Talkin Tough

Talkin Tough

What do you get when a legless lad & a blind bloke walk in to a bar? A couple of mates on a mission to challenge what it means to be "tough". Talkin Tough is a podcast brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity committed to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. Hosted by double amputee Mike Rolls & blind Ben Pettingill, these two professional speakers and best mates know a thing or two about what being "tough" really means and it’s probably not what first comes to your mind. These conversations aim to redefine how we view the word tough through story, connection & a good ol’ dose of banter so that anyone doing it tough feels more comfortable reaching out for help.

Episodes

  1. 17/12/2023

    Tough is Talkin

    As the first year of Talkin Tough comes to a close the boys sit down to reflect on where and why it all started and what we have learned along the way. Join them as they take a look back at   the incredible conversations they have had, acknowledge the rawness and relatability that the everyday legends shared with us and unpack some of the words of wisdom we can all take away. The mission was to redefine what it means to be tough. With the help of the stories that we have heard, they have settled on the new definition of tough and they believe it now needs to be updated in the dictionary!   Talkin Tough is a podcast proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity committed to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/ To learn more about Talkin Tough and access transcripts visit - https://www.talkintough.com/ Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/ Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/ Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/ Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/   The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min
  2. 03/12/2023

    Filling Up The Cup with ‘Tully’

    “I lost my first good mate at 18 to suicide.... There’s been seven all up now, suicides... all of them close mates." 'Tully’ tears into the studio from outback New South Wales and has a chat with Mike and Ben about riding the rollercoaster of life and his connection to suicide. Staying in check with his own mental health has been huge for him since the start of adulthood when he lost his close mate to suicide and unfortunately has lost many more mates since then to the same beast. A genuine knock around bloke that simply believes blokes are better off 'talkin’. Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/9rAbjTJCEN8 Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website - https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/john-tully Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/ Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/ Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/ Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  3. 19/11/2023

    “Blokes Don’t Cry” with Stuart Foy

    “I remember going back to school and I remember sitting there, looking at everyone, and going ‘why has this happened to me?” Life is easy for these people. Who have I pissed off? Why is my life so bloody hard.” A mate of the boys this week rolls in for a few yarns about life.Stu Foy had to grow up quick as an only child, from fighting the frontline of the black Saturday bushfires at 13 years old, then losing his mum not long after. Stu chats about his tough exterior and how deep down he in fact does have feelings even though he would rather hide them most of the time. Together the boys unpack his ‘just get on with it’ attitude and how sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn’t. Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/8fSvAWk8Fwg Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website - https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/stuart-foy Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/ Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/ Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/ Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
  4. 05/11/2023

    Punching Away The Pain with Tiff Cooke

    “I just had these walls up, these really big walls, relationships with people were challenging for me and I just knew they should have been better” Tiff made the call to jump into the boxing ring and start fighting! She loved it but she didn’t realise at the time, that decision and her love of copping a whack to the chin was closely connected to numbing a whole heap of pain from the past.T iff Cooke is tough in a lot of ways but she also lives what we are all about on Talkin Tough as she talks openly and honestly about it. Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/  If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/  Watch this episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgeZmhZ5GwI  Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website - https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/tiff-cooke Listen to Tiff’s Podcast, Roll With The Punches - https://open.spotify.com/show/5lCP39hESkTVaXPwG4ECHu?si=497994a60c&nd=1  Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/ Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/ Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honor the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  5. 22/10/2023

    Get Moving with Josh Robson AKA Robbie One Nut

    “Everyone asked me 'How’s things?', 'Yeah I’m good' when really, I wasn’t.” Tradie, cancer survivor and athlete,Josh Robson joins Mike & Ben behind the mic this episode to share how his version of tough was rocked by a sudden diagnosis of testicular cancer. Now he likes to go by ‘Robbie One Nut’ and that self appointed nickname alone,says a lot about this blokes mindset. Josh shares with us some of his highest highs, lowest lows and the things that helped get him through it all. Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/3OHLA6erfys Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website - https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/josh-robson Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/ Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/ Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/ Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. Theyrecognise& honor the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min
  6. 08/10/2023

    Head On Courage with Mick Donehue

    “That was the lowest moment in my life, I’m in a much better headspace now to look after myself and I’m the happiest version of myself that I could ever be. But, I still have those thoughts.” This episode, the fellas chat with mental health advocate, Mick Donehue.The thing about Mick is he is your typical country bloke who grew up with a solid family, plenty of mates, loved playing footy and living life to the fullest or at least that’s how he made it seemed to everyone else. Mick takes us to the depths of his most challenging times in life and walks us through how he manages his depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts on a daily basis and despite these still being a constant battle he reckons he is the happiest he has ever been. Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/vGdLMfzG_tY Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website  https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/mick-donehue Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/ Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/ Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/ Check out the Ski For Life website-https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    53 min
  7. 24/09/2023

    'It’s ok to not be ok' with Joel Sardi

    “The thing that I had to really come to terms with was I would go to bed every night a quad, wake up a quad and everyone else’s life would just roll on.” Join the fellas as they chat with Joel Sardi, a great guy who became a Quadriplegic after an unfortunate accident at the pub one night with the boys. Joel speaks openly & honestly about the challenges he has faced since his life changed in an instant. From losing his independence, to searching for a way out and now becoming a husband and a dad, this bloke teaches us all a thing or two about what tough really is. Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/YbEC7dDF_R0 Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website - https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/joel-sardi Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/ Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/ Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/ Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in storytelling & first in sharing knowledge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min
  8. 10/09/2023

    'Never Let Go' with Tim ‘Watty’ Watt

    “What people didn’t know, and I hadn’t told anyone for 20 years, was that I’d lost my brother to suicide. But what they did know was ‘Watty’s mad onskiing’...so I just said ‘Yep, I’ll go for a ski’” The boys have the honor of having a yarn with one of the founding Ski ForLife members, Tim “Watty” Watt. Watty shares with the fellas his experience of losing his brother to suicide over two decades ago but how it still rocks him regularly. Then how a random phone call about an outrageous idea lead to he and his family and a bunch of mates coming together to take on the challenge of waterskiing 500km along the Murray River in the name of mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention.A down to earth bloke who wears his heart on his sleeve, tells it as it is and goes hard! Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/_eD0OTFwc1k Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website: https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/tim-watt Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/ Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/ Follow Ski For Life Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/ Check out theSki For Life website-https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  9. 27/08/2023

    Who The Heck Is Ben “Blind” Pettingill

    “Then I just burst into tears for the first time since losing my eyesight. I recognised from that day the power of speaking up & how important it is to let other people in.” In this episode of Talkin Tough Ben is in the firing line as Mike asks the tough questions and together they relive his experience of losing his eyesight overnight at age 16 due to a rare genetic disorder, Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. Ben has now lived his life as a blind bloke for 12 years but the challenges don’t go away. They just change as life changes along the way.Ben shares some of the things he has learned about tackling the cards life deals us alland how he keeps on top of his mental health in the face of struggle. Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 Watch this episode on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqa2MLkeN9k Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/ben-pettingill Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/ Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/ Follow Ski For Life Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/ Check out the Ski For Life website-https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    56 min
  10. 27/08/2023

    Who The Heck Is Mike “Legless” Rolls

    “There were times I wanted to go back to the way things were. But eventually, there was a focus on self and reclaiming some sort of identity” This week on Talkin Tough, Ben is in charge of the hard hitting questions and interviews his co host, Mike “Legless” Rolls. This chat unpacks Mikes experience of navigating life before, during and after surviving meningococcal septicemia at 18 years old. Over a decade on from this life changing experience, Mike is able to reflect on the highs and lows of living everyday as a double amputee and how he has been able to stay on top of his mental health by talking it out with friends and professionals alike. Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/PfWAWxGQu4w Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/mike-rolls Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/ Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/ Follow Ski For Life Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/ Check out the Ski For Life website-https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    53 min

About

What do you get when a legless lad & a blind bloke walk in to a bar? A couple of mates on a mission to challenge what it means to be "tough". Talkin Tough is a podcast brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity committed to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. Hosted by double amputee Mike Rolls & blind Ben Pettingill, these two professional speakers and best mates know a thing or two about what being "tough" really means and it’s probably not what first comes to your mind. These conversations aim to redefine how we view the word tough through story, connection & a good ol’ dose of banter so that anyone doing it tough feels more comfortable reaching out for help.

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