Tough Girl Podcast Tara J. Lal - Firefighter, mental health researcher, speaker and author of “Standing on my Brother's Shoulders”. Making Peace with Grief and Suicide. Cycling 5,000km across Australia.
Dec 13, 2022
39:19
Tara in her own words: “I don’t really think of myself as tough. I’ve always loved adventures. I did my first expedition when I was 18 and it ignited a passion. I am now a firefighter. I’ve represented Australia in my slightly crazy sport of surf boat rowing at the age of 47 and I cycled 5000 km’s unsupported across Australia in 2021, yet I often think that the toughest challenges of my life have not been physical. Rather it has been the journey to heal the relationship with myself after a traumatic childhood that has been the toughest challenge I have undertaken. Writing my book ‘Standing on my Brothers Shoulders – making peace with grief and suicide’ was a huge part of that journey. It challenged me in every way possible but was also one of my greatest teachers and proudest achievements. Although I am a physiotherapist and firefighter, my book led me to work in the field of mental health and wellbeing. I am now nearing the end of a PhD exploring the impact of suicide on firefighters. In 2017, I was a finalist in the Rotary Inspirational woman of the year awards and in January 2022, as part of the Australia Day Honours, I was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), which recognises distinguished service by an Australian Fire Service member for my work supporting suicide prevention and mental health of firefighters. I think life is an adventure and it can take many forms!” New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and pledge your support. Thank you. Show notes
- Who is Tara
- Her different jobs and interests
- Moving to Sydney in the mid 1990s
- Having a thirst for adventures
- Deciding to join Fire & Rescue in 2005
- Going on her own healing journey
- Losing her mother to cancer at 13
- Losing her brother to suicide at 17
- Struggling to deal with the loss
- Writing her life story down
- Moving into the mental health space
- In 2018 starting her PHD looking at the impact of suicide on firefighters
- Making the decision to move to Australia
- What it was like joining the fire service 17 years ago
- Having mixed memories and feeling the need to prove herself to the men
- Starting her healing journey in her early 30s and what it looked like
- Starting to have compassion for herself
- How the outdoors have helped with her recovery
- Going on an expedition to Zimbabwe in 1989 and how everything changed
- Realising that she could be happy again
- Deciding to cycle across Australia
- Cycling with Sarah Davis
- Cycling from the most Western point of Australia over to Byron Bay the most easterly point.
- Being head of communication for the expedition
- The challenges of cycling on the roads with the road-trains
- Fears and concerns before the challenge
- How her perceptions of risk and adventure have changed
- Is the risk too much?
- Why it was such a rewarding experience
- Raising money for Lifeline in Australia
- Adjusting back to normal life
- Raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention
- Finding the right people who can hear you
- The power of writing and journaling and getting your feelings out of your body
- Doing her PHD and how it came about
- Applying for a Churchill Fellowship
- Making a contribution to the world and making it a better place
- Wanting to write another book - with a focus on the underlying concepts of her PHD
- How we can use our experiences in live to grow and become better versions of ourself.
- Dealing with injury and not being able to any sports that she loves
- Letting go of the identify of being an athlete and a firefighter
- Needing to reflect inwards and spending time on meditation
- How you can connect with Tara
- Final words of advice - Stay curious, with compassion for yourself.
- “Be driven by your passions and not your fears”