Taboo Talk with Sarah

Sarah Jordan-Ross
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Taboo Talk with Sarah is the podcast that breaks the silence on life’s toughest challenges. From grief and mental wellness to caregiving and the cracks in the healthcare system, we dive into the topics no one talks about but everyone feels. Together, we’ll foster hope, build connection, and remind you that you’re never alone.

  1. 6d ago

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 21 How Are You, Really? Connection, Belonging & Being Fully Human with Terence LeClere

    🔑 MAIN TOPICS & TAKEAWAYS1. Our imperfections may be what make us humanAs technology becomes increasingly polished and predictable, Terence believes our messy, spontaneous and imperfect moments become even more valuable. The things we may once have tried to hide—the stumble, the emotion, the unexpected reaction—can be exactly what creates genuine human connection. 2. Belonging is about participation, not simply being presentTerence's work in immersive experiences has taught him that people don't just want to watch—they want to feel like they matter to what is happening. When people are invited in, included and made to feel valued, an ordinary moment can become something they remember for years. 3. People want to feel seen, valued and importantThrough his work designing experiences for major brands, Terence has noticed something simple underneath all the sets, technology and spectacle: The moment people remember is often the moment another human made them feel like they mattered. 4. We need permission to play againChildren naturally walk up to other children and ask, “Can I play?” Adults often lose that ability. Sarah and Terence explore how play creates connection without needing an agenda, transaction or outcome—and why creating spaces where adults feel safe enough to be curious, silly and open can be transformative. 5. Reaching out is not failureIn one of the most vulnerable moments of the episode, Terence shares calling a crisis helpline and initially feeling ashamed that he'd needed to. He later realised something important: the part of him that reached out wasn't giving up—it was the part fighting to survive. 🗣️ MEMORABLE QUOTES“Everything that I thought made me bad actually makes me human.”— Terence LeClere “The reaching out is not failure.”— Terence LeClere “How are you? How are you really?”— Sarah Jordan-Ross ⏱️ KEY MOMENTS & TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Why some experiences stay with us long after they're over01:29 – What has Terence seen that he can no longer unsee?02:00 – Technology, AI and what they may reveal about humanity04:00 – Why perfection can actually feel less human05:40 – “Everything I thought made me bad actually makes me human”06:43 – The beauty of being perfectly imperfect08:00 – Sarah shares her son's fear of roller coasters09:23 – Terence's terrifying road experience and how perspective changes an experience11:00 – The difference between fear and an amusement park ride12:00 – Approaching life like an immersive experience14:30 – What exactly is immersive theatre?15:55 – Why the audience is necessary to the experience16:48 – Humans making meaning together18:22 – Immersive experiences, technology and participation19:49 – The difference between attending something and truly being part of it20:00 – Sarah's family experience at an American baseball game21:26 – Creating opportunities for people to feel like they belong22:15 – Why people remember how you made them feel23:04 – Our need for connection and belonging23:30 – Fitting in versus truly belonging24:00 – Meeting people where they are27:00 – Expertise, imperfection and learning from everyone29:26 – Why Sarah created Taboo Talk31:16 – “Nobody ever knew” and the danger of suffering in silence33:00 – Why emotional wellbeing can still carry shame34:00 – Terence opens up about calling a crisis helpline35:00 – Realising that reaching out wasn't failure—it was survival35:58 – Why actors often feel safe being messy and emotional on stage37:30 – The unique power of human-to-human interaction38:30 – A Disneyland elf and the tiny human moment people remembered40:18 – Why AI can support connection but can't replace human connection41:57 – What happened to our sense of community?42:35 – Have adults forgotten how to play?43:18 – Children naturally connecting with strangers through play44:13 – Connection without transaction45:00 – Why play creates permission to explore47:12 – Giving each other permission to be silly, curious and uncertain47:52 – Maybe the point of life is figuring it out together49:05 – The most meaningful immersive experiences of Terence's career50:00 – Creating a deeply personal experience from audience responses51:03 – Working on an immersive experience for Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary53:00 – What it feels like to become the “host” of SNL54:00 – Why people may want fame because they want to feel important55:00 – Treating every guest like a celebrity56:27 – We don't necessarily want fame—we want to know we matter57:30 – What conversation does Terence wish we had more honestly?57:41 – Why “How are you?” rarely gets an honest answer58:30 – The festival “check-in desk” that became a place for real connection59:00 – The power of a few minutes of genuine connection59:58 – “How are you? How are you really?”1:01:00 – Why the experiences we remember are the ones where we felt seen1:03:28 – Where to connect with Terence1:04:03 – Sarah's reminder: reaching out is strength, not failure

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 21 How Are You, Really? Connection, Belonging & Being Fully Human with Terence LeClere

  2. Aug 31

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 20 Your Diagnosis Is Not Your Identity: Learning to Live Again with Tami Stackelhouse

    🔑 MAIN TOPICS & TAKEAWAYS 1. A diagnosis can be a relief without becoming your identity After years of searching for answers, Tami's fibromyalgia diagnosis finally gave her something concrete to work with. But Sarah and Tami explore an important distinction: living with an illness isn't the same as becoming the illness. Your diagnosis can be part of your story without becoming your whole story. 2. Invisible illness affects more than the person experiencing it Tami describes being able to “hold it together” for a few days around others, while needing significant recovery afterwards. Even her husband couldn't always tell whether it was a good day or a day when something as simple as watching a movie was too much stimulation. The conversation highlights one of the hardest parts of invisible illness: people can't automatically see what your body is asking you to carry. 3. Management is the process—not the destination Learning to manage symptoms matters. Rest matters. Boundaries matter. But Tami makes an important distinction: “Management is the process that lets us get to the life that we want.” The goal isn't to create a life completely centred around managing illness. Those strategies should eventually help create enough capacity to actually live. 4. Healing can require learning to trust your body again Chronic illness can teach you to fear consequences: If I do this today, what will tomorrow cost me? As health improves, those old boundaries don't necessarily disappear automatically. Tami describes needing to carefully test them, notice what happens and slowly rebuild trust with her body. Her accidentally-rock-climbing story perfectly illustrates the process: cautiously discovering that soreness doesn't necessarily mean another flare is coming. 5. Your new life doesn't have to look like your old one to be beautiful Illness can take things away. Sometimes those things return. Sometimes they don't. But Tami and Sarah explore another possibility: identifying what you loved about the thing you've lost and finding new ways of experiencing that feeling, purpose or joy. As Tami puts it, instead of simply replacing an activity, we can learn to “go after the feeling, not just the thing itself.”     🗣️ MEMORABLE QUOTES “Just because you're not getting answers doesn't mean that answers don't exist. It just means that the people you're asking don't have them.” — Tami Stackelhouse “Management is the process that lets us get to the life that we want.” — Tami Stackelhouse “A diagnosis, regardless of what it is, it's a part of the story. It's not your whole story.” — Sarah Jordan-Ross     ⏱️ KEY MOMENTS & TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Sarah introduces the central question: how do we accept our bodies without allowing a diagnosis to become our identity? 01:21 – Meet Tami Stackelhouse. 02:00 – Tami shares what life was like before receiving her fibromyalgia diagnosis. 03:00 – “Just because you're not getting answers doesn't mean answers don't exist.” 03:30 – Exhaustion, brain fog and trying to function in a high-stress job. 05:00 – When feeling unwell becomes so normal you forget other people don't feel that way. 06:00 – Tami's determination to find answers. 07:00 – A breaking point: struggling to clean the house and wondering if this was what disability looked like. 08:20 – The hidden reality of invisible illness. 09:20 – How chronic illness affects partners and the people around us. 11:00 – Sarah shares her own experience with chronic fatigue as a teenager. 12:00 – Losing abilities that once came naturally. 13:10 – Spending years looking for answers and questioning whether symptoms were “all in your head.” 14:10 – The relief of finally receiving a diagnosis. 16:00 – Sarah introduces the danger of allowing a diagnosis to become your entire identity. 17:13 – Tami explores the difference between living in a “fibro body” and being defined by fibromyalgia. 18:00 – Tami shares that she hasn't experienced fibromyalgia pain since 2018. 19:00 – Agency versus feeling powerless. 19:40 – Treating your own health journey like an experiment: observe, test, learn and adjust. 21:00 – Learning your body's limits without assuming those limits can never change. 23:00 – How Sarah's chronic illness changed the career she originally imagined. 24:00 – Turning a changed path into a 25-year career in wellness. 25:40 – You might not become who you thought you would—but you can discover who else you are. 27:00 – Chronic illness as another chapter rather than the end of the story. 28:00 – Helping people build new lives after illness. 30:00 – Why agency still matters when life doesn't look the way you want. 31:00 – Your value as a human being has nothing to do with how much you can do. 32:00 – Who are you when nobody is watching? 33:00 – The way we speak to ourselves when nobody else can hear. 35:00 – Why getting better can actually feel frightening. 35:30 – Tami's accidental rock-climbing adventure. 37:00 – “Am I going to pay for this tomorrow?” 38:00 – Normal muscle soreness versus the fear of another flare. 39:00 – Rebuilding trust with your body. 40:00 – Tami's Fibromyalgia Hierarchy of Needs. 41:00 – Moving from symptom management toward self-efficacy and self-actualisation. 41:53 – Management versus living permanently in survival mode. 43:00 – Making health changes so you can actually live your life. 43:30 – Why healing often requires help. 45:30 – Everything you say yes to means saying no to something else. 46:00 – “Say no to say yes.” 47:00 – Sarah shares a funny—and very real—example of managing limited energy. 47:45 – Spoon Theory and the enormous number of decisions involved in chronic illness. 49:00 – Why limited energy can teach us to become intentional about what really matters. 51:00 – Self-care looks different depending on the season of life. 52:00 – Giving something up now doesn't necessarily mean giving it up forever. 53:00 – Sarah shares how her son's MS diagnosis changed what he could do—and how he discovered bass guitar. 54:30 – Different isn't necessarily bad. Sometimes it may even become better. 55:00 – Grieving the activities chronic illness has taken away. 56:00 – Finding what you actually loved about an activity rather than focusing only on the activity itself. 58:00 – Modifying what you love rather than abandoning it completely. 59:20 – Start smaller than you think. 1:00:25 – Tami identifies with the tortoise: little steps still get you where you're going. 1:00:57 – Tami's message to people living with fibromyalgia: feeling better is possible. 1:02:34 – Why hope is where change begins. 1:03:17 – You don't need to see the whole picture—you only need to see the next step. 1:04:21 – Sarah's takeaway: there is always hope and always something you can do. 1:05:00 – Accepting limitations and believing something more is possible can coexist. 1:06:09 – “A diagnosis is part of the story. It's not your whole story.” 1:06:40 – You don't have to wait until you're symptom-free before having a life. 1:07:16 – Sarah closes with the reminder that sharing our stories can change someone else's life.

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 20 Your Diagnosis Is Not Your Identity: Learning to Live Again with Tami Stackelhouse

  3. Aug 24

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 19 The Science of Wishing: How Hope Can Change What Happens Next with Brownell Landrum

    🔑 Main Topics & Takeaways 1. Wishing can be more than wishful thinking Brownell began researching wishing while world-building for one of her novels. What started as storytelling led her to explore anthropology, psychology, neuroscience and other fields she believes help explain why wishing and its rituals can be powerful. 2. Make your wishes peaceful, positive and purposeful Brownell introduces her Three Ps of Wishing: peaceful, positive and purposeful. Rather than continually focusing on what we don't want, she encourages people to identify the positive outcome they're actually seeking. 3. Goals, prayers and wishes aren't necessarily the same thing Brownell describes goals as generally focusing on what we believe we can control, prayer as often releasing what we can't control to a higher power, and wishes as potentially occupying the space between the two—combining personal action with openness to possibilities beyond our control. 4. Sometimes a “no” redirects us toward something better Not every wish needs to come true exactly as imagined. Brownell describes four possible responses to a wish—yes, no, wait, or something better—and introduces what she calls the expansive pivot: moving beyond one narrowly defined outcome to understand the feelings or deeper needs underneath it. 5. Hope isn't passive For someone who has stopped wishing because life has disappointed them too many times, Brownell's message is compassionate but challenging: allowing ourselves to imagine something different is itself meaningful. Sarah closes the conversation with the idea that wishing isn't about escaping reality—it's about changing it.     🗣️ Memorable Quotes “Wishes need to be peaceful, positive, and purposeful.” — Brownell Landrum “Sometimes no isn't an ending, it's just more information.” — Brownell Landrum “Wishing's not about escaping reality, it's about changing it.” — Sarah Jordan-Ross     ⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps 00:00 – Sarah introduces hope—not wishful thinking, but the kind that helps us keep moving when life hasn't gone according to plan. 01:10 – Meet Brownell Landrum and enter the world of wishes. 01:26 – Why Brownell began taking wishing seriously. 02:00 – How writing A Love Story to the Universe led Brownell into researching wishes. 02:45 – Is there actually science behind wishing? 03:46 – The different scientific fields Brownell connects to wishing. 04:00 – Why seemingly simple rituals like birthday candles and shooting stars may matter. 04:54 – Neuroplasticity and our ability to continue rewiring our brains. 05:45 – Brownell introduces the Three Ps: peaceful, positive and purposeful. 06:25 – Why our brains look for evidence supporting what we already believe. 07:13 – The reticular activating system and why we suddenly start noticing what we're looking for. 08:59 – The default mode network and why answers sometimes arrive in the shower or on a walk. 10:24 – Survival mode can stop us from asking ourselves what we actually want. 10:53 – Fight-or-flight, cortisol and why anxiety can make creative problem-solving harder. 12:59 – The surprising ideas Brownell encountered while researching wishes. 13:50 – Wishful thinking versus wishing followed by action. 14:24 – The difference between a goal, a prayer and a wish. 15:57 – Brownell's idea of “cosmic collaboration.” 17:31 – Why “I want to feel better” may create a different relationship with change than a number on the scales. 18:32 – Repetition, practice and training our attention toward possibilities. 19:23 – Brownell's unusual sneezing story and why she interpreted it as a message from her father. 20:31 – Human beings as meaning-making machines. 21:12 – Why listening when our bodies “whisper” may matter. 21:30 – Brownell's idea of reverse optimism. 22:29 – Sarah reflects on turning painful experiences into purpose. 23:18 – Jackie Wilkinson and Turning the Tables on Trauma. 24:43 – The “Blue Balloon Phenomenon.” 26:33 – Why strange ideas shouldn't automatically be dismissed simply because they sit outside our current understanding. 29:47 – Staying open to possibilities without necessarily claiming certainty. 31:02 – Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and My Stroke of Insight. 32:59 – A tangent with an important message: understand your body and notice when something changes. 37:00 – “Our body whispers at us long before it yells at us.” 37:51 – Working with your body instead of constantly fighting against it. 39:39 – Brownell explains the Cosmic Wish Experiment. 40:00 – Creating “wish circles” and practising a collective wish for eight weeks. 41:43 – Can a wish change because you changed? 41:59 – The four possible responses: yes, no, wait, or something better. 43:30 – The expansive pivot: looking underneath a specific wish to understand what you're truly seeking. 45:01 – Legally Blonde and the difference between what we want and what we need. 45:45 – Cast Away as another example of wants, needs and unexpected redirection. 47:41 – Unanswered prayers and blessings we sometimes only recognise in hindsight. 49:21 – What Brownell would say to someone who has stopped wishing altogether. 50:00 – How hope can spread socially when people begin believing something different is possible. 51:33 – What could happen if we focused more on what connects us than what separates us? 52:34 – One minute a day of being peaceful, positive and purposeful. 52:48 – Sarah's closing thought: wishing isn't about escaping reality; it's about changing it.

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 19 The Science of Wishing: How Hope Can Change What Happens Next with Brownell Landrum

  4. Aug 17

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 18 Comfortable in Your Own Skin: Confidence, Ageing & Knowing You Are Enough with Margot Grant Witz

    🔑 Main Topics & Takeaways Why feeling comfortable in your own skin is about far more than appearance How the constant message of being “not enough” or “too much” affects women's confidence Why ageing is a privilege to embrace rather than something to fear The guilt women carry and why sometimes you need to intentionally “empty your cup” Why vulnerability, community and honest conversations remind us we're not alone How defining success and making choices on your own terms can change the way you experience life   🗣️ Memorable Quotes   “If someone tells you you're too much, tell them to go find less.” “It takes a village to raise a woman.” “Hope isn't in the definitive. Hope is in the opportunity.”   ⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps   00:00 – Introducing Margot and the conversation about confidence, identity and self-worth 01:33 – What does it really mean to feel comfortable in your own skin? 01:42 – Why women are constantly made to feel like they're “not enough” 02:12 – Looking in the mirror and learning to be kind to yourself 03:21 – How our relationship with our skin reflects our relationship with ourselves 04:26 – Why ageing is a blessing, not something to fear 05:26 – Three generations of women and their different experiences with ageing 06:45 – Living in the moment instead of worrying about future imperfections 07:12 – Margot's 103-year-old grandmother's philosophy on enjoying life 07:54 – What happens when we let people see what's really behind the curtain 08:00 – The pressure women feel to wear every hat and never drop the facade 09:00 – Why a mum shouldn't feel guilty about simply enjoying a cup of coffee 10:07 – Taking time for yourself can make you a better mum, partner and person 10:42 – “You have to empty a cup to fill it” 11:12 – Choosing what you want to refill your life with 12:00 – Why we often wait for burnout before deciding something needs to change 13:09 – The lessons Margot learned from looking up at rock bottom 15:35 – Letting go of guilt and accepting that none of us can carry everything 16:03 – Why “it takes a village to raise a woman” 16:20 – We were never designed to do life alone 16:48 – Redefining what strength looks like for women 17:35 – Why vulnerability and asking for help are strengths, not weaknesses 18:00 – The damaging pressure to appear perfect 19:14 – How changing ourselves to fit in can make us forget who we really are 19:20 – “If someone tells you you're too much, tell them to go find less” 20:46 – The women we compare ourselves to may be comparing themselves to us 21:15 – Finding the tribe that fits your unique “vibe” 22:28 – Social media and our universal desire to belong 23:00 – Why belonging and fitting in are not the same thing 25:25 – Why sharing our insecurities helps other people feel less alone 27:13 – Asking better questions instead of pretending we have all the answers 28:15 – The women who fought to give future generations more choices 29:06 – Margot shares her grandmother Elizabeth Grant's extraordinary story 29:06 – Surviving a V-2 rocket attack during World War II and suffering facial injuries 30:00 – Refusing to accept that nothing could be done for her damaged skin 31:00 – The discovery that ultimately led to Elizabeth Grant's signature skincare ingredient 32:00 – A conversation with actress Vivien Leigh that helped spark a business idea 33:02 – Launching one of the earliest facial serums in 1948 34:00 – Knocking on the doors of Selfridges and refusing to accept rejection 35:00 – “If someone closes the door, go through a window” 36:00 – Rebuilding the company after bankruptcy 37:00 – Margot's mother being rejected by 27 banks before receiving a $5,000 loan 37:36 – Generations of women refusing to be kept small 39:12 – “Get the job, then figure out how to do it” 40:13 – Why Margot doesn't believe in “can” and “can't” 41:23 – What gives Margot hope for the future 42:00 – Women supporting women instead of pulling each other down 43:00 – Margot opens up about IVF and miscarriage 43:30 – The importance of talking openly about experiences that make people feel alone 44:00 – “Do you want me to listen or do you want my opinion?” 45:00 – Taking ownership of our choices and becoming the conductor of our own lives 45:12 – “Hope isn't in the definitive. Hope is in the opportunity.” 45:53 – Why silence around miscarriage doesn't make the experience easier 47:00 – The need for better conversations and research around women's health 48:24 – The pressures facing teenagers today 49:00 – Looking beneath bullying and asking what may be driving the behaviour 50:13 – Raising good humans and creating a kinder ripple effect 51:11 – Margot's final piece of wisdom about what really defines us 52:43 – Where to connect with Margot and Elizabeth Grant Skincare 54:46 – Why life doesn't stop at 40, 50, 60, 70 or beyond 55:22 – Sarah's closing reminder to become comfortable in your own skin and share your story

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 18 Comfortable in Your Own Skin: Confidence, Ageing & Knowing You Are Enough with Margot Grant Witz

  5. Jul 13

    Taboo Talk eason 2 Episode 17 Take Off the Mask: Finding the Courage to Be Seen with Christine Blosdale

    🔑 Main Topics & Takeaways • Why so many people—especially women—hide behind masks and struggle with imposter syndrome • How shifting the focus from yourself to the people you're called to serve changes everything • The difference between confidence, arrogance, and authentic self-belief • Why finding the right "cave" and community allows you to truly belong • How clarity, authenticity, and trust are more valuable than ever in today's noisy world   🗣️ Memorable Quotes   "Your audience doesn't get your gifts if you don't show up." "Maybe you don't need to fit into someone else's cave. Maybe it's time to build your own." "We're craving authentic people—people we can trust."   ⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps   00:00 – Introduction to fear, belonging, and the masks we wear 01:29 – Why so many talented people are afraid to be seen 03:51 – Caring for everyone else before ourselves 04:44 – Shifting the focus from fear to service 06:37 – Why the world needs your unique gifts 07:25 – The purpose behind the masks we wear 08:22 – What happens when people finally allow themselves to be seen 09:29 – Sarah shares why she started Taboo Talk 11:10 – Tall Poppy Syndrome and standing out in Australia 12:51 – Confidence versus arrogance 13:57 – Why hiding is often about protection, not weakness 15:50 – Becoming a chameleon to fit in 16:00 – "Maybe you need to build your own cave." 18:20 – The courage to try, even if you're not perfect 19:18 – Teaching children that failure is part of growth 20:56 – Why mentors help us avoid unnecessary mistakes 22:10 – The biggest mistakes Christine sees in new businesses 23:59 – Why clarity is essential in communication 25:25 – The power of simplicity, authenticity, and trust 26:50 – Navigating AI while remaining genuinely human 29:31 – Growing up before social media 30:31 – Why connection matters more than ever 31:32 – Confidence grows through doing, not waiting 32:55 – Helping clients become comfortable on camera 35:15 – What gives Christine hope for the future 36:57 – One small step can create a ripple effect 37:24 – Christine's encouragement for anyone hiding behind fear 38:23 – Where to connect with Christine and her work 40:39 – Final reflections on using your gifts to serve others

    Taboo Talk eason 2 Episode 17 Take Off the Mask: Finding the Courage to Be Seen with Christine Blosdale

  6. Jul 7

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 16 One Last Hit: Addiction, Approval & Finding the Way Back with Austin Rampt

    🔑 Main Topics & Takeaways Why tying your worth to achievement can create a lifelong need for approval The connection between addiction, shame, belonging, and the desire to feel relief Why wanting connection while fearing vulnerability can keep us trapped How recovery and healing are rarely a straight or perfect journey Why community and honest vulnerability are essential to recovery The powerful realisation that love and worth aren't things we have to earn   🗣️ Memorable Quotes “That if I achieve, I am somehow worthy. And the flip-flop is also true. If I don't achieve, then somehow I'm not worthy.” “I was just so deathly afraid that if you saw me, you wouldn't love me.” “Nothing is beyond repair, but you can't do it alone.”   ⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps 00:00 – Austin's story and the deeper themes of shame, identity, and belonging 01:39 – Childhood anxiety, body shame, and feeling “not good enough” 02:20 – Learning to connect achievement with approval and worth 03:52 – Austin explains the idea of “approval addiction” 05:02 – Wanting connection while being terrified of vulnerability 05:53 – Drinking at 13 and the rapid progression into addiction 07:26 – The accident that burned Austin's family home to the ground 08:22 – Nearly nine years in recovery and the relapse that changed everything 09:43 – Overdose and arriving at detox in stage four renal failure 11:39 – Addiction, destructive relationships, and escalating chaos 12:10 – Police intervention and being ordered into treatment 13:30 – Running from rehab and unexpectedly flying to Cancun 14:29 – Addiction spirals further during Austin's time in Mexico 17:15 – The dangerous belief that never running out of drugs might solve the problem 17:40 – Missing his young daughter and believing he would never see her again 18:15 – 22 months in Mexico and losing almost everything 19:00 – Finding unexpected love and connection with a family who had very little 21:00 – A drug dealer, a gun, and the moment Austin knew he had to leave Mexico 21:49 – The therapist's question that changed Austin's understanding of worth 22:48 – How another man's vulnerability gave Austin permission to face his own shame 23:30 – Understanding the difference between impact and intent 24:30 – Finally asking the question: “Am I actually enough?” 25:57 – Who Austin is today and why recovery hasn't been linear 27:00 – Learning how to become a father 28:10 – Relapse, sobriety, and the importance of recovery community 29:00 – Writing One Last Hit and confronting the stories Austin told himself 30:00 – Pride, entitlement, and learning to let go 31:00 – The power of men being honest about fear and struggle 32:26 – Why vulnerability isn't weakness—it's strength 33:58 – The life-changing realisation that you're not alone 35:30 – Austin's message for anyone who feels broken beyond repair 36:34 – Why we need other people to help us see our lives clearly 37:23 – Austin shares the story behind One Last Hit 38:04 – Where to connect with Austin and listen to his podcast 38:37 – Learning to lead with your heart 40:17 – You don't have to earn your worth or deserve love 42:19 – Sarah's closing reminder: your story matters, so share it

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 16 One Last Hit: Addiction, Approval & Finding the Way Back with Austin Rampt

  7. Jun 30

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 15 Beyond Survival Mode: The Journey Back to Joy

    Main Takeaways Why survival mode can become so normal that we no longer recognise we're living in it. Rest isn't something we earn—it's something we need. Joy isn't found in achievement; it's found in presence. Travel has a way of revealing the parts of ourselves we've forgotten. Authenticity begins when we stop performing and start living honestly.     Memorable Quotes "Sometimes survival mode doesn't look dramatic—it just looks like showing up every day." "The most important discoveries I've made haven't been on a map." "Maybe the real gift of travel isn't that it changes who we are—but that it reminds us who we are."     Key Moments 00:00 – Welcome and why this episode is different 02:00 – Realising just how long survival mode had become normal 06:30 – Learning that rest isn't something you have to earn 10:30 – What floating down a Texas river taught me about obstacles, courage and control 16:00 – Why Jackson reminded me what pure joy looks like 20:00 – Remembering the version of myself I thought I'd lost 24:00 – Authenticity keeps appearing everywhere I look 28:00 – What if life is about more than simply surviving? 31:00 – Final reflections on joy, family, possibility and coming home to yourself

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 15 Beyond Survival Mode: The Journey Back to Joy

  8. Jun 16

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 14 The Caregiver Nobody Sees: Navigating Love, Loss & the Invisible Load of Caring with Dr. Monique Nugent

    🔑 Main Topics & Takeaways The realities of becoming part of the "sandwich generation" Why caregivers often feel invisible inside healthcare systems The emotional toll of caring for ageing parents and loved ones Learning how to communicate and advocate within medical settings Why self-care isn't selfish—it's essential for sustainable caregiving The hidden grief that comes with watching someone slowly decline Building support systems before a crisis happens     🗣️ Memorable Quotes "There are no medals in the Martyr Olympics." "Caregiving gets very lonely because people leave." "You are with you when the journey is over." "The journeys of caregiving will end. When they do, you're going to have to face yourself again."     ⏱️ Key Moments & Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to caregiving and emotional overload 03:32 – Becoming the generation responsible for caring for parents 05:46 – The realities of the sandwich generation 08:30 – Why difficult conversations need to happen before a crisis 12:13 – Sarah shares her experience caring for her mother through cancer 14:18 – Why caregiving becomes isolating 15:27 – The difference between offering help and actually helping 18:43 – Why caregivers often feel invisible within healthcare systems 21:25 – Why caregivers know things doctors need to hear 23:51 – Understanding hospital systems and communication challenges 24:47 – Learning how to advocate effectively in medical settings 32:43 – The caregiver whose own health failed during the journey 34:00 – Why caring for yourself is caring for your loved one 39:36 – "There are no medals in the Martyr Olympics" 40:26 – The heartbreaking realities families face when support systems fail 43:06 – The ageing population crisis and healthcare challenges 50:23 – When family caregivers become medical experts by necessity 54:38 – The grief of role reversal between parent and child 56:13 – Mourning the small losses before the final goodbye 59:27 – The importance of self-compassion for caregivers 1:02:36 – Final reflections and advice for carers everywhere

    Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 14 The Caregiver Nobody Sees: Navigating Love, Loss & the Invisible Load of Caring with Dr. Monique Nugent
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Taboo Talk with Sarah is the podcast that breaks the silence on life’s toughest challenges. From grief and mental wellness to caregiving and the cracks in the healthcare system, we dive into the topics no one talks about but everyone feels. Together, we’ll foster hope, build connection, and remind you that you’re never alone.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Jordan-Ross
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Taboo Talk with Sarah
  • Show Website
    Taboo Talk with Sarah