Home Truths

Opening up about his mental health saved Kieran from losing it all. Returned soldier Kieran opens up to host Wendy Searle about finding community in the army, adjusting to real life after spending years in Afghanistan and how he's using his mental illness to create positive change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kirsten has a brain aneurism. It's like a ticking time bomb in her head and means that something as simple as a sneeze could end her life. Kirsten shares her experience, with host Wendy Searle, of the strange feeling of living with a death sentence while being busy as a mum and wife, and how grief-counselling sessions became part of her family’s new normal. Kirsten shares the perspective this strange experience has given her on life, with surprising humour, and explains her new found courage to 'live honestly'. 

39 weeks into her pregnancy Jodie knew something wasn’t right. She couldn’t feel her baby moving. Jodie shares the story of her grief, acceptance and motivation to make her son’s short life count, with host Wendy Searle.

Diane married a man who she thought would be a great partner and stepfather to her children, but after the marriage she very quickly realised that he was not really who he said he was. Diane shares with host Wendy Searle how years later, her ex-husband's deception almost had fatal consequences for her and her family, and how Diane is now speaking out about this experience to make sure that the same thing doesn't happen to other people.

Hedley came home from a night out and decided that she was going to take her own life. Luckily, she changed her mind before it was too late and with the help of the emergency services her life was saved. Hedley shares with host Wendy Searle the story of that night and her journey to recovery and self-discovery.

Margarita has spent her life advocating for and caring for those in need. Little did she know that at 96 years old, she would have to advocate for herself against abuse in her aged care facility. Margarita shares with Wendy about how she found the courage to speak out about abuse when people were using her age to discredit her claims and how her determination to make sure it didn't happen to other women helped her stay the course with the justice system.

People who have faced extreme hardships share their story and life learnings with Wendy Searle. Wendy speaks to people who have been bent by adversity, have faced it head-on and have come out the other side stronger. These people share how they overcame the dark times and what it has taught them about life and themselves. Each story teaches us that we are stronger we think.