When the Thing You Resist Becomes Exactly What You Need

There are moments we almost walk away from.

The quiet no. The hesitation. The resistance we trust without questioning. And yet… sometimes those are the very moments that hold something we didn’t realise we needed.

In this episode, we step into one of those almost-no’s and what unfolded is not just a reflection on that time, but an exploration of the subtle shifts that occur when we step outside of routine, into nature, and back into ourselves. For more information on today's adventure or to book your place in our upcoming retreat visit www.ifthesetreescouldtalk.com.au.

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Shannon speaks with writer, poet and advocate Kat Mackay about surviving grooming, sexual assault, and the long journey of healing after trauma.

Kat lives with Dissociative Identity Disorder and throughout the episode refers to themselves using “we” and “us.” This reflects the way their internal system experiences and expresses identity, and we invite listeners to approach this with curiosity, respect and understanding.

Kat shares how childhood isolation and a lack of safety at home led them to seek belonging through childhood interest based spaces. While some mentors offered genuine support and guidance, one ultimately misused that position of trust — introducing Kat to a prominent public figure who groomed and sexually assaulted them.

Together, Shannon and Kat explore the hidden dynamics of grooming, the impact trauma can have on identity and relationships, and what it means to reclaim agency, voice, and safety after abuse.

The Dismantling of an International Sex Trafficking Network

This episode begins in Cairns, Queensland, and follows the international child exploitation case involving Peter Truong and Mark Newton. From encrypted hard drives to coordinated cross-border law enforcement, this is the story of how a global trafficking network was exposed and dismantled.

At a time when the handling of high-profile sex trafficking cases continues to raise public questions, this case offers a powerful contrast: what becomes possible when Victim Protection is the priority.

Trigger Warning: Contains discussion of child sexual abuse, grooming and trafficking. Support services and full episode references are available at ifthesetreescouldtalk.com.au

In this second and final part of our conversation, and the first episode of What Would They Say, Rob reflects on the life that followed those two days in 1977 and the quiet, complicated aftermath of surviving something so public and so traumatic.

He speaks about the years that came after the siege in Wooreen, Victoria, the lingering impact of being taken hostage by escaped gunman Edwin John Eastwood, and the responsibility he carried long after the headlines faded.

But this chapter is not defined by fear. It is about what Rob calls “Health after hurt” — the deliberate, ongoing work of healing, understanding trauma, and choosing growth over silence.

Now decades on, Rob shares how that experience shaped not only his life but his purpose, and how he supports others navigating their own trauma with empathy, steadiness, and hard-earned insight.

This episode is a story of resilience, perspective, and the profound influence one survivor can have when they decide their pain will not be the end of their story.

A Classroom Kidnapping in Rural Victoria.

In February 1977, Rob Hunter was just 20 years old and nine days into his first teaching role when an armed gunman entered his classroom at Wooreen, Victoria. Rob and nine students were taken hostage.

In part one of this two-episode conversation, Rob recounts the events of that day and the responsibility placed on him in an unfolding crisis.

Content note: This episode contains discussion of kidnapping and a firearm in a school setting.

Many men are taught how to be strong — but not how to be supported.

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Repacholi, Federal Member for the Hunter and Special Envoy for Men’s Health, for a deeply personal conversation about shame, responsibility, resilience, and vulnerability. Drawing on his own experiences and public role, Dan reflects on identity, pressure, and the quiet courage it takes to ask for help.

This is a conversation about rewriting old rules and learning how to stay connected — to yourself, and to the people who love you.

Words for the Year, Wildlife Encounters, Survival, Growth and Momentum

A new season of If These Trees Could Talk begins in the space between presence and momentum.

In this season-opening episode, we share our words for the year, introduce the evolving direction of the podcast, and welcome a new branch of storytelling.

Through Australian wildlife encounters, survival instincts, and the symbolism of the Chinese zodiac, we explore what we’re shedding — and what we’re ready to move toward.

For show notes, recommendations, adventure photo's and ... WHERE TO BUY A SNAKE BITE KIT (most important) head to:

https://www.ifthesetreescouldtalk.com.au/

This episode marks the Season 2 finale of If These Trees Could Talk — a pause at the end of a long, heavy, meaningful year. We’re reflecting on the places we’ve walked, the stories that found us, and the moments that changed how we see the world. Some of this year unfolded quietly, some of it hit hard, and not all of it came with neat answers, but every step left its mark.

This is also our thank you. To everyone who listened, shared, messaged, challenged us, or carried these stories alongside us; this only exists because you show up. This episode isn’t a highlight reel or a goodbye, just a moment to acknowledge the growth, the weight, and the connection that made this year what it was. We’re grateful you walked it with us.