What happens when you can't pay the rent or find anywhere cheaper? Perhaps you or your dependents are ill, divorce or loss has left you short, or you're unemployed or retired with minimal savings, or you've left a bad situation. No one imagines they will one day become homeless. Women over 55 are the largest growing cohort in Australia. What's it like to face homelessness?    Guided by the host, Beth Armstrong, the guests share their stories of hardship, how they came to the point of...

What happens when you can't pay the rent or find anywhere cheaper? Perhaps you or your dependents are ill, divorce or loss has left you short, or you're unemployed or retired with minimal savings, or you've left a bad situation. No one imagines they will one day become homeless. Women over 55 are the largest growing cohort in Australia. What's it like to face homelessness?    Guided by the host, Beth Armstrong, the guests share their stories of hardship, how they came to the point of...

Part Two - we highly recommend listening to Part 1 first! In Australia, drinking alcohol is invariably a rite of passage into adulthood, an intrinsic part of our culture for better or worse. It’s fun, relaxing and a social lubricant; sometimes, it becomes a coping mechanism to deal with stress, anxiety or unpleasant emotions. What happens when you’re compelled to drink even though you know it’s causing you problems?  Guided by the host, Beth Armstrong, the guests share their stories of how...

In Australia, drinking alcohol is invariably a rite of passage into adulthood, an intrinsic part of our culture for better or worse. It’s fun, relaxing and a social lubricant; sometimes, it becomes a coping mechanism to deal with stress, anxiety or unpleasant emotions. What happens when you’re compelled to drink even though you know it’s causing you problems?  Guided by the host, Beth Armstrong, three articulate women share their stories of how drinking alcohol became problematic and the...

We leave school with plans to study or work and an idea of how life might unfold, but as the saying goes: "Life is what happens when we're busy making other plans." Some people want to change course or expand, returning to study at a later age. Is it ever too late to start again? Tonight's club is Mature Age Students.  Beth Armstrong guides a conversation between three generous, articulate and thoughtful women who speak anonymously about how and why they came to study in mid-life and...

This is Part 2.  We highly recommend you listen to Part 1 first. When we partner and have children, no one imagines they will end up in family court fighting to access those children or keep them safe from a person once trusted.  What is it like to deal with the family court in Australia?   Guided by the host, Beth Armstrong, the guests share their stories of how they came to be at Family Court, their experience and how it has impacted their families and lives. Speaking anonymously, they...

When we partner and have children, no one imagines they will end up in family court fighting to access those children or keep them safe from a person once trusted. What is it like to deal with the family court in Australia?   Guided by the host, Beth Armstrong, three guests share their stories of how they came to be at Family Court, their experience and how it has impacted their families and lives. Speaking anonymously, they give their views on what needs to change and offer advice for...

Part Two  (We highly recommend listening to Part One first) Humans are social creatures wired to seek connection, and we grow up with stories of romantic love and the assumption we will partner. What’s it like when you’re not looking for love, you’ve been there, done that, or content single - or partnered -  and then you’re struck by cupid’s arrow? Beth Armstrong guides a conversation between three generous, articulate and thoughtful women who speak anonymously about their experiences of...

Humans are social creatures wired to seek connection, and we grow up with stories of romantic love and the assumption we will partner. What’s it like when you’re not looking for love, you’ve been there, done that, or content single - or partnered -  and then you’re struck by cupid’s arrow? Beth Armstrong guides a conversation between three generous, articulate and thoughtful women who speak anonymously about their experiences of falling in love unexpectedly and how it impacted their lives....

The decision is to pack up and move away from your extended family, friends, and culture to live in a foreign land. Perhaps for work, to broaden opportunities, education, love or adventure, or simply to live a better or a different life. We imagine it might be a certain way, but it’s a leap into the unknown. What’s it like to emigrate to Australia?  Beth interviews three women from different countries (India, Singapore and Brazil) speaking anonymously and talking together. They share their...

The decision is to pack up and move away from your extended family, friends, and culture to live in a foreign land. Perhaps for work, to broaden opportunities, education, love or adventure, or to live a better or a different life. We imagine it might be a certain way, but it's a leap into the unknown. What's it like to emigrate to Australia?  Beth interviews three women from different countries (Brazil, Singapore and India), speaking anonymously and talking together, sharing their stories of...

As children, we read stories about romance and living happily ever after. We learn there’s a script to follow: find our passion, our job, meet somebody and create a family. What happens when your life doesn’t follow that script, and you are single and want to have children? This is the Single Mothers by Choice club.  Beth interviews three bold, funny and wise women who speak together anonymously to share their stories of how and why they decided to raise children independently.   Some...

You’re married or partnered, maybe have children, a career and your identity is heterosexual, but then you’re single again and unexpectedly you fall in love with a woman. How does that work? Beth interviews three bold, funny and wise women who speak together anonymously to share their stories of coming out later in life and how it has affected their lives.  Some topics included in this discussion may be triggering or distressing for some listeners. If you need support, please contact...

You’re married or partnered, maybe have children, a career and your identity is heterosexual, but then you’re single again and unexpectedly you fall in love with a woman. How does that work? Tonight’s club is the Later-Life lesbian club. Beth interviews three bold, funny and wise women who speak together anonymously to share their stories of coming out later in life and how it has affected their lives.  Some topics included in this discussion may be triggering or distressing for some...

As children, we grow and learn the ways of the world and what is right and wrong. Our parents and carers, who we rely on, are our guides. But what happens when those adults or any person asks you to do something, or someone does something to you, touches you in a way that doesn't feel right or makes you feel strange? Maybe you're told it's special or a secret, or that it's your fault. When someone who professes to love you should protect you, hurts you, it's confusing and damaging at any age,...

As children, we grow and learn the ways of the world and what is right and wrong. Our parents and carers, who we rely on, are our guides. But what happens when those adults or any person asks you to do something, or someone does something to you, touches you in a way that doesn't feel right or makes you feel strange? Maybe you're told it's special or a secret, or that it's your fault. When someone who professes to love you should protect you, hurts you, it's confusing and damaging at any age,...

We meet someone, fall in love, and develop a relationship, but then something happens, and your partner hurts, manipulates or frightens you. Perhaps you address it, but it's denied, or it's somehow your fault, or they apologise and promise it won't happen again. And we all make mistakes, so you trust this person who has hitherto loved you to redeem themselves. But what happens when this becomes a pattern, and you slowly realise you are walking on eggshells and embroiled in a volatile or...

Our mothers birth us and/or raise us, and if so, are naturally pivotal in our lives as role models and caregivers - we hope they love us and have our best interests in mind and that we love them. But what happens when that isn't the case, or they are...

We are born into a family with a set of values and beliefs that might evolve. Some familiesare strict adherents to a particular religion or cult, which rejects the mainstream. Aschildren, we know nothing else and are guided by our parents, but what...

Some topics included in this discussion may be triggering or distressing for some listeners. If you need support, please contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, or Lifeline on 13 11 14. In today’s episode, Beth interviews three brave, astute and articulate...