Stories of HOPE: Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton

In this powerful episode of Stories of Hope: Worldwide , I sit down with my dear friend and fellow storyteller, Matt Towner, whose life changed forever after a catastrophic motorcycle accident in the jungle of Thailand. Matt broke nearly every bone in his body, suffered a brain haemorrhage, spinal injuries, chronic pain, PTSD, and symptoms similar to Bipolar Disorder. And yet, when he woke from a...

TJ is the son of legendary Australian Ironman Trevor Hendy, and from a young age he knew what it was like to live close to the spotlight. But behind the achievements, the races and the expectations, TJ has walked through some incredibly hard seasons. Career setbacks, long COVID, physical health challenges and deep emotional pain all brought him to a place where he had to look beyond performance an...

In this deeply moving episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide , I speak with singer-songwriter and advocate Greg Gould about the courage it takes to speak the truth after years of silence. Greg shares his experience of surviving sexual abuse, the shame and confusion he carried for so long, and the way addiction became a place to hide from pain he didn’t yet know how to face. With honesty, warmth and...

In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend Jason Dasey - a broadcaster and journalist who lost his beautiful dad to suicide when he was only 15 years old. His dad was his mentor, his hero, and the person who encouraged him to follow his dream of becoming a journalist. To lose him so suddenly, just before Christmas, was absolutely heartbreaking. But Jason’s story is also one of incredible resili...

In this episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide, I’m joined by Brendan Neil for a conversation that so many people live through, but far too many suffer through in silence: hope after divorce. Brendan works closely with divorced dads, and what I really appreciate about him is how practical he is, while still holding space for the emotional reality men often carry behind closed doors. We talk about wh...

There are some conversations that stay with you long after they’re finished… and this is one of them. In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly brave Donna Thistlethwaite to explore a story that is as confronting as it is hopeful. Donna shares, with such honesty and courage, how a moment in the workplace triggered a rapid spiral of anxiety, self-doubt, and overwhelming thoughts that led her...

This episode is brought to you by Rumble Studios: a full service sound design and music composition team in Sydney & Melbourne. For more, head to RumbleStudios.tv and we thank them for their support of Stories of Hope. In this episode, I’m joined by Ron Isherwood for a conversation that is raw, confronting, and ultimately deeply hopeful. Ron shares openly about growing up surrounded by extreme...

In this deeply honest conversation, I sit down with Justin Lippiatt to talk about what it means to hold onto hope when life has stripped everything back. Justin shares his journey through alcoholism, long-term sobriety, and the way recovery reshaped not just his personal life, but the way he leads, serves, and sees other people. What touched my heart so much in this conversation is Justin’s willin...

In this episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide, I’m joined by Andrew O’Grady, CEO of Mental Health America of Dutchess County in New York, and I’m genuinely grateful for the chance to share this conversation with you. Andrew has spent more than two decades building a model of care that meets people where they are — quite literally. Instead of expecting someone in crisis to find their way into an off...

In this special behind-the-scenes episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide, I’m joined by someone you usually hear through the podcast, not on it—my producer and editor, Matthew Bliss. Matt shares how he found his way into podcasting, what he’s learned from working with so many different voices and stories, and why “success” isn’t always about chasing big numbers. We talk honestly about the work it ta...

In this episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide , I’m joined by Stephen Hirst: founder of the Dads Community Group and a passionate advocate for men and fathers walking through trauma, loneliness, and relationship breakdown. Stephen shares, with so much honesty, what it was like to lose his sense of identity after the end of his marriage. Not just the grief of the relationship, but the deeper ache of...

This episode was recorded just after the tragedy on Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, and mentions the massacre in the context of trauma. If the topic is still raw for you, please save the episode for another day. Our hearts are with the victims, survivors, and families. In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Jim Lagopoulos, CEO and Executive Director of the Brain & Mind Hub and a passionate a...

In this episode of Stories of Hope: Worldwide , I sit down with the courageous and deeply compassionate Andrea Simmons, founder of the Australian Anti Ice Campaign. Andrea takes us from the “perfect” picture of worldly success into the devastating descent that followed the first time she tried ice at the age of 40. In just two short years, she went from the boardroom to the basement, losing her he...

In this episode of Stories of Hope: Worldwide , I sit down with my friend Brenton Casson, who opens his heart about his journey from a loving family and “normal” teenage years into the dark world of ice, needles, bikie clubs and drug-induced psychosis. He shares how one relationship breakdown and the pain of feeling utterly rejected sent him spiralling, and how drugs quickly became his way of not...

In times of trauma and adversity, creating space for connection is the only path out of the darkness. And sometimes, we need a little help to triumph over our adversity by sharing a story of hope. On every episode of this podcast, Kerrie Atherton delves into the remarkable journeys of everyday people who have faced extraordinary challenges and emerged to share hope to others. Every fortnight you'l...

In this second part of my conversation with former undercover cop Todd Maguire, we go deeper into the double life he led as “Donny”: the persona he created to escape the unbearable grief after Karen’s suicide. Todd takes us inside the hidden world of drugs, bikie clubs and constant danger, and shares honestly about the death wish that followed him into every risky situation. Behind the cool exteri...

In this first part of my conversation with Todd Maguire, we go back to what seemed like a pretty ordinary Aussie life. Todd grew up a Brisbane boy who loved his footy, his family and the freedom of riding his bike from sunup to sundown. He never set out to be a cop, and he certainly never imagined his life would one day be divided into before 2000 and after 2000 . Todd shares how he found his way...

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit with Jennifer Heng —Director of Safe Place in Singapore and author of Walking Out of Secret Shame —to gently walk through a story many carry but few feel safe to speak. Jennifer shares, with courage and tenderness, how early family trauma, an abusive relationship, and two abortions left her living with crippling shame and the belief that she was beyond forgive...

In this episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide , I sit down with my friend and fellow mental health first aid trainer, Steve Hodgson. Steve’s story is one that so many will relate to. A successful real estate agent, husband and father of five, Steve found himself caught in the endless cycle of saying “yes” to everything—until one day he simply couldn’t keep going. Burnout stripped away his energy, h...

At just 22, Leeson Timms is doing brave, beautiful work with The Man Cave—helping teenage boys find language for their feelings, lean on each other, and choose healthier role models. After appearing on 60 Minutes to talk about toxic masculinity, Leeson joins me to share his own story: the deep loneliness of COVID, the heartbreak of losing a friend to suicide, getting pulled into harmful online nar...

In this powerful episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide , I sit down with Tim Smith: an Aussie who has walked an incredibly tough road yet continues to shine a light of hope for others. From growing up in a small town in Queensland to living overseas, to the devastating loss of his brother to suicide, and even spending time incarcerated in the United States, Tim has endured more than most could imag...

Jackie Schatz grew up in privilege in Singapore—fluent in two languages, on TV from thirteen, and modelling by her teens. But behind the polish were hidden battles with an eating disorder, a sexual assault at twenty-three, and the grief of losing her father. What followed was a long descent into drug addiction, culminating in homelessness, violent encounters, and a prison sentence. Jackie also sha...

Dinesh Palipana shows us that even in the darkest moments, hope can be found that brings us through the darkness. In this episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide , I sit down with the incredible Dr. Dinesh Palipana OAM—doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, and 2021 Queensland Australian of the Year. Dinesh’s journey is one of extraordinary resilience. From growing up in war-torn Sri Lanka, to battling...

WARNING: This episode directly addresses the event, nature and effects of suicide. In this episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide, I have the privilege of sitting down with the beautiful and incredibly brave Tes Cruz. Tes is sharing her story publicly for the very first time, and it is one that touched me deeply. Tes takes us back to her childhood, growing up in an environment of domestic violence,...

This week on Stories of Hope: Worldwide , I sit down with Zac Jones—a young man whose life changed in an instant the night he got behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol and drugs. That decision led to a devastating car crash, leaving four of his friends critically injured and Zac facing the consequences in jail for two and a half years. In this deeply honest conversation, Zac shares what...