What happens after the worst day of your life? 

This week on You're Gonna Want To Hear This, Marie Claire Australia editor Georgie McCourt speaks with bestselling Australian author Hannah Richell, whose powerful new memoir, An Ocean and a Day, revisits the sudden death of her husband, Matt Richell, and the journey that followed. After years of writing acclaimed novels, Hannah is telling her own story for the first time. 

In 2014, Matt drowned in a surfing accident at Sydney's Tamarama Beach, leaving Hannah widowed with two young children. For years, she focused on raising her family, continuing her writing career, and rebuilding a life that had been shattered. But privately, she was also documenting the reality of grief as she lived it. 

Now, twelve years later, those pages have become An Ocean and a Day. In this deeply personal conversation, Hannah shares why she waited so long to write this memoir, what it was like to revisit the darkest chapter of her life, and how she's learned that moving forward doesn't mean leaving grief (or love) behind. 

If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call 000. For confidential 24/7 crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au. Support is also available through Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or at beyondblue.org.au. 

This episode covers:
The moment two police officers arrived at Hannah's door to tell her Matt had died in a surfing accident
Breaking the news to her young children and the hardest day of her life
Writing her first pages of grief just seven days after Matt's death
Falling in love with Matt after he "stole" her job in London, in the shadow of 9/11
The isolating, shame-tinged early days of widowhood and single parenthood
Living with unbearable yearning and rebuilding a sense of normalcy for her kids
Returning to Tamarama Beach to piece together what happened, and meeting the fisherman who witnessed it
The freak accident that took Matt's life, explained in full
What her children have taught her about grief, laughter, and resilience
Leaving their Sydney home two years on, and her son's words while scattering Matt's ashes: "Daddy, be free"
Navigating loneliness, dating, and desire again after loss
Finding new love and remarrying, and blending two families
Her reflections on acceptance, carrying grief as an honor, and the message she hopes readers take from her memoir: love stays, even after loss

Stay up to date with Marie Claire Australia on Instagram  

🎧 Listen to You're Gonna Want to Hear This and follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify  

👀 Watch and subscribe to You're Gonna Want to Hear This on YouTube 📺 for full episodes and clips.  

Credits:   

Host Georgie McCourt   

Edited by Helen Smith 

Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain 

With thanks to our amazing team at Marie Claire  

You're Gonna Want to Hear This is a production of Marie Claire and Are Media. 

What happens after the worst day of your life?&nbsp;
This week on You're&nbsp;Gonna&nbsp;Want&nbsp;To&nbsp;Hear This, Marie Claire Australia editor Georgie McCourt speaks with bestselling Australian author Hannah Richell, whose powerful new memoir, An Ocean and a Day, revisits the sudden death of her husband, Matt Richell, and the&nbsp;journey that followed. After years of&nbsp;writing&nbsp;acclaimed novels, Hannah is telling her own story for the first time.&nbsp;
In 2014, Matt drowned in a surfing accident at Sydney's&nbsp;Tamarama&nbsp;Beach, leaving Hannah widowed with two young children. For years, she focused on raising her family, continuing her writing career, and rebuilding a life that had been shattered. But privately, she was also documenting the reality of grief as she&nbsp;lived&nbsp;it.&nbsp;
Now, twelve&nbsp;years later, those pages have become&nbsp;An Ocean&nbsp;and&nbsp;a Day. In this deeply personal conversation, Hannah shares why she waited so long to write this memoir, what it was like to revisit the darkest chapter of her life, and how&nbsp;she's&nbsp;learned that moving forward&nbsp;doesn't&nbsp;mean leaving grief&nbsp;(or love)&nbsp;behind.&nbsp;
If&nbsp;you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call 000.&nbsp;For confidential 24/7 crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au. Support is also available through Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or at beyondblue.org.au.&nbsp;
This episode covers:
<ul>
<li>The moment two police officers arrived at Hannah's door to tell her Matt had died in a surfing accident</li>
<li>Breaking the news to her young children and the hardest day of her life</li>
<li>Writing her first pages of grief just seven days after Matt's death</li>
<li>Falling in love with Matt after he "stole" her job in London, in the shadow of 9/11</li>
<li>The isolating, shame-tinged early days of widowhood and single parenthood</li>
<li>Living with unbearable yearning and rebuilding a sense of normalcy for her kids</li>
<li>Returning to Tamarama Beach to piece together what happened, and meeting the fisherman who witnessed it</li>
<li>The freak accident that took Matt's life, explained in full</li>
<li>What her children have taught her about grief, laughter, and resilience</li>
<li>Leaving their Sydney home two years on, and her son's words while scattering Matt's ashes: "Daddy, be free"</li>
<li>Navigating loneliness, dating, and desire again after loss</li>
<li>Finding new love and remarrying, and blending two families</li>
<li>Her reflections on acceptance, carrying grief as an honor, and the message she hopes readers take from her memoir: love stays, even after loss</li>
</ul>
Stay up to date with Marie Claire Australia on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/marieclaireau">Instagram</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
🎧 Listen to&nbsp;You're&nbsp;Gonna&nbsp;Want to Hear This and follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/youre-gonna-want-to-hear-this/id1849312864">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2Vsxq2nZIMJLnywOXfuxqZ?si=bb7ec5eac4184752">Spotify</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
👀 Watch and subscribe to You're&nbsp;Gonna&nbsp;Want to Hear This on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/marieclaire">YouTube</a> 📺 for full episodes and clips.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Host&nbsp;Georgie McCourt&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Edited by&nbsp;Helen Smith&nbsp;
Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
With thanks to our amazing team at Marie Claire&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.marieclaire.com.au/life/youre-gonna-want-to-hear-this-podcast/">You're Gonna Want to Hear This</a>&nbsp;is a production of Marie Claire and Are Media.&nbsp;

Who’s on your celebrity fantasy dinner party list? Marie Claire have got access to the biggest celebrities and fascinating favourite people you love.  With unique pairings, the type of conversations where fun and frankness is always in style. Trust us…you’re gonna want to hear this! 

Who&rsquo;s on your celebrity fantasy dinner party list? Marie Claire have got access to the biggest celebrities and fascinating favourite people you love. &nbsp;With unique pairings, the type of conversations where fun and frankness is always in style. Trust us&hellip;you&rsquo;re gonna want to hear this!&nbsp;

You’re Gonna Want To Hear This

Bestselling author Hannah Richell joins You're Gonna Want To Hear This to discuss her first memoir, An Ocean and a Day, written over a decade after the sudden death of her husband, Matt Richell. Hannah reflects on grief, motherhood, rebuilding her life, and why she finally felt ready to tell her own story after years of writing fiction. 

Hannah Richell on Surviving the Worst Day of Her Life & Finding Love Again

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/bb5058e5-224e-4953-8a20-b48800717127/transcript