How I Survived

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Tracy Hall Fell in Love With a Con Man. Then He Stole $317,000 Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

What happens when the person you loved, the person you trusted with your future, wasn’t who they said they were? And ends up stealing your life savings.

A special bonus series for How I Survived listeners!

We’re bringing you some of the best stories of survival from Marie Claire's podcast, You’re Gonna Want To Hear This. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/youre-gonna-want-to-hear-this/id1849312864

From extraordinary stories of survival and resilience to raw, intimate conversations about style, substance and the moments that change us, these are the stories you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished listening.

If you love How I Survived, you’re gonna to want to hear this.

And if you like what you hear, head over to You’re Gonna Want To Hear This wherever you listen to or watch your podcasts. Find, follow, subscribe or hit the + on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube, and you’ll get a brand-new episode in your feed every Thursday morning.

Marie Claire Australia Editor Georgie McCourt sits down with author, advocate and marketing executive Tracy Hall, whose extraordinary story became known through the hit investigative podcast Who the Hell Is Hamish? Tracy was Hamish McLaren’s final known victim, after an 18-month relationship, she discovered that the man she knew as Max Tavita was in fact one of Australia’s most notorious con men. He had stolen $317,000 of her life savings.

Now, years after her story first captivated listeners, Tracy joins Georgie to tell the story in her own words. From falling in love with a man who appeared to share her values and ambitions, to discovering that almost everything she knew about him was a lie.

Tracy takes us inside the sophisticated manipulation that kept her from seeing what was happening, including the slow-building relationship, the carefully manufactured similarities, future promises and conversations about money that ultimately led to her investing her savings. She explains why romance scams aren’t about intelligence or naivety, why anyone can be vulnerable to manipulation, and why the shame should belong with the perpetrator, not the victim.

She also talks about The Last Victim, her memoir about the experience, and the work she is now doing to advocate for safer online dating, financial empowerment and a different way of talking about victims of scams. She explains why she believes dating apps need stronger identity verification, what happened when she discovered Hamish had appeared on a dating app again, and why she wants better safeguards in place before her own daughter enters the world of online dating.

And in one of the most timely parts of the conversation, Tracy explores the next generation of deception, AI scams, deepfakes and voice cloning and why “trust literacy” may become as important as financial and digital literacy.

This episode covers:

Tracy Hall’s role as Hamish McLaren’s last known victim
Her story as featured in Who the Hell Is Hamish?
Meeting Hamish, who she knew as Max Tavita, on a dating app
How an 18-month relationship was carefully constructed
The manipulation tactics and warning signs she missed
How $317,000 of her savings was stolen
Why intelligent, successful people can become victims of romance scams
The psychological impact of intimate fraud and betrayal
Rebuilding her confidence, identity and ability to trust
Becoming financially empowered after the scam
Writing The Last Victim
Victim blaming and the language we use around scams
Why dating apps need stronger safety measures
Hamish McLaren appearing on a dating app after his release
Dating again and learning to trust herself
“Trust literacy” and navigating deception in the digital age. AI scams, deepfakes and voice cloning
Why shame belongs with the perpetrator, not the victim

Stay up to date with Marie Claire Australia on Instagram @marieclaireau

🎧 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. https://www.youtube.com/marieclaire

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Lucy Hone: The Day My 12-Year-Old Daughter Died - and How I Survived It Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

How do you keep going after losing your child? Dr Lucy Hone lost her twelve-year-old daughter, Abi, in a tragic road accident. What followed was an extraordinary journey through grief, resilience and learning how to live again.

A special bonus series for How I Survived listeners!

If you love How I Survived, you’re gonna to want to hear this.

Now before 2014, today’s guest, Dr Lucy Hone, was a resilience psychologist studying how people cope with stress, uncertainty and change. She was immersed in the science of flourishing, working with schools, organisations and emergency response teams – and basically, helping others navigate unwanted disruption.

And then, on a bright morning in May 2014, her twelve-year-old daughter Abi was killed in a road accident. As a mother of an almost 12 year old daughter (and a 13 year old daughter), this feels excruciatingly heartbreaking to me. How do you actually get over something so unimaginably tragic? I honestly can’t imagine I ever could.

In an instant, everything Lucy understood about resilience stopped being theoretical. She needed to find a way to live with what she describes as “the difference between where your life is, and where you thought it would be.”

That experience reshaped her life - and her work.

Today, Lucy is an internationally recognised resilience expert, bestselling author and the voice behind one of the most watched TED Talks of recent years, Three Secrets of Resilient People. Her new book 'How Will I Ever Get Through This?' has just been published.

Lucy's message remains grounded and human: tough times are affected times are part of life - and with the right tools, we can all find our way through. Yes, we really can.

In this episode, we talk about the myths of grief - including why the five stages don’t tell the whole story. We unpack why grief can be so physically exhausting. We explore intrusive rumination, post-traumatic growth, and bravery that looks like simply getting up and showing up again the next day.

This is a conversation about loss. But it’s also a conversation about love, meaning and choosing life, even when it feels unbearable.

We talk about:

Why most people are more resilient than they think
The concept of oscillation - how you can live and grieve at the same time
The difference between toxic positivity and pragmatic hope
Post-traumatic growth (and why 60% of people experience it)
The quiet bravery of getting up again tomorrow

Thank you for listening ❤️

But 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 marie claire community and share your thoughts (link DM us on Instagram)

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Alexa Leary Was Told She’d Die - Now She’s a Gold Medallist Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

She was told she wouldn’t survive. Years later, she’s a Paralympic gold medallist. This is the extraordinary story of Alexa Leary.

A special bonus series for How I Survived listeners!

If you love How I Survived, you’re gonna to want to hear this.

Paralympic gold medallist Alexa Leary joins us for one of the most raw and powerful conversations we’ve ever had. At just 19, Alexa was involved in a catastrophic cycling accident that left her with a severe traumatic brain injury. Doctors told her family she wouldn’t survive. She lost her memory, had to relearn how to walk and talk, and now describes herself as living a “second life.”In this episode, Alexa opens up about the reality of brain injury - the emotional highs and lows, the loss of friendships, the struggle to regulate her behaviour, and the daily challenges most people never see.She shares what it felt like to be told she might die, what recovery really looked like behind hospital doors, and how she went from ICU to standing on the Paralympic podium.We also talk about her new book Sink or Swim, why she’s chosen to tell her story so honestly, and the message she wants every woman to hear.This is a story about resilience, identity, and what it truly means to start again.

In this episode, we cover:

The accident Alexa can’t remember - and the moment everything changed
Being told she wouldn’t survive
What it’s really like living with a traumatic brain injury
Losing friendships and rebuilding relationships
Emotional regulation, anger and recovery
From hospital bed to Paralympic gold
Why she says she’s living a “second life”
The truth behind her memoir Sink or Swim
Learning to love and accept herself again

Follow & Listen Don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robbed Of Her Childhood: Bek Condello On Escaping A Cult Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

What if leaving your faith meant losing everyone you'd ever loved?

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains themes of childhood abuse, physical punishment, sexual trauma and coercive control. 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.

A special bonus series for How I Survived listeners!

We’re bringing you some of the best stories of survival from Marie Claire's podcast, You’re Gonna Want To Hear This.

If you love How I Survived, you’re gonna to want to hear this.

What if leaving your faith meant losing everyone you'd ever loved?

This week on You're Gonna Want To Hear This, Marie Claire Australia Editor Georgie McCourt speaks with author Bek Condello about her extraordinary journey out of one of Australia's most controlling Pentecostal churches.

Raised inside the Geelong Revival Centre, Bek grew up believing the outside world was dangerous. Every aspect of life, from education and friendships to marriage and work was dictated by church leaders. Curiosity was discouraged, obedience was demanded, and fear shaped almost every decision.

In this deeply personal conversation, Bek reflects on the childhood she now recognises as abusive, the lasting impact of religious trauma and the heartbreaking reality that leaving meant losing her family, community and identity.

She also opens up about purity culture, consent, body shame, marrying to escape one form of control only to enter another, and the years it took to trust herself and build a life on her own terms.

Today, Bek has transformed unimaginable loss into purpose. As the state of Victoria investigates high-control religious groups, she explains why sharing her story has become about much more than personal healing... it's about helping others recognise coercion, reclaim their autonomy and know they're not alone.

This episode covers:

Growing up inside the Geelong Revival Centre

How high-control religions shape identity

Religious trauma and childhood abuse

The psychological impact of fear-based faith

Purity culture, consent and bodily autonomy

Escaping a controlling church

Rebuilding life after leaving a cult

Learning to trust yourself again

Why leaving is a process, not a single moment
Bek's advocacy for survivors of coercive religious groups

Can You Handle a Girl Like Me? by Bek Condello is available from mid-July.

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 Leah Porges

Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain

With thanks to our amazing team at Marie Claire

Learn More:

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephanie Browitt: “I Survived the Volcano. Half My Family Didn’t.” Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Could you survive a volcanic eruption? It's a question Stephanie Browitt never thought she'd have to answer. And yet in 2019, a volcanic eruption on New Zealand’s White Island changed Stephanie's life forever. At just 23, she suffered burns to 70 per cent of her body and lost her younger sister, Krystal, and her father, Paul, in the tragedy. Seven years later, she's written a book about it. Out Of The Ashes has just been published, co-written with her mother Marie.

A special bonus series for How I Survived listeners!

We’re bringing you some of the best stories of survival from Marie Claire's podcast, You’re Gonna Want To Hear This.

If you love How I Survived, you’re gonna to want to hear this.

In this episode of marie claire's podcast You’re Gonna Want To Hear This, Stephanie shares, in extraordinary detail, what it felt like to be caught in the eruption - the moment she heard the bang, the fight to stay conscious, and the thought that kept her alive - getting back to her mum.What you'll hear is a deeply moving conversation about survival, grief, and recovery. Stephanie speaks openly about the physical and emotional toll of her injuries, the long road back, and the moment she had to relearn how to see love again. Today, she is an advocate for body positivity and resilience, using her story to challenge perceptions of beauty, strength, and what it means to rebuild a life after unimaginable loss. This episode is confronting, powerful, and ultimately, a story about love.In this episode, we discuss:

The moment the White Island volcano erupted
The fight to stay conscious and survive
The loss of Stephanie’s father and sister
The role of her mother in her survival and recovery
The realities of burn recovery and rehabilitation
Body image, identity, and learning to live with scars
Grief, resilience, and rebuilding a life

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts
Follow You’re Gonna Want To Hear This for new episodes every week

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Day I Learned My Stepdad Was A Child Killer - Sherele Moody Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

What does it mean to put a name and a story to every woman and child lost to violence? For more than a decade, journalist and activist Sherele Moody has been documenting the lives behind the statistics, creating a record of Australia’s femicides through Australian Femicide Watch and the Red Heart Movement. But this isn’t just advocacy for Sherele, it’s very personal.

A special bonus series for How I Survived listeners!

We’re bringing you some of the best stories of survival from Marie Claire's podcast, You’re Gonna Want To Hear This.

If you love How I Survived, you’re gonna to want to hear this.

This week on You're Gonna Want To Hear This, Marie Claire Australia Editor Georgie McCourt is joined by Sherele Moody to share the story that changed her life - the moment she discovered her stepfather was responsible for the murder of two young girls. A revelation that would go on to shape her life’s work.

From a childhood marked by abuse and instability, to building one of the most significant databases of violence against women in Australia, Sherele speaks with unflinching honesty about trauma, survival, and the cost of speaking out.

She also unpacks the systemic failures that continue to put women at risk - and why the question isn’t why women stay, but why it remains so difficult to leave.

This episode covers:

The personal story behind Sherele’s activism
The reality of femicide in Australia - and what the numbers miss
Why domestic violence systems are failing women
The emotional toll of documenting over 3,000 deaths
How community, connection and action can drive change

If this conversation raises issues for you, support is available.

In Australia, contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline (13 11 14).

To find out more about Sherele's work, go to australianfemicidewatch.org

🎧 Listen now to You’re Gonna Want To Hear This 🎧

👀 Watch You’re Gonna Want to Hear This on YouTube 📺

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess Denham: The Story She Was Never Allowed To Tell Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

What if the person who was meant to protect you was the one you needed protection from? This is a story of survival, resilience and reclaiming your voice after years of being silenced. Jess also speaks publicly for the first time about living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), sharing what it's really like to live with a condition that is so often misunderstood.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains themes of childhood abuse and coercive control. 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.

A special bonus series for How I Survived listeners!

We’re bringing you some of the best stories of survival from Marie Claire's podcast, You’re Gonna Want To Hear This.

If you love How I Survived, you’re gonna to want to hear this.

This week on You're Gonna Want To Hear This, Marie Claire Australia Editor Georgie McCourt speaks with world champion runner Jess Denham, who is telling her story publicly after years of being unable to do so.

Raised in isolation and controlled by her parents, Jess appeared to be a sporting prodigy. But behind closed doors, she was enduring unimaginable abuse. Today, both of her parents are in prison for those crimes.

In this deeply personal conversation, Jess also shares why she's fighting for stronger protections for survivors and helping change the way Australia responds to sexual violence.

This episode covers:

Growing up as a homeschooled child prodigy under total parental control
Living a hidden double life as a champion runner while surviving abuse
Isolation as a tool of abuse and why escape felt impossible
Finding the courage to report abuse to police
Living with dissociative identity disorder (DID) and dismantling the stigma around it
How trauma shapes the brain and body in survival mode
Rebuilding trust, identity and community after a lifetime of betrayal
Healing through art and creative expression
The fight against victim-blaming and sensationalized media reporting
Advocating for stronger protection of survivors' counseling records
A message of hope for survivors: "you're not your worst chapter"

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlie Verco: He Paddled Towards The Shark To Save Her Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

When everyone else swam for shore, Charlie Verco paddled the other way: straight towards a great white shark. On a clear, busy Saturday morning at Coogee Beach in June 2026, the 25-year-old surf lifesaver and elite board paddler was training when a woman, Leah Stewart, was attacked just ahead of him. What he did next made headlines around the world.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains detailed descriptions of a shark attack and serious injury that some listeners may find distressing.

A special bonus series for How I Survived listeners!

We’re bringing you some of the best stories of survival from Marie Claire's podcast, You’re Gonna Want To Hear This.

If you love How I Survived, you’re gonna to want to hear this.

More on Charlie Verco's incredible story of courage:

Charlie grew up a North Bondi nipper and is now one of the country’s best ocean paddlers, the youngest ever winner of the Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard World Championships. In this conversation he walks Marie Claire Editor Georgie McCourt through the rescue minute by minute: reading the shark’s behaviour, the moment Leah was dragged under, towing her to shore one-armed when she lost consciousness, and the lifeguards and paramedics whose training saved her life on the sand.

It is a story about courage, but Charlie is uneasy with the word hero. He talks honestly about fear, adrenaline and imposter syndrome, how surf lifesaving and sport trained him to think under extreme stress, what a shark expert later told him, and why he is now urging two things: better shark safety on Australian beaches, and for people to donate blood.

In this conversation, Charlie Verco joins Marie Claire Editor Georgie McCourt to talk about the Coogee Beach shark attack, what it takes to act in a crisis, fear of the ocean, surf life saving, and why blood donation saves lives.

This episode covers:

The Coogee Beach great white shark attack: what Charlie Verco saw on Saturday 13 June 2026
Why he paddled towards the shark instead of swimming to safety
What it is like to come face to face with a great white shark
How surf lifesaving training and Ironman racing prepared him to act under extreme stress
Towing an unconscious woman to shore one-armed on a paddleboard
What a shark expert later told him about great white behaviour
The beach response: tourniquets, lifeguards and the teamwork that saved a life
Managing fear, adrenaline and the shakes after a traumatic rescue
Going back into the ocean: how Charlie feels about the water now
Shark safety in Australia: drones, detection and what he thinks needs to change
On being called a hero, and the imposter syndrome that comes with it
Why he is urging Australians to donate blood, especially O negative

If this conversation raises issues for you, support is available.

In Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support. To support the cause Charlie raises in this episode, you can donate blood through Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (O negative is especially needed in emergencies).

Donate blood (Australian Red Cross Lifeblood): https://www.lifeblood.com.au

Support Leah Stewart (family GoFundMe): https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-leah-stewart-victim-of-shark-attack-in-coogee

Follow Charlie Verco on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/char1ieverco/

🎧 Listen to You’re Gonna Want to Hear This and follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/youre-gonna-want-to-hear-this/id1849312864

Listen and follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Vsxq2nZIMJLnywOXfuxqZ

👀 Watch and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marieclaireau

Credits:

Host: Marie Claire Editor Georgie McCourt

Supervising Producer: Leah Porges

Head of Vodcasting: Rachel Fountain

Learn More: You’re Gonna Want to Hear This is a production of Marie Claire and Are Media.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BONUS: You’re Gonna Want To Hear This — Stories of Survival Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

A special bonus series for How I Survived listeners!

We’re bringing you some of the best stories of survival from Marie Claire's podcast, You’re Gonna Want To Hear This.

If you love How I Survived, you’re gonna to want to hear this.

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.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Ordinary Day Turned Violent - This Is Chloe & Christine's Story Of Survival Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

You've been patiently waiting on new episodes of How I Survived, so please accept this little treat from us! On Marie Claire Australia's podcast, You're Gonna Want to Hear This, you'll hear extraordinary stories of style, substance and survival. If you like this incredible episode, just pop on over to wherever you like to listen to or watch your podcasts to binge the Marie Claire's incredible back catalogue. Find, follow, subscribe or hit the + on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube and you'll get a new episode in your feed every Thursday morning.

And now to Chloe & Christine's incredible story:

On an ordinary morning in a Sydney apartment building, Chloe and Christine - two neighbours who barely knew each other - were violently attacked by a stranger inside their own homes.Christine, a wellness therapist and yoga teacher, had just stepped into the shared laundry. Chloe, a photographer and mother of three, was working at her desk with her front door slightly open. Within minutes, both women were assaulted in separate random encounters by the same man - a dentist called Steven Lin from the Central Coast who has later shot dead by police. In this deeply confronting conversation, they share what happened, how they survived, and what recovery looks like just two weeks later. Their stories are raw, powerful, and ultimately grounded in resilience, instinct, and the unexpected strength that emerges in moments of crisis.

In this episode