In his early twenties Brodie felt invincible, approaching life like the world revolved around him as he chased one high to the next.

It wasn’t long till Brodie had his first child unplanned, at a time he was far from ready to accept responsibility, refusing to change his party lifestyle.

His recklessness carried on, and before long he fathered a second child with another woman, and then a third.

Still, it wasn’t the wake up call he needed to grow up and settle down and the tumultuous relationship ended with him walking out - much to his regret.

Brodie had never given his mental health the time of day, thinking it was a waste of time and living by the traditional Aussie throwaway line, “you’ll be right", but eventually he wasn’t…

When the party finally ended, the lights came on and Brodie was left with nothing but his mistakes, and the realisation that he had only himself to blame.

Living back with his parents, alone at 29 after another break up Brodie, was in such a hole he didn’t think he’d see 30, that’s when he finally reached out and started climbing.

This is Brodie Toomey...

He was labelled the best in the world at 12 years old — a tennis prodigy bound for greatness, striving alongside a father who was obsessed with his success.

Todd describes his younger years as Groundhog Day, an endless 24 hour cycle hell bent on high performance, in which every tiny detail was put under constant scrutiny.

After many years of knowing no other way to live, Todd hit a wall and had the realisation he was done with the sport that had made him a machine.

He soon spiralled into self destruction, trying to annihilate the identity he couldn’t stand.

Todd’s twenties were a blur dominated by alcoholism, with drinking becoming a foundation of the next chapter of his complicated relationship with his father.

Eventually Todd got sober and has managed to stay that way for 5 years, thanks in part to the environment provided by Alcoholics Anonymous.

He doesn’t have the answers and he hates the idea of telling anyone else how to fix their problems. What he does have to share is a real experience and he’ll give it to you straight.

This is Todd Ley...

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Find more info about Todd and order his book 'Smashed' here: https://toddley.com.au/

In Australia, 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, 1 in 100 are ectopic, and thousands of babies are born still each year.

Child loss during pregnancy is utterly devastating for the people who experience it—and despite being so common, the grief that follows often remains hidden. This is especially true for men, who can feel obligated to suppress their own distress in order to stay strong for their partner, unintentionally sidelining the magnitude of their own loss.

Through her work as a clinical psychologist and CEO of Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia, Julie Borninkhof has dedicated her career to supporting people through pregnancy loss, postnatal depression, and the quiet, often unseen struggles that many parents face.

In this episode, we chat about what it’s really like for men to lose a child—the isolation, the strain on relationships, and the pressure to move on too quickly. We explore why so many men struggle to give themselves permission to grieve, and where to begin to process a loss like this.

Julie blends clinical insight with human understanding—and she might have some of the answers you're looking for.

This is Julie Borninkhof...

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PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday) or panda.org.au
PANDA also offers an online mental health checklist for new and expecting parents to check for possible signs of perinatal anxiety, depression, and well-being concerns.

Zach Green was going to be a dad, Three times...
Each time, he imagined life as a father and each time his hopes were shattered.
In just 18 months, he and his ex-partner lost three babies during pregnancy.

The world around him kept moving, but inside, he was stuck— grieving in silence, burying himself in work, and trying to pretend he was all good.

In reality, he was living in a cycle of manic depressive episodes he couldn't escape, causing him to push people away and isolate himself, very nearly costing him his life.
Alongside therapy, the kitchen became his lifeline to recovery. Cooking was often the only thing that made sense, giving him an outlet that's become a career.

Now a stepfather to four boys, Zach is navigating fatherhood in a way he never imagined and advocating for mental health support in remote communities.

This is Zach Green...

Life has thrown everything at Adam—crippling financial hardship, devastating loss, and more than his fair share of personal demons; heartbreakingly losing both his mum AND his brother to suicide.

Adam's struggles began in childhood, living on the poverty line after his mum lost her house and never got it back, leading to her death. That tragedy was repeated by his brother years later when the stress of divorce overwhelmed him.

Through grief, legal trouble and immense pressure, Adam's found a way to persist and a method of working towards the financial stability that his family's always wanted.

This is Adam Gaunt...

Sammy wanted to be a comedian ever since he saw the greats on TV; but the journey so far hasn't been all laughs...

Born with facial palsy, he stood out for his crooked smile and had a hard time learning to love himself.

Growing up around a drug addicted brother, Sammy learned early on how unpredictable life can be. And although he's never fallen prey to addiction himself, it's still loomed around him, with multiple friends and mentors swept up in its grip.

After seven years in the game, it all came to a crashing halt in 2018, when Sammy had a heart mid-show. He walked away, unsure if he’d ever come back. But the stage was never far from his mind. Now he’s stepping back into the spotlight on a national tour, not to prove he can, but because it's who he is.

This is Sammy Petersen…

Jasper spent years throwing punches in the cage, but his toughest fight has always been against himself.

Through a childhood marked by instability. Jasper was constantly moving and having to start over, causing frustration and anger that had nowhere to go until he found martial arts.

MMA gave him identity and purpose, so much so that he's struggled to define himself as more than a fighter.

Now, he’s building a life around his personal training business, teaching others how to defend themselves and showing that there's more to being a man than winning.

This is Jasper Buck...

The suicide rate for people living with bipolar is between 10 and 30 times higher than the general population, accounting for up to a quarter of all suicides in Australia.

Research shows up to 60% of those with the condition will make at least one attempt on their life. Father of three, Chris Fraser is one of them.

He experienced multiple extended bi-polar episodes in his early and mid-thirties, when months of mania were followed by even longer periods of severe depression – throwing his life into chaos.

With therapy, the right mix of medication and the support of his family, Chris has clawed his way out of a seemingly bottomless abyss; emerging with his own blueprint of how to manage bi-polar and make life worth living.

This is Chris Fraser…