Adoption, Gangs and Terror: Donna’s Second Chance at Life

Adoption, Gangs and Terror: Donna’s Second Chance at Life

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains graphic and extreme depictions of violence. Listener discretion is advised. From the moment she was born, Donna was already in withdrawal. Her biological parents were both experiencing addiction and she was adopted soon after birth. Donna was then raised in a strict, hardworking family and given a stable home. But by high school, she found herself drawn into the orbit of people connected to a bikie gang and began working with them. What followed was a life marked by extreme violence, death and experiences no one should have to endure, including a relationship that ended in a police siege. Donna knew she had to change her environment to stop using. She moved states, cut ties and started again from nothing. A testament to her sobriety, Donna went on to become a main character in Housos, with more acting work now on the horizon. Follow Donna on TikTok: @tatts_n_pits [https://www.tiktok.com/@tatts_n_pits] Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au] Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline] Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@juliarangiheuea?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jas_rule/?hl=en] In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Masking ADHD and Drinking Through Grief: Jasmine's Story

Jasmine [https://www.instagram.com/jasminelisciotto?igsh=MWRyejl1NDlweGhuMg%3D%3D] grew up knowing something didn’t feel right in her home. The good days with her father felt like everything. The bad days felt unbearable. At 15, she witnessed him attempt to take his own life in front of her and her siblings, and from that moment she began using alcohol to cope with what she couldn’t process. Years later, she was still carrying it all. Moving through her twenties and early thirties with low self-worth, drinking to regulate emotions she never learned how to sit with, until one moment, bottles of wine deep, sitting on the floor after a breakup, forced her to question everything. Jasmine opens up about receiving a diagnosis of ADHD and OCD in her thirties, masking for years without knowing why, the loneliness that can come with sobriety and what it has taken to slowly rebuild her sense of self. Instagram: @jasminelisciotto [https://www.instagram.com/jasminelisciotto?igsh=MWRyejl1NDlweGhuMg%3D%3D] Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au] Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline] Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@juliarangiheuea?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jas_rule/?hl=en] In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Coercive Control, a Life Sentence & Finding Love in Prison: Peter Bates

Peter Bates [https://www.instagram.com/petebatesproject/] was just a child when his father poured petrol over him and his mother to stop her from leaving. Extreme violence, coercive control, and fear shaped Peter’s childhood, but home wasn’t the only place he was unsafe. At school, he experienced SA at the hands of a male teacher.  Desperate to escape the violence, Peter found himself homeless at a young age. But after a tragic accident led to the loss of an innocent young life, Peter was sentenced to life in prison, believing his own life was effectively over too. Instead, prison became the place where Peter began to change.  Peter is now a passionate advocate for domestic violence and coercive control. You can connect or work with Peter Bates below;    [https://petebatesproject.com/]https://petebatesproject.com/ [https://petebatesproject.com/]  [https://petebatesproject.com/] Instagram: @petebatesproject [https://www.instagram.com/petebatesproject/] TRIGGER WARNING: domestic violence, coercive control and suicide discussed in detail. Please listen with care. Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au] Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline]https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@juliarangiheuea?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jas_rule/?hl=en] In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

The Cycle of Violence and Abandonment: Luke's Story

Growing up around addiction, instability and an absent father shaped the course of Luke’s life long before he understood it. In this episode, Luke speaks openly about avoiding accountability and the impact his behaviour had on the people around him during the darkest periods of his life. Beneath it all was a lifelong search for love, validation and escape. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses suicide, mental health struggles, violence and domestic violence. Please watch with care. Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au] Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline]https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠] Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@juliarangiheuea?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jas_rule/?hl=en] In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

The Hidden Grip of Pokies: How a Mum of Six Nearly Lost Everything

If a mum of six can walk into her local pub and lose hundreds of thousands on a poker machine, where does the responsibility actually sit? Is it the machines, engineered to be addictive? The system that allows them to exist in every pub and club across the country? Or the individual sitting in front of them? In this episode I sit down with Kate Seselja, [https://www.instagram.com/the.hope.project/] founder of The Hope Project, who shares her 15-year experience of gambling harm inside Australia's pokies crisis. She opens up about pulling money from her family business and mortgage just to keep playing, and what it actually cost her and her family. I also bring in a political voice. NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann [https://www.instagram.com/greencate/] joins to break down what is really happening, or not happening, in parliament when it comes to poker machine reform in Australia. Follow The Hope Project on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/the.hope.project/] Follow Cate Faehrmann on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/greencate/] Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au] Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline]https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠] Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@juliarangiheuea?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jas_rule/?hl=en] In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.