Mad Mel’s Mic

Melissa Smith
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  • Personal Journals

Hi there! Welcome to Mad Mel’s Mic!! Thanks for joining me. My name is Melissa and this is a podcast all about me! About my life. About life with PTSD. About my life with a husband, kids and friends. Thanks for tuning in. 

  1. 4d ago

    Friendship As Medicine

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 15 I talk about why friendship and connection can feel like the missing piece when life gets heavy, from Toy Story nostalgia to what real support looks like in practice. We also unpack recovery lessons from a course in Newcastle, a powerful cancer resilience story, and my ongoing work to reframe PTSD as a significant life event with hard parts and real positives.  • Taylor Swift fandom and why Toy Story sparks nostalgia and hope  • song of the week as a way to focus on friendship and support  • leaning on the people who keep showing up even after we push them away  • a simple way to check on a mate by texting “thinking of you”  • the importance of connection and community for mental health recovery  • what Mark Hughes’ brain cancer journey teaches us about resilience  • keeping perspective while remembering that every struggle is relative  • reframing PTSD and other challenges as significant life events  • finding small positives alongside setbacks, including injury and rehab  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.  Song of the Week: I Will Go Sailing No More - Randy Newman https://youtu.be/AOBIcW4hIBw?si=YgrUtd5z2yOjlRA8 Thought of the Week: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy "What do we do when our hearts hurt? asked the boy. We wrap them with friendship, shared tears and time, till they wake happy and hopeful again"

    20 min

  2. Jun 3

    Why It Is Not Too Late To Change

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2 Episode 14 I’m recording from Newcastle while I’m deep in learning and thinking about what real change looks like when you live with PTSD. I use Green Day’s “Still Breathing” to remind you that if you’re still here, you can start again and you can move forward, even if it’s slow.  • correcting last week’s song credit mix-up  • taking The Change Room course and why I recommend it  • simple breathing and movement tools you can weave into daily life  • “still breathing” as a mental health turning point  • why recovery has no time frame and no neat finish line  • honest talk on suicidal lows, hospital stays, and rebuilding  • choosing change, practising tools, and dropping relapse shame  • swimming mornings with my son and the value of shared time  • needing alone time as a parent and protecting downtime  • sleep hygiene habits, reading at night, and reducing phone use  • big kids bring big problems and we learn as we go  • what my PTSD journey teaches my kids about mental health  • thought of the week on choosing kindness  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.  Have a great week, and don't forget to be kind to yourself. Song of the week: Still Breathing - Greenway https://youtu.be/SUzsih7QJSY?si=ndffQuJrrzBf56Gu Thought of the Week: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - Charlie Mackesy "What do you want to be when you grow up? asked the mole. Kind, said the boy"

    24 min

  3. May 27

    What If Success Is Simply Love

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 13 I talk about what it feels like to swing through a whole stack of emotions in one day and how living with PTSD can make that feel like different versions of me. I share a tough reminder that PTSD still shows up sometimes, plus a few bright spots like better sleep, creative projects, and small wins that keep me moving forward.  • feeling emotions again after coming off strong antidepressants and learning to regulate reactions  • a sudden work nightmare and the shock of realising PTSD is still there  • sleep improving and how that changes day-to-day energy and motivation  • entering the local country show with honey, jams and relishes and the chaos of collecting entries  • starting quilting and sewing, hyperfixating on projects and learning a new machine  • using thrifted denim to plan a throw quilt and making the hobby affordable  • inviting listeners to share their stories and jump on for interviews  • a mentor’s TED Talk on internal dialogue and a simple thought about success and self-love  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.  Song of the week: Bitch by Meredith Brooks  https://youtu.be/_ivt_N2Zcts?si=_ND-AclPQNzMAA1y Thought of the Week The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackey " What do you think success is? asked the boy. To love, said the mole"

    23 min

  4. May 20

    Stop Living For Other People’s Opinions

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 12 **** trigger warning - talk of mental health and suicide**** We follow the thread of “Follow Your Arrow” into the messy reality of PTSD, stigma, and why other people’s opinions can quietly steer our choices. I share how a sore knee and a jarred finger triggered a sudden mental health crash, then work through practical ways to reframe setbacks and speak to ourselves with more kindness.  • using the song “Follow Your Arrow” to challenge stigma and judgment  • putting our needs first even when others disapprove  • reflecting on Jeff’s honesty about alcoholism, AA, and PTSD masking  • noticing how quickly physical pain can trigger depression  • navigating the catch-22 of staying active while risking injury  • dealing with exhaustion, sleep issues, and low tolerance days  • attending the hospital memorial rock garden opening ceremony  • redefining productivity and celebrating small wins to reduce negative self-talk  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.  Song of the week: Kasey Musgraves - Follow your arrow https://youtu.be/kQ8xqyoZXCc?si=ScT33a_VGahmHd2l Thought of the week: The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy "you fell - but I've got you"

    21 min

  5. May 6

    Jeff Explains How Alcohol Masked PTSD Until It Finally Caught Up

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 11 ***TRIGGER WARNING: TALK OF SUICIDE, DEATH AND OTHER TRAUMA RELATED INCIDENTS**** Please listen with caution and seek help where needed. We sit down with Jeff, a medically retired police officer, to talk honestly about PTSD, alcohol dependence, and the moment his body and mind forced him to stop running. He shares how AA, inpatient treatment, and real connection help him rebuild family life and stay alive when shame and stigma try to keep him silent. • meeting in an outpatient program and what first impressions reveal about trauma and trust  • what inpatient treatment at St John of God feels like when you are scared and exposed  • how validation and peer support speed up recovery  • why cumulative trauma can start years earlier than you think  • alcohol as a coping mechanism that quietly becomes the enemy  • the fear of asking for help in policing and the risk of being “punished” for it  • pancreatitis as a turning point and what AA gives in early sobriety  • rebuilding marriage and parenting after quitting drinking  • the PTSD breaking point, suicidal thoughts, and the power of someone intervening  • coping strategies without alcohol, including service and routine in AA  • where to start if you need support, including GP pathways, AA, detox, and rehab  • a funeral letter that makes the case for reaching out early You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow. Song of the Week: Somebody Save Me - Eminem & Jelly Roll https://youtu.be/Vwa0HenQMi4?si=heG7LPvz-MorhMFs Thought of the Week: "To my friends, family and colleagues. Please, if you are struggling with an addiction, reach out for help. If you let your addiction ruin you, you will more than likely lose the most important things in the world to you. I am unfortunately proof of that. I am 176 days sober. Please reach out if you need help. / wish / would have reached out earlier and forced my demons. It is never too late to reach out for help. You are important and you are worthy." Please be kind to yourself and seek help if needed.

    1h 42m

  6. Apr 29

    Riding Through Fear

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2 Episode 10: We catch up on what’s been happening in my life with PTSD and why “I’m good” can be the easiest answer even when it’s not true. I share how the Never Late Female Posty Ride pushed me straight through fear and still ended with pride, friendship, and big funds raised for Wings For Kids.  • Song of the week and why it hits  • Why we default to “I’m good” and what it costs  • Using a simple number scale to communicate feelings  • Choosing who to open up to and when  • What Wings For Kids does for regional families  • Riding back roads on postie bikes and the realities of dirt  • Watching fear spike after last year’s crash and working through it  • Finishing the ride plus water crossings pink night and gala night  • Raising over $400,000 this year and why volunteer charities matter  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram and don't forget to like and follow.  Song of the Week Kingdom of Fear - Cameron Whitcomb https://youtu.be/YZ2WXl3VXLU?si=Uz3zZb-o7Ic3gWXL Thought of the Week: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - Charlie Mackesy "Well Hello, Do you have a favourite saying? asked the boy. Yes, said the mole. What is it? If at first you don't succeed have some cake. I see, does it work? Everytime"

    22 min

  7. Apr 15

    If Words Can Shape A Life What Are Yours Building

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 9 We talk about the parts of my PTSD recovery I rarely say out loud, including how faith helps me keep moving when life feels too heavy. I also share a moment with Rory that reframes body image and self-worth, plus a story that proves how words can shape what we believe about ourselves.  • thanking my brother and reflecting on why family chats feel cathartic  • faith as a private but steady support in PTSD recovery  • the song God I Tried But I Fell Again and what getting back up really means  • Rory’s photo comment and why weight does not equal worth  • losing weight, losing muscle, and starting strength work again  • why words have power and how self-talk can become your truth  • a daily affirmation challenge: I am enough and I am worthy  • thought of the week on gratitude and perspective from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and don't forget to like and follow.  Song of the Week: God I Tried But Fell Again - Chris Stapleton & Lauren Daigle https://youtu.be/rJvNxJOYVj8?si=UBN97dUMmmFHQcUm Thought of the Week: The Boy The Mole The Fox and The Horse - Charlie Mackesy "Is your glass half empty or half full? Asked the mole. I think I'm grateful to have a glass said the boy"

    18 min

  8. Apr 8

    Growing Up Together And Facing PTSD After Policing

    Send us Fan Mail Season 2, Episode 8 We talk with my brother Matthew about our messy, funny sibling history and how my policing career changed the way we both saw the world. He shares what it felt like watching my PTSD unfold, what he got wrong at first, and what helped him learn how to support me with patience and faith.  • where “Fez” comes from and what it says about our childhood  • the age gap between us and why we clashed so hard  • the confidence shift Matthew sees when I join the police  • what first responder exposure can do over time  • how PTSD shows up later even when you think you coped  • what helplessness looks like for family on the outside  • why music becomes an outlet when words fail  • the guilt and uncertainty of visiting and supporting  • what Matthew learns about stigma and men getting help  • why healing has no fixed timeline and patience matters  You can find me on Facebook and Instagram and don't forget to like and follow.  Songs of the week: Linkin Park - Heavy is the Crown https://youtu.be/ZAt8oxY0GQo?si=0WGCoxmQN2x9d1Pz Harvest - There is a Peace https://youtu.be/YWmH9a4gjn4?si=0Vm7_BdLKfhfMR0l Thought of the week Romans 12:2 NLT "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

    1h 5m
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About

Hi there! Welcome to Mad Mel’s Mic!! Thanks for joining me. My name is Melissa and this is a podcast all about me! About my life. About life with PTSD. About my life with a husband, kids and friends. Thanks for tuning in. 

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mad Mel’s Mic
  • Show Website
    Mad Mel’s Mic