Imagine you are a veteran of the military.

You are the epitome of an Aussie bloke. You love the outdoors and camping, but you ignore your mental health and drink to cope. 

Then one night you are so drunk you fall off a cliff, a real one. You fall 10 metres or 30 feet. You survive. 

This week Ben Aldridge talks to Peta about his life after the accident and his life now as a disabled man. 

Find out more about Ben: 

Website

Instagram

Facebook 

Youtube

 

Connect with Peta:

Instagram @petahooke

The website: www.icantstandpodcast.com

Email: icantstandpodcast@gmail.com

Episode Transcript

Imagine you are a veteran of the military.
You are the epitome of an Aussie bloke. You love the outdoors and camping, but you ignore your mental health and drink to cope.&nbsp;
Then one night you are so drunk you fall off a cliff, a real one. You fall 10 metres or 30 feet. You survive.&nbsp;
This week Ben Aldridge talks to Peta about his life after the accident and his life now as a disabled man.&nbsp;
Find out more about Ben:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.30footdrop.com.au">Website</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/30footdrop/">Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/30footdrop">Facebook&nbsp;</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOZoxZI6tC8k6-xK8xjk2MA">Youtube</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Peta:
Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/petahooke/">@petahooke</a>
The website:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.icantstandpodcast.com/">www.icantstandpodcast.com</a>
Email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:icantstandpodcast@gmail.com">icantstandpodcast@gmail.com</a>
<a href="https://www.icantstandpodcast.com/post/ben-aldridge-the-military-mental-health-and-living-with-my-disability">Episode Transcript</a>

Have you ever wondered what it is like to live with a disability? The I Can't Stand Podcast is for everyone who has a question or just wondered about disability. No questions are off-limits any question you have is allowed.

Every week Peta will answer any question you have, based on her experiences as a single, 30- something woman who has Cerebral Palsy. Have a question?

Ask Peta on Instagram, contact her via the website or send her an email via icantstandpodcast@gmail.com 

 

Have you ever wondered what it is like to live with a disability? The I Can't Stand Podcast is for everyone who has a question or just wondered about disability. No questions are off-limits any question you have is allowed.
Every week Peta will answer any question you have, based on her experiences as a single, 30- something woman who has Cerebral Palsy.&nbsp;Have a question?
Ask Peta on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/petahooke/">Instagram</a>, contact her via the <a href="https://www.icantstandpodcast.com">website </a>or send her an email via <a href="mailto:icantstandpodcast@gmail.com">icantstandpodcast@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Have you ever wondered what it is like to live with a disability? The I Can't Stand Podcast is for everyone who has a question or just wondered about disability.

The I Can't Stand Podcast

Have you ever wondered what it is like to live with a disability? The I Can't Stand Podcast is for everyone who has a question or just wondered about disability. No questions are off-limits any question you have is allowed.

Every week Peta will answer any question you have, based on her experiences as a single, 30- something woman who has Cerebral Palsy. Have a question?

Ask Peta on Instagram, contact her via the website or send her an email via icantstandpodcast@gmail.com

Ben Aldridge: The Military, Mental Health and Living With My Disability 🪖🩺🧑‍🦽

In this short episode, Peta shares a personal reflection on 2025, a year defined more by endurance than spark. She talks about living through ongoing illness and injury, the role of work and conversation in keeping her grounded, and the relationships that carried her through a difficult year.

Peta also explains a brief pause to the podcast as she undergoes gallbladder surgery, and shares her hopes for 2026, choosing the word steady over spark.

Thank you for listening, for your patience, and for being part of this community. The podcast will return soon.

In this short episode, Peta shares a personal reflection on 2025, a year defined more by endurance than spark. She talks about living through ongoing illness and injury, the role of work and conversation in keeping her grounded, and the relationships that carried her through a difficult year.
Peta also explains a brief pause to the podcast as she undergoes gallbladder surgery, and shares her hopes for 2026, choosing the word steady over spark.
Thank you for listening, for your patience, and for being part of this community. The podcast will return soon.

Reflections on 2025 and Hopes for 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/08bf443b-c657-45ba-833d-b3c800566052/transcript

This is a short Christmas message to say thank you for listening to The I Can’t Stand Podcast this year. The show will be taking a brief break over the holidays and will return on Tuesday the sixth of January.

If you’d like to give the podcast a little Christmas present, a rating or review would mean so much. It helps new listeners find the show and supports the work that goes into each episode.

To rate and review:
• Open the podcast in Apple Podcasts
• Scroll down to the Ratings and Reviews section
• Tap the stars to leave a rating
• Tap “Write a Review” if you’d like to share a few words

Thank you again for your support. Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

This is a short Christmas message to say thank you for listening to The I Can&rsquo;t Stand Podcast this year. The show will be taking a brief break over the holidays and will return on Tuesday the sixth of January.
If you&rsquo;d like to give the podcast a little Christmas present, a rating or review would mean so much. It helps new listeners find the show and supports the work that goes into each episode.
To rate and review: &bull; Open the podcast in Apple Podcasts &bull; Scroll down to the Ratings and Reviews section &bull; Tap the stars to leave a rating &bull; Tap &ldquo;Write a Review&rdquo; if you&rsquo;d like to share a few words
Thank you again for your support. Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Thank you and Merry Christmas - A message from Peta

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/85f213cd-543c-4247-9288-b3a70071b810/transcript

The Day Sight Loss Changed Everything

Navigating Mental Health and Identity

Social Media Strategy and Accessibility

The Beauty of Being Blind: Eita London

IVF Journey and Disability Discrimination

Lucy Edwards is a broadcaster, journalist, and one of the most recognisable blind content creators in the world. In this episode, she opens up about losing her sight at 17, building a career online, and why she proudly says, “I love being blind now.”

We talk about the grief of going blind, how she found confidence through storytelling, and her latest venture: launching the accessible beauty brand Etia London. Lucy also shares her IVF journey and the decision to screen for the gene that caused her blindness—a deeply personal and nuanced choice.

This is a powerful conversation about disability, identity, and what it means to take control of your narrative.

Connect with Lucy Edwards

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lucyedwards

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucyedwardsofficial/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucyedwardsofficial

Website: https://www.lucyedwards.com/about

Book: https://blindnotbroken.cmpgn.page/LGZ6f6

Makeup brand: https://etialondon.com

 

Connect with Peta Hooke
Instagram: @petahooke
Website: www.icantstandpodcast.com
Email: icantstandpodcast@gmail.com

Episode Transcript:
www.icantstandpodcast.com

Lucy Edwards is a broadcaster, journalist, and one of the most recognisable blind content creators in the world. In this episode, she opens up about losing her sight at 17, building a career online, and why she proudly says, &ldquo;I love being blind now.&rdquo;
We talk about the grief of going blind, how she found confidence through storytelling, and her latest venture: launching the accessible beauty brand Etia London. Lucy also shares her IVF journey and the decision to screen for the gene that caused her blindness&mdash;a deeply personal and nuanced choice.
This is a powerful conversation about disability, identity, and what it means to take control of your narrative.
Connect with Lucy Edwards
Tiktok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lucyedwards">https://www.tiktok.com/@lucyedwards</a>
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucyedwardsofficial/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/lucyedwardsofficial/?hl=en</a>
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lucyedwardsofficial">https://www.facebook.com/lucyedwardsofficial</a>
Website: <a href="https://www.lucyedwards.com/about">https://www.lucyedwards.com/about</a>
Book: <a href="https://blindnotbroken.cmpgn.page/LGZ6f6">https://blindnotbroken.cmpgn.page/LGZ6f6</a>
Makeup brand: <a href="https://etialondon.com">https://etialondon.com</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Peta Hooke Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/petahooke" data-start="1672" data-end="1721">@petahooke</a> Website: <a href="https://www.icantstandpodcast.com/" data-start="1733" data-end="1795">www.icantstandpodcast.com</a> Email: <a data-start="1805" data-end="1832">icantstandpodcast@gmail.com</a>
Episode Transcript: <a href="https://www.icantstandpodcast.com/" data-start="1862" data-end="1924">www.icantstandpodcast.com</a>

Redefining Blindness: Lucy Edwards on Disability, Beauty, and IVF

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/83e0997f-1e57-4088-9137-b3a6017e9417/transcript

Ben Aldridge: The Military, Mental Health and Living With My Disability 🪖🩺🧑‍🦽

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