Mad Mel’s Mic

Melissa Smith
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  • Personal Journals

Mad Mel’s Mic Finding your voice through the chaos. Welcome to Mad Mel’s Mic—a podcast built on honest conversations, real stories and the belief that no one should face life’s challenges alone. I’m Mel, a former NSW Police officer who served for 18 years before being medically retired with PTSD. Like many people living with mental health challenges, I spent a long time feeling isolated and wondering if anyone truly understood what I was going through. It was through hearing other people’s lived experiences that I realised I wasn’t alone—and that’s why I created this podcast. Each week, I share my own journey and sit down with guests from all walks of life for open and honest conversations about mental health, trauma, resilience, recovery and the moments that shape us. Some stories are confronting, others are uplifting, but every one of them is real. Whether you’re living with PTSD, navigating another mental health challenge, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for hope and connection, you’re welcome here. If this podcast helps just one person feel seen, understood and a little less alone, then every conversation has been worth having. Welcome to Mad Mel’s Mic—where together, we’re finding our voice through the chaos. And until next time… be kind to yourself.

  1. 14h ago

    Finding That Fire Again

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 30 Finding That Fire Again This week I’m talking about the nerves, excitement and unexpected spark that has come with preparing for my first presentation with The Change Room and what happened when I tested it out on a much smaller audience at Mum’s Bible study. In this episode: Preparing for my first big speaking presentation and managing the anxiety that comes with itRealising I can be emotional while telling my story and still keep goingWhy making an impact doesn’t require a huge audienceLosing my policing identity and still asking, “Who am I now?”Finding a new sense of purpose and something that has given me that fire againThe unexpected comment at Bible study that stopped me in my tracks: “Maybe your new gun is your voice.”Why “we are still blooming in concrete” feels so relevant to recoverySong of the Week: “Birds Still Sing”Thought of the Week: from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the HorseRemembering how far we’ve come instead of only looking at how far there is still to goFinding your voice in the chaos. Be kind to yourself. Song of the Week: Birds Still Sing by Taylor Acorn https://youtu.be/AXOtAAGNajk?si=tIrSirJBR7J4iJ2N Thought of the Week: “We have such a long way to go…” said the boy. “Yes, but look how far we’ve come.” The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

  2. Sep 15

    Learning To Trust The Good Days Again

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 29: I mark my 21st wedding anniversary and reflect on relationships, love languages and the ordinary things that keep us connected. But this episode is also about something I've been noticing lately — small wins, hope, and slowly learning to trust the good days again. In this episode: • celebrating 21 years of marriage and what I've learnt about commitment • learning the ukulele for a very personal (and slightly questionable 😂) anniversary gift • how a Kelly Clarkson lyric perfectly describes part of living with PTSD • why recognising and celebrating small wins matters • an unexpected night at the theatre that showed me just how far I've come • preparing to share my lived experience with The Change Room • asking “who am I now?” after psychological injury — and beginning to like the answer Recovery doesn't always arrive as one huge breakthrough. Sometimes it's noticing that something you couldn't have handled a year ago is something you can handle today. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram — and don't forget to like and follow. Song of the Week: Kelly Clarkson - Because of You https://youtu.be/Ra-Om7UMSJc?si=GVMd5kFGozy8e0K6 Thought of the Week: "Tears fall for a reason, and they are your strength, not weakness" — The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, Charlie Mackesy

  3. Sep 8

    The Other Side of The Change Room - with Matt Elliott

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 28 What happens when life changes direction and the identity you once knew no longer quite fits? This week on Mad Mel’s Mic, I sit down with Matt Elliott, founder of The Change Room — and someone who has played a part in my own journey. After completing The Change Room myself, Matt became my mentor. Now, in a turn I didn't necessarily see coming, he's invited me to step to the other side of the room and become a presenter. But this conversation isn't just about The Change Room. Matt and I talk about his own journey, the transition out of professional rugby league coaching, identity after major life change, asking for help, and why human connection can be such an important part of recovery. We also explore: How service can shape our identityWhat happens when a major chapter of your life endsThe story and meaning behind The Change RoomFocusing on what you can do after injury or adversityPractical tools including breathing, nutrition and habit changeWhy lived experience can connect differently than adviceHuman connection and its role in recoveryWhat resilience actually meansAsking for help and challenging old conditioningWhy recovery doesn't always need to be complicatedAnd, on a personal note, I ask Matt the question I've been curious about since he asked me to present: What made you think I could contribute to The Change Room from the other side of the room? 🎙️ The Other Side of The Change Room — with Matt Elliott Follow Mad Mel’s Mic on Facebook and Instagram for episode updates and behind-the-scenes moments. Matt's Thought of the Week: “It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice.” Finding your voice in the chaos. Be kind to yourself. ❤️

  4. Sep 1

    What If Your Past Self Saw You Now

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, episode 27 Sometimes progress doesn’t look like a huge breakthrough. Sometimes it looks like doing something today that you couldn’t have done 12 months ago. In this episode, I’m talking about those wins we so easily overlook — staying out of hospital, coming off medication, setting boundaries, saying no, protecting our energy, getting back to exercise… and even something as simple as doing a Click & Collect. I also share a few updates from my own life, reflect on how far I’ve come, and talk about why comparing ourselves to where we were — rather than where we think we should be — can completely change the way we see our progress. Plus, this week’s song is OneRepublic’s “I Lived”, which feels pretty bloody fitting. So here’s the question: if the version of you from 12 months ago — or even five years ago — could see you now, what would they think? Maybe you’re doing better than you give yourself credit for. 🎵 Song of the Week: OneRepublic – I Lived Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R9LJ2sBD0F8?si=ce2x50hD7BCOaWAO 💭 Thought of the Week: “We often wait for kindness… but being kind to yourself can start now.” — The Mole, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy Be kind to yourself.

  5. Aug 25

    When Your Head Breaks - With Narelle Fraser

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, episode 26 This episode is special. Melissa had the amazing opportunity be have a chat with Narelle Fraser who is a former Victorian Police officer. She started her own podcast NFI, Narelle Fraser Interviews after her own diagnosis of PSTI. We share Melissa Smith’s raw path from an 18-year policing career to being medically retired at 37 after PTSI hit hard and fast, revealing years of suppressed trauma. We talk through what helped her rebuild, from inpatient care and TMS to honest conversations at home and using her podcast to stay real about the good days and the brutal ones.  • reframing PTSD as PTSI and why “injury” reduces stigma  • starting as a teenage cop and learning fast at a sink-or-swim station  • everyday challenges of policing including the justice system loop  • a proud moment using iDAT to support a homeless man into rehab  • the fatal crash task that triggered a collapse and brought old memories back  • asking EAP for urgent help and waiting far too long  • masking symptoms and using extreme exercise to run from pain  • what a specialised psych hospital ward is actually like  • medication struggles plus the decision between ECT and TMS  • how family and friends respond and what they need to understand  • managing PTSI long term with tools, talk and self-honesty  • building Mad Mel’s Mic and what her kids learned from her recovery  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.  More information about Narelle can be found here: https://narellefraser.com/

  6. Aug 19

    What If Healing Starts With Looking Back

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, episode 25 We go back through an unexpected “rabbit hole” that starts with a photo request and ends with me rereading the goodbye texts I sent when I left the police. I unpack how PTSD twisted my memory into feeling abandoned, and how those messages and my progress since then remind me I’m still moving forward.  • running out of phone storage and stumbling into old messages from 2019 to 2021  • the group text I sent on my last day in the police and what it brings up  • feeling like I had leprosy and why that belief made sense at the time  • rereading colleagues’ replies and realising people cared but didn’t know what to say  • a Mount Druitt memory and the flying fox park breaks  • song of the week I Will Survive and the idea that life starts again after a career ends  • sharing my story publicly without shame and how that opens new doors  • a rough couple of days and being proud that I can cry and feel again  • watching true crime again without nightmares and noticing real PTSD recovery  • looking back to measure growth and find something to be proud of  • being proud of my policing career even though it broke me  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.  Song of the week: I will survive by Gloria Gaynor https://youtu.be/6dYWe1c3OyU?si=whf_V8wphhUYZ5mr Thought of the week: The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Macksey "So much beauty we need to look after"

  7. Aug 12

    You Can Take Your Life Back From PTSD

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, episode 24 I talk through what’s been on my mind lately, from refining my podcast branding to the way winter can get under your skin when you’re living with PTSD. A Katy Perry shower song turns into a reminder that taking your life back is hard, doable, and worth it.  • questioning my intro, branding, and how to grow without losing authenticity  • noticing how cold weather and small-town life affect mood and routine  • sharing updates on motivational speaking and new opportunities ahead  • using Katy Perry’s “Roar” to talk about choice, control, and recovery steps  • finding purpose through kids and learning why putting myself first isn’t selfish  • dealing with injury, restlessness, and the mental spiral of being stuck  • swapping trash TV for true crime documentaries that force full attention  • going on an apocalypse book and zombie survival tangent  • reflecting on the hidden inside world behind what people see  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.  Song of the Week: Katy Perry - Roar https://youtu.be/CevxZvSJLk8?si=XgtDU2tE3Qwgj-Kq Thought of the week: The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Macksey "isn't it off. We can only see our outside, but nearly everything happens on the inside"

  8. Aug 5

    Grateful For PTSD? A New Frame

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 23 I reflect on why I can honestly say “thank you” to PTSD even while admitting the low points, and how reframing my diagnosis helps me keep moving forward. I share the song and thought that keep me grounded, plus a small moment with a friend that completely changed how I hear my own self-talk.  • saying “thank you” to PTSD and what that mindset shift unlocks  • Dream On by Aerosmith as a reminder that life continues after trauma  • the past can still hurt and the value of learning from it  • catching negative self-talk with the line “Please do not talk about my friend like that”  • practising the catchphrase be kind to yourself  • returning to pickleball carefully and the power of community  • surprising my parents with a Cosentino show and why local arts matter  • a parenting milestone and dreaming about future travel  • thought of the week: our freedom is how we react to things  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.  Song of the week: Dream on - Aerosmith https://youtu.be/89dGC8de0CA?si=i-EwRR7Gze00t20k Thought of the week: The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy "One of our greatest freedoms is how we react to things"

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About

Mad Mel’s Mic Finding your voice through the chaos. Welcome to Mad Mel’s Mic—a podcast built on honest conversations, real stories and the belief that no one should face life’s challenges alone. I’m Mel, a former NSW Police officer who served for 18 years before being medically retired with PTSD. Like many people living with mental health challenges, I spent a long time feeling isolated and wondering if anyone truly understood what I was going through. It was through hearing other people’s lived experiences that I realised I wasn’t alone—and that’s why I created this podcast. Each week, I share my own journey and sit down with guests from all walks of life for open and honest conversations about mental health, trauma, resilience, recovery and the moments that shape us. Some stories are confronting, others are uplifting, but every one of them is real. Whether you’re living with PTSD, navigating another mental health challenge, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for hope and connection, you’re welcome here. If this podcast helps just one person feel seen, understood and a little less alone, then every conversation has been worth having. Welcome to Mad Mel’s Mic—where together, we’re finding our voice through the chaos. And until next time… be kind to yourself.

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mad Mel’s Mic
  • Show Website
    Mad Mel’s Mic

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