Content Warning:

This episode discusses suicide and suicide prevention.
Listener discretion is advised.

In this ep Mark chats with Dr Nikki Jameson—social worker, suicidologist, and founder of Moral Injury Australia—to unpack how a mother’s loss of her son Daniel to suicide ignited a national push for reform, shaped a Royal Commission, and gave people a new way to understand suffering that doesn’t fit neatly under PTSD.

Nikki shares Daniel’s story—his loyalty, humour, and service—and the different weight of suicide grief. From there, we explore what moral injury is: the enduring psychological and spiritual harm that follows a violation of one’s core values or moral code, whether from orders that feel wrong, systemic betrayal, or a moment where you couldn’t act. We talk about how treatment approaches based on compassion, forgiveness, meaning-making, and body-based practices like breathwork, movement, and even laughter can help people heal. We also tackle misconceptions about suicide, the difference between ideation and intent, and why belonging and reasons to live are powerful protective factors.

This is a story of systems and change. Nikki walks us through key Royal Commission recommendations, including the explicit call to prevent and treat moral injury, and explains why families and cross-agency coordination are vital.

If you work in defence, health, education, justice, or any role where hard choices meet human values, this conversation offers language, tools, and hope.

If this conversation resonated with you, please share it with a friend or colleague, and subscribe for more thoughtful insights on mental health and suicide prevention, and leave a review so others can find the show. Your voice helps this message reach the people who need it most.

Thanks for listening.

To follow the work Nikki is doing:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-nikki-jamieson-658835154/

https://moralinjuryaustralia.com.au/

For more info head to: www.thelaughterclinic.com.au

"If you or someone you know needs support, please contact one of these Australian mental health services. In an emergency, always call 000."

Lifeline Australia
Phone: 13 11 14 (24/7)
Web: lifeline.org.au

Suicide Call Back Service
Phone: 1300 659 467 (24/7)
Web: suicidecallbackservice.org.au

Beyond Blue
Phone: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)
Web: beyondblue.org.au

Kids Helpline (for people aged 5-25)
Phone: 1800 55 1800 (24/7)
Web: kidshelpline.com.au

MensLine Australia
Phone: 1300 78 99 78 (24/7)
Web: mensline.org.au

SANE Australia (complex mental health issues)
Phone: 1800 18 7263 (10am-10pm AEST, Mon-Fri)
Web: sane.org

QLife (LGBTIQ+ support)
Phone: 1800 184 527 (3pm-midnight AEST)
Web: qlife.org.au

Open Arms (Veterans & Families Counselling)
Phone: 1800 011 046 (24/7)
Web: openarms.gov.au

1800RESPECT (sexual assault, domestic violence)
Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7)
Web: 1800respect.org.au

Headspace (youth mental health, ages 12-25)
Phone: 1800 650 890 (9am-1am AEST)
Web: headspace.org.au

13YARN (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support)
Phone: 13 92 76 (13YARN) (24/7)
Web: 13yarn.org.au

Music produced by Hayden Smith
https://www.haydensmith.com/

A good joke can change a room; the right night can change a town. That’s the pulse of this conversation with Ellen Briggs—mother of twins, touring comedian, and co-creator of the hit show Women Like Us.

We chat about the craft behind creating an “alive silence,” and the hidden workings of a sustainable comedy career that doesn’t rely on festivals or TV appearances.

Ellen walks us through a decade of building shows that bring people together across Australia. There are stories that land hard about drought-stricken audiences using a comedy show to reconnect with neighbours after months, a woman turning to humour days after a traumatic home invasion, and the way post-show chats open doors to conversations about domestic violence, anxiety, and suicide risk in remote communities. The theme is constant: laughter creates connection; and connection is vital for our well-being.

If you’ve ever wondered how stand-up intersects with mental health, why small towns pack out big halls, or what it takes to craft a life in the arts, you’ll find something here to hold onto.

Like the episode, share with a friend, and leave a review to help more curious minds find us.

Follow Ellen:
Instagram: @ellenbriggs
Facebook: Ellen Briggs
Website: www.ellenbriggs.com

For more info head to: www.thelaughterclinic.com.au

"If you or someone you know needs support, please contact one of these Australian mental health services. In an emergency, always call 000."

Lifeline Australia
Phone: 13 11 14 (24/7)
Web: lifeline.org.au

Suicide Call Back Service
Phone: 1300 659 467 (24/7)
Web: suicidecallbackservice.org.au

Beyond Blue
Phone: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)
Web: beyondblue.org.au

Kids Helpline (for people aged 5-25)
Phone: 1800 55 1800 (24/7)
Web: kidshelpline.com.au

MensLine Australia
Phone: 1300 78 99 78 (24/7)
Web: mensline.org.au

SANE Australia (complex mental health issues)
Phone: 1800 18 7263 (10am-10pm AEST, Mon-Fri)
Web: sane.org

QLife (LGBTIQ+ support)
Phone: 1800 184 527 (3pm-midnight AEST)
Web: qlife.org.au

Open Arms (Veterans & Families Counselling)
Phone: 1800 011 046 (24/7)
Web: openarms.gov.au

1800RESPECT (sexual assault, domestic violence)
Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7)
Web: 1800respect.org.au

Headspace (youth mental health, ages 12-25)
Phone: 1800 650 890 (9am-1am AEST)
Web: headspace.org.au

13YARN (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support)
Phone: 13 92 76 (13YARN) (24/7)
Web: 13yarn.org.au

Music produced by Hayden Smith
https://www.haydensmith.com/

In this ep I catch up with Ivan Aristiguieta, award winning stand-up comedian, writer, and now he's just added acting to his already impressive CV.

Originally from Venezuela, Ivan now proudly calls Australia home, and the audiences have been returning the love all around the country.

Ivan talks about walking the famous Camino De Santiago, a brutal, beautiful route that ends with the important reminder: we’re all on borrowed time. From there, we peel back common myths about comedians and talk about the quiet, analytical work that turns life into laughs. Becoming an Australian citizen for example is one of his favorite topics to talk about.

Our conversation moves effortlessly through social health and community—rural green rooms stocked with homemade biscuits, and the power of shy patrons who brave the outside world for an hour of joy. Finally, Ivan shares lessons from his acting debut in the dark comedy 'Yesterday Island'.

Ivan is a lovely guy, a great comic, and he has some wonderful insights into the inner workings of a professional comedian. Honestly we could of kept going for another 2 hours, needless to say, he'll be back...

As always, thanks for listening my friends, be kind to yourself, and be kind to those around you.

Contact Ivan here : https://ivancomedy.com.au/

Follow on Instagram: @ivancomedy

Yesterday Island Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mj7sY1BfnU

For more info head to: www.thelaughterclinic.com.au

"If you or someone you know needs support, please contact one of these Australian mental health services. In an emergency, always call 000."

Lifeline Australia
Phone: 13 11 14 (24/7)
Web: lifeline.org.au

Suicide Call Back Service
Phone: 1300 659 467 (24/7)
Web: suicidecallbackservice.org.au

Beyond Blue
Phone: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)
Web: beyondblue.org.au

Kids Helpline (for people aged 5-25)
Phone: 1800 55 1800 (24/7)
Web: kidshelpline.com.au

MensLine Australia
Phone: 1300 78 99 78 (24/7)
Web: mensline.org.au

SANE Australia (complex mental health issues)
Phone: 1800 18 7263 (10am-10pm AEST, Mon-Fri)
Web: sane.org

QLife (LGBTIQ+ support)
Phone: 1800 184 527 (3pm-midnight AEST)
Web: qlife.org.au

Open Arms (Veterans & Families Counselling)
Phone: 1800 011 046 (24/7)
Web: openarms.gov.au

1800RESPECT (sexual assault, domestic violence)
Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7)
Web: 1800respect.org.au

Headspace (youth mental health, ages 12-25)
Phone: 1800 650 890 (9am-1am AEST)
Web: headspace.org.au

13YARN (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support)
Phone: 13 92 76 (13YARN) (24/7)
Web: 13yarn.org.au

Music produced by Hayden Smith
https://www.haydensmith.com/