The Strength of Us
Lisa Quattrocchi
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Top 10 The Strength of Us Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Strength of Us episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Strength of Us for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Strength of Us episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
My Mother's Strength & our Down Syndrome girl, Tanya
The Strength of Us
06/02/22 • 90 min
In 1974, when my sister, Tanya, who has Down Syndrome was born they called her a Mongoloid. Institutions were still closing around Australia and a lot of the general public were afraid of people with intellectual disabilities because they were simply not seen. Not on the streets, not in schools, there was obviously no internet back in the day and people who didn’t fit the social norm were certainly not on TV.
So it was no wonder that my father was afraid to take Tanya home from the hospital, in fact the delivering doctor offered to murder Tanya, thinking this would be the right thing for my parents. And many others were of the opinion that Tanya belonged in an institution or asylum.
But none of these people knew the strength of Adriana Quattrocchi, my mum. From the moment Tanya was brought home, Adriana worked day and night to give Tanya every opportunity in this world just like any other child. She had to battle doctors, relatives, friends and schools to give Tanya the life that she deserved.
47 years later, Adriana is telling her story of the ups and downs of raising Tanya in Shepparton, the heartbreak of her moving out of home in her late 20s and the on-going health issues that Tanya faces to this day.
So far, Tanya has had an extraordinary life and it’s all thanks to her tiger mum and her saint, Adriana.
Education, Support & Services
Down Syndrome AustraliaDisability Australia HubDisability Services AustraliaNational Disability Services
The Evolution and Devolution of Mental Health Services in Australia - Inquiries JournalMental Health Facilities Guide | NSW State ArchivesAUSTRALIAN ASYLUMS - Australia's Dark HeartThe Evolution and Devolution of Mental Health Services in Australia - Inquiries JournalPsychiatric Institutions of the Past
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ilya-kuznetsov/memory
License code: YFJTCP7TWEM2QO7U
Jill Emmer's ABCs & raising a non-binary child
The Strength of Us
02/26/22 • 80 min
Jill Emmer's greatest lessons in life have come from raising her non-binary child in the provincial area of Long Island, New York. In her previous role as a graphic designer for UNICEF, Jill's eyes opened up to the unequal opportunities in the world and as the Arts Director at New York’s Adelphi University, Jill continued to ensure that the visibility of minority groups was highlighted in her work. After becoming a mother in the 1990s, Jill turned to teaching art in elementary schools.
All of this work has resulted in Jill releasing her first book: ABC answers for curious humans: a guide to understanding human identity. It is a book that can be shared as creatively as the reader wants and promotes conversation and understanding. Each page features one big letter, for example N for non-binary, F for Fear, D for deadnaming and K for kindness. Then there are smaller words on each page also starting with that letter that can form a conversation around issues such as gender identity, acceptance, stereotypes and much more.
Jill says, “Gender non-conforming children, teens and adults are asking to be seen, heard and recognized. It is the duty of all who are in these humans lives to be aware of the correct language to use and show support.”
Click here to purchase Jill's book: https://www.amazon.com/ABC-Answers-Curious-Humans-Understanding/dp/057831696X
https://www.jemmerimagino.com/
Supportive & Educational links:
https://www.switchboard.org.au/
Rainbow Door - 10am-5pm // every day
A free service for all LGBTIQA+
people in Victoria.
Phone: 1800 729 367Text: 0480 017 246Email: [email protected]
Visit: rainbow door.org.au
Connect with a Qlife - 3pm-midnight // every day
A free service for LGBTIQA+
people in Australia.
Phone: 1800 184 527
Webchat with Qlife
Who is Nigel Parsons?
The Strength of Us
12/22/21 • 78 min
Nigel Parsons is public figure across rural Victoria whose voice has been heard across radio, tv, on stage and now on this podcast. Nigel is joining Lisa by becoming a guest host and sharing his love of music, story telling and community.
He has worked with Southern Cross, WIN tv, Prime and has his own media company, Square One digital media.
He is a singer, guitarist and song writer whose voice can be heard in many commercials across regional Victoria including the latest Sungold ad.
Nigel also has passion projects including his work on The Shed Show with radio and commercial personality, Craig 'Whiskers' Veysey.
He has worked with some incredibly remarkable musicians over the past 30 years in bands such as Dr Watt, Crying Out Loud and is currently the frontman for Current Stand. Current Stand was named after the hit song by Australian New Romantics 80s band, Kids in the Kitchen and Nigel's drummer is none other than Bruce Curnow from Kids in the Kitchen who runs a legendary music shop in Shepparton.
After 30 years of performing on stage, Nigel has released his own music on Spotify. Listen to his two original songs: Unite and Love, Liberty and Happiness here.
For more about us, click on the following links:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram
Email: [email protected]
Lisa's LinkedIn
Nige's LinkedIn
Midsumma Festival with Karen Bryant
The Strength of Us
12/11/21 • 36 min
Lisa and Marnie interview Karen Bryant, Chief Executive for Midsumma Festival.
When we think of festivals, we think of summer, music and large crowds. However, the Midsumma Festival is like the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory of festivals! It is a colourful world that embraces diversification and disability across the LGBTQIA+ community. Not only is there music, this festival is a smorgasbord of pleasure including visual arts, film, sporting events, workshops, there’s some sexy stuff, public speaking, food and fun stalls, education and it even has events for families and kids.
Since 1988, Midsumma has become a globally-relevant cultural influencer that keeps learning and diversity at their heart. The Australian queer arts and cultural festival returns to Victoria in 2022 running between the 23rd of January and 13th of February with Midsumma Pride March occurring as part of the celebrations on Sunday the 6th February.
When we started looking into this significantly incredible festival, we discovered that Midsumma doesn’t just run over a few weeks. This is an all year round organisation that provides artists, social-changers, and culture-makers with support and tools to create, present and promote their work. The most significant of these programs are called: Midsumma Futures and Midsumma Pathways, which provide mentorship, networking and development opportunities for early-career artists and culture-makers.
It is no wonder that Midsumma has matured to become one of Australia’s most significant queer arts organisations that has supported generations of LGBTQIA+ cultural voices, emerging artists and has been a platform for conversations that have helped shape queer art and culture forever.
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Website: https://thestrengthofus.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071115305193
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strengthofus/@strengthofus
Email: [email protected]
Lisa's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-quattrocchi-72114566/
Educational and Supportive Links:
Australia
https://www.midsumma.org.au/https://www.minus18.org.au/
https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services
https://www.diversityaustralia.com.au/lgbtqi/
https://rainbowline.org/https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Phone 131114
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Phone 1300224636
New Zealand
https://www.lifeline.org.nz/https://mentalhealth.org.nz/
Having MS is not a death sentence
The Strength of Us
11/06/21 • 67 min
After diagnosis, one of the greatest pieces of advice that Adriana Condello was given by her doctor was, “yes, you have MS but it’s not a death sentence.”
When Adriana was first diagnosed at the age of 26, there were only 4 types of medications available. Ten years later, there are 16. She is now a wife, mother, winning fundraiser and a Kiss Goodbye to MS ambassador which is a fundraising site that sends every dollar to MS research.
Donate
Please click here to join the Strength of Us in raising funds for further research that actually helps so many Australians live a fuller life just like Adriana.
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Follow Us
Website: https://thestrengthofus.com/
Blog: https://thestrengthofus.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071115305193
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strengthofus/
Contact Us
Email: [email protected]
Lisa's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-quattrocchi-72114566/
Educational and Supportive Links:
Australia
https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Phone 131114
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Phone 1300224636
https://www.msaustralia.org.au/https://www.ms.org.au/https://events.msaustralia.org.au/whw2021/about/
New Zealand
https://mentalhealth.org.nz/helplines
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How Mayor Kim O'Keeffe was raised by her own community
The Strength of Us
11/20/21 • 54 min
When Councillor Kim O’Keeffe was re-elected as the Mayor of Greater Shepparton in October 2021, it came as no surprise to us here at The Strength of Us podcast.
At 4 years old, Kim moved from Sydney to Shepparton, lived in what can be referred to as public housing or commission or government housing and had a large family. Her father suffered mental health issues and both parents were alcoholics.
By the time Kim was 14, she had moved out of home and it was her siblings and the local people who supported her by putting a roof over her head and provided her with employment.
One of Kim’s first jobs was at the local store Focus Cards and Gifts and then as the Estée Lauder counter girl at Werner’s Pharmacy in Shepparton. Part of her role was to do the make-up for people appearing on the Jan Dean Show on the local network GMV6 TV and for years, Kim had been saving her money to go to Melbourne and do a hairdressing course. On the podcast, Kim reflects, “Isn’t it incredible how one thing can change your life?” Kim chose to stay in Shepparton and did an apprenticeship in a beauty salon and by 25, opened her first salon as a young mother which appears on the website Liveyem featuring make-up named after her two daughters, Olivia and Emily.
Over the next few years, Kim built up her business to include a training school and created opportunities for those locals who couldn’t get to Melbourne. It became Shepparton’s first beauty school. “I love being a part of someone else’s success, their career and their life journey.” Kim was then appointed the National Education and Marketing Manager for The Salons Group. As Mayor, Kim knows what her community has done for her and many of these individuals from her past have moved away, some have passed on but many are still living in Shepparton. This is what makes Kim the humble and community minded person that she has always been.
We saw it all over the news when Shepparton became a Covid 19 hotspot in August 2021 and poor Kim had to deal with it with her leg in a cast from breaking her ankle. The outbreak had got into the local schools and spread like wildfire. “We had close to 20,000 people in isolation. It was a crisis.”
During this podcast episode, Kim thanks her local community and those that got in touch to help out. There were medical and food support groups such as Shepparton Food Share and local businesses providing meals such as Azem from Lutfiyes Shish Kebab and medical aids delivered and former residents, such as Olympian Louise Dobson and Chocolate Starfish frontman, Adam Thompson.<
Psychosis caused by teenage stress
The Strength of Us
12/18/21 • 59 min
Tess was a popular girl at school and at 17 years old, had experienced a stress induced, near fatal psychosis that saw her hospitalised twice. Once in her final year of high school and the second and last time, a year later. Tess considers herself lucky that it never developed into a more serious illness like Schizophrenia. Her self esteem was shattered, hopes and dreams lost and social support gone. With little to no professional support or understanding available at the time, Tess and her family turned to natural therapies such as Yoga and healthy eating.
It was many years later, when Tess was studying psychology that a lecturer began to talk about psychosis and its symptoms. This is when the penny dropped. Tess was able to understand what had happened to her all those years ago and was able to begin her healing process by talking about it.
In her blog, Tess explains, "With the help of therapy, I learnt there were different types of psychosis for example, many women experience it after child birth, and it is actually very common. And is a common symptom for those with Bipolar. But the problem is – nobody talks about it. Because there is also still so much stigma around the term “psychosis” and it is still very much attached to the term “psycho” or “loony” from the old days when there were mental asylums. Which is just not what It’s like at all."
Learn more from Tess here: https://wellcreativeminds.com/
Program discussed by Tess: https://raise.org.au/
Website: https://thestrengthofus.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strengthofus/
Email: [email protected]
Educational and Supportive Links:
https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Watch: what happens when you call lifeline
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/psychosocial/foundations/Pages/types-psychosis.aspx
https://www.sane.org/information-stories/facts-and-guides/psychosis
https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/bipolar-disorder/
"I left my arm in Adelaide!" Kerryn Harvey, Paratriathlete
The Strength of Us
05/22/22 • 72 min
Kerryn Harvey was a triathlete and after a 2013 cycling accident in the Adelaide Hills, Australia, she contracted a flesh eating bacteria, referred to as Necrotizing Fasciitis resulting in a four quarter arm amputation which includes her whole arm, shoulder and some chest and back muscles.
With toxic shock and organ failure, Kerryn’s loved ones had to decide whether to amputate to try and save her life, or say their goodbyes. Fortunately for Kerryn, her friends knew just how strong she was and knew that when she woke up, she would make the most of her life, no matter what.
In this episode you will hear Kerryn’s story of survival against all odds. In fact, she had less than a 5% chance of living but the incredible medical team at the Royal Adelaide Hospital not only saved her life, but were the inspiration for Kerryn to give back when she got back on that bike. Kerryn raised a significant amount of money for research at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and began the Start Foundation. A charity that helps amputees to afford the prosthetics, equipment or modifications needed in order to play sport.
Kerryn has gone on to achieve more personal goals and now holds a world ranking as a paratriathlete. Nothing stops this woman from giving it her all. She is now a personal trainer, an inspiring sportswoman and a force of nature.
Donate to the START foundation here: https://www.startfoundation.org.au/donations For further support:
https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/https://www.auscycling.org.au/membership/other/insurance-overview https://www.letstalkaustralia.org/ https://www.beyondblue.org.au/https://www.lifeline.org.au/131114/
What is this podcast about?
The Strength of Us
10/16/21 • 0 min
40 seconds to tell you what it's about!
Darren Mort: Barrister, Actor & Philanthropist talks about kids amidst divorce court
The Strength of Us
06/18/22 • 78 min
People may recognise Darren Mort from shows such as Neighbours and Blue Heelers, but it's his real-life role that continues to make such a great impact on Australian families. As a barrister, Darren Mort has worked in the family law courts for almost 30 years and has seen what happens to children during this difficult time.
In this episode, Darren talks about putting the needs of the children first and how his acting and law careers have come together to create the award-winning short film: Tommy which can be seen on Apple TV.
Darren has also started a wonderful charity that supports children called To Be Loved and through this, he has written a wonderful book called Tommy & Tiger Terry which was inspired by a young boy that Darren met in family court who had an imaginary kangaroo as his coping mechanism to get through such a stressful time.
Please share this episode with anyone going through separation and divorce as a reminder, that the needs of their children are paramount.
For further education and support:
To Be Loved
Darren Mort
Family Circuit and Family Law Australia
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
1800 RESPECT (National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service)
1800 737 732, 24 hours 7 days
Beyond Blue Support Service1300 224 636, 24 hours, 7 days
Family Relationship Advice Line
1800 050 321, 8 am-8 pm Monday to Friday, 10 am-4 pm Saturday
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Strength of Us have?
The Strength of Us currently has 35 episodes available.
What topics does The Strength of Us cover?
The podcast is about Lgbt, Culture, Health & Fitness, Society & Culture, Aboriginal, Domestic Violence, Dating, Divorce, Women, Ivf, Mental Health, Community, Podcasts, Australian, Education, Gender, Disability, Relationships, Health and Wellbeing.
What is the most popular episode on The Strength of Us?
The episode title 'Why we work in Mental Health' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Strength of Us?
The average episode length on The Strength of Us is 55 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Strength of Us released?
Episodes of The Strength of Us are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Strength of Us?
The first episode of The Strength of Us was released on Oct 16, 2021.
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