In this episode, Mike ‘Legless’ Rolls & Ben ‘Blind’ Pettingill walk their talk, asking one another how they are really going as they navigate every day life. From business to new babies, the fellas chat and catch up openly and honestly.

Talkin Tough is a podcast proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity committed to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention.

If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. You can also try the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or TIACS on 0488 846 988.

To learn more about Talkin Tough and access transcripts visit - https://www.talkintough.com/

Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/

Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/

Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/

Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge.

After a successful 11 episode Season One of Talkin Tough in 2023, the fellas are back! Mike & Ben are picking the podcast microphones back up and sharing how they and their guests are challenging what it means to be tough by talkin through the tough stuff. 2024 was a huge year for both of these guys; they each welcomed daughters in to their families, they spent a ridiculous amount of time on the road facilitating mental health community tours on behalf of Ski For Life and they, as always, navigated the challenges that come with being a double amputee and blind. Enjoy Episode 1 of Season 2 where the fellas talk through all of this and more.

Talkin Tough is a podcast proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity committed to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention.

If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. You can also try the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or TIACS on 0488 846 988.

To learn more about Talkin Tough and access transcripts visit - https://www.talkintough.com/

Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/

Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/

Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/

Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge.

As the first year of Talkin Tough comes to a close the boys sit down to reflect on where and why it all started and what we have learned along the way. Join them as they take a look back at   the incredible conversations they have had, acknowledge the rawness and relatability that the everyday legends shared with us and unpack some of the words of wisdom we can all take away. The mission was to redefine what it means to be tough. With the help of the stories that we have heard, they have settled on the new definition of tough and they believe it now needs to be updated in the dictionary!  

Talkin Tough is a podcast proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity committed to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention.

If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/

To learn more about Talkin Tough and access transcripts visit - https://www.talkintough.com/

Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/

Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/

Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/

Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I lost my first good mate at 18 to suicide.... There’s been seven all up now, suicides... all of them close mates."

'Tully’ tears into the studio from outback New South Wales and has a chat with Mike and Ben about riding the rollercoaster of life and his connection to suicide. Staying in check with his own mental health has been huge for him since the start of adulthood when he lost his close mate to suicide and unfortunately has lost many more mates since then to the same beast. A genuine knock around bloke that simply believes blokes are better off 'talkin’.

Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/9rAbjTJCEN8

Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website - https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/john-tully

Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/

Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/

Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/

Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I remember going back to school and I remember sitting there, looking at everyone, and going ‘why has this happened to me?” Life is easy for these people. Who have I pissed off? Why is my life so bloody hard.”

A mate of the boys this week rolls in for a few yarns about life.Stu Foy had to grow up quick as an only child, from fighting the frontline of the black Saturday bushfires at 13 years old, then losing his mum not long after.

Stu chats about his tough exterior and how deep down he in fact does have feelings even though he would rather hide them most of the time. Together the boys unpack his ‘just get on with it’ attitude and how sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn’t.

Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/8fSvAWk8Fwg

Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website - https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/stuart-foy

Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/

Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/

Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/

Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I just had these walls up, these really big walls, relationships with people were challenging for me and I just knew they should have been better”

Tiff made the call to jump into the boxing ring and start fighting! She loved it but she didn’t realise at the time, that decision and her love of copping a whack to the chin was closely connected to numbing a whole heap of pain from the past.T

iff Cooke is tough in a lot of ways but she also lives what we are all about on Talkin Tough as she talks openly and honestly about it.

Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/ 

If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 

Watch this episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgeZmhZ5GwI 

Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website - https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/tiff-cooke

Listen to Tiff’s Podcast, Roll With The Punches - https://open.spotify.com/show/5lCP39hESkTVaXPwG4ECHu?si=497994a60c&nd=1 

Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/

Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/

Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honor the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Everyone asked me 'How’s things?', 'Yeah I’m good' when really, I wasn’t.”

Tradie, cancer survivor and athlete,Josh Robson joins Mike & Ben behind the mic this episode to share how his version of tough was rocked by a sudden diagnosis of testicular cancer. Now he likes to go by ‘Robbie One Nut’ and that self appointed nickname alone,says a lot about this blokes mindset. Josh shares with us some of his highest highs, lowest lows and the things that helped get him through it all.

Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/3OHLA6erfys

Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website - https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/josh-robson

Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/

Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/

Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/

Check out the Ski For Life website - https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. Theyrecognise& honor the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“That was the lowest moment in my life, I’m in a much better headspace now to look after myself and I’m the happiest version of myself that I could ever be. But, I still have those thoughts.”

This episode, the fellas chat with mental health advocate, Mick Donehue.The thing about Mick is he is your typical country bloke who grew up with a solid family, plenty of mates, loved playing footy and living life to the fullest or at least that’s how he made it seemed to everyone else. Mick takes us to the depths of his most challenging times in life and walks us through how he manages his depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts on a daily basis and despite these still being a constant battle he reckons he is the happiest he has ever been.

Talkin Tough is proudly brought to you by Ski For Life, an Australian charity dedicated to promoting mental health, wellbeing & suicide prevention. You can find out more at https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

If this Talkin Tough episode has struck a chord with you and you could do with some extra support, please reach out to a trusted mate or professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/vGdLMfzG_tY

Read this episode transcript on the Talkin Tough website  https://www.talkintough.com/episodes/mick-donehue

Follow the Talkin Tough Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/talkintoughpodcast/

Follow Legless & Blind on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legless_and_blind/

Follow Ski For Life Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/skiforlife.aus/

Check out the Ski For Life website-https://www.skiforlife.com.au/

The Talkin Tough team wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which this podcast is developed, recorded & listened to. They recognise & honour the rich cultural heritage, deep connection to Country and that First Nations Peoples were first in language, first in story telling & first in sharing knowledge.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.