Insightful conversations every month that dive deep into men's lived experience of suicide and mental health challenges!
The casual, opportunistic chats that happen over the fence, so to speak, or between two passing neighbours, or colleagues over coffee, they're just as valid and important as an opportunity to connect and create support.
This podcast is brought to you by Roses in the Ocean, the Australian Men's Health Forum and the National Men's Lived Experience of Suicide Network. You can find out more information and join the Network, here: https://rosesintheocean.com.au/communities-events/national-mens-lived-experience-of-suicide-network/ (https://rosesintheocean.com.au/communities-events/national-mens-lived-experience-of-suicide-network/)
The hosts of this podcast are Tynan Narywonczyk and Jonathan Bedloe, men with lived experience of suicide.
We sit down with Danny Jeffery to 'have a chat' and explore the profound transition following his 35-year career in the Royal Australian Air Force, which included multiple deployments and his medical discharge in 2018. Danny opens up about the immense challenges of living with PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety—a journey that led him through moments of deep despair to finding new direction. He shares how the Invictus Games offered a path to recovery and the crucial realization that helped him survive his darkest days: "I just didn’t want to live the way I was living." Now, as an Emergency Department Peer Navigator, Danny is dedicated to offering support and mentorship, showing that acceptance of the "new me" is the key to finding hope.
Learn more about Men's LENS and become a member: https://rosesintheocean.com.au/mens-lens/
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Danny Jeffery was medically discharged from the Royal Australian Air Force in 2018 after serving the Defence Force for 35 years. Danny deployed on nine separate ADF Operations and suffered multiple physical injuries and has adapted his life to suit them. He is also living with PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder. His mental health is the biggest struggle and diversity he has ever faced in his life.
Danny’s mental health first fell apart in 2013 after returning from 8.5 months in Afghanistan. After 85 combat missions, Danny returned home claiming mission success, so he thought. Mentally his world fell apart without the pace of war to distract him. He finally had time to process things and just could not. ‘I just didn’t fit in back here at home, flashbacks consumed my days and nightmares consumed my sleep. I just wanted to go back in the hope that would help’.
In 2014 Danny discovered the Invictus Games. He felt that good he deployed to the Middle East again in 2015. Danny suffered a major mental health episode and returned in Nov 2015 to never wear a uniform again. In 2015 Danny was not going to give up on his pathway to recovery and successfully returned to the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 and Sydney 2018. After long term rehabilitation he was medically discharged in 2018. Throughout these dark days Danny experienced what he calls his ‘suicide chapter’ and is a proud survivor. ‘Finally in life I was not good at something, and it helped me realise that it wasn’t that I didn’t want to live anymore, I just didn’t want to live the way I was living, and I had the power to make changes.’
Danny is now a Licensed Mental Health First Aid instructor and is currently the Emergency Department Peer Navigator at Prince of Wales Hospital Sydney. He is embedded within a clinical team which is a first for NSW Health. Danny encourages hope for recovery and offers support and mentorship to those struggling with their mental health. He is passionate about removing the stigma and barriers people face when struggling with mental health and wants everyone to have the realisation that ‘it is possible to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. The biggest thing for me when I reached the light, was accepting the new me and I actually like this version’.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
8 Oct 2025
Over the Fence Conversation with Nieves Murray
This month we are excited to be sharing time Nieves Murray, the driving force behind Suicide Prevention Australia since 2018. Nieves has led the national peak body’s transformation with an ambitious goal: a world without suicide.
With a background in psychology, public health, and years on the mental health and homelessness frontline as a Lifeline volunteer, Nieves offers unparalleled insight. Nieves is also Chair of Beehive Industries, a social enterprise in central Sydney whose mission is to address loneliness and social isolation in the city.
Over the Fence Conversations is a space for conversations that can challenge myths and misconceptions around suicide and bring people on the journey of inspiring people who have a lived experience of suicide.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
22 Jun 2025
Over the Fence Conversations with Steve Jones
Steve Jones, the Comeback Coach, shares his transformative journey from suicidal despair to becoming a beacon of hope, offering insights into resilience and the power of mindset in this interview episode.
6 Mar 2025
Over the Fence Conversations with Steve Rothwell
Steve Rothwell is a writer and experimenter who lives on the waist-deep pasture country of the Atherton Tablelands, 65km southwest of Cairns, Far North Queensland. Originally hailing from Derbyshire, England, Steve migrated to Australia in '86 and set about exploring our remote tropical coastlines by any available means. Initially writing about paragliding and sailing, Steve moved into freelance travel writing - eventually lecturing in journalism at UWA. Later Steve moved into motorcycle tourism and engineering - but always knew something wasn’t quite right.
Steve had spent decades trying to run from his mental health problems and in 2023 tried to take his own life. Soon after, he was diagnosed with OCD, ASD, ADHD, CPTSD, Bipolar 2 with major depression and anxiety.
During a six-week stay in a Mental Health ward Steve describes as ‘revelatory’, he met many who shared his diagnoses and learned new ways of writing about mental health to help others – a practice he has resolved to continue for the rest of his life.
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If you are in suicidal crisis, you can reach out to Lifeline at any time on 13 11 14.
If you would like to speak with someone who has lived a similar experience of suicide to you, you can call the Roses in the Ocean Peer CARE Companion Warmline on 1800 777 337, and you will be connected with a peer within 48 hours.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
21 Nov 2024
Over the Fence Conversations with Nathan Bolton
Nathan Bolton, a former Special Operations Engineer, shares his raw and honest experiences with mental health, resilience, and the power of human connection, offering valuable insights for navigating life's toughest challenges.
21 Oct 2024
Over the Fence Conversations with Ryan Hassan
This month we are excited to be sharing some time with Ryan Hassan, co-founder and CEO at The Centre for Healing (https://www.thecentreforhealing.com/).
Ryan suffered from anxiety for as long as he could remember and that manifested in many destructive patterns throughout his life, culminating in a hardcore drug addiction to methamphetamine and GHB. A long journey, has led him to co-creating the Centre for Healing, to help people who have had similar experiences, and is now a qualified Trauma Therapist.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
24 Sept 2024
Over the Fence Conversations with Adriel Burley
Living with Purpose: A Conversation with Adriel Burley
Join us for a candid and thought-provoking conversation with Adriel Burley, a North Queensland native with a wealth of life experiences. Having lived across Australia, Adriel's unique perspectives on suicide stem from his own lived experiences of suicide, his personal journey and deep empathy for others.
In this episode, we delve into Adriel's insights on suicide prevention, the motivations behind his tireless work, and his vision for a significant shift in addressing male suicide. Discover how Adriel's lived experiences have shaped his understanding of suicide and his commitment to making a difference.
You can find out more about Roses in the Ocean and Australian Men's Health Forum follow these links.
https://rosesintheocean.com.au
https://www.amhf.org.au
And to connect with the National Mens Lived Experience of Suicide network:
https://rosesintheocean.com.au/communities-events/national-mens-lived-experience-of-suicide-network/
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
27 Aug 2024
Over the Fence Conversations with Tony Martin
Discover the extraordinary journey of Tony Martin as he shares his personal battles and ultimate triumphs. From the depths of adversity to becoming a beacon of hope, Tony's story is one of incredible resilience. Learn about his influential career, including his leadership roles at the Qantas Foundation Museum and within the Defence Force. We also explore his current work with Roses in the Ocean. As a proud father of three, Tony's kids continue to be his unwavering drive to be a kind human.
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You can learn more about Roses in the Ocean's Community-led Safe Spaces here: https://rosesintheocean.com.au/sector-priorities-collaborations/community-led-safe-spaces/ (https://rosesintheocean.com.au/sector-priorities-collaborations/community-led-safe-spaces/)
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
24 Jul 2024
Over the Fence Conversations with Glenn Cotter
This month we are excited to be sharing time with Glenn Cotter. Glenn has many amazing insights that stem from his life and lived experience of suicide. In this episode Glenn shares the power of connection that comes from true listening and focusing on giving people space to hear their own thoughts. Glenn covers insights to shift your own perspective on life and many more great insights.
Over the Fence Conversations is a space for conversations that can challenge myths and misconceptions around suicide and bring people on the journey of inspiring people who have a lived experience of suicide.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
3 Jun 2024
Over the Fence Conversations with Spoke to a Bloke
This month we welcome Scott and Paul from Spoke to a Bloke. Spoke to a Bloke started when their brother and mate sadly took his own life whilst going through some mental health issues. Unfortunately he felt he had no other option and much to their shock and disappointment, no one to talk to.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
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