In today's episode, I meet Ryan. 20 years ago, on Boxing Day, 2004, over a quarter of a million people were killed, across 14 countries in the Indian Ocean Tsunami. At 11am, when the Tsunami hit Krabbi in Thailand, Ryan was snorkelling in the sea.

Ryan will be telling his story of survival, of how a dream holiday with his girlfriend and his friends turned into his worst nightmare. We discuss what happened that day, and its aftermath. His experience of being treated in a Thai hospital which was overrun and how fellow holidaymakers and local communities kicked in to action to help.

He also tells me about the long term physical and mental effects of the Tsunami and the importance of getting help, along with what he’s learnt about people and how they can be the light in the darkest of times.

We talked about -

• A detailed description of what happened when the Tsunami hit and the immediate aftermath.
• The terrifying experience of losing his girlfriend and friend
• His injuries and the fight against bacteria that had never been seen before
• His experiences in an Thai hospital that was completely overrun, the language barrier and stories of the kindness of people
• Their decision to hire a speed boat rather than a long tail boat that saved lives.
• His unique journey to the Bangkok hospital
• The kindness of people and how people are mostly good
• The importance of seeking help and allowing yourself to be supported
• PTSD and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• How nature brings peace
• Survivors Guilt

Thanks to Ryan Kelly for sharing his story and Abi Kelly for making it happen.

Thanks to Jamie Moore and Bryher Williams for their input.

Location: NoStar Studios - https://nostars.uk

Please follow My Neighbour The Hero at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myneighbourthehero/

Twitter: https://x.com/myneighbourhero

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

If you know of any amazing everyday heroes who you think should appear on this podcast please email myneighbourthehero@gmail.com.

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this podcast features themes of death and graphic descriptions of injury.

#newpodcastalert #podcastseries #femalepodcasters #podcastinterviews #podcastcommunity #tsunami

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tyler is a Showman and the founder of Traveller Pride.

We discuss growing up on the fair and how he felt being bisexual in a community where being gay was seen as a bit of joke, and where reputation is your lifeblood.

How he managed to overcome his fears of bringing shame on the family, and being rejected by the community he loved, to embrace his sexuality and start the very first Traveller Pride.

We talked about -

• What it was like growing up on the fair and being different to others
• The Showmen Community, their beliefs and values and the importance of family and heritage
• Being a traveller in the LGBTQ community
• The pride of the Showmen community and the importance of appearance ‘the flash’
• Traveller education
• What it was like moving into a house for the first time after living in a trailer
• His experience of the Showmen community's views of the LGBTQ community
• Coming out
• Starting Traveller Pride
• The importance of LGBTQ visibility in Traveller communities
• Knowing yourself
• Cherry Valentine, the Romany Gypsy drag queen and what she did for LGBTQ travellers

Tyler works as a therapist and has his own private practice.

Follow Tyler on X/Twitter - https://x.com/tjhatwell

Follow Traveller Pride here:

Website - https://www.lgbttravellerpride.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/travellerpride/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lgbttravellerpride/

Follow Metro Charities here:

Website - https://metrocharity.org.uk

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/METROcharity/

Follow London Gypsies and Travellers here:

Website - https://www.londongypsiesandtravellers.org.uk

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/londongypsytraveller/

Thanks to Barney Addison, Bryher Williams, Felicity Papendieck and Sarah Powell for their input.

Please follow us at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myneighbourthehero/

Twitter: https://x.com/myneighbourhero

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

If you know of any amazing everyday heroes who you think should appear on this podcast please email myneighbourthehero@gmail.com.

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this podcast features themes of suicide.

#newpodcastalert #podcastseries #femalepodcasters #podcastlaunch #podcastinterviews

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode I meet Angela, who has been a nurse for over 40 years, and for 20 of those she has worked in a hospice.

This is the story of how she overcame her fear of death to work in a hospice and what she's learnt about death, regrets and what happens at the end. Angela tells us what can help the grieving process, and how you can use the knowledge of death to live a life where you won’t say ‘I wish I had’ at the end. And for those of you who wouldn't mind a few assurances about life after death (definitely me!) Angela tells us about the experiences she's had that could allude to an afterlife.

We talked about

• Working as a student nurse
• The deaths that began her fear of death
• The role of palliative nurses
• Active listening and communication
• What happens at the end
• What she’s seen that could allude to the Afterlife.
• How to live in the knowledge of death
• Living in the now
• How to avoid saying ‘I wish I had’ at the end.
• The guilt of the bereaved
• The kindness of people

Angela is the Lead Practice at Ellenor Hospice in Gravesend.

Follow Ellenor Hospice here: https://ellenor.org

Thanks to Basia Wilson at Ellenor Hospice.

Thanks to Bryher Williams, Sarah Powell and Jamie Moore for their input.

Please follow us at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myneighbourthehero/

Twitter: https://x.com/myneighbourhero

If you know of any amazing everyday heroes who you think should appear on this podcast please email myneighbourthehero@gmail.com.

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this podcast features themes of death.

#newpodcastalert #podcastseries #femalepodcasters #podcastlaunch #podcastinterviews

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.