Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide, mental health issues, grief and the loss of a parent and child to illness. If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised, help is always available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

Find more support services here: Need help? Support services and crisis helplines in Australia - The Australian Women's Weekly 

In 2009, Gavin Larkin sat his wife Maryanne and their closest friends down at the dinner table and told them about an idea he'd been carrying since his own father died by suicide years earlier. It was a simple question that could change everything: "Are you okay?" 

Allison "Ally" Langdon, a journalist and friend who was part of that conversation, knew instantly she had to help get the message out. What followed was R U OK? Day which has since grown into a national movement. But what followed was something that neither Ally nor Maryanne could have imagined. 

In this episode, Ally and Maryanne sit down with Tiffany Dunk to talk about the early, uncomfortable days of getting a newsroom to even say the word "suicide," what it actually looked like for Ally to show up for her friend in the hardest years of her life, and the quiet, everyday ways two women have held a friendship together, and a legacy alive, for close to two decades. 

Moments you'll hear: 
The dinner table conversation in 2009 that became R U OK? Day 
Why newsrooms wouldn't touch the word "suicide," and the pushback Ally got 
Maryanne on losing both Gavin and her eldest son Gus, and why moving into her late son's bedroom with her two younger kids helped them all grieve 
The small, practical ways Ally and their friend group showed up during the hardest years 
What it means to keep telling stories about someone you've lost 
Nearly 20 years on, what they still hope for each other 

Visit the R U OK? Day website here. 

Learn more about Ally and Maryanne's friendship in our exclusive interview here

Thank you for listening ❤️ 

Before you leave... 

🗣️ Get in touch 

What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at womensweekly.com.au 

Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au 

If you share your love story on social media please tag us, we're @womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories 

Subscribe to The Australian Women's Weekly at www.womensweekly.com.au 👈🏽 

Our special thanks to our partners at Vixin 

Vixin real results, simple skincare that's a little bit fancy: vixin.com.au 

Use the code LOVESTORIES for 30% off your order at Vixin now! 

Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes. 

You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency assistance to current Australian Defence Force members, veterans and their families by donating at: www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice 

Credits 

Host: Tiffany Dunk 

Edited by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace 

Production by Leah Porges 

Our wonderful The Australian Women's Weekly team 

Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain 

Learn More: The Australian Women's Weekly website. 

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide, mental health&nbsp;issues,&nbsp;grief&nbsp;and the loss of a parent and child to illness. If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised, help is always available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14.&nbsp;
Find more support services here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/health/support-services/">Need help? Support services and crisis helplines in Australia - The Australian Women's Weekly</a>&nbsp;
In 2009, Gavin Larkin sat his wife Maryanne and their closest friends down at the dinner table and told them about an idea he'd been carrying since his own father died by suicide years earlier. It was a simple question that could change everything: "Are you okay?"&nbsp;
Allison "Ally"&nbsp;Langdon, a&nbsp;journalist&nbsp;and&nbsp;friend who was part of that conversation, knew instantly she had to help get the message out. What followed was R U OK? Day&nbsp;which has since grown into a national movement. But what followed was something that neither Ally nor Maryanne could have&nbsp;imagined.&nbsp;
In this episode, Ally and Maryanne sit down with Tiffany Dunk to talk about the early, uncomfortable days of getting a newsroom to even say the word "suicide," what it actually looked like for Ally to show up for her friend in the hardest years of her life, and the quiet, everyday ways two women&nbsp;have&nbsp;held a friendship together,&nbsp;and a legacy alive,&nbsp;for close to two decades.&nbsp;
Moments&nbsp;you'll&nbsp;hear:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>The dinner table conversation in 2009 that became R&nbsp;U&nbsp;OK? Day&nbsp;</li>
<li>Why newsrooms&nbsp;wouldn't&nbsp;touch the word "suicide," and the pushback Ally got&nbsp;</li>
<li>Maryanne on&nbsp;losing both Gavin and&nbsp;her eldest son Gus, and why moving into&nbsp;her late son's bedroom with her two younger kids&nbsp;helped them all&nbsp;grieve&nbsp;</li>
<li>The small, practical ways Ally and their friend group showed up during the hardest years&nbsp;</li>
<li>What it means to keep telling stories about someone&nbsp;you've&nbsp;lost&nbsp;</li>
<li>Nearly 20&nbsp;years on, what they still hope for each other&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Visit the R&nbsp;U&nbsp;OK?&nbsp;Day website&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ruok.org.au/">here.</a>&nbsp;
Learn more about Ally and Maryanne's friendship in our exclusive interview <a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/ally-langdon-r-u-ok-day/">here</a>
Thank you for listening ❤️&nbsp;
Before you leave...&nbsp;
🗣️ Get in touch&nbsp;
What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at womensweekly.com.au&nbsp;
Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au">awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au</a>&nbsp;
If you share your love story on social media please tag us,&nbsp;we're&nbsp;@womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories&nbsp;
Subscribe to&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au">www.womensweekly.com.au</a>&nbsp;👈🏽&nbsp;
Our special thanks to our partners at&nbsp;Vixin&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.vixin.com.au/">Vixin</a>&nbsp;real results, simple skincare&nbsp;that's&nbsp;a little bit fancy:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vixin.com.au/">vixin.com.au</a>&nbsp;
Use the code LOVESTORIES for 30% off your order at&nbsp;Vixin&nbsp;now!&nbsp;
Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes.&nbsp;
You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;to current Australian&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Force members,&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;and their families by donating at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice">www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice</a>&nbsp;
Credits&nbsp;
Host: Tiffany Dunk&nbsp;
Edited by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace&nbsp;
Production by Leah Porges&nbsp;
Our wonderful&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;team&nbsp;
Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Learn More:&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/">website.</a>&nbsp;

What’s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps cliché romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women’s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

What&rsquo;s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps clich&eacute; romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women&rsquo;s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

Love Stories

In 2009, Ally Langdon sat at her friend Maryanne Larkin's dinner table while Maryanne's husband Gavin talked through an idea that would become R U OK? Day. Not long after, Maryanne lost both Gavin and their teenage son Gus to cancer, and Ally has been by her side ever since. They join Tiffany Dunk to talk about grief, friendship, and the importance of checking in. 