've been back for a while, and a few walkers have had a chat! I'll say sorry up front for the delay in doing this podcast.  Even after getting it recorded, it has taken a while to edit it for the platform.   To be honest, I've not been going too well for a long time since we got home and...

Sergeant Greg Corin APM - Australian Federal Police 36 years.  Such a diverse career from General Duties Policing, Specialist Response Group (SRG) - Discreet Operations Team through to Team Leader, Close Personal Protection team for the Governor-General and Prime Minister. _____ Listener discretion is advised; this episode raises issues such as child abuse, suicide and other emotive issues that mi...

Living alongside PTSD- a family perspective with Janine Hopkin and Sarah U'Brien.  In this episode, Matt takes a step back from the microphone and lets two of the Heart 2 Heart Walkers, Sarah and Janine have a 'self interview' by the waters edge not far from our camp at Urana, NSW.  After setting up the recording equipment and hitting the red button it was over to them. However this is no ordinary...

Nicky Skinner - Paramedic - London Ambulance Service to the ACT Ambulance Service.  In this episode, Matt talks to Nicky Skinner, a Heart 2 Heart Walker who joined us on a short break from her role as a Paramedic with the ACT Ambulance Service.  Nicky talks all about what it is like to join as an Ambulance Paramedic, both here in Australia and with the London Ambulance Service where she started he...

Steve Watson - Served in both the Royal Australian Army - 6RAR and Royal Australian Air Force - Airfield Defence Guard roles with multiple deployments to East Timor, Afghanistan and more. Steve talks about the highs and lows of service, and the challenges of adjusting to life out of uniform. This is such a fantastic, raw chat with Steve, talking through his life and careers.  From starting out as...

Senator Jacqui Lambie - Talking all things from military service, thoughts on broken support systems for first responders and so much more!  In this episode, Matt has an open chat to Senator Jacqui Lambie while on the Heart 2 Heart Walk from the shores of Lake Popiltah in western NSW.  Jacqui talks openly about her service in the Australian Army - including a rough time in the Military Police and...

Peter Forbes - Former Australian Federal Police (AFP) Officer and Heart 2 Heart Walk 2023 member.  In this episode, Matt talks to Forbsy by the camp fire in a dry riverbed near Algebuckina Bridge, south of Oodnadatta on the Heart 2 Heart Walk 2023 .  Forbsy talks about life as a kid shooting rabbits to a calling he and a good mate followed into Policing.  We hear all about what it's like to be in...

This episode was recorded at our first official 'First Responder Engagement Day' or FRED as we call them, at Oodnadatta SA while we are doing the Heart 2 Heart Walk 2023 .  This episode is with newly appointed Captain Matt Corner from the Coober Pedy Country Fire Service who travelled out all the way to Oodnadatta to honour a promise he made when we caught up with them at Coober Pedy on the trip t...

Our first ever 'Pubcast' recorded literally at the bar of the Transcontinental Hotel , Oodnadatta with publican Simon Gunther hosted by Billy Brooks and Matt.   Simon was one of those characters you couldn't miss on our arrival into Oodnadatta setting up a basecamp for a lot longer than planned due to bad weather.  Simon and his wife travel the country, and at the moment are in Oodnadatta with Sim...

Our first episode recorded on the Heart 2 Heart Walk 2023: Walking the Old Ghan Rail Line near Oodnadatta with on of our walking members Greg Mitchell - a retired 42 year veteran nurse who specialised in NSW Air Ambulance Flight Nursing which included roles conducting complex aeromedical transfers across the state.  Greg is also a current Rural Fire Service member, a keen bushwalker and now primar...

Dean Yates - A mental health advocate and veteran war zone correspondent, journalist and author of the recently released book 'Line in the Sand'.  Dean has had an extensive domestic and international career, which ultimately lead him to being admitted to a psych ward (Ward 17) multiple times in managing his PTSD.  One major contributor was the tragic friendly fire incident where two of his staff w...

Paul "Fluffy" Sinclair - Comedian / Instagram Megastar - Ex VicPol Forensic Investigator turned worm farmer who has now transformed his life into what works for him! *** Language Warning *** - If you are offended by bad language, this episode is NOT for you ! Before you listen to this episode, do yourself a favour and check out Fluffy's instagram posts or his website here: @paul_fluffy_sinclair . ...

Dr Laura Finlayson-Short is a Research Fellow at Phoenix Australia's Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health. In this episode, Matt talks to Dr Laura Finlayson-Short.  Matt participated in a trial program called 'SOLAR-m' during his time in Fire Rescue NSW that was lead by Laura and the team at the Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health.   The SOLAR-m FRNSW trial aims to find out if using a smartph...

Toby Rowallan - Emergency Medical Dispatcher for 27 years with Ambulance Tasmania.  _______ Listener discretion is advised; In this episode talk about some distressing events that may be triggering for some listeners, and issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.  If you need support check out our support page here . _______ In this epi...

Simon Bouda AM - 40 year veteran journalist, author and ambassador for victims of crime.   In this episode, Simon talks about life as a journalist, and the parallels with the emergency services world along with the amazing work he is doing supporting so many causes in the community including his role as ambassador for Homicide Victims Support. _______ Listener discretion is advised; some episodes...

Daniel Jamieson - Former Royal Australian Army Infantry Sergeant.  In this episode, Dan talks about his career in the military, and the accident that almost killed him in East Timor and his subsequent struggles with PTSD resulting from a massive head injury.  We cover Accredited Assistance Dogs, alternative treatments for PTSD including Esketamine and different ways people can apply mindfulness in...

Peter Clark - Founder of Due South Inc. Tasmania talks about support and mate-ship for veterans and first responders done differently through their 100% volunteer basis, private sector funded programs that have set up a self sufficient incorporation that is not reliant upon donations and government funds.   _______ Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health,...

Dr. Jacqueline Drew - Associate Professor.  Former QPS Police psychologist and now specialist with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Griffith Criminology Institute at the Griffith University, QLD. _______ Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.  _______ In this episo...

Jamie Caldwell - Senior NSW Government Emergency Manager and son of Undercover operative 'M'. _______ Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.  If you need support check out our support page here . _______ In this episode, Matt talks to Jamie Caldwell, Senior NSW Government emergency...