Voodoo Medics

Daily Telegraph

Voodoo Medics are Australia's best combat healers who combine “unconventional medicine and unconventional warfare”. Journalist Kristin Shorten sat down with six medics, the soldiers they treated in Afghanistan and the families of those killed overseas.

  1. Voodoo Medics: Jonathan Walter

    EPISODE 1

    Voodoo Medics: Jonathan Walter

    Sergeant Jonathan Walter sits down with Kristin Shorten for a chat about his time in Afghanistan and East Timor, receiving a Nursing Service Cross and Bar, and treating Signaller Sean McCarthy after an IED explosion in 2008.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min
  2. Voodoo Medics: Jody Tieche

    EPISODE 2

    Voodoo Medics: Jody Tieche

    The role of a combat medic has changed dramatically over the decades with war zone healers tasked with keeping up or becoming a burden. Voodoo Medic Corporal Jody Tieche explains the “ditch medicine mentality” of the elite specialist forces group and how they gain the respect of the soldiers they look after.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 min
  3. Voodoo Medics: Mark Donaldson

    EPISODE 3

    Voodoo Medics: Mark Donaldson

    Mark Donaldson was the first Australian to be awarded a Victoria Cross in almost four decades, but the former SASR Operator claims he was a "professional bum" before joining the ADF in 2002.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    19 min
  4. Voodoo Medics: Dan Pronk

    EPISODE 4

    Voodoo Medics: Dan Pronk

    Despite 14 “invigorating” years in the military, the deaths of three soldiers on the battlefields of Afghanistan sent Major Dan Pronk into a tailspin.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min
  5. Voodoo Medics: Jeremy Holder

    EPISODE 5

    Voodoo Medics: Jeremy Holder

    Jeremy Holder patched up dozens of civilians and soldiers while deployed as a combat medic in Afghanistan and now his battlefield experiences are helping save lives at home, including the life of NSW Police Officer Jonathan Wright.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min
  6. Voodoo Medics: Brad Watts

    EPISODE 6

    Voodoo Medics: Brad Watts

    The differences between Afghanistan and Australia became clear on the operating table for Voodoo Medic Brad Watts who has described the difficulties of treating injured women civilians.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 min
  7. Voodoo Medics: Bram Connolly

    EPISODE 7

    Voodoo Medics: Bram Connolly

    If you couldn’t be saved by a medic in the field in Afghanistan, you weren’t going to be saved. It’s that simple, according to 20-year Australian Defence Force veteran Bram Connolly who deployed to the Middle Eastern country twice during his 15 years in the Special Forces.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    16 min
  8. Voodoo Medics: Chad Elliott

    EPISODE 8

    Voodoo Medics: Chad Elliott

    Chad Elliott was one of the first Australian soldiers to be seriously wounded in Afghanistan. It is a day that the former commando describes as both vivid in parts but “a bit blurry”, and above all “pretty chaotic”.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    10 min
See All (16)

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About

Voodoo Medics are Australia's best combat healers who combine “unconventional medicine and unconventional warfare”. Journalist Kristin Shorten sat down with six medics, the soldiers they treated in Afghanistan and the families of those killed overseas.

Information

  • Creator
    Daily Telegraph
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 News Corp Australia
  • Show Website
    Voodoo Medics
  • Provider

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