Australian True Crime: "Forgotten Bombs: The Other Bali Bombings"

Date: January 4, 2026
Guest: Joe Frost (survivor and host of the "Forgotten Bombs: Bali 2005" podcast)
Host: Meshel Laurie (Bravecasting)

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode shines a light on the largely forgotten 2005 Bali bombings that followed the more notorious 2002 attacks. Through survivor Joe Frost’s perspective and research for his podcast "Forgotten Bombs," the discussion delves into collective memory, survivor experiences, trauma, and the social and political context of terror attacks and their aftermath, with the goal of reclaiming space in Australia's collective memory for the 2005 tragedy and its impact.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Forgotten 2005 Bali Bombings

• Public Memory Lapse

  • Despite regular memorials for the 2002 bombing, the 2005 event is absent from collective memory.
  • Joe recounts calling Randwick City Council (01:25) to discuss a 20th-anniversary commemoration and being met with blank confusion about the "second" bombing.

    “...you have something to do with the first Bali bombing every year, and you’re not even aware that there’s another one...that’s pretty much the case for a lot of Australians.” — Joe Frost (02:01)

• Why "Forgotten"

  • Joe reflects on the podcast title, initially feeling silly, but realizing it underscores this lapse in memory (01:25).

Survivor Experience: The Night of the Attack

• Background on the Group

  • 45 people from Newcastle (simple holidaymakers, parents, and teens) had traveled together, cautious but determined to reclaim fun in Bali post-2002.
  • Parents accompanied teens for added safety (04:15, 05:39).
  • Casual, relatable detail: the exhaustion and family wrangling common to group holidays (06:46).

• Atmosphere at Jimbaran Bay

  • The host and Joe reminisce about the beauty and serenity of the beach scene (08:06–09:41), highlighting the surreal contrast to the violence that occurred.

• Moments Before the Blast

  • Guests recall odd absences that night (such as beach hawkers), but Joe resists suspicion toward locals, emphasizing the randomness of such attacks (10:36–11:47).

    “...there is just no accuracy with a bomb...it seems implausible that you would know there’s going to be a bomb and you’d still come to the place where the bombing’s going to be...” — Joe Frost (11:19)

• Attack Unfolds

  • The first bomb: a sudden, deafening bang, initial confusion (12:17–15:05), most assumed it was a gas explosion.
  • Joe’s internal struggle over whether to run (“stupid male pride”—16:11).

    “I didn’t want people to think that I was scared...the things that go through your head when you’re millimetres from death...” — Joe Frost (16:23)

  • Second bomb: Directly hits their group’s table. Joe finds himself face down, burned by sand, stripping to his underwear, and running into the water (16:46–19:12).

Immediate Aftermath, Trauma, and Community Response

• Shock and Instincts

  • Initial belief among survivors: the explosion was far less deadly than reality.
  • Joe and others process trauma by attempting to rationalize (“pop gun terrorists,” optimistic reassurance) and drawing analogies to people living with violence elsewhere (27:07–27:45).

• Seeking Safety

  • Disoriented survivors regroup—Joe, Dietmar (his friend’s father), and others try to find missing people, fearing more bombs might be hidden under the beach tables (22:18–27:07).
  • Kindness of locals: a Balinese man offers shelter and water (31:18).

• Reuniting and Relaying News

  • The group reconvenes at the InterContinental Hotel, where staff were still unaware of the catastrophe (29:22–29:52).
  • Survivors experience the chaos of misinformation and conflicting news reports as they search for loved ones (35:50).

    “We were watching various TVs...some people are watching CNN, some are watching BBC...it was just what the camera footage was showing...game of telephone...I went to bed just secure in that knowledge.” — Joe Frost (35:50)

  • The tragic reveal comes hours later, as Joe’s father (a doctor) briefs the group on the true extent of injuries and deaths (37:34–40:29).

• False Hope and Survivor's Guilt

  • Survivors gave unintentional false hope to children and others about missing family members, not realizing the true death toll until morning (35:26–37:16).

Broader Political and Terrorism Context

• Terrorists' Evolving Tactics

  • Host and Joe discuss how terrorists adapted after the 2002 attacks (04:51), shifting from car bombs (due to increased security) to more unpredictable tactics.

• Australian Diplomatic and Medical Response

  • Notably, Tony Abbott, then-health minister, happened to be in Bali and jumped into action—relaying credit card concerns from survivors, mobilizing logistics for medical evacuation (42:31–44:54).

    “Tony Abbott turning up at the hospital...this isn’t even on the podium of weird shit that’s happened in the last 24 hours.” — Joe Frost (43:03)

  • The story of a survivor who simply asked Abbott, not knowing who he was, to help cancel a credit card—an anecdote highlighting both chaos and the mundane amid disaster (43:06–43:46).

Lasting Trauma and Recovery

• Returning to Bali?

  • Joe has not returned to Jimbaran Bay or Bali, prioritizing new destinations and recognizing it wouldn’t be a relaxing experience. Other survivors have revisited for memorials (45:16–47:54).

• Mental Health and Resilience

  • Joe discusses therapy, the difference in coping styles between him and his father, and how the event shaped his reactions, especially in crowds and around backpacks (48:08–50:15).

    “Everything that happens to you changes who you are...this was a really, really big thing, and it changed who I am, but in ways it doesn’t really bear thinking on...loud bangs still get me a little bit.” — Joe Frost (48:36)

  • Survivor’s support: Joe emphasizes the importance of emotional vulnerability, supportive friends, and not holding guilt about what 20-year-old friends could or couldn’t understand (50:15–53:22).

Investigating the Bombers and Context

• In-depth Podcast Research
  • Joe interviews Nasir Abbas, former member and trainer of Jemaah Islamiyah, who trained the bombers—gaining unique, personal insight into the radicalization process, guilt, and the human complexities of those on "the other side" (54:09–57:47).

    “He actually trained and taught the guys who set up the 2005 Bali bombing...he had a moment of telling me how guilty and awful he felt about what he’d done.” — Joe Frost (56:42)

  • The podcast examines the mechanics, grooming, and psychology behind terror recruits.
  • Host lauds the podcast's ability to showcase the humanity of all involved, including victims and perpetrators (57:47).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Forgetting:
  • "You’re not even aware that there’s another one. And...I think that’s pretty much the case for a lot of Australians." — Joe Frost (02:01)
• On Survivor Guilt:
  • “I didn’t want people to think that I was scared...the things that go through your head when you’re millimetres from death...” — Joe Frost (16:23)
• On Trauma and Rationalization:
  • "...try to think like, well, there’s always someone worse, isn’t there?...I was lucky enough to have Dietmar with me." — Joe Frost (27:45)
• On Media and Hope:
  • “We accounted for everyone...it was like, no, no, we saw her, we thought she was okay, but it turned out she passed away by that point.” — Joe Frost (37:22)
• On Everyday Heroes:
  • "[Tony Abbott] said, no worries, I’ll handle it [credit card]. As you said, he was one of the few people there in 2005 who had a mobile phone.” — Host (43:06)
• On Mental Health:
  • "Everything that happens to you shapes who you are...I had my struggles, but I also had support, and that’s, you know, isn’t that the best you can hope for?" — Joe Frost (48:36, 53:22)
• On Interviewing a Former Terrorist:
  • "He actually trained and taught the guys who set up the 2005 Bali bombing...telling me how guilty and awful he felt about what he’d done." — Joe Frost (56:42)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Public Memory and Forgotten Bombs: 01:25–03:05
• Pre-trip and Holiday Group Dynamics: 04:15–06:46
• Describing Jimbaran Bay: 08:06–09:41
• Moments Before Bombings & Initial Blast: 10:36–19:12
• Aftermath, Searching for Loved Ones: 22:18–27:07
• Reflecting on Global Trauma: 27:07–27:45
• Medical, Emotional Response, Misinformation: 31:37–40:29
• Broader Terrorism Context, Tony Abbott’s Involvement: 42:31–44:54
• Returning to Bali, Trauma and Recovery: 45:16–50:15
• Mental Health, Therapy, and Resilience: 48:08–53:22
• Interview with Nasir Abbas/Jemaah Islamiyah: 54:09–57:47

Tone and Delivery

Heartfelt, frank, at times darkly humorous and always authentic. Joe Frost delivers vivid, self-deprecating recollections, underscoring both the banality and horror of trauma. The host, Meshel Laurie, is empathetic, probing, and openly emotional, emphasizing compassion while maintaining focus on both personal and broader sociopolitical impacts.

Takeaway

Joe Frost’s account and his podcast "Forgotten Bombs" shed much-needed light on the shadowed legacy of the 2005 Bali bombings—the ongoing impact on survivors, failures of memory and commemoration, the complexity of trauma, and the continued relevance of asking who is included or forgotten in our stories of tragedy and survival.

For deeper perspectives and survivor voices, listen to the "Forgotten Bombs: Bali 2005" podcast.