Samantha Jackel – My Purple Pants

Samantha Jackel was raised in an Australian country town, the fourth child to alcoholic parents. Instead of finding love at home, she encountered manipulation and abuse.

My father was a violent, threatening man when he drank. He was well known to the police and often spent time ‘cooling off’ in their cells. He was a constant source of fear in our home and his repeated violent attacks on our family would lead my mother to relocate the children in cross country escapades. My father would always find us, my mother lived with the fear that he would some how not only find us but would destroy what she had worked hard for – the love of another.

While growing up my mother seemed to be constantly drunk. She was a paranoid, unstable, abusive and desperately manipulative woman who forced those around her to constantly feed her need for emotional support. She was an expert at playing emotional mind games, and I was often used as the bargaining pawn in dramatic, violent fights that would break out between her and my father and later my step father.

Starved of a husband’s love, she instead looked to me to help meet all her needs. – My Purple Pants

Samantha suffered a traumatic and abusive childhood, but even in the midst of the trauma, there were moments that held out a hope for the future.

As my guest on this week’s episode of my podcast, Bleeding Daylight, she shares the journey that brought her to wholeness and forgiveness.

Hear Samantha’s story on Bleeding Daylight wherever you listen to podcasts or click play on the audio player below.



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John Simmons – Invisible Addiction

John Simmons battled an invisible addiction that plunged him into debt and deep depression. He was living a life that was totally out of control and the very thing that was pushing him closer and closer to destruction was the thing he thought would solve the issues he was facing.

It was a downward spiral that almost cost him his life.

Things are very different now. These days, John is bringing hope into the lives of others through his ministry, Testimony House.

John is the guest on my podcast, Bleeding Daylight, this week. You can hear his story wherever you listen to podcasts or use the media player below.



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RetroRadio – Cadel Evans

RetroRadio is a series of posts of radio interviews from my time working at 98five Sonshine FM covering everything from issues of spirituality to chats with visiting musicians and celebrities.

Hopefully, the interviews spark a few memories and a few thoughts.

It’s always a thrill when you get to meet an Aussie hero. It’s even better when they’re a personal hero too.

I had the honour of chatting with Australian cyclist Cadel Evans just a day or two after he switched to the BMC Team back in 2009.

I asked him who would be runner-up when he won the 2010 Tour de France. Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan that year but it was an emphatic win a year later in 2011.

Cadel is a quietly spoken athlete who was a pleasure to interview. I’ve interviewed hundreds of people but my chat with Cadel will always be a highlight of my time in radio.

You can listen to my radio interview with Cadel by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

[Note: All RetroRadio interviews on RodneyOlsen.net are a snapshot of the time they were recorded. We all grow and change and so the opinions and thoughts of those in the interviews at the time of recording may or may not necessarily be the same as they are today.]



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RetroRadio – Brandi Carlile

RetroRadio is a series of posts of radio interviews from my time working at 98five Sonshine FM covering everything from issues of spirituality to chats with visiting musicians and celebrities.

Hopefully, the interviews spark a few memories and a few thoughts.

Brandi Carlile released her sixth studio album, By the Way, I Forgive You, in February this year. She recently teamed up with U.K. singer-songwriter Sam Smith for a duet version of her song Party of One.

Rodney_Brandi.jpgDuring the last week, she had the honour of singing my favourite Joni Mitchell song, A Case of You, with Kris Kristofferson at Joni’s 75th birthday celebration. She’s an extremely talented and highly respected artist.

All the way back in March 2008, I had the opportunity to chat with Brandi when she visited Perth to Support Maroon 5.

If you haven’t heard much of Brandi, here’s the song that first captured me, The Story.

At the time we sat down to talk, Brandi’s music had gained a wider audience through the television series, Grey’s Anatomy.

I interviewed so many people over my years of working in radio but my time with Brandi certainly stands out as one of my highlights. She’s extremely talented and it was wonderful to be able to chat with her.

You can listen to the interview using the media player below.

[Note: All RetroRadio interviews on RodneyOlsen.net are a snapshot of the time they were recorded. We all grow and change and so the opinions and thoughts of those in the interviews at the time of recording may or may not necessarily be the same as they are today.]

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The World’s Most Awkward TV Interview

mollycharles

In my years of working in the media I had the opportunity to interview a very wide variety of people. From politicians to music legends and even a Tour de France winning cyclist, an absolute highlight for me, and while not every interview was brilliant, I’m thankful that I never had a moment like this one.

Ian “Molly” Meldrum’s interview with Prince Charles is legendary. I can’t watch it without cringing for Molly. It’s incredibly awkward but such great television. Great to see that after all these years Prince Charles has a wonderful sense of humour about it all.

This video is worth watching all the way through.

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