The Minds Changing Lives

Content warning: This episode discusses mental health and suicide. Every day in Australia, an average of seven men will die by suicide. For years, the conversation about men’s mental health has followed a similar pattern: Men don’t talk. They don’t seek help. They’re too stoic and closed off. But what if the problem isn’t with men? University of Newcastle researcher Dr Myles Young and lived experience advocate Elliot Waters are rethinking men's mental health - and the need for support pathways as diverse as men themselves. Together, they’re exploring innovative, evidence-based alternatives that could help more men access the type of support they need before they reach crisis point. From Walk-and-Talk therapy and SMS4Dads, to the power of lived experience and storytelling, this episode is an important conversation about struggle, connection and the road to recovery. If you’re interested in learning more about the team’s research, visit www.goodtalklab.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode tackles one of the biggest environmental and public health challenges of our time: PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals”. They’re found in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. When PFAS contamination was discovered around the Royal Australian Air Force base near Newcastle, residents like Lindsay Clout were left searching for answers about what the chemicals meant for their health, livelihoods and future. Through Lindsay’s powerful firsthand account, we explore the impact of living in a contamination zone and the long fight for recognition and action. Host Shahni Wellington also speaks with University of Newcastle experts Professor Ravi Naidu and Dr Jacinta Martin about the science behind PFAS, the risks they pose, and groundbreaking research aimed at removing PFAS from contaminated soil, water and even our bodies. From community advocacy to scientific advances, this is a story of resilience, discovery and those fighting against an enemy we cannot see. This episode includes personal experiences and views from a community member affected by PFAS contamination. Those views are their own. Discussion of PFAS and potential health impacts reflects current scientific understanding available at the time of recording. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a common ear condition in kids goes untreated for months, or even years, because the right care is out of reach? For Indigenous children, and those living in rural and remote communities, delayed treatment doesn’t just affect hearing. It impacts learning, confidence and connection. In this episode, we talk with Professor Kelvin Kong – Australia’s first Indigenous ear, nose and throat specialist – about the disproportionate impact of ear disease on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. We meet Marlie Matthews, who provides a touching, first-hand account of what delayed treatment meant for her son Marcus. And we hear from Yeena Thompson, who’s leading the charge to ensure Indigenous communities are finally heard. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coal has powered the Hunter Valley for decades. Now the region faces a defining question: what comes next and who gets to decide? As some mines approach closure – and proposals to extend other operations are debated – communities are grappling with what the future looks like. In this episode, we explore the economic, environmental and cultural voids that will be left from open-cut coal mining. Through the voices of Dr Hedda Askland, fourth-generation farmer Sophie Nichols and Wonnarua woman Kerri-Ann Taggart, we uncover the hopes, fears and aspirations shaping the region's future. This is a story about transition, connection and resilience – and the people trying to create a new future against the backdrop of uncertainty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a stroke strikes, every minute matters. Science has traditionally approached stroke as a race against time. But rather than racing faster, what if we could instead slow the damage down? Join host Shahni Wellington as she explores groundbreaking research aimed at buying more time for stroke patients, particularly those in rural and regional communities. In this episode, she talks with Dr Daniel Beard, who shares how a chance discovery led to an international collaboration with Harvard University and a biotechnology company that hopes to give more patients access to life-saving care. Stroke survivor Amy Thompson also shares her personal story and the long journey to treatment and recovery. This episode is a story of innovation, persistence and a game-changing approach for stroke patients around the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.