Nic Newling had what you’d call a pretty normal, even idyllic, childhood. But life took a dark and terrible turn for him when he started to avoid situations and the people around him at the age of 15.

A top-performing scholarship student, Nic suddenly plummeted into mental illness and deep shame …. and things got a whole lot worse before they got better. 

In this episode of Human Cogs, hosts Sabina Read and Madeleine Grummet explore Nic’s story and journey into the darkness and horror of mental illness, and then out into the light again as he learns to live with himself, his complex mind, and navigate the ripple effects his illness has on his life and the people he loves. 

This is a remarkable story of one family’s survival in the face of unimaginable loss, and important listening for all of us, so we can better understand the lived human experience of mental illness.

Nic has featured on Australian Story (The Fault In Our Stars), The TODAY Show in New York, Huffington Post, the documentary 'Suicide: The Ripple Effect', and his mother's Human Rights Award winning memoir ‘Missing Christopher’. He is also an ambassador for Movember, Australia Day, R U OK? Day, and the Australian Mental Health Prize.

Nic now calls Sydney and New York home and has touched the lives of millions of people around the world as an in-demand keynote speaker and advocate for mental health, suicide prevention, and sharing our personal stories.

Guest: Nic Newling 
Websites: thechampions.org + nicnewling.com

Hosts: Sabina Read and Madeleine Grummet
Producer: Daryl Missen at Purple Wax

Human Cogs is available on Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts or via our website.

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