Head On with Rebecca Huntley, Josh Piterman and Jackie Bailey

In public, they looked poised, confident and fearless, but as high-profile social researcher Rebecca Huntley (Sassafras) and acclaimed musical star of Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera Josh Piterman (Behind the Mask) both admit, they have been haunted by trauma and anxiety. So how did they find a way to cope? They talk candidly with award-winning author and celebrant Dr Jackie Bailey.

About the AuthorsDr Rebecca Huntley is a social researcher, former Director of the Mind & Mood Report, and author of The Italian Girl and Sassafras: love, loss and MDMA therapy.Josh Piterman is an international West End musical star, Holistic High-Performance Coach, author of Behind the Mask and host of the Behind The Mask podcast.

Dr Jackie Bailey is an pastoral care practitioner, funeral celebrant, interfaith minister, and author of The Eulogy (winner of the 2023 NSW Premier's Literary Multicultural Award).

ⓘ True Story Festival info

True Story is a festival of ideas celebrating the best creative non-fiction writing in Australia today. Bringing writers and readers together in Coledale, the festival showcases trusted voices, gripping yarns, and local perspectives that illuminate our world.

CreditsRecorded by Kingsley ReeveCurated by Caroline Baum, Sarah Nicholson (South Coast Writers Centre) & Genevieve SwartWith thanks to The Illawarra Flame

The South Coast Writers Centre acknowledges the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, and we offer our respect to elders past, present and emerging.