Stand Tall Podcast

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses mental health struggles. Please listen with care, and reach out for support if you need it.

In this powerful backstage conversation from Stand Tall Canberra 2025, Joany Badenhorst sits down with Matt Caruana, a young man whose story of resilience will stay with you long after you listen.

At just 12 years old, Matt began to struggle with feelings of worthlessness. At 16, he survived fall...

In this inspiring backstage conversation at Stand Tall Canberra 2025, Molly Croft sits down with the extraordinary Duku Forè - a refugee-turned-international speaker, entrepreneur, and author.

Arriving in Australia at just 10 years old with no English and a speech impediment, Duku’s story is one of resilience, determination, and the power of saying “yes.” From filming motivational videos in his bathroom with his little brother t...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode touches on themes of loss, grief, and forgiveness after tragedy. Please listen with care.

In this Episode, Joany Badenhorst sits down with Leila Abdallah, whose life changed forever on February 1st, 2020, when a tragic accident claimed the lives of three of her children and their cousin. In the face of unimaginable grief, Leila and her husband Danny chose forgiveness - a decision that has transforme...

In this honest and inspiring backstage chat, Joany sits down with the incredibly talented Tim Omaji (aka Timomatic) at the 2025 Stand Tall Canberra event.

Tim shares what it was like growing up in a Nigerian-Aussie family, how he found his voice through dance and music, and the real challenges he’s faced along the way. He gets vulnerable about confidence, rejection, faith, and staying true to who you are—even when the world say...

This is the second part in a 2 part episode with filmmaker Georgia Cramp, sharing her transformative journey of overcoming cyberbullying and how it inspired her to create award winning films. 

Our host, Amie Morris, chats with Georgia, about the ability to turn negative experiences into positive creative expressions and how she entered the amazing Film Festival, REELise, and won! By just giving it a shot and expressing her emotions ...

This is a true, raw, real life story of Cyber Bullying and its effets on a person. Hosted by Amie Morris and our guest Georgia Cramp, who shares her heartbreaking Cyber Bullying experience and life changing advice on overcoming. 

Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet to be mean to a child or young person so they feel bad or upset. It can happen on a social media site, game, app, or any other online or electronic service or...

Mindfulness Matters !

Feeling stressed with life? Maybe you are studying for exams or having issues with friends? Or maybe you are just feeling overwhelmed? Well we have a tool kit that can help!!!

In this episode of Stand Tall, host Amie Morris welcomes Chibs Okereke, (A voice on the CALM app) who shares his journey from corporate life to mindfulness and meditation. Chibs discusses the importance of mindfulness in managing stress, ...

Have you ever suffered with anxiety? Have you ever experienced those physical feelings you can't control in your chest? Sweaty palms? Heavy breathing? You are not alone!

For some people even leaving the house can bring it on. But IT IS OK!

In this episode, host Tyler Antcliff and psychologist Eleni delve into the complexities of anxiety, particularly among teens.

There is strength in speaking out, it is NOT a weakness! They explore th...

After being pinned to the ground a week before the HSC, abused online and verbally - he flipped his life on its head once he left school. Bullied for the majority of high school, 18-year-old Mahir Munot's story isn't uncommon. But guys don't talk about it!  But what he made out of it the next year is uncommon. 

All the caged up energy, ambition he wanted to achieve something just exploded - and just this ...

Ever got "The Ick" and didn't know why??

In this third and final part of our Relationships series, Anna and Nathan discuss the complexities of high school relationships, focusing on the various stages of dating, the all important 'ick'.

What if that happens? Why does it happen? And what do you do if it does?

Takeaways

High school relationships are filled with grey areas
The talking phase is crucial for building connections.
The...

In this episode Anna and Nath address the elephant in the room, the heart break of break ups and feelings of rejection!

Ever been ghosted ? Did it make you wonder, what on earth happened? One minute you are messaging and getting along great, the next thing you don't hear back.... EVER AGAIN!!

In this conversation, Anna and Nathan discuss the complexities of relationships. They share personal stories, emphasising how normal it is to e...

In this episode Anna and Nath address the elephant in the room, those big feelings and those crushes you can't ignore! 

Ever experienced a feeling where you like someone so much you feel your heart beats out of your chest?  And you realise that actually you might have a crush on someone? It is completely normal and ok. Every single human goes through these feelings and they can feel big and overwhelming at times but they ARE REAL! S...

In this episode we hear from Jack Berne at the Stand Tall Sydney event 2024. 

15-year-old Jack Berne was only 10 years old when he started an initiative called 'Fiver For a Farmer' to support drought affected farmers. Jack has changed the lives of thousands having since raised over $2 million. He is an inspiration to young people, proving that you are never too young to make a difference. He has shown young Australians that great th...

In this episode we hear from Grace Rowe speaking at the Stand Tall 2024 event.

Grace grew up racing motocross and enduro as one of the only junior females fully sponsored in Australia.

In recent years she has trained in freestyle motocross where she became one of just a few girls in the country to clear a 75ft gap. In March 2023 she had an accident in training that left her with a broken pelvis in 5 places. She was airlifted to hospi...

In this episode we hear from Derek Rabelo at the Stand Tall 2024 event in Sydney.

Derek is a blind, big-wave surfer and author who was the first blind person to ride life-threatening monster waves at Pipeline in Hawaii. Derek has overcome significant adversity in life, defying the odds and re-defining what it means to believe in yourself and to never stop chasing your dreams. Derek recently surfed some of the biggest and most danger...

PART 2 - What do I do after high school?

A question many people struggle with. All the changes and all the choices.

In this episode, Nathan and Anna interview Tamara Swissa, a high school student from Sydney, about the pressures and challenges she faces. The increased workload in year 11, the importance of finding the right group of friends, and the social pressures of social media.

Tamara shares her experiences and strategies for man...

PART 1 - What do I do after high school?

A question many people struggle with. All the changes and all the choices.

In this episode, Nathan and Anna interview Tamara Swissa, a high school student from Sydney, about the pressures and challenges she faces. The increased workload in year 11, the importance of finding the right group of friends, and the social pressures of social media.

Tamara shares her experiences and strategies for man...

Darcy shares his story of struggling with bullying, loneliness, and low self-esteem from a young age. He turned to drugs, crime, and a toxic lifestyle to find acceptance and escape his pain.

After hitting rock bottom and attempting suicide, he sought a fresh start in New Zealand but eventually returned to his old habits. Darcy found validation and a sense of belonging in the drug scene, becoming a supplier and gaining attention. He ...