Not Alone

The Black Saturday bushfires of 2009 are etched in the memory of so many Australians. For Cliff, a CFA firefighter during this time, these memories refused to fade. The death and devastation he witnessed would intrude on all parts of his life for the days, months and years to come. In this episode of Not Alone, Cliff shares his inspiring story of coming to terms with his trauma, and ultimately growing from it.

Not Alone is a Bey...

When it comes to supporting a loved one with a mental health condition, there isn’t one single strategy than perfectly walks you through how to handle everything life throws at you. People are different and experience things differently, and what works for one person may not always do the same for the next. In this episode of Not Alone, Caroline takes us on her emotional journey as a mother supporting her eldest son.

Not Alone i...

Contrary to the name, work stress isn’t just bound to the places we work. So often, work stress seeps its way into our home life and our relationships. In this episode of Not Alone, Tim opens up about how the stress of a new business venture, combined with his refusal to seek help, led to a range of mental health issues that began to affect all areas of his life.

Not Alone is a Beyond Blue podcast hosted by Marc Fennell, produce...

It seems strange that in a world of nearly eight billion people, anyone could feel lonely. But as studies keep telling us, it is a common experience in today’s society. In this episode of Not Alone, Cecile shares her story of isolation. It is an important perspective on loneliness and the cultural stigma that can stop someone from seeking support.

Not Alone is a Beyond Blue podcast hosted by Marc Fennell, produced by Sam Loy, mi...

Noel will never forget that Saturday in October, 2004. The day Maris, his wife of 42 years took her own life. At the age of 72, amidst grief and a sense of hopelessness, he promised he would live a life in honour of his beloved wife. This episode of Not Alone is about losing a sense of purpose, and more importantly, the journey to rediscovering it.

Not Alone is a Beyond Blue podcast hosted by Marc Fennell, produced by Sam Loy, m...

When it comes to living with a mental health condition, often the loudest voice of negativity comes from within. In this episode of Not Alone, Amy opens up on how her inner critic began to creep into all aspects of her life as she entered her final years of high school.

Not Alone is a Beyond Blue podcast hosted by Marc Fennell, produced by Sam Loy, mixed by Saskia Black, and executive produced by Darcy Sutton, Sarah Alexander an...

On average, nine Australians die every day by suicide. Seven are men. Behind every number, there are many stories.

Brad McEwen grew up in a small regional town in the 1980s. A time when men didn’t talk about feelings. In the space of two years, Brad lost his brother and father to suicide. He didn’t see either coming. For too long, talking about mental health has been a no-go zone between mates. It’s an attitude that Brad has long de...

Shantelle had always wanted to be a mother. Growing up as one of 18 siblings, family held a special importance to her. But when her twins arrived, she felt no connection to them. She was terrified by thoughts of hurting them.

Approximately one in six new mums experience postnatal depression. Shantelle never thought she’d be one of them.

This is an episode about a proud Barkindji woman who found recovery by connecting with her...

In 2021, Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann was honoured as the Senior Australian of the Year. It is recognition for a lifetime of work as a teacher and role model in her Daly River (Nauiyu) community. In 1975, Miriam-Rose became the Northern Territory’s first fully qualified Aboriginal teacher and a strong advocate for integrating art into mainstream education.

Perhaps her greatest achievement however, is bringing the concept of ...

For nearly three decades, Ross carried a burden that he kept to himself. By not speaking of the trauma he experienced as a child, he hoped it would become nothing more than a memory. But his anger bubbled away, sometimes beyond his control. And it was in his relationships with others he saw just how much the trauma was affecting him. This episode is about the far-reaching impact of trauma, and why it's never too late to seek help.

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I am a gay man. Five words that Maxim couldn't bring himself to say out loud. And so, for the best part of a decade, Maxim hid, refusing to accept his sexuality. But with this silence came a sense of complete disconnect – to everything and everyone around him. This is an episode about sexuality, self-acceptance and finding your voice.

Not Alone is a Beyond Blue podcast hosted by Marc Fennell, produced by Sam Loy and executive pr...

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. It’s a mantra Priscilla wholly believes.

Living with chronic physical pain. The grief of losing a loved one. The breakdown of a marriage. When daily tasks became insurmountable and life overwhelming, Priscilla couldn’t see a way through. But in adversity, she has come to understand that while pain is inevitable, she does have control over how she handles it.

This episode is about fin...

Mental health issues cover the full spectrum of feelings. But for many, they can be defined by a distinct lack of feeling.

Growing up in a small coastal town, James' love of the water drew him to work on a ship when he finished school. From day one, James experienced bullying and abuse that left him feeling numb. In a constant state of fear. Suicidal.

On leaving the ship, the trauma followed him.

In this episode, James talks a...

From the time she could walk, Aria had always dreamed of the performing arts. Being on stage gave her a profound sense of belonging.  

But when school arrived, she was the target of relentless bullying. Anxiety became a constant in her life and eventually she was forced to drop out of school entirely. She'd never felt so alone.  

Then she stumbled across an old wrestling gym. 

A story about anxiety, depression and finding your comm...

From an early age, much of Amy’s life has been consumed by anxiety, especially in social situations. 

Dating was especially difficult. 

Nerves around dating are something almost everyone can relate to. But for Amy, it was overwhelming dread. And for many years, it stopped her from even trying to form a relationship. 

Now in her 30s, Amy reflects on her early dating experiences. 

This episode of Not Alone was produced by Audrey Hugh...

Living out his dream in the AFL, Liam Stocker thought mental health wasn’t something he had to worry about.  

His anxiety had other ideas. Panic attacks became a regular occurrence, although Liam always felt he had to hide them. 

This latest episode of Not Alone is about accepting help, however scary it may be.  

This episode of Not Alone was produced by Darcy Sutton and narrated by Margot Moore. Sound design by Jan Wong. Our theme...

Emily’s childhood was defined by pressure. Pressure to get the perfect grade, to fit in, to excel. Their impossible standards left them feeling like a failure. All the time. 

This episode is about the constant battle between anxiety and depression and how recovery looks different for everyone.  

Emily’s recovery started when they found an online forum community that showed them, they weren’t alone. It’s a story that shows recovery ...

Guilt and shame defined Jake’s life for over a decade. He couldn’t see past his own self-loathing.  

When he asked for help, everything changed. And while talking was hard, it was nothing compared to the anguish and loneliness of silence.  

This is a story about recovery and turning down the volume on the negative voice in your head.

This episode of Not Alone was produced by Sarah Alexander and Darcy Sutton, and was narrated by Tho...