by Kerrie Atherton | Aug 10, 2026 | Depression, lived experience, Mental Health, Podcasts, Stories of Hope
In this deeply important conversation, I sit down with Ronnie Benbow OAM, Founding Director of The Carers Foundation Australia, to shine a light on the millions of unpaid carers who quietly give so much of themselves to support the people they love.
Ronnie’s passion for carers began when she was just 17 years old and met a young boy named Tom, who was caring for his profoundly unwell mother with almost no support. His story stayed with her and planted the seed for a lifelong mission: to ask the question so many people overlook—who cares for the carers?
Ronnie also shares her own experience of becoming a carer for her husband after a near-fatal accident, while raising four boys, running businesses and supporting other family members through illness and mental health challenges. Her honesty about exhaustion, guilt, compassion fatigue and the isolation carers often experience really touched my heart.
This conversation is a reminder that carers are not only parents looking after children with disabilities or adult children supporting ageing parents. They are husbands, wives, siblings, friends and young people who may not even recognise themselves as carers.
We also speak about Ronnie’s vision to create Australia’s first healing and recovery centre for carers—a safe place where people can rest, feel supported and receive help before they reach crisis point.
Ronnie’s message is beautifully simple: the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference. A cup of coffee, a hug or simply asking someone, “How are you?” can remind a person that they matter.
For every carer listening, please know that you are seen, you are valued and you do not have to carry everything alone.
Get in touch with Ronnie Benbow:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronniebenbow/
Website: https://www.thecarersfoundation.org/
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Thank you for listening to Stories of HOPE: Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton.
Kerrie Atherton is an Inspiring Speaker, Professional Counsellor and Mental Health Coach. To find out more about “Stories of Hope: Worldwide”, head to https://storiesofhope.com.au/.
Purchase books in the “Stories of Hope” series, written by Kerrie: https://storiesofhope.com.au/product/stories-of-hope-australia-books/.
With thanks to:
Music: “Pilgrims” by Daniel Pratt (artlist.io)
Editing & Production: Matthew Bliss (https://www.mbpod.com)
by Kerrie Atherton | Jun 29, 2026 | Depression, lived experience, Mental Health, Podcasts, Stories of Hope
In this powerful episode of Stories of Hope: Worldwide, I sit down with my dear friend and fellow storyteller, Matt Towner, whose life changed forever after a catastrophic motorcycle accident in the jungle of Thailand.
Matt broke nearly every bone in his body, suffered a brain haemorrhage, spinal injuries, chronic pain, PTSD, and symptoms similar to Bipolar Disorder. And yet, when he woke from a coma, he heard a message so clear and powerful: this is going to be the best thing that ever happened to you.
What followed was not a quick recovery, but a lifelong journey of rebuilding — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In this conversation, Matt shares honestly about trauma, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, the importance of recognising triggers, and why connection and purpose can become lifelines when life feels impossible.
This is such an important conversation, especially for anyone who may be sitting alone right now wondering whether they can make it through. Matt’s story is living proof that even after the most devastating moments, there can still be meaning, healing, laughter, purpose, and hope.
Get in touch with Matt Towner:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-towner-a288b365/
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Thank you for listening to Stories of HOPE: Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton.
Kerrie Atherton is an Inspiring Speaker, Professional Counsellor and Mental Health Coach. To find out more about “Stories of Hope: Worldwide”, head to https://storiesofhope.com.au/.
Purchase books in the “Stories of Hope” series, written by Kerrie: https://storiesofhope.com.au/product/stories-of-hope-australia-books/.
With thanks to:
Music: “Pilgrims” by Daniel Pratt (artlist.io)
Editing & Production: Matthew Bliss (https://www.mbpod.com)
by Kerrie Atherton | Nov 3, 2025 | Counselling, Depression, Domestic Abuse, lived experience, Podcasts, sexual abuse, Stories of Hope
The story of Jennifer Heng Safe Place Singapore abortion recovery domestic violence faith hope is a moving reminder that no matter how deep the shame or how dark the past, redemption and healing are possible. Jennifer’s journey from secrecy and trauma to purpose and compassion reveals the extraordinary power of second chances.
Early Life and Struggles
Growing up in Singapore, Jennifer faced a childhood marked by family turmoil and heartbreak. As a teenager, she longed for love and belonging but instead found herself in an abusive relationship and pregnant at just 17. Terrified and alone, she underwent a late-term abortion, followed by a second one years later under pressure from a violent partner. Her world spiralled into guilt, fear, and self-loathing. For years, she believed she was beyond forgiveness and unworthy of love.
Breaking the Silence
In a culture where shame runs deep and emotions are rarely spoken, Jennifer kept her pain hidden. Yet the weight of those secrets only grew heavier. When she finally began to speak about her experiences, the healing began. Her courage to confront the past became the first step toward a new life. She discovered that shame loses its power when it is brought into the light, and that grace and hope can grow in even the hardest places.
Faith and Transformation
Everything changed when Jennifer left Singapore to study in Melbourne. In a quiet season of reflection, she experienced what she describes as a radical encounter with God’s love—a moment that set her free from guilt and gave her the courage to start again. This awakening became the turning point that redefined her life, leading her to faith, forgiveness, and ultimately, hope.
Safe Place and a New Purpose
Today, Jennifer Heng is the Director of Safe Place Singapore, an organisation dedicated to supporting pregnant women in crisis. Through housing, counselling, and community care, Safe Place empowers women to make life-giving choices and find dignity and strength during vulnerable times. Jennifer has helped hundreds of women rebuild their lives, proving that healing can ripple across generations.
Why Her Story Matters
The story of Jennifer Heng Safe Place Singapore abortion recovery domestic violence faith hope is not only about personal transformation—it’s about the courage to speak truth in a culture of silence and to turn pain into purpose. Jennifer’s life reminds us that where there is life, there is hope, and that our darkest chapters can become the source of someone else’s healing.
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by Kerrie Atherton | May 5, 2025 | lived experience, Mental Health, Podcasts
In this deeply personal and empowering episode of Stories of HOPE, Kerrie Atherton sits down with Jen Hamer—a writer, speaker, and academic whose journey through the depths of an eating disorder has not only shaped her life but now serves as a guiding light for others navigating similar paths.
Jen’s struggle began early. By the age of 12, she had already fallen into the grips of a life-threatening eating disorder—an illness that stole her energy, identity, and nearly her life. For years, Jen battled in silence, buried beneath the weight of impossible expectations, perfectionism, and the belief that her worth was tied to how little space she could take up in the world. Her story is one of pain, but also of awakening.
Now, Jen is completing a PhD focused on eating disorders in athletes—a group often overlooked, yet uniquely vulnerable to body image pressures and performance-based identity. Her research is personal, rigorous, and driven by a desire to create tangible change in how we understand and treat disordered eating in high-pressure environments.
In this episode, Jen speaks about the moment she chose recovery—a crossroads where she had to choose between surviving and truly living. She discusses the core beliefs that fueled her illness, the myths that kept her trapped, and the moment she realized her body was not the enemy but a partner in healing.
With vulnerability and strength, Jen also opens up about her upcoming book, Goodbye Anna—a powerful memoir in which she personifies her eating disorder as “Anna,” and writes a final farewell to the part of her life that tried to consume her. The book is not just a goodbye to pain—it’s a hello to purpose, compassion, and renewed self-trust.
Through her words, Jen sends a message to anyone who is struggling: that healing is messy, nonlinear, and never instant—but it is possible. That your value does not come from your appearance or achievements, but from your humanity. And that your body, no matter how long it has been at war with your mind, can become your home again.
Whether you’re living with an eating disorder, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to rebuild your relationship with your body, Jen’s story offers insight, empathy, and hope. It’s a reminder that recovery isn’t about returning to who you were—it’s about becoming who you were meant to be.
by Kerrie Atherton | Dec 2, 2024 | lived experience, Mental Health, Podcasts
On November 13, 2015, the Bataclan theatre in Paris became the site of one of Europe’s deadliest terrorist attacks. Among the survivors was Ferry Zandvliet, whose life was forever changed in those terrifying moments. What followed was not just the struggle of survival, but years of battling PTSD and searching for healing and meaning.
In this gripping episode of Stories of Hope – Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton, Ferry recounts the night of the attack with raw honesty. He describes the chaos, fear, and the long-lasting scars it left on his mental health. But his story does not end with trauma. Through therapy, community, and self-discovery, Ferry has found a way to rebuild his life and transform his pain into purpose.
Today, Ferry is an advocate for resilience and human connection. By sharing his journey publicly, he offers hope to others facing the weight of PTSD, reminding them that recovery is possible even after the darkest of nights. His perspective highlights that trauma can shape us, but it doesn’t have to define us.
Ferry’s story demonstrates the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. From the depths of fear and loss, he has risen with a renewed commitment to life, compassion, and courage. This episode invites listeners to consider how adversity can lead to unexpected strength and how hope can emerge even from tragedy.
by Kerrie Atherton | Nov 18, 2024 | lived experience, Podcasts, Stories of Hope
Jorge Valdes once lived a life of power, wealth, and danger as a central figure in the infamous “Cocaine Cowboys” drug trade of Miami. From the outside, his life appeared glamorous. But beneath the surface, it was built on violence, addiction, and emptiness. His eventual downfall could have been the end of his story—but instead, it became the turning point that transformed him into a beacon of hope.
In this riveting episode of Stories of Hope – Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton, Jorge shares his extraordinary journey from cartel member to inspirational leader. After serving time in prison, he made a radical decision: to change his life, pursue education, and dedicate himself to faith, family, and service. His story reveals the cost of choices, but also the freedom found in redemption.
Today, Jorge Valdes is a speaker, author, and advocate who uses his past as a platform to inspire change. By telling his truth, he breaks the myths of glamorized crime and instead points to the peace that comes with integrity, forgiveness, and hope. His transformation shows that no past is beyond redemption and no person is too far gone to choose a new path.
This episode is more than a story of crime and punishment—it’s a powerful testimony to resilience, grace, and the possibility of transformation. Jorge’s life is proof that the darkest past can give rise to the brightest hope.
