Australia’s outback is world-renowned for it’s beauty, it’s uniqueness and it’s people. But what often isn’t spoken about is the sheer isolation living in these remote communities. My guest on this episode is a man who has lived at the extremes — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Brendan Cullen has lived his life on the land. He’s navigated childhood trauma, isolation, depression and alcohol dependency - and come out the other side a better person and a better father. In this conversation, Brendan opens up about the moment things caught up with him - when the mental load eventually became too heavy to carry alone and he could no longer wear the mask. He talks about the reality of living with depression, the brutal isolation of the rural Australia, and what it took to finally ask for help. He also talks about finally finding purpose, and how he managed to train to swim the English Channel in the middle of the outback. It’s a candid yet important look at mental health, particularly in rural communities where silence and self-reliance are often the status quo. Brendan stands as a beacon of resilience forged the hard way, and proof asking for help can make a real difference. SUPPORT:If this episode raises concerns for yourself or a loved one, help is available: Lifeline - 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Rural Health Connect - https://ruralhealthconnect.com.au/ LINKS  Brendan's book 'The Desert Swimmer' is available now Read more about Brendan here Follow Brendan on Instagram Sign up to the Better Than Yesterday newsletter Watch episodes of Better Than Yesterday on YouTube Watch full stories recorded live at Story Club on YouTube Get tickets for our next Story Club show Get Osher's latest book "So What? Now What?" here Send a pic of what you're looking at to [email protected]  LIKE THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT... The Skills of Being Happier, with Happiness Researcher and Expert Declan Edwards What's Your Why? Unpacking motivation and purpose with Sam Wood Connecting Communities Through Creativity with Diesel (aka Mark Lizotte) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.