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View all programs All I Can Be Podcast
A podcast about big dreams, hidden struggles and the moments that make all the difference in a young person's life.
Across six episodes, you'll meet Australians who have had tough starts in life, but have gone on to thrive, achieving goals and dreams that once felt impossible.
Their stories prove that where you begin doesn't have to define where you go – and reveal what it takes to open the door to a brighter future, not just for some but for everyone.
Because every young person deserves the chance to be all they can be.
Their stories prove that where you begin doesn't have to define where you go – and reveal what it takes to open the door to a brighter future, not just for some but for everyone.
Because every young person deserves the chance to be all they can be.
Trailer
Narrator
Sarah Macdonald – journalist and radio broadcaster
“The experience of making this podcast has been powerful. All of the people I interviewed had tough starts in childhood, without the opportunities most of us take for granted. Through their incredible hard work, endurance, intelligence and some help along the way, they have broken the cycle of disadvantage to create a different future. It’s been an honour to hear and tell their stories. It’s also been emotional at times but the power of human beings never ceases to amaze me.”
Our guests include:
Faith - singer-songwriter and former Learning for Life student
"I think [younger me] would be very excited to know that the dreams that she had, that she didn't know if she was capable of accomplishing, are things that she's able to live out ... And she'd probably just say, 'I'm very, very excited to see the future because it's not so bright right now, but it's gonna get a lot better."
Tabitha – business owner and former Learning for Life student
“Honestly, if my younger self was standing there looking at me, I feel like she would just cry out of happiness. Happiness that we made it, happiness that there was a life outside of what we deemed was possible ... I feel like today I can finally sit here and say I've broken those cycles, and I'm so happy that I've done it for my daughter. Even when it was hard, it was worth it."
Josh – IT professional and former Learning for Life student
"A lot of my close friends are shocked when I tell them some of the stories from my childhood. They can't imagine that I had life that hard and I’ve managed to kind of claw my way out, in a sense. The confidence definitely wasn't there, that assurance definitely wasn't there ... They wouldn't recognise me if they saw me 20 years ago.”
Sarah Harris - journalist, TV presenter and Smith Family ambassador and sponsor
“They say you're lucky to meet one amazing teacher or incredible older person that sees you in life. I got to meet two .... I was so lucky I had that time in their orbit because they guided me, they encouraged me. And I think that's all it takes. Just one person to believe in you, just one person to see a special part of you, to see a little spark in you and to nurture that.”
Dr Liz Allen – author, demographer and social researcher, The Australian National University
“By sharing our stories, we overcome the isolation and shame we carry. And we invite others to ... realise they are not alone, they are not at fault and there are ways out of this. There is something so incredibly wonderful and magical in watching people come together who are doing it tough, with people who have lived that and are saying, ‘There is a light at the end of that tunnel."
Distinguished Professor George Williams AO – Vice-Chancellor, Western Sydney University and Smith Family sponsor
"Younger me would have no conception of the journey that I've been on, it would be so far removed from the challenges I had as a young boy. I think it speaks volumes of education in our society that someone like me can come to this amazing, privileged position I am now from a really difficult upbringing."
Alison Forthuber – principal, Bellambi Public School
"We want the kids to see themselves as capable, successful and have that positive self-talk ... I want every child to leave here every afternoon feeling better than when they walked in. I want them to be really highly aspirational and to know that nothing is beyond their means."
Kate – Smith Family Learning for Life parent
“It’s overwhelming sometimes ... I haven’t had people care before. And they don’t just care about the kids, they care about me too. They make sure I’m okay and if I need anything to support them. I don’t know what I’d do without [them], to be honest. Even just having one person ring up once a week or a month, ‘Hey, how are you? Do you need anything or do the kids need anything?’ It means the world.”
Episode guide
Episode 1 - When A Lyric Hits You: The Power of Self-Belief
Faith is a talented singer-songwriter who spent most of her childhood juggling school, work and caring for her mum. Music became her lifeline – and her launchpad. She takes us inside her world as a young carer, the unseen struggles and how one person believing in you can change everything. Plus, journalist and TV presenter Sarah Harris, who – like Faith – was raised in a home where money was tight, reflects on the tough times in her childhood and the teachers who saw a spark in her and nurtured it.
Episode 2 - The Place Where I Escaped: Finding Hope in Hard Times
For Tabitha, it was hard to see a better future when she was a child. She found escape in the library shelves, when life felt impossibly heavy and hard. Now a young mum and successful business owner, she talks about what it took to rise above the challenges and how she’s become the strong person she is today. And demographer Dr Liz Allen, who knows poverty firsthand, speaks about her own experiences and how we can help more young people like Tabitha to not just survive, but thrive.
Episode 3 - The Boy Who Never Gave Up: Grit, Courage and the Right Support
At 12, Josh was told he was “the man of the house”. His grew up amid instability – frequent moves, a turbulent home life and adult responsibilities thrust on him far too young. Josh reveals how grit, courage and the right support helped him escape disadvantage and create a life and career he never could have imagined. We also hear from Robyn, a former Smith Family support worker who backed him for more than a decade, and from his parents and partner – underscoring the crucial need to have people in your corner.
Episode 4 - The Ladder of Opportunity: A Chance for Every Child
We explore how education can be the ladder of opportunity – but only if we make sure everyone has an equal chance to climb it. Distinguished Professor George Williams AO shares his journey from juvenile delinquent to Vice-Chancellor, starting with one teacher who changed his life trajectory. Plus, Dr Liz Allen returns to talk about the educators and moments that transformed her path. Together, they make the case for why Australia needs a fairer education system and better support for students, regardless of their life circumstances.
Episode 5 – A Village of Support to Help Kids Thrive
Visit a school that's setting its students up to dream big, work hard and become ‘all they can be’, with the support of the community around them. Principal Alison Forthuber is determined that every child feels seen and valued, sharing why high expectations, early intervention and holistic support are important. Meanwhile, Kate, a mother of three, opens up about how wider community support ensures her children can shine at school – and The Smith Family programs that make a big difference to their education.
Episode 6 - My Hope for the Future
We return to Faith, Tabitha, and Josh to find out where life has taken them and hear their hopes for the future, as they reflect on the people who stepped in when it mattered most. Then, past guests join us to share insights on the hidden truths they wish more people knew and what it will take the change the system, not just for some but for everyone. The series finale is also a rallying cry, a reminder how any one of us can help open the door to a better future and create a society where all children have the chance to thrive and be all they can be.