The Flying Doctor Podcast

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Real stories of real patients, real places and real RFDS staff

The Flying Doctor Podcast is a true-life testament to the spirit of mateship, resilience and the vital support provided by the Royal Flying Doctor Service across regional and rural Australia. Hosted by RFDS Director of Brand and Communicatoins, Lana Mitchell and produced by RFDS Communications Assistant Sophie Campbell and DM podcasts, this podcast brings to life the voices of real patients, their families, and the incredible RFDS teams who work tirelessly to provide care where it’s needed most. With a brand new episode dropping every week, there is always a new yarn to listen to.

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Got an interesting story or yarn you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send your story to podcast@rfds.org.au and become part of the conversation.

Hear stories from every corner of Australia

The Flying Doctor Podcast shares the remarkable stories, extraordinary experiences and authentic voices of the Australian Outback and its often remote (but always resilient) communities.

Podcast Episodes

#40 Flight nurse Brendan Devlin has seen it all over his 30-year career

#29 What does a train driver, an earth-shattering headache and a bicycle have in common?

#28 What is the legend of The Motorcycle Pudding?

#26 When Chad was pulled from the pool with no pulse, how was he saved?

#7 How was Jemma’s life saved – along with her newborn?

#30 Why did 9 year old Jake collapse at the tail end of a soccer game and stop breathing?

#73 A toddler wasn't breathing well and was shades of white and blue.

#71 Philip Chalker and his seeing-eye dog Sally chat with the Flying Doctor podcast

#69 Emma's son was sleeping when a snake attempted to eat him

#62 It was too late to get to hospital, and the baby was in breech

#2 How can something the size of a fingernail be so deadly?

#4 How pregnant Michelle dealt with such a life-changing injury?

#5 When crocodiles attack, but no-one is around to help you..

#6 What did Leroy do to save his life, as his blood was draining out?

#8 How do we help the elderly in their very last days with their final wish?

#9 How did David do CPR on himself to stay alive?

#10 How a COVID front-line health worker coped in a hotspot?

#11 How did baby Calvary scare her parents before she was even born?

#12 How Trent the baker almost lost his arm.

#15 How does a city Doctor make it in the bush?

#17 Why is Sam Hughes driving a 1957 tractor around Australia?

#18 What does Amber do when her young son suffers a severe motorbike?

#19 What happens when a baby is born mid flight?

#20 How did Andrew Conlon survive being swallowed by the earth?

#22 Why is your mental approach to cancer so key when it comes to health outcomes and quality of life?

#23 How did an experienced horse rider find herself in a life or death situation?

#25 Young mother, dialysis, and the search for a kidney --- and a second interview:'Billy-the-kid-ney' changes Danni's life

#27 When you fall into a near boiling thermal mud pool in remote South Australia

#55 Allan has seen and done it all — Cattle station man, born and bred

#52 Richard is proof they breed 'em tough in the bush.

#50 A 10-year old boy was snorkelling when a shark attacked...

#49 Even the seasoned riders can sometimes get it wrong

#48 A jackaroo is hemorrhaging in remote NT and his mates have to get him to hospital

#47 A speeding boat full of tourists collides with a rock wall in remote WA...

#46 'Billy-the-kid-ney' changes Danni's life

#44 How was 5-year-old Jack saved after being bitten by a snake?

#43 A highly distressed child was pulling her hair out at night...

#42 How did baby Jenson survive being born 4 months too early?

#63 Family holiday plans changed quickly when 7-year-old Mia stumbled by the campfire...

#61 Sarah had a double-lung transplant, while her husband and daughter waited anxiously...

#58 How did Mack keep himself alive, under a rolled-car, in remote Western Australia?

#57 Helping the governesses that care for station kids

#56 Respect, love and celebration for those we love in their last days

#54 What happened when a drunk 15 year old got behind the wheel?

#53 Richard's rally car rolled, flipped into a tree and plunged 30 metres...

#41 How did they discover and save Peter, when he suffered a crippling stroke?

#39 How do you land an RFDS plane in the dark in the Outback?

#38 A ute rolls on a remote dirt road in South Australia

#37 How does Paul survive a horrible mountain bike accident in remote WA?

#36 A beloved daughter disturbs an intruder and is shot at point-blank range

#34 Courage is served in large quantities at Gilberton Station - ask Prince Charles

#33 A snake in the bed, behind the heater and under the slippery dip

#31 A skydiving lesson gone wrong changes Joe Chiver's life forever

#32 How did hypothermia save John Muir's life?

#13 How The Flying Doctor started, and a priest at a dog fight

#14 How could Rob survive this helicopter crash?

#16 Did John Tully survive when his plane hit power lines?

#21 What does the Archibald, Running of the Bulls & The Flying Doctor have in common?

#122 Dawn's 20,000km journey of the heart

#125 How baby Indi's early arrival became 'airborne'!

#1 How did Peter Nunn survive two accidents he shouldn’t have ?

#51 When a Picturesque Hike Turns Out to be Not-So-Pretty

#35 How does a young pregnant mum in remote SA battle cancer?

#3 How did Michael survive burns to more than 60% of his body?

#24 How did passengers save the life of Patrick on a commercial flight?

#120 Flying dentist Dr Vai is changing the face of outback oral health

#123 A toddler's tonic-clonic seizure caused the 'Darcy Effect'

#117 - Ryan nursed himself back from his own heart attack!

#115 A mercy flight to Townsville was baby Selene's only option!

#113 Annie got a goat stuck in her throat!

#112 Wildflowers, frog tea and a goanna in a hangar!

#110 Student nurse Laura was told she'd never walk or talk again

#108 Tackling the 'highs and lows' of a toddler with T1 Diabetes

#107 Jillaroo Katie's chicken wrangling went wildly wrong!

#104 Greg was lucky to survive a stroke while surfing

#102 Farmer Phil vs a one tonne, charging bull!

#93 Devoted mum and courageous cancer survivor, Julia, has put her heart inside a pocket

#92 Young mum Paige was losing weight, eternally thirsty and feeling tired

#91 Station boss Carol's helicopter hit the power line and hit the ground

#90 A single dad, a sailboat, two girls and a wheel barrow

#89 Tired, toilet, thirsty, thinner - Emma's young son ticked all the boxes for Type 1 diabetes

#88 Ella was 35 weeks pregnant & driving an outback truck when her waters broke!

#87 How did Gayle lose the use of both arms in a farm-accident?

#86 Barry was hanging from his seat belt in the upside down ute.

#85 How do you manage a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis in remote Australia

#84 How did the remote SA township of Marla come to be?

#78 Australia, to the USA, to Kenya and back home again

#74 The song was a gift to her children, in case they lose her

#70 How Sarah's stomach ache almost took her life.

#68 What is the life of a flight nurse actually like?

#67 Greg and his helicopter were a crumpled mess at the bottom of the gorge

#66 Plane on the highway, dress, shopping, and passing on words of wisdom

#60 BAM! The ambulance hit a roo. Kate, in labour, held her breath...

#45 Angels in the Outback - Revisiting the incredible story of Peter Nunn

#121 It takes guts to be Veronica...

#124 Hugo Rockstar's remarkable family.

#126 A Beautiful Life. Sophie Smith's Legacy to her Lost Boys

#127 The Batman Backpack that's giving back. Jaydan's Journey

#128 Bull dust, chandelier skies and a whiff of wombat

#129 From Boots to Scrubs - Chloe's Coo-ee to Country Girls

#132 Finding a Rhyme and a Reason for Every Season

#101 Following in Squid’s sand tracks #oceans to outback

#119 How a baby brown snake flew Eddie from Uluru to Alice!

#118 A Postmaster's pocketknife & a Doctor's outback dash to save Jimmy Darcy!

#116 How Mick hurt his back on the Birdsville Track

#114 Despite breaking his neck twice, Jaimen Hudson is living his best life

#106 TJ's horse slipped from under him and they hit the dirt!

#103 Never mess with a Mulga! Ben's paralysing tale.

#100 Buckle up! The Flying Doctor Podcast 100th episode takes off!

#99 Leanne was struggling to breathe before she lost consciousness

#98 Murray began bleeding out internally, after he hit the handlebars of his motorcross bike

#97 Kelly was heavily pregnant when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour

#96 Emma's toddler went under both wheels of the 4WD...and survived!

#95 When the nurse becomes the patient. Ann's battle with Stage 4 breast cancer.

#94 Judy found her grandson lying 'flat and unresponsive' in the hallway

#83 Tom collapsed onto his steering wheel and stopped breathing

#82 Melissa's muscles melted and she was unable to walk, talk or move

#81 Dan Hamood was opal fossicking when he fell into a mineshaft

#80 Kate Watched As Her Husband Was Dragged to Shore

#79 Shirley was found unconscious next to her campbed

#77 Dr Katrina Starmer tells how she was inspired to become a Flying Doctor

#76 Stephen Peacocke reflects on playing 'flight nurse Pete' in 'RFDS'.

#75 Interview with renowned Australian actor and writer Ian Meadows

#72 How did Steve survive a severe stroke while driving on a remote road?

#65 Jon Steadhead, Jigalong and the Flying Doctor

#64 Heat and dehydration has stopped Richard's heart 8 times...

#59 Glen's dad fell 4-stories and his life changed immediately...

#131 Sean Survived a Shark Attack. Now he's Snowboarding for Australia.

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Best Branded Podcast 2024 WINNER

'The Flying Doctor Podcast' has been awarded 'Best Branded Podcast' at the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards. This award reflects the amazing people who make this podcast possible. A heartfelt thank you to our listeners, the incredible RFDS teams, and the patients who’ve trusted us to share their stories.

Pictured: Lana Howarth (Director of Brand and Communications RFDS), Mandy Coolen (Producer) and Sophie Campbell (RFDS Communications Assistant) proudly holding the award.

#100 Buckle up! The Flying Doctor Podcast 100th episode takes off!

18 Jul 2024

'Welcome aboard' the 100th Flying Doctor Podcast episode, as we 'turn the tables' on podcast host Lana Mitchell and discover the rich and fascinating story of how outback Australia's favourite podcast came to be.

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Dr Vai is pictured with a patient in a dentist's chair in Alice Springs

#120 Flying dentist Dr Vai is changing the face of outback oral health

05 Dec 2024

Flying Dentist Dr Vai and his team are changing the face of outback oral health.

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