Australia’s outback is world-renowned for it’s beauty, it’s uniqueness and it’s people. But what often isn’t spoken about is the sheer isolation living in these remote communities.

My guest on this episode is a man who has lived at the extremes — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Brendan Cullen has lived his life on the land. He’s navigated childhood trauma, isolation, depression and alcohol dependency - and come out the other side a better person and a better father.

In this conversation, Brendan opens up about the moment things caught up with him - when the mental load eventually became too heavy to carry alone and he could no longer wear the mask. He talks about the reality of living with depression, the brutal isolation of the rural Australia, and what it took to finally ask for help. He also talks about finally finding purpose, and how he managed to train to swim the English Channel in the middle of the outback.

It’s a candid yet important look at mental health, particularly in rural communities where silence and self-reliance are often the status quo. Brendan stands as a beacon of resilience forged the hard way, and proof asking for help can make a real difference.

SUPPORT:If this episode raises concerns for yourself or a loved one, help is available:

Lifeline - 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Rural Health Connect - https://ruralhealthconnect.com.au/

LINKS

Brendan's book 'The Desert Swimmer' is available now
Read more about Brendan here
Follow Brendan on Instagram
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